Myth

M -3

If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen somehow.

***

Six men stood beside the arena, shaking their heads from side to side as they cast pitiful glances towards the men inside the arena. You stood there, your hands folded behind your back, carefully observing the men standing before you. They gulped unconsciously as your gaze landed on them, sensing the tense atmosphere. One of the six men made his way towards you and stopped beside you.

"Lin, stop intimidating them with your eyes," he whispered.

"Well, if you and those lazy butts over there weren't too lazy to take care of this, then I wouldn't have to resort to this," you retorted, rolling your eyes.

"Oh, come on, we just finished our duty here," he replied, rolling his eyes as well.

"Then find more work if necessary, L," you said, looking up at him.

"You heartless bi—"

"Say that in front of them, and I'll kick your ass instantly."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

"Now, gather them and handle this. I'll be watching."

"Yes, ma’am."

"Just go, you idiot."

You have seven elite individuals under your command—your generals. They are like your right hands, despite their number, and you hold them in high regard. If something goes wrong, they are the first ones you meet. Beyond that, you've trained together for a considerable time, which has transformed them into more than just friends for you. Unfortunately, Minhyuk is no longer with you, a fact that continues to leave you feeling helpless. Now, it's the time to recruit new members for the commander's team.

"Yu, how many of them are there?" you asked.

"I suppose around a hundred," he answered.

"Cut it down to ten, and I'll take over."

"You always go for the easier part, Lin," Yu groaned.

"Apologies for being your boss," you smirked at him.

"Brat," he muttered.

"Inform Jay and San that they each need to handle 30 people," you instructed.

"Why?"

"Because last year, they caused Xia and me to lose 300 gold in a bet," you shrugged.

"Fine, as long as it's not me," Yu said, walking away.

"Woobin, quit hiding and get to work."

"Always so serious, Lin," he chuckled, stepping up beside you.

"It wouldn't be if you started working over there," you pointed towards the arena.

"Hah, then I'll have to listen to Jay and San complain about having the most people?"

"Well, that's your problem. But seriously, you need to get started; I want to sleep earlier."

"Then sleep here; I can lend you my body," he smirked.

"Ewww, that's even worse than Wang's flirting," you cringed at him.

"It's just you who's completely abnormal, Lin."

He laughed in satisfaction as he heard you curse at him. Jay and San wore scowls on their faces when Yu relayed the message to them. They turned around, glared at you, and reluctantly began their tasks. Xia and Yu remained the most composed members of the team. Woobin and L fell somewhere in the middle, while Jay and San were the most energetic. Despite their behavior, they displayed complete professionalism when it came to work. While waiting for them to complete their tasks, you played with your pendant.

"Why did you take so long?" you asked as one of them sat beside you.

"Blame that on the one who assigned us the most tasks," he scoffed.

"Don't be a baby, Jay," you rolled your eyes.

"Seriously, Lin, that was childish, and the bet wasn't even that much."

"I felt like it was," you shrugged.

"Hey!"

"Shut up, San. Move," Woobin pushed him.

"What the heck, you dumbass!" San yelled as he fell to the ground.

"Guys, try not to attract any more attention here," Yu sighed.

"Lin," Xia greeted you.

"Hi, where's my present?" you asked him.

"Here." He handed you a small bag.

Taking it, you opened the bag and found a black-sheer mask inside. It looked fancy and see-through but still sufficient to cover your face. After examining it, you thanked him, and he patted your head. Xia, Yu, and Woobin were the eldest. L and Jay were the same age as you, while San was the youngest. Your generals were also among the few people who could see your face without a mask.

"Why do you always give her a present but not me!" San grumbled.

"Well, I'm not gay enough to give you one," Xia retorted.

"Forget it," San glared.

"Lin, it's time," L said.

"Okay. Take out the weapons and tell them to choose," you ordered.

"All of them?"

"Heck! That's heavy!"

"Yu, you take care of these idiots," you sighed and patted his shoulder.

