One VERY Exhausting Day!

"Did you both shower together?" Ryujin asked, leaning her head over our desk in the lecture room.

"Uhm..." I stuttered to come up with a reply.

"You smell like Jimin's soap, Seren," Yeji added, spinning her seat around to look up at us on the upper row.

"Because it is my soap," Jimin said confidently, making Ryujin and Yeji share a look of amusement.

"How about Chaeryoung?" Ryujin asked, snapping her head back at Jimin and I.

"Don't start, Shin Ryujin," Lee Chaeryoung chimed beside Yeji.

"What? I'm not starting anything, I'm asking questions," Ryujin protested.

"That's you starting something, you big black cat," I quipped back.

"Meh," Ryujin dismisses. "So are both of you like, openly dating now?"

Jimin and I shared a look, ever since last night, things have been a lot clearer. Although there were still some reservations in my part, in the end, Jimin dismantled every argument I had. Things are lighter now, at least, not the same as before but... close.

"It's a little bit more complicated than that," Jimin replied but with a smile on her face.

"So, private but not secret?" Ryujin probed.

"No, not really," I replied.

"Open relationship?" Ryujin followed, squinting one of her eyes.

Jimin and I considered the term. "Not exactly but... That's probably as close as you can get," Jimin answered.

"Ooh, so Chaeryoung and you can still play around," Ryujin commented.

"Shin Ryujin," Chaeryoung called wearily.

"Can I still play around with you, Seren?" Ryujin leaned in and whispered. Jimin gave an amused laugh as Yeji rolled her eyes.

"And there you go," Yeji comments in a tone as exhausted as Chaeryoung's. She took Ryujin by her jacket and pulled her down to her seat.

"But seriously," Ryujin grinned in her seat, pushing it forward so she can see Chaeryoung over Yeji. "Are you good with this, Chaery?"

Chaeryoung raised her head and nodded. "Seren and I had talked about this, so did Jimin and I. We're cool."

Chaeryoung lifted her gaze towards us and Jimin mouthed a small "thank you."

"Huh," Ryujin huffed. "Boring," she spun her chair and proceeded to terrorize Yeji about training me next Saturday.

I leaned closer to Jimin, "When did you talk to Chaeryoung?"

"A week ago, then on Saturday night — after your training with the werebeasts," she replied.

"So you knew she trained me?"

"No. I didn't ask that of her."

"What did you ask her then?"

Jimin turned to me with a playful smile, "That stays between us, girl stuff."

I rolled my eyes, knowing that I won't get anything out of her.

Then Ryujin got up, her shoulder tense and rigid. Yeji slowly stood up with her, "Hey. What's up? Sense something?"

Chaeryoung pushed her chair back, ready for any eventuality. My hand moved to hold Jimin as Ryujin’s head slowly turned towards the direction of the campus gates.

The class tenses as well, they know Ryujin is a werebeast and her strange behavior was slowly drawing attention. Students looked warily at each other while some were slowly packing their bags — and nobody spoke a word.

Then the alarms in my own mind blared. Wild Instinct — and unlike yesterday when it didn't send danger signs with Jiwon — this one was screaming "get the fuck out of this place."

I rose up abruptly, Ryujin and I made eye contact, and one word left our lips — "Run."

And the school's alarms blared to life – and the room shook like a shockwave hit it.

Screams from the other students filled the hall as they rushed to the doors. I took Jimin's hand and weaved our way towards the rear door of the lecture room. Ryujin surged ahead of us, clearing the way, Yeji positions herself behind us while Chaeryoung helps to calm down some panicking students.

We opened the door and rushed outside just in time for a large chunk of rock to be flung towards the hallway's windows.

"Get down!" Ryujin yelled, pulling Jimin and I down. Then the rock shattered with a deafening crunch in mid air before hitting the campus building. A faint cracking shimmer reflected the light where the rock was reduced to pieces.

"Aeri's barrier," Yeji remarked. "That sorceress is powerful alright." As Yeji said that, the shimmering cracks on the barrier faded, as if slowly repairing itself.

All around campus, rocks and huge logs were being hurled, like the college was under siege. In the hallways, students panicked and professors were struggling to keep them in order.

Yeji took our lead, herding us towards the stairs amidst the panic before she stopped, her eyes fixed on the field outside.

"Why did you stop, Yeji?" Chaeryoung asked as she brought our rear.

The huntress pointed towards the field, and I followed the direction she pointed. A platoon of about thirty Riders of the Hunt were marching from the campus's main gate — and meeting them were three figures, three women, three sorceresses — Uchinaga Aeri, Hong Eunchae, and Kim Chaewon.

"Are we just going to watch them?" Jimin asked.

"I've been dying to see them in action," Ryujin commented.

"We're not helping them?" I asked.

"Not unless they need it," Yeji replied.

"The other students are stopping to watch as well," Chaeryoung observed.

And she was right, the panic has settled into a state of tense curiosity. This is the time the sorceresses prove their worth, Princess Wonyoung brought them here to defend the campus from the Wild Hunt — and the college is ready to either praise them or judge them.

The two sides were now about ten feet from each other. They seem to be talking, but at this distance, I can't hear what they're saying.

The lead Rider advances, the only one with an antlered helm while the others wore a uniform armor of bark, a cloak made of vines and leaves, and spears with green runes on their leaf shaped blades. Uchinaga Aeri stepped up to meet him — and for all our differences, to walk fearlessly to a Captain of the Hunt — Uchinaga Aeri had my respect for that.

The sorceress and the Rider talked, but my eyes were on Chaewon. Heat waves radiated from her body, smoke was coming out from her hands. She stood defiant, not just because this is her job, but because her sister, Minjeong, is also somewhere within the school watching her. She has someone to protect in this school, and that makes her a lot more dangerous.

"Anytime now," Ryujin whispered, fidgeting in place like she wants to jump in the battle — and knowing her, she probably does.

I counted my heartbeats — one, two, three, four, five, six, then I exhaled — and the thread snapped.

The Lead Rider swiftly drew his blade — a battleaxe, Aeri hastily sets a barrier. The blade struck — the barrier shattered, launching Aeri off her feet. Eunchae waves her hand and Aeri disappears, appearing again by the spatial sorceress's feet. And Chaewon brought down hell with her — with an audible scream, a burst of flame with the sound of a flamethrower dialed to eleven emerged from her hands, incinerating the entire right flank of the Riders.

Cheers erupted from the student body as the Riders were herded helplessly to their left. Eunchae assumed a low stance and extended her arms forward — Riders disappeared, only to be teleported at the blaze that Chaewon has summoned.

Trapped between a literal inferno and a portal that leads them to it, the remaining twelve Riders and their Leader stared down at Aeri — and with a snap of her fingers, the Riders were enclosed within a cube shaped barrier. Chaewon stopped the flames and Eunchae relaxed. Charred remains of Riders littered the ground, their leaf cloaks still burning faintly.

Chaewon approached the barrier and placed her hand on its surface. The Riders, sensing the sorceress's intent began banging on the walls, trying desperately to break them.

"This is brutal," Ryujin commented beside me with a grin.

Chaewon and Aeri shared a glance, with Aeri nodding half a heartbeat later. The college watched with bated breath as Chaewon's hand slipped through Aeri's barrier. The Lead Rider glared at the barrier sorceress from inside their cage. Uchinaga Aeri nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders — and her barrier was engulfed with Chaewon's flames, cooking everyone inside alive.

The screams of the Riders were drowned as campus shook, erupting in another round of cheers. Our group was quiet however, eyes fixed on the power the three sorceresses had just displayed. Jimin held my hand a little tighter, the other covered her mouth. They were brutally efficient — makes me wonder who the real monsters are.

"Well, that was quick," Ryujin remarks, almost disappointed.

"And too easy," Chaeryoung adds.

"Why were they here though?" Jimin asked. "For you?" She added, whispering at me so only our posse can hear.

"I don't know," I replied. "But we know it's only a matter of time until they retaliate after Yuna's rescue."

Then something clicked at the mention of Yuna. Ryujin and I looked at each other. We realized that our instincts were still firing — this morning still isn't over.

"This is a diversion," I said.

"They're not here for you," Ryujin replied coldly.

Yeji, Chaeryoung, and Jimin looked at us with eyes wide, realization dawning on them as mine and Ryujin's Wild Instincts pieced this puzzle together.

"They're after Yuna," Ryujin and I said simultaneously. 

Yeji immediately grabbed Chaeryoung by her sleeve, "Can you track her?"

"Yes," came Chaeryoung's confident reply.

"I'm coming with you," I declared.

Yeji placed a hand on my chest, "Seren." She fixed me with a gaze that was clearly saying no. "You do realize this could also be a ploy to draw you out in the open."

"I won't take no for an answer," I said defiantly.

"And Jimin?" Yeji countered.

"The campus is safe," Jimin replied. "They have the sorceresses tied up, it's unlikely they'll strike again."

"She's right, Yeji," Chaeryoung whispered. "And I have Yuna's scent. We should go, now."

It took Yeji three breaths to speak again, "Alright fine." She nodded towards Chaeryoung, "lead the way."

Jimin and I pulled each other for a quick kiss. "Come back to me," she whispered after we pulled away.

"I will." I turned and followed the huntresses, heading the opposite way that the student body is walking.

We marched outside the campus, vaulting the back wall towards the city. The city noise rushed in the moment we cleared the wall—horns, voices, life continuing like nothing was wrong. Sirens slowly closed in from a distance, human police, responding towards the college.

