CHAPTER ONE

In the little kingdom of Ji-Seok lived its great people. Ruled by a brave and good Commander, the kingdom flourished. In this kingdom lived a girl bearing the name Baek-Hyun. She was from the family of In-su. She was a thing of beauty and therefore, she was every man's dreams in the Ji-Seok kingdom. She wasn't only beautiful, she was hardworking, brave and above all, she was filled with empathy. Her father, Tang was into mining. He was the head of all the miners in Ji-Seok kingdom. Her mother Baek-Ha, was a trader who was into selling of jewelleries. Baek-Hyun's little sister.

Hana was a bright fourteen years old girl who was very roguish and always brought trouble each day with ease. Their father would not spank her because she was his favourite just as her name implied. But he did scold her and her mother grounded her sometimes, other times, they let her be and suffer from guilt. And lastly, Kyong, the oldest and only male child in the family. He was a warrior and not just any, he was a royal warrior. The flag bearer to their fortress commander. Baek-Hyun was really smart and had always wanted to be a female warrior but her father objected greatly for fear of losing her, but that didn't hinder Baek-Hyun from finding her own ways to learn some fighting skills. She always bribed her brother to show her some skills on one of the rare days he was at home. Not only that, when she took food for him on the training ground, she had befriended some of the warriors there who taught her how to fight as well. Indeed, Baek-Hyun was a really quick learner. She saved some money to get herself a sword and she did. She secretly took the sword to the training field since she wasn't allowed to use other warrior's sword. Soon, she was already wielding an arrow. Her family was a highly respected one and they were really helpful citizens in the Ji-Seok kingdom but as always, Baek-Hyun was always forced to be the perfect daughter. She had many suitors who from early age had already indicated interest about her but thankfully, her mother would not allow her father accept any of them. She wanted her daughter to marry a man of her choice. But that wasn't going to last because at age 18, her father had already begun finding her a rich merchant. Some even came but Baek-Hyun rejected them. Some of them were old enough to be her grand-father. She despised it so much that she had to be the perfect daughter. She wanted to live a free life and experience the world to the fullest. She really believed in true love and hoped that she would someday find it.

On the other hand, in other neighbouring smaller kingdoms, there was great war going on there. The kingdom of Gi was at it again. Their Emperor, Woong was hell bent on becoming greater. He was conquering Fortresses and was blinded by greed for more power. The Commander of Ji-Seok, Chi-Yang had foreseen their doom and had sent letter to other neighbouring strongholds of Seok kingdom. In the letter he asked them to come together, join forces with the great Hak-Kun which was a very great Capital on its own and fight Gi Kingdom, but they had refused. They were blinded by ego. They thought they were capable of winning the great battle. But quickly and steadily, the Gi Emperor had conquered 5 fortresses. His firm was getting too strong. He had more soldiers and a rapid increasing number of slaves. Soon he would be after Ji-Seok.

The Ji-Seok army were frightened because they had only 6,000 men compared to Gi kingdom which had more than 300,000 soldiers. Ji-Seok fortress had no option but to fight. Their Commander Chi-Yang sent letter to the Hak-Kun kingdom asking them to stand by them but they neglected. According to them, they also had great battle coming ahead of them and they needed their soldiers to be ready. Secondly, fighting the Gi soldiers in an open field was suicide.

In the Hak-Kun kingdom, there were great debates on whether they should send reinforcement to Ji-Seok kingdom or not. Well, everything depended on the General, Chi-Mae and of course, on the Emperor as well. Chi-Mae the General of the warriors in Hak-Kun kingdom was going to send reinforcement but the king disagreed. That was it! Ji-Seok kingdom was getting no reinforcement. They were on their own and that they knew. They knew they were going to lose to Gi kingdom but they prepared anyways.

Throughout those weeks, the people of Ji-Seok were in great fear. They were all aware that they were doomed. As for Baek-Hyun, she prepared her mind to the fullest to freely accept what was coming to her. After all, she was capable of defending herself at least, but she was scared for her family, she didn't want to lose them. She was scared for her brother. He too was scared but what would he do other than fight, whether they lose or win.

By now, Baek-Hyun was really good at handling her sword but sadly, she wasn't good enough. Few days ago, some warriors from Gi had come to scout their fortress. They stood few kilometres away from the fortress before riding away with their horses. Hearing this, the people of Ji-Seok were in great fear. Their Commander wasn't left out, but he was a brave man. One that had never loosed a battle.

Finally, it was time. The Gi soldiers attacked Ji-Seok fortress. The Gi soldiers had surrounded the little fortress. They had come with just 50,000 men with crazy weapons. Anyone seeing that would just retreat. Their soldiers could be compared to sand. Yet, those were only but a few of them. "They brought such a large army for such a small fortress". Man-Chun the right hand man of the Emperor said. "it's a lopsided battle". Eulbul, the Cavalry Unit captain said. But the Commander remained silent. "When our neighbouring fortresses were being conquered, everyone asked me what we're going to do. I told them we would fight. We would fight because I never learnt to retreat, never learnt to kneel." The Commander of Ji-Seok Chi-Yang said to his warriors. "Look behind you". He said again and the soldiers all turned to stare behind them. "Those are your families. Your children, your wives, your properties. Fight for them. They are Ji-Seok. Without them, there is no Ji-Seok". The Commander said and his right hand man Man-Chun shouted "TO BATTLE". All the soldiers shouted back. "TO BATLLLLL…E". But the Gi soldiers didn't flinch for a split of second. They believed in what they were capable of doing. They trusted their wicked Emperor. "Is that their Commander?". The Gi Emperor asked his right hand man and the man nodded. "he surely has heart. But it is null and void". The Emperor said. "break the walls". The Emperor said and his right hand man passed the order to the Captain of the foot soldiers bearing the stone slingers. Immediately, tones and tones of huge heavy rocks were thrown into the air towards Ji-Seok's walls. It destroyed most of the walls but not all. The Ji-Seok soldiers were indeed frightened. "Defend". The commander shouted when the heavy rocks had stopped flying towards them. Hundreds of arrows were sent flying into the air and it knocked down hundreds of the Gi soldiers. "The walls won't fall, your highness". The right hand man of Gi's Emperor reported to the wicked Woong. "climb the walls". The Emperor said and the order was passed.

