Chapter 33
Master
Dhara hugged Sulli tightly.
“I have longed to see you, my dear little sister.” Said Dhara.
“I am happy to see you too, sister.” Said Sulli
Dhara pulled back.
“You have really grown up to be lady now. The last time I saw you…you have just learned to call me Sister… I can’t believe this day has finally arrived.” Said Dhara “Father…on his deathbed has always mentioned you…asking me that when I see you…to tell you how he regrets not being with you…he regrets sending you out there.” Said Dhara
“Father…did a lot of sacrifices for Zaruum.” Said Sulli
Dhara nodded while tears fall from her eyes.
Sulli wiped the tears from her own eyes. “We have made you wait too long, sister.” Said Sulli
“You’re just in time.” Said Dhara
“We need to proceed with the call as soon as possible.” Said the Seer. “It has been 4 months since the first call was made. The attack is coming.”
“Sulli is tired. I’m sure the entire Circle is tired.” said Dhara
Sulli looked at the circle. Indeed…they look exhausted.
Sulli felt the sudden pain in her chest and held it. But the pain was so forceful that Sulli’s knee gave way. Minho was instantly beside Sulli catching her before she fell.
“We have been travelling the whole day, You need to rest.” Said Minho
Dhara looked at Minho. Her longing for him is near what she feels for Sulli…But Why does Minho have that intense worry in his eyes as he looked at Sulli?
Dhara held Sulli’s hand. “If not for Zaruum’s situation, I would have given a feast for your return.” Said Dhara
“It’s all right sister…We can celebrate once we find the next bloodline.” Said Sulli
Dhara nodded.
Dhara led the Circle to the garden.
“Wow…there are a lot of Knights.” Said Luhan while looking at the field.
“Yes…we are getting ready…we know the battle…is coming.” Said Dhara
Luhan gulped. There’s no escaping the truth.
Sulli felt the pain again and she leaned on the wall. The circle walked on. Sulli closed her eyes as she battled the pain.
“It’s the core isn’t it?”
Sulli opened her eyes and saw Minho in front of her.
“Yes.” Said Sulli holding her chest.
Minho pulled Sulli to him enveloping her into his arms.
“I wish I can take the pain.” Said Minho
“I won’t allow that.” Said Sulli
Minho smiled. “I know you won’t…but still…if I can take the pain away from you…I will.” Said Minho
Chanyeol turned back when he felt Sulli is missing. And then he saw Minho hugging Sulli. Sulli’s head is leaning on Minho’s chest as if she…as if she belongs there…
Chanyeol turned back, he doesn’t want to see it…But when Chanyeol turned…he saw Princess Dhara…looking at Sulli and Minho her eyes looking all confused and….hurt?
“Umm…Uhem” Dhara cleared her throat. “Let me bring you where you’ll be staying.” Said Dhara quickly looking away.
Dhara brought the Circle to a separate house inside the palace.
“This is where you will be staying.” Said Dhara
It is a grandeur house. Opposite of any cheap Inn they have ever stayed at. The ceiling is high…there’s a large chandelier…everything look classic and with style…
“Wow…” said Kai
“Please have a good rest for today. I have instructed the servants here to serve you good food for tonight. I unfortunately can’t join you.” Said Dhara
“It’s all right Princess. We know you are very busy.” Said Sunny
Dhara nodded. She hugged Sulli.
“Please take a rest.” Dhara looked at Sulli’s face. There are traces of dirt all over it.
“You’ve been through a lot my little sister…Father…would have been proud seeing how far you’ve come.” Said Dhara. Dhara started to tear up again and immediately left.
Sulli looked around and could not find Minho…Something flickered in Sulli’s chest. Is it pain? Did Minho…go to Dhara?
“Don’t worry. Even old friends talk when they meet after a long time, isn’t it?” said TOP
Sulli’s eyes narrowed and looked at TOP “You…are…trying to comfort me?”
“Have I told you how easy you are to read?” asked TOP
“Yes. Quite a few times.” Said Sulli
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Dhara walked the garden and then saw Minho walking towards her.
