Arisa P.O.V.
I stiffled a laugh at Yoon's pissed off expression looking at Hak's wandering hands. He kept stealing the buns that Yoon had painstakingly made and stuffing them all into his mouth.
"So this is the priest's house?" Hak said, his voice a tad bit muffled from all the food in his mouth. "What a coincidence." He dragged his words in fake wonder. "I know you're living in seclusion and all but I kinda expected this place to look more like a shrine."
"Where is the 'priest' anyway?" I said, looking for the clumsy blond.
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I accompanied Yona as we walked through the woods, looking for the blond priest. Hak was still not allowed to leave the hut, as per Yoon's orders. Yoon stayed behind to make sure Hak wouldn't do anything strenuous. He didn't want Hak to reopen his wounds.
We walked for quite a distance until we heard water viciously pounding on the rocks. It was loud and deafening and yet it left such a serene and calming effect. Truly, nature is mysterious in so many ways.
I moved a protruding branch to the side to reveal a cliff directly staring at a raging waterfall. There we saw Ik-su sitting with his legs crossed on the edge of the cliff. We steadily approached him.
He was crying. His tears formed two lines down his face. My heart softened as I looked at his forlorn face. His bangs covered half his face and yet his expression looked so sad.
"What's wrong?" Yona said, her hand landing on his shoulder.
Ik-su hurriedly wiped his tears. He turned his head to face us. He shook his head gently.
"I was dreaming about you both. About your links to this world. Princess Yona, Arisa, would you wish to hear the voice of the gods?" I gulped at his tone. What if something changed because of my appearance? What if the gods are angered at my meddling? If they asked me to leave, Would I? Should I?
"Mundeok told me to have my path shown to me by the priest." Yona filled in. I was far too absorbed in my thoughts to supply Ik-su an answer.
"I've been wondering, is a path something that must be shown to you? As a princess, there isn't much that you are required to do. Just stand and look pretty but after a near death experience and my two most important people almost taken away from me, I realized. I realized I was no longer 'that' princess. I was a princess who knows she has her own two feet and she can walk, struggle as she may but she still walks."
I had forgotten how awe-inspiring the princess' mind worked. Her views were like a fresh breath of air, hitting you, snapping you awake.
"I have nothing to ask of God. I simply wish for Hak, Arisa and I to live in mundane peace for the rest of our lives. Nothing more."
"... No. For you, living doesn't entail a life of peace and tranquility. Your lives and influences will shake the Kouka kingdom to its very core."
His words were no longer carrying their usual laidback calmness. He was dead serious. I was entranced by Ik-su to the point where I almost didn't hear Yoon and Hak's bickering.
"-ou shouldn't be out and about. You could get seriously hurt and I would have to pa-" Yoon quieted down once he reached us. Ik-su paid no heed to the additional parties and proceeded with what he had to say.
"If you wish to live a simple and honest life, I will convey God's words to you"
"When darkness falls upon land, the dragon's blood will restore life once more. In accordance with the ancient pact, when the four dragons are gathered, the sword and shield that protect the king will awaken."
"The red dragon will return at dawn" The moment he finishes his piece he immediately falls on his back. He looked at us with a face glistening with sweat adorned with a abashed smile.
"Conveying God's voice requires great spiritual energy."
"Quit acting so old, you pain" Yoon said, poking Ik-su's form. I sweatdropped at the two.
"Shouldn't you be helping him up?"
"I don't know anything about this God or dragon business but I'm not buying any of what this crackpot is selling." Hak commented darkly.
"He's not selling anything." Yoon and I answered in unison. We failed to deny Hak's claim to Ik-su being a crackpot though.
"...So is the 'red dragon' in the prophecy referring to the mythodical king, Hiryuu?" I asked, desperately trying to strike up conversation. We were staring at Yoon patching Ik-su up with wrapping that he, apparently, carries around everywhere.
"You are familiar with this kingdom's creation myth?" Ik-su asked me in surprise. I frowned at his tone. Does he know?
"... The red dragon God took a human form and descended from the heavens to rule a kingdom on earth. He was the first king, Hiryuu." Yona supplied, her eyes softening at the memory of being told the story time and time again. "My father used to tell me this story all the time."
"But once Hiryuu became human, he eventually had to fight them. The people's hearts where filled with evil. They forgot about their God and their countries fell into ruin. Even Hiryuu, himself, was caught by the greedy black hearted humans." Ik-su paused which added more effect to his story. "Just when all routes seemed bleak, four dragons descended down to earth. They pleaded and begged for Hiryuu to return to their world. Alas Hiryuu had a heart that held kindness and love that knew no bounds. Hiryuu still loved the humans despite their wrongdoings. The dragon gods had no choice but to respect his decision. The dragons loved their brother dearly so they offered 4 individuals blood that would grant them power. The dragons' representatives will serve Hiryuu until their death. One was granted claws that could tear apart virtually anything. The other was granted legs that could leap to the heavens, almost as if he were to fly. Another was granted eyes that could see from far and wide. The last was granted a body that was strong and impenetrable."
"...The kingdom's creation myth... What does it have to do with me?" Yoon, Hak and I decided that standing was far too much work and took shade in the nearby foliage. Yona remained standing though, she was an attentive child.
"You said you wanted to live, right?" Ik-su said, taking a quick glance at Hak and I.
"Un."
"But you cannot live alone. If you leave this place, you will be put into a heap of danger once again. I'm afraid Hak nor Arisa will be able to handle that. Hak is heavily injured too."
"No! I don't want Arisa or Hak to die!"
"Oi! Don't kill me off just like that I-" I didn't even let Hak finish. I hit him in the stomach with just enough power to make him feel the greatest amount of pain without reopening his wounds.
Hak clutched at his stomach in agony and glared at me. Yona looked at Hak with a complicated gaze and looked so forlorn. She truly just wishes to live in peace. In one whole piece.
"You need allies."
"..but who?"
"The four dragon warriors of course!" I interjected. I jumped up and bounced in front of Yona. "What do you think is the reason he retold us the creation story?" I smiled mischievously.
"The dragon warriors...are..re..al?" Yona said slowly before jumping up and down in elation. She turned her star struck eyes at the blond priest and asked for confirmation, to which she received a nod. Yona and I squeal in unison for a couple of minutes before settling down.
"Yeah right. They are ju-"
"They exist. They simply went off into hiding in the forest, where no one would find them. They will lend you their strength." Ik-su's tone was sure. He talked as if he had seen these tribes with his very eyes.
"Priest, I do not want Hak or Arisa to die but I do not think the legendary dragon warriors would lend their divine powers to someone such as me."
"You miraculously survived that night, you miraculously escaped the castle and you miraculously survived the fall into the abyss. The heavens are willing you to come here. Have no fear, dear. If you find the 4 dragons then it is not only your wish but also God's will."
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Hak and Yona went back to the hut accompanied by Yoon. Ik-su wanted me to stay. He patted the ground next to him, urging me to sit. I did as he wished.
The sound of the roaring waterfall was only adding on to the deafening silence. We sat there for a whole minute or two before Ik-su decided to speak up.
"What's it like there?"
"Pardon?"
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"What's it like in the other world?"