Minutes later, The cave walls casted a silver glow over the expansive grounds of the Blood Sect's prospects, and nearby, illuminating the rows of traditional hanok houses that served as dormitories for the prospects. As the eighty teen assassins gathered, weariness etched on every face, the Blood Sect leader, a stern figure cloaked in shadows, began addressing the group.
'Dorms..?' Joon thought to himself.
Elara, standing beside him, stated, "We're actually gonna be placed in dorms..I wonder what's the history behind them."
Joon thought again, 'System thing, help us here.'
His system appeared for him, saying:
[System Update: The hanoks serving as dormitories within the Blood Sect grounds are relics of a deep, storied past. Constructed over two centuries ago during a period marked by clandestine wars and the rise of silent warriors, these traditional Korean houses were initially built as part of a secluded village meant for the lay followers and artisans. However, as the Sect grew in power and discretion became paramount, the hanoks were repurposed to house the burgeoning number of assassin prospects. Embedded within the architectural elements of wood and tile, each hanok holds the secrets and spirits of those who have walked its silent, shadow-filled halls. The curved roofs, designed to harmonize with the natural surroundings, have shielded countless young assassins from the harsh elements and prying eyes, while the interior's sparse wooden floors and paper-screen doors were witnesses to whispered plots and the soft steps of deadly training routines. As generations of Sect members passed through these hanoks, each left their mark, imbuing the structures with a palpable essence of resilience and hidden power. The walls of Hanok A7 and its kin are not just protectors but keepers of the Sect's dark legacy, with each creak and groan telling tales of bloodshed and the silent weight of history carried forward by those training within.]
Joon read these words to Elara, which Elara didn't see the system, and she was shocked, "You know a lot about these surprisingly. That's suspicious."
"Haha..yeah. I think it's a gift." Joon scratched the back of his head nervously.
Caelan heard him, scoffing silently, "Tch. That bastard thinks he knows everything."
Torin, beside Caelan, smiled, "MMMM I THINK HE DOES!"
"Shut up!"
"Seems like you're jealous!"
"I'll never be jealous of a demon boy."
Zephyr, beside Torin, said silently, "Jealousy…is the path to all evil…"
Caelan thought, 'Am I really jealous of him? No way. I can't be. I'm Caelan, once the top martial artist in the Baihu sect, second to my brother Shen Wei.'
Just then, one of the blood sect members approached everyone, saying:
"Prospects," his voice echoed, firm and authoritative, "tonight, you will be assigned your accommodations. Your performance thus far in the exams has determined your placements. The assignments are final."
The crowd of teens shifted restlessly, casting glances around at their peers, trying to gauge reactions. The sect member continued, "Each hanok will house a group of you based on synergies and competitive balance observed during the tests."
He paused, allowing his words to sink in. "Your belongings have been provided. You will find clothing and necessities within your assigned hanok. As of this moment, you are to adhere to the principles and regulations of the Blood Sect. Respect the space and your fellow prospects."
Joon, standing silently at the back, watched as teams started to form. He felt a gaze on him and turned to see Caelan, his expression one of undisguised distaste. "Why am I not surprised?" Caelan muttered to a nearby prospect, his words dripping with arrogance. "Joon doesn't even need to say a word, and he's infuriating."
Joon smiled, waving.
Caelan scoffed, "How dare you smile and wave at me?!"
Joon thought, 'Remain ecstatic. The Head isn't present, but I know he's watching. Usually, I wouldn't smile and wave at that bastard Caelan, I would kill him, but I have to make it seem as if i'm happy around the Head for my new power I devoured from a divine entity.'
In contrast to Caelan's agitation, Torin was almost bouncing on his heels, a twisted smile plastered on his face. "This is going to be so much fun!" he chirped to anyone who would listen, his eyes gleaming with a disturbing joy. "I hope I get to room with you, Zephyr!"
Zephyr, standing a little apart from the main group, spoke in a low, almost inaudible voice, quoting some obscure proverb about the strength of silence in survival.
"Me too…shall we survive the harsh world of doom together.."
Meanwhile, just behind him, Hyun yawned loudly, stretching. "Wake me up when it's over," he drawled lazily, barely keeping his eyes open.
Mina, Hyun's sister on the other hand, radiated an almost palpable intensity. She was scanning the crowd, her eyes flaring with excitement every time a more formidable looking prospect caught her attention. "I can hardly wait to see what the tests throw at us next," she said, fists clenching eagerly. "I want more tests!"
"Ah..? You need more sleep.." Hyun sighed.
