Chapter 4: Shadows and Secrets
After that chilling night in the Shadow Realm, Jin Soo returned to his normal life, but nothing felt the same. Every shadow, every whisper of wind, seemed like it was alive, watching him. At school, he tried to stay focused, but the memory of the dark streets and terrifying creatures haunted him. His best friend, Min Jae, noticed his distraction immediately.
"Jin Soo, what's going on?" Min Jae asked during lunch. "You're spacing out even more than usual."
Jin Soo hesitated. How could he possibly explain the Shadow Realm, Eun Ha, and the creatures lurking just beyond the edges of their world? But as he looked into Min Jae's concerned eyes, he realized he needed someone to confide in.
"There's… something strange going on, Min Jae," he began slowly. "I think I'm seeing things… or maybe they're seeing me."
Min Jae raised an eyebrow, looking half-incredulous and half-worried. "You're freaking me out. Are you serious?"
Jin Soo nodded. He explained the eerie encounters, carefully omitting certain details like the glowing mark on his hand and Eun Ha's warnings. Min Jae listened, his expression shifting from disbelief to curiosity, and finally, to a mix of fear and awe.
"That's… wild," Min Jae said quietly. "You think these 'shadows' are actually dangerous?"
"I know they are," Jin Soo replied. "I saw one, and it almost… it almost pulled me in."
Min Jae shook his head, still processing everything. "So, what now? Are you just supposed to hide from them forever?"
Jin Soo didn't have an answer. The thought of running from shadows, constantly looking over his shoulder, seemed impossible. But as the school day ended, he noticed something strange whispers, almost too faint to hear, like voices from another world. They became louder when he was alone, making his skin crawl.
That evening, he found himself back in the clearing where he'd first encountered Eun Ha. The wind was cold, and the trees seemed to cast longer, darker shadows than usual.
"You're starting to hear them, aren't you?" a familiar voice spoke from behind him. He turned to see Eun Ha, her figure materializing from the shadows as if she had been a part of them all along.
Jin Soo nodded. "They're… whispering things. I can't make out the words, but I know they're calling to me."
Eun Ha's face was serious, her usual confidence replaced by a hint of worry. "The creatures are drawn to your power. The more they sense it, the stronger they'll get, and the more they'll try to bring you over to the Shadow Realm permanently."
"Is there any way to stop it?" Jin Soo asked, his voice edged with desperation.
Eun Ha sighed. "There's no way to fully stop it, but you can learn to control your power. That mark on your hand isn't just a warning—it's a gift. It allows you to channel light, the only thing that can truly repel creatures from the Shadow Realm."
Jin Soo looked at the mark, realizing he had no idea how to even begin using it. "So… you'll teach me?"
Eun Ha nodded, drawing her sword, which glowed faintly with a strange, ethereal light. "Yes, but it won't be easy. The Shadow Realm isn't the only place where danger lurks. There are others in your world who might notice your power, and not all of them will be as… friendly as I am."
"Friendly?" Jin Soo smirked, trying to mask his fear with humour. "You were about to leave me to the shadows when we first met."
Eun Ha's expression softened, a slight smile breaking through her usual stern demeanour. "That was before I realized how stubborn you are."
She handed him a small, rune-covered stone. "Take this. It'll help you channel the light in emergencies, but you need to learn to rely on yourself. Practice using your mark to summon light. Focus your energy here, and let it flow through you."
Jin Soo took a deep breath, focusing on the stone and the mark on his hand. At first, nothing happened, but slowly, a faint glow began to emanate from his palm, casting a soft, warm light over the clearing. He looked up, amazed, to see Eun Ha nodding in approval.
"That's it," she said. "But remember, using your power will make you more visible to them. The stronger you become, the stronger the shadows will become in response."
Jin Soo swallowed, feeling the weight of her words. This was just the beginning, and he had no idea what he was truly up against. But if he was going to survive, he knew he had to learn fast.
TO BE CONTINUED...