When the chime sounded alongside the deep beat of the dragon drum, the hall fell into a deep silence. All eyes turned to one spot—the stage, a magical and magnificent place in the center of the room.
Five dancers stood on the stage, their bodies draped in gold cloth that covered their chests, lower bodies, and half of their faces. They moved slowly, forming a lotus shape with elegant, graceful movements.
Uk felt a chill run down his spine as he watched the dancers swirl together, still in formation. The dance was captivating, with soft music and dim lighting adding to the effect.
Suddenly, the dancers shifted, drawing patterns on the floor. Out of nowhere, a small stream appeared on the stage. Uk's eyes widened in disbelief.
"How can a stream just appear in the middle of the stage?" Uk whispered to Dan. Dan glanced at him, a slight scoff escaping his lips.
"It's shaman magic, Uk-ssi... They make you see what they want you to see," Dan murmured in response.
Uk turned his attention back to the stage. The lighting had changed to a bright pink, and the dancers were throwing petals as they moved in large circles. They got close enough for some in the audience to grab the cloth from their shoulders.
A flowery scent filled the air around the audience.
Suddenly, the stage shook slightly. All eyes returned to the center as a woman appeared. She wore white clothing, her hair half-loose, and a mask that covered her face from her nose to her chin.
It's the clay mask that Uk mentioned before. It was sturdy on her face, moulding her features in perfection.
"That's it..." Uk grabbed Dan's hand, giving him a meaningful look. Dan gave a small nod, focusing on the dancer. She moved with a gentle grace, like a soft breeze in a bamboo forest.
The music became more intense as the dancer spun around on the stage. The lights grew darker, creating a mysterious and eerie atmosphere.
When she finally stopped, she was facing Uk and Dan. Both men noticed this. The dancer slowly rose with a suggestive movement that could make anyone weak.
But not Uk. His focus was withdraw on something else, something more alarming.
In the crowd, he spotted someone whispering to the person beside them.
"Seja jeoha..." Uk muttered to himself. He subtly tapped Dan's arm, but there was no response.
Dan was staring blankly at the dancer like a lifeless puppet.
"Dan... Dan!" Uk tried to get his attention, but it didn't work. He looked around and noticed that the rest of the audience was also frozen, staring ahead.
Uk frowned, trying to understand what was happening. He turned back to the dancer, who was still moving in front of him. A sense of unease filled his mind.
Am I under a spell?
Uk took a deep breath, closing his eyes tightly, hoping this feeling would pass. He inhaled slowly, counting from one to ten.
But when he opened his eyes... he found himself staring into another pair of eyes, just an inch away from his.
Suddenly, everything went dark.
***
"Gisa Ahn Uk..."
Uk opened his eyes. It was dark—not cold, but the feeling was unsettling. The darkness was endless, with no walls or boundaries in sight.
"Gisa Ahn Uk... Gisa Ahn..."
"Who's there?!" Uk shouted. The voice was close, too close.
"Someone you want..."
"Show yourself!" Uk yelled again, turning around in panic, searching through the darkness.
He heard the delicate sound of anklets approaching from somewhere. Uk turned, following the sound, feeling more and more anxious.
Finally, he saw someone standing in front of him. The person wore a mask, hard and covering the lower part of their face.
It was the shaman's dancer, the last person he had seen before the darkness swallowed him.
"I knew you would come to me again..."
"I didn't come for you," Uk said firmly, standing his ground.
"Oh, but you did. I am the answer you've been looking for..."
"No, you're not. I know that for sure!"
"Your words and your feelings don't match, Gisa... What does your heart tell you?"
With a single touch on his chest, the darkness around Uk suddenly brightened. He turned around anxiously, still unable to see the end of the space.
And when he turned back, the shaman's dancer was gone.
"What's happening?" he asked himself, his head lowered, staring at the ground.
"Hyung-nim!"
Uk's head shot up. It was Min Jun's voice, calling out to him.
"Min Jun daegum?!" Uk shouted, looking around the emptiness. Slowly, he saw Min Jun running toward him. The prince collided with Uk, hugging him tightly and burying his face in Uk's chest.
"Daegum... What's going on?" Uk asked softly. Min Jun looked up, smiling as he gently touched Uk's face, tracing his lips and chin.
"Hyung-nim... I love you..."
Uk stared at Min Jun, his mind blank. The prince grinned widely, snapping his fingers suddenly.
With that simple gesture, the scene changed again. Hundreds of lanterns glowed, illuminating a red backdrop that wrapped around the space. Min Jun, dressed in a red robe with an eagle emblem, stood before Uk, holding a large ribbon tied like a bouquet.
"Daegum..." Uk was stunned. He looked at Min Jun, who now seemed like a groom, smiling sweetly at him. Tears filled Uk's eyes as he slowly stepped toward the prince, who waited patiently.
They met halfway, their eyes locking together. Uk smiled at Min Jun, tears still streaming down his face. The prince looked ethereal in his groom's attire, waiting to be with him. Forever.
"Hyung-nim, let's grow old together..." Min Jun whispered, his voice full of love. Uk felt overwhelmed, unable to find the right words. It was a simple but beautiful proposal, something he had always dreamed of.
No words could ever capture how perfect this moment was.
Uk leaned in closer to Min Jun, lifting his face as he narrowed the distance between them. He carefully reached for Min Jun's lips.
But...
A sharp pain shot through his back. Uk screamed, letting go of Min Jun. The pain was intense, like he had been struck by lightning. From far away, he could hear Min Jun's voice, calling out to him.
"YARH, SOBANGNIM!!"