Disdain of Carnations | SanSang

Chapter 5: Tense Atmosphere

Choi San made it back to the cabin that following morning, wheezing almost due to the rather thin air. Upon arriving at the familiar wooden door, San collapsed as he caught his breath, heavy pants and desperate gasps escaping his lips. He had never breathed too quickly before, so he couldn't process his breathing right now. San assumed it was because of yesterday - he only sighed sadly.

The black-haired boy pushed aside the red strands of hair away from his face, and he slowly pulled himself back up. He soon exhaled in relief, no longer feeling that tight pressure in his chest. Everything was good now-

"Yeonghan, wake up!"

San furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, Who? He kicked the door open, wielding his daggers, "Who the fuck is Yeonghan?!" He screeched, eye bags under his eyes - pupils widely dilated as his hand tightened around the grip. His grasp around it weakened, and his breath shook.

"S-San??" Mingi's eyes were wide. "W-What happened to you?"

"Ah...," San laughed nervously, "The prince wasn't there... , and some of the guards saw me escaping and got beat by them." He scratched the back of his head, feeling his chest compress tightly. "I got saved by our boss though!" He grinned sheepishly.

"I...," Seonghwa grimaced, taking a look at San, "I don't think he should've sent you in this condition. You need rest-."

San pushed away his nearing arm, and he huffed, "I am perfectly fine-." He stumbled over his laces, and he pulled his arms up in an "x" shape to shield his face, yet he didn't feel the hard floor on his arms. Slowly, San glanced up, seeing the blonde, unknown boy with his arms around him. His face blanked, "Uh-."

"You were falling, s-so I caught you." He said quietly.

"Ah, that's Yeonghan," Jongho interrupted the two. "He was nearby yesterday, and he claims he wants to join us."

"Does he now?" San got away from Yeosang, and a smirk latched itself onto his lips. He rested his hands on his hips, "I'll train you-."

"You don't look fit to train me." Yeosang said.

San choked up on his words, his eyes widening, "What-."
"He is kind of right-." Seonghwa murmured, shrieking as he got hit by San. He raised his arms above his head, feeling the whacks from the younger.

Mingi sighed, pulling San away, "Please rest. Seonghwa will train Yeonghan for now, and when you are fully recovered, you can take over, hm?"

San rolled his eyes, nodding as he mumbled an annoyed "fine."

For the following days, Seonghwa trained Kang Yeosang - having found he was incredibly agile due to his petiteness. While he did worry about his nutrition, he thought Yeosang would be good in creating traps as well as fist fights or possibly with some daggers. Seonghwa was unsure, but that is what he had in mind for Yeosang.

San would often stare out the window, observing Yeosang like a hawk.  He was eager to see him mess up, but Yeosang showed himself to be a fast learner.

That's how it has been for 3 days, and despite this, Mingi and Seonghwa both concluded it's too early to make a decision yet - saying Yeosang needs to be much more trained if he wants to join them.

+~+~+

The town was quiet without Kang Yeosang. The only sounds which occupied the place was the rustling wind, the leaves being shaken up, and the occasional wails of children who did not want to obey their parents.

Hongjoong rocked himself idly on his chair. All he could feel was woe; he wondered where Yeosang could have gone. On top of that, it all happened during the course of the night three days ago. What led Yeosang to leave the town during the night—if he left on his own will, that is.

A sigh dribbled out between the crevice of Hongjoong's lips. This was all confusing to him, but he just shook it off. All he hoped was that Yeosang did not get kidnapped, or killed - like that message had said.

He paused as he began to get up from his chair, for he heard a faint knock at his door. No one rarely visited him, only his mother, Yeosang, sometimes Wooyoung, and an old friend - a friend he had not seen in a long time. Hongjoong hummed, wondering how that friend was doing right now.

Hongjoong made his way towards the door, batting down the dust that coated his shirt, "Who is it?" He called out, his hand on the door knob.

"U-Um, Hongjoong," The voice was soft, full of concern. "It's me, Wooyoung."

"Wooyoung," Hongjoong heaved out, unlocking the latches to the locks, and he twisted the door open, pulling it towards his body, "Come in." He smiled.

Wooyoung smiled back, slicking his hair back as the wind tossed it back. "It's been awhile, Joong-." He gasped, noticing the white eye patch that covered Hongjoong's eye. "What h-happened?"

Hongjoong gasped but laughed awkwardly. "It's nothing, Wooyoung. Just had an accident, but my other eye is okay!"

Wooyoung bit the inside of his cheek, closing the door for Hongjoong, "Are you sure? How bad was the accident if it cost you the sight of your eye?"

Hongjoong waved it off, shaking his head, and he led Wooyoung deeper into his home. "What brings you here, Wooyoung?" He pulled out a chair for the younger one.

"U-Uhm, d-do you... know what happened to Yeosang? I... may not have talked to him a lot anymore, but I'm really worried about him." Wooyoung clenched his fists against his thighs, his fingers burying into the fabric of his pants. "I don't think I've been this worried for him since I've always seen him all the time."

Hongjoong rests his hand on Wooyoung's shoulder, "I... am not sure, but I feel like it could be related to a message I intercepted a while ago, or Yeosang simply went to another village while not telling anyone."

"Wait," Wooyoung blinked, knitting his eyebrows together, "what message?"

Hongjoong sighed, "I tried to warn Yeosang, but I guess he didn't believe me since not many people acknowledge him."

"Still... he should've listened." Wooyoung pursed his lips. "Where's the message?"

Hongjoong stayed quiet, and he turned away from Wooyoung, walking slowly to the display cabinet. He pulled the drawer open, and he took out a piece of wrapped parchment. Hongjoong handed the parchment to Wooyoung, who grabbed and unrolled it.

"The plan will happen soon. One of us will go to the prince's room and end this unjust rule. If we are tired of the royals, we need to start acting now and kill the next king since the king is gone right now."

Wooyoung's fingers fidgeted against the paper, wincing as a cut formed on his thumb - causing the corner of the paper to soak up the faint blood that oozed from it.

"W-We need to find where this letter was from-." Wooyoung was cut off, for Hongjoong rested a finger against his lips.

"I have a hunch... on who should've been the recieving end, but that," Hongjoong looked into Wooyoung's eyes, "that I need to test."