Soyeol(小列) was a realm of a hundred kings. Each island, a towering peak rising from the sea, was ruled by its own king, a petty lord with a handful of followers. These islands, clustered together in the vast expanse of the ocean, formed Soyeol, a realm of scattered isles and treacherous currents. The land was barren, its soil yielding little sustenance, and the Soyeolish people relied on the sea for their survival. Some islands bore steaming vents, their waters hot and sulfurous, while others were crowned with snow-capped peaks that occasionally spewed smoke and fire. The Wi people, accustomed to the fertile plains of their homeland, believed Soyeol to be a cursed land, forsaken by Sahngjon.

To reach Soyeol, Sungian ships sailed east, while Dahnian ventured either east or south. Both nations viewed the petty kingdoms of Soyeol as nothing more than pirate havens. Only the Dahnians and the Sungians called it Soyeol; to those who called themselves kings, it was a derogatory term.

Cheon Hwan's Black Wings anchored off Seomy(西尾島), the westernmost island of Soyeol. The air was hot and humid, the sea a shimmering expanse of turquoise. The harbor teemed with ships, their decks crowded with sailors repairing nets and tending to their vessels. These sailors, their bodies adorned with colorful tattoos, fell silent as they saw the Black Wings, its black sails billowing in the wind. It had been only four years since Hwan had braved the storms and arrived in Soyeol, yet his ship was already a terror, its dark silhouette a symbol of power and ruthlessness.

As soon as the anchor dropped and the gangplank was lowered, Yirahng stumbled off the ship, retching violently into the sea. Hwan held her hair back, his hand gently rubbing her back. Yirahng, her body wracked with coughs, seemed determined to empty her stomach.

"Seasick?" Hwan scoffed. "Since when?"

"Shut up," Yirahng groaned, glaring at him.

Once she had recovered, Hwan led her and Keumpyeong Hui off the ship, leaving the rest of the crew to their own devices. He handed a pouch filled with silver to one of his men.

"Enjoy yourselves," he said. "Yirahng and I will return to the ship tomorrow morning. Hui, you come with us."

"Yes, Guardian," Hui replied with a bow.

The crew dispersed, some remaining to guard the ship, while others headed towards the taverns and pleasure houses that lined the harbor. Hwan, with Yirahng and Hui in tow, made his way towards his favorite inn. Yirahng, her stomach settled, attacked her food with gusto, while Hui, uncomfortable sharing a table with Hwan, picked at his meal.

"Eat," Hwan said.

Hui, startled, bowed his head and shovelled food into his mouth. Though it was a rare treat to enjoy a meal on land, Hwan barely touched his food.

"So," Yirahng asked, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, "what's the plan?"

"What plan?" Hwan asked back.

"You handed her over to Wicheong, left Yoon on Birahng, and now we're here in Seomy," Yirahng said. "You haven't told me anything."

"Are you worried I'm going to sell you to some slavers?" Hwan teased.

"I'm quite valuable, you know," Yirahng countered with a playful grin.

Hwan chuckled. Yirahng, with her confident smirk and striking appearance, was indeed one of a kind. Her mismatched eyes, the pale scars that marred her body, the streaks of white in her dark hair. She was a sight to behold. Unfortunately, her unique appearance hadn't translated into a high price on the slave market. Hwan's thoughts drifted back to the stories Yirahng had told him about her past.

Yirahng wasn't born on Birahng. She didn't know the name of the first island she remembered, but she said it was small enough to walk across in a day. And even that wasn't where she was born. She had no memory of her birthplace. Her mother, accused of bearing a child with a beast, had been forced to flee, hiding Yirahng from those who sought to kill her. Even on the island where they had stayed the longest, people had tried to capture and eat Yirahng during a plague, believing her blood and flesh held the cure. Hwan couldn't imagine facing such a threat, being hunted not just for his life, but for his flesh. He didn't know how much of Yirahng's story was true, how much was embellished, but Jang'gyeong Yoon had also tried to kill her when they first met, so it wasn't entirely unbelievable. Yirahng never pity her past while recounting it. Hwan didn't pity it, either.

After Yirahng came under Hwan's protection, no one dared to even attempt to harm or despise her. Yirahng, under Hwan's tutelage, learned the art of wielding weapons and grew strong enough to protect herself. The pirates of Seomy were well aware of the pair's history, so Yirahng was safe on the island. The misfortune was that, in the very inn they now occupied, there were two Sungians present who had never heard the tale of Hwan and Yirahng.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

The mockeries cut through the inn's din.

"Is that a person, or a spotted bitch?" one of the Sungian men sneered. "Looks like it crawled out of a dog's cunt."

Though their words were laced with a thick Sungian accent, Hwan understood every syllable. He rose abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor, silencing the inn. All eyes turned towards him, except for the two Sungians, who continued their mockery of Yirahng. Hwan approached them, his gaze cold and menacing.

