Agreement.

"WHAT?"

Hyo looked shocked and displeased.

"Why do we have to go meet her?"

"She said she knew us. We are related to the place and it's calling us. She said she knew who we actually were."

"And you got swayed?"

"You aren't?"

Hyo opened his mouth to say something but decided to stay quiet. Unlike how he usually is, he was serious this time. The look on his face said it all.

"You feel it too don't you?"

Hyo looked at Nari. He knew. He had felt it too.

"Why did you save me? How did you even find me?"

"I don't know. My gut guided me there and when I felt your energy, it felt familiar. Similar to mine. Why did you stick to me?"

"At first I thought I was mistaken because we were the only two people but that guard confirmed it. I can feel people with mana. They have strong, weak energy but it's mana energy. I've felt that with my tribe's people. But I've always known my energy wasn't the same as theirs. And I felt the same energy from you. By the way, seeing you manifest a sword from nowhere had me amazed, actually."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Hyo sighed and looked at Nari.

From the rumours they've heard and their own powers which they've felt. Both of them had vague ideas of who they were and where they belonged. But they knew nothing about it. The only thing they knew made them ignore this possibility. If it was for what they heard, they wouldn't wanna be who they are.

"But how do we believe her? Believe that she's a friend and not a enemy? How can we just follow her?"

"We don't have a choice. The only thing we can do is follow her and figure it out on our own."

Nari stayed quiet for a while and said in a small voice, "we're all the same."

Hyo went ahead and stroked Nari's hair. He smiled at her innocence.

How can he tell her that being the same doesn't mean it's your friend? Even brother kills brother for mere material things. Sisters betray sisters for superficial love.

Having the same blood doesn't ensure friendship, how can being of the same kind do?

Not everyone is like her that would save the man in nowhere. People would just rob them and leave them be.

"Guess we're following her." He said.

Nari smiled slightly as she nodded.

______________________________

"You guys came here earlier than I expected. I thought it'd take forever to decide. Especially those who're dull in the head."

She gave Hyo a look. But he didn't do or say anything. He just met Iseulbi's gaze with a serious look.

Nari noticed it and stepped forward.

"Do you know the way to Pal Country?"

"Yes, I do."

"Tell us the route."

Iseulbi went to her room's table and took out a paper, she drew a rough map and said,"We're currently in Country Sahm. As we know there's the Tian River flowing in between the country Ee, Sahm and Sah which differetiates it from Country Oh, Yook and Chil. The Tian River is said to originate from the mountains of Country Pal. It gets out of two places to reach the ocean. One is from Country Chil and the other is from the border of country Oh."

She looked at the two who were intently listening to her and continued," Since we're in Country Sahm, it'll be easier for us to go from country Oh. We can cross the river, reach Country Oh and get across the river."

Hyo looked at her and said,"Is that all? Can we reach there just like that? Tell us everything."

Iseulbi gave him a stare then turned towards Nari and said,"It is said that Country Pal is protected by barriers that the people of the country cast it. It doesn't let any outsiders get in. But we'll figure it out."

She stood up and turned around. Hyo walked and stood in front of her.

"What do you mean we'll figure it out when you clearly said that it doesn't let any outsiders in? How can we get in? Be clear."

Iseulbi gritted her teeth and said,"What is wrong with you? I said we'll figure it out together."

Nari intruded,"We can discuss that camly."

Hyo was still adamant on his questions, he looked at Iseulbi straight and said,"But how? How are you so sure that we'll figure it out?"

"Because we aren't outsiders."

Everyone went silent.

The silence in the room crept quite excruciatingly. Both Hyo and Nari had ideas about who they were but both were not ready to accept, given the things they've heard about Country Pal. But now there was no running away. Now they had to accept it.

And they had to find out about the place that they belonged to.

Hyo stormed out of the room.

"I'll go after him."

With that Nari too left.

Iseulbi sat on the chair beside the window and looked at the rustling leaves of the trees. It was a good day. Exactly like that day.

She closed her eyes.

______________________________

"Iseul-ee, come eat with dad. I've made your favourite braised pork."

"Appa, but I want to go outside to play."

"Not yet, my dear. Not yet. When I teach you to hide our lil magic well then you can go out. Appa is trying to protect you."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

__________

Clang!

"HAVEN'T I TOLD YOU LOVE IS NO GOOD? DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING? HOW WOULD YOU KNOW? YOU KNOW NOTHING. YOU'RE STILL A YOUNG KID. HE MIGHT TURN OUT TO BE A MONSTER. LOVE IS DISASTER, IT'LL KILL EVERYONE AROUND YOU."

"JUST BECAUSE APPA'S LOVE DIDN'T WORK OUT DOESN'T MEAN MINE WON'T TOO."

Iseulbi storms to the room and bangs the door shut.

"Appa is trying to protect you."

______________________________

There's blood oozing out of the mouth of a man as Iseulbi holds him. She's sobbing.

"Go. You guys must reach there no matter what. There'll be a barrier casted but you all will figure it out."

He caressed Iseulbi on the face and smiled with quite a lot of effort.

"All this time when I wanted to live, it's all thanks to my precious daughter. I love you, Iseul-ee. Sorry, Appa couldn't protect you till the end."

Iseulbi looked around crying hysterically as the person in her arms vanished into the air.

As she felt energy in her senses, she stood up and walked while sobbing silently.

______________________________

Iseulbi jolts open as the voice calling her name grows louder.

She looks at the person with tears still falling down from her cheeks.

Hyo extended the braised pork in his hand and said,"Here, have some braised pork. I didn't know what you-"

More and more tears fell down from Iseulbi's eyes and she started sobbing while looking at him.

She'd been holding on. No matter how much she kept strong. She was still a child. A child who had suddenly lost her father one day. She knew she wasn't a normal human nor was her father but still seeing the only person in your life disappear in thin air, how could one take it easily?

She didn't even know why those men were chasing her and her father but she had to run from them.

Her father had told her that she'll meet two more people like her. She must find them and go beyond the mountains because that is where they belong.

She didn't even get to mourn well as she ran and found these two. When she felt the Blessing of Nature from them, she felt relaxed.

All the sadness was catching up to her now. Especially seeing them doubting her, she couldn't help but remember her father. She wouldn't be able to see him. And she didn't even have a place where she could go and cry, ask for forgiveness like the grave of her father. What was she supposed to do?

Hyo also kept on looking at Iseulbi with a 'i don't know what I'm supposed to do' face. What did his father teach him to do when girls cry? Ah.

Hyo quickly got down on his knees and said,"Hey, hey. Iseulbi. Don't cry. Ah? Don't cry. I won't be mean to you from now on. Ah? Don't cry. I'll treat you good. Please don't cry."

He took her in his arms and patted her back as Iseulbi wailed in his arms.

Nari looked at them from the door. She entered and stood beside the two.

______________________________

"Do you like it so much?"

Iseulbi wiped her nose and nodded as she chewed on braised pork.

"Is it your favourite?"

She nodded again with a mouth full of food and swollen eyes.

Nari put more rice in her bowl and said,"have more rice."

Iseulbi stopped chewing and started crying again with her mouth full of food.

Nari and Hyo consoled her as they patted her and hugged her.