XVII
Sohee stood in the tribal armory, looking over various armors. She wanted something that would be lightweight, but also strong. Picking up a chainmail shirt, she frowned. She certainly didn't have much selection.
A servant knocked on the door and she turned, blinking. The servant bowed deeply and held out a knife. It was kept in a solid oak case, with a jewel and the tribal emblem set on the side. Two red tassles and good luck coins hung from the hilt, which was wrapped in the finest leather. Sohee smiled and took it, hugging it to her chest. "Thank you for finding it. This knife will suit me well."
The servant looked away, biting her lip. "Your highness, I don't think it's wise to fight Lady Tenmu and Lord Kuman. The Kuman tribe is known for it's excellent martial arts capability, and the Tenmu tribe for their skill with both knives and archery. You haven't trained in any of those, I'm afraid you have the disadvantage, my lady..."
Sohee turned and smiled. "Disadvantage, you say? Lord Bongun won't be fighting. And as for Lady Munak.." she kissed the hilt of her knife and giggled. "This knife is special. It was touched by the power of that demon. Lady Munak is still very weak from being sick, one good nick with this, and she'll be on the ground begging for mercy."
The servant gasped, her eyes widening. "Y-your highness!"
Sohee blinked and looked at her coldly. "What is it?"
The servant girl looked away. She could swear her lady's eyes had turned blood red, like the demon's, but.. "it's nothing, your highness."
Sohee nodded. "That's what I thought. Go and get my clothes ready for bed. I need to get my rest so I'll be ready for tomorrow's duel."
The servant bowed and ran out. As soon as she reached the main palace, she buckled, curling up and sobbing. She was terrified. What if the plague WAS the demon? She'd never seen it, and she was scared of what her mistress had become. Crawling into the palace, she brought out the princess's nightgowns and lay in the corner, shivering and weeping.
XVIII
Marisol leaned over the edge of the shaky wooden balcony, coughing heavily. She wiped a bit of blood and mucus from her mouth with a paper and made a face, tossing the paper into the fire burning near her. She was getting sicker. She knew she looked terrible and she felt just as bad. It just wasn't fair. She was one of the finest professors of fire-art in Geffen, the honored ambassador to Glast Heim. She had powers beyond imagining, but she was crippled by a stupid sickness. If those savages in Payon had just left well enough alone, she thought, maybe I wouldn't be sick.
Far off in the distance, she could hear her soldiers from Geffen whooping and hollering. She'd gotten the majority of them good and drunk, and given them fast Pecos. They were bait, targets to call the monster of this forest into the open. It was said that the monster dropped a leaf from a legendary tree, and said leaf would bring the dead back to life; not undead, but truly living. She smiled. Even if she died now, she wouldn't have to worry, as long as she destroyed the monster. It would give her a suitable excuse to use her powers, anyway.
Leaning over the railing, Marisol closed her eyes, feeling as though she were burning to death. Shivering, she looked up, glancing at the moon as it rose. Soon, very soon, she wouldn't have to worry about being sick anymore.
XIX
Sun-Kwai was a happy man. He strode through the palace, throwing open screens and breathing in the air. Though still cold, the trees showed signs of early budding. He guessed about another week until the flowers began to bloom, and his daughter would be wed.
He frowned. A scroll had arrived from King Tristam the night before, telling him to evacuate his family and servants to Alberta or Prontera. It didn't say why, and interrogating the messenger didn't help a bit. He figured he'd just have to take the King's word for it and leave. It was a pity, too. He hoped to be able to return to the palace in time for Sohee to get married. He would have to take the Kuman family as well, so Lord Bongun wouldn't miss them..
He had been warning people all morning. The servants had packed all the chests in the palace, and more servants were making additional chests as fast as they could. A caravan was prepared to take them to Prontera, and from there they would journey to Glast Heim. Though nothing like Payon, he believed it would be just as suitable for Sohee's wedding.
