After she moved away from the palace, Star was walking deep within the Forest of Seol, her steps fast and tense, pushing branches aside violently in her path, her violet eyes burning with anger. She was muttering in a low voice, but its sharpness did not hide what was inside her: "That idiot Saruto… he always breaks his promises."
Behind her, the servant was panting, trying to catch up, his breath uneven as he called out: "Wait, Lady Star!"
But she suddenly stopped and turned toward him with sharp eyes. "Why are you following me?"
He bowed quickly and said, "My master Saruto ordered me to accompany you."
Her features hardened, and she waved her hand furiously, saying, "Go. I don't want anyone with me." He hesitated for a moment, then said, "But my master commanded me..."
"I commanded you to go," Star cried. But he couldn't disobey her. He bowed deeply and left, abandoning her alone in the silent forest.
She let out a slow breath, and her anger began to fade with each step, until she finally stopped at the trunk of a massive tree and sat on it. She looked around, where sunlight slipped through the branches, drawing shifting shadows across the ground. She whispered softly: "I feel lonely… I wish Saruto had come with me."
At that moment, the nearby bushes shook. She lifted her head quickly, a small smile forming on her lips. "Saruto? Did you come?" But what emerged from the shadows was not what she expected.
A massive beast appeared, its body covered in old scars, its red eyes glowing with primal hunger. Its long fangs protruded from its jaws, and its hot breath came out like faint smoke. Star froze for a moment, feeling a chill crawl across her body. "What… is this…?"
The beast did not give her time. It roared and charged at her.
Star ran between the trees, her breathing quickening, her heart pounding wildly. Branches scratched her arms, her feet stumbled over roots, but she did not stop. Behind her, the sound of the beast footsteps was closing in, heavy and terrifying, as if it pursued her with unwavering certainty. She glanced back for a moment—just one mistake—and saw its fangs drawing closer. She screamed and ran faster, but the distance between them was shrinking at a frightening speed.
---
Elsewhere, in the training ground, Saruto was sitting, wiping his sweat, his breathing beginning to calm, but his mind was not. "If I go after her now… will she forgive me?"
He hesitated for a moment, then suddenly stood up, having made his decision. "I will go." But before he could move, a sharp pain struck his head, and he staggered, placing his hand on his forehead.
Blurred images rushed into his mind—fire, screams, Star… lying on the ground. He saw blood, and saw flames devouring the trees. The scene was terrifyingly clear… then it vanished. His eyes widened, his breathing quickened. "This… is from my previous life…!" He raised his head suddenly, fear taking over him. "Star!"
At that very moment, an explosion echoed from the direction of the forest.
He did not hesitate.
He ran.
When he arrived, the forest had turned into hell. Flames devoured the trees, smoke filled the sky, and the heat suffocated the air. In the middle of this destruction, Star lay on the ground, her body trembling, her hands charred, the skin cracked and burned black. Pain was clear in every breath she took.
The beast approached her slowly, its eyes gleaming with the thrill of the hunt. She tried to raise her hand, but the pain made it tremble. She whispered in a broken voice: "If… my attack had not backfired… I would have… killed you…"
She coughed blood, her eyes beginning to lose their light. "Will… this be my end…?" Her voice trembled. "Saruto… I want… to see you… one last time…"
Suddenly, flames exploded from one side.
Saruto emerged from them like a storm, a dark aura surrounding his body, his eyes glowing violet. "Star!" She turned toward him with difficulty, and when she saw him, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
But the beast moved.
It charged toward her to finish it.
At that precise moment, Saruto raised his hand, and a dense, dark energy condensed and compressed so intensely that the air around it trembled. His voice came out cold, devoid of any mercy: "How dare you touch a star?"
His hand fell.
A dark blade shot forward, cutting through the air at blinding speed, passing through the beast body without resistance. In an instant, it split into two halves and fell lifeless to the ground.
Saruto rushed immediately toward Star, knelt beside her, and lifted her carefully in his arms, as if she might break if he held her tighter. "Star… wake up… please…"
She raised her trembling hand and touched his cheek, a faint smile on her face. "I… knew… you would come…"
Then her hand fell, and she lost consciousness. His eyes widened, his voice broke. "No… Star! No!"
He held her tightly, then suddenly stood and ran through the flames, ignoring the fire brushing against his body. He ran at full speed, his heart pounding violently in his chest. "I am sorry… if I had been with you… this would not have happened…"
He clenched his fist, his eyes filled with deadly resolve. "Just hold on… we will make it… I will not let you die… not this time."