...CHAPTER 01 ...

The Royal Palace of Hanyang was a marvel of grandeur and serenity, its intricate architecture and lush gardens a testament to the prosperity of the Joseon Dynasty. Yet beneath its tranquil facade, a deep and unsettling darkness was taking root.

Crown Prince Lee Chang stood alone in the private gardens, away from the prying eyes of courtiers and spies. The delicate fragrance of cherry blossoms filled the air, but it did little to ease the heavy burden on his shoulders. For days, he had heard whispers of the King’s illness, but the official reports were as vague as they were troubling. The royal physicians spoke in hushed tones, and the Queen’s demeanor was shrouded in secrecy.

Lee Chang’s thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Mu-yeong, his steadfast personal guard. Mu-yeong’s expression was grave, his normally calm eyes now reflecting a fierce determination. "Your Highness," he began, "we must act quickly. The rumors about the King’s illness are growing darker by the hour."

Lee Chang nodded, his face set in a determined expression. "We cannot wait for the court’s version of the truth. We must uncover what is truly happening. Gather what we need; we leave for Dongnae at dawn."

The news of the King’s deteriorating health had come from a source not often trusted—a low-ranking palace servant who had witnessed strange occurrences in the King’s chambers. His cryptic message hinted at something unnatural, something that defied the very fabric of the natural world.

As the first light of dawn began to filter through the palace gates, Lee Chang, Mu-yeong, and Seo-bi, a skilled physician from the Jiyulheon Clinic, prepared for their departure. Seo-bi’s presence was crucial; she had been researching strange cases of illness that defied conventional medicine.

They rode out of Hanyang, the weight of their mission pressing heavily upon them. The road to Dongnae was a mix of serene beauty and looming danger, with rolling fields giving way to the dense, shadowy forest that bordered the village.

By midday, they arrived at a small, isolated village near Dongnae. The once-bustling settlement was eerily quiet, the streets deserted and the doors to homes tightly shut. A sense of foreboding hung in the air, punctuated only by the distant cries of birds and the rustling of the wind through the trees.

Mu-yeong led the way, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword as he scanned the surroundings for any signs of danger. "We should proceed with caution, Your Highness. Something feels wrong here."

Seo-bi, her medical bag slung over her shoulder, nodded. "This village may hold clues to the nature of the King’s illness. We must investigate carefully."

They approached the village square, where a few haggard villagers huddled around a makeshift clinic set up in the open air. The sight of the clinic, with its crude medical equipment and the weary faces of the villagers, was a stark reminder of the plague’s devastation.

An elderly woman, her hands trembling, stepped forward. "Are you here to help us?" she asked, her voice laced with desperation. "The sickness… it’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen. People are dying and coming back as monsters."

Lee Chang stepped forward, his gaze steady but concerned. "We are here to understand what has happened. Can you tell us more about this sickness?"

The woman’s eyes filled with tears. "It started with a fever, but soon the sick grew violent, attacking anyone they came across. We had to lock ourselves away to stay safe."

Seo-bi examined the villagers, her medical expertise revealing bite wounds and fever symptoms that confirmed their fears. "These injuries suggest that the plague is not just a disease but a transformation of the dead. This matches the disturbing reports I’ve received from elsewhere."

As they worked to understand the plague, the shadows of the forest seemed to shift, as though alive with a hidden menace. The night fell, and the village was lit only by the flickering flames of a few braziers, casting long, unsettling shadows across the empty streets.

Gathered in the village chief’s hut, Lee Chang, Mu-yeong, and Seo-bi discussed their findings. The weight of their task was clear; the plague was not merely a threat to the people of Dongnae but a potential disaster for the entire kingdom.

"We must investigate the origins of this plague," Seo-bi said, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. "There must be something more to this illness, something that connects it to the King’s condition."

Mu-yeong nodded in agreement. "We need to gather information from those who were first affected. They might know more about the source of the plague."

Lee Chang looked out into the night, a determined expression on his face. "At dawn, we will follow the trail to the heart of this darkness. We must find the truth before it’s too late."

As they prepared for the journey into the unknown, Lee Chang felt the weight of his father’s condition and the looming threat of the plague pressing down on him. The path ahead was fraught with peril, and the shadows of Hanyang seemed to extend far beyond the palace walls.

