[Novel] The Mirror [Chapter 3 (2/3)]

Myungwoo stepped out of his bedroom. It's the second night and just like the first night, he couldn't sleep again. He blamed his sleep-in-the-morning habit. 

It can be tolerated if he has usual working hours but since the get-together rundown starts at 7 for tomorrow, he'll be in big trouble if he can't wake up on time. 

He is considering whether he should just go to the mirror world - since it's still just 12 AM - then have some training to make him tired then sleep easier. He walked closer to the shore while taking deep breaths.

"I said it's not because I don't want to see you oppa."

Myungwoo turns his head around, and there is someone who sits on the sand near the shore. A girl with long wavy hair sat there - Kang Sikyung.

"I said it's not true. Why are you keep picking up a fight with me?"

She raised her voice tone while messing her hair - but she doesn't look ugly with messed hair.

"Listen, I'm busy these days. I'll talk to you again after I come back to Seoul, okay?"

She cut off the call.

"What's happening with him these days?" she grumbled, "why is he getting this sensitive..."

Then Sikyung realized Myungwoo kept staring at her. 

"Oh? Did I wake you up? Is my voice too loud?"

"Oh no, not at all. I just can't sleep so I'm walking around."

"I can't sleep either. Is walking on the shore helped?"

She jumps off then cleans her butt with two of her palms before walking to join Myungwoo. 

"Well, I don't know, I'll just try it tonight."

"Then let's try together. Who knows we can sleep soon then."

It's weird but Myungwoo finds it so easy to talk to Sikyung, as if they already knew each other for a long time. He should thank Bonhwa who let him know about her.

"Minsook hyeong?"

Minsook turns his body and finds out that the one who just called him was Minseong.

"Oh my gosh, Minsook hyeong! I thought I saw the wrong person!"

Minseong is running happily to Minsook's side.

"What are you doing here, hyeong?" asked Minseong then his eyes widened as he saw the things Minsook brought, "are you one of our photographers?"

"Right. But I'm just being hired here for a day and my job is just to take some behind the scenes photos of you guys and the models."

"That's not bad either! Please take many pretty pictures of me, hyeong!" Minseong giggling.

"Here you are, Minseong."

"Minjoon hyeong, you already come!"

Even Minsook can feel the star energy this man brings as he steps closer to them: Bang Minjoon. People call him the rising star. He is actually still quite a new model but he reached his stardom in just less than a year.

"Oh Minsook hyeong, this is Minjoon hyeong, one of the models. His family is living in the same apartment with us so we have known each other since 4 or 5 years ago, I guess? Minjoon hyeong, he is Park Minsook, one of our photographers for today."

"Please take care of me well."

Minsook has heard that Minjoon is a very friendly person, and that's true, he even bows a little to Minsook.

"Nice to meet you. Let's have a good day today."

"Let's work hard, three of us," said Minseong while holding the other two men's arms, "let's take coffee? Our fans sent us a food truck this morning!"

Myungwoo just drank his third cup of coffee this morning. Walking together with Sikyung last night was not a good idea. It doesn't mean he doesn't like it, but he thinks talking with her is addictive. 

Sikyung is very bubbly so they talked as if they already knew each other for a long time. They finished talking by 4 in the morning so Myungwoo only had 2 hours of sleep. And now he can't see Sikyung's whereabouts. Bonhwa steps closer to him to take his coffee too.

"Do you see Sikyung, hyeong?" asked Bonhwa as he took his cup of coffee.

"I saw her last night. Both of us can't sleep so we take a walk along the shore. But I'm certain she went back to her bedroom."

Bonhwa stops his action - the cup is on the tip of his lips - but he obviously hasn't sip his coffee. He is staring at Myungwoo with the expression that makes Myungwoo feel awkward.

"What?"

"Nothing. But I can't find her now while we need her to take some pictures. Can you please check on her, hyeong?"

"Alright then."

Myungwoo finished his coffee then walked to the area where the villas are. Myungwoo knows which villa Sikyung is living in since he walked her there last night. It's 10 in the morning, maybe Sikyung just slept over. He knocked on the door.

"Sikyung-ssi?"

But there is no answer. He tries to knock on the door several times while keeping calling her name but still no answer. Suddenly he remembered what happened with Ok halmeoni a long time ago.

"But there is no way that would happen, right? Sikyung also doesn't look sick."

Myungwoo talked by himself but his thoughts kept on working. It is true Sungmi said the reason that humans get attacked is because of a human's weak heart or hatred heart. But how if that's not the reason anymore? Even last time when they faced the ghosts, they were bravely entering their world. 

