Act 1: The Lake Of Tears

Heeseung, Jay, Sunghoon, and two guards were now on their horses entering the Dark Moon Forest equipped with hunting weapons and lanterns for light. "Wow, it's true, the Dark Moon Forest look more beautiful at night," said Sunghoon after entering the forest lit by the light of the full moon, the prince brothers agreed.

Several minutes passed after they entered the forest. "I think this is like a night walk rather than a night hunt," said Jay, starting to get bored, Heeseung chuckled, "Be patient Jay, an eagle doesn't always get its prey," said Heeseung calming Jay, "But this isn't what I imagined, Sunghoon said if We hunt at night, the animals we can hunt will...." Jay continued to ramble until he didn't realize that his brother was left behind their group.

For some reason, Heeseung felt like someone was calling him. Heeseung directed his horse in a direction he didn't know where, he just followed the voice that called him.

Heeseung continued to direct his horse until he came to a lake he had never seen before, a lake that was on the edge of a small cliff, the water glistened under the light of the full moon with a waterfall falling from the small cliff. "What is this place?" Heeseung muttered leading his horse to enter the lake area.

Suddenly Heeseung heard a sound of a lot of flapping wings. Curious, Heeseung looked to the sky and saw a flock of white swans flying towards the lake and landing on the water. Seeing that, Heeseung got off his horse and hid behind a bush near the lake. Heeseung readied his crossbow and targeted one of the swans.

However, when Heeseung was about to pull the trigger, he stopped, because suddenly all the swans turned into humans wearing all white clothes.

Of all the swans, there was one swan that caught Heeseung's attention, a swan that was the last to turn into a human. Heeseung continued to hide to watch the swans.

"Jungwon–hyung," someone approached the swan that was the last to turn into a human.

"Ni-ki," Jungwon greeted back,

Ni-ki approached Jungwon as he stretched his body, "Wouldn't you be satisfied if you could return to being human everytime," said Ni-ki still stretching his body, Jungwon smiled, "Yes Ni-ki, you've been saying that since the last full moon," said Jungwon finally got out of the lake, Ni-ki rolled his eyes, "Can't blame me, we can only change back into humans during the night, thanks to you though," said the royal man, Jungwon chuckled then looked up at the full moon. "Honestly, I don't really mind, the night here looks beautiful..." Jungwon said, still looking at the full moon, "Hey, you're too carried away with this life, hyung," said Ni-ki elbowing Jungwon, the older looked at Ni-ki, "Need I remind you that some of our people have fallen because they were hunted?" Ni-ki asked as he folded his arms across his chest. Hearing that, Jungwon's expression suddenly changed, he looked down at the ground. Ni-ki sighed, "Listen, I know you're trying to take the positive side of this curse, but there's nothing positive about a curse, us still being able to return to human form is the only positive thing here," Ni-ki explained.

Jungwon sighed, "I know, but drowning in sadness won't ease this curse," said Jungwon, looking back at the full moon.

Suddenly their conversation stopped because they heard the sound of large wings flapping above them. Jungwon and Ni-ki turned to the source of the sound and saw a giant black garuda flying above them, "No..." Jungwon muttered in fear. "Ni-ki," said Jungwon, Ni-ki nodded, "Everyone! Go away from here!" Ni-ki's order made the people there run panically into the forest and hide. Ni-ki immediately took a fighting stance with a dagger in his hand in front of Jungwon, "Wait, Ni-ki, you have to hide too," Jungwon said panicked, "What do you mean? I have to leave you here alone? Don't be stupid," argued Ni-ki ki without moving from his position, "But—" Jungwon didn't continue when he saw the garuda already land in front of them.

Slowly, the eagle turned into a man dressed all in black.

"Jake..." Jungwon said when the man had changed completely.

"Well, well..." Jake said approaching Jungwon and Ni-ki, "How are you, Jungwon? I hope I'm not disturbing something..." Jake said. "You know you're always disturbing right?" Ni-ki said without lowering his guard, "Really?" Jake asked as he stopped moving, "Oh, sorry then, I'm so sorry," Jake said sarcastically, he grinned then laughed.

