THE HWARANG GAMES

Princess Deokman sat at the stage and right next to her was her father the King Jinpyeong and his New Queen Sungman.

The Hwarang had gathered in the arena according to their particular teams and they were all waiting on Princess Deokman who stood up and walked up into their view.

There she halted and stared at the six teams.

"Brave warriors of Shilla and all those that are present here I welcome you to the Grand opening of the Hwarang games.

I understand that a number of you are new recruits and you might not understand the essence of these games but they are to nurture us all into learning the military and warrior principles so that we can guard the cause of our Country and defend it against it's enemies.

These games uphold three Primary disciplines that define us as the Hwarang which are Bravery, wisdom and leadership skills all of which must he exhibited at seven different levels for a winner to be decided.

The team that wins the games gets to be the Holder of the Union banner until the next Annual Hwarang games are organized and the team representative shall become a Pungwolji however they can choose to compete for any other Higher position in hierarchy bit for that to happen they'll have to challenge their seniors.

Should they forfeit that challenge halfway or lose it, their victory shall be retained but they shall be demoted from a Pungwolji back to an ordinary Nangdo." Princess Deokman said.

The Hwarang applauded her heavily.

"There are seven levels and the first level is the Sorting level where all those that believe they can make excellent team Representatives have to come forward and go through a series of challenges surrounding their combat capabilities, of all participants, those that are the best with the most unique and remarkable style for each team shall advance to the second level in pairs.

The Second stage shall be for all those that are vying for the position of being team Representatives where they must face one another in combat and the winner shall be the ultimate representative of that particular team so six people shall move to the third stage.

At that stage it is where elimination shall begin until we are left with two participants at the seventh stage from which we shall determine the average winner of the Hwarang Games." Princess Deokman said.

The moment that she had concluded she was applauded by the Hwarang.

"Having nothing more to say, I wish to invite His Majesty our King to finally open the games." Princess Deokman said as King Jinheung made an effort to stand up with the support of his wife Queen Sungman and they walked up to the front of the whole congregation.

"Brave Gentlemen and warriors of Shilla I hereby greet you all, within the midst of all of you that are present in this Arena I take this opportunity to officially declare the beginning of the Annual Hwarang games this year." King Jinpyeong said and the masses applauded him as he turned around and walked back to his seat.

The meeting was dismissed and the rest of the Nangdos started walking back to their respective team residences as Seungman took her way as well.

"That girl is quite lucky, she has already beaten the first two levels." One Nangdo said.

"She's on her team alone." Another said "What more would you expect? It's not like she can fight herself." He added.

"Of course." The other confirmed.

"At such a rate, do you think that she stands a chance against the others?" Another asked.

"Not at all, sometimes the contenders must fight wild animals like tigers, do you think that if she faced one she'd survive?" One teased trying to make Sure that she was listening to each and everyone of their words.

Seungman tried to brush it off her shoulders as she parted ways with the others and was on a solo path to her own Chambers.

As she continued, she was looking down while thinking about the words that she had heard the other Nangdos say.

"Those Imbeciles." She cursed when she bumped into someone else by accident.

"Sorry." She said as she raised her eyes up to see who it was.

Her gaze met a pair of dark eyes that were staring at her and rolling hers side to side she studied what was a very handsome face she had never seen before.

Her beholder had a very wide forehead and strong jawlines with his face so round and ending in a double chin.

He was fairly chubby and his hair very long and pitch black in colour, his eyebrows were thick a d equally dark with his lips purple and his nose hooked.

She stared at him for so long that it appeared as though she had lost track of time while he on the other hand stared at her also awed by her beauty.

When she realised that they had stood their long enough, she broke their gaze and she looked down.

"Pardon me." She said.

"I'm sorry." He replied in a sweet and half deep voice.

Seungman tried to walk around him but they both blocked each other, she moved to the side and he followed her there again.

"You go first." The all said in unison, "Thank you." They added in unison, "You're welcome." They spoke up and the two decided to keep quiet for a while as Seungman slowly moved her feet to the left while he moved to her right.

They faced each other and they bowed their heads to one another but they were too close so they knocked themselves.

They both cried out at the same time as they massaged their foreheads.

"Sorry about that, I am a little bit clumsy." The boy said.

"It's alright." Seungman replied, "I bumped into you first." She added.

"I don't know that many people around here, are you a Hwarang?" He asked.

"The only female Hwarang." Seungman replied.

"Really?" The man asked as he stared at her from head to toe.

"Do I look crazy?" Seungman asked.

"Not at all, I just think that you don't look like the violent warrior material." The man replied.

