Across the dismal sky, a bright, flashing bolt of lightning was roaring furiously. The pouring ruthless rain sums up a gloomy night, full of menace and fear.
As the rain persisted, the ground became more soggy, absorbing the drops as much as possble, allow the further to surge.
The clay-tiled roofs are prone to thawing in the presence of the downpour. Through the middle of the curves, they are gushing torrential rain.
The hueless drops are dumped on the ground to alter pale brown. Assemble simultaneously on the surface of the light soil, in maroon, they flood.
At the commencement of the maroon spill, the pale brown cold gush was shading with the crimson drops that were dribbling from sliced damp flesh.
"...attack to..."
"Do not..."
The voices of men bawling were disrupted by the ominous, blaring crack of thunder amid the surfaces striking rain. As the outer, interior household yard, surrounded by a thick, tidy wall, was less than a battle field. The blood stains of a few, who were on the ground lifelessly, were rinsed away by the rain, while some who are alive stand under, drenching.
"Do not let him escape!" A man, bearing a blade, shouted from under a roof, who was not affected by the rain, nor the occurred clash. As they heeded the command, more than half a dozen men, beneath the rain, clamped the hilts of their swords.
Against one.
As the night was dark, the mere thing that was devoid of black was his eyes, which were unveiled when all the rest of his face and body were covert by black threads. His feet were slightly enduring his blood-dripping, quivering body, yet arm was firm to wield his blade against the front.
"Kill him!" Another command was resounded.
Gearing for further conflicts, he compiled an infirm self of his. In accordance with the command, the squad of men footed ahead as well, with the purpose of assailing him.
Yet they ceased in a moment.
The pair of flaps of the wooden door leading there were entirely divided. A man figure, clammy with the rain as well as his own blood, stepped inward. His face was imbued with nothing but terror throughout.
"It was the black thi-" he bawled as he entered. Yet was not altogether. Muffling him, from rear, the head of a metallic blade appeared through his heart. No further noise emerged from him, but thud as he collapsed to the ground.
Every eye's heed was altered there, as were the points of their swords.
Through the same entrance, the thrower of the heart-pierced blade arrived for his blade, as he completed the battle, outer the yard. From the body he had dumped on the soggy soil, he withdrew his blade to accompany his second blade, owned by his other hand. His eyes glanced at his ally, who apparently had no strength to persist through a battle yet was ahead of a bunch that was within all their strength. As they reflected one another, the sole thing that revealed himself as well was the sight, while everywhere else was swallowed by black.
"Kill him first!" Once more, a command was announced. But the gang of men faltered. Terror abruptly slurred in their faces as they perceived the vision ahead of them. A man is wielding two blades, who was unscathed, even though ensuing warring the rest of their men. It led them to revise, regarding the deed they were about to commit.
"I said kill him!" The commander again hollered, who was as well arisen by tense. Instinctively, his fingers stiffened the hilt of his blade even though he was rear his adherents.
"Die!" a man roared amid the group, obeying the decree. As he assembled the guts of himself, he hurtled forth, ascending his blade to draw. Swayed by him, without delay, the rest of the men followed and marched rear him as well.
As a pack of wolves, the men are impending him, howling and armed. Clasping the grasp of his two blades, he perpreared himself and pedated ahead to go through them.
The clouds were collisions mutual to cast flash along with bawl. Likewise, the clanging noises were resounding when blades were encountering each. Within the two blades of his, he slew the pack, one by one, who was in his way, till there was none standing to oppose.
"Kill him at all costs!" The commander bawled from all of his throat. Yet no one survived to accomplish his command but himself. He readied his blade to draw. But his sense of dread provoked him stumble backward when the two blades were eventually approaching him.
Molding against the owner, within a few strikes, the single blade was defeated by the dual. They traversed on one another for the sake of compelling the single blade to taste the throat of its owner. The appeared veins on either side of the neck were caressed by them as the own blade, was on the throat, tried to divide apart.
"You will... not have... anything." Through gritted teeth, the commander muttered, attempting to thrust the blade away from him. The dual blades were keenly on his neck. As them, the acute, merciless eyes of their master were as well burning in his terrified yet enraged eyes. The frail arms have no ample amount of energy to apart his blade, which rasped the flimsy skin of his throat till warm red drops were hurled.
He ought to acknowledge his fate.
"It will... never... happ-" Prior further disturbances, the pair of blades were withdrawn, slicing the neck on either side.
