Eun Na and the Phantom

By Erica Laurie

Eun Na is working hard to help her father pay off a debt to a merciless lord when she meets two very different men by chance. One is a well-meaning noble who doesn't believe in magic. The other: a mysterious stranger who is forced to take the ethereal form of a ghost each night.

This magical story, inspired by a Korean folktale, is set in a fictional world based on Joseon era Korea.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Erica Laurie
• Release date: Jun 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524294991

Erica Laurie

I love reading, Korean dramas, and dragons. In fact, my love of fantasy (dragons) and Korean dramas influences my writing. In my spare time, I like to visit the fairies, forest elves, and dragons with my kids. I've been dragon searching since I was a kid with my dad, and so far the dragon has yet to be awake to let us in to their enchanted caves.

Book preview

Dedication

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First and foremost, this book is for Don. Thank you for loving me.

To my kids—thank you for being mine.

I would also like to dedicate this book to the many Korean drama fans that are longing for books that are like the shows we watch.

About this Story

This story takes place in an imaginary Korean-inspired fantasy world.  It is not meant to be historically accurate.

If you would like to know more about the history and people of Korea, please visit your local library.

Glossary

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father

abeoji (ah bu ji)

mother

eomeoni (uh mu ni)

father-in-law

abeonim

mother-in-law

eomeonim

grandmother

halmeoni (hal mu ni)

grandfather

harabeoji (hal ah bu ji)

nari (na ri): honorific used by commoners for someone of higher status.

*special note: when used as a title/name I’ve used Abeoji or Eomeoni for father and mother. In cases where it’s lowercase, I’ve chosen to use the English words.

While I’ve tried to remain accurate with my use of Korean, there may be errors.

Prologue

Once upon a time, there lived a young man who was cursed for greed that wasn’t his own.  Transformed into a phantom, his soul was trapped in darkness.

An imugi dragon noticed his plight and introduced him to her mudang companion, Ji Na. Together they offered their assistance to him, that they might break the curse so that his soul could rest.

But they failed.

To save him from being forever lost in the eternal night, the dragon gave him part of her soul.  With this gift, he could appear mortal. At night, he was forced to remain a ghost.

As the years passed by, the phantom lived alone in the cave of his imugi friend, longing for what he believed he could never have.

Until the day he met the logger’s daughter.

~*~*~*~

Chapter 1

In a snug little house on the outskirts of a village, there lived a girl named Gu Eun Na. Eun Na lived with her father and mother. She called her father Abeoji, and her mother Eomeoni. Her father, Namukkun, was by profession, a logger

Eun Na was getting fresh water from the well when her father walked, wearily, up to the house.

Abeoji, how did things go in the village today? Eun Na asked.

Well enough, Namukkun said. It’s been a long day. Is dinner ready?

Just about, Eun Na said hoisting up the water bucket.

That’s good to hear. I could use some of your mother’s delicious cooking, Namukkun said as they made their way into the house.

Eomeoni, Abeoji’s home, Eun Na said, walking into the kitchen with the water, and setting it down. Is there anything else you need me to do?

Could you finish the eggs and get the food on the table? Namu-Anae answered her daughter as she went to greet her husband. Eun Na smiled at the warm way her parents greeted each other as she finished preparing the food.

The family gathered around the small, square, wooden table as Eun Na placed the last of the bowls on the table.

Let us eat well. Namukkun smiled at his family before filling his plate.

Let us eat well, responded Namu-Anae and Eun Na.

I ran into Lord Park in town today, Namukkun said. He reminded me of our debt.

Namu-Anae frowned, scooping rice into her bowl. Did he now?

Eun Na catching the undertones watched her parents for a moment. Her father was troubled. It must not have gone well, despite what he had told her. Which meant he didn’t want her to know.  Which meant—

Namu-Anae continued, breaking into Eun Na’s thoughts, You can’t get blood from a stone. What does he want us to do? Give him the house?

No, not the house, Namukkun said. He cleared his throat before adding, I agreed to make a payment at the end of next week.

Namukkun! Can we really do that?

It beats the alternative, giving our dau—

Namu-Anae waved for Namukkun to be silent. Eun Na studied her parents as they both stared at each other. Something passed between them, and she realized they were protecting her from their landlord.

Never mind, it won’t come to that. Namukkun cleared his throat gruffly. That’s the end of it.

Will you reconsider hiring help? I could talk with Oh Soo’s mom— Namu-Anae wrung her hands as Namukkun shook his head.

No, we can’t afford to pay a hired hand. Especially right now.

Eomeoni, I will help Abeoji, you’ll see. Together we’ll get the wood in to sell, Eun Na declared with a nod.

Namukkun turned and waved for Eun Na to be quiet.

Eun Na lowered her head and kept her eyes on the table. She knew it wasn’t her place to speak out of turn, but she could—and would—help her father.

Eun Na, you can’t always be off gathering the wood.

Abeoji, just let me help until when we can afford to hire someone. I can be both daughter and son.

Don’t be silly, Eun Na. You can’t be a son, Namu-Anae said.

