I huddled in the corner, arms crossed tightly over my chest, shivering from more than just the cold. My mind replayed the events of the past hour on an endless loop, searching for the exact moment things had spiralled out of control.
Of all the scenarios I had predicted during this role-playing session, not once had I envisioned myself naked in a forgotten part of the forest, huddled by an ancient bathing pool like some kind of mythical water spirit.
"Soo-yeon, damn you!" I wailed, my voice bouncing off the stone columns that framed the secluded pool.
A breeze stirred in response, threading through the space and raising goosebumps along my exposed skin. The scent of jasmine clung to the air, thick and almost suffocating.
Somewhere beyond the trees, a sorrowful melody drifted into existence. A stringed instrument, its notes trembling with longing, wove together with a distant, haunting chant. My breath caught—it was eerily familiar, like the backdrop to a battle scene in one of my favourite historical dramas.
I shoved a finger into my ear, wiggling it around in an attempt to dispel the illusion. The music had to be coming from a hidden speaker, right? Some elaborate effect meant to immerse me further.
Then I looked down.
The water lapped at my stomach, its surface shimmering with an unnatural glow. My breath hitched as a ripple pulsed outward as if something beneath was shifting, waiting.
Nope. No, no, no. This was all scripted. Special effects. There was no way—
I scrambled backward, slipping on the slick stone. My arms flailed, and for one humiliating second, I completely forgot about preserving my modesty.
The wind howled, reversing direction in an instant. It yanked at my topknot, pulling my hair free so it spilled over my bare skin in dark, protective waves. Somehow, that final touch steadied me.
I clutched my arms over my chest once more, my ears straining as the music ceased.
Soft footsteps approached.
I should have been terrified. Instead, I was fascinated.
The woman who emerged from the shadows was luminous. Her robes, woven from silk so fine they seemed spun from moonlight, drifted around her like mist. A large green amulet hung from her throat, pulsing faintly in the dim light.
I knew that necklace.
I didn't know how, but recognition coiled deep in my gut. Déjà vu, maybe? Had I seen it in a museum somewhere? On a show?
"Wonderful of you to join us," she murmured, her voice smooth yet unreadable.
"Uh… thanks?" I croaked, hating how my voice cracked at the end.
She extended a hand, her gaze steady. There was no threat in her expression, only quiet expectation.
Behind her, a cluster of handmaidens stood in perfect formation, their silks whispering as they shifted. I squinted at their robes, half expecting to see ghoulish faces swirling in the fabric again. But no, the eerie visions were gone.
I was losing it.
I glanced at the water. The glow had vanished.
Deep breath. Play along.
I placed my hand in hers, and she pulled me up with unexpected strength. The moment my feet touched solid ground, a weight lifted from my chest.
Turning, she retrieved a bundle from one of her attendants and began unfolding it. I turned away instinctively, giving her my back.
I was expecting something flimsy, but she draped a thick underlayer over my shoulders, fingers deft as she secured it in place.
"You're very good at this," I muttered. "Must be a lot of new players getting dropped in without warning, huh?"
She didn't respond, only smoothing the fabric with a final approving nod.
Before I could thank her, the air shifted. A presence pressed against my senses, heavy and inescapable.
"I'll show you the outer garments next," a male voice slithered through the space.
I stiffened.
He had been there the whole time, hadn't he? Watching.
His movements were fluid, and deliberate as he stepped forward. He radiated an authority that sent a shiver down my spine, though I refused to acknowledge why.
I met his gaze—and immediately regretted it.
He was, and wasn't, the man I had rescued.
The face was the same—impossibly flawless, like a sculpture given life. But his eyes…
Silver-flecked dragon-like scales rippled within their depths, shifting as if alive.
I swallowed hard. Contacts. They had to be.
The woman who had dressed me bowed deeply. I followed her lead, though my pulse thundered in my ears.
The man's expression didn't change, but I felt the weight of his scrutiny like a physical touch. My knees wobbled.
"Wanghu Mama, you have awakened."
His voice was deep, resonant—powerful enough that the ward bells in the chamber trembled in response.
I opened my mouth to ask what that meant—but the words wouldn't come.
"Walk with me," he said instead. "There is much to discuss."
I wasn't given a choice.
They led me out of the chamber, through corridors I wouldn't have been able to navigate alone. The architecture was breathtaking, but I barely registered it, too focused on steadying my breathing.
As we emerged into an inner courtyard, the sharp clatter of hooves striking stone split the air. A gasp rippled through the handmaidens.
A single rider had arrived.
He dismounted in one smooth motion, his dark, ornate armour catching the torchlight. His cape billowed behind him as he strode forward.
His eyes—also dragon-like, but different—fixed on me with something unreadable. His presence was a storm held at bay, restrained but thrumming with unspent energy.
The two men locked eyes, tension crackling between them like a live wire.
The woman who had dressed me stepped forward, her voice steady but careful.
"This is—" she said, pronouncing a name I couldn't grasp.
"He has come to fulfill the marital obligation of our esteemed ancestors."
I clapped my hands together, delighted.
"Oh, how exciting!" I beamed. "I can't wait to watch the wedding and attend the feast!"
Silence.
The tension deepened, sharpening into something razor-edged.
Slowly, I scanned their expressions. The woman's careful neutrality. The first man's icy stare. The newly arrived rider's unreadable gaze.
A realization dawned.
Wait.
Wait.
"...Who's the bride?" I asked hesitantly, looking past them to the assembled handmaidens.
Stillness.
I swallowed. Hard.
Oh.
Oh no.