Chapter Text
Time.
Time was a whimsical fae. It evaded you like the sly being it was. It evaded your understanding altogether. The more you chased after it, the more it slipped past your fingers. It might just be within your reach but a mere touch might be a simple opportunity that time itself may bestow upon you if it was merciful enough.
And right now all Hak ever did was pray to whatever Gods out there to catch onto this whimsical being called time. The world around him was covered in white. A crimson white it was. All he could see was white as it danced ominously before his eyes.
The skies were grey. His heart was equally dulled and grey. Princess Kouren’s words echoed ominously next to his hears, hauntingly even, as he gritted his teeth in frustration. For the first time in his life he felt that agony of desperation. No, it wasn’t his first time. He did feel it before. He had felt those chills of helplessness seep through his bones even before. It was much like that fateful night. The very night he had almost lost Soo-Won to the cruel whims of fate or a sadistic ploy played by power hungry mongrels.
Kai!
He cursed under his breath as he ran through the vast castle ground. His fingers were numb. He couldn’t even feel his legs. His lungs burned with an aching need for air. It was as if the world around him was plunged into an eternal darkness, blanketed in chilling bite of loneliness in the form of never-ending snow. For the first time he felt this helpless as he cursed himself over and over. He never once cared for his own self preservation. After all he had vowed to lay his life for the only people he had ever loved. And would continue to love so.
He once again cursed under his breath. The Tenkyuu castle was vast. It vexed him because through the roaring winds the cries of the world around him had muffled. Soon his nose picked up on a particular scent. A familiar scent of sorts. A burning stench and it came from a particular direction. His eyes widened in horror. He faltered in his tracks. Did someone set the castle on fire?
And that’s when he dared to whirl around. Now he no longer saw the white around him. Rather the obscene scene of blazing orange reaching out to dark skies encompassed his already clouded vision. A putrid stench it was. An obscene mix of snow and fire as he almost retched.
Princess!
He cried out yet his cries of agony were muffled or perhaps swallowed by the ravenous fire that now slowly crept through the castle walls like a vicious monster baring its teeth. It was only now that Hak realised that this part of the castle was made of lacquered wood that was easily susceptible to fire. Was it premediated as well? A deliberate ploy to have the Princess in this part of the castle so that it would be easier to carry out the deed? Hak couldn’t even believe how blind and gullible he had been for all this time.
He once again began his race against time. He ran against the blazing fire and howling winds, perhaps he braved through them, all in the vain efforts of finding his Princess who he had so foolishly allowed to slip past his hawkish gaze. How could he be this much of a fool?! He yet again cursed himself with no answers at sight.
It was then he felt the faint ripples through the scorching air as he barely dodged the incoming arrow slicing through the putrid air. Hak’s eyes narrowed as he eyed the arrow jutting from the snow clad ground. His grip over his Guandao quivered as without a moment’s rest he dug his heels in the ground to parry the incoming attacks of a shadowy figure who had lunged at him from the skies itself.
Hak’s movements were fluid. It was akin to a dancing shadow. But this man wasn’t his only opponent since Hak now soon found himself being surrounded by many more shadowy men. Not just 1 but perhaps 10 who now lunged at him all at once.
The world around him was silent, eerily silent, muted even as Hak tightened his grip over the hilt of his Guandao. His gaze was measured. His muscles were taut as he silently sized up his opponents. Hak realised that how the Northern part of the castle was eerily silent. No screams of terror could be heard from any corner of the castle. It was as if this part of the castle was evacuated well in advance before it was set on fire.
Mizari…
Hak cursed under his breath as his hawkish gaze never pried away from his hooded enemies who lurked under the veil of darkness. It was the peak of daylight yet they were shrouded by never-ending darkness. His skin prickled all over from the intense heat that now surrounded them. All Hak currently cared about was his Princess’s safety. These men could come later. Fighting them wasn’t his priority now rather he merely wished to evade them.
His desperate eyes now searched for an opening. And he did find one. Without another word he gave a long swipe of his Guandao. The air around him rippled in a small gust of wind. It was all his ploy for distraction. He was desperate to hold onto time since God knows what Mizari had even planned. The only plausible explanation Hak could come up with was that it was Princess Kouren’s plan to trap her enemies by setting the castle on fire. And his Princess was the ultimate bait.
