The four elements | Seongjoong

Hongjoong dude where you at

It had been three days since Hongjoong had disappeared. Disappeared as in, he had gone missing. They were searching everywhere for him, the qualified students, and even minor teachers were working hard. A pity it was that none of them were successful.

It had been a thursday, when it was almost break time, and Seonghwa hadn't had a sight of Hongjoong. He asked Yunho, who replied he hadn't seen him either. Seonghwa grew worried as another period passed, Hongjoong did not show up for his alchemy class. Seonghwa decided to go to the fire lounge. He found a girl from fire house, who was kind enough to open the doors for him. Seonghwa knew the way after, he went to Hongjoong's bed, but there was nothing. Only his paintings and sketches. And a book lay on the bed, it pretty much looked normal. Seonghwa questioned the student whose bed was beside Hongjoong's. He replied he had not seen him go to bed the day before.

Seonghwa told this to the others. Everyone took it quite seriously, and joined the search. Jongho searched all of the hospital wing, San worked out at both cottages. However, Hongjoong was nowhere to be seen, Yeosang suggested they talk to Daeshim, and they made their way to him. The search has been going on ever since, a student missing during times like these was a big deal.

Three days. Yet Seonghwa waited for every investigator to return, no matter how late. It was almost midnight, Seonghwa was standing near his bed, leaning on the window, watching out for the investigators to come back. Silence strained everywhere, only the sound of turning pages was heard. Mingi sat in his bed, reading. Seonghwa could find no peace, where was Hongjoong? Was he okay? What if Kim Damyeong had found him and was hurting him again? What if some Nefari were after him? What if he had entered the normal world and did not know his way back? There were too many what-ifs that ruffled Seonghwa's mind. Seonghwa hadn't told anyone of Hongjoong's relation with Damyeong, he knew Daeshim had known, if he didn't bother telling anyone, Seonghwa thought it best to keep shut.

The huge wooden gates creaked as the opened, Seonghwa saw two men dressed in black robes make their way in.

He turned on his heels, "They came!" Seonghwa said and rushed outside.
Mingi closed the book and followed hurriedly.

Seonghwa rushed to the men, who were just taking something off their head. Both of them turned their heads when they  heard the leaves crunch under Seonghwa's steps. Before Seonghwa could ask anything, one of the men shook his head and said, "Nothing today either, child."
Seonghwa's heart dropped as it did everytime.
"We'll find your friend, go and rest." the other man said and patted him.
Seonghwa nodded and turned around, to see Mingi who had just come out. He raised his head in question, his eyes lit in hope. Seonghwa shook his head and the colour immediately faded out of Mingi's face.

Next day, they were all sitting on the lounge outside the main school, some on marble floor, some on grass, while Yeosang stood leaning on the pillar.
"They didn't get anything yesterday." Seonghwa told them as he sat beside San on the grass.
"Nothing?" Wooyoung asked and Seonghwa shook his head.
San patted his back.
"That's..that's not good." Yunho said.
Jongho nodded slowly, "Where could he have gone?"
"Been asking since days, haven't we?" Mingi chimed.
"I am more worried about things with Kim Damyeong. If she has him, things would not be cool." Yunho said.
A shiver ran down Seonghwa's neck for the umpteenth time as he had the same thought again.
What if she does have him though?
"What's the worst case scenario here? She could ask for ransom? Or she could-" Wooyoung didn't complete his sentence, but let out a shrill scream.
An arrow had pinned itself on the pillar, missing Seonghwa's face and Yeosang's leg by inches. Seonghwa flinched, Yeosang did not move an inch and proceeded to pull the arrow out of the pillar. Seonghwa noticed there was a small piece of paper that had been pinned down with it. Seonghwa saw San run in the direction where the arrow had come from, Seonghwa was fascinated that this was his first instinct.
Yeosang pulled the arrow out, the small paper dropped, Seonghwa picked it up.
"You're lucky man, your nose would have flied off, it was this close." Wooyoung said.
Seonghwa didn't listen to him, he unfolded the paper.
Do not wander outside the camp, please.
"Why?" Wooyoung questioned as he read it.
"Who would write that?" Mingi asked.
"Only if I knew." Jongho said.
San came back, panting, "No one," he breathed, "Arrow was aimed far off, no one's there."
San took a look at the paper, a frown settled on his face, "Why?" He said.
"We don't know who's written this, but, why shoot it here? They could've aimed at a teacher if they meant it as a serious instruction. Moreover, there's no information on their name, at least tell us who you are?" Yunho said.
"You are right, why us?" Mingi joined him.
"Let's go to Daeshim." Yeosang spoke for the first time.

