HIF 44

The Start of a New Year

Raen’s whispering voice brushed past the side of my face.

“Let’s have a good year together.”

Before I knew it, Raen’s robe was draped thickly over my shoulders. His bright yellow eyes, gazing at me, sparkled like stars shining even in the morning.

A few strands of Raen’s hair, cascading down, glowed a vivid red. As if melting into the rising sun.

“Yi-han-ah.”

I turned my head toward the voice calling me. Park Yul held my reflection steadily in his unwavering eyes.

“Let’s go back together.”

Park Yul’s eyes curved softly. His highly saturated golden hair fluttered in the wind.

Right behind Park Yul, the vividly rising sun was visible. The red expanse was gradually widening. Darkness was being pushed far away. Through the pure white snowflakes falling, Park Yul reached out his hand to me.

It was a firm hand. I lightly placed my hand over it. Park Yul gently wrapped his hand around mine. It was warm.

“Yes. Let’s go back.”

Along with my voice, the location changed in an instant. Before my eyes, the main gate of Ledeo appeared. A faint floral scent spread through the air.

Creak.

I opened the gate and stepped inside. White snowflakes were piling up softly on the lush flowers in the garden. Yet each petal remained vivid and clear. A cold breeze brushed past my body.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to me. The start of this year didn’t seem all that cold.

The first snow welcomed outside the temple was warmer than I had thought.

◇

I entered Ledeo. Warm air enveloped my body.

I looked up and gazed at the ceiling. Snow was falling gently through the transparent, open skylight above.

Min Joo-hyuk unwrapped the scarf from my neck again. A cool, breezy scent wafted by.

As I moved further inside, five white velvet boxes were placed on a table over there. While I was staring blankly at the boxes placed before the large window, Song Ha-gyun spoke.

“…Take them.”

“Huh?”

“Leader prepared them. He always prepares gifts on the first day of every year.”

I approached and examined them. Each box contained a transparent, sparkling hexagonal prism-shaped piece. Inside each was a single golden flower.

“They look exactly like the pieces we saw earlier.”

“Right. They’re the same. They disappear after a year passes.”

“So Yul gives them as gifts every year?”

Raen nodded quietly while gazing at the piece. So that was why the earlier piece turned to dust and scattered.

“Why make them disappear after a year passes?”

Was that really necessary? Beside me, Min Joo-hyuk chuckled lightly and responded.

“Park Yul hyungnim values romance, that’s why.”

“You’re as consistent as ever, Min Joo-hyuk.”

“It’s true. Even if they disappear, they’re reborn with new meaning.”

Despite his usual tone, each word was etched clearly in my ears.

“Even if it’s the same thing, it gains a different meaning.”

My head nodded on its own. Hearing Min Joo-hyuk’s words, the reason seemed to make sense. Park Yul might be more romantic than I thought.

Amidst such thoughts, Raen’s calm voice was heard.

“The first day of the year is a meaningful day for Leader hyung. I think that’s why.”

“Why is it a meaningful day?”

“Because Leader hyung was chosen as the Hero on the first day of the year.”

Raen’s gaze was directed outside the window. Raen bit his lip.

After silently watching the endlessly swirling snowflakes, Raen seemed to organize his thoughts and relaxed his expression. Then he turned his head toward me. With a faint smile.

“Ju-hyeok and I kept discussing it but couldn’t decide. What do you think, Yi-han?”

“Seon Yi-han. My words are more reasonable, right?”

Min Joo-hyuk looked at me with sparkling eyes, as if expecting something. I gave a light smile toward Min Joo-hyuk like that and turned my head to Song Ha-gyun.

“What about you, Ha-gyeon hyung?”

“…Well. Park Yul hyung said both are correct.”

I had asked for Song Ha-gyun’s opinion. Before I could ask further, Song Ha-gyun picked up one of the pieces.

Song Ha-gyun tapped the piece with his fingertip. Inside, sparkling light powder was densely embedded. Song Ha-gyun handed it to Min Joo-hyuk.

“Thank you, Song Ha-gyun hyungnim.”

Min Joo-hyuk took the piece. Then, as if appraising it, he stretched out his arm and quietly examined the piece. With a slightly furrowed brow, as if pondering.

“Leader hyung told us not to prepare separate gifts for him.”

He turned his head toward Raen. Song Ha-gyun’s calm voice continued.

“…Park Yul hyung is firm, after all.”

“Right. Once he says something, he’s resolute about it.”

Certainly, Park Yul had that side. Min Joo-hyuk added.

“Still, I’m glad he accepted this.”

Min Joo-hyuk continued, still fixing his gaze on the piece.

“Last time, when we said we couldn’t just keep receiving, from then on, he started preparing one extra each time, right?”

“Yes. He said not to prepare separately, but to just add more Enchant and give it back.”

Ah. So that’s why there were five pieces. One to give back. I finally realized.

“It’s more that he’s considerate so we don’t feel burdened.”

“Isn’t it more grateful that he cares so much?”

“But then we end up just receiving again.”

