A Tale About Rooftops

"Keep your feet moving, Seren!" Soyeon yelled from the bulwark.

Easy for you to say, you're just sitting there yelling instructions while your sister is having the time of her life pummelling me. Chaeyoung certainly was holding back less since that night — like something unlocked within her after opening up to me.

Now, every night since then, we meet in the rooftop of my apartment to spar — and the rest of the night tends to follow when we're alone again at the bulwark — well, it's only been the third night since then.

Soyeon joined us tonight, saying that she also has nothing else to do in the coven so she might as well keep overseeing my training — even bringing quarterstaffs for me and Chaeyoung to use. She also said that this is a good excuse to avoid the scrutiny of the Moon Guard — the personal force of Joohyun's brother and their counterpart within the Verrathi Coven.

I lunged at Chaeyoung with a thrust aimed at her head, she weaved her head aside calmly, smiling that sultry grin she always wears. She swiped her staff quickly against my thigh, and I was able to block it with the butt end of my staff. Our weapons locked and I rode the momentum, swinging her staff in a high arc and slamming it down the concrete tiles.

I grinned at her, adrenaline pumping in my veins as I was sure that for the first time, I've gained the advantage against Chaeyoung. Chaeyoung grinned back, and my confidence plummeted — she tackled me with her shoulder, then spun with an unfairly graceful roundhouse kick to my abdomen.

I landed with my back on the dusty floor, seeing literal stars in the night sky. I sat up, Chaeyoung was smirking at me while holding both of our staffs in her hands. "Lesson number — I don't know what lesson you both already are —" Chaeyoung chuckled. "But your weapon isn't your only weapon," she extended my staff towards me, I took it and Chaeyoung pulled me up. "The rest of your body is also a weapon," she added with a wink when we were face to face.

"I thought you meant that in a different context, Chaeng," I teased.

"If Soyeon wasn't here, you're gonna get that full context," Chaeyoung whispered back naughtily.

"Alright, are we done flirting?" Soyeon asked lazily, jumping down from the bulwark.

"Flirting never ends, my dear sister," Chaeyoung replied.

Soyeon just huffed, like indulging Chaeyoung with an answer is a waste of time. "Anyway, can I ask you something, Seren?"

"Yeah."

"What's the purpose of all this..." she gestured towards my whole body, "faerie dust on your body?"

I looked down at my body, dust settling just above my skin. "I... uh... I want to keep it active while fighting —"

"For what purpose? Do you hope it would dazzle your opponent or something?" Soyeon dryly interrupted.

I have no answer, because frankly, I don't know.

"You're just wasting energy. Either you find a purpose for that, or focus on your aero senses entirely when in combat."

"I'll... uh... try to find some way to make it useful."

Soyeon huffed, "You're pretty stubborn, huh. Fine. Find your own way of fighting. Just know that maintaining your faerie dust during combat is a detriment to you as you are now."

I then looked at Chaeyoung who shrugged her shoulders. "She has a point."

Soyeon turned to her sister, then rolled her eyes. "And yet you didn't correct him."

"I was trying to —"

"You've been here two nights, Chaeng. I could understand the first, but the second —"

I raised my hand nervously, "Uh.. Are we still talking about training?"

"You both know exactly what I'm talking about," Soyeon sighed in exasperation.

"Remind me who's older between us, Lee Soyeon," Chaeyoung puffed her chest and raised her chin indignantly.

Soyeon scoffed, "Please, our ages stopped mattering when we reached a millennia old."

"No, it did not."

"Then talk to Saerom with how you talk to me."

Chaeyoung scrunched her face in annoyance. Soyeon laughed, a quick and pleasant sound, and also the first time I heard her do so.

"Give it a try, then," our heads snapped into the voice of the third person. Saerom was standing at the bulwark, her red cloak fluttering in the cool night wind, her glaive strapped to her back.

"We're jesting, Saerom," Chaeyoung smiled calmly while she approached her sister. Soyeon just huffed, clearly unbothered.

Saerom raised an eyebrow at her, but otherwise, let the matter go. She dropped from the bulwark, landing gracefully like inertia didn't matter.

"It's good that you're training," Saerom remarked at me.

"Thank you. How are things at the coven? How is Joohyun? She hasn’t been attending classes lately... and she rarely contacts even Jimin," I asked.

"She's..." then Saerom sighed. "She's fine. Frustrated, but otherwise, alright."

"Frustrated why?" I asked.

"I take it the deliberations are over?" Soyeon followed.

Saerom nodded.

"What deliberations?" I asked again.

"Did our Princess lose?" Chaeyoung inched closer towards her sisters.

"Not exactly but, she got the shorter end of the stick."

"Uhm. Excuse me, I'm right here," I waved my staff to prove a point.

Saerom turned towards me, heaving another heavy sigh. Chaeyoung said they don't need to do that, but I guess sighing is a universal gesture for relieving frustration — even if one does not need to breathe.

"Joohyun is advocating for more aggressive action against the Hunt. Orion's clearly up to something, especially with the attack at the College, then the skirmish at the park. One Glade Lord is also confirmed personally leading the operations which indicates Orion's direct hand," Saerom replied.

"But?"

"Her brother opposes," Saerom said with almost a hint of contempt. "He's saying the Hunt has not struck the coven directly so full military action is not yet warranted."

"I take it their father didn't side with Joohyun?"

"Not exactly. He settled for a compromise, no direct military action, but intensified intelligence and counter-intelligence operations."

Chaeyoung cursed, "Why does the prince keep opposing her?"

"That's his purpose," Soyeon dryly responded. "They're both checks of each other. That way, nobody holds too much power."

"What's the point of having power then?" Chaeyoung teased, more to annoy Soyeon than actually wanting a serious reply.