He stepped into his daughter's room, blinking in surprise. He hadn't seen her since her engagement, as she ate separately from him and spent all her time in her room. Her face seemed paler and drawn, and her hair less shiny. There was an angry determination in her eyes, as she sat in the middle of her room. She stared out through the screens at the outside, her favorite violet and red dress on, her hair done up with ribbons and pins once more. Her hands were folded tightly in her lap, and a writing box sat next to her, a servant hurriedly grinding some ink for her. She didn't even look up when he pulled up a cushion and sat down next to her, looking out on the world as well. "Sohee..?"
She clenched her jaw. He sighed. Maybe she'd heard afterall. Uneasy silence stretched until finally she spoke, "what is it, Father?"
He rubbed the back of his head, stinging. Her voice was cold and hard, sharp enough to cut wood. "Sohee, we're going to leave tonight for Prontera, then Glast Heim. King Tristam would like to meet you and Lord Kuman, something about wanting to know who his people are.. er.. are you ready to leave?" He lied, glancing at her.
She narrowed her eyes and turned, taking up the brush and writing on one of the papers. "I do wish I'd had more notice," she finally said, not looking at him. "However, I will have everything packed and prepared to leave. I will be ready at sundown; I have something to attend to first, then Lord Bongun and I will be ready to leave."
He blinked. The note said to be evacuated before sunset, but he was sure whatever it was could wait for her. "Very well, shall I inform Lord Kuman and his tribe?"
She smiled, a cold yet sad smile. "There will be no need. I will be meeting with him soon, and I shall inform him then. Please wait outside the gates, the servants will likely be there with my belongings as well. I may run a little late, though I do hope to be done long before sunset."
He nodded, then stood, stretching and looking at her as she stood. Yes, she'd grown somehow. He wasn't sure how, but most certainly.. he shrugged it off and hugged her tightly, smelling her jasmine-scented hair and sighing. "Alright. I will see you there soon. Please be prompt, dear daughter, it's imperative that we leave as soon as possible." he said, and she nodded, staring at the ground. Sighing, he patted her hair and left, closing the door behind him. Returning to his quarters, he began assisting the servants in packing the various things of the castle.
XX
Munak knelt before her grandmother's mirror, running an opaline comb through her long brown hair. She just needed to pull her overskirt on, then she'd be ready to leave. Since it was still cold, she kept her dark red flannel dress on, and an ancient ninja suit underneath, a gift from her father when she was very young.
Her mother stepped into the room, sighing. She'd snuck back home to get some belongings earlier, only to find her daughter practicing with a knife on the tree trunk used to prop up the broken ceiling. After hearing Munak's story, she'd agreed to help her daughter prepare. "Are you ready to have your hair braided, dear?"
Munak nodded, gently placing the comb back in the small jewelry chest next to her. She bowed her head slightly, as her mother knelt behind her and gently pulled her hair back. Picking up her diary, she flipped through the pages, sighing. So many memories; Bongun learning to paint and doing a portrait of her, her times at school, parties and happiness throughout her whole childhood. The book fell open, to where she'd dropped it when the demon awoke, and she read what was written there..
~10th day, 6th month
It's so hot here. It was hot yesterday, but it's worse today. It's worse now than it was earlier. Something happened earlier. I was sitting outside about to write in here, about something I forgot already, and I heard a high sound, like a bell. Then everyone started screaming, and houses exploded into flames across the village, and Father ran outside and picked me up and threw me in the house and barred the door. I don't know where he is. He's been gone for hours. Great-grandmother says it's a demon. She said that when she traveled in a far away land, she heard a demon there too. But that demon screamed, and it sent a plague of ants everywhere. There aren't any ants here. Just burned pieces of houses and the sound of barking and howling and people screaming. I hope Bongun's okay. I'm really scared for him. I saw his father running to the screaming noises with his bow and quiver earlier, and Bongun was running after him. I hope they're okay. I'm scared.
