Tale

The back of the stage was swallowed in darkness, making it impossible to tell whether the man dressed as The Next General had vanished or was still lurking, watching in silence. Had it truly disappeared, perhaps a spirit slipping between realms? A sudden gust of cold air swept through the theater, sending ripples of unease through the audience.

Whenever The Light of the House began, the doors were sealed. No one was allowed in or out, ensuring the performance remained uninterrupted. Guards stood at their posts to prevent any intrusion. Yet, in that moment, a figure in dark robes slipped inside, their figure that of a man with how towering their figure was. The door had opened just enough to let him in before shutting once more. A large hood concealed his face, and no one paid him any mind. Hidden beneath the folds of his robe, he clutched a mini crossbow. Moving swiftly, he positioned himself in the shadows, blending seamlessly into the dimly lit theater.

From his elevated seat, Magistrate Hong Gi shifted forward, resting a hand on the balustrade. His expression was unreadable, and just as he made the slightest motion to rise, the goblin's voice cut through the tension.

"A long, long time ago, during the reign of His Majesty, the greatest King of Jeong..." He paused, his eyes gleaming beneath his mask as if savoring the weight of history. Only his dark eyes were visible, while the lower half of his face remained obscured, adding an air of mystery to his voice.

"Our beloved land was on the brink of destruction!" His voice rose slowly, layered with intensity. "The neighboring nations, Han and Shanxi, had forged an alliance, determined to bring Jeong to its knees. The war raged fiercely, and defeat loomed over our people like a gathering storm. Even the greatest King the one destined by the heavens as the Emperor of Jeong found himself cornered."

The audience held their breath. They had all heard the tales of Jeong's greatest King, a ruler of unmatched power and authority, a figure who had led the nation through its darkest struggles. They knew the stories of war, of the hardships their land had endured. But The Next General? It had always been there, standing beside the King in every account they had ever known.

Yet now, the goblin's words revealed something different.

The Next General had not always been by the King's side.

"But he did not surrender," the goblin whispered. His voice was so low that had the theater not been utterly silent, no one would have heard him.

Then suddenly...

"Ah!"

A sharp, unexpected cry rang out.

Some in the audience flinched, hearts pounding. Others muttered in frustration, wondering why the goblin had shouted so abruptly. But the goblin knew exactly what he was doing. He had captured their attention completely.

His voice dropped again, drawing them in.

"For seven days and seven nights, the King prayed in the temple. The priestesses of the land bathed him in the sacred waters to purify him each day. He neither ate nor slept. His body weakened, but his spirit remained unshaken. On the seventh night…" He let the words trail off, heightening the suspense. "...exhaustion overcame him, and he dozed off. It was then that the heavens sent him a vision, a sacred sign. He saw a Ginkgo tree standing alone by the River Salang, bathed in celestial light."

A murmur spread through the audience.

It was well known that lying about the history of the greatest Kings was a grave offense, one that could cost not only the liar's life but also the lives of their loved ones. Yet the goblin spoke with unwavering confidence. And more importantly, Magistrate Hong Gi made no move to stop him.

This was no fiction. This was the truth.

For centuries, the Ginkgo tree by the Salang River had been revered. No temple had ever been built near it, nor were there barriers to prevent people from approaching. Every year, the palace priestess would go there to offer prayers when its golden leaves shimmered in the autumn light. Yet no one truly understood why the tree was sacred. Some prayed at its base, swearing their wishes had been granted, while others dismissed it as superstition.

But now, they knew.

The goblin straightened, his voice growing more commanding.

"And so, with renewed hope, the greatest King knew at once what the dream meant. He journeyed to the sacred Ginkgo tree by the Salang River, where he fell to his knees and prayed once more for seven days and seven nights. And it was there, in that moment of unyielding faith, that The Next General descended from the heavens."

A hush fell over the theater.

Was this merely a legend, or had something divine truly walked the earth that day?

The goblin's voice deepened. "The greatest King, exhausted yet resolute, lifted his gaze and saw him,The Next General! standing in it's glorious warrior attire, twin swords strapped to it side. But it was not alone. Beside it stood a man… one with piercing grey eyes."

A gasp rippled through the audience.

Nowhere in the history books had there been mention of The Next General having a companion, let alone a man with grey eyes. But no one dared to challenge the goblin's words. If he spoke, then it must be true.

Meanwhile, in the shadows, the man with the mini crossbow lifted his weapon to eye level.

No one noticed him.

All eyes remained locked on the goblin, whose voice rose and fell as if orchestrating the very breath of the audience.

The man in the shadows took aim as he lifted the crossbow to his eye level. His bolt pointed directly at the goblin's exposed throat. His finger curled around the trigger ready to shoot.

The goblin tilted his head, his mask catching the faintest glimmer of light like he was enjoying the tale he was telling.

"The greatest King, weary yet unwavering, met the grey-eyed man's gaze and spoke without hesitation: 'I seek the strength to vanquish my enemies and restore peace to this land. In return, I will give you anything you desire... even my life.'"

The goblin's voice was calm, unwavering. "'Since you have called upon us,' the grey-eyed man replied, 'we shall take Daeyang Forest as our reward. In return, we will destroy the enemies of Jeong.'"

Silence.

Daeyang Forest.

A place once shrouded in myth. A land people feared to enter, whispered to be the home of bandits and spirits alike. But now the goblin had revealed its true past. The Daeyang Forest was no longer shrouded in mystery, as travelers now passed through it. However, the risk of encountering bandits made most people steer clear. It wasn't a shortcut to any significant destination, just an expanse of wilderness that seemed to lead nowhere.

The goblin's voice surged forward, a final declaration.

"The greatest King agreed, and The Next General led the charge into battle. The war ended in victory, and as promised, Daeyang Forest was given to him, along with riches beyond imagination. With peace restored, The Next General left our land… but he vowed to return if there is any hint of troubled times."

Then, with eerie certainty, he added..

"And I can feel it. The Next General is coming."

A sharp, single note rang through the air.

A zither. A single strum.

The sound was so unexpected that many in the audience jolted upright. Even Magistrate Hong Gi was on his feet, his sharp gaze scanning the crowd. But there was no one out of place. No sign of a musician.

Then..

"Ahnnn!"

A shrill, high-pitched scream tore through the silence.

Heads whipped toward a woman, her trembling hand pointing at the stage.

Every gaze followed.

And there, where the goblin had been moments ago was the goblin still seated but..

Blood.

A thin, crimson line trailed down his exposed neck. He gasped, struggling for breath.

"Drop the curtain!" Magistrate Hong Gi commanded.

A guard leapt from the platform, racing toward the stage. The heavy curtain fell, cutting off the scene from view.

Whispers exploded in the theater.

"What happened?"

"Is it part of the performance?"

"Was that an illusion?"

"What… what was that sound?"

"What is going on?"

The confusion grew, the panic spreading like wildfire.

Then, just as the murmurs reached their peak, the curtain lifted once more.

The goblin was gone alone with the chair he sat upon.

In his place stood a man.

He wore long, flowing red robes, like a groom awaiting his bride. A flute rested in his hands, and as he lifted it to his lips, a haunting melody filled the air.

The audience stilled, captivated.

For many, this was their first time at The Light of the House. They had no idea what to expect.

But one thing was certain.

The goblin had vanished.

And so had Magistrate Hong Gi.

And so had the man with the crossbow.