Night began to fall over Andora Village. A cool breeze drifted down from the foot of the mountain, carrying the damp scent of fields recently watered that afternoon. In the distance, the chirping of crickets echoed, framing a peace they had rarely felt in recent months.
Hyunwoo and his friends sat in the village hall with Claude and Arlain, discussing the construction of a granary for storing the harvest. In the corner, a field map lay open on a long wooden table, surrounded by clay cups and Wonho's scribbled notes.
"If the water flow remains steady and the weather holds, the first harvest should come in two weeks," Hyunwoo said optimistically.
"For the first time... I feel like this village is truly rising again," murmured Claude, staring at the map.
Yerin gave a faint smile, then stood. "I'd like to check on the fields for a moment. Just to make sure the plants we sprayed yesterday aren't wilting. I won't be long."
"Don't stay out too late," Taeyang said gently.
Yerin nodded and left, holding a small lantern. Night deepened, and not long after, they all bid each other farewell and went to their homes.
But soon after, a scream rang out from the east side of the village.
"FIRE!! THE FIELD'S ON FIRE!!"
The night sky glowed red in the distance. Smoke billowed. Villagers rushed out of their homes—some with buckets, others with just their bare hands. The fire spread quickly from the edge of the field—the night wind accelerating its advance.
Claude and Arlain immediately began shouting orders:
"Get water from the well! Don't let the fire reach the houses!"
Taeyang ran toward the flames, using a soaked sack to beat down the blaze. Wonho drove his staff into the ground, channeling water from a small ditch toward the fire. Hyunwoo helped guide the villagers to safety while also trying to douse the flames with hoes and sacks.
It took nearly an hour to put out the fire. Everyone was drenched in sweat, breathing heavily.
Most of the eastern field was charred. The smell of smoke and burnt earth hung in the air.
In the silence, an old man spoke in a low but clear voice:
"I… I saw someone before the fire started. A woman... standing near the field."
All eyes turned to him.
"Her hair… pink. She was holding a small lantern. I think… she was the healer from your group."
All eyes turned toward Yerin, standing not far from Hyunwoo. Her face was pale.
"That was me," Yerin said, her voice soft but steady. "I was just checking the plants, like I said last night… I only wanted to make sure everything was okay."
"Then why didn't you tell anyone?" a mother snapped. "Why did you go alone?"
Yerin fell silent. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. She clutched her wrist tightly, trying to stop herself from trembling.
"She couldn't have meant any harm," Taeyang cut in, stepping forward. "We all know Yerin. She's not the type to hurt anyone."
But murmurs began to spread. Villagers whispered among themselves.
"They're too smart…"
"Know too much… like witches…"
"What if they really brought misfortune?"
Arlain stepped forward, his face flushed with anger and sweat.
"Enough!" he shouted. "Don't throw around accusations without proof. But… if it turns out they did this… I'll be the one to drive them out."
Yerin lowered her head, seemingly crying. Hyunwoo stood beside her, looking around at the villagers one by one.
"We'll find out who did this. I don't believe Yerin is responsible. But if she is, I'll take full responsibility."
The crowd began to disperse, but tension still hung heavy in the air. Claude stood silently. His gaze shifted from the dying fire to the scorched earth.
By a small campfire, Hyunwoo spoke quietly to Wonho.
"Do you think this was an inside job?"
Wonho didn't answer right away.
"If it wasn't Yerin…" he finally said, "...then someone is trying to break us from within. And they almost succeeded."
The sky had not yet brightened, but Andora Village could not sleep that night. Embers still glowed faintly at the edge of the field, leaving behind the bitter scent of smoke and burnt leaves. In the village hall, candles flickered dimly, casting yellow light on anxious faces.
The Village Chief sat with his head down. Beside him, Belinda stood holding a cup of warm water, untouched.
"I feel like… we made a mistake," the Chief murmured. "We trusted them too easily… maybe handed over everything too soon."
Belinda didn't answer right away. She stared out the window, toward the small crowd of villagers still gathered in unrest.
"Hyunwoo and his friends aren't bad people," she said softly. "But… this village is wounded. Fear makes people blind to good intentions."
Suddenly, shouting erupted outside the hall.
"You bring misfortune! My field is gone! All my family's hard work… destroyed!"
A muscular man named Shid burst through the crowd and stormed toward Yerin, who stood beside Taeyang. Shid's face was flushed red, his eyes blazing.
"This is all your fault!!" he shouted, raising his hand to strike.
"HOW DARE YOU!"
Taeyang stepped in front of Yerin, catching Shid's hand before it could land. The impact echoed, silencing everyone.
"We came to help, not to be insulted! Without us, your field wouldn't have grown a single crop!"
"You think we're ungrateful? Look around! We're starving! We're traumatized! Then you show up like some miracle, but all we get is fire!" Shid shot back.
Yerin bit her lip. Tears welled at the corners of her eyes, but she said nothing. The tension escalated.
Until a calm but firm voice cut through it all.
"That's enough."
Hyunwoo stepped forward. His gaze was sharp, his voice calm yet commanding.
"Tonight is not the time for accusations. Starting tomorrow, I'll form a team to investigate who was really in the field when the fire started."
"You think you can find the culprit?" the Village Chief asked, now standing.
"If we're allowed," Hyunwoo answered, meeting his eyes, "I'll make sure the truth comes out. But until then… please, don't punish anyone out of fear."
The Chief took a deep breath, then slowly nodded.
"You have two days."
The crowd began to disperse, slowly and with whispers. Shid left, his head bowed. Taeyang remained standing protectively beside Yerin. Belinda approached Hyunwoo.
"Thank you… for protecting them."
Hyunwoo only nodded. His eyes remained on the glowing embers in the field. In his heart, a new determination began to grow.
Tomorrow morning would mark the beginning of a search for truth. And behind it all… hidden eyes continued to watch.