“Why can’t you be a softie again?” Yeojin asked the older girl who ignored her words instead focusing on the path in front of them. “Please, if we go we’ll be able to get the Avent special don’t you want the Avent special it's only made every 3 years?” Yeojin pleaded nearly falling off her horse as they trotted past the borders of the kingdom in question, practically watering at the rememberance of the sweet and sour roasted dish she had so long ago.

“We go there and either Tsume or Olivia Hye and Gowon spot us they'll end up dragging us in to that mess.” Kim Lip resisted earning a groan from Yeojin who stopped her horse with a huff.

“It’ll be fine we’ll be hooded, all we need to do is go in grab the special then walk out, see that easy.” Kim Lip turned to face the other girl stopping her horse as she saw the excitement on the younger girls face with her plan, Avent were known to hold a carnival every year as the summer season began however it seemed the carnial was rushed forward to boost the people's morale, as much as it would help boost the hunters own morale Lip couldn't justify a trip to that kingdom, not when the bitterness of her memories kept her rooted at the edge of the trees only able to look at the kingdom from so far away. 

“I think you’re forgetting how quickly queen Vivi recognised you.” 

“Ugh fine.” Yeojin said sulking past Kim Lip who gazed off in the distance it seemed an entourage was making its way to the kingdom for the festival.

“Seems like Tsume made it.” Kim Lip said catching Yeojins attention.

“That’s not Tsume.” Yeojin countered moving closer to the main road. “These people have no banner.” The words causing Kim Lip to look at the entourage carefully, all decked out in black armour just like the armour the bandits had been wearing, their swords on display as they reared their horses towards Avents gates.

“It’s the bandits they’re going to attack, grab the guards I’ll stay back and hold them off.” Knowing they were low on time Yeojin raced towards the gates whilst Kim Lip brandished her sword and raced towards the group. Seven against one this wasn’t going to be fun Kim Lip thought as she threw a bomb at the group causing a small bang startling the horses kicking off a few of the bandits.

“It was foolish of you to come fight us alone what do you plan to do against us?” One of the bandits asked looking over at the lone girl curiously.

“Who are you people? Why are you taking people?” A laugh escaped the same man as he looked over his companions.

“I’d rather not spoil it for you men on the floor she’s yours, men on top let’s go find us some bodies.” The man said readying his horse needing to buy the people more time Kim Lip threw a knife at the man who was seemingly the captain however he just knocked it away and charged his horse at the girl slashing at her causing her to fall over whilst her horse ran away.

“Maybe next time.” He patronised before running off leaving the five men Kim Lip had successfully knocked off their horses, with a slight wheeze the cuts from Tsume opening once again she held her sword at the bandits.

A guard charged her way putting his power behind a strike they stood locked in a power battle for dominance however a second guard kicked her knees from the back causing her to fall forward for a terrifying moment she felt her head was going to come clean off as she directed her head away from the sword though she felt the blade against leaving a bleeding cut. She couldn’t think about it for long as she heard a sword being held aloft ready to drive through her. With a roll she moved out of the way throwing a knife at the bandit landing it right in his eye with that momentum she grasped a second and threw it at the second guard piercing through his forehead. Her winning streak was cut short as a third guard decided enough slacking off, he pushed her arm down with his foot effectively crushing it under his weight the fourth and fifth guard surrounded the girl giving her no chance of escape.

“It’s over.” One of the bandits said as they readied their swords causing Kim Lip to steady her breathing as one of her hands lay behind her back, she wasn’t going out like this she was taking someone else with her, Kim Lip thought as she opened her eyes seeing the sword pommeling towards her. With impressive speed Lip rolled towards the man who till had his foot on her arm. Stabbing his foot he let go of her before he could do anything Lip drove the knife through him and with that adrenaline she turned and felt the wind being out of her. She had been stabbed however she couldn’t waste the momentum so she threw her knife and heard the cries of one of the guards as she fell. Body hitting the floor she couldn’t help but apologise for pushing her body to its limits and beyond as she wheezed her last breaths eyes closing as the sounds of the battlefield began to fade as apologies to her friends began to tumble out of her thoughts, it seemed she’d be taking the next grand adventure alone.

