"Han Dae..." Han Zeno uttered his name. He closed his fist and clenched his robe. He trembled. Biting his lower lip, he teared up...
He teared up...
And cried...
"Sorry..." he sniffed and uttered, "I'm sorry..."
"Why did you do that?" Han Zeno asked gently without a hint of anger on his face.
"They were..." Han Dae sniffed once again and wiped his eyes before continuing, "They were bullying me..." still, he cannot stop his tears from falling.
"But I didn't care about that! I didn't care about that at all!" Han Dae shouted and continued, "If it was only me, I would never do such thing! But Hashi-ni! Hashi-ni they're insulting you! It isn't fair! They told me to know my place when they themselves didn't! I don't want Hashi-ni's reputation go downhill because of those rumors!"
Han Zeno's ears turned pink for a moment of embarrassment. He smiled after that and said, "Ignore them next time, okay? Besides, I do not care about such trifle."
Han Dae raised his head and faced him, "But—" he got startled when his young lord started giggling.
"Hashi...ni?" he asked with his 'huh' face.
Han Zeno smiled at him afterwards, "You finally faced me."
Upon realizing, Han Dae immediately looked away.
Han Zeno moved to the side where Han Dae is facing, "Face me." He ordered sweetly. Han Dae, however, felt guiltier so he face the other way. Han Zeno blinked and moved the other side saying the same thing,
"Face me."
Han Dae looked down feeling so damn guilty. He knew that even if that kind of thing happen, he shouldn't engage into something like that. What would the people say about the Han tribe? What would they say about his Rabbis and Shihan? What about his Hashi-ni?
"Fine." Han Zeno sighed.
Han Dae sighed as well upon thinking that his Hashi-ni gave up already. In his surprise, he is suddenly being lifted on the ground.
"Wha-?!" he subconsciously shouted when he and Han Zeno's eyes finally met once again. His face shows a hint of red upon realizing what had happened.
Han Zeno carried him like a child.
"There we go!" Han Zeno smiled. Han Dae's arms are holding his crimson sleeve without realizing it. "Alright! Now I can explain!" he continued.
"Ha--?!" Han Dae is still confused but Han Zeno began walking as if he caught a huge prey with such a victorious look on his face. "P-Put me down Hashi-ni!" Han Dae ordered.
"Request denied!" Han Zeno happily and sweetly uttered.
Han Dae got pissed, "Hashi-ni..." his voice sounds scary.
Han Zeno smiled at him in return. Han Dae's scary face suddenly swapped into a blushing surprised one. He pouted in defeat and buried his face on Han Zeno's chest so that he won't be seen.
"Tss..." he uttered, "What were you thinking Hashi-ni?"
"Can you first promise me that you won't do that again?" Han Zeno asked.
"No." Han Dae answered without hesitation.
"I'm fine." Han Zeno said while caressing Han Dae's back to calm his reluctant mind. "Isn't it fun? Knowing that other people know you when you yourself didn't? That'd make me a mystery."
"But they are saying mean things about you!" Han Dae exclaimed with face still buried.
Han Zeno chuckled, "That is why I am a mystery. Some will think I'm not nice, and some will consider me a saint. Isn't that exciting?"
Han Dae peeked at his face. "Put me down." He ordered once again.
"Okay." Han Zeno smiled and carefully let go of him. "We are here anyway." He said and entered the room. Han Dae once again blushed upon realizing that his Hashi-ni carried him all the way to their room. He even have the nerve to order him when there is no use already!
He entered the room in embarrassment and fixed his beaten up self after taking a bath. He washed his clothes and hung it afterwards. He is now wearing a white robe as he walks to the kitchen while tying his hair with the ribbon his Hashi-ni gave him as he bites the clip. After that, he put on the clip just as he was about to turn to the kitchen area.
He stopped his tracks the moment he saw his young lord slicing a carrot.
Slicing a carrot?! Of course Han Dae would freak!
"Wha-What are you doing Hashi-ni?!" he shouted as he ran towards him. Han Zeno immediately faced him, hiding his hands behind him and smiled awkwardly.
"Ahaha..." he faked a laughed, "Preparing our dinner?"
Han Dae glared at him with a pout, "Don't you trust me anymore?"
Han Zeno blinked in surprise. Maybe Han Dae is still thinking that he is now putting his guard up so that he won't get poisoned again.
