Chapter 1 – The Eternal Bond

“Will we meet again in another life?”

asked the immortal being to his beloved, who lay dying in his arms.

“So be it. We will meet again, my dear.

Wait for me… won’t you?”

The mortal’s trembling voice broke through the silence.

Tears glimmered in the dragon’s eyes, threatening to fall.

Before the powerful being could respond,

his other half exhaled one last breath—

and that captivating light in his eyes faded away,

slowly, like the end of a dream.

Present Day

“See you next class, Professor!”

Among the students waving goodbye was Yun-ha,

a twenty-one-year-old in his penultimate year of university.

In his free time, he worked as a writer to pay for his studies.

He preferred dark, comfortable clothes—simple, but with quiet charm.

As he packed up his tools, a notification appeared on his phone.

‘Visit the temple Hall of Eternal Bonds.

Take photographs and use the ancient artworks to sketch the legendary being, Sa-Ryeon.

Don’t forget—it’s due next Monday!’

Yun-ha frowned.

A temple? For a sketch assignment?

He had never even heard of the place.

That night, back in his apartment,

he tried to continue the story due at the end of the month.

But no matter how long he stared at the blank page,

his inspiration refused to come.

He spun lazily in his chair, tapping his pencil against the desk.

“Maybe going out will help me think,” he sighed.

Without another thought,

he grabbed his phone and sketchbook,

and headed for the Hall of Eternal Bonds.

The temple was quiet.

Only a few workers swept the marble floors,

their footsteps echoing softly against the blue walls.

Inside, everything shimmered—

royal blue fabric, polished wood, silver ornaments,

and golden lanterns casting warm light over the sacred hall.

But then Yun-ha noticed something unusual.

A half-open door in the corner, leading to a dark room.

Curiosity tugged at him.

He stepped closer and pushed the door open.

The air inside was heavy,

filled with dust and the faint glow of candles.

In the center of the room stood a statue.

He approached carefully,

his light blue eyes reflecting the flickering light,

his breath caught somewhere between awe and disbelief.

The statue was life-sized—

a divine figure with flawless features, carved from pale stone.

Sa-Ryeon.

The powerful being from the legends.

Even though it was stone,

its surface was smooth—warm almost—like living skin.

Yun-ha reached out,

his fingertips brushing the statue’s cheek.

He pulled out his phone and snapped a picture.

Then turned to leave—

—but a large, pale hand slammed the door shut behind him.

“Ah! What the—?!” Yun-ha gasped, spinning around.

Before him stood not a man,

but a being that radiated power and divinity.

The same face. The same presence.

Sa-Ryeon. Alive.

Yun-ha froze,

his pulse echoing in his ears as the dragon’s aura filled the room.

The being took a slow step forward,

his golden eyes glinting with something ancient.

“Hello again, my dear,” he said,

his deep voice gentle—

as if greeting someone he’d loved for lifetimes.