#code:spring24

Lilith was helping her mother around the kitchen chopping the carrots, while  her mom was making a loaf of bread for the stew. “ You don’t have to help me, daughter. I will be fine.” “I don’t mind mom, besides I love cooking. Her mother looked at her with a smile on her face, but blood started to come out of her nose due to a sickness she had.  “I am well, just oh dear… I am sorry daughter, can you make the loaf of bread for me.” “Sure, are you okay, mother?” “ I am, no worries, daughter. Also, your father is at his blacksmith shop.” Lilith looked at her mother and nodded,  then put the bread into the oven. “ I will stop by to see him, but you need to rest, mother.” Lilith's mother Cecelia nodded and sat down for a little bit covering herself up as Lilith was walking to her father's shop. Her father Fred put his sludge hammer down and went to hug her. “Good morning daughter, how’s your mother doing?” “She’s resting for now. While she was making bread, her nose started to bleed. Fred nodded and said. “I worried for her daughter. But we both know that she is strong and will see you walking down the aisle with wooyoung.” “Your right, including your father, that day will be the best day of our lives. I just know it..”  

Father, mother, forgive me, please, I miss you so much. but I swear on my sword that I won't stop until his head is mine. I will get my revenge for all three of you guys. 

As Lilith and her father were done talking, she heard a horse neigh and saw a young prince wearing a goldish crown and his bodyguard helping him down fixing his long cape. “Ooh, what a surprise to have the young king. What can we humbly do for you. “I need a sword, a well crafted sword.” “Well then, let me show you your highness on what swords we have on display.” Lilith looked at the young king while he was shopping and said  “what about this one? “ This silver sword.” “That is a fine sword but is not for sale, your highness.” “ooh even though we give you this much gold for it.” “My father said it is not for sale, no matter how much gold you gave us. Is a family herlom. The young king went to her and said, “ You better hold that tongue of yours, or I will have to cut it right out of your mouth.” “Your Highness, we need to get back to the castle.” Hong-joong nodded at seonghwa and took the sword, then said before exiting out  of Lilith's father black smith shop. “Know this, if you raise your voice again at your king, I will not let that slide at all. Or else you get to know King Hong-Joong. Good day, Seonghwa let’s go!” Lilith looked at King Hong- Joong and Seonghwa, leaving with a couple more guards than her father turned around. “What was that about?! We are lucky enough that we got off with a warning.” “I  don't know, something in me snapped. maybe I didn’t want anyone taking the sword, but I guess he still took it anyway.”  

How long is it that I haven’t seen your guys grave since that unforgivable day is all  because of my actions. I am tired, but I won’t give up on getting revenge.

Lilith and her father walked home, wooyoung waiting for them inside helping his mother in law out to set up the table and taking out the loaf of bread Cecila was already eating than Lilith serve her father and wooyoung than herself until Fred talked about how the king took his wife family sword the only sword that her father left her before he “died”  “King Hong-jong came into my shop. He was looking for a sword.”

“Oh did he request that you make one for him, or you sold him ones that you already made?” “He looked around, and I didn’t hold my tongue, so he took your father's sword.” Lilith looked at her father and said. “Mom I am to blame. It was me that he took. I guess that something in me snapped.” “Daughter, that was a family heirloom, the only thing we had of your grandfather. I need to talk to the king about it.” Wooyoung looked at Cecilia. “I’ll join you and Lilith into town tomorrow morning, I will protect them no matter what, Fred. someone needs to save you from your good intentions.” The family nodded. After dinner, Fred helped his wife into bed, and then Lilith and wooyoung were still up talking being a loving couple.

“Thank you for joining us in town tomorrow morning.” “Of course, as my duty, I will help you guys out. Is my turn too anyway. Is getting late love, I wait for you to get back inside before your dad turns off the candle.” Lilith kissed Wooyoung, then went upstairs and combed her hair. When Wooyoung saw the candle off, he walked home.  The  next morning,  Lilith and Wooyoung arrived in town, everyone running their shops, smiling. When they reached the castle gates, two guards took out their spears and said. “No one is allowed to pass unless you have an order from the king.” “The king took something that belonged to..” “We're just here to offer a king a deal. We're just simply farmers trying to..” Seonghwa looked at Lilith and the young boy with raven hair, went to the guards to open the gates. “Let them pass. Besides, I know the girl, and it is also a pleasure to meet her friend.” “Right away, dark knight, you both may enter.”

