In The Shadow of Asora

9. Tales about Zey

"What do you need the money for, if I may ask? Are you planning on a big project?"

Mingi's hands in their fingerless gloves worked tirelessly on the ropes and hooks strewn around. While he set up everything, Jongho merely lurked by the door to the canyon and held it open for him. For a moment, the paranoia about telling Mingi the truth hit him. He changed his mind soon, though. After all the help he granted Jongho - including traversing over the dangerous Chasm once more - he qualified for faith.

"My father struggles with sickness. He needs expensive medicine."

Mingi hummed thoughtfully and knotted up a rope so fast that Jongho barely captured the movement of his hands. Cold seeped into the hideout from the gaping abyss outside.

"So you're a good guy who cares for his family? They must appreciate it."

Jongho frowned. While he recognised that he worked hard, he was also keenly aware of the trouble he couldn't protect his father from. In the months he laboured twice as hard as usual to support their home and his father's sickness, his father had barely recovered. Restricted day by day, weakness and disease ate away at him. Jongho blamed his disability to offer any comfort.

"I try my best, but Zey summons misery. How about you? Anybody at home to look out for?" When prompted, Jongho acted as a rack for the ropes while Mingi worked around him. All the while, he kept an appropriate distance from Jongho even if his demeanour remained friendly.

"A bunch of siblings and my parents, yeah. But they all slave away, too, except for the youngest two, so we support each other."

So Mingi was an older brother, too. Hence the similarities to Yunho.

"I have a sister in your age. One older brother, too. The other five are younger."

That accounted for a whole lot of siblings. Large families were a norm in Zey, and if they all survived, then at least the family wouldn't have to compromise the worst sides of poverty. Jongho couldn't imagine how it must be for them. Having so many people around coincided with a lot of stress to him.

Yet, Mingi's voice carried fondness. Jongho didn't doubt that his family was precious to him. Families were one of the little joys that Zey possessed.

"I had a brother who died in the war. Mom died of grief."

Mingi shot his hook into the wall. With a crunch, it got stuck in the rough stone. After a careful pull, Mingi fixed the rope to the wall. Jongho deemed it easy. Maybe he acquired the technique for it in the future.

"What was he like? Your brother?"

Mingi collected his bag and motioned Jongho to proceed already while he paused. As Jongho and his gadgets climbed over, memories of Yunho's brightly smiling face flooded his mind. Sad, he smiled as well.

"A content man. Some people criticised his happiness. I found Zey to be a much brighter place while he was around. He loved life and even the bad sides of Zey."

Jongho's smile felt waxy on his face. The corners of his lips twitched as if they tried to fight his joy. His memories of Yunho were all accompanied by a melancholic sense of longing. He missed his brother dearly.

"And then that spark became extinct when he died... I see how it is. I would have loved to meet him. People with that much happiness to share are rare in Zey."

Jongho grunted approvingly as he grabbed onto the stones and pulled himself up. His gloves dug into the wall.

"I bet he would have adored your siblings, especially the younger ones." Jongho's voice was hollow in the depth of the canyon. It echoed slightly underneath them and caused shivers to run down his spine.