The church had an incandescent glow that Thursday afternoon, whether it was from the warm August sun or the pixies flying to and fro trying to get the final touches on the decorations in place. Hushed murmurs hummed as the guests greeted each other as if they hadn't crossed paths that morning to tend to their gardens or make their deliveries.

 

All manner of folk were invited; from the woodland elves to the river nymphs, the mountain dwarves and different types of creatures, even the goblins were there for the most beautiful day in the kingdom.

 

Yoohyeon sat with her hands folded neatly on her lap over her newly tailored suit, a crisp white mandarin collar uniform with a green leather bracer on her left arm, perfectly measured with intricate designs fit for the best archer in the Royal Army according to Handong. Gahyeon, in her beautifully tight, equally as white, dress, stood beside her fixing the emblem on Yubin's chest, the same one pinned on hers.

 

She fiddled with her fingers as she noticed everybody rushing to their seats in their designated places, telltale signs that the ceremony was about to begin. Her lungs felt suffocated even with the breeze that passed through the church windows, her heart ramming at her ribcage like a rabid animal. For some reason, she felt nervous, like the ceiling would cave in any moment.

 

Not that she wished it would.

 

Then the organ started playing and all she felt was Handong tapping her back, urging her to stand. That odd girl she met some time before was right, it did sound like a death march.

 

With her eyes to the ground and her nails digging into the leather on her forearm, she dreaded the clicking of heels on the church's porcelain floor that somehow broke through the harmonious tune. She could feel the cold sweat on her nape drip down the length of her spine, even with her hair tied in a low ponytail she couldn't help but perspire.

 

The clicking drew closer, duetted by her heartbeat growing wilder, she was getting more lightheaded by the minute until an elbow hit her stomach and she looked up quickly, yanked from her dwindling sanity.

 

She met brown eyes, a deep rich color that rivaled the soil she came from. Intense yet soft, a warmth that radiated, so welcoming and yet out of reach. Worried, as they bore into hers, contrite but content. Yoohyeon offered her a smile, as bright as she could muster, hoping that, even if it hurt, it would momentarily erase any trace of her in Minji's mind.

 

In her heeled white boots, Minji stopped at the foot of the altar and turned to face the crowds, hand clenched tightly around the hilt of her sheathed sword. The General stood proudly with a soft smile on her lips, she looked angelic in the double-ed suit Handong made for her — as if she didn't any other day.

 

Minji always had an air about her, commanding but at the same time welcoming. You wouldn't have trouble looking for her in a crowd, she would simply stand out. Like she was handcrafted to be the subject of great praise. Yoohyeon often wondered how it was possible to preserve such kindness, such grace and possess as much power as Minji did. There was a reason she held the highest position in the kingdom's defenses. Not only was she one of the most powerful faeries and a most skilful swordsman, she was brilliant and cunning and compassionate but firm and trustworthy.

 

As she looked at the blonde one of her fondest memories of her flashed through her mind.

 

The battlefield was a gruesome place, Yoohyeon knew this even before she set foot in it. It was gut-wrenching to see it from the flanks where she usually was, but to be in the middle of it, thigh bleeding and nailed to the ground by a spear — it's truly a one-of-a-kind experience. Her vision began shaking as dried out, she could feel the touches to her face, the slight shaking of her body, and the echoes of a voice too far away for her to recognize, but nothing could have been strong enough to drown the sensation in her leg.

 

The ambush was fatal, she wasn't sure who survived, or what was left of their camp. If there was anything that could surmount the pain she felt, it would be worry. Where was Yubin? When was the last time she saw Siyeon? Did something happen to Minji?

 

Her head felt heavy, she couldn't contain the building concern she had over who had been injured and what had been damaged together with the throbbing, gnawing pain that ate away at her flesh. Her muscles burned by the minute, both blood and sweat dripping from her skin. She doesn't even know when she lost consciousness.

 

Yoohyeon woke up to shouting, and considering the position she had last been in, she panicked. Kicking up and out of bed to grab her bow, adrenaline coursing through her blood, she didn't even feel the pain in her leg. Until, Yubin rushed inside of the tent, in a similar panic.