"You always act like that! You need more action!"
"Fuck…that."
On the side, Kai watched, standing by himself away from everyone, thinking, 'Everyone seems to be getting familiar with each other. But here I am, nervous or scared to make conversation with people. Usually I was forced to do things or be a part of things I didn't wanna be involved in. Will I even last here like this? What if I accidentally am rude to someone because of my awkwardness and they try to eliminate me on a mission? Yeah, it's best to keep to myself.'
The Blood Sect leader then started listing the names and their corresponding hanok assignments. "Joon, Elara, Caelan, Torin, Zephyr—you're in Hanok A7." Each named individual moved to the appointed area, though Caelan shot a venomous look at Joon before turning away sharply.
Elara and Joon looked at each other.
Torin exclaimed, "Yes!"
Zephyr nodded, "Acceptable…"
Caelan said, "Do not put me in a room with Joon!"
Hyun, Mina, Kai and several others were assigned to Hanok B3. As they moved toward their new dwelling, Hyun muttered something about hoping the beds were comfortable enough for a good sleep, while Mina discussed potential strategies for upcoming tests with excited fervor.
Kai thought, 'I'm forced into a dorm with weird people, and a lot of people. Why could I join Joon's squad where their dorm only has 5 people?! Are they getting special treatment?! Well they were the top prospects..'
The prospects approached their assigned hanoks, the structures traditional and timeless, a juxtaposition to the modern savagery they were being trained for. Inside Hanok A7, the sparse yet functional interiors were equipped with bunk beds, wooden lockers, and basic toiletries. The simplicity meant no distractions from their training.
As the group settled in, Torin immediately claimed a top bunk, throwing his things onto the bed with careless enthusiasm. Caelan, maintaining as much distance as possible from Joon, chose a bunk on the opposite side of the room, his movements sharp and controlled.
Zephyr picked a corner spot, setting down the sect-provided clothing neatly beside his allocated locker, his face impassive. Meanwhile, Joon and Elara, both maintaining their quiet demeanor, chose their spaces without a word, their interactions minimal but not unfriendly.
The room filled with an uneasy silence, the tension palpable. Caelan broke it abruptly. "Just because we share a room, doesn't make us comrades," he snapped, glaring indirectly at Joon. Joon remained silent, his expression unreadable, but his eyes held a stoic calm.
He continued, "From this day forward, we are only assassins. Nothing more. No friends, nothing. Seems like from this, we'll be the main team for assassination missions. Don't get in my way, and I won't get in yours, got it?"
Joon smiled, "Hey…"
"What?"
Joon made his hand form into a bloody sharp bone, pushing it at Caelan's throat, saying, "You don't know what I'm capable of right now. You can hate me, but do not ever get close to my face ever again. I'll rip it off and wear it to disguise myself on our first assassination."
"I'm not scared of you."
"You're lying. Your heart's pounding fast, I can hear it."
Torin stepped in between them, laughing, "Haha! Let's calmmmm down! Let's sit in the main room!"
Caelan scoffed, "I'm not sitting anywhere. I don't wanna be grouped up with Joon anyway. Or YOU. You're psycho."
Torin laughed, disturbingly cheerful. "Oh, come on, it'll be like one big, messed-up family!" His tone was light, but it did little to ease the stiff atmosphere.
"I'll burn us all alive if you say that word again."
Outside, the Blood Sect members discussed among themselves. "These groups will either forge strong alliances or tear each other apart," one commented, watching the prospects settle.
"The latter makes them stronger," another replied coldly. "It's necessary."
Under the faint glow of lanterns, the elder members of the Blood Sect regrouped outside the hanoks, their silhouettes casting long shadows across the gravel paths. The discussion shifted to how the teams were deliberately structured, particularly focusing on the role Joon's team would play.
One of the senior members, a woman named Kiera, a woman with long dark blue hair and light red eyes, leaned against a wooden beam, her eyes scanning the document in her hand. "This main team, A7, it's set at only five members for a reason," she began, her voice low but clear. "They're not just another squad; they're pivotal, selected for their unique potential and capabilities."
Another member, Old Han, stroked his long graying beard, nodding in agreement. "Most of our squads in other hanoks have significantly more prospects—up to twelve per dorm. This gives them strength in numbers, useful for wide-scale strategies and collective tasks. But squad A7... They're our spearhead, our precision tool."
Kiera flicked her gaze up from the paper, her expression serious. "Each member of A7 was selected not only for their individual skills but for how those skills interact. It's a delicate balance of power, intellect, and potential—making them our best bet for more... nuanced missions."
