Chapter 352 - Bloody War-I

With the training ended, Haneul, who felt suspicious of the yellow witch who had almost tried to take her life, quickly went to Yeseul. Currently it wasn't her who was in danger and rather her maid who was a human.

"Miss, earlier," Yeseul said with panic on her eyes as even though she was a human who had less wisdom about the world, she could tell that the yellow witch had tried to kill her mistress.

Haneul casted her a look that the girl knew meant that she should stay quiet which she did.

"We should go home now, call the carriage," ordered Haneul and Yeseul quickly bow. She was about to leave when the yellow witch said,

"Would you like to spend a little more time with me Haneul? Two days ago I received an information about the catalyst from one of the ancient book that was kept by the kingdom which had lost to us."

Hearing about her power, Haneul could see this as a trap but she couldn't resist the thought of finding out her power and how to control them. "Yeseul," she whispered to the maid, "Leave to the carriage, don't stay in the castle ground, do you understand me?"

Yeseul wanted to refuse. She would rather die than leaving Haneul's side but seeing Haneul's stern gaze, the maid couldn't go against her words.

Yeseul had left and the yellow witch chuckled, "Why is she running like a hare, it's not as if there is a lion here."

Haneul could tell how good of an actress the yellow witch was, "She wish to go to the washroom," answered Haneul. If the yellow witch thought she could win in the play and pretend, it was her folly. Haneul had been much more of a clever girl than any of them had expected her to be.

Casually she walked toward the woman, placing her hands in front of her, "I am surprised to hear that our neighboring kingdom hold such a hidden book about catalyst as well."

"It appears that they don't know who and what the catalyst is. It is a good thing at one side so the kingdom won't hold a war over you," the yellow witch who looked at her then humphed, "Though that war would result in nothing seeing how you are unable to perform anything to be considered as amazing. I wonder why the catalyst couldn't be someone smarter than you."

"It must be God's choice," answered Haneul with her composure and her chin tipped up. No raise in her voice as she didn't see why she should get angry over a barking dog. 

"You know what they say, God sees everything even down to the rotates part of a person. They knew whether that person is worth of the responsibility he gifted to them. Although..." Haneul met the woman's eyes and her smile widened, "Sometimes God also gave the authority to someone who is terrible at wielding them. They would use every chances they have to abuse their power." said Haneul, giving a jab into the yellow witch who had almost killed her under the pretense of training.

The smile on the yellow witch's face faded. She had wanted to offend Haneul and get her angry but instead everything turned back to her! The yellow witch unlike Haneul was prideful of her position. She regarded herself as the strongest if not the most influential person who come the second after the Queen as the Queen's favor fell to her.

What the woman didn't know was that Haneul was always a step ahead of her, calmly analyzing the woman's calculated behavior on her. During their first meeting, Haneul had seen that she couldn't put her trust to the yellow witch. Her first impression had been the haughty smile and now it was prove that she was correct.

The yellow witch wondered what could it be that could riled Haneul's emotion. 

Now, the two women were passing by the open part of the palace which was located on the second floor. Haneul could feel the wind blowing her hair as she followed the yellow witch by two steps behind her. Not that Haneul regarded herself any lesser than the yellow witch but it was a precaution against the woman.

She was passing by when the yellow witch gasped, "Isn't that our hero?"

Haneul frowned. Walking closer to the edge of the railing which was made out of stones piled together, her eyes looked over to the first ground. The yellow witch held her chuckles while seeing how compared to earlier she could see Haneul's eyes gleaming on the appearance of his beloved man.

"Do you know that unlike humans, vampires have a high sexual drive? It was said that pureblood had it even worse with them. The thirst and hunger for blood is no less easier than the hormones raging inside them."

"Is studying about the catalyst include this too, yellow witch?" Haneul questioned with her eyes narrowed.

Noting the frown, the yellow witch's smile widened. Now she understood the perfect trigger to get Haneul angry as she could see the girl's eyes filled with upset.

"No, I just thought you might wish to know about it. Once upon a time I and the hero once shared a bed... it was quite another experience of my own. It was wild and you can't believe how—"

"I am not here to listen to your wretched past records of sleeping with men," Haneul cut the woman off, her eyes hardened and the hold on the stone railing causes fractures on the stone surface which she managed to hold back.

"Wretched?" The yellow witch frowned.

"It is your choice to entertain yourself in your hobby of tasting men left and right who is available and not but I am not compelled to stand here and listen you story. If your taste is to have someone listen to your sex life, then I would suggest you find a man to do that," Haneul offered the woman one last glance before leaving.

The yellow witch's laughter echoed when she had walked around five steps away from the woman. "Haneul, Haneul, how naive you are. I am telling this for your own sake. If you don't catch his interest now you will never be able to. Sometimes people mistake on taking a liking to a weak pet similar to love. Someone must be entertaining the Hero every night. With his charm it is certainly hard to resist."

Haneul refused to hear it any longer and her heels marched away from the floor. When the yellow witch's words rang on her head, her fists tightened. The candles that had been extinguished all of a sudden bloomed a flame which no one noticed except for Seoyeon.

