Chapter 8: I don’t usually dream

‘What… is this?’

Seo looked at the twins in her arms.

Just moments ago, they were laughing and talking with her, but now they were cold corpses.

How did it come to this?

In this surreal scene, Seo could only clutch the twins tighter.

Slowly, she raised her head to face the culprit.

A man with ash-gray hair, far from sane, wept blood and swung his sword at her.

She knew she should dodge, but her body wouldn’t move.

Whether to protect the twins’ bodies or because the unreal scene broke her mind, she stayed still.

The cold blade fell on her head.

Seo woke from the nightmare, screaming.

“Aaaah!”

Jolted awake, she startled Soso, who was sleeping soundly beside her.

Forgetting her usual formalities, Soso sat up.

“Huh?! What! What’s wrong?!”

Seo didn’t answer, frantically scanning her surroundings.

‘It was a dream…’

If it wasn’t, she wouldn’t be waking in bed, nor thinking clearly with her head intact.

Only then did she notice her body drenched in cold sweat.

Wiping her face, she thought.

‘What a vivid nightmare…’

Seo rarely dreamed, making this one feel especially real.

After a dry face-wash, she gave Soso, who looked worried, a faint smile.

“So, you’re done with the formalities?”

“Uh… Is that… okay?”

As Soso awkwardly tried formal speech again, Seo was about to tell her to stop when—

– Slam!

The twins burst through the door.

“Sis, you okay?!”

“What’s wrong, Boss?!”

Seo looked at the worried twins.

Relief washed over her, but the image of their cold corpses lingered, haunting her.

She should feel better, so why did the unease persist?

She spoke to the twins.

“Do you have a dagger… or something sharp to hide?”

Baekran asked, concerned.

“Sis, you okay? Did something happen?”

Baekak nodded quickly.

“Like the size you used to carry in the village?”

Seo nodded to Baekak.

He rushed out to fulfill her request.

Seo reassured Baekran, who looked worried.

“Don’t worry. Just a bad dream.”

“Really? No one sneaked in to mess with you?”

“Who’d sneak in to harm a mere servant? It’s nothing, don’t worry.”

Baekran, half-doubting, looked at her, then hugged her.

Normally, Seo would’ve pushed her away, but the dream’s chilling sensation was too vivid.

She let Baekran stay until Baekak returned.

Soon, Baekak came back with a dagger and asked.

“Boss, why the dagger? That Dan… ryong guy?”

Baekran corrected, as usual.

“Danryang.”

“Whatever! You going to teach him a lesson?”

Back in the village, when clashing with other groups, Seo always hid a blade.

Just in case.

As a servant, she hadn’t had access to one.

Maybe that’s why Baekak thought she was planning a sneak attack, like old times.

But that wasn’t why she wanted the dagger.

“Just… felt like I needed it.”

“Hm… really?”

Baekak looked confused.

Even Seo, who said it, felt the reason was laughable.

Like when she impulsively pointed out Noya’s sword.

Why did this feeling keep surfacing?

Despite knowing she should restrain herself, an urge kept compelling her.

Seo pushed the strange sensation aside and tucked the dagger into her robe.

As Baekak handed it over, he said.

“Boss, hold still.”

He reached for her hair and suddenly yanked a strand.

Seo raised her voice at his abrupt action.

“Baekak! What are you doing?!”

“No, look at this.”

He held the plucked hair before her.

It was ash-gray.

“That’s… my hair?”

*

Time passed.

Seo, diligent in her servant duties, swung a laundry bat by the stream at Kyomakwan.

Seeing her reflection, she recalled the morning and lifted her hair.

The inner strands, unnoticed from outside, were discolored, as if bleached.

‘I’m not that old…’

Had she been stressed lately? No.

‘Could it be… the martial arts?’

She’d heard of martial arts altering physical traits.

Some made bodies grow larger.

Others changed skin color.

Or hair color.

Weren’t those common in martial arts novels?

She wanted to check the book Noya gave her, Foundation, but it wasn’t night, and the twins might notice, causing trouble.

‘I wish night would come…’

To practice her heart method.

To check for side effects.

So much to do.

Lost in thought, Seo finished laundry and headed back.

She encountered the servants assigned to Kyomakwan, including Deoksam, who’d scolded her over Danryang’s lies.

Seo glanced at her and moved to pass when Deoksam grabbed her.

“W-Wait. I’m sorry about last time.”

“Hm… for what?”

“I… heard from Danryang. Everything you said was true…”

That was unexpected.

Whether Danryang confessed after the beating or because he learned of her ties to the twins, admitting his lies to a senior he’d tried to impress was surprising.

“And?”

“Uh… huh?”

Seo gave Deoksam a blank stare, leaving her flustered, rambling.

“For calling you an outsider… scolding you based on Danryang’s words… I’m sorry for everything.”

“Alright.”

As Seo turned to leave, Deoksam, startled, grabbed her again.

“W-Wait! You forgive me?”

Seo just smiled faintly and turned, but Deoksam grabbed her once more.

Pale, she knelt, begging.

“Please… I’m apologizing. Forgive me just once… I didn’t know you were close to such people…”

“Senior Deoksam.”

“Y-Yes?!”

“I’m busy. I’ll go first.”

“Wait!”

Deoksam, paler, called desperately, but Seo didn’t look back.

‘True disciple connections really help…’

Unlike her cold demeanor, Seo had no plans to retaliate against Deoksam.

She hadn’t been punished, and she’d already dealt with Danryang, so no grudges remained.

But teasing someone groveling like that was another matter.

Deoksam would likely spend days sleepless, trembling with worry.

Imagining it, Seo’s steps felt lighter.

This is why you should live kindly.

*

Back at the quarters, Seo approached Soso, who held a broom by the gate.

“Soso, where are the twins?”

“They’re training in the inner courtyard.”

“Soso, you can talk casually.”

“I… I’m comfortable like this…”

Seo saw Soso’s cautious glance.

She considered ordering her to stop but thought Soso would figure it out.

Hadn’t she before?

Seo entered.

Opening the gate to the inner courtyard, she felt like she’d stepped into another world.

Unlike the scorching summer outside, it was cool as an autumn night inside.

Seo looked at the cause.

‘My gosh… Ice Arts!’

The twins sparred, swords clashing, emitting chilling air with each strike.

Seo realized they’d mastered Ice Arts.

Aside from Noya, this was her first time seeing another martial artist train.

Unlike Noya’s rugged, honest swordplay, the twins’ was flashy and ever-changing, like their personalities.

Seo watched, entranced.

How much time passed?

The twins sheathed their swords and noticed her.

‘I wish I could’ve watched more…’

Swallowing regret, Seo said.

“Um… I didn’t intrude, did I?”

She belatedly recalled that spying on a martial artist’s training was taboo.