Shin ae flumped back on her bed, pulling the comforter upto her chin. What a tiring day! She let out her breath. She casually wondered if Yeong gi succeeded in his venture or was he ultimately roped into a horrifying dance by that girl. She chuckled as his helpless visage came into her thoughts. Poor guy.. Her thoughts naturally gravitated towards her own dance that went equally as horrifying if not more. She grimaced.


Kousuke placed a hand around her lower back as he pulled her into the middle of the pavilion. The loud music inside the ballroom had diminished greatly in terms of volume and pitch but the notes carried over through enough to guide them. Guide him.

"I don't know how to dance! Not this kind of dance anyway," Shin ae panicked. Couldn't her mind chosen a minute earlier to go into panic mode?

"Relax and just follow my lead," he instructed. "Match my steps."

"I'm trying!" but her moves were either too late or they were completely out of sync.

"Your posture is all wrong. You're too tensed," he commented. Shin ae glared back at him.

"That definitely helped," Shin ae snapped. Her anger faded slightly as she stepped onto his foot leading to a wince.

"Don't overthink it," he finally said in a softer voice. "There's no one here but us. Let your body flow with the beats. Close your eyes, if that helps and try to feel the music."

Shin ae looked into his eyes with some reservations but then chose to follow his advice. The world disappeared and she found herself noticing details that had completely eluded her a second prior. She could hear the swell in rhythm and how his movements matched it, as he gently pulled her in one direction before guiding her to the next. His arm encircling her back in a reliable, secure grip. The music soared, sweeping her under the waves as he let go of her back.

"Twirl," a soft whisper breathed against her ear. And she spell bound followed the command before finally facing him. Her eyes opened up to meet with a pair of liquid azure ones gazing back at her.

"That was way better than I expected. I thought you might be a lost cause," he remarked.

And the spell dissipated just as easily. Shin ae stomped onto his foot, before swivelling around to leave. This jerk needs a filter, she fumed. Yeong gi was absolutely right. Insensitive brat.

Ugh. Shin ae pulled the comforter over her head. Way to ruin the evening. Smooth. Really smooth. What do the girls even see in him?! She'll need to disillusion Rika and Maya the first thing the next morning. And with that final thought, Shin ae dozed off to a peaceful slumber.

The next thing she knew someone was roughly shaking her awake. "What?" she grumbled but sprang up wide awake when her eyes fell over Minhyuk's crestfallen expression. "What's wrong?"

"Have you seen Nol?"

"Not after last evening. Why?" she cautiously replied.

"You need to dress up. The King is dead."


A soft sound awoke Yeong gi. He wasn't a light sleeper, so it was definitely surprising and for a second, he couldn't quite figure out what disturbed his sleep. The rain was pouring endlessly and the curtains billowed into his room through the French windows. Must be a cat, he dismissed the tingling itch. Yeong gi stretched out his arms before cosying up into his comforter. He ached all over. Those girls were more exhausting than a rigorous session with the sword master. He rolled his shoulders, to let go of some of the pent up tension. Damn that cat, all he wanted was to sleep off the exhaustion. It was a long day ahead and he diligently hoped the weather would clear up by the coming morning. Knowing his sword instructor, he would very well be expected to show up tomorrow nonetheless. He grimaced. Hopefully the rain will relent somehow.. His trail of thoughts came to a sudden halt.

Hang on.. He tensed, his senses on alert. He had definitely closed off those windows before leaping to bed. Cold dread slowly seeped into his veins. His ears perked up as a softer new sound reached them. Someone was in his room. And it definitely wasn't a cat. And it was close.

He made a sudden move, taking the assault guy by surprise. Within moments, he had him cornered against the wall as he shoved his elbow into his throat.

"Guards," Yeong gi called out. "I've got an intruder." Footsteps reverberated behind the doors as someone unlocked it. Yeong gi focused back on the guy at hand.

"Who sent you? Help is on the way.. You've no way out," Yeong gi's elbow pressed deeper. "I asked, who sent you?"

A maniac grin came over his face.

