Ha-yun, the Shadow of Gyeongcheondaeho
Born under a sky split by lightning, ha-yun was said to have drawn her first breath as the waves of Gyeongcheondaeho shimmered with power. The elders called it an omen — a child blessed, or perhaps cursed, by the lake itself.
Trained in silence and shadow, ha-yun mastered the art of assassination before most had even learned to channel the lake's energy. Where others saw magic as a gift, she wielded it as a weapon. The energy of the lake flowed through her veins — volatile, unrelenting, beautiful — and with a whisper of intent, she could silence entire armies before the dawn.
Those who have seen her work speak of her with reverence and dread. They say her blades hum with the song of the lake, that her eyes reflect the same deep blue light that burns beneath its surface. To some, she is a savior; to others, a ghost of vengeance.
> Twenty years had passed since the days now whispered of as the flashbacks—two decades since Suwon's name was spoken with awe rather than dread. Once a prodigy touched by grace, she had become a fallen fool in the eyes of the realm, undone by her own ruinous brilliance and her inconvenient penchant for slaughter.
Now, beneath a sky bruised with stormlight, at the top of a frozen lake,
she stood before Park Jin, the formidable head of Songrim—the most powerful order still left standing. His retainers encircled her, a dozen blades glinting with trembling resolve. They never stood a chance.
The air was thick with tension as ha-yun stood tall, her eyes locked onto the speaker. "Who wants to know what I am made of?she replied, her voice low and even, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.
As Ha-yun stood tall, her voice echoed with an air of confidence, "For wherever I tread, heads fall to the ground. That is why I am called Ha-yun – a name that strikes fear, is it not?" Her eyes gleamed with a fierce light, her stance unwavering, ready to unleash a storm of steel.
Park Jin's face twisted in a snarl as he barked a single, deadly command: "Kill her!" The mooks sprang into action, forming a line like specters of death. Bows drawn, they loosed a hail of arrows, the air whistling with deadly intent.
But Ha-yun was no ordinary foe. With a flick of her wrist, her sword sang free of its sheath, shimmering in the fading light. She waved it in a fluid arc, and the air seemed to shudder in response. Magical ice stones, drawn to her call, swirled around her, coalescing into a shimmering barrier of frost and ice. The arrows struck the shield, their tips shattering against its crystalline surface, the sound of their impact ringing out like a death knell. The shield held firm, protecting Ha-yun from the deadly barrage, as if the very stones themselves had risen to defend her.
The battle raged on, with Park Jin's magical arrows shattering the ice shield that had protected Ha-yun. But the assassin was far from defeated. With a swift motion, she countered the incoming arrows with her sword, deflecting them harmlessly to the side.
Undaunted, Ha-yun sprang into action, her sword flashing in the light as she took down the mooks one by one. Her movements were a blur of steel and agility, her sword slicing through the air with deadly precision.
The mooks, despite their numbers, were no match for Ha-yun's skill and cunning. They fell to the ground, one after another, until none were left standing. Ha-yun stood tall, her chest heaving slightly with exertion, her sword still humming with the force of her blows.
The air was silent, the only sound the soft clinking of armor as the last of the mooks fell to the ground. Park Jin's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed intently on Ha-yun. "You're a formidable opponent, I'll give you that," he said, his voice dripping with challenge. "But the king will not be so easily deterred. You will be captured, and you will pay for your defiance."
Ha-yun smiled, a cold, mirthless smile. "I'm shaking with fear," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Bring it on."
As Park Jin closed in on Ha-yun, his sword gleaming in the light, she stood tall, her eyes locked onto his. The magical iceball had struck her with precision, but she seemed unfazed by the impact. Her gaze never wavered from Park Jin's, her focus fixed on her target.
With a swift motion, she drew her sword, the blade flashing in the light as she prepared to meet Park Jin's attack. The air was charged with tension as the two enemies faced off, their swords poised for the strike.
Park Jin sneered, his sword arm tensed for the kill. "You're finished," he spat, lunging forward with a powerful blow.
Ha-yun's eyes never left Park Jin's as she parried his attack with ease, their swords clashing in a shower of sparks. The battle was far from over.The clash of steel on steel echoed through the air as Ha-yun and Park Jin exchanged blows, their swords meeting in a flurry of motion. Each strike was met with precision and skill, their movements a testament to their mastery of the sword.
But Ha-yun's next strike was different. With a fierce cry, she brought her sword down with incredible force, clashing it against Park Jin's sword. The impact was immense, sending Park Jin stumbling backward as he struggled to absorb the blow.
As he fell to the ground, Ha-yun's sword seemed to have left its mark on him. Park Jin's hands began to swell, the skin turning a deep shade of red as blood rushed to the surface. He gritted his teeth, pulling his hands back into a fist as the swelling slowly receded, revealing his undamaged hands once more.
Park Jin's eyes blazed with determination as he rose to his feet, his sword at the ready. "You may have gained the upper hand this time," he snarled, "but I will not be defeated. You are a threat to everything I hold dear – my kingdom, my people, my Songrim. I will capture you, no matter the cost."
The battle raged on, the two combatants exchanging blows and neither gaining the upper hand. Ha-yun's skills were matched by Park Jin's determination, and it seemed that only one of them would emerge victorious.
Ha-yun's wound was taking its toll, weakening her with each passing moment. She knew she couldn't keep fighting Park Jin in her current state, not with the magical iceball's effects still coursing through her body.
With a swift motion, she slammed her sword into the icy ground, unleashing a burst of energy that shattered the frozen surface. A circular patch of ice broke away, revealing a dark and icy pool beneath.
Without hesitation, Ha-yun dived into the hole, disappearing from view just as Park Jin's sword sliced through the air, mere inches from her retreating form. The ice closed in behind her, sealing her escape route.
Park Jin's face twisted in anger and frustration as he stared at the spot where Ha-yun had vanished. "You can't escape me forever," he snarled, his eyes blazing with determination. "I'll find you, Ha-yun. And when I do, you'll pay for your defiance."
As Ha-yun fled through the dark and icy tunnels, the wounds on her chest pulsed with pain, weakening her with each step. She could feel the magical iceball's effects spreading, numbing her senses and slowing her down.
The sound of her pursuers grew louder, the mooks closing in on her. Ha-yun knew she couldn't keep running forever. She needed a new body, one that wasn't wounded and weakened.
With a surge of desperation, Ha-yun focused her energy, searching for a potential host. She reached out with her mind, scanning the surroundings for a suitable soul to switch with.
As she ran, her vision began to blur, and she stumbled, her legs trembling beneath her. She couldn't keep this up much longer. She needed a host, and she needed one fast.
Suddenly, she sensed a presence, a strong and vital energy that seemed to be calling to her. Ha-yun's eyes locked onto a figure in the distance, a young man who seemed to be walking aimlessly through the snowy woods.
With a burst of determination, Ha-yun reached out with her mind, stretching towards the stranger's soul. She could feel the connection forming, the familiar sensation of her consciousness slipping free from her worn-out body...
But would she make it in time? The mooks were closing in, their footsteps echoing through the forest. Ha-yun's vision was fading, her body giving out. She could only hope that the stranger would be her salvation.
The man she had chosen to inhabit was none other than a humble baker from the village of Daeho. His appearance was far from impressive - his features rough, his body weak, and his demeanor timid. Ha-yun's spirit recoiled at the thought of occupying such a fragile vessel.
As she gazed upon the baker's form, she couldn't help but think of the irony. A deadly assassin like herself, feared by many, was about to inhabit the body of a feeble baker. The contrast was almost laughable.....