“Get ready.” Master Jonghung’s words echoed over the fighting ground. Before she could even realize, Youngjae had run towards her. He jumped into the air and span around. Suwha tried to block, but he kicked her right into the stomach. She fell back hard and landed on the ground. Pain spread from her stomach. She coughed trying to breathe. Youngjae was waiting for her to get up. She could see in his face that he enjoyed this. His dark eyes glared down at her. He was confident about his success. Suwha jumped up and shook off the pain. She stormed at him and tried to hit him on the shoulder. But his blocking hand was faster. With his other hand he lunged out and punched her in the face. Suwha had been concentrating on her attack that she didn’t see his fist coming at her. Pain pierced her eyes. She couldn’t see. It was like someone had suddenly turned off the lights. Quickly she grabbed her face. She could feel warm and sticky blood under her hands. He had hit her right between the eyes. Her nose was bleeding. She shook her head so that the dark spots in front of her eyes would go away. Youngjae was standing a few metres away, waiting for her to be ready again. She tried to focus blinking her eyes. “Come on, Suwha.” One of the children yelled across the court. It encouraged her. At least someone was at her side. Master Jonghung showed no expression on his face. Youngjae was waving at her waiting for her to attack. She clenched her fists. She attacked and this time she managed to block his strikes. With much effort she hit him on the chest. He gasped and trembled, but he wouldn’t fall. Youngjae tried to kick her but Suwha was concentrated. She focused on his every attempt. She blocked his kick and punched him on the chin. A sound of clashing teeth came out of his mouth. He groaned and backed off. His face darkened. He was breathing heavily. But Suwha felt confident. She had managed to land a blow. Before Suwha could take another breath, Youngjae was attacking again. His face in anger and full strength in his arm, he hit her straight in the chest. For seconds Suwha was flying backwards through the air. Then with a thud she crashed on the gravel. Pain. Suwha screamed as a loud crack could be heard. Her back felt like she had landed on a bed of nails. It was piercing her body and the pain went up her head. Her eyes were blurred and her head was buzzing. Muffled voices shouted her name, but they were far away. She needed to stay awake even though the pain was excruciating. She couldn’t give up now.  She had to continue the fight. She steadied herself on her elbow. Then with a loud gasp she suppressed the pain and lifted her body up. She stopped on her knees. She breathed heavily in and out. Then she heard him. Youngjae laughed. She couldn’t believe her ears. She lifted her head and looked at him. Scoffingly he pointed a finger at her. In that moment Suwha felt a deadly hate for Youngjae she had never felt before. Anger filled up her body covering the pain of her back. She stormed at him wanting to break some of his bones. They were so close and she was about to punch him, then-

"Enough." Master Jonghung said coldly. Suwha couldn't stop staring at Youngjae and he didn't stop staring at her. His dark eyes glistened dangerously in the sun. She could feel a hand touching her shoulder. Master Jonghung had reached them. "Stop it." he said to both of them. Suwha straightened up slowly and tried to bow to him as far as her back allowed it. Youngjae followed her movements. He stopped right next to her. His arm was touching hers. She could feel his muscles pulsing underneath his hot skin. Her body was trembling in anger. She didn't even feel her own wounds. The hatred she felt towards Youngjae outweighed the pain in her body. Jonghung kept looking at them. His eyes switched between him and her. It was totally silent. No one was speaking on the fighting ground. Suwha heard only her heavy breath and Youngjae hissing beside her. Then Jonghung said with a clear voice “We will have a gathering in the temple tonight. Everyone shall come. I have got an important announcement to make.” With these words he turned and left. Suwha shot an evil glare at Youngjae and made her way to the healing house.

After her treatment, she felt immediately better. Still her back hurt with every step she made. In the evening Suwha gathered in the temple with the other children. Youngjae was sitting on the other side of the room, his eyes lowered to the ground.

Jonghung entered. He stepped in front of everyone. “I have chosen two young warriors to go on a quest.” He said facing all of his trainees. “The quest shall be as followed:

You are to retrieve an important object of our legends. You will find it east to the grey mountains. It will be a long and dangerous journey. This is why I have chosen the most skilled warriors, who are ready to be confronted with such a mission. If you are to succeed, you most promise to fight and return together. This is your chance to show if you are worthy of being a true warrior.” Suwha had a look around. Some children were smiling. Some were frightened by the idea of leaving the temple. She had never really thought about leaving her home... As long as she could remember she had lived here. There was nothing out there that drew her away from the temple. Safety and protection, she was offered here. No, she wouldn’t mind staying here. Yet she was quite curious about master Jonghung’s choice. Everyone was looking at him eagerly waiting for the names. “The first warrior I have chosen is..” he said. “..Youngjae.” He stood and walked to the front with a grin on his face. Suwha sighed. She could have thought of that earlier. She felt a bit disappointed. Now that he was chosen, she wouldn’t be the other second warrior, not that she wanted to. Jonghung had clearly chosen Youngjae as the winner of their fight. Suwha sank her head. Master Jonghung was about to announce the other warrior, but Suwha didn’t even care anymore. She felt devastated by her underachievement. She felt like all hope was lost. Master Jonghung said the name. Suwha first thought she had imagined it, but as she lifted her head, he was looking at her. Suwha stood up in trance.

