The four elements | Seongjoong

Kang Yeosang and the fortress of trust issues

"What prophecy are y'all talking about?" Seonghwa asked.
"I don't even know man, never liked history anyway." Jongho replied.
"Seonghwa, we are talking about a prophecy that might be directed towards you." Yeosang said, putting air quotes over the word might.
"What is it about?" Wooyoung joined the conversation.
"Well, no one remembers it word to word, things like that aren't given much importance, but I feel they should be." Yeosang replied.
"Well, me too. After calling Jongho to look over him, I went straight to the library. To look for the prophecy in books. Well, couldn't find it, but it should be there." Mingi said.
"It must be in one of the history books." Yeosang said.
"I am trying to-"
"Do y'all like have an idea on what it is about?" Seonghwa asked.
"Oh of course. Listen, this prophecy was given centuries ago, when the last elemental magician lived. That guy had a different prophecy, you'll have a different one and-" Mingi stopped.

They saw a student getting carried on a stretcher, with horrible scratches on his arm. He was wearing a grey robe, which was now stained with blood. The student was unconscious, even his face had a few terrible cuts.
"What the-" Wooyoung started speaking.
"Guys, I gotta go, I'll join y'all later." Jongho said as he hurried over to the stretcher.

"That was horrible." Mingi said.
"You guys keep getting attacked like this?" Wooyoung asked.
"No, it's been a little frequent since last week." Yeosang answered.
"Oh." Wooyoung said, "Well, back to the prophecy, anymore details?"
"I don't know much, we have to find a specific book. But if the prophecy is for him, it'll be difficult." Yeosang said.
"Difficult?" Seonghwa asked.
"Yeah, the prophecy will greatly affect your decisions later." Yeosang said.
"He's right." Mingi said.

They entered the dinner hall, students were already settled and eating. The four boys took their table, and sat down.
"Ice cubes." Mingi said. Seonghwa was slowly getting used to this.
"Samgyeopsal and guksu." Wooyoung ordered.

Seonghwa saw Hongjoong on the same table he had seen him on earlier, near the window. He was sitting alone once again and looking out of the window. He looked zoned out. Seonghwa remembered their conversation, his sword, him complimenting his work on the slingshot. Seonghwa smiled at the memory, then got out of his head and ordered his food.

They all ate in peace. Seonghwa didn't have the energy to talk, things were getting weird. First, getting on this weird camp. Then suddenly being able to control water. And now this prophecy that's going to decide his fate. Just great, Seonghwa thought. What were he and Wooyoung thinking the first night when they decided to drive a little more on the strange road. The feeling that this was all a dream, came back. Seonghwa wanted to wake up soon if it was.

Seonghwa once again looked at Hongjoong, however, this time he saw that Hongjoong was looking at him as well. Hongjoong smiled as soon as they met eyes. Seonghwa waved at him. Hongjoong waved back.
"Looks like you've got yourself a friend." Wooyoung said.
"Um, well kinda yeah." Seonghwa stuttered.
Seonghwa turned back at Hongjoong, and gestured him to join them, as he was sitting alone. To that, Hongjoong shyly gestured, saying no by shaking his palms. Before Seonghwa could convince him more, Hongjoong went back to eating.
"I think you should go to him then, he looks shy." Wooyoung said.
"Who are you taking about?" Yeosang asked.
"That guy." Wooyoung pointed, "Minjoong."
"Hongjoong." Seonghwa correct him.
"Right, Hongjoong." Wooyoung said.
"You are friends with him?!" Yeosang asked, a little too dramatically.
"Woah calm down, and yes."  Seonghwa said.
"Um yeah sorry. But hey, I don't think he's a good company." Yeosang said.
"What do you mean? He's been nice to me though." Seonghwa said.
"I don't know, but listen, I have been here for four years, and I have never seen him speak to anyone. He speaks in classes, but never more than necessary." Yeosang said.
"He's right. Guy's kinda weird." Mingi added.
"He spoke to me though." Seonghwa said.
"Well, I just think that you should befriend people who aren't suspicious, with all the prophecy thing you have going on right now." Yeosang said.
"The prophecy affects everything?" Seonghwa asked, frustrated.
"Seonghwa, I think you should go, because this guy right here," Wooyoung said gesturing at Yeosang, "He thinks everyone's weird. He thinks that San guy is weird too, I don't know much but if he is opening up to you, what's the problem?"
"I think he's right too." Mingi said.
"Go join him." Wooyoung patted his back.
Seonghwa looked at Yeosang, who was looking to him in disappointment.
"I have some business to do." Wooyoung said and stood up.
"What business now?" Mingi asked in confusion.
"He means his detention." Seonghwa said.
Mingi sighed.

Seonghwa finished his dinner, he turned at Hongjoong who was still slowly eating. Seonghwa decided to go, accompany him, be it for a while. "Well guys I guess I'll go." Seonghwa said.
Mingi gave him a thumbs up, with his mouth full of food.
Yeosang nodded in defeat, "Be careful." he said.
Seonghwa nodded as he took off.