 

"What's going on? Are they back?" Yoohyeon stepped forward only to fall on her knees because of the pain. Her sight out for a moment and her ears rang, heart racing.

 

"Hey! Careful. It's okay. They're gone, but you need to come outside." The other girl helped her up, supporting her by the waist.

 

The two of them carefully walked out of the tent, Yubin making sure to ease the pressure that the archer put on her leg. The screaming got louder, as they drew nearer, Yoohyeon started to get a sense of what the argument was all about.

 

"What does she even know about leading an army? She’s a child! And a girl no less!" A big brute declared, one of the soldiers in the Royal Army. He wasn't a high ranking official, and he had been a soldier much longer than Yoohyeon and her friends, but they had fought as many battles as he did.

 

"The General was very specific about this at the time of his death. The girl will succeed." Yoohyeon froze where she stood. The General is dead?

 

She felt tears stinging in her eyes and heart racing at the sudden news. The General is dead.

 

"The General wouldn't have been thinking straight when he made that declaration." The man bit back and the other soldiers behind him made sounds of agreement.

 

"Before there was even news about this rebellion, the General had already made it clear that should he face a grim fate, Minji would take his place."

 

"Sir, I think this matter should be discussed when we get back. There are greater problems that need our concern first before this even begins to feel important." Minji pleaded from beside the man heading the meeting, he was one of the General's most trusted men, an archer, too. The man who trained Yoohyeon.

 

"See? She doesn't even see the urgency of needing a leader in this time of distress. She is too emotional to lead an army. We need to act now, take them out while they’re down." The brute said, raising his voice once more and the men behind him shouted in support.

 

“Our troops are also down, our resources low. We cannot risk blindly attacking and waste any more men than we already have. We need to fall back, sir.”

 

“And what, surrender? You clearly don’t know what you are talking about.”

 

“We are not surrendering, we are recuperating. Sure, we made a dent in their numbers after that ambush, but they took out a lot of ours, too. The General and his closest men included. We need a plan of action, and time to recover. We are in their territory, we are vulnerable.” Minji’s words struck all of them in that circle, even the soldiers who were in support of the man. That seemed to anger him further. The older archer was about to dismiss them and discuss with Minji when the brute said something again.

 

"If the General was so keen on letting a little girl take over the army, why didn't he just appoint his own daughter? At least, we'd be led by an elf. Instead, he chose this lowly fae."

 

"And you think you'd do any better?" She spoke, above the noises of the dimwits who still supported the elf in the middle of the circle. All heads turned to her, all taken aback by her sudden interference. She couldn’t take it anymore, not only was he insulting her dearest friend, but he was insulting her father. "Has the General ever led you astray? Is that how you knew him? As a person who made rash decisions?"

 

Biting through the pain, she limped toward them. She intended to make her point, but Minji held her back, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her toward herself. Yoohyeon was known to bite her tongue, choosing to suffer in discomfort rather than cause a commotion, but when it came to disrespect, everyone knew not to cross her. She was still the General’s daughter, after all.

 

"You think you know better? You think you’ve got what it takes to lead this army and defend the kingdom? No, because you'll never be half the wise man the General was, or half the warrior Minji is."

 

She knew Minji, how hard she tried to protect her family, how hard she worked to get to where she was. Yoohyeon also knew how fond her father was of Minji. He often complimented the older girl, often telling her about Minji's accomplishments in training. Minji was a swordsman, as was the General, so they worked closely.

 

But even then, Yoohyeon never felt any jealousy toward the girl. She never minded that her father complimented her friend more than he did his own daughter. Frankly, she admired Minji more than the General did. And if there was anyone who was fit to lead the army as he did, it was Minji.

 

She was more the General's daughter than Yoohyeon ever would have been.

 

"If the General trusted this lowly fae to lead the Royal Army, then he must have seen something in her that you will always be too dumb to notice." She spat; tongue numb in passionate distate. "And if that's what the General thought then there's no room for us to question his decision."

 

The other elf cowered, flinching back when he saw the fire that burned behind her irises.

