Year 2086
In a quiet part of Busan...
A young man in his mid-twenties stepped onto a train, sitting down without taking his eyes off the envelope he held tightly in his hand. Though his expression remained composed, his thoughts were far from calm, swirling with uncertainty.
"At the end of the day, we've really drifted apart, haven't we, my love… Hmm… It's probably for the best that she's moved on. Even though I could have kept holding on, I know now it wouldn't have been good for either of us… I suppose it's time to start over..."
He exhaled deeply, trying to pull his scattered thoughts together. A faint smile appeared on his lips as memories of the past slowly began to surface.
Jiho... Han Jiho...
His late mother had given him this name with the hope that he would grow up to be a strong, wise, and knowledgeable person.
True to his name, Jiho had always been an avid reader since childhood, which naturally led him to become a novelist. He also worked as a content writer. In his free time, he liked to hang out with friends, unwind with weed, and simply enjoy life. But for all his success, people often wondered why he still seemed to be missing something—why his life felt so empty.
It hadn't always been this way, though. Jiho's life had once been full of books, until one day, he met a girl. That girl changed everything. Jiho, who had never understood love before, found himself experiencing it for the first time. He learned to value people, to treasure them. He dreamed of building a life with her, a life free of nightmares.
However, as the saying goes, nothing lasts forever. Their paths were not meant to intertwine. The stark differences in their lives and personalities created an insurmountable gap. The girl sought closeness and care, while Jiho's life revolved around work and social circles.
Over time, their differing perspectives on love led to countless arguments, ultimately culminating in their separation.
The chapter seemed closed, yet for Jiho, it wasn't so simple. She was his first love, the one he loved most, and even years later, he couldn't let go of the pain. He carried on with his life, burdened by regret and devoid of hope or motivation.
Even now, Jiho's stubborn nature prevented him from reaching out. Not a single letter or text had been sent since their breakup. He was the kind of person who internalized his emotions, rarely revealing his inner turmoil.
Today, things were different. It all started with an unfamiliar phone call, leading to the unexpected sight of a familiar face from his past. To top it off, a wedding invitation had just arrived.
He closed his eyes, letting his thoughts wander again, before returning to his novel. Reading had always been his escape, and novels were one of the few things that still brought him peace. Playing games and reading had become inseparable parts of his life.
Jiho had always been passionate about books since his childhood, and it was this love for reading that had eventually turned him into a writer. Unlike motivational or self-help authors, Jiho had become known for writing fantasy novels. While he wasn't widely famous, he had earned some recognition on social media.
"It's back again… The good parts are done, but now I have to wait another week for the next chapter… I'll probably have a wife and kids by the time this novel finish..."
"Well, that's just how it is. I think the people who support my books must feel the same way… It's not easy to write a chapter every single day, especially with everything else going on. Sometimes it takes me three days just to finish one chapter..."
"Anyway, there's a lot of content to focus on right now. I'll finish on time, and when I do, I'll get back to writing…"
Jiho closed his eyes once more, allowing his thoughts to drift. On a regular day, he would be in his apartment in the city, but today he had returned home to celebrate his sister's birthday. After all, he needed to give her a gift. Since their parents had passed away, his sister was the only family he had left.
As for the birthday gift... He had been so busy with work that morning that he hadn't yet planned anything. It had completely slipped his mind. Realizing this, he decided to quickly head to the nearest market to buy something suitable.
When he exited the train station, Jiho weaved through the bustling crowd, hurrying to get away from it.
Glancing at his watch, he realized it was only 12:30 PM, but something felt off. The time hadn't moved since the morning when the clock had stopped. He had noticed it earlier but hadn't had the chance to fix it. Now, as he checked the time again, it reminded him of the small detail he had neglected.
"What should I get for my sister? She probably doesn't expect anything, but maybe I should get her something nice... or would something practical be better...? No, it's her 32nd birthday—something memorable would be better…"
he mused, walking along the bustling street, observing the chaos around him. Despite the numerous shops lining the road, most of them were either eateries or electronics stores. A few cosmetic stores and a handful of bookshops stood out, with the latter offering a rare sight along the busy thoroughfare.
In this age, where one can easily read on a smartphone, bookshops have become an increasingly rare find. This, while a sign of progress, is a bittersweet development. Jiho himself preferred the tactile pleasure of reading a physical book, yet books, due to their bulk, weren't always convenient to carry or read on the go. Thus, only avid collectors tended to purchase them.
"Fortune Reading... One Question (40,000)... Only Fate-Linked Questions Will Be Answered."
