The moon cast a pale light over the forest, illuminating the silhouettes of Ha-rin and Dong-hyun as they fought side by side against a group of creeps. Their movements were synchronized, a testament to the countless hours of training they had endured together.
Ha-rin took down the last of the creeps with a swift slash of her sword, panting heavily. "That’s the last of them," she said, glancing at Dong-hyun with a small, tired smile.
Dong-hyun nodded, his face unreadable in the moonlight. "Good work," he replied, his voice tight.
Before Ha-rin could react, Dong-hyun’s expression changed, hardening into something cold and unrecognizable. In one swift motion, he plunged his sword into her stomach.
Ha-rin’s eyes widened in shock and pain. She staggered back, clutching at the wound as blood seeped through her fingers. "Dong-hyun... why...?" she gasped, her voice barely a whisper.
Dong-hyun’s face was a mask of anguish and determination. "I'm sorry, Ha-rin. This is the only way to prove my loyalty to the clan."
Ha-rin fell to her knees, the pain radiating through her body. Her vision blurred, and she could feel the life draining out of her. "I... trusted you," she managed to say, her voice filled with betrayal and confusion.
Dong-hyun looked away, unable to meet her eyes. "I had no choice," he said quietly, his voice trembling.
Ha-rin’s strength ebbed away, and she collapsed onto the forest floor. The world around her grew darker, and the last thing she saw was Dong-hyun’s conflicted face, torn between duty and regret.
As consciousness slipped away, Ha-rin's mind was filled with a mixture of sorrow and determination. She wouldn't let this be the end. She couldn't. There was still so much she had to do, so many truths to uncover.
And as the darkness enveloped her, a single thought echoed in her mind: *I will survive this.*
Dong-hyun stood before the elders, his posture respectful and attentive. The chamber was dimly lit, casting long shadows that danced across the walls. The elders, a group of stern, weathered faces, sat in a semicircle, their expressions grave.
“We have a task for you,” one of the elders began, his voice heavy with authority. “To prove yourself a true warrior of the Lee Clan, you must eliminate a threat that has long loomed over us.”
Dong-hyun’s heart pounded in his chest. He had expected a difficult mission, but the gravity in the elder’s tone hinted at something far more serious.
“Who is this threat?” Dong-hyun asked, his voice steady despite the unease creeping into his mind.
The elder leaned forward, his eyes piercing. “Park Ha-rin. She must be eliminated. Only then will you truly be recognized as a warrior worthy of the Lee Clan’s name.”
Dong-hyun felt as though the ground had been pulled out from beneath him. Kill Ha-rin? The girl who had been training with them, who had shown nothing but determination and resilience? The very thought made his stomach churn.
“But... she’s here to help us,” Dong-hyun managed to say, his mind racing. “She’s been training hard, fighting alongside us.”
Another elder spoke, his voice colder. “She is the daughter of our greatest enemy. Her presence alone is a threat. We cannot trust her. Her father’s blood runs through her veins.”
Dong-hyun clenched his fists, struggling to keep his composure. “I understand the history between our clans, but Ha-rin... she’s different. She wants to clear her father’s name. She’s not our enemy.”
The first elder’s gaze hardened. “That is irrelevant. Her lineage condemns her. You have your orders, Dong-hyun. Fulfill them, or face the consequences.”
Dong-hyun’s mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He had always respected the elders, followed their guidance without question. But now, standing before them, he felt a deep sense of injustice.
“I... I need time to think,” he said, bowing his head to hide the turmoil in his eyes.
“Do not take too long,” the elder warned. “Your loyalty is being tested. Prove yourself worthy.”
Dong-hyun nodded, turning on his heel and leaving the chamber. His thoughts were a tangled mess as he walked through the village, the weight of the elders’ words pressing down on him.
He had to find Ha-rin, to warn her, to find a way to protect her without betraying his clan. The conflict between duty and conscience was tearing him apart. He knew that whatever he decided, it would change everything.
After stabbing Ha-rin, Dong-hyun turned and walked away, leaving her behind in the forest. She watched him go, betrayal and pain mixing in her eyes. She tried to stand, but her body felt weak. There was something on Dong-hyun’s sword that made her limbs heavy and unresponsive.
She closed her eyes, her breath shallow and ragged. Just as the darkness began to take over, she heard a familiar voice. "You're safe now."
In her delirium, her mind grasped at the comforting sound. "Father..." she thought, before finally passing out.
TO BE CONTINUE ಥ_ಥಥ_ಥ (WHAT HAPPEN!!?☹️ WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HA-RIN;()
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HA-RIN'S ODYSSEY
Przygodowe--- When Park Ha-rin's father is accused of murdering the king and vanishes, leaving her in the care of her aunt Soo-jin, her life is torn apart. Growing up in isolation and scorned by society, Ha-rin becomes a skilled archer and swordswoman, driven...
