Nothing felt right about taking an innocent life, but there was nothing he could do about it, his fate as an assassin was sealed, innocent or not, he took the lives of women, children, father, mothers, pregnant women, both young and old but he couldn't feel remorse, there was no room for it, his heart had long been enclosed with darkness and killer instincts, memories of his past life faded away from his memories with only a lingering trace to remember it by.
Hwarang washed clean his sword that had blood dripping from the tip, the water flushed out had a red tinge mixed with the water as it flowed. He washed it clean and kept it back at the inventory before retiring to his room.
He loosened his hair tied in a ponytail to fall on his shoulder and back after taking his bath and dressed in a night robe.
He possessed his own personal sword crafted by the best swordsmith and made with pure silver but he never resorted to use it unless it was an honorable kill and there was nothing honorable about killing the innocent although the king would make it seem as though the innocent are to be punished for the crimes of their parents or siblings to inflict fear on anyone to think twice before committing an offence.
Although, deep down he enjoyed it, he liked the feeling of dread and fear he induced in people and the remarkable powers surging inside of him, but still it would have been much pleasing if he used his powers and deadly skills to punish those who deserved it and not the innocent.
He laid on his low mattress, his hair sprayed on the cushion he rested his head on and he closed his eyes to sleep, but his mind rather drifted to the fae princess of Baekgje kingdom, her forest green eyes were captivating and the most beautiful pair of eyes he had ever seen yet it was a pity she was blind and couldn't explore the beauty of the world with it.
Although, something didn't click right with her, her energy seemed to vary in every second as though she had two different energies clashing as one surging inside her.
Both her parents, the king and queen were faes but she was vaguely different and he wondered for a split second if she wasn't true fae, maybe she was half human. It could as well be the reason she was blind but her energy seemed more powerful than a half human and moreover, he couldn't sense any human energy in her.
He stopped pondering and closed his eyes to sleep even though he wasn't feeling sleepy. He shifted from one end of the mattress to the other in frustration and eventually sprouted up from the mattress as he failed to succumb to sleep.
He resorted to taking a quick stroll in the pond and take a bit of fresh air, it'd help soothe his nerves.
He put on his robe before dashing out of the traditional house and proceeding into the dark tunnel to emerge out into the open courtyard in the palace.
He strode across the stoned bridge intersecting over the pond, his loose hair danced with the wind behind him under the dim moonlight as he proceeded toward the pond.
A barely noticeable smile tore across his lips when he caught sight of the peach tree flaunting its stunning petals as they bloomed open with the dim moonlight shining down on it and the pond which glimmered from the dim light reflecting on it as it rippled softly.
He sat under the peach tree, resting his back and head against it as he closed his eyes shut.
The night breeze was calm and soothing, in a tranquil sense, but as he closed his eyes, he sensed a familiar energy emanating from the other side of the pond.
He gradually opened his black eyes that looked blacker than midnight in the dark to catch a glimpse of the figure sitting across him in the opposite side of the pond.
It was the fae princess, Nari and she was sitting near the pond with bare feet immersed into the water like he had seen her earlier, but what piqued his interest was why she was still present in the Silla kingdom and what she was doing alone in the middle of the night in the pond.
He swallowed softly as he tried to resist the urge to meet her, he was dazed by her serenity, captivated by her green eyes and puzzled by her enigmatic nature as a result of the strange energy she emitted which piqued his interest more than he would have imagined.
It wouldn't hurt to sit with her and have a small talk, would it? He found himself pondering before standing tall to proceed with stealthy footsteps towards her as if he was on a mission, it had already grown used to him, moving with undetected footsteps before attacking, but now he wasn't on a mission to kill, he was on a mission in which he wasn't sure of what his aim was.
"Who is there?" Her slightly alarmed voice rang in his ears and silence ensued for a moment before he spoke.
"It's Hwarang, I came out for a bit of fresh air and I saw you alone. It's dangerous to be out alone in the middle of the night." He pointed out as he stared at her green eyes that enchanted him with her gaze but it was empty and staring into space as usual.
Her alarmed expression immediately turned into a relaxed one when she heard him speak, her green eyes glimmering under the moon with relief as she continued padding her bare feet immersed in the water, splashing streaks of water on the floor.
"Oh Hwarang. I thought I would never get to see you again since you left unannounced." She exclaimed with a slight flicker of delight in her voice, she seemed lonely. But only if she knew what he was, she'd run from a monster like him.
He didn't know if he should be glad she was delighted about his presence or not as he could hear loud warning bells ringing in his head but every sense went numb as he stared into her green eyes that captivated his soul.
"Why are you out here alone? It's dangerous." He pointed out again, ignoring her excitement to see him there again.
Her face almost turned sullen but a small smile managed to creep to her lips before it disappeared.
"Well, I like the pond, it's refreshing and quiet. And also, I can handle myself I'm not that helpless because I'm blind." She said as she tucked a stray of brown hair which came loose on her face behind her ears along with the others dancing with the wind behind her back.
"I never said you were helpless, blind or not it's dangerous to be here alone. I heard the princess was having a soiree with some of the nobles daughters." He remarked as he sat on the empty space of the grass covered floor beside her.
"My presence there would only be a hassle to them, I don't like to burden people. Besides I like the quietness." She said as she tilted her head to his side as if she could see him but he knew she was only staring into space, she couldn't see him but her green eyes peered into his black ones.
She reminded him of his past life, she was an outcast like he had been, even though there was a slight difference. She was a Fae princess, yet an outcast because she was blind.
"I like the quietness too." He muttered beneath his breath but she seemed to have heard it and a small smile grazed her lips. She must have been happy to talk with someone who didn't see her as a burden but only if she knew that someone was a heartless killer and Hwarang found himself dreading about the outcome if she found out about the monster lurking beneath him.
He never really cared, but now he found himself caring more than he should.
"Why did your parents name you Hwarang? I heard they're the famous assassins in the Silla kingdom." She queried and he found himself speechless, maybe it was time to end the encounter, nothing good would come out of it if he decided to extend it any longer.
"They wanted me to become one but unfortunately I didn't have the mark." He said instead of leaving, he hated to admit but he didn't want to leave.
"Did you want to become one?" She queried again. She was one curious thing.
"Maybe. How do you perceive them from what you have heard?" He asked, swallowing softly as he waited for her reply to tell him how monstrous she thought they were.
"I heard they are the king's personal military arm and they harness remarkable powers and are very ruthless too, but personally I have no idea." She replied innocently and he nodded in silence.
"Ruthless...is an understatement." He muttered very lowly beneath his breath like a faint whisper floating with the wind, so she didn't catch a word.