Chapter 31

The ice has melted

Suli’s legs are shaking. They have not stopped walking in the forest for hours.

“Can we rest please?” asked Sulli

Sulli heard the spy taking a deep breath. He looked around.

“Let’s hide under that tree.” Said the spy.

Sulli walked towards the tree and sat under.

“You’re tired.” Said the spy

Sulli looked up. “Yes I am.”

Sulli closed her eyes. “The past days I’ve subjected myself to pain, suffering and total darkness…in order to retrieve Minho…in order to save Zaruum…But I didn’t know…that it’s not just Minho I lost…but also you.” Said Sulli

“What do you mean?” asked the spy

“Don’t pretend anymore.” Said Sulli “You’ve given me too many hint to know who you are.”

“I don’t know what you’re saying.” Said the spy

Sulli smirked and opened her eyes.

“I got you.” Said Sulli

“The medicine you gave me is from the circle. It’s Kai’s. He is the only one who can create that. Your hand has a ring mark telling me you always wear one but you just took it off. I have seen a ring on the hand of one of the circle member when he wiped my head when I was injured in the Seaside village. The day I was brought to the dungeon, you came. And though you wear a hood all the time, I had a glimpse of your hair.”

“There can only be one person who can be all that.” Said Sulli

Sulli can’t contain the bitterness and questions in her mind.

“TOP….why?” Sulli’s voice almost a whisper but clear to TOP’s ears.

“How long has this been going on? Were you already acting as Muklan’s spy from the beginning?” asked Sulli

TOP did not take off the hood as he remained standing.

“That guy with white hair…You think he lost his vision? I don’t know what happened to make you think that. But he can see clearly now...And I think he has not lost his vision recently too.”

Sulli remembered Kai’s words.

“You were…” Sulli’s voice is breaking as well as her heart. Her eyes stinging with tears.

“You were silent in the beginning. Not speaking much…and then you started to comment about a thing or two…most of the times making me irritated by your remarks. It’s as if I feel you are challenging me all the time. And then you…started speak more…you seem to be involved more…and then I thought I felt…I thought I felt you started to care for the circle…I thought you were sincere when you…when you took care of me and worried for me together with the circle.” Said Sulli

“That’s why I told you to quit assuming things, Princess.” Said TOP.

“Why? Why did you take their side?” asked Sulli

TOP sat beside Sulli.

“Do you know what I really am?” asked TOP

“A white dragon.” Said Sulli

TOP slowly took his hood off.

And then Sulli saw TOP’s hair silvery white in almost all areas  but black on the part near the scalp.

TOP released his wings.

“You can touch it. Look inside.” Said TOP

Sulli touched TOP’s wing and as her hand tried to smoothen the feathers, she noticed that TOP’s feathers are black near the roots…

“I don’t understand.” Said Sulli

TOP hid his wings.

“I was born a white dragon. But as years go by…I noticed some change in me. It started with my feathers…and then with my hair. Elder Farah noticed it too. So he gave me something to color my hair to keep what’s happening a secret. I was able to keep it a secret from everyone…except myself…” said TOP

“I have always wondered…why am I different…why do I have this feathers and hair which is black near where it grows…why can’t it be pure white as the others…what am I exactly? I had questions all my life…until your circle came to our Island…and I saw Minho.” Said TOP

“From the time I fought against him…I already felt the Dark aura form him. His strength…his power…I know black dragons are gone…but it made me curious…until I heard he had black wings…Right then…I was almost sure he is a black dragon.” Said TOP “Dragons…somehow feel the presence of another.”

“You…wanted to know why you have the dark that’s why you joined the circle?” asked Sulli

“I had a theory. And Elder Farah…he mentioned it to me too…but he quickly ruled it out.” Said TOP

“And that is?” asked Sulli

“That I am a product of the joining of a black and white dragon.” Said TOP

Sulli gasped.

“That’s taboo in the dragon world. We are not supposed to interbreed with another kind of dragon.” Said TOP “That’s to avoid creating another kind of monster.”

“Elder Faha also thought that way…but he said Black dragons are extinct…so it’s impossible that I came from a black dragon.” Said TOP

“Where are your parents?” asked Sulli

“I was a baby…left at Mount Yukjun. Ariyah’s mother found me and took me to Elder Faha because she clearly saw I was a white dragon.” Said TOP “She was wrong.”

“And now that you see the black dragons still exists…what is your theory?” asked Sulli

“I think that Mistress Muklan is my mother.” Said TOP

“What?!” Sulli almost stood up.

“I am 50 years of age, Princess. I couldn’t have been conceived the time when black dragons still widely exist. I was only conceived way after the black dragons were exterminated.” Said TOP ”It could only mean that my mother or father is any of the existing black dragons. My mother could be Mistress Muklan or Adah…that means my father is a white dragon…you can also think that my father is Minho and my mother is a white dragon…”

TOP saw Sulli’s reaction. It’s like her eyes are going to pop out.

“I have not overruled Minho being my father…but I have reason to believe that my mother is the Mistress.” Said TOP

“What makes you think that?” asked Sulli

“When I appeared before her in the house in the village…when I saw her…I felt she’s a dragon…she also felt me…and not only that…she asked me a question that struck me…she offered her house for the circle. As I went out my room, I saw her waiting for me. She asked ‘Are you the one who has been suffering by being half light half dark? Are you the dragon I left behind? You poor child. I have caused you pain by leaving you.’ That was what she said.”

“I am a black dragon inside Princess. And that’s the truth” said TOP

“Truth…is what you make of it. Truth is what you believe in.” said Sulli “What I see is a creature of light not of dark. The person before me is a friend who fought the same battles with me…someone who journeys with me through rough and joyful times.”

“I know you’d say that. You’re the type who believes in the good of people.” Said TOP

Sulli wiped her tears.

“Because there’s always good in people. That’s why you’re here with me right? If you are completely on their side…why are you helping me now?” asked Sulli

 “What if I’m not helping you?” said TOP

“You are helping me… you are helping me escape…or else you won’t be lying to Muklan telling her I called the circle.” Said Sulli

“I am just returning the favor when you saved my life before.” Said TOP

“Maybe that’s the reason…but I feel there’s something else…I think you genuinely wanted to see me safe.” Said Sulli

“You are assuming again Princess.” Said TOP

“No TOP…I am hoping.” Said Sulli

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Minho is flying. As TOP said, Minho just need to attack the wolves without letting them know what attacked them. And then Muklan will ask for them to leave the house. The spy was precise with his plan. And it was executed well.

But Minho did not follow through it.