Chaeryoung led us with a brisk pace into a wide, open park. It was empty — not even stray dogs were in sight, nor could I hear birds — strange for a park in the middle of the city.

"Yuna must have realized they're after her," Yeji deduced.

"Or she just bolted immediately," Ryujin added.

"Perhaps, but we still should make sure that she's safe," I said.

"This is the second time we're rescuing her," Ryujin commented.

"Any objections?" I asked.

Ryujin shrugged, "As long as it leads to a fight, I'm down."

"I thought so," I chuckled.

"But she better not make a habit out of this," Yeji remarked. "Our mission is protecting you, Seren. Not going after damsels in distress."

I turned towards Chaeryoung, "is Sullyoon with her?"

"Yes, I can smell her as well," the huntress replied.

Good — I thought. At least they'll have a chance to stall if the worst case scenario happens. I just hope we'll catch up to them in time.

"Good for you," Yeji muttered. "All I can still smell is the burning carcasses of those riders."

"I wouldn't want to be in the receiving end of your first love's power, Seren," Ryujin teased.

"Shut up, Shin Ryujin. Neither do I."

"That was so efficient it seems rehearsed," Chaeryoung commented.

"They may still be apprentices but their synergy is good," Yeji replied. "They feed off of each other — and they know their roles within their squad well."

"Are we just glancing over the fact that they made a literal Wild Hunt oven for the whole college to see?" I asked.

Yeji shrugged, "That is combat, Seren. All is fair in love and war as they say. And if you could end a battle as efficiently as that, wouldn't you do it?"

What I can't say though, is that I'm terrified for my friends. What if we clash with the sorceresses? I doubt it would be that much of a fight, especially with Eunchae controlling the battlefield.

I shook the thought out of my head — we'll get there when we get there, for now, we focus on Yuna and Sullyoon. We pushed forward until we arrived at a clearing. The park stretched open and exposed, trees swaying like they were trying to warn us.

"I don't like this," Chaeryoung whispered. "It's too open."

"Should I call for reinforcements?" I asked Yeji who eyed me curiously.

"How?"

I drew the wooden dagger I made during Yuna's rescue and placed its blade atop my palm. "Death Dealers," I replied.

Yeji placed a hand over mine, "Keep it as a contingency," she whispered.

I nodded and held the blade in a reverse grip.

"Where to now?" Ryujin asked Chaeryoung.

"Straight ahead," Chaeryoung pointed into the wide expanse of grass, dotted only by the occasional bush or shrub.

"Are you sure? It's too still," I observed. "No movement. Even the wind seems to be... frozen."

"Only one way to find out," Ryujin barrels through Chaeryoung and I and walks towards the empty expanse.

"Hey. Get back here, Shin Ryujin," I whispered urgently.

"After her," Yeji ordered as she followed Ryujin's steps.

Chaeryoung and I shared a glance, and the huntress shrugged her shoulders.

I clicked my tongue and followed after Ryujin and Yeji, with Chaeryoung bringing up our rear. It was when we were a good ten meters away that I noticed that faint glimmer on the air, like thousands of tiny particles forming a wall. It seems strange because the wind was not carrying it at all, it was just... hanging in the air, unmoving.

Before I could warn Ryujin — who was walking towards it without a care in the world... the werebeast disappeared. 

Yeji ran, followed by Chaeryoung and I, with Chaeryoung outpacing me almost immediately.

"Yeji be careful!" I yelled. "There's some kind of wall —" and we burst through it

I coughed as dust sprayed all over my body. "Damn it, what the hell is this stuff!"

"You should know, Seren," Yeji replied, her tone low and dangerous.

"It's faerie dust," Chaeryoung confirmed, dusting some off of my shirt. "It's all over the field."

"Why would there be —?" I began to ask.

"To hide a battle," Yeji answered before I could finish my question.

"What battle?" I asked, brushing dust off my pants.

"That battle," Ryujin pointed.

I raised my head and saw carnage.

The Wild Hunt was there, at least fifty of them. Opposing them were other fae and some dryads, I count about thirteen, behind them was Sullyoon and Yuna, trapped against a row of hedges as the Hunt assault them head on.
 
They fought, with bows and arrows and whatever they could muster against the Riders — but they're outnumbered, and outmatched as the Riders advanced slowly but surely. Orders were shouted, swallowed almost instantly by the chaos. A fae lady rose, drawing her bow, only to be impaled by a spear before she can even release the arrow. On the other side, a Rider goes down, dragged to the earth by roots and vines.

"This is going to get messy," Chaeryoung remarked.

"We should've called for reinforcements," Yeji said pointing at the back of the Wild Hunt's line.

Two enchantresses floated, no doubt maintaining the wall of faerie dust in the perimeter, but what caught my attention was the one right in the middle of them. Huge, even for Riders of the Hunt, carrying a great axe etched with runes and wearing a stag's skull as his helm. Durzan — one of the Glade Lords during Yuna's rescue op was in the field.

"About that reinforcements," I turned to Yeji.

The huntress hissed, "I don't like asking vampires for help but..." she looked at me and nodded.

I turned the dagger in my hand and sliced my palm, drawing blood. I winced as it welled across my palm, dripping down the grass below. I recalled Joohyun's words that if ever I'm in danger, I only need to draw blood and her Death Dealers will answer.

"So what's the plan?" I asked.

Chaeryoung silently took out her handkerchief, grabbed my bleeding palm and tenderly wrapped the piece of cloth around it. I gave her a silent nod of thanks.

"We hit them," Ryujin replied.

"Hit them where?"

Ryujin pointed at Durzan, "the head of the snake."

"Are you crazy?" I asked incredulously. "That guy fought Joohyun and survived."

"Seren's right," Yeji butted in. "We can't just barge in this fight. And we certainly can't take a Glade Lord on our own."

"We hit the flanks?" Chaeryoung offered, letting go of my hand when she finished tying the handkerchief tight.

"That could cause enough confusion for Yuna and her group to disengage and flee," Yeji agreed.

"But —" Ryujin argued but was immediately shut down by Yeji.

"Our objective here is not to kill as many Riders or take down a Glade Lord. We are here to ensure Yuna and Sullyoon's safety, everything we do will be anchored around that."

Ryujin growled but otherwise didn't object any further. 

"Flanks it is then?" I asked.

"Yeah," Yeji confirmed. "But we sneak in as close as possible to cause as much confusion as we can."

We all nodded. 

"Stay low, wait for my signal."

We hit the grass, and started crawling towards the battlefield. The battle stalled in front of us. The dryads created walls of briars and thorns to slow the Riders down, making them vulnerable to arrow fire. I reached down the earth with my consciousness as we crawled and felt only chaos. The earth raged at the desecrators that is the Wild Hunt, it gladly provided assistance to the dryads of Yuna's group, but they're far too few to make an actual difference.

I searched for Sullyoon as we edged closer to the Hunt's right flank. A flicker of surprise washed over me as I brushed on her consciousness. She let me in and I was immediately hammered by how fast her heart was beating.

"Seren?" she said in my mind. "What are you doing here?!"

"Helping you, we realized the attack on campus was a diversion..."

"But —"

"Just shut up and tell us how we can help, Seol YoonAh," I felt her recoil at the mention of her full name. "What's your status?"

"Uhhh," I felt Sullyoon's head turn to assess their side of the field. "Only ten of us left —" another dryad falls under a Rider's spear, "make that nine. We can't hold out much longer."

"Alright, when the chaos starts, you make a run for it, okay?"

"Okay."

"Don't break this connection. Stay with me."

"And you with me."

I held Yeji's hand beside me. We are only about thirty meters away, at our full speed we can break through them in about a second and a half. Yeji turned towards me, "They're not gonna last much longer," I whispered.

"Damn it," Yeji hissed. "Go, charge!"

Ryujin rose immediately, morphing into her big black cat form and snarling with excitement. She was followed by Chaeryoung and Yeji, each morphing as they charged. I sprinted, dagger in hand, and together with the huntresses, we slammed against the Wild Hunt's right flank, driving through like a wedge.

I slammed my dagger into the heart of the first Rider, the momentum brought both of us down to the ground. I withdrew my dagger then took the Rider's spear. I slashed in a wide arc, wincing as the shaft dug into the cloth wrapped around my palm. A Rider stopped to avoid my slash, allowing me the time to thrust the spear straight into his neck.

Then, Durzan's rough voice bellowed across the field, "Kill the werebeasts! But keep the boy alive!"

I felt the Riders shift through my connection with the earth. Their attention moving towards the werebeasts and me. 

"Run for it, YoonAh!" I screamed in my head while I slipped the dagger back at my hip. I felt her nod as she ordered her companions and Yuna to scramble and flee.

That momentary lapse in concentration cost me though. I felt a whoosh in the air and I instinctively raised the spear, blocking a high swing from Durzan's greataxe with the shaft of the spear. Then I felt his fist in my gut, taking the breath out of my lungs and flinging me a few meters off the ground. I rolled on the grass, coughing as I tried to catch my breath.

"That's for the punch you gave me last time, puny human," Durzan chuckled sinisterly.

Shit — one on one with a Glade Lord. How the hell can I survive this? I scanned the field, Yuna, Sullyoon, and their group were running away, pursued only by about ten Riders. The werebeasts were being pushed back, Ryujin was fending off three Riders at once, Yeji had her jaws on the neck of another, while Chaeryoung skirted the sides, trying to find an opportunity to rejoin the fight.

