Chapter 1: The Awakening of the Khodam

Rai stood alongside the other students in the grand hall of the Shaman School. Beside them, parents watched silently, witnessing the first step into the world of mysticism.

At the podium, Shaman Rosso began his speech with a deep, commanding voice.

> "Today, you will undergo the awakening ceremony of your first khodam.

A khodam is a shaman's second body. By dividing your soul, you will gain the ability to control two bodies at once—your original body and your khodam, the manifestation of your inner energy and will.

Typically, men awaken male khodams—strong, fierce, and powerful. Likewise, women tend to summon female khodams. That's how it has always been since the age of shamans began.

Shaman battles aren't fought face-to-face. They are battles of stealth and strategy, fought from a distance using your khodam. A khodam cannot truly die, but the pain it suffers—you will feel it.

Even if destroyed, a khodam will eventually regenerate. But your real body—that must remain hidden and protected at all costs."

Silence swept across the hall.

> "Now, sit within the magic circles prepared for you. Close your eyes. Feel the energy surrounding you and absorb it through your eyes. That energy will shape your first khodam."

About 100 students sat cross-legged inside intricately drawn magic circles. This wasn't the total number of new students—only the first batch. Other ceremonies were happening in separate halls.

The students shut their eyes.

Five minutes passed...

Then, one by one, the khodams began to emerge, standing silently behind their summoners.

One boy awakened a muscular, horned man resembling a demon bull.

Another girl summoned a serpentine woman, with snake-like legs.

There was even a bizarre one—a man with cockroach wings and fangs sprouting from his cheeks.

But the ones that stood out the most:

Diana, who summoned a beautiful fox-eared woman with nine fluffy pink tails.

Alfin, who brought forth a red-skinned, muscular man with giant horns like a bull and a long, flaming spear-tipped tail.

And finally…

Rai, who awakened a stunning female khodam with two large white wings. Fireflies glowing in warm yellow light fluttered around her. Her long white hair flowed gracefully, her face angelic, and her body—elegant yet enticing.

All khodams stood motionless behind their shamans, as if asleep.

From the podium, Shaman Rosso spoke again.

> "Khodams are bodies without souls. Now, it's time to share your soul. Just will it in your heart. Feel the connection. Soon, you'll sense both bodies—your real one and your khodam—moving as one."

The students did as instructed.

So did Rai.

Suddenly, his consciousness shifted.

His body remained seated—but he now opened his eyes from within his khodam.

And something felt… off.

> Why do I have… breasts?

And why… does it feel empty down there?

Looking down, Rai saw the unfamiliar curves of his new, feminine form.

The large white wings spread beautifully around him.

The fireflies continued to hover gently, responding to his thoughts.

Rai had awakened within his khodam—a gorgeous angelic woman, glowing with quiet power.

Whispers began to spread throughout the hall, first soft as a breeze, then growing louder like waves crashing on a shore.

> "That's a female khodam, right?"

"But… he's a boy, isn't he?"

"Could she be a girl pretending to be a boy?"

"I don't know… but his face… it's so soft…"

The students began to steal glances at Rai. Some stared openly. Parents in the stands leaned in to whisper behind hands, though their voices were sharp with suspicion. Even the teachers exchanged uncertain looks.

Rai stood still, in his original body. Confused. Why were they all looking at him like that?

> "What's wrong with my khodam being female…?"

But no one answered him. The stares continued—some curious, some fearful, others… resentful.

High on the podium, Dukun Rosso frowned slightly. He didn't say anything, but scribbled something down on a small piece of paper.

At the edge of the hall, a woman's face turned pale. Rai's mother.

> "It's true… he summoned a female khodam…"

Her eyes glistened with unease. The world of shamans was not kind. It was not fair. And it was certainly not forgiving.

> "If they find out he's a boy with a female khodam... they'll label him an anomaly. He could be dissected… studied… turned into a living experiment..."

Her thoughts flashed back to years ago.

In a forbidden forest, she once fought a violent battle against a jin succubus—a seductive demon that destroyed male shamans by corrupting their desires.

When she finally killed it, its body disintegrated into ashes, but one item remained: a strange, glowing artifact—pink and smooth, shaped like a crystalized seed.

> "veil of rebirth"

A cursed artifact.

From ancient records, she knew what it did. It could only be used by men. Its purpose was to seal away male genitals and replace them with a complete, functioning female anatomy. Not just appearance—but fully biological. The artifact contained organic systems—ovaries, hormone glands, even the ability to menstruate… and conceive.

She had kept it, curious at first. Then forgot about it.

> "Don't tell me… I have to give it to my own child…"

Her hands trembled.

> "Is that the only way to protect him from suspicion… from being turned into a test subject?"

Because if Rai didn't change… and the truth came out…

It would be disastrous if anyone discovered that Rai was, in truth, a boy.

Luckily, the official records—called the KTV scrolls—had just been created at the same time as the Khodam awakening ceremony. That meant only Rai and his father knew the truth. To everyone else, Rai was simply a quiet, short-haired girl with an androgynous face. No one questioned it, and the gossip stayed mild.

His mother, however, was far from calm.

She had once walked the dark paths of a shaman's life and knew well how cruel and unforgiving the world of mystics could be. Anomalies—like a male shaman awakening a female Khodam—were often seen as subjects for experimentation… or worse.

She couldn't risk her child being turned into a living project.

So when the first group of 100 students finished their awakening and the next group was being prepared, she quietly pulled Rai to a secluded hallway behind the grand hall.

There, with a firm but worried expression, she produced a strange-looking artifact wrapped in black silk. It shimmered faintly, pulsing with dormant power.

Rai blinked. "Mother… what is that?"

"This is for your safety," she said firmly. "You must wear it. Now."

"But—"

"No questions. Do it."

Reluctantly, Rai took the artifact and followed her instruction. The moment it touched his lower abdomen, a strange warmth spread across his body. A tightening sensation, like invisible muscles weaving themselves, reshaped his form. The artifact didn't just disguise his truth—it transformed it, perfectly.

He gasped. "What… what is this doing to me?"

His mother exhaled in relief. "It's an ancient relic. A divine Veil of Rebirth. It changes the body, cloaking it in a form that matches your Khodam."

"It feels… real."

"It is. It even mimics all natural cycles. No one will suspect anything—not even healers or sages." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "With this, Rai... you are now my daughter. At least in the eyes of the world."

Rai looked down at himself, speechless. His mother smiled gently, though there was sorrow behind her eyes.

"You don't need to take it off. In time, perhaps… you won't even want to."