"This story I'm about to tell you happened 3,000 years ago. Well, 3,000 years ago in the world of yokai — which is about 60 years ago in the human world."
"What? Wait, yokai?"
The moment Sian said the word "yokai," Seona jumped up in surprise and kept asking him again and again.
"You mean those yokai? The ones Mom used to scare me with, saying they'd snatch you away if you wandered outside at night? Seriously?"
Sian slowly nodded. Seeing how serious he was, Seona blinked a few times and then sat back down.
"Go on."
"I don't know if you'll really understand. Honestly, I wish you wouldn't believe it. But now that they know you exist, I have to tell you exactly what happened. Whether you accept it or not, that's on you, Seona."
"Okay, I get it."
Sian told this unbelievable story with a completely straight face, which only made Seona's expression more serious. Nervously swallowing, she waited for him to start talking. Sian took a deep breath and, as if resigned, began his long tale.
<3,000 Years Ago>
The world isn't inhabited by humans alone. If it were, why would we even say "the human world"? It would simply be "the world." The story I'm about to tell starts 3,000 years ago in the world of yokai.
Back then, there was a woman named Seon. She was a 10th-class Grand Sorceress and the headmaster of the magic academy. She was neither a Great Yokai nor a deity, but an ordinary yokai — yet so powerful that no yokai didn't know her.
At that time, the yokai world faced a grave problem: a total solar eclipse. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon completely covers the sun. While humans see it as a fascinating natural phenomenon, in the yokai world, it was a catastrophic disaster.
During a total solar eclipse in the yokai world, the barrier sealing the demon realm breaks. Demon spirits — called Mayokai (malevolent spirits born from dead souls) — rise and run wild, destroying and killing everything in their path.
All yokai (supernatural creatures from Korean folklore) tried to fight back, but how could ordinary yokai stand against these vengeful, malevolent spirits? The Mayokai are formless spirits. Swords and shields were useless, and yokai were mercilessly attacked.
The solar eclipse in the yokai world lasts three hours and only happens once every 3,000 years. Historical records show that the deadliest days in history were always the days the eclipse occurred.
Seon wanted to stop it. She loved the world too much. So, she thought day and night about what to do. Until five hours before the eclipse, she sat at her desk, endlessly researching. Then she came up with an idea.
"I'll pull in the sunlight! I'll draw in the sun's light and shine it myself."
Her plan was to channel the sun's light and create light on her own — to take over the sun's role temporarily. At first glance, it seemed brilliant, but everyone told her it was impossible.
This act went against the laws of nature. In the yokai world, there are gods and Great Yokai, but none rule the sun or the moon. The sun and moon themselves exist beyond divine control. Because of this, it was taboo to defy the natural order involving the sun and moon. Anyone who did would surely face death.
Without anyone's permission, Seon reluctantly prepared for battle. The eclipse began, and many lives were lost. As a Grand Sorceress, Seon fought on the front lines, witnessing her beloved disciples and followers being killed or injured.
One hour after the eclipse started, the Mayokai kept pouring out. Suddenly, Seon froze. Her eyes shook violently, filled with fear. She probably thought all life would be wiped out.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Whispering those words, Seon summoned all her power and succeeded in drawing sunlight. She brought light back into the world — defying nature's taboo.
As the light returned, the Mayokai vanished without a trace. It took two hours for the eclipse to completely end. Seon fought with all her strength, but as soon as it finished, she collapsed.
"Seon...!"
A celestial god — Cheonsin (a celestial god) — caught her as she fell. In his arms, her breath slowly faded. The sun's light was too intense, and she had broken the ultimate taboo. Seon was doomed to die. Just before her last breath, the supreme god cast a spell so she could be reincarnated.
"I don't know where she was reincarnated, but Seon was reborn as a human."
"...No way."
"You, Seona, are Seon's reincarnation."
At Sian's words, everything about Seona froze. Her trembling legs, fidgeting fingers, blinking eyes — all stopped as she stared at him. Sian leaned back in his chair, staring at her.