I rose, using the spear as support. The earth pushed me up as I assumed the stance Soyeon taught me, feet spread, hips low, and tip of the weapon aimed directly at my target — so I raised my spear, pointing directly between Durzan's eyes.

Durzan chuckled in amusement, "You're not on the level of the Pale Princess, Vale. I can swat you easily like the pest you are."

I scoffed, trying to put up a defiant front, "Why don't you put your money where your mouth is, Pea-brain," I taunted — which was a terrible idea if you're in front of a Glade Lord.

Durzan roared and raised his greataxe and I braced for a blow that would surely break through my defense. 

Then a flash of red rushes past me — so fast that it blew the air as it passed. A glaive then intercepts Durzan's axe, the force of the clash staggered me a couple of steps back.

I looked at the figure who stepped in front of me. My first thought was Joohyun — but this one was taller and wearing a red cloak.

"Saerom!" I yelled as I recognized the Captain of Joohyun's Death Dealers.

"Lee Saerom!" Durzan bellowed as he raised his axe again and Saerom backstepped, making the blow miss.

Saerom stood beside me, "Sorry we're late. That wall of faerie dust had us confused for a few moments."

Then two screams ruptured the air behind us. I turned and the two enchantresses fell to the ground, Chaeyoung and Soyeon standing above each of them, red crescent daggers in their hands. Chaeyoung gave me a quick wink before they joined the battle, aiming to aid the beleaguered huntresses.

"Durzan's mine," Saerom said. "Go help the others."

"You think you stand a chance, Death Dealer?" Durzan chuckled.

Saerom shrugged, "My Princess held off two of you with no problems, I think I can dance with you one-on-one."

"You sure you'll be fine?" I asked Saerom.

"I always wanted to dance with a Glade Lord," she replied. "Go, Seren. You're needed elsewhere."

I nodded, giving her a quick tap on the shoulder. I scanned the field again, Chaeyoung has relieved Ryujin and they're now retreating slowly. So is Soyeon and Yeji, with the huntress engaging while the Death Dealer shoots with her handbow. That leaves Chaeryoung — I can't see her, so I searched for her through the earth.

I sensed her right where Yuna and Sullyoon were last pinned. She's facing five Riders, each jabbing their spears at her while she tried to maneuver out of the way.

I growled, and immediately made my way to aid her. I took another spear from a fallen Rider and once Chaeryoung was in sight, I threw the spear with all my might, impaling the rightmost Rider in the back. Surprised, the Riders turned, allowing Chaeryoung to pounce on the Rider on the left end.

Two Riders met me, the first one thrust his own spear. I side stepped, brought my spear in a high arc, the Rider braced, and Soyeon's words echoed in my head — "Lesson one, sometimes it's not about power." My swing was fast, but soft, disarming the Rider who was expecting a heavy blow. His spear lowered as mine pushed it down almost effortlessly, and when his chest was exposed, I thrust in, feeling bones crack against the blade.

The second rider was on me before I could disengage. I was forced to release the spear to avoid his strike. He thrust again, I ducked and slip inside his guard, I drew the dagger from my back and slashed at his thigh, staggering him. He stepped back to reposition, but before he could lunge again, Chaeryoung pounced on his back, sinking her fangs on his neck. The Rider tried to knock her off and I took the opportunity — I stepped in and drove the dagger into his liver. The Rider struggled once weakly, then crumpled under mine and Chaeryoung's combined weight.

Chaeryoung and I disengaged, five dead Riders by our feet. I reached back down to the earth, searching for Sullyoon. Then a brush, an acknowledgement that we're still connected.

"Seren!" Sullyoon yelled in my head, her heartbeat was slower, yet still fast.

"Are you alright, YoonAh?"

"Yeah. We're right by an entrance to the Lady of Spring's realm. We shook the Riders off, Yuna and I are just waiting to know if you're safe."

"Go, YoonAh. We'll handle this. We'll escape somehow."

"Are you sure?" She asked urgently.

"Yeah. Just go."

I felt Sullyoon hesitate for three quick  heartbeats, "Alright. See you back at campus. Thank you. Yuna says the same as well."

"Yeah. See you too."

And the connection was severed.

I turned to Chaeryoung who was staring at me expectantly. "They're safe."

Chaeryoung nodded. Before I could scan the field again though, sirens blared at the distance — human police.

"Shit," I exclaimed, "the Death Dealers killed the enchantresses. It must've released the dust surrounding the field. We're visible."

Chaeryoung snarled and looked back at the field. The fighting has stopped as the combatants heard the sirens. They slowly retreated to their own sides and we rejoined our comrades. Saerom's glaive was split in half but she still eyed Durzan with a cold gaze.

"This isn't over, Vale," Durzan pointed with his greataxe, grinning wickedly and unscathed. "We'll have you and that traitorous enchantress. Nobody escapes the grip of Lord Orion." And they slowly retreated, making for a large oak tree that I swear wasn't there when the fight began.

"We need to make ourselves scarce as well," Saerom said.

"We'll meet later to talk about this," I responded.

Saerom nodded and she and Chaeyoung dissolved into shadow. Soyeon however, lingered for a few moments. She tapped my shoulder and said, "Good fighting, today. Keep it up."

I smirked, "Thank you, master."

Her dagger then found my chin before I could blink. The werebeasts snarled but Soyeon just smiled, "Do not call me that."

"Noted," I chuckled.

Soyeon withdrew her blade and just like her sisters, she dissolved into shadow.

"We should probably go as well," I said, and Yeji nodded in agreement.

We turned towards the opposite direction of the sirens and sprinted out of the area.

"I didn't know you had abs," Minjeong commented as Jimin dabbed an ice pack on my bruised abdomen. 

We hid at the campus rooftop, it would be trouble if people saw me being treated for a bruised abdomen after the attack at the college. The sky was clear and the wind cool — like no assault happened just a few hours ago.

"Stop staring, Kim Minjeong," I berated, then winced at the cold sting of the pack, making Jimin chuckle in amusement.

"What? I'm just making an observation. You're not the only one who has abs," she muttered. The sophomore sat on a nearby desk, her feet dangling and not quite reaching the floor.

Jimin and I eyed her, intrigued, our eyes lowering down her waist — and the weight of expectation seemed to drop on Minjeong's shoulders. "No, I'm not showing you my belly," she protested vehemently, covering her waist with her arms.

"We didn't say anything," Jimin retorted, grinning mischievously.

"But your eyes were saying it!" Minjeong countered. "You're a creep, Seren!" She added, her cheeks burning red.

"What the —? And Jimin gets a pass? The double standard!" I quipped back sarcastically.

Jimin laughed heartily. "But seriously, don't make it a habit — getting punched by Glade Lords."

"Even if it gives you a view of my abs?" I teased.

"I saw those last night, don't get too cocky," Jimin countered.

"Eww," Minjeong exclaimed, making Jimin and I laugh louder.

"Anyway," I began, turning to Minjeong, "have you seen your sister since, well, since this morning?"

Minjeong shook her head while she started swinging her legs, "No. But I texted her, said if she needs me she can contact me anytime. She just replied that she's glad I'm safe and that she'll talk to me later if I want to."

"What she did –" Jimin whispered softly. "What they did, that was —"

"Disturbing," I said.

Minjeong nodded, "I can see why you'll say that. But it's the Wild Hunt, they do worse things to those they capture and abduct."

"What other options did they have at the moment?" Jimin asked.

"Have Aeri crush them under her barrier," I replied.

"Or have Eunchae teleport them in the sky so they die when they land," Minjeong added.

"Hah," I scoffed. "Nothing pretty. In hindsight, Chaewon's fire seemed the most... humane."

"What if you and the huntresses were there?" Minjeong asked.

I scoffed again, "Then it would be a lot messy — if the fight against Durzan's forces were any indication. Ryujin alone will make the field look... gladiatorial."

Then we heard the rooftop's doors click and open. Jimin immediately placed the pack in her bag and I rolled my shirt down. Who emerged was a girl in a suit, petite. Familiar.

"Ms Gaeul?" Minjeong inquired, her eyebrows narrowing.

"Gaeul? One of Princess Wonyoung's aides?" I followed.

"Exactly that Gaeul," Gaeul replied, still with that bored expression and cadence.

"Why are you here?" Jimin asked.

Gaeul sighed, "You didn't make it easy to find you, Mr Vale. Princess wants to see you," then she looked at Jimin, "and you too, Ms Yu. President's office, no detours, I will escort you."

"Is this about the attack this morning?" Jimin asked.

"Yes and no."

"What kind of answer is that?" I followed.

"The only kind you'll get from me," Gaeul sighed. "Now get moving, please."

Minjeong raised her hand tentatively, "Can I come with?"

Gaeul eyed the girl then sighed again, "Fine, but only until the doors of the office. You're not allowed inside."

Minjeong nodded and jumped off the desk at the same time Jimin and I rose.

"I trust you know the way to the President's Office?" Gaeul asked, and we all nodded.

"Then walk ahead, I'll stay behind to ensure you take no detours."

"Having trust issues, Ms Kim?" I inquired as I walked ahead of her.

"Princess's orders," Gaeul replied flatly. "Now get going."

I huffed as Jimin, Minjeong, and I walked towards the rooftop doors to answer a royal call that may go unpleasant.

The walk was quiet — we can't actually talk and gossip with the Princess's aide breathing down our backs, and she also made it clear that she's not in a conversing mood. Gladly, there were no students wandering the hallways or else we'll be the prime ingredient of campus gossip for the whole week. I can even see their headline — Third Years escorted by Princess's aide. Too much attention — pass.