Seonghwa showed them to the throne room without making any conversation, then they stopped when Hongjoong was going to behead an innocent town folk. “Please sir, It wasn’t my intention to…” “clean this mess up, I don’t want his blood on my carpet. Oh, Seonghwa, you're here, with two more people that want their heads off?” “No, these are the people from the village you visited yesterday.”

King Hong-Joong walked down from his steps and held his cape so that it wouldn't get dirty with the blood  and said, “Ooh You are the girl with the sharp tongue, and you are..” “I am wooyoung your highness. Lilith husband.” King Hong-joong looked and said. “What could I do for you?” he said while bringing the cup of wine to his lips.  “The sword you took is a family heirloom. It belongs to my grandfather so I want it back.” “Really this sword I have, your father didn’t say that when he sold it to me. So is mine now, so sorry that you travel far to  get what you want.”

Lilith clinched her hands into fits, then she punched him, wooyoung pulled his axe out, making Seonghwa laugh at him and  drew his sword. “ You think you could strike me with your iron axe?! I shall kill you where you stand for hurting my king.” Wooyoung fling his axe cutting hong-joong cheek then getting stuck at the wall making them run.  “ The kid got guts, and also Is okay Seonghwa, it is time to pay their village a visit.” Seonghwa nodded and grabbed his men and rode next to Hong-Joong, Lilith and Wooyoung ran and stopped in order for them to catch their breath. “That was close, Wooyoung. You lost your ax.” “I know, but I did keep my word to protect you. Also, I know the sword is important.” Lilith sighed, making them both walk. Then, after laughing and talking, they stopped and saw a cloud of smoke. “That’s near… HOME!” “Mom, dad, please be safe. Let’s go wooyoung.” “please don’t kill us.. please …” “rally them up. I want to see the look on their faces when I draw my sword. Including the kids.”

Seonghwa nodded as Lilith saw her mother and father. “Why you..” “shhh. We are going to get caught.”  “Now then, you're all here because one  of your villagers decided to cut me with his ax and the other one to argue with me. The punishment for this is off with your head. Bring me that black smith wife.” “No, kill me, your highness, but not my wife Ceila '' Seonghwa turned around and saw wooyoung, and Lilith then said. “Kill the village girl's mother, your highness, and I kill her father.” Hong-jong didn’t think twice of striking his sword through Celica's heart, making her mouth I love you to her daughter. Fred crawled over to his wife and saw his daughter and wooyoung.

Then Seonghwa raised his sword and beheaded her father. With that, lilith eyes became dull and looked away. After Seonghwa and Hong-jong were done with their duties, they rode to another village. “Mom, forgive me, please. I am sorry, I'm so sorry. Also you father, please don’t leave me, please.” “I am sorry baby, come here, you have me, but this gives us a reason to get them back.” Lilith dug a hole for her mother and father, then said a small prayer after they  packed water, food, etc, and changed her clothes and grabbed weapons from her father's armory shop. “Ready love, don’t worry, I will be here day and night. Your revenge is also mine.” “thank you Wooyoung that’s why I love you. For now, my name is Lily.” 

As Wooyoung and Lily walked away from their home, both of our travelers will train and get stronger to get their revenge on King hong-joong and the black knight Park Seonghwa. For killing their family and destroying their home. As days went by, Lily kept guard while wooyoung slept. Then she looked at the stars thinking about her mother and father. Then she took out her dagger and started to cut her long hair, making wooyoung to help her and smiled. “Did I wake you up WooYoung?” “No, I just took a little nap. But I see you cut all of your hair, let me help you at the back.” After they both looked at her hair and threw it into the fire now, Lily could finally say that Lilith is forever dead. When morning rose they put out their fire and reached a small town, while Lily was walking she stopped by a black smith shop making him fix her sword after Yeosang was done fixing the sword Lily gave him 10 gold coins as a repayment after that they saw the same black smith boy in the tavern. “You're the same boy that fixed my sword.” “Yes I am. But I see you are  not from here.” “Is it that obvious..” Wooyoung stood close to his weapon on the table until Yeosang said. “well yeah.. But I know that the king has ears everywhere.” Lily walked then noticed the guards that were coming towers until they reached the tavern. “Our king destroyed an entire village, it was fun to see people, even the kids slaughtered.” “those bastards, i will kill them..” “Wooyoung not here, I know the place and time.” Wooyoung still kept an eye on the guards, Yeosang was talking to Lily and saw the map that he pulled out. “How and where did you get this, this is exactly what we needed. How much..” “If you could help me get rid of those guards, when they were done with yours they came into ours.” Lily lowered her shirt and walked over to allure the guards. Then she took out her dagger, stabbing them covering their mouths. Yeosang saw and gave the map to lily and wooyoung making them to countied their journey while they were riding the horse’s wooyoung started up a conversation. “Back there, did u umm..” “no, because I have my eyes on one person and that is you, besides we are almost there.” Lily and Wooyoung kept quiet throughout the journey when they reached for a rest place, she saw a field full of flowers but not just flowers but  orange lilies. “People say that orange lilies are meant for seeking revenge and this is where we will strike the dark knight park Seonghwa and King Hong-Jong. Then all this rage and sadness I have will disappear.” Lily let her tears fall, wooyoung hugged her close and rested his chin on her shoulder and said. “If we don’t get to kill them both I will be honored to die with you here in the garden of orange lilies.” 

