Six | Jin's Family Ghost Hound

Ryu's POV

I was filled in once the two got out of Songrim's secret room. Wook told me that Mudeok will be his master when we get back her sword. I looked over at the shorter girl and asked, "How are we going to do that? How are we going to find your sword?"

Mudeok looked straight ahead and answered, "I know who took it. I can find it."

"Well that's good, I guess," I said as Wook and I looked at each other. 

 Then I added, "But it's too dangerous to go out at this time. We need to stay in Songrim for now."

Then Wook asked, "Does it have to be that specific sword?"

All three of us stopped walking and Mudeok turned around to face us. "Get another sword and do it here," Wook told her, making Mudeok scoff to herself.

"I cannot do that. It has to be mine!" She exclaimed in frustration.

Wook and I looked at her in confusion as she continued, "Let us go and find it."

It didn't really make sense but I still had to ask her. "You said to Wook that you are weak. I thought you were pretending to be clumsy," I spoke up with furrowed eyebrows. "So, tell me, how weak have you become?"

But Mudeok didn't answer my question and said, "The mages are coming. Stay alert."

"Don't change the topic," I told her in surprise.

"Also, why would we? They are on our side," Wook joined in.

Our maid looked at us, totally annoyed at this point. "On your side? Are you being that childish?"

Wook crossed his arms on his chest and replied back, "Why are you talking casually in this situation?"

Mudeok glared her eyes at us and forced herself to bow. "Fine, Young Master and Young Miss."

"I... Woah, look at you..." I muttered under my breath as Wook and I looked at her in shock.

Then the mages and a Senior mage named Sangho showed up. The three of us faced them and Sangho bowed in front of me and Wook. "Who is she?" Was the first thing he asked when seeing Mudeok.

Both Wook and I opened our mouths to introduce Mudeok but she beat us to it first.

"I am Mudeok. Their maid," She spoke up with a forced smile and bowed in front of Sangho.

"You heard her, right? She's our maid," Wook said while pointing at Mudeok nervously. "You all seem busy. Go on, then."

"Aha, yeah, uh... Let's go, Wook, Mudeok," I added as the three of us started to turn around but then Sangho's voice cut us off.

"You may not leave," He told us. "The leader ordered everyone to gather at the Training Center."

"I am not a member of Songrim though," Wook exclaimed, trying to find a way out of the situation.

But Sangho pushed on. "He wants every living thing within these walls to gather there."

Wook, Mudeok, and I looked at each other and I bet we were wondering the same thing: We are doomed.

The three of us entered the Training Center and the first thing we noticed was that everyone, from the mages to the servants of Songrim, was inside. 

"Wook! Ryu!" Danggu called out from the side.

I see him waving his hand in the air to show us where exactly he was. Wook and I walked over to him while Mudeok followed right behind us. Then Yul showed up next to Danggu. He gave me a gentle smile to my worried expression. I slightly loosened up a bit and sent a smile back to him. 

"What is going on? Why are we gathered here?" Wook quietly asked as he continued looking around.

Then Danggu whispered back, "They are going to catch Naksu's men who are in here."

I tensed up at the sudden mention of Naksu and silently looked over at Mudeok around the same time my cousin did. "Naksu?" Wook asked nonchalantly. 

A few seconds later Master Park and Master Heo appeared from the top of the staircase of the Training Center. He had a solemn look on his face and that gave me goosebumps. Just one look at him and I had a feeling that he will surprise every one of us. It has always been something that I, Yul, Danggu, and Wook would notice as we grew up together. I might have lost my biological father and that 9 months after I was born, my uncle who took me in disappeared. But even after all that misfortunate events, I had Master Park. He was mine and Wook's father figure while growing up. He isn't just my teacher and guardian but he's also someone who I look up to. I grew up knowing what he liked and disliked both formally and informally. I know what his expressions mean and what possible outcome would happen. And this solemn look he is giving us... Well, something big is about to happen and I have a bad feeling about it.

We all bowed our heads in the presence of the Head of Songrim. When Master Park started to explain why he had gathered each and every one of us in the Training Center the room that was once full of curiosity soon changed to panic and worry.

"One of you has helped Naksu's men who sneaked in here today," He spoke up with a firm tone.

Then Danggu joined in, "My Lord, if I may... Everyone here knows each other."

Master Park nodded his head, understanding his nephew but then he added, "On the outside, you all look like those of Songrim. That is why I had asked for someone's help."

"Help?" I thought to myself as I wondered who he called for.

