AN: Hey everybody still reading thank you for all the support sorry for the abrupt stop in uploads but I will be back to regular uploads after this. Thank you and enjoy the rest of this gibberish.

“We’ve made it before losing light.” Kim Lip said pleased as they trotted along the main path seeing the kingdoms walls greeting them with open arms, Eden was known as one of the most beautiful kingdoms on the land known for entwining nature with it's infrastucture leaving any and all who come and go to marvel at the beauty of a Kingdom in a desert. The kingdom was built around a mammoth of a tree that spread its wings across the kingdom saving it from the pellets of outside influence though Lip simply thought it was a strategic spot to place the kingdom as it blocked the harsh sunlight giving the people plenty of shade, after all it was the more logical explanation. Twisting logic in to the fantastical seemed to be a common trait shared among Edens ancestors Lip thought averting her eyes away from the tree.

“It’s amazing.” Yeojin gasped as they entered the kingdom her eyes never lasting in one place as she looked at the happy figures of all the roaming figures. “They’re so happy.” Yeojin noted as she followed Kim Lip to a tavern which was much livelier than she was accustomed to, allowing the older girl to get their room Yeojin gravitated towards the lively group of story tellers their excitement compelling her to sit beside them in wonder.

“Ah young lady you seem to be new here.” One of them said her presence welcoming as Yeojin nodded her head.

“Yes I just arrived today I couldn’t help but wonder about the tree.”

“Oh yes the tree of Eden would you like to hear the story?” A man said pleased at the nod from Yeojin. “Well when the land had first been declared Eden the King had looked to see where to place his walls, however the summer heat was harsh beating down on himself and his people who loyally followed him, on the third day of deliberations he saw a single tree in the plains and called to his people. This tree shall grant us life, it shall grant us shelter, and it shall be our home for it as alone as we are in this land. The people cheered their king and went to work building the kingdom, however resources were low as they had strayed far from the nearest kingdom, Avent, and so the King begged to the tree to give them water for they were thirsty and in turn they would never stray from the tree as its protector offering it bountiful offerings. The king starved in his prayers for six days until one day he awoke to the cries of his people and there before the tree ran a path of water connected to the rivers of Avent for any weary travellers to rest and drink.”

“Is it true?” Yeojin questioned earning shrugs from the group.

“A story is simply a story maybe it is true or maybe it was said to us to give us hope in an object we do not understand or maybe yet it was simply exaggerated to make the king seem more pious to his people.” The woman replied making Yeojin pause and think as the story tellers simply laughed readying themselves to regale the young hunter in to a new tale..

“Sorry to cut in but we’ve got to go.” Kim Lip cut in the conversation drawing Yeojin away from the storytellers realising Lip had put their supplies away in their room.

“It’s alright if you ever need some company we’ll be here.” The man said as his group all nodded their heads with a thank you the two made their way out of the tavern and in to the heat.

“What did you learn about?” Kim Lip asked leading them through the bustling streets.

“The tree of Eden have you heard the story behind it?” Yeojin asked marvelling at the shade above them protecting them from the scorching sun.

“Yeah it’s the kingdoms favourite tale I’m surprised you haven’t heard of it though?”

“We heard of the tree but father said we shouldn’t learn of fantastical tales believed it was nonsense that would clog up room in our brains.” Yeojin replied earning a laugh from the older girl as they entered a restraint sitting at the bar stools where the chef gleefully approached them.

“What can I get you ladies?” The chef asked as Yeojin picked up a menu reading though it.

“I’ll have a special.” Kim Lip replied watching Yeojin look at the menu as if she was deciphering each word.

“Erm make that two specials please.” Yeojin replied keeping her eyes on the menu.

“That’ll be with you soon if you need anything else don’t hesitate to call me.” The chef walked away leaving Yeojin to read her menu in peace as the pair waited on their food, true to the chefs words they didn’t wait long as he came back with two big bowls full of food making Yeojins mouth water as she caught a whiff. The food before her was grander than anything she’d had on their years on the road sending a quick thank you to the older girl beside her she dug in gleefully.