Mother said we can't have a hot dinner tonight. We can only eat vegetables and pickled fish and - UGH - red-paste covered roots. I HATE red paste. I don't know if it's even called that, I just know it's red and it tastes so terrible. Like spicy, but not, and kinda gritty and like vomit. Ugh. I guess I should go help her make dinner. Maybe I can convince her to forget the red paste.
Munak 3~
"Mother, remember when the demon awoke, and we couldn't cook for three nights because the smoke would attract the demon, and I refused to eat that nasty red paste and got so hungry? And when the demon was gone, you cooked a boar and I ate a whole leg and got sick for a week?" Munak said, smiling as she turned the page.
Her mother laughed slightly, straightening the braid a little. "Yes, I remember that. Bongun teased you and said you were going to turn into a boar, and you stole your father's arrow file and filed down your teeth so they wouldn't become tusks."
Munak laughed, closing the book and hugging it. "Yeah.. but everything was weird after the demon came. He always had to leave because someone or another at the palace wanted him, and then they got him engaged to HER..."
Her mother kissed her hair and began tying a white ribbon around the end. "Your father and I were here when he became the chief. We'd just been married, and a boy here beat the prince to death. The chief then didn't care for his son anyway, so he named his son's murderer prince in his place. That's why the current Chief has no wife; she was heartbroken over being forced to marry her love's murderer, and took her own life after her daughter was born. The Chief never knew anything about respecting other people's belongings, Munak. I guess after getting rewarded for murder, he figured he could do it to other people as well and get away with it. I'm proud of you for standing up to keep Bongun, dear."
Munak nodded, slipping her diary in the pocket of her dress and hugging her mother. "The princess is going to cheat, Mother, I know she is. But I'll do my very best to defeat her. I promise, I'll try to come home as soon as I can."
Her mother smiled, wiping her eyes. "Be careful, dear," she said, helping her daughter into the tight overskirt. "I know Bongun is worth a lot to you, but I don't want you to die."
Munak smiled, helping her mother up and giving her the mirror and jewelry chest. "I know, Mother. I'll be careful" she said, helping her mother out of the house. Looking to the west, she sat down on the steps, watching her mother walk back to the Kuman tribe's home. "Thirty minutes.."
XXI
High on a hill overlooking the town, Bongun stood, staring at a grave before him. A statue stood on the grave, marking who lay there and why. It showed a handsome man, firing an arrow up. The detail on the statue was impressive; his determined and courageous expression, the tribal emblems on his clothes, even his long greyish blue hair, pulled back tightly, was highly detailed. At the warrior's feet was a gravestone, with elegant script reading-
Prince Hosang
Lord of Kuman
During the command of Chief Sun-Kwai
he fought the demon of Payon
mortally wounding the terrific beast
Bongun had come here every week since that horrible day. Sometimes for advice, but mostly to just sit and stare up at his father's statue in awe. His beloved father, who had taught him everything about martial arts, upon learning that Bongun had no skill in archery. The man who'd married an exiled princess of Glast Heim, and knew more about the world than anyone else.
~"Bongun, come here."
He looked up from the dead wolf he was tenderizing for his mother. "What is it?"
Hosang, the Lord of Kuman, smiled and beckoned him over. He cracked open the gate, and gestured to Bongun. He peeked through, seeing the young lady Tenmu not far away, playing with some other girls from a servant tribe. "Your friend Munak, yes?" Hosang said, smiling. When his son nodded, he continued, "Since her birth, you two have been betrothed. It fills me with pride to see that my son gets along so well with his future bride. She's ten years old now, Bongun. Take good care of that girl."
He looked again through the gate, watching Munak run back to her house, then sit outside with a book. He'd always felt a special deep caring for her, but hadn't known it was fated to be so. Bongun smiled and pressed his hand against the gate, wanting to run out there and scoop her up, cuddle her tight forever more.
A woman's scream pierced the air and Hosang shoved Bongun aside, flinging open the gate. A woman ran in, blood pouring from a deep gash in her forehead. "Lord Kuman! My husband, Lord Tannyo-!"
Lady Kuman rushed out, wiping her wet hands on her apron. "Lady Tannyo, what happened?!"