 

"Yooh." Minji whispered, pulling her closer. Trying to stop her from causing herself anymore pain and keeping her from inflicting harm on their fellow soldiers.

 

"I'd rather go headfirst into battle behind her than put mine and the kingdom's safety into any of your filthy hands." She turned into Minji, who led her back to her tent. Siyeon and Yubin following close behind, supporting her from the back.

 

A few hours later, their army was packed up and ready to head back in batches. The wounded carried in carriages, supplies guarded, weapons at the ready for any sudden attacks. On the back of Minji’s horse, both she and Yoohyeon rode. The archer insisted that she was fine as she gripped her bow, doing her best to guard Minji as they rode home.

 

Her leg ached at the memory, the scar was gone, the mangled tissue repaired, and it had been over a decade ago but there was a pain that throbbed somewhere in her body.

 

It wasn't long after another pair of heels clicked on the porcelain and the attention shifted from Minji to the woman in the most beautifully sewn, masterfully designed wedding dress the kingdom had ever seen. Silhouetted by the sun, framed perfectly between the church's white wooden doors that gave her an iridescent halo.

 

Bora with her veil masking the soft smile she had on her lips, a look of excitement and contentment, expectant, sure, assured, floated on the aisle as every single creature in attendance, big and small, bowed and curtsied as she walked past them. Her eyes brimmed with tears and Yoohyeon understood, she had been waiting all her life for this day, this moment, with this person.

 

More than before, the archer felt her chest tighten as Bora looked over at her and their friends. Smiling wider and shaking her bouquet lightly at Handong and Gahyeon who sent her flying kisses before they curtsied. They locked eyes and Bora mouthed "I love you", Yoohyeon only bowed at her.

 

Yoohyeon groaned loudly, throwing her fists down on the steady flowing stream. She has been trying to catch a fish with her bare hands for the past hour or so.

 

The sun high up in the sky, the trees that lined both sides of the river doing nothing to cover her from the harsh light. Leaves still, no signs of a breeze disturbing them soon. No signs of life on the endless blue, maybe the birds were also too hot to leave their nests. She sweated profusely; her skin burned even though she was drenched from head to toe. Her limbs were starting to get sore from her past failed attempts, and frankly she was getting irritated. She was at the point of breaking and creating a net or some kind of device to help her with her task but she would surely get an earful from Minji.

 

She hunched over the water once again, waiting for an unsuspecting fish to swim by. Eyes tracking every detectable movement. Finally, she saw something swimming her way, noticeably slower than the current so she was confident about this one.

 

Yoohyeon waited patiently, hands at the ready. Her eyes strained to follow the fish's movement and anticipated any sudden changes in its behavior. Her fingers trembled in anticipation, her knees buzzing in exhaustion, and stomach growling in hunger.

 

Just a little bit more.

 

Almost there.

 

"What are you doing?" A voice suddenly spoke behind her, loud and unmistakable. It surprised her, causing her legs to jerk forward as she was leaning to catch the fish she had been eyeing.

 

Face first into the cool stream, Yoohyeon fell. It would've been better had she landed on the fish and caught it. But no, nothing like that happened.

 

Grumbling, she pushed herself up. She turned around to be greeted by the sweet sight of Bora laying down a picnic blanket. Stumbling and swaying, she walked towards the woman, out of the water, and onto the grass that welcomed her.

 

"I just lost a big catch because of you. It was big, BIG!" She gestured with her hands how big the fish she was trying to catch was.

 

"Is that any way to greet your Queen?" Bora teased, putting out the food she packed. A mischievous smile on her red lips.

 

Yoohyeon groaned again, throwing her head back and her clenched fists in the air. "Your Highness." She said nonetheless, bowing quickly, respectfully before stepping forward and kissing the woman on the cheek. "Do you know how long I was waiting for that fish to come around? An hour. AN HOUR! You know how hard it is to catch one with your bare hands? No, of course not!" She continued complaining.

 

Her friend laughed, coming towards her with a towel. A big fluffy, wash-fresh towel that she dried Yoohyeon's hair with.