Hak gritted his teeth in frustration. Another shadowy figure lunged forward but with one long swipe of his Guandao his head was found rolling on the ground with blood splattering all over. He wanted to keep the bloodshed to a minimum. He wanted to honor his Princess’s wishes. But if need arose then he wouldn’t mind staining his hands till his entire form was dripping red.
And it never ended with just one. Their shadows danced in this blazing world consumed with fire. Ominous dance it was where one could see blood splatters as Hak fluidly dodged the attacks to stain his Guandao red. By the end of it he was dripping red. Blood trails obscenely mixed with his trailing sweat drops as his Guandao remained raised in midair. It was a bloodbath. Because Hak was a predator on hunt and none could stop his bloodlust.
It was as if he was the Grim reaper incarnate himself. And now his shaky eyes desperately searched for signs of red as he stepped past the mutilated corpses to run in the direction of his Princess’s chambers. But his nightmares seemed to have no end at sight. He was surrounded by even more such shadowy figures who now lunged at him through the roaring winds and blazing flames that ravaged the world around him. It was a world that was suffocatingly hot yet Hak felt numbed and cold at the same time.
His body moved of its own accord. It was as if it wasn’t his own body anymore. He felt like a marionette as his body merely moved on instincts alone. How many such men had he cut through till now? He now no longer had any idea.
Exhaustion was creeping onto him. The smoke now clouded his vision as he wrapped a handkerchief around his nose. He now briefly wondered if he was merely dreaming or maybe he was caught in a labyrinth of nightmares. He could no longer discern dreams from reality. He merely killed and killed. At one point he began to question from where these many men even came from? Did Princess Kouren join hands with Kai and they were merely trapping him by toying with him? Were they trying to tire him out eventually by throwing these many men at him before they could capture him?
But why this much interest in him? He was a mere servant. He had nothing of substance to offer. Unless they knew about his illicit relationship with Soo-Won.
Hak’s eyes widened with realisation. Adrenaline now rush through his veins as he whirled around to press the sharp edge of his Guandao against the intruder’s neck. His dark eyes were narrowed. They were eerily dark with bloodlust dripping down his eyes. His jaw was set in a hard line. Each fibre of his muscle grew taut. His gaze was measured even though his heart pounded harder than the loud morning gongs. His icy countenance betrayed the chaos within his heart which his eyes barely disguised.
Hak had never seen this man before. A gangly looking old man who was much shorter than him. He was dressed in dark. But what disturbed Hak was the look in his eyes. Malice dripped through them which didn’t carry even a hint of fear even as he stared death in the eye.
And he wasn’t alone. Rather he was surrounded by those same shadowy men who had relentlessly lunged at him. He had killed many by now. He had injured many. But what he didn’t understand that how many more of them were left. Because Hak could see many such figures surrounding him once more. It was as if Kai had sent an entire army of them. And now he couldn’t tear away his eyes from this man before him even as his grip over his Guandao trembled ever so slightly.
“Where is Her Majesty?” Hak asked. His voice was low and guttural, enough to send chills down one spine. Yet the man before him remained as unflinching as ever. The corners of his lips turned up in a smirk, a malicious smirk it was as he fumbled through his robes.
Impatience bled through Hak’s eyes. His form grew rigid before his eyes caught the sight of a familiar red. And it was in that moment his form grew limp. His breath stuttered. Perhaps he forgot to breathe altogether. All his eyes ever saw was a lock of familiar red that this man’s wrinkled hand now held out to him.
“You asked me where Her Majesty was? Maybe she joined her lover in hell!” He spat. Venom dripped in Gobi’s voice. His eyes carried that triumphant look upon watching the mighty thunder beast getting rattled by those mere words. Yet his words merely lingered in the air. The world around him shifted. It happened in a mere blink of an eye.
His eyes grew wide. All he saw was the flash of blade followed by the putrid stench of blood, iron and smoke. The sickening sound of ripping flesh and crushing bones reached his ears last as his eyes now merely gazed on at the dark ominous clouds looming over the smoky castle. Never ending flames were his final vision as he closed his eyes without being able to grasp the reality that collapsed around him.