Back at the castle, hong-jong was reading the reports that his guards were getting killed and hanged until Seonghwa came and bowed, then he handed him another report making hong-jong to sigh in frustration. “How is this possiable?! I station each man to every village and their slowly “dying” someone probably survived from that village that we burned down.” “or someone might have helped them in another village. I will find that person.” Hong-jong nodded and went to bed for a nap. Making him have a dream about a garden of orange lilies. 

“This is the end for you King Hong-joong, you're nothing without your trusted knight Seonghwa.” “oh really now, I will strike you and wooyoung here. You can’t and will never defeat me.” Hong-jong charges at them but lily  blocks his attack making wooyoung to shoot an arrow at hong-jong holding his arm then Lily knocks him down. “Come on, kill me, you don’t have the guts to do so.” Lily looked at him and whispered into his ear. “It makes me sad that the “big bad king” don’t know our names. Wooyoung ready.” “Ready Lilith, let’s do this.” Hong-jong's eyes widen and said  “into the depths of hell with the both of you…” 

“What the hell, it was only a dream. I need a cup of wine, you serve me more wine now!” “sire, Seonghwa came back with the person who killed the guards.” Seonghwa forced Yeosang down to his knees and saw hong-jong bending down to his eye level. “So you're the one that killed my guards that were protecting  your village.” “They were drunk on the job, not even worth it so..” Hong-joong punched him and said. “If u help me to find the real killers I’ll let you go but for now, Seonghwa take our friend to his cell.” “Yes sir.”  As days and nights passed king hong-jong men were dropping like flies, releasing the villagers that were in a cell carriage until Wooyoung got seen by  one knight that was following their tracks. “Thank you coyote for letting us out..” “no problem, leave now before more soldiers come and the..”  “So you're the one that was killing my men, “coyote” or should I say wooyoung that is your given name right.” Wooyoung suddenly froze and slowly turned around to look at Seonghwa and said. “I see that my reputation got to you but if you really want to know the information, you have to beat me out of it.” “Oh it will be my pleasure.” Seonghwa and wooyoung fought non stop both having bruises, cuts, then wooyoung knocked his shield out of his hand panting then Seonghwa said “you got tough, i should've killed you when i saw you and Lilith hiding behind that bush in your village.” “You should have but you didn’t and I will cut you down but not today.” Seonghwa focused on his surroundings and double step but wooyoung blocked his attack grabbing his shield nearby then took out his dagger making Seonghwa to look. “Not bad wooyoung, not bad at all. But keep on training, do remember this though you will still be weak until we meet again.” Seonghwa got on his horse and rode off making wooyoung to get up and sigh. “Coyote, are you okay?” “yeah I’m fine i just got done fighting Seonghwa.” “Did you see Hong-jong by any chance?” Wooyoung shook his head, making Lily sigh while her eyes were closed and said. “Will, we have to make haste who knows we will get a chance again.” Lily and the coyote rode their horses to another tavern and rested up. “Wow, what a mess here, and you say that the coyote did all of this.” “Yes sire, as the matter of fact Seonghwa fought with him.” Hong-Joong looked and saw the hoofs of the horses. “I know where to find the coyote."

