Chapter Text
Soo-Won's POV
"Right now, Sei has three kings", Soo-Won began.
"Hotsuma, Kushibi, and Kazagumo", Geun-Tae listed.
"Yes. Although the one currently on the throne is Kazagumo, he doesn't hold any real power. The political power has always been in the hands of his mother, Kuva and his two uncles, Hotsuma and Kushibi", the King kept on.
"Has been?"
"Kuva has passed away two months ago. It has always been that Kuva had the support from the citizens, Hotsuma controlled the military, and Kushibi controlled the economy. Those three had a balance of power and that's why they formed an alliance", Soo-Won explained.
"Has Hotsuma or Kushibi made a move to claim the throne...?", Geun-Tae asked.
"Yes. They both seem to be competing, building forts and planning to invade Kouka. The Water Tribe was already weakened because of the Nadai incident. Because of that, they intend to start their invasion there so everyone will hear about them"
"We were underestimated", Tae-Woo whispered.
"That's right, General Tae-Woo", Soo-Won said, making Tae-Woo jump a little, surprised. "I already have plans to get rid of those forts. Those forts represent the power that Hotsuma and Kushibi both hold. If we target the forts it will deal a huge blow to both of them"
"But our priority now is Lili, right?", Geun-Tae cut in.
"That's right. It doesn't matter which fort miss Lili is at, our goal this time is to save her. I'd like everyone in the Wind and Earth Tribes to create a large commotion to draw the soldiers' attention"
"...Yes", Mundok agreed.
"A commotion!", Geun-Tae exclaimed. "This is great, this job is exactly what I'm looking for! This plan seems to be pretty aggressive"
"Miss Lili may have already drank the Nadai", Soo-Won continued, ignoring Geun-Tae's shouts of excitement. "Also, I want to clean up this mess before their main forces move out"
"Aren't you going, too?", Tae-Woo asked, directing his question at the Water Tribe General. "Isn't she your daughter?"
"My eyes are weak, it's a great inconvenience, so I'll be providing support from the rear", Joon-Gi said.
"I still don't understand this passive mister...", Tae-Woo mumbled.
"General Joon-Gi may appear calm, but he's actually really worried about miss Lili", Soo-Won countered. "He's also very grateful to everyone who came to help. Isn't that right?"
"We didn't come here just for General Joon-Gi", Geun-Tae suddenly announced.
"Eh?", the King let out, quite confused.
"Because Lili... no, Miss Lili is someone who will become your future Queen", Soo-Won's face went neutral in an instant.
"...What?", he let out.
"After we rescue her, we can just use this opportunity to have the wedding as well!", Geun-Tae shouted, laughing loudly.
"Eh?! What?! No! Wait a minute! Wait a minute!"
"Eh eh eh, what's going on? What's going on?", Tetora rambled, shocked, her face entirely red.
"Your Majesty really is something. Before when I mentioned how you didn't have any suitable marriage partners, you changed the subject. To think you're actually close with Lili..."
"??!! How did you come up with that idea, General Geun-Tae?", Soo-Won exclaimed. Though his mind wandered to the real person who had really occupied his thoughts when the General had asked him about marriage partners... The only woman he'd ever loved... but who had rejected it after it all.
"Where did that come from?! Where did that come from?!", Tetora continued on, as excited as she was shocked.
"You're being rude, Tetora", Joon-Gi said.
"General Joon-Gi, I don't know what you misunderstood, but what exactly did you say?", Soo-Won asked.
"I would never say something so crass", the unbothered General answered.
"I don't understand what you're saying!"
"Eh? But the situation is so serious that you've summoned all of us here. I thought for sure it was because Your Majesty was interested in Lili. That's what I always thought...", Geun-Tae explained and Mundok, standing right beside him, nodded his agreement. Tetora was still on the verge of an existential crisis in the corner.
"It's a misunderstanding!"
"What the heck! I thought I'd be able to see the heir soon", Geun-Tae face-palmed himself. And though he seemed reluctant, hesitant, Mundok seemed to agree as well.
"This situation is getting out of hand... And Miss Tetora, please calm down! Anyway, tomorrow morning we'll start with Hotsuma's fort"
"I really should go and adopt a daughter soon- and adopt a beauty"
"...General Geun-Tae..."
Hak's POV
"Um... I've been noticing something for a while now", Yoon started, looking at both Shin-Ha and Ki-Ja.
"What is it?", Ki-Ja wondered.
"With the rate both of you have been working at... the fort that we're supposed to destroy has been almost finished by you both!", Yoon shouted.
"What?!", Ki-Ja sounded out, as if surprised. "Well then, I'll go destroy some of it now!", Ki-Ja said as both of them got up to leave.
"Stop! You stand out too much!", Yoon exclaimed, pulling on the two dragons' clothes to stop them from going any further.
"Shin-Ha", Hak called. "Did you see any signal Lone might have sent out...?", Shin-Ha shook his head in response.
"...If I see anything, I'll immediately tell Hak", Shin-Ha added.
Hak looked surprised, but got up, patted Shin-Ha on the shoulder and left. Shin-Ha looked back as he walked away, as if in a daze, as if confused.
"That means 'thank you'", Yoon explained.
Hak had went to sit a little farther away from everyone. He seemed to need a lot of alone time to try and not get worked up and impatient about Yona's whereabouts, since she wasn't in this fort.
This is bad, even Shin-Ha is worried about me..., he thought. He took the necklace in his hand so it rested in his palm and stared at it.