He never even realised that Hak had swiftly decapitated him in one swift motion before he breathed his last. It all happened in the blink of an eye, a flicker of moment, just like a dying flame that was inconspicuously snuffed out. And the hooded figures merely stared at him, befuddled, as Hak merely wore a bemused smile. Perhaps he was teetering on the edge of insanity, waiting to take the final plunge as he carefully grabbed the scarlet lock from the head priest’s still warm and pulsating hand before pocketing it.
Hak didn’t wish to believe his words. He didn’t know who this man was but all he merely saw was deceit in his eyes and tongue. And so he chose to remain in denial instead. Because his Princess wasn’t dead until he found her body.
His eyes were downcast. For a moment all he saw was blood dripping down his body onto the snowy ground. For a moment he saw his Princess in those blood drops. Did he truly fail her? Did he truly lose her? Soo-Won trusted him. He had asked him to protect her. He had long failed his Princess but now he had failed His Majesty as well? A shearing pain tore through his already numbed heart. He refused to accept this deceitful truth. He would never accept it as long as he didn’t find her body.
And so he gazed up at the hooded figures who were finally coming to terms with what had happened just now. Hak didn’t know who was the real foe or friend of his in this castle. At this moment he no longer cared. All he ever wished was to whisk away his Princess from these blazing flames even if he had to shed thousand blood, cut through thousand flesh.
With one guttural roar, he lunged forward. He knew they were trapping him. They were trying to tire him out. Maybe they were trying to use him as a bait either to weaken Soo-Won or maybe to lure out his Princess who might have gone into hiding. Hope brimmed within him in the midst of bleak reality that currently surrounded him.
All he saw were enemies around him and the more he killed the more he cleared the path to find his Princess. He had once planned on evading these shadowy men yet evasion was no longer a possibility as he slashed, hacked, killed and spilled blood. It was a bloodbath once more. A dance of death in the midst of blazing world. Hak was relentless. He had lost his touch with reality. These hooded figures might have been as fluid as water, trained fighters they were, the best of best sent by Kai. But Hak was someone who cut through water. He made the impossible possible.
But all of a sudden his eyes grew wide. His grip over his Guandao quivered. His body grew rigid. And he stood still in the midst of many decapitated heads with fire blazing away in the background. His fingers now trailed over his shoulder. He felt something wet seeping through his already damp robes. His hands were already stained red but at this point he knew this time this red was his own. Because he could painfully feel an arrow jutting from his shoulder blade. He chuckled wryly as he briefly wondered if the arrow was poisoned.
The men crept closer but Hak wasn’t the one to falter. He may lose his legs, his arms, his sight, his consciousness even, but he would find his way back to his Princess. He was a feral dog, a cornered mouse. And as they said the more you corner a mouse the more vicious it becomes. Without another word, he swiftly decapitated more men. He never even gave himself a moment’s rest as he tried creating an opening to slip past the men.
He was at his rope’s end. These men were relentless. He was deep in this quicksand with no way out. Soon his vision almost grew blurry. His legs began to give up on him. Was his body finally giving up on him? Now of all times? No, he couldn’t let himself falter. Not at this crucial moment. He willed his body to move forward even as each fibre of his muscles screamed in protest. He had to move ahead. He had to reach his Princess.
In the far distance he saw that familiar red fluttering with the dancing winds. The skies were a brilliant blue. His Princess believed that she was merely a dawn whose brilliance lasted for a moment but she forgot that it was dawn alone that gave way to the vibrant blue that he was akin to. Without the scarlet dawn the blue skies would never come to being. They would cease to exist. And that’s what Hak’s life was akin to. That’s how fragile his fate was. It was intimately tied with His Majesty and his Princess.
A wry chuckle escaped him. His body weakened with each passing second. And long before he knew it, he had already slumped onto the ground. His face tasted the dust and soon he was yet again surrounded by the remaining shadowy men who carried that ominous look in their eyes.
His consciousness barely walked on thin line. He struggled to keep his eyes open. All he ever cared about was his Princess. All he ever desired was to have a last glimpse at His Majesty before he met his end. He had truly failed them. A small smile remained etched on his face. A smile of defeat before he finally closed his eyes and submitted himself to darkness.
