Escape in the Darkness

The rain-soaked streets muffled even their breaths. Cheonwoong and Aria sprinted forward, their footsteps splashing through the cold puddles. Behind them, ominous whispers and eerie shifting shadows closed in.

"There!"

Cheonwoong pointed ahead, where an old, rusted sewer grate stood. Aria dashed toward it, pushing it open with a creaking groan. Darkness swallowed them whole as they slipped inside.

Catching their breath, they cautiously examined their surroundings. The sewer was deeper and wider than expected. The distant trickling of water echoed, and faint scurrying sounds hinted at unseen vermin.

"I can't believe we had to run all the way here…" Cheonwoong gritted his teeth.

Aria remained silent, watching him closely. She hoped he hadn't noticed her using magic moments ago. Just before the shadows could reach them, she had subtly shifted the air currents with a flick of her fingers, creating a gust that bought them time to escape.

But Cheonwoong seemed to think it was sheer luck.

"We should stay hidden for a while."

Taking the lead, he began walking deeper into the sewer. Aria followed quietly, but after only a few steps, they both halted.

A strange sound echoed ahead. Amidst the steady dripping of water, an eerie whisper slithered through the darkness.

"…It comes…"

"…We found you…"

Cheonwoong and Aria instinctively stepped back. From the shadows, figures emerged—different from the ones that had pursued them earlier. These had definite forms: elongated fingers, contorted limbs, and hollow, glowing eyes.

"This isn't just some ordinary shadow," Cheonwoong muttered.

"Cheonwoong, we have to move!" Aria called urgently.

But the figures had already begun to close in.

Cheonwoong unsheathed his sword, stepping forward and slashing at them. The blade passed through like mist, the shadows reforming instantly.

"Damn it… It's not working!"

He clenched his jaw. Aria hesitated. If she used magic now, they could escape. But if Cheonwoong realized it…

"Ugh!"

One of the figures latched onto his ankle. A chilling sensation crawled up his skin. He struck down with his sword, but it had no effect.

There was no other choice.

Silently, without a trace…

Aria lifted her hand.

"Eras Velor."

A whispered incantation. Invisible waves rippled through the air, surrounding Cheonwoong. The shadow's grip loosened and fell away.

Cheonwoong noticed the sudden shift but didn't realize it was magic.

"What the—?"

He frowned in confusion but quickly regained focus, picking up his sword again.

"This is our chance! Run!"

Aria bolted forward, and Cheonwoong followed.

At the end of the tunnel, a metal grate led to the outside. Together, they pushed it open. The cold night air hit their faces as they climbed out.

Cheonwoong panted.

"How… did we survive that? I was sure we were done for…"

Aria forced a casual smile.

"Maybe we just got lucky."

He stared at her, his gaze unreadable. Then, he let out a sigh, shaking his head.

"Yeah… Let's go with that."

Aria quietly exhaled in relief. But deep down, she knew.

Cheonwoong was starting to suspect something.

How much longer could she keep this secret?

From the distance, more shadows began to stir.

The chase wasn't over yet.

Cheonwoong and Aria ran once more. The rain poured relentlessly, as if determined to follow their every step. But ahead, in the far distance, a faint light shone—hope flickering in the darkness.

"There! If we can just make it—!"

Cheonwoong shouted between heavy breaths. But just then, more shadows emerged, blocking their path.

"These things just won't quit."

Gripping his sword, Cheonwoong prepared to fight once more, his forehead damp with rain and sweat.

Aria hesitated. Could they escape without magic?

But if she used it now, Cheonwoong would surely notice.

The shadows moved differently this time. Instead of attacking outright, they began closing in, forming a suffocating circle around them.

'This is bad.'

Aria had no choice.

Stealthily, she lifted her fingers once more.

"Eras Velor."

A subtle energy pulsed through the air, disturbing the shadows ever so slightly. They wavered but did not dissipate. She needed something stronger.

'This won't be enough…'

Murmuring under her breath, she called forth another spell.

"Carmina Ignis."

(Flames of judgment, consume our foes.)

A faint heat rippled through the air. Though no visible fire appeared, the shadows recoiled as if in pain.

Cheonwoong furrowed his brows.

"What the hell…? They're… reacting to something?"

Thinking quickly, Aria responded.

"Maybe they're weaker in wet areas? The moisture might be affecting them!"

Cheonwoong hesitated, then nodded.

"Then this is our chance—move!"

With the shadows momentarily weakened, they dashed forward.

As long as Aria maintained the spell, the creatures couldn't attack. The two of them finally slipped past the last barrier and burst through the exit.

The night air was crisp and cold. But they didn't stop running.

When they finally glanced back, the shadows were gone. They lingered only within the sewer, as if bound by some unseen force.

Cheonwoong collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily.

"…We made it."

Aria leaned against a wall, catching her breath.

"Yeah… barely."

Her hands trembled slightly. Had Cheonwoong noticed?

For a long moment, he was silent. Then, he turned to her, his expression unreadable.

"Aria."

She flinched.

"…Yeah?"

He hesitated, then shook his head.

"Never mind. Just… if you weren't here, I wouldn't have made it."

She smiled faintly.

"We made it together."

Cheonwoong said nothing more.

The rain continued to fall, the night stretching endlessly before them.

The danger had passed.

For now.

But Aria knew one thing.

Someday, he would find out the truth.

And when that moment came…

What would he do?

Cheonwoong glanced at her again, his eyes unreadable.

He said nothing.

But in that silence, Aria understood.

For now, he had decided—not to ask.

And so, the secret remained.

For just a little longer.

Aria got busted and again, Cheonwoong noticed; tacit silence, not bringing anything out of its mind.