"I wouldn't expect you to understand, Chaeng, even after eighteen hundred years," Soyeon bit back, making Chaeyoung snicker.

"Anyway," Saerom began, and our attentions immediately shifted back to her. "The Death Dealers are the covert arm of the coven so I'm going to deploy more of us in the field. I'm guessing my sisters will only have this week to train you every night. After that, they may be assigned to other missions as the need arises –"

"But —" Soyeon, Chaeyoung, and I began to protest but were immediately stopped as Saerom raised a hand.

"Let me finish," she paused to ensure she had all our attentions. "Saturday trainings remain, but during weeknights, either you train alone, or a younger Death Dealer spars with you... if we can spare it."

I nodded in understanding. "I just hope everything will be fine." That came out heavier than I intended, well, with the Wild Hunt now openly escalating hostilities, I guess it's only a matter of time. The other races may also spur to action — if they aren't already. Things may go faster now, I just hope I'm, no, we are ready for it.

"Oh it will," Saerom replied. "But it's going to get difficult first."

Chaeyoung chuckled again, "Ever the realist, aren't we, Romsae?"

"We've lived eighteen hundred years. Our time for fantasies are over."

"I say we have all the time in the world," Chaeyoung quipped back. Then she turned to me and winked, "Especially for fantasies."

"At least we're doing something," Soyeon chimed in. "I'd rather have hard times rather than doing nothing for a century."

"Ditto," Chaeyoung giggled.

"Are we done chatting?" Saerom asked.

"Why? Are you relieving us tonight?" Chaeyoung responded.

"Yes. I need the two of you to assist for our operational plans. The king wants to see it by tomorrow morning."

Chaeyoung and Soyeon groaned in displeasure, their shoulders dropping like students who were handed a project they have no interest in doing.

Saerom huffed in amusement then turned towards me, "You don't mind, do you?"

"No, not at all."

"Traitor. At least put a little resistance," Chaeyoung quipped.

"And risk having Saerom as my next sparring partner? Something tells me she won't be as forgiving as both of you."

"He's got a point," Soyeon shrugged her shoulders.

"Aww," Chaeyoung pouted. "Just when I was enjoying Seren's company."

"You were enjoying it for two nights already, Chaeng," Soyeon countered, rolling her eyes. Saerom on the other hand, raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Aaaanyway," Chaeyoung sing-songed, turning towards their Captain. "Aren't we needed at the coven?"

I tried to stifle a laugh. Saerom sighed again, which I would too, if I had to deal with Chaeyoung for eighteen hundred years.

"We'll be on our way, Seren. I suggest you turn in for the night as well," Saerom said calmly.

"Okay. Thank you, to all of you," I bowed. "And uhm.." I turned to Soyeon, holding the quarterstaff she brought, "can I keep this?"

Soyeon just nodded.

I bowed and said another round of thank yous before the trio leapt from the rooftop. Another sigh escaped my lips as I gave the staff a light flourish before making my way towards the bulwark to return to my apartment. I turned the faerie dust off, still maintaining my aero sense. Tomorrow's another day, but one thing is always sure — the Night always comes after.

The college's rooftop has been a haven for us these past days. We lounge here during our free time just to avoid the crowd of students. Jimin and I are the usual people here, just talking, enjoying each other's company — and sneaking in a kiss or two.

Nobody comes up here, which I honestly don’t understand. Did rooftop hang outs go out of style when you graduate high school? That's a bleak thought.

The werebeasts made the bulwark their — outpost of sorts. Sometimes they morph and spend what time we have lounging in their beast forms. Yuna and Sullyoon have also returned to campus just yesterday. We talked about Project Eclipse Garden to them, with Ryujin cringing at the name. They said they'll give it a shot, saying that they really have nothing left to lose.

Minjeong usually hangs out with us, she's always grumbling recently — saying Chaewon is growing more distant. With their showcase scheduled for tomorrow however, she's preserving her voice and is now talking less.

Thursday noon shouldn't be much different — I hoped. Ryujin and Yeji were sparring on the bulwark with their beast forms. I lay down on a mat, Jimin was wrapped around one of my arms, while Chaeryoung, in her beast form, rested on my torso, my free hand stroking her soft fur. In the distance, Yuna was writing on some kind of journal while Sullyoon had brought gardening tools with her. The dryad said she was inspired by the Eclipse Garden concept and decided to make a garden out of a section of the rooftop.

It's peaceful. In an ideal world, this is what I envisioned Eclipse Garden becoming — but with the threat of the Hunt looming, we know these days are numbered.

Chaeryoung purred on my chest. Then I felt her ears perked. She lifted her head and turned to face the bulwark. I followed her gaze, spotting Yeji and Ryujin peeking from the top.

Then my senses tingled. I had already spread my consciousness in the air covering the entire rooftop as well as the stairwell leading to the bulwark. Five figures — I recognized Minjeong and Yizhuo immediately. As for the other three, I assumed it would be their bandmates, Jiwon, Haewon, and Lily.

I sat up, Jimin rising with me. "What is it?" She asked softly.

"Minjeong and her bandmates."

"Is the siren with them?" Jimin followed, making Chaeryoung turn her head towards us in curiosity.

"Yes. Jiwon."

"Still unsure about the other two?"

"Unfortunately."

"Are the huntresses fine staying in their beast forms?"

"They should be. Jiwon said they're pretty intimidated of them. Of course she could be lying to trap me further but, let's see if what she said was true."

Chaeryoung gave a soft huff after I said that, then turned her head back towards the bulwark as we waited for Minjeong's party to walk into the rooftop.

The knob lowers with an audible click, making Yuna and Sullyoon raise their heads and turn. Yizhuo came out first, followed by Lily and Haewon who were both laughing at something Lily said. Jiwon and Minjeong followed quietly behind, the latter's social battery clearly running out again.

