Storm. It was quite a rare state for the eastern settlement to be caught up with a storm. Within the 365 days cycle, showers usually fell around the 300th – 307th day –most lasted just a week or so. But now that it is nearing the end of the year cycle, heavy downpour has been occurring for about 2 days straight and it was still showing no sign of quitting. Peddlers and merchants have to stay put in their own shelter, halting their usual bustling business. Cows and horses kept safe in the stables and the elders and workers hang about the drinking lodge, chugging beer all the way—hoping for the usual sunlight to seep upon their town once more. The houses began to be tested: the roofs, the windows, the walls. Roof tiles flew, the single panes rattled in their aging frames, only the walls stood firm and still, and inside the hut not far from Lord Kang’s demeanour household, a girl with soft brown hair, like the bark of an oak tree, not dark but simply gentle in any light was spotted on—a wooden sword in her grip, lashing left to right with perspiration. She was interrupted when her terrier dog who was tied at one corner, barking noisily, indicating an unwanted presence. The girl looked to her left and saw a guy who resembles her monolid eyes, his teal clothes half soaked through the rain, stood leaning on the entrance, arms folded with a displease look on his face.   “Mother called you,” the guy, her brother said, as he walk around the hut with distaste, “you’ve been skipping sewing lessons again—for this?”   Seulgi rolls her eyes and throw her wooden sword on the ground before walking towards her terrier dog, Atlas, untying the rope on its collar. “You know I’m not interested in those petty things. Besides, I’ve already mastered the over-edge stitch, what more is it to learn about?”   “I don’t know—umm, maybe how to be a proper lady, like how all girls should?” her brother mocked as he was about to went out, “And oh, don’t forget your appointment with the tailor. She’s coming around noon. Try not to scramble away from this and act proper like a lady should will you. For Old God’s sake, you’re 18 years of age, Seulgi.”   Seulgi flicks her tongue and sighs after her brother, Jaebum, left. Stupid, stupid fitting dress crap, she thought as she stood up, letting Atlas out back to the household. If it weren’t for the Western royals coming over, Seulgi would have not been coping up with all the appropriate—prim, upbringing of a lady. She would have accompanied her father hunting in the woods and practice her sword fight or anything instead being locked down with her mother and all the other young girls preparing their courteous manners and act. Seulgi went outside the hut and tilt her head to the graphite sky, letting the cold water cover her skin and looked forward again as she jogs her way to the large household once more.                                                                                                             ***     “How many times I’ve told you not to run away from these lessons,” Seulgi’s mother nags over and over as she and all the other ladies were sewing a red drape for the banquet table. Seulgi bites the red apple on her hand and ran away from the room before her mom could badger her more. These past week have been quite a hectic week for the Easterners as the Western Royals has announced that they would be visiting. Lord Kang, Seulgi’s father is the honourable Lord of the East and a very close friend to their current ruler, King Bae II, who rules the whole 4 zones; West, East, South and North. It was a sudden announcement from the messenger last month that the king and his kinfolk would be visiting. Why, nobody knows, but all in all, everyone was preparing a little too lavishly.   The rain has subsided after a couple of days. The people rejoice and were in ease as they continue along their usual trades and business. Seulgi hopped over outside their household once more, the damp ground leaving faint shoe marks as she watched over her brother, Jaebum, fidgeting his bow as his archery trainer watched over. Jaebum feebly picks up the bow and targets it at the bulls eye, but once the arrow was released, it went to the left and hit the patch of hays, which resulted a laugh from Seulgi as she walked over and grasped the bow from her brother’s hand—making a perfect stance and target—and as usual, she hits straight bullseye. She heard an applause from above and look up to see her dad, smiling at her, which earned a disapprove growl from Jaebum as he chased Seulgi around. Seulgi was out of breath as she ran into the Godswood, away from her raging brother. Seulgi