Queen Yona was dead. She died giving birth to her only child. The nation of Kouka wept the loss of their beautiful queen, but nobody wept more than her companions. Like in the legends, the four dragons mourned the loss of their master. This time they knew they had lost someone very precious.

With their duties fulfilled once more, the four dragons went their separate ways. The king was left alone to mourn the death of his wife and the loss of his dear friends.

16 years later

"Did you hear about Kai's invasion?"

"I heard they took Hiryuu Castle!"

"But wasn't the king one of the most powerful warriors in the country?"

"Yes, but that was in the past."

Noisy. So noisy. Shi-woo hated the gossip that reached his ears. In fact he hated all gossip. It seemed like that was all he heard from customers at his family's restaurant. It was annoying. These rumors were obviously made up by some low-life who had enough free time to go around and tell everyone lies that caught on.

"Shi-woo! Can you come here for a second?" his mom called. Shi-woo sighs and walks into the kitchen. His mom was standing there with a list in one hand and a small sack in the other. He immediately knew what that meant. "I need you to get a few groceries."

When his mom said "a few" that meant so many groceries that she either didn't have time to buy or wasn't strong enough to carry herself. Seeing how there weren't many customers at the moment, Shi-woo knew it was the latter.

Over an hour later, Shi-woo wasn't even halfway through the list. He would be lucky to make it back before the restaurant closed for the day. At least he was missing the lunch rush.

"What do you mean it's not worth that much?!" a girl screamed. Shi-woo winced at the noise and glared at the source. A girl in a cloak stood at Hyuk's counter. Hyuk was known to be a swindler. "It's high quality fabric!"

"Ma'am this here fabric is no good and it was poorly made," Hyuk kept his usual poker face. Even though Shi-woo couldn't see the girl's face he knew she was furious. "You ain't gonna find any better offers around here."

"Fine! Then I'll take your offer!" she threw her hands up in frustration. Hyuk grinned slyly. Shi-woo knew he had to step in.

"Miss-"

"What?!" she whipped around. Her piercing blue eyes that were blazing in fury almost made him step back.

"I wouldn't trust a word this man says," Shi-woo takes a glance at Hyuk who stopped counting money to glare at him, "he's a swindler."

"A sw-swindler?" her fury was replaced by surprise.

"Alright, boy I think you've said enough. Ma'am here's your money," Hyuk jingles the coins in a pouch.

"B-But-" she looks between Shi-woo and Hyuk, unsure of whom to believe.

"Hey! Take your money or the deal's off!"

"I can show you a better place to sell your things," the girl grabbed her things.

"I'm sorry, but I guess the deal is off," she says. Hyuk growls.

"If you don't mind following me, I know the perfect store," Shi-woo starts leading the way. During the whole walk, the girl was silent. She kept her hood on and her face looked at the ground. Shi-woo expected her to be more talkative especially after the yelling.

He brought her to a clothing store owned by one of his mom's friends. She was more than happy to buy the garments for a good price. The girl left the store with her eyes sparkling as she stared at the pouch of money.

"Thank you mister," she bows.

"It was nothing. Hyuk is known to be a swindler and he preys on people from out of town."

"I see..."

"Try to be more careful next time."

"I will! Well now that I have money, I have some things to buy! Thank you for all your help mr..."

"Shi-woo."

"Thank you Mr. Shi-woo," she smiles. "Goodbye now!"

Shi-woo's mom was upset. The previous day he had come back with the groceries after the restaurant closed. To be fair, the list was long. Perhaps if he hadn't helped that girl he would've made it back in time. Maybe not, who knows.

"I hear the princess died!"

"Oh no! Now the king is all alone!"

"Yes, but he could remarry and have another child."

"He hasn't remarried since the queen died all those years ago! I doubt he'll remarry now."

"Yes, but will he even be able to? If Kai really took over then he probably won't remain as king."

"Don't be silly! Kai couldn't have taken over! There would be Kai soldiers here by now!"

"But it's possible I mean-"

"Alright ladies, I have your tea here," Shi-woo cuts into their gossip. He places the tray in the middle of their table. "Enjoy," he didn't mean it. People who actually believe that kind of gossip didn't deserve good tea. Of course if he said that to the customers his mom would scold him.

He glanced out the window for a second and almost did a double take. Outside the restaurant was a hooded figure. The figure's face was shaded, but he couldn't miss the unmistakeable, piercing blue eyes. It was the girl from yesterday. As she turned to leave, his feet acted on his own. He rushed out the door and called out to her.

"Wait!" he called. She heard him and turned around.

"Oh Mr. Shi-woo! We meet again!" she smiles. He noticed she now had a bag and some kind of stick poking out from underneath her cloak. Her stomach let out a horrific grumbling. Both of them blinked at each other when another grumble came from her stomach. "Um... Can you hear that?"

"Yes."

"Even though you're a few feet away?"

"It's very loud."

"Aw..." she frowns.

"When was the last time you had a meal?" she bit her lip.

"Yesterday morning? Maybe it was the night before? Make that the previous afternoon..."

"You're telling me you haven't eaten a meal in two days?"

"Ah! I've taken some fruit from trees!"

"That doesn't really count."