The party then turned their heads and all of them except Minjeong jumped in surprise after seeing Jimin, me, and a slender big cat with yellow and brown stripes was staring at them.

"Yo! Great noon!" I greeted.

"Yeah," Minjeong drawled as she trudged towards Jimin. "I'm drained," she lay on the mat beside Jimin and immediately closed her eyes. "Don't talk to me, I'm taking a quick shut-eye."

Jimin and I chuckled. Then Lily's voice spread across the rooftop, her eyes fixed on Chaeryoung, "Is that a werebeast?"

"Yeah," I said sarcastically, making Jimin nudge me on the shoulder.

"I've never... seen one before," Lily said in awe.

"Is that Ms... the approachable one?" Jiwon asked.

"Chaeryoung, yes," I replied. I heard Chaeryoung utter a low growl, like she was laughing. "And careful," I added, "the other two may take that as a slight."

"Yeji and Ryujin?" Yizhuo asked.

"I don't see —" Haewon started — then yelped as a big black cat lands in front of them from the bulwark.

"Woah!" Haewon, Lily, and Jiwon jumped again in surprise.

Yizhuo giggled on the other hand. "Hey there, Ryujin," she greeted as Shin Ryujin sniffed the three newcomers.

Lily reached out a hand to touch Ryujin's snout as the huntress approached. Ryujin paused and bared her fangs, making Lily snap her hand back. "Sorry," the Aussie muttered. Ryujin's feline features calmed, then continued sniffing the newcomers.

"You implied that Ms Yeji is also here?" Haewon asked, her voice strained with nervousness, but not fright.

"Yeah, right behind you," I pointed.

The girls turned and they jumped for a third time. Yeji crouched behind them, a brown cat with a blonde patch on her head.

"You said you wanted to greet them, didn't you?" I teased.

"Yeah," Haewon stuttered. "Uhm.. hi!" She greeted Ryujin tentatively.

Ryujin sniffed her again then gave a growl. She turned then leapt back on the bulwark with Yeji and Chaeryoung following after.

"Why are they —?" Haewon asked, tip toeing and trying to take a peek at the bulwark.

"They're going to dress up. You can't exactly converse with a werebeast in their beast forms," I chuckled. "Unless..." I added, looking conspiratorially at Jiwon, "you're Night Folk."

Jiwon gave a knowing smirk as our eyes met.

"Even among Night Folk, there are only a few races and individuals who can, Seren," Jimin said beside me.

"Hmm," I hummed as the girls approached us.

"So, uhm," Yizhuo began. "Introductions... girls, this Yu Jimin," she gestured towards Jimin who waved with an adorable grin.

"Jimin, these are, Jiwon..."

"Sup," Jiwon raised a hand.

"She prefers Liz, but... you can call her whatever you want," Yizhuo added.

"Then I'll call you Liz," Jimin remarked, earning a smile from the girl who I am 80% sure is a siren.

"This is Haewon," Yizhuo gestured towards Haewon who was still trying to get a peek of the werebeasts at the bulwark.

"And this is Lily," Yizhuo concluded.

"Pleasure to meet you," Lily bowed like she's bowing for a performance, her heavy australian accent carrying across the rooftop.

Jimin tilted her head, "Austral —"

Lily's eyes began to lift up. Yizhuo and Liz snapped their heads in alarm, even Haewon turned.

I immediately grabbed Jimin's wrist before she could finish that one word, "Yes, Jimin, she's from... where you're thinking she's from... and... uh..."

Jimin's eyes grew wide in confusion, then realization, "Ooh, so she's..." she pointed awkwardly at Lily.

"Yeah. She's the yapper..." I whispered.

"What were you about to say, Ms Jimin?" Lily asked.

Jimin shook her head in alarm, "Oh... uhm..." I chuckled in spite of myself as she stuttered, her eyes searching the rooftop for an excuse to get out of this situation. "I'm just... uh..." her gaze then landed on Yuna and Sullyoon who were observing the entire exchange from their side of the rooftop, "I'm just introducing our other friends," she gestured towards the fae and the dryad. "That's Shin Yuna, a third year like Seren and I. And..."

"Seol YoonAh," Jiwon completed.

"We have a class with YoonAh," Lily added.

"And we know of Ms Shin Yuna, well, she's pretty popular in campus," Haewon said.

They waved at Sullyoon, who waved back with a small gesture of her hand.

I nudged Jimin's shoulder then whispered teasingly, "Smooth."

"Shut up."

"So," came a voice from the bulwark. We all looked up and the werebeasts were sitting on the edge. "What brings you to our little..." Yeji's eyes drift towards Sullyoon who has resumed her gardening, "...garden?"

"Well, uhm..." Yizhuo began. "We just thought we'd introduce them to you guys. You know, expand our social circle."

Ryujin turned to Yeji, "Does it need expanding?" The huntress asked almost innocently.

"Don't be rude, Ryujin," Chaeryoung admonished.

"This is exactly why they think Chaeryoung is the only approachable one," I chimed in.

"We're approachable," Ryujin snapped. "Aren't we, Yeji?"

"You're the least approachable, Shin Ryujin," Jimin chuckled.

"Can't, and won't argue with that," Yeji doubled down, eliciting laughter from all of us.

"Well," Jiwon began, "it's good to finally put names to faces."

"You'd like that, don't you?" I struck, as normally as I can say. But it was not Jiwon's reactions I was watching — it was the other two for any subtle reactions, any tells that they might be sirens just like Jiwon.

"Of course," Jiwon replied without missing a beat. "Who knows, if we get close to them, they might help us out if we're in a tight spot."

