Hey everyone, so I know its been a while since I've written for The Fire In Your Eyes. I'm so sorry, my life has been so incredibly hectic but I'm picking it back up again! I just finished updating the previous chapters so now I'll be able to focus on posting new chapters for everyone!

A path shown to me in the dark,

Shall I take it?

Shall I walk down this road?

Where will it lead me, I wonder.

But, as long as I have you,

I will be forever guided by your shining light.

Chapter Five::

Shura woke up in a strange place.

A boy was leaning over her, letting the juice of an orange fruit drop down into her slightly open mouth. She blinked her wide and weary violet eyes open as he looked down, his bright blue eyes narrowing a little. "Oh good, your awake. Here, my arms are tired." He shoved the slice into her mouth and he glared at her. "Don't spit it out."

The boy turned his back to her and she looked at him, asking honestly, "Who are you?"

Slowly, she sat up, not showing an ounce of the pain she felt that radiated through her body. "Just your innocent passerby, nothing to write home about. Though, I'm surprised you guys managed to make it out alive after falling from that cliff. The other girl that was with you woke up a few hours ago, but she ended up passing out again, so I moved her to her bed. All of you are so troublesome." Shura stared at him and his gaze moved from her and to another form still beside her.

She looked and gasped quietly, feeling her body go rigid in horror. There Hak lay on a mat, bandages covering the entire upper half of his body. They were stained pink and it looked as though he had broken his left hand. Hak's breathing was labored and shallow, his body unmoving as sweat beaded his skin. "He took the brunt of the fall, so he must have protected you both as you fell."

"Hak…" Shura whispered, touching his uninjured arm.

"He must care an awful lot about you both. What is he? Your boyfriend?" Shura blushed and shook her head. "Wow. You are cold hearted lady." She opened her mouth to speak to him again only to stop as there was soft thud just inside the doorway.

A man wearing dirty white robes and pants fell onto the ground. He was barefoot and his light, curly blonde hair obscured the upper half of his face. He moaned softly as he stood up again and rubbed his head. "Yun!"

"You're all dirty! Did you fall again? You're so clumsy!"

"I was praying to the gods that everyone have a safe journey and I slipped and fell in the dirt." He looked up and smiled, instantly becoming all flowery. "Oh you're awake! I'm so glad your well, or else you wouldn't have been able to make the journey."

She tilted her head, confused. "Journey?"

Suddenly, the blonde man started crying. "You poor child, you've been through so much pain, haven't you?" He sniffled and Shura didn't know what to do. The man was crying for her and she had never met him before. She didn't quite understand how to respond. "It is an honor to meet you, Princess Shura. I am Ik-su." It all started to click finally and all she could do really was gawk at him. This man, who seemed to glow like a happy sunflower, whom was covered in scratches and dirt, was the ORACLE!?

"You are the Oracle then. I imagined you differently." She said, sitting down now with Ik-su and Yun. Yona was awake and sitting beside her as well, staring at the Oracle in shock.

"How did you think he would look?" Yun asked, sounding haughty and impatient.

She glared at him and Yona spoke up. "Mun-Deok said that the Oracle's had been banished from the palace for many years now, but he didn't say why. We imagined you would look…older."

"I was young when this all went on. I was merely in training to be an Oracle." Ik-su said.

"At the time when they were being banished, many of the Oracle's were being executed or run out of the palace. You both are princesses, you should know this." Yun snapped, glaring at the both of them. As Shura went to retort, they heard Hak gasp in pain. Yun pushed them out of the way and knelt down beside him. "He's got a fever!"

She felt her heart twist and panic bloomed in her chest as she moved to Haks side. No… She didn't understand why, but fear firmly lodged itself alongside her panic. She was going to lose him, and the thought made her heart twist painfully.

Watching Yun work, she wanted nothing more than to grab a hold of his arm and beg for him to save Hak. Shura knew nothing of medicine or healing so merely observing Yun didn't help her to understand a thing he was doing. To her it didn't seem like much and all she wanted to do was scream.