As night fell WooYoung and lily drank relaxing, making everyone stand up seeing King Hong-joong and Seonghwa going to get a drink and sat at the table nearby wooyoung and lily talking and chatting. Lily felt eyes burning behind her neck until the coyote said. “Easy, i know you see him, but not here like you say there's a time and place and we already pick the place.” “I know but I felt like my  neck was burning with his eyes.” “Well you are not the only one, I see Seonghwa as well. Even though we have our hoodies on.” Hong-Joong still looked while sipping, then he went over and said. “Might if we join, plus it's in the house.” “Sure, go ahead”

Seonghwa smiled and Hong-joong as well they were mostly doing the conversation Lily was ready to strike him down the person who killed her parents and burn down her and wooyoung village until Seonghwa said. “Be careful of your actions, lilith anything you do i will strike you down.” “I was only stretching, I was afraid that I would strike your king, besides he’s not an angel.” “No I know he’s not, but I have Yeonsang. Was he the one to help you guys out?” Lily looked then  turned  not seeing wooyoung and hong-jong sitting down anymore. Making her run. “Don’t leave wooyoung, please not today or never.”

She reached outside seeing wooyoung holding his hand then she blocked hong-joong with her sword. “You're not going to strike him, I won't allow it.” “I know you guys are the villagers that lived. But sense i have you both i will strike you down here and now.” “over my dead body king Hong-joong.” Lily fought with hong-joong while wooyoung was treating his wounds. Both of them were panting when she saw her family sword making hong-jong to look at it. “I see you still care for the sword, come and attack me if you deeply care for it, you know.”  “I will have it back and your head that I could put in my parents grave.”

Hong-jong knocks her down and she rolls dodging his attack then she gets up and about to strike him down until Seonghwa puts yeosang in front as a shield making her stop. “That’s low, using yeosang as a shield let him go now he has nothing to do with this.” “Yes, he did.  He gave you the map of each village that my guards were going to be in but I gave you guys a chance to leave but if I see you guys I’ll be waiting for you both in the guard of orange lilies." Wooyoung helped you sing to cut his ropes and apologize. “Sorry, you sang about all of this, it was my idea.” “It's nobody's fault but mine, I decided to help you guys. Are you guys.” “we are not going to leave, when i am done avenging my parents death than we leave.” Yepsang looked at them and said, “Count me in.” Lily nodded and helped him up. All she could think of was that she had hong-joong in front of her and didn’t get a chance to kill him. She turned to see Yeosang and Wooyoung sleeping peacefully, she rode back to her parent’s grave and looked. “I had him in front of me, and I didn't get a chance to kill his mom and dad. How much I miss you guys. But we found another person who doesn’t like the king.”

she felt the wind blowing if like her parents were talking to her, she smiled like she understood than said. “We won’t rest, the three of us stop him for his crimes.” the wind still blew than clean up their graves, fixing them when she saw sunrise she rodeback seeing wooyoung and yeosang packing, smiling and talking after wooyoung saw her eyes. “How long is it that you haven’t had a decent sleep lily. Please rest up a bit.” “I want to but I can't waste time. But you are right, I should.”  wooyoung and yeosang bought some food and refilling their jug of water making sure they have everything ready for the final battle. “So Yeosang, what made you join us?”  “i was a lonely boy in that town, no one would talk to me because i was a black smith son and telling me i was weird because i wanted to study medicine.” “I hope this journey helps you. And consider us as friends and don’t be afraid to use our stuff as well.”

Yeosang nodded and smiled at him after a while Lily still hadn't woken up yet, making them eat dinner and saving her some after she smelt the food she fixed her hair and both men waved. “Rise and shine sleeping beatuy here some dinner and wine.” “Wine, how did  you manage that?” “Yeosang made friends with the bar girl.” Yeosang nodded, three friends laughed and ate, then saw the map. “If we use this trail we will reach town but that’s not our motive.” “we could use this hong-jong said if he sees one of us, he will let his guards or him to hunt us down, leading him to the garden.” “I will be the decoy. I will lead him and Seonghwa.” they all nodded, wooyoung put yeosang behind him and rode close to lily making them sing songs making them up as they went. As soon as they reached the town, guards were everywhere, wanting signs of the three. “We gotta be low, guess we have a bounty on our heads, I say to dress as one of them.” “You are mad, are you sure this will work?”