How if the evil guardians now are in a rush just to get more energy since they know element guardians are being awakened, so they should do their duty faster too? This isn't a good thought, Myungwoo thinks, but there is really no reason for them to attack Sikyung. But do they really need reason just to attack someone randomly? With this final thought, Myungwoo tries to open the door - it's unlocked. 

"Sikyung-ssi?"

Myungwoo then walks to the bedroom and his thought is correct: Sikyung is laying on the bed with a pale face while a string of light connects from her body to the big mirror in front of the bed.

"You guys just never let us rest, don't you?"

Myungwoo lay down on the mat and - because of training - easily separated his soul and body then stepped inside the mirror without hesitation for a second.

No way, said Minsook in his thoughts. He almost drops the camera he is holding when the scene of Myungwoo entering a big mirror appears before him. He quickly runs to the corner of the big room they are using for shooting to get the phone and call Bonhwa. 

Minsook was informed about the get-together by the XTREME ART Company three days ago from Myungwoo. 

"Come on hyeong, accept it, accept it..."

"Yeoboseyo! Minsook? What's happening?"

"Bonhwa hyeong, are you with Myungwoo hyeong now?"

"Myungwoo hyeong? I just sent him to find someone. What's happening? Do you wanna talk with him?"

"No no hyeong, listen," said Minsook then slowly lowered his tone, "I saw a prophecy. Myungwoo hyeong will or now already entered the mirror world. I saw a long-haired girl on the bed, her energy was being absorbed."

"What? Wait let me go there to check on him. How about you there, is everything's fine?"

"Yes hyeong. Do you need us to go there? I'm with Minseong now but we are in the middle of our work."

"No, don't worry, Myungwoo is quite a fighter. But can you contact Daesun hyeong? He needs time to come here though, maybe he can just meet us in the mirror world."

"Right, we have Daesun hyeong! Let me help with it and take care, hyeong!"

"What happened?"

This time Minsook almost dropped his phone as he found out Minseong was standing behind him.

"There's an attack in the XTREME ART's event. Myungwoo hyeong and Bonhwa hyeong are going to the mirror world. I will contact Daesun hyeong to meet them there, we don't know what kind of creature is waiting for them."

"Do you think we should just go and help them, hyeong?"

"I..."

And Minsook can't continue his words because another prophecy just appeared before him. The sky is dark... the room they are using now... scream and laugh... there are things that are flying, it's small, and there are many of them... but he can't recognize them... he can see him standing side by side with Minseong, both holding their weapons... but the situation is getting more hazy... 

he can see there is someone jumping in the middle of the room while holding a trident... and another person suddenly appear beside that person... then a loud scream is heard again... and everything becomes too hazy...

"Minsook hyeong?"

Minsook is holding Minseong's arm, "we shouldn't go there. First, we are working. Second, Myungwoo hyeong is quite a fighter and he'll have Bonhwa hyeong and Daesun hyeong soon, I think they will do fine. Third, I just got another prophecy... something will happen here, in this room, tonight. 

And I might just see new guardians with us, two new guardians, one who seems quite familiar to me but I can't see the person clearly... and I also can't recognize our enemy which means that's not good."

"Should I just make a fuss to end the shooting quickly?"

"You can't be that obvious, Minseong. But there is one thing we can do... once it's getting dark, please stay close to me."

"Alright, I'll be aware, hyeong."

Bonhwa stepped into the mirror world confidently with his trident on his hand. He listens very carefully to find out where Myungwoo might be fighting now, and soon he can hear the screaming sound from the north of the forest. He quickly jumped there while cutting off some sharp branches. 

Finally he can see Myungwoo is being attacked by flying creatures, there are so many of them and their size is around the size of a human's palm, they're flying while spreading some kind of colorful dust.

"Myungwoo hyeong!"

"Bonhwa, you're here!"

Myungwoo furiously swings his ax but he doesn't even hit any of them - these creatures are super fast.

"WHAT IS THIS?" screamed Bonhwa while starting to thrust with his trident.

"I don't know but try to avoid the dust, it makes me dizzy!"

But Myungwoo's reminder seems a bit late since Bonhwa just inhales some of the dust and suddenly he can't see well. The scene in front of him seems a bit hazy as if they are in the middle of a cloudy place.

"Hyeong, I can't see well!"

"Damn it, they are so fast! I can't hit even one of them! This isn't effective. I think we should attack them with something more than our weapon! I think we should use magic... but Minsook isn't here," complained Myungwoo while jumping away from some falling dust, "or attacking shields! Daesun... we need Daesun!"

"I told Minsook we need Daesun hyeong. Minsook got a prophecy and he told me you're here!"

"But for now, we need to find out how to get rid of these creatures! I can't step closer to Sikyung's string of energy!"