"There. That should help with his fever. It won't break for a while, but tonight should be the worst of it. We'll have to keep watch on him." As Yun stood, Yona grabbed his arm and told him to save Hak. Yun glared down at her as he ripped his arm away from her grasp. "Do you think I want him to die? I'm trying my best. You haven't even thanked me for helping any of you. What about him!?" He gestured to Hak, who's breathing had become more labored than it had been a few moments ago. "Have either of you ever thanked him? I guarantee that this isn't the first time he's risked his life for you."

He walked off, leaving the two girls to stare at Hak. Shura held Yona's hand as she shook. She knew that Yona had indeed taken Hak for granted all these years. He had been by her side, never faltering, never really out of her sight. And now here he was, on the brink of death and Yona had never thanked him once and was forced to face the fact that she may never get he chance.

Later that evening while Yona was asleep and Yun was sitting by the fire using some strange tool to stir the coals, Shura sat down and stared into the flames, reveling in the burning heat. "I would like to thank you, Yun." He turned in surprise, watching her. "Yona was sheltered in the palace, never being taught about the world. She does not know better. I...would like to learn more from you. About oracles, the world, anything you can."

"You sound stupid. I'm not an oracle, I just take care of one because he seems too helpless to do it himself. All I know is some history that Ik-su taught me." He said, poking at the fire again.

"Would…please teach me? I am ignorant of many things in the world and I would like to learn all I can. The more I learn," She tilted her head to look in Yona and Hak's direction before leveling him with a determined stare, "the more I can protect them."

Yun glanced up and watched her for a moment before sighing and leaning forward to place his elbows on his knees. "Oracle's used to hold massive power and influence, enough to turn the pivotal points in wars. They once even did away with a king because they said he angered the gods with some decision he had made. During King Joo-Nam's rule and General Yu-hon's golden age, they abolished the power the Oracles held and ran them all out of the capital."

Shura sighed, shaking her head. "My grandfather and Uncle were afraid of them challenging their power, am I right?"

"Yes. After that, Ik-Su traveled and took me with him. We settled down here and have been here ever since. That's all I know." Yun turned and began using some kind of contraption to mash up herbs he had put into a bowl.

"Do you find it difficult to live out here? In the middle of nowhere with no one else around?" She asked as she leaned her head down in her arms.

Yun's face became shadowed as he bowed his head. His fists clenched near his knees. "No. I don't like people nor do I care for the cities that have been overrun with rich idiots who abuse their powers. And it's easier for Ik-Su to be out here. In the middle of nowhere he has no beggars or passerbys begging him for his help. When someone is in need and he can't help, Ik-Su will drive himself crazy trying to find ways to help those he sees. Its…better for everyone this way."

She watched him for a moment before sighing and trying to relax her body. "Thank you, Yun. I would like to learn more from you."

It was dark out when Shura suddenly jerked awake in a panic. Her violet gaze swung in the direction of Yona's sleeping form and she felt fear well up in her chest. Hak was nowhere to be seen. No…Where is he?! He shouldn't be moving! Despite the fresh ache in her body she pushed herself up and rushed outside and into the trees. "Hak!" She yelled, her eyes beginning to sting as tears welled up. She ran around for what seemed like forever until she tripped over a large stone, falling onto the forest floor. A small hiccup tumbled from her lips as she pushed herself up. "Stupid Hak. WHERE ARE YOU!?" She screamed.

The tree's rustled as the cool night air blew through their branches and a loud thud sounded behind her. Shura whirled and looked up into Hak's angry face. "Well, if I had known you or Yona were going to bad mouth me the entire time, I wouldn't have bothered saving either of you." Angry tickets mired his brow and he knelt down to her level, scowling.

"You idiot!" Shura cried, shocking Hak. "How could you just leave like that? How could you not tell Yona or I where you were going!?" She gently hit at his shoulder, feeling like that was the only thing she could do to express her anger and frustration.

"I just went to find my glaive." He stared down at her as a small, little smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. "Awe, does the princess not wanna sleep alone? Is she scared?" He teased.