Han Zeno realized this and said, "N-no... I just—"
"I know I'm being careless last time. It's probably difficult to trust me now..." Han Dae let out a sigh of regret and looked away, "Should I taste it first in front of Hashi-ni afterwards?"
Han Zeno smiled, "I trust you, Han Dae."
Han Dae flinched a bit and slowly turned to face him again. He is smiling kindly and isn't showing a hint of hesitation. Han Dae felt so relieved that he didn't even realize how his lips curved upwards.
He faced the chopping board and grabbed the knife, "Then, I'll finish this quickly." He is about to chop the uneven sliced carrots properly when he saw a faint red liquid on it. He immediately got pissed and faced Han Zeno who is still with him.
"Hashi-ni..." he started grinning angrily. "Hands." He said after putting down what he is holding, gesturing his hands as if he is ordering him give his hand to him.
"Huh?" Han Zeno blinked, pretending he didn't know what that meant.
"Give me your hands." Han Dae ordered, "Now."
Han Zeno once again chuckled awkwardly and then he took a step back. Han Dae can no longer contain his anger and forcefully grabbed his left hand.
Bingo! He saw his fingers bleeding.
Han Dae's eyes widened, "Seriously?!" he shouted and pulled Han Zeno to the living room where the medicine is. He opened the wooden kit and began treating his young lord's bleeding fingers.
"It's fine." Han Zeno said while sitting still on a chair like a good boy as Han Dae sat in front of him, on the ground.
"It's not!" Han Dae raised his voice. 'If Lord Uriel and Lady Freia found out that you've been wounded when I'm on watch I'd be freakin' dead!'
"It is." Han Zeno insisted and is about to pull his hand but Han Dae, holding him tight, hurried instead of answering him. He blinked once again in a wonder.
Leaning down, he uttered, "Han Dae--"
"Oh damn it! Stay still!" Han Dae shouted and he sat properly once again. Han Dae got embarrassed.
He just commanded a young lord. Not just any young lord, his own young lord who is a Majin candidate! What is he again? Ah, that's right, a mere servant raising his voice to his highly respected young lord deserves punishment!
Be banished!
"Sorry..." Han Dae uttered almost a whisper. Then, he once again gently treat his cuts properly.
Silence enveloped the two of them as he wraps his Hashi-ni's hand in a clean white cloth. Han Dae once again felt awkward and cannot unzip his lips. Han Zeno smiled and asked kindly, "May you let me watch you cook?"
Han Dae faced him puzzled, "H-Huh?" he asked. After a second, he realized that he is being questioned, his cheeks turned red in embarrassment, "Huh?! T-That's embarrassing! W-Why?!"
Asher, who is keeping quiet the whole time smirked and teased him, "He wants to see his future wife in action, what else?"
"For future reference." Han Zeno answered with a smile.
"See?" Asher smirked once again.
Han Dae stared at him grumpily and suspiciously, "Hmm? Hashi-ni knows how to cut ghouls and demons perfectly but he doesn't even know how to cook?"
Han Zeno blushed shyly with a smile still, "I-I'm planning to learn..."
"Pfft!" Han Dae forced to stop his laugh, "Alright." He answered.
The next day, Han Dae and Han Zeno are a bit surprised when they entered their room. There are two rabbis already waiting for them. They are not late, but it is the first time that they saw a rabbi enter the room before his students.
Han Dae whispered at Yu Rui who is beside him, "Yu-chou, are we late?"
Yu Rui faced him, quite surprised that a person from another tribe sat beside him and talked to him. Today is a different day so they can sit wherever they want to. He shook his head and answered with a quiet voice, "The moment we entered, those rabbis are already there."
Han Dae faced the two.
The one sitting on the right is a male, wearing a bright blue hanbok. He has the face of a matured adult, with his olive complexion and black eyes. He doesn't smile, but he doesn't look scary either. Like a calm and collected pearl, he gives off a stay away vibe.
The other one from the left is a female. With big round hollow-looking black eyes, fair skin, youthful appearance and an hourglass body curve, she faced everyone with a sweet smile. The one thing that everyone found peculiar is her hair. Her black with navy shade hair is shorter, only reaching her jawlines. Her cerulean shaded hanbok is designed with wave patterns on the short skirt.
In Saphirus Sen Tribe, a female who is wearing a thinner layer of skirt that is a lot shorter is a swordswoman, like the rabbi in front of them, while those who wore a thicker layer of the same clothing and with a long skirt isn't, except for a young miss.
