In the girl's dorm

Kyla stood in front of a mirror and gaped at her reflection, her mind was dizzy from what she witnessed yesterday. She could still hear the soft yips and yowls of the enormous foxes, a haunting chorus that echoed through the trees and seemed to seep into her very soul.

Curling her blue highlights, her heart pounded in her chest when the image of the two foxes' viciously dilating pupils flashed inside her head.

Her mind drifted towards Hoseok's unexplainable form and how the fear that gripped her was primal and instinctual when she abruptly ran away.

'Am I afraid of him? And where is she right now?'

Kyla thought as she hurriedly took her bag to head straight towards the cafeteria. There she was met again with her two chipmunks Samantha and Rachel, originally known as Sarah and Rae. They had both been her friends since freshman year, even before Y/n befriended her into her circle.

"Hey guys! What's on the menu today?"

"Same old cheese sandwich with boiled eggs and juice," Rae answered.

"Ohh," grabbing an empty chair Kyla got seated across the table, and both of them followed. Her eyes looked around the cafeteria in search of a similar person that she'd been hating lately, but soon Sarah's voice caught her attention.

"Just ohh?" Sarah said while adjusting the bunch of clips clutching her orange wavy locks parted from the middle.

"What?"

"You just said ohh? Instead of cursing the whole staff for not changing the menu even when you complained about it to your father."

"Many times," Rae joined in the conversation as she spoke while glancing at her newly manicured nails, reflecting the color of peach.

"Chill out guys! Hush! And by the way, do you think I am a cursing bitch or something?" Kyla said, and both of her friends just kept gawking at her.

"Okay fine, maybe I am. Then? What you're gonna do?" Kyla confronted while raising her brows in annoyance.

"Nothing! We just wanted to remind you," Sarah said, half laughing, and Rae joined her.

Ignorance filled Kyla as she rolled her eyes, "Too bad! My Samantha and Rachel are enjoying so much right now, aren't they?" With a fake pout, Kyla retorted.

"Don't call me with that stupid name!" Both Sarah and Rae exclaimed together, making Kyla scoff in victory.

"Have you seen that Y/n today?"

"No, who wants to see her in the first place," Rae boringly added, busy typing something on her phone.

"Hoseok," Sarah blurted, which made her receive a glare from Kyla.

"I meant that I only saw Hoseok today," Sarah clarified.

"You saw him!? Did he look different from any other day?" The girl with blue curls asked curiously.

"What?" Sarah asked, confused.

"Looks like you're whipped, Kyla and nothing else," Rae confidently added, with full attention, and her phone down. Sarah nodded in agreement and hummed, while Kyla shook her head and spoke, "It's so much more than that."

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The sun dipped below the horizon as the sky was getting tinted with an orange and golden hue.

Shouldering her way through the bustling crowd, Y/n strode forward with determination to reach towards the tree. Beads of sweat adorned her forehead, a clamor of people, and the buzz of voices filled her ears as she almost stumbled on people coming in her way.

She pushed forward, her pace quickened as she drew nearer to the exit of the crowded marketplace. Passing the same route, the air was filled with the tantalizing aroma of street food, and the distant muffling voices of conversations filled her ears.

It was then that a peculiar figure emerged in front of her, his head was angled a bit low, and his features were hidden well with a grey hood on his head. She felt a strong force tugging at her wrist, compelling her to follow, and Y/n realized that she was being pulled into an alley.

With her halted steps, they ventured into the depths of the dark alley, where the air grew heavy and time seemed to lose its grip. The market was filled with narrow alleys like these from place to place, each one hiding its secrets, leading somewhere, to the unknown.

She struggled to get out of his grip as her eyes traced his strong back. After dragging her for a little bit longer the abductor stopped and turned around. Y/n didn't fail to miss this opportunity and launched her fist on his face, from her free hand. The abductor jolted backward from the sudden impact and Y/n gasped in realisation.

"J-Jin."

