Chapter Text
_________________________________
Mysterious Travelers
_________________________________
After hours of traveling, the newly founded company of a princess, a general, a pretty boy healer, and a white dragon stumbled upon a group of bandits in the heart of the woods.
...
“Sorry for the wait… Arm of the Hakuryuu.” The man in all white spoke calmly, unwinding the bandages around his arm. Beneath, sharp scales glinted in the dim light, his clawed hand curling menacingly.
“He-He’s a monster!” one of the bandits shrieked, their morale crumbling.
Hak, clad in blue, let out a low whistle. “So the dragon shows his claws, huh?” He rolled his shoulders. “Didn’t peg you for the brutal type.”
Kija tilted his head, unbothered. “No, indeed. But even this might not be enough. Shall I protect you as well, Hak? As Her Highness commanded?”
Hak scoffed. ‘He’s getting way too cocky—now it’s my turn.’
“Don’t bother. I could do this blindfolded.” With a smirk, Hak unwrapped his Hsu Quandao and lunged into the fray.
The battlefield erupted into chaos. Shouts turned to screams, the sounds of steel clashing against steel filled the air, sporadic and disjointed—until a bandit’s cry cut through the noise.
“They’re monsters!”
“Tch! How rude! The White Snake’s plenty weird, yeah, but I’m just a normal guy!” Hak ducked, barely avoiding Kija’s claw slashing too close for comfort. “Watch where you’re swinging, White Snake,” he growled, regaining his footing.
“I told you—I’ll tear your throat out if you call me that again.”
Hak grinned. “Can’t help it. It’s a habit.” His eyes flicked to Kija’s face. “You seem to be enjoying this a little too much, show-off.”
Kija didn’t deny it. “Protecting Her Highness is the greatest joy of my life. Your glaive is in my way, Hak.”
Hak’s opponent staggered, barely managing to parry his next strike. Kija wasted no time in striking the distracted bandit down. Irritated, Hak pivoted and took on the enemies behind him instead.
“We four dragons are single-minded, as you said,” Kija remarked, cutting down another enemy. “But you never told me why you decided to protect Her Highness.”
Hak faltered for the briefest second. ‘Because…’ No. Not now. He shoved the thought aside.
“Like I’d tell someone I just met.” He stuck out his tongue. “Idiot.”
“Wha—?! ‘Idiot’?!” Kija bristled, but Hak had already thrown himself back into the fight.
Amidst the chaos, Yoon muttered something about the group’s peculiar nature, though Hak only caught snippets between the clash of weapons. But then—
A shadow moved.
A dagger shot through the air, embedding itself in the ground just inches from a bandit creeping toward the Princess. A sharp whistle followed, cutting through the battlefield like a blade.
Everyone froze.
Perched in the branches above, a masked figure crouched, cloaked in dark fabric that swallowed them in shadow. Despite the distance, an aura radiated from them—something heavy, something lethal.
‘Familiar…’ Hak tightened his grip on his glaive.
“You damned scoundrels,” the figure spoke at last. A woman’s voice—cold, commanding. “Straying this deep into Fire Tribe territory.”
One of the remaining bandits visibly paled. “You again?! You’re the one that stole all our merchandise! Your damn group has been ruining us!”
The masked woman tilted her head. “You should be grateful you escaped last time. Strength in numbers won’t help you now.” She dropped from the tree, landing soundlessly. The bandits shrank back.
“You’ve turned quiet,” she mused, stepping toward their trembling leader. “Would you be so kind as to provide me with the information I seek? Last time, we didn’t get a chance to chat.”
The bandit stammered, failing to disguise his fear. “A-And what makes you think I’ll talk?”
Two others whispered behind him, just within Hak’s earshot.
“I heard their leader wears a kitsune mask with purple markings. If we kill her, we’ll get extra pay from the Lord.”
“Are you insane?! We’re already down half our men! Our boss is frozen in fear! You wanna take on a fox?!”
‘Leader?’ Hak’s gaze snapped back to the woman.
The masked stranger crouched before the bandit leader, watching him squirm. “Your little group isn’t here to be used as your shield anymore. Thanks to these gentlemen.” She gestured toward Hak and Kija without looking away from her prey.
Only then did Kija take notice of the intricate patterns decorating her mask—red, white, and violet designs swirling like painted flames.
She pressed her blade against the bandit’s throat, her voice losing its previous composure. “Now. What is Kum-ji’s scum doing this far from Awa?”
The bandit whimpered. “L-Lord Kum-ji w-wants as many w-women and children as he can get before his trade-off w-with the Kai Kingdom. He heard that Fire Tribe villages are starving—t-that they’d do anything for work.”
“When?” she demanded.
“I-I don’t know! H-He only tells his right-hand man, Han-gae!”
“Where?”
“A house in Awa! But it’s heavily guarded—”
Her blade drew blood. “Try again.”
“H-He goes to a brothel! The Red Dragon! Near the docks!”
She exhaled sharply. “How ironic.” And then, as if dismissing him entirely, she dragged her sword across his throat.
The remaining bandits snapped out of their shock and turned to flee—only for daggers to cut them down before they could take three steps.
Hak hesitated only long enough to confirm the Princess was safe. Then he strode toward her. “Are you unharmed, Your Highness?”
“You two are such a pain,” Yoon muttered, rubbing his temples.
“Yes,” Yona answered, nodding. “Thanks to both of you. And… her.” She glanced toward the masked woman, who was retrieving her daggers with methodical efficiency.
Kija frowned. “Who are you? And what merchandise did they mean?”
The woman didn’t pause. “I’m no one. Just a traveler with enemies.”
“A traveler?” Hak scoffed. “A lone woman who kills like that? Strikes fear into bandits? That’s a bit hard to believe.”
“She?” Yona echoed.
“Yes. The way she moves, the way she speaks,” Yoon explained. “She’s tall, but still…”
The woman finally straightened, slipping the last blade into her belt. “And you four aren’t suspicious? Two inhumanly strong men, a pretty boy, and a cloaked woman?” Her tone was dry, almost amused. “If you let me go, I won’t disturb your journey—”
She stopped. Stiffened.
Yona frowned. “Are you alright?”
The masked woman stared at them, breath unsteady. Then, barely above a whisper—
“You… You’re alive?”
Hak’s fingers tightened on his glaive. ‘Does she recognize us?’
“Remove your mask,” he ordered. “Who are you?!”
She exhaled, a quiet laugh beneath her breath. “Calm down, I’m already taking it off… Mondaiji.”
Hak flinched. He knew that word.
And as she lifted her mask, his heart stopped. “Heun… Lynn?”
She met his stunned gaze. “Glad to see you both alive, Yona, Hak.”
She met his stunned gaze. “Glad to see you both alive, Yona, Hak.”
_________________________________
Up Next:
Old Friends and New Comrades
_________________________________
Did you like it? Don’t forget to Kudos!