Time passed without anyone of the two moving. Sitting still, smiling still.
Asher wondered, "What kind of joke is this?"
Another hour passed. Still, no one is talking.
Han Dae wondered, "What kind of joke is this?!"
Asher giggled, "Oh, we're on the same page!"
Half an hour passed. Han Dae is itching to move or talk, but out of respect, he didn't. All of them are already staring intensely at those two. Waiting for them to make a move.
Five minutes have passed but still, nothing happened.
Everyone's stares became glares, except Han Zeno who already wipes his tired eyes because of constant staring.
"Pfft!" the female one covered her mouth and smiled at them, "Oh my, scary!"
'Finally!' All of them exclaimed in their minds including Asher.
"Sen-ni, shouldn't you start the class already?" she smiled but the other one isn't moving at all. "Sen-ni..." she called once again with a smile.
Still no response.
"We decided that you do the introduction right?" she continued but he still ain't budging.
Han Dae faced Sei Chryseis and asked, "What's going on Young Lord Sei?"
Sei Chryseis faced him and moved his shoulder up and down like a shrug before he answered, "Absolutely no clue Han-chou..."
"Oh I get it!" she exclaimed cheerfully and everyone faced her again, "You're embarrassed aren't you?"
'Ehhhh?' is what everyone had in mind.
The other one coughed and answered timidly with eyes shut, "I am."
'Ehhhh?!' they all exclaimed once again.
"Oh Sen-ni! Grow up! Hurry up and start the class already!" she said.
"I am still thinking of a way..." he answered a bit shy.
'It has been three hours!' everyone exclaimed once again.
"Geez! You're hopeless!" she stood and faced everyone, "Hello everyone! Shall we start the class?"
Everyone lowered their heads. She did too. Afterwards, she smiled once again, "My name is Sen Shanna and he is Sen Yeol." She stated.
"We already know your names and titles from Sen Cheon-chou!" she cheerfully stated. "Enough of that now! May we request every Majin candidates to remain sitting and for those who aren't, stand up straight?"
Han Dae, Yu Rui and some other disciples stood properly.
"Oh my, that's quite a lot!" she said while putting her right palm on her forehead. "One, two, three, four, five," she counted, "six... seven!"
She put her hands together. Walking to the door, going out of the room, she faced them, "What are you waiting for? Follow me!"
'Follow her? Does that mean I and Hashi-ni will be separated?' Han Dae wondered.
Asher wondered, "Is this their method of teaching two different status? I can say I am indeed intrigued." but then he felt a hint of regret, "Ugh... I want to seeing the Majin candidates in action though!"
Han Dae faced Han Zeno who then nodded at him with a smile. Disciples from the Lao tribe are the first to follow Sen Shanna, then Han Dae followed those who are also stepping out of the room.
He even laughed when he saw Sei Chryseis' terrified and depressed expression as he walks out the room, crying his name, "Han-chou, don't leave me..." he uttered in tears. He instantly got scolded by sister though.
After a while of walking, they reached the part of the forest where there isn't any houses and other things crafted by human hands. It is indeed a forest.
"Yay! We're here!" she exclaimed as she spun around to face them. Everyone gasped in surprise. She blinked when no one is saying something so she stood properly and said with a smile, "What's the matter? You can tell me, I'm not going to bite!"
Yu Sam raised her right arm and asked, "Rabbi Sen-jia... is this where we're going to study?"
I mean, it is the woods.
Han Dae faced her because he wanted to ask the same question when he caught Lao Ming also peeping at her. 'Oho?' Han Dae wondered.
Sen Shanna blinked, "Mnn." She nodded with the answer, "Got a problem?"
"B-But..." Sei Hana stuttered, "H-How?" she asked.
"Ah! That's right!" she smiled, "I didn't introduce myself properly!" she looked around and hopped on a boulder that is slightly buried on the ground so that everyone can raise their heads to her since she isn't tall.
Her height only reaches Han Dae's temple and he is already the shortest of the male disciples.
"My name is Sen Shanna. No formalities needed, call me An-ji." She put her hands on her waist and continued, "I specialize at training the physical body. You are welcome to use your spiritual energy, but your bodies have to move as well."
"Training?" Lao Jaz wondered.
Sen Jizshuei answered, "An-ji isn't a rabbi, is she?"
Han Dae faced him and thought, 'Based on what she stated earlier, she must be...'