Deep in the icy north where warmth no longer reached stood a man in the midst of cold unforgiving winds. His back was sunken. His features were equally sunken. There was once a time where men shivered at the sight of his icy countenance. Perhaps they did the same even today. But his eyes lacked that familiar fire that could evoke fear in the hearts of his subjects. They were resigned, lacklustre even, as he gazed at the destruction before him.
Far in the skies he could hear the cries of Gulfan. He soared through the dark gloomy skies, gliding through the air, as his cries cut through the world that now stood still. For a moment his heart constricted painfully as his sunken eyes merely gazed up at the once vast and limitless skies that he and Hak had once gazed up at together. There was once a time that the young men had carried countless dreams in their once vibrant eyes that were untouched by the cruelty of the world surrounding them. But now all he saw were dark clouds that loomed over him ominously.
Death and destruction were heavy in the air. The scent of rusted iron suffocated the crisp cold air. He had lost many men. Their bloods had stained the ground red. Did he make the right choice? He had refused to change the formation of his army even as General Kura-U had mercilessly thrown off the remaining earth tribe soldiers with the large catapults like the pieces of rag dolls they were.
Soo-Won could still hear their cries of agony that cut through his heart leaving behind nothing but festering wounds. He could still see the look of horror in his men’s eyes as their morals had lowered with each passing moment. He was once brimming with confidence wherein he truly believed that he could bring down Kai’s army. But was he being too naïve? All he felt were the gazes of scorn and contempt from his fellow men who had once bestowed their faith in him. Had he already failed them?
Soo-Won asked himself with no apparent answers in sight. He now wondered what General Geun-Tae would have done in his stead? He would have surely thrown his life at line just to save his men. That was that kind of gallant man he was. A man of valor who cherished his own men that Soo-Won had failed to do so.
His father had once taught him to box away the unnecessary pieces in order to become the kind of monarch that the nation needed. But was this the kind of monarch that the nation truly needed? Soo-Won questioned himself as he reminisced about the man who kept his chills of loneliness at bay. The only man who kept his chaotic mind at ease while warding off the unease that he was currently gripped with.
Hak…
Soo-Won murmured to himself as he clutched his chest painfully. He wasn’t the one to give in to his emotions this easily. He knew his emotions made him weak, pathetically weak. But for a moment he allowed himself to grow weak as he wondered if Hak had managed to keep his Yona safe. No word was to be heard from Xing yet even as he had paced in his tent for many restless nights to come.
Yona…
He longed for his wife’s warmth. He wished to bury himself in her softness and warmth while forgetting about the woes of the world that currently haunted him. Smoke rose in the air. He could see the few vestiges of fire here and there with the bodies of men laying on the crimson ground that had yet to be claimed by a loved one. His armour clinked with every step he took through the once bloodied battlefield. The scent of blood was thick in this smog air indeed as it briefly made him retch.
There was once a time when crimson had reminded him of his Yona. He had always associated his beautiful wife with the vibrant red that surrounded him at the break of dawn. But this wasn’t the kind of red he wanted her to see, wanted her to feel. He wanted to shield her away from every misery and filth that this cruel world could offer while he took in the burdens himself. That feeling of unease continued to claw at his already fragile heart, consume him even as he momentarily grew breathless at the sight of his decapitated men.
No, as her husband he had to keep her away from every filth that this world had to offer. Yet he was a hypocrite indeed. Instead of keeping her away from harm’s way he had pushed her in its way instead while relying on Hak to keep her safe. How pathetic. He was a selfish and coward man as all he could do was listlessly gaze on at the once vast skies that were so out of his reach now.
His jealousy had indeed blinded him to push her away instead of keeping her close. The idea that he would let her sleep with some other man had tore through him. And so he had gone down a path of no return. He now wondered that while he was busy gazing up at the vast skies with Hak by his side, did he ever turn around to see if Yona too was doing the same with him? Since when did he begin to take her for granted?
Yona….
He now messily combed through his hair as he grimaced. All he ever worried about was his wife and Hak’s safety in the midst of this bleak world that currently surrounded him. He could only hope that they were safe although he was desperately awaiting some news from the spies he had sent to cross over Xing borders.
