V1 - C8 - P1: Father of Lies.

Before Nightfall/Sunrise.

Hei'an Wu stood alone in an empty training center, the only noises breaking the silence being his heavy breathing and soft grunts as he worked his way through a series of practice rounds.

He'd removed his shirt to wipe the sweat off his face and abs, his physique illuminated from the multiple lanterns. He stood with his gaze to the floor in a trance, heavily panting as sweat trickled down his body.

As Wei'an Wu finished his quick break by exhaling, he stepped towards the dummy and began to mimic Mujin's moves. He punched, knee'd, hook kicked, and roundhouse kicked the dummy's neck with fast and heavy movements, mirroring Mujin's fighting style.

Hei'an Wu(INT):

"Mujins fighting style is odd to say the least."

"At first, he'll use Shinsei–kin, but then he'll switch to using Sangabiri, a martial art style all the way from Zaramaji!"

"Just who the hell are you, Daeho?"

His speed and agility were apparent as he moved around the training center, his movements quick and precise, his eyes focused on the dummy in front of him.

He punched it over and over, getting more frustrated with his confusion. Then, he delivered a strong kick to its head, breaking it off. After a few minutes, he went to the bench press, struggling with heavy weights that felt like around 354lbs/160kgs. He battled heavy rope and moved on to do weighted pull-ups with weights of about 165lbs/75kgs, letting out grunts and panting.

In the final minutes before nightfall, he squatted with a heavy barbell weighing around 573Ibs/260kgs. Struggling on the last squat, he managed to complete it, grunting loudly as the barbell hit the ground with a bang. Breathing heavily, he slowly looked back behind him.

Hei'an Wu:

"I know you're there, dumba##."

"Come out, now."

Haneul jumped up a bit, appearing from behind a counter with a slightly embarrassed look. He rubbed the back of his neck while nervously chuckling to himself.

Haneul Yoon:

"Eh– heh..."

Hei'an Wu:

"Tch, how long were you watching me? You little creep."

Haneul Yoon:

"Huh?! No! I just arrived here a minute ago–"

Hei'an Wu:

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"What are you doing here anyways?"

Haneul Yoon:

"Well, I wanted to, y'know... get big like you?"

"I know that you always wake up before nightfall, and come to the training place by yourself."

"I wanted to start– uhhhh, 'pumping that hard iron!' Eeh? Is that right...?"

Hei'an Wu:

"Did you come here to bullsh## and waste my time?"

Haneul Yoon:

"Eeek!"

"Okay! I'm sorry! I just don't know what to do, okay?!"

"I just hate looking all skinny, weak—"

"J– just being a main target for anyone in general! I want to look like a man for once, and not just some kid!"

He arched an eyebrow at Haneul, with a slight weirded-out and concerned face before scoffing.

Hei'an Wu:

"Spare me the sob story, you hopeless fool."

"Don't waste your time on something you'll quit on two days later."

Haneul glanced down and then turned away. As Wu was about to resume his workouts, he looked up, feeling thoughtful and slightly guilty, then closed his eyes and let out a frustrated and annoyed sigh.

Hei'an Wu:

"Stop."

"Fine, you'll workout—"

Haneul in a split-second turned around and lunged at Wu to hug him.

Haneul Yoon:

"THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YO–"

Only to be stopped by smacking into Wu's palm.

Hei'an Wu:

"—With me."

Haneul, brushing his shoulders, quickly regained his composure and stood properly to place his focus on Wu.

Haneul Yoon:

"Don't worry W–..."

"Actually, do you mind if I give you a nickname? It makes it easier for me."

Hei'an Wu:

"No, I don't like that you're giving me a nickname as if I was some pet."

"And I suggest you rethink that option of giving me one."

Haneul Yoon:

"..."

"So it's a 'No' as in you don't mind?"

Hei'an Wu:

"What? No– I mean– yes!?"

Haneul Yoon:

"Okay! Your nickname is now... Anny!"

"Like Hei'an, but now it's Anny because of the–"

Hei'an Wu:

"Shut the f##k up."

Haneul Yoon:

"..."

"Sorry..."

Wu, with anunamused look on his face, turns around to arrange some equipment for Haneul.

Haneul Yoon(INT):

"Well, it seems like he's already at his limit, and it probably has something to do with me."

"I just hope he isn't too hard on me."

Timeskip(½ Hour Later/Nightfall Beginning).

Haneul Yoon:

"Th– this was a terrible idea!"

