The Realm of Always Spring

The view of Verrath's cityscape remained breath takingly beautiful despite all the dangers it held for someone like me. I considered leaving as I stood at the summit of the hill where I train with Yuna and Sullyoon, taking shade in the single oak tree which I assume also serves as an entry to the Lady of Spring's realm.

It was peaceful here — too peaceful, too quiet. The wind seemed to sense my thoughts and started blowing a little harder. It didn't seem to want to blow me away, instead it felt like it wanted to ground me — and the earth agreed. It pulled me down. I felt it shift beneath my feet as I extended my consciousness into the earth. They both seemed to whisper one thing — running away is not a solution.

But with everything that happened — all the "Night Folk shit" as Jimin called it. Why was it all so difficult? Why was it all happening to me? Why to me? Because of my bloodline?

Jieun never spoke of a prophecy — only visions. The hell — what does that even mean? What's the difference? And if there's a difference, does it matter? Will it matter?

Fuck — what do I do? Can I do what I said I'll do? Take the Citadel head-on to keep Minjeong from being taken?

Then after that, what? Jieun spoke of a war — now I'm the target of at least three factions. As if the Wild Hunt wasn't enough, now a fucking coalition, partnership, alliance, whatever the fuck they're calling themselves, between a warlock and a necromancer just revealed their hand — they failed, just because of a factor nobody even saw coming — well, nobody except Jieun perhaps.

Was this it? Was this the war the seer siren spoke of? If so, is this still going to get bigger? Because it's already fucking too big to be honest — and I'm not sure I can handle any more without breaking.

I stumbled back to lean against the tree, and it seemed to welcome my body, creaking and shifting slightly to accommodate my frame and providing whatever comfort it can give. I looked ahead, back at the city, suddenly the cityscape of Verrath didn't look beautiful. It became the center of the clusterfuck that is now my life. Now it seems — it seems like the city itself wants to kill me for being an unholy hybrid of heaven and hell.

Every tower looked like it housed a warlock. Every street felt like a trap waiting to be sprung. Verrath no longer felt alive — no, actually, it felt more alive than ever — it felt hungry — and it's fucking frightening. Makes me wonder if this city is worth fighting for.

Then my phone beeps, I fished it out, the name on the screen pulled a smile out of me despite everything that happened — in spite of even the thoughts I just had. I swiped my phone to read a message from Jimin.

"Hey. Yuna called us. Me, the huntresses, even Yizhuo. She told us what happened. Are you okay?"

The message status changed to "Read", and then an ellipses appears — the three dots moving up and down from left to right like three balls doing the wave. I stared at it absently, waiting for the message to pop out — until it did.

"I'm dying to call you but... I understand if you want to be left alone with your thoughts, I know everything might seem too much, the revelation of what you are, then Minjeong's awakening. But I'm here... always here, should you need me. Our friends are also here, Chaeryoung was trying to hold back tears when Yuna called, Ryujin seemed visibly shaken for once. And Yeji's, well, she's Yeji, she's already thinking of what we can do next to help."

I slid down the tree and sat on the soft moss. The roots moved, encasing my body in a protective circle. The ellipses bounced again on the screen until a third message appears.

"If you want me to cover for your Archives shift tomorrow just tell me. Either way, I'll still go there, so if you choose to work that shift, we can talk."

Then a series of short messages pops out in quick succession.

"Don't be a stranger, Seren."

"I'm here."

"We're here."

"Chaeryoung."

"Ryujin."

"Yeji."

"Sullyoon."

"Yuna."

"Even Yizhuo, gods bless that girl."

"You're not alone."

"We got you."

"I got you."

The ellipses bounces again. Stops. Then reappears, like she's hesitating to send this message — until it pops out on my screen.

"I love you."

My smile widened as I texted my reply: "Yeah. Thank you. See you tomorrow."

I sent it, then typed a second message which I sent without hesitation: "I love you too."

I returned my phone to the pocket of the one pair of denim jeans I managed to find at the wardrobes of the sorceresses' room — along with a t-shirt bearing the seal of Verrath printed right where the heart was.

I returned my gaze at the city, and suddenly it felt a little more welcoming. Jimin's texts lightened my mind. I still have friends, people I care about, people I love. Verrath may not be worth fighting for, but they are.

I leaned my head against the oak's bark, closing my eyes just to feel the wind and the tree whisper words I don't understand but can feel. And the bark creaks, just a little, like it's opening up, and with my connection with it, I felt someone emerging from it, right where I'm leaning against.

"You look like you need a hug," came the gentle and comforting voice of Seol YoonAh. I managed a smile as I felt her arms wrapped around my shoulder, crossing down my chest, and her head resting on my neck, her warm breath comforting me more than the oak ever could.

I leaned against Sullyoon's embrace, breathing a deep sigh of relief. "You have no idea," I replied in a hush.

"Do you... want to stay like this for a while?" the dryad asked.

A smile crept faintly on my lips as I nodded. "Yes," I replied nuzzling my head against hers.

I turned aero sense off and slowly severed my connection with the earth so that the only thing I'd feel was the comforting weight of Sullyoon on my back. After a few moments, I heard the ground shifting in front of me, then a weight settled on my lap and another pair of arms pulled Sullyoon and I in a tight embrace.

"Shin Yuna," I whispered as her head settles in the opposite side of my neck.

"Who else could it be?" the fae enchantress whispered playfully in my ear.

I let my body surrender from each of their embraces. My arms wrapped snugly around Yuna's waist, making her chuckle softly.

"This is the tightest you've hugged me," she whispered.

I responded by shifting my body and pulling her closer and wrapping my arms around her impossibly thin waist a little tighter. She released an airy huff while I felt Sullyoon smile on my neck.

"Not that I'm complaining," Yuna said in my ear before pressing a soft kiss to my cheek.

We stayed that way for more than a few minutes. Sullyoon embracing me from the back while Yuna did the same in front, under the shade of an oak tree, with the wind whistling coolly. And I have to admit — I felt more at rest than when I fell asleep on Princess Wonyoung's couch.

"So," I whispered after what I felt was an entire day of being under their embrace, "what are we planning to do today?"

"Absolutely nothing," Yuna giggled in my ear.

"We're not training?"

"We could, if you want to," Sullyoon said in a small voice.

"Please say you don't want to," Yuna quipped, making Sullyoon and I chuckle.

"No," I replied, "I actually don't want to."

"Good," Yuna breathed, and she and Sullyoon shifted to tighten their already tight embraces.

"But why am I sensing a 'but,' Seren," Sullyoon whispered.

I managed a weak smile, "But we just can't sit here doing nothing."

Yuna sighed and pulled back, her hands now cupped my cheeks, "Of course we can," she said playfully. Then her eyes became somber, almost melancholy, "but you're much too noble for that, aren't you?" she said with almost a look of disappointment mixed with something like pride.