Lady Tannyo screamed again, falling into the other woman's arms and sobbing hysterically. Somewhere on the other side of the village, not far from the palace, the sound of bells and barking began to fill the air. Lady Tannyo glanced up, looking back fearfully at the noise, then ran into the house, screaming about a demon. Hosang grabbed his quiver from the step and his Gakkung from the hook by the door, running out the gate. Bongun grabbed his hat and gave chase, but was soon stopped by his father shooting at him. The arrow grazed his arm and he yelled, falling to his knees. "GET BACK INSIDE WITH YOUR MOTHER, BOY, THIS IS NO PLACE FOR YOU!" Hosang shouted, then turned and ran into the now-forming crowd around the demon. Bongun tried to stand, but the pain in his arm was too great; he guessed it was one of his father's poisoned arrows, though probably not on purpose. Looking up, he watched helplessly as the demon slammed a huge golden bell through the crowd, clearing a wide swath and leaving blood and corpses everywhere. Hosang drew back a shining holy arrow, shouting a blessing and firing it at the demon. It struck her in the chest and she screamed, falling back a bit, then raising her bell one more time.
Bongun shook his head. Memories about everything were flooding back to him, as they always did. Curling up on the ground, he looked up at his father's avatar, rubbing tears from his eyes. "Father, tonight I'm going to watch Munak and the princess fight and it's all my fault. One of them will die because of me. I don't know what to do. If I support Munak, then I betray my village. If I support the princess, then I betray the person I most love. Father, please tell me what I should do.." he sobbed, pulling a scroll from his jacket. He stared at it, tears coming to his eyes. It was the first painting he'd ever done of Munak, on her ninth birthday. She was so adorable and innocent then, and it pained him to see how much she'd changed.
The ground rumbled under him, and he looked up, realizing it was already almost time. Stuffing the scroll back in his pocket, he bowed and excused himself from his father's grave, then ran down the hill to the sacred warrior grounds near the temple. The time had come, and he finally knew what to do.
Sohee stood in the tribal armory, looking over various armors. She wanted something that would be lightweight, but also strong. Picking up a chainmail shirt, she frowned. She certainly didn't have much selection.
A servant knocked on the door and she turned, blinking. The servant bowed deeply and held out a knife. It was kept in a solid oak case, with a jewel and the tribal emblem set on the side. Two red tassles and good luck coins hung from the hilt, which was wrapped in the finest leather. Sohee smiled and took it, hugging it to her chest. "Thank you for finding it. This knife will suit me well."
The servant looked away, biting her lip. "Your highness, I don't think it's wise to fight Lady Tenmu and Lord Kuman. The Kuman tribe is known for it's excellent martial arts capability, and the Tenmu tribe for their skill with both knives and archery. You haven't trained in any of those, I'm afraid you have the disadvantage, my lady..."
Sohee turned and smiled. "Disadvantage, you say? Lord Bongun won't be fighting. And as for Lady Munak.." she kissed the hilt of her knife and giggled. "This knife is special. It was touched by the power of that demon. Lady Munak is still very weak from being sick, one good nick with this, and she'll be on the ground begging for mercy."
The servant gasped, her eyes widening. "Y-your highness!"
Sohee blinked and looked at her coldly. "What is it?"
The servant girl looked away. She could swear her lady's eyes had turned blood red, like the demon's, but.. "it's nothing, your highness."
Sohee nodded. "That's what I thought. Go and get my clothes ready for bed. I need to get my rest so I'll be ready for tomorrow's duel."
The servant bowed and ran out. As soon as she reached the main palace, she buckled, curling up and sobbing. She was terrified. What if the plague WAS the demon? She'd never seen it, and she was scared of what her mistress had become. Crawling into the palace, she brought out the princess's nightgowns and lay in the corner, shivering and weeping.
