"What about you, Princess Ji-ah?" Hak questioned as they watched Yona try and fail to shoot a bird. "Were you wanting to learn from me, too?"

Ji-ah raised a brow at him. He sounded awfully smug. 

"No," Ji-ah told him, causing a look of surprise to flash across his face. Apparently, he hadn't expected his offer to be rejected. Ji-ah couldn't help the small smirk that crept up her face. "I think I'll pass."

Hak, unfortunately, got over his shock fairly quickly as an 'understanding' smirk dawned on his face as he nodded. "I see," he said with crossed arms. "It's perfectly understandable to want to play the role of the damsel in distress, princess. I suppose it's a good thing that I'm strong enough for all of us."

Yoon sweated nervously as Ji-ah gave a light hum while Hak chuckled from his ego. He knew all too well that she wasn't a damsel in distress, especially after a group of bandits had once tried to attack the two of them on their way back from Katan Village. 

Yoon would have felt pity for them if they hadn't tried to kill them first. 

"Think what you like."

Ji-ah had little interest in learning things that she already knew. 

****

It had been a couple of days since they had set out, and at the present moment, Yoon and Ji-ah were currently a little ways ahead of Yona and Hak while they were having some sort of rendezvous. Normally, Ji-ah wouldn't have let them out of her sight so close to the Hakuryuu's Village, but she was sure that no harm would come to them with Hak around. Plus, after the villagers saw Yona's hair, it was actually far more likely that they'd be thrown a banquet. 

"Man, this fog is starting to get really thick," Yoon complained as the two walked.

"It'll only get thicker as we go on," Ji-ah told him. 

"You're kidding," Yoon groaned. For him, the fog was already plenty thick. He could barely see a foot in front of his face. 

"Go away." Yoon tensed as a cacophony of voices rang out through the fog. "Leave this place at once and never return."

"I thought you said you were friends with them?" The pretty boy hissed at his companion as he kept turning, trying to spot the people that were surrounding them. 

Meanwhile, Ji-ah could only roll her eyes under her blindfold at the dramatics of the villagers. Certainly, it definitely scared off many travellers, but it also tended to draw in crazy people either looking for a fight or looking for ghosts. Ji-ah vaguely remembered a couple that had wandered into the area claiming to be paranormal investigators, whatever that was. 

Ji-ah sighed before taking the katana that was hidden under the cloak she was wearing and quickly cleared the surrounding fog away with a single swing, causing Yoon to look at her in amazement. 

The villagers are immediately revealed and looked to be ready to attack until they finally realized just who they had been threatening. 

"Lady Ji-ah!" They shouted in surprise as they paled and kneeled down, shocking Yoon who looked at Ji-ah with mild confusion. "Please forgive our insolence!"

"Maa, maa, there's no need to worry about it," Ji-ah tried to placate them, sweat dropping when they started crying and talking of her 'benevolence.' She had always appreciated how sincere Gu-en's descendants were, but sometimes, it got a bit awkward. "Besides, it's my fault for not announcing myself sooner."

One of the older men of the group stood up and walked towards Yoon and Ji-ah.

"I apologize for asking, Lady Ji-ah," he started. "But why have you arrived so soon?"

As much as Ji-ah enjoyed coming to the village of the Hakuryuu, she normally only came once a year on the day of Gu-en's death to pay respects. It certainly made sense for them to be confused. 

"Because it's almost time," Ji-ah told him, immediately causing excited whispers to break out amongst the villagers. Yoon just looked in between the two with absolute confusion written on his face. 

"Do you really mean it, Lady Ji-ah?!" The man asked, happy tears streaming down his face after Ji-ah gave an affirming nod. "Then we must prepare a—"

"Ji-ah?" The villagers tensed at the interruption as Yona and Hak walked into the clearing they were all gathered in. "What's going on?"

The villagers stared in shock as they noticed the girl's bright red hair, and murmurs were spoken all throughout the clearing. 

"Lady Ji-ah," the same man started. "Is she perhaps…?"

Ji-ah's three companions looked at the two in confusion as Ji-ah nodded, causing the man's excitement to grow. 

"I see, I see," the man nodded. "Then we must head for the village at once!"

Hak and Yona walked up next to Ji-ah and Yoon with furrowed brows. 

"You mind explaining what's going on and who these people are?" Hak leaned in to ask Ji-ah as they were ushered towards the village. 

