BONUS CHAPTER

Minho has reached a deep cave within the forest at the back of the palace. It is where the royalties are buried. Sulli is sleeping behind him as he carried her. She’s already weak. Even after all wolves were captured…even after Adah was put in the dungeon and died…the old core is still killing Sulli.

He needs to hurry.

Minho entered the cave. He took a random log along the way and set fire to it. He used it as his torch.

Where can it be?

He needs to find the tomb of the first queen of Sulli’s bloodline. The King’s name was Rufo.

Sulli slowly opened her eyes.

“Where are we?” asked Sulli

“I found the cave we’re looking for.” Said Minho

“We’re here?” Sulli looked around. It’s a large cave. It’s like it can accommodate a thousand men inside. Sulli saw all the tombs.

“There are a lot of them….like hundreds and hundreds of them.” Said Sulli

“Yes. We need to start looking.” Said Minho “The first King’s name was Rufo.”

“Hmm…Did he love the queen? I guess he did. He asked your clan to be wiped out after the queen died.” Said Sulli

“Yes. I think he loved the queen very much.” Said Minho

“Then if we find the King’s tomb…we might find the queen’s tomb beside his.” Said Sulli

“That’s right.” Minho walked on.

“I can walk, Minho.” Said Sulli

“No, save your strength.” Said Minho

Minho looked around…but when he could not find the tomb after a few minutes, Minho got frustrated. He almost destroyed the tombs.

“Can you put me down for now?” asked Sulli

Minho made Sulli sit down on a rock.

“Let’s rest.” Said Sulli

“No…I can’t afford to rest. You’re too weak now. We need to find that stone.” said Minho

Sulli reached her hand to Minho. Minho took Sulli’s hand.

“You have to cool down. You are already becoming angry and frustrated.” Said Sulli “Come here. Sit down with me.”

Minho looked up and sigh.

Minho sat down beside Sulli.

“You’re too worried for me.” Said Sulli “I made you this worried.”

“You’re not to blame.” Said Minho. Minho closed his eyes. “I can’t let you die…there is no way I can let you die.”

Minho opened his eyes. Sulli can see the tears forming in them.

“I won’t…Zaruum need to survive after TOP’s bloodline so I won’t die yet.” Said Sulli

Sulli noticed a tomb in the corner. There’s a writing on it.

“To the ends of time…my heart belongs to only you…my love…Lina.” Said Sulli

Minho listened.

“Lina?” asked Minho

“I guess he really loved her.” Said Sulli

“Lina…” Minho rose and slowly went to the tomb Sulli just read.

“Why?” asked Sulli

“Hmm…I just think that…The queen’s name was Lina.” Said Minho

“How did you know that? History books did not even had her name.” said Sulli

“I saw it in my sister’s memory.” Said Minho

Minho saw the tomb…Lina…Minho looked at the tomb beside it….Rufo.

“I think we found it.” Said Minho.

Sulli tried to stand and walk towards Minho.

“This is the King’s tomb beside hers.” said Minho

“Who would’ve thought they’re already close to us.” Said Sulli

“I’ll open her tomb.” Said Minho

“No let me first pray to give respect.” Said Sulli

Sulli chanted  prayer and asked Minho to open the tomb.

Minho slowly opened the tomb. When they opened it. The queen’s body is still intact. It’s as if she has never decayed…It just looks like it is sleeping.

“This is…amazing.” Said Sulli “She’s beautiful”

“Yes she is.” Said Minho. “The stone.”

Sulli opened the queen’s clothes and saw the stone on the queen’s chest.

“I hope She will not think we are stealing the stone.” Said Sulli

“We should probably give a prayer again just to be sure.” Said Minho

Sulli smiled and gave another prayer.

And then Sulli touched the stone. The stone from being dusty suddenly glowed.

“Muklan was right…this stone is still good.” Said Sulli

“Are you sure you can do this? The last time you released the core from your body…you got really weak.” Said Minho

“There’s no choice on this. I have to do this.” Said Sulli

Sulli Chanted the spell to release and levitate the core from the queen’s chest to the air. And then Sulli released the core form her chest. It was a painful process again. Every vein in Sulli’s body is screaming in pain. And then when the core got out of her body, the queen’s core entered Sulli’s chest.

And then Sulli lost consciousness.

Minho caught her.

“Sulli! Sulli!”

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Minho laid Sulli on the bed.

