It was warm.
A soft sensation of someone gently embracing me from behind.
It felt cozy and comforting.
It was a nostalgic feeling I had only experienced long ago as a child.
Could it be�
I tried to speak, my eyes wide open.
âUhâ¦â
âShh.â
A delicate voice echoed in my ear, and I felt something touch my lips.
That sensation made me close my mouth.
âJust for a moment. Stay still, wonât you?â
A gentle voice accompanied by a touch brushing through my hair.
A hand softly stroked my hair.
My body stiffened in place.
âGood.â
ââ¦â
Something warm and soft began to rise inside me. I couldnât react in any way.
In the midst of that silenceâ
âMangye.â
The Blood Demon spoke with a stern expression.
âYou must have been in a hurry. Appearing in person instead of sending someone from the Abyss.â
The voice responded to the Blood Demonâs words.
âHeâs very busy. Iâve given him many tasks to handle.â
âHa. Are you saying thereâs something more important than safeguarding your own trace?â
Trace. My ears perked up at that word.
âSafeguard, you say?â
The voice chuckled.
âMy son isnât weak enough to need me to safeguard him.â
Hearing those words, I clenched my fists.
So, itâs true. The owner of this voiceâ¦
âMotherâ¦â
It seemed like it really was her.
I had felt this during the last incident at the Sinryong Pavilion, but it was now certain. My mother was alive.