"They're villagers of the Hakuryuu's village," Ji-ah explained. 

"And why they're staring at Princess Yona like she's a celebrity?"

"It's her hair," she told them simply, not answering any more questions as they walked along, no matter how many they asked.

Ji-ah's three companions honestly weren't sure how to react once they started receiving a tour of the village. Of course, the eldest princess wasn't paying all too much attention as she had already seen everything there was to see. 

Luckily for them, though, those from the village were all too happy to explain things once Yona asked about them.

"This is the place where one of the four dragons, Lord Hakuryuu, drifted when his duty came to a close after the war during the time of legend," one of the villagers explained to them. "Up until now we have eliminated all bandits and other heinous people who have wanted to obtain the power of Lord Hakuryuu. It is our clan's honorable mission to protect Lord Hakuryuu and ensure that the bloodline is passed on. That is why we do not generally allow outsiders to simply enter this land."

Hak raised a skeptical brow. "If that's the case, then how is it that Princess Ji-ah seems to be on such good terms with you guys?"

The man who had been speaking seemed to brighten at the mention of the pink eyed girl. "Lady Ji-ah is—" he froze at the sight of the mentioned girl placing a finger to her lips with a light smile from where she stood behind the others. Ji-ah had no plans of being outed any time soon. "Lady Ji-ah is, uh, has made friends with the current Hakuryuu and has proven herself to be highly trustworthy over the years!"

The man let out a breath of relief at the approving smile Ji-ah sent his way even though the others were rather doubtful of his story given how much he had stumbled over his words.

Hak decided to let it slide in lieu of another question. "What exactly is this?"

The 'this' He was referring to was the villagers surrounding them, trying to touch Yona's hair as she was held by Hak.

"Is it real?" One of them asked. 

"Of course it's real!" Another scolded. "Lady Ji-ah herself said so after all."

"It's so pretty!"

"I'm so grateful to see it!"

Yona's eyes practically sparkled at all of the compliments. "Hak! Did you hear that? They said I'm pretty!"

"Your hair is," Hak corrected with a teasing grin. 

"It is definitely unusual," Yoon acknowledged. "But, what, do they worship red hair here or something?"

"For us," the same man from before began to explain. "Red hair has a special ambience because the first Lord Hakuryuu served a master who had red hair."

"And yet I've always hated my hair because it was so different from others…" Yona mumbled. 

"That's a shame!" She was told. "You have red hair just like King Hiryuu, and, above all, you came to this land through the guidance of Lady Ji-ah and the high priest!" Some time ago, when they had been asking questions, Yona had mentioned that it had been Ik-soo who had technically sent them. Though, the man seemed to hold far more trust in Ji-ah's words and affirmations rather than a priest that he had never met. "Anyway, though, please meet our Lord Hakuryuu!"

"What makes this Lord Hakuryuu so special?" Yoon asked curiously. "All the people of this village are probably descendants of Hakuryuu in the first place, right?"

"That's right," he confirmed. "We are Lord Hakuryuu's descendants. However, there is only one in this village who possesses the power of Lord Hakuryuu. When they are born, the dragon dwells within their right hand. Though, if you want to know even more, I would suggest asking Lady Ji-ah, she—" the man stared in shock and disappointment at the place that the woman had previously been standing. Previously being the key word. "She—she isn't here…"

"Eh?" The woman's travelling companions twisted in shock to find that she was indeed gone. Somehow, in the middle of their talk, she had managed to slip away entirely unnoticed. 

"Do you know where she could have gone?!" Yona asked worriedly. 

"Ah, well…" the man grimaced slightly. "I can think of one place, but if she's there we mustn't disturb her no matter the circumstance!"

"There...?" Yona questioned curiously with a tilt of her head. 

"I apologize," he bowed his head slightly. "But it would be best to ask Lady Ji-ah once she returns."

He wasn't going to be caught dead revealing anything about Ji-ah without her express permission.

Who knows what would happen if he did…

****

A little ways away from the main part of the village stood Ji-ah in a large clearing. In the middle of that clearing, in front of where Ji-ah stood, was a large headstone surrounded by flowers. 

"It's been a while," Ji-ah slipped off her blindfold so that she could look upon the grave properly. "Hasn't it… 

Gu-en?"

****

1724 words excluding A/N

Finished - November 20, 2021

Bye~