"..."
"..."
"Wow. Ha ha, ha ha ha!"
"Don't believe me. Just don't."
Seona's laughter stopped at Sian's warning.
If you say that, it makes me want to believe it even more...
She bit her lower lip quietly.
Okay... reincarnation. I don't quite believe it, but let's say I am Seon's reincarnation. Then what about what Tae-yoon said earlier? Why are they looking for me? And why are you hiding me?
Seona turned toward Sian.
"Then why are they after me? I can't do magic. And what do you mean by hiding me?"
"I don't know if you can use magic — this is the human world, after all. But Seona, there's something I haven't told you."
"What is it?"
"Only those who break a taboo can break that taboo. And, Seona, a total solar eclipse will happen again in a year."
"..."
"That's why they're after you."
"So Taeyoon is..."
"A Great Yokai."
Seona was speechless, her eyes dazed as if she still couldn't believe it. After blinking a few times, she spoke again to Sian.
"But who are you that you speak like you've been through all this?"
"..."
"Why won't you say?"
If he just said he was her twin brother, she would believe him immediately. But his mouth stayed shut. Looking silently at Sian, tears welled up in Seona's eyes. Seeing this, Sian slowly closed and opened his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Seona."
Sian put his large hand on her head. Seona then collapsed as if she lost consciousness. Sian caught her, his face on the verge of breaking down in tears. After laying her on her bed and staring at her for a long time, Sian slowly left the room.
***
"Haaah..."
She didn't know when she fell asleep, but waking up feeling incredibly refreshed, the clock quietly showed 7 a.m. Seona slowly got out of bed and stepped outside.
I still haven't gotten an answer from Sian.
"Sian!!"
-"Seona, come have breakfast."
"Okay!"
She was about to go to Sian's room but heard Mom calling for breakfast. Thinking Sian would be at the table too, she ran to the dining room. She blinked wide when she counted the number of spoons on the table.
Why are there only three?
Mom, Dad, Seona, and Sian — there should be four sets of utensils.
"Mom, isn't Sian eating?"
"Huh? Sian? Who's that? Did you bring a friend home?"
"Uh, no! My twin brother, Sian!"
"Twin brother? You don't have a twin. Did you dream that, honey?"
What was going on?
Mom and Dad acted like they had no idea who Sian was. They told her not to say weird things or that she must have dreamed it. An eerie feeling crept over Seona. She quickly put down her spoon and rushed to Sian's room, throwing open the door.
"He's not here..."
Something was wrong.
There was no trace of Sian in the room he used to occupy. The bed, desk, computer — nothing remained. Just an empty room. Desperately, Seona searched every corner, hoping to find even a tiny clue. But there was no sign at all. She slumped down on the floor in disbelief.
"Maybe he's outside...?"
Clinging to a fragile hope, she hurried to her room and changed into outdoor clothes.
"Seona, where are you going in the middle of breakfast?!"
"I'm just stepping out for a bit!"
Ignoring her mom's calls, Seona ran out of the house. Thinking of places Sian might have gone, she could only recall the spots they played at as kids, since that's where she'd lived until elementary school. No other options. She took off running.
"Pant, pant — where could you be?!"
From morning till evening, she checked every place Sian might visit — the PC bangs, karaoke rooms, game centers, small convenience stores, supermarkets in town. She ran so much she lost track of time. But Sian was nowhere to be found. His phone number didn't even exist.
Seona collapsed in the middle of the street.
Sian, who are you? I still have the scar on my hand from when we played...
While time with Sian stayed the same for her, in others' time, Sian had completely disappeared. Tears spilled uncontrollably from her eyes, flowing like a waterfall. Crying her heart out, Seona walked home.
Eventually, she stood frozen in front of her house, not wanting to go inside. Going in would mean accepting that Sian wasn't there. She crouched on the doorstep and stayed there for a long time. Then, suddenly, as if something struck her, she jumped up.
"The back alley...!"