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Sujini had always been proud of her fighting abilities. After all, she had once single-handedly fought off enemies far stronger than herself, and she was once a respected leader of the archery squad, admired by her juniors. But perhaps after eight years of living in seclusion and caring for Ajik as her main responsibility each day, she had lost the sharpness she once had. Or maybe it was because of the effort it took to break through the surrounding forces to get here — whatever the reason, no matter how hard she tried at that moment, she couldn’t stop Kiha.
“Please, sister, wake up. Don’t do this,” she pleaded, trying to reach the real Kiha, who was being controlled. But her words held little meaning. Sujini knew her sister was still fighting to regain control of her body, to stop herself from hurting her only son — the child she had just been reunited with after eight long years. Sujini rushed forward, trying to place herself between her sister and the unconscious boy lying on the stone table, but Kiha — or rather, the clan leader who had possessed Kiha’s body — threw her violently toward the stone steps. Despite the pain, Sujini struggled back to her feet and charged again to stop Kiha, only to witness her sister struggling internally to prevent the clan leader from harming Ajik. In that struggle, the knife in her hand accidentally slashed the boy’s arm, and bright red blood splattered across his pale skin.
In that moment, Kiha became the Black Phoenix.
Flames erupted from within her, blasting the clan leader away. Fire swirled and encased her, forming a blazing sphere with the sorrowful woman — the anguished mother — at its center. Kiha’s face was pained, struggling to control herself, fully understanding the significance of what was happening. History from two thousand years ago was repeating itself. Her helpless gaze turned to Sujini, the younger sister she had failed to protect as their mother had asked. Then, she looked at her son — the child she hadn’t even had a chance to hold — and the flames only grew more intense.
Sujini forced herself up and ran toward her sister. She didn’t know what she could do, but she knew she had to do something. Maybe this was her mission, the reason she hadn’t died when she left Hwang Mu Village years ago.
“I don’t know who want me to live , but I want to believe it was because I still had a mission to fulfill.”
Despite the searing heat, Sujini pushed through the fire. The flames welcomed her like an old friend, pulling her into their heart, bringing her to Kiha. Sujini embraced her sister, who looked shocked at what was happening.
“Sister, it’s okay now. Your son is safe. I’m safe too. He’s still waiting for you to give him a name. You’ve endured so much — let me help carry this burden of the Phoenix’s power with you. There must be a reason why the Phoenix was reborn as the two of us. I believe that. You can control the fire, and so can I. We’re both the Phoenix, and together, we will defy the fate from two thousand years ago. I believe it. Please, let’s fight this together.”
As she spoke, Sujini touched Kiha’s chest, as if to absorb the fire into her own hand. In her heart was anger — at this cruel world, at a fate already written — and also a deep longing to save her sister, to save Ajik, and to save Dam Deok. Because she knew, if someone had to kill Kiha, it would break his heart. But she also felt hope — a belief that the Phoenix appearing within both sisters wasn’t a coincidence, but destiny. She would not let history repeat itself. Her fate would be hers to decide. She had had enough of letting her life be dictated by stories from two millennia ago.
As if responding to her whirlwind of emotion, the flames within Kiha slowly moved into Sujini’s hand, shrinking into a small fireball. The larger sphere of fire that had engulfed Kiha faded and no longer radiated deadly heat. Just like the day Sujini had absorbed the fire from the City Lord at the Temple, only this time, she was fully conscious.
“You once said you could create fire, but not extinguish it. But that day, I extinguished the fire you created. Maybe… this is what it means for the Phoenix to be reborn as the two of us.”
Sujini extended her hand, offering the small fireball to Kiha. When Kiha touched it, it split in two — one forming into a dagger in Kiha’s hand, the other into a bow and arrow in Sujini’s.
With the fire no longer a threat, the clan leader regained his footing and attacked the sisters. Kiha blocked his path with her fire dagger, pushing him back to prevent him from reaching Ajik. At the same moment, Sujini aimed and shot an arrow precisely at their enemy, giving Kiha the chance to rush to her son’s side. Still, the clan leader stubbornly rose again to attack Sujini.
But he failed.
Dam Deok had arrived.
He stepped in front of Sujini, sword drawn to block the blow.
Their eyes met — brief, urgent — but it was enough. Without needing words, they moved together, swords in harmony, launching a synchronized attack. Already wounded twice by the Phoenix’s fire, the clan leader staggered, clearly nearing his end.
Dam Deok turned to Sujini, and she gave a small nod. She lit her arrow with the Phoenix’s flame, ready to shoot. Dam Deok, too, drew the divine bow he always carried and aimed. Two arrows — one burning with Phoenix fire, the other glowing with heavenly light — flew straight into the heart of the clan leader, sending him to the death he had long evaded. Light and fire burst together with his scream, and then, silence.
The source of all three of their suffering… was finally gone.
After the battle, Dam Deok ran to Sujini, but she pushed him aside.
“Go check on Ajik first.”
He hesitated, but then went to his son, now cradled in Kiha’s arms. Dam Deok looked at her and at the boy, emotions swirling in his eyes. That was the woman he once loved. That was the son of the one who used to be his whole world. But now, he was no longer the crown prince of the past. His heart no longer belonged to Kiha. But… what about Ajik? What should he do?
Watching the family reunited, Sujini couldn’t help but smile warmly.
“From now on, the two of you can be Ajik’s parents. That’s a good thing.”
With those words, all her pain and exhaustion seemed to release. She collapsed, unconscious. Dam Deok rushed to catch her before she hit the ground.
“Sujini! Sujini!”