"I'm not noble," I retorted.

"And you're also modest," Sullyoon chuckled before pressing another kiss to my cheek.

"Or just plain clueless," Yuna quipped.

"I'm right in front of you, Shin Yuna."

The fae enchantress sighed, "Well, if you really want to do something rather than just stay in the embrace of two beautiful ladies... somebody actually wants to meet you."

I tilted my head in curiosity, "somebody wants to meet me?"

Yuna nodded and Sullyoon spoke softly behind me as if she's whispering reverently to the wind, "The Lady of Spring."

"The Lady of Spring?" I echoed in pleasant surprise.

Yuna nodded. "She asked if she could meet you today, granted, if you'd like to, of course."

"Why would she want to meet me?"

"To talk..." Yuna replied.

"Why do you seem apprehensive?"

"Well..." Yuna shrugged, her expression twisting into one of uncertainty and speculation.

"Talk is too vague a term, Seren," Sullyoon chuckled behind me, "especially for fae."

"Do you think she means me harm?"

"No, no," Yuna replied urgently. "It's just that... I can't get a read on what she wants to talk to you about and..."

"It's fine, Yuna," I stifled a laugh, "as long as she doesn't mean me harm, what's the worst that could happen?"

"You never know with the fae, Seren..."

"Do you trust her?"

Yuna bit her lip and looked at Sullyoon. I sensed a silent conversation between the two before Yuna answered, "Yes."

"Then that's good enough for me," I groaned as I rose, the two ladies moving in sync with me.

"Are you really sure about this?" Yuna asked.

"Yeah. I've been wanting to meet her too, since I heard that she had taken you in after we rescued you from the Hunt."

The fae pursed her lips then she looked once again at Sullyoon. A beat passed and the fae nodded. I turned towards the dryad who tilted her head at me with that sweet and soft smile.

"You ready?" she asked.

I nodded.

She took my hand then pressed the other on the oak's trunk. The wood creaked as it slowly spun a hundred and eighty degrees until it opened up, like a gateway towards another world. The oblong space that opened up shimmered like rippling water and I can almost make out what seemed to be a bright clearing on the other side.

Sullyoon squeezed my hand and I turned towards her. "This won't feel like entering one of Eunchae's portals, right?"

The dryad stared at me absently, "I never had the opportunity of going through one of her portals so... I wouldn't know."

"Well," I scoffed, "only one way to find out then."

Sullyoon smiled as she led me towards the gateway, with Yuna trailing close behind.

Passing through the door way was actually different from passing through Eunchae's portal. Where Eunchae's was like falling down an abyss, going through to the Lady of Spring's realm was like diving down to the sea only to emerge and find the Garden of Eden on the other side.

I now stood at a hill not too different from the one we just came from. Sullyoon held my hand while Yuna did the same when she caught up to us.

Sullyoon chuckled when she saw my expression. "Appropriate reaction," Yuna remarked with a soft smile.

I was wide eyed with my jaw dropped as I stared at a lush forested valley. Tents of varying colors and sizes were scattered in between the trees as the inhabitants wandered around doing their own business. And the inhabitants may be the strangest mix of people I've ever seen.

The giants were easiest to spot — at least ten of them and almost 15-20 feet tall. They were carrying the trees, massive 30-40 foot chunks of lumber that they seem to be... relocating? Like they wete conducting a massive landscaping operation. From this distance though, everything and everyone else looked small, so I can't make out the smaller races.

"Woah," I exclaimed.

"Wait until we get closer," Sullyoon beamed.

That was when I looked up to the sky. It was blue and bright, like it was outside the realm. But there was something missing — the clouds billowed, I spotted a few flying creatures, birds maybe? Or something else, I can't tell since they're quite far. I placed a hand to cover my eyes by reflex, and that's when it came to me...

"There is no sun," I observed, as I put my hand down when I realized it wasn't actually necessary.

"The Lady seems to be in a good mood," Sullyoon giggled at my observation.

I tilted my head in curiosity, "her mood affects this realm's weather?"

Both girls nodded. "Remember that fight at the Park? When the Hunt nearly had us cornered," Sullyoon asked.

"Where you came to our rescue... again," Yuna smiled, and I almost melted with how soft and almost loving the smile was.

I nodded, not trusting my mouth to speak as I stared in Yuna's eyes.

"She was enraged once we returned," Yuna turned to look at the settlement. "It stormed for the whole day, she only calmed down after our comrades here recovered the bodies of our fallen."

"I'm sorry about that," I dipped my head. "If only we arrived sooner —"

"Shut up, Seren," Yuna interjected, "you're being too noble for your own good."

"But —"

"If you hadn't come we would have died," Sullyoon squeezed my hand tighter.

A faint smile crept on my lips. A conversation with Sakura replayed on my head — "don't let guilt incapacitate you..."

I am now involved in a war, I thought. I've known it in a while, maybe I just accepted it now — or last night when the hellspawn attacked. I have to kill, even if I don't want to, but more than that, I don't want anyone to die — which I know is naive and impossible, but one can hope, and one can do his best to protect as much as he can.

"So," Sullyoon softly pulled me out of my thoughts. "Shall we head for the settlement?"

I breathed a quick sigh, looked at the sunless sky, then at Yuna, then at Sullyoon. "It's a long walk," I quipped.

"That's not a problem," Yuna chuckled before giving a soft whistle.

The wind shifted and the ground shook slightly. I activated aero sense and reconnected with the earth. I sensed two figures galloping towards us — but they don't feel like horses.

Their feet felt different... the front were talons, like Wendy Son's when she transformed into her siren form, but the hind were like paws, much like the huntresses in their beast forms. The head felt like a bird's — an eagle's with a crest of feathers extending into another layer of fur — loke a mane. It's body was again, similar to the huntresses — like a big cat's.

"Griffins," I smiled, then scowled. "But without wings?" I asked, puzzled at the lack of wings I know griffins have.

"Demigryphs," Sullyoon replied, pointing at the two figures running towards us. They indeed looked like griffins, with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle. But where wings should be — there was nothing, just the smooth and lithe body of the big cat.

"They're a... sub class of griffins," Yuna explained. "Borne out of the experiments of the Hunt."

"They're experimented?" I turned to Yuna in shock.

The fae nodded, "Orion wanted griffins as mounts for him and his Glade Lords after he failed with the dragons. They tried to enslave a roost of griffins living in a mountain range we don't know exactly where, earning the ire of the dwarves living there."

"But the griffins were far too noble and stubborn," Sullyoon continued, "they were never broken. So Orion opted to break and train the next generation. He bred them, hoping to create something stronger, and in the process, changed them. He didn't expect that the griffins would be so stubborn though. What hatched out of the eggs were not improved or stronger versions, but weaker ones, smaller, without wings."

