Si-Woo's heart hammered in his chest as he recalled the relentless training sessions that had been his life in Ondur so far. Each day had been a battle, pushing him to his limits and then some. The fae instructors had been merciless, demanding perfection from every swing of his wooden sword and every flicker of his serein. "There was no need to say that. Princess Deane." Si-Woo said.

King Morey's laugh boomed through the room, a hearty sound that seemed to fill every corner. "Yes, yes," he said, slapping his knee.

"Where is Queen Elara?" Ha-Yoon asked curiosity piqued as she looked around the room.

"Ah, the queen," King Morey said, his smile slipping a notch. "Our laws are quite stringent, as you know. A millennium prophetess must not leave her homeland," he explained, his eyes darkening slightly. "But fear not, she sends her warmest regards and is eager to meet her champions again when the time is right."

The King continues, "And since we'll soon make this our home, that won't be an issue." Then Mai urged, "Grandpa hurry and tell them."

"Grandpa?!" Si-Woo and Ha-Yoon said at the same time.

King Morey looked surprised for a moment before he chuckled. "Oh, yes. I suppose I should explain, Mai is my granddaughter, the next prophetess of the millennium," he announced, his eyes twinkling with pride. Ha-Yoon and Si-Woo exchanged shocked glances. This was as unexpected as the party itself. The room was filled with little chuckles as the secret settled over them.

Mai blushed at the sudden attention, looking down at her feet. "It's an honor to have such a strong bond with my ancestors," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the gentle crackle of the fireplace. Ha-Yoon couldn't help but feel a twinge of awe for the girl that was often by Si-Woos side.

"You must grasp the whole of this situation," King Morey stated, his voice growing grave as he regarded Ha-Yoon and Si-Woo. "Mai's existence goes beyond a mere family secret; it is the linchpin of Ondur's destiny. Her bloodline carries the wisdom and the power of prophecy that has steered us through time. And since a prophetess begets only one daughter to inherit this gift, should this knowledge fall into the wrong hands, the consequences would be catastrophic. And since we consider you two close family it's only right we tell you this."

Si-Woo and Ha-Yoon shared a look of astonishment. Then reality sank in slowly, like a heavy stone in water. They had always known that the Fae world was complex, with its own set of rules and intrigues, but this added a whole new layer to their understanding.

"If she is your granddaughter," Si-Woo began "That must mean—", but he was cut off by the sudden, intense look that Minho and the princess shared. The air in the room grew thick with an unspoken truth.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Princess Deane nodded, her smile softening as she took a deep breath. "It's true," she said, her voice steady. "Mai is not just the next prophetess; she's also my daughter." She turned to Minho, whose eyes were filled with a mix of pride and something else, something that Si-Woo couldn't quite place.

Minho took a step forward, his hand resting comfortably by his side. "And I," he said, his voice filled with gravity, "am her father."

The news hung in the air like a storm cloud, heavy and pregnant with meaning. Si-Woo's eyes darted between the two fae, his mind racing. "But... how is that possible?" he blurted out, not being able to picture his roughneck master Minho, and the beautifully elegant Princess Deane together.

"You didn't know they were together?" said Ha-Yoon, her voice filled with surprise. "I mean, it's pretty obvious when you think about it." She gestured between Minho and the princess, who were now sharing a knowing smile, their bond palpable even amidst the celebration.

"How did you know?" Minho asked Ha-Yoon, his eyebrows knitting together in curiosity.

"I thought we all knew," said Ha-Yoon with a laugh, breaking the tension. "It's like you guys are wearing bright signs that say 'we're totally in love' and we're all just pretending not to see it."

Si-Woo looked at them both in amazement. "I had absolutely no clue," he admitted, his cheeks tinged with embarrassment. "Then he was the owner of that barber shop," Si-Woo thought.

Mai looked up at him, her gaze warm and. "Of course, you didn't," she said softly.

King Morey chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mirth as he approached Si-Woo. He reached out a hand, and for a moment, Si-Woo tensed, expecting something serious. Then, with surprising gentleness for his size, the king ruffled Si-Woo's hair. "Amazingly perceptive as always Ha-Yoon," he said, his tone affectionate, "Unlike this one," he said giving Si-Woo a traditional noogie.

The room erupted in laughter as Si-Woo squirmed out of the king's grasp. "Your fingers are like stones," he protested, though he couldn't hide his grin.

"Ah, youth," King Morey chuckled, his eyes lighting up as he took a step back. "Now, onto the real reason for this little gathering. As some of you may have heard, I had a most significant board meeting with the five great headmasters," he announced, his voice carrying a touch of seriousness that silenced the room. "It's a time for us to discuss matters of the realm of Ondur, which means, my young ones," he paused for dramatic effect, "No academic studies for fourteen days!"

The siblings' eyes widened in disbelief. No school? For two whole weeks? Ha-Yoon couldn't decide if she felt relief or dread. "Fourteen days!!?" she asked.

"Ah," said the king, his expression shrewd. "We've come to a pivotal juncture. The old guard, those who've lived through thousands of years, are too entwined with Ondur and will remain in it. Their hearts bleed for Ondur. But the new generation of children, the new blood. Their futures are not tied to our past."

"Yohen will be a place of growth," Minho added, his eyes meeting those of his daughter, "Where the young minds of today can shape the world of tomorrow without the burdens of tradition weighing them down, guided by fae who are in their prime."

The king remembers, "Ah, You will also be meeting with the other esteemed headmasters of Ondur in the coming days away from the academy."

Minho nodded and released a nefarious laugh. "Indeed," he said, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "This means that your training can be intensified. With no studies to tire you out, we can push your limits further!!."

Si-Woo and Ha-Yoon shared a look of fear, the joy of a school-free vacation quickly fading as they realized what this could mean for their training regimen.