In the depths of the forest, where the darkness grew deeper and the danger more imminent, unseen eyes watched the intruders with a growing sense of anticipation. The fate of the kingdom hung in the balance, and the true nature of the plague was yet to be revealed.

...CHAPTER 02...

Dawn’s light crept slowly across the horizon, casting a pale glow over the landscape as Crown Prince Lee Chang, Mu-yeong, and Seo-bi embarked on their journey to Dongnae. The road was a stark contrast to the grandeur of Hanyang; it meandered through dense forests and quiet fields, the natural beauty of the countryside interrupted only by the shadows of the unknown.

As they rode, Lee Chang’s thoughts wandered to the fragmented information they had gathered. The rumors spoke of an illness unlike any other, a sickness that defied the boundaries between life and death. But he was determined not to be deterred by fear. He was driven by the duty to his people and the need to uncover the truth behind the King’s mysterious ailment.

By midday, they arrived at the outskirts of Dongnae. The village was a mere collection of thatched-roof houses nestled among the rolling hills, yet it seemed to hold a weight far beyond its modest appearance. The vibrant market stalls and bustling streets that Lee Chang had imagined were replaced by an unsettling quiet. The village looked almost deserted, save for the occasional figure moving cautiously through the streets.

Mu-yeong was the first to dismount, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. "Your Highness, we should be wary. This silence does not bode well."

Seo-bi, adjusting the straps of her medical bag, nodded in agreement. "The reports I have received indicated that the disease spreads rapidly and violently. We must tread carefully."

They approached the village square, where a few villagers huddled near a makeshift clinic set up under the open sky. The sight was a grim reminder of the plague’s impact—wounded individuals lay on straw mats, their faces etched with pain and fear.

An elderly woman, her eyes weary but resolute, stepped forward to greet them. "Are you here to offer aid?" she asked, her voice trembling with both hope and dread. "The sickness... it has taken so many from us."

Lee Chang took a step closer, his gaze steady and compassionate. "Yes, we are here to understand what has happened. Can you tell us more about the sickness that has befallen your village?"

The woman’s eyes filled with tears as she began to speak. "It started as a fever. People fell ill, their eyes burning with a wildness we had never seen. Then they died, but they did not stay dead. They returned as... as monsters."

Seo-bi’s expression grew grim as she examined the wounded villagers. The bite marks and fevered skin confirmed the villagers’ fears. "This is no ordinary plague. The transformation of the dead is a clear indication that there is something unnatural at work."

As they worked, Lee Chang observed the village’s surroundings. The stillness of the streets, the shuttered windows, and the guarded glances of the villagers all spoke of a community gripped by fear. It was clear that the plague had shattered the village’s spirit as much as it had its people.

A young man approached hesitantly, his arm wrapped in a rough bandage. "Your Highness," he said, his voice low and strained, "I was bitten by one of the... monsters. I fear I might become one of them."

Seo-bi examined his wound, her face shadowed by concern. "We must act quickly to find out what triggers this transformation. We need to gather information from the early victims of the plague to uncover any clues about its origin."

Lee Chang nodded. "We will start our investigation immediately. Mu-yeong, see to the security of the village. Make sure that no one leaves and that everyone is safe. Seo-bi and I will begin our search for the source of this plague."

Mu-yeong set about organizing the villagers, instructing them to fortify their homes and prepare for any potential attacks. Meanwhile, Lee Chang and Seo-bi made their way to the edge of the village, where the first cases of the plague had been reported.

They reached a small, overgrown path leading into the forest. The air grew cooler and heavier as they ventured deeper into the woods, the sunlight filtering through the dense canopy in eerie patterns.

"Do you have any idea where we should start looking?" Lee Chang asked, his eyes scanning the darkened path before them.

Seo-bi shook her head slowly. "The first cases are often the most elusive. We need to find the source of the plague, but we must be prepared for anything."

As they followed the path, they found signs of the recent devastation—scattered belongings, overturned carts, and the remnants of a hastily abandoned camp. It was a testament to the villagers' flight from the spreading plague.

The deeper they went, the more the forest seemed to close in around them. The shadows grew darker, and the silence was occasionally broken by the distant sounds of the forest—creaks, rustles, and the faint calls of unseen creatures.

