Location: Public Park – Iraq/Baghdad
Time: 4:10 PM
Date: January 23, 2023
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"Two days have passed since that incident. I still don't know how it all happened…"
Ryan walks among the wooden benches and scattered flowers, a weight pressing on his chest despite the clear, gentle weather around him.
He looks up at the sky, as if some destiny is waiting for him in the future…
The leaves of the trees were dancing with the wind, and the sound of children could be heard in the distance.
But then… a soft voice comes from in front of him…
Mia (gently): "Hey, Rion!"
Ryan raises an eyebrow in confusion, shocked to see his childhood friend appear out of nowhere.
Ryan: "Rion? That's a strange name…"
Mia (giggles softly): "We haven't met since elementary school…"
Ryan (seriously): "But we met two months ago?"
Mia: "Two months? To me it felt like eight years!"
Mia laughs sweetly…
But soon she notices Ryan's thoughtful gaze, as if something deep lies within him.
The wind gently plays with her hair… and she steps a bit closer to Ryan.
Mia (softly): "Is something bothering you?"
Ryan: "W-What?"
Mia: "I can sense a certain worry in you… like something inside you is scared."
Ryan exhales quietly… and they begin walking side by side.
Ryan (in a defeated, sad tone): "I feel a little overwhelmed… I feel like people are mocking me. I feel like a failure."
Mia gently pulls something from her pocket and holds it out to Ryan.
Mia (with a wink): "I don't think chocolate can heal a crying heart… but it's worth a try, right?"
Ryan (raising an eyebrow): "But I'm not crying…"
Mia (interrupting): "Nooo, you feel sad… so just take the chocolate!!"
But… Mia just wanted to give him a piece of chocolate for her own reasons.
Ryan accepts the chocolate gently and takes a small bite, then responds in a slightly softer tone:
Ryan: "Okay… this chocolate kind of made me forget the sadness."
Suddenly… the world around Ryan is filled with blood and corpses.
But before he can understand what's happening, everything returns to normal…
"What is this place? Why are there corpses? Why is there blood everywhere? Am I hallucinating?"
But his thoughts are interrupted by Mia's voice:
Mia (even more softly): "So… can I learn a little more about you now?"
Ryan (trembling, his eyes filled with fear): "No…"
Suddenly, Mia's heart shatters, her hopes crushed, and a small tear falls…
Ryan (frozen in place): "Huh?"
Mia (trying to hold back her tears): "I wanted to get closer to you… but…"
Ryan: "That's… not something I can say to just anyone…"
Mia (disappointed tone): "But I'm not just anyone… didn't we always break elementary school rules together?"
Ryan looks around slightly,
Then takes a deep breath…
Ryan (whispering): "I'll tell you a secret… but only if you promise not to tell anyone."
Mia's eyes widen. Ryan had never opened up or shared a single secret before…
Mia (wiping her tears): "Okay… I promise not to tell anyone."
Ryan: "The secret… is that I possess black blood, known as the Blood of the Curse King. It runs uniquely in my bloodline…"
Mia (shocked and frozen): "The Curse King? You're joking… right?"
(She whispers) "Ryan… this is impossible… impossible…"
Ryan (more seriously): "No, I'm serious. I'm not joking… my bloodline traces back to the Curse King Azarius…"
A long silence fell between them...
Mia (looking away with a calm tone): "What's your rank? And how do you use it?"
Rayne: "I don't know..."
Mia was surprised—how could someone have a power and not even know how to use it?
Rayne: "I didn't even know I had the blood of the Curse King… I don't know anything about my ability."
Mia placed her hand on her chin and thought for a moment...
Mia: "Why don't you go to the International Training Camp run by the 'Heroa Unit'? They'll most likely accept you."
Rayne: "R-Really? Why didn't I think of that before… But what's the point?"
Mia (explaining like a math teacher): "The camp is located north of the capital. It's designed for people with special powers. I heard they only accept rare individuals—and you… you're extremely rare."
Information about The Hero Unit:
An international magical organization that oversees the use and legal rights of magic. It has branches and camps around the world, and is recognized by all nations.
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Seventeen minutes passed…
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While Rayne and Mia walked together for a bit,
Mia had something on her mind she wanted to tell him.
Mia (whispering nervously): "Rayne… do you remember… the day it was raining and we ran under the rain together?"
Rayne paused, looking at the trees swaying gently with the breeze.
He closed his eyes slightly, as if the memory was returning to him…
Rayne: "That was the day your shoes tore… and you started crying like a little kid, didn't you?"
Mia giggled softly and gave him a playful wink.
Mia: "At least I wasn't afraid of the lightning like you!"
Rayne (sighing): "I wasn't scared… I was just being cautious."
Mia smiled and continued walking beside him in the public garden,
where tall trees surrounded a narrow stone path scattered with brown and yellow leaves—
remnants of autumn, even though it was winter.
The wooden benches were faded by time, and the small lanterns hanging from tall iron poles weren't lit yet,
but their presence added a poetic charm to the place.
They sat on a bench far from the others, overlooking a still, small lake.
Its calm surface reflected the sky, now turning a soft orange as the sun began to set.
Mia (gazing at the lake): "You know, Rayne… I'm scared."
Rayne (surprised): "You? Scared?"
Mia (in a soft whisper): "Yes… scared that we'll be separated again, like last time."
Rayne lowered his head silently, then spoke in a quiet voice:
"Me too… I don't want to lose you. But things aren't simple… I'm always busy with my studies, and I hardly have time."
Mia (gently): "Even if it's complicated, I'm here. And I'll stay here."
A short silence followed, broken only by the soft sound of water gently hitting the lake's stone edge,
like a quiet melody supporting their moment.
Rayne (looking at her): "Mia… can you help me understand my power?"
Mia smiled with confidence, and reached out her hand to him.
Mia: "Of course! We'll figure it out together… but first, we need one important piece of information."
Rayne: "What is it?"
Mia (serious but smiling): "Do you like milk chocolate… or dark? Because we're going to train for hours—and we'll need energy!"
Rayne laughed, for the first time in days.
A soft, but genuine laugh.
Mia (blushing): "Your laugh… it's beautiful."
Rayne (turning away): "Oh, stop saying that..."
Then suddenly, the atmosphere shifted.
A strong cold wind blew, shaking the trees with unusual force.
Rayne quickly stood up, looking around.
"Did you feel that?"
Mia looked up at the sky, which had suddenly turned a deep, dark gray…
A sound of an explosion echoed out of nowhere!
Rayne (whispering): "What… was that?"
Mia (whispering): "Rayne… that was an explosion on the street near this park..."
Rayne (tense): "I need to find out who's behind it!!"
Mia quickly grabbed his hand.
Mia: "Whatever it is… we shouldn't walk into danger. Remember? I'm not leaving you alone."
Rayne looked at her hand…
then toward the explosion…
Then he closed his eyes and calmly said:
"Alright, Mia…"