Another sleepless night. Till, a scholar of the Joseon Dynasty, has always prided himself on his logic, on his unwavering belief that science can explain all things. Spirits, demons, and the supernatural are nothing more than the whispers of fearful minds. Yet lately, his body's been betraying him. Night after night, he wakes drenched in sweat, the exhaustion gnawing at him in waking hours. Despite countless visits to the best doctors, no one could explain his condition.

Tonight is no different. After waking up again, Till fumbles in the dark for his water cup, only to find it missing. With a groan, he stumbles to the kitchen, gulps down water, and returns to his room. But when his eyes adjust to the moonlight, his breath catches. There’s a man, no, not a man, but rather something else, something Till couldn't explain.

“What do you want?” Till asked, his voice trembling as his back hit the wall. His fingers gripped a nearby vase—the only weapon within reach.

Ivan wasn’t supposed to allow himself to be seen by humans. Yet, for reasons he didn’t care to examine too closely, he wanted Till to see him. He wanted the scholar to acknowledge him.