“Minho.” Said Dhara
“Princess. It’s been a long time.” Said Minho
“Yes indeed.” Said Dhara
Dhara hugged Minho tightly.
“I have missed you…” said Dhara “You came back safe…and you kept my sister safe…You have never failed me…”
When Dhara felt Minho just standing still…not even reaching his hand to reciprocate her longing… Dhara pulled back.
“I would have protected her, Princess…even without you telling me…Sulli has that power over people…she can melt frozen hearts…she can make you love her no matter how much you resist.” said Minho
“And you are one of them? You’re one of the people who fell to her charms…the way you talk is different now…I wonder what happened all the time that you were gone.” Said Dhara
Dhara closed her eyes. “When you arrived…I saw how much you…” Dhara stopped herself. “My sister…and you…are pretty close aren’t you?”
Minho nodded. “She’s important to me.”
That made Dhara held on Minho’s arm…else she might just fall on her knees.
“As Important as I am?” asked Dhara
Minho looked at Dhara’s pretty face…The Princess he has dedicated a long time of his life for…
“You are important to me too Princess…But…you are important to me for a different reason.” Said Minho
“Why am I important to you? And why is Sulli important to you?” asked Dhara
“I have served you for a long time and you were the center of my life. You will always be an important part of me.” Said Minho “Sulli…she’s like my eternity…she’s my past…my present…my future.”
Dhara’s tears quickly fell one after another.
“What…do you mean?” asked Dhara
“Princess…I came here to clarify something.” Said Minho “It’s something that was hidden in my memory for the longest time…I have just remembered recently. But I need the help of the Seer to explain it to you.” Said Minho
“What is it about?” asked Dhara
“It’s about how I ended up in the Palace…and what happened after.” Said Minho
Dara nodded as she tried to control her emotion as she always does. She wiped her tears. “I’m on my way to see the Seer. Come with me.”
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They entered the old chamber where the Seer is waiting for them.
“Ahh you are with the Dark one, Your majesty” Said the Seer
“Your instinct is clearer than an eye.” Said Dhara
“Of course.” Said the Seer
“I am here to ask you a favor, Seer.” Said Minho
“Oh…a favor…from me?” the Seer chuckled. “What can you want form an old lady?”
“I want you to reverse the memory spell that was casted 20 years ago.” Said Minho
“The one used for Kris?” asked Dhara
“When Kris, the Ace Knight, was still a young kid…he met the baby princess Sulli…His mark showed then…and it was too painful for a child to forget. So to protect Kris as a Circle member…The King decided to put a memory spell on him to make him forget that he has a mark.” Said the Seer
“But he did not only have it done to Kris isn’t it?” asked Minho
“What do you mean Minho?” asked Dhara
“He meant the spell was done on a couple more people to protect the Kingdom.” Said the Seer. “It was done on you and Minho.”
“Me?” Dhara is shocked beyond words.
“Yes Princess. It was done on both you and Minho as well.” Said the seer. “That is in order to protect Zaruum.”
“The spell fade off then?” asked the Seer “Or is your will to find the truth stronger than the spell?”
“I do not understand…why? What is there in our memory that can prevent doom to Zaruum?” asked Dhara.
“I think there’s no danger anymore if I take the spell off now… The Circle is here…and the Dark one remembers it anyway…” said the Seer
The Seer took blue powders from her pocket and sprinkled it in the air. In just a few seconds, the entire chamber is full of it.
“Close your eyes…” said the Seer
Dhara closed her eyes. Minho closed his eyes too.
“Let me take you back…to time…” said the Seer “Let me take you to the Dark Warriors memory.”
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Small Han is being held by his Sister as she landed on a cave.
“Sister…I want to rest.” Said Han a baby on his arm.
“All right. We’ll rest here for tonight, Han.” Said Muklan
Muklan took the baby and let Han lay down.
Suddenly they heard a commotion outside.
“Stay here. Make sure the baby doesn’t wake up.” Said Muklan “I’ll check what’s happening.”
“Don’t go sister…what if they kill you too?” asked Han
“No, I won’t let them, Han.” Said Muklan. “But just stay here. Wait for me, I will be back.”