"Sucks to be the older one," Jay said to Yu, who glared at him.

In the end, each of them took two weapons and informed the participants to choose one each as well. They complied with your instructions. You removed your cape and tied your hair into a bun, and Jay secured the knot of your mask. Stepping into the arena, you faced the ten guys in front of you with a slight bow. Your gaze swept over them, and then you stood in front of the first person.

"Name."

"My name is JooHyuk."

"Block my hands."

Confused by the sudden command, he hesitated but eventually groaned as you struck his stomach. He dropped to his knees, and you instructed him to stand up and repeat the action. After the third hit, you moved on to the next person. He didn't dare to raise his head to look at you, and you barely suppressed a chuckle.

"Is my face on your shoes?"

"What? Pardon?"

"Why are you looking at your shoes when I'm standing in front of you?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—Ugh, I'm sorry," he bowed repeatedly until you signaled for him to stop.

"Now, hit me," you ordered.

"Pardon me?" His eyes widened in surprise.

"You heard me, hit me," you repeated.

"But—

"I don't like to repeat my words. Are you going to do it or not? If you won't, then I'll move to the next person."

"Ye- Yes, I'll do it. I'm sorry before," he said, bowing before raising his hand towards your face, which you deftly dodged. He tried again, this time with more force, but you didn't budge from your spot. Stopping him, you moved on to the next person, leaving him bewildered until the first man helped him regain his senses. This pattern continued until you reached the last one.

"Name."

"Vernon."

"How old are you?"

"17. Are you going to underestimate me because of my age?"

"Did I say something about that?" you raised a brow.

"No, just thought you would," he shrugged.

"Well, sorry to disappoint you."

"Nah, don't even expect it."

"Now, stop talking and hit me. HARD!"

You were caught off guard as he swung his hand towards your face. Luckily, you blocked it with your own hand. He didn't stop there, however. You stumbled backward as he suddenly raised his knee, attempting to hit your stomach. Feeling slightly irritated, you hissed quietly before facing him and striking with your hand and foot simultaneously. Confused, he hesitated, but once he realized your intention, he attempted to evade your foot, resulting in him getting hit on the face by your hand.

"Damn, that hurt," he groaned quietly before regaining his composure.

"Take a rest, gather your senses if you want to survive," you announced, walking away.

The elites were waiting for you, and you already knew what they'd been up to, given the silly looks on their faces—well, some of them. Xia moved aside, making room for you to sit between him and L. San and Jay teased Yu, while L merely shook his head at his friends' antics, and Woobin was his usual self.

"You bet on me again," you said as you settled in.

"Heck yes!" San and Jay cheered.

"How did you know?" Yu asked.

"Yu, you always lose at things like these. It's not hard to tell since they have nothing better to do with their time," you replied.

"Totally agree," Yu nodded.

"Yeah, and you're the biggest i***t," Woobin remarked.

"Hey!" Yu glared at him.

"It's either Yu is stupid or he's just unlucky," Jay commented.

"Both, actually," L added.

"You guys are mean," Yu frowned.

Your eyes didn't waver from the people in the arena; you observed each one of them. Eventually, your gaze settled on the last person, and you found yourself staring at him a bit longer. Vernon turned his head and caught your gaze. Instead of looking away, he held your gaze too. Both of you locked eyes for a moment until Xia called your name.

"That little guy is quite impressive," Xia commented.

"Yeah, better than the others."

"So, how many this time?" L joined the conversation.

"Two. Since two of the commanders are dead," you replied.

They fell silent and looked at you with solemn expressions. In a matter of seconds, the atmosphere turned heavy. San and Jay's faces became somber at the mention of the topic. You couldn't bear to meet their gaze, so you stared ahead blankly. Xia let out a sigh and pulled you to his side, giving your shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Woobin remained silent, as did L.

"It's not your fault," Xia said gently.

"I know."

"Then stop being a drama queen," he teased, rolling his eyes.

"He won't be pleased if you become even gloomier than you already are," Yu chimed in.

