LACRIMOSA - Chapter 3 Pt. 2
"That's how the use of the Realm had ceased," Yuri realized. "It's because they had permanently locked it. I always wondered about that."
"Ok, so he was banished for good and everyone lived happily ever after?" Jessica asked.
"Well except for the fact that he has now somehow escaped and is wreaking havoc and bloodshed in our nation," Heechul casually spoke. Taken aback, the girls turned their attention to the young man.
"Come again?" Yoona asked.
"Wu Jin has likely escaped his imprisonment and is seeking his revenge upon Essinia," Heechul said. "Afterwards he's likely intending to siege the other nations and eventually dominate our world."
The girls were left disorientated by Heechul's startling statement. "But…" Hyoyeon started, "he's just a myth, isn't he?"
"The tale of the Tyrant is no myth, Hyoyeon," the King said. "It is believed to be so, but it is certainly not."
"A meager few know of the Tyrant as truth and not fable," the Prime Minister said. "Those few included the remaining decedents of the Elders, who are now no longer with us."
"They were most likely killed as an act of revenge by the Tyrant," Yunho said.
"Wait, so you believe Wu Jin to be behind the attacks in Essinia?" Sunny asked looking back to her uncle.
"The symbols we found at every site that was attacked is that of the Tyrant's," Sungmin answered.
"I learned of the tale of the Tyrant from the monks when I was much younger," the King said. "It had always been feared that one day Wu Jin would escape from the Realm and seek his revenge on the world. It would appear that day has finally come."
"So, we're actually dealing with a powerful warlord from thousands of years ago?" Taeyeon asked.
"One who will stop at nothing to extract his supremacy," Siwon said.
"Well ain't that swell…" Jessica said sarcastically, crossing her arms.
"He has already wiped out two villages and murdered many innocents; if the Tyrant is indeed so powerful, what can we do to stop him?" Seohyun eagerly asked, her eyes showing resolute distress.
"You will need to travel to Earth," the King answered as he stood up from his seat.
"Why do we need to go to Earth?" Yuri asked.
"There were three keys to the gate of Realm of the Reaper. When it was agreed the Realm was to be eternally locked, the keys were destroyed. All except one," the King said as he walked around the table.
"Why is that?" Sunny asked.
"It was never truly known why. The remaining key had been casted away into space. One of the Elders, cautious of its whereabouts, tracked its trails and found where it had eventually landed."
"It landed on Earth?" Tiffany asked.
"That is right."
Siwon then unrolled a large map over the table in front of the girls, who all stepped closer to the table for a better view. It was a detailed atlas of the planet Earth. The King laid his finger over a spot on the map.
"Right here," the King said. The girls leaned forward to take a closer look at the region the King pointed out.
"Korea?" Tiffany and Jessica simultaneously asked looking up to the King.
"I believe you two are familiar with the province," the King said. Jessica and Tiffany were originally born on Earth, having lived there till they reached their teenage years before their families came to Kaia.
"Well that's convenient," Jessica said.
"Question," Hyoyeon said lifting up a finger, "how was he able to so easily track the key all the way to Earth?"
"Oh it wasn't easy," Siwon said, "took over 20 years."
"Oh…" Hyoyeon said, retracting her finger.
"They keys had as well served as a bind to the souls of the Realm's prisoners. Were they to leave the Realm, sealing the gate would instantaneously pull them back into the Realm," the King explained. "The only possible way for Wu Jin to have escaped is for the gates to have somehow reopened. We must retrieve the lost key immediately to send him back."
"If the gate could only be opened by the keys, wouldn't it mean someone had already found the third key?" Sunny asked.
"It is rather improbable. The only remaining ones who knew of the keys were the descendents of the Elders. They would never reveal the knowledge to any person. The Temple of Nagudis possessed the only existing records, which we now possessed."
"How on Earth did Wu Jin escape then?" Taeyeon asked.
"Some other internal or external force perhaps. Truthfully, we're at loss at how he managed to escape but we are investigating the matter urgently."
At that moment, the doors to the conference room opened and Jungmo, Ryewook and Kyuhyun walked in. Kyuhyun carried a small chest in his hands, the very same Jungmo obtained from the Temple of Nagudis.
"Are they ready?" the King asked.
"Yes your Majesty," Kyuhyun said as he bowed his head and handed the chest over to the King.
The King placed the small chest on the table and opened its top, revealing five small pouches within. The King picked out one of the pouches and loosened its tie. He opened the pouch and pulled out what appeared to be a compass.
"The Elder who tracked the key made use of a special compass that Jungmo was able to obtain from the Temple of Nagudis. There was only one but Ryewook was able to create replicas," the King explained as he extended the compass to Sunny.
Sunny accepted the small device into her hands and looked over its antique features. The compass rose featured ancient numerals and it the middle of the dial was a small green, gem stone.
