The time was early in the morning, Soomin usually wakes up around dawn. She liked this quiet time since it gave her peace of mind and helped her think clearly. She usually sleeps early so she doesn't feel that sleepy when she wakes up around this time.
After that, she would usually have a shower, change clothes, and then leave for a jog. In the last few months, she started working on her stamina and physical strength a lot more. Her friends were already growing stronger and she didn't want to fall behind.
However, the past few days have been quite rough. Her mind was too occupied to really focus on anything. After all, she was too worried about a particular person. One of her closest friends was going through something that she can only describe as 'Self-Destruction'.
She had never seen her in such a state before in her life and she knew the reason for it. After all, everyone else was feeling the same, to a way lesser degree, but still the same.
Exiting her small apartment that she received just recently, the cold wind of the morning hit her face. Looking around her, she admired the scenery. After living here for so long, the destroyed Seoul had somehow become a familiar sight.
Granted, many buildings were being rebuilt and broken streets were being restored. But, in general, the city still needed a lot of work to return to its previous glory. As she took a step forward to start running, she felt the weight on her shoulders increase.
After the recent events, the world's gravity has increased by leaps and bounds. That was the natural consequence of the size of the earth increasing and it did cause some trouble. But, since most people have already trained their bodies, they could handle it.
As she started jogging, a cloud of smoke would come out of her mouth with each breath. She ran through the empty, quiet streets of Seoul. Her mind was occupied with many things, but her legs simply moved monotonously.
Some time passed and Soomin found herself on the other side of the city. This part was still not fully inhabited by the survivors as it was still in the works. But, it was still safe enough not to worry about a monster appearing out of nowhere.
As she was running, she heard a sound coming from a distance. Stopping in her tracks, she looked around her confusedly.
'What was that?' She asked herself as she cautiously pulled a dagger out of her back pocket. It was a safety weapon she kept with her in case something bad happened when her real weapon wasn't with her.
At that moment, she heard the noise again, this time far clearer. So, with careful steps, she started approaching the noise, expecting it to be some kind of monster. However, as she grew closer to it, she realized that this wasn't the sound of a monster. It was human sounds.
Eventually, the trail led her to a small park in the corner of the street. Peeking from the corner, she saw someone there, holding a sword as they slashed and stabbed with it continuously. Their movements were precise, fluid, and extremely beautiful, like an elegant dance of sorts.
However, that dance was ruined by the aggressive thrusts and stabs, as if the person who was performing this dance couldn't focus much. Their movements were filled with anger, sadness, and endless grief. Even an untrained eye could see it and feel it.
Staring at that person, Soomin gasped. She knew who that was, it was the person she had been thinking about this entire time.
'Hyun-Jae? Why is she training here all alone?' She asked herself.
Just a small glance at her friend's eyes made her flinch before she shook her head. "For how long, huh? For how long do you think you can continue on that path? Do you think you're immortal?" She yelled angrily.
She genuinely had enough of her friend being this ignorant. Hyun-Jae was extremely smart but she had that stubborn side of her that didn't easily listen to other people's words even if they made sense. She was the type of person who if she puts her mind into something, bad or good, it was hard to make her not do it unless she truly cared about that person's opinion.
It was a really bad side of her.
"I can handle a few days of no sleep if I need to. When I feel like I have to sleep, I will. You don't need to concern yourself with this."
"No! It is my concern! You are one of my best friends! I can't let you self-destruct like this! He would've not been happy to see you turn this wa-"
Before Soomin could even finish her words, Hyun-Jae's aura suddenly exploded. Soomin felt a crushing pressure fall on her shoulders as if she were carrying a huge boulder.
"Don't... Even speak." Then, Hyun-Jae said in a slow, chilling tone. For a second, Soomin could see a terrifying glint in her friend's eyes.
Something that she had never seen before in her life. Her mind stopped thinking for a good few moments. During which, Hyun-Jae seemed to realize what she had done and shook her head.
"Let's cut this topic here. I do not have time for pointless debate. I'm leaving." She said as she picked up her sword and started walking away.
With that, Soomin stood there alone in the darkness. Turning around slowly, she saw her friend walking away. The dark aura around her was still there, as visible as day to her. That only made her lips quiver as tears welled up in her eyes.
Putting her hand on her mouth with a shaky movement, she closed her eyes. 'God... I'm really losing her... And I can't do anything about it...'
She understood at that moment that her efforts this entire time were useless. Her words weren't even reaching her friend, let alone affecting her. This entire time, she has been talking to no one. Trying to convince someone who didn't even want to listen.
Falling down to the ground, she cried silently. She was feeling completely helpless.
'Talon... Please look over her... She is getting lost.' Looking up, she could only pray for her friend.
The only person that can truly affect her and the only person she would listen to is Talon. If he was here, he could've helped her. No, if he was still here, she would've never fallen into such a state in the first place.
Yet, that person is no longer with them.
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