RAW---may contain incorrect spellings etc.
Chapter 15
Vision
Princess Dhara is in front of an entire council of Elders and Advisers.
“The Axze river dried out…crops are also already dead. The residents are already in the process of vacating the area. However…the nearby villages are close to becoming over crowded. People are already complaining.” Said an Elder
“That’s the same thing on the southern villages. Fishes are dying….no harvest. People are starting to get hungry.” Said another Elder
“What is going on Princess? Where is the King? Is he still unwell? Will he still heal?” asked an adviser.
Dhara knows the time of covering up her father’s death is over.
“Gentlemen…” Dhara stood up “My father…is no longer with us…”
The Elders and Advisers started to talk all of the same time.
“He has left the world and he is the last of our bloodline.” Said Dhara
“That is why Zaruum’s core is losing power!” said an Elder
“Yes.” Said Princess Dhara “I have already asked a search committee to start searching for the next bloodline…but it will take time.”
“How much longer Princess?” asked an Elder
“I can’t tell…They have been on a journey for more than a month now.” Said Dhara
“Who is leading the search?” asked an adviser
“It’s being led by Cha Seungwon and one of our Ace Knight Kris.” Said Dhara
The chaos in the room slowly subsided.
“Cha Seungwon is alive?” asked an Elder
“Yes. A couple of years ago, my father asked him to leave the palace in preparation for this day when the search for the next bloodline has to be done.” Said Pricness Dhara
“So the King has already seen this coming. Shouldn’t he have already searched for the next bloodline before he died?” asked an adviser
“I assure you that if my father is allowed to search for the circle, he would have done it already. But there are only a selected set of people allowed to search for the next bloodline.” Said Dhara “The search can’t begin unless it’s time…but my father has gathered whoever he could even before the time. Only a few would know about the Anhate prophesy… my father tried everything within his power to prepare the way for the Circle who will look for the next bloodline.”
“Will it be enough preparation? The core…can’t wait forever.” Said an Elder “Zaruum will fall apart.”
“You have no idea how much my father sacrificed in preparation for the search. He has given up the most important things in his life in order to protect Zaruum. The preparation will never be enough. There is no way to prepare for the unknown. But The King has never stopped preparing until his dying hour.” Said Dhara
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Inside a dark room in a southern village a woman is sitting on a high chair. She’s been looking out the window for hours now.
Another woman entered the room.
“Mistress Muklan” the woman who just entered said. “Your food has arrived.”
The woman on the chair smiled.
“Is it fresh?” asked Mistress Muklan
“Still warm…and beating, Mistress.”
“Good. Adah, I feel stronger as days go by…” said Mistress Muklan “The time for us to reign is near.”
“I have been ready, Mistress.” Adah knelt down “You can tell me and I will attack anytime.”
“Adah, Adah, Adah…you can’t just go out there unprepared. WE need to know what our enemies are like…we can’t underestimate them.” Said Mistress Muklan
“You know the best Mistress. I will wait for your signal.” Said Adah.
Muklan took the beating heart from the plate. She ate it…each bite, blood ooze down her lips.
Muklan took a cloth and cleaned her hand after.
“We need to stop the interfering mice…we can’t let them succeed.” Said Muklan
“I am here for your command, Mistress.” Said Adah
“Let’s test the waters shall we? Let’s shake them…” said Muklan touching the window with the blood left in her hand. “And Tear them apart.” The woman’s eyes turned red.
Adah smiled. They will finally start.
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It was a rocky area in the forest and Sulli’s shoulder is still aching.
Minho stretched out his hand to help Sulli cross over the rocks. But Sulli just nodded.
“It’s all right.” Said Sulli
Sulli continued walking without assistance.
Yoona slipped on the rocks and Minho caught her before she broke a bone on her fall.
Sulli’s eyes narrowed as her heart constricts… what a helpless woman! They’re just walking right? And the rocks are rough. So why did she slip!
Arrrggg!!! Sulli’s temper is thinning out.
“Be careful. You might slip.” Said TOP chuckling at Sulli
Wow! Does he really have to say it?!
TOP walked ahead.
“I think what he meant is that you’re too obvious. Irritation is painted all over your face.” Said Sunny
What…
Sulli hit her head with her hand. What is happening to her? Why is she sooooo irritated these days!
Sulli looked around…well..she’s not irritated at everyone…just on a specific someone…and that’s that healer woman!
What’s with her that boils Sulli’s blood to eruption!
Sulli saw it as Yoona climbed Minho’s back so that Minho can carry her.