Right after that Sangho showed up beside Master Park and announced, "Lady Jin Choyeon of the Jin Family has brought Gwigu."

When I heard my friend's name I looked over at Wook with furrowed eyebrows and panicked eyes. Wook shook his head as he glanced at me and then at Mudeok. Then moments later I heard some people from behind us gasping in awe and curiosity. I turned my head and immediately saw Choyeon walking down the center of the room with grace and elegance. It's been almost a year since I last saw her. As the daughter of the Jin family and possible heiress, Choyeon barely has the freedom to leave her home whenever she wants and after the engagement between her and my cousin was canceled, her mother never allowed me to visit Choyeon as I pleased. It was difficult to see my only female friend but a reunion like this? Who would have thought that?

"Hello, my lady," Master Park greeted once Choyeon stood in front of him and bowed.

A big box that followed behind Choyeon was placed at the head of the staircase by the young female mages of Jinyowon. Then just before they could open it, I noticed Choyeon glaring at Wook for a few seconds. I can tell she was surprised to see him. Who wouldn't be? After all those two were supposed to get married a year ago.

I watched as my cousin bowed his head when the two locked eyes. But Choyeon ignored him, still not over their broken engagement. I sighed at the two and then my friend's maid walked over to the big box. She opened it carefully and when I saw what was inside, my mind had gone blank.

"Master Park had asked for the soul-shifting hound..." I muttered under my breath as Gwigu glistened in front of us with its pride and glory.

"There is a soul shifter among us!" Master Park exclaimed, "And Gwigu will find that individual."

Then Master Heo added, "They may look like one of us but Gwigu will find the one who has a different soul within them."

I clenched my teeth and started to think of plans to get Mudeok out of here. But seeing how well-guarded the area was and that all of the mages from Juniors to Seniors to those who have graduated are all in the Training Center. Not to mention... If I caused a scene, Master Park and Master Heo will question it. 

"Close all the doors," Master Park ordered.

"Yes, my Lord!" The servants from the back and even those near the windows replied back.

"Whoever tries to leave this building will be considered a spy and killed," the Head of Songrim said once every exit in the room was shut closed. Then he looked over at Choyeon and nodded his head. "You may begin."

We all watched the daughter of the Jin Family walking over to the Gwigu's statue. She started to cast the spell to awaken Gwigu and black smoke started to come out of the statue. Choyeon's hands that were on both sides of the statue were then pushed together to the middle and the black smoke rose up into the air. It then formed into a the shape of a dog with small, firecrackers in it. It made a growling sound as it moved around in the Training Center. Then it stopped growling once it sensed the sorcery in the room. Its head turned to where Wook, Mudeok, and I are at. Gwigu's fiery eyes were glaring holes into our souls as it tried to search for the soul-shifter among us.

"The alchemy of souls, a type of sorcery, has one weakness," Danggu spoke up in the midst of the situation we're all in, "There is a gap between the body and soul. The evil energy seeps out from it. And Gwigu can detect that."

I am proud that Danggu knows this but now isn't the time to share such information. I was hoping that Gwigu wouldn't catch Mudeok but that's impossible. Unless someone else had soul-shifted then that wouldn't be a problem for me and Wook. 

Then suddenly Gwigu jumped onto the floor and glared at us. My breathing hitched in my throat as I see the hound up close. The family heirloom of the Jin family growled once again and started to take steps toward us. 

"Okay, feign ignorance even if I get caught," Mudeok whispered to Wook but still loud enough for me to hear.

Wook and I glanced at each other. We both knew that we couldn't do that exactly. Then Mudeok took a step back and we both looked at her.

"Is this loyalty?" My cousin asked.

"No, it is my duty," she replied back.

The hound continued to take another step toward us, making Wook reach his arm out to protect Mudeok while I prepared myself to cast a protection shield for both of them. 

"I do not want to become a laughing stock when they find out that I asked for both of your help," Mudeok added.

"Just stay right beside me," Wook told her, "No one here will let that thing attack me."

Then Gwigu growled and jumped. I felt someone pull me back to the side and when I saw who it was I was surprised. Yul had his eyes on the hound but his arm was wrapped around my shoulders protectively. Something that I hid deep down years ago started to come back in just that one moment. But my focus shifted back to Gwigu when I realized that it didn't attack Wook and Mudeok but someone else that was standing nearby.

