𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮 || Akatsuki no Yona

Our World [Finale]

galaxy /ˈɡaləksē

a system of millions or billions of stars, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction

•••

"Isn't it beautiful?" Jae-ha asked as we laid under the stars.

Stars filled the sky like pale corn into freshly turned ground. It was the promise of life in the darkness, a sense of warmth springing from the cold. It was a vastness to bring humbleness and an eternal space to bring gratitude for the coziness of home.

"Yeah," I responded. It was beautiful. "This is the same sky from all those nights ago."

Jae-ha turned to look at me, then he pulled me closer to him. There was this weird feeling in my stomach. I was nervous, but also satisfied. When I'm with Jae-ha, there is no yesterday or past. It's just us, living in our own world, a world where no one can find us, a world where we only need the night sky and each other.

•••

"General Soo-jin," Yona called, pulling me away from the past and into the present.

"So you were alive." The Fire Tribe General sighed, anger and annoyance lacing his voice.

"Even though you are one of the five generals of Kouka, you've committed a serious crime," Yona said.

"A little girl's lecturing me?" The General scoffed. "Right now, as King Hiryuu, I'm taking back what is rightfully mine, Hiryuu Palace! My soldiers will gladly pave a path for me! That is what it means to be an honorable Fire Tribe citizen!"

"Don't be so full of yourself," Yona says. "You don't even know what you make your people live through. You are not fit to be king!"

"Kill them." Soo-jin growls. "Kill them! This girl, these people here, erase them! From my sight!"

Soldiers surrounded us. I wasn't very strong, so would I be alright? Would I make it out of this battlefield alive?

"Soo-Jin, there is one thing I want to tell you." The princess smiled. "Right now, Tae-jun is leading the Fire Tribe people with a completely different method. I want to show you what he looks like now."

Soldiers charged at us, leaving cuts all over my body. But I wasn't going to stop, there was no way I could. This country needed a leader, a leader that will bring this broken country together.

The sound of a whistle got the attention of an eagle. I followed the eagle with my eyes as it landed on someone I should despise.

•••

So that's why

you

became this country's king.

•••

As I turned to look at the young king, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. Before I knew it, I was coughing up blood. Why now? Why did I have to see you right now? You left me feeling vulnerable, Soo-won.

Soo-won's eyes widened as the sword was pulled out. Why wasn't I collapsing? Was I really not dead?

My hair covered some of the wound, but blood still stained my clothes.

What would the others do if they saw me?

"This is bad, let's retreat!" I heard Yoon yell. "Yona!"

The princess had noticed Soo-won, but she still turned around and yelled. "We're retreating! Hak, Kija, create a pathway."

Even though we were retreating, I still felt many pairs of eyes on me. Jae-ha put his arms around me and helped me into his horse. My head began to feel heavy as we retreated. Was I dying?