Chapter 25
Travelling in Memories
The Circle is all around the city looking for Sulli.
Sunny and TOP went to the market place. TOP’s vision is still blurry but he insisted to join.
Luhan and Chanyeol went to the parks.
Master Cha and Kris went to the city center.
Sulli ran as fast as she can..but her pace is slowing as she went.
She reached a fountain. She sat below it and leaned on it.
She won’t be able to run much farther. Sulli closed her eyes…she just needs to rest…for just a bit…
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Sulli woke up in a strange place. She’s lying on a bed…the ceiling is made of wood. The windows are covered by colorful cloths. Where is she?
Sulli tried to rise. She noticed her chest wrapped up. Oh no…the Core!
Sulli still felt the core inside her….good…relief washed over Sulli.
Someone opened the door. An unfamiliar man came in.
“You are awake.” Said the man
“Who are you?” asked Sulli
“Hmm…I’m a street vendor. I found you almost dead last night.” Said the Vendor
Sulli remembered what happened last night. She was attacked.
“Yeah…I remember now.” Said Sulli
“And who are you?” asked Kai
“I’m…Sulli.” Said Sulli
"I'm Kai." said Kai
“By the way. I put some herbs on your wound. To make it heal fast. I need to get going. I still need to go to the market and earn a living.” Said Kai
“There’s food on the table if you get hungry. Your wound was deep, you may want to rest for now. I am not going home until tonight so you can rest all you want.” Said Kai
“You are a kind man.” Said Sulli
“Not so kind.” Said Kai “Do you think I’m doing this for free. In my world, nothing is free.”
“Are you going to demand payment for saving my life?” asked Sulli
“Of course! But I haven’t thought of what to ask of you yet.” Said Kai
“So stay here until I think of one. I don’t think you can leave anyway…you’d be too weak to go anywhere.” Said Kai
“And oh…I saw a stone on your chest.” Said Kai
Sulli pulled the blanket to her chin on a protective gesture.
“Are you a sorcerer?” asked Kai
“Umm…Why do you think so?” Said Sulli
“Some sorcerers collect stones. They normally put it on treasure chests box. But yours is odd. You’ve put it on YOUR Chest!” said Kai
Sulli faked a laugh “Ah, hahahah! Yeah… I didn’t have a box…and I don’t collect…I am….not a sorcerer though…I was just cursed. …to have this stone.”
“Pity. I would have asked that in return. In this world, no pay no gain. But then…if it’s a curse…I’d not want to have anything to do with it. ” Kai took a large basket and moved out. “See yah later.”
Being saved by a stranger…no matter if he says he’ll ask for a payment…still make Sulli think that there’s really still something good in Zaruum…something worth saving.
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Muklan tried to control her emotions. The Princess got away again. She’s just a weak Faerie Human. Why is Adah having a hard time getting the core form her?
“You should be ashamed. A Faerie versus a Black Dragon and the faerie ended up escaping twice!” said Muklan
“Mistress.” Adah is kneeling “I am indeed useless…This will not happen again. Please give me another chance.”
“You even dared to fail in front of my brother.” Said Muiklan
Adah walked kneeling towards Minho. “Master Han…I did my best…if the circle did not come…Master Han…just another chance.” Said Adah pleading.
“I saw it from afar…she was close to getting the core. Give her another chance.” Said Minho
“Get up. Leave us.” Said Muklan.
Adah stood up and went out.
“She’s a disgrace.” Said Muklan
“She’s not our family…how come she ended up with you?” asked Minho
“You mean with us? You still can’t remember?” Muklan walked towards Minho and held his hand. “You were the one who saved Adah, Han. When we were trying to escape, you heard a cry of a baby. Though I was forcing you to leave already because our kind was being eliminated, you still went back to get the baby.” Said Muklan
“I do not remember.” Said Minho
“We need to fix your memory soon, Han. You not remembering why we do what we do is not going to help. Follow me. I will try and detoxify you with whatever they put on your mind to block your memory.” Said Muklan
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Minho and Muklan entered a dark chamber below the ground.
“Make sure we are not disturbed until we are done.” Said Muklan
“Yes, Mistress.” Said Adah
Muklan closed the door.
Muklan sat on the floor across Minho.
“Sit down Han.” Said Mukaln
Minho sat down.