Eventually, they came upon a small clearing with a series of crudely marked graves. The graves were shallow and uneven, hastily dug in the midst of the chaos. Lee Chang approached one of the graves and brushed away some of the dirt.

"The bodies were buried here in a rush," he observed. "This must have been one of the first places where the plague took hold."

Seo-bi knelt beside the graves, her face etched with worry. "If we’re to understand this plague, we must uncover what happened to those buried here."

As she began her examination, the ground shifted slightly, revealing a fragment of something buried beneath the surface. Seo-bi gently uncovered it—a broken seal, its once-clear symbols now obscured by time and dirt.

"This seal," Seo-bi said, holding it up for Lee Chang to see, "it is not of any known medical or religious practice. It might be a clue to the origins of the plague."

Lee Chang examined the seal closely. "It seems to be something more ancient and more sinister than mere illness."

The shadows of the forest seemed to deepen around them, as if aware of their intrusion into long-forgotten secrets. The sense of impending danger was palpable, and the path before them was fraught with unknown perils.

As they made their way back to the village, Lee Chang’s thoughts were focused on the seal and what it might signify. The search for answers had only just begun, and the road ahead was shrouded in darkness.

They returned to the village as night began to fall, the flickering torches casting long shadows that seemed to come alive in the darkness.

In the relative safety of the village chief’s hut, they gathered to discuss their findings. The seal was a symbol of an ancient power, something that could be linked to the plague’s supernatural elements.

"We need to learn more about this seal," Lee Chang said. "It may hold the key to understanding the plague and how it might be connected to the King’s illness."

Seo-bi nodded, her eyes resolute. "I will begin researching ancient texts and records. There must be some reference to this seal or its origins."

Mu-yeong stood guard at the entrance, his eyes scanning the darkness beyond. "We should remain vigilant. The creatures of the plague may still be out there, lurking in the shadows."

As they prepared for another long night, Lee Chang felt the weight of the challenge before them. The road ahead was uncertain and fraught with danger, but they had taken the first step in uncovering the truth behind the plague. The darkness that had begun to rise was a threat to not just the village of Dongnae, but to the entire kingdom.

In the silence of the night, the unseen forces of the plague moved in the shadows, their dark plans beginning to unfold.

...Chapter 03...

The first light of dawn broke through the dense canopy of the forest, casting a dim, filtered light over the clearing where Lee Chang and Seo-bi had uncovered the broken seal. The village lay behind them, quiet and somber, while the path ahead seemed to grow darker and more foreboding as they continued their investigation.

Lee Chang sat by the edge of the clearing, examining the ancient seal closely. Its markings, though worn and partially obscured, hinted at something ancient and malevolent. Seo-bi, seated beside him, carefully transcribed the symbols into her notebook, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"Do you recognize any of these symbols?" Lee Chang asked, breaking the silence.

Seo-bi shook her head slowly. "The symbols are unfamiliar to me. They do not match any known medical or religious texts I have studied. This seal could be linked to ancient practices or rituals, perhaps even to something predating recorded history."

As they worked, Mu-yeong stood watch at the edge of the clearing, his senses alert for any sign of danger. The forest around them was still and unnervingly quiet, the usual sounds of wildlife absent as if the land itself were holding its breath.

Seo-bi finished transcribing the symbols and looked up at Lee Chang. "I will need access to historical texts and old records to understand this seal’s significance. There might be references in ancient archives or forgotten manuscripts."

Lee Chang nodded, his mind already turning to the next steps of their investigation. "We will return to the village and seek out any records or historians who might have knowledge of this seal. But we must be careful; the plague's threat looms large, and we must avoid drawing unnecessary attention to ourselves."

They made their way back to the village, the silence of the forest now broken only by the occasional creak of the trees and the distant murmur of the wind. As they approached the village, they could see the villagers peeking out from their homes, their eyes filled with a mix of fear and curiosity.

Once inside the village, Seo-bi sought out the village elder, a man named Choi Seung, who had been one of the first to report the strange occurrences to the authorities. He was a scholar in his youth, and his knowledge of ancient texts and local lore made him a valuable ally.

