"Sir, please don't leave!" Seunghyun cried out desperately in the middle of the open field. Hearing no reply, he lets himself fall on his knees to the ground. His head bowed down, trying to contain the whimper coming out from his throat. "Don't go.." He said, almost a whisper.

 

"Seunghyun, it's for the best." Hyemin placed her hand on Seunghyun's shoulder as she knelt beside him. He looked up and met her facade assuring smile. He looked at his companions behind her; Kwangyeon, Minji, Suzy and Daehyun standing there as upset as he was but they did not show it. "It'll be alright. We have each other." Hyemin squeezed Seunghyun's shoulder gently.

 

"Maybe you're right." After a while of contemplation, Seunghyun agreed with a sigh.

 

He got back on his feet and glanced at the vast azure sky above him. The memories of the spiritual man that had guided him and his companions were still so fresh in his mind. It felt like yesterday that he stumbled into this place. The mystical grounds.

 

- - -

 

Seunghyun remembered the night he was chased out of his own house, out of his own neighbourhood. He remembered people running after him with dangerous objects clutched in their hands, yelling profanity as they tried to catch him. He was so young yet they paid no heed. He ran and ran to escape.

 

He tried living a new life in a new town, he tried to live normally but to no avail as he had no control of his powers. He ended up killing people and destorying things. The police started to search for him. Hence, he had to run away again. This time, he ran into a foreign forest. He ran without knowing where he was heading.

 

He was eventually lost in the forest. As they sky grew dark, he felt tired of wandering around aimlessly, he then sat down under a tree, trying to catch his breath as his stomach grumbled. He closed his eyes, trying to sleep and shrug the hunger off. Just then, droplets of rain started to fall. He looked up and groaned as the rain gradually got heavier. The tree wasn't enough of a shelter for him so he stood up and wandered around, hoping to find a better shelter.

As he jogged through the forest carelessly, he tripped on the vines, trying to keep balance he slipped and rolled off a cliff. Landing on a hard and cold ground with cuts, bruises and tattered clothes, he groaned in pain as he tried to get up.

 

"Who's there?" A deep and husky voice echoed. Seunghyun looked up and blinked in confusion as he scanned around the dark surrounding. "I said, who's there?!" The voice echoed again, sternly this time.

 

"I.. I'm S-seunghyun. And I'm.. lost." Seunghyun answered nervously.

 

And that was how they met.

 

As time passed, Seunghyun grew closer to the man behind the voice. It turned out he was a spirit who had lived in the Mystical Ground for as long as he could remember. Edward Cornelius. He knew it all. He explained everything Seunghyun needed to know about his powers, the mystical grounds and he helped Seunghyun train.Weeks passed, one after another people stumbled upon the grounds. They were gifted just like how he was. Seunghyun was delighted as he wasn't the only one anymore. They became friends and lived there together.

 

- - -

 

"I've always wanted to know how it feels like to live as a human like all of you." Sir Cornelius' voice echoed after another round of training with Seunghyun and his companions.

 

"Do you want to be a human again, Sir?" Daehyun asked.

 

"I would love that but it is such an impossible wish, isn't it?" Sir Cornelius answered, a trace of melancholy in his tone.

 

"We'll find a way Sir. I'll train hard and learn my powers. I promise you this, Sir." Seunghyun stood up, clenching his fist in determination. But to Seunghyun's disappointment, Sir Cornelius laughed it off. He frowned. "Why are you laughing, Sir?"

 

"What can kids like you do to bring me back to life? As much as I want to believe you, it's impossible."

 

- - -

 

"I think it's about time I leave this world." Sir Cornelius' sudden decision felt like a millions of daggers stabbing their heart. They had grown attached to him that they couldn't bear and couldn't even imagine life without him.

 

"But... but sir! We were going to be build this school that we planned together! Why this sudden decision?!" Kwangyeon retorted.

 

"I don't belong here. This is not my world. I've been living here for far too long now. I am a lost spirit. I think it's time for me to seek for the light. And be free."

 

"S-sir.. what about.. what about us?" Minji's voice was trembling. Pools of tears were visible in her eyes. Suzy wrapped her arms around Minji, to calm her down.

 

"All of you will be fine. I trained all of you well, didn't I?"

 

"Sir. Don't kid around." Daehyun said in a stern yet bitter tone. Though everyone else could see beyond his tough act. He was hurting as much as everyone else was.

 

"It's time for me to go. Train all the students that come. Train them well just like how I trained you. Make me proud."

 

And that was the last time they heard from Sir Edward Cornelius.

 

"I promise I'll make you proud, Sir. I won't let you down."

 

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