Awaiting The Dawn

17: Sentimental

Hak, the princess, Hisa, and Yoon sat by the massive tree, watching the clans-people gather food and prepare the feast held in their honor.

When the sun had fallen and a bright fire was lit in the village's center, the celebration began.

Hisa stared at the fire, watching it grow into a big flame. Her mind began to imagine Suzu burning in it, and what he must have felt back then. She only took her eyes off the fire when she smelled something delicious in front of her.

Their little group, including their newest member, were seated together and overlooking the fire, all kinds of food set before them.

Hisa was placed on their far right, with Yoon on her immediate left.

"Hey, what happened earlier? Are you really fine?" He looked in her direction as she chewed on some meat.

Since she was overfilled with visions earlier, her companions—Yoon especially—repeatedly asked Hisa if she had actually recovered. She didn't hate their worry for her, but it was unnecessary. 

For some odd reason, Hisa's spiritual energy wasn't drained by that vision flood.

Occasionally, her ability would unconsciously react to multiple triggers that would lead to Hisa receiving a flood of visions, which led her in a similar state to when Ik-Su delivered the prophecy.

Hak, who was on Yoon's left, joined in. "Who knows. It's not like we can read her chicken scratch. You need to ask yes or no questions."

In one swift motion, Hisa scooted past Yoon and jabbed the thunder beast in his side. He deserved it after poking fun at both her height {referring to chapter 15 (¬‿¬) } and her handwriting in one day.

Yoon shot his eyes left and right, between Hak and Hisa, then retorted. "I heard her talk earlier. When we were caged up before you waltzed in." The last part held a tinge of passive aggressiveness.

He taunted with the playfulness of a smug child. "Really? Then show me~"

Not wanting to decline his challenge, she nodded, standing up and walking away. 

"Hey, where are you going?! Come back! Hisa!" She heard Yoon and Hak whisper-yell behind her and didn't stop until she was in front of a group of village ladies.

She was planning to do this later after she ate her fill and prepared herself, but now was a good time as well. 

After what happened when she met the white dragon, she was wondering if there was any side effect with her ability.

"Excuse me," Hisa used a polite tone. The one that her father forced her to learn. "I am a priest traveling with the red-haired lady. My name is Hisa. May I join you?"

Once she revealed herself to be a priest, Hisa was welcomed to sit with them despite their initial wariness of outsiders. 

"Lady priestess, are you the one who led White Dragon's master here?" One of them with clean robes and large eyes asked.

She shook her head, then remembering she could speak again, Hisa offered a vague explanation. "The gods gave me a different role. However, my fate is tied to the crimson dragon and her warriors."

"What an honor," she smiled. "Would you tell us more? We'd love to listen."

Yes, an honor. The same one that gave a young child nightmares about dying in a battlefront during the age of myths or being cut down during a coup in Hiryuu Castle.

Not that Hisa was still bitter about it.

"Of course. I'd love to demonstrate. If you allow me, miss." Hisa asked for the young woman's hand, who, without much hesitation, gave it to her.