***
Through the rosy hue, the rising sun beams mildly on the bustling capital, crisp and clear. The leaves are covert with dew. Birds chirping fused with cold morning breezes were resounding amid crowd noises.
The shops, vendors which were stuffed variously, stood on either side of the streets obtaintly, causing the streets to be extremely narrow. Herds of people were climbing on top of each other, ahead of each shop, yelling widely.
End of a bustling street, another herd of people were assembled. Not ahead of a shop, vendor, nor yelling, but murmuring before the entrance of a household.
"He is one of a finest swordsman in the capital, yet he was assassinated."
"It was him again. The black thief. None had been able to survive."
"He had taken everything. No one knows where he comes from, who he actually is."
"Rumours say he was avenging. He is from the Tiger Clan."
"There is none alive from the Tiger clan anymore. They had all been massacred long ago."
Through their uncertain yet astonished eyes, they are peering beyond the same entrance, which has been unlatched since the prior night. The scarcely tainted light maroon stains on the sand, which the downpour had been incapable of rinsing, were the mere evidence of the battle that occurred the previous night.
"He was a saviour. My brother said he is giving wealth he plunders from nobles for poors."
"Some say he was not a mere thief but the king in disguise. Hunt, who oppose-"
"Shh! Be quite. Do you whish to lose your head? If any of the Guard were to hear you babbling ill of the king, they would separate your head from your body."
As no one was allowed to enter but the gurds who were examining the murder site, the murmuring of the folks was constantly occurred.
Till their heed was occupied by another.
"Look, there is a message from the palace." A man yelled amid them as he indicated the plank of the public announcement, which was not so far away but a few steps.
As a pair of palace guards were pasted up the paper of message to the plank, surrounding were arised wide with folks. They are crammed with curiosity in their eyes, enthusiastic to perceive regard for the message. Yet no noise emerged from them, but observing the faces of one another, bewildered.
"Young girl, do you understand? Are you literate? What is this about?" A old woman urged a girl aside, who was already fastening her eyes on the plank restlessly.
"It is regarding the crown princess selection. The listing of candidates." She explained. As who heeded her words, sealed mouths of theirs were unsealed. The place became boisterous as they started to whisper to one another.
"Could you read it out loud? Who are they?" Amid the crowed noises the same women request her again.
"They are all high-ranking noble ladies in the capital. They are the eldest daughter of court minister Park, the youngest granddaughter of court minister Hwan, and the sister of loard Oh, the granddaughter of Loard Sung, the daughter of general Shim, the eldest granddaughter of the Prime Minis-" She held out her tongue to widen her eyes. Ceasing her persistent reading out loud, abruptly, her eyes were broadened with stun.
As soon, she footed rearwards.
"Girl, where are you heading? Who are the rest?" The woman yelled when the girl was hastened from there. She did not return a glance but crossed the assembled folks and emerged to dart.
Being tricky to wander as one pleases, still, the paths are minor and bustling with folks. Yet none of those were able to grasp her hasty steps for a moment, but she got through all of them flawlessly. Even though she was breathless as she approached ahead of her destination, she retained her hustle.
A tidy wall, higher than her, was initiated to be run as her lateral, in the same direction, till it slit for an immense entrance.
"Young lady! Young lady!" She called out, as her feet were yet restless. She divides the flaps of the entrance and steps into the wide, sandy yard, belongs to the enormous household. Eventually, as her destination, she put her weary feet to rest, before a wooden ledges of a chamber.
"Young... lady!" Further, she yelled, even though she was out of breath.
The gliding doors of the chamber were detached from one another within her holler. Through, a female figure clothed with silk garments, pale ruddy in the bottom, vivid scarlet in the top, was paced out to see her.
"Yumi-ah, how many times do I need to recall you? Do not behave like this." She voiced tranquilly, having seen the girl in her vision who was wheezing.
"Young lady-" she gulped to moisten her arid throat. "Something huge is about to happen. You are-" further she attempts to seize her air.
"Yumi-ah, no need to hurry. Say it calmly. You will pass out if you do not calm yourself before speaking." She advised.
From Yumi, her vision was altered as she glanced at the pearly-glow sky, where the sun was still young to the day. "What a delightful morning." she breathes out, veiling her glistening, glad eyes with her eyelids.
Through the leaves of the huge oak tree ahead of her chamber, the amber sunrays were gushing down for the sake of caressing her delicate skin. Cause of some mighty cold morning breezes, her half-unbounded hair was swinging as it pleased at the rear of her waist. They fondled her face as well, causing her lips to curl up.