Steeling his features, he now turned around. His cloak fluttered with the harsh winds as he made his way back to the tents with Gulfan’s cries cutting through the still smoky air once more. He had no time to wallow in self pity when the war would yet again resume at the break of dawn once more. He had to restrategize, rehabilitate the villagers and the families of lost men. There was so much to do that he could never give himself a moment’s rest.
It was then his eyes caught the sight of Advisor Kye-Sook running up to him. His features were haggard. His eyes were marred with exhaustion, deep and raw. They carried a look of urgency before he finally stopped short before the great monarch of the nation. He was out of breath as he almost doubled over. The unease in Soo-Won’s heart increased by manifolds as he silently steeled away such ominous thoughts.
“The Tenkyuu castle has been compromised. Just 3 days ago it went up in flames and since then Her Majesty and General Hak have been missing.” Advisor Kye-Sook informed with a tone of urgency. And it was enough to freeze Soo-Won. For a moment it felt as if the ground had slipped from beneath his feet itself. The world around him was slowly collapsing, crumbling even, piece by piece, as he silently absorbed the information he had learnt of.
“The spies are back?” Soo-Won asked. His tone was eerily calm which betrayed the maelstrom of emotions within his heart. “Only one of them is back to relay the message. The rest were wiped out.” Advisor Kye-Sook replied. His tone had a certain edge to it which Soo-Won didn’t miss. His narrowed eyes fixed his advisor on spot. “It is suspected that Kai is behind it.” Kye-Sook added.
For a moment Soo-Won almost felt like stumbling back. His mind raced through millions of possibilities. He visualised each one of them. Some of them were ghastly, grim even. Some of them were more optimistic. And being the pragmatic ruler that he was, he believed in the former more than the latter. Maybe clouds of pessimism were slowly beginning to haunt him, consume him even. After all he was a mere inch away from plunging into depths of insanity itself. The heavy scent of death did wreak havoc in the minds of even toughest of men and Soo-Won was no exception.
“What about the Princesses?” Soo-Won asked calmly. The calmness of his tone befuddled someone like Kye-Sook even. Was it the calm before the storm? He briefly wondered before he shook his head. “They are missing as well.”
Soo-Won’s eyes grew sharper. His visage grew icy as he turned away from his Advisor. He now briefly closed his eyes, drew in a shaky breath before abruptly whirling around. It was time to put on his usual mask. He could no longer let his emotions cloud his better judgment. Thinking this he began making his way to the tent in long strides. His advisor stumbled behind him, trying his best to catch up before calling out to him.
“Y-Your Majesty?!”
“Time is of essence Advisor Kye-Sook. We have already lost three precious days. It is time to restrategise.”
“Restrategise?”
“Yes indeed. I have finally figured out what Kai truly wants.”
Saying this he drew back his tent’s flap before stepping in. His advisor followed him in tow. Kye-Sook’s brows were knitted in worry. He always had faith in the man before him but sometimes his actions evaded his understanding altogether. It began when His Majesty decided to send the Queen on such a dangerous mission. He had never seen any crease of worry on his face, not even when his wife could be in danger. It seems that the rumours were true indeed. The king didn’t truly love his wife.
It was then his eyes met His Majesty’s who was busy studying the map. “What are you waiting here for? Summon the other Generals. We need an urgent discussion.” Soo-Won reminded gently even though his voice had a certain edge to it. It was then Kye-Sook caught the glimpse of that menacing look in his eyes. They were feral. They carried a kind of rage that could freeze the entire continent itself. For a moment his blood froze. Kye-Sook wondered if His Majesty was planning on decimating the entirety of Kai itself.
He quickly stumbled out of his tent even as Soo-Won’s narrowed eyes remained focused on Kai itself. His fingers impatiently drummed over the large oak table before he felt the gush of wind hitting his stony face. The tent flap had been drawn once more and right on cue General Joo-Doh, General Kyo-Ga, General Joon-Gi stepped in followed by the Advisor. They looked a little bemused. All of them had suffered huge losses in this tragic battle as the fire had dimmed in their eyes. They looked lacklustre even.
“General Joon-Gi, how is the situation in water tribe?”
“The coast is secured. There have been no sights of ships trying to reach our waters.”