"Bingo!" she exclaimed while sliding her right thumb on her forehead, showing a deep blue dot mark.
"I'm a Shihan!" she answered, jumping down, she hugs everyone tightly, squishing them, "But not until last week so I'm very excited to have you guys as my apprentices!"
"C-Can't breathe!" they all complained.
She released them immediately and smiled as if nothing had happened, she ran behind the boulder and called, "Everyone look! Over there!"
Everyone looked at each other before going to her. Behind the boulder is a cliff. They saw her pointing at something from below. Each one of them carefully leaned to see what it was.
Han Dae's eyes squinted and finally noticed a blue flag on top of the tallest tree below.
"Did you see it?" Sen Shanna asked.
Han Dae and the rest nodded, "Mnn."
"Then without using this cliff, please meet me under that tree before the sun sets." She smiled.
"Huh?!" they all exclaimed in shock.
"Oh! You can only use your spiritual energy when you want to fly." She continued, "Weapons are also allowed! Those who didn't make the cut, don't even dare to show yourself okay?" she smiled sweetly.
Then she jumped off the cliff and waved them goodbye, "See 'ya!"
Han Dae gasped and took one last glance at her flying freely and at the sky. It is already past twelve. Han Dae and the rest started running, rushing to the place. Beside him is Yu Rui. He faced him and asked, "What kind of forest is this?!"
"No clue!" Yu Rui answered back.
This forest... is indeed like a puzzle!
Han Dae remembered what Han Zeno had told him. 'The cliffs are indeed man-made!' Han Dae exclaimed in his mind.
Asher wondered, "Now I know what the cliffs are for! And the air here is very thin as well!"
While running, Han Dae's eyes caught something shiny from the dirt and immediately stopped his tracks. Without wasting a second, he grabbed Yu Rui's left arm and pulled him back.
The moment he did, daggers shoot up. Both of them are surprised to know that there are traps in the place without even knowing it.
Yu Rui exhaled and faced Han Dae, "Many thanks, Han-chou." He uttered.
Han Dae smiled, "That's my payback for saving me yesterday." Then he began running once again. Yu Rui stood in awe before running too.
Both of them reached the others and Han Dae noticed a bamboo from above. Sen Jizshuei raised his head and dodged. Then there are flying rocks and stone puppets called 'golems' that began attacking them.
"Traps?!" Sei Hana exclaimed and grabbed her sacred weapon, a katana. Everyone grabbed their sacred weapons, different kinds of swords. Han Dae raised his sleeve and readied his Latigo.
Lao Ming and Lao Jaz began attacking those who are blocking their way.
"You're in the way!" Lao Ming shouted as he sliced the golem slanted. A golem from behind the sliced one appeared.
Lao Jaz flew from behind Lao Ming and sliced off its head.
Han Dae avoided the flying daggers gracefully, as if he is a circus actor showing his act. He is indeed flexible. After avoiding, he dodged a golem's fist that punched the ground, scattering dust. He hastily stood and tied his Latigo to the trees on both sides.
The moment the golem approaches him, he jumped above it and spun on the air, wrapping it on his weapon's sharp threads. The moment his feet reached the ground, he pulled, chopping it into different pieces.
Yu Rui, with his saber sword, dodged a net trap from the side by sliding down the ground. After dodging, what awaits him is a golem who just noticed him. He held his sword with his two hands and sliced vertically – from bottom to top.
Yu Sam just finished killing a golem using her thin sword when Han Dae noticed a sharp-edged dagger is coming from her behind. He grabbed the blade from his Latigo and threw it to the dagger that made a 'clang' sound.
Yu Sam faced Han Dae in surprise. Han Dae pulled back his blade and focus on fighting once again. Yu Sam clenched her sword, looking a bit irritated as she clicked her tongue and grits her teeth before taking a fighting stance once again.
Sen Jizshuei took a step back and flew on a high branch of a tree as he exclaimed, "Tck! This is endless! We won't make it in time like this!"
The others flew on different tree branches as well.
"If only we can use our spiritual energy for anything else!" Lao Jaz complained.
"What do we do?!" Sei Hana asked.
"We've got to work together." Han Dae answered. They all faced him and without giving it a second thought, they glared once again.
"We don't need you here!" Lao Ming furiously answered.
"Shoo! Shoo!" Sen Jizshuei moved his hands.