 

"Careful." Yoohyeon whined as Bora moved her head around harshly. The taller one was going to protest again, but the older woman moved on to wiping her face, so her words got muffled.

 

Once finished, she wrapped the towel around the archer's shoulders, warning her about catching a cold.

 

Bora pulled out the food she had packed, she knew the girl hadn't eaten anything since that morning and she needed a little bit of encouragement. Cut up vegetables, sandwiches, a bottle of freshly squeezed oranges, even chocolate covered fruits. She packed everything she could from the kitchen. The younger girl’s eyes shined at the sight, and she chuckled.

 

"What exactly were you doing out here?" She asked while Yoohyeon was biting down on a muffin.

 

"Aldhfkalfja" Her answer, incomprehensible with the food in .

 

"Yooh." Bora complained. And waited, until the archer was done chewing and swallowing her food.

 

"The General is making me catch fish without the use of my powers or any kind of tool for missing training yesterday." She explained. It wasn't even intentional; she had woken up late and her uniform hadn't dried. In addition to that, she got caught up in helping the old florist make a delivery on the other side of town.

 

Minji wasn't too happy about a high-ranking officer missing training, especially since it was her. The General was very particular about keeping their skills sharp, how would they defend the kingdom if their troops weren't ready, more importantly if those leading weren't ready.

 

So, they trained. Twice a week. Training each of their skills, helping those who lacked them, strengthening their powers, and keeping their bodies conditioned. They were a peaceful kingdom, for the most part, who felt no inclination towards battle unless it was to protect their people. Creatures of whatever kind, from all walks of life living in perfect harmony with one another. So, they weren’t in any kind of threat whatsoever, but Minji was adamant that their forces be well-trained and prepared should any of that change.

 

Yoohyeon watched as Bora laughed, they understood how strict Minji could be when it came to her duties. She took note of the slight dip in the Queen’s cheeks, indicating that she had lost a noticeable amount of weight. It wasn’t easy heading a kingdom, Yoohyeon was sure of that.

 

Bora did have a tendency to complain, not so much now, but Yoohyeon couldn’t count the amount of times that the woman would complain to her about learning laws and politics before she was crowned.

 

“Siyeon has been whining nonstop about her shoulders being sore and I’ve noticed Yubin limping since last week.” The Queen said and laid down on the picnic blanket, eyes to the sky.

 

“How about you? How has royal life been?” Yoohyeon inquired, taking one of the bottled juices from the basket.

 

“Same old, same old. Honestly, I’m so glad to be out of the castle. I can’t remember the last time I felt the sun on my face.”

 

“Hmmm…” Yoohyeon only hummed as was once again full. Her eyes tracked every soft curve, every sharp corner, every dip, and slope of Bora’s face as the sun shone down on her heavenly. The Queen was paler than she used to be, cheeks almost void of their natural blush.

Bora was the embodiment of royalty. Even as children, she always had that air about her that screamed elegance and power. Although she had been quite rowdy when they were younger, once they had hit a certain age, her poise and beauty really spoke volumes.

“What are you thinking about?” The voice pulled the archer out of her thoughts. Next thing she knew, a hand had delicately cupped her chin, as though she would break if touched any other way.

Yoohyeon only smiled down at the Queen and placed a kiss just as delicate on her forehead.

A slight rustling of the leaves behind them broke the quiet moment they shared. The archer quickly jumped up and shielded Bora who sat up behind her. She didn’t have her bow, Minji made her leave it in her quarters because she didn’t want her to cheat on her task. So, her hands were out, ready to defend if they were attacked.

It had been a while since she had used her powers, they weren’t exactly useful for day-to-day use. The sweet sensation of the lighting coursing through her veins, tickling her nerve endings, was almost dizzying.

The bushes shook fervently. The anxiety was almost blinding, her breath was getting caught in with how much anticipation was building up in her fingertips.

From behind the shrubery, a fox jumped out, teeth bared and growling at them. Lighting flashed in Yoohyeon’s eyes, tracking the animal’s every move.

Until she heard giggling behind her.

Confused, she shook out of focus to find Bora laid on the picnic blanket and covering her face, shoulders shaking from laughter.

