The night over Merai shimmered as if the neon itself had come alive. Towers beneath the domes reflected light onto the water, turning the horizon into a trembling mosaic of color. The humid air carried the scent of salt and ozone; even the darkness here wasn't truly dark — only another shade of light.
Ryu Seonyeong and his team boarded a two-deck cruise liner. The ship looked far too luxurious for a "bonus": marble floors, dim gold lighting, velvet seats, wine waiting to be poured. The glow from the deck lamps spilled through transparent walls, scattering across the sea as if the city itself wanted to see its reflection in the mirror of the water.
— Wow… — murmured Lo Dan, drawing back the curtain. — They really went all out. I thought Syncron just rented a boat for show, but this— this is better than I imagined. Maybe they were afraid of looking cheap?
Seonyeong replied evenly:
— If they're offering it, we take it.
— Fair enough, — Lo Dan chuckled. — First time I've ever been on a cruise for fun.
Aside from the crew, the ship was empty. The sea beneath them was thick and silent, like liquid glass. Seonyeong gestured for Lo Dan to follow.
— Come. We need to discuss something.
— Of course, hyungnim.
***
On the upper deck, Seo Raon leaned against the railing, listening to the distant hum of the engines. The city was receding, becoming a scatter of sparks along the horizon. The wind carried the salty tang of the ocean and a faint metallic aftertaste of electricity.
He squinted. Behind them, a small white boat followed — barely visible in the dark. Its shape resembled a patrol vessel or a rescue craft.
— Can't even relax, huh? — came a familiar voice.
Raon turned. Kang Jihan stood beside him, elbows resting on the rail.
— It's not like that, — Raon said.
— Really? You were the first to complain about coming here.
Raon smiled faintly.
— Just thinking how it all started. If we hadn't met Seonyeong, we'd probably be storming Syncron's archives or blowing up one of their labs under the Domes right now.
— Or killing Koo Lirean in his office, — Jihan said hoarsely.
He lit a cigarette; the tiny flame flickered in the wind. Raon watched the reflection of the fire dance in his eyes.
— We all hate Syncron, — Raon said quietly. — But I hate myself more. For helping them too long.
— Stop it, — Jihan snapped. — We're alive. That's enough.
Raon smirked.
— Sometimes it feels like we're on the right path. Sometimes it feels like we're repeating the same mistakes.
— You think too much.
— Maybe. But tell me honestly — do you love Ryu Seonyeong?
Jihan choked on the smoke.
— What kind of nonsense—?!
— It's not nonsense. At first he was just a tool for us. But now he's something else, isn't he?
Jihan looked away.
— I didn't plan any of that. It just… happened.
Raon smiled faintly.
— The important thing is, you want to live now. Before, you only lived for revenge. And now?
— Now I want to live after, — he murmured.
Raon nodded.
— That's good enough.
A brief silence settled between them, broken only by the sound of hurried footsteps. Lo Dan rushed onto the deck, breathing hard.
— Hyungnim Jihan, can I talk to you?
— What happened?
— It's… private.
Raon shrugged and left. Jihan took one last drag and turned to Lo Dan.
— Well?
Lo Dan inhaled deeply, as if preparing for a confession.
— I like Yi Hoon.
— What?! — Jihan almost dropped his cigarette.
— I'm serious. I want to ask him out while we're here. Think we can stay in Merai another day?
Jihan blinked.
— You're joking, right?
— No. Why would I? We're here because of you — you said you wanted the team to relax together.
— I said that?
— Of course. This morning. Maybe you're just tired and forgot?
Jihan froze. His expression darkened. Slowly, he asked:
— Since we left the port… have you been alone with Seonyeong?
— With who?
— Ryu Seonyeong. The vampire we came here with!
Lo Dan thought for a moment, then snapped his fingers.
— Oh! Right. The one who ruined the Lo plan. Funny you bring him up now.
Jihan's face went white. He bolted down the stairs.
***
On the lower deck, the others sat around a table. Raon stood when he saw him.
— What's wrong?
— Hyung, do you remember Seonyeong?! — Jihan shouted. — The vampire who played with us three days straight and won the tournament!
Raon blinked blankly.
— Me? What are you talking about?
The realization hit like a blade of ice.
Jihan looked around — Yi Hoon, Lo, Lo Dan, Raon — all stared back with empty eyes.
— You saw him! He won! — Jihan yelled, pointing at the table.
Yi Hoon shrugged.
— You were the winner, hyungnim.
Silence. The world tilted.
Jihan understood — the memory was gone.
He tore through the ship — the bridge, corridors, technical rooms — nothing. No trace of Seonyeong.
When he finally climbed back up to the deck, he saw him.
A familiar silhouette at the rail.
Seonyeong stood with his back to him, in a white shirt and light blue jacket, staring into the black, glassy sea. It looked as if he were speaking to the water itself.
— Seonyeong! — Jihan shouted.
The man turned. His eyes were calm — inhumanly calm. He raised a hand.
— Don't come closer.
— What did you do?!
— Nothing special. I just freed them.
The wind tore through his hair, baring the pale line of his neck. The faint smile that followed was weary.
— Your mind resists hypnosis. The others will forget me — it's safer that way.
— Why?!
— Because there's no trust. You'd kill me the moment you had the chance.
— You're insane!
— Maybe. But I'm done being your pawn.
He stepped over the railing. Jihan's blood ran cold.
— Seonyeong, wait!
— I let myself get caught before to protect Eon. Now I've got nothing left to lose.
— Don't do this!
— When I wake — if I wake — you'll probably be gone.
He looked at him — and smiled softly.
— Goodbye, Jihan.
A splash.
The body disappeared into the sea.
White foam closed, and silence returned.
Jihan stood motionless until the waves scattered the last reflection of light.
— Ryu Seonyeong! — he shouted.
No answer.
Only the sound of the ocean and the trembling light of Merai.