Chapter 8

Monsters &

The trip to Avent was quite as Kim Lip kept to herself avoiding any mention of what had happened in Eden keeping her nose firmly in the book they had stolen whilst Yeojin looked over the parchments she had taken. They were odd to say the least Lip had said she didn’t know their significance as she turned to look back at the book, but part of her couldn’t help but look at the girl differently. She was friends with the princess of Eden and her royal guard but she had then faked her death to leave? She sighed rubbing her temple as they entered the kingdom of Avent, it didn’t seem like something Kim Lip would do but she didn’t know the girl before her timely intervention saving her life. Looking over to the older girl she could see she was stuck in her own head knowing how futile it would be to attempt any conversation she simply kept quiet hoping her friend would open up to her whenever she was ready.

“You’re back.” The cheery voice of Choerry called directing Yeojins smile to the ray of sunshine a feeling of relief sweeping through her as she dismounted her horse, she had never felt like this on any of her travels but now, things were changing and she liked the feeling that came with ending her travels talking to the girl before her.

“How are you?” Yeojin asked.

“I’ve been well how about you? Was your search fruitful?” At the mention of the search Yeojin turned to face Kim Lip who offered a tired shrug of the shoulders.

“I’ll let you know once I’ve finished.” Kim Lip replied holding the reigns of both horses. “It was a long trip go and have some fun I’ll see you later.” Yeojin looked at the older girl in concern however Lip had turned around and was walking towards the barns leaving Yeojin feeling concerned for her friend.

“It seems like she needs a good nights rest.” Choerry stated earning a hum from Yeojin that maybe the case they had rushed to Avent as fast as they could under the scorching heat, maybe if she had a good rest she’d feel better about it all.

Kim Lip sat in the gardens where she had spoken to Dr Alucard the man’s words replaying in her mind her focus completely drifted from the book in her hand. Instead her thoughts strayed to the King of Eden Lip couldn’t deny he was a happy go lucky king, his wife being the anchor of the kingdom something he didn’t shy away from telling. Maybe that was his undoing Lip thought as memories of the night the queen was assassinated flashed through her mind, she was stabbed by the roots of the tree, some saw the death there as a blessing others a curse but the King was hell bent on revenge turning his eyes to Avent after all the King of Avent had boisterously claimed he wanted the kingdom of Eden to be part of his territory. Lip huffed in remembrance of the King of Avent in the end the King of Eden didn’t go to war with Avent but the friction between the nations had been caused.

“What are you thinking?” A voice asked snapping Kim Lip from her thoughts opening one eye she saw it was the Queen herself sitting by her side a book laying on her lap as she smiled down at the Hunter.

“How much of a douchebag your dad was.” Kim Lip replied closing her eyes once again as she notes the stiffness from the girl beside her, she’ll just get up and leave soon enough Lip thought.

“My father’s dead do you really have to insult him?”

“He’s dead after living so comfortably do you ever think about the lives he’s ruined on his hell bent crusade of conquering nearby towns and villages.”

“He only did that to protect them from the threat of the beasts.” Jinsoul said weakly the fight of defending her parents draining from her.

“Oh no your highness when the places were threatened by one too many beasts your dad left the places to be beast fodder.” Kim Lip replied this time opening her eyes to look at the queen who sat there trying to say something but nothing would come out, she was speechless, angry even Lip noted the way her hands clenched in to fists.

“I didn’t know.” The Queen muttered looking down at her hands in shame. “I only learnt once I took charge even then my advisors tried not to tell me, I don't know why they're hiding so much of my Kingdom from me.”

“You lived a sheltered life only leaving to go to fancy balls or meetings or whatever else your duties called for. At the end of the day you are a product of where you’re from”

“I ….I don’t want to be like my parents I want to make positive change for Avent for people not to fear us when they hear our name like Haseul and Vivi have been changing Tsume I want the same.” Jinsoul admitted in a meek voice surprising Kim Lip whose eyes looked over the Queens hunched posture a posture her parents would have scolded her for. The Queen before her was reminiscent of Haseul in the ways their parents handled them all the way to the arranged marriages, after all Yeojin had told her Haseuls marriage had been done to bolster Tsume’s army thinking the foreign Queen would be like her father. Little did the King know Vivi would be the catalyst of change for Haseul to change Tsume towards betterment. If the doctors words were anything to go by Jinsoul’s marriage would have been to continue Avent’s legacy of fear, looking at Jinsoul’s fiddling hands she wondered what would be her catalyst to implement true change within the Kingdom.

“I don’t think you have to worry about that.” Kim Lip said enjoying the look of confusion plastered on Jinsouls eyebrows before they went high in a shape Lip didn’t think possible a joyous smile lighting the girls face.

“Wait did you ju..”