"Sir, someone shot this into the pillar just a few minutes ago." Yeosang explained just as they got into Daeshim's cabin.
Yeosang placed both the paper and the arrow on his desk.
Deashim read the letter, his eyes narrowed and then calmed again. Next, he examined the arrow.
"There's no mark, and the wood isn't of our forest." He said.
Yeosang nodded, "The parchment is foreign too."
Daeshim took the paper in his hands, "It's not written with pen or ink."
"I am aware of it, someone wrote it with a stick, it's some flowery pigment they used." Yeosang responded.
"How do you know?" Wooyoung whispered.
"I sniffed it." Yeosang whispered back.
"It's flowers of Phylori, Yeosang." Daeshim said.
Yeosang just nodded.
"They have written 'please', their tone is requesting, but we don't know who it is," Yeosang started.
"But," Daeshim cut him off, "Since their tone is requesting, you should at least be careful and not wander outside the camp."
"But-"
"Think about it, you are safe inside the camp anyway, well, we don't know with Hongjoong. So, let's really not wander outside the camp without apparent reasons."
"Yes, sir." Yeosang said.
"I will keep the arrow and this, let me know if more of these come. You can disperse." Daeshim said.
They all bowed and made their way out.
"Sometimes I don't understand that man." Wooyoung said.
Yeosang shot him a look.
Wooyoung raised his hands in defence, "I mean, how could he act so calm, it almost seems like he doesn't care much about what-"
"He's an old man, little guy, he's seen several wars, you think all this is new to him? He's old, he's experienced and he's wise, we should listen to him." Yeosang said.
"I know all that, but hey, you can't-" Wooyoung started.
"Yeosang is right." San cut him off.
Wooyoung made a face but didn't speak another word.

The day was almost coming to an end, the crescent moon was high up in the sky. Seonghwa was just making his way to the Water lounge. They didn't study late nowadays, they were all exhausted over worrying for all the matters with Hongjoong.

Seonghwa was about to push his hand onto the triangle etched on the doors, when he heard a rustling for the second time that day. He turned around, nothing. He walked a few steps ahead, still nothing. The rustling was heard again, this time he realised it came from the right. He walked in the direction. He saw a figure trying to frantically climb the camp wall. "Hey!" Seonghwa shouted and ran towards him.
The figure did not stop the movement.
Seonghwa went closer and saw that it was a man, his hair messy, an earring on the left ear, and bloodshot eyes that looked like they have been awake since days.
"You!" The man whispered, "Are you a student here?"
"Yes. Who are you?" Seonghwa replied.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Hongjoong- Hongjoong- that guy is passed out, help me carry him."
Seonghwa's heart started pounding in his chest, Hongjoong? Was he finally back?
"What happened to him?" Seonghwa asked.
"I don't know, please help me."
Seonghwa nodded as he felt his eyes become teary, he ran towards the gates, but the student who was patrolling did not allow him to open them. He told them about Hongjoong, and not only did the student allow him, but he even offered to call on someone from the hospital wing. Seonghwa thanked him and hurried off.

He met the man outside, Seonghwa got a full look now, his clothes were tattered, hands rubbed in dirt, his feet naked.
"Where is he?" Seonghwa asked.
The man pointed into the woods. Seonghwa turned around.
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced his skull, his vision dizzied.
Next thing he knew, was darkness.

A/n: hi im back