"We'll see about that in the games." Seungman said as she turned around to go.

"At least be kind to tell me your name so that I watch out for you." The man said as he held her right hand before she would walk farther away.

Seungman turned around and looked at him.

"Please?" He pleaded.

"KIM SEUNGMAN." She replied to him so straightforward.

"I'm BIDAM." The man said.

"Good to know." Seungman replied as she pulled her hand out of his grip and sge continued her way while Bidam stared at her.

"KIM SEUNGMAN?" he called the name quite intrigued by her and turning around, he hopped about so childishly.

"What was he thinking?" Seungman asked herself as she walked further into her room.

Dusk was lingering above the country and Seungman was seated at her rooftop while she gazed at the starry sky that hang above her.

She held within her arms the Jade pendant that she always war around and she embraced it while she remembered everything that had happened back at home.

"Father?" She whispered, "Did you sleep well yesterday?" She Asked, "How was your day today? Did you find anyone else to look after you for me?" She went ahead to sau as she quietened down as though expecting an answer and all that came up to her ear was silence.

"I am so sorry that I left you but guess what?" She said as she gripped the arm of her sword and then she slightly pulled it out of it's scabbard and looked at the words that were written on it too.

"PROTECT YOUR HONOUR, FIGHT WITH ALL YOUR LIFE, KIM." She read as she ran her fingers around the very bane while she smiled.

"I got into the Hwarang not so long ago father, tomorrow the Hwarang games are going to begin, I also belong to the nameless sect and I must fight and win to stay a Hwarang forever." She said.

"The first two stages are already quite easy given that I am alone, buy don't worry father, I won't ashame you as my master and I won't let them make fun of you." She added as she pushed the sword back into it's scabbard and tightly embraced it as she pulled it to her chest.

Alcheon Rang stood down below and he gazed at her watching how dreamy she was.

"Who are you Seungman?" He asked himself inwardly as he tried to find the courage in his heart to approach her.

Seungman must have felt that there was someone because not so long afterwards she turned around band her gaze landed on Alcheon.

Tired of debating between his heart and his mind Alcheon leaped up onto one of the pillars and climbed his way up onto the roof until he was seated with his back against Seungman.

Seungman sighed.

"What is it that you want from me?" She Asked.

"You came to Seoraebeol because you were after me?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"I won't deny that because at first you were the only person that I knew here." Seungman replied.

"At least I am relieved that you have spoken out your heart to me." Alcheon Rang said.

"After all I noticed that quite oftenly very many people keep falling for me." Seungman said.

"But why can't you love them?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"Because none of those people are you, Alcheon, some may be quite handsome but they don't move my heart like you do." Seungman replied.

"I'm not the best either." Alcheon Rang said.

"You don't have to be because it's not what I want from you." Seungman said.

"You told me that there are very many obstacles between me and you and you always pushed me away saying that the both of us are not meant to be." Alcheon Rang said.

"I'll be frank with you Alcheon, I never realized how heavily my heart can bleed until I didn't have you right around me all along.

There are very many obstacles I agree, our castes our families and our duties sometimes I feel are quite parallel.

It's easy for me to surrender to our love but much harder for me to run away from it while it's only you that I can dream of every day and every night.

Devotion could be an option for you but on my side it feels like the greatest bargain of life, women could be wooed by you but I am always confident that even when you look at them, none of them is as beautiful as I am and none can suit your heart.

My only worry at this point Alcheon Rang is if I were to work hard for the both of us to be together, others looking to you might not be as patient for me to take you and your people would push you ahead of myself." Seungman said.

"Why did you thinking that I have held on until now?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"I'm not so certain either." Seungman replied.

"If I too would give my heart with ease just as you think I could, I'd not be right there to see you every day.

I wouldn't have the time to wake up and look at the sun rising so that I could watch you train, no, I would not follow you to the arena and back to see you smile and sometimes frown when the people talk behind your back." Alcheon Rang said.

"Have you heard one time that we are inseparable like the Earth and the sky and when I look up at the stars they look down on the mountains?" He asked.

"You profess you love for me Alcheon Rang, even I love you, how I fervently wish that on the day when I can, I shall embrace you as the man that I legitimately love." Seungman replied.

"Then why worry?" Alcheon Rang, "I shall do whatever I can and I shall wait for you even if I should for the rest of my life." He added.

They both leaned their heads on one another as their backs rested about just the same.

They stared in the opposite directions and there they sighed and smiled.

At last the final day arrived and the Nangdos started to gather around in the Arena for the beginning of the Hwarang Games each of them dressed in their uniforms.

