Perilous

Chapter 35 - Sacrifices

"This is the place?"

Chaeah held herself tightly in a hug, staring up at the large palace on top of the hill in the woods.

It was an ancient palace, with a large roof made of peridot and decorated to the smallest detail. It was incredibly royal and filled with history beyond what Chaeah would ever imagine.

"This is it," Yonghwan answered. "Take this."

He suddenly dropped a large duffel bag in front of her, causing her to look down and then back up in confusion.

"There are clothes in there for you to change into. It's just what we have to do," Yonghwan told, already wearing his own hanbok.

Chaeah hesitated, "at least help me put this thing on." She held it up, before slipping it over her clothes.

Yonghwan tied the back for her tight, causing her to squeak out. "Too tight!"

"Suck your stomach in," Yonghwan told with a small blush. "This isn't something we can be leisure with. It's a bigger deal than you think."

Chaeah sucked in, and finally finished wrapping the front.

Yonghwan took her hand, guiding her down the stone path that roughed underneath their wooden shoes. It was nighttime, so the moon peaked largely over the trees, the split down the middle glistening in the reflection of her slightly watering eyes.

"What is someone doing way out at an old palace in the middle of nowhere?" Chaeah asked. "Hitomi....who is she?"

"An old ally, an ancient one," Yonghwan begun. "Hitomi has the ability to see the truth in anything, through premonitions."

"She will help us find out what's wrong with Taehyung for sure then..." Chaeah held onto his fingers tighter, and Yonghwan sighed.

"There is a catch," Yonghwan mentioned.

"A catch?"

"Hitomi believes in an eye for an eye, or how she says, a perfect balance," he told.

"So in other words, she is going to want something from us too...hmph," Chaeah puffed out her cheeks.

"We've arrived," Yonghwan told, and Chaeah turned to look in front of her. The large palace was finally within their reach, and so, hand in hand, they stepped inside the large front doors.

"Yonghwan, what are we really getting ourselves into?" she asked quietly, before they could go inside. "Is this something bigger than us?"

"If you want to find out the truth about what's going on with Taehyung, then it shouldn't matter whether or not it's 'bigger than us'."

"And you're sure Hitomi will do that?"

"It wouldn't hurt to try," Yonghwan made a line with his lips.

"Then...if you say so. Let's continue," Chaeah let go of his hand when realizing their true mission, or rather reminding herself again. To find out what was happening with Taehyung.

Finally stepping foot into the palace, the entire atmosphere changed. There were cathedral-like colored glass along the upper walls, contrasting the ancient aesthetic of it all.

It felt as if a palace and a church had combined into one.

There were long hallways, but Yonghwan followed one all the way down, not taking a single turn. On the end was silk sheets hanging in front of what seemed to be a much larger room, with large waters on either side of the path, where fish swam with lily pads.