by Ellen Oh
“I don’t understand what that means,” Koko said.
“You just have to be who you are,” Remauld replied. “Release the magic from deep within you. The one that comes from your soul.”
Jiho sat on a bench and watched as the wizard tutored the dragon princess. The namushin hopped onto the bench and made themselves comfortable on his lap and his shoulder. Jiho smiled as he heard their little purrs of contentment.
After several hours of practicing, Koko still couldn’t manifest any dragon magic. Frustrated, she had a temper tantrum and released an explosion of electrical sparks. The wizard blocked them with a wave of his hand, and the namushin scrambled away. But several hit Jiho and let off a huge cloud of sparks.
“I’m so sorry, Jiho!” Koko cried. “Are you okay?”
Jiho coughed and waved away the smoke. “I told you, magic doesn’t work on me,” he said. “I’m immune.”
Koko was intrigued. “But when I zap your dad, he gets stunned for a little bit. You aren’t affected at all?”
Jiho scratched his head. “I don’t know, it seems to be stronger for me and my sisters. My dad said that before I was born they could at least have basic magic spells around the house. But when my sisters and I are all together, we cancel all magic around us by our mere presence.”
“Can you do that yourself?”
Jiho shook his head. “But if you direct any magic toward me, it won’t work.”
Koko turned her finger blue and touched Jiho with it. Immediately her finger turned normal again, with only a ring of blue left at the bottom of her finger.
“Wow, you really do cancel out all magic. That’s quite a power to have,” Koko said.
“It’s not a power,” Jiho said. “I have no magic.”
“No, Jiho, it’s actually the deepest kind of magic,” Remauld said, approaching them. “It’s the most powerful. It’s immunity.”
He pointed his finger at a floating leaf and transformed it into a large green frog and let it leap into Jiho’s face. Jiho shrieked and caught the frog with his hands, and it immediately turned back into a leaf.
“Your father said that Parks have been rangers of the Kidahara for centuries,” Koko said. “I bet this was an important power to have as they patrolled the Kidahara.”
Jiho shrugged. “I never thought much about it. But I guess it helped keep them from being killed every day.”
“What else can you do?” Koko asked.
Jiho shook his head. “I told you I can’t do magic. I can’t do anything.”
Koko looked at him dubiously. “Your father can find anything he wants in the forest,” she said. “He definitely has magic. Therefore you must also. Maybe you’ve never tried.”
“If I am immune to magic, how can I make magic?”
“I know it sounds strange, but I’m sure you’re magical, Jiho,” Koko said. “I can feel it. Isn’t that right, Master Remauld?”
The wizard gazed thoughtfully at Jiho.
“She’s right,” Remauld said. “You are here not only to help train the princess but also for me to try to discern the true level of your magical ability, beyond your immunity.”
Jiho scoffed at that. “I told you, I don’t have any.”
Remauld nearly smiled.
“Actually you do,” he said. “And you will need them in the coming war. I’m sure of it.”
“How am I of any help?”
“In a war of magic, your talent could be the difference between victory and annihilation.”
Jiho was intimidated by the wizard’s words. He didn’t know how he could be so important, and he was chilled by the idea of perilous war. He was finally beginning to realize that something dangerous was brewing.
Over the next couple of days, Jiho came to Koko’s training. Although instead of cloud travel, the wizard made sure to have Seraphina waiting for him at the portal door. Jiho became very fond of the beautiful phoenix. Seraphina was gentle and affectionate and took Jiho for a long flight around Kirin Keep before dropping him off in the courtyard.
Koko became very envious. “Why can’t I ride Seraphina?”
“Because Seraphina would not take kindly to letting a dragon ride her,” Remauld responded.
“But why?”
“That is not the natural order of things. While you may be a dragon princess, Seraphina is queen of all birds.”
“That’s not fair,” Koko groused.
“If you want to fly, Princess, then I suggest you transform into your dragon self and show Seraphina how a dragon does it.”
