Between Jae-Ha and Shin-Ah, they managed to find an alternate route that would lead back to Kalgan's village. We ended up standing on the cliff edge of a gorge with a waterfall off to the right which fed a large body of fast moving water below us, the choppy waves writhing within themselves threateningly. Of course it wouldn't be so simple, would it? The only way for us to get across would be for Jae-Ha to carry us one by one.
When it came to my turn, I just looked at him. "You'd better not drop me scoundrel otherwise you'll be in for a world of pain." I told him firmly as he turned around and lowered his stance so that I could climb onto his back.
"If that world consists of only you and me, beautiful lady, then I'd happily go there." He stated smoothly so I smacked his head.
"Just jump you idiot." I ordered and he rushed into the air, giving me no warning so I cried out and instantly clung onto him tightly, burying my face into his back and pressed my eyes shut as he chuckled. "Relax sweet Ryo, I'd never drop you." He assured me in a quiet whisper and slowly, I opened my eyes to find he was looking back at me with a surreal warmth which had me instantly entranced. "Not when I carry such precious cargo."
By that time we had landed and Jae-ha let me slide off his back, however before I could even think of an answer, he jumped back to the other side again. "YOU PERVERT!" I yelled after him just for good measure before grumpily stomping over to Yoon where he was trying to set up camp so I helped him with the tent. By the time everyone was over, Jae-Ha looked exhausted and I smirked at him in satisfaction before I noticed Kalgan and Yona talking together, the princess blushing deeply as she spoke loudly and insistently.
"I just happened to look at him by chance!" Him? Meaning Hak? And she was blushing? Yes! I knew this day would finally come. She's finally beginning to understand her feelings. Gee, I've put up with these two for over ten years, it's about time some progress was made. It was so frustrating watching the two of them argue with one another when all I wanted to do was ram their heads together and make them confess.
"Is that so?"
"That's right! Hak is mean and not cute at all." Suddenly Hak leaned over her shoulder.
"Sorry for not being cute." He whispered and the princess froze in place, making me chuckle as I leaned back and enjoyed the rest of the conversation with closed eyes, my hands deftly working on a few tears in Kija's robes which he'd handed to me with teary eyes, mourning at the untidiness of his clothes however by the time I was finished with them, they were good as new and his eyes sparkled.
"Ah! Ryo, you always make things beautiful again. I admire your needlework." He said to me, flinging out his robes as he inspected them closely, trying to find the places that had been mended but found no evidence.
"I've had plenty of time to practice." I told him with a smile. "After all, you boys always end up tearing your clothes."
"In that case sweet Ryo, would you mind doing the honours with my jacket?" Jae-Ha questioned and instantly peeled off his Kai Empire jacket, making me blush and stare as he stood in only a small shirt which laced up over his chest but left his stomach completely bare so that every hardened muscle was visible. Instantly I balked slightly, turning my face away and held out a hand.
"Sure." I felt the fabric meet me hand so quickly I snatched it from him and scowled down at it as I searched for what needed mending. I searched and searched but found nothing, so I leaped up and flung it back at him. "There aren't any tears you idiot!"
"Of course, I take very good care of my beautiful clothes." He answered with a flick of his hand through his hair. "I simply wanted to see how you would react if I stripped and I can say, I am very pleased with how red you are blushing." Horror flared through me as I stared at him before all at once, I exploded.
"YOU PERVERTED SCOUNDREL!" I grabbed the nearest thing to me, which happened to be Hak's glaive which he held and I stole it off him before whirling it around with a yell, slamming the flat side straight against Jae-Ha's head and he was flung back, blood spurting from his nose and mouth and he lay twitching on the ground as I slammed the butt of the glaive against a rock, smashing it in my anger. "Next time I won't even offer to mend your stupid clothes." I announced before tossing the glaive back to Hak and stormed off, muttering under my breath like an orange storm as I went to fetch firewood.
I refused to speak to Jae-Ha again, pointedly ignoring him no matter what he did to try and get my attention. Even when he produced a beautiful bouquet of wild flowers I turned them aside. We continued walking the moment it was light enough to see however when Kalgan became tired, Kija carried him the rest of the way until we reached the village, however I noticed something was slightly off. His footsteps seemed heavy and even with Kalgan's light weight on his back he was slumping forwards as if the boy was heavy. I kept an eye on him.
