Chapter 3 – Hope in Andora

Morning arrived. Birds chirped to welcome the dawn above the village of Andora. The five of them woke up and walked with Belinda toward the village chief's house.

Inside, an old man lay weakly. His skin was pale, his breathing heavy. Belinda sat by the bed, tightly holding her grandfather's hand.

"How are you all doing?" Hyunwoo asked gently, his voice trying to break the silence.

Belinda lifted her face. Her puffy eyes showed exhaustion and sorrow. "My grandfather… he's sick. I've had to care for him alone. I didn't even get the chance to sell the village's harvest…"

Tears began to fall. "I feel... useless."

Moments later, Yerin stepped forward and gently touched the elder's forehead. Belinda flinched, but Yerin simply smiled reassuringly.

"It's okay, Belinda. I can heal your grandfather," she said.

All eyes turned to her. Taeyang chuckled, "Oh right! I forgot... you're a doctor, aren't you? Haha!"

Hyunwoo gave a small smile, visibly impressed.

"So… what's his illness?" Wonho asked flatly.

"From the symptoms… looks like a regular fever. I can treat it," Yerin replied quickly.

She turned to Taeyang, "You said you're familiar with plants, right? I need ginger, gleva root, blue flowers (hydrangea), and cashew seeds."

Taeyang nodded firmly. "Leave it to me."

Yerin looked at Belinda. "Can you help me find warm water and a clean cloth?"

Belinda nodded softly, then hurried out of the room.

Not long after, the ingredients Yerin requested were gathered. She deftly mixed them in a small pot borrowed from the villagers. Her hands moved swiftly, her eyes focused.

After a few minutes, the concoction was ready. Yerin applied a compress to the elder and gently wiped his sweat.

One hour... two hours…

The old eyes slowly opened.

"Grandpa…?" Belinda whispered hopefully.

"Belinda... crying again?" he murmured weakly, yet with warmth.

As the elder woke up, everyone let out a quiet cheer. Belinda immediately hugged him, while relieved smiles spread across Yerin and Taeyang's faces.

But behind that smile, Yerin hid unease.

"…That remedy worked very quickly… almost like... it had a magical effect…" she murmured, eyes distant.

Hyunwoo approached the village chief's bed and spoke softly. The conversation couldn't be heard clearly, but the serious expression on their faces was telling.

A few moments later, the chief gave a gentle nod.

"Alright… I agree."

As afternoon arrived, villagers began gathering in the dirt field. Children ran and laughed, while adults tended crops or sat in silence.

Suddenly, a loud voice rang out, "Hey! Everyone, gather here now!" shouted Taeyang.

The villagers came over, their faces filled with curiosity and suspicion. Among them, a burly man with a scar on his face stepped forward.

"I know you. Strangers brought in by Belinda. What's your business here?"

Hyunwoo looked at him calmly, "Who are you?"

"My name's Arlain, guard of Andora. And this is Claude, my partner," replied a lean man with black hair coldly, "Tch… didn't expect outsiders as guests."

The tension thickened. But before things escalated further, a faint cough broke the air. The village chief, cane in hand, slowly stepped into the center of the crowd.

With a raspy but commanding voice, he spoke,

"I've gathered you all here to announce that starting today, Hyunwoo will act as the temporary village chief. I'm entrusting Andora to him."

At that moment, behind his firm words, a memory surfaced:

"When I was your age, I once saw a light in someone's eyes. A light that changed everything…" he whispered, as if recalling something deep.

The chief added, "I see that spirit in Hyunwoo. He has the gaze I once carried. That's why I trust him."

The crowd stirred. Claude stepped forward, his face flushed.

"What?! Led by an outsider?! How can someone who isn't from here rule over our lives?"

Arlain chimed in, "Yeah. What if they're just taking advantage of the elder's condition? This is too sudden!"

Chaos erupted. Villagers began shouting, rejecting the decision. But suddenly, the elder raised his voice,

"SILENCE!!!"

His roar shook the air, forcing everyone to fall silent.

He glared sharply at Claude and the others, "This is my order. They saved my life, and Belinda saw it with her own eyes. I believe the future of Andora lies in Hyunwoo's hands… because he can bring change."

Claude gritted his teeth. "And if he betrays us, Elder?"

With resolve, the chief replied, "Then cut off my head. I will take full responsibility."

Silence. The respect for the elder ran too deep to argue. Slowly, one by one, the villagers bowed in agreement.

Hours later – Villager Discussion Session

In a small square, Hyunwoo and the team sat listening to the villagers' complaints.

A middle-aged woman wept, "Water… we struggle to find clean water. Even drinking takes hours of waiting in line."

An old livestock farmer added, "Our animals are skinny, they refuse to eat."

A young farmer said weakly, "The soil is barren, crops won't grow, the weather's unpredictable."

Then a small child stepped forward, eyes clear.

"My name is Cedric…" he said quietly.

Yerin crouched down in front of him, "What is it, Cedric?"

"I want a school… and a place to play. But in this village, there's nothing."

Yerin's eyes welled up, while Hyunwoo nodded slowly, noting each complaint in his mind. As the sky turned orange with dusk, he looked upward and whispered in his heart,

This isn't just about survival.

It's about building hope.

Elsewhere, small interactions among the team began to show:

Wonho and Taeyang exchanged a look of mutual understanding,

Yerin reached out as if trying to touch every heart listening to their concerns.

All these signs showed the bonds between them were starting to form—a new foundation that would strengthen their resolve against the coming trials.