Hongjoong didn't notice Seonghwa until he pulled a chair across him.
"Oh, hi." Hongjoong said.
"Do you always sit alone?" Seonghwa asked.
"Well, yes. I don't have much friends." Hongjoong said.
A silence, Seonghwa rummaged his brain for something to talk about.
"Wooyoung told me about the Ssireum match between you and San he said it was-" Seonghwa started saying.
"Oh yes yes! It was a great match. We had to do three sets! It's been a while since I was chosen for a match. It was really difficult at first, San was always good at physical things, it wasn't an easy match. To be honest, I would have given up by the third round, but then I got this opportunity, I saw that his feet were moving in a hurried manner too, as if he was losing focus, I saw my chance, and then...."
Seonghwa stopped listening to him, he concentrated more on his expressions, or the way his hands moved, imitating his moves at the match. Seonghwa kept on admiring him, for a few minutes, he forgot about the worries and responsibilities he had. Just watched Hongjoong and his passionate voice talking about something.

"You say," Hongjoong said, "You seem popular since you came here."
"Uh, yeah?" Seonghwa asked, confused.
"Yes, the lake shined yesterday and now you're doing some elemental magic, it's cool!" Hongjoong said.
"How do you know?"
"Well, I guess everyone knows, it spreads fast at the camp." Hongjoong said, turning around.
Seonghwa turned around, he saw people looking at him and whispering to each other. How did they know? A lot of people were looking at him, he didn't like being the talk of the fort.
Seonghwa slammed his head on the table, let out a sigh.
"Well, well, Seonghwa, it's alright, they'll forget about it." Hongjoong said, smiling.
"Oh will they?"
"They always do." A sad smile formed on Hongjoong's face.
"What happened?" Seonghwa asked.
"Nothing."

Just then, a tall guy came over to their table, with a guitar in his hands. Seonghwa recognised him, it was the same guy who had talked with Mingi earlier, about the scores.
"You gonna come?" The guy asked, gesturing at his guitar.
"Uh yes, lemme finish." Hongjoong said.
"So want me to wait or-"
"Oh no, go ahead, I'll join you later." Hongjoong said.
"Sure, see ya." The guy said and took off, pulling his guitar over his back.
"Alright then! Looks like you gotta go." Seonghwa said, standing up.
"Thank you for coming!" Hongjoong said, smiling again.

Seonghwa went back to his table, Jongho was back, eating noodles. Yeosang and Mingi were just sitting there.
"He isn't that bad." Seonghwa told them.
"Good for you." Mingi said.
Yeosang didn't say anything.
Wooyoung came back, plopped himself on the chair. He looked tired, but suddenly shouted at Jongho.
"You! Stop eating oily food!" He said, "Do you know how hard it is for the students at the back to wash it?!"
"Woah, woah, little guy, calm down." Yeosang said.
"No! Y'all too! Don't eat oily food!" Wooyoung exclaimed.
"You just had Samgyeopsal! What oilier than that did you have to wash?" Seonghwa spat back.
Wooyoung looked at him, defeated. "I'll give you this one."
He slammed his head on the table, put his arms around his head.
Yeosang ruffled his hair, "Well, little guy, it's been a long day for you."
"Yeah, in for some music?" Jongho asked.
"They have it here?" Seonghwa asked.
"Well we have cassettes, but Jongho, I don't think right now we can-" Yeosang said.
"No, they play in the hospital nowadays, for the sick people. It's nothing much, just calming songs." Jongho said.
"Calming songs will work for me can we just go?" Wooyoung asked.
"Sure, of course, um, wait." Jongho said and stuffed his noodles in his mouth.
"Let's go!" Jongho said as he stood up.
The others followed.
As they were on their way to the hospital, Mingi asked, "Who plays though?"
"Students who volunteer do, patients have a hard time by themselves you know, music does its wonders." Jongho told him.
"So like someone just plays instruments?" Mingi asked.
"Yeah, Yunho plays guitar nowadays, he sings too and the others say he's quite good." Jongho said.
Mingi stopped in his tracks, took a step backward.
"Um, you guys go ahead, I have some homework to do." Mingi said.
"What homework?" Seonghwa asked.
"Um, a few topics to read." Mingi replied.
"Oh please," Yeosang said, "Don't tell me you still have some score rivalry going on with him."
"Whatever." Mingi said and walked away.
"What's with those two?" Wooyoung asked.
"I don't know man, Yunho's a nice guy, but these two are always fighting on who scores better, and they aren't on good terms, you know?" Jongho said.
"Is this Jung Yunho we're talking about?" Seonghwa asked, remembering the guy at talking to Hongjoong, a guitar with him.
"Yes, you know him?" Jongho asked.
"Yeah, he scored more than Mingi in the spells test today, Mingi's been mad and all." Seonghwa said.
"So they still have it going on." Yeosang said.
"Whatever, let's go."

A/n: hehe