ECHOES OF DARKNESS

...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.

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