It was only a matter of time until the double oak doors of the President's Office loomed in front of us. It was here that Gaeul finally held Minjeong.

"Can I wait here outside?" Minjeong asked softly. 

Gaeul nodded before holding the door's handles.

"Is..." Minjeong hesitated, making Gaeul freeze and raise an eyebrow.

"Is Chaewon inside?" Minjeong asked quietly and with a lot of hesitation.

Gaeul's expression softened, "She is."

Minjeong nodded, "Okay. Okay. I'll, um, wait here. Outside." She takes a seat on the benches placed near the door.

Gaeul nodded again and turned her attention to Jimin and I. We both nodded our heads. Gaeul opened the door, and we stepped into a kettle about to explode.

On the right side of the couches were the sorceresses — Aeri, Chaewon, and Eunchae. And on the other side — were the werebeasts — Yeji, Ryujin, and Chaeryoung. Both groups were staring daggers at each other, and the only thing keeping them was a clearly exhausted and exasperated Princess Jang Wonyoung who was leaning against the President's table.

"Woah," I began. "This looks like an uglier battlefield than the one just this morning," I remarked sarcastically.

"Which one?" Aeri asked sharply. "Ours or yours?"

"Aeri, please," Wonyoung said wearily. Gaeul took her position on her left while on her right was the taller aide, An Yujin if I remember correctly.

"Ours was uglier," no need hiding the fact that we fought the Hunt outside campus since they already knew it. "Seen it yourself?" I bit back, earning an approving smirk from Ryujin — the only one in this room who appreciates a little bit of chaos.

"Seren," Jimin whispers behind me, grounding me. Chaewon notices, particularly Jimin's hand clutching my sleeve.

"Take a seat, Vale, and Ms Yu," Wonyoung gestures the couch directly opposite of her.

"Thank you, princess," Jimin curtsies and pulls me down to the seat. Chaewon eyes both of us with a neutral expression, taking note of how close we sat to each other, and Jimin's hand that was now wrapped around my wrist.

"So, princess, why are we here?" I asked.

"Seren," Jimin whispers, nudging my shoulder.

"They're... 'asking'... about the incident at the park this morning," Yeji replies, her eyes boring a hole down Uchinaga Aeri who was responding with equal intensity.

"We're asking where the students have gone," Aeri countered.

"Students?"

"Shin Yuna and Seol YoonAh," Eunchae replied uncomfortably, clearly wanting, whatever this is, to be over quickly.

"Why?" I turned to Wonyoung.

"You know why," the Princess replied.

"And yet I want to hear it from you."

"Seren," Jimin whispered more urgently.

"Mind your tongue, Vale," An Yujin growled.

Wonyoung raised a hand and her aide stood down. Then she sighed — "We have... credible reports that they're fae."

"And what are you planning to do when you finally have them?"

"That's royal business —"

"Why are the huntresses here?"

"Royal business as well, probably," Ryujin quipped.

"Shut up, cat," Aeri spat.

"Ooh," Ryujin continued unbothered. "You're threateningly sexy. What you gonna do? Crush me on one of your barriers?"

"If you give me reason to," Aeri snapped back.

Ryujin scoffed, "You won't be fast enough."

"Are we done?!" Wonyoung raised her voice, her posture tense, rigid, like she's about to snap anytime.

"The defense of the campus went great," Wonyoung started. "But what happened after, your team going after Shin Yuna and their subsequent disappearance — that's not good optics."

"You make it sound like you care," I muttered.

Wonyoung glared at me, her youthful aura disappearing under a cloak of stress and responsibility. "I do care, Vale —"

"Our fight happened outside campus grounds, Princess," Yeji interjected. "So is Shin Yuna and Seol YoonAh disappearing... but that's not what truly concerns you, is it? The optics you're talking about is just cover for something else."

Aeri looked at Wonyoung quizzically, "What does the werebeast mean by that, princess?"

"Stop saying our race like it's a slur," Chaeryoung spat, and it surprised Jimin and I. She's usually calm and composed, but seeing her almost lose it here is lowkey terrifying.

Aeri looked at Chaeryoung, "Apologies, huntress," she said, almost mockingly.

"Aeri," Eunchae whispers beside her.

"My inquiry stands, princess. What does the huntress mean?" Aeri turned back to Wonyoung.

"I thought I made it clear last time, princess. Just be honest and we won't push back... much," I said. Jimin tightened her grip on my wrist which looks like the only thing that Chaewon is focusing on.

"Fine," Wonyoung exhaled heavily. "I want them back because I'm considering what you said last time."

Aeri was immediately on her feet, "Princess you can't be serious."

"Sit down, Uchinaga," Chaewon finally speaks, although it is soft, almost as weary as Wonyoung.

"Wait, can someone enlighten us?" Yeji said.

"Yeah. What does she mean, Seren?" Chaeryoung turned to me.

I exhaled as heavily as Wonyoung did, "Coexistence."

A needle could have dropped and we would have heard it. Jimin's eyes widened alongside the werebeasts. "So do you mean that you want Yuna and Sullyoon back... as a... proof of concept? That humans and Night Folk can coexist in the college?"

"And by extension, the whole of Verrath," I finished.

Ryujin scoffed, "Typical humans, using us for your own purposes."

"Shut your mouth, huntress," Aeri snapped.

"Want me to morph and shut it down your neck?"

"Shin Ryujin!" Yeji raised her voice and Ryujin just smirked.

"Ryujin's right, princess," Jimin spoke, "you can't just use Yuna and Sullyoon, and the werebeasts for that matter — as proof of concepts for your father."

"You need to develop trust, and you're failing miserably," Chaeryoung said gently.

"Night Folk can't be trusted, princess," Aeri protested.

"And so are humans," Yeji countered. "The amount of atrocities we borne down on each other makes 'who started it' irrelevant."

"You terrorized us —"

"If you're talking about our less civilized cousins — the lycantrophes — then we have nothing to talk about," Yeji responded. "They are indulgent and out of control, and you think we're the same as them."

"And you are not?" Aeri followed.

"Unless given reason to," Ryujin interjected.

"I said that's enough!" Wonyoung raised her voice again, her hands crumpled into fists, trembling until her knuckles turned white.

She breathed, audibly heavy like she was trying to calm herself. Then she faced the huntresses, "Do I have your support?"

"You have mine," Chaewon replied immediately.

"Eunchae?" Wonyoung asked.

"Uhm.." the spatial sorceress considered for a moment. "I don't know yet. I think you've already found your conviction, princess. And that's good, but... I'd rather see where it goes first before I commit. But for now, I don't reject it."

"That's enough," Wonyoung nodded then turned her head towards Aeri. "I know what you're about to say, but can't you just... humor me for this one, if you can't trust me with it? If it fails, you can say you told me so."

"If you fail there might never be an opportunity to say that," Aeri replied. She closed her eyes, and the room became as still as her barriers. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Aeri opened her eyes, "Fine, princess. I'll support you for now. But the moment I sense a hint of treachery —"

"I get it, Aeri," Wonyoung sighed, relief evident in her voice. "Now sit down, please."

Wonyoung then turned towards the werebeasts, "I know this is... very radical of me. But, like Eunchae said, I think I've found my conviction. And I recognize that I may have been doing things the wrong way — allow me to apologize for that."

Ryujin looked disarmed by the princess's words, Yeji and Chaeryoung on the other hand, were listening intently.

"Also, I know you don't trust me, what I ask is just a chance. A chance to prove that I'm sincere in what I'm fighting for and that it is worth a shot."

In a move that surprised me, Yeji turned towards me. "Do you trust her, Seren?" Her question made all the eyes turn towards me, heaviest of them all was Wonyoung's gaze.

I felt Jimin squeeze my arm, a silent gesture of support that I'm grateful for. "I do," I replied.

Yeji nodded, her eyes then scanned the sorceresses before looking back at the princess. "Fine, we'll give your... conviction, a shot."

And the room breathed as Princess Jang Wonyoung did.

"So, what's your plan?" I asked.

"We bring Shin Yuna and Seol YoonAh back in campus —"

"They'll come back."

"What?" Wonyoung said, not trying to hide her shock.

"They'll come back. Seol YoonAh said so during the battle at the park this morning. They're just... lying low."

Wonyoung blinked her eyes twice. "So what was the point of all that —?" She said, her voice growing slower and softer with every word.

"Hate to break it to you princess but," Yeji started with a grin on her face. "You're still much too young for all this..."

"Politics shit," Ryujin offered, making Wonyoung's aides smile faintly and Chaewon chuckle softly.

"But for what it's worth, princess," Chaeryoung added, "we think you're in the right track."

"Besides, that verbal boxing allowed us to gauge who we really need to convince with all this... coexistence stuff we're advocating," I turned towards Aeri with a smug smirk.

"I'll be watching you closely," Aeri bit back then turned towards the werebeasts, "all of you."

"Oh we're counting on it," Ryujin smirked as well.

Jimin then released a breath which I think she was holding since we entered the office, "Glad that's over with."

"Ditto," Eunchae echoed.

Chaewon however, remained silent, her gaze always returning to Jimin's grip on my wrist.

"So, um, are we good?" Chaeryoung asked Wonyoung who was still reeling a little bit from shock that Yuna and Sullyoon would just be returning to campus on their own.

Yujin approached her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Princess?"