“We start. Close your eyes Han and clear your mind. Let your sister help you remember…in this process…I would look into your mind take whatever is covering it out…but in the process…you might also see fragments of my memory… there is nothing I am hiding from you…but focus on your own memory Han. When you know it’s not your memory…get out of it. Do you understand?” asked Muklan
“Yes.” Minho closed his eyes.
Muklan closed her eyes too. Her body glowed red. And then the light concentrated on her forehead stretching to Minho’s forehead. A red light is lined between Minho and Muklan.
“Han…get ready…here I come.” Said Muklan
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Minho opened his eyes. He is in the mountains. It’s a clear day.
Minho saw a young woman running…
Muklan?
“Hurry Muklan!”
Called a woman on a higher part of the mountain.
“Your mother has already given birth and the celebration is already starting!” said the other girl
Muklan ran fast…For a black dragon, she’s pretty quick. She reached the top of the mountain fast.
Muklan and the other girl spread their wings and flew up.
Minho followed them.
Is it a floating Island like the white dragon’s laird?
They flew up until the sky looked dark and then a large mass of dark cloud appeared. The 2 women went in the cloud. Minho followed.
Inside the cloud is a small kingdom…the Black Dragon kingdom…
The 2 women went to the small palace.
“Hurry!” said the other girl
“I am running!” said Muklan
They opened a door and went in.
“Mother!”
The room is filled with people.
“Let Aji’s daughter through.” Said an old man.
Muklan reached her parents.
“Mother! Father! I want to see my brother…or is it a sister?” asked Muklan
“A brother. Come here Muklan.” Said her mother.
Muklan went beside her mother. A baby boy is sleeping beside her mother. Black tiny wings is behind him.
Muklan held the baby’s hand.
“What do I call him?” asked Muklan
“Han…his name is Han.” Said her father.
“Han…what a good name.” said Muklan
“He will be a good leader of the clan.” Said one of the elders. “Just like you Aji.”
Aji laughed “Yes, of course. He will grow up to be a great leader of our clan.”
“You did great Adah.” Aji said to his wife
Adah…their mother’s name is Adah…the same name of Muklan’s servant.
And then everything turned dark..Minho can’t see.
Minho felt the ground turning and then slowly he saw himself in a field. A lot of people are there. A small boy in the middle of everyone.
“Father…stop them. They can’t treat Han like this!” said Muklan
“Be patient Muklan. There is a reason why this has to be done.” Said Aji
“Mother…ask them to stop.” Said Muklan
“Han…last night he…blew fire.” Said Adah
“That’s great isn’t it? So what if his abilities are advance for his age…what if he learned controlling fire earlier than everyone else? That’s a gift. We should be happy.” Said Muklan
“He blew…blue fire.” Said Adah
Muklan stopped talking and just sat down.
“blue…fire?” Muklan can’t believe it.
Two elders blew red fire to the child.
Adah stood up but Aji stopped her from moving.
“This has to be done, Adah.” Said Aji
“They’re hurting my baby!” said Adah
“Just…” Aji looked away. “Just stay still.”
Suddenly the child blew a large wave of blue fire sending the two elders flying meters away.
“Han!” Adah shouted.
The tiny Han cried.
“Mo..mother…” said Han
“That’s enough. You have proven it already.” Adah went to pick up her child.
“You’ve seen it. So that’s enough.” Said Adah
Adah left with the child.
“Father…what does this all mean?” asked Muklan
“Blue fire is stronger than red fire. You saw what your bother did…what he is capable of doing is beyond what we know and can measure. This is the first time we have seen blue fire controlled by one of us.” Said Aji
“There is a legend though. About the Sorcerer who put the curse on our kind.” Said an Elder
“He cursed us to be tied to a master and since then…we have not been free dragons…But there were heresays that the sorcerer did a second curse when the sorcerers won over the witches.” Said the Elder
“What is the second curse about?” asked Muklan
“Nobody knows what the exact content is…but from our old ancestors…a dragon that can control blue fire was mentioned.” Said the Elder.
“Does he bring good things..or destruction?” asked another Elder
“No one can tell…but one thing I heard is that when the sorcerer almost died in the hands of the witches, our ancestor blocked the attacks to save his old friend. Our ancestor died saving the sorcerer despite his love for the witch.” Said the Elder
“The sorcerer had mercy towards our ancestor because of that. But he can’t take back the first curse anymore.” Said the Elder. “Thus he created a counter curse. Sadly, this is just a heresay…there is no proof…I am under the impression that the Elders before us wanted to bring hope to our kind that is why they invented the story about the counter curse.”
