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" There once was a mighty demon king.
He was in total control.
He feasted on souls.
The world trembled when he roared
But then some hunters sang some songs,
Now all he does is starve.
Can't get at the souls and his flame grows cold.
Just....a whisper in the dark
🎶And will he let the fire go out.
Is this the end of him now?
Dying king with a crumbling crown,
Will he let the fire go out..🎶
If Gwi Ma could scowl, He would have been doing that right now. As it is, Jinu could feel the full weight of His displeasure weighing down on him
" I let you keep that voice, Jinu and you....dare mock me with it?"
Now. Let's go to that time when Gwi Ma was the mighty demon king. An expert in creeping up when one's hope was the lowest, and making slaves of them, making them his soldiers. The others? The too weak ones that did not have the fire he desired? He feasted on these souls, enjoying their pained cries and creating havoc upon the earth.
One such victim was a handsome young man. His name - Jinu.
The boy was born poor. His only talent? Singing. With an old bipa, he took to the streets everyday, desperately trying to scavenge something for his mother and sister. But often he returned home empty handed, their disappointed faces haunting him even in his sleep.
He wished....oh how he wished to have a belly full of food, to be like those nobles he saw everyday, high up on their horses looking at him like he was a pest beneath their boots.
Gwi Ma saw his chance, saw a weakness that could be exploited. He wanted this pretty little boy in his army. And he went to work, whispering in Jinu's ear, about how great he could be, how his talent was lost in this no-name-village,how his care for his family kept him from reaching his full potential. And the teen, barely out of adolescence, fell hard for these honeyed words, imagining a world where he was great and renowned. Gwi Ma seized his chance.
"I can make your wish come true. Just say the word, Jinu. And you'll be the king's favourite. You'll be singing the hymns of old in front of the king in no time. Doesn't that sound great? I'll take care of your family, don't worry. Just say yes, Jinu."
Gwi Ma kept on whispering in Jinu's mind..wearing and tearing the resistance the young man had against the evil presence. The idea of being known...it intrigued him. He wanted to recognised for his talent..not thrown on the side of the street... eventually he agreed. Said yes to the demon king's offer.
He should've asked for more details. But he was young and naive and such is the fate of the youth.
He was found by a noble the next day, Jinu's talent impressed him and he took him to the palace. There he found a place among the palace staff, singing to his heart's content, belly full, clean clothes, everything he ever wished for.
But at night, the worry crawled in. Strange patterns appeared on his body. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Something was wrong with his family. Gwi Ma was strangely silent...and his anxiety kept getting worse.
He missed his family. All of these luxuries felt meaningless without them by his side. He just wanted to be near his mother and little sister.
After begging the king for some days off, he began his journey to his little village. Hoping that they were fine. But the sight that he saw as he reached the hovel that he used to call his home froze him. They were both crawled up on the floor,seemingly for warmth. They looked like they were dying.He collapsed to his knees screaming "No...no...mother.....no...". But it was in vain. The little girl she was clutching with all her strength was already dead...his sister was dead.
His sister was dead.
His mother smiled weakly at him. "Jinu....you are alright, my child.I am happy for you. I am sorry...we couldn't... couldn't...I can't be with you anymore...child..live please.."
She was clearly struggling. Tears streamed down his face.
"Mother..I am sorry. I am so sorry. I should never have gone..."
He collapsed on the floor next to her watching as she drew her last breaths. There was nothing he could do now. Nothing.
He watched as her chest stilled.
He screamed and screamed. The strange patterns spreading and glowing along with his rage. He should have stayed.
Gwi Ma whispered in his ears.
"You don't deserve to live,Jinu. You let them die. You abandoned them. Their sole hope was you. You are a demon now too."
He raged at the demon. The demon that had promised to look after his mother. But he should've known,shouldn't he? To not trust evil voices in his head?
He tried shouting at the voice. Raging at it. But all that had accomplished was pain. That creature now had control over him. The patterns all over his body glowing and hurting him each time he tried to act against the voice.
Finally exhausted off all energy, he collapsed. And Gwi Ma finally took what he had been long after.
When Jinu opened his eyes next, he was in a strange place. The demon realm, he later came to realise. And there he stayed for the next 400 years. Wallowing in shame, regret and rage. Rage against the demon that took everything from him.
With the passage of time, he learned. He learned to let others see only what he wanted them to see. To hide and to charm. To act like the perfect servant. He bided his time, knowing that a chance will come. A chance to end Gwi Ma, even if he had to sacrifice himself for it.
And come it did...in the form of a beautiful girl with demon patterns and a voice so beautiful it felt like a siren anthem.
And as he looked into her eyes, his body dissolving around him, he couldn't help but feel that it was worth it. This girl will destroy Gwi Ma, he knew it.