For hours and hours, the war continued. Some arrows had even reached the inner fortress. It was knocking out some of the people. Baek-Hyun was really frightened but not frightened enough to stop trying to get out and fight. Her father constantly scolded her. They were melting more irons for more swords and arrows. Hana was so frightened, she stayed indoors with her mother. She was crying hard. As for Baek-Hyun, all she wanted to do was to join in the battle and defend her family and Ji-Seok Fortress. She couldn't help constantly staring outside. "Put more fire Baek-Hyun". Her father scolded. Soon, flaming arrows were flying into Ji-Seok Fortress. Huts were burning up together with people. Pregnant women and babies were roasted by the fire. Baek-Hyun could no more stand back and watch her home burn down. "I'm sorry father, but hiding here all day won't save us". She said to her father as she picked her sword, bow and some newly made arrows. "That's not funny Baek Hyun. Going out there will not also save us". Her father protested. "But you can't fight, you don't even know how to wield that arrow". Her father said. "Trust me father, I can. I've been practicing a lot lately. If I stay, we die, if I go, we may still die. It changes nothing father." She said as she slammed the door.

Baek-Hyun ran to the entrance of the fortress were there were men fighting. She stood afar and wield her bow, soon her arrows were flying up in the air and killing every Gi soldier that crossed its part. "what are you doing here?". Kyong, her brother yelled at her from afar. "I can't waste my skills". Baek-Hyun said as she stabbed a Gi soldier. Blood splashed all over her. She felt sick to the stomach but she never stopped. She was fighting wonderfully. The Commander was shocked to see her in the battle arena but he said nothing because she fought good.

"Your Highness, our men are dying, we need to retreat." Woong's right hand man said but the Emperor gave him a death stare. "we could just come back again and take what is rightfully yours." He said again and the Emperor smiled. He like the fact that Ji-Seok fortress was already tagged as his'. "send the arrow fighters on board". The Emperor said. "But our soldiers are up there. They too would die". His right-hand man said trying to dissuade their Emperor but the Emperor shouted the order out loud again with anger and immediately, thousands of arrow were sent flying into the air. It killed a lot of warriors, both Gi and Ji-Seok warriors were killed.

The Commander was tensed because one of his soldiers just reported that they were running out of arrows. He turned to look around. He saw his men dying in each direction that he turned. He saw the strange girl Baek-Hyun who was fighting with confidence. He wondered what made her want to kill herself. He was still staring at her as their eyes met. He wouldn't look away and she wouldn't look away. Just then, a spear was flying towards him but he was too busy staring at Baek-Hyun to notice. She saw and tried warning him but it was too late. The arrow pierce through his right stomach. He fell to the ground yelling in pains. Baek-Hyun immediately ran to him. But a Gi- soldier got to him before she did. From his uniform and the spear that he used, he was a Gi Royal soldier. He pulled out the spear and was about to stab the Commander again but he stopped and fell to the ground. Baek- Hyun had stabbed the soldier from behind with her sword. "Take cover". The Ji-Seok Commander shouted in agony and every one including the Gi soldiers took cover but it was an opportunity for the Ji-Seok men because they took the chance to kill as many Gi soldiers as they could.

The Commander, Chi-Yang stared at his saviour one last time before he faded. He saw her pale blood-stained face, he knew her, but he never remembered where he saw that face. Baek-Hyun Soon knelt down beside Commander Chi-Yang. She kept spanking his face and shaking him but he wasn't responding. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks. He was bleeding terribly so Baek-Hyun tore a piece of her clothes and tied it around his belly. She couldn't fight again. So far, she had seen hundreds of soldiers die and she knew that could be her and now seeing their Commander lye lifelessly before her, she was weak to her bones. The arrows stopped coming but more Gi soldiers were climbing up the walls. "Close order Formation". Man-Chun, the right hand man of Commander Chi-Yang shouted when he saw that the commander had passed out. And immediately, hundreds of Gi soldiers that were on the Ji-Seok fortress walls were being pushed down the tower. Man-Chun turned to stare at their Commander's body but he found a strange girl crying helplessly with their Commander in her arms. He walked to them to shake her off but she wouldn't let go. She was clearly out of her mind. Baek-Hyun was really crying because their Commander was thought as the fortress itself and without him, they were all going to die.

The Emperor of Gi was furious. His enormous ladders were also pushed down and it crushed a lot of his soldiers. He was in shock at what just happened. He loosed to a little fortress. "Your Highness, we have to turn around now, we haven't conquered the Hak-Kun Capital yet and we need our soldiers". His right hand man said. "turn around". The Emperor said with disappointment. The order was immediately passed and the Gi soldiers retreated. The Ji-Seok soldiers scrjoinedeamed out in victory and when their citizens heard them scream out in joy they too.