Without warning, King Morey took a step back and swiped his leg, sending Si-Woo tumbling to the ground. "Now," the king said, his laughter echoing off the surrounding rocks, "Show me your serein meditation progress!"

Si-Woo groaned, rubbing his butt. He took a deep breath, trying to ignore the sting from his fall, and closed his eyes. He focused on the energy within him, feeling the serein coil around his dantian core like a sleeping serpent. Slowly, he coaxed it out, letting it unravel until it suffused through his meridian tree. He had never felt so alive, so connected to the world around him.

King Morey watched with a keen eye, his expression unreadable. Si-Woo felt the pressure of his gaze, like a hand on his shoulder, pushing him to be better, to do more. The serein inside him pulsed, responding to the challenge. He could feel it, the energy coating his meridian channels, filling him with a warmth that grew brighter with each breath he took.

"The boy's mending rate with serein is extraordinary." King Morey observes and contemplates, "Even though he is a level one serein arts user out of thirteen, He is efficiently purging the impurities at a commendable pace, and as he matures, the rate will increase. His meridian tree, which extends throughout the soul akin to the nervous system, has opened 86 out of 346 meridian channels. At this rate, he will awaken in a few years. The purity of his serein is unparalleled, matched only by another—Ha-yoon. It's no surprise that Minho is fixated on training these two. "

With a clap of his hands, he breaks the silence, "That's enough for today," he declares. "Keep training with Minho," he instructs, his voice echoing in the vast space of the retreat. Si-woo opens his eyes with a start, the serenity of his meditation shattered by reality." Yeah..you say that too easily." He couldn't help but cringe at the thought of Minho's rigorous training sessions. The king, seemingly oblivious to Si-Woo's fear, whistles sharply. From the distant sky, a pure red wyvern, a creature of myth and legend, soars towards them, its wings casting shadows on the vibrant grass.

The majestic beast lands gracefully beside the king, and Morey pats its neck with affection. "Let's go visit your sister now," he says, pulling his hood back over his head. The journey back to Ondur is swift and silent, the wind whipping around them as they glide through the air. The city's grandeur unfolds beneath them like a living tapestry, and Si-Woo can't help but feel a thrill of excitement and a hint of dismay.

The red wyvern descends smoothly toward the library's grand entrance, its powerful wings folding against its body. As they land, Si-Woo's feet touch the ground, and the world seems to return to its normal pace. He watches the hooded king disappear into the sky waving goodbye.

Inside, Si-woo spots Ha-Yoon at a table surrounded by her newfound friends, her laughter ringing out like a sweet melody amidst the hushed whispers of the ancient texts. "It's nice to see she's getting along well." Si-Woo thinks. His heart swells with happiness, seeing her so carefree and at ease. Ha-Yoon's eyes light up as she notices him, and she wipes a smudge of whipped cream from her cheek running to him. "I thought we were meeting here," she says while hugging him. "You must've gotten lost again."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Si-Woo playfully narrows his eyes at her. "Maybe I was kidnapped," he teases, "and my captor had better things to do so he brought me to a library." Ha-Yoon's laughter fills the air. "Yeah, right, and while he kidnapped you he also thought it was a good idea to give you a haircut." she retorts, rolling her eyes.

They bid farewell to her new friends and headed out to the cool evening air that had begun to settle over Ondur. As they made their way through the cobblestone streets, Si-Woo couldn't help but ask, "How many sweets did you have today?"

Ha-Yoon stuck out her tongue at him. "Who gave you that haircut and how long were you lost for?" she retorted, her eyes shining with rascality.

Si-Woo chuckled, unable to resist. "Mai did, don't worry I'll have her do yours too." he admitted, "But let's not get into that right now. He leaned in and gave her a gentle noogie. Ha-Yoon squawked and swiped at his hand, giggling uncontrollably.

The siblings walked side by side, their laughter fading into content silence as they took in the sights of the city they had come to call home. However, their peaceful evening was about to take an unexpected turn. As they approached the edge of a clothing market street, a shadow fell over them, and the sound of powerful wings cut through the air.

They looked up to see Minho descending from the sky on the back of his sleek black wyvern, his expression unreadable beneath his hood. The creature's eyes glowed with an eerie light, and its scales shimmered like the night sky.

"Oh no," Ha-Yoon groaned. "He found us."

The shadow grew larger as Minho and his black wyvern drew closer. The beast's powerful wings beat the air, sending a gust of wind that ruffled their hair and clothes. Si-Woo's eyes widened with a mix of excitement and dread. They had hoped for a quiet evening, but it seemed the Minho had other plans.

Without waiting for his instructor to land, the siblings took off running. They darted through the narrow alleys, their bare feet flying over the cobblestones. The market stalls grew sparse, and the sounds of the city began to fade behind them. They had a head start, but they knew it wouldn't last long. Minho was a master of serein, and his ability to enhance his sight and body meant he could instantly capture them at any time.

Their hearts raced, pumping adrenaline through their veins. They rounded a corner, hoping to find a hidden path or some form of escape, but the alley ended abruptly in another brick wall.

"You can't outrun a twelfth-degree Serein master, children," Minho's voice echoed through the alleyways, his tone a mix of amusement and authority.

Si-Woo couldn't believe Minho was just now telling them he was a twelfth-degree serein master out of the 14 degrees while they were being hunted down. The siblings' breaths grew ragged as they turned a corner, expecting to find Minho waiting for them. But instead, they saw a clear path ahead. They exchanged a hopeful glance and took off again, their legs pumping as fast as their hearts.

Their hopes were short-lived, however, as the shadow of the black wyvern once again fell over them. Before they could react, they were scooped up by an invisible force, their feet dangling in mid-air. The creature's eyes gleamed with a knowing light as if it enjoyed the chase.

Minho's face appeared in front of them, his smile widening. "I hope you enjoyed your little break," he said, his tone deceptively mild. "But it's time to get back to work. Let's begin our training."