[SEOHYUN P.O.V]

*BANG!*

I stopped in my place immediately when I heard a gunshot-like sound. Everyone stopped in their tracks as well, while we all looked at each other quizzically. Widening my eyes in realization, I blurted in shock:

“IT MUST BE JESSE-OPPA!”

“Yeah! And Tippany must be with him! Let’s go, gang! They should be close!”

Taeyeon oppa said quickly as everyone nodded in agreement and we rushed to the direction of the sound. Although the entire gang and I, well… since we had a hard time inside the cave, we were really tired, yet… Silently, I prayed and used all my strength to find my unnie and oppa.

“Please, God… I hope they are safe.”

We ran through a vast forest to rescue them. However, we had an odd scenery a couple meters away from us... there was some kind of hill with a bunch of rocks covering a wide crack. Oh my God! They must be close! That path should be the exit of the cave!

“Hold on a second! I found something here!”

Sooyoung oppa yelled as he was crouching and inspecting the ground to see some footsteps:

“They must have passed through here… hmm odd… I am only seeing a pair of footsteps...”

Yuri unnie said with a confused tone as our eyes followed the footsteps. We followed the footprint path and still, no sign of them. My heart was aching; I didn’t know where my unnie and Jesse oppa was… I can feel that they nearby, but where? My lips quivered downwards as I was holding myself not to cry, I must be strong so that I can find them! Just while I was having an battle with my inner-self, a sudden shout broke my train of thoughts:

“I FOUND THEM!”

I quickly shot my head up as Yoong-oppa shouted as he pointed to a huge tree, with a clearly troubled expression, we rushed to the spot and…

!!!

“Oh no…”

“Oh my God!” My companions gasped in shock, I made my way to them as I finally saw the scene. A gasp escaped from my lips and the tears I was holding in started to roll down by my face at the situation before me. I shook my head and threw myself forward as I screamed in despair:

“UNNIE!”

My unnie and Jesse oppa were unconscious under the shadow of the tree. Yet, when I was about to reach her, I frowned in confusion when I saw a notable scene… Unnie and Jesse oppa… they were holding hands? This isn’t the point now! I quickly shook my head as I kneeled on the grass and pulled Fany unnie to my arms. My heart eased a bit when I heard her stable breathing. I closed my eyes and silently thanked God. Yet, my thoughts were interrupted when I heard a sudden yell:

“Fany! Are you ok?! Wake up!”

Siwon… oppa, he rushed to me and quickly grabbed unnie from my arms. I was agape with his bold move; I couldn’t help but to frown as I could see that everyone in the gang did the same. Nonetheless, I was feeling better to see my sister’s condition. Yet… when I was about to scold him, a scene made my heart stop… before my eyes, I saw a deep purple injury on Jesse oppa’s arm. A deep gasp escaped from my lips as I widened my eyes:

“JESSE-OPPA!”

“Oh no, Jesse!”

Yuri unnie was surprised at the situation so we rushed to the unconscious oppa. Yuri unnie and I, we quickly aided him as I held his head gently and Yuri kneeled while holding his body. We widened our eyes when we realized that he was drenched in sweat, the injury on his arm was bleeding and his breathing was very weak. Yuri unnie checked his pulse and it was very weak as well. She sniffed, already tearing up:

“JESSE, YOU STUPID! YOU CAN’T DIE!”

“WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!”

Sunny unnie screamed while hyperventilating. The entire gang was in despair as we didn’t know what to do. It was when it hit me… I can help him! I turned my attention to his face as I raised my head to release my healing power…

“Oppa… d-don’t die.”

I gulped hard, feeling warm tears flowing down from my eyes. Suddenly a thought crossed my mind…

“Fany unnie needs you oppa, I know she loves you, she just doesn’t know it yet… Don’t give up, oppa, don’t give up.”

When I thought that I would be able to cure him, I realized that my healing power wasn’t emitting from my hands. I frowned deeply as I used all my strength to help him, but none… I was really tired since we had a hard time fighting against some cobras in the cave.

“No…”

A frustrating sigh escaped from my lips since the healing power wasn’t working. Out of sudden, I remembered of the Oracle’s potion and I knew that liquid could heal any kind of status. So I hurriedly searched Jesse-oppa's clothes and then, I found… an empty flask? No no no! The Oracle gave this potion to everyone, so if his bottle was empty, then why wasn't h---?! Oh no… I remembered that as soon Jesse-oppa and Fany-unnie fell in the trap, I was in a real hurry to find them since I saw that unnie’s flask dropped on the ground and broke it.

That must be it! Since we found some cobras in the cave, which means…, they encountered those monsters as well! And the worse is… we had to use our potions too or else… we wouldn’t be here now…By the look of oppa’s injury, precisely a pair of perforations on his arm, he was bitten… Oh no, we must be fast! I looked over my shoulder and I was shocked to see that in a snap of second, Tae-oppa realized the same thing. Our eyes met and we knew as we looked back to the unconscious Jess oppa…

Jesse-oppa… saved unnie… he-he s-sacrificed his potion… to s-save her… Oh no, oppa! You can’t die!

