His face was ashen as he took in the sight of what was now a nest of dead mamushi pit vipers.
“That was a pretty strong illusion spell, but the magic never fools me,” she said. “I can always see what its true nature is.”
“But who did this?”
“The Tiger’s Nest monks,” Kira said. “You need to be more careful.”
She collected her arrows and moved forward.
Jaewon came up next to her. “What kind of magic is it?” he asked.
“I’m not quite sure. I can sense shaman magic mixed with something that is akin to demon magic. But I can’t recognize it,” she said. “All I know is that it is powerful.”
“You always were a very smart girl, Kang Kira,” a sultry voice called out from behind them.
They both whirled around, their weapons at the ready, and were amazed to see the beautiful kumiho Nara leaning against a tree, languidly waving a delicate paper fan.
“Nara!” Kira cried out in joy. She slid her arrows and bow into their cases and ran toward the kumiho. Nara held out her hands and Kira grasped them tight. She was so happy to see her, she felt her face might crack open from smiling so wide.
“What are you doing here, my friend?” Kira asked.
Nara gave Kira’s hands a tight squeeze and then embraced her. “Your thoughts of me were getting loud, so I was compelled to come and see you in person. I didn’t understand how you could miss me so much when we’d only been apart for seven days.”
“Has it only been that long?” Kira asked. “It felt so much longer.”
“That’s what happens when times are difficult,” Nara said. “And I see that you are in a troubling situation already. I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to your predicament.”
Jaewon approached and bowed. Nara studied him intently. “I know who you are,” she said. “You are Kim Jaewon and a good friend of Kira’s.”
Nara slid Kira an amused glance, her amber eyes glinting more gold than red. “And I have been very intrigued to see how close you two have been getting.”
Kira’s face burned with embarrassment. “Nara, you can see all my thoughts still?”
“Only those with the strongest emotions attached,” she replied. Her eyes slid between the two of them, narrowing in amusement. Kira glanced at Jaewon, noticing how red he’d become when he realized what Nara meant.
Kira redirected the conversation. “Thank you for coming to help me. But you said you don’t know the answer to our problem. Does that mean I am walking into a trap?”
Nara nodded. “Most assuredly. Fulang brought you here for only one purpose: to have you killed at the hands of the Tiger monks. He cares nothing for the prince. His sole desire is to retrieve the jeweled dagger. He will have warned the temple monks that you are coming for the jade belt.”
Kira nodded and chewed on her lower lip as she surveyed their surroundings. “They sent an assassin to try and kill me while I slept,” she said. “But when I accused him, he said I was to come to the temple and prove my worth.”
“That explains why they aren’t trying to ambush you,” Nara said. “You must have proven yourself a strong opponent. For you have now been invited to their combat trials. You are apparently worthy enough to fight to the death.”
This made Kira snort with unexpected laughter. “I need to be worthy enough for them to kill me?”
Nara tilted her head. “This is no laughing matter. They will kill you anyway, but only the true Dragon Musado will actually be able to make it into their temple. They will deem it a great honor to kill you. It will be their three strongest and deadliest monks that you must face.”
“Aish! We’ve gotta get out of here!” Jaewon began pacing back and forth.
Kira ignored him.
“And if I win?”
“If you win, you must get past two dragons—Fulang and the old dragon that guards the jade belt. And no one has ever survived the old dragon,” Nara answered.
“For heaven’s sake! Don’t you have any faith in her?” Jaewon exploded. “Isn’t there any scenario where she might actually win?”
“You seem to be under the impression that I would want this to happen to her. That is not the case at all. She is my one and only friend. I would not let anything harm her if it were in my power. I am giving her the facts of what might happen if she sets foot in the temple.”
“So what is she supposed to do?” Jaewon asked.
“I don’t know,” Nara said. “I’m thinking.”
“We don’t have much time left,” Jaewon said.
Nara stared at him with a calm, cold look and moved ahead.
Kira glared at Jaewon. “Stop antagonizing her—you aren’t helping!”
Jaewon swiped his arm through a bush, sending a flurry of leaves flying. “Well, she’s not helping either.”
“Give her a chance!”
Kira rushed after Nara.
“I’m sorry, he’s really worried about me,” she said.
Nara turned to look at Jaewon, who followed at a close distance.