“Let’s return to the city. The war outside has ended too. Come with me, Kiha,” Dam Deok said, carrying Sujini in his arms. “We still have much to talk about. Please come back with Ajik.”
Kiha had long stood on the opposite side of Dam Deok. She didn’t know if she deserved to return after all she’d done. But for her sister, and her son, she agreed.
——
“Master, how is Sujini?” Dam Deok rushed to her bedside after a meeting post-battle.
“She’s the same. Just sleeping. Her wounds have healed, but she still hasn’t woken up.”
“It’s like before,” Cheoro said. “When she disappeared, I found her in a deep slumber. They said she shut her heart to say goodbye to the world.”
Dam Deok said nothing, just held Sujini’s hand and gazed at her peaceful face. Slowly, everyone left the room, leaving the emperor alone with the woman he loved.
“I told you I wouldn’t let you die. Please come back, my Sujini,” he whispered, gripping her hand, gently kissing it. Three days had passed since the fated battle — three days since she fell unconscious in his arms. He thought about what she had said then, about Kiha. Did she believe that if she were gone, he and Kiha could be a family again?
“Sujini, I can’t be happy without you. I’ve already lost you once, and it tore me apart. Please don’t leave me again.” A warm tear slid down the emperor’s face, falling onto Sujini’s cheek as he kissed her lifeless lips.
“Your… Majesty…?” Sujini slowly opened her eyes.
“Hey.”
“My name is Sujini.”
That familiar exchange made Dam Deok burst into tears of joy. He pulled her into his arms.
“Thank you. Thank you.”
“For what…? Hey, are you trying to suffocate me?”
Despite just waking up, Sujini’s sense of humor was intact — a miracle in itself.
“You’ve been asleep for three days. Since that day.”
“Ah… I had a dream. A long dream. In that world, it was just you and me — Sujini and Dam Deok. No legends, no destiny. Just the two of us, happy forever.”
“Then you’re still dreaming. You and I, forever happy together.”
“No. You have to be Ajik’s father, and my sister’s husband. You two were meant for each other. You were separated because of a misunderstanding, but now that’s gone. You two deserve happiness.”
“I’ve already spoken to Kiha,” Dam Deok said, recalling their conversation.
“Kiha, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were carrying my child. I had no idea how much injustice and suffering you’ve endured all this time. Please forgive me.”
“Your Majesty, everything has already passed. All that happened was because it had to happen that way. We never had freedom. We were bound, controlled by too many things, by a fate that was ordained two thousand years ago. There is nothing for me to forgive you for. Everything ended a long time ago. I no longer resent you, nor do I love you anymore. My heart let go of you—and of everyone—long ago. I’ve lived only to see my son again, and my younger sister. And now, I have. That is more than enough. Besides, I know your heart belongs to Sujini. She is my younger sister, the one our mother entrusted me to protect before her passing. I have done nothing for her but cause her pain. I want her to be happy. So please, make her happy too.”
“Kiha, I don’t know what I can do for you. But if you wish, stay here in the palace. Let us raise Ajik together. He can be my heir, if that is his will.”
“You and Sujini will have a child of your own one day. I don’t want my son to become an obstacle. I am too weary of the schemes and calculations of nobles and royals. I just want to live as a normal person now.”
“Kiha, I truly hope you find happiness. I’m sure your sister wants that for you as well. You don’t have to worry about anything anymore. Let’s raise Ajik together—with Sujini and me.”
——
“What I had with her is something long in the past. I once loved her, yes. But when I was in despair, the one who stayed by my side, who fought with me through life and death, was you, Sujini. The love I have for you grew quietly, so much so that I didn’t even realize it—until you vanished from my life. That was when I realized: in my mind, there was only you. I remembered the things you said, the things you did. I haven’t thought of Kiha in many years—ever since you entered my life. I used to think I could never forget the girl I had loved and trusted since I was eleven. But the truth is—I did forget. I feel nothing now. No love. No resentment. Now, my heart holds only you.”
“But Ajik needs both his father and mother. I can’t come between your family,” Sujini persisted.
“Ajik has me as his father. And he has not one, but two mothers: Kiha, who gave birth to him, and you, who protected him for eight years. Isn’t he a fortunate child?”
“But…” Sujini was still searching for some reason, something to convince Dam Deok. She didn’t understand why she kept trying to deny what her heart truly wanted.
“Sujini, I beg you—set aside everyone else. Forget Kiha, forget Ajik, forget everything. Just listen to your own heart. Tell me, what does your heart truly desire?”
“I…” Can I say no? Can I be selfish? Sujini hesitated.
“I want to be with you forever. I love you, Dam Deok. I want to always have you in my sight. I want to ride into battle with you, drink with you, and share in your happiness.”
“Thank goodness, because I feel the same way.” With that, Dam Deok knelt before Sujini.
“So… will you become my Empress?”
“Me? Empress? No way! I wasn’t raised like a noble lady. I can’t just sit idly in the inner palace! I—”
She was cut off by Dam Deok’s gentle clearing of his throat.
“Can’t you just say ‘yes’ for once? You do realize the one standing before you is the Emperor, don’t you?”
“Yes, I accept. I’ll cling to you forever, you know!”
“That’s exactly what I want. Sujini—my Empress!” Dam Deok smiled the brightest smile Sujini had seen in years, and she couldn’t help but smile back. He embraced her tightly, holding onto that moment as if to make it eternal. The future was just beginning, and no one knew what awaited them. But they both knew: as long as they had each other, they would overcome anything. A bright future, full of hope, surrounded by those they loved—and those who loved them in return.