“Did she even twisted her ankle?” asked Sulli
“Nope…I think she just slipped…but no bone injured.” Said Sunny
“But why does she need to be carried?” asked Sulli
“Umm…maybe because she’s clumsy. If no one carries her, she’s bound to get her ankle twisted later.” Said Sunny
“I got my ankle twisted before but I tried not to be a burden to anyone. And does it need to be mInho? Among all the men, he is the one injured! ” Said Sulli
“Well that’s the difference between the 2 of you then.” Said Sunny
“What do you mean?” asked Sulli
“You’re a fighter. She’s a damsel in distress. You’re a comrade. She’s a princess. Who do you think will get the man’s attention?” asked Sunny
Sunny is right…but what should she do…pretend to slip too? With that woman on Minho’s back, Sulli will surely end up on Chanyeol’s back. That won’t ease her burdened heart…
It seems like…her heart is gripping not just at the sight of Yoona….but whenever she’s too close to Minho…
“You speak so mature.” Said Sulli
“That is because I am old.” Said Sunny “While you little girl-”
“I’m not little.” Said Sulli
“Well physically yes…but emotionally no. Just admit that your jealous, all right? It starts with admission before moving on.” Said Sunny
Jealous?! No way!
“I am not jealous.” Said Sulli
“So why are you so irritated with that woman? Do you get irritated by the mere sight of her? Or just when she’s clinging to that Dark warrior?” asked Sunny
It’s like Sunny hit the bull’s eye.
Sunny nodded smiling. “You’re easy to read, kid. You better know how to control yourself if you don’t want to end up in trouble.” Said Sunny
Everyone in the circle stopped an area of the forest that has a stream. They’ve been walking for hours.
With 3 human bodies (Sulli, Sunny and Yoona) and an injured Dark warrior…the travel time has slowed down significantly.
Why would she get jealous? Sulli has not stopped thinking.
“Hey, you’ve been standing there like a statue. Are you going to refill your water?” asked Chanyeol
“Oh…yeah…umm…Chanyeol…” said Sulli.
Chanyeol sat down and refilled his water container.
“what?” asked Chanyeol
“What does it mean when someone gets jealous of someone?” asked Sulli
“What do you mean?” asked Chanyeol
“I mean….if I see a guy and a girl and I feel irritated with the girl because she’s with the guy…is that jealousy?” asked Sulli
“Well, that pretty much sums up what jealousy is like.” Said Chanyeol
Oh yeah…she’s in trouble.
“But…why would someone be jealous. It’s so…illogical.” Said Sulli
“Well…if you like someone…and he’s being too close with someone else…that’s going to make you jealous.” Said Chanyeol
“But why?” asked Sulli
“Well….if you like someone…you want that person for yourself. You want him/ her for you. If he turns to like someone else…that’s going to hurt.” Said Chanyeol
No…does that mean…she likes Minho?
Sulli shook her head…her heart is beating fast.
Sulli walked a few steps but Chanyeol grabbed her arm.
“Why are you asking these questions?” asked Chanyeol
“Huh? Umm..just curious.” Said Sulli
“Are you sure?” asked Chanyeol “Why do I have feeling that it’s not just out of curiosity?”
Ouch…is she being obvious again? Sunny is so right.
Sulli pulled her arm away. “Yeah…just curious.” Sulli tried to give a fake smile and walked away.
Chanyeol saw Sulli left her water container on the side. He took it and put water in it.
Chanyeol looked at Sulli’s back as she walked away.
She’s been treating him like a brother…and he has been treating her like a sister…until being his sister wasn’t enough for him anymore… Sulli for him is like fresh air… She’s like the flower on a field full of green…she brings color to him…
Chanyeol looked at the container he is holding…he has gripped it too hard that its shape has already changed.
Chanyeol sigh.
Is Sulli drifting away?
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The circle is still walking in the forest when Sulli felt a jab on her chest…this time..it’s not the pain caused by “jealousy”. This time…it’s physical pain.
Sulli tried to ignore it but then it happened again. This time, the pain is so strong that she fell on her knees. She was behind so no one noticed her. Sulli tried to lift herself up but another jab of pain overtook her effort. The pain is so intense that she has to lie down on the grass and grip her chest.
What is happening?
Sulli looked up…the group is already far…they’re almost out of her vision.
Sulli only see everything blurred by now…until darkness enveloped her eyes.
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Minho stopped.
“Why are we stopping?” asked Yoona whom Minho is carrying on his back.
Though his senses are not yet back to normal, Minho knows there’s something wrong.
“Chanyeol, Can you carry the healer for a while. I think I need to rest my back.” Said Minho
“Oh, all right.” Said Chanyeol.