"Oh, come on, guys, please, she's a ball of sunshine!" L added.

"Her?" San raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, put her through the fire," Jay playfully contributed.

"Hell is complete," Woobin deadpanned.

Giving them a bored look, you stood up and walked away, leaving the scene. They remained there, continuing to observe the new recruits. The ten men chatted amongst themselves, but their attention kept shifting towards the elites who were overseeing them. Their expressions ranged from fear to amazement and curiosity about the elites. They watched you exit the area.

"Tsk, she's weak, don't you think?"

"I bet she got her rank because of her brother."

"She's not weak! Everyone acknowledges her skills, even her generals!"

"As if they could go against the crown prince and the king."

"She is not weak!"

"Louis, what do you think of her?"

"Nothing special, just some girl trying to appear tough."

"Guys, we should stop talking about her."

"Shut up, you scaredy cat."

"Pitiful idiots," Vernon muttered.

"Pardon me?" They stopped and turned to look at him.

"Jerks? Assholes? That's what your kind calls people like you," he retorted.

"You—how dare you! I'm a royal's child."

"Hey, you shouldn't provoke them," someone whispered to him.

"Look at yourself before talking nonsense about anyone else," Vernon disregarded the warning.

"Rest time is over! Get ready!"

Their argument was interrupted by Jay, who approached them along with the other elites. The new recruits quickly stood up and lined up. Jay and the other elites positioned themselves in front of them. Nervousness, fear, and tension were palpable in the air. The six elites exuded a dangerous aura mixed with fame. Some of the recruits unconsciously swallowed hard under their intense gazes.

"Next time, make sure to wear your pants properly before getting beaten by a 'weak' girl like her," San suddenly quipped.

"Also, ensure that the person isn't sitting nearby when you talk about them," Yu added.

The recruits turned around only to find you sitting in a chair not far from their location. You looked at them with an impassive expression. Suddenly, they felt their throats go dry, and their eyes lowered to the ground. Xia chuckled as he observed the fearful expressions on the newcomers' faces. He gave them a meaningful look before glancing at you, and you nodded in acknowledgment. Xia then turned to Woobin and L. Yu had already positioned himself between San and Jay, discreetly pulling them away.

"Choose a partner—two people per group."

"Stand with your partner within 10 seconds."

All of the recruits except for Vernon began to panic. The nervous guy from earlier looked around, trying to find a partner, but no one seemed willing to team up with him. A sigh of relief escaped him when he felt someone standing beside him. He turned his head and saw Vernon standing there. Vernon was the one who had defended you earlier, the one who stood up for you. He hadn't intended to form a group, but he couldn't stand to see the look of rejection on the guy's face.

"Now, pick one of these five men here," Xia pointed towards the elites.

"They wouldn't actually make us fight against them, would they?" Joohyuk whispered to his partner.

"I don't know. Just choose the guy who looks less intimidating," his partner replied in a hushed tone.

"Hurry up!"

"Yes, sir!"

Yu became the popular choice among the recruits. They were well aware of why most of them wanted to team up with Yu – he appeared gentle and approachable. Conversely, nobody dared to even consider standing beside Woobin. Jay and San rolled their eyes as they noticed Yu's evident discomfort. Both of them left their positions and chose recruits on their own to save time. L had already chosen his recruits, and so had Vernon and his partner. Xia's patience wore thin, and he eventually took charge of assigning the remaining recruits.

"Now that you've all made your choices, we'll begin immediately."

"Marshal Lin."

"San's team with Jay. Yu's with Woobin. L's team will join the winning side," you announced.

"But that's—" Louis started to complain.

"Not fair?" You raised an eyebrow.

"Then, each team will take on the elites." You pointed at the six elites.

You felt a flicker of annoyance as you overheard some of the recruits grumbling. They whispered among themselves, convinced they wouldn't stand a chance against the elites even in a two versus one scenario. The elites suppressed the urge to roll their eyes and knock some sense into the new recruits' heads. You closed your eyes and took a deep breath before standing up from your seat and walking over to them.