When we left the woods, Kija suddenly swayed and pulled Kalgan from his back. "Shin-Ah…take care of Kalgan." Jae-Ha chuckled at Kija as he passed Kalgan to Shin-Ah who held the boy with a blink.
"What? Are you already worn out Kija? Even with your inhuman strength you really don't have much stamina…" He trailed off when Kija fell backwards and instantly I was darting forwards, my arms curling around Kija as he dropped to the floor with Jae-Ha also catching him, calling out his name in alarm. "Kija!"
"Kija! Wake up!" I tried to shake him awake but he was passed out cold. His brow was burning hot and I instantly became fearful for him as Yoon came running back, demanding to know what happened. This isn't like Kija, he hasn't been ill like this since the very beginning of our journey and this was far worse, it was like he was on fire yet he was shivering with a cold sweat.
"We need to hurry up and give him a place to rest." Yoon announced so Kalgan spoke up.
"In that case, come to my house. It's close to here."
"Really? That'd be a great help."
"Yeah. I'm indebted to you lot anyway." Kalgan reasoned as he held onto Shin-Ah who looked a little uneasy at being charged with carrying the boy. "Dad and the others are sure to welcome you with open arms." I wish it were true. When we arrived at his village, the people there were less than welcoming. They looked at us suspiciously at the arsenal of menacing strangers that appeared with Kalgan. It was only with his pleading that we were let into the village at all and his parents were reluctant at first to allow us into their home, but after his reasoning at how well we had taken care of him, they agreed.
The moment Kija was settled down I undid his robes and tried to cool him down with Yoon as he mixed up some herbs and I sponged Kija's face, trying to make him as comfortable as possible as the others looked on. He slept a little restfully, however when I started to brush through his hair with my partially broken comb, he settled a little at the soothing sensations and Yoon was able to administer the medicine.
It was a little while before Kija woke up. He was still pale and shaking, rather weak all over so I helped him to eat a little something, supporting his head as Yona leaned closer. "Kija, how are you feeling?"
"Princes…I apologise…to stop because of me…"
"You don't have to worry about that." She assured him before turning to our resident doctor. "Yoon?"
"Yeah, I haven't been able to discover the source of it yet. For now I've given him medicine to reduce the fever. Right now it looks like a normal cold." Seeing the worry on the princess's face, Jae-Ha crouched down and smiled to her warmly.
"Don't worry Yona-chan, Kija has the vitality of a cockroach." Instantly Kija's face screwed up in alarm as he searched for the mentioned bug, making sure it wasn't anywhere near before settling again. "We need to make sure you don't catch it."
"Wait a second Jae-Ha, you just called me a cockroach!" Jae-Ha flattened his hand against Kija's face to silence him, still smiling at the princess.
"Leave this to us. Why don't you go outside and stretch your legs?" Yona tried to argue however Jae-Ha cut her off, his face growing serious. "Weren't you worried about the village?" He questioned and she halted. "Hak."
"Let's go princess." He instructed so he left with the princess and Yoon who went to fetch water and I offered to help. We were all silent, unsure of what to say or think as we were all worried. Kija was such a sweet and temper soul, it made me upset to see him in such a way. It didn't take long for us to retrieve water, however when we returned we heard voices speaking and the conversation flowed towards us.
"…you're right. The four dragons do not live that long. However…I am always prepared to give up my life for that person. How long I live is not important." My heart stilled in my chest as I stared wide eyed at the four dragons, realisation crashing over me at Kija's softly spoken words.
"That's definitely something you would say." Yoon dropped the water and it sloshed everywhere, causing everyone to jump in surprise and look at us as he quickly stooped down whilst I remained standing upright, unable to look away from them.
"I spilled…the water…" He excused weakly before slowly lifting his head. "What you just said, is it true? The four dragons have a short lifespan?" Seeing the distress, Jae-Ha reached out to us.
"Come here Yoon, Ryo." But I remained standing, rooted to the spot. I couldn't move even if I wanted to. Was Kija dying? "It's not something you have to pity. Who knows when they're going to die, right?" He reasoned and Yoon hung his head, trembling slightly.
