Foxfire and Forgotten Hearts

The red moon shined brightly over the forest in the olden days. Baek-ho leaned against a tree, breathing hard. He was a very handsome man with silver hair and glowing yellow eyes. He was not a normal human; he was a magical Silver Fox who had lived for hundreds of years. But tonight, he was hurt and bleeding. "Baek-ho, please! You have to run!" cried Lady Hwa-young. She was the daughter of the kingdom’s most famous General. She held tightly to Baek-ho's clothes, crying. "I cannot leave you here alone," Baek-ho said softly. He had broken the biggest rule of his kind: he fell in love with a human girl. The Ambush Suddenly, the dark forest lit up with fire. Guards ran into the open space holding torches. General Kang, Hwa-young's father, walked to the front. He looked very angry and carried a large sword. Behind him were special guards who hunted magical creatures. "Monster!" the General yelled. "You tricked my daughter! Tonight, you will die." Baek-ho stepped in front of Hwa-young to protect her. He had strong magic and could easily fight them all. But he looked at the General. This man was the father of the girl he loved. If Baek-ho killed the father, Hwa-young would hate him forever. So, Baek-ho put his hands down. The glow in his eyes faded away. He decided not to fight. "I only loved her. I did nothing wrong," Baek-ho said calmly. "Grab him!" the General ordered. The Death and The Vow The guards moved fast. They threw heavy, magical chains around Baek-ho's arms and neck. The chains burned his skin, but he did not fight back. He fell to his knees. Hwa-young screamed and tried to run to him, but her father’s guards pulled her back. "Father, stop! He is a good person!" she cried. General Kang pulled out his special sword. It was made just to kill magical beings. He stood in front of Baek-ho. "If you really love her, then die so she can have a normal life," the General whispered to him. Baek-ho looked at the General, then he looked at Hwa-young. He wanted to remember her beautiful face forever. The General swung his sword. As the sharp blade hit his chest, Baek-ho did not scream. Instead, he made a final promise. "Even though I die today, and 400 years pass, I will find you again. In a new life, in a new body, I will find you. And next time, nobody will be able to take you away from me." Baek-ho’s body did not fall to the ground. Instead, he turned into bright, glowing dust and blew away in the wind. Hwa-young fell to the ground, crying loudly. General Kang just stood there, not knowing that his family was now tied to this magical fox forever. 400 Years Later: The Modern Era The story jumps to the present day. Inside a very big, beautiful office in the city, a man stands by the window. He is wearing a very expensive suit. His hair is black now, but his eyes are still that same glowing yellow color. It is Baek-ho. He is now a very rich and powerful CEO. His secretary knocks on the door. "Sir, the people here for the new job are waiting. Should I send the first one in?" Baek-ho does not turn around. "Send her in." The door opens. A young woman walks in holding her papers. She suddenly stops. She feels a strange pain in her heart as she looks at the back of the man standing by the window. "Hello," she says softly. "My name is Seo-yeon." Baek-ho freezes. He turns around slowly. His heart, which stopped beating 400 years ago, starts to beat very fast. He smells her sweet scent and knows exactly who she is. It is Hwa-young, reborn in the modern world. "You are late," he says. He tries to look serious, but inside he is so happy. "I have been waiting 400 years for you."