“Did you enlist the help of Sei’s forces?”
“There was no requirement as such.”
Soo-Won hummed in deep contemplation. His eyes were narrowed. They were focused on something which the Generals couldn’t entirely discern. For a moment his back appeared to be hunched with the weight of burdens that the young king was currently carrying. It appeared as if he was struggling with something. A deep conflict it was that marred his features with an indescribable guilt.
Today he yet again felt the weight of the crown on his head. It felt suffocatingly heavy, thorny even, as he once again closed his eyes before drawing in a shaky breath.
“We need to divert the forces of Sei to help us in the Northwest borders. Currently we have lost too many men.” Soo-Won declared even though his impatient fingers continued drumming over the map to the point of creasing it. “Send a messenger to Queen Lili. Right now.” He ordered as Advisor Kye-Sook immediately got onto his task.
But for a moment he faltered as he hesitantly turned around. Trepidation was evident on his features as he dared to voice his concerns to his king whose eyes were distant, far out of his reach as if they were looking at something else altogether.
“Are we not going to send any forces to Xing? They have always tried to subvert our authority and now their current actions are proof alone. Each passing moment is a moment lost. We are unaware if Her Majesty is even sound and safe in the foreign land.”
Everyone was stunned silent. A heavy silence it was as the crackling flame in a corner was the only sound that filled the gaps of this lingering silence. It was suffocating and heavy even as the Generals eyed the king with wide anxious eyes. It was a matter of grave concern. A matter of national importance. It was akin to usurping Kouka’s power as the men waited in bated breath for the King’s response including the advisor.
Yet Soo-Won’s features remained unflinching, unfazed even. There wasn’t even the slightest of cracks on his perfect mask as he briefly closed his eyes while silently weighing his options. To the onlooker’s eyes he looked far more aged for a moment. It wasn’t the face of a man who was still experiencing his tender youth but rather he carried the face of a man who had seen too much in too little time.
“That’s what Kai wants from us.” Soo-Won said with a sigh as he rubbed his tired face. “They want to fracture Kouka by making us divert our forces to Xing. It would merely lead to a full scale war and Kouka at this moment can’t afford an attack from both sides. It would be prudent of us to not fall for their ploy.” Soo-Won added but that merely enraged General Kyo-Ga.
He now slammed his fist on the table. Impatience bled through his eyes. Perhaps it was a mere act of impulse but at this point he had waited in vain for far too long. Like a long burning wick, he too had reached the far end of his patience as his shaky eyes met Soo-Won’s dispassionate ones.
“It is Her Majesty we are talking about! Kouka can’t just sit back and do nothing even if it’s all a deliberate ploy on Kai’s part! Even if we are in the midst of a war!” Kyo-Ga seethed as his fists trembled by his sides. He had bestowed his faith in His Majesty all for the sake of atoning his family’s sins that loomed over him even after all this time. Like a dark ominous shadow, the sins of his father chased after him, both in reality and in his dreams. There were times he felt trapped by the shadows of his past. He could never pluck the courage to step out of it.
Yet today was the moment to wear his feelings on his sleeves. For far too long he had veiled the turmoil of his tumultuous heart. For far too long he had ignored the silent cries of his brother all in the name of atoning for sins that had stained his family’s name. But now he could no longer step back because it was his blood on line. His only blood. His only family. And it was vexing to see His Majesty being this callous who he had sworn his allegiance to.
“Your personal feelings and allegiance are clouding your better judgment, General Kyo-Ga. It doesn’t befit an experienced General such as yourself.” Soo-Won said coldly. General Kyo-Ga faltered before his icy glare but his mind burned hot with a kind of rage that coursed through his veins. For all this time his heart had raced with varied possibilities. His heart too had been gripped with a sense of unease which he could no longer put a finger on.
All he ever wanted was to see his brother safe and sound. Maybe that was too much to ask. A man such as him should be prepared to make sacrifices. One sitting on the seat of power could never let his personal feelings cloud his better judgment. He long knew that but even he too was a human who could have momentary lapses of judgment. That made him wonder that how come this man could be this cold and cruel, callous even. And now all he saw was a side to this man which he had long known about yet couldn’t come to terms with, not even now.