Jake sighed, "Ni-ki, always entertaining for me," Jake said grinning. Ni-ki's anger increased after hearing Jake's words, "You will never be forgiven!" Ni-ki exclaimed charging towards Jake then swung his dagger several times at Jake, but the dark sorcerer was able to avoid all of Ni-ki's attacks. Jake finally attacked Ni-ki with an energy blast and sent the swan flying away, "Ni-ki!" Jungwon managed to catch Ni-ki, although he was slightly dragged behind.

Jungwon grabbed Ni-ki's shoulder to support him standing, "Are you okay?" Jungwon asked worriedly, "Y–yes, I'm fine," answered Ni-ki, but he immediately fell to his knees with a heavy breath, the older panicked seeing Ni-ki's condition. Jungwon's expression changed instantly, "Sit down," Jungwon said before standing up, taking Ni-ki's dagger and facing Jake.

"Oh? Finally the little cygnet came out from his guardian's wings," said Jake seeing Jungwon take a fighting stance in front of him. Jungwon didn't answer, he looked at Jake with an annoyed look.

Jake charged toward Jungwon, but Jungwon swung his dagger quickly before Jake could get close to him, so fast that Jake had to stop suddenly in surprise. Seeing the opportunity, Jungwon immediately kicked Jake in the stomach until he was thrown quite far. Jake tried to stand up as he coughed from Jungwon's sudden attack. Jake chuckled, "I never thought, the swan prince has fighting abilities," Jake said while holding his stomach, "I think I underestimated you too much..." Jake continued after standing up straight.

Jungwon didn't reply, he just looked at Jake coldly. Jake grinned, he took a stance to attack him again before moving closer to Jungwon quickly, so fast that Jungwon's eyes couldn't catch him.

Jungwon was shocked, he looked left and right in panic. "Looking for me?" Asked Jake who suddenly appeared behind Jungwon. Jungwon swung his dagger back by reflex, but he only slashed through the wind. Seeing an opportunity, Jake took out a black chain then tied Jungwon's hands and hung him in the air. "Let me go!" Jungwon shouted in struggle, trying to break free from Jake's chains.

Jake laughed as he approached Jungwon, "You don't know how long I've wanted to do this..." Jake said as he stroked Jungwon's cheek. Jungwon looked at Jake in disgust, "Don't you dare touch me..." Jungwon said, "Oh," Jake lifted Jungwon's chin, "Or what, prince?" Jake asked bringing his lips closer to Jungwon's lips.

But before Jake managed to kiss Jungwon, someone shot an arrow to him in the arm, making him move away from Jungwon and removing the chain from Jungwon's hand. "Who is there?!" Jake shouted in annoyance as he pull out the arrow from his bleeding arm before his eyes fell on Heeseung who had pointed his crossbow at Jake. "Get away from him," Heeseung snapped as he walked closer to Jungwon, "Fuck!" Jake was about to attack Heeseung, but was stopped because Heeseung shot Jake again in the shoulder and leg, "Don't make me repeat what I said," Heeseung said without lowering his weapon. Jake cursed, "I'll remember this!" Jake said before turning back into an garuda again and flying away.

Heeseung lowered his crossbow then approached Jungwon, "Are you okay?" Heeseung asked as he crouched in front of Jungwon. Jungwon was surprised when he saw Heeseung, remembering that no other human had ever set foot in this lake, he just nodded in response, Heeseung let out a sigh of relief.

Heeseung then helped Jungwon stand up. "Jungwon–hyung!" Called Ni-ki, who had recovered, as he ran towards Jungwon. "Hyung, are you okay?" The royal man asked worriedly. Before Jungwon answered, Ni-ki suddenly saw Heeseung behind his best friend, he immediately took his dagger from Jungwon, "Who are you?! How did you get here?!" Ni-ki asked as he pointed his dagger at Heeseung's face. Heeseung moved away a little to see the dagger which was about to slice his face. "Calm down, Ni-ki," said Jungwon holding Ni-ki's shoulder, "He helped me earlier," continued Jungwon as he lowered Ni-ki's hand away from Heeseung.

"But my question is the same, how did you find this place? No one has ever come to this place," said Jungwon looking at Heeseung. "My name is Heeseung, prince of the Dark Moon Kingdom, I came here because there was a voice that guided me to come here," answered Heeseung, "A voice?" Jungwon asked curiously, Heeseung nodded.

Hearing Heeseung's explanation made Ni-ki think, Voice... is it possible?