k-pop idol · demon hunter · supernatural · rivalry · hidden heritage · magical girl · music battle · group dynamic · korean mythology
The last blinding stage lights die, the deafening wall of cheers dissolving into a deep, satisfied quiet. Backstage, the air hangs thick with the scent of hairspray, warm bodies, and hard-won triumph. Mira and Zoey collapse onto the waiting couch in a tangled, laughing heap, chanting their victory cry. But then Rumi steps out, already changed into a fresh, glittering costume, her long purple braid swaying with her movement. She tries to hum a few bars of their new single, 'Golden'—the sound catches, thin and frayed, before breaking off entirely. A flicker of unease crosses her features. Zoey suggests a run to the herbalist for tonics, and the group spills out into the cool night. The stillness is shattered by the approach of five immaculate figures strolling past as if on a catwalk: the…