“How did you know this place would be so good?” Yeojin questioned as she made her way through the food missing the slight stiffness entering Kim Lips body.

“I’ve been here before.” Lip replied ignoring the noise of disapproval that emitted from Yeojin.

“But we’ve never come before you said it was too hot when did you come here?”

“A long time ago I wasn’t lying about the heat though can you believe it’s nearly the end of winter?” Kim Lip said attempting to divert the topic, whilst she was aware bringing Yeojin here would cause the younger girl to question much she couldn’t just send her off with Haseul. Yeojin would have probably thought she wanted to ditch her first chance she could get.

“It is really hot and there were no towns or villages on the way that needed protection.” Yeojin replied going back to slurping her food.

“We should be grateful to the Queen for giving us extra money I forgot what it was like to not count every penny.” Kim Lip said passing some coins over to the chef once done they left the restaurant to the now slightly cooler outside and made their way to the tavern.

Once they had entered their room Kim Lip made sure to close the door behind them tightening the lock to make sure they had total privacy before sitting on the bed opposite. Yeojin who had just freed her feet from the lousy contraptions she had to wear silently berating the tailors in Avent for not having her size instead she’d have to wait a week before she’d get them, time they didn’t have to spare causing Olivia Hye to laugh at her misery.

“Whilst we’re here we need to keep as low a profile as possible we can’t have anything linking back to us.”

“What’s going to be linked back to us?”

“The castle has a section for their scholars we need to raid their library.”

“What are we even looking for that’ll lead back to the attacks on Avent?” As much as she had anticipated the question she still didn’t know how to navigate the topic, she could be honest with Yeojin and not feel judged though from the tightness of she knew she couldn’t, not now anyways.

“The strange markings we saw on the people’s bodies the scholars might have an answer.”

“But why would Eden know?”

“Eden are in to the fantastical and that includes markings like this it’s a dangerous plan considering Avent is practically in Eden’s front garden but it’s a lead and one that could be vital.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I… I heard it down the pipe line”

“We’re going to break in to the Palace over something you heard down the pipe line?” Yeojin asked causing Lip to grimace.

“Erm yeah.”

“This sounds fun!” Yeojin cheered making Lip chuckle at the girl she was always up for an adventure no matter how dangerous the consequences a boon and a curse in this field.

“Dr Alucard had mentioned that the guards had seen people wearing robes from Eden’s scholars so we need to search the scholars quarters and see if they have anything relating to these markings.”

“If we do find something this’ll push Avent to war.” Yeojin said in worry looking out the window where a retinue of guards had arrived to stand guard at the gates wary as Avent’s guards weren’t far from their borders.

“That is why I don’t like politics.” Lip mumbled falling on to the bed eyes double checking the locks were still in place.

“I don’t trust anybody that has to sleep with so many locks.” Yeojin commented as they walked past one of the scholars bedrooms his door fully open allowing Yeojin to peak in and view the dozen of locks deciding his room looked suspicious enough Yeojin went to work searching through it whilst Kim Lip pick locked the library door open. The scholars had all left for their morning prayers giving the girls little time to search through the area as they had avoided all the guards though Yeojin questioned how Kim Lip had navigated them through the building so seamlessly she knew now was not the time to ask. So she went about her task of searching through the rooms skimming over various letters keeping note of any odd information being written and pocketing a parchment with what looked like a drawing of what she couldn’t guess. Making her way over to the now open library door she marvelled at the vast space full of books she wasn’t one to read or enjoy studying but she could marvel at the display of knowledge that was placed before her. Manoeuvring her way through the library she found Kim Lip stood on a ladder skimming through books.

“Find anything?” Lip asked as she put a book down replacing it with another.