“I’m trying!” Koko stuck her tongue out at the wizard and went back to learning transformation. The wizard told Koko to start by learning the magic of transforming other things before she could transform herself. She was a quick study and could already change butterflies into peacocks and cats into tigers. Now she was growing scales on fruit.
Jiho was learning how to converse with the namushin when he heard a loud angry shout. He looked up in amazement to see that Koko had managed to grow scales all over her body. The same golden scales he’d seen on baby Koko.
“I can’t get them off!” Koko cried.
Jiho ran over and grabbed her arm, and they watched as the scales quickly changed back to skin.
“Thanks, Jiho,” she said.
“You’re getting closer!”
Koko nodded. “I’m still scared.”
“I’m not,” Jiho said. “You’re gonna be beautiful.”
Chapter 16
JIHO AND KOKO’S daily routine was to head to Granny’s for lunch. Sometimes one or more of the Omni crew would join them, and they would always have a fun meal together. But most days, Jiho would eat alone with the princess, and they would spend time talking about their families. It was then that he found himself missing his uncle and aunt and sisters the most.
“Why don’t you talk to your dad?” Koko asked. “Do you blame me for your dad deserting you?”
“No, of course not,” Jiho exclaimed. “What he did had nothing to do with you!”
“That’s not true. He left you to take care of me at the namushin’s request. So it’s my fault.”
“Koko, my dad deserted us long before he went to help you.”
The princess was silent, and then she smiled. “You called me Koko.”
Jiho was aghast. “I’m sorry, Princess, I mean, Your Highness.”
She shushed him. “I like it when you call me Koko. It makes me feel like your friend. You’re my friend, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I’m your friend,” Jiho said.
Koko clapped her hands in delight. “I’ve never had a friend who was my age before.”
She furrowed her eyebrows as she thought some more. “Come to think of it, I’ve never had a human friend either.”
Before she could continue, a messenger arrived. “Princess, there is a Joson person at the gates making a ruckus and calling for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes, it’s a young girl, and she says she has an important message for you from your parents. But she won’t give it to anyone but you.”
At his words, Koko flew out of the shop, Jiho close at her heels. They raced through the tunnels and headed to the Nackwon portal gates, when Jiho’s father stopped them.
“Princess, I must advise you not to go out,” he said. “We don’t know who she is or what she wants.”
“But it’s a message from my parents,” Koko said. “I have to know.”
“Then we will come with you.”
Ranger Park stepped out first with several of the princess’s guards before he allowed Koko and Jiho to join them. When they did, Jiho recognized the young messenger immediately.
“Hey, that’s the bandit who stole my bag!”
Micah ignored him and focused all her attention on the princess.
“Princess Koko, I come from Joson and have terrible news for you,” Micah said.
Ranger Park put up a hand to stop her from continuing. “First, who are you, an
d how did you know where the princess was?”
“My name is Micah Valon. I am the leader of the Botan clan,” she said. “We are traders by profession and bandits who steal from the rich and give to those in need. But ever since Prince Roku came to Joson, he has filled the country with Orion soldiers and has made life extremely difficult for my clan. That is how I ran into the foreigners. We were desperate and stole from them.”
“And threatened to kill us!” Jiho interrupted.
The bandit leader bowed her head. “My apologies. It was to keep my clan from starving. But that is when I saw the princess. I recognized her immediately. So I went to Jinju to tell the queen that the lost princess was safe and hopefully gather the reward money. That is when I found out that Prince Roku had staged a coup and is now proclaiming himself the king of Joson.”
“But what about my parents?” Koko asked in fright.
“He arrested them and threw them in the dungeon,” Micah said. “They are all right, but I don’t know for how long. The conditions are terrible down there, and your mother is weak. I was able to see her, and she gave me this to give to you.”
Micah pulled out the butterfly comb and held it in the light where it sparkled in the sunlight.