"And why would we do that?" Ryujin muttered, earning a judging look from her teammates.

"Don't mind her, Liz," Jimin said, "Ryujin can be... tactless at times."

"I'm not —"

"Ryujin —" I raised a hand then shook my head playfully. "Just... don't."

The huntress turned towards her teammates, Yeji nodded teasingly while Chaeryoung was trying hard not to snicker.

The girls chuckled at Ryujin's expression from being comically betrayed by her teammates.

"Anyway," Jimin breaks through the laughter, "sit with us." She gestured at the empty space in the mat in front of us.

"Thanks," Yizhuo responded, gesturing for their bandmates to sit down with her.

Once the girls were settled, I looked up to the huntresses, "Are the three of you not coming down?"

"We're good here," Yeji gave a thumbs up.

"We are?" Ryujin muttered, making her teammates chuckle.

"And you two over there?" I called for Yuna and Sullyoon

"We're good, Seren. YoonAh seems focused on her gardening," Yuna called back. Sullyoon gave a thumbs up without even raising her head.

"Quite a ragtag bunch of misfits," Jiwon commented.

"Ragtag is an understatement," Jimin replied.

"So is misfits," I added.

"So is this your harem, Seren?" Lily asked bluntly, making me choke in my throat.

Jimin chuckled awkwardly while Ryujin was laughing out loud from the bulwark. "Seren's one lucky guy if it is."

The girls giggled, Yizhuo sporting a pinkish hue on her cheeks. Jimin leaned closer and whispered connivingly, "Although you were indeed... intimate... with more than half of the girls on this rooftop right now."

"Shut up," I snapped back with an awkward smile. This girl — ever since we've cleared everything between us, she's been a menace — a menace I still love. But she did not have to remind me that the web of relationships I have with almost all the women in this rooftop would give a spider anxiety.

"Anyway, how are the preparations for the showcase tomorrow?" I asked.

"Why do you think Minjeong's out cold?" Haewon replied, motioning at Minjeong who was snoring softly.

We all chuckled quietly so as not to awaken her.

"That hard?" Jimin followed my inquiry.

"Not really," Yizhuo replied. "Just... exhausting. And Minjeong was on duty at the Archives last night."

"Yeah. Minjeong looked pretty tired last night," Jimin's voice was laced with concern as she glanced at Minjeong's sleeping form. "Something about Chaewon too," Jimin added softly.

"Kim Chaewon?" Jiwon asked. "The pyro-sorceress?"

Jimin nodded.

"What about her?" Lily followed.

"They're sisters," Yizhuo replied before I can stop her.

The three girls collectively oohed.

"Did she invite her to the showcase?" Haewon asked, and Yizhuo nodded.

Damn it. This girl's revealing too much information. Then again, she does not suspect a thing — and I have no means to tell her.

"Well, I'm sure Ms Chaewon's going to be proud of Minjeong after the showcase," Jiwon smiled, gazing softly at Minjeong.

This felt wrong. Not dangerous… just wrong. I'm pretty sure Jiwon is a siren. Yet I feel no hostility from her — even from her companions. She does seem to want to be friends with Minjeong and Yizhuo — and to all of us as well.

So why did my Wild Instinct blared that day at the Archives? Was it just to tell me that at least one of the three girls is a Night Folk? Or is there something more?

Before any answers come to my mind, the campus chime rings, signalling the end of lunch break and the five minute call before the first period of the afternoon.

"Well," Yizhuo sighed. "I think that's all the time we have."

“Shame," Lily pouted. "I wanted to talk more," she added, making Haewon giggle.

"We're going down, you guys coming with?" Jiwon asked as she rose.

I glanced up, the huntresses are still lounging at the bulkwark. I turned to Sullyoon and Yuna — both of them don't seem to be in a hurry.

"No, we'll stay for a while," I replied while Jimin woke Minjeong up.

The girl stirred so adorably that she reminded me of the times I woke Chaewon up from her naps. The only difference is that Chaewon gets cranky immediately, which is adorable in her own way. Minjeong on the other hand, just whines cutely. And why the hell am I thinking about Chaewon right now?

"Me too," Minjeong's words pulled me out of my thoughts. She sounded so small, her eyes drooping, like she'll fall back to sleep anytime. "I still want to sleep."

"No, you're not, Kim Minjeong," Yizhuo playfully pulled her up. "We still have classes. And you're not making me sit in our Ethics class alone while you doze off here in the warm sunlight."

Minjeong gave a dry and weary chuckle before turning towards Jimin and me, "See you both tomorrow," she waved. Her bandmates also waved us goodbye, and shortly disappeared after entering the bulwark.

The huntresses immediately jumped down and huddled towards us. Yuna did so as well — Sullyoon kept gardening.

"So, that was the siren?" Yeji asked.

"The mystical looking one?" Chaeryoung followed.

"Jiwon, yes."

"You guys said I'm tactless," Ryujin chimed in, making Yuna and Jimin snicker.

"You can't still be hung up about that?" Chaeryoung snapped back.

"It hurt my feelings, so yeah, I'm still hung up about it."

"Forgive her, it's not her day for being mature," Yeji told Yuna whose shoulders are rising and falling.

"And who am I going to forgive?" Ryujin said indignantly.

"Fine, we're sorry," I said, "happy now?"

"If you give me a kiss, I would," Ryujin winked.

"Not on my watch, Shin Ryujin," Jimin quipped back, holding on my sleeve possesively.

"Anyway," I interrupted, "do you sense anything from her, Ryujin?"

"Nada. Not a thing," Ryujin replied.

"And is that bad?" Yuna asked.

"They're too normal," I replied.

"Again, is that bad?" Yuna repeated.

"I don't know. My Instincts flared up when I first met her. I'm 80% sure she's a siren because she used Compulsion on me — didn't work by the way. And yet I still don't feel like she means us harm."

