Three weeks later — Training Ground
Ryan was kneeling on the ground.
His breaths were rapid. His entire body was soaked in sweat.
In front of him... five large stones lay.
He extended his hand forward. The Mark began to glow slowly.
"Focus... just a little more..."
Black flames emerged. Slowly. Controlled.
The first stone... lifted slightly.
Ryan's eyes lit up. "Yes... it's happening..."
The second stone started to move too.
Then—
THWACK!
Something came flying fast and hit the first stone.
The stone flew off and fell far away.
Ryan's concentration broke. All the flames vanished.
"Hey—! Who—"
He looked up.
A girl was hanging upside down from a tree branch. A small stone in her hand.
"Boring. Totally boring." The girl yawned.
Ryan stood up. "Who are you? And why are you ruining my training?!"
The girl did a flip and landed on the ground.
"Mira. And I'm not ruining it... I'm showing you reality."
She pointed toward her sword. "In a real fight, no one will wait for you to concentrate."
Ryan clenched his fist. "I was training!"
"Training?" Mira laughed. "This is like falling asleep in a standing position."
She picked up another stone. And without looking... threw it toward Ryan.
Ryan quickly dodged. "What are you doing?!"
"Testing." Mira smirked. "Reflexes... 1 out of 3. Disappointing."
Ryan started getting angry. "Stop this!"
"Why?" Mira asked innocently. "Do you have a problem?"
She threw more stones. Faster.
Ryan kept dodging. But one stone hit his shoulder.
"Ouch!"
"1 out of 4." Mira counted.
Ryan picked up a stone. And in anger, threw it toward Mira.
But Mira... without moving... tilted her head slightly. The stone flew over her.
"Terrible aim too. Noted."
Ryan was about to yell—
"MIRA!"
A voice came from the trees.
Kai emerged. But with a big smile on his face.
"It's good to see you alive!"
Mira's eyes softened immediately.
"KAI!"
She sheathed her sword and ran to Kai.
They shared a casual hug.
Ryan... stood there completely confused.
"You... you two know each other?"
Kai laughed and said— "You know? She's my old partner. We've hunted dozens of curses together."
Mira gave Kai a playful punch on the shoulder. "Old? I'm still young."
"Ouch. Rude." Kai gave a fake hurt expression.
Ryan said a bit frustrated— "So that means... you were intentionally bothering me?"
Mira looked at him. With an innocent smile.
"Yes. Kai told me there's a new recruit. It was necessary to test you."
"Test?!"
"Yes. I had to check your temperament." Mira said casually. "Result: You get frustrated very quickly."
Kai pointed at her. "Ryan, this is Mira. The Curse Hunter Organization's best field agent."
Then toward Mira— "And this is Ryan. Our new... let's say... project."
Mira sized up Ryan with appraising eyes.
"Hmm. Physically average. Control weak. But..." She looked at Ryan's hand with the mark. "The Mark is strong. Interesting."
Ryan felt uncomfortable.
Kai changed the topic. "So tell me, Mira. How did you suddenly show up here? Is something important?"
Mira's face turned a bit serious.
"Yes." She took out a map from her bag.
She unfolded it and spread it on the ground.
Ryan and Kai both came closer.
On the map... around the entire city... there were many red marks.
"What is this?" Ryan asked.
"Curse attack locations." Mira answered in a serious tone. "In the last three weeks."
Kai's eyes widened. "So many? This... isn't normal."
"47 attacks." Mira counted. "In three weeks. Usually 5-6 per month."
Ryan looked at the map carefully. "These all... seem to be in a pattern."
"Exactly." Mira drew a circle on the map. "They're all forming a perfect circle. Like... deliberately placed."
Kai's face grew grave. "Meaning someone... is intentionally summoning the curses."
"The Organization thinks the same." Mira nodded.
"So what's the plan?" Kai asked.
Mira pointed to the center point on the map.
"Here. Western Ashen Zone. Where the highest energy readings are coming from."
"Western Zone?" Kai looked a bit shocked. "That's a high-level curses area."
"I know." Mira said in a calm voice.
Afternoon — Training Ground
Ryan lay flat on the ground.
His whole body ached.
Mira stood there. Fresh. As if nothing had happened.
"Get up."
"N-no way..." Ryan groaned.
"Then die." Mira said coldly.
Ryan looked at her in shock.
"What?"
"I said... die." Mira repeated. "In a real fight, if you lose... no one will wait. The curse will kill you."
She extended her hand down.
"Now get up. Or quit."
Ryan looked at her hand.
Then... slowly tried to get up on his own.
His whole body hurt. But... he stood up.
Mira gave a slight smile. "Better."
The next two hours... were pure torture.
Mira showed no mercy.
She continuously attacked. Fast. Brutal.
Ryan had to dodge. Block. Try to counter.
His mark activated several times. But every time... Mira was faster than him.
"Slow!" she yelled.
THWACK! The flat side of the sword hit Ryan's leg.
Ryan fell.
"Weak footwork!"
SMACK! Another attack.
"Predictable movements!"
SLASH! This time it missed closely. Ryan's hair got cut.
Ryan was panting. Completely exhausted.
"Are... you trying to kill me?"
Mira lowered her sword.
"No. I'm teaching you how to stay alive."
She threw a water bottle.
Ryan caught it. Started drinking.
"Real curses... are more dangerous than me." Mira said. "If you can't handle my attacks... you have no chance against curses."
Ryan set the bottle down.
"Why... are you doing all this? I mean... why do you care?"
Mira was silent for a moment.
Then... she rolled up her sleeve.
There... was a large scar. Black. Burned.