“Whether there is a counter curse or not. Whether my son will bring good things or destruction, We will hone him…we will teach him everything he needs to know. We will take care of him….so that he grows up to lead our people.” Said Aji.
Everyone nodded.
Muklan sigh in relief. Han…is safe…for now.
Minho followed the path Adah went.
“Mother…why do they attack me?” asked Han
“They were just testing your abilities Han. But they first asked the permission of your father. You can’t just attack anyone. All right?” said Adah
“All right, Mother.” Said Han
Minho felt the ground turning again and then saw Muklan flying in the air. She looked like a happy child.
Suddenly Muklan seemed to be falling…out of control. Minho flew up but when he was about to touch Muklan, electric shock stopped him.
That’s right…this is the past…These are just memories…he can only watch.
Muklan fell on the ground.
A human slowly walked to where Muklan fell.
Who is this human?
The human man has a bow in his hand…some arrows on his back…And Muklan…has been hit by an arrow.
Minho felt anger boiled inside him.
“Lady…I am so sorry..I thought you were a hawk…lady…” said the human
Muklan slowly opened her eyes. She touched her wounded side and took the arrow out.
Slowly her wings disappeared.
“Who are you? What are you doing in this part of the mountain? Humans were prohibited to go here.” said Muklan
“We were travelling.” Said the human
“Travelling?” asked Muklan
“Yes. We are a travelling group.” Said the human “I’m Ruffo.”
“Ruffo…” repeated Muklan
“Yes. And you are?” asked Ruffo
“Muklan.” Said Muklan
“Ohh..a unique name. So…what are you exactly Muklan…I thought you’re a hawk.” Said Ruffo
“I am a hawk…" Muklan lied to protect her identity. "a shapeshifter.” Said Muklan
“Oh! That’s why I mistaken you!” said Ruffo “I sincerely apologize. Let me take you to a healer.”
“No need. We don’t…I mean…I normally don’t go to healers.” Said Muklan.
Muklan raised her clothes making the man look away.
“You see…it’s already healing.” Said Muklan
“Umm…all right…” the human took a few steps away.
“Umm…still we have a healer in the group.” Said the human “I insist”
Muklan was brought by the human to his group. It’s composed of 5 people. A woman who seems to look like a human. And 4 men including the human who hurt Muklan.
One of the men looked at Muklan’s wound and put some herbs and powder on her wound.
“That will make sure it heals in no time.” Said the man
Suddenly wind was blowing everywhere. A large black dragon appeared. On it, a black witch was standing.
“She found us.” Said the healer.
“Who is she?” asked Muklan...And why a black dragon?
“She’s a dark witch…she’s trying to stop us from fulfilling what our group needs to do.” Said Ruffo
The witch and the black dragon attacked. One of the men transformed into a white wolf. Another transformed into a Pegasus.
“Quick! Lina, take Muklan, go hide behind that tree!” shouted Ruffo
Lina ran towards Muklan. “Hurry! Let’s hide!”
Lina pulled Muklan behind a tree.
“You…you do not fight?” asked Muklan
“As much as I want to…I usually just get into trouble and make someone else get hurt on saving me.” Said Lina
The dragon was able to put all the men down and the uprooted the tree Lina and Muklan is hiding from.
The black dragon stopped. He talked on a language only Muklan understand.
“What are you doing with them? You are not one with them. So go away.” Said the black dragon
Muklan shook her head.
“I am not against our kind. I am serving my master. And my master wants to have that woman. So go away.” Said the black dragon.
The black dragon blew fire. Muklan closed her eyes. But the fire did not hit them. When Muklan opened her eyes, Ruffo is standing before her and Lina. He is blocking the fire as if there’s a shield covering the three of them.
Muklan’s heart started beating fast…her mind clouded by the sound of her own heart. Ruffo looked back at her. It’s as if he’s looking straight through her eyes…Muklan felt like every fiber of her being is slowly drifting off her body...reaching to the man shielding her from the attack.
“Is this…what it feels like...” asked Muklan in a the dragon language.
The dragon stopped blowing fire.
“If you feel like you’d come with him…all the way…no looking back…if you’re willing to turn your back on everything just to be with that person…then that must be it...” Said the black dragon
“Then I have found my master.” Thought Muklan