Princess Deokman was seated nearby with Yushin Rang, Alcheon and Gopheung as she looked around for Seungman.

"Where is Seungman?" She asked. "The Games are about to start." She added.

"Perhaps she is afraid." Kim Yushin said.

"I don't think so, I know that girl very well." Princess Deokman said and her eyes looking around eventually even the Hwarang who seemed to know that there being a girl amongst them felt that she was missing so they kept on looking around.

"There she is." One of the Nangdos said and everyone turned around to see someone walking up to them all.

She was dressed in a purely white uniform with pitch black thread and a white band around her forehead along with a silver ornament that was decorated in the shape of a square and Phoenix symbols within it.

She reflected so much light which made her captivating to everyone's eyes as she carried with herself the family sword until she eventually halted in the middle where she stood alone while the others were all in their teams.

"Can all team members that wish to be Representatives step to the front?" The Wonsanghwa, Ichan Chilsuk announced and at once the lines partially getting disorganized the contestants moved to the forefront right next to Princess Deokman.

Princess Deokman stood up from her seat and then she took possession of the Union banner in her hands which was stationed on a very tall mast.

"Before us all are the contestants for the leadership of all the Hwarang teams I'm this year's annual Hwarang games so all of you progress to the Archery unit." Princess Deokman announced and at once they all started moving while Seokpum Rang made a head count of them all.

"How many are they?" Chilsuk asked.

"Fifty seven." Seokpum Rang replied.

"They are quite many." Chilsuk said.

"Everyone seems to be interested in becoming a hero." Seokpum Rang said.

Princess Deokman followed them and eventually the candidates halted as they positioned themselves in groups of seven seven.

Seungman was still the only one who was alone so she was pushed to the back in the waiting order.

The first group moved forward and in these the first familiar face that she saw was that of her training partner Junghwan who was at the extreme end right next to her.

"Every one must be exceptional in the way that they are going to shoot their arrows, winners shall be those who hit the bullseye and of those the ones that exhibit the most unique and excellent skill will move to the next test before the final pairs can be decided." Ichan Chilsuk said.

The first candidate moved to the front and holding his bow and arrow, he spinner around shot an arrow that went for the bullseye.

At once he was applauded by his teammates.

"That was JEONGEUM RANG of the PHOENIX CORPS." Seokpum Rang announced and he stepped back and another went into his position.

Seungman was seated on a bench and sge waited earnestly until after five more people and then Junghwan's turn came.

Junghwan positioned himself right in between and he took into his possession seventeen arrows which he put on his bow.

He slightly turned around and he looked at Seungman who was staring at him and aiming from the back of his head, he shot the arrows and each one of them went through all those that were already in the bullseyes.

It was phenomenal that Seungman herself watched without blinking as Junghwan looked at her while he bounced away and his blue teammates applauded him.

"That was JUNGHWAN RANG of the DRAGON CORPS." Seokpum Rang announced and another Group went on.

Seungman watched and in it there was another ruthless looking and muscular man who had himself blind folded and he got seven arrows as well.

He shot them all at once at once and they struck the bullseyes he didn't even wait to be told but he removed the blindfold as he smiled at Seungman.

"That was SEOLGO RANG of the LION CORPS." Seokpum Rang announced and eventually after a series of Groups went, the fifth one arrived and in this one it was where Bidam was.

Bidam took fourteen arrows and placed them altogether in the bow and while everyone watched, he sat down and supported it with his legs leaning backwards as he pulled the string.

He had positioned them in a very strange way where some were above others as he tightened a second string around the bow.

Seungman watching she stood up and looked at him as Bidam let the strings go in intervals the first set of arrows flew ahead of the others and landed in the bullseyes while the last set went through the first arrows and replaced them in the bullseye as well.

Bidam turned around and looked at Princess Deokman who was surprised as well at the young man who looked up to her.

Seungman knew what she was up against.

"That was BIDAM RANG of the KNIGHT CORPS." Seokpum Rang announced and Bidam's teammates applauded him as he walked away.

After an excellent display of skills it was time for Seungman and herself being the last and also a woman had the attention of the entire arena as the Royal guards and the palace maids that stood by were stealing a glance to see what the young girl was going to do.

Seungman seemed to hold onto her confidence.

"This is it, it's time that you proved them all wrong." Seungman said as she like all the outstanding performers took seven arrows and she walked to one end of the aiming platforms.

She stood and looked at the targets that were about One hundred metres away and she ran across as everyone looked up at her.