"What the.." and Yeong gi realized a second too late that what kind of help was on its way. A sharp burst of pain cut through his head as something heavy collided with the side of his head. By instinct, he recoiled away from the perpetrator, his hand covering his temple only to be met with something thick and fluid.

Sangchul grinned, flanked by two men in guards uniform.

"Told you, your good days were numbered."

Years of training kicked in and it only took Yeong gi a moment to assess his condition. He was vastly out numbered but what he couldn't understand was why was he doing this?

"Are you out of your mind?" he snarled. "Do you have a death wish? You will be executed for this."

"No offense mate. This is not our petty rivalries. Although that definitely adds to the fun." Sangchul lightly toyed with the blunt weapon he had in hand. "But just cause it will shatter you to pieces to hear this. I was ordered by THE Queen. Or should I say the new head of state? The King died a rather brutal death by her hand. Not so scary anymore, huh?" he smirked.

The floor nearly slipped off under his feet. Yeong gi looked dumb founded back at his delirious glint. He felt distant and disassociated. His ears were ringing and blood rushed through his head as his heart sank.

"You can't be serious," he whispered, as if saying it aloud will manifest the outcome he desired.

Sangchul's grin faded. "You disappoint me, Nol. I thought you're smarter than this." He gave him a disgusted look.

"Men, just finish him off. He's as good as dead." he turned his back to the red head boy.

The word jolted him back to his senses. Dead. If he doesn't do anything now, he'll be as good as dead. He pulled hard onto the draperies by his side, that flew over the advancing attackers.

"What.. " but Yeong gi didn't wait to gauze Sangchul's reaction as he flung himself over the large window. It was a hard fall and Yeong gi flinched as pain shot out in multiple locations, indicating broken bones.. He stumbled towards the low wall barricading the grounds leading to his wing. A last glance over his shoulders showed him a furious Sangchul before Yeong gi jumped into the river flowing on the opposite side of the wall. A natural barrier to protect the Kingdom and one he hoped would protect him too.


.

Yeong gi ran and reached out his hands towards his mother, who enveloped him in a warm hug. Her melodious laugh ringing like music to his ears.

"Don't ever leave me," he pleaded as she detached herself to give him an angelic smile.

"Don't you dare get closer!" His eyes widened as his mother morphed into an older kid with raven black hair.

"But.. But.. You're my brother," cried Yeong gi as tears blurred his vision.

The older boy gave him a cold, see-through glance, "You're my competition."

Yeong gi jolted awake in terror. His eyes frantically scanned through the dimly lit room, trying to get his bearing.. Where was he? He needs to get out of here!

He sprang to his feet quickly when a voice cut through the air, stopping him on his tracks.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Who are you?" called out Yeong gi. A sudden bout of dizziness hit him strongly and he collapsed back onto the bed.

"Told you so," the figure murmured as it lighted a gas lamp. Bright golden light flooded into the room, giving Yeong gi a better view of the owner. Large blue innocent eyes. A crew cut crown of blond hair framed a delicate, deathly pale face.

"I'm Dieter." The boy pulled out a stool and took his seat. "I'm the one who found you.. At the riverbank near the woods.. You were barely conscious.. You looked like you needed help." He casted him a concerned look. "How are you feeling now?"

"Dieter.." Yeong gi rolled his tongue over the syllables.. "How long was I out?"

"You slept for two days straight. Give or take.. But that's expected. You lost some blood."

Yeong gi's hand automatically shot up to assess his wound. Someone had meticulously applied a bandage. Memories of his assault flooded across his head in brief flashbacks. Father. Yui. Sangchul. Kousuke. His head hurt.

"You should take it easy," Dieter furrowed his brows. "You're thinking too hard, aren't you?"

Yeong gi clenched his fists. "I wasn't thinking hard enough," he replied bitterly. Anger coursed through his veins like acid, burning him from inside. Chewing him hollow. "I couldn't do anything. Except play right into their hands."

"There was little you could do. To win their game, you need to play by their rules," murmured Dieter softly.