My anguish only got worse when Jesse-oppa started to tremble and his lips started turning white. I shrieked and screamed in frustration, already breaking down. I kept raising my hands, hoping to cure him, but nothing came…

“Oppa! Don’t give up! You c-can’t die! You c-can’t!”

Just when I thought that nothing could get worse… I was wrong… I stopped on my words just when I heard sounds like footsteps behind the bushes and trees. Everyone, including me tensed up when out of sudden, many people wearing some kind of camouflaged outfit resembling soldiers… but a very different kind from anything that I have ever seen. They were heavily armed as they pointed guns, bows and swords against us.

“Cr@p…”

Taeyeon-oppa mumbled worriedly while we started to move to backwards until we found ourselves cornered. Each one of my companions looked to each other as they moved their hands to their bracelets, seeing the sudden move; a soldier pointed to us and raised his arms to his army as if he was ready to give a command:

“PREPARE! F-!!”

“CEASE YOUR ATTACKS!!!”

My heart was at ease again when I heard the familiar voice… The Oracle’s voice; she jumped from a tree branch as she placed herself in front of us while facing the army… Who are they? This doesn’t matter now; we must save Jesse oppa!

[NO ONE P.O.V]

The commander lowered his arm as he walked forward, to the Oracle’s direction. The latter remained still as she quickly asked again:

“Don’t take a step closer! One of them needs your assistance! His life depends on us!”

“I am the Commander, Eun-Hyuk. Why should I listen to your request? Who knows if all of you are with the Red Bandits? Answer me, before I order the attack!”

“You should show more respect.”

The Oracle warned as the Commander aka Eun-Hyuk remained emotionless and snapped back:

“And why should I?! Identify yourself immediately!”

The Oracle shook her head and raised her hand. Out of sudden, she startled everyone as she removed her white hood and spoke earnestly:

“I am… Hyori… the Oracle.”

*Gasp*

!!!

Everyone gasped in shock and widened their eyes with the sight of the beautiful woman before them… The Oracle was a young, yet gorgeous woman. Seeing that he disrespected the most respected person of this land, Commander Eun-Hyuk kneeled and bowed his head as he quickly apologized himself:

“Please forgive me, Oracle. We didn’t want to disrespect you! It’s just that we were protecting our Village’s from the Red Bandits. They are under Zen’s control and kept attacking our village’s surroundings nonstop!”

The Oracle Hyori gasped and shook her head as she spoke in anguish:

“Oh no… Zen… he is insane… that bandits don’t have any scruples.”

“Yes, Mistress Oracle. That’s why we are defending ourselves from any intruder… by the way… who are they?”

He said as he pointed to the gang behind the Oracle; the latter followed his finger and suddenly answered:

“You are pointing to… the chosen ones… the same ones who killed the Sea Serpent and the Chimera.”

“WHAT?! THEM?! Oh, I am really sorry. Please, forgive me.”

Eun-Hyuk bowed his head apologetically as he looked to each member of the gang. Yet, when his eyes landed on a blond girl… a.k.a HyoYeon, their eyes locked for a moment into some kind of trance. Not able to hold the stare, HyoYeon averts her eyes to her side and a small blush crept on her cheeks. The commander did the same as he gulped hard, still stunned with the girl’s beauty. In his mind, he could only admit one thing:

“She is… beautiful…”

But, before he could continue, the Oracle snapped with a determined tone:

“You can apologize to them later, right now they need assistance. Take us to Soshi Village. Quickly, he won’t last for too long.”

Commander Eun-Hyuk rapidly turned to his men and warned into a determined tone:

“Men, listen to me! Our main objective now is to bring the Oracle and the chosen ones to our village. One of them it’s seriously injured, we must be fast and I really mean it! Marching now! 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3!”

With that, the Soshi village army marched while aiding the gang to reach their next destination… Soshi Village…

[TIFFANY P.O.V]

My whole body was numb, I felt like my bones were burning from inside out and a headache was bothering me. I wanted to rest a little longer since I felt dizzy, but when I heard some whispers and other noises, my mind was bringing me back to the reality. Fluttering my eyes open, all I saw was a huge blur and slowly, the silhouette of someone in front of me started to look clearer. I heard a gasp, yet when I realized the one in front of me, a wave of relief filled my heart:

“Unnie! You're finally awake! Thank God!”

A small smile crept on my lips once I was embraced by my little sis. I felt my shoulder getting wet, so acting quickly; I returned the hug as I brushed her long hair affectionately. Unconsciously, tears started to fill my eyes as I whispered to her gently:

“Yeah, I am so glad to see you are fine, Hyunnie. Please… forgive your irresponsible unnie. I-I was really worried abo