The endless white space felt as if it were… staring back.
Hana tightened her grip on the Ancient Ancestor's hand. Usually, only the aura of monsters or creatures of darkness could make her shiver. But this this empty space felt more like the world's very first breath before the world existed.
As if if Hana screamed… the space could answer.
The woman the Third Keeper walked slowly across the white floor that cast no shadow.
"He has awakened," she said. "But not fully."
The Ancient Ancestor stood tall, face as calm as ever… but his eyes hardened.
"Do not speak his name."
The woman lifted a brow. "Afraid?"
"I do not fear," the Ancient Ancestor replied coldly. "I simply do not want his attention too soon."
Hana glanced at her brother.
"Big Bro… who are you talking about? Why can't we say his name?"
The Third Keeper knelt slightly so she was level with Hana. Her movement was gentle… yet made the very structure of the space tremble.
"Hana… listen carefully."
Hana nodded. Her throat felt dry.
"There is a being… before monsters, before light, before any realm. Even before the Ancient Ancestor," she said. "He is not a creator."
The Ancient Ancestor stared into the void.
"He is a consequence."
The Third Keeper smiled thinly.
"Correct. In cosmic history… He is known as"
The Ancient Ancestor cut her off sharply.
"Stop."
The Third Keeper sighed. "Fine, fine. I won't say it. But Hana needs to know something."
She pointed at Hana's chest where the "light" lived.
"The light inside you comes from the same seed of energy as Him."
Hana blinked.
"Wait like… family?"
The Ancient Ancestor shook his head.
"No. He is no one's family."
The Third Keeper added:
"But He shaped your light for a purpose."
Hana swallowed.
"What purpose?"
The Ancient Ancestor answered flatly:
"To lock Him away."
Hana: "…"
The Third Keeper gave a crooked smile.
"Your light is a seal."
"And if you die… or if your light falls into the wrong hands… the cracks in the sky yesterday were only the opening act."
Hana stepped back slightly.
"Big Bro…"
The Ancient Ancestor gently patted her head.
"I told you," his voice deep but commanding,
"as long as I exist, nothing will touch you."
Hana nodded quickly, though her face had gone pale.
The Third Keeper stepped closer to the Ancient Ancestor.
"I came to warn you," she said softly. "There are movements across the world. Human organizations, the remaining demon clans, the dark remnants of the former Empress… all moving toward the same thing."
"Toward what?" the Ancient Ancestor asked.
"Toward that light," she replied, glancing at Hana.
Hana: "Why am I like a magnet for trouble…"
"Because you are a magnet for trouble," the Ancient Ancestor replied flatly.
Hana: "Big Bro!"
The Third Keeper chuckled.
"I'm not your enemy. Though… our relationship isn't exactly harmonious either."
The Ancient Ancestor narrowed his eyes.
"You always appear at the worst possible moment."
"Yes, because I am the keeper of bad moments," she replied dryly.
The atmosphere shifted.
The white space dimmed something pressing from beyond the dimension.
The Third Keeper stiffened.
"…Impossible. Did He… manage to glimpse us?"
The Ancient Ancestor looked up at the empty sky now forming a thin crack, no wider than a strand of hair.
From it spilled a thick, pitch-black stream.
Not a shadow.
Not an aura.
More like something that should not exist.
Hana clutched her chest.
"Big Bro… it's so cold…"
The Ancient Ancestor lifted his hand.
One small wave
and the crack snapped shut instantly.
The Third Keeper exhaled deeply, relieved yet shaken.
"You… can still do that," she whispered.
The Ancient Ancestor: "Do not rely on it."
"That's exactly the problem," she replied.
She looked at him as if she were staring at a catastrophe wrapped in human form.
"Do you understand? Every time you use your power even a little He becomes more aware."
The Ancient Ancestor fell silent.
"I know."
Hana looked between them confused, scared, angry.
"Wait so if Big Bro uses his power, that thing wakes up faster? Then what if more monsters come? Or demons? Or bad hunters? We're dead!!"
The Ancient Ancestor turned to her, still calm.
"We won't die."
"How?!" Hana panicked.
"I alone will."
Hana froze.
Her eyes widened.
Tears threatened.
The Third Keeper glared at him.
"You must not think that way. This world needs you."
"This world has never needed me," he replied coldly.
"What they need is time."
The Third Keeper closed her eyes for a moment.
"…Then we must move quickly."
She looked at Hana again studying her like a living key.
"Hana."
Hana lifted her head.
"You must start training your light. Now."
Hana swallowed.
"What if I fail?"
The Third Keeper smiled softly… but her eyes remained tense.
"If you fail… the beginning of the world will awaken."
Hana turned pale.
The Ancient Ancestor stepped beside her.
"She will not fail."
The Third Keeper exhaled.
"I hope so."
She stepped back her body breaking into lines of light.
"Time is short. The world is shifting. And the two of you… are its center."
She looked at the Ancient Ancestor one last time.
"Protect her… if you still want this world to survive."
And in a blink
She vanished.
The white space shattered.
And they were back on a city sidewalk.
Hana stood still, hand gripping the Ancient Ancestor's arm tightly.
"Big Bro…" her voice tiny. "I'm getting even more scared."
The Ancient Ancestor looked at her.
"Good."
"Why good?!"
"Fear keeps humans alive."
Hana stared at him for a long moment.
"…Big Bro."
"Hm?"
"I won't fail."
The Ancient Ancestor looked at her
and for the first time truly the first time
he smiled softly.
"I know."