"I wish for good fortune to visit Hak"
"Rather than myself, I wish for you to protect the Princess", Hak said aloud, thrown into a whisper. Suddenly, his eyes widened. He had heard something on the other side of the wall. He also sensed a presence... what could it be? He got up and walked towards it, leaning down against it.
What...? I sense someone on the other side of the wall. On the other side of this wall is Kouka... Could they be the families of those slaves that were kidnapped from Kouka...?
"Hello? Who's there...?", he asked hesitantly. "I'm from Kouka. There are no guards here right now. What are you doing over there?", but no answer came. Hak ended up giving up on the feeling and so he got up.
Did they not hear me? Or could it be because they don't want to reply? Oh well, he turned to leave just in time as the answer came.
"Um...", the blood in his veins froze and he tensed as he heard the voice.
This... voice...
"Are you... from Kouka?"
This voice is....!!
"Talking to you in a place like this... in the middle of the night, I'm really sorry"
Why is he here?
"Can I... borrow some of your time?"
Why now? Why?! Why are you here?! Soo-Won...!!
His back leaned against the wall as his body just went still with pure anger and terror.
"...Um- ...Hello? Are you still there? ...I wanted to ask. Among everyone there that was kidnapped... is there a... a seventeen-year old girl with long black hair called Lili?"
Hak pushed his fingers against the wall, scratching his nails... until blood came out. He stayed silent.
"There... isn't? ...Since you're the only one here right now, there's something I want to tell you. Tomorrow morning, we'll be destroying this fort", his fingers went still, his eyes widened even more. "We'll start with this area of the wall and then enter through here. At that time, I hope you'll bring everyone in there that was captured to safety. If you'd help us, then we could quickly save everyone without anyone getting hurt. Do you agree... to help us...?"
Hak kept silent, not knowing what to say, what to do. He sensed it when he turned to leave, the shuffling of his feet against the dirt, the rustling of his clothes.
"Tomorrow at dawn...", Hak finally said. "I'll give you a signal"
"Thank you very much..."
And Hak turned around to leave. He had his head down when Yoon finally ran up to him.
"Thunder Beast! Where did you go? L-"
"...At dawn, prepare to destroy this fort"
"What?! Wait a minute... But- Anyway, Lone has arrived from the other fort with news!", he shouted and Hak turned, a little hint of hope glinting in his eyes as he nodded. He walked, but did not go far as Ki-Ja ran up to him.
"Are we finally making our move?!", he stopped in his tracks when he saw the expression on Hak's face. "...what happened?"
"Where's Lone?", Ki-Ja silently pointed in the direction where she waited. She had been thirsty and hungry and tired when she arrived, so she took some rest.
When Hak finally found Lone, he took a seat on the ground. Lone lifted her head from her small meal to look at Hak. She was confused, but soon finished the bite she had taken, putting the little plate aside.
"What happened?", she asked, worried.
"Soo-Won's there", he said and her eyes widened.
"Where? In the fort?", she asked, alarmed.
"No. He's here to save Lili. He knows she isn't here... but he's planning on destroying the forts... Tomorrow morning... we'll give him a signal that we're ready"
She didn't know what to say, couldn't move to take another bite to stop the rumbling of her stomach. She didn't know what to say. Hak raised his head and looked at her. "What happened at the other fort?"
She took a deep breath and sighed it out.
"It's confirmed that Lili and Yona were at the other fort... that I think you've already guessed. But they escaped. Jae-Ha and Zeno have gone to search for them last time I heard. Ayura stayed in the fort. As for I, they sent me here to tell you all of this ; even though it's not a lot"
"It's enough. They didn't drink that stupid wine... you were right. Yona's smarter than we thought. But to think she escaped..."
"It would have been better if she just stayed there. It would have made this mission a whole lot easier"
He shrugged. A moment of silence fell over us, but then he took a sharp intake of breath, followed by a question. "What are you doing next?"
"I'm fighting with you tomorrow morning"
"...thank you", I nodded in answer. I took the plate in my hands then and resumed my meal.
I couldn't help but spare a thought or two toward Jae-Ha, despite everything. I couldn't help but hope he would stay safe and that he would come back... to me.
"It's morning", Yoon announced as dawn broke.
"This way, White Snake!", Hak shouted as I mid-turned around to look as the White Dragon carried a boulder in his dragon arm.
"Coming!"
"Where's Shin-Ha?", Yoon asked.
"He went to look for our confiscated weapons. Yoon, go take the slaves somewhere safe. There's someone on the other side of the fort's wall that came to save Lili"
"Eh? Who is it?! Ah, the leader of the Water Tribe...?"
"Perhaps...", Hak mumbled, walking away. He looked up then, towards the sky. And I knew he thought about who stood on the other side. I knew he kept thinking about it, even through the night and throughout the rest of the day... he would.
Third Person POV
On the other side... indeed, stood Soo-Won and his army. Yes, Lone and Hak already knew that, but it was a complete mystery for the rest of the group, who didn't know what to think of their current ally.
"Your Majesty", Geun-Tae called as he stood behind Soo-Won. "Everything is ready, we can begin at anytime"
"Please wait a little longer. The other side will give us a signal"
And Soo-Won looked up at the sky, thinking about who stood on the other side.
And Hak, as the many soldiers started converging in their direction, gave the signal to Ki-Ja to drop the boulder in the catapult. He pulled on the rope and the boulder flew, meeting with the wall as it collapsed under its impact.
The group of Generals looked utterly surprised. Some had to put a hand over their brows to try to see through the chaos that had been created. A smile appeared on Soo-Won's face.
"What a flashy signal... Hak"