The mist of the Black Pines was thick this time of year. Sa Gwan led the trio in silence, his hand rested on the hilt of his sword. Ilho moved beside him with ease. Ryul kept pace just ahead of Blue. They searched for signs of the missing scouts since dawn. The deeper they went, the more the forest seemed to swallow the trail.
Blue glanced at Ryul and caught up to him. "You've been quiey this whole time. What's bothering you?"
Ryul didn't answer. Only when they paused near a clearing did he respond. "It's just So-Yeon."
"What about her? Are you still upset over how she reacted?"
Ryul looked at Blue. His expression was heavy, like the weight of 15 years of regret.
"Hyung." He said quietly as Sa Gwan ordered them to rest for a bit. "You've been gone so long. I'm afraid... there's so much you don't know. There's still much I don't."
Ryul looked into the forest. "It's not that i hate her, though she did stab you. But after you died, everything fell apart. We were left to fend for ourselves. She didn't come back. Never looked for us."
Blue opened his mouth, but Ryul raised his hand.
"Eventually each of us found a place to belong. We had each decided to take our own paths. Though, it seemed as if we were guided. Except for Haejin. He took your death the hardest. You were the only father figure he'd ever known. The Heavenly Demon himself found him. He helped him overcome his despair. That's all I know about our little brother. I was left wandering chengdu... alone. Until Wu Cheng brought me to Wudang."
Ryul sighed. "I'm not telling you this to make you feel bad. But, when I saw you again. Really saw you, all those memories flooded my mind. Everything we lost. Our siblings scattered. I don't know, maybe it's regret, maybe a grudge. But after she stabbed you, something inside of me hardened when it comes to her. And I can't seem to let it go.
Blue's eyes dropped to the forest floor. "You're right. I don’t understand, and I can't fathom what you all have suffered." He looked up and met Ryul's gaze. "But she's still our sister. We can't abandon her. She had her reasons, just as you now. If she ever realizes who I am, you need to sit with her and give her a chance to explain. Whatever it is you're feeling. I'm sure she shares the same regret. Trust me, I know, just look at my shoulder."
Before Ryul could speak, Sa Gwan held up his hand. "Quiet. Ten hellhounds in that direction." Sa Gwam muttered as he pointed. "Weak, but aggressive. We'll handle them easily. Don't break formation, and don't try to be a hero."
The clash came quickly. The hellhounds emerged from the mist. Low growls, fire lighting up the ground as it rose from their skin. Sa Gwan barked orders. The 4 of them swiftly moved through the hellhounds in formation. Slicing them open as lava poured from their wounds. There was no hesitation in the boys movements or swords. The ten hellhounds were decimated in a matter of seconds.
Sa Gwan looked back and smiled. "Well done."
Above the commotion, unnoticed by the boys. So-Yeon watched. Her hood down, she watched Blue as he moved through the hellhounds. She muttered to herself. "Just because uncle taught you grandfather's footwork, doesn't make you Jiung."
Below Sa Gwan turned his head quickly to the tree line behind them.
"More?" Ilho asked.
Sa Gwan shook his head. "It's nothing." He stared at the spot So-Yeon had just been.
As Sa Gwan turned back, the trees in front of them started trembling. A deep boom, echoed between the pines. The boys all looked at each other. The trees right in front of them toppled over. Out of the mist, it appeared. An Orc. Nine feet tall. Green skin tempered like iron. It dragged a club behind it, tearing through the forest floor. It's blood red eyes locked onto the group.
Sa Gwan didn't hesitate. "Get ready!
Sa Gwan and Ilho both vanished, shadow step carrying them through the shadows. Both men flanked the creature from either side. The orc swung. A wide arc that shattered a tree trunk beside him. Ilho and Sa Gwan both dodged the swing. Ryul darted forward the moment he saw the opening. Blue moved in tandem, striking from the opposite angle. Their swords struck.
CLANG.
Neither blade even scratched the orc. It's skin was as tough as iron armor the Imperial Court soldiers wore.
"We can't break through that!" Ryul yelled.
Sa Gwan slashed the orcs legs as he skidded to a stop beside Ryul. "Then we chip away at it. Wear it down. It's strong, but slow. Avoid its str-"
"GET BACK!" Ilho's voice cut through.
The orc was mid swing as Blue lunged to shove Ryul out of the way. The club narrowly missed Blue. It's jagged edge snagged the chain the hung from his neck, the pendant tore free and rolled across the ground.
So-Yeon stood on a branch still watching. Her eyes widened. She gasped, then moved. A plume of green and purple smoke burst on the branches behind the men. Before anyone could react, So-Yeon stood behind the orc, sword drawn.
The orc blinked, then its head slid free from the neck. It dropped to its knees. With a thunderous thud, the headless body crashed forward. It landed inches from where Blue was laying on top of Ryul.
So-Yeon sheathed her blade. She turned and stepped on the orcs body and to the other side. She glanced at Blue for a moment. Then her gazed reached the forest floor. The pendant lay still in front of her. "You're all lucky I was here." As she bent down. Ilho, Blue and Ryul all stared at Sa Gwan. "That wasn't some stray monster. It was a low tier boss." She picked up the pendant. "If things like this are coming out of gates. Then the Alliance clearly isn't managing them as well as they claim."
So-Yeon stood up, the pendant in her hand. She stared at it as Blue stood up. "Thank you for intervening. We could've handled it though."
Ilho brushed off the dust that had collected on his clothes. "Wouldn't have been as stylish though."
So-Yeon continued to ignore them as her eyes were locked onto the pendant. As if it was speaking to her.
Sa Gwan cleared his throat. "Ummm... commander? Should we continue forward?"
She looked up. "You and Ilho take Ryul and go meet up with Mu Jang. He should be about two kilometers northwest of here."
Silence fell over everyone as the boys looked between each other confused.
Sa Gwan begun to speak. "Wai-"
"It seems..." So-Yeon raised a hand to interrupt Sa Gwan. "This boy and I have much to discuss."
Sa Gwan looked between So-Yeon and Blue.
"Matriarch, no offense. I can't leave Blue behind with you. He is a membet of Silent Edge, not Ta-"
Before Sa Gwan could finish, So-Yeon disappeared. She appeared right behind Blue and smiled. "Don't worry, I'll bring him back on one piece." She grabbed Blue by the back of his collar. "That is depending on how he answers my questions."
Before anyone could move So-Yeon was gone, with Blue thrown over her shoulder.
"What the fuck was that about?" Ilho rubbed his eyes.
Ryul's jaw clenched. "I'm not sure. But it's not Blue that I'm worried about."
Sa Gwan sighed. "We have nothing we can do, let's just do as she said and head towards Mu Jang."
Ilho chuckled. "We could use Hanjo and his prayers to buddha for Blue's sake right about now."