Being maknae of DREAMCATCHER (MALE X DREAMCATCHER

A Gathering Of Shadows

The soft rustle of leaves echoed in the cool night air as Iman walked through the enchanted forest, the shadows around him shifting and swirling like living entities. He wasn't alone this time. Flanking him on all sides were his 22 wives, each of them moving with a grace and power that belied their supernatural nature. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow that illuminated their path as they ventured deeper into the heart of the forest.

Every step felt weighty, as though the earth itself was aware of the magnitude of their journey. Iman could sense the tension in the air, a mix of anticipation and caution as they drew closer to their destination. The Temple of Shadows had been just the beginning; there were many more temples to find, each holding a piece of the puzzle that would determine the fate of their world.

"Stay close," Jiu whispered, her voice barely audible above the wind. She had taken her place at Iman's right, ever vigilant, her senses heightened as she scanned their surroundings. There was something about this forest that felt different, more alive than before, and it set her on edge.

"Do you feel that?" Yoohyeon asked, her voice laced with concern as she stepped up on Iman's left. "The air... it's thicker. There's something watching us."

Iman nodded, though he didn't respond. He could feel it too—a presence that was both familiar and foreign, as if the forest itself was alive and aware of their intrusion. It wasn't just a sense of being watched; it was something deeper, a feeling that whatever lay ahead would challenge them in ways they couldn't yet understand.

"Whatever it is, we'll face it together," Gahyeon said resolutely, squeezing Iman's hand in reassurance. "We've been through so much already. We can handle anything."

As they continued walking, the trees began to thin out, revealing a vast clearing bathed in moonlight. At the center stood another ancient stone archway, similar to the one at the Temple of Shadows, but this one was different. The carvings on it were more intricate, and the symbols seemed to pulse with a dark energy that made the hair on the back of Iman's neck stand on end.

"This is the Temple of Echoes," Handong said, her voice a mix of awe and reverence. "It's said that this temple holds the memories of all who have ever passed through it. If we're not careful, it could trap us in our own pasts."

Iman felt a shiver run down his spine. The idea of being trapped in the past, reliving old memories over and over again, was terrifying. He had come a long way since his days as an orphan in Malaysia, but the thought of facing those memories again—of seeing his younger self, alone and lost—filled him with dread.

"We have to be careful," Siyeon cautioned. "This place can play tricks on your mind. It can make you see things that aren't real, make you believe in things that never happened."

"But we can't turn back now," Sua added, her voice firm. "We've come too far. Whatever lies ahead, we have to face it head-on."

Iman took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. He knew his wives were right—they couldn't turn back now. They had a mission, and they had to see it through, no matter the cost.

As they stepped through the archway, the world around them shifted once again. The clearing dissolved into darkness, and for a moment, Iman felt as though he were floating in a void, lost in a sea of shadows. But then, slowly, the darkness began to recede, replaced by a soft, warm light.

When the light finally settled, they found themselves standing in what appeared to be an old, abandoned village. The buildings were crumbling, overgrown with ivy and moss, and the air was thick with the scent of decay. There was an eerie silence that hung over the place, as if the very air was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

"This place... it feels familiar," Iman said quietly, his eyes scanning the deserted village. "But I don't know why."

"It's because this is where it all began," Dami said softly, her gaze distant as she looked around. "This village... it's a manifestation of your past. Of our pasts."

Iman frowned, trying to make sense of her words. "Our pasts? But... I've never been here before."

"It's not about the place," Jiu explained. "It's about the memories. This temple doesn't just hold echoes of the past—it creates them, draws them out from within us. What you're seeing now is a reflection of our collective memories, our shared experiences."

Iman's heart pounded in his chest as he looked around the village again. The more he looked, the more certain he was that he recognized it, even though he had no memory of ever being there. It was as if the village was a part of him, a piece of his soul that he had long forgotten.

"We have to be careful," Siyeon warned. "This place can make us see things that aren't real. We can't trust our senses here."

Iman nodded, trying to keep his mind clear as they moved deeper into the village. The air was thick with tension, every shadow seeming to shift and move in the corners of his vision. He could feel the weight of the temple's magic pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.

But as they ventured further into the village, Iman began to notice something strange. The shadows weren't just moving—they were watching them, following their every move. And as they walked, the shadows began to take shape, forming into figures that were eerily familiar.

"Do you see that?" Yoohyeon whispered, her voice trembling with fear. "Those shadows... they're us."

Iman felt his blood run cold as he looked closer. She was right—the shadows had taken on the forms of his wives, twisted and distorted versions of them that seemed to be mocking their every move. The shadowy figures moved in perfect sync with them, mirroring their actions with an unsettling precision.

"This is a trap," Handong said urgently. "We need to get out of here—now."

But before they could react, the shadows began to close in around them, their forms growing darker and more solid with each passing second. The air grew colder, the temperature plummeting as the shadows reached out towards them, their hands like claws ready to tear into their flesh.

Iman's heart raced as he looked around for a way out, but the village seemed to stretch on endlessly, with no sign of an exit. The shadows were closing in fast, and he knew that if they didn't act quickly, they would be consumed by the darkness.

"Iman, focus!" Jiu shouted, her voice cutting through the rising panic. "You have to stay with us! Don't let the shadows take you!"

Iman nodded, forcing himself to stay calm as he focused on the light within him—the light that had guided him through so many dark times before. He closed his eyes, blocking out the shadows and the fear, and focused on the warmth of his wives' love, the bond that held them together.

Slowly, the shadows began to retreat, their forms growing weaker as Iman's light grew stronger. The village began to dissolve, the crumbling buildings fading into the void as the shadows melted away, leaving them standing alone in the darkness once more.

When Iman finally opened his eyes, they were back in the clearing, the archway standing tall behind them. The Temple of Echoes had vanished, leaving only the memory of what they had seen behind.

"We did it," Siyeon said softly, relief washing over her as she looked around. "We made it through."

Iman nodded, though he knew that their journey was far from over. The Temple of Echoes had been just one of many trials they would face, each one designed to test their strength, their resolve, and their bond.

But as they stood together in the moonlit clearing, Iman felt a renewed sense of determination. They had faced the shadows and emerged stronger for it. And whatever lay ahead, he knew that they would face it together, united by the love that bound them as one.

For in the world of shadows and light, they were unstoppable. And with each step they took, Iman knew that they were drawing closer to their ultimate destiny—a destiny that would change their lives, and the world, forever.