"Aw..."

"If you want you can eat here."

"N-No! I can't! I have no money!"

"Huh? But what happened to all the money you got from those clothes?"

"I... Um... Spent it all on equipment..."

"Geez... Come on you can eat here."

"But I said I have no money!"

"It's on me."

"But... Um..."

"Do you want to eat or not?" her stomach grumbled again. She blushed and nodded, following him inside. He sat her down at an open table and went into the kitchen. "Mom! One order of tea and buns!"

00000

"Here," he placed the platter of buns he made in front of the girl. Her stomach growled before she grabbed one. She took one slow bite before completely devouring the poor bun. He was happy she liked them.

"You never told me your name yesterday," Shi-woo comments. She looks up from her bun.

"Oh, my name is Nari,"

"Nari, huh?"

"Yup!"

"You're not from town, right?" Nari nods her head. "Where do you live?"

"Nowhere right now. I had to leave my home, but I'm on a mission now."

"Mission?"

"A mission from the priest! He told me I had to find the Four Dragon Warriors."

"Four... Dragon warriors...?" Shi-woo starts laughing.

"It's not funny! My father and the priest said they were real!"

"Yeah, yeah. Well I heard the late queen had met them."

"My father said she travelled around with them."

"Well good luck to you. If they are real, nobody knows where they are."

"Ah! But that's the thing! The priest said there was somebody who knew them! And he might know where they are!"

"Eh... Is that so?"

"You don't believe me do you?" she pouts.

"I mean it's pretty unbelievable. Why would a priest send you to find the four dragon warriors?"

"He said I was something like I related to King Hiryuu."

"That's hard to believe."

"Ah! But my hair is red!"

"That doesn't mean anything."

"No! I mean like really red!" she takes off her hood revealing blazing red hair that was tied into a ponytail.

"You're right, but that doesn't automatically mean you're related to King Hiryuu."

"I know, but it's what the priest said," she bites into her bun. Blazing red hair, piercing blue eyes, if she wasn't devouring buns at the moment he would've thought she looked fierce.

"Thank you for the meal!" she smiles once she finished. "I've had a lot of good food in the past, but this one was really great!"

"Thanks, my mom made it."

"Eh?! Your mom?!"

"My family owns this restaurant so I work here."

"I see, can you cook too?!"

"A little bit..." Shi-woo blushes a little.

"Mr. Shi-woo, thank you for everything," Nari smiles. "You've helped me a lot. If we meet again I want to try some of your cooking."

"Definitely, I'll make the best meal you've ever had," Nari smiles and stands up. She turns to leave when the door to the restaurant bursts open. Four soldiers in strange armor walk in. Nari tenses and puts her hood back over her head.

"I heard there was good food here!" one of the soldiers declares. "Well? Is anybody gonna serve us?!"

"Um, right!" Shi-woo rushes over. "Right this way sirs."

Shi-woo leads them to a table. He sees Nari grab her stuff and walks past them to leave. One of the soldiers swings his sword and stops her in her tracks.

"Where do ya think you're going missy?"

"I finished my meal so I'm leaving now," Nari calmly states.

"Sit back down," he glares, "nobody leaves this place until we get served."

"Why should I listen to you?"

"Haven't you heard? We took over Hiryuu Castle! Kouka belongs to us!" all four of the soldiers snicker and laugh. Shi-woo curled his fists in anger. The rumors were true and these soldiers were from Kai.

Nari's fists were curled as well. Shi-woo didn't know they were until they met with the closest soldier's face.

"Damn you!" he yells, kicking her in the stomach. She flies across the room, colliding against the wall. The soldiers draw their swords, and angrily walk over. One pulls off her hood off and pulls her up by her hair. Nari struggles and screams, trying to get away. Another puts a sword against her neck, stopping her struggling.

"Stop that right now!" someone demands. Standing at the kitchen doorway stood Shi-woo's mom. Her arms were crossed and a ladle still dripping with soup in her hand. "I don't care who you are, but you've caused trouble in my restaurant! Get out now!"

"Why should we? You don't want anything to happen to this litt-" the soldier freezes. Nari's eyes were blazing. Shi-woo could see them clearly across the room. Those eyes could burn someone alive with a cold blue flame. They immediately sucked in and froze the four soldiers.

"Tch!" the soldier holding her throws her on the ground.

"This place wasn't so great anyways," one of them comments, the four storming out of the restaurant.

"Are you alright?" Shi-woo's mom rushes over. Nari's eyes that were blazing a moment ago, filled with tears. She starts sniffling, unable to answer. "Shi-woo, bring her to the back and treat any wounds she might have, I'll clean up out here."

Shi-woo nods, rushing over and helping her up. He helps Nari to the back where he has her sit on a crate. Luckily she wasn't bleeding anywhere, but Shi-woo found a few bruises and cuts that weren't made by the soldiers.

"You're gonna have a few big bruises, but it doesn't look like there's anything serious," Nari nods.

"I... I..." tears welling up in her eyes. "I couldn't fight this time either!" she sobs. Shi-woo stayed with her as she cried her eyes out. He didn't know what to do nor what to say. He could only watch as the girl with the piercing blue eyes cried.