The Assassin's Test
POV: Nae Yi / Cheng Dynasty
The night was black as obsidian, broken only by the distant glow of fires from the failed rebellion. From her tower, Nae Yi watched every movement in the courtyard below, her expression unreadable but her mind sharp as a razor.
The girl I raised… she must face the ultimate test, she whispered. "The boy thrives because of her weakness. But tonight… she will learn what it means to obey or die."
She gestured, and her hidden network of spies relayed her silent orders: Giyeok would be forced to strike. Every distraction, every opportunity to hesitate, would vanish. The game was now in her hands.
POV: Giyeok / Cheng Dynasty
Giyeok crouched atop the palace wall, her dagger glinting in the pale moonlight. She could see Xiao Xing below, moving among the surviving loyalists, checking their injuries, ensuring no soldier was left behind.
Her heart pounded violently. I cannot kill him… but if I refuse, Nae Yi… The thought made her stomach twist painfully.
She drew a deep breath and leapt down, silently landing behind him. The proximity sent a jolt of warmth through her body. He did not notice her immediately, busy tending to the wounded.
"…Xiao Xing," she whispered, voice trembling.
He turned, eyes narrowing. "…Giyeok?"
Her hands shook as she raised the dagger, aiming for the slight gap between his shoulder and neck — a strike she had practiced a thousand times, yet never intended to execute.
"Do it," Nae Yi's voice echoed in her mind, cold and commanding. Obey. Kill him.
Her chest heaved. She could feel his presence, his warmth, his heartbeat… and suddenly, she could not. The blade trembled in her grip.
POV: Xiao Xing / Cheng Dynasty
Xiao Xing sensed the movement behind him before he saw the dagger. He spun, catching her wrist mid-air, eyes wide with shock and understanding.
"Giyeok… what are you doing?" he asked softly, voice trembling.
Her eyes filled with tears. "…I… I must obey," she whispered. "…She ordered me…"
He gripped her hands firmly. "…Do you feel this? Your heart? What it truly wants?"
She could not speak, trembling violently. Every fiber of her being screamed that she should obey Nae Yi, but the warmth of his hands, the sincerity in his eyes, and the bond they had formed through fire and blood anchored her resolve.
"…I cannot," she finally admitted, dropping the dagger completely. "…I will not."
Xiao Xing pulled her close, their foreheads touching. "…Then we face this together. Whatever comes."
For a brief, sacred moment, love eclipsed fear, duty, and even prophecy.
POV: Nae Yi / Cheng Dynasty
Nae Yi's eyes narrowed from her tower. "…So bold… so foolish," she whispered, a dangerous smile curling her lips. "The girl has chosen… temporarily. But the game is far from over. Soon… the storm will break. And when it does, the boy will see the true price of love, and she will pay her debt in blood."
Her fingers traced the edge of a ceremonial blade. "…Prepare her, my little assassin. The night is far from done."
POV: Xae Rin / Cheng Court
Within the palace hall, Xae Rin sat among his loyal ministers, strategically plotting the next moves for Cheng's stability. Reports of Giyeok and Xiao Xing's movements had reached him, though he could not yet see the young warriors personally.
"They are close," he murmured. "…The twins move like shadows. And the girl… she has grown strong. But the boy… he has the spirit of a conqueror. We must prepare for whatever comes."
His ministers nodded. Xae Rin's calm, strategic brilliance instilled confidence even amidst lingering chaos. The Crown Prince was not merely surviving — he was shaping the future.
Closing Scene: Foreshadowing the Storm
In the courtyard, Giyeok and Xiao Xing stood together, hands intertwined, hearts racing with the knowledge of the storm that awaited. Fires smoldered in the distance, the palace scarred by rebellion, and the shadow of Nae Yi's manipulation loomed larger than ever.
"…Whatever comes," Xiao Xing whispered, voice soft but firm.
Giyeok pressed her hand to his chest. "…Together," she breathed, though fear gnawed at her heart.
Above them, Nae Yi's laughter echoed silently from the tower, cold and cruel. The stage was set. The ultimate confrontation — of love, loyalty, prophecy, and vengeance — had begun.