Chapter 349 - The Hidden Land-II

Haneul saw it happen all in a blink. When she felt like she heard Min Hyuk's voice, all of a sudden, the man who she had just met took her by her waist. Her eyes then shut as wind blow over her face and it was hard to keep her sight opened.

By the time, Haneul could open her eyes, she opened her eyes only to squint as bright light came upon her. Accompanied by the torches that blinded her eyes for a moment, a group of people came toward them.

"Seunggo!" It was a woman's voice who called with hint of crying. 

Haneul forced open her eyes to see the little boy who she had found earlier ran to the woman who had called her which she assumed to be the boy's mother. The mother and child hug and somewhere the warmth they shared had Haneul to question when was the last time she hugged her mother. 

"Thank you very much Jae-Gil for finding our son. Really thank you very much!" The man who was the father of the son thanked the man who was with her. 

JaeGil offered a smile, "It isn't a big problem. Fortunately Seunggo know where to hide and didn't leave to the wide road."

The man nodded while the rest who finally noticed Haneul after the chaotic incident where now they felt relieved for finding the lost boy, one of the women turned alarmed, "JaeGil! You brought a human here!" 

"This? Well this princes is—" JaeGil hadn't complete his words as the people turn their eyes warily toward Haneul.

"What do you think by bringing her here?! We should do something to erase her memories!" shouted the person who stood beside the woman, "Get her here. You, call Madam Yoo!"

Haneul saw how most people who looked at her now threw the familiar hateful and frightened gazes toward her. She didn't understand what happen and going back to what the woman had said by calling her a human, she noted the people who live here was not one. Because no human would refer to outsider as human.

While looking around, Haneul finally remembered JaeGil's hand that wreathed around her waist. Panic flickered on her eyes and she pulled his hand away from her waist. 

Seeing the panic she had on her eyes, JaeGil grinned smugly, "Being a different being than a human doesn't make you lesser than us, don't you? And for someone who seemed to be used under the spotlight, you are quite innocent."

Haneul didn't know why this man's words only had her to tick in anger. She glared at him, "The matter being innocent and to keep one's safety from a brute man who can put his hand on a woman's waist without any shame is different! I am protecting myself from a pervert like you."

"A pervert?" JaeGil smile had fell as shock covered his face for no one had ever called him a pervert. "Listen here, woman. I am someone who most woman sought to be hugged by—"

"What is the meaning of this, JaeGil?" Another voice came from behind them. 

Haneul startled, turned her eyes to the elderly woman who passed from the middle of the people who had surrounded them. Although she had bickered with the unknown man, Haneul didn't forget the fact that she had been brought to a place where she didn't know anyone or what they were.

She didn't forget either that the man named JaeGil had called her a catalyst which mean he knew about her and who she was even though he didn't know her name. 

JaeGil who had been smiling suddenly knelt on the ground, a stern expression came to his face that erased his previous image of a playful person. 

"Madam Yoo. I found this woman around our barrier on the mission to find Seunggo," JaeGil explained and when he looked up, Haneul met his eyes and she sent him a glare. A smile formed faintly on his lips but didn't stay long as he turned to meet the elderly woman whose name was Madam Yoo. "Something odd happen when I casted the magic to erase her memories."

"What odd?" 

"I couldn't erase her memories." On his statement, Haneul could hear gasps ringing from the people who was around their place and she could also see the elderly woman's eyes narrowed which Haneul didn't know whether it was a good sign. 

JaeGil continued to announce, "She is the prophesied Catalyst." 

Madam Yoo sighed, the woman's long hair that had been tied around her head as a large white braid, tapped the tall walking cane she had with her. Turning around she gave her order, "Bring here to the prison room. Now!" 

Prison?!

"I am not a dangerous person, madam!" Haneul yelled, she didn't want to be held captive. When a man came to her and she raised her hand to stop him, the former looked surprised and alarmed. Haneul could see the man looked at her with visible fear. 

She looked all around her, seeing the people who looked at her was all with fear. Haneul had only wanted to resist the man from dragging her to a place where she would be vulnerable while being in this village amongst the people whom she could tell had the blood of witches. But to others, her action was seen as a threats as the were aware of the power which she held.

While Haneul wrecked her mind to find a way to solve everything peacefully, Madam Yoo watched everything with her eyes trained on Haneul calmly. After a while, she said, "I can tell you are not dangerous, miss. But you are also aware that while you might not be dangerous, your power can speak otherwise."

Haneul pursed her lips because she understand what the woman meant. While she might not hold ill intention against the people, her power could go lethal if danger came before her and when it happen she doesn't have the proper control to confidently say she was not a harm.

"She can walk finely," Madam Yoo assessed, "Let her do that and lead her to the room."

One of the men asked who would like to show Haneul the way and she could see most of them turned down the offer. Except for one younger girl who reached out her hand upon the question. 

"Not you Seola," whispered the older man who was her father.

"Not a single one of you want to go either. We don't want to have Madam Yoo wait on us. As I am not afraid like you I will show her the way," said Seola and Haneul noticed the studying eyes of the girl on her. Her hands were crossed when the first looked at each other and a little frown could be seen settling on her forehead. 

"Come with me," said Seola and when JaeGil followed them, her frown deepened, "Stay here. Madam Yoo only tells her to come not you too."

Haneul followed the girl as she walked. The surrounding of their place was still in the forest which was strange. Haneul didn't feel like she was far from the place where she had camped on. But she didn't remember ever seeing houses inside the forest such as now. 

There were tall houses and towers that should stood out but nothing came on her view during her visit around the forest in the afternoon.

"Where are we?" Haneul asked the girl who was leading her.

"Somewhere which you would like it better not to know where we are and keep less question for your own sake," answered the girl curtly and Haneul asked if she had done something to offend her as she appeared to be upset around her. 

"This afternoon I came around here but I saw nothing is it because of the barrier—" Haneul stopped her feet as Seola had stopped as well.

Haneul saw the girl turned her face, her frown was severe on her forehead. "Know about this place less and you could leave faster, Catalyst. We don't welcome you here. Not me, not my families and friend, and neither JaeGil is."

JaeGil was that man, isn't he? Why does he have to be brought in their discussion...? Haneul questioned in her mind.

"We are here," the girl then stopped suddenly. Her eyes were still passive while looking at Haneul. "Be sure to say nothing but truths. Madam Yoo doesn't condone liars. If you have something to hide spit it out or else we will put you to the pit."

"I have nothing to hide," Haneul answered the woman sternly as she kept on painting her on the bad side. And she asked, "What is the pit?" While she didn't want to hurt anyone if they hurt her first, she was determined to raise in action to protect herself. 

"A place which you wouldn't like." Seola pushed the door and tipped her chin.. "That is your way."