XVIII
Marisol leaned over the edge of the shaky wooden balcony, coughing heavily. She wiped a bit of blood and mucus from her mouth with a paper and made a face, tossing the paper into the fire burning near her. She was getting sicker. She knew she looked terrible and she felt just as bad. It just wasn't fair. She was one of the finest professors of fire-art in Geffen, the honored ambassador to Glast Heim. She had powers beyond imagining, but she was crippled by a stupid sickness. If those savages in Payon had just left well enough alone, she thought, maybe I wouldn't be sick.
Far off in the distance, she could hear her soldiers from Geffen whooping and hollering. She'd gotten the majority of them good and drunk, and given them fast Pecos. They were bait, targets to call the monster of this forest into the open. It was said that the monster dropped a leaf from a legendary tree, and said leaf would bring the dead back to life; not undead, but truly living. She smiled. Even if she died now, she wouldn't have to worry, as long as she destroyed the monster. It would give her a suitable excuse to use her powers, anyway.
Leaning over the railing, Marisol closed her eyes, feeling as though she were burning to death. Shivering, she looked up, glancing at the moon as it rose. Soon, very soon, she wouldn't have to worry about being sick anymore.
XIX
Sun-Kwai was a happy man. He strode through the palace, throwing open screens and breathing in the air. Though still cold, the trees showed signs of early budding. He guessed about another week until the flowers began to bloom, and his daughter would be wed.
He frowned. A scroll had arrived from King Tristam the night before, telling him to evacuate his family and servants to Alberta or Prontera. It didn't say why, and interrogating the messenger didn't help a bit. He figured he'd just have to take the King's word for it and leave. It was a pity, too. He hoped to be able to return to the palace in time for Sohee to get married. He would have to take the Kuman family as well, so Lord Bongun wouldn't miss them..
He had been warning people all morning. The servants had packed all the chests in the palace, and more servants were making additional chests as fast as they could. A caravan was prepared to take them to Prontera, and from there they would journey to Glast Heim. Though nothing like Payon, he believed it would be just as suitable for Sohee's wedding.
He stepped into his daughter's room, blinking in surprise. He hadn't seen her since her engagement, as she ate separately from him and spent all her time in her room. Her face seemed paler and drawn, and her hair less shiny. There was an angry determination in her eyes, as she sat in the middle of her room. She stared out through the screens at the outside, her favorite violet and red dress on, her hair done up with ribbons and pins once more. Her hands were folded tightly in her lap, and a writing box sat next to her, a servant hurriedly grinding some ink for her. She didn't even look up when he pulled up a cushion and sat down next to her, looking out on the world as well. "Sohee..?"
She clenched her jaw. He sighed. Maybe she'd heard afterall. Uneasy silence stretched until finally she spoke, "what is it, Father?"
He rubbed the back of his head, stinging. Her voice was cold and hard, sharp enough to cut wood. "Sohee, we're going to leave tonight for Prontera, then Glast Heim. King Tristam would like to meet you and Lord Kuman, something about wanting to know who his people are.. er.. are you ready to leave?" He lied, glancing at her.
She narrowed her eyes and turned, taking up the brush and writing on one of the papers. "I do wish I'd had more notice," she finally said, not looking at him. "However, I will have everything packed and prepared to leave. I will be ready at sundown; I have something to attend to first, then Lord Bongun and I will be ready to leave."
He blinked. The note said to be evacuated before sunset, but he was sure whatever it was could wait for her. "Very well, shall I inform Lord Kuman and his tribe?"
She smiled, a cold yet sad smile. "There will be no need. I will be meeting with him soon, and I shall inform him then. Please wait outside the gates, the servants will likely be there with my belongings as well. I may run a little late, though I do hope to be done long before sunset."
He nodded, then stood, stretching and looking at her as she stood. Yes, she'd grown somehow. He wasn't sure how, but most certainly.. he shrugged it off and hugged her tightly, smelling her jasmine-scented hair and sighing. "Alright. I will see you there soon. Please be prompt, dear daughter, it's imperative that we leave as soon as possible." he said, and she nodded, staring at the ground. Sighing, he patted her hair and left, closing the door behind him. Returning to his quarters, he began assisting the servants in packing the various things of the castle.