Muklan rose and walked to the mouth of the cave before she disappeared from Han’s vision.
It was taking Muklan a while until Han can’t bear it anymore. He walked to the mouth of the cave and saw what the commotion outside is about. There are thousands of soldiers surrounding a large black dragon. Ropes are everywhere around the dragon. But the dragon is not his sister…Who is this black dragon? Isn’t it that they were all killed earlier.
Muklan pushed Minho back to the cave.
“I told you not to go out.” Said Muklan
“Who is he sister?” asked Han
“He’s…one of the dragons who left our clan to serve a Master. The King was serious when he said he will hunt all black dragons.” Said Muklan
“We should help him Sister. We can’t allow him to die!” said Han
“No Han, if you go out there, they will do to you what they are doing to that dragon.” Said Muklan. “We can’t die yet. Not until we have gotten our revenge.”
“But he too will die if we don’t.” And then there was a loud explosion.
Muklan went to the mouth of the cave and saw the dragon losing consciousness as it is being pulled by thousands of men.
“Where are they taking him, Sister.”
“I don’t know. They’ll probably kill him.”
Muklan looked at the sky. “Han…Forgive me for what I am about to do…but I have to do this to keep you safe….In case I don’t make it alive…I want you to live and continue getting the revenge, do you understand?” said Muklan
Han shook his head in confusion. “What are you going to do sister?”
Muklan raised her hand as she whispered a chant. Suddenly red light marks that looked like random lines covered Muklan’s entire body.
Han felt a little sleepy…and then really sleepy until his eyes slowly closed and he fell to the floor.
Muklan caught him and lay him down in the deep part of the cave.
“You are going to sleep for a long time brother…I will take care of Adah for now…Just stay here…sleep…And when it’s time…I will come back for you…and we will take the vengeance together…If I die along the way…and if you open your eyes and I am not here…don’t forget the pain Zaruum did to our clan…don’t forget the pain…the agony of losing everything you have in life.” said Muklan
Muklan took the baby Adah and then left the cave after covering it up sealing the cave with a spell.
Han opened his eyes…everything is dark…What happened? Did he sleep? Han blew fire to lighten the place. And then saw his body…it has grown…What happened? How long has he fallen asleep?
There was a loud sound of horses and men outside…
Humans…Han can feel the anger in him boiling…they killed his entire clan…did they kill his sister too? Han slowly transformed into black dragon. He will finish them all off…he will kill them all.
Han looked outside and saw large carriages, horses….soldiers and Knights walking by the mountain side. Once he attacks them…they will attack back. And he is not afraid. He will kill them all…
Han was able to make it out the cave and attacked the group. Soldiers flew everywhere as he clear his way. These weak humans…how can they hurt black dragons?
Han then saw a large group of soldiers trying to protect something…what can that be?
Han approached it and killed all the soldiers that is on his way. And then he saw two men on horses ready to fight as they protected a carriage. What can they do against him? Nothing.
Han pushed and kicked them aside and both of them flew away.
What are they protecting then? Han opened the carriage and saw a woman.
A beautiful woman. A woman with glowing skin…golden hair…a Faerie?! Someone survived?
Han felt raw anger inside him.
Fear is in the woman’s eyes…tears flowing down…but she stood there with what Han can only identify as bravery…
Han touched the woman’s neck with his claw making blood flow from it.
Yes…that’s good…Faerie blood…the blood that triggered what happened to his own clan…It excites him…
And then suddenly there’s a sound of a baby crying from behind the woman.
“No…no…” the woman begged.
The beast threw the woman out of the carriage.
“Our daughter….Your highness our daughter!” cried the woman
Han reached for the tiny baby inside the carriage. The baby was crying. Han was about stab the baby with his claw when suddenly the baby... laughed?
The baby reached for the monster’s claw and laughed.
Han took a step back. But the baby continued to stretch its arms for him.
Han took another step back. The baby started crying again when he moved back. Han took a step towards the baby.
Everyone is holding their breaths.
The baby stopped crying again and reached for Han again.