They stood face to face; Jin's presence was both comforting and unsettling for Y/n. His piercing gaze bore into her soul as if he could read the very essence of who she was and to places where she ventured.

"Do you go around and randomly punch people?!" He exclaimed while rotating his jaw, his features scowling from anger.

"I am r-really sorry, Jin! I couldn't recognize you. You were wearing a hoodie, it made you look suspicious. Besides, I mistook you for that j-jerk."

"Jerk?" Jin asked while Y/n panicked, thinking if he ever got to know that she already got into a verbal fight with someone.

"I m-mean I-I saw a b-beef jerky shop nearby have you eaten from it before?" She snickered in order to divert his attention making Jin heave a sigh.

"I've had enough of you, little human," Jin confronted as he came closer to Y/n, his lavender cologne's fragrance reaching her nose, "You better behave, else I'll make you do so!"

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At the Department of Defence

Namjoon sat on the plush armed chair in his cabin, situated on the other side of the castle, away from the main palace. With a furrowed brow and a pen poised over a blank page, he was completely engrossed in his work.

However, he stood up abruptly and frustratingly banged his hands on the table before calling for his assistant, "In gyeop come here! Fast!"

The assistant named In Gyeop, who was busy doing some paperwork, in one compartment of the defence department, came rushing towards his senior. His hairs were a complete mess, his eyes held a look of tame and pressure, his hands fidgeting in nervousness as he knew exactly what happens when he's being called.

"What happened, sir?"

"You confirmed that the Hwang clan agreed to continue our contract even if they'll be receiving half of the said amount of gunpowder after a delay of one week."

"Yes sir, that's what the spokesperson of their defence ministry said and the signed contract is already in front of you."

"Then tell me, why?! Why haven't we still received the metal goods, yet?!?" Namjoon yelled at his assistant.

In gyeop flinched from the sudden echo in his ears, but remained silent, just continued gawking at the floor through the glasses sitting at his nose bridge. Witnessing his silence, Namjoon sighed and spoke again.

"Look, In Gyeop, we have to deal with this problem because currently, the demand for firearms is high in our defence units. I am assigning you a task, go to the Hwang clan this weekend and have a nice talk with their so-called spokesperson."

"Yes, sir," In Gyeop nodded in agreement and made his way out of the cabin, shutting the door behind.

'I'll go and take a round to the gunpowder factory once again,' Namjoon thought, and his mind started drifting in another direction. He exhaled a long breath as he continued thinking.

'I was on my way to the gunpowder factory but how did I walked down the complete opposite lane and ended up raging at Uncle Yeong's shop? And that stupid girl, she thought she could've everything she wanted, and can easily get away with it as the owner was a kind old man.'

"And on top of that, she called me rude and arrogant in front of the citizens?" He scoffed before uttering, "Filthy rich beggers and attention seekers!"

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Y/n silently followed Jin at some distance and stepped onto the quiet street lined with small traditional houses.

A serene stillness enveloped her, the air was crisp and carried a hint of nostalgia as if it held the whispers of centuries past, reminding her of the history lessons in the middle school.

The hanoks stood proudly in their traditionally architectured simple beauty. Their wooden frames and sloping roofs exuded a sense of timelessness as if they were guardians of a bygone era.

The streets of this mystic land seemed frozen in time, untouched by the rapid pace of the modern human world, but constantly reminded her of humans.

As she walked along the firm pathway, she almost imagined the lives that thrived within these walls. The scent of burning incense wafted through the air, carrying a sense of spirituality and tranquillity.

Just like a small village in the countryside in the human world, everything about these hanoks contrasted a classic Seoul apartment and the people living in the penthouses of the bustling cities.

The absence of a bustling environment allowed her to appreciate the details of these houses, but soon a voice interrupted.

"And don't you dare do something unexplainable at my house, don't touch anything without permission," Jin continued instructing Y/n, while Y/n failed to remember whether he was speaking in the first place.