The sound of a different voice snickering made her turn her head to where the fox had been, only to see Gahyeon complete bare standing in front of her.

“Jeez, Gahyeon!” The archer quickly stood up and turned around to avert her eyes.

“What are you looking away for? Nothing you haven’t already seen.” The shapeshifter walked toward her and the Queen who wouldn’t stop laughing to get her clothes from the bottom of the picnic basket. As the tease she was, Gahyeon kissed Yoohyeon’s cheek before she got dressed.

“Oh my God, put some clothes on!”

Bora was still laughing when she faced the two women. Yoohyeon narrowed her eyes at her.

“Are you threatening your Queen?”

The archer just rolled her eyes and fell back into the open arms that invited her.

“I’ll get you back.”

“I love you, too. Keep eating, you’ve got fish to catch.”

She couldn’t help it, her eyes refused to look up. They stayed glued on the pew in front of her as the ceremony started.

“Is she really not coming?” Yubin whispered, leaning against her slightly. Yoohyeon only shrugged because she didn’t know, and frankly, she couldn’t care less at the moment.

Yoohyeon grunted when her arrow veered left, missing the target by a centimeter. She was doing her weekly 1000 arrows, an exercise her mentor gave her for precision and endurance training.

It rained early that morning, so the ground was rather muddy and soft, swallowing her feet which made her unable to plant her feet firmly (or so she excused). Her joints had decided they didn’t want to fire 1000 arrows that day either, her limbs hurt in all sorts of places, and her aim was off most of the time.

She breathed in deeply and exhaled with a shout before getting another arrow from her quiver.

“How many more of these do I have to do?” She asked Yubin, who was sat on the branch of the big tree in the General’s backyard reading a book. She finished her lessons early and felt she deserved the reward of lounging around and waiting for Yoohyeon to finish. Although the latter thought it was just the shorter girl’s way of mocking her.

“That’s your 698^th, so 302 more.” Yubin didn’t even look up from her book as she said so. Yoohyeon groaned, stomping her feet in annoyance. She would rather sleep in, honestly.

She got to firing around a hundred more arrows before she dropped her bow and collapsed to the ground, uncaring that her was soaked in the puddle under her. Arms and hands sore and calloused from the training, and she wasn’t even done yet.

“Oi!” She was slightly surprised by the sudden voice, but she was too tired to lift her head. She knew who it was anyway. That is until she heard a short scream, a thud, and a groan.

Yubin had fallen off the tree she was sitting in. Siyeon had snuck up on her, climbing next to her without her noticing. Too tired to move and check on her friend, Yoohyeon just waited until she stood up from the bush she fell into.

“This is why you should get your nose out of those books, Bin. How are you going to defend yourself when enemies sneak up on you?” Yoohyeon wanted to laugh, but her body hurt too much. A few seconds later, the girl stood up, covered in mud and leaves.

“One of these days, I’m gonna get you back and I’m gonna get you back good.” She taunted her assailant.

“You can’t, I’m too fast for you.”

The archer’s laughter could no longer be contained, Yubin rarely got teased. She was the usual victim of her friends’ cheekiness. So, she revelled in the target shift.

“People who haven’t finished their training aren’t allowed to laugh.” Yubin commented, which forced her smile back into a frown. It was Siyeon who laughed this time.

“Anyway, losers. Look what I got.” She sat down where Yubin had previously been, as the latter climbed back up to sit with her.

Yoohyeon’s house was a commonplace for her and her friends, usually they just hung out and played or had a picnic when the ground wasn’t all moist. On Sundays it was like this, watching Yoohyeon train (or struggling to).

Siyeon pulled out a small box from her pocket, a light blue one, with a white ribbon on top.

“I got it from the locksmith’s daughter, Tiffany, I think her name was. She’s really good at making them.” Carefully, she pulled out a gold necklace. A crown pendant held between two thin chains. Yoohyeon couldn’t see much of the details from where she was, but it had to have cost Siyeon a lot. It glimmered. Even in the absence of sunlight, it glimmered.

“Do you think Bora will like it? I’m planning to give it to her tonight.” The cavalier-in-training’s voice was small, doubt-laced.

