I rubbed my eyes then noticed I was trapped underneath Youngjo, Keonhee and Hwanwoong. I gently moved them aside then looked up out the window. The sun was barely in the sky. How long have we been in here? I looked out the room then slightly frowned. Dongju hadn't come back. I wasn't surprised in the least. He would always be that arrogant, closed off brat. Just as I was about to lie back down, I heard sounds come from the hall. I shook the others awake in case it was something we had to fight.

A piece of debris moved, but nothing was there.

"You all saw that right?" Youngjo said a bit fearful.

"Indeed." I replied before standing up.

Everything was quiet. Soon grunts were heard from behind Youngjo and I. I looked back briefly to see Keonhee and Hwanwoong had been taken out.

"Help..." Youngjo had weakly squeaked out.

I quickly turned around then saw Youngjo being carried out of the room by his throat. I tried chasing after them, but ran into the invisible wall.

"Hwanwoong! Keonhee!" I shouted desperately.

Neither looked in any condition of chasing down whatever it was. I slammed my fists against the floor as I felt helpless. Dongju was right. I couldn't do anything by myself. Even with magic, I was still the same helpless nowol that I always was.

I pressed my body against the invisible wall while closing my eyes. Nothing else mattered other than saving Youngjo from whatever was holding him captive. It was all I could think about. My body fell forward and collided with debris. Blood had started dripping from the cut my nose had sustained. I had escaped the room somehow, but figured I'd worry about it later as Youngjo needed me now.

ㅂㅂㅂㅂ

I couldn't find them anywhere. Did they already leave the building? I ran as fast as I could to the entrance then saw a small black creature lying on the ground. Youngjo was being carried on Dongju's back. I opened my mouth to speak, then closed it. Dongju didn't look happy at all. He turned around and our eyes met. I quickly looked away.

"Can't even keep your dearest friend safe, huh." said Dongju after a long period of silence.

"I get it, Dongju. I'm inexperienced, I'm weak. I'm not capable of protecting anyone. I still am and will always be that helpless nowol." I said with a few voice cracks.

He didn't say anything else as he approached me. I assumed he was waiting until he got closer to belittle me even further. Dongju stopped in front of me then lowered his head slightly.

"Everything you said is true, except being a helpless nowol." Dongju said in a lighter tone than before. "You will eventually gain experience, gain strength. And while acquiring those, you'll also learn how to protect. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will you be."

I silently blinked as he had somehow turned this into a lesson and a pep talk. A lesson I was willing to learn and words I'd take to heart. It made me feel better in a way.

"Thank you, Dongju." I finally said with a small smile.

He didn't meet my eyes, so I forced him to. He looked away while trying to hide the obvious smile and blush on his face. I liked him better this way.

"What happened to Keon and Hwan...?" he asked after a while.

"Out cold. That thing was terribly strong." I said as we walked back to the office.

ㅂㅂㅂㅂ

Hwanwoong and Youngjo bickered back and forth about who had suffered more during the attack while the rest of us watched from behind. I noticed Keonhee had walked ahead and joined them.

"May I ask something?" I asked without looking at him.

"Go ahead." Dongju replied while messing with the gravity of a few blades of grass.

"Why were you so angry?" I asked, this time turning my attention to him.

"Minjun wasn't there..." he replied without hesitation.

"Who's Minjun? Were they someone special to you?" I asked now curious.

"Very special..." he said with a sad tone mixed with a bit of endearment.

I found myself frowning slightly then quickly wiped it away. Even Dongju could have people dear to him. Yet it didn't sit okay with me. I didn't pry further as I had annoyed myself to the point I didn't want to know anymore. I quietly watched Youngjo throw pearls at Hwanwoong and Keonhee who dodged them with ease.

"Is this the right way?" Youngjo asked as we walked further into the forest.

"Judging from how the entrance looks in the book, yes." said Dongju firmly.

I was pulled over to the side by Youngjo and Hwanwoong.

"So, we saw you two talking. What about?" Hwanwoong said in a teasing voice.

"Nothing really. I just asked why he was angry and he said because of this Minjun person." I said flatly. There really wasn't much to say.

"Oh, Minjun. I'm convinced Dongju doesn't just admire him." said Hwanwoong in a lighter voice.

"Good for him I guess? I'm not sure what you want me to say here..." I replied a bit uninterested and mostly annoyed.

"You can't tell me you aren't interested in Dongju's love life. This is Dongju we're talking about!" Youngjo quipped from Hwanwoong's side.

"Aren't you?" Hwanwoong added on.

"I don't care who the hell he wants to kiss or fuck! It's his own damn business, not mine!" I yelled at them.

I then realized that I was heard by the other two walking ahead of us. I laughed nervously while assuring them it was nothing to worry about.

"Someone seems angry. Jealous?" Hwanwoong said as he looked ready to interrogate me.

"Leave me alone." I said while walking away from them.

I didn't care about Dongju's personal life. It didn't matter to me what he did with his life. Yet why did hearing him say that bother me?