Wonyoung then gave an airy chuckle, then she smiled, the youth coming back to her face. "Yeah. Yeah. We're good. You may all go. Uhm, except for you Seren and..." she turned towards the sorceress and Jimin's grip on my wrist tightened, "... Chaewon. I want to speak to both of you in private."

Chaewon and I exchanged awkward glances, her gaze lowering again to where Jimin and I are physically connected.

"Gaeul, could you please escort the sorceresses through the back while Yujin escorts the huntresses and Ms Yu Jimin through the front. I won't have both of you arguing again in front of this office," Wonyoung sighed wearily.

Gaeul echoed her princess's sigh while Yujin's faint smile gave some hint of pride. Her aides started escorting the two groups out. Jimin gives my wrist another soft squeeze before rising and taking Chaeryoung's hand. Together, she joined the werebeasts in exiting the room from where we came in. Gaeul on the other hand, escorts Aeri and Eunchae at the back door of the office.

The only ones left in the room were me, Jang Wonyoung, and Kim Chaewon. And if the room had a name, it would be: awkward.

Wonyoung sighed then walks towards the window. Chaewon and I exchanged another awkward glance only to avert our eyes immediately once they met.

"So, what can both of you say?" Wonyoung breaks the silence.

"Say about what?" I asked, stuttering.

"About this... coexistence thing. Seren made me realize this, and Chaewon was the only one of the sorceresses to openly support me, so..." she looked at us over her shoulder, "what can both of you say?"

Chaewon and I exchanged another glance, this time the contact lasted longer, along with a quiet mental conversation.

"I think," I began. "I think we're way over our heads, princess."

Chaewon and Wonyoung chuckled lightly. "And why is that?" The princess asked, turning fully to face both of us.

"I mean look at us. Barely even past our early 20s and already talking about stuff generations before us have tried to do and failed," I replied.

"He has a point," Chaewon supported.

"And you, Chaewon?" Wonyoung turned to the sorceress.

Chaewon was silent for a moment. "I'll be honest, princess. I'm supporting your conviction because of Seren's own conviction."

Her words triggered something within me, something I can't quite put a finger around yet.

Wonyoung tilted her head, "Explain."

Chaewon smiled then looked at me before turning back to the princess. "We're... childhood friends, princess. As I'm sure Eunchae already had the pleasure of gossiping that to you." Wonyoung chuckled, not even denying the claim.

"When you summoned Seren here for the first time... it was also the first time I saw him with such... vigor, in defending his principles. And he is a good person, I know that all too well. So if someone like him fights for something this strongly, then it must be worth fighting for."

I released a breath I didn't know I was holding. The irony of what she's saying wasn't lost on me — I didn't fight as strongly for her when she was taken by the Night Ladies, does that make her not worth fighting for?

I wanted to argue, to refute what she was saying underneath — but not here, not in front of the princess. Instead, I just stared at her in disbelief.

"It's a good thing you both seem to be in the same page," Wonyoung sighed another breath of relief. "That's because I'm planning to have both of you as my liaisons for this... advocacy. Chaewon for her sorceress sisters, and you Seren, for our Night Folk friends."

"Wait, what?" Chaewon and I said simultaneously.

"I've said it clearly, didn't I?" Wonyoung asked innocently. "You'll both be working closely together whenever I need you to in order to advance "Project Coexistence."

"Project Coexistence?" Chaewon chuckled.

"Yep, a little bit tacky isn't it?" Wonyoung said in defeat, and I could swear she looked so young and adorable when she pouted.

I smiled, releasing a soft sigh before speaking, "How about," the two ladies then turned their eyes at me, "Eclipse Garden."

Chaewon smiled softly, "Eclipse Garden," she echoed, softer, like the words will break if she said it wrong.

"I like it," Wonyoung whispered.

"Meh," Chaewon said teasingly, "it's passable."

I scoffed in faux indignation, "Let's hear yours then."

"I'll tell you when something comes up," she stuck her tongue out at me. And just like that, we were back as kids, arguing over the smallest of things. It's nostalgic, in the good or bad way, I don't know yet.

Wonyoung chuckled again. "It's final, we're calling this Project: Eclipse Garden."

"Well then," Wonyoung continued. "I'll leave you two for awhile..."

"What?" I snapped my head.

"Wait, princess –" Chaewon shook hers.

" — talk about how you can work together. But I guess being childhood friends, it won't be that difficult." Jang Wonyoung innocently kept going while walking towards the office's back door, blissfully oblivious to our protests as if she hadn’t just orchestrated the whole thing, until she disappeared.

"So, uhm..." I tried to break the awkward silence — succeeding only in breaking the latter. "How do we do this? This liaison thing?"

Chaewon chuckled on her seat like she couldn't believe this is happening, not the liaison thing — but the fact that we're alone in one room together. "You tell me, this coexistence thing was your idea."

"Doesn't mean I know how to proceed."

"You were right, then."

"About what?"

"We're in way over our heads."

Another silence blankets the room, heavier, a little bit uncomfortable. 

"Thank you, Chaewon," I said softly yet she recoiled like the word hit her like a truck.

"What the hell are you talking about?" She snapped back, but softer.

"For supporting me — for supporting this."

"Do not make me regret it."

"Like how I regret not doing anything that day —"

"Don't —" Chaewon raised a hand, shutting me up. She closed her eyes and took three deep breaths before opening them again. "Please. Don't."

"Sorry," I muttered awkwardly. What I wanted to say was sorry for that day, for not standing up for her, for letting her be taken away.

"You won't be able to stop it anyway," Chaewon murmured back as if reading my thoughts. "What were we, 15, 16? And against an institution."

"But —"

"I said don't, Seren —" her raised hand balled into a fist, yet there was no heat behind her words, only softness and regret.

I nodded and shifted in my seat. "And look at us now, in our 20s, against an even bigger institution."

"Fate's a bitch," Chaewon chuckled dryly.

"We make our own fate," I snapped back. "But yeah, fate's a bitch," I added softly, making her lips curve into a faint smile.

Chaewon turned to study me. Her eyes darting and fluttering all over my face — and I let her, for I was doing the same. Then she gave a weak and weary huff, "I told you not to do that."

"Do what?"

"Use Minjeong against me."

"I'm not," although a thought did pass my mind that Minjeong was waiting for her outside. "But yeah, she's waiting for you outside."

Chaewon averted her gaze, "So is your girlfriend," she whispered, almost inaudibly, like she didn't want both of us to hear her say it.

"She's not —" damn. How do I explain Jimin and I to someone who wasn't there when all this Night Folk shit began. With the werebeasts, it was simple, but with Chaewon, and with all the baggage that comes with it — it seems impossible.

"She's pretty," Chaewon muttered.

"We're not dating, Chaewon. Not... exactly."

Chaewon scoffed softly, "Don't tell me it's some kind of 'it's complicated' clichè."

"It is complicated but... the circumstances that make it so are not exactly a clichè."

"That's what you all tell yourself," Chaewon muttered before rising and making for the back door.

"Chaewon, wait —" I rose as she held the handle. She froze, waiting for me to say something stupid.

I held my mouth for three long breaths before speaking, "I missed you, Chae —"

"I said don't, Seren," her voice almost broke. "Please don't make it real."

And she left me in an office room that perfectly reflects how empty my heart was at that moment.

Damn — what a day, I thought as I crashed on my couch. I was at the point where I'm too tired to make myself a hot chocolate, but also unable to sleep. The latter annoys me the most — how the hell does someone get so tired that he can't sleep?

This was a day that drained me physically, mentally, psychologically, and emotionally — and to be deprived of that rest seems unfair.

I massaged the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes. I raised my leg over the desk, grateful for the soothing feeling of blood rushing across my lower body.

What the hell am I gonna do with all this free time?

Free time — I remembered Yuna's advice, to train whenever I have free time. Fine then, I'll train, hopefully it makes me more exhausted and I'll just fall straight to sleep.

I crossed my legs, straightened my posture, and closed my eyes. I felt the faerie dust release from my body. Now, if only there was some nature here, I could extend my consciousness, instead, I have my couch, and empty space in the air. 

Wait — air? Air is also nature right? A hypothesis swirled in my head. Can I... spread my consciousness in the air? Can I reach into it? Even become part of it?

First question, though – how? I can't anchor myself in the air. I can't grab it even though it's all around me. I considered calling Sullyoon, but a part of me hesitated. A competitive spirit perhaps, or just plainly trying to impress the dryad — I'll try to figure this out on my own. If it works, I'll have something to brag about... maybe even teach Sullyoon. If I fail, well, no harm done.

So I racked my brain, dust still swirling all over my body. Wait — all over my body? When did I get to do that? It was just on my palms last Saturday. Though the Death Dealers said I was hazy when they arrived that night. Maybe my control got better?

Anyway, I'm getting sidetracked. My problem right now is how to reach out to the air. Damn it, how do you reach out to something you can't touch but is all around you? I heaved a big sigh and leaned my head against the couch's backrest.

Wait — heaved? 

Breathed. 

Breathing. 

That's it! 

I straightened again on the couch. The moment our body interacts directly with the air is when we breathe. Now the question is, would I be able to use this routine movement to accomplish what I'm planning.

Only one way to find out.

I crossed my legs. 

Closed my eyes. 

Relaxed my body. 

And breathed.

Deep inhales through the nose. Deeper exhales through the mouth.

I tried to keep count of my breathing, but got annoyed when I reached thirty-two. I decided to just breathe, if something happens, then good. Sullyoon also taught me patience, nature does not like to be rushed. So if it comes, it comes.

