Ch.85Spirit Trial

The building’s exterior had collapsed, but inside, a long walkable space stretched out. The wind continued to flow through there, as if guiding the party.

“Wow… what a strange place.”

“Didn’t they say it was a relic of wizards? These things here look like… Astrean script…”

Parna and Bigart, the two of them, looked around the interior of the ruins, constantly letting out exclamations of wonder. They were no strangers to the path of learning. They could easily guess the origins of the drawings on the walls and the occasional script they encountered.

“Come to think of it, Senior is also an Astrean…”

“What…?”

When Parna carefully trailed off while reading the atmosphere, Bigart was surprised. He truly didn’t know. That his senior was an Astrean. In fact, in the Blue Wing, one’s past origins were meaningless. Whether noble, commoner, or Astrean, they were an organization that moved with one heart toward the same goal.

“You’re right. I came from across the mountains.”

“Then, what do you think about these scripts we keep finding here? Are they Astrean script as I suspected?”

“I can’t be certain. There are differences from the script my tribe used. If I add a few strokes, I can roughly guess the meaning of some, but even that’s only a small portion.”

Seorin continued her answer while stroking the old wall. In any case, the ruin itself seemed to be connected to her bloodline from the past. Perhaps it was an island where ancient Astreans had once taken root, in the very distant past.

Seorin continued to follow the path.

The place they arrived at was a quite spacious cavern. It seemed to have been carved from part of the mountain, surrounded by rock on all sides, with a strange formation spread out widely from the center.

This was where the wind was leading.

*Sniff sniff*

Seorin’s small nose detected a peculiar scent drifting in the air. The smell of a familiar subject. How could she forget? It was the scent of the opponent she had encountered late yesterday evening—the smell of her past body.

“So this is where they were.”

“Pardon? Who…?”

“The reincarnator. They haven’t been gone long.”

Parna and Bigart tilted their heads at their senior’s words. As soon as they arrived at the location, she spoke about the reincarnator’s whereabouts. She seemed to have discovered some special trace that they couldn’t detect, but since she didn’t explain, there was no way for them to know.

In the end, it was Parna who spoke up to resolve her curiosity.

“Um, Senior. Is there a reason you’re so certain?”

“The smell. Their scent remains in this place.”

*Sniff sniff*

At Seorin’s words, the two sniffed the air, trying to detect something. However, they couldn’t sense anything special.

‘Maybe there’s some technique in the Blue Wing library that enhances the sense of smell…?’

‘There’s nothing like that. It seems to be an innate physical ability…’

Ignoring the two whispering to each other, Seorin continued her investigation. The large formation itself felt somehow familiar. She moved her feet here and there, following the strange characters surrounding the area.

The strong smell of recently spilled blood wafted toward her. It meant the characters written on the formation were written in blood. Since the only person here besides the Blue Wing members was the reincarnator, it meant they had written it.

Seorin stroked her chin.

Unlike in the past, she felt no stubble or roughness. Only the smoothness of her chin.

This place appeared to be designed for shamans to commune with spirits. In the past, tribal shamans would create similar ritual sites. Though the scale here was incomparably larger, its purpose was likely not much different.

Who could be inhabiting that body, preparing a ritual in this place?

Seorin’s eyes grew cold.

“Parna, Bigart. Prepare for an ambush. The reincarnator will return here soon.”

Parna and Bigart didn’t ask why she thought so. If their small senior said so, then it must be true. The predictions that flowed from the girl’s lips were all like prophecies.

This time would be no different. The two nodded and looked for places to hide.

Fortunately, there were plenty of hiding spots in the spacious cavern. Partially collapsed walls, protruding floors, and unidentified stone fragments scattered here and there provided spaces to conceal themselves.

The three positioned themselves at regular intervals.

“How long do we have to wait…?”

After waiting for about two hours, Bigart carefully spoke up. Seorin silently turned her head to look at him. Bigart closed his mouth at the cold gaze of the small girl.

