The Scarlet Hawk and The Black Knights (Mina)✔️

8: Imaginative Reality

Previously...

"Ah, J-Ji An unnie." Momo stood up and bowed immediately at the princess in full respect. Ji Won and Mi Na were the last to stand, earning an annoyed expression from the princess. Ji An seemed disgusted when Momo called her 'unnie'. She just felt utter plain disgust. "Is there anything you need?" she asked politely.

"Calling me your highness will do just fine." she smiled sarcastically. "Oh, yes, Momo, the girls and I are just having our quality time in my room and we are out of tea. Please kindly make yourself useful and make some more." she instructed, placing the kettle on the table slightly harshly, startling the three girls. Momo did not dare to even look at her, and nodded slowly, walking to make another kettle of tea. Ji An took a small glance at Mi Na and Ji Won before rolling her eyes. "You two seem bothered. Is there something wrong?" she huffed.

"N-no, n-nothing wrong." Ji Won immediately shook her head out of fear. The princess then chuckled bitterly and nodded at her answer, looking at Mi Na lastly with her jealous eyes.

"Very well then. Oh and also, congratulations on slaying the Hagari. My father is very proud of you." she stated half-heartedly. Deep inside, she never meant the compliment. She simply said it with no purpose but mockery. Ji An then excused herself, well, without literally telling them, and left the room immediately without even looking at them one last time. "The beast is no different with the three of you wretches." she mumbled to herself quietly as she left the kitchen, heading back to her room.

"She really is a scary one." Ji Won sighed, rubbing her nape as she looked at her plate, still unfinished with a little rice left. "So scary that I have lost my appetite." she chuckled.

"She's older than us, she's two years older than me. Perhaps us respecting her as the princess is the only way we can be treated fairly." Momo stated. She too didn't like this part of her new life, but she knew beggars can't be choosers, and she knew that she should be stronger. "Even so, what matters is that the three of us are together as sisters no matter the cost." she smiled, holding Ji Won's and Mi Na's shoulder. "I promise you the three of us will take care of each other as sisters." she stated boldly, caressing her sisters' backs.

Mi Na remained silent. She truly did not know what to say to her sister, but she only knew that what Momo said was very true. This new life they had was a life they should accept and live by. She only hummed and held Momo's and Ji Won's hands firmly and softly, the three sisters smiling at each other.

-

The Land of Hanka

"We shall honor the Hagari for the life it has lived....and the death it has walked upon." a man dressed in a long grey robe chanted, raising and flapping a huge fan above him, seemingly a priest performing a traditional ritual movement specifically for burying mythical beasts. Everyone else present in the ceremony were all dressed in black robes with white clothes inside, with Gwangman and Ji An dressed in special royal, although the three sisters' could also be said as special from the others. "Now, we will witness as the Hakari is rested inside these grounds, in this sacred land." he remarked.

The priest's statement was then followed by the sounds of many drums being hit with sticks by several men all at once in unison, creating a rhythmic beat that sounded very traditional, accompanied by several monks who were chanting with their deep voices in sync. Soon after, numerous men began walking in while carrying a undeniably huge litter where the dead Hagari lied on. They walked properly and as careful as they could, since one single wrong move would result in complete failure, they would either fall or get crushed by the beast's massive body.