"Exactly. The larger squads are our battalions, meant to handle the brute force of our operations and initiatives," added another council member, a tall man named Jiho. "But Joon and his team are designed to strike swiftly, to infiltrate and dismantle from within. They are our shadows within the storm. I'll whip those little brats into shape. It'll be easy. Even if they hate each other, they won't be the same after I'm done with them."
Jiho had spiky black hair, a black beard, dark red eyes, and an eyepatch on his right eye, and he had one arm.
Kiera sighed, "Please do not kill them."
"Huh…I don't kill children. What do you think of me?"
"A brute. A menace. A vile human being."
"Tch. That's your only personality, straight honesty."
"The truth hurts."
Old Han mentioned. "Our leader, the Head, he has always valued the strength of the few over the many, under the right circumstances. His absence tonight is unfortunate, but he trusts us to align these young ones with his vision."
Kiera folded the roster back into her robe. "Let's ensure that each squad understands their roles without giving away too much about the strategic variance. Especially A7; they must not fully know the weight of their task yet—not until they are ready."
Jihu nodded slowly. "It's a burden, honestly. But hey, they did good during the exams, so they might not be so bad after all. They still need some good beatings though."
Kiera grabbed Jihu's ear, "Vile human. Beast. Brute. Villain."
"You know I don't feel pain. And also..about what happened…"
Old Han spoke, "We cannot speak on what happened between Vaelle, Krakus, and The Head. For it is taboo to speak on past situations that relate to tyranny for it could influence others, especially around the prospects as the Head commanded of us. But most importantly, we can speak about Joon."
Kiera said, "Joon. A disaster waiting to bloom. He is powerful now, maybe around our levels..but.."
Jihu sighed, "He's gonna be fineee. Just relax. As long as he's under my guidance—."
"Yeah, a disaster."
"Shut it!"
Kiera then thought, 'Vaelle…you were sent to the prison arena. Please survive. You have 1 year…it's gonna be tough, but you'll be fighting non stop. Hopefully you don't get tired and give up.'
Back in Hanok A7, as Zephyr, Torin, and Caelan were in the main big room talking, sitting on the floor around a lantern, Joon leaned against the wall, his arms folded.
'I wonder when our first mission will be, or who it will be. These people may seem like an odd bunch, but they're strong. And since it's just us 5 in this dorm, we're definitely the main team.'
"Psst."
Joon heard a voice behind him, and he turned around, and saw Elara.
Joon's cheeks flustered, "Elara.."
Elara said, "Can I talk to you?"
…
Seconds later, Joon and Elara were in an empty room, with a lantern in the middle of them.
It was awkward, and Joon didn't know what to say, he was feeling genuinely nervous. As well as Elara. She'd always been the type to suck at starting conversations.
Joon said, "So.."
"I made something for you!" Elara yelled, then she instantly covered her mouth.
"You made me something..?"
Elara, looking away, pulled out a makeshift eye patch. She had crafted it with small pieces of the demonic rooster feather, some strings of rope from the same exam, and some strands of grass, and a small piece of fabric from her shirt.
"This would probably be more comfortable wearing, since I'm guessing you don't wanna wear a bandage over your left eye all the time."
Joon paused, his heart pounding, he hadn't received a gift from anyone in a long time, not after Hana, who had given him the gift of having fun and potential friendship.
Joon blushed, reaching out towards the eyepatch, and held it.
"This is for me..?"
Elara, still looking away, said, "I-It's nothing really. It's a welcome back gift I guess for not dying. Hooray?"
Elara thought, 'Why am I so weird and awkward when talking? This is why I stay silent all the time—.'
Joon responded with a smile, "I love it. It looks great."
"Thank you."
Joon took off his bandage, and revealed his left eye, which was gone, slightly bloody, and bruised. But he had wrapped his new eyepatch around it, and asked Elara, "How does it look?"
"It looks badass."
"Haha! Yes! This is what a real assassin looks like, right?"
"Aw man. I need a few battle scars too."
"You have a lot already. What was the exam like before? The one I didn't participate in?"
"We fought demonic roosters, had to chase them down and catch them, and then fight and kill their leaders."
"That sounds horrible…"
"Yeah. Everyone wondered where you were. I was worried about what could've happened to you when the head took you away."
"How come..?"
"You're different from everyone else. You seem to be more involved and deeper in this than anyone else. And I wanted to ask you…do you know Hana?"
Joon paused, and he gasped at the same time. "Hana?! From the Zhuque Sect?"
