Realm of Shadows

Prologue

Iseul woke up to the sound of her alarm, groaning she reached over to turn it off. It was just another ordinary morning in her small, bustling town. She glanced over to the clock and realized she had overslept a bit, but that was nothing new for her. With a yawn, she rolled out of bed and got ready for the day.

Downstairs, her family was already busy with their morning routine. The smell of breakfast wafted through the air as Iseul joined them at the table. Her younger brother, Ji-Hoon, was engrossed in his comic book, and her mother was busy packing lunches for everyone.

"Good morning, Iseul," her mother greeted with a warm gentle smile. "Hurry up, or you'll be late for school again!" "I know, Mom," Iseul replied, grabbing a piece of toast and rushing out the door. She loved her family, but sometimes the routine could feel a bit too mundane.

Iseul hurried through the familiar streets to reach her school, her backpack bouncing against her back with each brisk step. As she entered the school gates, she immediately spotted her best friend Eun-Jeong waiting for her by the lockers.

"Late again! Iseul," Eun-Jeong teased, a mischievous glance in her eyes.

"Guilty as charged," Iseul chuckled, playfully nudging her friend. Together, they navigated through the halls, sharing stories of their latest adventures in the world of fantasy novels and exchanging notes on the latest school gossip.

Classes passed by in a blur, and soon it was time for lunch. The girls found their favorite spot under the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard. As they unpacked their lunchboxes, Iseul couldn't help but talk about her latest medieval fantasy novel.

"Eun-Jeong, you have to read this one. It's incredible! There's this brave heroine, Freya, and she's up against a powerful villainess with dark magic, Chaaya DeLoyd. Oh, and there's this infuriating male lead, Alistair," Iseul raved, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Eun-Jeong sighed dreamily, "Tell me more about Alistair. He sounds amazing."

Iseul rolled her eyes, "He's insufferable! He mistreats Freya, and I can't stand him. But you'd probably love him, you hopeless romantic."

Throughout the school day, Iseul and Eun-Jeong shared classes, whispered secrets during lectures, and navigated the intricate web of teenage friendships. As they sat in the back of the classroom, their minds often wandered to the fantastical world of Freya and Chaaya DeLoyd.

In history class, Iseul couldn't help but draw parallels between the medieval kingdoms in her book and the dusty pages of her textbook. She leaned over to Eun-Jeong, whispering, "I swear, if Alistair was our history teacher, I'd probably fail the class just to defy him."

Eun-Jeong giggled, scribbling something in her notebook, "I'd fail too, but only because I'd be too busy daydreaming about him."

The final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. Iseul and Eun-Jeong gathered their belongings and made their way to the Bubble Tea store just around the corner. It had become their daily ritual – a sweet escape from the monotony of school life.

"So, tell me more about this Chaaya DeLoyd. Is she as wicked as they say?" Eun-Jeong asked, sipping on her drink as they strolled along the bustling streets.

Iseul grinned, "Oh, she's cunning and powerful. But there's this mysterious aura about her. I can't help but feel there's more to her story than what the book reveals."

Eun-Jeong raised an eyebrow, "You're sympathizing with the villainess now? What about Alistair?"

Iseul sighed, "Alistair is just a typical arrogant noble. He underestimates Freya, and it drives me crazy. But Chaaya... I think there's a depth to her character that hasn't been explored yet."

The bubble tea store was a cozy haven with its warm lights and the comforting aroma of freshly brewed tea. Iseul and Eun-Jeong settled into their usual corner, chatting animatedly about their day.

"So, did you see that new guy in class?" Eun-Jeong asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

Iseul laughed, "Yeah, the one who couldn't find his way to the classroom without a map? He's definitely going to add some spice to our boring routine."

As they sipped on their drinks, Iseul couldn't resist delving back into the world of Freya and Chaaya DeLoyd. "Eun-Jeong, imagine if our school life was like the novel. I'd be Freya, battling the challenges of traditional gender roles, and you'd be the swooning fan of Alistair."

Eun-Jeong giggled, "And who would be our Chaaya DeLoyd, the mysterious and misunderstood villainess?"

Iseul smirked, "Maybe our new guy, the one who's still figuring out where the classrooms are. He could have a hidden past, just like Chaaya."

Their laughter echoed in the small shop, drowning out the chatter of other customers.

the girls continued their fantasy-filled banter as they walked towards the bus station. Iseul couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement as she delved into the details of Chaaya DeLoyd's past.

"You know, Eun-Jeong, the next chapters in the novel are rumored to unveil Chaaya's backstory. I can't wait to see what made her the way she is," Iseul shared, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Eun-Jeong wrinkled her nose, "I don't care much for Chaaya. Alistair is the one who intrigues me. What makes him so arrogant, and why does he treat Freya like she's his possession?"

Iseul sighed, "That's the thing. He's blinded by tradition and power. But mark my words, Chaaya's past is bound to be more fascinating than Alistair's arrogance."

As they reached the bus station, Iseul couldn't resist sharing her thoughts about the novel. "Imagine if our lives were as dramatic as Freya's. Who do you think we would be in that world?"

Eun-Jeong smirked, "I'd be the swooning fan, remember? But you, my dear Iseul, would be the brave and independent Freya, fighting against societal norms."

Iseul laughed, "Well, I do try to break free from stereotypes, just like Freya. But let's hope we never encounter a real-life Alistair or Chaaya."

As they waited for the bus, Eun-Jeong pulled out her phone, excitement gleaming in her eyes. "Guess what I found! A dating game based on our novel. We can choose our characters and experience their story in a whole new way!"

Intrigued, Iseul agreed, and they both downloaded the game. Little did they know that their ordinary day was about to take an extraordinary turn.

As the game loaded, Iseul and Eun-Jeong eagerly anticipated the unfolding of their chosen characters' destinies. However, before they could even start, a strange message appeared on their screens.

"Transmigration finished."

Confused, they exchanged puzzled glances just as a loud honk echoed through the air. Suddenly, a truck, ominously named Truck Kun, hurtled towards them, and everything went black.

-   -   -   -   -

A/N

Heya! I have literally so many writing Ideas and this in one of It!I also have an ask for you guys, but first I tell you something about me first!

You can call me Kii and I am from Germany.

Right now I am training as a nursing assistant/state-certified social worker, I am in my second and last year.

My hobbies are reading, watching TV and right now I learn to play guitar, German fandubs and start making an interactive fiction!

That's the promised question: what do you think will happen to them?

-1141 words