It was a cool, quiet night. The air was calm, and at the village gate, a few lamp lights flickered softly. In the middle of the dusty road lay a 10‐year-old girl, still and alone.
By morning, far off at the village's edge, a sad scene was unfolding. Near an old house, several soldiers stood at the door. Inside that house, Zenji was crying loudly—his sobs grew wilder and louder with each passing moment. In his despair, he grabbed one soldier's neck and shouted, "It's impossible! What were the gatekeepers doing all night?"
Before anyone could answer, another soldier shoved him away and slammed the door shut. Left alone in his small room, Zenji continued to cry behind the closed door. Later that night, exhausted from grief, he fell asleep on the cold floor. A food plate lay forgotten behind the door.
While he slept, Zenji dreamed a strange dream. In his dream, he found himself standing in a simple bathroom, facing a large mirror. On the mirror, three plain lines joined together in a triangle shape. Suddenly, huge, scary eyes appeared in the mirror. Terrified, Zenji tried to run out of the bathroom. But before he could escape, he saw three dark shadows with glowing eyes standing in front of him.
Panicking, he shut his eyes and ran, repeating over and over, "It's just a dream, it's just a dream." When he finally opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by darkness. "What's happening?" he cried.
Then, a creepy voice spoke, "Hi, Zenji… Does anyone really exist here? Are you crying for a reason?"The voice continued coldly, "You are like trash clinging to a beautiful garden. You are a lost memory, always searching for comfort where you don't belong."
Zenji wept and managed to say, "I believe our meeting was not an accident… but now I suspect it was a…"The voice interrupted, "Accidents always leave marks behind."Zenji asked softly, "What do these marks mean? Are they hard lessons, or reminders of what once was?"The voice replied, "They mean both. They remind us of lost times and even give a little hope. Even in pain, we learn something."Zenji whispered, "But my tears are only sadness…""Every scar tells a story," the voice said, "and every story can lead to a new day."Then, in a harsh tone, the voice added, "I have a deal for you, you paperweight."Overwhelmed, Zenji fell to his knees and cried out, "KAAAAAAAAA…" His eyes were filled with tears.
Suddenly, the scene shifted. It was a rainy night at a castle. Zenji recalled a memory: "There was a normal night when I was born." Inside, a kind king held a smiling baby, and for a moment, everyone was happy. But soon, sorrow struck. About one hour after Zenji was born, the castle received news that his older brother's body had been found near the city gate. Soldiers gathered there, and they carried his older brother on horseback toward the castle.
During a fierce thunderstorm, a royal mage arrived in the baby room. The mage examined Zenji carefully. "There are six elements in our world: fire, water, earth, air, healing, and thunder," he said. But then, his face darkened as he noticed a strange, dark element in Zenji's heart.
Everyone in the castle was shocked. One and a half years later, Zenji's little brother was born. For a few years—when Zenji was one, two, almost three, and even four years old—people whispered that every year, on his birth month, someone died in the castle. When Zenji turned five, people started noticing the pattern. No one dared ask questions—not because he was the first prince, but because they were afraid.
When Zenji turned seven, the king met him in person. The king said quietly, "It's very strange, but I think you are cursed. You must live in a separate part of the castle for one year."One year later, tragedy struck again: this time, it was his mother who was found dead. His father cried bitterly, and in anger, he shouted, "Get lost, you cursed child! It's all your fault! I would even kill you if I knew my beloved wife was next!" With tears streaming down his face, Zenji ran from the castle. Two soldiers chased him through the dark night.
While running, the soldiers caught him and said, "Wait, our price."Near an old house, one of the soldiers reminded him, "Your father once decided to leave you here.""Wait here," they ordered, "until we fix this situation."The next morning, a soldier returned and said, "The king has given you permission to stay in this old house, far away from the castle and the village. If another person dies, then your own death will be confirmed."Zenji, with a heavy heart, quietly agreed.
Back in his dream, Zenji saw another sorrowful image—a dead girl. "Why her? Why…?" he cried. He repeated, "Why sheeeee…" as his tears fell. The eerie voice then spoke again, "I have a deal for you." It told him, "Return to the mirror and place your blood in the center of the symbol if you agree."
Suddenly, Zenji awoke with a start. He found himself in a modern city, in a grand house room that felt like a hospital room. Confused and scared, he wondered how he had left behind that cursed, painful past.