Ma Yuseong couldn't remember how long he had been fighting. Maizen's dark aura spread like an abyss that swallowed all light, squeezing him to the point where he could hardly breathe. The difference was too obvious - someone who had traded his soul for power was far superior to a level 4 student like him. His attacks, Flame's attacks, Hong Biyeon Aiselle's attacks, and the other students' attacks were all useless. The entire team was being knocked back one after another, despair gradually engulfing them.

Damn it! The level difference was too great.

Ma Yuseong felt bitter when he realized how weak he was. He hated the helplessness that was binding him. He had once been confident in his own strength, but now, he could only watch Maizen take down each student without being able to do anything. His fists clenched, blood flowing from his palms, but the anger from his helplessness was many times more painful. The dark magic that poured out of his body grew more and more, slowly healing every wound on his body. In return, Ma Yuseong's reason gradually became hazy, leaving only hatred and resentment.

But then.....

"Ma Yuseong!"

That voice rang out. In the midst of the frenzied darkness of the darkness, he was like a ray of light piercing through the night. His sharp golden eyes reflected the flickering light in the dark barrier, his hands tightly holding the sword. He still stood firm, still unwavering. Even when facing someone who had lost his reason like Maizen, Yuseol still had no intention of retreating.

Ma Yuseong looked at Yuseol, feeling something inside him collapse. A small ray of light in the darkness, but enough to guide the way. What was this feeling? Why was he able to regain his composure upon seeing Seol?

Yuseol quickly discussed tactics with him. He spoke with a firm voice, as if there was no doubt in his ability. Ma Yuseong nodded without hesitation. He didn't need to think too much. He trusted Seol completely, a belief that he himself hadn't realized had been ingrained in his mind.

He charged forward, using all his strength to distract Maizen. Each of his attacks wasn't meant to kill, but to buy time. He didn't need to win, just hold on, just create space for Yuseol. He had always thought of himself as the strongest, but at this moment, he was willing to bear it all just so that someone else could strike the decisive blow.

Wounds began to pile up on his body. Each of Maizen's attacks carried overwhelming power, but he did not retreat. He did not hesitate to distract Maizen even as his body gradually weakened. He did not care what would happen to him, as long as Seol could continue to fight. As long as he was still standing.

But when he was exhausted and fell, when his eyes dimly saw Yuseol continuing to charge into battle, a sharp pain rose in his heart. Seol was injured. He was bleeding.

No!

His chest tightened. A pain that did not come from the wounds on his body, but from deep within his heart. Why? Why did he feel this way? Why did just seeing Seol injured make him panic more than when he was about to collapse?

Ma Yuseong wanted to stand up, but his legs had no strength left. He could only watch, watch Yuseol continue to fight, continue to struggle. When Seol finally delivered the finishing blow, ending this nightmare, Ma Yuseong felt a little relieved.

But then, he saw Yuseol fall to his knees.

He panicked. A wave of despair rose up, stronger than anything. He wanted to run to help Seol, but he didn't have enough strength. He watched him fall to the ground, watched the blood spread on the cold ground. He wanted to scream. He wanted to do something. But before he could speak, his vision blurred.

Fear, anxiety, the feeling of losing someone surrounded Ma Yuseong.

Then fatigue came, his entire body seemed to be sucked into an endless void, the darkness swallowed him completely.

But even in his unconsciousness, the last image in his mind was still Yuseol - his face when he was exhausted, when he won, when he fell. A nameless fear and anxiety was still deeply engraved. Even as his consciousness drifted into nothingness.

Since when... had he become so afraid of losing someone?

Ma Yuseong was so worried that even as he fell into a coma after the battle, fears and countless questions about Yuseol's injuries continued to haunt his mind. In his delirium, he kept thinking about one thought: what if Seol was no longer there? That thought gripped his heart, making him so uneasy that he thought he could wake up on his own just to check if Seol was okay.

And then, as his eyes slowly opened, Ma Yuseong immediately felt a dull pain on his body. He was bandaged all over, every little movement was painful to the bone. But he didn't care. In that moment, only one name rang in his head.

"Yuseol..."

His voice was hoarse and weak to the point that he could hardly hear it himself. He tried to get up, but the wound that had not healed yet made his whole body feel like it was being torn apart, the pain that came almost made him collapse. But regardless of everything, his eyes still frantically searched for a single figure.

It wasn't until he saw Yuseol sleeping soundly on the hospital bed right next to him that his heart gradually regained a steady beat. He stopped, his eyes intently observing the other person without blinking. A sense of relief crept into his mind, but then another pain arose as he saw each wound, each white bandage wrapped around Seol's body. His heart ached

Yuseol was injured from the battle. Injured from fighting with all his might. For protecting everyone. For protecting him

He lay back down on the bed, his eyes never leaving Yuseol's face for even a second. He slept peacefully, his long eyelashes moving slightly with each breath. In that moment, Ma Yuseong found him so beautiful. He was so beautiful that his heart unconsciously beat faster. A slight heat spread across his face, but he didn't pay attention. He just stared at Seol, as if wanting to engrave every line, every detail of him into his memory.

He thought back to everything that had happened. The uneasiness of not seeing Yuseol, the worry when he was injured, the relief when he knew he was still alive, the small joy when he saw him sleeping peacefully. And then there were the times before that - the times he agreed to all of Seol's requests without hesitation, the times he felt his heart pounding every time he saw his smile, the times he silently watched him without realizing it, and the inexplicable jealousy when Seol was close to someone else.

Ma Yuseong's heart beat a little harder. His face heated up. He wasn't stupid, nor was he denying his feelings. He understood.

He liked Yuseol.

No - he loved Yuseol.

Realizing that, he didn't panic or deny it. Instead, he smiled slightly - a deep and meaningful smile. The smile was like an affirmation to himself, that from now on, he would pursue Seol to the end.

As long as Yuseol was still there, he would always come looking for him.

He tried to hold back the pain and approached Seol's bed, gently reaching out, but then stopped right before touching Seol's soft hair. It was okay. There would be a time when he could touch him without hesitation.

Closing his eyes, Ma Yuseong enjoyed this rare moment of peace. He didn't need to rush. Because now, he was sure of his feelings.