"That's true but…"
"Yoon don't worry. Even when a new dragon is born, we don't die suddenly." Kija assured him and Jae-Ha smiled.
"Yeah, the previous Green Dragon lived twelve years after I was born."
"Not to mention my strength hasn't deteriorated at all with this high fever!" Kija declared then punched Jae-Ha in the face, drawing blood as he was once again flattened to the ground.
"Kija, you don't seem the type to die even when somebody kills you." Yoon reasoned and Kija nodded his head in quick agreement. "Then it's fine…it's fine but…I'm begging you. Stubbornly live you monsters." He said whilst holding back tears, making all four of them smile warmly to him before Jae-Ha reached out and patted his head.
"Please don't tell Yona about us." He nodded his head in agreement, wiping his eyes then left to get more water, leaving me alone with them. They were all going to die when the next dragon was born? What kind of justice was that?! They can't die, they just can't! Even now I could feel myself trembling, stubbornly trying not to let the tears escape as I took a small step forwards.
"Why…why does it work like that? Why do you die after a new dragon is born?" I asked them quietly, coming and sitting down in the circle with the four of them.
"It's so that there is never a time when a dragon isn't alive." Jae-Ha answered tenderly. "When a new dragon is born, they absorb the powers from the previous dragon until it is completely transferred." I sniffed, staring at the ground as I wiped my face dry. "Please don't cry Ryo, it's not all that bad."
"Of course it is!" I yelled back at him, gripping onto my skirts tightly. "I don't want any of you to die, you mean too much to me!" Lifting my head my eyes fixated on them all. "You are all my precious people, I would die for any of you in a heartbeat, now you tell me that your lives are not your own to live to the fullest? How am I supposed to simply accept that?!" Gritting my teeth I shook my head, tears flying from my face as they continued to gather. "I refuse to accept this. It can't be the truth, I don't want it to be."
"It's alright Ryo. A short life spent with people we care for is far better than one spent alone." Kija reasoned and I stopped, blinking at him with teary eyes. I knew he was right, I remember very little of my life spent alone as it had been completely swallowed over by my full life at the castle and with these four beasts. It was almost as if I had no memory of before my time at Hiryuu castle. Shaking my head again I dove forwards and managed to grab them all into an embrace, pulling them close to me as I cried quietly.
"You had all better fight for each breath. Don't you dare leave without properly fighting to survive otherwise I'll never forgive you! I'll find you in the afterlife and kill you again!" I told them all and I felt them place their arms around me, securing me in their warmth and loving hold until I was able to bring myself back under control again, sitting back and wiping my eyes until all evidence was gone. "Please. Don't ever give up on yourselves as I won't ever give up on you." I told them, finally being able to force a smile. "Ever since you guys came along, life has been far more interesting. I'd hate for the fun to end."
In answer Jae-Ha reached out and rubbed my hair in a calming and understanding gesture, making me smile slip slightly until I nodded my head, assuring him that I was okay. However the next day, things got worse. Not only did Jae-Ha catch the sickness but Kalgan's father dismissed us from his house and from the village, so we were forced to leave.
I helped Zeno to support Jae-Ha, making him chuckle softly. "You're being so caring, sweet Ryo. Maybe I should be sick more often."
"Be quiet Jae-Ha." I said with worry, one hand pressing against his chest to support him. "Save your energy and give my ears some peace." He smiled at that, leaning dependently on the two of us. News also came from Shin-Ah and later, a villager that a battle was ensuing. Kouka was attacking and would soon meet Kai's army at the border, making everyone stop and stare.
Just as the news began to spread around the village, Shin-Ah collapsed. I called out his name then gently left Jae-Ha to Zeno, running over to them as Kija also collapsed, unable to stand up with the fever. "Hak! Get your butt over here and carry Shin-Ah." I ordered quickly as I took Kija's arms.
"What about Kija? How are we going to get him out of the…" Yoon faltered when I lifted Kija up onto my back and shifted him further up, his arms hanging limply over my shoulders as I curled my arms behind me to support his legs.
