Shadowed Hearts

Part 1: Uncharted Paths

Setting: Seoul, Korea

The airport terminal buzzed with noise and unfamiliarity as Varee Seraphim clutched her suitcase, breathing in the scents of a place both foreign and familiar. She was back in Korea after years in America, a place her mother had spoken of in nostalgic tones. For Varee, though, this was more than just a new chapter—it was a chance to reconnect with her roots, to discover a side of herself she’d only heard about in stories.

She stepped outside, the chilly night air brushing her cheeks as she adjusted her hoodie. Seoul's towering buildings sparkled under the streetlights, giving her the feeling that she’d stumbled into a dream. But even dreams had edges, and this city had its shadows.

As Varee made her way through the narrow, dim-lit streets near her temporary apartment, a group of rowdy men crossed her path, their voices a little too loud and their eyes a little too curious. She clutched her bag tighter, willing herself to stay calm. But before anything happened, one of the men looked past her, his expression shifting as he caught sight of someone behind her. They quickly muttered to each other and scattered into the night.

Confused, Varee turned to see a man standing a few feet away. He was tall, his black hair swept back, and his dark eyes seemed to pierce through her. There was a detached, unreadable look on his face—like he was used to scaring people off without lifting a finger.

“Are you lost?” he asked, his tone flat but with an undertone that hinted he’d rather not be bothered.

Varee felt her cheeks flush as she shook her head. “No, I—I’m fine. Thank you,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Good,” he replied curtly, glancing away. He took a step back into the shadows, clearly uninterested in any further exchange. Yet, something made him pause, a fleeting moment of curiosity that he quickly masked. She didn’t belong here; that much was obvious. But there was something about her soft gaze that held a hint of resilience.

Without another word, he disappeared down the street, leaving Varee standing there, wondering about the man who seemed so out of place yet at home in the city's darker corners.

As she continued walking, she couldn’t shake the image of him from her mind. She had no idea that she’d just crossed paths with Choi Yeonjun—the cold, elusive figure whose name was whispered in the city's underworld, the one who was both feared and respected.

Little did she know, their fates had already begun to intertwine.