“How could you be this cold and dispassionate, Your Majesty?” General Kyo-Ga asked. His voice was dripping with venom which he barely contained. All he ever worried about was his brother’s safety as he could no longer tear away his gaze from the king’s even though his better judgment warned him of otherwise. “Don’t you worry for Her Majesty’s wellbeing even in the slightest?”
Their gazes remained locked in a straight stare. Their stares were holding in a silent suffocation. Neither dared to avert their gazes as the candle flame in the backdrop flickered ominously. The world outside was dimmed as the harsh winds whipped against the tent and leaked through the sneaky crevices. The candle flame flickered against the whims of such harsh unforgiving winds that numbed the world outside and inside, freezing the men’s bodies and their hearts even.
“Then what do you suggest, General Kyo-Ga?” Soo-Won asked as he leaned over the oak table. His eyes were sharp which reflected the dancing flame from the corner.
“We have suffered huge losses. The Fire Tribe army is essential to secure the Northern border to check for any surprise attacks. Xing has already turned its back on us so all we can do is to fall back on Sei to back up our forces that have lost its morale. Any further diversion will only lead to unnecessary loss of manpower. We are even unaware if the Xing Princesses have joined hands with Kai itself. All we can do currently is to secure our borders with Xing and keep the wind tribe forces on high alert.”
Soo-Won said as a matter of fact, his fingers tracing the entirety of Kouka’s map in a silent fixation. One couldn’t discern the silent turmoil ravaging his already weakened heart as he barely kept up his mask that was on the verge of breaking apart.
“Men of our position need to make sacrifices. I believe you have been taught better General Kyo-Ga. Your experiences should have taught you better.” Soo-Won reminded, his voice a small fragile whisper. It was as if he was trying to console himself instead of the General who merely bit down on his tongue in an attempt to hold back his voice, grudgingly even. The General now tiredly rubbed his eyes. For a moment they grew misty even, before he finally schooled his features. He knew better than to act on his feelings. His logical side reasoned that His Majesty was correct in his assertion yet his treacherous heart pleaded.
“Still…. Don’t you feel anything, Your Majesty? I know this is highly improper of me to even question you given our circumstances. Yet how could you be this unfeeling towards the very woman who you shared vows with?” General Kyo-Ga implored. He barely contained the tremble in his voice as he ashamedly averted his gaze. He knew he had overstepped his boundaries. He had slighted the king himself. Yet at this very moment he couldn’t help himself as he belated realised his transgressions.
It was then he was met with His Majety’s scathing glare. “Don’t lose the sight of what matters. More importantly in your case you should never lose sight of a past that’s forever shadowed.” Soo-Won warned. His voice was sharp and cold, jarring even. And it surely startled everyone in the room including General Kyo-Ga. Shame crept on his features. He was forever shackled by a past that was a huge blot on his prideful self. He now hung in head low in submission. His Majesty’s words hung heavily in the air, enough to even suffocate him.
Soo-Won now tiredly pinched the bridge of his nose. He had snapped and let his emotions grow unruly. Obviously, he wasn’t okay with the arrangement. Rather he was far from it. He was tormented from within. His insides churned and he had acted petulantly and offended an esteemed General such Kyo-Ga who was merely spiting facts. Even now he was prioritising the nation over his heart as he lamentably shook his head.
“I never said we won’t do anything.” Soo-Won said with a sigh, his voice barely a whisper as he leaned over the table. His fists quivered over the map to the point of his knuckles turning white. His entire body quivered with a kind of rage which he didn’t know he was even capable enough to possess.
Yona….
Hak….
His heart cried out to them as he let out a shaky sigh. It was then he dared to lift up his gaze to meet the men’s eyes in the room with his own steadfast eyes. For some reason his heart was eerily calm which was akin to a calm before storm. His eyes reminded one of the calm seas before it bore the wrath of raging winds. Maybe he was beginning to lose his touch with himself, slowly and steadily.
“Advisor Kye-Sook, send another letter to the second in command of Wind Tribe.”
“You mean…?”
Advisor Kye-Sook asked. Realisation dawned on him as he met His Majesty’s eyes in a silent understanding.
“Yes, send a letter to Commander Tae-Woo.”