Page 53 of King Foretold
The tiger stayed silent. He did not object to becoming human. He would be strong and handsome either way. Perhaps, the bear would become beautiful enough as a human to be worthy of him.
“Go dwell in a lightless cave for one hundred days, not a day less, eating only garlic and mugwort,” Hwanung commanded. “Endure this trial, then I shall make you human.”
“Thank you, my lord.” The bear bowed low, determined to succeed for the sake of her love.
Although the tiger was horrified at the prospect of such hardship, he did not want to appear weak, so he bowed to the god of earth as well.
Together, the bear and the tiger entered the dark cave to begin their trial. As days stretched into weeks, the tiger could not hide his cruel and selfish nature. He claimed he could not stand another day of eating garlic and demanded the bear give him her allotment of mugwort. The next day, when the bear gathered only garlic for herself so the tiger could have all the mugwort, he roared with anger and said he wanted all the garlic, not the mugwort.
The bear endured his bad temper in silence. She believed this wasn’t really him. He was suffering. But on the twenty-first day, the tiger dragged her toward the cave’s entrance, ignoring her pleas to let her go.
“We’re done here,” he snarled. “This foolishness stops now.”
“No. Please.” Confused and afraid, the bear dug her heels in, and the tiger had no choice but to release her because she was stronger than him. “We cannot leave this cave until the hundred days are over. It is our only chance of being together.”
“We do not need to become human to be together,” the tiger purred. “Of course, I will mate with a tiger as beautiful as me, but I will allow you to serve me at my side. That should be good enough for you.”
The bear stumbled back. “How could you mate with another if you love me?”
“Love you?” The tiger laughed cruelly. “You should be honored I tolerate you.”
Deeming the conversation over, the tiger stalked toward the entrance, then looked over his shoulder. “Well? Aren’t you coming?”
“No.” She would be a fool no longer. “I am not leaving with you.”
“You ugly, useless beast,” he roared. “You will regret this. You are nothing without me. You will see.”
The bear swallowed her tears and gathered the broken pieces of her heart to her chest. Hwanung had heeded her prayer and had given her a chance to become human. The tiger disappointed her, but shewould not disappoint the god of earth. She would not throw away the god’s kindness.
The first few days after the tiger’s betrayal felt endless ... hopeless. But in the days that followed, the bear came to understand her love for the tiger was born of loneliness. And she had been afraid of being alone because she did not think she was good enough. She had thought she needed the love of another to make her whole.
In the dark solitude of the cave, the bear saw that she was brave. That she was strong. That she was enough. At peace with herself, the days passed with calm swiftness, the hundred days no longer insurmountable.
Even before Hwanung appeared to her after one hundred days—even before the god of earth turned her into a human as promised—the bear already knew she was a new person. Someone brave and strong. And when she walked out of the cave on her human legs, she was still her. Someone complete and whole.
The woman named herself Ungnyeo and prepared to flourish.
Chapter Fourteen
The next morning, I’m up early and waiting in the courtyard of the Sunset Pavilion for my private cadet training—private until the bigots at the Suhoshin headquarters calm the fuck down about the “scary” gumiho.
Captain Seo strides into the courtyard and gives me a curt nod in greeting. I cringe with shame because I’m relieved she showed up instead of Jihun. Cowardly or not, I’m not ready to face the stubborn male after last night. I wouldn’t know whether to punch him or tackle hug him. Who am I kidding? I’m definitely leaning toward punching his pretty face.ThenI’ll hug him and blubber all over him.Shit.I’m a hot mess.
“You need to hone your defensive skills,” the captain says in her uppity British accent. She doesn’t bother asking if I’m feeling better, and I prefer it that way. I don’t need reminders of Jo Danbi and my bout of levitation.
I need to focus on becoming one formidable badass. I used to think I already was one, even without my gumiho, but Captain Seo showed me that I have a long way to go—especially since I can’t rely on my gumiho when I face Daeseong. I need opposable thumbs to wield the sword of light.
The dark mudang is back. We know his exact location. The only reason we’re still in a holding position—and not taking advantage of Daeseong’s weakened state—is because I’m not ready yet. I can’twield the Yeoiju with any amount of control, but I’m not giving up. I’ll use every day I have left to master its powers. In the meantime, though, I need to be prepared to vanquish the dark mudang with the sword of light.
Captain Seo is dressed in a gray dobok that distinguishes the suhoshin instructors from the cadets, but she isn’t wearing the long outer vest belted over it. She obviously sacrificed fashion in favor of mobility. My stomach dips. She even tied a black headband across her forehead to keep the sweat out of her eyes.Gulp.The captain isn’t messing around today.
“Ready?” She has her hands clasped behind her back, with her legs about shoulder width apart. It isthemost arrogant fighting stance I have ever seen. But instead of annoyance, an odd feeling bubbles up in my chest—admiration.
“I was born ready ...” My lips tug down in a mortified grimace.Did I really say that out loud?I’ve lived for one hundred and thirty-two years, but the ’80s seem to have made an indelible mark on me. I raise my fists and angle my body. I can’t unsay what I said, so I lean into it. “Ready torumble.”
The captain strikes even before she finishes rolling her eyes. She shoves my right shoulder back, which opens up my torso, and I glance down reflexively in irritation. No one likes being shoved in the shoulder. Then I double over when she buries her fist in my stomach—thank gods my injury is completely healed—and I see stars when her knee connects with my face.
“For fuck’s sake,” I groan with a hand on my nose. I wiggle it to make sure it’s not broken.