…I wonder if that’s the meaning of a gift…

If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better not to receive any sentiment from the start? While I was thinking that, Raen smiled slightly and continued.

“But still, it’s about continuously giving and receiving like that.”

Raen glanced at me. Before I could think further about those words, Min Joo-hyuk flicked his finger with a snap.

The piece floated in mid-air. Snowflake patterns were engraved one by one on its surface. It was as if snow was falling inside it. Just like the scenery outside now.

“You engrave something different every year?”

“Yeah, right.”

“What did you engrave last year?”

“What do you think?”

When I ask a question, I’d prefer an answer in return. Not the same question.

“Well. Flowers?”

“Park Yul hyungnim does like them. So that’s the last one.”

“…The last one?”

Min Joo-hyuk looked at my face and then widened his eyes. Then, in an instant, he stretched my cheek hard.

“What are you thinking? Of course, I meant the day his term as Hero ends.”

I wasn’t thinking anything. And I let my guard down again. Next time, I need to stay constantly tense. Making a mental note, I continued to Min Joo-hyuk.

“But why hasn’t Yul hyung come? Do you know where he went?”

“He’s in the basement right now.”

The answer came from Raen. Raen clenched the piece tightly in his hand and then released it as he continued.

“He’ll probably come out around tomorrow. He’s always been like that on the first day of the new year.”

“Why?”

Raen shook his head as if he didn’t know. Then he placed the piece in my hand. The piece had a light reddish hue. And it was slightly warm.

“It feels warm.”

“Right. I just cast a magic spell on it. It’ll be cool in the summer.”

Then, will the piece turn blue in the summer? It was fascinating. If magic can make anything possible like this, maybe people who can’t use magic are missing out on about half their lives.

Perhaps the System appeared before me to fill the half of the life I had lost? Of course, it hasn’t been particularly helpful to me.

“Yi-han, please deliver this to Leader hyung.”

“Right. It’s the most important role, Seon Yi-han.”

Song Ha-gyun placed the piece in the velvet box, closed the lid, and handed it to me. Then he placed another box in my arms.

“…You take this one.”

Even holding two boxes, they weren’t as heavy as I expected. Song Ha-gyun quietly watched me nodding. Soon, my arms suddenly felt lighter. Before I knew it, the boxes were floating in mid-air.

“I’ll give them to you upstairs.”

“It’s okay. I’ll carry them.”

“Yeah. …Let’s go.”

What answer did I just hear? It definitely sounded like an affirmative voice to my words.

I looked up at the two boxes still floating in the air, swaying slightly. It couldn’t be helped. It seemed they wouldn’t come down until I entered my room.

In the end, I climbed the stairs and entered my room with both hands empty. Only then did Song Ha-gyun lower the boxes onto the table beside the bed.

“…Sleep well.”

“Um, it’s morning now.”

“We walked for a long time.”

Song Ha-gyun’s expression looked serious. We hadn’t walked that long, and I wasn’t tired. But I nodded anyway.

“If you’re not sleepy, just rest.”

Song Ha-gyun placed his hand on my shoulder. Then he slowly pushed me just like that. I plopped down on the bed.

“…If anything happens, come down to the lab.”

Song Ha-gyun looked down at me quietly. His eyes were subdued, unreadable as to what he was thinking. Song Ha-gyun bent down toward me. His neat face slowly approached mine.

And stopped abruptly right in front of my nose. It was close enough to hear even his breathing. Song Ha-gyun reached out his hand toward me in that same posture. And with a slow touch, he brushed up my bangs and pressed his hand against my forehead.

“…No fever. Tell me if you’re in pain.”

“…Yes.”

I answered dazedly. Hearing my answer, Song Ha-gyun slid away.

“I’ll go.”

Having said that, Song Ha-gyun slipped out of the room door. Soon, the door before my eyes was closed.

I think this is the first time I’ve seen Song Ha-gyun move so quickly. When you watch him quietly, it’s hard to tell if he’s slow or fast.

I picked up one of the boxes on the table and approached the window.

Click.

I opened the curtains wide. The piled snow outside was purely white, without even shadows. Snowflakes were still swirling in the air like petals. It would likely keep pouring down like this until today ends.

I leaned against the hard windowsill and sat down. The cold seeping through the window gradually spread inside my clothes as well.

Clack.

I opened the box and lifted the transparent piece onto my palm. The golden flower inside was small but had a distinct color.

Thinking that this piece would disappear next year gave me a strange feeling. Right now, it’s so vivid here.

‘What must his feelings have been?’

What feelings did Park Yul have, gifting something that disappears every year? And what feelings did everyone have, receiving gifts that would someday disappear?

The piece sparkled, reflecting the sunlight. Each snowflake drifting through the sky held sunlight. It was as if light powder was pouring down to the ground. It was dazzling. The winter sun was hot enough to warm my body.

‘He said Park Yul will come out tomorrow, right.’

From the basement where light doesn’t reach, to a morning more radiant than ever.

Today’s sun setting and tomorrow dawning would happen in no time.