I didn't know how long I was sitting there — I may have fallen asleep and didn't even notice it. But the whisper came softly, almost imperceptibly — and I didn't hear it with my ears, I heard it with my skin.

I felt weightless.

Not exactly floating — expanding. 

Then... space. Or at least, how the air bends and adjusts to space. 

It was like my skin had eyes. I can map every inch of my apartment just by feeling the air. Every curve of the couch, the edges of the tables and countertops, even the soft touch of the curtains. I felt them all, like the air was a second skin.

I smiled and whispered a soft thank you. The air responded, blowing just a little stronger and making the hair on my arms stand on edge. This is a breakthrough — I think. I don't know if dryads can do this but I can't wait to tell Sullyoon.

I kept concentrating, trying hard not to break the contact. I was so giddy that the drowsiness all but left my body. Thing is — now I want to move. I want to feel the wind as I move.

An idea popped into my mind, and since Sullyoon has not taught me how to actually manifest plantlife yet, I searched around my apartment. I didn't leave my couch, I searched through the air until I felt it. I flexed my hands like I'm holding it. It was just behind my door, right beside my shoe rack.

I rose towards it, walking slowly so as not to break my concentration and my connection with the wind. I reached for it — a six foot metal pipe, left there when my sink broke and the pipes needed to be replaced like six months ago.

I gave it a quick flourish. Heavy — heavier than Soyeon's quarterstaff, but it'll do. I exited my apartment and made my way to the apartment rooftop, the only space where I can practice combat.

I scaled five more floors before I reached the rooftop. The air should have been cold this time of night, instead it wrapped me in a warm embrace — like an old friend finally saying "now you see me."

The crescent moon was waxing in the cloudless sky tonight. I've only been to the rooftop when the old landlord toured me when I moved in — that was three years ago. Well, rooftops don't usually have renovations so I guess it's the same flat and empty space as it once was. 

I took my place at the center, extending my consciousness towards the four corners of the space. I kept faerie dust released all over my body as I assumed the combat stance I was taught. This would be my challenge for tonight — maintain faerie dust and my connection with the air while practicing and slowly incorporating the enhanced speed and strength I assimilated from Chaeryoung and Seulgi, respectively.

Ambitious? Perhaps. But I need to take my mind off the things that happened the whole day. So I'm going to focus only on training every aspect I trained with last Saturday.

I did some tentative moves, slowly testing out how fast I could move and how hard I could strike with both abilities active. Moving wasn't the issue — it was keeping my concentration while I tested my limits, and so far — it's a slow start.

I kept going for about half an hour, practicing and imitating forms Soyeon demonstrated last Saturday. Then I felt a disturbance in the wind — someone has entered the space inside the rooftop. And she moved fast — but not faster than Saerom was this morning, and certainly not faster than Chaeryoung. I felt her weapon — a glaive, as she moved behind me with practiced grace. Most of all — I felt her fangs as she smiled.

She struck sideways when she was upon me, and I blocked the shaft of her glaive with the metal pipe. The sound of the clash rang across the rooftop and the weight of her blow sent me skidding sideways. She was not as strong as Saerom, or even Seulgi either, but her strike was a welcome greeting.

"Good evening, Lee Chaeyoung," I greeted, relaxing my grip on the metal pipe.

"Good evening, Seren," Chaeyoung greeted back, pulling her hood down with a sultry grin on her lips. "I was sure I had you back there."

"First time?" I teased.

Chaeyoung chuckled, "Against a human, yes."

"You know I'm not fully human, Chaeng," I replied.

"Ooh, you're embracing it now."

"A little bit. Saerom and I had a talk."

"After I sucked you off?" Chaeyoung asked teasingly.

I just chuckled and nodded. "So, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Nothing really," Chaeyoung replied, flourishing her glaive and holding it behind her back. "I was bored, then I smelled that you were outside. Imagine my surprise when I saw you practicing... well not actually saw you immediately, that layer of faerie dust all around you still makes you hazy."

"How did you find me before you struck, then?"

"Scent. Your blood smells really fragrant," a predatory smile etches across her lips.

"So I've been told."

"Your turn — how did you sense my approach?" Chaeyoung tilted her head in genuine curiosity.

"Through the wind," I replied nonchalantly, maybe even a little bit cocky. I figured this out on my own, I think I deserve a little... arrogance for it.

"What? Are you an aeromancer or something?" Chaeyoung asked, clearly confused.

"Well, not exactly," I replied. Then I explained my discovery to her, how I can sense everything the air touches in a given space.

"So, you can sense everything within this rooftop?" Chaeyoung asked.

"Basically," I shrugged.

"Good work, Seren," Chaeyoung purred, sounding genuinely impressed.

"So I take it you're practicing with all your abilities active at once?" She followed.

"Yeah. So far so good."

"Do you know what would make it better?" Chaeyoung giddily asked.

"What?" I recoiled for a moment. Knowing Chaeyoung she'll probably say something crude or sexual, maybe even a direct invitation to have sex. 

Instead, the Death Dealer assumes a stance. Legs spread, hips low, glaive behind her with the blade pointing downward. She held her hand out and beckoned with a come over gesture, "A sparring partner."

I smirked then assumed my own stance. "Just don't beat me up too much, Chaeng."

Chaeyoung smirked back, "I'll try not to."

And Chaeyoung charged head on. Fast — almost as fast as Chaeryoung when she disappeared from my sight. And yet I can feel her in the wind — I felt her blow coming. I raised the pipe to block and had my head nearly taken off with the speed of Chaeyoung's strike.

I back stepped, mind racing on what went wrong. I clearly sensed the direction, the timing, even the power behind Chaeyoung's strike — but I wasn't able to counter in time.

"You're overloaded," Chaeyoung remarked. "You're thinking too much. Maintaining too much. It compromises your physical capabilities."

"But I want to train to maintain these abilities while in combat," I replied.

"Then choose only one for the time being," Chaeyoung suggested. "Or reduce scale."

"Reduce scale," I muttered. Maybe if I don't cover the entire rooftop with my senses. A smaller area, enough not to overload my brain, but also wide enough to be able to sense Chaeyoung's movements. As for faerie dust, I'll try to just maintain them released, not swirling all over my body.

I applied the necessary adjustments, shrinking my consciousness into a dome extending six feet in radius. Once again, I lowered myself, pipe pointing directly at Chaeyoung.

"Ready?" Chaeyoung asked.

"Let's find out."

And the Death Dealer charged again.

She did the same thing she did last time — a sideways strike aimed directly at my head. I felt it, clearer now — how her shoulders extended, how her hips pivoted, and how she planted her feet — all the things Soyeon taught me to watch—things I struggled with when I only had to rely on one sense. Now I can just — feel it.

I blocked with the pipe, the sound ringing in my ears. Her second strike came low and I met it with a sweeping strike of my own. Chaeyoung jerked her outer shoulder, bringing the butt end of her glaive towards my face. I dodged, then sidestepped to create space and regroup.

"That was good," Chaeyoung remarked with pride in her voice.

"Woah," I exclaimed. Adrenaline rushed along my veins. The air I breathe seemed energizing, like it's enjoying the fight as much as Chaeyoung and I are.

"Another round?" Chaeyoung asked, grinning. She changed her stance, still low, but the glaive now held above her head, her forward hand holding it aloft.

I raised the pipe again, and with a grin matching Chaeyoung's — I charged, meeting her in the middle of the rooftop. 

We traded blows evenly, although I can feel that Chaeyoung was holding back a little bit. I'm not so cocky as to assume that I became equal to a Death Dealer — one of Joohyun's personal elite even — after discovering a new ability.

But yet, it felt good, matching blows against someone of Chaeyoung's calibre. I could tell she's not as strong or fast as Saerom, she's also not as technically skilled as Soyeon, but she's better than me in all those aspects.

We sparred for what felt like hours. I was able to maintain the sensory space I created as well as the faerie dust released from my body, all while keeping up blow by blow against a Death Dealer. We only stopped when the metal pipe finally bent at an angle that made it unwieldly.

I collapsed on the bulkhead roof, Chaeyoung sitting down beside me. I was panting — heaving even, and I'm drenched with sweat. I decided to recall the faerie dust, but I kept my connection with the wind.

"That was fun," Chaeyoung smirked.

"It was." I looked at my watch — 10:30PM, still a little bit early.

"Tired?" The Death Dealer inquired.

"Not exactly. Breathing seems... easier to me now. And I think it helped with the exhaustion... or the lack of it."

"Breathing, huh," Chaeyoung muttered softly.

"Sorry," I whispered. "Was that insensitive of me?"

"No," Chaeyoung replied. "I just... miss the sensation of it."

"Vampires can still breathe, right?"

Chaeyoung nodded. "But we don't need to. Most of the time we do it just out of habit, or like me, missing the sensation. But it's useless so, why even do it."

To that, I have no answer.

Clouds were now on the sky as I stared at it, covering some of the stars that I know. "Saerom said you were turned during the coven wars?" I asked cautiously.

I felt her smile faintly as she hugged her knees in front of her. "She told you that, huh."

"Not in detail. If it's uncomfortable for you, we can just... stay quiet and watch the night sky."

Chaeyoung turned her head upwards, watching the same sky that I am watching. "It was a sky such as this," she began melancholically. "We were blissfully unaware of a war between vampires was raging at the time. What we know is that people would suddenly rage into an uncontrollable bloodlust..."