“No, research notes were lying around but I found random papers with weird drawings.” Yeojin replied showing Lip what she had found a single drawing caught her attention taking the sheet from Yeojin she looked at the drawing carefully aligning it against the books in front of her. “We don’t have much time.” Yeojin noted as the bell rung once.

“It’s a sort of reference guide.” Lip muttered pointing at an odd looking shape or letter Yeojin couldn’t tell properly she had never seen anything like it. “Eden has an archaic language only the highest of scholars and members of the royal family know but if I’m to guess this would be an m.” With that Kim Lip rushed to the m section Yeojin trailing behind as the older girl began lining up the lines on the sheet against the bookshelf.

“We need to be quicker.” Yeojin hissed hearing the second bell toll in the background with frantic steps Kim Lip climbed to the top of the ladder and began her search again Yeojin carefully sliding the ladder along until..

“Found it.” Kim Lip cheered as the third bell went off in the distance, jumping off the ladder she ran towards the balcony however was greeted to the sight of the scholars making their way through the gardens not yet close enough to the balcony to make it to the building yet close enough to spot them. “Other way.” Lip directed running back out the way they came.

“…Prayers were delightful today I bel…” Pushing Yeojin in to one of the scholars rooms Kim Lip closed the door behind them as she listened to the pair talk it was nothing of interest but they were especially close to seeing them, when their voices faded in the background Kim Lip directed the way out and without any other obstacles they made their way out of the scholars quarters and straight in to a brick wall? With confusion Kim Lip looked up in to the eyes of a guard not just any guard a very dear guard that looked ready to chop off her head.

“Sooyoung.” Kim Lip whispered before she could stop herself looking up at the elders’ confused eyes it looked as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing, it was as if she was seeing a ghost.

“Erm are we in trouble?” Yeojin whispered as the sound of boots could be heard around the corner it sounded like an entourage and as Lip looked around she realised they had run towards the castles exit meaning the King must be on his way to the throne room any minute now.

“Jungeun.” Sooyoung said the words as if she were trying a forgotten food the word sounding normal but foreign at the same time.

“I’ll explain but for now I need to leave.” Kim Lip said trying to side step the older girl who refused and instead grabbed Kim Lip by the arm instinctively Kim Lip reared her other arm back and shoved the guard hard nearly toppling her over. “Don’t touch me.” Kim Lip hissed scaring the older girl who looked at the girl not believing this was who she was.

“Follow me before the king sees you, you’ll get caught out there.” Sooyoung said turning around and walking away, with shallow breaths Kim Lip looked at the castle exit that was before her the king would be there any second she would be caught considering there was nothing to hide behind let’s not forget the fact patrol would be heavy at the front of the castle with people wanting blessings from the priests. With much hesitance Kim Lip faced the corridor Sooyoung went and followed behind her Yeojin beside Lip choosing to stay quiet and not mention the aggression that bolted from her when someone touched her. It hadn’t been the first time Yeojin had witnessed it but she had hoped it had calmed down by now.

Kim Lip entered the room with dread knowing exactly who stood behind it the girl with the everlasting smile looked at Kim Lip and Yeojin with confusion attempting to figure out who they were as Sooyoung kept a hand on the pummel of her sword. After the shove from Lip she wasn’t sure what to expect from the duo but she hoped to find out what was happening.

“Who are you?” The princess asked looking at the pair curiously. “You…You look very familiar like the queen of Tsume.” Yeojin looked up in surprise at the girls keen eye however Lips words rang in her ears she couldn’t give away who she was nothing should be able to be traced back.

“How did you know my real name?” Sooyoung asked looking to the girl in question.

“You know how.” Kim Lip replied.

“No for that to be true it would have to mean you didn’t die.” Sooyoung said shaking her head as her eyes strayed to the princess who looked at Kim Lip like a puzzle.

“I never died.” Kim Lip said holding out an arm to stop the princess from taking a step closer. “Don’t touch me…please.” Lip whispered the last word noting the distress the princess backed away still keeping an eye on the girl.