A true hunter should be able to wait in one place for about two days without sleep. Of course, Seorin had no intention of demanding that much from the two.

Time passed. As the wind grew colder again and the sounds of small insects became noisy, a faint human presence was felt not far away.

They made no attempt to hide their presence. That’s why everyone could feel it. Bigart and Parna placed their hands on their weapons.

*Thud*

As the presence drew closer, footsteps began to echo inside the cavern. Slowly, gradually approaching from a distance. Seorin regulated her breathing and concealed herself. Bigart and Parna also tried to hide their presence. It wasn’t perfect, but it would be enough unless someone was looking carefully.

The figure that appeared at the entrance of the cavern was a man with flowing white hair. Well-defined muscles rippled beneath his clothes. There was a wolf-like wildness in his proud stride as he walked, wrapped in transparent wind.

Parna and Bigart were simultaneously taken aback. The appearance of the reincarnator somehow resembled their small senior. It was difficult to express in words, but there were many similarities in the atmosphere they exuded, their hair color, and other aspects.

From certain angles, his face even vaguely reminded them of Seorin’s.

At that moment.

Seorin gave a hand signal to the two. It was a signal that no Blue Wing member could misunderstand. It meant she would strike first, and they should look for an opportunity.

The small girl’s form slid through the darkness.

Not even the sound of breathing could be heard. Seorin emulated the movements of a snow wolf. Wind wrapped around the girl’s body. It was the same phenomenon as yesterday. When she used the martial arts of the White Frost Tribe in this forest, the spirits responded.

Just as the reincarnator was about to set down the items he had brought, Seorin’s form quickly sprang from the darkness. It happened in a single breath. A chilling cold wrapped around the Black Dragon Sword as it was drawn, and the reincarnator reacted.

But it was too late. She had already stolen his breath. His reaction would come only after her strike. Seorin imbued her will into the tip of her sword.

*Swoosh*

The Taebaek Snow Dragon Sword unfolded in succession. The advancing sword moved with unparalleled speed. A vast slash advanced along the path of wind created by the spirits. At that moment, Seorin looked at her own hand that had suddenly stopped.

It was the same experience as yesterday. It wasn’t her will. It seemed as if this body was purely rejecting it. Was it because, as a sister, she couldn’t harm her brother’s body?

‘It’s okay.’

Even as she reassured herself, it was the same. Her reaction was delayed. The advantage of surprise she had gained disappeared. Just before Seorin’s sword reached the reincarnator, he turned his body and slid away.

*Swoosh*

Pale dust rose as the form slid through the darkness. The only illumination in the cavern was the faint moonlight shining through the collapsed gaps. The reincarnator’s figure flickered hazily between darkness and light.

A strange silence descended as they faced each other. Seorin slowly caught her breath and spoke.

“That body… is a corpse that should be sleeping in the cold snowfield. Stop desecrating the dead.”

“This, this body…?”

“…?”

Unlike yesterday, there was a response. He even spoke. Seorin swallowed a gasp.

Due to the darkness, the reincarnator’s expression wasn’t clear. However, from the partially visible features, she could tell he was confused.

Seorin spoke again.

“Who are you?”

“I, I am…”

*Woong!*

Just as the reincarnator was about to speak, a bright light suddenly burst from beneath their feet. Seorin quickly turned her head. Her gaze, following the light, fell on the object the reincarnator had placed on the ground.

A wooden cylinder had fallen over, and blood was flowing out from inside. Fresh, uncongealed blood. The blood was moving along the circle engraved on the floor, emitting a bright light.

“Se-Seorin!”

“Senior!”

The worried cries of her two juniors faded away. Seorin recognized the light that began to envelop her entire body. But she couldn’t move. Her consciousness was being pulled somewhere too quickly.

She couldn’t resist. The small girl’s gaze slowly flickered.

*Flash!*

The next moment.

Seorin was standing alone on a vast prairie.