"Master Choi," Seo-bi began, "we need your help. We have discovered a seal with symbols that are unfamiliar to us. We believe it may hold the key to understanding the plague."

Choi Seung took the seal from Seo-bi and examined it closely, his eyes narrowing as he studied the markings. "This seal is indeed ancient. It bears symbols that are associated with old, forgotten rituals—rituals said to summon dark forces."

Lee Chang stepped forward, his voice steady. "Can you tell us more about these rituals? Anything that might help us understand the plague?"

Choi Seung nodded slowly, a troubled expression on his face. "There are legends of a dark power sealed away long ago, a force that could bend the will of the dead. The old texts speak of a time when this power was unleashed by those seeking to use it for their own gain. If this seal is involved, it may mean that someone has awakened this ancient evil."

Seo-bi looked at the seal and then at Choi Seung. "Do you know where we might find more information on these legends or the ancient texts? Any archives or hidden manuscripts that might still exist?"

Choi Seung thought for a moment. "There is an old temple to the west of the village, abandoned for many years. It is said to house ancient scrolls and texts, though it is a dangerous place. Many who have ventured there have not returned."

Lee Chang's eyes met Seo-bi’s, and she gave a determined nod. "We must go to this temple. It may be our only chance to uncover the secrets of the seal and find a way to combat the plague."

With their course of action decided, they prepared for the journey to the old temple. Mu-yeong gathered supplies and ensured that the village was fortified for their absence. As the sun began to set, the three set out once again, heading toward the dark silhouette of the temple in the distance.

The path to the temple was treacherous, winding through the dense forest and climbing up steep hills. The atmosphere grew heavier with each step, the air thick with the scent of earth and decay. The shadows of the trees seemed to twist and writhe, as though alive with hidden menace.

By nightfall, they reached the temple. It was a crumbling edifice, overtaken by the encroaching forest. The once-grand structure was now a ruin, with vines climbing up its walls and the entrance shrouded in darkness.

Lee Chang lit a torch, and the flickering light cast eerie shadows on the temple’s facade. "We will enter carefully. We do not know what awaits us inside."

They stepped into the temple, the air inside cool and musty. The interior was a cavernous space, with faded murals on the walls depicting scenes of ancient rituals and dark ceremonies. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the sound of their footsteps echoing through the empty halls.

Seo-bi led the way, her torch illuminating dusty shelves and abandoned scrolls. "Look for anything that might mention the seal or the dark power it represents," she said, her voice echoing softly in the stillness.

As they searched, Mu-yeong kept a vigilant watch, his hand never straying far from the hilt of his sword. The temple’s shadows seemed to shift and move, and the air was thick with a sense of foreboding.

After hours of searching, Seo-bi finally found a hidden chamber at the back of the temple. Inside, ancient scrolls and books were carefully preserved on wooden shelves, untouched by time.

"This is it," Seo-bi said, her eyes shining with hope. "These texts might contain the knowledge we need."

Lee Chang approached the shelves and carefully examined the scrolls. "We must sift through these texts quickly. Every moment we delay could mean more suffering for the people of Dongnae."

As Seo-bi began to read through the ancient manuscripts, she uncovered disturbing details about the dark ritual that had been sealed away long ago. The texts spoke of a curse placed upon a powerful entity, a force that could summon the dead and use them for nefarious purposes.

"This ritual," Seo-bi said, her voice trembling slightly, "it describes a curse that binds the dead to the will of the living. If this curse has been broken, it could explain the plague’s effects."

Lee Chang’s expression hardened. "Then our task is clear. We must find out who is responsible for breaking this seal and stop them before the curse spreads further."

As they prepared to leave the temple with the knowledge they had gained, a chilling wind swept through the hall, and the temple seemed to come alive with the whispers of the past. The darkness that had been lurking in the corners of the temple now seemed to reach out, as though warning them of the dangers ahead.

With the ancient texts in hand and a renewed sense of purpose, Lee Chang, Mu-yeong, and Seo-bi left the temple and made their way back to the village. They were now closer to understanding the plague’s origins, but the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty and peril.

The temple’s shadows seemed to cling to them as they walked, and the night air grew colder. The fight against the dark forces unleashed by the broken seal had only just begun.