You know what I mean, Eomeoni. Eun Na knew her mother didn’t fully understand, but she wanted to help.

You know I don’t like you out there, Namu-Anae said.

Namukkun took Namu-Anae’s hand into his. I’ll watch out for our daughter.

Namu-Anae’s shoulders slumped in defeat. Please be careful.

Thank you, Eomeoni! Eun Na said. I’ll help us get out of debt. We’ll be all right again. I promise. Eun Na knew her mother didn’t like her out working in the woods. Logging was dangerous work. But since the fire, when they had fallen behind on rent to Lord Park, they had no other choice.

After the meal, Eun Na went outside to sit on the porch and watch the sunset. As the evening sky turned full of reds and golds, a dark shape flew overhead. At first, Eun Na thought it was a bird. As it passed by, her eyes focused on the small serpentine body of an imugi dragon.

Chapter 2

The warm sun brightly beat down as Eun Na loaded the backpack. It was made up of an open wooden frame, a plank of wood at the base, and rope braided together for shoulder straps, thus allowing the wearer to carry heavier logs upon their back. Once Eun Na had logs loaded into the carrier, she put her arms through the straps and stood up. Gathering up a few of the smaller sticks of wood, she headed off towards town.

Children scampered across the road, playing games with each other. Others tossed small stones in a quick-handed game of gonggi. Aromas from a small restaurant made her stomach growl in longing. Pressing a hand to her grumbling middle she reminded herself that as soon as she delivered these logs to the merchant she could eat. She was looking forward to food. It had been a long morning working alongside her father.

Eun Na scarcely had time to hear a male voice yell before something hard hit her, knocking her off balance. Toppling over, the wood in her arms went flying.

Hey, watch it! a little boy yelled as some of the scattered wood rolled to a stop by his feet. Grabbing the ball he had been playing with, he ran off before Eun Na could get her bearings.

She sensed rather than saw someone kneeling down. I’m sorry, the male voice said.

Watch where you throw that thing, Eun Na said, without looking up. Wincing she rubbed her sore foot. Really, an older boy should know better than to hurl a ball at someone.

I am sorry. Let me help you with that, the same voice said.

A hand reached towards her and she flinched. Don’t touch me. Eun Na looked up and locked eyes with the man, his arm still extended towards her. He was dressed in blue silks with a black gat—he was a yangban. Her eyes went wide with embarrassment, as he chuckled in amusement.

Turning away, her face heating, she said, Don’t laugh at me, please. If only the ground could swallow her up.

I’m not laughing, the yangban replied, laughing harder.  He was amused, and his tone encouraged a friendly banter. You’re a snappy one aren’t you?

Eun Na looked up at him. What do you mean?

I’m offering to help you, and you are biting my hand off. The man smiled, his eyes holding hers. Much like a snapping turtle.

Eun Na’s jaw dropped. Quickly shutting it, she straightened her back and said, I wouldn’t need help if you had watched where you were throwing that ball.

True. Let’s call a truce, he offered with a smile. I’m Park Min Jae.

Eun Na’s face went white as the blood drained from it.  He wasn’t just an ordinary nobleman; he was the landlord’s son. Of all the people to run into, it just had to be him.

I need to get these logs to the merchant, so if you’ll excuse me, she said, pushing back some loose hair from her face. She needed to hurry. Shifting under the load on her back, she tried to stand up. Wobbling, she almost fell back down.  Almost. Min Jae’s strong hands reached out and grabbed her, holding her steady. Eun Na turned her startled gaze to his. He had helped her again. Why?

Um, thank you, she said.

Min Jae helped her gather the rest of the wood into her arms. He didn’t say anything else, for which she was grateful. She gave a quick bow and left, however, her thoughts stayed with him. He wasn’t behaving in the manner most of the upper class did. For one thing, he had been playing ball with a peasant boy; and he had actually spoken to her as if she was his equal—not only apologizing but assisting her. She didn’t know what to make of it, but one thing she knew for sure was that he was nothing like his father.

Eun Na made it to the merchant without further incident. As she waited for the merchant to her to mark her ledger, she pushed more hair from her face again. Running her hand down her braid she realized that it had come loose. She spun around, glancing at the floor, retracing her steps to the door.

Is everything all right, Eun Na? the merchant asked.

Oh, yes. It’s fine. Is it all right if I go?

Of course. Tell your father to come by at the end of the week for payment.

Thank you, Eun Na said as she left, hurrying off to retrace her steps and find her ribbon. When she got to the spot where she had fallen, there wasn’t any sign of the ribbon; or of Min Jae.

~*~*~*~

A short time later, Min Jae arrived at the local shaman’s house. It was a typical one-story home, with a green slanted roof. The shaman, a young mudang, was out sweeping the walkway leading up to her front door. He reached into his pocket and touched the blue ribbon and thought back to his encounter with the logger girl.

Park Min Jae had been whistling as he walked through the village. Children ran across the road and Min Jae smiled. He liked watching the little ones at play, which was one of the many reasons he liked going for his routine walk. Many of them didn’t have much, yet they were happy and content—a feeling that was unfamiliar to Min Jae. He was sure there had to be more to life than studying and wealth.