"Are you actually here for the recruits? You complain too much. Now, line up!" you instructed sternly.

The elites casually took their positions behind you, while the recruits lined up quickly. Not in the mood for humor due to their constant whining, you refrained from making jokes. After a brief moment of silence, you stepped forward.

"We'll start with you. Face off against me. If you can hit me at least three times, I'll consider you in."

"Lin," Xia whispered to you.

"What?"

"Are you sure about this?"

"Well, I can't stand their constant chatter. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can be done with this," you replied to him.

"Alright then. But don't come complaining if you end up exhausted later," he chuckled.

"As if I won't. Be prepared to handle all my work for the next two days," you retorted.

"Whatever, just don't injure them," Xia rolled his eyes and stepped back.

"Yes, sir."

You instructed the recruits to choose their weapons. The elites had already moved to the edge of the arena, leaving you alone with the newcomers. Taking a wooden stick in your hand, you twirled it while waiting for them. They hesitated between swords and wooden swords but eventually had to make a choice. They were ready.

"You, go first," you pointed at Louis.

"Me? Me?"

"Yeah, don't worry, I'm just a girl, so weak," you said matter-of-factly.

He flustered, but he stepped forward. You warned him to take it seriously as you were eager for this to end quickly. After giving him a signal, he began to attack you. You effortlessly blocked his sword strikes with your wooden stick. Impatient with his feeble attempts, you swiftly moved and struck the back of his knees, causing him to fall to the ground.

"Next time, tell your father to offer something more impressive than gold. Gold doesn't impress me."

"Listen up, everyone! If you want a place here, you have to earn it! I don't have time for crybabies. I'll fight you seriously. If you're scared, you're free to leave, but don't even think about coming back."

"Now, let's begin!"

***

The sun had already dipped below the horizon, casting shadows throughout the room. Yong sat with his face buried in his hands, his thoughts a tumultuous swirl. He stood up, walked to his room, and grabbed a glass of water, hoping to calm his racing mind. A deep sigh escaped him before he left his room, his troubled mind propelling him forward. He wandered through the corridors until he stopped in front of a familiar door. He let out another sigh before entering.

"Yong."

"Ren."

He slumped onto the couch in the room.

"What's bothering you this time?" Ren asked, his attention still focused on the paper he was flipping through.

"I need you to call Rei here," Yong said.

"Why? Did you finally decide to start dating Rin?" Ren teased.

"Damn it, Ren," Yong snapped.

"Well, damn Rin then."

"This is serious, though. I really need to talk to Rei."

"Yeah, I know. Your... difficulties," Ren smirked.

"But I'm not joking this time. It's about Lin."

Ren stopped flipping the paper and finally looked at Yong, trying to read his expression. He sighed and got up from his seat, walking to a corner table where he poured some liquid for both of them. Yong accepted the drink gratefully and downed it in one gulp. Seeing this, Ren realized that the meeting must have been quite intense.

"What happened?"

"They want to send Lin to the border again, given that she didn't succeed the last time," Yong explained.

"Why do we need to involve Rei then?"

"Because I have a bad feeling about this time. They want her to stay there for an extended period and are sending Wang along with her," Yong continued.

"Wang? What business does he have in this?"

"Some of them still doubt her capabilities due to the last incident, and they think it's necessary to send someone to watch over her," Yong groaned in frustration.

"Seems completely unnecessary."

"That damn Wei has been poisoning their minds. I can't refuse without causing a major disturbance, and I don't want to put her through that."

"Does she know about this?"

"Lin? No, the announcement is scheduled for tomorrow."

"Alright, I'll go see Rei tonight."

"Bring him to my room. I don't want her finding out about this yet."

"Got it."

***

In another location, a figure stood by a window, gazing outward. His hands were folded behind his back as another man relayed information to him. A subtle smirk formed on his lips upon hearing the news. He waved the man away and took a deep breath.

"Humans are all so foolish and driven by their desires."