"These compasses will aide you in tracking the key," the King said. "Prepare to leave the following morning."
"Wait," Sunny said lifting her head up, "you're really sending us to Earth?"
"This is happening a little too fast," Tiffany said.
"It is vital we move with as much haste as we can. The longer we wait, the more innocent lives will be lost," the King spoke firmly.
Sunny looked back down at the compass in her hand. In a short amount of time, a vast tragedy had befallen their country and the people were terror stricken. However, what had just been revealed to them; a rare known legend of a war lord, suddenly the source of their plight, it seemed unbelievable. If it were true, then they indeed had no time to waste. Truthfully, they had never been bestowed such a crucial task before. Nevertheless, they had no room for doubts as any further lives lost would be at their hands.
The King watched the girls exchange hesitant glances with each other and offered them a reassuring smile. "I know I must have overwhelmed you all, but know this that even I am frightened. Do not fret though; I would not be giving you girls this charge if I did not believe you were all able."
Feeling motivated by the King's word, Taeyeon straightened her back and a glint of determination shown in her eyes. "We will do our best."
-
Eunjung walked out of her room to find her roommate Soyeon seated on the floor and looking over a thin booklet. Soyeon groaned and threw the booklet aside before turning her attention to the objects laid out before her. Eunjung walked up to the older girl to see her struggling to assemble the parts for the new TV she bought.
"Do you need help?" Eunjung asked.
"No, no, I've got this," Soyeon said as pulled at the TV's pedestal from it's base, "just attached the pedestal the wrong way," Soyeon grunted as she twisted and pulled at the two parts which would form the stand for the TV.
"Sure?"
"Positive!" Soyeon said through gritted teeth, twisting the joint of the two parts.
Eunjung giggled, walking past her friend and into the kitchen where she found Hyomin and Boram, their neighbor from across the hall, at the table. Hyomin was nonstop placing small bits of meat into Boram's mouth, which already seemed to be overstuffed.
"What are you doing?!" Eunjung exclaimed as she marched up beside the two. Boram attempted to speak but could only muster muffled sounds due to her swollen cheeks. Hyomin looked up to Eunjung with a sullen expression.
"I'm dealing with my depression by trying to make Boram explode," Hyomin said before picking up another piece of meat with her chopstick and bringing it up to Boram's mouth. "Say 'Ahh'."
"Oh come on now," Eunjung said as she pulled back Hyomin's hand. Hyomin's mood had not picked up since she had found out she was rejected the job she was yearning so eagerly for. "I know what will make you feel better. I'll take you shopping! What do you say?"
"Mm…" Hyomin crossed her arms over the table and shrugged her shoulder, "I don't know."
"Come on," Eunjung urged, wrapping her hands around the brooding girl's arm. Hyomin did enjoy shopping and she knew she did not want to continue feeling so gloomy. Perhaps spending some time out with Eunjung could just put her distressed mind to ease.
Hyomin sighed and stood up from her seat, "alright then."
Eunjung gleamed and lightly bounced on her feet. "Boram, do you want come with us?" she asked the shorter girl.
"No thanks," Boram said swallowing the last bits of meat in her mouth, "you go ahead."
"Come on then!" Eunjung said as she dragged Hyomin away. After a few moments, the two girls had left the apartment, leaving only Boram and Soyeon. Boram stretched her neck to peer out of the kitchen and see Soyeon still struggling with her task.
"Do you want me to come help you?" Boram asked.
"No, no, it's fine! Really" Soyeon assured her as she continued her struggle.
Boram shrugged her shoulders and stood up to make her way to the fridge. "Do you have any of that chicken left?" she asked as she opened the fridge and poked her head inside.
Soyeon sighed as she dropped the mismatched parts on the floor. 'This is hopeless,' she thought to herself as she rubbed her sore hands together. In order to insure the TV would be assembled perfectly, she had joined the two parts as firmly as possible. As such, undoing this unforeseen mistake was proving to be most difficult. She was cautious of causing any damage thus avoiding using too much force or any tools. Soyeon realized she was left with one choice.
Soyeon looked over to the kitchen to find Boram rummaging through the fridge. Soyeon silently inspected her for a few moments before she turned around in her sitting position so that her back was facing the kitchen. She took a one more peak over her shoulder to see Boram was still occupied. Soyeon then turned her attention back to the strongly fitted stand for the TV and held it in her hand. She hovered a hand above the base and lightly breathed as an exchange of a mute energy took place between her palm and the object. Soyeon then moved her hand to the side and the base effortlessly pulled apart from the pedestal, falling to the floor.
Soyeon lifted her head and immediately looked back to see if she had attracted Boram's attention. She sighed in relief when she saw the shorter girl was still preoccupied in the kitchen. She regained her composure and smiled, turning back around in her seat.
"Got it!" Soyeon said as she triumphantly picked up the two separated parts. "Told you I could do it."