The Slippery Shadows of Parakang

    By aslycr123

    The Slippery Shadows of Parakang cover image

    03 Oct, 2024

    a man standing in a field with a mountain in the background and a cloudy sky in the background,, a character portrait, Andrew Law, sumatraism, award - winning photography

    Ardan, a respected figure in his village, was known for his wisdom. He was the one villagers approached when they wanted to discuss the Parakang.

    a man standing in a field with a village in the background with a dark sky in the background and a mountain in the distance, a character portrait, Arie Smit, sumatraism, award-winning photograph

    Ardan always told them, 'The Parakang exists. Its form resembles a human, its eyes sparkle like they're always wet and its body is slippery like an eel.'

    a man sitting in a room with lots of shelves and lamps on the wall and a table with plates on it, a detailed matte painting, Chen Chun, art photography, cinematic photography

    One evening, a young man named Jaka visited Ardan. He was a city dweller and did not believe in the Parakang.

    two men sitting in a room with a lantern hanging from the ceiling and a lantern hanging from the ceiling, a detailed matte painting, Byeon Sang-byeok, art photography, cinematic photography

    Ardan calmly explained, 'Parakang was originally a person who lost his way due to black magic. It can hurt people, causing illness and discomfort.'

    a man standing in front of a shelf filled with items and a skull hanging from the ceiling of a room, a character portrait, Aaron Jasinski, sots art, character portrait

    Jaka simply laughed off Ardan's words, 'Sounds like an interesting horror story, but I don't believe it.'

    a man standing in front of a window with a full moon in the background and a forest outside of the window, a character portrait, David Park, sots art, character portrait

    That night, as Jaka was about to sleep, he heard rustling noises outside his house. He dismissed it as the wind and fell asleep.

    a man sitting on a bed in a room with a window and a blanket on it, looking out the window, a renaissance painting, David Park, aestheticism, promotional image

    The next morning, Jaka woke up with a high fever and a severe stomachache. He remembered Ardan's words and felt a chill run down his spine.

    a man standing in front of a forest with a hut in the background and a forest path in the foreground, a poster, Fan Kuan, sumatraism, promotional image

    Despite his skepticism, Jaka couldn't help but wonder if the Parakang was real. He decided to seek Ardan's help.

    two men sitting in a room with a table and a lamp on the wall behind them, one of them is wearing a robe, a poster, Dai Jin, private press, movie still

    Jaka explained his symptoms to Ardan, who listened quietly. Finally, Ardan spoke, 'You've been marked by the Parakang.'

    a man in a brown outfit sitting in a chair in a room with candles on the table and a chair behind him, a character portrait, Choi Buk, dau-al-set, movie still

    Jaka, now terrified, asked, 'What can I do, Ardan?' Ardan replied, 'We need to perform a ritual to cleanse you of the Parakang's mark.'

    two men sitting on the floor in a room with a window and a vase on the floor in front of them, a poster, Byeon Sang-byeok, dau-al-set, movie still

    Over the next few days, Ardan guided Jaka through a series of rituals. Jaka followed each step diligently, his fear outweighing his skepticism.

    two men standing in a dark room with windows and a table in the background, one of them is wearing a black robe, a character portrait, Fang Congyi, dau-al-set, promotional image

    After the final ritual, Ardan proclaimed, 'The Parakang's mark has been cleansed. But remember, Jaka, respect the spirit world.'

    a man with a backpack standing in front of a forest with a house on it's side and a forest in the background, a character portrait, Fan Kuan, serial art, character portrait

    Jaka thanked Ardan and left, a newfound respect for the legends of his ancestors in his heart. From then on, he no longer scoffed at the tales of the Parakang.

    a man standing in front of a building with a full moon in the background and a person in a kimono, a detailed matte painting, Fang Congyi, photorealism, cinematic photography

    Ardan continued to share the tale of the Parakang. It wasn't just a horror story for him, but a reminder of the spirit world's power.

    a man walking down a dirt road next to a forest filled with trees and houses at sunset with a person standing on the road, a detailed matte painting, Dan Mumford, magical realism, cinematic matte painting

    Jaka, now healthy and respectful of the spirit world, often recalled his encounter with the Parakang. He realized that some stories are not just myths.

    two men standing in front of a village at sunset with a sun in the background and a few huts, a detailed matte painting, Andrew Law, sumatraism, cinematic photography

    Together, they kept the story of the Parakang alive, passing it down to the next generation. The tale of the Parakang became an invaluable part of their culture.

    The Slippery Shadows of Parakang