Time fleeted very slowly past Hwaramg's eyes, but eventually, time passed him by. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and months evolved into years.
Six years later.....
Hwarang's skills elevated as the years passed and he thrived to be more dauntingly gorgeous as the years progressed. His powers elevated to great heights as he trained with precise and effortless vigorous training.
Years passed but still, recollections of Nari were engraved in his memories, deeper than the depths of an infinite abyss. Her captivating forest green eyes still lingered in his memories embedded in his mind and he could still remember her summer scent that left him addicted.
He tried to make her memories disappear from his mind, but vivid memories of her still fleeted in his eyes, haunting him every time he closed his eyes and even when he opened them, nostalgic memories would vividly play in his head.
They had only known each other for a short lived moment, yet she was stuck so deep and she had embedded an unfaltering impact but, he wanted all of it gone.
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Hwarang was carrying out his usual exercise routine, he went towards the valley for his activity. It sometimes helped him to stop thinking of her for a split moment. Thick trees sprouted up at the sides of the valley with a vast dreamy stream running down in the center of it, sky punching mountains as cruel as a hag's teeth, soared up in the background behind a vault of neon blue bright skies as the sun peeking out of the clouds poured its golden rays on them.
It was already winter season, although spring was his favourite season, he also liked winter. The snow flakes showered softly from the sky and his feet sank softly into the snow covered floor with every step he took.
He strode toward a sky punching mountain with jagged rock protrusions on its rough surface. He clasped one rock protrusion with his hand and stepped his foot on one before lifting his weight up as he mounted higher, not a single exhausted gasp left his lips as he clambered upwards as a result of potent stamina.
The rock was steep as thin crystalline ice encompassed it, but his grasp on it was hard, so he couldn't slip and fall.
The wind blew stronger as he climbed upward and his ponytail scattered behind him. The sun peeking out from beneath the misty clouds appeared closer as it enacted its golden light on him.
The higher he ascended, the more fogs inflated, as the mountain shot up to the sky in an elevated height, with its peak touching the misty clouds. He finally arrived at the peak of the expansive mountain and he leapt upwards to stand atop it.
The shrine of crystal blue skies and the sun reflecting on it with streaks of golden rays running across it was an ethereal view, it would have been serene if it were spring but now, it was winter time.
He sat down on the mountain's peak and watched as the skies emitted snowflakes which settled around him. He closed his eyes but it abruptly shot open when he heard a blast ejected on the mountain and felt it quake beneath him.
He saw ruptures form on the mountain running up as it split profoundly.
He sprouted up on his feet but before he could process what had ensued, the mountain came crushing down, disrupting his balance in the process.
He clasped one rock handle but it didn't intercept him from crashing down along with the mountain. He let go and took a leap as small and large fragments of rocks flew down, his feet landed on a steady rock but it soon crumbled along with the others as the mountain split with huge cracks nonstop on it.
A loud bang echoed in the valley as the mountain crashed down and everything suddenly went black.
Hwarang shut his eyes open to meet darkness. He was buried underneath the rocks and it didn't budge when he moved, he was stuck.
His jaws ticked in anger before he rested his open palms on the surface and red mists engulfed his palm, enacting a red glow of light in the darkness before it ejected out of his hands to blast into the rocks.
The snowflakes fell on him and the light peered through his eyes making it blurred for a second before his surroundings became vivid.
His black eyes narrowed to a retreating figure in a knee stopping black jacket running through the tall trees but it halted and gradually veered around to lock gaze with him.
A pair of familiar black eyes locked with his black ones and he suddenly realised it was a female by her physique but she wasn't dressed in a hanbok gown, but rather a black flowing jacket with pants underneath and boots.
Her black eyes retained malicious intent and detest when she stared into his, as though she harboured a dangerous grudge for him. It didn't take long for him to realise she was his attacker and she undoubtedly wanted him dead.
The figure averted her gaze and continued running through the forest. He ran after her with elevated speed as the wind whipped past him. He remembered those black eyes, he could never forget the eyes of his victims, as they each held a disparity and distinct significance to one another.
She was the daughter of the Mage king he had assassinated in front of her years ago and at that moment, he regretted letting her live.
He pursued after her with elevated pace as the wind whipped past him and soon he was almost close to her as she ran through the forest, leaping across broken branches with swift movement.
He took out the dagger sheathed in its scabbard and aimed for her head. With a precise movement, he speared the dagger with immense force towards her head but she dodged it skillfully and the dagger plunged into the trunk of a thick tree instead before he caught sight of her as she leapt down to a shallow route.
He ran towards the edge from where she took the leap and saw her mount on a horse before dispatching from his sight.
He watched her retreating figure and his jaws clenched in anger. He veered around to where he emerged from and halted at there tree where the hilt of his dagger was protruding out from.
He coiled his fingers around the hilt and effortlessly plucked it out, as his eyes stared into space thoughtfully. The mage princess had tried to murder him, even though it was absurd and a inconceivable feat to carry out.
A scoff left his lips.
Just like he did both her parents, he'd have her head rolling off her shoulders, although he regretted why he didn't do so earlier and instead let her live since she wasn't a threat but now, he could see the unwavering determination in her eyes to kill him.
He would have her head before she would even think of trying to pull out another frivolous stunt like she had done earlier.
He went back to the assassins territory. He caught sight of the Hwarang monks performing their daily routines and others training as usual. His eyes searched for Master Zhang and he proceeded to meet him when his gaze fell on him.
"Master Zhang." He called and Master Zhang veered around to meet him.
"Get a few of the assassins ready, tomorrow by midnight we move out." Master Zhang informed and his brows furrowed slightly as he was a bit lost. He hadn't been informed of any mission recently.
"What is the mission?" Hwarang queried.
Master Zhang stayed silent for a split moment, observing his expression before speaking.
"The mission is to invade Baekje kingdom and get rid of the royal family." Master Zhang said, leaving him astounded and his brows furrowed deeper as a frown etched on his face.
"The Baekje kingdom is Silla's ally. Who ordered the invasion, the king?" Hwarang queried, taming his voice to sound composed and not as astonished as he truly was.
"It was the king's orders." Master Zhang said in a clipped tone with a stoic expression.
"Why would he want to attack the Baekje kingdom? Was it treason?" Hwarang queried again, his curiosity couldn't be left unsatisfied.
"No. He wants to rule all three kingdoms because Silla is the most powerful. But he has to get rid of the royal families first." Master Zhang explained and Hwarang felt his hands tremble slightly.
King Jingheun was a power hungry maniac, he should have anticipated it from the very beginning, that he would betray his own ally just to dominate over the three kingdoms.
He wouldn't have been so unnerved if he wasn't also among the few assassins to participate in the invasion, but worse, he was leading it.