Lily smiled and got down then ran as fast as she could, killing one of the guards and changing into his outfit which it reek of but it would have to do. “I feel weird wearing my enemy colors and logo, but this is for everyone we know.” “I know we will be waiting for you okay. Just come back to me please.” Lily kissed him and yeosang looked. “They're lining the soldiers up, go lily this is your chance.” Seonghwa looked at the mens and said, “next round starts, you guys are free to take a break. You are there, eating some food, you look thin.” Lily nodded and walked to the castle seeing all of the guards laughing being men then she saw hong-joong training. “Very good my lord you are ready to slay that girl. Guess we have a special guest.” “u need something?” Lily looked and said  “my captain Seonghwa told me to eat some food, i lost my way.” “The knight quarters are around the corner.” 

Lily turned her heel and walked but not a moment too soon hong jong came by grabbing an apple and water. “Say your new lad.” “Yes, my name is Leon, I am here to serve you until the end of my life.”  Hong-jong nodded and threw the apple on the floor  and served Leon water. “Here a toast.” “thank you sire. But never let your guard down. I see you King hong-joong because I am Lilith, the village girl that  you burn everyone she knows and cut her parents head off.” Lily knocked him down and ran faster than putting her helmet on making hong-jong to shout. “Stop her before she escapes.” “why hong-joong?” “that Leon guy is lily, she’s posting as one of the knights.'' Wooyoung waited and saw her, then she climbed up and removed her helmet. “ Come and get us King Hong-Joon in the garden of orange lilies. We will be waiting!” “you men with me now! Is time to claim victory and for me to be free from this worst nightmare.” Lily rode her horse without saying a word after she got off and walked towers the forest  then she fell to her knees and cried making wooyoung and yeo sang their friend to hug her.  “Don’t stop now, save your tears until the end, wooyoung told me what happened and I am here for you guys count on me.” “your right Yeosang, this is the end, no matter what happens to us if he kills us three i will go up there to meet my parents and spend my entire life in heaven with you guys.'' They all hugged and trained a bit, then heard Hong-joong and Seonghwa horse neigh. “Finally it comes to this, you are ready to die.” “Your nothing but talk, we'll settle this with our swords.” “I will take WooYoung and when i am done Yeosang is next.” “Very well, I take Lily.” Hong-joong remove his cape and pull out his sword and got into his fighting stance including Lily both of them started to attack each other. Seonghwa and WooYoung walked around being careful with their movements. “You should've been one of our knights. You're not half bad as they say with a little more training. That is ""i never liked your king idles and never well even if he rotted down the ground.” Seonghwa charged, making wooyoung to block his attack. Hong-joong was panting looking at Lily wiping his sweat. “For a village girl, you know how to wield a sword. This will be your last day to enjoy it.” “not mine but yours.” Lily charged by making hong-jong to kick her, making her look. Seonghwa took the advantage until Yeosang threw rocks at Seong Hwa and Hong-jong, making SeongHwa block it with his shield and knocking Yeosang down. “Little brat, I should have killed you.” Wooyoung block the attack with his left arm, than stab Seonghwa in the stomach. “lesson one, never let your guard down Seonghwa.”

Wooyoung got up and looked at Seonghwa. “Not bad wooyoung not bad at all. But I won’t give up here.” “Come at me then.” Seonghwa growled as wooyoung broke his sword in half making Seonghwa moral fall. “Good job Woo, now finish him off.” “Get up Seonghwa! Show him the power of the dark knight.” Wooyoung looked at Seonghwa panting and said “I am sorry, my king.. I failed you.” Hong-jong looked and pushed wooyoung away and said “Seonghwa, open your eyes, come on friend. I will kill you WooYoung!” Lily stepped in and attacked him non stop while Yeosang was healing wooyoung with his concoct  skills. “I will avenge Seonghwa, you guys are nothing but simple villagers that know nothing!” “Now you know how we feel when we lose everyone! DIE KING HONG-JOONG! Lily stabbed him holding his shoulder, then felt another stab after he was on his knees looking at Lily. “any last words your highness.” “go to the depths of hell Lilith.” Lily chopped his head off looking at his body and said. “Lilith died a long time ago, now I am Lily. is over mom and dad we both avenge u, thank you for guiding me and never leaving me alone.” Wooyoung, Yeosang went over to Lily and smiled. “Is over, finally everyone could relax the dead ones and alive ones” “Yes finally, I wanted to deliver his head to my parents grave, but it could stay here as the soil will consume their bodies. This was their grave in the garden of orange lilies.”