The Forest Spirit

5

"I lost him." Jisung shouted panicking.

It was morning and everyone was gathered around the table for breakfast.

"Who did you lose, Jisung?" Asked the Elder.

"The Fox!" said Jisung.

"Don't call him that. And there is no way you could lose him. If you can't find him in the castle, you know who to ask to find him." The Elder told him.

"So, it is all right for him to call me a squirrel?" Jisung asked.

"Jisung!" The Elder started to get impatient.

"I'll take my leave then." Said Jisung, but was stopped by Hyunjin.

"Are you searching for Jeongin? I'll come search with you." He told Jisung.

Jisung wasn't exactly happy with that, but he couldn't say no to the prince.

They went out of the castle and headed to the small forest that they could see from the castle.

"Where is he?" Jisung asked.

"How should I know?" Hyunjin answered annoyed.

"I am not talking to you, prince. I am asking the Forest." Jisung told him.

They stayed in silence for a few seconds.

"He is at the water spring ahead of us." Jisung told him and they headed that way.

"So why did you come with me, prince? Do you have something to discuss with the fo... With Jeongin?" The spirit asked Hyunjin.

"Do I need a reason to spend time with him?" Hyunjin asked annoyed.

Jisung tried to hide his annoyance at that answer. He knew well what Jeongin is like. Yesterday was his first time seeing Jeongin, but he had heard about him. How he affected those around him. Hyunjin apparently was no exception. Jeongin may have looked intimidating yesterday, but he still gave out that vibe of calm that drew you to him, wanted you to be around him. He was surprised at Jeongin's attitude yesterday. Since he heard that Jeongin was easy going and smiled a lot – something which he wasn't yesterday.

---

Jeongin woke up in his new room. The bed was soft and comfortable, but he still couldn't sleep well. He smelled like a human after spending the night in this bed. He hated that smell. It made him sick. He opened the windows in the room but to no avail. He needed to take a bath. He needed to go out. And that's what he did. He headed to the water spring he saw yesterday from the balcony. He was going to wash the smell off of him.

---

Jisung and Hyunjin neared the spring, but there was no trace of Jeongin. The spring was empty. They looked around and saw his clothes lying on the ground, but where was he? They made a few steps and at that moment Jeongin appeared on the surface of the spring. The water was reaching his waist. His back was turned towards them.

Jisung and Hyunjin both came to a halt. Admiring the view Jeongin gave them. He was naked, or at least the part of him that they could see. He was wet, the water glistening due to the sun, creating the illusion that Jeongin was shining. No one moved for a few moments, which felt like an eternity.

Hyunjin felt numb. His mouth dry. He knew he was hidden by the trees. Or so he thought.

Jisung on the other hand was also stunned and forgot that Jeongin could sense them. Until Jeongin suddenly turned around and made eye contact with both of them. Jisung felt his face burning, his ears going red. Hyunjin was bolder and headed to the spring, Jisung trailing behind him.

When they reached the shore, Jeongin looked at Jisung, waiting to make eye contact. Jisung was embarrassed to be caught looking at Jeongin like that. When they locked eyes with each other, Jeongin bared his teeth at Jisung and imitated biting, causing Jisung to get startled again, but the latter was surprised with what came next.

Jeongin was laughing at his reaction this time. The sound of it was so intoxicating. His smile was stunning, showing his teeth. He looked so pure at that moment, still shining from the water. Jisung felt hot again. Hyunjin was stunned by the view, his heart skipped a beat. He never saw someone so beautiful before. Unlike yesterday, Jeongin was like a different person now. No trace from the intimidating spirit. Jisung and Hyunjin liked this Jeongin more. He drew them in more, making them realize that this was the beginning of a little crush they had for the young spirit.

"What can I do for you? Why are you here?" Jeongin asked them still with a smile on his face.

"We were searching for you." Hyunjin told him.

"That I can tell. But what do you need?" He asked again.

Jisung and Hyunjin both stayed silent, since neither of them had a real reason to look for him. They both just needed to be near him.

"You weren't in your room this morning, neither did you come for breakfast. So, we wanted to see if you were all right." Jisung finally said.

To be honest Jisung knew that Jeongin wasn't comfortable with closed spaces. He could have guessed that Jeongin needed some freedom from the palace. And assumed that he took a bath in the spring to get rid off the smell from the palace. A smell he was used to, since he spends most of his time there.

"Why are you bathing in the spring when we have a bath in the castle?" Hyunjin asked Jeongin.

Jeongin was startled by the question, searching for the right words to answer so as not to sound rude. To his relief Jeongin sensed his distress and intervened.

"We should go back. Serena is probably worried that you have been gone for so long" Jisung told them.

"Well, I'll ask you for some privacy if you don't want to see more private parts of me." Jeongin joked.

How little they needed to turn red from embarrassment.

When he was done putting on his clothes, they headed to the palace. Jeongin in the middle with Hyunjin and Jisung each on either of his sides. Both were stealing glances at Jeongin the whole way.

When they reached the palace, Jeongin's aura changed again, making both Hyunjin and Jeongin sense it. Both got the same realisation. They needed Jeongin more in the open, than in the palace, if they wanted to see him at peace again.