"I'll carry Kija." I announced adamantly, finding him a lot lighter than I would have expected. With everyone now supported, we head out of the village and put up the tent for Shin-Ah, Jae-Ha and Kija where Yoon and I tended to them diligently however no matter what we tried, they only got worse with their fevers increasing.
I later heard from Yoon that Kouka had won the battle against Kai and I stopped slightly, my fingers halting from sponging off Jae-Ha's neck as my eyes glazed over and I stared into empty space, wondering if Soo-Won had been there. For a while I didn't move until I felt someone curl a hot hand over mine and I looked to find Jae-Ha smiling weakly at me, his lips curving upwards slightly in silent reassurance. "Shut up, scoundrel." I muttered, blushing slightly and his grin deepened before he closed his eyes. Even when Zeno persuaded Yoon to let him take care of the dragons, I stayed put. I gave Kija something for his head but it didn't seem to help at all and by this point, I was out of ideas. "I'm so sorry. I can't do anything to make you better. Nothing is working." I whispered to them quietly, laying down over Shin-Ah in a gentle hug.
"It's not your fault Ryo." Kija assured me and I took his outstretched hand, giving it a gentle squeeze for comfort. That was the best I could do for them now, comfort them. I felt wholly useless, however I was also tired so I ended up falling asleep against Shin-Ah, using his waist as a pillow since he was turned on his side and held onto Kija's hand all the way through.
When I awoke again, Zeno told me I should get some fresh air and something to eat. "The miss has been diligent for a long time now. Zeno thinks the miss needs some time to herself so that she feels better too." He said so I nodded my head and left, yawning slightly.
I walked towards the village to buy some food from them, however when I saw the princess rushing off in the distance, I followed after her. Climbing the bank, I heard her cry out Kalgan's name. The cry was fearful and panicked so instantly I was running, climbing up the bank and scrambled over the top to see Yona pull back an arrow and release it into a Kai Empire soldier who was running down Kalgan on horseback. I was too far away, I need to reach the princess. But what was going on now? The battle was over, wasn't it?
They must be stragglers, soldiers who were left behind in the retreat and were now tearing through the land as a means to stop it from falling into Kouka's hands with any value. Those bastards! More soldiers came riding into view so I selected my shuriken, letting them slide through my fingers as I flung them with all my might, giving a yell as I sprang off the bank the same moment Hak appeared from the other, both of us landing in front of Kalgan and the princess and I ducked as he whirled around his glaive, slicing through each and every soldier that hadn't first been pierced by my shuriken. "Are you hurt?"
"No." Yona answered him, perfectly calm.
"Kinkan village was being attacked by these guys. Eventually here too…" Kalgan whispered, terrified as he stared at the blood on the ground. "There!" My head lifted and I saw a long stream of horses and riders come thundering towards the village, all of them blood stained and looking for more. "They're coming this way!"
"Princess. Take Yoon, Zeno and the dying idiots and run." Hak ordered blankly, gripping onto his glaive more tightly as I drew out more shuriken into each hand, sliding them carefully through my fingers in preparation to use them. "We'll deal with this."
"What?! Even if it's you two, to fight alone is…"
"Right now we are the only ones who can fight." He informed her and I nodded my head silently in agreement. Our first duty is to protect the princess, however I will also protect my friends. Those precious people who mean so much to me. I cannot allow any harm to come to them.
"I will fight. I can also fight." Yona tried but still Hak remained stoic.
"There's no way you can fight. If you fight with us, you'll just get in the way. Hurry up and go." However when he heard her crying softly, he turned around and looked down at her. "Please don't cry."
"I wouldn't cry just from your words!" She snapped back, blushing slightly as she continued to try and wipe away her tears however they continued to fall, drawing my attention to them and I gave a quiet smile as Hak reached out and cupped her face, drawing her closer to him without a word. I watched as he kissed her cheek, making my smile deepen further with a warm glow arising in my chest as he whispered an apology.
"Please excuse me, just this once." He said to her, smiling slightly but with an expression full of affectionate warmth as Yona blinked up at him.
"Princess, we'll be alright. Nothing can stop us when Hak and I fight together." I assured her with a nod of my head, indicating she should run. "Protect Kalgan and the others, that is your job. We'll be back soon once we've dealt with these scum." Her face continued to waver until finally she pressed her lips together and looked away, resigning to obey.
