Then, she saw it.
Just beyond the cluster of wildflowers there was a small patch of grass where no light reached it. Yet something glowed.
It was faint like a candle that was about to go out, yet it was steady at the same time too.
She stepped closer to it and her heart began to pound. She couldn't describe the feeling. The glow sharpened as she approached closer to it. She thought it was just light from the moon, but it wasn't.
It was..a flower.
Its petals were a deep velvety purple that was rimmed with black and tipped with a slight green glow. The petals shimmered softly like it was breathing almost. The stem was curved with such elegance rising from the ground like it had been waiting to be picked.
Y/n knelt beside the flower looking at it.
She reached her small hand out to it hesitantly.
And touched it.
A warmth spread across her palm, it wasn't fire it was like something traveling inside her veins.
Her eyes widened and her mouth opened like she was about to scream in shock. For a heartbeat, she couldn't move.
It traveled up her arm slow at first like a thread being pulled beneath her skin. It wasn't painful, but felt unnatural too. Her fingers twitched and her breath was caught in her throat.
It was something deeper, alive almost.
The flower's glow pulsed once and then faded.
Y/n stumbled back a bit, however her hand was still outstretched. She looked down at her palm thinking she had been burned or something, marked even, but she turned out okay she thought.
Except it really wasn't and she felt a lingering thrum beneath her skin, like something else was waiting for her next.
The wind shifted and her mind snapped back into reality, the moment was gone. She turned and ran and did not dare to look back. She ducked under the loose part of the fence behind the store and raced across the lot on her shaky legs. Her shoes thudded against the concrete with every step.
The front door creaked open.
And there he was.
Her father stood in front of her, barefoot and tense. His eyes narrowed the moment he saw her. She looked nervoous and her hoodie sleeves pulled over shaking hands.
"Where were you?" he asked, his voice was calm but only on the surface.
"I.." she paused, breathing heavily. "I went into the field."
He walked closer to her and crouched in front of her and took her hand gently.
The moment he touched her skin, he felt iit.
It was a faint hum. It was a subtle warmth under the surface of her skin.
From mana.
His expression did not change, but he looked more concerned in his eyes.
"What did you see Y/n?"
She hesitated looking at him. "It was- a flower."
He led her to the kitchen table without another word, her mother was still asleep unaware of them being awake. He poured a glass of water for Y/n and sat across from her. The silence felt heavy between them like the entire house was holding its own breath.
Then, he spoke.
"You cant tell mommy okay?"
Y/n looked at him confused. "Why not?"
"Because she will..worry. Whatever happened is not normal."
He leaned closer to y/n, his elbows rested on the table.
"Did anything else happen?"
"No," she said quickly. "It just glowed and then it felt like something went into my hand."
He nodded slowly.
"That flower isn't just some plant and I don't think it let you go empty handed either."
He studied her a little longer, his eyes narrowing just slightly.
"Your eyes," he said quietly.
Y/n tilted her head. "What about them?"
"They look a little different" It was a faint purple undertone to her irises, that were usually e/c but had shifted slightly.
"It's nothing," he said quickly, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. "It's just the lighting.
"Back to what I was saying, I don't really understand what happened, but if you do have some sort of power, you are not allowed to use them anyway."
"What? Why? What if I can become an B rank hunter or maybe even an S rank and make a lot of money for us?"
"Because we moved here to stay hidden," he said sternly. "Your mother wanted to live a quiet life. I gave up my life as an S rank and left everything behind to live a normal life with your mother"
He reached over and took her hand again, but more carefully this time.
"Promise me," he said. "No showing off, no experiments either and definitely do not talk about it at school. No matter how much you want to."
"But-"
"Y/n" he said, his tone was firm now.
"Please understand."
She looked into her fathers eyes, they were so calm, so kind in a way she hadn't seen them before.
"Okay..," she whispered. "I promise I won't."
He let go of her hand and stood up.
"We'll keep it between us, just you and me alright?"
As he turned off the kitchen light and walked Y/n back to her room, he glanced once toward the window, the one that was facing the field.
He didn't need to see the flower, but he knew it shouldn't exist anymore. But somehow, his daughter managed to stumble upon it.
And that terrified him more than anything.
It was 12 years later and Y/n had to deliver an order to one of the blue gates. Y/n's family convenience store got popular.
The alley beside the gate was busier than expected. There were hunters and a few support staff buzzing around the glowing blue portal like moths to a flame.
Y/n carefully maneuvered through the crowd, she had a delivery bag strapped over one shoulder and stacked boxes balancing in her arms. Just as she reached the point to drop off the items, one of the smaller boxes slipped.
It hit the ground with a quiet thud.
Before she could kneel to grab it, someone beat her to it.
"Here," the boy said holding it up for her.
He had messy black hair and gray eyes, his frame was lean but not imposing. He wore a blue jacket and carried a brown backpack. It felt like he didn't quite belong with the rest of the hunters nearby.
"Thanks," she said, taking the box from him. "Guess I am not built for delivery missions."
He gave a small, nervous smile. "It happens."
"Are you a hunter?"
"Yeah," he nodded, his hand brushed through his hair. "It can be rough sometimes."
Y/n looked at him understanding his situation, he didn't seem to be high rank.
"My parents would probably barricade my bedroom door if I said I wanted to be a hunter." She said trying to lighten the mood.
Jinwoo laughed, "Maybe one day."
She tilted her head and eyed him as he turned slightly towards the gate.
"Hey." she said casually, pointing at him. "Dont get hurt in there, alright? You wouldn't want a scratch on that cute face of yours." She said, not realizing what she just said.
He froze for a second embarrassed. "I will..keep that iin mind. Thanks"
He gave a small wave before walking off toward the gate with the others.