Kai sat beside Sulli and checked her pulse.

“She’s still alive, that’s a good news.” Said Kai “But she’s really weak. We need to have her eat a lot of food that would nourish her back to health.”

“Tell me everything you need. I’d get them.” Said Minho

Kai looked at Minho then. It is not a secret that there’s a special relationship between Sulli and Minho. Hearing how he left her in the past angered him. But seeing how he never leaves Sulli’s side…how he’s always there for her…makes him rethink.

“I’d make a list.” Said Kai

TOP entered the room and everyone knelt.

“You’re highness.” Greeted everyone.

“Please stand up. You know you don’t have to kneel in front of me.” said TOP.

TOP went to Sulli. He was followed by Sunny and Dhara.

“She’s weak.” Said Kai

“But did you find the stone?” asked TOP

“Yes. We did. But I think her body is still battling the new core.” Said Minho.

“She has to regain strength. She has already been through a lot.” Said Sunny

“I will delay the crowning. I don’t need to be crowned tomorrow. We can delay it until Sulli is well.” Said TOP

Sulli slowly opened her eyes.

“You can’t do that TOP. You have to be crowned as soon as possible. The people of Zaruum has to have sense of peace knowing that a King is now reigning.” Said Sulli

Dhara sat beside Sulli.

“She is right TOP. Zaruum can’t wait any longer. The crowning has to happen soonest.” Said Dhara

“I want you to be there Sulli. We couldn’t have done it without you.” Said TOP

Sulli smiled. “I will be there TOP. I just need to rest.” Said Sulli.

“We need to give Sulli time to rest now.” Said Minho

TOP nodded.

Everyone left the room.

As TOP is walking out, Minho tapped him.

“Can I talk to you?”asked Minho

“Yes.” answered TOP

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“About the second curse. I think that it meant me and Sulli.” Said Minho “And the second part of it is you.”

“Yes. There can be no one  else but me. “ said TOP “That means I have to marry a sorcerer.”

“Not just any sorcerer. But Someone from the great sorcerer’s bloodline.” Said Minho

“Yes….I asked the scholars to give me the list of the sorcerers under the great sorcerer’s bloodline.” Said TOP. “Follow me.”

TOP brought Minho in a small library and showed him a paper with a list.

“These are the names?” asked Minho

“There are only 3 sorcery houses left.” Said Minho

“Yes…and look at the list of females.” Said TOP

It was close to none. Just less than twenty.

“This is not good.” Said Minho

“It is good to add that almost all of those women are married already.” Said TOP. “There are only 3 there left unmarried."

Minho looked at the list. Oh…one of them…is Sunny? Minho can’t help but smirk.

“I know what you mean by that smile.” Said TOP

“So what do you plan to do?” asked Minho

“I am not certain what I have to do.” Said TOP “I am not good at this kind of thing.”

“This kind of thing?” asked Minho

“Courting…I’m not good at courting.” Said TOP

“Oh.” Minho is suppressing a laugh. If Sulli is here, she will surely make fun of TOP already.

“How did you court Sulli?” asked TOP

“Hmm…Did I court her?” asked Minho “I don’t think I did…”

Now that Minho thought about it…it seems he has never courted Sulli. She confessed her feelings for him even before he realized how he feels for her. And then when he realized how he feels for her…he had to leave to know the truth. When she followed him into the darkness…there was no courting…and then he confessed his feelings….there was never a courting.

“You are a cruel man. I heard every woman desires to be courted somehow.” Said TOP

Minho stood up.

“I think I have to court her then.” said Minho

“Huh? There’s no sense doing that now.” Said TOP

“I think there’s no right time to court someone. As long as you want to show how you feel.” Said Minho

Here he goes again with that wisdomful words. Thought TOP.

“Sunny she…she’s like a child…will she like being courted?” asked TOP

“Hmm…she’s a child in the eyes of many…but she’s been a woman for a long time now. She’s even older than Sulli, we all know that.” Said Minho “She would be looking for the same things an ordinary woman would.”

“She’s planning to go back to her clan to help her father.” said TOP

“It would be hard for you. It’s not going to be easy leaving the palace.” Said Minho “And looking at this list…it seems there are a hundred sorcerer men who are still unmarried…they are surely going to line up to marry the 3 remaining unmarried women…Sunny is a circle member…she’ll be the first on their list for sure.” Said Minho

“You sure know how to put pressure on me.” said TOP

“Do