It was quite Kim Lip thought as she felt herself return to her body far too quite she was in battle and she had lost, she had died well she was supposed to be dead. But dead people don’t feel pain Lip thought as her whole body felt like she had been stamped over, she felt heavier than she had ever felt before, with heavy eyes she cracked them open and was greeted to an unfamiliar ceiling, blues, reds and whites all swirled together to make a painting, only someone rich could have commissioned such art. A light breath on her right arm alerted her to the presence of Yeojin sleeping on her side whilst another breath on her left side showed the sleeping figure of Gowon.

“You’re awake.” Olivia Hye noted relief sweeping her voice as she made her way over to the bed ridden girl, Lip grimaced as she sat up feeling even more tired after the task. “You’re such an idiot.”

“Biggest idiot ever.” Gowon murmured opening her eyes as she glared at the older girl.

“Biggest, biggest idiot ever.” Yeojin agreed pouting at the girl.

“Did you rehearse that or something?” Kim Lip asked earning a cushion to the face from Gowon who felt the pressure of unshed tears welling up in her eyes, her friend was stupid and reckless when it came to protecting people, hell Gowon would admit she admired her dear friend for those traits but right now she wanted to strangle her for her ridiculous stunts.

“You could have died and that’s what you say?” Gowon asked ignoring her tears leaking, it seemed futile to stop them considering Yeojin was also crying they had no reason to remain tough who were they going to be posturing for. “You were so reckless.” Gowon stressed hitting her again with the cushion.

“I had to hold them off.”

“Hold them off not kill them off you could have lured them elsewhere.” Olivia Hye countered sniffling back the tears threatening to let loose.

“I did what I had to do to the only way I knew how.”

“And you call me stubborn.” Yeojin said watching as the older girl just stared up at the ceiling letting the silence linger over the room as they all knew the unsaid words of a hunters life; they'd live and die the only way they knew how, on the battlefield. It was a life Gowon and Olivia Hye were planning to avoid by building their own network to aid kingdoms however they knew Kim Lip would stay on this path, she breathed and lived to be a hunter and Yeojin, sweet Yeojin Gowon thought looking over to the smaller girl, she would follow Kim Lip to the ends of the Earth itself for everything the older woman has done for her.

“Where are we?” She asked wanting to change the subject as the silence began to make her feel compressed in the largest room she had ever lay in.

“Avent castle one of the guest rooms.” Gowon replied causing Kim Lip to the headboard. “Careful you might tear one of the stitches!” 

“Avent castle I need to get out.” Kim Lip said trying to take the sheet off herself however Gowon and Yeojin held it down they weren’t going to hold the girl down or she might just start flailing around under their touch it was safer to just trap her under the duvet.

“Don’t be even more of an idiot you’re weak one of your hands is fractured and your wounds still need to heal.” Olivia Hye scolded causing Kim Lip to calm down her friend was right she couldn’t just leave now but she needed to get out soon.

“So I’m guessing not everyone gets special treatment in one of the queens’ guest rooms.” Kim Lip said watching the three girls exchange glances.

“Well… I may have said we’d help the kingdom.” Yeojin replied.

“That couldn’t have been everything what’s so special about our help.”

“Well I told her about what we found and Haseul was there to back me up.” The hunter couldn’t help but clench her eyes shut jaw tightening as Yeojins words registered, so many years of avoiding the Kingdom and here she was laying in their cosy bed staring up at the fanciest ceiling she had ever seen being told she was now going to be working for them.

“We’d been looking for so long for a lead but then you two turn up with a huge find since we last spoke Avents ended up turning on Eden now trade between the two Kingdoms has completely stopped, it won’t be long till then tension turns to war.” Olivia Hye summarised recent events hoping the hunter would see to reason.

“It was accidental it’s not like I can do much to help a Kingdom that’s hell bent on war.”

“Avent isn’t hell bent on war.” Gowon countered earning a scoff from the injured woman on the bed.

“It’s Avent they’re always ready for war why do you think they’re such good friends with Tsume.”

“Father and the King of Avent were best friends.” Yeojin muttered drawing circles on the bed recalling the hunts the pair would go on whilst the Queens would be busy gossiping about nobles.