XX
Munak knelt before her grandmother's mirror, running an opaline comb through her long brown hair. She just needed to pull her overskirt on, then she'd be ready to leave. Since it was still cold, she kept her dark red flannel dress on, and an ancient ninja suit underneath, a gift from her father when she was very young.
Her mother stepped into the room, sighing. She'd snuck back home to get some belongings earlier, only to find her daughter practicing with a knife on the tree trunk used to prop up the broken ceiling. After hearing Munak's story, she'd agreed to help her daughter prepare. "Are you ready to have your hair braided, dear?"
Munak nodded, gently placing the comb back in the small jewelry chest next to her. She bowed her head slightly, as her mother knelt behind her and gently pulled her hair back. Picking up her diary, she flipped through the pages, sighing. So many memories; Bongun learning to paint and doing a portrait of her, her times at school, parties and happiness throughout her whole childhood. The book fell open, to where she'd dropped it when the demon awoke, and she read what was written there..
~10th day, 6th month
It's so hot here. It was hot yesterday, but it's worse today. It's worse now than it was earlier. Something happened earlier. I was sitting outside about to write in here, about something I forgot already, and I heard a high sound, like a bell. Then everyone started screaming, and houses exploded into flames across the village, and Father ran outside and picked me up and threw me in the house and barred the door. I don't know where he is. He's been gone for hours. Great-grandmother says it's a demon. She said that when she traveled in a far away land, she heard a demon there too. But that demon screamed, and it sent a plague of ants everywhere. There aren't any ants here. Just burned pieces of houses and the sound of barking and howling and people screaming. I hope Bongun's okay. I'm really scared for him. I saw his father running to the screaming noises with his bow and quiver earlier, and Bongun was running after him. I hope they're okay. I'm scared.
Mother said we can't have a hot dinner tonight. We can only eat vegetables and pickled fish and - UGH - red-paste covered roots. I HATE red paste. I don't know if it's even called that, I just know it's red and it tastes so terrible. Like spicy, but not, and kinda gritty and like vomit. Ugh. I guess I should go help her make dinner. Maybe I can convince her to forget the red paste.
Munak 3~
"Mother, remember when the demon awoke, and we couldn't cook for three nights because the smoke would attract the demon, and I refused to eat that nasty red paste and got so hungry? And when the demon was gone, you cooked a boar and I ate a whole leg and got sick for a week?" Munak said, smiling as she turned the page.
Her mother laughed slightly, straightening the braid a little. "Yes, I remember that. Bongun teased you and said you were going to turn into a boar, and you stole your father's arrow file and filed down your teeth so they wouldn't become tusks."
Munak laughed, closing the book and hugging it. "Yeah.. but everything was weird after the demon came. He always had to leave because someone or another at the palace wanted him, and then they got him engaged to HER..."
Her mother kissed her hair and began tying a white ribbon around the end. "Your father and I were here when he became the chief. We'd just been married, and a boy here beat the prince to death. The chief then didn't care for his son anyway, so he named his son's murderer prince in his place. That's why the current Chief has no wife; she was heartbroken over being forced to marry her love's murderer, and took her own life after her daughter was born. The Chief never knew anything about respecting other people's belongings, Munak. I guess after getting rewarded for murder, he figured he could do it to other people as well and get away with it. I'm proud of you for standing up to keep Bongun, dear."
Munak nodded, slipping her diary in the pocket of her dress and hugging her mother. "The princess is going to cheat, Mother, I know she is. But I'll do my very best to defeat her. I promise, I'll try to come home as soon as I can."
Her mother smiled, wiping her eyes. "Be careful, dear," she said, helping her daughter into the tight overskirt. "I know Bongun is worth a lot to you, but I don't want you to die."
Munak smiled, helping her mother up and giving her the mirror and jewelry chest. "I know, Mother. I'll be careful" she said, helping her mother out of the house. Looking to the west, she sat down on the steps, watching her mother walk back to the Kuman tribe's home. "Thirty minutes.."