Haneul gripped the ground, soaked in sweat and covered in black marks, struggling for breath as he attempted to crawl out of the training center, fighting for his dear life.

Haneul Yoon(INT):

"Anny's a damn sadist! The sadist of all sadists!"

"He seriously made me do all of those things!? All I asked was for a light workout, but he destroyed every part of my body!"

Haneul Yoon:

*Groan*

"My face—"

"My eye—"

"My ear! It all hurts!"

"Somebody! Call the healer!–"

He then sensed Wu grabbing his hair, pulling him back in.

Hei'an Wu:

"We're not done after nightfalls, runt."

Haneul Yoon:

"Someone! Help me!–"

Wu drags Haneul back into the training place and shuts the door.

Timeskip(1 Hour Later/Morning).

Exhausted with his hair all messy, Haneul used his chopsticks to pick at his food, his arms shaking as he moved.

Shi wore his black thick fur coat with a hood to keep warm from the wet and cold weather.

Shi and Hao share worried glances, then lean in on the table to talk to Haneul. Haneul sits beside Wu, who is calmly eating.

Huo Hao:

"Uhhh, Haneul!"

"Are you alright, man?"

Shi nods and waits for Haneul to speak.

Haneul Yoon:

"I just had my first workout before morning..."

Huo Hao:

"HWOAH! You're working out? That's awesome! How do you feel right now?"

Haneul Yoon:

"..."

"I feel..."

"Like sh##!"

Huo Hao:

"Huh? How? You're supposed to feel great! Wasn't that pump good?"

Yan Shi:

"Mhm!"

Haneul Yoon:

"I don't know... my body just felt very full."

Huo Hao:

"It's supposed to feel like that! That's why it's great!"

Haneul Yoon:

"Well, it was terrible experience."

Shi raised an eyebrow, then playfully mimicked Haneul's whining by creating a talking hand puppet with a sleepy demeanor.

Haneul Yoon:

"E– eh?! Well it's not like you understand how it feels!"

Shi and Hao share a glance, and then suddenly, Wu chuckled softly while rubbing his eyes.

Haneul Yoon:

"What's so funny?"

Hei'an Wu:

"Oi, Mutie."

"Show him."

Yan Shi:

*Sigh*

Shi unbuttons his fur coat and stretches out his arm. Despite initially seeming skinny, his arm transforms as he tenses his muscles. His biceps, triceps, and forearms grow larger and more veiny in an instant.

Haneul Yoon:

"What the hell?! Is this some sort of magic or something?!"

"It was so skinny, and now it's suddenly big!"

Hei'an Wu:

"You weren't the only one."

"It turns out many people have this illusion where they appear slender with clothes on."

"But when the clothes come off, their bodies tell a different story."

Haneul Yoon:

"That's so freaky! But also cool aswell!"

"Well now I wanna workout more!"

Hei'an Wu:

"Now hold on, you buffoon."

"I just gave you the most grueling full-body training of your life, and you're just starting out."

"After two days of rest, then you'll go back."

Haneul Yoon:

"Oh, yeah..."

Haneul Yoon(INT):

"I just suddenly felt the need to go training again after seeing Shi's arm. I'll make sure I'll work hard enough so I can pull my own weight!"

"Just like Daesu said–..."

He looked around the large crowded dining hall with narrow eyes, seemingly curious.

Haneul Yoon(INT):

"Speaking of Daesu..."

"Where is he?"

The bell suddenly rung, signalling the end of morning breakfast and the time for students to clean/wash theirselves and be ready for today. After quickly returning their platters, they raced through the hallways holding onto their cleaning products and towels for the shower rooms.

As the male students were about to enter their shower rooms, Mujin surprises them by stepping out, his wet hair and a damp towel hanging on his shoulders.

Haneul Yoon:

"Oh, there you are Mujin!"

Mujin stepped out of the room, and they allowed him to pass before rushing into the showers, eager to wash quickly and avoid waiting in line.

Student #1:

"Move, idiot!"

Student #2:

"I am not waiting for all of you!"

The boys argued about who should use the shower stalls, with some debating and others not caring, just walking in. The multiple groups of girls outside the female shower rooms did the same thing.

Haneul Yoon:

"Hey, uh, where were you during breakfast?"

Mujin Daeho:

"Just woke up a little late, decided I wasn't hungry and just had a shower after."

Haneul Yoon:

"Right, right."

"Hey... is that my school sweater?"

Mujin Daeho:

"..."

"Yes."

Haneul Yoon:

*Sigh*