The shouting gradually softens into quiet murmurs. They raise their gazes toward me, waiting for their orders. I am humbled by their trust and emboldened by their courage. They are trained soldiers, and they will focus their fear and distress into achieving the new objective set before them.
“Generals of the Realm of Four Kingdoms,” I boom. “Lead your troops to the Mirror Lake. There is a portal to the Kingdom of Sky above it. Those of you who can fly, carry those who cannot through the portal.”
“For the realm.” Jihun’s voice rings with strength.
“For the realm.” Determined shouts rend the air, and the masses beneath the wall converge into smaller groups, moving with purpose.
First, I will see my people to safety, then ...
I’m coming, Sunny.
Of Love and Greed
Ungnyeo and her husband, Hwanung, watched over the Mortal Realm, and life, harmony, and balance flourished amongst all beings. With the birth of Dangun, their beloved son, the god of Earth believed his happiness complete.
As the days, months, and years passed, he grew afraid of his wife’s mortality. Even if she lived a hundred years, it would be but a moment for a god, and Hwanung could not bear to lose her so quickly. More and more, he longed to take Ungnyeo to a place that would imbue her with near immortality.
The Realm of Four Kingdoms understood greed and selfishness. Rather than using their disproportionate powers for good, the Shinbiin used it to sequester the Realm of Four Kingdoms and hoard the magic for themselves. They chose to forget they were all beings of the Cheon’gwang and looked down on everyone less powerful than them.
Hwanung had always shunned their ways, but in his fear and desperation, he convinced Ungnyeo to live as a shinbiin—as someone who didn’t know illness or endure injuries. For his sake. The god of Earth did not tell his wife that the Shinbiin’s powers were begotten from theft of the worst kind.
Ungnyeo believed mortality to be a gift, and injury and illness to be a part of life. Its fleeting, fragile nature was what made life so unbearably beautiful, so precious. But she loved her husband and followed him to the Realm of Four Kingdoms to ease his suffering.
True love was selfless, and too late would Hwanung realize that his manipulations came from greed, not love.
Chapter Thirty-One
Sunny
I come to with a gasp and bolt upright. I woozily glance around the familiar pagoda in the woods, except the pond next to it is drained dry.
The nightmare in the Kingdom of Water crashes into me with my next breath, and I scream, “Haesan!”
“Easy, Stormy. I’m right here.” Thein’eocrouches next to me, one forearm resting on his raised knee. “Did you enjoy your na—”
My fist connects with his jaw before he can finish his sentence. The bastard doesn’t even teeter, and—fuck—I might have broken my pinky finger. I don’t get a chance to be infuriated, because profound relief crashes over me, and I throw my arms around his neck with a choked sob.
“You steaming pile of putrid shit,” I wail. “How dare you sacrifice yourself for me?”
“Do you have to paint such a vivid picture? Besides, I onlytriedto sacrifice myself for you. That scary keeper over there?” He peeks at the scowling keeper on the opposite side of the pagoda. “He somehow dragged me over along with you.”
I shove Haesan away like he’s the one who’s been clinging on to me. “Did everyone make it over?”
“No.” Thein’eothumps onto his ass and scrubs his face with both hands.
Of course everyone didn’t make it over.
I saw it with my own eyes. Lifeless bodies floating in the water, then disintegrating into darkness. I don’t know how many.Too many.I’d repressed the horrifying image for a cowardly second.
“I’m so sorry, Haesan,” I whisper. “I should’ve done more. I could’ve—”
“Don’t.” He reaches out and squeezes my shoulder. “Stop beating yourself up. You helped save so many lives.”
I nod, but I still wish I’d done more—done better.
“Where have they all gone?” I push up to my feet.
There is no time for regrets. I’ll do better next time. I won’t give up.