Shura gently pushed at him, tilting her face up to look at him as tears streamed down her already soaked cheeks. "Stop it! Please…" she sniffled, "you cannot leave without telling her or I. We need you, Hak. I…I need you by my side. You almost killed yourself protecting us so please…please tell me or Yona where you are going to be. We can't lose you!"

He was silent as Shura cried, his mind racing a mile a minute. Suddenly he pressed his hand over half his face and caught her watery gaze, his lightning blue eyes shining in the moonlight. "I…kinda wanna die. I would give my life for both of yours…" Slowly Hak leaned in closer to Shura and his large, calloused hand cupped her cheek, "...gladly just to see how much you would cry…" His breath fanned across her face as his came closer still. She felt her heart begin to pound in her chest. As she took in a breath, Hak's lips nearly touching her own, the two heard a loud shout nearby. They jerked away from each other, a rosy color dusting their cheeks, as Yona came running up. "Princess!" He stood and closed the distance between them. Yona began beating at his chest, lecturing him on getting up and moving around.

Listening to the two of them, Shura gently touched her lips. What had Hak been trying to do? And why did it make her heart pound so hard in her chest? She reached up and gently touched her cheeks. Why are my cheeks so warm? What is going on? She wondered silently.

Shaking her head, Shura got up and walked over to them. Yona turned on her as well and began to lecture her for being up and moving around as well. It seemed Yun had told her of her injuries to some extent as well. Shura chuckled softly, feeling a smile tug at her lips. Her hand moved on its own as she gently reached out and patted Yona's head.

"Let us go lay back down, hm?"

That morning Yona, Shura, and Hak all sat at the entrance of Yun and Ik-su's small house. Hak was busy stealing some kind of strange food out of Yun's basket while Yona explained where they were. "Really? This is where the Oracle lives? I woulda expected something a lot more….shriney." He grabbed another piece and shoved it in his mouth. "They spend all day praying so I would have figured that was where we'd find 'im."

Shura tilted her head. "What is a shrine?"

All three turned their heads to stare at her in amazement. Yun stood up and looked at Shura like she was stupid. "You don't know what a shrine is!?" He turned and scowled, snatching the other piece Hak had taken away from him. "AND STOP STUFFING YOUR FACE!" Speaking around his mouthful of food, he held up his hands in a prayer, thanking Yun as the oracle. "I'M NOT AN ORACLE DUMBASS!" And he smacked Hak's hand away from the basket.

"Speaking of, where did Ik-su run off too?" Yona asked.

"Why don't we go find him?" Shura smiled a little, grabbing Yona's hand. She wandered down a thin path until they reached a small cliff overlooking a lake and waterfall. He sat near the edge, evident tears streaming down his face. Shura dropped Yona's hand and walked over to him, gently touching his shoulder. "There you are, Ik-Su. Why are you crying?" She asked, concern leaking into her tone.

He looked up at her in surprise before quickly turning away and wiping at his face with his sleeves. "I was looking at the world, viewing how you fit into it. It seems the gods have a plan for you, Princess Shura. Would you like to hear their message? To hear their words spoken?"

Shura thought about it for a moment as wind blew through her hair. "I…do not know, Ik-su." She said softly. "From the time I was young, I always believed it best for me to stay hidden away in my cell. To stay as I was, unchanging. But now I have been thrust into something new and different, thrust into an unforgiving but bright new world. Is it best for me to let an Oracle decide my fate when I am not even sure I can be who I am? To do what I know I can do but promised I would not? Would that be okay?" Shura took in a deep breath and her hands clenched at her sides. "Seeing Hak and my sister come so close to death has made me realize that all I want is for us to survive. To come out alive after anything that is thrown our way. I want us to survive, and dear Oracle, the gods cannot tell me how to do that."

Ik-su was silent and pensive for a moment before sighing. "That is not true, Princess. You see, your lives weigh more than any other humans. You three have survived miraculous twists. You should have died that night in the castle, but you lived. Falling from that cliff, there should have been no chance of survival but yet, here you stand. Your fates will not allow you eternal rest nor will you get any peace. If you truly want to fulfill your desires for survival, then you must fulfill the destiny that comes with it. You cannot quell the fire that rages in your blood, so allow me to deliver the message of the gods."