“Isn’t her birthday not for another two months?” Yubin asked, examining the pendant.

“Yeah, little early don’t you think?” Yoohyeon pushed herself off from the ground, swaying slightly from the fatigue.

“Hmm.” Siyeon held the necklace in her palm, consciously eyeing it. “I have  a different thing planned for her birthday, I just got this on the whim. Should I just give her this on her birthday then?”

As she reached for another arrow, Yoohyeon caught Yubin’s eyes. They shared a look, knowing, slightly worried.

“Give it to her tonight then.”

“Yeah, why wait?”

With the response, Siyeon nodded her head and put it back in its holder, safely inside her front pocket.

Yoohyeon was down to the last 47 arrows. Her mother had come out a few minutes ago to give her two friends refreshments, and offered her some encouragement.

She swung her arm around a few times, trying to get rid of the soreness in her shoulders.

They all heard the door to the backyard open and close, the light footsteps on the moist ground, and the whistle before her ears perked up with the sound of something being thrown to the air toward her. She released her arrow mid-turn, penetrating the apple at a blinding speed.

The pierced fruit fell to the ground silently.

“.6 seconds faster than yesterday. Good progress.” The newcomer announced.

“The turn and shoot was very smooth. 10!” Yubin commented with applause.

“Your alertness is commendable. 10 for me as well!” Siyeon said with her best posh accent, clapping her hands ‘elegantly’.

Minji laughed at their antics.

Another arrow whizzed through the air and lodged itself on the branch Siyeon and Yubin sat on. They both tried to dodge it, tipping them out of balance, and making them fall off together.

“45.” Yoohyeon counted.

Minji doubled over in laughter.

“OH, COME ON! THAT’S THE SECOND TIME TODAY!”

“I’LL GET YOU BACK, KIM YOOHYEON!”

Her friends shouted from the bush they both laid in.

“I don’t think it’s recommended that you should practice your aim on your friends.” The swordsman walked over to her and ruffled her hair.

Yoohyeon threw herself on the older woman, throwing her bow and quiver on the ground. She needed the consolation, she was tired.

“Can I please take a break?” She whined, burying her face into Minji’ neck. “I’m so tired, my arms are numb already.”

Minji’s lips met her temple, right arm holding her up, while the left massaged her arm. “It’s an endurance training, Yooh. You have to push through with it. It’s meant to make shooting that much easier. If you finish faster, you can rest earlier.”

The archer stomped her feet like a child, still clinging to her friend.

“I don’t want to do it anymore.” She whined again.

“We’ll go to the waterfall when you’re done. That usually helps with the soreness, right?” Yoohyeon nodded. “Okay, keep going so we can get there in time for lunch.”

Hesitantly, the younger girl let go. She picked her bow up and wore her quiver again, going back to her position.

“I hope you miss your remaining shots.” She heard Siyeon say, Yoohyeon snarled at her. Before turning to face the target, she saw Siyeon reach into her pocket and walk toward Minji, probably to show her the necklace.

“Hey, unnie. Look at this.” She heard her say. Followed by a voice Yoohyeon is sure made the older girl shove the box back into her pocket.

“YA! Kim Yoohyeon, are you done with training?!” Bora burst through her backyard door with Gahyeon and Handong in tow, no doubt just coming back from their lessons as well.

Siyeon never got to give Bora that necklace. Not that evening, nor on her birthday.

That night, the Princess kissed Minji on the back garden of the palace when the latter walked her home after they spent the afternoon at the waterfall.

“Should anyone present know of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony,” Yoohyeon hadn’t even noticed that it had come to that point in the ceremony already. She looked up.

To Minji and Bora staring lovingly at each other’s eyes, exchanging unspoken promises.

To the love her life and the love of her life binding themselves together in an eternal vow.

“Speak now or forever hold your pe – “

An explosion cut the minister off, the church’s doors flew across the aisle and landed right in front of the altar, charred, and still in flames. The guests’ screams erupted as everyone moved away from the entrance.