"Maybe she doesn't," Jimin said flatly, and we all turned to her. Jimin then sighed at our collective expressions of confusion, curiosity, and amusement.

"Okay. We'll give Seren the benefit of the doubt that Liz is a siren. But can't we also give the same benefit to the girl? Nothing has happened to Minjeong and Yizhuo so far, right? Maybe she does want to be friends with them, is that so wrong?"

That shut us all up.

"You guys live in a world where you see an enemy in every corner. Well, haven't you ever thought that maybe sometimes there aren't," Jimin continued. "Maybe there are also just humans... or even Night Folk like you who just... I don't know... want to live peacefully?"

"You haven't lived in our world, Jimin," Yeji replied softly.

"But she's not wrong either," Yuna said.

A contemplative silence befalls our group. I've never thought of it that way, was I getting to caught up in Night Folk mindset that I became paranoid? Was I seeing enemies in every corner?

"Besides," Jimin broke the silence once again. "We'll be at their showcase tomorrow. If anything happens, Seren is there — he's trained a bit. Maybe he could hold them off while I call for all of you."

Yeji nodded, "Fine. As long as you call us immediately if anything feels wrong, even weird."

"We will," I assured the huntress.

The bell chimed again, signalling the start of the first afternoon periods.

"So are we going to class or are we just gonna loiter here?" We all jumped as Sullyoon spoke behind us. We were so focused on our discussion that we never noticed her approach.

"I'd say we stay here. Anyone in favor?" Ryujin said, raising a hand — only Yuna answered her call.

"Killjoys," Ryujin muttered, making Yuna chuckle.

"Come on, Ryujin. We have a Philosophy class coming up," Chaeryoung said, pulling the huntress up her feet.

"Only you and Jimin enjoy that class," Ryujin grumbled.

"Then sleep there," Yeji said, chuckling.

"Professor's not gonna scold you anyway. You're a huntress, and he's just a human," Yuna commented.

"Stop giving her ideas, Shin Yuna," Jimin quipped. And seeing the dangerous glint in Ryujin's eyes, that warning was probably not as unfounded as it sounds.

We laughed as we pulled the door open and plunged ourselves back to reality — leaving our little garden behind.

Night falls and I'm back at my apartment's rooftop with my quarterstaff in hand. Ever since I've discovered how to commune with the air, the cold night wind never bothered anymore, neither did heat during daytime — like I have a built in thermostat that keeps everything just right.

There was no sign of the Death Dealers yet. Well, Saerom did say that they were about to be busier. I gave my staff a quick flourish as I stood on the center of the rooftop. I extended my consciousness from six feet to ten feet around me. I released faerie dust, more out of habit than purpose — I never found a practical use for it in combat yet.

I took a deep breath before doing the motions — starting slow. I continued repeating the movements, going faster and harder after every loop, pushing how far I can physically maintain everything while mentally sustaining other active abilities. I built up some sweat, which made me feel lighter, but fortunately, never out of breath.

I took a quick break, looking up to the clear sky to see a nearly full moon. My breathing steadied, my muscles relaxed — then something intruded my space behind me. Not the teasing presence of Chaeyoung nor the testing aura of Soyeon — not even the charismatic pressure of Saerom. This one was thin and fast — like a hot needle thrusting through butter. There was no sound to the approach, and the hair on my nape stood immediately on edge. Every instinct I had screamed to move, to get out of the way — to run.

I jerked my head to the side then felt the cold kiss of steel on my cheek. I side stepped then backtracked, taking as much distance as I can from my assailant. When I finally got a good look at him — my body shook as dread filled my very being.

He was lean, with a golden antlered crown that was broken and snapped in a lot of places. His leaf green cloak was tattered, he wore no armor, his torso racked with scars that glowed with a sick greenish hue. Then he faced me – and I almost felt pity. His left eye was gone — a scar carved from forehead to collarbone.

I raised my staff as my breathing quickens. Cold sweat mixed with the blood that was trickling down my cheek.

"You've grown quicker, you little shit," the Glade Lord said with contempt. Rage balanced out my anxiety as I remembered who this Glade Lord is, the one who turned Yuna’s capture into a spectacle, like theatrics, and provoked Sullyoon over the edge during the rescue op.

I growled as I aimed the tip of my staff directly between his eyes, "Indarin," I spat with all the hatred and contempt I could muster as I braced myself for battle against a Glade Lord who has come to either take me to his master, or take my head off of my shoulders

Indarin dropped his shoulders then pointed his rapier at me. "You owe me, Vale," he growled, low and dry, like his throat was parched.

"I don't owe you anything." I need to buy time for reinforcements, for the Death Dealers, for anyone to come. I don't know if I can hold him off in combat, so the more he talks, the better.

"Oh you fucking do, you fucking pest," we started moving in a circle. "Your little, rescue mission," he spat, "disgraced me from Lord Orion's eyes."

"Is that why he took one of yours?"

"Are you amused by that fact, huh, unholy hybrid," Indarin taunted.

My mind raced, does he know what I am? Does Orion know? Is that why they're after me?

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oooh, curious now, are we," Indarin chuckled sinisterly. "Tell you what, Vale. I'll reveal to you what you are, in exchange for one of your eyes. You can give me Shin Yuna and that impertinent dryad as well as a token of good faith. I'll break their bodies, make them my slaves and —"

"And you talk too much," again, taunting is probably not the wisest decision when you're facing down a Glade Lord — but he doesn't get to talk like that to my friends.

The Glade Lord laughed with difficulty, like his throat never had water since Yuna's rescue. "Oh, I'll talk. If you accept my bargain —"

"It's a shitty bargain —"

"Fit for a shitty hybrid like you. Seriously, what were your parents thinking when they created you? And that sage, Allindra Vale, taking you in like you're not a monster like the rest of us."