"Orion was enraged," Yuna chimed in. "He decided to dispose of them. Fortunately, the Lady of Spring managed to rescue a pack. She raised them here, like she does with everyone the Hunt breaks."

Right as Yuna finished, the demigryphs finally reached us. They were about chest height, normally, as the one in the lead, with a white crest of feathers in front of a golden mane of fur, and sharp green eyes tilted its head towards me as if studying me. It craned its head, reaching about a foot taller than me, and I had to admit, it looked regal — kingly even.

"Hold his gaze," Sullyoon whispered. "Don't show fear, only..."

"Respect," I finished for her. "Just like what you taught me," I added, returning the demigryphs gaze with a resolute one of my own.

I felt Sullyoon smile, her hand squeezed mine again. The demigryph then lowered his head and pressed his beak against my chest. I felt its heartbeat through aero sense, it was calm, steady, and most importantly — strong, defiant,  and even with everything their race suffered, they remained proud.

"He likes you," Yuna commented while stroking the neck of the other demigryph which was smaller than the one in front of me.

I chuckled, placing my free hand on its beak. It felt metallic, like a worn blade, but still sharp and deadly.

"They're beautiful," I remarked in awe.

"I knew you'd like them," Sullyoon giggled.

"More than us?" Yuna teased, to which I responded with a look that said, "seriously? You're asking me that?" And both girls' laughter carried with the squawks of the demigyphs.

"I take it we're gonna ride them?" I asked, not able to hide the giddiness in my voice, after all, who wouldn't want to ride a griffin? Wingless, yes — but still a damn griffin!

"Someone's excited," Sullyoon giggled as she pulled me towards the side of the demigryph.

"More excited than the prospect of YoonAh and I riding you?" Yuna playfully teased as she mounted on the back of the other demigryph.

"You really just had to, Shin Yuna?" I chuckled in amused disbelief as Sullyoon mounted our demigryph.

"What?" Yuna shrugged. "We missed spending time with you."

I tilted my head quizzically towards Sullyoon as I accepted her outstretched hand. The dryad shrugged, "I would lie but, I can't," she giggled, and that was all the answer I needed before the dryad pulled me up to the back of the demigryph.

"Ready?" Sullyoon asked.

"No," I admitted.

The dryad chuckled, "Better hold on tight, Seren."

I held the sides of her waist, rubbing my thumbs on her shirt and making her giggle. "You sure you want to hold on to me that lightly?"

I stared at the dryad with brows furrowed when the demigryph decided to turn and launch himself in a gallop. I was nearly thrown off his back if I didn't wrap my arms just in time around Sullyoon who just laughed as the wind battered her face and blew her hair.

"Gods damn it —!" I exclaimed. "A little warning next time?!"

"Where's the fun in that?!" She shouted back.

I drew myself closer to her, wrapping my arms tighter around her waist and leaning my head back to feel the wind in my face. It was exhilarating, riding a griffin certainly beats sprinting at break neck speeds — I wonder if they'll allow me to keep one as a pet.

"Feeling good, Seren?!" Yuna shouted from her demigryph who was trailing but otherwise keeping pace behind us.

"Best experience I had in a while!" I shouted back.

And it was. For a moment, I felt... free, no worries, just the wander of riding a rare beast across a sunless grassland, wind battering my face, and my arms around a beautiful lady. If only everyday could be like this.

What would have made this perfect would be the warmth of the sun. Well, it's just a small thing, who am I to complain when the experience has so far been incredible.

The demigryphs came to a stop near the settlement, just close enough to avoid the giants who were now arguing as to where to place a boulder the size of the entire Archives building. From what I can tell, one wanted to place it at the front of the trees like a centerpiece, while the other wanted it behind like a mountain background.

"That's..." I started as I dismounted first, "one way of breaking a stereotype," I said while I stare at the giants, one of them poking the other on the chest. "Not giants arguing but... what they're arguing about..."

"Don't worry about them," Yuna said as she came up beside me, "they do this everyday."

"Landscaping? Arguing? Or arguing about landscaping?"

"The short answer is… yes..." Sullyoon grunted as she jumped off our demigryph. The beast wheeled, he held my gaze then I gave a curt bow. He returned the gesture then pressed it's forehead on my chest. I gave a quick giggle while stroking his neck and beak. He squawked as he pulled away, his companion squawked back before they ran back to the plains.

I returned my gaze at the giants who were now... playing rock-paper-scissors?

"Uhmmm.. that's a lot more stereotype breaking," I commented, eliciting laughter from the dryad and the fae.

"That's how they settle arguments now," Sullyoon said, "we still weren't here when it happened but, most of the old timers here said that these giants nearly destroyed this realm after one particularly ugly argument."

"The Lady got pissed, summoned a storm in the realm, and zapped their heads with lightning bolts, burning the hairs in their heads," Yuna continued, giggling, "ever since then, they settled arguments that way, in fear of the Lady's anger."

"Remind me not to anger her."

"We'll pray for your soul if you do, Seren," Sullyoon snickered.

"Just be yourself," Yuna looped an arm around mine, "everything will be fine."

"You really believe that?" I asked.

"I believe it to be the truth, I wouldn't be able to say it otherwise."

"Thank you."

"It's the least we could do after you saved us."

I tilted my head curiously at Yuna, "Why are you extra soft lately?" I asked with a smile.

Yuna smiled back softly, she answered with a giggle that nearly melted me right then and there before resting her head on my shoulder. The fae embraced my arm, pressing her body flush against mine.

Sullyoon then extended her hand towards me, "So, shall we?"

I nodded, took her hand, and allowed her to lead me towards the settlement, and towards the Lady of Spring.

What met me was like a mix of a war camp and a primitive town. Fae and what I can see as humans were preparing bread on a cluster of tents. On another side was a dwarf, for he stood only about 4ft tall, but his left arm was exaggeratedly huge, almost like it belonged to a baby giant's. He swung a hammer with the oversized arm upon am anvil where the shape of an axe was slowly being battered by his arms.

"Goru," Yuna whispered as she followed my gaze. "He was also experimented, Orion thought it was genius to make a giant from a dwarf. Only he and the Hunt was amused by it."

"Can't he return to his dwarfhold?"

"He could. But the dwarves' sense of honor is the most stubborn in the world. He feels himself dishonored and would only return to his hold once Orion is dead, and he had a hand in it."

"This just makes me hate Orion even more," I replied while noting some fae stringing their bows by the side of the dwarf smith's tent.

"Then I think it's a bad thing you're here," Sullyoon whispered.

"Why?"

"It may look perfect from afar, but once you actually walk these streets, you'll see how the Hunt makes already perfect people into a twisted version of his own perfection," the dryad replied.

"Take Bastet there as an example," Yuna points with her head towards a tree where sitting on a branch was a girl.