Yoohyeon stood up, surprised that neither the guards nor their fellow soldiers, even Minji, didn’t move an inch.

On the archway of the church, under the heat of the afternoon sun, eyes aflame in hatred, Siyeon stood seething.

With heavy steps, she stormed toward the altar. Her intent to harm evident to anyone who watched, yet they were all in disbelief.

Yoohyeon quickly charged forward to intercept her, putting herself between Siyeon’s murderous gaze and the couple.

“Unnie, stop!”

And she did.

Midway down the aisle.

Her feet halted in resentment.

“Move away, Yoohyeon.”

“No. I’m not going to let you do this.”

Siyeon growled and set her arms alight. Her fire was hellish, they all knew what damage it could cause. Her wrath was even worse.

Yoohyeon signalled Yubin to get the citizens out of there, looking left and right to order the guards to stand by and protect the Queen and the General.

“How many more games are you willing to play? I can’t believe you were just going to sit through this.”

It was then that Yoohyeon noticed Siyeon’s clothes; the same tailored suit made by Handong. Hers was meant to be a three-piece, but instead of a vest, it had a blue leather chest plate.

Why was she doing this if she was already dressed?

That’s when she noticed the gold chain that hung from Siyeon’s fist.

The necklace.

Siyeon claimed she had lost it years ago.

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, you know, Yoohyeon.” The cavalier spat. “They betrayed us. Both of us.”

“That’s not true, unnie.”

“Isn’t it?” Siyeon took a step closer, and a collective gasp erupted. Yoohyeon’s hand flinched, itching to come to her defense, but she didn’t want to offend Siyeon. “Minji knows I’ve been in love with Bora since we all had lessons together. Bora knows you’ve been in love with Minij since you met her.”

The world came to a standstill. The revelation heavy in the air.

“How do you not see how unfair all of this is, Yoohyeon?” Another step forward.

“Why are you sitting on the side line and watching the woman you love go off with someone else?” And another.

“How are you okay with this?” Another.

“Why are you standing against me instead of with me when they’ve hurt you too?”

Bombarded with Siyeon’s voice, the clouds rolled in and dimmed the skies, thunder rumbled, and lightning struck right at Siyeon’s feet.

“Don’t come any closer. You stay away from them.”

Those words fuelled the fire inside of Siyeon, she casted a fireball and threw it at Yoohyeon which the younger girl successfully dodged.

“Is that how it is? After everything they’ve done, you’re still defending them. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!”

The guards were now surrounding the couple, they couldn’t move them, not without triggering Siyeon. So, they stood by and watched as Yoohyeon tried her best to protect them.

“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!” She threw a lighting bolt of her own, hoping to disarm her friend. But alas, Siyeon was quicker. “After everything they’ve done for you, you come here and ruin the one good thing they’ve had for a while?!”

It was her turn to charge at Siyeon. She was at a disadvantage, Yoohyeon knew that. She was an archer, which means she was a distance warrior, she wasn’t as trained in hand-to-hand combat as Siyeon and Minji were, but she was going to try her hardest anyway.

She fired a lightning bolt that hit Siyeon square in the chest, strategically the armored part, to stun her, but not hurt entirely.

“Did you ever stop to think that it was Minji unnie who made Bora unnie happy? Is your pain more important than her happiness?” She threw another that made Siyeon stagger backwards.

The other woman lunged forward throwing another fireball at her, “doesn’t my happiness matter?! Doesn’t yours?! I can’t see how you’re fine with getting hurt like this!”

“How could you accuse me of being okay when that was the hardest pill I had to swallow?! Knowing that it will never be me up there with her! Knowing that she was never going to love me the way she loves her!” She got too close and Siyeon caught her, forcing both of them in an armlock that incapacitated their powers.

Siyeon stared deeply at her, in disdain, disappointment, distrust. It was Yoohyeon who pushed away, forcing distance between them.

