Yuri and Yona of Dawn

Chapter 9 Will of the Gods

Yuri bit her lip. She closed her eyes, reaching Rena. 'Rena... I don't want to hear this...'

'Why not?' Rena replied, confused.

Yuri slowly admitted. 'I'm scared... That my dreams will come true...'

'Oh dear. I told you, those dreams are only possible futures.' Rena said.

Yuri inhaled. 'Maybe, but still...'

Rena sighed, 'Just listen.'

Ik-Soo clasped his hands together, closing his eyes,

"Darkness has fallen upon the land.
The blood of the dragons will revive once again
and the ancient pact will be kept.
When the four dragons have gathered
the sword and shield which will protect with King shall awaken.
Hiryuu and Douryuu shall restore the dawn at last.

"When the battle take a toll
she who possesses eternal life shall appear.
She who calls forth life will arrive.
When tears drop to the floor, Douryuu will rise
to end the bloodshed, she shall make her choice
between lives and friends."

Ik-Soo collapsed onto the floor, "Conveying the voice of god really takes a lot out of me."

"What a bothersome old man." Yoon moaned.

"This thing about dragons and gods, I don't understand it at all. whatever this crackpot is selling, I'm not buying any of it." Hak said with a menacing aura.

"He's not selling anything," Yoon told him, annoyed.

"From the prophecy just now." Yuri thought out loud, "Was it referring to Hiryuu and Douryuu from the legend about the king and queen?"

"Do you know about the legend of how this country was created?" Ik-Soo asked, still laying on the floor.

"Yes." Yona replied.

"It's a story about Hiryuu God, that took on a human form and descended from the heavens to the earth in order to rule a country. That was Kouka Kingdom's first king, King Hiryuu. Our father often told us about it in the past." Yona said, smiling.

"While King Hiryuu was the king, he had a sister who always trusted his judgement, Douryuu Goddess. She came down after her brother, changing to a human form to be with her brother. She was the temporary queen until King Hiryuu married." Yuri continued, looking at the sky. 'And that was you, wasn't it, Rena?' No response.

"However, in the end, even King Hiryuu and Queen Douryuu, who took the form of a human fought against the humans. Because the hearts of the people began to grow wicked, and because they forgot god, the country began to decline. King Hiruu and Queen Douryuu were also captured by those who desired their authority and power. At that time, it seemed as if everything was destroyed at once." Ik-Soo responded.

"The four dragons flew down from the heavens to bring them back. They were told to kill the humans so they could return to the heavens. Hiryuu and Douryuu rejected that. They had said, 'No, I'm already human. Even if I am despised and betrayed by humans, I will always love humans.' The dragons stilled loved Hiryuu and Douryuu and didn't want to lose them. So in order to protect Hiryuu and Douryuu; Seiryuu, Ryokuryuu, Hakuryuu, and Ouryuu gave their blood to normal human warriors and gave them their power.

"One was given sharp claws that could tear anything apart. One was given eyes that could stare far off into the distance. One was given a strong body that could never be injured. And the last one was given legs that could jump high into the skies.

"The warriors that obtained the power of the dragons each led their tribes, protected Hiryuu and Douryuu, and quelled the country's chaos.

"It wasn't long before King Hiryuu and Queen Douryuu went to an eternal sleep, weary from battling. As for the four dragon warriors, their mission had ended. The four dragon warriors thought of their King and Queen who would no longer move and mourned. They didn't know whether they were grieving because they had lost someone special or if the blood of the dragons within them was mourning for the death of Hiryuu and Douryuu. After that, the four dragon warriors saw that their powers far exceeded what humans possessed. It's said they each left their tribes, went their separate ways, and disappeared." Ik-Soo finished, sitting up. "The tribes they left behind progressed further than what they originally were and became what are now the five tribes."

"The legend on how the country was created, what does that have to do with us?" Yona asked.

"You said you wanted to live, right, Princess Yona?" Ik-Soo wondered.

Yona spoke, "Yes."

"But you can't live alone. If you leave, those after you and your sister's lives will pursue you again." Ik-Soo told her. "The person by you and Yuri's side and supporting you is Hak. But at this rate, Hak will die."

Yuri felt her throat constrict. 'Die?'

"Wait just a minute. Don't just kill me off as you please. I didn't hear the voice of god, say th-" Hak said, before getting punched in the gut by Yoon. "I'm not giving you an alms no matter how much you threaten me." he hissed as Yoon poked at his gut.

"It's really dangerous for you right now." Ik-Soo said, motioning to Hak, "You need other comrades."

"But who?" Yona asked.

"Kija..." Yuri muttered under her breath. They turned to her as she stared at the sky, "Shin-Ah... Jae-Ha... Zeno... and... someone else..."

Ik-Soo looked at her in confusion. "Go search for the 4 dragon warriors."

"You mean the 4 dragon warriors actually exist?" Yona asked, stars in her eyes.

"Impossible, they're just a legend." Hak mused.

Yuri rested her head on a rock. Her eyes started closing as she drifted off into her dreams.

Yuri was sleeping in someone's arms. She groggily sat up. An unfamiliar voice laughed. "You fell asleep again, Miss."

Yuri blinked open her eyes. Hak and Yona were talking. Yoon left. Ik-Soo... he was coming towards them. Then there was that unfamiliar presence again....

"I have a favor to ask you." Yuri looked up to see Ik-Soo talking to them, but also glancing at her often.

Yuri bit her lip not wanting to agree, 'No... Please... no...'