King Morey continued, "We will not be the only ones relocating there; The sprits, ancient beings, once guardians of the natural world, I have communicated with them, the higher more intelligent sprits, and we have reached an agreement. The peaceful treaty we forged with the sprits grants them the expansive forest around your lands, and they will offer protection if necessary, though I suspect it won't be needed."
Si-Woo's jaw clenched. "You want to bring those creatures to Earth? After what one of them did to Us?" His voice grew louder, anger seeping into every word.
"Calm yourself," the king said, his tone firm but not unkind. "The sprit that attacked you was a lesser sprit, driven mad by hunger from the instability between the realms. The others are ruled by more intelligent, higher sprits who will obey the treaty if they wish to exist."
Si-Woo's anger dissipated slightly, and he looked down at his hand, still clutching Ha-Yoon's. She gave him a comforting squeeze, her eyes filled with determination. He took a deep breath and nodded.
King Morey's gaze softened, and he spoke, his voice resonating with sincerity. "I apologize for the hardship you've faced. It is not our intention to burden your world with our problems, but rather to unite and learn from one another. As you might have known fae have an extremely low birth rate, that's why it's best to take opportunities such as these to expand the reach of our people."
The siblings nodded, their expressions a mix of worry and hope.
"In light of the inconvenience you have suffered," the king announced, standing up from his throne, "I shall grant you both a token of our appreciation. Follow me."
With a wave of his hand, the air shimmered, and a hidden doorway appeared in the wall. The siblings exchanged a look, a mix of excitement and anxiety fluttering in their stomachs as they followed the king and queen into a corridor that led to a grand chamber filled with the glint of gold and the gleam of precious jewels. "I'll be here awaiting your return," Minho said.
The treasure vault of Ondur was a sight to behold, with walls made of diamond-like material that reflected the soft glow of the floating candles. The air was thick with the scent of wealth and history, the very essence of the kingdom's power and legacy.
The weapons on the walls were not mere decorations; each one told a story of valor and sacrifice, their blades and hilts adorned with intricate patterns that whispered of ancient battles and heroic deeds. Ha-Yoon's eyes widened as she took in the array of artifacts, her mind racing with the possibility of what secrets they held. Some of them hummed with a faint energy, as if alive and aware of their presence.
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"Choose something," King Morey said, his hand sweeping over the treasures. "A weapon, an object of power, something that resonates with your soul. It will serve as a symbol of our alliance and your protection."
Si-Woo wandered through the chamber, his eyes darting over the ancient artifacts. His heart raced as he took in the weapons and relics that could tell tales of battles and conquests. His gaze finally settled on a sleek, shimmering kunai. It was small, but the energy emanating from it was palpable. He reached out tentatively, his hand hovering above the Ondurian-decorated hilt.
As soon as his skin made contact, he felt a jolt of power surge through him, like a lightning bolt connecting earth and sky. The room around him grew hazy, and he was no longer just Si-Woo, the earthquake survivor; he was something more. He felt a connection to the weapon, as if it had been waiting for him, yearning for the touch of a worthy hand. The blade whispered to him, telling of its past, of the battles it had seen, the lives it had claimed.
Before he could fully grasp the significance of what was happening, King Morey strode beside him, his royal silk robes billowing behind him. "Ah, I see you've found something of interest," the king said, his voice resonating with a knowing smile.
Si-Woo looked at the weapon in his hand, feeling the energy pulsing through it. "What is this?" he asked, his voice filled with awe.
"This," King Morey said, "is Eternity, Breaker of Mercy, a soul weapon. It grows with its owner and predates even the Fae. It was crafted during the Mu era when the ancient creatures once roamed these lands." His voice was filled with reverence, his eyes never leaving the shimmering kunai in Si-Woo's hand. "A weapon of such caliber is not for the faint of heart, young one. It chooses its wielder, not the other way around, though I don't reconcile ever hearing of Eternity ever choosing a master."
Just as Si-Woo was about to ask another question, Ha-Yoon's voice echoed through the chamber. "Look at this," she said, her eyes wide with excitement as she held up a book that was bound in a material neither of them had ever seen before. It looked like leather, but it was too iridescent to be from any creature they knew.
"What's that?" Si-Woo asked, his attention drawn away.
"It's a book," Ha-Yoon replied, her voice filled with wonder. "But it's not like any book I've ever seen."
The king's gaze intensified as he neared her, his curiosity awakened. "Allow me," he uttered, carefully taking the book from her hands. He surveyed the unfamiliar cover, and momentarily, a flicker of confusion passed over his features. "This... I had almost forgotten this artifact," he whispered, his voice laced with wonder.
"It's beautiful," Ha-Yoon said, unable to tear her gaze away from the mesmerizing patterns that danced across the book's surface. "It feels like it's alive."
King Morey handed the book back to her, his own hands retreating behind his back as if to hide something. "Indeed, it is," he said, his voice a touch strained. "But beware, young Ha-Yoon, for books of such power can be as dangerous as they are enlightening. Choose your knowledge with care."
The siblings exchanged a look, the unspoken question hanging heavy between them. What could be so dangerous about a book? Ha-Yoon cradled the book to her chest, feeling the warmth of its strange, alive material against her skin. The book seemed to pulse with an energy that was both comforting and unnerving.