"It's not really her real name, the girl refused to talk when the Lady rescued her, so we just named her after one of the numerous cat goddesses the humans have," Sullyoon added.

Suddenly, a brown cat ear perks from the girl's head, I never saw it before, but it looked like it was hidden under her hair.

Then the girl turns.

For a second, my mind refused to register what she is.

Then tears threatened to drop down my eyes.

Half of her face was unmistakably a girl's, but the other half was a feline's, with brown and black fur and whiskers. I gave her a shaky bow, which the girl fortunately returned before turning her head back against me.

"One of her arms also remained as a cat's, as well as her tail," Sullyoon said as we passed by the tree Bastet was perched on. "One of Orion's attempts to create half man half beast forms for the werebeasts."

"Why does he do this?"

Yuna and Sullyoon just shrugged their shoulders.

"He's already centuries in his rebellion when we came to his service," Yuna replied, "we..., no, I, never really asked at the start. YoonAh was more... speculative."

"I've asked some of the elder trees, those old enough to remember," Sullyoon spoke up, "but they refused to speak about it. Said that it's blasphemy to even speak of Orion, let alone what drove his rebellion."

"How about the Lady? Why does she do this? Oppose Orion. Take in those he... discards."

To that, the two ladies smiled. "It's not our tale to tell, Seren," Sullyoon answered first.

"But... should your... talk... go well," Yuna continued, "maybe she'll tell you."

"And just in time," Sullyoon stopped, "we're here."

We stopped at an oak tree that is probably ten times taller and wider than the one we came in to. Two massive roots extended on each sides, on the center of the trunk was another one of the shimmering doorways with which we entered this realm with.

I took a tentative step ahead — and Sullyoon and Yuna pulled me back just as I heard a sound that may have been a mix of a lion's roar and an eagle's call. Then, descending from the tree's canopy, was a flock of two more creatures I felt myself blessed to even see.

Landing on the left were three hippogryphs — creatures with the head and front body of an eagle's, and the antlers and hind body of a stag's. On the right also landed three griffins — real, winged griffins. They were noticeably larger than their demigryph cousins, and more regal and proud.

And as if anything can top these two magnificent creatures, we heard another rumbling, like something was descending down the tree.

"Here he comes," Yuna said with unusual giddiness as she held my arm tighter.

My eyes widened and my jaw dropped as I looked up. I first saw the scales, like glittering emerald catching the sun's rays — except there's no sun in this realm. Then I registered its body, long, lithe, slender — serpentine as its coils like a spring around the tree's massive trunk. Then the head reveals itself, emerald scales, teeth as long as my quarterstaff, and eyes that looked like jade jewels embedded in its skull. The massive eastern emerald dragon regards us with scrutiny — and I thought my jaw couldn't drop any lower.

"Bow, Seren," Sullyoon whispered as she and Yuna bowed their heads. I did the same and waited. I felt the dragon's warm breath which smelled vaguely of morning dew bathe my skin. Then another breath, like its sniffing us. I heard a foot slam against the roots on both sides of the tree where the griffins and hippogryphs were standing — then the warm breath retreated.

I heard a low growl as I felt Yuna and Sullyoon raise their heads, to which I mimicked. The dragon now rested its head against the tree's trunk when I heard another deep rumbling, this time one of its paws closed around the trunk. One wickedly curved claw as long as Sakura's minivan pierced the edge of the shimmering doorway. The dragon slowly swiped it away, revealing what seemed like a cozy living space on the other side.

Sullyoon slowly led me towards the now open trunk with Yuna's arm still linked around mine. As we approached, the creatures on either side growled and crouched like they're getting ready to pounce, their eyes trained at Sullyoon and Yuna, and making all three of us flinch.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my hand slowly reaching for the compact staff in my pocket.

"Relax, Seren," Sullyoon placed a hand on mine to stop me from drawing the weapon.

"It seems only you are invited inside... shame," Yuna pouted, releasing her hold of my arm.

"I'm going in there alone?" I asked in disbelief.

"Seems like the Lady wants to talk to you in private..." Sullyoon sighed, audibly disappointed.

I nodded. "It's alright, YoonAh. Thank you for guiding me..." then I turned to Yuna, "both of you."

Sullyoon squeezed my hand, then she stood on her toes to lean in and give a quick peck on my cheeks. "We'll be waiting here," she whispered.

I nodded again and turned to Yuna who was pursing her lips in nervousness. A dry chuckle escapes my lips as I beckoned her to me, "Come on. I know you want to."

The fae scoffed before walking closer, she looped her arms around my neck and fixed me with a soft and loving gaze. "Be careful out there. The only thing you have in common is your shared hostility with Orion and the Hunt."

"I'll... do my best..." I replied.

Yuna smiled, not just with her lips, but also with her eyes. She leaned in, pressing a soft and lingering kiss on my lips, before she pulled away and held Sullyoon's hand.

"Well then," I heaved a heavy sigh, "here goes nothing..." I turned and walked past the tree's guardians, towards the opening in the trunk, and into a living space that looked deceptively domestic.

I scanned the room as I heard the doorway slowly slide close behind me like a waterfall deciding to flow again. The living space was roughly circular, with a few lines, creases, and curves outlining the trunk. It smelled like wood — the pleasant kind, freshly cut or sawn. And it felt coolly warm, or warmly cool? Like you're in an enclosed space but the wind still blows inside.

I glanced behind and a sudden surge of panic welled inside me — the doorway was gone. I scanned the area again, this time with more urgency — no doors, no windows, just a circular space in the middle.

The sunken circular space occupied the center, with three long but shallow steps sloping towards it. In the center was a table level with the actual floor I'm currently standing on. Slowly, cautiously, I approached like everything is a trap.

As I descended, I noticed that the circle was a long couch? Bench? Whatever, it seats people, I'm too anxious being alone in this huge and enclosed space to think about it. I activated aero sense — and the wind refused to connect with me, like there is an authority in this space they answer to more than they respond to me. Great, more fuel to my anxiety.

As if a small comfort, I noticed small square green and yellow pillows scattered along the flat wooden seat. On the sides were engravings depicting fae and dryads seemingly dancing in a forest. I also noted some fawns and satyrs mixed among the jubilant.

I knelt down and reached for a pair of fae and dryad that looked eerily like Yuna and Sullyoon when I heard a voice that resonated as if the tree itself spoke.

"Good morning, Seren Vale," she greeted in a tender and caring tone that I almost forgot I'm getting nearly claustrophobic inside this tree trunk.

I spun in a full circle, even looked above to the great reverse abyss that is the height of this tree — no sign of anyone... or anything.

"I'd greet back, my Lady. But I'd rather do it face-to-face," I announced at the emptiness.

A chuckle, warm, playful, almost apologetic.

