The Definition of Beautiful (Shin-ah Love Story)

Chapter 6 - The Blue Dragon

Chapter 6 – The Blue Dragon

It had been two months since I started living here in the Kouka Castle. Everything went on perfectly so far. I got along well with the King, Queen, Yun, and the four dragons. It wasn't hard getting along with them but they were sure a weird bunch. I wondered how they were able to travel together with that kind of group.

Kija was short-tempered and often fought with Hak. Yona was always telling them to calm down but Yun was the only one who was able to do that successfully. That boy really knew a lot of things even though they were all self-taught. Zeno was just in his usual cheerful self ever since I met him. Jae-ha just flirted at any court woman he laid his eyes on, Yona included. And Shin-ah always just quietly stared at them. Maybe he somehow found the scenario amusing on its own.

Shin-ah and I grew closer these past two months. He was my training partner. I found him rather odd but I felt comfortable around him. He was very warm and gentle. Even though I knew that he didn't talk that much, we talked a lot. Well, I talked a lot while he just quietly listened, sometimes making few comments about my journey that I told him.

"Roo-na," someone sat beside me as I was watching the remaining three dragons.

"Zeno," I greeted him then took a sip of my tea.

"Do you like Shin-ah?"

I almost choked on my tea because of his question. "Are you alright, Zeno? I know that it's in your nature to kid around but this is going too far, you know?"

"You being so defensive about it confirms my suspicion then," he patted me on the head like an older brother would do to his little sister. I was taller than him now but he was older despite his childish behaviour. For Heaven's sake, he was already two-thousand years old or older. "You always stare at him,"

"I—It's not like that!" I defended myself.

"I'm so jealous," he smiled sheepishly. "I wish I could have romance too!"

"Weren't you married once before, Zeno?" I brought up. I knew that he told me of his story before. I remembered that he was once married to a girl named Kaya but she unfortunately died due to an infectious disease.

"I was," he looked down. "But I wish that I could be with someone forever too. Someone like...me,"

My heart ached by what he said. Zeno was the Yellow Dragon. Even if his head got cut off, even if his whole body was torn apart, it would all regenerate. Being in a relationship was nearly impossible in his state. He was immortal. He couldn't burden himself of falling in love and watching that woman that he could possibly fall in love with...die.

"Don't be so down," I tried to brighten the mood. "Do you believe in gods?" Zeno nodded. "Do you believe in goddesses?"

"What are you trying to say, Roo-na?"

"It might be possible...who knows...that maybe a goddess would fall down here on earth and fall in love with you,"

"Don't get my hopes up!"

"Do you want me to call for one now?" I joked but sincerely wished for my statement to happen. I didn't want to see this cheerful guy to suffer. If only I could take away his pain.

I was starting to be like Ik-su.

But something like this was a natural feeling for me. God didn't choose me for nothing. What God would have felt, I felt them too.

We then noticed everyone turned silent and they were all looking at Shin-ah.

"What's wrong?" Yun asked him.

"Soldiers...ten thousand of them...heading towards here," Shin-ah muttered.

"Well," Hak evilly grinned. "It's in our advantage that we were already informed of this rebellion thanks to the priestess. We've got the headstart. Prepare the soldiers!"

Hak was already prepared?

I was too busy training with Shin-ah that I didn't notice that Hak was preparing for the war. Good thing that it never crossed my mind to underestimate the King.

***

We were riding our horses and were on top of the cliff. Everyone was present except for Yona, Yun, and Zeno. Hak didn't let her go with us because he was afraid that she would be harmed and Zeno volunteered to keep her accompanied for protection in case something went wrong. The other Kouka soldiers were down below. The Sei Kingdom was on the advantage of three-thousand men. In the middle of the Sei Kingdom's army were Hotsuma and Kushibi, two out of the three leaders of the Sei Kingdom.

"Kouka stole our kingdom from us! It's time for revenge!" Hotsuma yelled and everyone in the Sei Kingdom cheered.

"This is going to be exhausting," Jae-ha sighed.

"My arm is already excited for this battle," Kija said while his dragon's arm grew bigger. I tried to keep my awe for myself. It was such an honour to see the power of the four dragons with my own two eyes.

"Don't get too excited, white snake," Hak chuckled. "You can just hide in the castle with Yona,"

"Shut up!" Kija yelled. Even in war, these two couldn't set aside their childish tantrums. "I'll defeat a thousand more than you. You better get ready,"

"If you could defeat a thousand, I'll just defeat two thousand more," Hak shrugged.

"Is it always like this?" I whispered to Shin-ah who was behind me. I was riding a horse with him for now but once we battle, I would be fighting on land. I didn't want to restrain my fighting skills because I was just riding a horse.

"It's always a competition between the two of them," he answered. "You'll get used to it somehow,"

"It's about to start," I pointed out. "Are you ready?" Just right after Shin-ah nodded, the war began to unfold.