Chapter Text
fifteen years ago.
"Wooseok-ah, please return home safely. I worry that they might come after you..."
"Don't worry about me grandma. Your beloved grandson is braver than anyone else!" The eight year old boy said with a prankster smile that showed how he was still missing a few teeth. He put on his backpack, walked over to his grandmother and held her hands. "Those bad guys can't catch me! I'll run past time like I did during the sports fest. We'll be able to eat your favorite black bean noodles from auntie's store later too!" Wooseok tried to reassure.
His grandmother couldn't hold back her tears and hugged Wooseok tightly. The boy smiled sympathetically and rubbed his grandmother's back gently. Such moments weren't uncommon in their small apartment. After losing her husband and son (Wooseok's dad), Wooseok's grandmother feared losing her grandson next.
"I won't leave you alone grandma, I promise," Wooseok whispers as he breaks away from their embrace. He wipes his grandmother's tears before putting on his shoes and leaving for school.
Wooseok's grandmother was known for being able to see what normal eyes couldn't and predict what would happen in the future. She could see the future, sometimes too far off from the present and most of the time too close for comfort. Her ability had saved countless lives, yet burdened those who carried the same bloodline. As the gift was useful, it brought with it a terrible consequence that is passed on to each generation. All those who share the same blood as the bearer of the ability will die.
Grandma worries too much...those guys won't be able to catch me. The young boy thought to himself as he looked around him. A chill went down his spine and he could feel someone watching him. He tugged on the straps of his bag and walked a little bit faster. Uh oh...they're a bit early...
"Where are you going little child?" A voice behind him said. When Wooseok looked behind him, he saw no one.
"In front of you," the voice took the form of a man wearing black. Wooseok, who was running, was forced to stop in his tracks and dropped to the sidewalk. He could feel his heart beating loudly, and his lungs were trying to catch his breath. "There's no way you can escape now," the tall figure said as he towered over the small boy with a smile that had blood lust all over it.
Grandma...I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. Wooseok thought to himself as he closed his eyes and a tear rolled down his cheek, slowly accepting his fate. It was getting cold and dark for him. The only sounds he could hear were the manic laughter of the soul eater.
"What are you doing down there? You even have scrapes on your hands..." A child's voice said. Wooseok hesitantly opened his eyes, and saw that he was back in their world. He looked behind, beside, and above him - the soul eater was gone. "It's not much but..." the boy in front of him, about the same age as him, clumsily pulled out a few band aids from his pocket. He steadily crouched down to put on the band aids on Wooseok's scratches.
"H-how..." Wooseok struggled to say.
"I just ran into you. I don't think you understand my situation and well...I don't really understand yours either," the boy chuckled. He grabbed the stick beside him and carefully stood up. "I'm blind."
"You just saved my life..."