"Forgive the discourtesy, Seren Vale..."

Then I heard a creaking in the wood not too different from the way the oak we used to get to this realm creaked when Sullyoon emerged from it. I turned my head towards the sound and I felt like this sunless realm has finally found its sun.

Her radiance seeps through the dark but flowery long sleeve dress she wore. She pads bare foot towards me, and my mouth gradually dropped with every step she took. And she was shiningly gorgeous, like the first sunrise welcoming spring after a particularly long and cold winter.

One side of her lips curved in a smirk, something that said she knew the effect she had on me. She stopped as she looked down on me. "Weren't you gonna greet me back?" she quipped with surprising casualness.

I blinked once — then twice. My head swiveled, awkwardly trying to avert my gaze. "Uh.. yes... I was... good morning, my Lady."

A soft giggle escapes her lips as she slowly steps down towards the sunken space. "Joy," she smiled.

I snapped my head, furrowed my brows, and blinked in confusion.

A sound escapes her, something I never thought would come out from someone with the title of Lady of Spring — an embarrassed chuckle.

"Silly me," she said, covering her mouth with a delicate hand. "I gave you the name most of those who are intimately close to me use. Well, since Yuna and Sullyoon talk to me about you so much, I may have thought we were already close."

"Uhhhhhh....." I muttered, because what she said didn't help with my confusion at all.

"Anyway," she extends a hand, the one she used to cover her mouth.

"Sooyoung. Park Sooyoung... or at least, that was the name given to me when I was born."

"That's... a lot more confusing..." I admitted as I took her hand and shook it. "At least I got your name, my Lady."

She squeezed my hand softly, like a soft towel or handkerchief wrapped around my hand. Yet for all her softness, I felt a certain... weight, from it. It's like her hand holds centuries of power, of strength, and resolve.

"You may call me Sooyoung... or Joy. I don't mind," she says as she lets my hand go. She then proceeds to sit elegantly lifting her legs sideways on the wooden seat, "please, take a seat, Seren."

"Thank you, my... uhm..." I hesitated while sitting down slowly.

Another chuckle escapes her, "Why did I give you two names? Now it feels a lot awkward. Fine, call me whatever your comfortable with."

"Uhhh.. okay... my Lady."

"Too formal," she comments, scrunching her face. "But I guess it's my fault," she shrugged.

I tilted my head. I expected someone... heavier. Not in stature, but in presence. I can feel her power, but it's because I know she's powerful... but if I didn't, I wouldn't suspect that she's the Lady of Spring if I chance by her at the park or somewhere.

"Have you had breakfast?" she asked with a... joyful... look on her face, no pun intended.

"I had cereals at the palace," I replied, recalling my absurdly casual breakfast with Princess Jang Wonyoung, yet somehow, this tops that absurdity.

Sooyoung nodded, "So just drinks then," she waved a hand in the air and snapped twice. "I heard that you like chocolate," she said with a proud smile on her face.

"Yes, my Lady. I take it Yuna and Sullyoon told you..." as if by instinct, I raised my head and I wasn't able to hold back the chuckle in my throat.

Descending from the top were three pairs of pixies, small fairies that are usually the size of a grown man's hand. Their tiny wings, the size of a thumb, fluttered like a dragonfly's wings. Two pairs carried a wooden plate with a wooden mug upon it, the other carried a wooden pitcher steaming by its beak — and judging by the scent, this might be the best hot chocolate I'll ever imbibe in my life.

"Thank you, girls," Sooyoung said to the pixies as they set the things down on the table. They replied with cheerful chatter that was too small for me to understand.

Their heads suddenly turned to me. I smiled and bowed. They smiled back, wide despite their small stature. One, with a blonde head and tranparent yellow wings approached me and took my index finger with both of her hands and shook it.

"Yeah," my grin widened, "nice to meet you too, my ladies."

The pixie flashed me a toothy grin before letting my hand go and rejoining her fellows. They gave Sooyoung a curt bow before flying back to the top of the tree.

"They like you," Sooyoung remarked.

"It's flattering..." I replied.

"Please, help yourself," she said, motioning at the chocolate.

"Thank you, my Lady."

I reached forward for the pitcher, and poured both our mugs full of the creamy and steaming chocolate whose scent nearly took my soul out of my body. I handed one of the cups to Sooyoung who was staring at me with a smile on her face.

"Courteous and a gentleman," she said as she received the mug, wrapping both her hands around its circumference. "Yuna was right."

"Am I being tested, my Lady?" I asked, taking the other mug for myself and giving it a quick sniff. The aroma made me close my eyes and sigh.

Sooyoung chuckled before answering, "Do you think you're being tested?"

I smirked and huffed. "Yep. You're still a fae, alright."

"Don't I look or feel like one?" she followed, fixing me with a teasingly playful gaze.

"Let's just say you... weren't exactly what I imagined you to be, my Lady."

I took a quick sip of the chocolate and I swear I can ascend to heaven right at that moment — if heaven would accept me, half demon blood and all that. It was just the right balance of light and sweet — like it was tailored specifically to my preference.

"Wow. First was the wine Yuna brought, are you also trying to ruin every other chocolate drink for me, my Lady?"

Sooyoung laughed a hearty chortle, "Glad you like it," she said while taking a quick sip of her own.

I took another one, bigger and longer than the first. "I might have to ask you the recipe," I quipped.

"I'll have it sent to your apartment along with the cocoa we grow here," she replied while smiling proudly.

Another sip and my mug is empty. I filled it up again and held it close to my face, just savoring the aroma before I chug the drink again.

Then my eyes snapped at Sooyoung, narrowing them down to look at her conspiringly, "this isn't drugged with faerie dust, is it?"

She laughs again, louder and more heartier than the last, the enclosed walls of the tree echoing the light and pleasant sound of her laughter.

"A little trauma remaining when Yuna tried to?"

I shrugged, but a corner of my lips curved faintly upward. It seemed so long ago, when Yuna was still in Orion's service and she tried to take me under her spell with faerie dust.

"I know you're resistant to it, so why would I bother," Sooyoung dismissed with a wave. Then she added with a teasing smirk, "Don't you trust me?"

"Honest answer, my Lady... not fully."

"Good," she leaned against the back rest, one side of her lips still curved in that alluring smile.

"Do you trust me?" I asked back.

"I trust your enmity with Orion," her voice dropped with edge at the mention of his name, "and the fact that Yuna and Sullyoon trust you. So rest assured, Seren Vale, I won't do you harm, not unless you provoke me."

"You can rest assured that I won't move against you, your realm, and its inhabitants as well, my Lady."

She narrows her eyes on me, daring me to say what she sensed I wanted to say.

"Unless you provoke me as well..." I smirked, obliging her challenge.

"That's more like it..." she purred, her voice suggesting that her respect for me just went up a notch.