“My favorite comb!”
Koko reached out to grab it, but Ranger Park stopped her. “Let me examine it first, Princess.”
He took the comb from Micah and covered it between his hands for a long moment. Examining the comb carefully, he walked over to Jiho.
“Here, son,” he said. “Let’s make doubly sure there is no magic on it before you give it to the princess.”
Nodding, Jiho held the comb. He felt nothing. No buzz or tingle that usually marked a magical item.
“It’s clean,” he said, and handed it to Koko.
Tears had begun to leak from Koko’s eyes as soon as she saw her comb. But now, she couldn’t hold back. “Mama, Papa! I need to save them!”
“I don’t think that is a good idea,” Ranger Park said. “It’s most likely a trap. As long as you are alive, Prince Roku’s claim to the throne is illegitimate. You must not return.”
“I don’t care! I have to save my parents!”
“I could guide you into the city and the palace without Roku knowing,” Micah said. “I could take you to them.”
“You can? We could rescue my parents?”
“No, that is impossible,” Ranger Park said. “It’s too dangerous.”
“Nothing is impossible,” Micah said.
“Thank you for your message,” Ranger Park said. “I’ll make sure you are rewarded for your time.”
He had the soldiers escort Micah out, but as she left, she twisted around and shouted to Koko one last time. “Just remember, the Botan clan can help you, Princess.”
After the soldiers escorted her far from the Nackwon boundary, Micah pulled out the moonstone that she always carried with her everywhere. Micah could now handle it without any pain. It glowed stronger than ever, but the nightmares that had plagued her had stopped. Micah knew it was because of Samena, the mysterious fairy she’d pledged her loyalty to. Holding the moonstone to her chest, Micah whispered Samena’s name.
Soon the beautiful fairy appeared before her again.
“Have you seen the princess?”
“Yes, I spoke to her,” Micah replied.
“Where was she, and who was she with?” Samena asked.
Micah gave the fairy a detailed rundown of the meeting with the princess.
“You should have forced her to come with you.” Samena’s voice was icy cold.
“Don’t worry, she will come,” Micah replied. “I’m sure of it.”
“She’d better,” Samena retorted. “The next step is to reunite the moonstones.”
“But do you know where the others are?” Micah asked.
A thin smile crossed Samena’s face. “Oh, yes, I know. I’ve always known.”
Chapter 17
THE NEXT NIGHT, Jiho sat hidden in the shadows of the tree outside the Nackwon portal gate. He hadn’t waited long when he saw a familiar figure sneaking out of the tree.
“So how’d you get past my father?” Jiho asked.
Koko jumped and smiled in relief to see Jiho. “Oh, it’s just you. I was wondering where you went.”
“So you could give me a special hot drink to sleep also?”
“You saw that? Don’t worry; it was just valerian root. He’ll be a bit groggy in the morning, but it won’t hurt him.”
“You can’t go alone,” he said. “And how can you trust that girl? She’s a thief.”
“She’s an honorable thief,” Koko said. “And I need to help my parents.”
“Do you have any idea how you plan on freeing them?”
“I will magic them out,” Koko said.
Jiho shook his head skeptically. “I don’t know that your magic is that strong.”
“That’s why we’re going to find the Botan clan,” Koko said. “I’m sure they will help us.”
“More like they’ll ransom us.”
“Please don’t stop me,” Koko begged. “The namushin won’t let me go to help them, but they’re my parents. The only ones I have, and I’ve missed them so much. I left them once—I’m not going to desert them again.”
“I can’t believe you made it this far without a namushin ratting you out!”
Koko looked guilty. “I may have placed a little spell on them.”
“On all of them?”
“Well, the trick is to bespell all the trees in the area to sleep, and any namushin in range will fall asleep too.”
“Okay, maybe your magic is strong enough!”
“So does that mean you won’t stop me?”