Yeong gi's head snapped up to look him in the eye. "Do you know who I am?"

"Everyone knows who you are. Calm down. If I wanted to sell you out, you wouldn't be here this long."

"Then why?" Yeong gi puzzled over his motives.. "They would probably give you some handsome reward.."

Dieter looked offended. "Cause you needed help. And I'm also rooting for you like everyone else. Cause leaving you in their hands would probably mean certain death.. or worse."

Yeong gi stared hard at him for a long time. "How do I play by their rules?"


The cavern was gigantic inside. No, Yeong gi corrected his thoughts. The cavern is an illusion and what was inside was far beyond his wildest dreams. It was like an underground church or town, sculpted tirelessly over the years, to carve a secret hideout for a cult of.. assassins?. A coven of witches? He wasn't sure. Soushi, an acquaintance of Dieter, led him through the secret tunnels, carved out in the reflection of an underground passage, until they emerged into an area flanked by tall pillars, the evenly spaced sconces of torchlight dimly litting the vast enclosure in mysterious dance of light and shadows.

He found himself facing a semi circle of hooded figures. Soushi rested a reassuring hand over his shoulder before backing away into the shadows. Yeong gi turned around to face the central figure. Time hung heavy with suspense as he waited with baited breath for the verdict.

"Nol "Yeong gi" Hirahara." The lady pronounced in a deep, resonating voice. "You've passed all our tests and demonstrated a skill and mental fortitude like no other. Are you still committed to the cause? Are you ready to sacrifice your life in the service of our lady of last breaths?"

This was it. Yeong gi channeled his every bit of resolve into his words. "If it brings me closer to my quest for vengeance, then in a heartbeat, yes."

"Do you swear to protect our secrecy and never regret the choice of swearing our allegiance? Are you ready to sacrifice everything you have?"

"Yes."

"What about what you don't have?"

Yeong gi paused. Then a sarcastic grin touched his lips, "I'm sure I'll miss that. Yes. Yes. Yes. How many times do I have to say yes! If you get me my revenge, my kingdom back, then I don't care if I have to sell my soul to the devil for that."

His words echoed in the hollow chamber and was met with pin drop silence. Yeong gi's hard gaze pierced through the hood. As if daring her to reject him.

After a moment, the head figure peeled back her hood and the rest followed. "Welcome to our secret society. Your training will begin soon after you pledge yourself to our worthy cause. An acolyte will guide you shortly through our rituals. She nodded towards a thin girl with long blonde hair reaching till her waist. The girl extricated herself from the circle and approached him.

Her Amber eyes looked up to meet his determined ones and for a second, a hint of doubt flickered through the Amber depths as she bit her lip. "Follow me please."

Yeong gi threw a last glance at the head figure who loomed over him like a goddess of death herself before following the girl's retreating back.

She led him through a hidden door and a narrow staircase till they reached a large sculpture of a hooded lady holding a dagger by both hands. Alyssa walked over to her feet, right in the very middle of the room, surrounded by a graveyard full of daggers, half buried into the earth. She gracefully picked up a cup of paint and a pointed blade as Yeong gi walked over to her.

"What is this?" he questioned.

"A mark of your determination. A tattoo of our allegiance."

Yeong gi nodded, rolling back his sleeves.

"Are you sure you want this?"

His eyes looked up to see her staring intently back at him. A slight frown marring her features.

He turned his arm towards her in response. After a brief pause, she made herself comfortable near the foot of the sculpture, gesturing Yeong gi to follow suit.

Yeong gi settled down in an upright kneeling position, back straight and fists clenched as the sharp burn of the needle met his hard skin. Memories of a palace life long past scattered through his head. This time, he'll be strong. This time he'll make them pay. Everyone who took everything from him.

He didn't even realise that his nails were digging into his palms, making them bleed until the girl's warm hand gently pried them apart.

He looked up, startled, to see her focusing back on her work, a gentle crease furrowing her brows as she meticulously drew in every little detail. And for the remaining span of the job, he kept his eyes fixated on her face.