"Blah! Blah! Blah! Yeah! I won't do yeah!" Y/n whispered to herself while nodding her head vigorously, copying Jin's posture from behind.

"Remember that you are n–"

Jin turned around, his brows frowned, when he further remarked, "I can hear it, you little human!"

Y/n gulped while side-eyeing him before flashing an awkward smile in his direction. Jin turned back and continued walking until they reached a house that looked like an ancient mansion.

A sense of awe and astonishment washed over her when they approached nearer the mansion.

Its grandeur was undeniable, standing tall and proud amidst the surroundings. Its towering wooden pillars supported a magnificent roof that curved gracefully at the ends.

Standing at the entrance, Jin's features got focused in a particular direction as if waiting for the right moment to slide inside the house.

"Let's go," he said and Y/n quietly followed.

Crossing the main entrance, Y/n noticed elaborate carvings decorating the eaves, depicting symbols of luck and prosperity, their intricate details showcasing the skill and artistry of the craftsmen who had brought them to life. They reached the stone yard surrounded by corridors from the two adjacent directions.

Jin stepped onto the small staircase and entered the free space. Y/n followed and stepped inside, the air was heavy with the scent of aged wood and polished lacquer.

It was a clever blend of modern arts and their ancient history as if they wanted to stay intact with their culture.

The floor was made of polished wood that gleamed under the soft glow of sunlight that danced through the window, casting a warm and inviting ambience.

'Even though I've seen hanoks like these in my world, they're now being abandoned. I'm not sure if they still exist in the backdrops of Seoul's or Gangnam's skyscrapers,' Y/n thought.

"I'll be back in some time, make yourself comfortable and don't you dare step out of this room, if anybody spots you, we'll be in trouble," Jin's voice echoed from behind and Y/n turned around, facing him.

"We? You mean you and I or is there someone else to accompany us?" Y/n said, and a playful smile danced across Jin's lips before he opened his mouth to speak.

"Why? Do you want us all alone during the whole night?"

Y/n rolled her eyes, "Weren't you going somewhere already?"

He licked his luscious lower lip, his dark brown orbs staring into Y/n's, "I was, but now I think I should stay here... with you." Jin said and started stepping closer, covering the distance between them, his hand impulsively moved closer to her face, and Y/n got lost in his alluring features before he bought something in her view.

"A twig?"

"You have a pretty rough hair texture," Jin commented while whipping his hand onto Y/n's shoulder.

"Keep pleasing yourself," Y/n retorted while rolling her eyes making Jin snickered as a response.

"You're kinda adorable when angry."

Upon hearing the words, Y/n was unexpectedly reminded of Hoseok, her mind drifted towards him, but Jin interrupted again.

"Little human?"

"Uhm, what?" Y/n added and Jin inspected her saddened expression but decided to not question her.

"I'll be back," he said before exiting the room. Y/n looked around the room once again, and a profound sense of reverence filled her senses for the rich history it represented, even if this was not the human land, she couldn't help but find the similarities between the two coexisting realms.

She roamed around the free space and noticed that except for the one low wooden table in the centre, there were tables of different sizes kept together as if they were used frequently for various kinds of paperwork. Flowering pots adorned the corners, breathing life into the otherwise still room.

Shifting towards the right, she glanced through the window. From the buckets and collected water it imitated a bathroom. Its door was wide open, and the backyard was visible. It bloomed with a variety of vibrant flowers and herbs, as she remembered smelling rosemary at the entrance.

Y/n shifted again, now in front of a joined room's door, its paper-thin texture letting the light pass through it. Jin's words of warning rang inside her head, but the curious receptors inside her brain were already driving her insane.

"Let's just peek in quickly," she said and proceeded to open the door, but not to the fullest; the visible part of the room included a wooden chair, a desk with some paper stacked on it, some pen holders and behind it was a large bookshelf, where every kind of book from thick to thin, rested peacefully.

"Who are you?" A voice inquired from behind.

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