XXI
High on a hill overlooking the town, Bongun stood, staring at a grave before him. A statue stood on the grave, marking who lay there and why. It showed a handsome man, firing an arrow up. The detail on the statue was impressive; his determined and courageous expression, the tribal emblems on his clothes, even his long greyish blue hair, pulled back tightly, was highly detailed. At the warrior's feet was a gravestone, with elegant script reading-
Prince Hosang
Lord of Kuman
During the command of Chief Sun-Kwai
he fought the demon of Payon
mortally wounding the terrific beast
Bongun had come here every week since that horrible day. Sometimes for advice, but mostly to just sit and stare up at his father's statue in awe. His beloved father, who had taught him everything about martial arts, upon learning that Bongun had no skill in archery. The man who'd married an exiled princess of Glast Heim, and knew more about the world than anyone else.
~"Bongun, come here."
He looked up from the dead wolf he was tenderizing for his mother. "What is it?"
Hosang, the Lord of Kuman, smiled and beckoned him over. He cracked open the gate, and gestured to Bongun. He peeked through, seeing the young lady Tenmu not far away, playing with some other girls from a servant tribe. "Your friend Munak, yes?" Hosang said, smiling. When his son nodded, he continued, "Since her birth, you two have been betrothed. It fills me with pride to see that my son gets along so well with his future bride. She's ten years old now, Bongun. Take good care of that girl."
He looked again through the gate, watching Munak run back to her house, then sit outside with a book. He'd always felt a special deep caring for her, but hadn't known it was fated to be so. Bongun smiled and pressed his hand against the gate, wanting to run out there and scoop her up, cuddle her tight forever more.
A woman's scream pierced the air and Hosang shoved Bongun aside, flinging open the gate. A woman ran in, blood pouring from a deep gash in her forehead. "Lord Kuman! My husband, Lord Tannyo-!"
Lady Kuman rushed out, wiping her wet hands on her apron. "Lady Tannyo, what happened?!"
Lady Tannyo screamed again, falling into the other woman's arms and sobbing hysterically. Somewhere on the other side of the village, not far from the palace, the sound of bells and barking began to fill the air. Lady Tannyo glanced up, looking back fearfully at the noise, then ran into the house, screaming about a demon. Hosang grabbed his quiver from the step and his Gakkung from the hook by the door, running out the gate. Bongun grabbed his hat and gave chase, but was soon stopped by his father shooting at him. The arrow grazed his arm and he yelled, falling to his knees. "GET BACK INSIDE WITH YOUR MOTHER, BOY, THIS IS NO PLACE FOR YOU!" Hosang shouted, then turned and ran into the now-forming crowd around the demon. Bongun tried to stand, but the pain in his arm was too great; he guessed it was one of his father's poisoned arrows, though probably not on purpose. Looking up, he watched helplessly as the demon slammed a huge golden bell through the crowd, clearing a wide swath and leaving blood and corpses everywhere. Hosang drew back a shining holy arrow, shouting a blessing and firing it at the demon. It struck her in the chest and she screamed, falling back a bit, then raising her bell one more time.
Bongun shook his head. Memories about everything were flooding back to him, as they always did. Curling up on the ground, he looked up at his father's avatar, rubbing tears from his eyes. "Father, tonight I'm going to watch Munak and the princess fight and it's all my fault. One of them will die because of me. I don't know what to do. If I support Munak, then I betray my village. If I support the princess, then I betray the person I most love. Father, please tell me what I should do.." he sobbed, pulling a scroll from his jacket. He stared at it, tears coming to his eyes. It was the first painting he'd ever done of Munak, on her ninth birthday. She was so adorable and innocent then, and it pained him to see how much she'd changed.
The ground rumbled under him, and he looked up, realizing it was already almost time. Stuffing the scroll back in his pocket, he bowed and excused himself from his father's grave, then ran down the hill to the sacred warrior grounds near the temple. The time had come, and he finally knew what to do.