Chapter 188: [188] Born Of Fire

A woman was walking through an opulent hallway. She was dressed in a traditional kimono with detailed patterns and expressive, dark colours.

But her face was anything but expressive. Her features were cold, as though frozen in place over time, and yet, her beauty was beyond question.

Long strands of white hair bounced behind her with each step, her golden hair ornaments sparkling whenever they caught the light.

Walking closely behind her were a number of aides, each one of them a powerful awakened above level fifty.

The woman stopped in front of a golden door and took in a breath, her crimson eyes sharpening with focus as she glanced at the guard.

The guard nodded.

"Announcing the arrival of the seventh princess, Lady Soo-min!"

Soo-min had no idea why her mother held on to this culture. Sure, they were indeed royalty from the east, but she found them outdated and tacky.

The golden doors were pushed open, revealing a vast valley. The place was filled with turbulent winds that howled with rage as they blew past high cliffs and narrow mountains.

It was a wonder how such a place could exist within their estate. Behind her, she could sense the fear from her aides. No one wanted to stop a foot inside the domain, because it was not uncommon to return as a corpse.

"I will go alone," she said simply, and they visibly heaved a breath.

"Please be safe, Miss Soo-min!"

She did not say a word, she simply nodded and walked in. Once the door shut behind her, Soo-min allowed her clothes to slip down her back and let out a quiet gasp as the cold winds kissed her skin.

The smooth, unblemished skin of her back parted slightly, and then little by little, white feathers began to slip out, until four massive wings were now fluttering by her sides.

Soo-min also grew much taller, standing at an impressive seven feet in height. Her red eye grew brighter as she stared in a certain direction far in the distance.

"Sister, where is she?"

"..."

"Are you trying to get yourself killed, Soo-min? Mother is not aware of your presence. She is... not in the best state of mind." The world seemed to speak.

Soo-min frowned slightly. "You spoil her too much, that is why she is in this state."

Silence...

"Hehe. I only did what she requested of me. Is that not my duty as her daughter?"

Soo-min knew there was no point in arguing with her sister. She would have dragged her back herself, but her sister had awakened as a territory.

It was not just abnormal, it was the strangest ever race awakening recorded in history. The complete lack of knowledge about her made her impossible, and far too dangerous to fight.

"Just guide me with the wind," Soo-min hissed as she took flight.

"As you wish. But don’t blame me if she eats you!"

Soo-min soared into the air, allowing the winds to carry her towards where her mother likely was. She moved through the skies, her eyes searching, and then the winds suddenly pulled her down, placing her atop a long, narrow mountain peak.

Soo-min glanced around with a slight frown. "I don’t see her. I have no time for your tricks, sister..."

VWOOOOOSH!

A large blur of red suddenly rose from the valley below, catapulting into the sky.

Just by passing, Soo-min’s body was wreathed in fire, and the entire mountaintop turned to ash.

She let out a gasp, and then fell to her knees, doing her best to not scream. Screaming was foolish, it would only excite her feral side.

Soo-min glowed with a bright, divine aura, and the fire settled down. But not without leaving her with nasty scars.

She let out a breath and stared at her hands.

"Is this how big the gap was?"

She was a True Nephlim. Not the title given to people born from parents who had their children in their race form.

Her race was that of half angel, half human. A transcendent race. And yet—

Soo-min stared up. Floating in the sky above her was a creature about the size of a dragon. It was made out of pure fire, a mix of red, orange and incandescent white.

Her eyes were wild, and even though it burned with flames, there was no warmth in them.

...The gap between Soo-min and a divine Phoenix was far too wide.

Standing in her presence, in the presence of her own mother, felt overwhelming.

The wind around them was slowly getting hotter. The already charred mountaintop was beginning to crumble to dust, and Soo-min felt the heat begin to eat at her aura.

She could not breathe, and her skin had turned bright red from the pressure her mother directed at her.

But Soo-min steeled her resolve.

"EOMMA!" She screamed at the top of her voice.

Finally, something sparkled in those inhuman eyes. Instantly, the heat stopped, and the Phoenix descended.

Before she got to the mountain, she transformed, landing softly on the ball of her foot.

Her mother looked like the spitting image of Soo-jin, so much so that it was very easy to mistake who was who.

Especially since she did not age.

Her hair was so long that it nearly reached her ankles, strands of burning white mixed up with streaks of orange.

The hair seemed as though it was constantly burning. Soo-min remembered being fascinated by it as a child. She had once run her hand through it. It was warm, nothing like any other fire she had felt.

Her mother stared at her daughter’s scarred body and frowned. With a wave of her hand, the injuries vanished, as though the effect of the flames were reversed.

Then she walked up to her and pulled her into a hug. Soo-min was much taller than her, so it looked rather odd. Her mother had to raise her head to meet her gaze.

"My darling." She motioned with her hand, and when Soo-min squatted, she patted her head.

"It was nice of you to visit me. Although you almost died... it is nice to have a little company."

Soo-min’s cheeks blushed red. "You know I will always pay a visit to you, Mother."

Her mother smiled, then frowned. "Apart from you and that suicidal father of yours, the only other person who visits me is Soo-jin."

Soo-min froze. "Soo-jin?"

She could not believe her ears. Every time she visited, she risked severe injury, or possible death, and she was not just a Nephlim, but a high-ranking player.

How then was her sister, a newbie, able to visit her?

With a snap of her mother’s finger, the scenery around them changed. They were now seated under the shade of a Sakura tree, and in front of them was a table with scented tea.

"It is strange." Her mother picked up one of the teacups and stared into it. "I always recognize her. Even when... I am far gone. Her voice always brings me right back."

A small look of sadness appeared in her avian eyes.

"It’s too bad she hates me so much."

’Is it because she is the youngest?’ Soo-min thought. She shook her head and sat down on her knees. There was no point in thinking why.

"Mother, I have finished the report you asked of me."

Her mother’s demeanour immediately shifted, once again cold, impassive, inhuman...

"And?"

"Her new friend is strange," Soo-min said, and then she went on to explain everything that had happened at the association.

"..."

Her mother dropped the teacup. "I see. And Soo-jin?"

Soo-min’s face fell. "She hasn’t changed."

"I see. How disappointing." She paused for a few seconds. A cool wind blew past them, and then her mother smiled.

"Send them there."

?!

"But Mother!" Soo-min immediately shot up to her feet. "She is not ready, they will die!"

"Better dead...." She took a long sip from her cup of tea, and the air growing hotter.

"Than useless." Her mother smiled. "Don’t you agree?"

Soo-min tried to argue, but suddenly—

"Leave."

The teacups shattered, spilling crimson tea all over the floor.

Soo-mim’s body reacted before her mind could process what had happened. Her arms trembled, a defensive halo appeared right above her head, and her wings stood still.

BADUMP—BADUMP—BADUMP—-!!

She staggered back. Cold sweat rushed down her face, crippling fear climbing up her spine like frost on a windowpane.

Killing intent.

Flick!

She found herself back in the hallway, in front of the golden door. Her sister had evicted her just in time.

"Damn it!" Soo-min slammed her fist against the door repeatedly as the guards watched her, unsure of what to do.

But she knew that it was pointless. In Fable, her mother’s words were law...

..

A/N

Eonnin means mother in Korean. The Eastern continent is inspired by Asia :)