“Are you truly Jungeun?” The princess asked.

“I am, I only know you as Sooyoung, not the guard you’ve become I don’t know the name you now take, I know of the times we’d sneak off to watch performers that came to town and join them on stage and I only know you as Jiwoo the princess who snuck out of the castle to watch the play the entertainers had put on the play where you met me.” Kim Lip recounted watching their eyes gloss over.

“Anybody cou..”

“Nobody knows about the performances we put on pretending to be a group of singers the fantasies we imagined if we weren’t part of this kingdom.”

“Then why did you leave us was it to chase the fantasy?” Sooyoung questioned, her voice getting louder as she spoke. “Why would you leave your best friends behind?”

“I didn’t leave anyone behind!” Lip yelled in retaliation.

“Then where were you?” Jiwoo questioned in a softer voice a feeling of abandonment over taking her as she looked at Kim Lip who seemed to be battling whatever it was she wanted to say. "What happened to you?"  Jiwoo whispered looking down at the book in Lip's hand.

“I….” Lip looked down at her hands not knowing what to say. “I couldn’t fight in a war I didn’t believe in.”

“So you left us.” Sooyoung scoffed.

“If you were fine fighting for a baseless war then that’s up to you but you know I was always against it.” Lip argued.

“So what you come back years later to steal from Eden.” Sooyoung remarked pointing at the book in the girls hands.

“Jungeun-ah what’s going on are you in trouble?” The Princess asked looking over her friend worriedly years of friendship overcoming her as she inched closer to the girl wanting to understand what happened.

“I’m trying to stop Eden and Avent from going to war.”

“And what can you do? You left your rank as a guard here.” Sooyoung spat causing Jiwoo to place a hand on the guards arm as Yeojin looked on at the scene in silence not knowing how to comfort Lip as she hung her head low.

“It’s selfish of me to ask but I need you to trust me, let us go and we’ll find out the truth of what happened to the people of Avent.”

“You ditched us for Avent?” Sooyoung asked in disbelief a shudder going through her.

“I didn’t ditch you for anyone.” Lip defended herself.

“But yo-“

“Sooyoung stop.” Jiwoo’s voice cut through stopping the guard from saying anything. “Can you stop this war?”

“No promises but the Queen Jinsoul tasked me to find out what happened to the missing people.”

“Eden had nothing to do with it I assure you.” There’s only so much you could know Jiwoo Lip thought in sadness as she saw the conviction in the girls stance. She was trying so hard to balance her act of friend and Princess but right now this was beyond her capabilities.

“If that’s the case then have your father meet the Queen, his attitude makes him look suspicious especially considering he didn’t have a word to say about why his scholars robes were present when the King and Queen’s heads were delivered to the castle.”

“They were present?” Jiwoo asked in shock looking over to Sooyoung who also seemed surprised by the revelation, clearly everybody had been kept in the dark.

“The Queen would be pleased to have an audience with your father and if you want the truth you should be part of it.” Lip said walking back towards the door. “What names do you go by now?” Lip asked throwing the girls off course once again reminding them how long it had actually been since they last saw each other, a renaming ceremony was common practice for the people of the continent if they so wished it but it was a traditional custom in Eden showcasing you had reached the age of maturity.

“Erm Chuu and Yves.” Chuu replied earning the ghost of a smile from Kim Lip as she looked between the two a bittersweet look as she took in her two old friends.

“Right next time you see me call me Kim Lip forget my real name.” Lip said turning to face Yeojin who nodded her head zipping her lips in a show of truce making the hunter smirk at the girls antics.

“So we will see you again?” Chuu asked hope lighting her features once again though Yves looked a lot more sceptical.

“Yeah.” Kim Lip replied opening the door causing Yves tell her off as now wasn’t the time to leave, however Kim Lip had enough of Eden and so with quick steps and a look over her shoulder to make sure Yeojin was following she made her way out of the castle hoping the encounter with her old friends wouldn't way heavily on her.