Chapter Text
Preface:
The Goddess of Death could never feel the tragedy that was upon the individual’s faces when they were first greeted by her. They would cry and sob, beg on their hands and knees to bring them back. It was all the same, she would comfort them to send them off peacefully into the afterlife. Yet how can one properly and wholeheartedly comfort someone when they have no idea what emotions they are truly feeling? Even more, she could never understand why they had begged to go back.
She had gone to the mortal realm multiple times, it was her job, and yet her only observation is how selfish humans truly are. They would lie, cheat, steal, or declare pathetic wars over land. Yet the type she hated the most, were those who offered the lives of their loved ones in exchange for their own. Please, take my daughter instead. I have so much to live for. Please. Their cries haunted Death, their desperation truly disgusted her. She would always ensure that whoever they offered, lived a long and peaceful life.
Death felt it in her bones. Soon, many are to die and many are to be taken to the afterlife. With a lonely sigh, she thought there is truly no hope for humanity. Humans will continue to die and adhere to their selfish superficial values and I will continue to be left by all those who meet me for the rest of eternity.
Death is truly lonely.
Chapter 1:
The shadows of the night hid Yujin as she desperately searched throughout the forest. She had worn ragged clothes in order to successfully sneak out of the castle and see the forest for herself. There was not a single petal of proof that Seri had ever grown here. It was as if nature grew selfish and left humans to survive without them. The barren trees almost seemed like a wooden cell, letting her roam free but trapping her away from what she truly desired. In defeat, she slumped against a tree, gripping on the dagger that she had brought.
It’s all gone , she thought, Will this be the end of the Yangs? If there is no Seri, the people cannot fully recover after meeting a healer. Were we too greedy with our resources? Yujin spotted a small cut across her hand and ran it over with her thumb, the wound instantly healed. She didn’t know what to do, her mind was still facing the repercussions of seeing the barren forest, all she could do was sit there and ask herself a million questions.
Her thoughts were crudely interrupted by the unmistakable ring of the Royal Bell. The Royal Family is under attack.
Instantly, she began to sprint once more. Despite the gnawing pain at her side, she continued to run. The Royal Family’s life depended on her. If she does not make it in time, not only will her own life be at risk, but her potential title as the Royal Family’s healer will also be as well. If she does not make it in time, she will be sentenced to death or worse, be tortured for her sloth.
There was a small opening into the Sunjeong Castle that she had left for her return earlier, but it was so small that you had to carefully weave yourself through to avoid getting hurt. That did not matter now, her priority is getting to the Royal Chambers as fast as she could even if it meant coming there with two broken legs. As she forced herself through the cracks in the stone walls, she felt the jagged edges of the bricks rip at her chest and stomach as she cried out in agony. She left a trail of crimson as she ran through the castle, her feet slapping hard against the wooden floors of the palace. She ran unhuman-like, despite the wounds all over her body she ran with incredible speed while still limping. It felt as if she had passed hundreds of doors, ran thousands of stairs, but was still getting nowhere close to the King's chambers.
A thousand questions flew around one fact in her mind.
The Royal family was attacked. Did the Yins back through palace walls? Did someone INSIDE the palace attack them? Will I get there in time? What if they’re already dead?
Interrupting the chaos within her mind, she slammed the doors open to the royal chambers, expecting the worst. She looked around the room in desperate confusion, it was as if the room was spinning around her, Did I come to the wrong room? The room looked as if it was ready to embrace the King then fall asleep together in a peaceful slumber. Even the candle’s flame did not dare to waver. If it weren’t for the panicked bells that were ringing earlier, the room would have seen peaceful. Breaking this facade of peace, a voice whispers from the shadows.
“You’re too late”.
Immediately, Yujin reflexively threw her dagger at the voice. She could hear the wood splinter following the scraping of metal as it was being taken out.
“I’m glad you have a terrible aim. Anyways, as I was saying, you’re too late.” the woman said, slyly leaning across the pillars of the room, “Gods, what happened to you? Shouldn’t you at the care about your appearance before the King, at the least”
Yujin let out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding. Fu Ya Ning, one of the other healers, must’ve gotten here first. They’ve been competing for the past few years to be the King’s Official healer. The title meant comfort, wealth, and more. Although Healers were already seen as sacrilegious, this meant nothing to the Yang Dynasty. Only the Sunjeongs were meant to be seen as a “Higher Power '' in this country, the title of being a healer is just like being a skilled warrior. Yet as soon as she relaxed, the grin on Fu Ya Ning's face made her tremble.
“What happened? Why were the bells rung?” Yujin asked.
“Someone attacked the King's son, but luckily I got here in time so all is well. Although I can’t say the same for you.” She elegantly made her way to the door but suddenly stopped “I am forever in debt to you, seeing how you have graciously given me the title as the Royal Healer. But at least you will be serving our country proudly at the front lines”
Yujin let out an audible gasp of pure terror. Healers were always targeted in battles, whether it was petty crimes, assassinations, or etc. Everyone knew that the army was nothing without its healers.
Ya Ning raised her hand to her mouth, if anyone else had seen this it would have seen genuine. “Did I reveal too much? I mustn’t say another word. The Sunjeongs will fill in any other details I missed. There’s a meeting tonight in two hours’ time, try not to be late this time. And at least try to look presentable.” She dropped the knife onto the ground as she strode out the door.
Yujin fell to her knees, she would not allow herself to completely break down in front of her. At least she had some pride left. Fu Ya Ning was clever and sly, but she never lied. Her words always seemed to have two meanings, manipulating the individual to clearly see both. Yet knowing what she had said was true, she knew that she would be dead in a few days' time.