"Kalgan let's go!" She ordered powerfully and ran away with him. Hak looked back over his shoulder, glaive slung across his neck as I continued to face forwards.
"I saw that." I told him simply, a slight smirk on my lips. "And don't think I won't forget."
"Just concentrate on the enemy." He muttered, making me smirk further.
"Yes sir." I agreed, lowering my stance as the two of us prepared to spring. The moment they came in range, we both leaped into the air with a flurry of movement, my orange robes flaring out as I sliced both hands and the shuriken fell upon them in a rain of silver stars, doing their work well as my fans then appeared in both hands and I snapped them open as Hak swung his glaive, slicing through several opponents at once.
"What?! He flew with that huge spear? Who is this guy?"
"And that woman, how did she move so fast?!" They began to panic and I smirked, baring my teeth viciously as I slipped in and out of the horses, using my fans to deflect spears and swords and fling men from their mounts as easily as if I were swatting a fly. As Hak took care of the soldiers to the left I took the ones on the left, keeping them at bay from the village just over the hill. "You bitch!" Someone yelled at me and I turned to face them, my stance lowered and ready. That's right, come right at me. Don't even think about trying to escape me.
My eyes were blazing with battle fire, my heart pounding in my chest as I swept out a fan to block a spear as it was thrust at me then jumped up, springing from one foot and sliced out the other to knock the man from his horse so that he landed on the ground heavily, winding him. My eyes caught a movement and I saw an arrow being aimed at Hak. "Hak behind you!" I yelled and flung out my fan with all my strength, seeing it spin through the air and it sliced straight through the bow, making it snap in half before the bladed edge then cut through the soldier's face, blinding him. I was out of shuriken and down to one fan, this isn't good.
I fought onwards, feeling my arms gradually turn to lead as I picked up a fallen sword and used that to finish off my opponents more quickly, gripping it in my right hand as my fan shielded and blocked with my other. Blood was everywhere. I could smell it, I could feel it sticking to my skin. It dripped down my face from where my enemies had been cleaved open and stained my skin with their blood until it was all I could see. When would it all end? I'm beginning to grow tired of fighting. I feel like the weight of the world was beginning to press on my shoulders.
A sword blurred through my vision and slashed through my cheek, making me yelp as hot blood gushed from the cut and a heavy boot kicked me to the ground where I laboured for breath, wincing as I tried to push myself up but my arms shook from the weight, beginning to grow too much. The soldier stood over me, lifting the sword high and my eyes widened with momentary alarm. A flash of bright light appeared before my eyes in the moment I saw the sword descend, however the solider suddenly reared back and fell before me, making me blink at him before I looked up. "Shin-Ah!"
The blue dragoon warrior sliced out his blood stained sword then reached out, gripping my arm and gently helped me to sit up. "Ryo, you are bleeding." He told me, touching my cheek where the cut sat along my cheekbone but I smiled dismissively.
"It's fine, it's not even deep." I assured him, recovering a little of my strength and I stood up. "You shouldn't be here any of you, you need to rest."
"To abandon our comrades and run away would not be a beautiful act now, would it sweet Ryo?" Jae-Ha said to me as he landed on the ground before springing back up once more, making me start before I chuckled, feeling an odd sense of homeliness with the three dragons around me.
"Very well then. Let's fight!" I yelled, drawing my sword higher and held out my fan in a battle stance before rushing into a thick clot of soldiers where Kija was being overwhelmed, giving a fierce battle roar before my fast movements had them standing in horrified awe before they all dropped at once, my sword having sliced through them all in one swoop.
Even though Kija, Jae-Ha and Shin-Ah fought, they were wobbly on their feet and sweating profusely, hardly able to make decent blows as Hak also began to falter, so I buried deep into myself to find more strength. I even punched myself in my pressure points, redirecting the flow of chi in my body to enter a state of otherworldliness, meaning that I could fight harder and longer than before.
I faced several soldiers on horseback, landing on my feet in a low stance with a snarl, eyes blazing against them as they pulled back their horses slightly. "This one…she's a demon!" One of them cried out before I flung myself straight at them. My sword sliced off a head as my fan snapped against a neck, knocking them out cold as I then stepped from horse to horse, using their backs as leverage to clear off each soldier from them before I flipped off the end elegantly, whirling around with my orange robe as it fluttered with every movement.