“Don’t ruin it.” Kim Lip warned causing Jinsoul to shut and fake zipping it. “You’re free to read here if you like but quietly.” Jinsoul looked at the girl as if she had grown three heads but before Kim Lip could open to say anything Jinsoul quickly closed in fear the hunter would leave or tell her to leave. Internally chuckling Kim Lip turned to the book she had been attempting to decipher for clues and continued her research.

For the past three days Kim Lip and Jinsoul would meet in the garden and tease each other before turning to their respective books it made reading the mammoth of a book a bearable task though she would never admit that to the girl sat beside her whilst Jinsoul simply enjoyed the presence of the hunter whilst she read her novels as Choerry would be off with Yeojin. With a thud Kim Lip closed the book relaxing back in to her seat her head swimming with all the information she had been able to read, one thing she figured out was she’d need Chuu’s help for this.

“Good book?” Jinsoul asked peaking over her book at the tired girl who’d kept her nose in that book every moment of everyday and from Yeojins tales the girl hardly slept on their return from Eden as she was stuck trying to read the book.

“Terrible.” Kim Lip replied as she shifted through the notes she had made. “I’m gonna need the princess of Eden to help me.”

“And why would we need help from the Princess of Eden?” Jinsoul questioned looking at the tome in the hunters hand curiously.

“She’ll be able to translate parts of this book.” Lip said pointing to the scraps of paper she used as bookmarks. “Parts of it are written in Eden's bygone tongue so I doubt the scholars would happily translate it for us, the Kings out of the question but the Princess, she has a good relationship with you she’s the best choice.”

“Where did you get a book with Eden’s secret tongue?” Jinsoul questioned earning a grin from the hunter.

“Come on your highness take a wild guess where would one get a tome full of secret knowledge about Eden?” Lip teased enjoying the wide eyed look from the Queen hand on as she looked at the hunter in bewilderment.

“You broke in to Eden’s castle.” Jinsoul whispered leaning towards the proud hunter. “Kim Lip you could have been caught did you think of what w..”

“Oh I was caught.” Lip cut off. “Before you tell me off I was caught by the Princesses personal guard Yves and I met the Princess herself.”

“How did you escape?”

“With my silver tongue.” Lip teased earning an eye roll from the Queen. “Well you see the Princess and her guard were unaware of the fact that their scholars robes had even been spotted.”

“The King kept it a secret from his daughter?”

“Not only his daughter but everyone from the Kingdom, the King’s kept everything under wraps painting Avent in a negative light not that it’s particularly difficult.” Lip muttered the last part ignoring the light hearted yah from the Queen. “The people of Eden are against you but I did try to get the Princess to arrange a meeting with you.”

“Do you think she will?”

“The better question would be if she comes what’s your plan of action?”

“My advisors will help me.”

“Your advisors need to be thrown out of the window they’ve done nothing but inch closer to war.” Lip stated looking at the Queen biting her lip hands nervously clasping one another seemingly the hunters words resonated with her.

“I need help and they have experience I need, my father trusted them by his side so I should to.”

“Don’t kid yourself.” Lip scoffed putting the tome on the table turning to face the Queen who seemed to shrink in on herself.

“There’s nothing wrong with asking for help.” The Queen muttered looking like a child about to be scolded and in some ways Lip thought Jinsoul was a child playing the role of a Queen, she needed to step up and play the role.

“You’re right there is nothing wrong with asking for help but asking for help from people who disclose nothing of the Kingdoms affairs to you those are people you need to do something about. Ask for help from people who share your vision you said you wanted things to change in Avent and that change comes from within, I don’t know politics but I know what people respond to and your vision resonates with people you just have to make it work.” Lip said looking at the Queen curiously her blonde hair covering her face as she looked down at her dress playing with the gold embroidery, Dr Alucard had believed in this Queen, her friends believe in this Queen, it was time for Lip to see if this Queen could live up to what the others saw.

Two days had gone by with Lip hunched over the tome trying to decipher a language she knew random words of it wasn’t the best use of her time however it was the only thing the hunter could think of instead of lamenting on what she had actually read. What the book said seemed ridiculous but at the same time it made sense, it fit things in to perspective she thought rubbing her hands. She needed to tell someone about what she discovered, the Queen needed to know what happened but the hunter kept it to herself things had become a lot more personal for her, she needed all the facts before she could say anything however she knew that was simply an excuse, an excuse that was leading to time running out.

“Ah Kim Lip there you are.” A voice cut through her reverie looking up from the tome she was greeted to the sight of the Dr waving a hand. “How have you been?”

“Good, how about you?”