"What's she doing?" A few were asking themselves as she leaped off her feet and made a sideway summersault and herself Upside down in mid air she let go of the arrows and landed as they all struck the bullseyes.

It wasn't an applause for her but it was a surprise as Seungman stood up quite confident that she had put on an excellent show.

"That was SEUNGMAN RANG of the NAMELESS CORPS." Seokpum Rang announced and the others all laughed at her.

Eventually, after everything the contenders waited as the judges that included the Generals Kim Yongsu, Kim Seohyeon, Yushin Rang, General Sokham, Alcheon Rang and the Sangdaedeung Ichan Seulbu voted.

After a while Princess Deokman stood up.

All candidates shall move to the next phase which is the lap obstacle course." Princess Deokman said and the Fifty seven contenders moved on to the other side of the Arena.

They halted in front of the four hundred metre obstacle course that was laid with a number of traps.

There were a series of spinning wooden dummies and swinging logs and sacks of of sand.

There was a very tall wall with wooden climbing supports , a swinging rope.

Ichan Chilsuk stood in front of the Candidates.

"This is the second challenge for your first stage to test your speed and agility, in war the quick make flight for survival and the agile make swift an attack." He said.

"Yes." All the candidates said in unison.

"This time around the groups are going to change and all those that are lining up and are a part of the same team shall compete in the same group and the first two to beat the obstacle course shall get the winners of the match." Chilsuk said.

They all nodded.

"Firstly, let's have the Phoenix corps on the line." Chilsuk said and eight candidates walked and halted right in front of it.

"Seokpum Rang who was standing on a raised platform waved the flag and the eight started off towards the obstacle course.

They dived into the the mud and then they dragged themselves along as they went past the barbed wire that was hanging above them.

Haesul who was the only new Nangdo that was participating in the games was making his way past Jeongeum Rang and he was gradually after another tall and muscular Nangdo who held some resemblance to Alcheon Rang.

The two were past the first obstacle and the next was to jump up onto a large rolling log that descended in what appeared to be a small ditch that was filled with mudded water.

Haesul made it first onto one of the rollers and then he made his way down to the next platform.

He was in first place but two more contenders were coming up right in front of him.

The games had become exciting as the other Nangdos that were spectating cheered them on.

Haesul was competing with his seniors and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he opened them and watched the spinning dummies.

He was bypassed by one of his seniors and he also went in before hand.

Seungman watched him from where she was standing as he moved his feet swiftly and with so much ease.

"His senior halted when he was struck by one of the wooden dummies but looking at Haesul it was as though he was just dancing his way through.

The third senior overtook the second and the third as he pursued Haesul who was already just getting out of the spinning dummies.

In front of him there were more logs that were swinging from side to side in particular intervals, so he went ahead as he rested just as the other passed and the third senior was right on his back.

When he had finished the others had caught up to him and there was one rope that was left for the contenders to swing up to the last platform.

The four leaped for it at the same time as Haesul caught himself in between the others.

Them being heavy was not going to push them far enough and the moment that they were about three quarters away, Haesul let go as he launched himself forward while the others were still a bit too late.

He landed on the platform and took off towards the finish line as the other three also made their landing about forty metres behind him.

He could do it, he just had to give his very best and he did.

The others in a close range he had already crossed the finish line and against him, Jeongeum Rang came in second place.

The Phoenix corps stood up from their seats and they applauded the victors.

Immediately after that Seokpum Rang announced.

"That was HAESUL RANG in first position and JEONGEUM RANG in second from the PHOENIX CORPS." He said.

Seungman applauded his friend.

Other teams went as well as Junghwan Rang emerged the first in the dragon corps while next to him there was another equally competent Nangdo ROWUN.

Bidam Rang prevailed for the Knight Corps and eventually when everyone else had concluded, it was Seungman's turn to showcase her talent along with six more candidates that belonged to the SUN CORPS

She looked at the obstacle course along with everyone else as Seokpum Rang waved the flag and the seven all started off towards the mud bed.

Seungman dived last but she wasn't discouraged as she closed her ears to the rest of the world while Princess Deokman watched her make her way through.

Two had finished and Seungman came in third as she continued to the rollers.

She got onto hers when the second appeared to be having some difficult, it went too fast that he fell down while Seungman used to the experience it was as though she was running in the fields back at home she landed second on the platform while her contender had already arrived inside the spinning dummies.

He had to guard and throw a few kicks but Seungman had already mastered the movements as she recalled how the past candidates had been through.

She slid lightly while passing in between the open spaces, taking dives and bending backwards and forward as she made it out the first place was hers.