I heard Kija's name being screamed and I looked to see he had fallen, bleeding heavily and my heart shivered in my chest. "Kija!" Shin-Ah was there in a moment, slicing his large sword through the ones that had hurt Kija until a spear was thrust into his back, making my entire body freeze over as my scream pierced the very air. "SHIN-AH!"
By then I was fighting to reach them, snarling and grunting with every strike I made, even reaching up and grabbing a soldier from his horse and pulled him from it with one hand, sending him flying straight onto Hak's blade before I was running towards them again, calling out their names. I had to reach them. I can't let them fall. They need to live so that they could enjoy more of what life had to offer. They need to taste the world and all it's riches, I refuse to let them die in their own blood!
The soldiers broke off into two groups, half of them thundering towards the village to tear it to pieces whilst the rest stayed to finish us off. I managed to reach Kija and Shin-Ah, countering a sword aimed for Shin-Ah with a desperate yell, sweat streaming down my face as I swept my fan out to thrust the blade upwards before piercing the man's heart, looking down at him as he fell with contempt. "Do not try harming my precious people." I said in a low voice, standing before an entire army of men. "I will kill you all if you do."
"She's weak, now's our chance. Try catch her alive! I want to see what's underneath those clothes." I heard Kija and Shin-Ah snarl behind me as the men advanced, charging straight towards me however I turned a warm smile back at them.
"Kija, Shin-Ah, don't worry." I told them and they looked up at me with wide eyes. Without his mask, I could see Shin-Ah's eyes clearly and they gave me courage and strength, their golden depths filled with fear for me as Ao stood guard at his side. "I will protect your lives because they are short. I will give you as much time as I can even if it costs me my life. Even if it is just a few more seconds, it will be worth it." Looking back to face my opponents, I dipped my head slightly. "Because then I will know that my life had meant something, that I did have meaning all along no matter how small I may seem to this world. I want you to live longer so that you can enjoy it to the full."
"Ryo…Ryo!" Without another word, I sprung forwards into the fight. My strikes were hard and fast, leaving no room for mistake as I twisted my body to the side and flipped over my head, avoiding a sweep for my legs and used both weapons to defend and attack until they were fighting two completely different battles, holding off several soldiers all at once as my feet kicked up and sent another flying onto his back. "Ryo!"
I could hear their fear and it drove me forwards. I will not let them down. I will not let them down. My mind was sharpened in focus to the point of a blade, catching each and every movement until a sword pierced through my shoulder in front of me and I cried out, quickly wrenching my shoulder back to avoid a deep penetration then sliced the soldier's neck, letting him fall however as I swept my fan to block another sword, the fan was knocked from my grasp and it fell far from reach, leaving me with only my sword which I now gripped onto with both hands, breathing heavily.
There seemed to be more than what there were to begin with, however when my eyes turned to glance towards the princess who stood in the distance, I stopped in shock. Zeno…Zeno was being held in the air…by a sword. A wordless scream erupted from my mouth as I stared at Zeno, seeing the blood drip to the ground whilst tears streaked down my face. Not Zeno, not Zeno! I could feel myself shattering to pieces, my resolve dying in that one moment and I fell to my knees with a sob, the sword falling from my hands as the last of my strength disappeared. "Zeno…Zeno…" I cried his name, unable to hold back my tears until I heard the singing of metal and looked up to see a spear being pointed straight at me.
In the eyes of the soldier who wielded it, there was nothing but malicious greed and sinful bloodlust, causing me to shiver as Kija and Shin-Ah whispered my name, struggling to stay awake and they even tried to crawl over to me as I sat motionless. Three swords appeared also, pointing towards my neck and I closed my eyes after I'd tilted my head backwards, looking up at the sky. All feeling fled from my body and I felt as if I were melting, the aches and pain inside my body from my lungs to my chest making it difficult to breath. Please. Just end this. End it right now.
"Say goodbye, little demon." Someone growled before drawing back to strike. When I heard the rush of air and rustle of fabric, my eyes flew open however I saw nothing until Jae-Ha's leg appeared over me and kicked them all back, sending them all flying as he grit his teeth, sweating and crying as he then fell to his knees and I quickly caught him.