“Another slow day so I thought a walk in the gardens would do me well would you care to join me- ah yes please bring your book as well I know how you’ve been attached to the hip with it.” Lip allowed a chuckle to escape her as she picked up the tome it was indeed heavy but she couldn’t leave it hanging around the garden without attendance. “You’ve been busy.” The doctor noted pointing to the book.

“It’s a bit longer than my usual reads.” Lip joked earning a chuckle from the Dr as he led them past the statue erected of the first King and Queen of Avent.

“Seemingly more invigorating as well.” Dr Alucard pointed to all the scraps used as bookmarks.

“It’s…something.” Lip muttered.

“Care to elaborate I may be able to help you.” Dr Alucard suggested looking over the hunter who avoided his gaze instead focusing on the path before her, the Dr was a good man she knew that he worked in the lowest areas of Eden accepted odd requests but to tell him of what she discovered, how much could she trust him.

“Eden has always been home to more of the fantastical.” Lip started looking over to the man who nodded his head in agreement. “I wanted to ask if you’ve ever come across such when you worked in Eden.”

“The most I’ve ever encountered the fantastical have been through rumours from drunk wanders that travelled a bit further than they should have.”

“How far?”

“To the death lands.” The Dr replied surprising Lip the Death lands were a desert where the sun would mercilessly beat down on you it was so harsh even beasts avoided the area.

“They would come in need of healing they were severely dehydrated their words seemingly hallucinations.”

“What type of hallucinations?”

“Some would say they had seen the roots of Gods divines plans, others would say they had the fruit of knowledge and there were even people who would say the King had no true power for he was no true descendant of the first King.” Dr Alucard replied stopping to face the hunter. “All would be damned as heresy if the guards found out.”

“Drunk and dehydrated in the desert not the best mix for accuracy.”

“Whilst true I doubt everything would be heresy.”

“You believe them?”

“I think your book can help answer that I just treated them and let them go.” Dr Alucard said with a smile gesturing to the tome. “I believe I’ve confused you enough for one day a pleasure to see you as always young hunter may your travels be as swift as your blade.” And with that the Dr walked back in to the castle leaving Lip looking down at her book in even more confusion.

 

Kim Lip spent the rest of the day hunched over the book her source of light being the moon’s guidance the Dr’s words sounded bizarre at best and heretical at worst. She could find nothing regarding God’s divine plans or anything regarding the Kings heritage but she was sure there was something in here there had to be, lucky for her she wasn’t even halfway through rereading the tome yet.

“Kim Lip I’ve been looking for you.” Choerry’s voice interrupted her lamenting. “I see you’ve been busy."

“You could say so where’s Yeojin?”

“She’s busy trying to get Jinsoul to sleep the Queen’s been quite worried the past few days.” Choerry replied taking a seat beside the hunter. “You and Jinsoul both need to take a break you’ve been hunched over for too long you’ll end up like a Goblin.” Choerry joked her cheeriness relaxing Lip as she closed the tome.

“What’s got the Queen so worried?”

“An emissary of Eden came the King and Princess have sent a request for a private meeting to occur it would take place in neutral territory but the advisers are against it.”

“Why a meeting could be good?”

“The advisors think Eden will go back on their word and attack the Queen when she’s most vulnerable.” Choerry replied looking over to the hunter with worry. “The advisors have told us how angry Eden are to the point where even their citizens would plot to harm the Queen.”

“That’s an exaggeration don’t worry yourself about them.” Lip said easing the girl. “If everyone is so worried use Tsume as your neutral ground nobody would dare lift a finger there unless they want the whole of Tsume’s army on them as well as Queen Vivi’s homeland army.”

“Haseul would need to approve of it but I think she wouldn’t mind being the mediator.” Choerry said pursing her lips. “Enough about that though how have you been?”

“Fine what about you?”

“You really need a different answer.” Choerry said laughing at the other girl. “I’m good though I worry about Jinsoul these past few days she seems to have had a lot on her mind she would usually tell me but this time she seems to have shut herself off.”

“I wouldn’t worry there’s a lot going on she just needs some time to herself.” Lip said standing up the other girl following suit.

“But this seems different she’s been trying to avoid her advisors instead she’s been using Olivia Hye and Gowon.” Lip let a small smile grace her features as they walked through the palace.

“You trust Jinsoul right?” Choerry immediately agreed. “Then give her some time to find her footing stand by her side as her lady in waiting but more importantly as her most trusted confidant, you’re a good kid Choerry caring, loyal and optimistic things your Queen needs most right now.”

“I can do that.” Choerry pumped her chest making the hunter laugh as they stopped before Choerry’s bedroom door. “Thank you Kim Lip.”

“No problem.” Lip said before turning away and making her way to her bedroom.