"Yes! Her!"
"She was taken from me by her mother Elder Mingxia. Back in the Hangyang sect district, I was held against my will, and the leaders Ji-Woo and Hanuel admitted to eliminating my parents. And I was being consumed by a dark power, and Hana wanted to save me, or at least try. But Elder Mingxia took her away. And then my puppies were taken by a demon named Azazel, back to hell. And it's been my goal to get revenge on all of the sect leaders who were there. They were involved with Ji-Woo and Hanuel. My eyes set me apart..sorry, I'm talking too much."
Elara was fully invested, staring right into Joon's eyes, and she murmured, "Keep going, I was listening."
Joon continued, "I was ridiculed for having red eyes. And they glow at night which definitely freaked everyone out. Everyone avoided me, threw shit at me, laughed and mocked me, but I still stayed."
"Why? Why did you stay?"
"I wanted to feel close to my parents, that was the only thing I had left of them. Leaving would've meant leaving my entire being."
"And what do you feel now?"
"…I felt emptiness when coming in here. But now….i'm feeling all sorts of emotions."
"What kind?"
Joon thought about everything that happened today, the start of the exams, the centaurs, fighting Caelan, fighting the prospects, getting his chest blown out by the Head, fighting the deity of blood Xiahou Anara, and then witnessing the battle between Krakus and Vaelle, and then lastly, getting the makeshift eye patch from Elara.
'What am I really feeling right now..? I made a contract with the blood deity that I HAVE to carry out as part of the contract: destroy the Blood Sect and the Luminous Vanguard, their enemies. I have to pretend to be happy outside during training to keep the Head's hopes up; I have so much piled on top of me. But after Elara gave me this eyepatch…I guess I'm content right now.'
Joon replied to Elara, "I'm okay I guess. But what about you? And how do you know Hana?"
"Her sect was allied with my sect, the Frost Lotus Sect."
"Go on."
"We used to be like family, you know," Elara started, her voice soft and wistful. "Long ago, the Frost Lotus Sect and the Zhuque Sect, we were like two branches of the same tree. Our leaders, they shared knowledge and resources; we fought together against common enemies."
She paused, her gaze dropping to the pendant in her hands. "The Emerald Groves, where the Zhuque folks live, were so full of life. They knew a lot about healing, and we—it's our specialty to control ice and snow. So, sometimes they'd help us with injuries or sickness using their amazing herbs, and we'd help them manage the wildfires in the dry seasons with our ice."
Elara's face brightened a bit as she continued, "And I had a friend, Hana, Elder Mingxia's daughter. We were inseparable during the festivals. She loved the ice sculptures I made, and I adored her stories about the Vermilion Bird of the South."
However, her expression soon turned somber. "But then, things changed. Demons started appearing more frequently, and some mythic beasts that we thought were just legends began to roam our lands again. Together, we battled—the Frost-Barbed Wolf, the Screaming Banshees of Mount Gariwang, and even the Shadow Serpents from the Dark Wither Marshes. For a while, it brought our sects closer."
Her voice grew quiet, "But peace is fragile, Joon. When the Verdant Phoenix disappeared and the Zhuque's healing springs began to dry up, they started blaming us. They thought we were using too much cold Qi, affecting their environment. Disagreements led to arguments and... well, now we're more like rivals than allies."
Elara looked up at Joon, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears, "Hana and I, we had to part ways. No more shared stories, no more exploring the wilds together. It's been tough, you know, watching friends turn into strangers."
She sighed deeply, the frost from her breath visible in the crisp night air, "But I believe, Joon. I believe that one day, we can find the Verdant Phoenix and heal the land. Maybe then, the Zhuque Sect and Frost Lotus can be friends again, like before."
Elara's story infused the night with a sense of melancholy, revealing the complexities of alliances turned sour in a world where survival often hinged on the whims of mystic forces and ancient grudges.
Joon, his mind swirling with scenes Elara had painted—of festivities and battles once shared—found himself drawn deeper into the tale, both enchanted and saddened by the rift that now divided the two sects. His curiosity sparked, he looked gently at Elara, seeking to understand more about the bonds that once held their worlds together.
"Elara," Joon started, his tone reflective, "How did you and Hana actually meet? It seems like such a strong friendship could have bridged any gap between your sects."
Elara's face softened with the memory, a small smile playing on her lips. "It was during the Spring Equinox Festival. The Zhuque Sect hosts a grand event every year because spring is their sacred season—everything blossoming, full of life. Our Sect was invited to help with the festivities, to create ice sculptures and cool the air with our frost Qi. Hana, she stumbled into my ice garden. She was fascinated by how the flowers froze but remained vibrant and alive under the ice."