The conversation I had with Jimin struck me again. I flexed my grip on my staff, before replying, "My blood doesn't define my humanity, my actions does."

"And that's why you're weak," the Glade Lord growled. "You don't know your full potential, all the powers that heaven and hell bestowed upon you. You can have everything in this world if you wanted — women, wealth, power. Men will genuflect for you, women will bend over for you — both Human and Night Folk. Just give me your eye, and I'll tell you what you are."

Powers that heaven and hell bestowed upon me? What the hell is this Glade Lord rambling about? He's fae, so he can't lie. So he either is telling the truth, or he believes he's telling the truth.

Anyway, I have more reliable ways to know the truth of what I am — like the seer of the siren cove, if everything goes well with the infiltration. It would take longer yes, but I'm not rushing, it certainly beats losing an eye for it.

"How about no," I said defiantly.

"Well then," Indarin poked the end of his rapier with his index finger. "Lord Orion said to bring you alive — but he didn't say in one piece. So I'll take your eye, and drag your half dead body to him so that his favor to me will return."

Then he disappeared, moving too fast that my eyes struggled to adjust. Good thing I have my aero sense, or else I would have been pierced in half a dozen places by now when Indarin struck with a flurry of thrusts I barely blocked with my staff. Those that got through caused shallow cuts as I was able to maneuver and avoid any lethal strike.

I retreated, leaving Indarin laughing maniacally at the center of the rooftop floor. I winced at my injuries, two cuts on my left forearm, a shallow thrust pierced my right shoulder, and another cut tickled my left collar.

I can't beat him

He's too quick.

He'll wear me down.

I need help.

And I need it now.

"I've heard you met Durzan," Indarin spoke again. "He gave you your punch back, as I heard. He would've taken you, removed all your limbs before handing you to Lord Orion. At least I'm just asking for your eye."

"Find someone else's eyes, then," I replied.

"You really want to do this the hard way, huh," Indarin shook his head as if he feels pity on me. "Have it your way, then," then he disappeared again.

I extended my aero sense from ten to twelve feet. It's a risk, trading it for my physical capabilities, but I need to sense where he is and how he's moving in order to avoid him. Having my senses only at ten feet feels way too short for his speed.

And I think it paid off — I sensed his approach a lot more clearly, how his rapier cut through the wind, even how heavy his steps were. I was able to block all his strikes, but the power behind them still pushed me back. And I remain on the defensive, which I can't afford to be. Indarin can outlast me, which means one way or another, I need to strike back.

"Impressive, impressive," Indarin mockingly applauded. "Keep struggling, Vale, otherwise this won't be as satisfying as I'd wanted it to be."

Indarin charged again, and it didn’t make sense how much faster he became. He overwhelmed my aero sense — knocked my staff aside with his offhand and thrusted directly towards one of my eyes. It was as if it was in slow motion, my senses overloading, aero sense warning me acutely how close the tip of the blade was while my eyes stare directly at it.

I almost felt it touch my eyeballs when a projectile rips through my aero sense — a quarrel from a handbow. It hit Indarin's rapier, making me close my eye as sparks flew where metal struck metal.

Indarin's sword hand swung wide after that deflection. Then two red blurs appeared, one behind him, with a glaive raised high, while the other appeared in between us, red crescent daggers striking low to prevent Indarin's escape.

The Death Dealers swung simultaneously — and somehow, Indarin was able to evade. Fortunately, not without visible damage. The glaive knocked his antlered helm off while two gashes now dripped green blood from where the daggers sliced his stomach.

I breathed a sigh of relief as the two Death Dealers stood beside me — Saerom to my right, holding her glaive high, and Chaeyoung to my left, switching one of her daggers into a reverse grip. Soyeon stood at the bulwark, her handbow aimed directly at Indarin.

"Two Glade Lords in a week," Chaeyoung chimed playfully. "You're getting lucky with your dance partners, Romsae," she playfully teased Saerom.

Then she turned to me, "You okay, Seren?"

"Yeah. A few cuts but, nothing deadly." I then turned to Saerom, "Still want to take a Glade Lord one on one?"

"No," Saerom replied coolly. "All of us will be dancing with him," she lowered her glaive in a stance similar to what Soyeon taught me.

"That's more like it," Chaeyoung chirped, assuming her own stance, reverse grip blade held in front of her.

"Ahhh.. the Lee sisters. The Pale Princess's personal guard," Indarin mocked. "Lord Orion will be more than pleased if I give even one of your heads to him — imagine if I give him all three, plus the hybrid."

"What hybrid?" Chaeyoung asked me.

"Later," I replied and Chaeyoung nodded.

"Think we can take him?" I asked Saerom.

"We've called for the princess," she replied. "She's coming. We just need to hold out."

"We also saw some of the werebeast recon corps, they're probably calling for reinforcements from the hunters right now," Chaeyoung added.

"Then we hold him off." I flexed my grip on my staff, watching Indarin directly — then he disappeared again.

"Take my right, Seren," I heard Saerom command as he charged Indarin head on from the front. Chaeyoung sprinted left, and I went right. Soyeon loosed a bolt, and the spark in the air where Indarin intercepted it was my only indication of his location.

Saerom and Indarin clashed, glaive against rapier. The Death Dealer had the reach advantage, but Indarin was faster, poking for openings at her guard. Chaeyoung was behind him, slashing with her daggers but hitting only his cloak.

I charged forward, aiming for Indarin's exposed flank. He turned to face me, Saerom's glaive came high and he blocked with his rapier. Chaeyoung lunged with her dagger, the Glade Lord caught her wrist. But now I have an opening to strike since his arms are occupied.