"Young lady, the crown princess selection has begun. You are a candidate as well." Yumi stated that she was no longer panting.
Over the head, no trail of mere clouds could be discovered in the sky, yet a thunder disguised as words was struck at her. As those words of Yumi's approached her ears, the uprised coners of her rosy lips were lowered. The excitement that clung to her face promptly vanished. In her vacant face her eyes are unsealed.
Absence of any other deeds, immediately she footed forward and hastened to put her shoes on in preparation for a stroll to a chamber, a little far from hers.
"Father, are you in? May I enter?" She requested from the front of the chamber, belong to her father.
"Come in." A response emerged from the inward her to be entered.
She united the gliding doors afterwards entered and forthwith had a seat on the cushion before her father, who was not disturbed by her arrival. A hand was in his face, rasping his stubble as his heed was swallowed by a book.
"Father, is it true? Am I a candidate for the crown princess selection?" She urged. Her eyes beam nothing but eagerness to gain a response from her father.
"Oh, you aweared." Eventually, his vision was unfastened from the book for a glance at his daughter. "I was planning to inform you sooner. The crown princess selection has been announced. Grandfather had suggested your name as well. Soon, you will leave for the palace for selection. It would be-"
"Forgave me father." she disrupted the words flooding of his, who was speaking unaware regarding his daughter's purpose. "Father, please inform grandfather to remove my name from the listing of candidates. I have no intention, nor do I wish to enter the palace ever." She spelled promptly.
Excluding breath, her father ceased from any deeds, astonished by her words, which bared her mind that he was unexpected. Remaining mute, his gaze was firmed on her for a brief moment.
"Seri-ah, what are you intending to say?" A scowl adorned his face. "It was impossible for grandfather to do so. Neither anyone is able. What cause you dislike the palace as this?" He wondered.
"Father, the palace is a complicated place. I do not wish to be part and be lost in there. I don't want to leave for the palace for any deed." She spoke her mind further.
"What absurdity are you speaking?" He was yet unconvinced by her. "From where you learn those things regarding the palace? It was not as defined in your books. It was true that life was not simple for anyone at the palace. However, it was neither as complicated as you thought nor heeded." He expained. Seri was less assured by his words. Lacking a response, she persisted in the same.
A hefty sigh was unleashed from her father as he discerned her.
"Seri-ah, don't think as that." He enunciated affectionately. "You are reaching the age of marriage. Eventually you will marry off someday. It would be way better if it were some powerful family. Fortunately, if you are selected as the crown princess, you will be blessed. Our family will be. You will receive a finer life than now." he mentioned. Yet his words were unable to sway her.
"Father, I do not whish a fine life any further. It was more than enough for me to live as I do now. You, grandfather, mother, and sister, I am glad with all of you. I have no wishes beyond that." She held her father's hand. "So, father, please discuss with grandfather. Please convince grandfather about this." She solicited.
"It was not possible!" His abruptly raised voice was less gentle. "You aware of grandfather. He is not a conviceble person. Even if I was able to do so, it will be meaningless. It has already been decided by the palace. Could not do anything but accept. You must." He affirmed.
"However father-"
"Do not try to rebel!" He delivered a severe glare along with his words. "You must prepare for this. Discussing this matter further is meaningless. I would not. You may leave if you have non to discuss aside from this." he stated as he withdrew his hand from her to nab the book and draw his heed to it.
As affirmed, when she studies her father's expressions, she does not perceive any trace that he will return his words nor mere glance. Within an enormous sigh, eventually, she ought to abound in her attempts to persuade. No further voice was emerged from her, but she excused herself from his vision.
The doors are fastened mutually by her departure. As her trails were entirely vanished from the chamber, Father's eyes, which he feigned to be reading, glanced at the exit, absence of rigidity further. A rueful sigh was emitted from him.
"Young lady, forgive me for heeading," awaited Yumi, leaped ahead as Seri paced out of her father's chamber. "However, why do you truly dislike the palace this much?" She questioned. As she did, Seri did not respond her with words, yet within a departured intense breath, weighty with gloom and disappointment.
'I do not wish and am not capable of pressuring my father, or grandfather. It will be meaningless. If I desired to change my fate, I could not rely on them but myself. If I become disqualified for the position, my name will be expelled. I left no option but do what must not do.'
...