"The Blood Plague."

"Yeah, that's what they called it," Chaeyoung continued. "Of course it was just lower vampires who can't control their thirst. Thing is — most vampire covens inadvertently caused all of that. They tried turning an entire populace into soldiers — but it only takes one to rampage before all those efforts come crashing down."

"Your village was one of them?" I asked.

Chaeyoung lowered her head and nodded. "The misfortune of our village was that six different covens attacked in just one night. Five came to turn us. The sixth came to erase us. And just like that, the night sky turned red."

I stayed quiet, allowing Chaeyoung the space whether she wants to continue or not.

"Did she tell you we're sisters? All three of us?" Chaeyoung finally asked.

"She did. Said there were seven of you. Only the three of you survived."

Chaeyoung huffed softly, yet it carried an air of bitterness. "Five of us were turned, each by a different coven."

"She told me that. And that you met in the battlefield, and you..." I hesitated for a moment, waiting for Chaeyoung to stop me — she didn't. "She said you killed indiscriminately."

Another scoff, then a sob. "That's an understatement. She was..." she paused, then she looked at the night sky again. "She slew our two other sisters."

I sat up, unable to control my shock. Chaeyoung gave a weary sigh when she saw my expression. "She was forced to kill the first one, she was unable to control her thirst and nearly destroyed a castle single handedly. As for the second one..." Chaeyoung sighed again, as if she was remembering herself in that same moment eighteen hundred years ago. "She killed our second sister when her coven struck hers. That sister fell in love with the coven's prince, and she chose to defend him to the death rather than join Saerom's coven."

"I'm sorry," though the words never felt they were enough.

Chaeyoung just smiled a far gentler smile than she usually does, her eyes glistened under the moonlight. "I don't remember their names anymore... or maybe I chose not to. But Saerom, she never forgot."

"That's why she thinks she's a monster," I whispered.

Chaeyoung nodded. "When the war was nearing its end, seven elders were dead.  Joohyun's coven, the Verrathi coven as you know it now, defeated Saerom's coven and she took her as her first Death Dealer. Then Saerom searched for us, directing the coven towards our own. Soyeon's chose to surrender and was assimilated, mine chose to fight —"

"And you were the only survivor?"

Chaeyoung grinned, "In a way. I killed all of them, in their sleep. Then defected to Saerom, to Joohyun."

She then turned to me, a single wet streak trailing down her left eye. "So you see, Seren. I'm also a monster." Her voice broke, but she still said it with a smile on her face.

I bowed my head and noticed her hands were trembling. "Do you regret it?"

"No. I was the most proficient in vampiric charm in my original coven, and they were unwilling to let me go."

"So you killed them to avoid further bloodshed?"

Chaeyoung gave an airy chuckle, "I can see where you're going. Greater good. Killing the few to save the many. Believe me, I've thought about that in my eighteen hundred years of walking this earth. But that coven was still my family, in their own twisted way — and I massacred them in one night — to save more lives in a war we never even understood, and to reunite with my sisters. So tell me, does my end justified my means?"

"I..." I hesitated. "I don't know."

Chaeyoung smiled softly, "It's alright, Seren. Even I don't know, and I'm eighteen hundred years old. I just learned to live with that fact. As well as the fact that I may need to live with that fact for eternity."

She raised her head again and wiped her cheek. "You made me cry, Seren Vale," she said teasingly.

"I'm sorry."

"Now you need to pay for it," Chaeyoung said.

"Wait, what?"

"I said pay for making me cry."

"What? Are you a kid?" I teased, chuckling.

"I'm serious," the teasing glint returned in her eyes, the seductive smile returning shortly after.

"Okay, fine," I chuckled wearily. "What do you want? A drop of blood —?"

"Fuck me."

"Come again?"

She moved, quick, maybe even quicker than when we were sparring. In a flash, Lee Chaeyoung was straddling me. Her hands caught mine and she pulled it close to her.

"You got to see me vulnerable. Nobody gets to see me vulnerable."

"Chaeng —"

"So fuck me. Make me forget that I opened up to you. Make me forget even my own name."

"Right here?" I asked, gesturing at the bulkhead.

"Yes. Right here," she replied, moaning as she slowly grind herself on top of me. "Do it right here. Under the night sky. With the moon as the witness."

"Fuck, Chaeng —" I hissed as I felt my pants slowly tightening.

Then she held my head firmly, but her eyes were soft, almost pleading. "Pretend you love me, Seren. Pretend that you love me tonight."

I pressed my forehead against hers. My breath brushing against her skin while nothing meets mine. I held her waist softly, then surrendered to her eyes, leaning in to kiss her — and pretend that I love her with the moon as our witness.

Chaeyoung hissed. I felt her fangs pierce my lower lip — light enough to feel the pleasure but not deep enough to draw blood — even though some part of me wanted her to.

The Death Dealer pulled away, she looked at me with hungry eyes and bit her lip, emphasizing her left fang as she did so. Her hands flew towards the pin holding her cloak and hood, she unclasped it and the clothing was removed from her body, revealing what seemed to be a mix between a long-sleeved leather jerkin and a corset.

"Zip it off me, will you?" Chaeyoung asked, voice breathy even though she does not need to breathe.

A hand of mine softly glides from her waist towards her back, feeling the rough texture of the zipper's teeth. I traveled upward, until I reached the tongue, and slowly pulled it down. 

The clothing slowly peeled off of Chaeyoung's torso, my heart racing as I was about to see her naked upper body. Before I could get a proper look though, her clothing — more like armor — suddenly grew heavy in my hands.

With an audible grunt, I set it aside beside us, scattering dust as it landed heavily on the floor of the bulwark.

Chaeyoung giggled. "Heavy?" She asked, pressing her body flush against me, denying me the chance to glance on her bare torso.

"What the hell is that?" I chuckled as Chaeyoung nibbled on my earlobe.

"Dragon leather," she whispered. "One of the toughest materials to make armor with. Second only to the dwarves' mithril, and theirs is also lighter."

"You wear this every day?" My hands felt her trousers, whose texture suggests it is made with the same material.

"Only when I'm outside the coven," she replied, her fangs trailing sharply from my ear to my neck. "Only Saerom, Soyeon, and I have it amongst the Death Dealers."

"And you can still move that fast?"

Chaeyoung giggled on my neck before she pulled away, finally giving me a view of her slender and toned upper body. Her tits were small but shapely with hardened nubs that I know was not because of the cold wind blowing on our skin.

Chaeyoung grinned and snickered, "I'm faster without it, as you may see later."

"I may finish too quickly if you do that," I snickered.

"We don't want that, do we," Chaeyoung trailed her fingers down my chest to my stomach and ending with her hand balling the hem of my shirt. "I told you to make me forget my name, to pretend that you love me. That means taking our time," her whispered words were as sultry and sensual as her subtle movements atop my hips and thighs.

Chaeyoung pulled my shirt off of me. Then she traced her fingers over my chest, then down to my abs, all the while biting her lip like I was some kind of delicacy.

I hissed when her middle finger softly tread through the obvious tent in my pants. She gave a soft giggle that sounded so innocently playful that it was a little bit disarming considering she's an eighteen hundred year old vampire.

Chaeyoung lowered her head, slowly kissing her way down my chest, to my stomach. She lingered a little bit on my navel, licking the sensitive part and making me tense my core. While she does so, she pulls my pants down low enough for my now fully hard cock to spring out and hit her chest with a soft thud.

Chaeyoung giggled as her hands wrapped around my hardness, making me whip my head backward. "Looks like someone missed me," the Death Dealer quipped.

"I think the feeling's mutual — fuck!"

Chaeyoung wasted no time in putting my shaft inside her mouth. I was once again assaulted by the softness of her tongue, the warmth of her mouth, and the rough texture of her fangs.

She sucked my cock like expertly, knowing when to slow down and when to speed up, trapping me in a roller coaster that had my mouth open in a breathless scream and a hand pulling on my hair just to feel another sensation other than the best blowjob I'm having yet.

"Fuck, Chaeng —" I heaved, certain she won't stop until I spill my load down her throat. 

Then she released her mouth with a loud pop. She smiled at me while stroking my cock almost lazily. "I can feel your blood rushing, Seren," Chaeyoung purred.

Then she stood, her hands unzipping her dragon leather jeans. Slowly, almost torturously, and with the most wicked grin in her face, Lee Chaeyoung pulled the garment down — with my jaws lowering as she did so. She was now laid bare in front of me, her pussy shaved and clean, her tits small but shapely, and with delectable nipples jutting outwards. But it was always her face that captivates — eyes that express both pride, lust, greed, and sloth, and a grin that can shatter any defense — vampiric charm or no.

"I've made you cum with my mouth before," Chaeyoung whispers loud enough for the wind to carry her words.  Then she moves one hand towards her pussy, inserting two fingers and making an obscene and squelching noise. "Don't you think you need to return the favor?" 

Chaeyoung moves toward me, my eyes never leaving her pussy while she fingers herself slowly. Her juices drip down her fingers and her thighs, making my own saliva drip down my chin.

Once she was inches away from me, Chaeyoung removes her fingers and wraps the hand around my head. Slowly, she pulled me close. I can smell her, a combined metallic fragrance of fresh blood and the musky scent of sweat from our recent sparring — and it makes for one effective aphrodisiac.

I dove in, feeling her swollen clit with my tongue — and Lee Chaeyoung almost pushes my head down to the bulwark floor.