lay upon the fallen leaves and smiled to herself. It wasn’t her fault that she was good in archery, and many bunch of things—that Jaebum wasn’t. Seulgi has always wanted to be a knight. One of the kings knight to be precise, but then she was born as a girl—although that wasn’t enough for her to give up that dream. She knows she will be one. By hook or by crook. Seulgi sat up and brushed the leaves littering from her head as a fierce rustling, loud enough to drown out the chorus of the birds gushed its way through the woods. In her experience, all eighteen years of it, the wind did not arrive all of a sudden. It should build up gradually and it should weave through the tree trunks a least a little. She her finger and held it to the wind; it’s coming from the west.                                                                                                                ***     The wooden front gate of Kang’s household lay wide open, with all of them stood in their best dress and suits, waiting for the main arrival of the Westerners. Lord Kang stood proudly in his robes fastening around the waist, his head occupies with a head made of velvet, symbolizing his significant rank, while his wife, Lady Kang had her arm encircled to her husband, eyes scanning the surrounding, making sure everything was perfect, but when her eyes darts on her right, towards her eldest child, Jaebum, her eyebrows furrows.   “Where is your sister?” Lady Kang inquires, as her eyes skims around worriedly, “I thought she was here just a while ago.” Jaebum merely shrugs in much disinterest on his mom’s uneasiness. “Maybe she’s playing with that useless dog.”   The ground slightly shook under her feet, signalling the arrivals of the Westerners. And judging from it, Seulgi knows there must be quite a number of carriage and carts coming over. Seulgi quickly pumps out water into the container and place it in front of Atlas. “Drink up good boy.” And with that, Seulgi grabs both side of her dress and scramble to the gathering.   She manages to slip past the crowd of people and seeps in to stand beside her brother. A grin form on her face as she saw fully equip horses and a number of carriage making their grand entrance. But her grin disappeared when a slight painful nudge hit her right side. With an irritate expression, Seulgi eyes Jaebum and hushed, “What?”   “Would you at least do your hair properly? You look like a lost tramp.” Jaebum hiss before switching to an appealing smile as the King gets down from his stallion. Seulgi quickly go through her hair, swiping to wherever necessary before imitating what her brother did as she too, etches a smile.   King Bae II unmounts his horse with much ease. His suit of armour clanks as he walks towards Lord Kang before engulfing the latter in a short embrace. While the both chatter, Seulgi’s eyes went astray to the carriage behind the King’s stallion. For a moment Seulgi thought she saw a pair of eyes looking at her from the velvety curtain, but as she was about to focus more, the sharp voice of the King is heard.   “My goodness,” King Bae mutters as he takes a good look at Seulgi’s brother, “Is this really the Young Lord Kang? Last time I saw you, you were not more than seven.” Jaebum lips stretch into a pleasing smile which Seulgi knows too much as she saw her brother’s nostrils flare in delight. “Have you perhaps mastered swordsmanship?”   “Yes, Your Grace,” Jaebum bows his head a little and continues, “I have been doing nothing but training during these past few years.” Seulgi felt like scoffing but it might be seen as inappropriate. “Really, well then you must be good at hunting too I presume? Maybe after I have settled down, we could go hunt some deer’s with your father.” Jaebum nods, although Seulgi could see a tad bit of frown starting to crease on Jaebum’s forehead.   The King then eyes Seulgi as she bows and curtsey in her yet best attempt. King Bae’s brown eyes look upon her with much interest. “Well isn’t this the little child who got out from the fire?” Seulgi’s eyes widen a little, not really certain on what the King had spoken. “You grew up looking as beautiful as your mother.”   “And as stubborn as I am,” Lord Kang intercepts with a chuckle, earning a few laughter and agreements from several people around them. “I see, you have you father’s persistent? Do make good use with it.” The King smiles at her one last time before walking back to her father. “I have a thing or two to discuss with you my old friend, and I would be more than content if you could give us a couple of days of hospitality to my people.”   “Couple of days, why not coupl