"Jae-Ha!"
"Ryo…our lives…will mean nothing…if you are not there smiling for us." Jae-Ha rasped, gripping onto my shoulder tightly as I supported his upper body, the both of us still crying until we saw Zeno stand. He stood. He stood up. How was that possible? I saw the blade myself, he can't still be alive! However as I watched, Zeno began to move, running at the soldiers again and even the ones I had been facing stopped to stare in horror. Zeno was pierced through the heart and I gasped, shuddering as I clung onto Jae-Ha and buried my face into his jacket, not wanting to watch and his arms curled around me protectively until I slowly lifted my head, looking back.
No matter what injury Zeno received, the wound always closed up and he would stand again. Was this the power of the Yellow Dragon? An unbreakable body? I couldn't watch, I just couldn't do it anymore. When they cut off Zeno's head, I had cried out and sobbed into Jae-Ha's shoulder, too distressed by it all. I couldn't see him that way, I just couldn't. "Ryo…" Jae-Ha whispered so I braved it one last time, however my eyes shot wide open, glassy and paled by the sight of Zeno's head reattaching itself to his body, the flesh stretching together before shrinking back into place, mending of its own accord.
I was terrified, shivering out of control in Jae-Ha's arms until they slid from me with a groan and he fell to the ground, shaking from his fever that raged on his skin. "Jae-Ha!" I knelt down before him, hands pressed into the earth as I tried to get him to open his eyes. "Wake up Jae-Ha!"
"That one is a monster, they're all monsters!" One of the soldiers whispered in a blind panic. "Quickly, those ones don't seem to get up after you've killed them. Let's finish them off now before they recover!" I heard their pounding footsteps, felt them shake through the earth and vibrate up my hands. I could smell the blood and sweat, even the putrid smells of death and open flesh as it lay thick within the air. This was my first real land battle. This time I didn't have the salt of the sea to mar the scents of battle.
Jae-Ha's eyes opened just as I turned, seeing the sword descend for us and he pushed me out of the way, trying to be my shield but I instinctively fought back, easily thrusting him aside and I lifted an arm to block the sword, not even thinking about what was to happen. "Ryo!" Several voices cried out my name, including Zeno's, however I hardly heard a thing. All senses blurred out of focus until I was nothing more than empty shell and the only thing that remained functional was my sight.
I watched helplessly as the blade sliced straight through my wrist, drawing a fresh spray of blood as it went through skin, flesh and bone all the way through, causing my heart to drop to my stomach as I watched my right hand drop to the ground uselessly, a bleeding stump all that remained behind. A passive silence ensued, nothing stirring as I remained in place, eyes so wide that they stung. I felt nothing. Sensed nothing. Until it all came crashing back.
My scream ripped through my chest, my left hand jumping to clutch my bleeding arm to try and quench the flow, writhing on the floor as the soldier stood over me with a grin that would haunt me for years to come. "Now I've got you!" My eyes flashed with a blazing fire whilst still bearing pain, continuing to scream as I struck out with my foot from my back and doubled him over, swing my leg out again to ram my foot into his face and dislocated his jaw, making him yell in pain as he bled too.
Wrath burned through me like a black wildfire, my aura beginning to crackle with lightning as the dark thunder clouds rolled in overhead, threatening rain and thunder as I slowly rose to my feet. I was numb all over and I could no longer feel any pain. No weariness or aching, just pure blind anger. I let go of my severed arm, letting it fall to my side until I reached up with my left hand and with a flourish, shed my outer robe and it fluttered to the ground with a silky rustle before falling still.
I stepped forwards, terrifying eyes staring at the ground as my remaining hand curled around a spear that stood up from the ground and I pulled it free, holding it out before gradually I lifted my eyes to look at the soldiers who were now as white as sheets. They will die. I have cut the string of their life and now they will forfeit with their lives. They summoned their courage to them and ran at me all together as I continued to walk, not breaking pace before I whirled around with my left hand twirling the spear, giving a powerful yell as I sliced through their chests in the first wave, cutting through their armour with a strength that rivalled Hak's. I felt no pain. I felt no restraint. I was a true demon now.