“This Queen’s different.” Gowon defended earning a shrug from the hunter but before she could go on a knock at the door cut in, with stern eyes Gowon looked at the hunter. “Be nice to her.” Olivia opened the door allowing the Queens’ to enter, they were both young to be ruling Lip thought as her eyes strayed to Haseul. She was as elegant as ever even in the riding outfit she had donned from the dress she was wearing in the castle, though it was clearly a riding outfitted for royalty nothing she or the other three girls could afford. Haseul looked over to Yeojin however the smile on the girls face faltered as she looked at her younger sister ignoring her, the circles she made on the duvet far more intriguing that the presence behind her. Though speaking of presence the Queen of Avent demanded it with her blonde hair shining in the afternoon sun asking for your attention and then her smile practically exacting it, she looked happy far too happy for court life Lip thought recalling Gowon mention how blonde was the trend in court in Avent, whist Gowon’s blonde was to break free from the restrictions court life had placed on her it wasn’t difficult to guess the Queen’s blonde was to fit in with court life.

“A pleasure to see you again Kim Lip though I wish it were under better circumstances.” Haseul greeted forcing a smile on her face, eyes straying from her sister to the hunter. “This is the Queen of Avent Jung Jinsoul.”

“It’s an honour to meet you Kim Lip I wanted to personally thank you for what you did if you and Yeojin hadn’t intervened I fear what would have happened.” The Queen said looking to the hunter who was busy staring out of the window attempting to quash the urge of running away, though from the look on Yeojin’s face the smaller girl would probably join her and run away from the Queen’s. A cough from Gowon indicated she needed to say something as the silence was stretching in to awkward territory.

“It’s fine.” Lip mumbled earning a glare from Gowon whilst Olivia Hye had to stop herself from laughing at the awkward atmosphere her friend created.

“Erm yes I also wanted to thank you and Yeojin for finding the cave near Tsume’s borders your help will be greatly appreciated.”

“I don’t see how we’d be able to help, you already believe it’s Eden.”

“What you’ve found throws many questions in to the mix.”

“Have you sent soldiers to Eden?”

“Only as a cautionary defence.”

“A cautionary defence? Don’t be stupid.” Lip questioned raising a brow at the Queen who nodded her head seemingly innocently though Lip couldn’t be too sure she was part of Avent after all. “You have to know that sending your soldiers there is all but asking for an open war a stupid war if you ask me what makes you think I want a hand in another war waged by Avent.”

“You needn’t worry about that my advisors have helped me come up with the best solution to ease our people’s worries.” The Queen said causing Lip to scoff, her voice was soothing she could see how the people would gravitate towards the Queen she had an openness towards her that aggravated the hunter.

“Well I’m sorry to say your majesty but I’m a hunter I don’t have a hand in politics or war.”

“This isn’t political I promise.” The Queen said wide eyed as Haseul placed a comforting hand on the girls back clear enough to show they were close.

“I assure you Kim Lip this isn’t about politics or war we just want to know what happened to the people and stop it.” Haseul cut eyes straying over to Yeojin.

“I respect your profession and because of that I simply ask you to find who or what took the people and slaughtered them, I’ll give you whatever reward you demand all I ask is for your help.” Jinsoul said eyes wide as if she could bargain with them.

“We’ll allow you to rest and think on it but please do think about it both yours and Yeojin’s help will; be greatly appreciated.” Haseul said watching as Yeojins shoulders stiffened before turning and leading Jinsoul out.

“See I was super nice even called her majesty.” Lip said turning to Gowon who rolled her eyes hitting the hunter with a pillow Olivia laughed at the pair.

“You were being sarcastic when you said that.”

“Can’t blame me she doesn’t seem like she’s ready for being a Queen.” Lip said laying down the whole ordeal draining her.

“She’s been sheltered her whole life and now she’s been handed a whole Kingdom to look after considering the circumstances I think we can forgive her for being a little lost.” Gowon said leaning against the headboard recalling her time at court. “Jinsoul is nice unlike her parents she was always looking for fun she’d always drag me, Haseul, Yeojin and Chuu in to some stupid plan.”

“She was nice, sometimes I thought there was nothing in her head but that made her more fun to be around.” Yeojin mumbled earning a laugh from Gowon and Olivia whilst Lip lay in a bed far too big for one person eyes closed wondering about this apparent air head of a Queen.

“You shouldn’t be an idiot and think too much of the fact you’re helping royalty, think about the fact you’re helping the innocent people the sam innocent people you put your life on the line to save everyday.” Olivia’s last words resonated through her mind as she tried to get some rest.