"My family... was killed by curses. I... survived. But the rest..."
Her voice cracked a bit.
"That's why. I don't want anyone else... to die like that."
Ryan stayed silent.
Mira forced a smile. "Come on. Break's over. Start again."
Evening — Kai's House
Ryan collapsed on the sofa.
Kai took out the first-aid kit.
"Did Mira go too hard?"
"You... said 'gently.'" Ryan said in a tired voice. "Her 'gently' feels like murder."
Kai laughed. "Yes. She's... intense. But effective too."
He applied medicine to Ryan's cuts.
"Tomorrow's the mission. Get some rest."
Ryan nodded.
"Kai... this mission... will it be dangerous?"
Kai paused.
"Yes."
Honest answer.
"But... Mira and I will be with you. You'll be safe."
Ryan looked at his mark.
"This mark... how long will it stay with me?"
Kai closed the first-aid kit.
"As long as you're alive."
"And... if I keep using it?"
Kai looked straight into his eyes.
"Then your life span... will shorten. Every time you use the power... the mark consumes you."
Ryan gulped.
"How much time do I have left?"
"If you don't control the mark... six months." Kai said in a serious tone. "But if you learn control... longer."
"How much longer?"
Kai shrugged his shoulders. "It depends. Some people live years. Some... months."
Silence.
Then Kai placed a hand on Ryan's shoulder.
"That's why training is important. Control... is everything."
Ryan nodded.
Next Morning — 5 AM — East Gate
All three arrived on time.
Mira was in full gear. Kai was coming along too.
"Ready?" Mira asked.
Ryan looked at both nervously. "Y-yes."
"Don't be nervous." Kai said. "Just stay behind us. And if I give the main signal... run immediately."
"Run?"
"Yes." Kai said straight. "Survival first."
The three exited through the gate.
They started walking toward the Western Ashen Zone.
The path... was desolate. Trees burned. Ground covered in black ash.
"Creepy." Ryan said softly.
"Everything here is cursed." Mira said. "That's why... stay alert."
After walking for a while—
Mira suddenly stopped.
"Listen."
Everyone stopped.
Silence.
Just the sound of the wind.
"There's nothing." Kai said.
"Exactly." Mira whispered. "It's too quiet."
Ryan's mark started to feel a bit warm.
"Guys... my mark..."
Then—
A loud noise from the trees.
ROAAAAR!
A large shadow emerged.
Curse.
But... small level.
Mira readied her sword.
But then—
The curse suddenly... changed.
Its form shifted.
And became... a human.
A girl.
Like Mira.
Ryan was shocked.
"M-Mira?!"
The fake Mira gave a creepy smile.
"Boo."
Then... attacked.
Ryan dodged. "Kai! Mira! Help—"
But Kai and Mira... were laughing.
"W-what?!"
The fake Mira changed again. Back to its original curse form.
Mira did a casual slash. The curse dissolved.
"Training exercise." Mira smirked.
Ryan's heart was still racing. "You... you guys! This was a plan?!"
Kai laughed and said— "Yes. We wanted to see how you react in a real threat."
"I... almost died of a heart attack!"
"But you dodged well." Mira said genuinely. "Yesterday's training paid off."
Ryan said annoyed— "You two... are so mean."
Kai and Mira looked at each other. Then laughed.
"Come on." Mira said. "The real mission is still ahead."
Halfway — Old Ruins
The three stopped near an old building.
To rest.
Kai distributed water.
Ryan had relaxed a bit.
"Ryan...." Mira said softly.
"Yes?"
"What happened with your mother?"
Kai and Mira both looked at him.
Ryan took a deep breath.
"My Mom... 8 years ago... my Dad..."
Ryan's voice cracked.
"I was 14 years old. It was 2 AM..."
Flashback — 8 Years Ago
Ryan was lying on his bed. Asleep.
Then—
"AAAHHHH! LET GOOOO!"
A scream. Loud. Terrifying.
Mom's voice.
Ryan woke up immediately. His heart started pounding.
He slowly exited his room.
Went toward mom's room.
The door... was slightly open.
From inside... strange sounds were coming.
Crying. Screaming. And... something else.
Then—
DHAPP!
The door opened fully.
Dad came out.
In his hand... a lighter. And a bottle. Of petrol.
Ryan immediately hid behind the wall.
His heart was pounding loudly.
Dad... was completely calm. No emotion.
Like... doing some normal task.
He lit the lighter.
Ryan peeked a little.
Dad... threw the lighter down. Into the room.
WHOOOOSH!
Flames erupted.
From inside... mom's scream came.
"NO! PLEASSEEEE!"
But the door... Dad closed it.
Ryan's entire body froze.
He couldn't move.
Just... watched.
Then—
He looked ahead.
At the other room's door... Ara was standing.
5 years old. Tiny.
Her eyes... wide with fear.
"Brother..." she whispered softly.
Ryan came to his senses.
He ran to Ara.
Pulled her into his room.
Closed the door.
Placed his hand over Ara's mouth. "Shhh... quiet... absolutely quiet..."
Ara was crying. But not making a sound.
Outside... the sound of fire.
Mom's screams... slowly... faded.
And then... silence.
Ryan and Ara... held each other... trembling.
Ryan... slowly picked up the phone.
"Hello... police... I need help..."
Present — Ruins
Tears were falling from Ryan's eyes.
"Police came. Arrested Dad. In court... he didn't say anything. Just... quietly went to jail."
Mira had her hand over her mouth. Eyes wide.
Kai... was completely still.
Chapter 3 — END
Next Chapter 4: "Into The Ashen Zone"