"She's…she's…"
"What are they? How do Kouka have such…terrifying beasts…?" The second wave shuddered in their boots and this time, came at me in groups, trying to circle behind me however my spear instantly whirled, thrusting out to wind around another before I forced it forwards and it pierced the belly of another soldier, making him scream as he slumped to the ground and I kicked back with a foot until it stood in a vertical line, knocking the spear upwards before I dropped my weight and spun on my knees, using my spear to knock them out before I began the dance of death.
"She's as unstoppable as the yellow haired monster, stay on guard!" As I stood limply, a sword came for my neck. I rolled my body down, around and back up, guiding my spear with my one hand even though I sometimes tried to use my other instinctively before I was painfully reminded that I no longer had a right hand to use. Instead I whirled the spear around my neck, making it spin to block off several attacks before a powerful sweep sent four of them to their graves.
"I'm not staying here just to die, retreat!" One of the soldiers yelled, dropping his weapon and running for his life so I let him go. Good. Let him cower in shame for the rest of his life. Several others followed until only one remained, his anger peaking at its zenith.
"Cowards!" He yelled before running straight towards me. This one. This was the one who took my hand. He will die. "Aaaaargh!" He raised his sword and made to strike, however I rammed the butt of my spear against his forehead, making him jolt backwards as I then whirled the spear around and thrust the point straight through his writs, making him roar in agony as I never made a sound all through my attack. The Storming Cloud always takes revenge.
With the spear now fixed through his wrist, I reached out with my left hand and curled it around his neck, squeezing tightly and he began to choke, squirming and writhing on his knees so I lifted him up, forcing him to his feet as he clawed at my hand until he drew blood but I never let go, eyes burning into his and branding his soul. "Please…please…" He whispered however my mind was vacant of mercy and my soul was pitiless. He will die.
I squeezed the life from him with just my one hand, watching as his face went pure white to ashen grey and then blue, bordering on purple until finally, he went limp. Immediately I dropped him, his glassy eyes staring outward as I looked down on him blankly, not even feeling a hint of remorse until I spun around, eyes searching for Zeno until I found him standing with a body of scales. As the princess and the others ran to him, I did too, calling out his name until I flung my arms around him and gripped on tightly, completely forgetting about my hand as I sobbed freeing into him. He'd almost died. He could have died, had he been anyone else. That was more terrifying and heart breaking than losing my hand. I'd rather lose my entire arm than lose Zeno or anyone.
"…Hey. Hey, you're all hurt." Zeno reminded us but as we all continued to cry into him, he smiled. "It's okay. I'm alive." He said before laughing as he held onto us all, our shock still wearing off as Hak and Jae-Ha stood over us.
"You're all adorable." Hak drawled as I pulled back, weakly laughing whilst still crying until I tried to brush away my tears only to find I wiped more blood onto my face. I stopped and stared at the stump, unsure of what to do, however upon seeing that it was still bleeding I quickly closed my fingers around the stump to try and stop the blood loss.
"Ryo! Your…your hand!" Yoon stuttered as I grimaced.
"Not pretty, is it?" I questioned weakly as my skin went green and everyone pulled apart to see.
"That's right, your hand…the blade…" Kija whispered before falling on his knees and pressed his head into the ground. "Forgive me for being weak Lady Ryo! If I had only been stronger and conquered my fever then you wouldn't have lost your hand!" He sobbed however I spoke in a clear and lyrical tone which brought up his head as I smiled absently into space, simply looking at the stump.
"It's alright Kija, this isn't anyone's fault but my own." I told him as Yoon hurriedly tried to make a tourniquet out of some ripped cloth. "Besides, this is the lesser of two evils. Everyone could have lost their lives. I only lost my hand." Looking up, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmingly happy as a tear slipped down my bloodied cheek. "I'm happy I could protect you. I'd rather lose this than any of you." I reasoned before my head began to throb and any colour that had been left in my face quickly disappeared after that and I slumped towards the ground where Yona lunged for me.
"Ryo!" I looked into her eyes and found her crying.
"Don't cry princess. It doesn't hurt." I lied before my eyes slid shut and I lost consciousness from the loss of too much blood.