After master Jonghung had said her name, a loud hiss broke the silence. Youngjae had grimaced in disgust. Suwha stared at him in disbelief. The master seemed confused. “Do you have something to say, Youngjae?” he asked. Youngjae just shook his head. “Do you doubt my decision?” Youngjae slowly turned his head at Suwha, eyeing her with an evil look. Then he said coldly “No, master. Not yours, only hers.” His words hit her like a punch in the face. How could he say that? As if that hadn’t been enough he went on “I seriously doubt she is ready for such a quest. She lacks of responsibility, master.” He said facing Jonghung now. Then Suwha remembered. He had seen her letting Yujin escape. That’s why he acted like this. But couldn’t he understand that she had to do this? Yujin was her friend and she only wanted her best. Then again Youngjae didn't have any friends.

After everyone had scattered away, Jonghung spoke with the both of them. “You will have to work together. Do you understand?” He first looked at him then at her. Suwha nodded. Youngjae hissed again. He was repelling her more and more. “You will be looking for the object in a cave at the very east of the grey mountains.” He continued. Suwha wrinkled her eyebrows. “You won’t tell us what it is we will be looking for?” she asked clueless. Master smiled. “You will know when you have found it.” Suwha was grateful on the one hand to be given this chance to prove her skills but on the other hand, she couldn’t think of how they were supposed to do it together. Suwha would have gone with every child of the temple, but Youngjae? This couldn’t turn out well. Still master Jonghung was looking at them with confidence. He surely had his reason why he had chosen them. Could her master be mistaken this time? She looked at Youngjae. He returned her look with disgust.

They had been told to set out at first sunlight. Both of them carried backpacks and belts with a sword strapped on it. Jonghung had given their quest his blessing wishing them farewell. Youngjae had never once spoken with her. It was the first day still and they had already covered severral miles.  

They walked together silently keeping a steady distance. Once in a while they glared at each other shortly, before they looked away again in disgust. Suwha sighed. It had been two days now. She had grown tired of the silence. A much as she hated him, she believed that only when they cooperated, they would succeed their quest. She bit her lip trying to find words she could say to him. Her eyes wandered to her side. Youngjae was busy tightening the belt around his waist. She couldn't think of anything to say. There was nothing she knew about him. They had never talked to each other before that one night.  Nor had they been together in any training lesson. It was like they had never met. On the other hand, there was nothing she really wanted to know about him. She didn't care about his past or what he had done. All she needed to know was that she hated him. She hated his arrogance and she hated the way he was looking at her. After she had thought about it, Suwha decided not to speak with him. But her thoughts had already crossed his mind. "I think we should leave the road and walk on through the fields." He said coldly. Without waiting for her respond, he turned to the right and stepped off the road. Suwha stopped and watched him walk away. She hesitated. It felt like yielding to him, but then she decided to follow his trace.

They had gone far during the day. The grey mountains lay east to them, but they were still a long distance away. It felt like ages that they had walked beside each other in silence. It was hard to keep up his pace. He seemed to be very fit. He never even stopped once to make a short break. Suwha was breathing heavily and with every step she made the more tired she felt. Her mind was somewhere far off, as she thought about when they would finally take a rest. She tripped over a big root. She fell down to the moss-covered forest ground. She looked up at him. Youngjae had stopped and turned around. He was rolling his eyes and said annoyed “You really should never have come.” Suwha’s face darkened. Quickly she lifted herself up again. “I can do this quest on my own.” Youngjae hissed. He turned his back to leave. Then it broke out of her. “Have you always been this arrogant? Is that why your parents sent you away?” He stopped the moment she had said her question. She looked at him in anger. Then, it was only a moment, he turned around and said coldly “My parents are dead.” He hadn’t looked at her. His eyes were fixed on the ground. Suwha was speechless. She had expected another repelling answer. But this? She wasn’t prepared for this answer. Youngjae looked at her and Suwha could have sworn she saw his eyes welling up in tears. Pity. She pitied him even though he had never shown any kindness towards her. She regretted what she had said. “How about you then?” he snapped at her. Suwha sighed. “They died when I was still a baby.” His face softened for a moment. Then he said “Guess I was wrong.” Suwha didn’t understand. “What do you mean?” she asked him. He sniffed and raised his head. “We actually do have something in common.” He gave her one last look. Then he turned his back and slowly walked away. His words had pierced Suwha’s heart like an arrow.

I really hope you keep reading and enjoying this story :) I'm very thankful for every reader/ subscriber/ comment^^ Cheers!