My smirk mirrored hers. I took another sip, drinking half my mug before setting it down on the table.

"I... uh..." I began, Sooyoung fixed me with a curious gaze. "I wanted to thank you... for taking Yuna and Sullyoon in after we rescued her from the Hunt."

Sooyoung's smirk morphed into a gentle smile, "That was brave of you, rescuing someone you barely knew and also works for your enemy."

"They don't deserve it... what happened to them. What Orion did to them."

"Like almost everyone that I shelter in this realm," she sighed melancholically.

"Yuna said Orion was in a bad mood the night their torment began. Something about you striking against Orion?"

Sooyoung nodded, "And to that I apologized to the two of them for unknowingly being the trigger for their suffering. It was the same night my forces rescued Bastet and other werebeasts the Hunt had abducted and experimented on. I tried to contact the Triarchy for their safe return, but they refused, saying that they will undoubtedly face contempt, scorn, and discrimination for being not strong enough to avoid capture. You know this, they value strength amongst everything..."

"The strength of the wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the wolf," I recalled the Old Law of the Jungle from a book I read when I was young.

Sooyoung nodded, "to the Triarchy's credit, they'd rather protect their lost brethren by exile, rather than have them live a life worse than death within their own people."

"And Joohyun contacted you to shelter Yuna and Sullyoon..."

That got a smile out of Sooyoung, "the Pale Princess and I go... way back. I was witness to her... entanglement with the current right wing of the siren cove's matriarch, I believe you met her recently..."

My jaw tightened at the memory of Wendy Son during the confrontation at the amphitheatre. That lady owes me a talk, her and her girls, Jiwon, Lily, and Haewon.

Sooyoung smirked at my reaction, "well, I owe the Pale Princess a favor... and as you already witnessed, I have a soft spot for those the Hunt breaks, so I accepted immediately."

"Thank you again, my Lady," I bowed curtly, yet my jaw remained tight, lingering at the thought of what the sirens put us through.

Sooyoung hummed before her face was covered by her mug. She set it down on the table then proceeded to fix her dress — not that it needed fixing.

"What you built here..." I looked to the direction where the doorway once was, recalling everything I saw — from demigryphs to giants, Goru, Bastet, and that freaking emerald dragon. Sooyoung fixes me with a gentle stare as she waited for me to continue.

"... it's like a museum of Orion's... immorality — disrespect."

Sooyoung smiled gently, "You were about to say failures, weren't you?"

I dipped my head in embarrassment, "I thought it would be... disrespectful to them, my Lady."

Sooyoung nodded with approval, "my realm is indeed a testament to his failures — but it is also a reminder of those I failed to help."

"Why are you doing this, my Lady?"

Her smile tightened and her eyes dropped before turning to me, her gaze holding the wait of centuries of battling Orion — as well as one moment, a moment that defined her and her conviction.

"Perhaps when our trust towards each other have grown, Seren Vale... perhaps then, I shall tell you of how I became what people knew as the Lady of Spring."

I nodded, respecting her choice and her privacy, after all, one won't fight someone for centuries without carrying something heavy themself.

She gazed at the wall opposite to where the doorway originally was. She stared at it like she can see something I can't, like there's a window in it, showing something, somewhere — sometime.

"So, how are you taking things so far?" She asked in a voice so quiet I nearly didn't catch it.

"Which one?"

"You being a hybrid."

I sighed, took my mug and emptied its contents. Instead of returning it to the table, I spun it around my hands as I contemplated my reply.

"I don't know... to be honest, I didn't have time to think about it, with the Kim sisters' fallout, the attack at their home, Minjeong's awakening. My bloodline seemed the least of my worries considering everything that happened after the confrontation at the amphitheater."

"You have all the time right now," Sooyoung responds.

"Why are you interested with what I think, my Lady? Meaning no offense," I replied. "Are you also going to shelter me like all the hybrids in your realm?"

"If it comes to that and you have proven yourself a friend of my realm... and also..." she hesitated, her gaze drifting towards the engravings depicted on her wooden couch.

I tilted my head, waiting for what she was about to say.

The Lady sighed before continuing, "you've met Lady Jieun, a hybrid..."

"Of a human mage and a siren, yes," I finished for her.

"What if I tell you you're looking and talking with another one?"

It took me about ten whole seconds to completely process what Sooyoung was saying. When I did, my eyes widened in both surprise and awe.

"My Lady, you're..." I gasped when I fully grasped her meaning.

"You're familiar with the Binding of Roots, yes?"

I nodded, "Yuna and Sullyoon's bond, a dryad and fae... sort of, imprinting on each other. That's why Sullyoon was so adamant in rescuing Yuna rather than just running away."

Sooyoung nodded melancholically, "my parents were the same. A dryad for a father and a fae high enchantress for a mother..."

"And were you... ostracized?"

"The contrary, actually... I was incredibly talented in all the magics fae and dryads are supposed to learn that it earned me a place in King Oberon's court..."

"Is being a hybrid one of the reasons why you're this powerful?"

Sooyoung chuckled, "Maybe. I do have more control over nature magic than most fae and tree-kin. But being of two bloodlines... it's also one of the reasons why I... sympathize with your predicament. And though our circumstances are vastly different, I am still... invested, in how you're handling it."

I scoffed and leaned my head against the backrest. "If I knew, I'd tell you, my Lady."

"Understandable," Sooyoung nodded. "I imagine it's not easy, living for two decades then being dumped all that information and revelations in one night."

"That's an understatement," I pinched the bridge of my nose. A part of me wanted to open up to Sooyoung, but a part of me also wanted to open up first to Jimin. She knows me more, and I trust her more than the Lady of Spring.

"You are blessed," she said, gentle, soothing, almost apologetic even, "to have people who accept you for who you are, not for what your blood is a mix of."

I thought of my friends, how they were... mostly accepting of my... circumstances. Even Aeri, for all her... Night Folk prejudice, never really reacted strongly when Chaewon and I revealed what I am to her.

"Should you need... someone to talk to on this matter, you may ask me anytime," Sooyoung says gently.

"How can I contact you, though?"

"You can tell Yuna or Sullyoon, and I'll find time."

"Once again, thank you, my Lady. It seems I'm owing you so much without being able to give back in return."

"The conversation is enough, for now, Seren Vale."

"Is this why you wanted to talk to me, my Lady?"

"Initially, yes."

"Initially," I leaned in, suddenly curious and cautious.

"There's something... interesting I noticed when I entered..."

"And that is?" I tilted my head.

She leaned in as well towards me, her voice more curious rather than hostile, like she's encountering a problem she can't wait to solve. "Your mind is resistant to being influenced by faerie dust, but you can still fall to its visual illusions."

"What do you —?" I asked in confusion while looking around my surroundings, suddenly not trusting everything I see.