"So your kind fuck bitches, do you?" he remarked.

The two men recognized his accent. "Who the fuck are you?" one of them sneered.

Hwan didn't reply. He simply stared at them. The two men, their large frames towering over Hwan, rose to their feet. Sungians were generally taller and more muscular than the Dahnians or Soyeolishes, and they often referred to the latter as "doggies" and "seals." Hui, watching from afar, felt a surge of fear. Hwan seemed so small, so vulnerable against those two brutes.

"A doggy should stick to its bitch," one of the Sungians taunted. "Not enough with your spotted bitch, you've come looking for a seal as well?"

A few of the Soyeolish pirates in the inn reached for their weapons, while others discreetly gathered their belongings and slipped away. Yirahng, however, simply grinned, seemingly unfazed by the insults. Hui, on the other hand, felt his blood run cold.

The tension in the air was palpable. Hwan and the two Sungians reached for their swords. The Sungians drew their blades, their curved edges glinting in the dim light. It was a mistake. Hwan's scabbard met their swords, deflecting the blows. The force of the impact vibrated through his arms, but he held his ground. His own sword flashed, its tip slicing through the abdomen of one Sungian and embedding itself in the belly of the other. The first man collapsed, his entrails spilling onto the floor. Hwan twisted his blade, wrenching it free from the second Sungian's gut. The man fell to his knees, clutching his stomach as blood gushed from the wound. Hwan struck again, his sword slicing through the man's jaw. The severed jaw rolled across the floor. A few patrons screamed and fled, but most remained, their eyes glued to the spectacle. The inn's servants rushed forward, dragging the bodies away and mopping up the blood and gore. Hwan wiped his blade and sheathed it.

Hwan returned to his seat, and a young servant approached with a damp cloth. Hwan took it and wiped the blood from his face and hands. He ran his tongue over his teeth, savoring the metallic tang, then spat on the floor. He glanced at Yirahng, who was watching him with a frown.

"What's with the face?" he asked.

"I kill those who insult me," Yirahng retorted. "You aren’t my executioner."

Hwan scoffed. "You wouldn't stand a chance against those two. Only draw your sword when you're sure you can win."

Yirahng didn't reply.

"Do you understand?" Hwan pressed.

"You idiot," Yirahng scoffed. "How else am I supposed to get stronger?"

"You can't get stronger if you're dead."

After their meal, Hwan headed towards Seomy Castle, which overlooked the harbor. The path was lined with statues, a common sight in Soyeol, unlike Wi, where Sahngjon's image was never depicted. He reached the main gates, their imposing structure a stark contrast to the simple wooden buildings of the harbor. Seomy Castle was neither as beautiful as Nahmgyo Fortress nor as fortified as Hyangdo Fortress. It was more of a fortified manor than a true fortress or castle. The guards recognized Hwan and opened the gates without a word.

Those who knew him called him the "Isleless King" behind his back. The Soyeolish loved vibrant colors and had little appreciation for the subtle beauty of black silk. They mocked his black sails, his lack of a true territory. Every king, no matter how small, had its own island, and Hwan, with his ship and his ambitions, was an outsider. Those who had dared to use that title to his face were all dead. Only one man addressed him as such without fear: Baekan Yujeong (白岸柔正), the man he was going to see.

Yujeong sat sprawled on his bed, his clothes loose, his bare skin exposed. Even in his chambers, he wore an array of weapons. Hwan sat opposite him, Yirahng and Hui kneeling behind him.

"The Isleless King graces my humble abode," Yujeong remarked, a sly smile playing on his lips.

Hwan's eyes narrowed, but he kept his hand away from his sword. Though his glare seemed disrespectful, Yujeong remained unfazed. It was a silent acknowledgment of their shared history, a tense respect between two powerful men.

Yujeong was a seasoned warrior, his left ear and the last two fingers on his left hand missing. He often boasted of his youthful beauty, but Hwan found such claims hard to believe. He preferred to trust his own eyes.

Yujeong's gaze swept over Hwan's bloodstained clothes and Yirahng, who cowered behind him. Though she was fearless and defiant on the Black Wings, even mocking Hwan at times, she seemed intimidated by Yujeong's presence.

"It seems you've had a busy day," Yujeong remarked. "Still clinging to that spotted pupper, I see."

"I'll rip your tongue out one day," Hwan said.

"Why? It's rather endearing, don't you think? Puppers are quite cute."

"Who are you to give her a nickname?"

"I have a certain fondness for her, don't I?"

Hwan remained silent, and Yujeong continued.

"I heard you sold a rather large merchant ship recently. I was quite disappointed you didn't stop by to share the spoils."

"I've been busy," Hwan replied dismissively. "No time for pleasantries."

"Then what brings you here?" Yujeong asked. "It's clearly not for a social visit."

Hwan met his gaze. "I need your loyalty."