Darkness falls on earth

With dragon's blood, they arise once again.

Following the ancient pledge

The four dragons will gather

To protect the sovereign.

The sword and shield will awaken.

And the Crimson Dragon

Will finally return from dawn.

As soon as the final words left his mouth, Ik-su keeled over, mumbling as Yun poked him, berating him about being lazy. Shura was unsure how to take the message. She didn't understand what Ik-su had told her or what the gods' message meant.

"When you spoke of the four warriors," Yona asked, standing beside Shura, "do you mean the ones from the old legends?"

"You know the tale of this kingdom's creation?" Ik-su asked her. Yona got a fond smile on her face and nodded.

"Yes, father used to read it at night to help me fall asleep." Yona and Ik-su began to recite the old tale of the kingdom, and Shura listened with rapt attention. The creation of Kohka sounded like something out of a magic fairy tail, something Shura had wished she could hear over and over again. When they finished, Yona still seemed puzzled. "I don't understand what that has to do with Shura, though."

"Princess Shura has said that she wanted to survive, but as soon as the three of you come out of hiding your lives will be in danger. You cannot survive on your own, if you try, Hak will surely die." Shura felt fear seize her heart at the thought. No! I won't let that happen!

"Hang on," Hak piped up, "you can't just say I'm gonna die. I don't know anything about Oracle's but I can tell you this-" His speech was interrupted by a grunt of pain as Yun punched his side, causing him to tremble and fall over. "Threaten us all you want, we don't have any money. Ha. Ha."

She couldn't help her slight chuckle. "As you can see," Ik-su continued, "your body guard is in bad shape. At this rate he will not survive. If you want to reach your goal, your going to have to seek them out. The four dragon warriors. They do still exist and still have the dragon's blood thrumming through their veins. They still await their masters' return."

Shura thought about it for a moment. "Ik-su…I would do anything to protect Hak, but are you sure they would help us?"

"You were supposed to have died. Your fates have twisted into miracles and it was your destiny that led you here for our help. If you seek out the four dragons and enlist their aid, they will help you. It is no longer you asking for help, it is the gods' will."

That night Shura stood next to the slow trickling river near the small house. Millions of thoughts ran through her mind. In the end, she thought, all that matters to me is their protection. If solving this problem and finding the warriors will help them, then why shouldn't I? She looked down at her reflection and scowled, upset with herself. She needed more than that. She needed to learn more. To know and understand the things she was ignorant of while kept in her cell.

"Thought I'd find you here." Shura whirled on Hak and reacted on instinct.

"Who said you could get out of bed!" She snapped, pushing him. The two fell to the ground, Hak groaning and Shura landing in his lap. "You should be resting, Hak!" She scowled.

"I'm fine, all healed." He said, smirking. "Careful with worrying like that, you'll get wrinkles and look like a prune by the time your twenty!" Shura knew that he was trying to tease and make a jab but she just tilted her head innocently.

"What's a prune?"

He stared at her before rubbing his hands across his face in irritation. "Ugh never mind!" Hak studied the princess for a moment, noticing a fire and steel determination in her violet eyes. "I take it you've made a decision?"

She nodded, standing. "Yes. I want to find them. I want to seek out the four dragon warriors and learn what I can about all the things I was kept ignorant of. I want to learn to fight even more than I already know. I will use the god's power to seek out justice for Yona and get her back what was rightfully hers."

Hak smiled as he got up, dusting himself off. "If that's what the princess really wants, I can't really talk her out of it can I?" Shura giggled, reaching up to pat his head.

"Nope."

Hey everyone! Long time huh? I hope you all enjoy this new chapter! I decided to try and go episode by episode, you know? That way it's a lot easier for me to follow along to the story line. I would like to see some reviews on how I did posting up this new chapter after so long of not writing for my fic so please, feel free to comment! I will try and get the next chapter posted as soon as possible! Stay beautiful!

~LonelyAnimeLily