Bi Korain | 비코레인

The Secret

The shadowed, ancient forest was still that evening, cloaked in mist and mystery, its dark trees bending over like old guardians keeping silent secrets. Only the occasional whisper of a breeze disturbed the stillness. The world beyond these woods rarely ventured into the territory that Bi Korain called home. The “dark forest,” as it was feared and known, was said to be cursed, haunted, and inhabited by all manner of wicked beings. The rumors were true in part, but those who spoke of curses and terrors were blind to the true nature of the forest. In reality, it was a sanctuary, a place where the lonely and misunderstood found solace, and where a boy turned man had found both freedom and a measure of friendship among its silent shadows.

Bi Korain moved through the woods effortlessly, as if he were part of them, his dark features blending with the shadows that surrounded him. Taller and leaner than most, his form was slender yet powerful, his movements fluid like water slipping through cracks in stone. His raven-black hair flowed down his back in natural waves, and his deep, piercing green eyes glinted with a touch of mischief, tinged with a sadness known only to those who had lived on the fringes all their lives. His skin, paler than his siblings’ by virtue of rarely seeing direct sunlight, almost glowed in the faint patches of moonlight that filtered through the dense canopy.

Born as the bastard son to an elven lord, Korain had grown up in the shadows of noble privilege, accepted yet always apart. His siblings, with their fair skin and light hair, had belittled him, taunted him for his darker features and lesser status. His father had acknowledged him, yes, but Korain was an embarrassment, a living reminder of the lord’s indiscretions. He was tolerated, but barely included in the family’s sphere. Formal gatherings were rare for him, family portraits rarer still. He had learned young to hold his tongue, harden his heart, and keep his emotions hidden beneath a mask of indifference.

Yet, Korain had found solace where none dared to venture—the dark forest. This place of feared curses and whispered dangers had been his haven, a sanctuary where no rules could bind him and where he could find peace among the shadows and strange creatures. It was here, among the wisps and whispering trees, that he had first encountered the power within him, a dark and unpredictable force he only began to understand at sixteen when he met a shadow wisp.

That night, the wisp had drifted to him, curious, its translucent form shimmering with a cold, faint glow. As he reached out, a strange sensation overtook him—a chill, a darkness that stirred within his soul, connecting with the wisp in a way he couldn’t explain. Shadows had danced around him, bending to his will, swirling and twisting. From that moment, his powers began to grow, manifesting in ways that frightened and excited him. He could summon shadows, merge with them, even teleport through darkness. But as his abilities flourished, so too did their instability. When emotions surged too strongly within him, they unraveled, his control slipping, the shadows whispering and swirling around him like an onyx mist.

Tonight, however, his heart held a different thrill, one that set his blood aflame and made his powers simmer just beneath the surface. He was not alone this time. Walking beside him through the darkened forest was someone who had unwittingly become dear to him—someone he found himself unable to stop thinking about, though he’d never say it aloud. You were more than a companion to him, more than a friend, though Korain kept his feelings hidden, masked beneath his usual calm, teasing demeanor.

The dark lord of shadows and curses, for all his power, was secretly infatuated with you. And tonight, he had plans to bring you closer to his world.

As you walked together through the forest, Korain’s voice broke the silence, smooth and low, edged with the hint of a smirk. “I have something to show you,” he said, his eyes flashing in the moonlight as he glanced over his shoulder at you. “You’re not afraid, are you?”

You shook your head, meeting his gaze with a small, challenging smile that sent a strange warmth through his chest. Satisfied, he led you deeper into the forest, guiding you past tangled roots and twisted trees, through patches of dense fog and flickering shadows. His fingers brushed yours as he walked beside you, though he pretended not to notice.

Eventually, you came upon a clearing, and Korain slowed, his eyes softening as he looked at the creature before him. Standing in the moonlight was a massive, serene being—something between a deer and a wolf, with a sleek, dark coat and eyes that glowed a gentle shade of blue. The creature looked at Korain with familiarity, then turned its gaze upon you, as if appraising.

“This,” Korain murmured, “is one of the forest’s guardians. It won’t harm you.” He moved behind you, his hands settling gently on your shoulders, guiding you forward until you were close enough to touch the creature’s soft fur. “Go on,” he whispered near your ear, his voice a mere breath that sent a shiver down your spine.

You reached out, and as your fingers made contact, Korain’s hands tightened slightly on your shoulders. He could feel your excitement, your wonder, and it stirred something within him—a fierce, protective feeling mixed with a desire he was unaccustomed to. He leaned in, close enough that his breath warmed the side of your neck, his presence overwhelming. His voice was teasing, but there was an undertone of something deeper, a hidden invitation. “See? Even the dark isn’t so frightening when you have the right company.”

After a few minutes, Korain led you onward, showing you more of the creatures and curiosities hidden within the forest, all the while keeping close, occasionally allowing his fingers to brush against yours, or his arm to linger near your shoulder. His teasing comments and quiet glances built an unspoken tension between you, one that neither of you acknowledged aloud but that simmered beneath the surface.

Finally, the two of you reached a secluded pond, its surface blanketed in lily pads that glowed faintly in the moonlight. Korain paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he looked at the tranquil, dark waters. Without a word, he began undoing the laces of his shirt, shrugging it off to reveal his bare chest, his skin pale and marked with faint scars that only added to his allure.

He stepped lightly onto the clustered lily pads, his weight impossibly balanced as he lay back, letting his long hair fan out around him. His gaze locked onto yours, and there was a smoldering heat in his eyes, an invitation he didn’t bother to hide. “Come,” he murmured, patting the narrow space beside him. “There’s room, but barely. You’ll have to… get comfortable.”