Part 9 (1/2)
”Master Ros.h.i.+ has been expecting you for a long time,” Brother Woojin said.
Kira caught her brother's eye in surprise.
”Do not look so baffled, young ones. I knew this day would come in fulfillment of the Dragon King's prophecy,” Master Ros.h.i.+ said.
”What do we have to do with the prophecy?” Taejo asked.
As Master Ros.h.i.+ began to relate the history of King Dang, the Dragon King, Kira detected the telltale signs of boredom on Taejo's, Kwan's, and Jaewon's faces-twitchy lips, glazed eyes, the slight hunching of their shoulders. They'd all learned these stories as children. But Seung was enraptured.
Listening to Master Ros.h.i.+'s melodious voice, Kira's attention began to drift. The lanterns that illuminated the room seemed to dim, casting the room into shadows. As she contemplated the painted mural, she heard the others talking, but their voices sounded m.u.f.fled. The scales of the golden dragon s.h.i.+mmered. A rus.h.i.+ng sound filled her ears. The dragon reared up on its hind legs and flew off into the painted blue sky, the G.o.ddess still seated on its back.
In its place, a battle began to rage between humans and demons. The demons cavorted on a battlefield, dragging humans into the depths of an underground inferno. Kira sensed an evil presence waiting deep underground. She couldn't see it, but it terrified her. A chasm broke through the field, pulsing like a living thing, sending blasts of h.e.l.lfire everywhere. Kira couldn't stand to watch anymore. She closed her eyes, but the scene played vividly in her mind. She glared at the painted skies. Where were the dragon and Gwaneum? Why weren't they helping? Why had the heavens forsaken their people?
She felt a sharp poke from Kwan. The room was silent. Both monks were staring at her-Master Ros.h.i.+ with an expectant expression.
”What is it you see, young mistress?” he asked.
She blinked. The golden dragon and the G.o.ddess Gwaneum were looking down at her once again. Feeling dazed and peculiar, she shook her head. She'd never had a vision while she was awake before.
”I saw a nightmare,” she said with a shudder. ”The end of the world.”
Master Ros.h.i.+'s expression sobered immediately. ”Yes, that is what awaits us if the daimyo is successful.”
Kira wished her father were there. She missed his wisdom and his strength. Her fingers dug into her thighs. She just couldn't bear to believe he was gone.
Master Ros.h.i.+ took a sip from a small teacup. He gestured to Brother Woojin, who then continued the story.
”In order to prepare for this time, King Dang hid away his three most prized possessions: the tidal stone that controls the seas, the jeweled dagger that controls the earth, and the jade dragon belt. When reunited with the dagger and the stone, the belt will allow the wearer to control the fourteen dragons of the heavens and the powers of wind, rain, lightning, and all the other physical elements. The Dragon King's treasures have not been seen for over a thousand years. We have made it our life's work to study the prophecies and the possible location of the treasures.”
”I've never heard of them,” Kira said. ”How do you know this is all true?”
Brother Woojin picked up the bundle of bamboo sticks Kira had seen in her father's office. He untied and unrolled the scroll.
”It's all written here in Master Ahn's scriptures. While the original is kept safe in the temple, every monk is given a copy of the scriptures to study.”
”So you know exactly where the treasures are?” Kira asked.
Brother Woojin shook his head. ”We only have theories.”
Taejo heaved a loud sigh. ”I don't understand,” he said. ”Who is supposed to find the treasures and save the world?”
”Master Ahn believed it would be the Dragon Musado-our savior,” Ros.h.i.+ said.
Brother Woojin said, ”The prophecy states, *Seven will become three. Three will become one. One will save us all.' Master Ahn added the following: *But only in the hands of the Dragon Musado will the Dragon King's treasures destroy the Demon Lord, wreaking the vengeance of the heavens on earth.'”
He pa.s.sed the bamboo scroll to Kwan, who began to study it.
”The monks have long believed that the *one' refers to a person, he who will unite all the kingdoms again. He will be the heir to King Dang's throne-the Dragon Musado,” Brother Woojin said.
”Yes, but who is he?” Taejo asked.
”We do not know for sure,” Master Ros.h.i.+ said. ”But we believe that he is a direct descendant of King Dang, for only a direct descendant would be able to wield the power of the three treasures.”
”I am a direct descendant,” Taejo said. ”And so are Kira and Kwan.”
”Yes, and so are the kings of Guru, Oakcho, Tongey, and the Jinhan Kingdom,” Master Ros.h.i.+ cut in with a wave of his hand.
”So any of us could be the *one' of the prophecy?” Taejo asked.
”It is possible,” Master Ros.h.i.+ agreed.
”I believe it is you, Your Highness,” Brother Woojin said.
Ros.h.i.+ looked sharply at him. ”We do not know for certain who it is.”
”Your pardon, Master,” Brother Woojin said with an apologetic bow. ”Let me explain my reasoning. Centuries ago, Master Ahn had a dream that he was to send his monks out to all the kingdoms and educate the royalty in the hope that one day, one of our monks would return with a prince who would be the savior of our lands. It was foreseen that a direct descendant of the Dragon King would arrive at the temple. He would be the one to defeat the Demon Lord. And now you are here. Master Ros.h.i.+ thinks that it is too early to know who the Dragon Musado is. But I have no doubts. And I believe that it is dangerous not to warn you of what is to come.”
Taejo's mouth gaped at the p.r.o.nouncement.
Kira could hear her father's voice in her head: Why, I would be less surprised if you were the Dragon Musado instead of the prince. She wondered what her father would say if he were there. She felt a sharp pang of loss.
”Excuse me,” Jaewon said. ”Why are Seung and I here? We are not part of this prophecy.”
Master Ros.h.i.+ and Brother Woojin seemed amused.
”My son,” Master Ros.h.i.+ said. ”Your fate has led you here. Your destiny is now intertwined with that of your friends.”
Suddenly, Kwan leaped to his feet, startling Kira.
”Why would you a.s.sume that Taejo is the one? My brother, Kira, and I are also descendants!” Kwan said.
”None of you are royalty. The One will unite the kingdoms. He will be the future king. Prince Taejo is a direct descendant from both his maternal and paternal lines. King Dang's blood runs deep in his veins,” Brother Woojin said. ”He is the reason I went to Hansong.”
”Wait,” Kira interrupted. ”Please forgive me, Sunim, but Prince Taejo is just a child! How can he be the Dragon Musado? Musado means *great warrior.' It would make more sense if the Musado was our uncle, the king of Guru.”
”Kira's right,” Taejo said, sinking down into his seat. ”I'm not a warrior. I'm only twelve.”
”There is a chance that I am wrong. That is why, before the start of the last month, I will lead you to the Dragon King's birth cave in the Diamond Mountains to seek out the first of the treasures. If I'm correct, then I believe the treasure will reveal itself to you as the true Dragon Musado,” Brother Woojin said. ”Until then, you will stay here at the temple, where it is safe. The Demon Lord is also seeking the Musado. We must not let him find you.”
Kira caught sight of her cousin's face. Look at him, just a scared kid. How could they think he's the Musado? He can barely take care of himself.
She gave his arm a comforting squeeze. ”Never fear, little cousin,” she said. ”I will always protect you.”
As she rose to her feet, she caught Master Ros.h.i.+'s intense gaze.
”Remember,” he called out to her, ”unlike Brother Woojin, I am not convinced that the prince is the Dragon Musado.”