Then another figure appears behind Indarin, one leg raised high in what would be a vicious axe kick — Lee Chaeryoung, the fastest werebeast huntress, strikes immediately while still in her human form.

My first thought was – we got him. But my instincts said it's not over until it's over — and I hate it that my instincts were correct.

Indarin roared then twisted his body, throwing Saerom off balance. He threw Chaeyoung by the wrist towards me, flinging us a couple of meters. He raised his feet and before Chaeryoung's kick can land, Indarin struck with a kick of his own, knocking the huntress away. In the same motion, he grabbed Saerom's arm and flung her towards Chaeryoung.

Another bolt blows past Indarin, missing his ear by millimeters. He turned, setting his sights at Soyeon. He charged towards the bulwark, faster than I've seen Chaeryoung ever moved.

Soyeon dropped her handbow and hastily drew her own dagger, barely but successfully blocking Indarin's first thrust. But the second thrust was quicker, Soyeon jerked her head away but it still caught her by the side of her neck, the blade drawing blood as it went through and exited on the other side of her flesh. Soyeon swiped the rapier aside with her other dagger, drawing more blood as it cut through the flesh of her neck.

Indarin's off hand was on her neck immediately. He was about to snap her neck when two more figures leapt towards the bulwark. Growling in rage and frustration, the Glade Lord tossed Soyeon off the bulwark.

He spun again, kicking the first figure aside — a brown big cat - Hwang Yeji. He extended his rapier, piercing through the big black cat that is Shin Ryujin. Ryujin whimpered as Indarin threw her off the bulwark as well.

Damn it — I thought as Chaeyoung helped me up. Seven of us. Ambush. Positioning. It didn’t matter. We still can't even touch Indarin. Joohyun better get here fast, or she'll discover six dead bodies, three of them her most trusted subordinates, and one missing Seren Vale.

"Is that all!" Indarin roared from the bulwark. "Disappointing," he paced restlessly on top of the bulwark. "Fucking disappointing!"

Saerom pulled Soyeon towards her. Chaeyoung held her neck, putting pressure on her wound. Chaeryoung on the other hand, did the same to Ryujin, with Yeji standing protectively in front of them.

I stood in the center, glaring up at Indarin.

The Glade Lord points his bloodied rapier at me, a wicked smile then spread across his lips, "My blade will taste your blood next."

And he charged again straight towards me. I braced with my staff, as the Death Dealers and the Huntresses sprang into action.

The Death Dealers rushed from my right, Soyeon ignoring her bleeding neck. The huntresses charged from my left, Chaeryoung finally morphing into her beast form. Together, they threatened Indarin with a pincer attack.

Without slowing his momentum, Indarin blocked Saerom's glaive just as Yeji sank her fangs on his arm. He ignored the bite, then hurled Yeji straight into Chaeyoung. Indarin spun and kicked Saerom who blocked with her glaive — the glaive split in half and the Glade Lord's feet found Saerom's chest. I saw the Death Dealer spit blood before flying towards the edge of the rooftop.

Ryujin met him next, with Soyeon and Chaeryoung positioning themselves behind the Glade Lord. Indarin extended his rapier, forcing Ryujin to back down. The Glade Lord turned, caught Chaeryoung's neck and slammed her down on top of Soyeon.

Ryujin roared in defiance and pounced, only to have Indarin's rapier impale her again. She grows limp on Indarin's blade who just lowers it, allowing her body to slip off the sickly green steel. Now only Yeji and Chaeyoung remained, and if the seven of us cannot take him down, what can three of us do?

Indarin started walking — and we backed up. "I ask again, Vale. Was that all?"

Fuck — we're fucked — was the only thought in my head.

Yeji snarled defiantly, then she charged. Chaeyoung moved right — and I was frozen in place.

Indarin caught Yeji by the throat when she pounced then moved her between him and Chaeyoung. The Death Dealer hesitated, giving Indarin time to impale Yeji with his rapier. The Glade Lord dropped the huntress then made for Chaeyoung, planting his fist on the Death Dealer's abdomen. Chaeyoung crumpled, then collapsed on the tiles.

Indarin turned towards me, a wicked grin in his lips, "Now it's just you and me, Vale. Just like how it started."

He's too fast.

He lunged at me casually, I blocked — or I thought I blocked. I felt the weight of the rapier get deflected just as a burning pain pierced my thigh. I staggered back.

He's playing with me.

He struck again — hitting my left shoulder and grazing my right temple.

Why is he so fast?

Another thrust — I barely parried it with my staff, yet it still sliced at my left forearm.

When is Joohyun arriving?

My vision slowly blurred, the dome of my aero sense slowly deflating. All I have now is just faerie dust swirling all over my body.

If only I was just fast enough.

If only I can make him think I'm fast enough to be a threat.

With a primal growl, I swung my staff — one final act of defiance. Indarin scoffed, moving his rapier leisurely to block the strike.

And I hit him.

Straight in the head, staggering the Glade Lord and making him spit green blood.

Shock was painted across the Glade Lord's face. The same shock mirrored in my face.

"How –?" He growled the same question that was in my head.

He thrust his rapier — it should have hit me right in the heart. Instead it missed just inches above my shoulder, dust swirling around the blade. I struck again, thrusting towards Indarin's abdomen. The Glade Lord meant to block, but it hit him before he can reposition, staggering him a few steps away from me. It seemed like he can't properly anticipate the timing of my strikes — which does not make sense considering that he is leagues faster than I am.

"What the fuck are you doing, Vale?!" Indarin roared.

I looked at my arms, nothing but blood, sweat and — faerie dust. Then I remembered one of the applications of faerie dust that Yuna told me — perception and sensory manipulation — particularly the vision. Did me thinking that Indarin would perceive my speed differently activated the glamour? Is it the one messing with Indarin's perception?