"You are right to distrust what you currently see, Seren," Sooyoung said. "However, this is exactly what this room looks like — no glamour whatsoever. This is the room where I receive guests, the other rooms remain on the top of the tree."

"So how are you saying that —?" I turned to her. She now stood in front of me.

"That's because I've been using faerie dust to cover myself since you entered, and you, being the gentleman Yuna said you were, never noticed that my clothes are actually glamour made through faerie dust."

With no visible gesture, her clothes suddenly became grainy, like particles of dust moving and fading, slowly matching the color of her porcelain skin — until she was left with... nothing, absolutely nothing.

"Woah.. my Lady," I averted my gaze, raised my hands even to cover her bare breasts and her hips from my sight.

I heard a low and amused chuckle. "Sullyoon loved the part where you're a gentleman," I felt her approach. My head snapping back and forth, unsure whether to look or to jump right off my neck instead of ogling this fae high enchantress — which if I did, I may have  my head cut off from my body.

"Yuna, however," her voice dropped lower — lower than when Yuna was seducing me during our interview. "She said, she loved the part where you just let yourself go and give in to what you want to do — to what you're body says it wants to do," her tone was filled not with desire, but amusement at my reaction.

"Is this another test, my Lady?" I croaked.

"It could be, though it may not exactly be the test you're thinking about," she whispered. I flinched and closed my eyes at how close she was to my ear. I didn't even sense that she had already approached this close.

Then a weight rests on my lap, two hands grabbed my wrists and pinned then to the floor above. Then I felt vines wrap around my wrist and ankles, pinning me to my seat.

"Look, Seren," another whisper, "look at me," — and I opened my eyes.

She was staring at me, eyes glazed and burning with desire and something else I still can't quite place. The left corner of her lip was raised in a confident smirk, knowing full well how this is going to end despite my struggling.

"You really should just let go when something like this happens, Seren. You know you can't resist the urge," she whispered in a voice so flowery and hot that it started the frying of the wires in my brain.

My eyes were pulled lower, and more wires short circuited. My eyes wandered on her shapely breasts, the thin waist, not thinner than Yuna's, but delectable all the same.

"That's it... do you think surrendering to the Blood of Lilith inside you makes you a monster?"

"I'm..." I choked, swallowing a lump on my throat as my eyes travelled lower across her body, towards the dripping heat that has now stained the pants I raided on the wardrobe of the Royal castle's guest house.

"Having desire and giving in to that desire isn't wrong, you know," she murmured in my ear.

"Please, my Lady. Please tell me this is just a test..." my breathing grows labored. Our body heats clashing as I felt one slow grind from her crotch all over my clothed shaft.

Sooyoung chuckled, "It may be a test of your morality. It may be a test of you control... or it may be a test of how good you are... maybe I want to know if Yuna was speaking the truth about your... proficiency."

"This isn't a joke my... fuck —"

"Of course, it's not a joke," Sooyoung kept going, kept rubbing herself on my hips — kept pushing me towards the edge.

"Maybe this is my way of thanking you for saving Yuna and Sullyoon."

I hissed as I felt a soft tongue behind my ear, my hair from my arms to my spine standing on edge.

"Maybe you'll get some kind of ability from me... make that as an excuse to come here and train... so we could do this again..."

I felt my eyes roll when her tongue reached my neck and her hips moved with more urgency.

Then she stopped, pulled back just enough so that my eyesight frames only her face — and that smirk, that damn smirk is sending my walls rolling.

"Or... are you really just going to pass on a beautiful lady grinding and offering herself to you?"

This is a test, of that I'm sure. But what exactly is the test — something inside me said I didn't really care at this point because I answered — "Fuck it!"

And that was all the answer Sooyoung needed.

Our mouths met, teeth crashed, and her tongue probed for mine in a sloppy kiss that seemed more analytical than personal. The movement of her hips was a stark contrast to the kiss, slow, methodical, and deliberate over my shaft, the denim now drenched and I can feel the fabric of my boxers underneath getting soaked as her juices seeped through.

"Gods, how wet are you, my Lady?" I managed through the tangle of lips, teeth, and tongue.

Sooyoung just chuckled and continued her grinding. Her kisses however, moved to my jaw, down to my neck, and slowly crept towards my ear. She bit my earlobe right in time with a slow and deep grind, making me hiss and roll my eyes up again.

"Fuck, my Lady —"

"Is that language you use on a Lady, Seren Vale?" she giggled while nibbing at my ear and neck.

"I... I apolo — fu —!" I caught myself before finishing the word.

"Let go, Seren," Sooyoung snickered in my ear, "let me hear it."

"Fuck!" I exclaimed uninhibited as a soft and delicate palm cupped my hardness over my clothes. She stroked slowly, running her hand across my shaft before her dripping cunt goes for another pass over it — and I wanted to tear my pants off every pass she makes, longing to feel her heat and her wetness with my own bare skin.

"You like that? Hmm?"

"Yes, my Lady."

"You want me to keep going?"

Every word, every statement was punctuated with a stroke and a pass from her crotch, driving me mad and under her mercy.

"Yes —"

"Do you want me to put it in? Fuck you? Bounce on this cock that Yuna and Sullyoon craves? This cock that made then scream and cum?"

"Yes —" because what else can I say?

Her first breathy moans were like music to my ears. Making my cock twitch under her touch. She noticed — because of course she does, of course she will.

"Your twitching for me. Do you think you can make me cum, Seren Vale?"

"I'll... fuck —!"

She undid my belt and unceremoniously inserted her hand inside my pants. She held my cock over my boxers, my hips bucking, searching for more... just more, more of Sooyoung, more of... whatever she's doing to me.

"Answer me, Seren Vale. It's been almost a century since a cock truly made me cum. Yuna and Sullyoon were successful, but they don't have cocks, the feeling is different... and I've been looking for someone who can drive me wild and crazy. Is that someone you?" She gave my cock a tight squeeze, and I felt precum ooze from my slit, staining my boxers.

"Do you want that someone to be you?"

Everything she said was whispered directly to my ear, sending it towards my brain, which gave commands for my dick to twitch more and my hips to buck desperately.

"I'll... try my... fuck... best... my Lady..."

"That's a good boy," she cooed in my ear. "So shall we proceed with the main course or shall we have a little appetizer?"

Finally, she pushed my boxers down just enough for her fingers to wrap around my aching dick. I rolled my wrists against my binds, trying to snap the vines in order to actually touch those tits, not as big as Jimin's but full and equally enticing. Then there's her waist, not as thin as Yuna's, but I also want — no, need to wrap my arms around it. Then her ass — fuck, I never had an ass like hers, round and inviting and... and... fuck, I need to feel it, need to imprint it red with my palms.

"Fuck —!" seems like my brain short circuited and only one word remained.

