Mystical Fantasy : Not the Destiny Heroine

The faucet dripped slowly. The air in the dormitory bathroom was heavy with the scents of soap, alcohol, and… anxiety.

Ryu Jinhyuk sat perched on the toilet, hands clutching his head as cold sweat dripped from his temples.

"What was that last night… damn, was that real?"

"Am I still dreaming?" he muttered, pinching his cheek. "It hurts… this isn't a dream. Is it a hallucination? Or am I so heartbroken because of Yoon Seri that I've truly lost my mind?!"

His gaze fixed on the ring on his right middle finger. It no longer glowed. It felt neither hot nor cold, neither heavy nor light. Yet… it was real.

"What is this?"

He tried to remove the ring—but it wouldn't budge. It seemed fused to his finger. He tested every method he could think of (even daydreaming about sawing his finger off, though he never would), but no ordinary solution worked.

"This ring… is it a cursed artifact? Or some kind of magic tool? I'm not drunk enough to hallucinate, right?"

Thump. Thump.

His heart raced uncontrollably. Fear gripped him.

"Damn… this is insane… I'm insane…"

Then—without warning—a voice sounded in his head, soft… flowing… like a whisper in an empty room.

"You have finally awakened… Your body… is very weak."

"Who… WHO IS THAT?!"

Jinhyuk jolted to his feet and tumbled onto the bathroom floor. He threw open the stall door, peering left and right. No one was there. The dorm was still quiet. It was early morning—the halls empty.

"Whoever you are… come out! Where are you?!"

"Relax. I do not exist in a world your weak eyes can perceive."

The voice was clearer now. Deep. Ancient. Filled with knowledge.

Jinhyuk stared at the ring, trembling.

"Don't tell me this voice… is coming from the ring!?"

"You finally realize. Quickly channel your energy into the ring. Then you will be able to see me."

"Energy? What energy? How am I supposed to know how to channel anything?!"

"You can. You are the human I chose. I would not pick someone at random. You have enough. Try to feel it, and… Boom, release it."

"What nonsense is that… Boom, release it? How?!"

"You only need to go Seeeettt and then Boommm. Channel the energy within you into the ring—think of pouring your feelings into the stone."

Jinhyuk closed his eyes, clutching his head. He was dizzy from these vague instructions, but he felt himself slipping further into madness as he obeyed the strange voice.

"Okay, I'll try. Think… think of something… inner power? Chi? Chakra? Aura? Anything!"

He recalled every film, anime, drama, and game he had ever watched or played.

He sweated. He focused. His hand shook. But—nothing happened. He tried again and again, in every pose, but still no result.

"ARGHH!!" He slammed his fist into the wall. "DAMN IT!! IS THIS SOME KIND OF JOKE?!"

"I think I'm completely delusional."

He paused, panting, sweat pouring down his face.

Then he lifted his hand… and surrendered.

And at that very moment…

Something burst forth from within him.

A warm, faint, silvery-white stream poured from his chest toward his hand—and into the ring.

The ring flared brilliantly, then—

CRAAACK!

Jinhyuk recoiled in shock. The world around him shattered. The bathroom vanished. The ground dissolved beneath him.

"W-What is this… Aaaaaaaaaa!!"

He could only scream as if being sucked into a place that would kill him.

---

"Ouch," he groaned in pain.

Jinhyuk collapsed onto the floor. He opened his eyes and froze at the sight before him.

He was seated in a spiritual chamber—empty… dark… vast—like another world.

Only one thing lay ahead: a pitch-black valley so deep it seemed bottomless, surrounded by colossal stone pillars forming an enormous cage.

The air was oppressive. His steps were slow as he approached.

DUUUUUM.

DUUUUUM.

A heavy heartbeat echoed through the void.

Then, from within the darkness… a pair of red eyes opened. Massive. Distant.

Yet Jinhyuk felt as if they were mere inches away.

"W-What… is that?" he whispered.

"Finally you have arrived. Now we can converse more comfortably, Ryu Jinhyuk."

The voice… was the same as the one from the ring. But now it felt… alive.

Jinhyuk squinted, trying to pierce the darkness.

"Who… are you? What is this place?"

"This is the dimensional space of the ring. More precisely, a prison. I am trapped within. Sealed here."

"You… what kind of creature are you?"

"Me? I am… mmm… not yet the time for you to know. Better I introduce myself when I am free."

Jinhyuk scowled.

"Hohoho, you may call me Ryuga. I was once a sacred being who guarded fate and time. Sadly, my duties have been suspended, and now I am sealed in this place."

"Guarding fate?"

"That's right. A chaos in destiny has occurred in this world. That is why I have reappeared. You are one whose fate was tampered with. Your destiny has shifted too far. This world is unstable. A great calamity will befall it, and I have chosen you to help me."

"How can I help you? I can't even fight. Let alone save the world."

"You can begin by training."

"You think it's that easy? Besides, why me and not the man in black? He looked powerful."

"You're correct, but his luck is the worst I've ever seen." answered Ryuga. "You have great luck in your fate, but someone altered it, throwing your life into chaos. Don't you want to set things right and reclaim what should be yours?"

"Reclaim what should be mine? Is that why my life has been a mess lately?"

"Indeed. A woman named Yoon Seri, whom you have always mentioned, was actually destined for you. Whoever changed your fate must know much about it—and has taken away all the great things that should have been yours."

"What?! Yoon Seri was fated to be with me? Do you know who did this?"

"For now, I do not know. My power and yours are both too weak. This seal limits me, but I can still lend you enough aid for the start of your journey. So, will you accept?"

Jinhyuk fell silent, deep in thought. He only thought of Yoon Seri—the woman he adored—and the chance to win her back with the help of this great being.

"Decide quickly; this dimensional link will soon close."

Jinhyuk stared sharply, then said, "All right."

Ryuga chuckled softly, then released a beam of white-reddish light toward Jinhyuk.

"This is our contract. Our fates are now bound to each other's existence."

Jinhyuk felt immense energy flood his body. A strange symbol appeared on the back of his right hand—white and red—then faded.

"I will sleep for the next few days, so train to strengthen yourself. Do not die before I awaken," said Ryuga.

"Train? How am I supposed to train? I don't know anything about training!"

"Hohoho, use your own mind. Oh, and you should probably deal with last night's problem first."

"Last night's problem?"

Before Jinhyuk could ask more, his body was pulled back into something he could not yet comprehend.

"Aaaaaaa… what do you mean 'last night's problem'?" he screamed as he vanished.

Jinhyuk then opened his eyes—and found himself back in his dorm bathroom, sitting on the toilet.

"Am I dreaming again?"

He looked at his hand—the ring was still there.

"Aaarrgghh… I don't even know how to tell dream from reality anymore!" he muttered in frustration.

Knock, knock, knock.

Suddenly, someone was at his door.

Jinhyuk stood and opened it.

Two middle-aged police officers in uniform stood outside, and the dorm hallway was swarmed with students and campus security.

"Mr. Jinhyuk?"

"Yes, I'm Jinhyuk."

"You must come with us to the station. You're a suspect in a theft at the National Museum."

"Huh? I stole something? I haven't even left my room."

"Come with us and explain everything at the station."

The officers escorted Jinhyuk away.

He surrendered to his fate, thinking silently:

Is this the "problem" that creature meant?

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