Sunny
Pale-pink blossoms swirl in a cyclone of wind, creating a pathway that rises above the rooftops of the Celestial Palace. And the Queen of Sky glides up the airy path to stand before the people of the Realm of Four Kingdoms.
“In a union destined by the heavens, the King of the Mountains wed Cho Mihwa today.” Her voice rings out to reach everyone gathered in front of the palace, and disgruntled muttering rises from the crowd. “This is a blessing for every one of us because the Queen of Mountains bears the Yeoiju, the gift of the Cheon’gwang. She is our only hope against the Amheuk.”
Right. No pressure.
The people are not happy with theirgumihoqueen. And they sure as hell don’t want me to be their “only hope.”
Well, it’s me or nothing, assholes.
I sigh. That was not a very queenly thought.
Ethan’s worried gaze scans my face, and I squeeze his hand with a reassuring smile. His brows furrow, not buying it for a second. I lookaway first and give a jerky nod to the Queen of Water and the King of Underworld.
“We’re ready,” I say.I am so not ready.
Bora and Taeyoung hold their palms out toward us, and dark smoke and water swirl beneath our feet. I can’t hold back my gasp when the smoke and water sprout into a tall, striped column, lifting us above the palace.
Ethan instinctively pulls me close to his side but slowly releases me once we reach the top. The people can’t see me huddled against him. We must stand before the people as partners.
With a respectful bow toward us—both genuine and for show—the Queen of Sky descends to the ground, scattering the pathway of wind and flowers into the air. The people ooh and ahh at the beautiful display.
We agreed the kings and queens of each kingdom will participate in this pep rally. The people of this realm need to know that we all stand with Ethan, ready to fight against the eternal darkness. And we need them to fight with us.
The Amheuk is stirring, impatient to strike the Kingdom of Sky. I made it angry by blowing it up, and I can sense its growing malice. Our people must hold it at bay while we find the four gods.
“The Queen of Sky, the King of Underworld, and the Queen of Water have bestowed their trust in me to lead this realm. The four kingdoms and their rulers are each formidable in their own right, but we are stronger united,” Ethan proclaims. “We are beings of Mountains, Sky, Water, and Underworld. Each life source is different, but no one source is greater than the other. We must stand as equals. We must stand united.”
That’s my cue.
“Only when we combine each life source does it become something extraordinary.” I speak to the people before me—the same people who shunned me because I am agumiho. But they can change for the better when they open their hearts and minds. I have to believe that. “I am nota shinbiin, but Iama being of the Shingae, just like you. At the core, we are all beings of the Cheon’gwang.”
The muttering below us sounds generally displeased, which is no surprise. They are too tired and scared to trust pretty words, especially from me. That’s why we came prepared with an extraspecial light show.
I take a step forward on the water-and-smoke platform holding me aloft, five stories above the ground. Since no one else can see the colors of the gi, we decided that the queens and kings will contribute theirgithrough a symbol of their life source. I open my arms wide, and the Yeoiju hums in my chest.
“Mountains,” I rasp in an unsteady voice.
Ethan sends a flurry of emerald green leaves toward me. I collect the leaves into a ball between my hands. With an inhale that pushes my chest out, I absorb it into my heart’s center as the life force of Mountains. The crowd gasps below me, and I bite my cheek to hold back my smirk.
“Water,” I say with more confidence.
Bora shoots a gentle stream of water from the ground, and I gather it in my hands then let it flow into my chest as thegiof Water.
“Underworld.”
Taeyoung, the show-off, hovers a ball of smoking fire in front of me. I have to admit that performing in front of an enraptured audience is kind of fun. So I hold the fireball between my hands—it doesn’t burn because I’ve deconstructed the magic already—and spin it in the air. I wait for the applause to die down before I absorb thegiof Underworld.
“Sky.” I nod at our auntie.
The Queen of Sky blows swirling pink blossoms toward me, fluttering in the wind. The flowers dance to the roar of the giddy audience, then melt straight into my chest as the life force of Sky.
I feel the familiar pulse of the Yeoiju inside me, churning and growing with the green, blue, red, and silver life forces. It pounds against my chest, wanting to be released.
“Together, we become the Cheon’gwang,” I intone and let the white light burst free, my head and arms thrown back.
Everyone is far away enough not to be affected by the light. It is only a small surge, but it is true and brilliant. Even so, anyone close might be swept away ... except Ethan. I risk a sideways glance at him, and he stands in place with one hand shielding his eyes. I knew he was powerful enough to withstand the light.