"Young sirs!" Yu Rui uttered, "All of us will fail if we don't work together!"
"You don't have the right to speak!" Lao Ming shouted.
Sei Hana faced Han Dae, "Are you sure?!" she asked.
Han Dae faced her and nodded, "I am."
"Then I agree!" Sei Hana answered.
"What?!" Lao Ming asked in disbelief, "Sei Hana, you?!"
"We have no other options, do we?!" Sei Hana said facing him.
Yu Sam clenched her sword and remembered how Han Dae helped her. So she answered as well, "Take me with you too!" She shouted.
Lao Ming faced her in surprise. He clicked his tongue and said, "Fine! I agree!"
Lao Jaz, "Then me too!"
Sen Jizshuei, "Fine! Now what?!"
Han Dae and Yu Rui faced each other with a smile.
"Then..." Han Dae uttered.
Meanwhile, some hours before Han Dae discovered the traps, Han Zeno and the others were taken to another room.
Sen Yeol said after guiding them there, "After talking to the person inside the other room, please go back immediately to your rooms and take a day of rest."
Just like that, he left.
Yu Gaia faced Sen Saiorse, "So? What does that mean?" she asked.
"Even I don't know." Sen Saiorse answered. Both of them faced Sen Fajra.
"Please don't." he said politely, "I don't have any clue either..."
"Hmmm? Is that so?" Lao Judah answered loudly so that he can get everyone's attention.
He successfully did.
"Lord Sen, aren't you the head of this tribe already? How come you're so clueless about it?" he smirked with provoking eyes.
Sen Saiorse glared at him so he backed off with a laugh and said, "I'm just kidding! I'm just kidding! Of course this kind of thing is being discussed among the elders!" he said before sipping his tea.
"It is." Sen Fajra answered after a sigh.
"Want some?" Lao Tyr offered Lao Frigg his tea.
Lao Frigg leaned on the table lazily while playing with his curly hair, "Nah, it's too bland."
One by one, they are going to the said room. After a while, one will follow, then the other, and so on until all that's left is Han Zeno and Sei Chryseis who looks worried. Han Zeno noticed how worried he is so he smiled and asked, "Is there something wrong, Young Lord Sei?"
Sei Chryseis flinched and shook his head, "N-Nothing... I-I'm j-just..." he began fidgeting as he sweats terribly.
"Hmm?" Han Zeno asked kindly.
"Young Lord Han!" Sei Chryseis bawled, "I'm scared! I don't want to be stuck in a room with a stranger!"
Han Zeno blinked and laughed. He found it quite cute, "I see..." he said and grabbed his handkerchief to wipe Sei Chryseis face, "Young Lord Sei, it won't take long. Calm down. Worry not, I will wait for you, and I bet Young Miss Sei will do the same."
Sei Chryseis sniffed so Han Zeno wiped his nose. Then he asked, "Feeling fine already?"
"Mnn..." Sei Chryseis nodded, "S-Sorry for t-troubling Young Lord Han..." he lowered his head.
"Don't be." Han Zeno smiled and stood, "I'm happy to help. Well then, I have to go."
"Y-Young Lord Han will w-wait for me, right?!" he repeated in a question.
"Mnn." Han Zeno nodded and stepped out of the room.
While waiting in front of the door of the said room, in his mind popped Han Dae. He smiled and wondered, 'I wonder what he is doing already?'
Under the clear night sky, Sen Shanna, while sitting on another boulder beside the tall tree is swinging her feet as she munch her grilled fish as she watches the sun almost setting, got surprised when she saw everyone nearing the goal already.
"Oh my! Did I miss something?" she uttered with a smile.
The moment Han Dae and the rest reached the boulder, they all dropped on the ground and huffed like no tomorrow. Even Asher feels like dying!
"Good job!" Sen Shanna praised them after finishing her food, "I'm getting hungry already!"
"Aren't you eating earlier?" Han Dae blurted out as he chases his breath.
"Am I?" Sen Shanna faked a wonder and licked her finger, "Anyways! We will go back there tomorrow morning! For now, wash yourself, eat your full, and take a rest! Follow me!"
They all faced each other once again and followed her.
Just some walking distance from their goal, they reached a flowery place filled with glowing blue flowers pitcher plants and butterflies. Their eyes widened when they saw a big house in front of them guarded by female servants.
"This is my house, feel at home!" she smiled.
"A-Awesome!" they all exclaimed.