"He chose you and abandoned me. That's something I've never come to terms with." Soo-won shielded his eyes from the sun and peered upwards, tracking waves of birds flying through the sky. He went on, "If I'd had Hak at my side... nothing could have stopped me. The curse would not have dared to touch me."
The sea churned. The sea roared. Yona did not raise her voice. "Ultimately, Hak does what he wants to do. Back then, I didn't give him orders."
"You didn't need to," Soo-won said pleasantly. "The moment he linked his purpose to your life, Hak's fate was sealed. And so was mine."
He didn't need to speak in such grand, dramatic ways. Even now, Soo-won was belittling her, trying to prove that Yona was a spoiled princess who understood nothing. Her anger rose, red like the dawn sky, and there was acid in Yona's voice as she asked, "Was it terrible? Getting sick and dying?"
The ghost – the mirage – the dream – Soo-won turned with a smile. Pride was glittering in his eyes.
"It was almost the worst thing I ever experienced."