“…Hyung?”

Sayoung stood frozen, as if nailed to the spot. His mind went blank, and he couldn’t breathe. Uijae was crouched on the ground, staring at the bones scattered across the ground.

“That can’t be…”

His voice was weak, empty, as if his spirit had left him. It was a voice Sayoung had never heard before—so different, he almost couldn’t believe it was Uijae speaking.

After a moment, Uijae staggered to his feet, his palms and knees covered in white smudges from the ash. His expression remained blank, but tears kept streaming down his face.

Uijae was crying.

His trembling …