One little boy caught Min Jae’s attention. He couldn’t have been more than five. He was bouncing a ball made from a pig’s bladder across the road. Slipping from the boy’s hands, the ball rolled to a stop at Min Jae’s feet.  The boy skidded to a stop in front of Min Jae, his face smudged with dirt.  Despite his worn and patched raggedy clothes, his eyes were alight with unfettered joy.

The small boy gave a quick bow, and then he held out his arms to receive the ball. Nari, throw it here please?

Min Jae grinned and pretended to throw it, and the little boy started to scamper off after it before realizing the trick.

Hey! the boy yelled, and then laughed when he saw Min Jae’s smile.

This time it’s for real. Min Jae chuckled as he threw the ball. The little boy missed catching the ball. It flew by him and hit a scrawny girl who was walking by carrying a bundle of wood in her arms. She cried in dismay as the split logs went everywhere.

The little boy complained as some of the wood scattered about the ground as he grabbed his ball and ran off.

I’m sorry, Miss, Min Jae said as he knelt to assist Eun Na gather up her logs.

The girl had scolded without looking at him. She was rubbing her foot where the logs had hit. Min Jae noticed she had not only been carrying a bundle of sticks in her arms, but she was also carrying logs on her back.

Min Jae apologized and reached to take the strange backpack off her back, but she moved away from him.

Don’t touch me, she said as she finally looked up and made eye contact.

She was startled, and Min Jae realized she must have thought she was addressing the child and not a fully-grown man. She most definitely hadn’t been aware of his status.

Don’t laugh at me, she said softly. If he hadn’t been right next to her he might not have heard.

I’m not laughing, Min Jae replied as he laughed harder. This girl was a strange one, and she was treating him as an equal. He knew he should be angry, but he wasn’t. If anything, he was curious. He liked her quick wit and told her she was just like a snapping turtle.

After a conversation he found engaging, Min Jae realized she wasn’t going to back down. She was spirited. But then, she’d have to be with lugging trees around.

Smiling, Min Jae offered a truce. He could tell she was mad. I’m Park Min Jae.

I need to get these logs to the merchant, so if you’ll excuse me, Eun Na said.

As she tried to stand up under her heavy load, she wobbled and almost fell down. Min Jae helped her regain her balance and stay upright. Once she was steady, he let go. Eun Na was staring at him again.

With a quick bow, she thanked him before walking away.

Min Jae watched her go, her waist-length dark braid unraveling as she walked. She really was like a snapping turtle, for she carried quite a load on her back. Turning to go, he noticed a blue hair ribbon on the ground by his feet. Well, that would explain why her hair was escaping her braid. He picked up the ribbon and put it in his pocket and continued his afternoon walk. He didn’t have a destination in mind, so he figured he’d explore. He wanted to see what had changed since he had left to study in the capital.

He knew that his father would not be pleased that he had lowered himself and offered to help with that backpack of logs; but when had his father ever been pleased with him? Even when he did well in his studies his father found cause to point out his shortcomings. It had been a relief to go away to study. Yet he had been unable to get away from the strict structure of society, and the more he attempted to conform to it, the unhappier he became. He couldn’t think of any of his scholarly friends who were truly happy. Which brought him back to the village children—were they the only happy ones?

Lost in thought he failed to notice that the mudang had stopped sweeping.

"Eoseo osaeyo. May I help you?" she asked.

He noticed she was wearing the typical colors of a shaman. The colors represented the five cardinal points: red, blue, white, black, and yellow. The woman stood out from everyone like a bright rainbow. She was also quite beautiful—as a rainbow should be.

"Oh, annyeonghaseyo ... no, that’s all right. I’m good."

The mudang inclined her head to the side and appeared to be listening to something, or someone. Yet no one was there.

You want to know about the girl whose blue ribbon you’re holding in your pocket.

Min Jae blinked and withdrew his hand from his robe pocket. I don’t know what you are talking about. How had she known he had a blue ribbon?

A small red dragon, with long whiskers, flew into view from behind the shaman. The dragon went up to Min Jae and nuzzled his pocket.

Hey, get away! He swatted at the dragon, who blew out a puff of smoke in displeasure.

Mao, please leave our guest alone, the mudang scolded the little dragon as she set the broom down and approached. The dragon twisted around to look at her before he shimmered and popped out of sight. I don’t know what’s gotten into him.

How did you know about the ribbon?

The spirits told me, the mudang explained. I was also given a word of caution for you.

Which is what? To be wary of pickpockets? Min Jae joked, thinking of the dragon.

Please come inside. We can talk privately there, she said as she glanced about the street.

Min Jae nodded and followed the young woman inside. While he didn’t believe she had spoken to spirits, a few minutes with a pretty girl could never hurt.

Min Jae stepped into the small house. It had two rooms, one with a small wood-burning stove and a low table that was typical for the villagers. In the main room, pushed up against the wall was a chest of drawers with a set of shelves and a door.

The shaman fetched a cushion from one of the shelves and set it down in front of her table. Please take a seat, Park Min Jae, she said.

As he sat down, she opened a small box