PolySaja Week Day 2: 🐉Mythological🐉
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A long time ago, a black-haired boy listened to the stories his father told him.
"One day, you'll be in a very important role, and you'll get the chance to serve the king, the red dragon."
"Appa, don't say that," the boy said. "My station would never allow that."
His father smiled. "Well, if not to serve, then perhaps you will be the king instead! You will be the five-clawed dragon! Haha!"
"Now you're just being silly, Appa."
"Oh yeah? You may just be a fledgling with two little talons," he poked his son playfully with his fingers and the boy laughed, "but you still have your whole life ahead of you. You just need to grow out those other claws."
The boy held his hand out, palm up, staring at it. "I thought dragons only had three claws? Why does the red dragon have five?"
"Because," the father replied, "each one has its own purpose. There is one that leads, that points the direction the king must go. There is one that defends, that slashes any enemy that approaches. There is one that grabs, and holds steady. There is one that is softer, which comforts the king by gently wiping away tears. And finally, there is one that plucks strings and plays music, always giving praise to the king and his people."
"Oh," said the boy, still staring at his tiny hand, the skin of it already dry and worn from the difficult work he helped his poor father do. He wondered what things his hand may capable of that he did not even know yet. Then the boy gave a sad sigh and whispered, "Do you really think I'll ever be someone else, Appa?"
A larger hand softly clasped over the boy's.
"One may never know what fate holds for us, Jinu, my boy."
Deep in the Underworld, at the top of the Great Altar, Jinu stood. He gazed across the wasteland below him. What once burned and twisted by the fires of Gwi-Ma now lay in quiet reprieve. Wisps of ash and dust softly whirled and settled as if the land drew gentle breaths to ease its old pain. Shadows subsided and shrunk away. The haze in the sky was slowly giving way to the moon and stars.
Jinu had never known a calm Underworld. He never imagined it once existed. Yet now, it and those that dwelled within it seemed to all give a sigh of relief. He looked across the crowd that had gathered below him, the ones who had always stepped back and made way for him whenever he approached the altar. The ones who had done so even now. Why they did, he had not a clue, but they trusted him enough to climb the stairs once more. Hundreds of eyes glowed, staring at him intently. They watched him, waiting, expecting, hoping.
Jinu held out his hand, palm up, about to say something. Then he froze. What was he doing? Could he do this? Could he really, really be the one for this!?
He stared at his hand, his claws outstretched. They glimmered and stabbed at the sky. All five points of them. They began to tremble as a shudder suddenly ran through him, and he almost fell back in doubt.
Then, another hand grabbed his wrist. Not hard, but gently. It steadied him and Jinu held his stance. He felt Mystery gazing at him under those long bangs. "I'm here," he told Jinu.
Then another appeared, and Romance curled his fingers over Mystery's while his other hand held Jinu's shoulder in comfort. "It's okay!"
Abby stepped in and placed his strong, powerful hand over the others, his deadly sharp claws poking Jinu's skin in reassurance. "I'll always have your back."
The final hand landed on top of the others, lighter but just as determined, and Baby smirked at Jinu. "You're the only one for the job, Boss!"
Something ran through Jinu at that moment, an adrenaline rush he'd never felt before, swelling with pride and gratitude for those that he loved. The souls that had entwined with his, that he cherised above all else. And one simple fact convinced him that he exactly where he was supposed to be: He was not alone.
He raised his hand high in a fist, the others falling along his arm and bracing it upwards. He smiled down at the crowd and they cheered in response. The new Demon King was here at last.
So you were right after all, Appa. I did grow out my claws.
Quick one shot for polysajaweek! The kings of Korea would wear an emblem of a five-clawed dragon and red robes, so that is where the inspiration for this came from. This story is separate from my Demon Pack AU since it is polysaja, but Jinu as Demon King is pretty much my end goal for any au lol.