She was alone in her team but the fact that she had collided with the other seemed to raise a lot of concern and awe as she was practically the girl who was beating the boys.

She then started to make it across the swinging logs and eventually she ceased the swinging rope and she launched herself onto the final track while other four people landed behind her.

She had gotten used to running uphill and downhill and those memories coming back to her, it was like the obstacle course in her eyes had suddenly changed to the wheat fields in the North and she was seeing the cottage that marked the finish line for both Damhyeong and herself.

She strode past the finish line and having emerged victorious nevertheless, she wasn't applauded because the audience so shocked and surprised was short of words.

"That was SEUNGMAN RANG of the NAMELESS CORPS." Seokpum Rang announced, "and for the case of the SUN CORPS, we have JAEJUNG in the first place and KANGSAN coming in second position." He added.

The Sun Corps cheered their representatives as Princess Deokman smiled.

Seungman sulked while Haesul and Junghwan all looked at her a wave of concern having crossed over their minds at the same time.

Chilsuk walked up to Seungman and stood right in front of her.

She raised her eyes and looked up at him.

"You're not too bad." Chilsuk said.

Her face lit up because the strict looking nearly aged man had just praised her.

"But I didn't say that you are good enough and deserving to be here because in my Hwarang there is no place for women." He added.

Her every last bit of hope was shattered.

The Hwarang were excused and they briefly walked up to their team residences.

Seungman was walking alone to her end of the place.

"Look how dirty my uniform has become, it's white for heaven's sake." She complained to herself as she gazed at her mud stained attire.

The moment that she entered into her room, she halted when she saw that there was a white attire that had already been laid out for her so she walked up to it and studied it.

It was exactly like the one she was wearing.

"Who got this out from my clothes?" Seungman asked herself inwardly as her eyes travelled farther to her right where she beheld a small cream paper that had been stationed right next to it.

She hadn't noticed it in the first place as the colour was quite similar to that of her attire itself it had totally camouflaged within it.

She picked up the chit and she unfolded only it find a very familiar ugly handwriting that her eyes were used to.

"Alcheon Rang." She said as she smiled at herself while her eyes perused through the message she read it out fairly aloud.

"I KNOW THAT THE GAMES SHALL GET YOU EXHAUSTED AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY SHALL ALSO GET YOU DIRTY, I'VE LEFT THIS PAIR BEHIND PREPARED PERSONALLY BY MYSELF FOR YOU AND I WON'T HAVE TO SUPPORT MY PHOENIX CORPS BECAUSE I AM WITH YOU." It said.

Seungman's aura was calmed down and she found herself for the first time feeling hot and blushing.

Her heart was beating faster than normal and she was moved that Alcheon Rang was Caring.

She was however curious when he had been able to do it but without asking so many questions she wore the attire that he had prepared for her.

When Seungman was done eventually, she walked out and came into the arena ready once again as the other Nangdos and the rest of the Hwarang reported to hear the results from the games.

"This year, we shall have eleven candidates that are moving up to the second stage and one in particular has advanced to the third already as a default.

All those whose names will be called out shall be the representatives of their respective teams in the second stage of duels." Ichan Chilsuk said as Princess Deokman rose up from where she was seated and then standing in front of the entire congregation she unfolded a golden scroll.

"I Princess Deokman as the Keeper of these, the Hwarang of our Heavenly kingdom of Shilla announces the following as the winners of the First Sorting stage of the Hwarang Games." She said as he eyes turned to the scroll that was in her possession.

"For the DRAGON CORPS we have two contenders that is JUNGHWAN RANG and ROWUN RANG." she read and the Dragon Corps applauded the two as they stepped up in front of everyone else.

"For the PHOENIX CORPS we have HAESUL RANG and JEONGEUM RANG." Princess Deokman announced and they were also applauded as they stepped in front of their team as well.

"For the SUN CORPS we have JAEJUNG RANG and KANGSAN RANG." she added and they did the same.

"For the LION CORPS we have HOBIN RANG and SEOSUN RANG." Princess Deokman announced and they were applauded as well.

"Representing the KNIGHT CORPS we have BIDAM RANG and HANGAE RANG." She said as the two stepped up in front.

"Lastly, we have SEUNGMAN RANG of the NAMELESS CORPS." Princess Deokman concluded as she stepped forward while the Princess closed the Scroll.

Looking down on Seungman she was happy that she had already made it that far that she smiled at them all.

Seungman confident as well looked up at the sky.

"Father, this is the place of my heart's belonging and I had never thought that I would be happy having the title Rang at the end of my name." She thought to herself and she smiled as she stood victorious.