Chapter Text
Northern Kai - Sen Province, City of Sen - Li Hazara's Castle
Sounds like chains rattled, waking me up.
"Jae-Ha, Zeno, are you okay?", I heard Yoon say as I opened my eyes, looking around.
"Somehow or another. Suddenly, we're all the way at Li Hazara's Castle...", I heard Jae-Ha respond. I pushed on my hands, adrenaline coursing through my veins.
"Jae-Ha", I called as I half crawled to him, kneeling on my knees by his side and wincing when the energy left my body. He looked to me, smiled at my presence and turned to Yoon as he talked.
"Sorry... I ended up being a burden...", Yoon said.
"It's my fault, I couldn't fight at full strength. I'm still not at full strength... but man, these chains sure take me back", Jae-Ha said as I reached a hand to my left side.
"Ahh man, Zeno was hoping he'd be cut down too, so he could take some of them on... But I got caught instead of cut", Zeno drawled. I took my hand away from my side. My hand was bloody. I winced again.
"Still, it's good no one is seriously injured...", Yoon pointed out.
"I... I wouldn't be so sure of that", I whispered as I tried to stand up. Yona realized what I was doing and stood up beside me, holding on to me. I almost fell, but instead, let Yona hold on to a part of my weight. I cursed under my breath.
"Lone!", Jae-Ha called.
"They must have been handling us rather poorly for it to reopen", Yoon pointed out, walking to me.
"When they pushed me to the ground... whenever after that for sure too. I was probably tossed around"
"You were badly taken care of", Yona realized. I closed my eyes as my head spun. I reached a hand to my sword, trying to find balance on something secure and familiar, but swore again when my hand fell. I remembered that it had been forced out of my hand.
"And I don't have my sword with me. This is just great"
A door creaked open and a voice echoed.
"Well now...", a voice raised. I turned my head toward it. A black cloaked man arrived before the cell, looking slightly crazed. "Amazing... It's really the same dragons as before"
"You're... the priest from Xing...!", Yona realized.
"The what from where now?", I asked as I winced once again.
"Why are you here...!", Yona shouted, approaching him.
"My thanks for that time... Princess Yona. My situation in Xing became a bit uncomfortable, shall we say..."
"Why are you doing this? What are you after?"
"It's obvious, isn't it? I want the Four Dragons...."
"We've caught the eye of a strange fellow...", Zeno chanted.
"Can't say I'm happy about it...", Jae-Ha commented.
"Gobi", another voice echoed. "I've come to see the "Four Dragon" guys"
"Ahh, Lord Kuelbo", my eyes widened. "The ones in chains are the Dragons"
"Hmmm. Just by the sight of 'em, I can't see what's so special..."
"Ahh, very true...", the door of the cell creaked open. "Princess Yona, come out, alone", she held on harder onto me.
"What are you gonna do?!", Yoon screamed.
"You know what will happen if you don't listen... understand?", I put a hand on hers and forced her hand off me. I staggered back, keeping on my feet, ready to lunge if they did anything to her. I raised my head, and noticed Kuelbo's eyes on me. My blood froze. And then, he looked away.
"Yoon, it's fine", Yona told him.
"Yona..."
"Allow me to borrow this", the priest said as he took Kuelbo's sword. My body spasmed at the sight. But the door had already closed. "You see... I happened to witness quite the spectacle a while back. When Princess Yona was in danger, the incarnation of a dragon rose from within the Four Dragons. Hence, I will cut into Princess Yona, just a bit... and the Dragon will rise up from within them"
"Stop!", Jae-Ha howled as it echoed through my whole body.
"Watch closely, now!!", Gobi screamed.
"Yona!!"
Yona, pitilessly, threw her whole body up and raised her right leg to Gobi's neck and met with bone, throwing him to the ground. My body eased and my lips formed a smile. All the other guys were shocked. Kuelbo was confused.
"Huh...", Kuelbo let out.
Gobi was holding on to his neck. "M... my neck.."
"The little miss is amazing...", Zeno let out.
"To think it would surprise you", I whispered, barely able to turn around.
"D... damn you, girl...", Gobi choked. Yona grabbed Kuelbo's sword and pointed it at his throat.
"Don't move an inch! Next time, I'll cut you!"
"Hah!", Kuelbo escaped. "Ha ha ha! Excellent, excellent!", Yona looked sideways at him. "And here I figured the Princess of Kouka would just be a sheltered little girl. You're pretty interesting!", and then, Yona pointed the tip of the sword at Kuelbo.
"Take us back to Kouka. Ying Kuelbo", Yona ordered, threatening him. Without warning, he used his clothes to grip the blade of the sword, pulling on it effortlessly and thew Yona to the floor.
"Yona!", I screamed, walking to the bars of the cell, wincing at the pain.
"Don't get cocky, now. What does a Princess think she can do swinging a sword around in the middle of Sen Province?", and then, his head turned to me, staring at me. He grinned. "You sure are strong, Lightning Girl. The scar on your face, your symbol", he drew on the word and stood up, walking to me. Jae-Ha pulled on the chains then, making them rattle.
"What the hell, are you trying to tear out the chains?", Kuelbo asked, as the chains cracked broken. I turned toward Jae-Ha, who seemed ready to tear into flesh. Kuelbo turned around, grabbed onto Yona, his sword to her throat. I was sweating by then. "Hold on. Wait, wait!", Kuelbo shouted as Jae-Ha took a step forward. "Don't move", Jae-Ha had no choice.
"Jae-Ha", Yona called.
"I see, amazing... Seems like Gobi was telling the truth about this girl being the trigger for your powers. But calm down. You're looking pretty pale. You're injured, aren't you? Perfect", he drawled and waited a few more seconds before speaking up again. "Gobi", Kuelbo called. "Unlock the door. Let her out", I winced at the words.
"B-but... ! Kuelbo! You risk unspeakable wrath!"
"What can she do? She's injured. Do as I say", Gobi opened the cell door, leading me out. I staggered on my feet, trying to keep myself from falling.
"You'll be rightly taken care of", Kuelbo explained and the idea of him helping me disgusted me. "You, Green Head, get out as well", chills rained down my body. Gobi seemed livid. I turned my head toward him, the look on his face told me I looked as pale as he did, even maybe worse. He saved me from that fall, but for what purpose?
"I'm gonna be fine, Jae-Ha. Keep your calm and protect Yona with your life. Promise me you'll put her before me. I am going to be fine. Promise me that you'll protect Yona's life over mine"
"Well, ain't that cute", Kuelbo said, drawing my attention. "I wouldn't have thought that anyone other than the Princess would have had such a high influence over a Dragon. What a beautiful romance you have going on there. I think I'll use it to my advantage", Kuelbo said as he approached me.
I knew what was coming and my heart started beating according to it. He raised his hand in the air and I felt the hit before falling unconscious again.
"Lone! NO!!"