Sooyoung giggled again as she stroked me bare. "You're right. I waited too long. I need you inside me, now."

In one swift motion, she pulled my pants and my boxers to my knees. She knelt, my thighs between hers, she lined her dripping heat on my twitching cock. We both hissed at the initial contact, her with how the tip of my cock stretched her entrance, and me with how hot her pussy lips felt that it seemed the precum leaking out of me sizzled upon contact.

"My Lady, that's — FUCK!"

"AHHH!"

We both yelled as the Park Sooyoung slammed her hips powerfully and sheathed my cock inside her with no preamble. I felt nothing but heat at first, overwhelmed by the sudden action that it took me seconds to register how good her walls clench around me.

"Fuck — that nearly made me cum —" Sooyoung breathed heavily, shifting against my lap, every new angle made my hip buckle, urging her to move even though our sexes are still adjusting to each area.

"Someone's excited," she giggled, and kissed me, not the previously sloppy one. This one was soft, sweet, passionate, almost loving — all the while moving her hips in circles.

I struggled more to release my hands in order to touch her, feel more of her. I felt a stinging sensation in my wrist as I pulled, hoping the vines would just snap.

"You like that?" Sooyoung panted, finally moving her hips faster back and forth.

My vocabulary failed me as I was reduced to just nodding my head as Park Sooyoung had her way on top of me.

"Yeah. Me too. Fuck! You fill me up just right."

I moved my hips, trying to match her rhythm. My position allowed me only small and shallow thrusts, but it seemed to have an immediate effect as Sooyoung moaned more urgently.

"Yes... that's right... give and take... fuck —" she braced her hands on my shoulder, then positioned herself in a squatting position, her feet planted firmly on each side of my thighs.

And she started bouncing and slamming her pussy on my cock.

"Gods, damn it —!" I yelled. My knuckles were undoubtedly pale white right now with how much I'm straining against Sooyoung's binds. My hips bucked up, but can do nothing else but meet and slam on the seat with her every bounce, and buck up again, eager to meet her pussy and the next time she slams herself down.

"Yes — just like that, Seren Vale. You're doing great."

I bit my lip, trying to focus on another sensation than just Sooyoung's soft and warm pussy moving up and down my shaft with almost wild abandon. I dipped my head — only to he hit in the forehead with one of her bouncing tits.

I ogled at them, then decided my mouth can do better than just bite my lip — so I lunged at her breast, trapping one hard nipple between my teeth and sucking down hard.

"YES!" Sooyoung screamed. "Keep doing that... keep fucking doing that!" she yelled as her hips slammed harder, the inside of the tree now filled with the sounds of skin slapping against skin and the moans and screams of an undoubtedly pleasured Lady of Spring.

"My Lady, I'm..." I let go of her tits to talk but was then rendered speechless by her pussy clamping down tight on my cock.

"I know, I can feel it. I can feel you... hold it... wait... I'm so close too..."

I clenched my teeth, forehead pressed against her chest, her mounds slapping my cheeks with her every movement.

"Just like that, Seren... I'm so... I'm... I'm..."

Then she slammed herself so powerfully down my crotch that I winced as my ass hit the wooden seat hard. The pain was then smothered by her scream beside my ear, her thighs squeezing my hips tight, and her walls clenching tight around my shaft while copious amounts of her hot slick leaked like a faucet down my balls to the seat below.

"Fuck — fuck — fuck —" Sooyoung shuddered on top of me. Then another wave crashed on her, her pussy gripped tighter. I felt a cool chill run down my wrist, and with every bit of strength I had, I pulled my wrist, shattering the vines holding then to the floor.

Wait —? Vines are supposed to snap, right, not shatter?

The thought was shoved out of me as Sooyoung shuddered again when she felt my cock twitch inside her. One of my arms wrapped around her soft waist while the other cupped her softer ass.

"What —? How —?" Sooyoung asked, her orgasm induced mind puzzled at how I broke free.

I never gave her time to think as I followed what my body told me to do — and that is to stand up with the Lady in my arms.

"What —? Wait — Seren... I'm still... Holy Oberon!" Sooyoung screamed as I summoned every ounce of strength in me to piston in and out of her.

She held on, locking her thighs behind my hips and her arms around my neck while she screamed profanities I never thought someone with the epithet of Lady of Spring would say.

"You're gonna make me cum again... you're gonna make me cum again..." these are the only comprehensible sounds coming out of Sooyoung before her head whipped back, her body shuddered violently in my arms as another wave of orgasm crash against her just as the first one was about to end.

Her walls contracting around me milked me to the edge. I came inside with a force I've never felt before as I thrust upward, my head whipping back like Sooyoung's and my mouth releasing a primal groan I didn't know my throat can do.

We were still for the most part, broken only by occasional twitches and shudders as after shocks of our orgasms continue to wash over us for the next maybe three or four minutes. Sooyoung clung onto me like a koala, offering only small whimpers whenever these micro orgasms sweep over our bodies from head to toe. My thighs were now covered with a thin sheet of sweat and a thick layer of our combined juices, and more are trickling down from where we are connected.

Finally, my body finally realized it had physical limitations. I felt my legs wobble, and before I make a fool of myself, I slowly sat back down on the wooden seat.

"Fuck... fuck..." the word accompanied every exhale.

Sooyoung giggled on my shoulder. "Well, Yuna was right. You do know how to use one of the gifts of one of your bloodlines." She seemed perfectly fine for someone who had two earth shattering orgasms with some minor aftershocks still coming at irregular intervals.

"Bad... joke... my... Lady."

"Right... sorry..." she snickered.

"So... did I... pass your tests?"

"Most of them," Sooyoung teased, finally pulling back a little so that we're face to face.

She looked the same, almost unfazed, though the light blush in her cheek and the sparkling glint in her eyes told me that she did enjoy what happened... or how I happened.

"Most?" My breathing slowly recovered. "So I failed some?"

Sooyoung nodded with a playful smirk. "Though they're mostly inconsequential. You still passed the important bits."

"May I ask what they are?"

"You may... but I'm not giving you an answer."

"Yep. Walked right through that one."

Sooyoung laughed again before fixing me with a gentle gaze. "You're not a monster, Seren. I've seen monsters and you're still so far down the line in being one."

"But I'm in line to being one..."

Sooyoung cleared the hair off my brow before giving me a kiss on my lips.

"We are hybrids, Seren. I am a fae and a dryad, I found the balance, so did Lady Jieun. Find yours... you can both be human, and a monster at the same time."

"But —"

"But sometimes..." she shushes me with a finger to my lips. She stared at me like she's staring deep into my soul, and when she spoke, it was the first time since Joohyun that I heard someone with the voice of centuries of life behind them speak.

"Sometimes a monster is what this fucked up world actually needs, in order to remember their humanity."