purple cosmos || seongjoong

the town

True to the old man's words, they arrived in Yuleria by midday. The town's gates opened to admit them after an inspection by the guards stationed by the front. One of them took out a crystal much like the one that had saved them on the road, and Seonghwa shuddered at it.

"Witch hunters, one witch, male." The guard said, steely dark eyes boring into all of them, before letting them pass. "You'll have to go straight to the Lord's house."

"Yes." Hongjoong's father deadpanned.

Hongjoong had never visited Yuleria before, but he knew it wasn't as big as the capital, not by far. Still, he took a moment to watch as dozens of people flurried this way and that about the town's streets. Cobblestone lined the roads and horses and wagons were everywhere. The stench of horse dung permeated the place in a way that he expected in theory, but couldn't bring himself to tolerate in practice.

Many of the townspeople stopped to gawk as the group passed by. They must have made for a strange sight. Walking had taken a toll on Mingi and Seonghwa, and Hongjoong couldn't help but feel a bit bad as he noticed that Mingi had developed a slight limp on the short journey. Soon, after a few more guard checks, they were in front of the estate of the Lord Min. The house was twice the size of the place Hongjoong had grown up in, and made of a pretty cream-colored brick. Yunho had been left to wait in the courtyard as Hongjoong and his father left their horses and were escorted inside.

"Hyunwoo." A short man with beady eyes greeted them. He was dressed lavishly in large skirts and glittering jewels. The great windows at the house's entrance gave the lord a view of what was left of the Kim's company waiting outside. His black eyes travelled between them and what lay outside as he came closer. Hongjoong and his father inclined their heads down as he came to a stop before them.

"You look as healthy as ever, Lord Min." Hongjoong's father greeted. It must have been some private joke shared between the two, for the lord cackled, high-pitched and hoarse.

"And that must be your son." He said. A smile played upon his thin lips, and he nodded approvingly towards the windows. Yunho was still there, brushing the mane of one of the horses as he kept his close eye on Mingi and Seonghwa, both sitting close to one another on the stone ground.

"Hongjoong. Wasn't that his name?"

Yunho looked tall and graceful in the cool sun. Despite the battle and the journey, his face remained unmarked by bruises or dark circles. Barely a blemish was on his skin as he worked the knots out of the horse's mane.

"No, my son is here." Hongjoong's father clasped a strong hand down onto Hongjoong's side. Hongjoong flinched, unprepared for the contact.

Hongjoong tried to ignore the way his father bent his head down slightly to gesture to him. The lord let out a noise of surprise.

"Oh, that's right." He tutted. "I did forget your second one was quite ill, was he not? Not surprising. Still, it's a testament to the strength of the Kim family that he survived at all."

Hongjoong gritted his teeth at the way he was spoken about as if he wasn't there.

"Thank you, Lord Min." His father said. He released his grip on Hongjoong's shoulder.

"And you come with a male witch and another prisoner, I have heard." Lord Min continued. He had an approving look to his face. "Most excellent. You know the king already favors you, he will be most satisfied when you reach the capital."

"We come with some troublesome news in relation to that, my Lord." Hongjoong's father began.

"As I have no doubt." The lord interrupted. "We have some troublesome news of our own. But first, I would like to hear yours."