The thread between us

The warm aroma of freshly cooked food drifted through the house as Ji Ah stepped out of her room, eyes half-lidded from sleep. She paused mid-step, blinking at the sight before her.

There, in the kitchen, stood Ryu Hwan. Sleeves rolled up, hair slightly tousled, calmly flipping something in a pan like he did this every day.

Still dazed, she walked closer. "You're going to drive me crazy, you know that? You can cook too? Is there anything you can't do?"

Ryu Hwan looked up and gave her a slow, teasing smile. "You'll learn more about me with time. Now sit. Eat first."

As Ji Ah sat at the counter, she glanced at the breakfast spread. "Honestly, I thought your meals were made by Haa Rin or haa Jin. Or maybe you'd hired a professional cook. But here you are, cooking for yourself."

He chuckled softly, placing a plate in front of her. "Normally, they do cook for me. But you're here. So I wanted to make this one myself. Besides... remember the soup you had waking up after three days? That was me, too."

Ji Ah blinked. "You made that too? Well... nice."

After breakfast, Ryu Hwan stood, brushing invisible crumbs from his palms. "Get ready. Meet me downstairs in the lab."

---

Ji Ah, now dressed and alert, descended into the tech lab through the lift. The doors slid open to reveal a stark contrast to the cozy kitchen upstairs. A vast room lined with towering shelves of weapons, semi-open machinery humming faintly, and stacks of books spilling over desks. In the center, a glowing table projected flickering digital schematics.

Ryu Hwan was already there, standing near the weapons shelf, inspecting a dagger. As she stepped closer, he turned and said, "You're here."

"Finally. Are you going to tell me what this mission is really about?"

Without answering directly, he turned back to the table and fitted the dagger into a scanner-like device. It glowed instantly.

"This," he said, nodding toward the weapon, "isn't just any dagger. I made it. It has a pair, and both need to be attuned to your energy to be fully effective."

"Why? What's so special about this one?" she asked.

He pointed to the screen. "The wanderer we may face today isn't ordinary. Your standard weapons won't work. He can absorb basic energy attacks."

"Absorb them? That's not possible. You're saying he can resist even my gunshots or blade strikes?"

"Yes," Ryu Hwan replied calmly. "He has absorbed multiple cores. And because of that, your normal attacks will only fuel him. These daggers are forged using all five natural elements—a mix of advanced tech and ancient power. And if needed, you can shift them into a full sword."

Ji Ah studied the weapon carefully, visibly intrigued.

"Wait... what about you? You're a dragon. Can't your powers finish him?"

He met her gaze. "I could destroy him. But that's not our goal."

"What is, then?"

"We need to extract the cores from his body without killing him. His human soul... what's left of it... might still have information. He's the only one who's seen the chamber. We need him alive to talk."

Ji Ah stiffened. "Human? I thought he's a wanderer."

Ryu Hwan nodded slowly. "He was. Once. A scientist who disappeared with several cores years ago. But greed and exposure twisted him into something else. Only 25% of his body remains human. The rest is... mutated, lost."

"So you want to extract those cores while he's alive? That's impossible! He's not just some monster, not even fully human anymore."

He stepped forward and placed the paired daggers in her hands. "That's why we need precision. These can separate the cores if driven into them directly. But you can't let him hit you, Ji Ah. One blow from him could seriously injure you."

Ji Ah nodded firmly. "I can handle it."

Then she paused. "You said these can shift into swords. How?"

Ryu Hwan moved behind her. "Like this. Hold them like this…" He adjusted her grip gently, standing close. "Now press here."

With a soft hum, the daggers shifted shape, locking together into a blade. Ji Ah flushed. His hands were still on hers, his breath close.

"Cat got your tongue? Any more questions? I'm right here."

Annoyed, she elbowed him lightly, breaking the moment. Then, with mock seriousness, placed the blade against his neck.

"Hmph. Don't think I'm easy to handle, dragon."

Ryu Hwan raised his hands in surrender, grinning. "Of course not. My kitten is dangerously stubborn."

Her blush deepened. "Kitten? Seriously? Are you out of your mind? I'm not some kitten!"

She turned swiftly and walked to the lift. "I just remembered I have... something to do. Besides, we have to leave before sunset."

Ryu Hwan watched her go, her red cheeks the last thing he saw before the lift doors closed. He smiled to himself.

But it didn't last long.

His expression darkened as he turned back to the screen.

"No matter what happens... I won't let her get hurt. Even if it means destroying that creature myself."