Fox Sister

The courtyard of the now-empty temple was filled only with a cold wind swirling about.

Once bustling with life, the monastery now embraced silence amidst desolation.

It felt like just hours ago that Master’s final form was still vivid in my mind, yet it was hard to believe that now only Seolhwa and I remained here.

The dark mist that had unleashed the seal took everything away. Without time to flee or cry out, the monks vanished without a trace.

The wind blew, fluttering my tattered robes. At my feet lay piles of ash, like small mountains. Within that ash seemed to be mixed the teachings and times we shared. No matter how far I reached, I could not grasp the cold moments slipping through my fingers.

“Now, where do you plan to go?”

I asked quietly. That question was as much for myself as it was for her.

The sorrow of losing our Master, the shocking truth revealed by Third Brother, and even Father’s betrayal—all these cold waves crashed over me.

The warm smile and gentle touch of Father from my childhood now felt like a false mirage. Even Master’s teachings were losing their light, leaving my heart tangled in confusion and loss.

Seolhwa said nothing. Her gaze was directed toward the distant mountain range. For a while, only the cold silence between us lingered. Her tightly closed lips and unwavering eyes carried deep sorrow alongside resolute determination.

“We need to chase down the one who killed Hwi.”

Seolhwa’s voice was calm, but within it churned an uncontrollable rage. Her firm words sent a chill through my chest.

“If I could, I’d run straight to King Yan and beg him to bring Hwi back…”

Seolhwa paused briefly. The faint smile at the corner of her mouth was bittersweet.

“But I can’t betray his last request.”

Her voice remained steady and serene, though I could sense the sorrow hidden within her calmness.

Seolhwa looked again at the distant mountains. An indescribable loneliness clung to her profile as she stood there. I silently watched her.

“I understand how you feel.”

Seolhwa softly murmured. Her voice reached my ears, carried by the cold wind.

“You must feel alone in this world now. Don’t worry about fate or destiny. Live as you wish.”

Her words sounded like a vow she made to herself.

“That’s what it means to be human.”

Seolhwa’s gaze briefly met mine. Her sharp, cold eyes somehow felt warm. Her hand slowly rested on my shoulder—light but firm, oddly comforting.

Seolhwa soon withdrew her hand and turned around. Her back view was strong and unshaken. All that remained for her was the steadfast will to avenge our Master. I stood there dumbfounded, watching her leave.

—

Leaning against the ship’s bow, I let endless reminiscences flow as the boat slowly sailed toward my hometown. The gentle sound of the waves circled my ears like a lullaby but did little to lighten the weight in my heart.

Where should I go? What should I do? With Master gone and the peace of my youth lost, I merely wandered wherever my feet led me.

The salty scent carried by the wind was familiar yet distant. A face suddenly came to mind—the laughter of my younger sister still deeply etched within me. The little girl who used to snuggle up to me and sleep smiling now felt like a stranger. Still, I couldn’t forget her.

Time passed unnoticed. Familiar landscapes gradually appeared before my eyes—the small hill I used to play on, the old wooden bridge, and the worn stone walls at the village entrance. Everything looked the same, yet an ominous aura seemed to hover over them.

As the ship docked, I stepped off onto the land of my hometown. It was a strange feeling to tread on this soil again. Joy and fear intertwined, my heart pounding fiercely within me.

When I finally entered the village entrance, a cold night breeze brushed against my cheeks. The alleys were shrouded in deep darkness. Once a place where my sister and I played, it now felt eerie and unfamiliar. Every house was dark, and the village was eerily silent.

Finally reaching home, I hesitated for a long time in front of the gate. My heart, like the firmly closed door, was locked tight. Though it was my decision to come here, I lacked the courage to open the door.

After much deliberation, I took a deep breath, extended my hand, and grasped the cold door handle. The chill of the iron seeped into my palm. Slowly, I pushed the door open.

The heavy wooden door creaked as it opened, revealing the interior of the house—a scene both familiar and strange in the darkness.

At that moment, a faint presence was felt. Emerging from the shadows was none other than my sister. Gone was the youthful figure; in her place stood a mature woman.

Her long orange hair draped over her shoulders, and her sky-blue eyes were still clear but carried a deeper aura.

Upon seeing me, my sister’s eyes widened momentarily in surprise. Then, she approached with a chilling smile.

“Sister, have you come such a long way? Are you not hungry? Let me offer you some food.”

Her voice was soft but carried an unsettling coldness.

—

The empty house was filled with a cold air, maintaining its silence. The creaking of the old wooden floorboards broke the stillness with each step. Opening the room door, I was greeted by a musty mold smell and a metallic, rust-like odor floating in the air.

Whether it was due to the house being abandoned for so long or another reason, I couldn’t tell.

“Sister, please wait a moment!”

My sister quickly moved toward the kitchen. Her footsteps echoed and then faded away.

I cautiously sat on the worn cushion placed in the corner of the room. Dust floated into the air, making the house feel both familiar and alien.

After a while, my sister returned with a tray laden with simple but carefully prepared snacks. Small cups of tea and sweet-smelling pastries were neatly arranged.

“Here, Sister, please enjoy.”

My sister cheerfully offered the snacks with bright eyes. Those eyes overlapped with the image of my sister from my childhood. The heavy emotions pressing on my chest momentarily faded.

Carefully picking up a snack, the sweet aroma tickled my nose. As I took a bite, memories of eating snacks with my sister in the yard during my youth surfaced. Back then, everything was simple and peaceful.

“Thank you, sister.”

With a small voice, I spoke, and my sister smiled brighter. It was a rare moment of peace.

As I fell asleep into the deep night, hazy light spread behind my closed eyelids. In my dreams, I was swept away into the warm memories of being with my sister—playing happily in the sunlit yard, wishing under the starry night skies.

Suddenly, the dream took a different turn.

The lush green leaves turned crimson, and my sister’s laughter turned eerie. Her once clear and pure eyes became cold like a beast’s, and her tiny fangs extended into sharp blades.

“Greedy humans blinded by lust, betraying and harming each other like beasts…”

A familiar voice echoed in my ears.

From the thick darkness emerged Tae-geun. Beneath his fiery red glow, his distorted face was unrecognizable, yet his presence weighed heavily on me.

“While claiming fate and destiny, you dare to dictate the path of humans…!”

His voice was filled with hatred and madness. The chilling laughter that followed mocked my very soul, making it hard to breathe.

I jolted awake to find myself lying in a room shrouded in thick darkness. My heart raced wildly, and my blanket was drenched in cold sweat. His voice still lingered in my ears, refusing to fade.

The cold, eerie gaze of my sister from the dream and Tae-geun’s voice filled with madness wouldn’t leave my mind.

Realizing I wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep, I got up. Carefully opening the door, I stepped outside. The moonlight faintly illuminated the yard, and the occasional chirping of crickets filled the air.

Sitting on the porch in the cold night breeze, I tilted my head back to look at the starry night sky. Suddenly, I remembered the wishes I made with my sister under the moon.

“For my precious sister to always be happy…”

---