Daesun is running along the corridor in the castle. His breath is getting faster as he pacing up.

"Daesun?"

Princess Sungmi appears at the end of the corridor and she looks extremely pale today. 

"Princess, Myungwoo and Bonhwa are here. I think we need to find them then help them out."

"Grab some of this!"

Sungmi threw some bottles of chocolate which were grabbed by Daesun and he put it in his small bag where he stores his arrows. Then Sungmi ran out of the castle followed by Daesun. Sungmi is kneeling down and putting her morning star on the ground as she shut her eyes.

"I detect their location - only Earth and Water element guardians can do this - but for a Water Guardian like you, you need to find nearest water - like a river or pond - to detect your friends' whereabouts. They are not far," said Sungmi, "let's go, Daesun!"

"Hyeong, do you wanna hear my idea?" asked Bonhwa, half screaming, his eyesight is getting bad as it's hard to avoid the dust when he can't see clearly.

"What Bonhwa?" asked Myungwoo while swinging his ax randomly.

"Let's run for now. I don't mean we'll leave Sikyung but let's hope she can hold on while we find another way out."

"I agree. Let's retreat to the castle for now."

"Do you know where the direction of the castle is now, hyeong?"

"I don't know, I can't think, let's make my mind clear first by not inhaling this damn dust! RETREAT!"

Myungwoo and Bonhwa are running away from those tiny creatures but they don't give up by just letting the two of them run away. They can hear the sharp high tone sound they make - quite sound as annoying as imp's but more lively - behind them as they run. 

"THEY CHASE US!" screamed Bonhwa, who was running behind Myungwoo.

But suddenly, without Bonhwa realizing what just happened, he suddenly hopped on the ground between the rather dark dense forest. The trees look taller in front of him, even the grass too. He just knows that he just turned into his hare form. And there is another good thing: he can see clearly now - just maybe, Bonhwa thinks, the dust can't affect him if he is in his animal form. 

Bonhwa turned around and jumped to the nearest creature and screamed in shock. They seem angry and throw dust to Bonhwa - but he is correct, nothing can affect him. It looks like his strategy is correct, now the creature is focusing on him and Myungwoo is jumping away. 

"Myungwoo!"

Myungwoo can feel his mind is working better now and he sees Sungmi and Daesun are running towards him. 

"Princess! I don't know what's just attacking me and Bonhwa! It's tiny, it can fly and throw colorful dust!"

"That's a fairy! But I don't expect they could attack people except... oh no way. We should find their leader then. But... where is Bonhwa?"

"Where is Bonhwa?" Myungwoo asked the same question as he turned around and found there was no Bonhwa behind him.

"Did you leave him?" Daesun asked while running past Myungwoo.

They run again to enter the forest and soon they can see a hare hopping angrily while the fairies - like what Sungmi said - try to attack it.

"Smart Bonhwa, the fairies can't attack him in animal form!"

"They are so fast, I can't attack them!"

"Minimize the casualties, fairies come in a big crowd so it will waste our time to kill them one by one. Listen, we should find the leader. Usually their leader is hiding in the forest. First, Daesun, use an attacking shield to protect us while we try to find the leader!" screamed Sungmi while swinging her morning star to make them stop attacking Bonhwa the hare, "Bonhwa, I'm sorry but let me do this to take you along!"

Sungmi grabbed Bonhwa's body and it makes Bonhwa shocked - it feels weird being grabbed by a human.

"Attacking shield!"

Daesun raises up his bow and a transparent bubble protecting Myungwoo, Sungmi and Bonhwa the hare as they circling close to each other.

"We should walk closer because Daesun's attacking shield's range is just wide enough to protect three people. Bonhwa, you need to stay in your hare form. The fairy leader must be somewhere near this forest. Listen, fairies don't usually attack people if they are not being threatened or the leader is under curse. 

Fairies are fast and their dust is magical - it can give different side effects to the person who inhales it - some will feel dizzy, some blind, some can't breath and some paralyzed - until you inhale a certain amount and you pass out. And it can eventually kill you too."

Myungwoo stares at the fairies who bump the shield angrily but scream afterwards - it hurts them and if they keep insisting to get in, they might die.

"One dead, two will come. Fairies are very loyal creatures so it won't end by just killing them. You guys need practice too before fighting with them."

"Do you have any idea where the leader is?" asked Myungwoo, still amazed with Daesun's attacking shield.

"Let's run to the darker area for now."

Daesun lowered his bow and suddenly the shield around them was gone.

"NO!" Myungwoo screamed loudly then ducked near the ground to protect his face from the dust.

"Attacking shield!" Daesun screamed again, "sorry that was... tiring."