Han moved his claw to the baby careful not to wound the baby. The bay is laughing…And then suddenly Han saw the baby’s eyes looking at him…straight at him…like looking into his soul…Han couldn’t bear it…it’s all too much…it’s like he is running out of breath…but he doesn’t want to move away…he just want to stay there…with the baby…holding his hand… and then suddenly blue light blocked Han’s vision completely.
He stepped back until burning bluelight came from his neck. It was painful. It’s close to death. Slowly ever so slowly as the pain subsided…Han started to go back to his human form.
Han looked at the baby stretching her arms to him. And then Minho knelt down.
“You…will be my master.” Said Han “I will be your servant…I will lay my life for you and dedicate my life for you…I will never leave you…you will be the center of everything I do and my loyalty will be with you forever.” Said Han
“I am the King of Zaruum.” Said the King
“You….are the one who ordered our kind to be killed!” shouted Han
“No…I am his great grandson.” Said the King
“You…has it been that long?” asked Han
“This is my wife…the queen…she’s a fearie…she’s the granddaughter of a survivor.”said the King
The King saw blue light also coming from Cha Seungwon.
“I am the father of the child you have pledged loyalty to.” Said the King
“She’s…the Princess?” asked Han
“Yes…she’s my daughter Shuliah.” Said the King
“How can there be a survivor…I thought everyone died in that Faerie land?” askedHan
“My grand parents were saved by a black dragon named Aji. That goes to show that not all black dragons were involved in the killings…there were some who were there to help save us.” Said the Queen
“Aji…is my father.” Said Han. Han is getting confused…his father tried to save Faeries…
The queen is surprised. “This…is fate then…” said the queen
“We thought all of your kind were eliminated. But like the Faeries…some of you seemed to have survived.” Said the King
“Are you going to kill me too?” asked Han
“No…your highness you can’t kill him. Aji is the reason I ma still here…You can’t just kill his son.” Said the queen
“You are overly powerful. How can we assure that you will not harm anyone from now on?” asked the King
“I can’t promise not to harm anyone anymore…But I promise that I will protect the Princess with all I have. And I will stay with her forever.” Said Han
The King looked at the Queen
“Are you certain of this?” asked the King
“Yes…I am…He’s the symbol that we need not kill an entire clan for what happened in the past…That there’s a peaceful way to do this.” Said the queen.
“Then he’ll join us.” Said the King
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Baby Sulli is playing in the garden when she almost got wounded and Minho was able to catch her.
“If you keep on catching her…she’ll never learn to stand up after she makes a fall.” Said the queen as she watched Han gently helping the Princess up.
“You’re spoiling my daughter.” Said the queen
Han just looked away. The queen…is too kind hearted that you would get shy looking at her. With those marks on her neck…Han will never be able to look at the queen properly.
“You said your name is Han?” asked the queen
“Can I call you a nickname then?” asked the Queen
“A…nickname?” asked Han
“Yes…Can I call you Minho? For me that name means flame…And when I see you that’s what I always think…you’re like a cold ice outside…but when you look at Sulli…the warmness in you can’t be denied…I want to call ou base on what you really are inside…A flame of love…of hope…” said the Queen
“That does not suit me.” Said Han
“But it does…doesn’t it?” the queen asked her daughter. The Princess laughed and pulled Han’s hand.
“She seems to agree.” Said the queen.
And then a little girl around 7 years old came running to the queen.
“Mother! I have memorized the laws on Denfenses!” said the girl
“Good job Dhara!” said the queen hugging Princess Dhara “Have you told your Father?”
“Not yet. I will tell him later.” Said Dhara
Dhara pinched Baby Sulli’s cheek lightly “Was she playing all day, Mother?” asked Dhara
Dhara looked up. “Who is he, Mother?” asked Dhara
“He’s your sister’s friend.” Said the queen.
“I am Minho.” Said Minho
The queen chuckled in satisfaction.
“I’m glad to meet you Mr. Minho. Are you a Knight?” asked Dhara
“He will be.” Said the queen “A Black Knight…a Dark warrior.” Said the Queen
***I forsee only 2 moe chapters after this. Might be 2 longer ones.