The mage that showed up earlier in the Secret Room that told Yul and Danggu about Master Heo looking for them was about to get pounced on by Gwigu if he hadn't dodged the hound with his sword. Shocked by what I was seeing and realizing, I was about to stop the mage but remembered that Yul still had his arm around me. I opened my mouth to tell him to let me go but he had already done so when the mage jumped over us to the second floor. I ignored the sad feeling I was getting when I no longer felt his warmth and watched as the mage unsheathed his sword and swung it at the hound. Gwigu then dissipated into dust, making everyone gasp in shock.

Then the mage escaped. But before doing so, I saw that his face had changed. He no longer looked human. It was as if... he was turning into stone.

"The Soul Shifter! Get him!" Master Park ordered all mages in the room.

I looked over at Wook and saw him nod his head, a way of telling me to go. I nodded my head back and followed right after Yul and Danggu, leaving behind my cousin and our maid. We all stood by the entrance while we watched the guards fight against the Soul Shifter. It was turning out well and each one of the guards were were falling to the ground with every swing that the Soul Shifter did with his sword. Then the Soul Shifter used Ryusu and a spell was thrown at the rest of the guards, throwing them back onto the side. This was getting out of hand and something in me made me cast the same spell toward the Soul Shifter. It threw him back just like it did with the guards. I grabbed a nearby sword on the ground and faced the Soul Shifter who is now starting to look like an actual stone as his eyes turned black. 

"YAH!" The Soul Shifter shouted as he started to run to me.

I got ready and dodged his attacks with ease. The sword isn't mine, to begin with, and even when it's heavy, I swung it at the Soul Shifter making a loud sound as it hit his sword. I glared at him and continued to fight back. But with the heavy sword and continuous offense, I was getting tired. And he knew that.

"RYU!" Someone shouted right after the Soul Shifter dodged my attack and threw my sword away. 

My eyes widened at the sudden situation and I was about to cast a spell but the Soul Shifter took big steps toward me and grabbed me by my throat. I felt an enormous amount of pain seeping through every muscle of my body. The crowd that was watching the fight has now gone into panic as we all realized what the Soul Shifter was doing.

He was taking my energy.

- end of chapter six -

word count: 2361

not yet edited

🌼 a/n:

Heyyy guys! I hope you're all doing okay.

Wanna hear a piece of good news? I passed my driving classes and final exam yesterday. 😭 Then there's the bad news... I'm failing college. 🤡 I'm kidding. Or am I?

ANYWAYS 😂😂😂 This chapter hinted at a possible love interest for Ryu buuuut there's like so many things I have to write before getting to the romantic parts for our leading girl. 😂 I hope y'all can wait for that- 

aLsOoOoO don't spoil the new eps of AoS. I still have to watch them. I'm currently drowning in a pile of assessments and this is the last week of my 2nd year in college, so I NEED TO SEND EVERYTHING IN BEFORE SUNDAY. 💀 

(I suddenly miss the classroom at A1 Driving School.)

Last part of the note:

I have two other AoS fanfics... What do you guys think should I publish first?

1. Love & Swords

The Princess of Daeho, Go Sua, wants to learn how to fight and use magic. Although, the Queen is against it as she believes that 'Royal Women aren't supposed to dirty themselves with blood', got the Princess her very own personal bodyguard, a mage from Cheonbugwan. But things don't go to plan for the Queen as Sua found a way to get what she wants with the help of her older half-brother, the Crown Prince.

2. The Other Half
(unofficial title)

Born 12 minutes after Wook, Noyi is the twin daughter of the Jang Clan, and just like her older brother, their father had closed her Gate of Energy on the day she and Wook were born. But hours after leaving Wook and Noyi with Park Jin, the youngest had disappeared from the Jang Residence and many years later reappeared under a new name: Biram. Biram is the personal maid of the Crown Prince and is someone whom the enemy keeps close to them. But Biram's past starts to unfold slowly after meeting the son of the Jang Clan on the day the Crown Prince came to get Naksu's sword. She then starts to question who she really is and finds out about the secrets kept from her for the past 20 years.

That's about it. 😅  If anyone's wondering, Noyi means thunder in Korean while as Biram is the short term for Bibaram which means Rain Storm in Korean. 🧡 Honestly, I wanna finish Runes of Daeho before getting myself into the other two fanfics, but AHHHHHHH every time I go through my notebook, I keep rereading the character profiles of my two OCs. 💀 

Please help me out AHAHAHA 🤧✋🏻 Ayt I'll end it here. Hope y'all have a good day and night!!

-k.