Finding Paradise: Heavenly Ascension

Joel paced the length of their quarters, his thoughts tangled in knots of worry. He had insisted that Lillian rest after the ordeal she had gone through, but the weight of uncertainty hung over him like a thick fog. Lillian, for her part, sat cross-legged on her bed, her expression guarded, though her tired eyes betrayed just how worn she truly was. The air between them felt heavy, charged with an unspoken tension.

A soft knock at the door shattered the silence, and both of them glanced up, their attention momentarily pulled away from the storm of thoughts clouding their minds. Joel quickly made his way over and opened the door, revealing a woman draped in flowing robes of deep Seo Hye-jin. The fabric shimmered faintly in the dim light, catching the light in a subtle, ethereal way. Her silver hair cascaded down her back, the strands almost glowing, and her emerald eyes were both warm and unnerving in their depth. A small, knowing smile curved on her lips, giving her an air of calm mystery.

"Good evening," she greeted them with a light tone. "I am Lady Seo Hye-jin, though just Seo Hye-jin will suffice. I heard your daughter had an... incident earlier."

Joel blinked in surprise, his brow furrowing. "Oh, you're the doctor. Thank goodness you're here."

Seo Hye-jin paused for a moment, a soft chuckle escaping her lips as one eyebrow quirked upward in amused confusion. "Doctor?" she echoed, her smile growing warmer. "I'm flattered, truly. But I am no doctor. I am a healer, a follower of the Mother of Abominations of the Mortal Realm."

Joel frowned, still clearly not grasping the difference. "Right… so, a fancy way of saying doctor?"

Lillian groaned softly from her bed. "Dad, please."

Seo Hye-jin chuckled, the sound like soft music in the air. "I see you're a man of practicality. Very well, if it makes you feel better, you may call me 'doctor.' But do know, I reserve the right to correct you."

Joel scratched the back of his head, a faint flush creeping up his neck as he nodded awkwardly. "Fair enough. Just… please, check on her."

Seo Hye-jin stepped inside, the robes trailing behind her as she moved toward Lillian with graceful confidence. She knelt by the bedside, her expression softening as she met Lillian's gaze. "You must be Lillian," she said gently. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired," Lillian answered quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Seo Hye-jin nodded, placing a warm hand over Lillian's forehead. "Let's see what's going on, shall we?"

With a calm and deliberate motion, she closed her eyes, murmuring a few quiet words under her breath. A faint golden light began to emanate from her palm, bathing Lillian in a soft, almost otherworldly glow. Joel watched in awe, his earlier skepticism slowly dissolving as he witnessed the magic unfold before him.

For several moments, Seo Hye-jin remained still, her focus unwavering. The light pulsed gently, moving over Lillian's body like a living thing, searching, assessing. When she finally opened her eyes, the golden glow faded, and she sat back with a satisfied smile.

"Well, you're in luck," Seo Hye-jin said, her tone cheerful once more. "No injuries, no lingering illnesses—just a bit of fatigue. Nothing that a good night's rest won't fix."

Joel exhaled in relief, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Thank you… uh, Seo Hye-jin."

"You're welcome," she replied warmly. She then turned her attention back to Lillian and, with a lighthearted smile, tapped the young woman's head with her index finger. "And you, young lady, need to take better care of yourself. No more collapsing in hallways, understood?"

Lillian offered a faint smile in return. "Understood."

But just as Seo Hye-jin's hand lingered for a moment longer, her expression shifted. Her eyes widened ever so slightly, and a shiver ran through her body, as though she had felt something cold and sinister. She quickly withdrew her hand, as though burned, her breath catching in her throat.

Joel noticed the change immediately. "What? What's wrong?"

Seo Hye-jin didn't answer right away. Her gaze was still fixed on Lillian, but it seemed as if she was looking beyond her—into something invisible, something she couldn't quite place. She clasped her hands together and lowered her head, her lips moving in a quiet prayer, one that was hurried but filled with deep reverence.

"Mother of Abominations, guardian of the forsaken, shield your servant from the shadowed grasp. Cleanse this presence with your light, and cast the darkness into the void. Let no corruption take root within my soul. Amen."

Her voice was steady, but there was an intensity behind each word that seemed to vibrate through the very air. After repeating the prayer once more, Seo Hye-jin lifted her head, her eyes now serious, her earlier warmth replaced by a solemn gravity.

Joel stepped forward, his concern mounting. "Seo Hye-jin, tell me what's going on. What did you see?"

Seo Hye-jin turned to him, her expression composed but heavy with warning. "Your daughter," she said carefully, "might have been touched by corruption."

The words landed like a hammer strike, their weight almost unbearable. Joel's breath hitched in his chest as his mind scrambled for answers. Lillian, meanwhile, sat still, her face betraying nothing, her eyes unreadable.

"I need time to confirm," Seo Hye-jin continued, her tone now softer but firm. "But what I felt… was unnatural. Cold. And old. Whatever it was, it's not something to take lightly."

Joel clenched his fists, his protective instincts flaring. "What does that mean for her? Can you fix it?"

Seo Hye-jin placed a reassuring hand on his arm, her expression softening just a little. "Let me do some research. I'll return as soon as I have answers. For now, keep a close eye on her. And, Lillian," she added, turning to the young woman, "if you notice anything—strange—let me know immediately."

Lillian nodded quietly, her voice steady. "I will."

But before Seo Hye-jin could leave, a sudden, unsettling presence filled the room. It was as though the air itself had thickened, becoming heavier, more suffocating. The very fabric of reality seemed to twist.

"You are not going anywhere," a voice boomed, its tone icy and filled with menace. "We haven't formally introduced ourselves yet, have we now? I am the unseen evil, the world's greatest calamity. The one whose eyes pierce into the future. And I would like to know the names of my first victims."

The voice echoed through the room, and both Lady Violet and Joel froze in shock. As they slowly turned to Lillian, they were met with a sight that sent chills down their spines. Her eyes were pitch black, with only a hint of purple in the irises, giving her an unearthly, unnatural appearance. Her nails had elongated, sharp and dark, and as she flashed a wicked, unsettling smile, it was clear to them that something far more sinister than fatigue had taken hold of her.

Lilian had fallen unconscious.