 

She didn’t know what she was expecting but she certainly wasn’t expecting to be accompanying the Queen of Avent to Tsume for the meeting. Kim Lip had avoided the castle for the past few days instead training with the soldiers at their barracks nobody said a thing to the hunter as the Queen had given her permission seeing as the guards of Tsume seemed to be with her at the barracks the soldiers didn’t say anything to the group believing they were aiding the Queen. Hyunjin and Heejin seemed to join Kim Lip at night making sure she at least slept at the castle as much as their presence had initially annoyed the girl she had grown fond of the pair seeing why Yeojin enjoyed playing games with them.

For now she had stopped her training instead opting to lay in the archery pathway bow and arrows laying strewn around her, the moon was bright and full reminding her of the first time she met Yeojin exhausted on the ground ready to meet her fate, ready for death, but look at her now Lip thought with a small smile she was busy chasing Choerry and repairing her relationship with her sister. She was happy for the girl she truly was but she couldn’t help but feel like she was left behind, whilst Yeojin had moved forward with her life Kim Lip had stagnated in a sense she felt like she had fallen behind feeling the walls close in on her again her head throbbed throat itched for some type of release. A release she had to deny.

“The ground isn’t as comfortable as you make it look like.” A voice spoke breaking the barrage of thoughts Lip had buried herself in lazily looking over she saw the Queen of Avent sitting on the ground out of her usual fancy dresses now in a fancy riding outfit.

“How come you’re here?” Lip asked looking over at the girl her blonde hair a contrast to the black sky behind her the moon haloing her, she looked ethereal as her concerned gae swept over Kim Lis tired figure.

“Haseul sent Hyunjin and Heejin scouting they were worried you wouldn’t come back to the castle and end up sleeping here.” Jinsoul replied pointing to the ground. “Seems like they were right.”

“No need to worry about me.” Lip said turning her head to the sky as she attempted to squash the part of her that enjoyed the feeling of people looking out for her.

“That’s where you’re wrong all worry of us worry ... I worry about you.” Jinsoul muttered the last part taking a seat beside the girl.

“Don’t worry about me I’m fine.”

“We can’t do that you may not realise but you’ve made friends who worry about you.” Jinsoul said causing Lip to sigh as she looked at the stars hoping the ground would just swallow her whole. “It’s fine not to be fine, Yeojins followed your words and she’s doing well.” Lip hummed at the words the reminder of her friends progress whilst her regression made a slight bitterness run through her.

“Haseuls treating her well right?”

“If you were in the castle you wouldn’t have to ask me.”

“If I were in the castle I’d feel like suffocating.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m used to the open road, there's freedom when you're constantly moving from one job to the next but here you're constantly stuck even when you're moving it always leads back to one thing, politics."

"Tell me Kim Lip why are you hunter?"

"To protect people."

"Even though your life is constantly on the line."

"If I don't protect them then who will?" Kim Lip asked propping herself on her elbow to look at the Queen who nodded at the response.

"It's that answer that makes being a ruler so important, I don't believe my father wanted me to rule he was preparing to have me wed I believe my husband would have taken over the kingdom, now that I am the ruler I will protect my people and those in need that my father turned away. Even if I feel as if I'm suffocating in a castle I have to remember the reason why I'm doing what I am and I should remember I have people to lean on who support me." Jinsoul said with a conviction Lip had never heard from the Queen before, but at this moment with the moon shining it's everlasting light on to the Queen her blonde hair radiating under the crown she wore she looked... divine.

"Things are different.” Lip whispered.

“Different isn’t always bad.” Jinsoul remarked looking down at the hunter once more with a smile, a smile so genuine Kim Lip couldn't help but return it.

“You’re different.” Kim Lip said catching Jinsoul off guard.

“Is that good or bad?” Jinsoul asked heart beating rapidly as she awaited the hunters answer.

“I…Well... I wouldn't mind talking infrastructure with you.” Jinsoul laughed freely at the younger girls words the duo simply enjoying each others presence as they looked up at the stars feeling the burdens placed on them lightning.

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Jung_SooyeonBD
#1
Chapter 5: this is AMAZING
Itssilver #2
Chapter 12: this story was an absolute diamond in the rough
windowless #3
Chapter 12: epic story thank you for writing :)
windowless #4
Chapter 10: thank you for the updates i really look forward to them :) one of my favorites
taelcr #5
Chapter 7: I absolutely love this story, hands down going in the favorites
windowless #6
Chapter 7: thanks you for the update :)
Moonlighter13 #7
Chapter 7: Thank for your hard work :)
stakes
#8
Chapter 6: Okay, I'm really liking this story. It's so interesting! (i see hints of yeorry 👀)
CarolCarmo #9
Chapter 6: This story is really enjoyable and I hope it gets more attention!! I’m wait for the next chap 😊😊
windowless #10
Chapter 4: Like the story so far :) looking forward to updates