A wish is a wish: Wishgranter

~Many years in the past~

„Wait up!" A male, seemingly in his teens, yells „Don't leave me behind"

„Then run faster" The female woman says. She's dressed in a loose grey coat with blue outlining and has light violet hair „How are you going to run from bullies like this?"

„I'm not going to run" He states „If they want a fight, they get one. Besides no one would bully me"

„Sure, sure. Come on Bigak, faster"

„Ugh... I hate you"

„You seem to hate everything"

„True"

„Come on, faster"

„Ye- Wha!" Bigak trips on a vine, stumbling a bit before he regains his balance and runs again.

„Since when were you this clumsy, Bigak?"

„I'm not clumsy!"

„Sure"

After a while, the two come to a stop at a rocky mountain side. They sit down on some stones.

„Why do you care so much anyway Sarah?" Bigak asks slightly curious.

„You're my family you know, I raised you after all!"

He looks at her unamused „I could already take care of myself when you found me"

„I know. But it still feels like I did. I mean it, you're like a brother to me"

„Quit teasing me! Y-... You... You horrible old hag!" He reponds sharply with a stutter.

„Excuse me? I'm not that old..." She replies with a slight pout. She sighs and sits up.

Bigak perks up „Where are you going?"

She glances at him „To the village"

He shoots up into a standing position „Before you're going there I'm going to tie you to a tree!"

„Come on, I will be back shortly" She smiles at him softly.

„No, just- no! At least I have common sense! You don't if you still keep going there!"

„You're overreating" She tells him with a small chuckle „Everything is alright. I'm alright"

„It's not! You're not!"

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„Ah, Gasun" Sarah waves at the monk like Chachaoong „How are you?"

„Mmh~? I'm okay" He replies in his usual manner „Why do you-... No, nevermind..."

„Hm?"

„It's nothing. You're on your way somewhere right? I won't stop you, have fun"

She smiles at him „Thanks Gasun, I will be going, have a nice day"

She waves and goes her way.

Gasun lowers his staff a bit „Don't think I can't see it"

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„So he just kept trying to stop me" Sarah complains slightly.

„I can understand him" Ha Na Rin answeres „You have to stop going to that village Sarah. Please, for us..."

„...Sorry, I can't" She hisses. Ha Na Rin flinches and Sarah notices „Forgive me, I lost control over myself for a moment..."

„It's alright"

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Chun-Ryang stares at the trees in front of him, not minding his students behind him „Do everyone a favor and stop..."

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„Sarah...?" A quiet voice calls out.

„Jack!" Something jumps at him from behind and hugs him „Long time no see!"

„Yes. I wanted to talk with you"

„Mh?"

„It's because of the village. Stop. Just stop. It's not good for you to keep going there"

„Jack, I can take care of myself" She tells him „Besides, if I'm not there , someone else has to take the burnden. And humans can't endure that much"

„You're not a human!" He exclaims rather loud, shocking her. Jack is never loud.

She calms down again „It's because I'm a Chachaoong. ...Hey Jack. You know, you're always by my side when I feel like I need someone"

„Why won't you listen? I'm sure I'm not the only one telling you to stop" He questions her, worry evident in his voice „That place is dangerous, you really have to stop"

„Sorry Jack, I can't"

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Sarah's back in the forest. She just came from the village. A hand grabs her arm and she flinches.

„I wish you would listen" Bigak explains.

„Let go!" Sarah orders him harshly, the pain getting unbearable.

He doesn't let her go, instead he grips her tighter „You always say you're fine when you come back from the village but I know that you're lying. Remove your coat"

„I won't" She tells him, wincing from the pain in her arm.

He narrowns his eyes and tries to open it himself. Sarah, being the older and stronger one, over powers him and pins him to a tree with her elbow at his throat. She lets go as soon as she pushes him to the tree. The force of the impact was too much. Part of her coat falls off as she holds her throbbing arm. Her exposed shoulder are full of cuts and bruises.

He grits his teeth „I knew it! I just knew it!"

She smiles up at him weakly „It's okay-"

„It's not! At this rate you'll die. You'll die! You'll die, you forsaken idiot!"

Her expression becomes shadowed „You will never understand"

„Of course I won't! Stop being brave. There are times when one is supposed to be a coward, and not brave!" He growls at her „If I have to I will go there and beat them all up. Kill them even. You're the one person I will protect, after all, you always protected me"

„Bigak..." She starts and glares at him „Don't. You. Dare. I know what they're doing is wrong but you shouldn't harm them. Have you forgotten Jacks rules? You mustn't kill without qualified reason"

„Then stop going there! Then I won't have a reason!"

Angry, she teleports away.

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It's been enough. She has the path and the key to fate. She knows vaguely what will happen, she always knew but it won't stop her. She stops at the edge of the cliff, her three pursuers stop shortly behind her. She turns to them.

She grins, satisfied, kicking the edge of the cliff and herself off it „I've been chosen by God"

No one knew what she wished for in that moment, as she fell through the air.

A splash was heard and the three run away in fright.

Something lifts her body out of the water, a skeletal red hand, and places her on the shore.

„Stay with me!" She can hear Jack's muffled voice, her vision clearing a bit. He holds her in his arms.

„I already thought it would end like this..." She says quietly „It's okay..."

„Sarah!" She can't turn her head but she can see Bigak sitting down next to Jack, he seems to see it's the end but... „Please... please... it can't end this way...Please, Sarah..." He's trying his best to sound encouraging.

„I'm sorry that I can't stay any longer... Trust me, I want... to remain here longer. But... I can't" She coughs out „Can't you... smile for... me?"

Their faces turn even more negative, sad.

She smiles weakly „I'm tired... I will sleep now, 'kay?"

„Wha-? Don't" Bigak exclaims but it's too late, her eyes already closed, her breathing stopped.

By now, a lot of other Chachaoong were already there, having noticed the presence of the King and the bad aura in the air.

Sarah died. Their best friend, their family. The granter of wishes died. And that village is at fault.

I'm going to teach each and every single one of them a lesson.."