He stopped in his tracks, staring at a peculiar sign outside a small street-side setup. Forty thousand won for one question? Even high-end astrologers who answer many questions typically charge around 50,000 to 60,000, don't they?
Intrigued, Jiho took a seat opposite the fortune teller, whose long hair and beard made him look like a sadhu from India. The setup was simple: a single table, a bowl of ceramic tiles, and a chair.
"What would you like to know?" The fortune teller's gaze was sharp, and his voice, though faint, carried an air of authority.
"I want to know about business, master… Here's the fee for the consultation…" Jiho prepared to pay the fee in full as required.
However, his hands stopped before pulling out the money, as the fortune teller spoke.
"I can't answer that question… I can only answer questions about health for you. If you want to know about anything else, go ask someone else."
The fortune teller's words were calm and clear.
"Alright… health then…" Though Jiho felt somewhat displeased, he could not say anything due to the phrase on the sign that stated, "Only the Fate-Linked questions will be answered."
"Click... Clack... Clack..."
The fortune teller took the beads, shuffled them in his hands, and spread them out on the table. After a minute of deep concentration, he turned back to Jiho with an intense gaze…
"You... Soon, you will encounter something extraordinary and, without fail, embark on a long journey. Where this journey leads, I cannot say, but the path is shrouded in darkness. What I mean is that you may face difficulties and misfortune along the way."
"However, misfortune does not stand alone. In the northern corner of this journey, a symbol of hope will shine brightly. At a crucial moment, someone connected to you will offer assistance..."
"A journey with difficulties and misfortunes, huh? Isn't it better not to go on the journey then, Master?" Jiho asked, somewhat indifferent to the matter. Normally, he didn't travel much, so this kind of thing wasn't a problem for him.
The fortune teller gave a small, enigmatic smile.
"Hmm... You'll understand when the time comes… What I wish for you is to stay away from the red door… I've done my part… the rest is up to you…"
The astrologer finished speaking, and with a swift movement, he gathered the beads back and placed them on the plate.
Jiho paid the fee and left. In his heart, however, there was a growing feeling of doubt. Could it be that he had wasted some money just because of curiosity? Someone like him, who rarely traveled, couldn't imagine embarking on such a journey. The rest of the words the astrologer spoke were unclear in his mind.
"I don't even know what to buy with the astrology reading… maybe I'll just pick up something simple, like a necklace, something girls might like."
With that in mind, Jiho entered several jewelry shops one by one. However, after visiting about three shops, he still hadn't found what he was looking for.
Feeling a sense of disappointment, he walked out of the shop. At the corner of his eye, he noticed an old-fashioned store that caught his attention. But unlike what you might expect from an antique store, this place wasn't full of dusty, old items. It was decorated with fresh flowers and plants, creating a refreshing atmosphere. Oddly enough, Dreamcatchers hung from the door-frame, adding to its mystique.
"Maybe they have what I'm looking for here, I'm not sure…"
Jiho approached the store and opened the door, stepping inside. To his surprise, there was no one inside. Despite calling out a couple of times, it remained eerily quiet.
"Hmm... The store is open, but there's no one here... How am I supposed to buy anything?" Jiho muttered, scratching his head in confusion.
It is not ideal to leave a store open in such a chaotic place, with a seller who is sometimes present and sometimes absent. If an unwise person enters, takes what they want, and leaves, they might not even be noticed.
Regardless, the items in the shop are arranged neatly, each laid out in its place. The emptiness of the shop seemed unusual, but Jiho proceeded to browse, observing various unique and peculiar items. Some were old antiques, while others appeared modern yet strange in design.
"What are you looking for, child…"
Suddenly, a voice startled Jiho, who had been deep in thought while scanning the shop. Turning toward the voice, he saw an elderly woman, whom he assumed to be the shopkeeper. Jiho smiled and said:
"I came to find a memorable gift, Granny… I'm just looking to see if there's anything useful…"
"Ah, you're a thoughtful one… My health has not been so good these days, and I'm usually in the back, resting… I haven't even noticed customers entering the shop… If you find what you're looking for, let me know…" The elderly woman smiled kindly as she spoke.
Jiho nodded, smiling back, and continued browsing the items in the shop. As he walked through the aisles, he came across an intriguing object—a green bottle with a pendant hanging from it inside a frame.
The pendant was shaped like a small green circle, entwined with a green thread. It seemed like a common charm. But for someone who, like his sister, was interested in green colors and magical arts, it would surely be an attractive item.
Having found what he was looking for, there was no need to search further. Now, he just needed to ask the old woman about the price.