"I understand your energy is limited. Let's run a little bit but stay inside the shield range."

Myungwoo just never imagined tiny creatures can cause them a lot of trouble even though he is already practicing hard. Then what about their future adventure? And their future? And Sikyung? Will she still be okay?

Minseong is sitting beside Minsook as they eat their dinner in the big room. He is staring at Minsook nervously from time to time.

"Is there any news from the hyeongs' side?" asked Minseong in a low tone.

"No. I'm really worried about them but I can't just leave the set. When can we finish the shooting?" asked Minsook after biting the chicken meat.

"The director said we need 2 more hours. And it's already dark. Hyeong, are you sure about your prophecy?"

"I remember the princess said if my prophecy is weak, it might be distorted. But we can't run from this situation. If it's true, then the two of us need to protect everyone here."

"But the thing that makes me nervous is the creature that hyeong can't see in your prophecy. Do you really can't see it again?"

"No, the prophecy always goes like that. And I'm sure I can't recognize our enemy."

"I'm nervous because I don't have much time to do training this week."

"And now I regret the same thing, Minseong."

"Aaaaaaa what is that?"

Minseong and Minsook freeze in the middle of eating their dinner as one of the female staff runs into their room. One... two... three... they can witness what is the creature they were talking about: a tiny flying human. 

Their faces look angry and they spread colorful dust around the room. More of them come and bump their body to the panicking humans before they put their tiny hands on the human's chest and pull out the string of light. 

They fly across the room to the nearest mirror. People are screaming as those creatures block and close all the doors... more humans collapsed as they inhaled the dust.

"What the heck is that?" asked Minsook.

"There is no time, hyeong. Let's attack them now!"

Minseong is holding his ax in an instant then jumps high to swing it to a big group of fairies. Seeing Minseong is fighting, Minsook quickly makes his staff appear on his hand. This is almost the same with what he saw in his prophecy. Minsook mumbling a spell and a pile of stone gets produced from his staff before hitting the fairies. 

Some of them run away and some scream in anger. They fly towards Minsook and throw their dust. It's too late for Minsook to dodge and he inhales the dust. Soon, Minsook sneezes and he feels suffocated.

"Minseong, be careful of the dust! Don't inhale it!"

Minseong jumped to Minsook's side.

"Hyeong, are you okay? I killed some of them but more just came out of the mirror!"

"I don't have any idea what we should do... I can't breathe... properly..."

Minsook looks around and the scene before him is really a mess: more people collapsed with string on their chest; the fairies flying around and spread more dust... he should protect Minseong while the other hyeongs might be fighting in the mirror world... but what should he do? Suddenly the door breaks open forcefully. 

And he can finally see someone who holds a trident: it's none other than his best friend Choi Kichul. He can see the white light shining dim around Kichul's body. Kichul ran towards Minseong and Minsook.

"Debrief me!" he demanded.

"I don't really know too..." said Minsook in between his hard breath.

"I'll just kill them!"

Minseong and Minsook watching Kichul in an awe: he can easily avoid the colorful dust by appear and disappear around the room, and in between that, he also stab some fairies with his trident: some dead - but just like Minseong said, more fairies came out of the mirror.

"They just keep coming if we kill them?" asked Kichul, starting to feel annoyed.

He raises up his left hand to a group of fairies and suddenly - Minseong can see it clearly - their eyes turn red and they turn around to throw the dust to the other group of fairies. The other group gets mad and they throw dust at each other.

"That's cool..." Minseong said it out of his mind.

Then the next scene almost makes Minseong cursed - Minjoon, the model and also his neighbor - suddenly appear beside Kichul and on his hand, he is holding a sword. He is looking around to learn the situation. He looks confused for a moment, before he suddenly turns into a big wolf. 

The furry wolf jumped to a group of fairies and with his claw, he attacked them and made them scream loudly.

"So suddenly... Do we have two new guardians?" asked Minseong in confusion, "and they seem trained well too. They look so cool. I don't remember I was like that in my first battle."

Minjoon the wolf jumps in front of Minseong while groaning loudly.

"I'm sorry hyeong but I also met the fairies for the first time... so I don't know exactly how to fight them."

Minjoon is groaning again.

"Kill them fast? Minsook hyeong, can you still fight?"

"I feel better without inhaling their dust."

"Hyeong, Minjoon hyeong said I better wait in front of the big mirror, that one looks like the entrance, so I will just kill anything which appears from that mirror while three of you attack the one who is in this room."

"Okay, let's do that for now."

Kichul stands near them then smiles, "should I hypnotize more of them?"

"That's cool, buddy!" Minsook stands up and pats Kichul's back.

"Let's fight!" screamed Kichul as he raised up his trident and charged forward.