"Fuck — you're good —" the Death Dealer gasped, grasping my hair tightly as she held on against my assault on her pussy.

I braced one hand on the bulwark floor while the other grabs Chaeyoung by her ass to steady her. The Death Dealer raises her leg and rests it on my shoulder as she slowly pressed her wetness against my tongue.

"Fuck... Seren... you're going to make me cum so fast..." Lee Chaeyoung whimpered. Serves you right — I thought, for making me cum quickly during that training night.

I flicked my tongue more earnestly, pausing sometimes to flatten it against her clit, making her whine in frustration at the need for friction and movement.

"Shit, you're so good —" Chaeyoung's moans increased in urgency. Her hips and her hand trapping me on her soft wetness. I lapped the juices dripping from her slit before giving her clit one slow lick — and her floodgates opened.

"Damn it — SEREN! I'm fucking — FUCK!"

Lee Chaeyoung's head whips back as she screamed to the moon. Her pussy clenches as she presses me tighter between her thighs. Copious amounts of her slick dripped down my chin, too much for my mouth to catch.

Chaeyoung disengaged from me. She stumbled before falling on her ass on the bulwark floor.

"Fuck — fuck..." she was still twitching in intervals. Short bursts of cum squirting from her pussy.

"What the fuck did you do to me, Seren Vale?" Chaeyoung chuckled, cheeks flushed but eyes still full of desire.

"You told me to make you forget your name."

I mounted on top of Chaeyoung. The Death Dealer lay down, her eyes facing the night sky before I covered it. My frame casted a shadow on her lithe body. 

I ran a hand from her waist to cup one of her breasts. Her breath hitched, she took the hand and guided it to grope her tit, rolling it against her nipple. Her other hand reached for my cock and she rubbed it along her entrance.

"So big..." Chaeyoung murmured — then slowly sank down with a muffled gasp.

"Fuck that —" we both hissed. She's tight — well, forgive my thoughts about the contrary, she's an eighteen hundred year old vampire who's proud to say her body was her first weapon after all. And she was dripping like a faucet.

"You like that?" Chaeyoung murmured with an urgency that matched the movement of her hips. 

I can only nod in reply as I try not to blow to early. Chaeyoung smiled and began riding with almost reckless abandon.

The sound of her moans and whimpers permeated the night air. My hands held her waist, trying to steady her as much as I can. 

Chaeyoung moves like a woman possessed by the Lady of Lust herself.  She braces her hands on my shoulders then squats, making her transition from wild grinding, to even wilder bouncing.

She's openly screaming now, her voice piercing and heavy with lust as her ass slaps my thighs every time she descends on my shaft. I can only hope no one can hear her from the rooms below.

'"Fuck, Seren! I'm going to... I'm going to fucking... fucking cum!" Chaeyoung screamed pulled me towards her neck as she screamed. I can feel her pussy contracting, eliciting pleasure I've never felt before — and I can only groan as I gritted my teeth so as not to blow my load.

Chaeyoung suddenly drops and tenses — her head whips back. Her pussy convulses, threatening to milk my cock inside of her.

My legs tensed and went rigid as I tried my hardest not to cum alongside Chaeyoung.

Then an ear shattering scream escapes Chaeyoung's throat. Her thighs clenched around mine tightly as my hold on her waist grips tighter.

Her pussy pulses as her body shakes on top of me. This is dangerous, I though, I might prematurely orgasm if this keeps going – so I decided to shift things up a bit, well my body did, not my mind.

I wrapped my arms around her waist and rose to carry her. Chaeyoung wraps her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist, still shaking from her orgasm.

Sensing my intent, Chaeyoung presses her shaking body flush against me. Then she pushes herself up, then slams herself down.

"Fuck! That's it... right there!" Chaeyoung's moans resumed. These moans turned into screams once I moved my hips, meeting her every time she descends on my cock.

With a growl, I leaned in to capture one hard nub in my mouth, swirling my tongue and making Chaeyoung whip her head back with another hoarse scream.

I had no doubt profanities were being spat out of Chaeyoung's mouth, but i was focused on not cumming that I shut down every sense except the feeling of my cock sliding hard inside the Death Dealer.

I hissed when Chaeyoung suddenly yanked my head off her tits. She looked at me with hungry eyes before drowning her moans inside my mouth, pulling my head for a needy and sloppy kiss.

I pulled away, then bit her neck hard, right where her pulse should be — right where they clamp their fangs on their prey. Chaeyoung's squeal of pain and pleasure sounded like music in my ears.

"What's your name?" I growled.

"Fuck —" Chaeyoung whimpered, bouncing herself harder on my cock.

I moved to the other side of her neck — and bit at the same location.

"FUCK!" The Death Dealer roared. 

"I asked for your name!" I roared back.

"Your slut! I'm your fucking slut! Keep fucking me with that fucking cock!" 

Chaeyoung's eyes roll to the top of her head.

"Say that again," I said, nipping at her earlobe.

"I'm yout slut, Seren. I'm your — fuck! I'm... I'm... I'm... I'M CUMMING!"

Chaeyoung lifts herself off my cock. Her body tenses like a spring about to uncoil — and uncoil she did. Her pussy gushes, drenching my abdomen and the head of my cock. Her fingers tighten around my shoulders, digging and scratching the sweaty flesh.

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." Chaeyoung's every word was emphasized each by an equally heavy breath while she slowly relaxes on my arms.

"Fuck you..." the vampire whispers in my ear.

"Did you forget your name?" I quipped.

"For a moment I probably did," Lee Chaeyoung chuckled.

"Good, but we're not done yet."

I carried her to the edge of the bulwark before lowering her down. Chaeyoung seemed to sense what I wanted because she turned around from me and bent over, presenting her delectable ass for my visual consumption. She braced her hands on the small ledge, then slowly pushed her pussy, grinding her ass against my twitching dick.

"Get back in, Seren," Chaeyoung whined in a needy voice. "Your slut needs your hard cock inside her."

I chuckled as I prodded her entrance with my tip — and Chaeyoung tries to push it inside of her.

"Patience, slut!" I grinned, slapping her ass and making the sound echo across the night sky. I was taking a little bit of pleasure in this little game Chaeyoung was playing — maybe more than a little bit.

Lee Chaeyoung whimpered, "Please. I want it. I need it."

"What do you want, slut?" My grin grew more wicked while teasing the Death Dealer's entrance.

"You... your cock... all of it... Fuck, just please put it in!" The need and urgency in Chaeyoung's voice made me chuckle. "It's so frustrating that I can't use Charm against you so that you'll just put it the fuck — AHHH!" Chaeyoung screamed as I sheathed myself fully inside her dripping cunt and started pistoning in the roughest pace I can muster.

The soft tightness of Chaeyoung's pussy had me seeing stars — literally because I looked up to the sky with my teeth clenched just to control myself. It's like her walls welcome my cock with glee everytime I thrust in, and it's taking me one step to the edge with every thrust.

I gripped her thighs, allowing me to push harder and rougher — and Chaeyoung started to convulse.

"Fuck, Seren! You're making me... cum... you're making me cum again..." Her knuckles turned white on the ledge as her entire body clenched tightly.

"FUCK!" Another scream and she shot up, pressing her back against my chest while her cum threatens to push my cock off of her pussy.

Yet I fucked her through it. Her head rests on my shoulder, mouth open, eyes closed, body writhing. One of my hands held her arms, the other wraps around her chest, palming a hardened nub and making the Death Dealer shake more violently in pleasure.

"I'm close, Chaeng —" I whispered hoarsely.

Her eyes snapped open and stared directly at mine. "Inside. Fill your slut up. Nowhere else," Chaeyoung breathlessly, almost desperately, whined while nodding furiously.

My thrusts gained more urgency as I struggled to contain the pressure that was building up in my gut. And with one powerful thrust, I released my load inside of Lee Chaeyoung. The Death Dealer's eyes roll again at the top of her head, her mouth wide in a silent scream, and her pussy responding in kind as I fill her up just as she said.

My thrusts slowed as Chaeyoung relaxed in my arms. I pulled out slowly, landing on my ass on the cold floor immediately after my cock was released from her pussy. Chaeyoung fell to her knees, and I watched in amazement as both of our juices trickled out of her pussy to fall down on the floor.

Then Chaeyoung's light chuckle broke through the night. She looked at me over her shoulder, eyes half lidded with satisfaction, a grin spreading on her lips, emphasizing the flush on her cheeks.

I chuckled back, until we were both laughing, naked on top of the rooftop's bulwark.

"Did I make you forget your name, Chaeng?" I quipped.

"For a while, you did," Chaeyoung quipped back. "Fuck. I wasn't that thoroughly fucked since, I don't know... maybe that half-elf two centuries ago."

"I don't think I needed to hear that," my chuckles slowly ceased while Chaeyoung and I kept our eyes locked.

Slowly, Chaeyoung crawled towards me until she's back on my lap. She stroked the hair that was stuck on my forehead and temples.

"We should do this again," Chaeyoung breathed.

"You make it hard to refuse," I whispered back, her mouth half opening near my nose.

Chaeyoung grinned then gave me a quick kiss. "I'll come back tomorrow night. And we'll... train again... that would be our foreplay." I raised my eyebrows then her expression changed with a cheeky grin and a naughty glint in her eyes, "then I'll change my name to 'slut' after."

I gave a light huff, "Did I ever tell you that you make it hard to refuse?"

Chaeyoung nodded, "Yeah. You did."

The Death Dealer kisses me back while the clouds slowly covered the moon.