Chapter 24

Valley of Exuni

“What a boring city. The Seaside Village is more of a city than this.” Said Chanyeol

“I can’t agree more.” Said Sunny

“This city on the Valley of Exuni is an old city. It looks boring but this is the center of culture and the arts. There are a lot of libraries…A lot of exhibits…a lot of markets…” said Master Cha

“Wow…for a scholar…this must be heaven.” Said Kris

“Yes it is.” Said Master Cha “Let's first look for a place to stay.”

“That’s always the first step when we reach a village.” Said Sunny as if giving instructions to the new comer Luhan. "We always first look for a place to stay."

They found a small Inn near the market. 

“A bit expensive.” said Sulli who is already now on her human form.

“Well everything here is a bit more expensive.” Said Master Cha

They went inside the room. 

Kris put some of his things down the bed. “Master Cha, can I ask for a few hours off to a library? I just want to check on something.”

“Hmm… all right. I’ll bring the others to start looking for the next member. But bring Sunny with you. It’s best if no one is alone.” Said Master Cha

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“Why are we going to a library?” asked Sunny

“I just need to check on something that’s been bothering me since the other day.” Said Kris

“What is it?” asked Sunny

“I need to check on something on the history. I want to confirm something.” Said Kris

“Wow…are you a scholar?” asked Sunny

“I had 12 units of history.” Said Kris “It’s part of my preparation to be an Ace Knight.”

They entered a library. It was a big one. It is a circular structure. Inside…there are 5 stories full of shelves!

“Wow….This is huge” said Sunny “Where do we start?”

“Hmm…History would be there…it’s usually the highest shelves.” Said Kris

“But it’s thousands of books.” Said Sunny

“We need the one from a hundred years ago.” Said Kris

“Huh?” asked Sunny

“Remember what Lady Muklan said? She said she waited a hundred years.” said Kris “Black dragons were eliminated a hundred years ago. It might be for revenge… I want to know why she’s blocking us. I want to know what happened before the Black dragons were eliminated. Something tells me we need to understand her motive.”

Sunny is amazed at Kris’ intellect.  “I did not even pay attention to what she said.”                 

“She’s a threat to us. We should of course pay attention.” Said Kris

Kris took a ladder and climbed to look for a book on a higher shelf.

“This one is from 50 years ago. The one below is from 30 years ago….so the one we are looking for is..up there.” Said Kris

“That’s a high climb.” Said Sunny

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“TOP’s sight still hasn’t come back yet. I think we already need a healer soon. Good thing Luhan stayed back with TOP.” Said Sulli

“We are actually here to look for a healer. Our last member is a healer.” Said Master Cha

“Where do we start looking, Master?” asked Chanyeol

“We should probably ask around for a healer.” Said Master Cha

Chanyeol nodded.

“It’s been a long time since we were together…just the three of us.” Said Sulli

“Oh,…you’re right!” said Chanyeol

“Let’s celebrate this Master.” Said Sulli

“Hmm…All right, let’s have a quick lunch and then let’s go around to ask for healers, all right?” asked Master Cha

“All Right!” shouted Chanyeol and Sulli.

They saw a small dining restaurant. Chanyeol saw a vendor selling what looked like accessories.

“I’ll follow you. Go ahead.” Said Chanyeol

“All right, just hurry.” said Sulli

Chanyeol went to the vendor.

“Sir…for a lady?” asked the Vendor

“hmm..yeah…she doesn’t wear any accessories.” Said Chanyeol

“Oh…well…she’s not vain then. But any woman would love a piece of accessory. Specially if it’s charmed.” Said the Vendor

“These are charmed?!” asked Chanyeol surprised.

“Yes, of course. What do you want?” asked the Vendor

“She doesn’t sleep well recently…last night I saw her getting up almost every hour.” Said Chanyeol

“Oh…so you need a charmed bracelet to let her get a goodnight sleep then…” The vendor looked at all the things he has on his carpet. He took a red bracelet.

“Here. This should do the trick. This makes the nerves relax and it calms anxiety too. This should help your Lady sleep better.” Said the vendor

“Really? I’d take this.” Said Chanyeol

“10 coins.” Said the vendor

“Wow! 10 coins? That’s worth 2 sacks of potatoes!” said Chanyeol “Why is this so expensive?!”

“It’s charmed Sir. Charmed accessories are more expensive than normal accessories. Plus, I had to pay a powerful sorcerer to make these all work.” Said the vendor.

“i'll pay 5 coins for it.” Said Chanyeol

“No Sir. I had to travel a long way to get that sorcerer. 9 coins.” Said the Vendor

“7 coins.” Said Chanyeol

“8 coins.” Said the vendor

“Hmm...I guess i'll jsut sing for her so that she gets soem sleep.” Said Chanyeol

"All right Sir...I'll give it for 7 coins." said the vendor.

Chanyeol had saved the coins. It took him years to gather the coins. But if this can make Sulli sleep better…then it’s worth it.

Chanyeol entered the restaurant and had a good meal with Master Cha and Sulli. When they went out of the restaurant, Chanyeol pulled Sulli’s arm and put the bracelet on her.

“What’s this?” asked Sulli

“Just wear it. A woman should not keep looking like a man.” Said Chanyeol

Sulli chuckled. “You bought this for me?”

“Umm…it’s cheap. So I just bought it without thinking.” Said Chanyeol.

“Let’s hurry up.” Said Master Cha

The 3 of them went around asking people who are the healers in the City. They went around all day and Sulli tried to raise a call each and every time. But the call is a spell…and it eats up Sulli’s energy all the time that she did it. Until she can’t do it anymore and Master Cha decided they need to rest for the day.

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Minho walked the halls of the house. He stopped when he heard Muklan talking with Adah.

“We need to get the Princess.” Said Muklan “We need to make sure we get the core from her.”

“The core is imbedded on the body of the Faerie Princess, Mistress. While the circle is protecting her…it won’t be easy to get the stone from her.” Said Adah

“We need to plan well. It’s either we finish the circle…or we get the princess…alone.” Said Muklan

Adah turned around. “Mistress…”

Muklan turned her head.

“I did not mean to overhear.” Said Minho while opening the door. “I’ll leave.”

“No. Stay Han. There is nothing we are talking about that you shouldn’t here. You are one with us. There is nothing to hide.” Said Muklan

“Adah, make sure we are in touch with the spy. We need to get the princess fast. We need to get that core.” Said Muklan.

“Yes, Mistress.” Said Adah.

Adah left.

“The Princess…she has the CORE... I thought the core has to stay in the palace?” asked Minho

“It’s the new core for the new bloodline. Each new bloodline needs a new core. The old core will die. And then the new core will leave the host body it stayed on for so long. A core can only stay in a Faerie’s body. Once the new bloodline is determined, the CORE should be brought to the palace as the new bloodline reigns.” Said Muklan

So the stone on Sulli’s chest…is the CORE.

“How do you know so much about this?” asked Minho

“I was there when they determined the current bloodline.” said Muklan

“You were there when they determined the First king…The current bloodline’s ancestor?” asked Minho

“Yes…The first King of the current bloodline…was my master.” Said Muklan “He was the man I have pledged my loyalty and life for.”

Minho’s eyes widen.

“The first princess…iPrincess Dhara...is the peson I have pledged my loyalty to.” Said Minho

Muklan’s eyes narrowed. 

 “What a coincidence…they are on the same bloodline.” Said Muklan “The same bloodline that destroyed us….the black Dragon tribe.”

Minho’s brows narrowed…what does Muklan mean?

“The man I dedicated my life to…was the one who ordered the elimination of our kind. Everyone was killed…our father…our mother…our friends…everyon