However, as his gaze shifted, his eyes were caught by something else—a black ring placed beside the pendant. This ring was not the type typically seen in antique shops, where rings are often stored in boxes for safekeeping. The way this particular ring was displayed, without any protective container, was unusual. It didn't look like a valuable piece, yet its appearance had a certain allure. If the price were reasonable, Jiho thought, it could still be worth purchasing as a memento.
"Grandma… I'd like to know the price of this pendant and the ring..." Jiho asked, glancing at the old woman who was resting at the counter.
"Huh? Oh… let me see… What pendant and ring, dear?" The elderly woman seemed disoriented but eventually moved toward him. "Ah… this pendant? It's a symbol of fate and good fortune, representing Tyche, the goddess of luck. Do you see the green thread? It's made from silk threads of the Burmese Lotus Flower. To get this green color, it was soaked in a special concoction that included Four Leaf Clovers for nine days…"
She went on to describe the significance of the pendant, offering a detailed account of its mystical origins. Jiho's curiosity grew as she spoke, and he felt compelled to ask about the ring.
"What about the ring?"
"The ring? Well, that one… I don't know much about it… A friend left it here for sale, but it's been sitting for a long time. It's been damaged, so it's not in the best condition for a gift. That's why I've left it here," the elderly woman explained.
Jiho continued to ask about the ring, his interest growing stronger. The woman spoke about its origins, though it seemed it wasn't as special as the pendant.
The price was set at 500,000 for the pendant and 200,000 for the ring. She offered a discount if Jiho decided to buy both items. Jiho was unsure of what to do. The amount was higher than he had planned to spend, but since he wasn't one to buy many things, he thought it would be okay to treat himself. After some bargaining, they agreed on a final price.
Jiho paid for the items and left the shop, wearing the ring on his finger. He also placed the pendant inside a small green box as a gift for his sister. He felt satisfied with his purchases, although the day had been quite strange.
As time passed, Jiho hailed a taxi and rented a car to head back. During the journey, he found himself smiling as he replayed the events of the day in his mind. It had been a busy day, and though he hadn't yet stopped, he realized how much had happened.
Suddenly, his gaze fell upon the black ring on his right hand. Strangely, the cracks in the ring seemed to have slightly improved since the first time he had noticed them. But this development made no sense at all, so he dismissed the thought quickly.
Exhausted from the day, Jiho drifted off to sleep while listening to an old song playing on the car stereo.
…
"Boom… Boom…"
With the sound of a truck crashing into the taxi, the taxi suddenly swerved and flew off… In the taxi were a 60-year-old driver and a middle-aged person… At that moment, the taxi was swerving with such force that the whole vehicle was shaking. The two people in the taxi, however, had no chance of surviving.
The driver's face contorted with terror and pain, realizing his fate in his final moments. Meanwhile, the person in the passenger seat could already be considered dead without realizing it. While he had been dreaming, the scene of the wreck had appeared as if nothing had happened.
The right hand of the person in the passenger seat wore a black ring…
…
"Where am I…?"
Jiho slowly opened his eyes with faint effort and woke up in a pitch-black place. All around him, everything was dark, and he couldn't even see his own hands. The only thing visible was the endless darkness that surrounded him.
At first, he had been in the taxi, hadn't he? Why, after falling asleep and waking up, was he now here? The gift he had bought for his sister's birthday, the necklace he had placed inside the green bottle, was nowhere to be found. Neither his phone nor anything else was present.
Was the driver kidnapping him?
But this was impossible… He himself hadn't done anything wrong, and there were no issues with anyone. If that was the case, where exactly was this place?
"Hello… Is anyone there… Who's there…"
Jiho shouted into the silence, but there was no response. He called out several times, yet his voice seemed to vanish without a trace, swallowed by the void.
Fear began to creep in as he tried to make sense of the situation. Could it be that he had died in his sleep? But the place he found himself in was unlike any afterlife he had ever read or heard about. He forced himself to calm down and think clearly.
This place was not only dark but eerily silent. Apart from his own breathing, there were no other sounds.
After about fifteen minutes, he managed to steady his nerves and began to walk around the darkness, hoping to find a light source. If he found even a single light, there might be a chance to escape from this place.
However, after walking for another fifteen minutes, he found no light or any hint of a way out. It felt as though he was trapped in an endless loop of darkness. The oddest thing was that the cracks on the black ring on his right hand seemed to have noticeably lessened. What he had assumed to be a mistake earlier now seemed to be more than a coincidence.
"What is this ring…?" Jiho murmured to himself, his eyes still shrouded in darkness, as he reached up to feel the ring.
End – 1