I held her until she had to push me away a bit to breathe.

"What happened? What did I miss?" Bae asked.

My dad jumped on the bed in excitement, kissing me on the cheek and my mother simultaneously.

"Mom, you almost died, and I saved you with the power that I got from grandmother," I explained.

Her smile turned to a frown.

"You should have let me die!" Bae exclaimed.

"Why do you say such things, Mom?" I asked.

The room went silent. All the joy had left the room. She cleared her throat. Waited for someone to say something before she does.

"The story of the artifact is a curse. All the women born in our families are barren and we have used the artifact all these years to give birth. I did not take the artifact because the curse had to die with my mother. I did not want to scare you at first and thought you would fail the challenges and give up. The power of your words causes ripples in the universe. All the people fell ill because your grandmother passed on, including me. My heart disease has been healed for the second time now. Thank you, my daughter, but this is not the life I wanted for you. To be a saviour will strain your life forever. The artifact ruined their perfect marriage, trapping my mother after conceiving me and leading my father to leave us. There was no happy ending," she explained.

I ran out of the room with tears joining in.

It seemed necessary for there to be a distance between me and the woman who raised me. Ashley was right behind me.

"Seulgi wait for me," Ashley screamed.

I found a place to sit and think.

"My whole life is a lie, Ashley! Everything!" I shouted.

We sat in silence after that while I held the artifact in my hand, observing the thing that destroyed my whole life.

I sobbed in Ashley's arms.

"My friend, we will get through this together," she said.

She tried to distract me with her newfound power by portraying an illusion. My mind did not allow it.

Everyone celebrated in the village.

The day had run its course. Anger and exhaustion were a potent mix.

"Let us go back and get some rest. You will feel better in the morning," Ashley said.

''I fear rest will make me restless," I said.

We walked back to our place of rest and found my mother waiting for me.

"Can we please talk?" She asked.

"There is nothing more to say. All I need to hear now is when are we leaving?" I asked.

She left the room without a response. I slept with a million new ideas about how my life would change once I went back to New York.

The morning light had come, and birds continued in the celebration of the village by singing endlessly to my agitated spirit. Rest did not calm me.

We got dressed and made our way to where everyone gathered for breakfast. When we entered, everyone had already settled around a table, like one big happy family.

"To my daughter, we love you all and wish nothing but the best for you," Eun said.

We all ate together, and there were whispers of us leaving in the afternoon. Only my mother did not come for breakfast.

One samurai came rushing in with a letter and gave it to Jin. His face told me that something was wrong again. He probably never played poker in his life.

"I just received a letter that Seulgi's mother, Bae Kang, is being held hostage at the entrance of the village and the demands are as follows. Seulgi must come alone. Failure to do that would result in the death of her mother. She must bring both artifacts with her in exchange for her mother," Jin said.

We all got up at the same time and marched to the entrance without so much as a word said or a plan made.

"At my signal, everyone should do what they were trained to do if it comes to it," I said.

My mother was on her knees beside a man with a mask awaiting us. Behind him stood an army of men.

"I said Seulgi must come alone. You leave me no choice but to cut her down right here and now," the masked man said.

"I will only say this once before I destroy everything before me. Let my mother go and leave this place!" I exclaimed.

"You may use the power of the Earli artifact, but I will counter it with the Eye of Eulgi. Let me demonstrate!" The masked man said.

I knew who it was, but it made no sense that he would kidnap his daughter. He raised his hand and pointed at Ashley, Eun, Jin, Nari, and me. His artifact's eye opened and a white light flashed directly at Ashley in an instant.

Her skin melted from the heat of that light. Like the sun had a direct hit on her only. She screamed in agony, and I could hardly see her eyes. I rushed over to her and her face had melted, only her lips were visible.

"It took me a long time to find this artifact. Had to search the one part in the desert and the other part in the Nile River in Egypt. The power is worth it though and all I need now is for you guys to give me the rest of the artifacts to create an ultimate artifact fit for a king!" the masked man shouted.

While I observed him speaking, a small voice came to me.

"My best friend Seulgi, guess what?" Ashley asked softly.

Tears streamed down my face with my tongue twisted in knots while blood made its way down hers. She pressed my hand harder to respond.

"I will never have another best friend like you!" I replied.

"Yes!" she said with her last breath.

A light shone from heaven directly on us, and the artifact glowed, including the tattoos on my body. Heavy rain started to pour with a wind that blew like never before.

My pain had reached its limits.

"Prove 13: 2-25 From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence. Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. A sluggard's appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

 The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves. Righteousness guards the person of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. A person's riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes. 

The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out. Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded.

 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction. All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly. A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.

 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil. Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things.

 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous. An unplowed field produces food for the poor, but injustice sweeps it away. Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. The righteous eat to their hearts' content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry," I recited a proverb from my heart.

In the blink of an eye, my mother stood next to me, holding my hand and Ashley, my other hand.

My heart raged with anger that made the light turn to darkness and the tattoos created rings around my waist, arms, legs, and even a ring around my neck. My eyes turned all black.

Energy surged through my whole body. I had become a weapon.

My body released all that energy, causing a blast that hit the masked man and all his soldiers.

The rain washed away all the blood that flowed through the street. I fell on my knees relieved that it was all over and we could all finally go back home.

The masked man stood up and had completely healed and removed the mask.

"Sue, it is your grandfather. There is no need to fight me. Your grandmother and parents lied to you. The artifact has already started to corrupt you. Give it to me and continue your life with your friends. I need all the artifacts to bring balance to the world," Hwan said.

I collapsed before a word could depart from my lips.

Hwan spawned more monsters and soldiers upon seeing me collapsing. Jin and Jamie immediately created a wall with all the samurai. Jamie used his sword to create a fog and sent the samurais through the fog to attack.

Nari and Ashley held hands reciting words.

"Rose so red, blood so red.

 Seek the neck make it a double dose," they recited.

Blood spilled from the enemies necks that caused confusion and fear allowing the samurai to take advantage and cut them down one by one. My parents ran with me to safety while the battle continued.

Jin flew through the air with his blade and almost got cut but Jamie stepped in and blocked the blade. Every soldier they killed came back to life through the power of the eye.

Luigi finally saw a chance to use his power for all possess ears, eyes and a tongue.

"Those who have ears let them hear. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. 

The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. A fool spurns a parent's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin. The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright. 

The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness. Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path; the one who hates correction will die. 

Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord how much more do human hearts! Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise. A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. 

Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred. A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. A person finds joy in giving an apt reply and how good is a timely word! The path of life leads upward for the prudent to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead. The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow's boundary stones in place. The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight. 

The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live. The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. Light in a messenger's eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise. Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding. Wisdom's instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor," Luigi recited.

Those words flew through the air and into their ears, eyes and mouth and none of them rose again after that.

Chapter 9 completed