“But…but…” Yoona was forced to leave Minho’s back.
“He’s injured remember?” asked Sunny “His Back..sorcerer fire.” Sunny emphasizing her point to remind Yoona.
Yoona pouted.
“I’m fine. This is no longer rocky. I can walk.” Said Yoona
TOP smirked.
And then wind blew from behind.
“What’s that?” asked Kris
“I think that might be Minho.” Said TOP
“Leaving just like that not telling us where he is going?” asked the angry Kris
“He’ll catch up for sure.” Said Master Cha “Let’s keep going.”
TOP looked around, he was expecting a reaction from Sulli upon Yoona’s irritation earlier…but Sulli was silent. TOP looked around…Hmm…the human girl is not around….
Ahh…so that’s why the Dark warrior disappeared.
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Minho can’t jump too far and too high…his back is not allowing him to.
He traced back the way the group walked and soon he found what he was looking for…
Sulli…the human girl is lying on the ground.
Minho immediately ran to the human. He lifted her into his arm and shook her.
“Sulli! Hey! Wake up!”
But there was no response. Minho felt Sulli’s skin under his hand…it feels cold…
And then Minho saw a faint light from Sulli’s chest. Minho carefully opened Sulli’s clothes to see what that thing is. An then he saw the stone on Sulli’s chest…He saw it before…but this time…it’s like there’s a blue liquid inside it that is rotating…and shining.
Minho was about to touch the stone when Minho felt cold touch his cheek. Sulli is awake. Her hand reached for his face.
Minho touched Sulli’s cold hand on his cheek and then the light from Sulli’s chest became brighter…the liquid rotating faster inside.
Minho’s vision clouded until he was no longer kneeling with Sulli in his arms…he was stading…inside a dark cave…
It was dark…but Minho can see a set of red eyes looking at him…it’s a beast…a dangerous beast… There was a loud sound of horses and men outside…
It seems so familiar to him…this vision…
Minho looked outside and saw large carriages, horses….soldiers and Knights walking by the mountain side. The beast went out of its hiding place and attacked the group.
Then he saw the beast walking towards the largest carriage. The Knights and soldiers are surrounding the carriage to protect it…
By the carriage is a horse where a familiar person is sitting…the younger King.
And then he saw someone next to the King… Knight Cha Seung Won on his glory days.
Master Cha shouted for everyone to hold their places. The beast preparing to attack. But some of the front liner soldiers lost control of their fear and shot arrows to the beast. The beast leaped to the soldiers! Killing them one by one in a horrible scene…
Minho can’t move…this is just a vision…no matter what he does…it will no longer help…this is the past…
The beast reached the King’s area. The Knight and the King stood their ground to protect the carriage.
“It shouldn't reach the carriage.” Said the King
“Yes, Sir.” Said Seungwon
But the beast forged forward brushing the horses aside including Seungwon and the King’s. They both fell off their horses. The King even flew a few meters away. Seungwon was fast to get up but the beast’s claw hit his eye and Suengwon fell to the ground.
The carriage does not have anything or anyone protecting it anymore…the beast opened the carriage…
Inside…a woman is sitting…fear in her eyes…tears flowing down…but she stood there with what Minho can only identify as bravery…
The woman is familiar…looking at her face…he can remember a painting in the palace…
It’s the queen.
The beast’s claw touched the queen’s neck making blood flow from it.
But instead of making Minho feel anger…he felt…odd...something close to excitement…
And then suddenly sound of a baby crying from behind the queen was heard.
“No…no…” the queen is begging the beast.
The beast threw the queen out of the carriage.
The King though barely walking was able to reach the queen.
“Our daughter….Your highness our daughter!” cried the queen
The beast reached for the tiny baby inside the carriage. The baby was crying. The beast was about stab the baby with his claw when suddenly the baby... laughed?
The baby reached for the monster’s claw and laughed.
The beast took a step back. But the baby continued to stretch its arms for the beast.
The beast took another step back. The baby started crying again when the monster moved back. The monster took a step towards the baby.
Everyone is holding their breaths.
The baby stopped crying again and reached for the monster again.
The monster moved his claw to the baby careful not to wound the baby. The Baby touched the claw and then suddenly blue light blocked Minho’s vision completely.
Minho rubbed his eyes and when he opened his eyes… Sulli is standing a few steps from him. He is back in the forest.
Minho stood up.
“Are you all right?” asked Minho
Sulli looked back at Minho.
“Minho…I feel…weak…” Sulli fell on her knees again. Minho caught her.
“Hey, are you all right?” asked Minho
“Please…take me to Master Cha.” Said Sulli