Awaiting The Dawn

30: Spinning Thoughts

{Warning: This chapter includes past suicidal thoughts and a panic attack. Oh, and someone dies. There's a rough summary at the end of the chapter as a comment}

After their discovery of the pirate ship, Yoon and Yona went to look for Thunder. Kija split off to follow the green dragon's presence.

Since Shin-ah couldn't come to town because his appearance stood out, he walked back to guard their camp in Awa's outskirts.

Hisa joined him partly to keep him from feeling lonely, and because she planned to sharpen her weapons while she had the time. She had a feeling she wouldn't get another chance until after they left Awa.

Or maybe she was overthinking it. All they needed to do was catch dragon number three, then go find the yellow one. Well, it was more likely that he'd come to them on his own.

Shin-ah wasn't very talkative, but he was good company. They ended up sparring, Hisa's dagger against Shin-ah's sword. There was an obvious difference in skill, since Hisa wasn't very good in close combat. She lost quickly in the first round, but lasted a little longer in the second.

While they were in the middle of their fourth round sparring, Yoon, Yona, Thunder, and Kija returned from town.

Judging from how she didn't see a green haired man with them, Hisa guessed their hunt didn't go well. Yona had an especially serious look on her face.

Did something happen?

Maybe she noticed Hisa staring at her, because the princess sighed and expressed her thoughts. "The town officials are the ones harassing everyone. It's unbelievable."

...Eh?

"Turns out Yang Kum-ji is the problem while the pirates are the good guys." Yoon casually sat on the ground, watching her face and definitely knowing she was still confused.

She didn't recognize that name or what was going on. "Who's Yang Kum-ji?"

At her question, it seemed like everyone turned their head to Hisa. Almost all of them had a weird expression on their face. Except Yoon and Shin-ah.

"Huh, now that's surprising. This whole time, you've acted like a know-it-all." Thunder responded while flicking a pebble in her direction. "And now you're asking that?"

The pebble harmlessly bounced off her knee.

"I only know what I remember. And I don't remember much." Hisa frowned as she replied. She didn't like being called a know-it-all.

"That brain of yours is smaller than I thought." Thunder moved over and used Hisa as a resting spot, kicking the pebble away.

She would've hit him if Kija didn't defend her. "Don't be so rude to the priestess!"

It was so touching that she mentally vowed to give him a bunch of compliments later. He enjoyed praise and deserved it.

"Yeah Thunder. Being mean will only give you bad luck." Hisa mocked as pushed him off and stuck her tongue out.

"You're starting to talk like Hak now." Yona commented on the side with a short giggle. She looked a little less somber, which was good.

"It's kind of eerie." Yoon leaned closer to the princess, arms crossed and unamused. Then he answered the question Hisa had forgotten she asked. "Apparently, Yang Kum-ji is the feudal lord and everyone's afraid of him. The officials here all work under him and treat the townspeople like dirt."

"Oh," Was all she could say until something clicked in her head. "That official Thunder punched is common here."

Hisa couldn't recall who this Kum-ji was. The name wasn't even the slightest bit familiar, yet instinct told her that he was part of a bad vision.