She paused, nostalgia evident in her voice, "We just clicked. She showed me their sacred groves where healing herbs flourished, and I showed her how to make tiny snowflakes dance on her palm. Our friendship, it was... magical. We were both young, but we dreamed of becoming bridges between our sects, just like the elders once were."
Joon nodded, absorbed, "And the festivals and battles you mentioned, could you tell me more? What was it like during those times?"
"Oh, those were vibrant times," Elara exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "During the festivals, our sects showcased their best. The Zhuque would perform healing rituals, their masters weaving Qi into spectacular displays of life and vitality. They could make flowers bloom instantly and heal wounded animals brought in from the wild. In return, our masters would sculpt ice palaces and frozen lakes right in their groves without harming a single plant. It was like a dance of ice and bloom."
"And when danger loomed," her tone grew somber again, "like when the Gorge Demons from the Scarlet Rifts invaded, we fought side by side. The Zhuque Sect, with their profound control over life Qi, and us with our frost attacks, could hold back waves of those dark creatures. Those moments, Joon, they showed what we could accomplish together."
Joon absorbed her words, his heart heavy yet hopeful. "If you both found such harmony before, isn't there a way back to it? To repair what's been broken? Ya know, once we finally leave this place?"
Elara sighed, her gaze wandering to the star-strewn sky. "Maybe, Joon, maybe when the land is healed, and we find the Verdant Phoenix, there might be a way. I believe Hana feels the same... wherever she is now. And maybe, when we meet again, we can rekindle that hope our sects once shared. And based on what you've told me, she's probably worried about you too."
"If she finds out what we've been through, she'd kick our ass."
"Ah you know her well, haha."
"She's rough."
"Yeah. She was the only one I felt like I could talk to, since I suck at talking to people in general, I usually don't know what to say, but with her being my best friend, I used to talk and it just flowed perfectly, and I didn't stop."
"Like you're doing now..?"
Elara gasped slightly, and she said, "Yeah. Yeah something like that. Maybe I'm just comfortable with you? Yeah that's it."
"What's your goals?"
"Besides revenge?"
"Yes."
"Basically I told you. Rekindle with Hana, help her find the Phoenix. I…always hated feeling like an outsider, like I never belonged. I see people fit in so easily, but I can't."
"Me either. Seems we both have that issue."
"And on top of that…what made matters worse, is that even the Frost Lotus, the sect I trusted, banished me because I met up with Hana one last time after both of our sects grew against each other. And during those times, I felt lonely, which was the worst feeling ever. And I blamed them for feeling that way. But then, I blamed myself. I'm a failure, I thought. Maybe I just listened to them when they told me not to go anywhere near Hana again.."
"It's not your fault."
"Yeah of course you say that. Trying to cheer me up and stuff. Thanks."
"No, it's really not your fault. I know the feeling. After losing the puppies that I bonded with closely, then losing Hana after hanging out and traveling all day, when I saw her being pulled away from with tears in her eyes, I couldn't bear it. I wanted to see her again, and the puppies. Azazel…a demon who's probably immortal by now, took my puppies to hell, and I have to go there somehow, but I don't know how or where to start. I'm lost. But…once you connect with someone or something, I guess that someone or something is connected to you..? Yeah that's right. It's something you can't let go."
"The only thing that makes you happy at the moment."
"Is something you cherished at that moment, the remedy for everything."
Joon and Elara looked at each other, surprised at how well they know each other mentally.
Joon sighed, "That wasn't corny, right?"
Elara chuckled, "Oh my goodness I was about to ask you that! Was I corny?!"
"Nooo! No! Not at all!"
"Good. Then we're on the same page."
"Hey.."
"Mm?"
"Do you want to be friends?"
"….Friends? As in friends?"
"I know we just met and all, and—."
"Yeah no no no I get it, yeah we can be friends. During these times, being trained as an assassin and all that, I guess this is what friends do."
"Yeah friends our age definitely train together to kill people."
Elara playfully punched Joon, scoffing, "Seems like you picked up sarcasm?!"
"Haha! Sorry sorry I couldn't help it!"
"Mmm, you're one strange boy. Where did you get your power?"
At that moment, Joon began to explain everything to her. But he made sure to leave out his contract goals: Destroy the Blood Sect, Destroy the Luminous Vanguard, and kill the Head.