Jiho sighed. “Good thing I packed a bag with food and supplies, as I see you’ve left with a small bag of . . . just what, may I ask, is in that small purse?”
With an irritated huff, Koko opened her purse and pulled out a large flask and a sleeping bag. “I bet you didn’t pack any water or a sleeping bag, did you? Or what about extra shoes or boots and clean socks?”
Jiho’s mouth dropped open. “What kind of wacky magical bag is that?”
“It’s a space-saver bag,” Koko said. “I took it from Kirin Keep when Master Remauld wasn’t looking. Just watch.”
She put the purse on the ground and tapped it twice while chanting, “Enlarge!” The purse transformed into a large suitcase. Koko then tapped it once and said, “Reduce.”
“Now who’s making fun of my little purse?”
Koko ended by sticking out her tongue.
“Just how long do you think we’re going to be gone?” Jiho asked.
“I don’t know,” Koko said. “But better to be prepared for anything.”
“Hm, I wonder what would happen if I touched it?” Jiho started to reach for the bag.
“Don’t you dare!” Turning up her nose, Koko began to march away.
“So do you know where we’re going?” Jiho asked.
“I’m using a finder spell,” Koko said, holding up a small round compass. “It will point us to the closest Botan clan member, which should be Micah.”
Jiho peered over to look at the compass, and immediately the arrow went spinning. Koko pushed him away.
“Not so close! You’re messing it up!”
Jiho stopped in a huff. “Well, I’ll just go back then if I’m not wanted. . . .”
With a gasp, Koko grabbed him by the arm. “No, please. I’m sorry. I definitely want you with me,” she said with a conciliatory smile. “We’ll just figure out how close we can be and still have my spells work, okay?”
Jiho nodded.
“Do you want me to put your bag in my space-saver?” Koko asked.
“No, I’m good,” Jiho replied. He shifted the heavy bag on his back. “I’d like to keep it, just in case we get split up or you lose your bag.”
“I’m not going to lose my bag, silly!” Koko retorted.
They bickered amicably
as they walked through the forest. After a while, Koko stopped talking and held her finger to her lips. “We’re out of namushin land now,” she said. “We don’t want to attract anything dangerous if we don’t have to.”
Jiho agreed fervently, remembering the nightwalker and the other frightening creatures of the Kidahara. Being with Koko had lulled him into a false sense of security. He had to remember where he was and to always respect the Kidahara.
It wasn’t until midday that they finally found the bandits. Or to be more accurate, the bandits found them. They seemed to converge on them from thin air. Three Botan clan warriors with black headbands adorned with their signature white peony insignia. All of them holding their double swords in attack mode.
Once again Jiho experienced the unpleasant sensation of being surrounded by a group of hostiles holding very sharp, scary knives.
“We’re looking for Micah Valon,” Koko said.
“I’m here, Princess,” Micah said, appearing from behind a tree. “You’ve come just in time. Another day and we would have been gone.”
“You said you could get us into the city and the palace without being detected,” Koko said. “I need to see my parents. I need to get them out of there.”
“Yes, of course, Your Highness. We can help you.”
Koko smiled in relief. “I’m so glad you found me,” she said. “Thank you so much. I won’t ever forget this.”
“Of course,” Micah said smoothly. “It would be wonderful if Your Highness would remember the Botan clan and reward us in the near future.”
“You will be rewarded handsomely!”
Jiho narrowed his eyes as he stared at the bandit girl. For a split second, he thought he’d seen an expression of guilt flash on her face. But it was gone so quickly, he couldn’t be sure. However, one thing he knew for certain. He didn’t trust her.
As they walked, Koko began to pepper the clan members with questions about themselves and their way of life. Although Jiho found most of them taciturn and silent, it was hard to remain cold in the face of Koko’s bright chatter.
She magically fixed a hole in the bottom of one clan member’s boot and found a lost lucky charm for another. And she listened in fascination as Mari explained the importance of all the magic roots found in the Kidahara.