Servant's Pride

18. The Bracelet

After a long afternoon of hiking up a seemingly endless mountain, Hongjoong couldn't complain about having chosen the easier route. It had been gentle to his feet as well as his backside. His throat was parched from the hot and humid air of an exceptionally warm day, and he was one of the few men who still wore their sweaty shirts. When Yunho tried to give him an overly friendly hug as they arrived at their last break location, Hongjoong shoved him off.

From up here, they had a spectacular view over the entire island. The forest hid the Grief from their view - which was a positive aspect - and the ocean stretched vast to the horizon.

Even Cabezon had swallowed his comments at the grandeur that nature offered. The volcano they stood on mightily hoisted them up high. Hongjoong felt like a king.

As they further approached the crater edge, all of them slipped on their shirts and jackets again. The wind up here was icy and thin, taking away their ability to breathe. Hongjoong's coat wrapped around his legs, tripping up his every step.

By the time they reached the last steep climb towards the peak, Wooyoung had put away his compass. Breathless, he clapped into his hands to cheer them up.

"Come on! Just a few more minutes, mateys!" His smile put some strength back into the heaving pirates. With a struggle and rolling stones underneath their feet that threatened to make them slip any moment, they mounted the edge. Hongjoong balanced his body on hands and toes, keeping his torso low in case the wind picked up.

Yunho, ever so agile and energetic, was the first to reach the peak. He stood up to yell his triumph into the sky, only to get shut up by a harsh breeze that made him stumble. At the display of clumsiness, Hongjoong huffed a smile.

Seonghwa hauled himself up next. He sat down right away, making sure that his weight was balanced on his butt as he glanced into the crater.

When Hongjoong and Yeosang arrived at the same time, they chuckled and patted each other's backs with pride. Hongjoong copied Seonghwa's safe posture and peeked down into the valley beneath them.

Through the years of inactivity, water had collected in the volcano. It formed a large lake that reflected the sky so perfectly, as if somebody had dug an enormous hole into the ground and came up on the other side. Crystal clear and blue, it shimmered beneath them.

The drop to the lake was tricky. The crater formed a rim that made it impossible to find a good wall to climb down on. They could only jump into the open air from their current point.

"I would also 'ide me treasure down there, no lie," San snorted amusedly at the sight. The rim they sat on didn't seem too thick, but it carried them securely, even when the assembled group waved their arms down.

"Ow about somebody jumps an' directs the path from beneath? There must be a way they brought the treasure in," Mingi suggested carefully. His fear of heights didn't seem too fitting to his proposal.

"Or we use 'em ropes. A group goes down, reaches up the treasure, an' we get 'em back up the same way," Hongjoong added. At that, he received satisfied nods.

"Shall I get ropes ready to descend?"

Hongjoong waved the needlessly secure option off. A grin spread on Jongho's face when he watched Hongjoong drop his coat.

"Unnecessary. Half o' us go down, half stay." Naturally, his eyes found Seonghwa first. The man looked uncomfortable with the idea of diving, his eyes flickering. When he noticed he had a choice, he paled even further.

"I- I would like to join the group staying here, if possible."

Hongjoong shrugged. No need in cruelties up here when they counted on Seonghwa's help at carrying things. And also, the natural Seonghwa and his hatred were even more attractive than a battered and bloodied version of him.