"Now."
The command was little more than a whisper on the assassin's lips, but it carried the weight of death.
Wanan crouched low behind a crumbling garden wall, his fingers steady despite the heat of vengeance boiling in his blood. The world around him was still—birds silenced, wind holding its breath—as he slid an arrow from his quiver. With mechanical precision, he notched it to the bowstring and drew it back until the wood creaked beneath the strain. His dark eyes narrowed. There she was—Queen Genie—standing in the courtyard, regal and unaware, framed by late afternoon light that caught the soft gold of her ceremonial robes.
A perfect shot.
His fingers released.
The arrow shot forth like a silent curse, splitting the air as it hurtled toward her heart.
"Your Majesty!"
A shadow lunged.
Jade, the Queen's captain and swordmaster, moved with a speed that defied reason. One arm swept forward, cloak billowing behind him, and his blade—sharp as righteous fury—met the arrow mid-flight with a flash of steel.
Clang!
Sparks flew. The arrow was deflected with a screech of metal and a hiss as it skidded to the ground harmlessly.
Queen Genie froze, a breath caught in her throat. Her eyes locked on the broken shaft at her feet, realization flooding her face.
Jade remained in front of her, back straight, sword raised.
His voice, clipped and urgent, cut through the silence. "Are you injured, Your Majesty?"
The Queen blinked, still stunned. "No… No, I'm not."
At once, guards surged forward, forming a wall of armor and shields before their monarch. The tension in the courtyard snapped like a bowstring.
Jade didn't wait. He spun on his heel and sprinted toward the source of the attack, eyes scanning the trees, the rooftops, every shifting shadow.
Queen Genie's voice rang out, sharp and commanding despite the tremble still lingering in her breath. "Ash Kingdom soldiers are here. Hiding. Hunt them down. Let none leave alive."
The royal guards scattered like arrows released from a bow, their boots pounding against stone as they fanned out into the estate. The Deputy Commander hesitated for only a heartbeat before following Jade, his blade already drawn.
From the tiled residence behind them, two figures emerged—Enna, pale with horror, and the magistrate, mouth agape, frozen at the threshold.
Queen Genie turned to them with icy resolve in her eyes.
"We ride. Now. There is no time."
A servant dashed toward the stables, shouting for horses. In the distance, the sound of steel clashing against steel echoed from the rear gates, mingling with battle cries and shouts of alarm.
And in the midst of it all stood the Queen—unshaken, untouchable, the winds of war beginning to rise around her once more.
At that critical moment, the two young soldiers from the Ash Kingdom—Wanan and Mobo—burst from their hiding place behind the village's rear wall, their hearts pounding in their chests like war drums. The cold truth hit them with brutal clarity: the mission had failed.
"Hey! What if we get caught like this?!" Mobo's voice cracked with panic, his boots pounding against the dirt as he bolted.
Wanan limped painfully behind him, his injured knee sending sharp jolts of agony up his leg.
Gritting his teeth, he shouted hoarsely, "You go first! Get out of here!"
"Are you out of your mind?" Mobo shouted back over his shoulder, eyes wild. "I'm not leaving you here to die! Hurry up!"
Their desperate flight stirred dust clouds that mingled with the scent of earth and sweat, echoing their fear across the silent fields.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar shattered the moment. The pounding of hooves grew louder, closer—an unstoppable storm rushing toward them.
From the crest of the hill came Queen Genie, regal and fierce atop her majestic steed, her dark cloak billowing behind her like a banner of war. Beside her rode the Deputy Commander and Jade, stern and unyielding, his eyes sharp as flint.
Wanan's breath caught in his throat.
"Go! Run!" he gasped again, voice breaking with desperation.
Mobo hesitated, torn between loyalty and survival. Then, with a final, resolute glance at his fallen comrade, he tightened his jaw, swallowed hard, and tore forward, legs pumping like pistons.
Queen Genie's gaze pierced the chaos, her eyes locking onto the fleeing soldiers. With a fluid motion born of years of training, she drew her bowstring back without breaking stride.
Time slowed.
She felt the familiar hum of the bow, the taut string pressing against her fingers, the whisper of wind threading through the valley. Memories flooded her mind—the countless nights training beneath the moon, her mentor Do Won-gyeong's voice echoing in her ear:
"Never take your eyes off the target. Become one with the arrow... one with the wind."
Her sight narrowed until only one point remained: Wanan's trembling form, heart exposed beneath his armor.
With delicate precision, she adjusted the aim, compensating for the wind and the horse's rhythm.
Her fingers released.