The days passed and when night comes down, Haneul sneakily went to the stable of her house. "Shh," whispered Haneul to her white horse, "Calm down Brownie. We will just take some light trip. Can you promise me not to make a noise? I can't wake up mother."

Her faithful horse as if understanding her words rubbed his head on her hand that cupped its cheeks. Haneul quickly jumped over to ride the horse and with one whip, the horse slowly left the house before galloping on the night street.

It was dangerous for Haneul to be outside at the night but she had no choice. Only at night was she finally free from all prying eyes around her. Tonight was the day she decided to visit the invisible village again, wanting to know about the Queen and all her wretchedness. 

The trip took lesser than five minutes. Once she arrived on the first floor, she looked around, waving her hands to her surroundings to touch the walls, wondering if she would be able to feel the entrance. As if knowing her appearance, JaeGil suddenly appeared on her left side.

Haneul hadn't notice his presence until the latter touched her shoulders. Startled Haneul almost used her power on him until she noted it was the annoying man. 

"Coming in?" JaeGil asked and she nodded.

He led her into a place between the two tall tress that appeared as though they were born together but had different roots. 

"Can't you not surprise me?" Haneul asked, still holding disappointment by what he did.

"I am sorry princess but I am the guard here and..." was a little excited to meet you, was the words he left unsaid.

"And?" Haneul who couldn't read mind like the yellow witch asked.

"And Madam Yoo had been on her toes waiting for you. She often put a face as though she didn't care but you know those type of people care about others more than anyone could."

Haneul suddenly remembered Min Hyuk, "Yes, I know. A friend of mine doesn't usually put smile on his face especially over to his parents but he loves them deeply."

"Your lover?" JaeGil asked teasingly because of the smile Haneul had, unexpectedly Haneul's cheeks turned into a bright red color. 

"H-He is not!" Not yet perhaps. While Min Hyuk had said words similar to love words he didn't confess or make anything clear but then Haneul realized that she didn't either.

JaeGil suddenly frowned, feeling an indescribable tightness in his chest that had him to deeply frown. He shook his head and led her to Madam Yoo. 

Unlike the first time, less people looked forward to her arrival though each one of them could still be seen nervous with her but it was much better than the first time.

Madam Yoo seemed to be ordering people, "No, not that one Summer is about to come we should be careful of drought." When she turned and looked at Haneul, the woman looked surprised and a smile was quick on her lips, "Miss Haneul. I am very glad that you didn't break your promise."

"I thought about what you say and the children in this village along with the elderly and the people who live in peace here. They are blameless," answered Haneul, "I hate war, Madam Yoo and if possible if wish to solve every problem without war."

"I am glad you think so. It might be a prejudice but I thought most catalyst would thirst for war." But then it was wrong. "Humans, vampires, and witches they thought they were the supreme being but how supreme are they when they cannot control their own death and fate?"

And Haneul agree to that. Vampires were stronger than human and witches are humans who held power. None of them were on their own league. "How do you know about the catalyst, Madam Yoo? You didn't know about me or who I am but you seem to know about the catalyst."

"Catalyst are more famously known than you ever think, Haneul. Like how we are famous, catalyst are known to all colored witches. Everyone knew about the catalyst and the power they have similar to what you would say a legend," answered Madam Yoo as they begin to walk away.

Haneul considered Madam Yoo to be wise and trustworthy. Even though most people fear her the woman saw her with eye level. When she was held in the prison room, one would think the wisest choice was to keep her inside where her power wouldn't take effect and locking here in order for her not to reveal their village but the woman had taken the risk.

"Why do you trust me, Madam Yoo?" asked Haneul to the woman, "I can kill everyone here if going by the legends said."

The woman offered her a smile, "What did you think the legend spoke about the catalyst? That they would destroy the world or that they would harm others beside them?"

"The Yellow witch said so," answered Haneul with a heavy sigh.

"Wretched woman. She is lying. The catalyst is the person who would come in the moment of the most dire. When the world have turned to be too chaotic where wars and the peacefulness have broke out, that would be the time for them to appear."

Seoyeon who had been watching and listening to everything had her eyes wide. That would mean she isn't a killer or some lethal weapon.

Rather she was...

"A savior," Madam Yoo said and looking at Haneul, Seoyeon felt as though the woman was looking at her instead. "How many power you have with you, miss Haneul? It is said that catalyst are being who hold all colored witches' power. Possibly about twelve of them."

There are twelve colored witches?! Seoyeon questioned inside her in surprise. 

"I have none yet only a little power of purple witch to turn things into crystals and to break objects," answered Haneul with a smile.

Madam Yoo stared at her as she speak and looked back at the woman with her smile. "I am sure that is not all you have, is it I can see you having almost ten power out of twelve of them."

Seoyeon looked at the woman in surprise but she was more surprised over the fact Haneul hadn't denied the woman's words.

The wind blew stronger, brushing away the leaves and Haneul's which had been let loose. A smile then came on Haneul's lips, "I can expect no less from a light witch. I don't have ten of them," answered Haneul, "I have sixteen of them."

Seoyeon's eyes widened at what she heard.. But all this time Haneul had prove to hold no such power that caused the yellow witch to mock her but they were all mistaken.