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۪۫❁ཻུ۪۪ ； 〇

          » [ ❁ཻུ۪۪ ʄƖơῳɛཞ ცơყ ; episode zero ] «
-ˋˏ ༻ undercover ༺ ˎˊ-

"Does not matter," Pa-oh replied assuredly. He turned the sword in his
hand, repositioning himself. "Now we continue the duel, my student."
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» [ author-nim ] «

Choi y/n frowned, titling her head to the side. "What is the purpose of this again?"

Pa-oh sighed gently, his steady, wise eyes pinpointing those belonging to the youth. "Aish, how many time must I explain," he scolded softly, "You listen but do not retain, my dear."

y/n bit her plump bottom lip. "Once more," she said, smirking slightly, "Once more, than I shall ask no more."
Pa-oh exhaled deeply, leaning on the handle of his sword. "I cannot simply allow the king to wander into this Hwarang alone and unprotected," he summed up once more, "So I'll send you."

"And how am I suddenly so capable of looking after the king," y/n asked sheathing her own sword. She crossed her arms over her her floral hanbok, raising a questionable eyebrow.
"Even if I don't order to watch him," Pa-oh replied, a playful smirk crawling up his lips, "You still follow him around...and at times he's mistaken you for an assassin!"

y/n smiled sheepishly, shrugging slightly. Pa-oh advanced toward her, gently cupping her cheek with his hand. "You are ready, y/n," he assured her, smiling confidently, "We've come to a time when I cannot fully preform my duty to protect his Majesty and I entrust him to you. Do not worry though, something will be sorted out for me to gain..ah...better access."

Biting her lips thoughtfully, y/n nodded slowly, reabsorbing the information and the weight of her mission. Protect and observe the king. How hard that could be? Fairly simple, y/n deducted, he would be in one location for most of his time and in a crowd. There was no possible way an assassin could infiltrate the area. This should be simple and maybe even recreational. She chuckled softly to herself.

Pa-oh caught that gleam of mischief in the youth's eyes. "You won't exactly be idle, y/n," he said, smirking softly, "You will be posing as one of the Hwarang's teachers."
The smile and gleam melted from our heroine's face. "Mwo?"

Pa-oh chuckled, nodding slightly. "You'll be teaching them poetry," he replied, "A simple subject for you. Things of this nature, you commit to your memory so easily; it is a complex mystery to me."

y/n exhaled softly, nodding a tad. Pa-oh's response was true to the bone. Our heroine had a strange ability to commit poetry (especially those concerning romance) as well as philosophical writings to memory. This gift was very mind boggling to her master. How could she memorize such long stanzas or paragraphical writings on nothing into that absorbent mind of her? No one will ever know.

She had taught these poems to the village children, who in turn recited the lines to their families. y/n had swarms of children, eagerly listening to her stories or lessons. Each child was different, but all absorbed what they could. The entire village raved at this gift. Pa-oh, though very encouraging towards y/n's art, found himself spending much silvers for books. That girl just read threw them as if she were the wind.

After much thoughtful consideration and lip-biting, y/n glanced up. "What kind of poetry?"
Pa-oh laughed heartily. He knew his student would not refute such an appealing job. Hired to teach poetry was a position y/n could simply not refuse. "Anything you find useful to the young men," he responded, clapping her shoulder, "The sky is the limit. However, might I suggest, unlike children who's minds are open to all of the earth's beauties, these boys may not find you romantic or nature poems very amusing."

y/n chuckled slightly, rubbing the nape of her neck before running her fingers through her short hair. "I suppose these boys associate romance with one thing," she said with a sigh, "A shame how growth tarnishes the innocence of a child."
Pa-oh smiled, amused at his student. "Is there anything else you wish to know before you're sent off?"

y/n tilted her head. "Jin-heuning—er, Ji-dwi—he will not recognize me, yes?"
Pa-oh shook his head. "He is aware of your presence at times," he confessed truthfully, "Your appearance, however, remains a mystery to Ji-dwi." He pointed at her. "Do remember to address his Majesty as Ji-dwi. There would be quite a ruckus with the Queen Dowager if you were to slip up. Another soul aware of the king's identity....that will not end well."

y/n smiled her round dimples put on full display. "That is the last thing we need are in need of," she agreed with a nod, "But is it not worrisome that I will be the only woman in Hwarang. Aren't women forbidden there?"

Pa-oh's smile faded. "True, women are not permitted within the walls of the Hwarang dojo," he said, bobbing his head, "However, the village doctor will visit occasionally and she is a female as well; you will not lack a companion if that is your worry. But the Hwarang have not yet seen a woman skilled in self-defense and sparring. My guess, you'll be fine. There is a strong warrior spirit in that timid, feminine figure of yours, y/n. Kick ass, and no one will think to double-cross you."

Gleefully, y/n smiled softly, reopening her sword. "Do we duel again?"
Pa-oh laughed at her readiness as he strolled to his position and made ready his stance. "Oh—before it escapes my mind," he cried out, unsheathing his weapon, "How well are your doctoring skills?"

y/n frowned, lowering her sword. "A tad rusty," she mumbled, "But I'm still knowledgeable in the matter."
Pa-oh mumbled an 'ah, I see.'

"Why the question?" Came y/n's angelic feather-like voice.
"Does not matter," Pa-oh replies assuredly. He turned the sword in his hand, repositioning himself. "Now we continue the duel, my student."

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