The arrow tore through the air—a silver streak of deadly intent.
It struck Wanan's left shoulder with a harsh, brutal thud that silenced the world.
A strangled cry tore from his lips as his body collapsed, crumpling to the ground like a broken marionette.
Queen Genie reined in her horse, her dark eyes blazing with fierce determination. The dust settled around Wanan's fallen form, mingling with the scent of blood and dirt.
Deputy Commander Danjin and Jade brought his horse to a halt beside her, muscles taut, ready to pursue.
Mobo glanced back one last time, his breath ragged, eyes burning with a mix of grief and fear. But the sharp command of survival pushed him forward. He shut his eyes tight, refusing to look back, and sprinted toward the uncertain safety ahead.
But Queen Genie was relentless. Her resolve hardened like forged steel—there would be no mercy for these invaders.
Without hesitation, she shot another arrow. The bowstring pulled taut again, singing a deadly note in the quiet air.
Her gaze found Mobo—the last thread of the enemy's hope.
The world seemed to hold its breath as the Queen drew back her bowstring, ready to end the chase.
The arrow sliced through the air with deadly precision and struck Mobo's ankle just as he sprinted desperately across the dusty field.
"Ah!" he cried out sharply, pain exploding through his leg as he collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.
Queen Genie lowered her bow with an effortless grace, her calm composure unshaken.
Deputy Commander and Jade followed her from close behind on the horses and stared at her in stunned silence, eyes wide with disbelief.
'Her Majesty's archery skills… are truly extraordinary,' he thought, barely daring to believe what he had witnessed.
"Your Majesty!" Jade's voice rang out sharply as he spurred his horse forward.
The other guards quickly rallied beside him, forming a protective circle around the queen.
Jade's gaze dropped to the two Ash Kingdom soldiers lying wounded in the dirt—one clutching his arrow-pierced shoulder, the other grimacing in agony from the arrow embedded in his ankle.
"Did Your Majesty… do this?" Jade asked, astonishment coloring his tone.
Queen Genie blinked, suddenly aware of the quiet awe radiating from every soldier and guard nearby, all staring fixedly at the arrows she had fired.
"Ah, well…" she murmured, a hint of modesty coloring her voice. "It just sort of happened."
Deputy Commander and Jade's face broke into a proud smile, admiration shining in his eyes.
"Minister, from a galloping horse she fired—without hesitation, without missing. It was truly a feat worthy of legend."
Before Jade could continue extolling her skills, Queen Genie raised a hand.
"Jade, please escort the two fallen soldiers to the local government office. They are to be detained immediately."
Jade bowed his head respectfully and nodded, his demeanor sharpening into that of a seasoned leader.
"As you command, Your Majesty."
Queen Genie quickly masked the faint flush creeping over her cheeks with a graceful turn of her horse. Behind her, Jade and the guards followed in close formation, the steady clip-clop of hooves blending with the murmurs of the village.
Jade's gaze lingered on the Queen's poised figure ahead, his expression unreadable but intense. Then his eyes dropped to the arrow she still held, its sharp tip glinting faintly in the fading sunlight. A question, unspoken but burning, settled deep in his chest.
'Your Majesty… when did you become so skilled with a bow?'
Inside the dim, austere chamber of the local government office, the two young Ash Kingdom soldiers knelt side by side, their hands and feet bound with coarse ropes that bit into their skin. Their faces were pale, eyes wide with a mixture of fear, pain, and resignation. The dirt smudges on their worn uniforms told of their desperate flight and the harsh realities of war.
Jade stood firm beside them, his dark eyes scanning every detail with quiet authority. The Deputy Commander stood nearby, his expression a mix of relief and lingering tension, while the guards kept vigilant watch, weapons ready but lowered for now.
Outside, the village square thrummed with restless energy. Word had spread swiftly, and a crowd had gathered, whispering and murmuring in awe and excitement at the capture of the enemy soldiers. The air was thick with a mix of fear, hope, and the bitter taste of recent conflict.
Among the gathered villagers, Enna stood quietly, her handmaiden close by. Most eyes were drawn to the regal figure of Queen Genie, whose presence radiated calm strength and undeniable authority. Yet Enna's gaze was fixed elsewhere.
Her eyes were on Jade.
She studied him with a subtle intensity, her eyes flickering down to the edge of his outer robe where a faint shadow suggested something concealed beneath.
A small scar, a hidden wound.
The detail was small, but to her, it spoke volumes—of battles fought in silence, of burdens borne without complaint.
'He is not fully healed yet…' Enna thought, feeling worried.