I then decided to put it to the test. I charged Indarin, raising my staff high. The Glade Lord suddenly became more conscious, he raised his rapier to block. His timing was correct, it's just — the blow came from the opposite direction entirely. I struck his blind side, taking him by surprise and validating my theory.

I allowed myself a twisted grin, perhaps this would allow us to turn the tide.

"What the hell are you —?" Indarin roared in confusion.

He was interrupted with multiple strikes from my staff, the speed of each one deceptively altered by faerie dust. Each one he was not able to block.

He staggered back. The brief respite allowed me one heavy breath, and then expanding my consciousness all over the rooftop again. I was relieved to feel that the huntresses were still breathing, their pulses beating faintly. The same can't be said to the vampires, they don't breathe and they don't have a pulse by default — but I have to trust that they are still alive.

The trick allowed me to at least put Indarin in the back foot. But I still need something to decisively end this. I have a staff, and I doubt it can put Indarin down indefinitely.

Our exchanges only seemed to enrage him further, and it would only be a matter of time before he decides to just brute force his way through me.

And that time came sooner rather than later.

Indarin roared in frustration, overwhelming my offense with the speed of his own. Fortunately, my defense was holding up — a combination of fae glamour and aero sense allowed me to avoid his strikes. But again, defense won't win me this encounter.

Indarin kept applying pressure on me. Then he raised his rapier and thrust, before it hits me, a yellow and brown cat pounces on his back — Lee Chaeryoung, back in action. She closes her jaws on Indarin's shoulder blades, making the Glade Lord bellow in pain. He moves his rapier to strike Chaeryoung but was stopped when Soyeon, face pale and neck still bleeding, staggered and held his sword arm down.

Indarin roared again, attempting to punch Soyeon off his sword arm. That arm was then yanked as Yeji bit it down hard, forcing the Glade Lord down to one knee.

Indarin struggled to his feet, growling and cursing. Then Ryujin emerges on the other side of his back, pouncing and sinking her fangs deep within his opposite shoulder — finally bringing him to his knees. Chaeyoung limped beside me, handing me one of her red crescent daggers. I took it, and with a nod, we lunged, and thrust both our daggers to either side of his chest.

Indarin screamed as he stubbornly held on. We made eye contact, his eyes burning green with rage —

Then a blade sprouts from his face, right on the bridge of his nose.

Saerom's glaive — thrust by the Captain of the Death Dealers with a sickening crunch from behind his head.

Indarin went limp.

Slowly, we each let go of our holds — and the Glade Lord falls before us, lifeless.

Soyeon collapses first, caught by Chaeyoung. Ryujin follows, reverting to her human form. The other huntresses also morphed back, crowding Ryujin and checking her injuries — two pairs of stab wounds, one through the stomach, the other through her right shoulder.

There was no pretense in hiding their naked bodies anymore as the werebeasts took care of each other. Chaeryoung put pressure on Ryujin's wounded stomach while she herself had an ugly bruise on her right hip and left shoulder. Yeji on the other hand, pressed one hand on Ryujin's shoulder while pressing the other one on her own stab wound just below her left breast.

"You all okay?" I asked.

Yeji nodded, "We'll be fine. Ryujin will be fine as long as help arrives soon. Go to Soyeon, she's in the worst shape among all of us."

I nodded, then turned towards the Death Dealers. Chaeyoung cradled Soyeon's head as Saerom inspects the wound on her neck. "She needs blood," Saerom remarked.

I approached immediately, offering my wrist, "Take mine."

Saerom and Chaeyoung took a quick look at my wrist, clearly debating whether they should agree or not. Then Saerom pushes my arm away, "No. You're wounded too. If Soyeon feeds on you as you are, you'll die."

I cursed under my breath.

"Reinforcements should have brought some blood packs in case of emergencies," Chaeyoung whispered, concern etched in her voice.

"They better," Saerom said, tensely watching the corners of the rooftop. She's getting fidgety from waiting for relief. "I'm not letting another one of my sisters die on my watch," she muttered. Chaeyoung closed her eyes as she tried to force the tears not to drop down.

As if on cue, two different groups leapt from opposite sides of the rooftop. On one side, I recognized Joohyun's white dress, flanked by one squad of about ten black cloaked Death Dealers.

On the other side was Seulgi, dressed in all black leather and combat boots. A similarly numbered squad of hunters and huntresses trailed behind her alongside about four birds.

Reinforcements... finally.

I allowed myself to relax as I sat on the rooftop tiles.

Joohyun's squad was on Soyeon immediately, taking out blood bags from their coats for the injured Death Dealer.

The reinforcing hunters also covered Yeji's team with cloaks. One bird dives, a white falcon by the looks of it, and morphs back to human form in mid-air — landing straight towards Chaeryoung's arms. Chaeryoung embraced the falcon huntress who looked just like her — must be her sister, I thought, recalling a conversation I had with her and Sakura.

Joohyun hovered beside me, "It's been centuries since one of them was injured like this," she whispered with concern as her vampires work to stabilize Soyeon.

Seulgi crouched on my other side, "And it's been centuries since someone actually killed a Glade Lord."

"Disgraced," I replied heavily.

“But a Glade Lord all the same. Do not undervalue your achievements, Seren," Seulgi answered softly.

"He said some things, about me —"

"Those can wait," Joohyun interrupted. "We patch our injuries first — then we'll talk."

I nodded wearily, finally feeling the sting of every cut Indarin gave me. I looked to the sky, the moon was directly above us and wondered how quickly peace can break. I looked down to Indarin's dead body, and followed that thought with another realization — that violence can be ended just as unceremoniously.