“My heart sank when Minji unnie told me Bora unnie kissed her, but it sank further when she said she hated herself because she knew you were in love with Bora unnie! You didn’t see the pain and regret in her eyes when she climbed into my window that night to ask me what she should do because she didn’t want to hurt you! You didn’t see the hesitance to love Bora unnie because she was afraid you would hate her! YOU DIDN’T LISTEN TO THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH SHE WANTED TO BE WITH SOMEONE ELSE, UNNIE! I DID!” She heard a soft sob behind her, she knew it was Bora, but she wasn’t going to turn back and take her eyes off Siyeon. Her father taught her better than that.

“I HAD TO PICK FLOWERS TO GIVE TO BORA UNNIE BECAUSE MINJI UNNIE WAS AT TRAINING! I HAD TO PICK OUT AN ENGAGEMENT RING WITH HER! I HELD HER HAND THROUGH ASKING THE KING FOR BORA UNNIE’S HAND IN MARRIAGE BECAUSE SHE WAS TOO NERVOUS TO GO HERSELF!”

Yoohyeon’s outburst rendered everyone frozen, even Siyeon.

“I was with her as she fell in love with another woman, unnie. And I did that not because I was a coward, but because I knew I was never going to be the one she needed or wanted. I was never going to be the one for her. I accepted that, way before she realized who she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.”

The sobbing grew, Siyeon’s own eyes welled with tears.

“But you,” Yoohyeon continued. “You could never accept it. You could never understand. That’s why you left. That’s why you disobeyed Minji unnie, why you betrayed the kingdom. Why you came here dressed just to crash their wedding. Because you’re always trying to prove something. But you’re just a coward, Siyeon unnie. That’s why you lost.”

Yoohyeon’s accusations ignited Siyeon’s fury once more. When she set herself aflame, her whole body burned.

She planted her feet firmly on the ground as she rushed forward to attack Yoohyeon.

In the archer’s eyes, everything moved in slow motion; Yubin’s attempt to interfere and Handong pulling her back, the tears that fell from Siyeon’s eyes even in her state, and the lightning that surged around her.

Flashes of their past filled her mind, memories of joy and heartbreak, of pain and victories. In all her years, she never thought she would stand here, in a church with her best friends scattered in varying stages of grief.

She heard Minji’s voice shout her name with Bora’s own in protest. She never wanted to cause either of them pain, all she ever wanted was for both of them to be happy. To cause them distress was something she never planned, never dreamed of happening.

With her own quick feet, she met Siyeon halfway, grabbing her arms even though it hurt her.

Fire and lightning met.

An explosion propelled them to opposite directions, Siyeon slid across the aisle unconscious toward the front, while Yoohyeon crashed into the steps of the altar, feeling them dig into her ribs.

“Yoohyeon!” Bora pushed through the guards in tears, trying to come to her aid, but she stopped the Queen from coming closer with a raise of her hands.

Yoohyeon pushed up from the steps, groaning in agonizing pain. Her suit was burnt, flesh singed, but she stood to her feet.

“I apologize.” She said, mustering up the strength to offer them a smile. Through her tears and the pain, she smiled. “To both of you. Surely, this isn’t how you wanted today to end.”

“Yooh.” Bora whispered.

“I’m fine.” She groaned. “Minister, please finish blessing their marriage.”

She gestured to the minister who was also protected by the swarm of guards.

“And I pray your days are filled with endless joy, that you are blessed abundantly and unceasingly. Seriously, you deserve it.” Yoohyeon’s tears flooded through, and she didn’t hold back the sob that came with it. “I love both of you. I’ll take care of her. Just please be happy for me, for both of us.”

She her heel and started walking toward her friend.

Strong arms stopped her dead in her tracks, wrapped around her shoulder and torso, careful not to hit her injuries but tight enough to hurt.

Even if she was blinded, she’d recognize that embrace anywhere.

She felt Minji cry, head leaned on hers. “Thank you, Yoohyeon.”

Cautiously, the archer held the arms that held her, unlatching them, hesitantly letting them go.

She did not turn back.

She kept walking.

Tears marking her every step.

Until she reached Siyeon.

Unmoving, just as wounded, but breathing.

Yoohyeon bent down to pick her up.

She carried her out the church doors and onto the open.

Thunder rumbled and lightning struck.

Then they were gone.

With them the dark clouds and the flames.