ECLIPSED VEINS — Episode 4: "The Lightkeepers' Secrets"
The night air felt heavy—like the world was holding its breath.
Yuna and Seong-min walked side by side through the dim streets. Streetlights flickered, buzzing faintly as though disturbed by invisible wings.
Yuna kept glancing at her palm.
The golden Sunwarden sigil faintly glowed under her skin like a heartbeat.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," she whispered.
Seong-min didn't respond at first. His shadow stretched behind him, too long, warped at the edges like ink leaking from his body.
He noticed her staring.
"Does it hurt?" he asked.
"A little," she admitted. "And it feels warm… like… like something inside me is waking up."
Seong-min looked away.
"It's the same for me. Except mine feels like claws."
The air grew colder around them.
Yuna rubbed her arms.
"Let's get home before my grandmother has a heart attack."
He nodded, but something in his eyes flickered—hesitation… fear… longing?
"…Can I walk you all the way?" he asked.
Yuna smiled softly.
"Of course."
Her heart beat a little faster.
But Seong-min wasn't smiling.His pupils trembled as he glanced at the shadow beneath him.
"Stay close to her," the whisper breathed."You know what happens when you're alone."
He clenched his fists tightly.
The moment Yuna's front gate came into view, the porch light flicked on.
Her grandmother—tiny, gray-haired, and wrapped in a thick shawl—stood waiting with a wooden staff in hand.
"Child!" she hissed. "Get inside!"
Her eyes then shifted to Seong-min… and hardened.
"You were told not to come here, Eclipsed boy."
Seong-min lowered his head.
"Halmeoni—" Yuna began.
"No more words!" her grandmother snapped. "Inside. Now."
Yuna grabbed Seong-min's sleeve.
"Come with me."
He stepped back.
"I shouldn't. She's right."
Yuna tightened her grip.
"You're coming inside."
Her grandmother's aura flared—golden light shimmering around her like heat off a fire.
"Cha Yuna!" the old woman shouted. "Do not bring that shadow-born creature past this threshold!"
Seong-min flinched as if struck.
Yuna stepped in front of him, eyes blazing.
"Halmeoni, stop calling him that!"
"He is Eclipsed!""He is dangerous!""He will turn on you!"
"That's enough!"
The golden sigil on Yuna's palm blazed.
Her grandmother's eyes widened—not with anger… but grief.
"Oh… Yuna," she whispered. "You shouldn't have awakened so early."
Yuna dragged Seong-min inside despite the old woman's protests.
The moment his foot crossed the threshold, the candles inside the house flickered violently—some extinguished, some burst brighter.
Seong-min winced.
"I don't think your house likes me."
"It'll get over it," Yuna said firmly.
Halmeoni slammed the door shut and spun around, staff glowing with golden runes.
"Sit," she ordered.
Yuna sat.
Seong-min hesitated.
"Not you," the grandmother snapped. "You stand. I want you far from her."
Yuna stood again. "Halmeoni—!"
"Sit!"Yuna sat.
Her grandmother turned toward Seong-min, eyes narrowing as she traced small glowing sigils in the air.
"Hold still, boy."
A golden light washed over him.His shadow recoiled violently.
Seong-min gasped.
"What—what are you doing?"
"Checking if he is fully awakened," Halmeoni said, analyzing the light. "Or if we can still save him."
"Save me?" Seong-min muttered.
Yuna jumped up again. "Save him from what?!"
Her grandmother's voice was cold.
"From becoming a monster."
Halmeoni shut her eyes and exhaled.
"It is time you knew the truth."
She pointed her staff at the table. A soft glow emerged, and shadow-puppets began moving—light-made illusions.
The First Truth
"Long ago, the world was balanced between two guardians:The Sunwarden, keeper of light…And the Eclipsed, keeper of shadow."
Yuna and Seong-min exchanged startled looks.
"A Sunwarden was born to protect humanity," Halmeoni continued."An Eclipsed was born to restrain the darkness beyond the veil."
Seong-min whispered, "So Eclipsed aren't naturally evil…"
"Not at first," Halmeoni said. "But their power changes them. Corrupts them. Devours their minds until only hunger remains."
Yuna shook her head fiercely.
"No. Not him."
Halmeoni's gaze softened for a moment."Neither of you asked for this burden. But fate rarely shows mercy."
The Second Truth
She continued:
"When an Eclipsed fully awakens…Their shadow must be killed by the Sunwarden."
Seong-min stiffened.
Yuna's eyes widened. "No! That can't be right!"
"It is the only way to prevent the Eclipsed God from rising."
Seong-min's voice cracked.
"So… your job is to kill me."
Yuna slammed her fist on the table.
"I WON'T!"
The candles flickered.
Her grandmother sighed, weary.
"You say that now. But when the beast in him awakens—when he no longer knows your name—you will not have a choice."
Seong-min looked down.
His shadow trembled.
And for the first time…He wondered if they were right.
"Hold out your arm," Halmeoni commanded.
Seong-min did.
His veins were glowing faintly silver beneath the skin.
Halmeoni touched her staff to his wrist.A beam of golden light seeped into his veins.
He screamed.
Yuna jumped to her feet. "Stop hurting him!"
"Quiet!" Halmeoni barked. "This is the only way to see how much of him remains!"
Seong-min's vision blurred. The whisper inside his mind roared.
"LET ME OUT."
Shadow erupted along his arm like black fire.
Halmeoni stumbled back.
"Oh no—no—no—this isn't good…"
Yuna ran to him, grabbing his face with both hands.
"Seong-min! Look at me!"
His eyes were turning black again.
She pressed her forehead against his.
"I'm here. Breathe. Come back."
His breathing slowed.
The shadow on his arm receded.
His eyes returned to gray.
Halmeoni stared, shocked.
"…Impossible. He responded to your voice."
Yuna didn't let go of him.
"Of course he did. He always will."
Seong-min trembled.
"You… anchor me."
Yuna smiled through tears.
"And you protect me."
Her grandmother swallowed hard, unable to hide the fear in her voice.
"You two… are bound far deeper than I expected."
A sudden knock echoed through the house.
Hard. Urgent.
Halmeoni's face drained of color.
"No… not tonight…"
Yuna frowned. "Halmeoni? Who is it?"
The old woman rushed to the door, whispering:
"Please don't be who I think it is…"
She cracked the door open.
A tall figure stood in the darkness—draped in robes of pale gold, eyes burning like molten sunlight.
A Lightkeeper.
One of the Sunwardens' ancient enforcers.
His gaze drifted past Halmeoni—locking onto Seong-min.
"There," he said coldly. "The Eclipsed is here."
Yuna ran toward the door.
"What are you doing?!"
The Lightkeeper raised his hand.
"I am here to finish what the Sunwarden has not."
Seong-min staggered back as the man's aura flared, blades of light forming around his hand.
Yuna screamed.
"STOP!"
But the Lightkeeper stepped forward, voice like thunder:
"The Eclipsed boy must die."
END OF EPISODE 4