Morning Dew | Yang Jungwon

~ 1 ~

It was a day like any other when Yoo Iseul walked down the lonely stone road at the valley's foot.

It was an old kingdom road, one that had been forgotten by all but her. She used to wonder this path when she needed to clear her head. The distant air softly brushing against her bare arms assured her of the calmness of the place.

How beautiful it was. How peaceful.

In an attempt to feel free, she stayed out later than she should. In her long escapade she had forgotten to bring a watch, and before she knew it, the clouds turned pink and the bright sun disappeared behind the peak of the mountains.

Iseul looked around the woods that encircled her. How different they looked without the shining star.

"It's okay. I just have to walk back. I know this road, I take it every day."

She assured herself that there was nothing to fear; after all, her kingdom was at peace, there was nothing to worry about in these woods—there was nothing at all... but-

An echoing sound reached her ears as she turned.

"What was that?"

It wasn't a rustling, it wasn't an animal, it was... a voice, a chant, one she'd never heard before.

She turned on the gobble path to the sound's direction. At first she saw nothing. Her eyes squinted and adjusted to the darkness as she peered closer. She heard it again. A magical sound, almost enchanting. She wondered what it was that could sound so beautiful, so captivating; so she did what she knew she shouldn't do.

Stepped off the path.

Towards the voice she went. Dress caught firmly in one hand as she crossed over tree roots in her way.

Some might say she wasn't thinking clearly. But she had to know where that voice came from. She just had to.

Iseul's eyes opened widely and a gasp caught her throat as she saw a distant light appear between the branches of an old willow tree.

A small scintillating light.

With mind quickly forgetting her path, she approached it carefully.

The sound now clear, words in a mystic language hung in the air, specks of dust flying around the body of a brown-haired boy dressed in earth tones.

She watched in awe behind the tall tree.

His back was turned, he was kneeling in front of a small creek. His fingers danced through the water which shone with blinding intensity before him.

"How's that possible?" Iseul thought to herself.

His water-laced fingers moved in circles and her eyes peered at the droplets that stilled in the air, floating before him.

She took a step closer, wanting nothing more than to prove that what she was seeing was real, when a fallen branch snapped under her foot. She stilled, hoping the sound wouldn't give her position away, but it was too late when the boy turn around.

His eyes met hers. They were a kind shade of auburn, alert enough to see her trying to hide behind the willow. "Who's there?" He asked.

She was afraid of showing herself, but at the same time she wanted nothing more than to come face-to-face with the enchanting stranger.

All sound vanished as she stepped into sight. The perpetual quietness of the moment devoured her as the light that had been shining so brightly ceased to do so.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. Your song was so beautiful, is all."

She stepped closer, a shy smile on her face, one hopeful that the boy in front of her wouldn't run away. She took another step, and when he didn't, she finally let go of the breath she was holding.

The boy looked around, his dark locks danced in the wind as he did so, a single blue stripe hiding behind his left ear.

"Can I ask what you were doing?" Iseul asked.

He remained quiet, standing still, almost paralyzed.

"It's okay. I won't tell anyone."

She was now right in front of him, from so up close she could see a small birthmark in the shape of a flower above his right eyebrow. With a gasp, she realized she'd seen that mark before. How hadn't she recognized him sooner?

"Yang Jungwon?"