For the Prisoner

14. Hollow

Seonghwa laid to rest and didn't expect anyone else to stir that night. Their camp was safer than ever before, with Mingi by their side and his matagot sleepless all hours of the night. If anything dared to attack them in the peaceful snowy forest, a brunt of distinct elements would rip it apart within moments.

Since Seonghwa's anxiety and his constant restlessness had kept him awake for the past few nights, he craved the little sleep he would get tonight. Though he wondered if his sudden ability to doze off the moment his head hit his bedroll had to do with Mingi and the subtleties of his magic wafting around their minds. He was too exhausted to ponder the witch's influence on them. They needed him no matter what, and Seonghwa would have to count on their resilience against his draw.

For a few hours, Seonghwa slumbered deeply. Around him, the other companions also found rest. Jongho sat guard, both to watch the night and Mingi, who slept seated against a tree with his head lowered. When Seonghwa's lids had drifted shut, he had been convinced the witch didn't sleep as much as he didn't eat.

Yet, when Seonghwa was roughly startled out of his blissful slumber by a clawed hand on his back, he found Jongho had dozed off, and Mingi - whom nobody trusted - sat guard. He must have woven a spell around the drained crusader to let him relax.

Initially, Seonghwa would have assumed him to be the one to grab the priest and ask whatever vulgar favours while the rest were trapped in their magical slumber. However, since Seonghwa met Mingi's gaze across the campsite as soon as his eyes shot open, the hand upon his shoulder could impossibly be that of the witch.

Seonghwa turned, quiet so as not to wake Wooyoung close by who clutched the tip of his hat in sleep and kept drifting in and out of visibility.

Amber eyes bore down on him in the night like two blazing stars. Seonghwa feared them to fall, to hit him and burn up his very existence.

"A word," Hongjoong demanded in a hushed growl. His lips were deliberately tight around his snarl, but his fangs almost broke through, reminding of his anger.

Despite his nightmarish appearance, Seonghwa was glad he was back. The gargoyle didn't look to be hurt, and his readiness to talk soothed Seonghwa's prior fear.

All sleep was forgotten when Seonghwa scrambled to his feet. Wrapped in his cape and his blanket, he threw another log onto the embers and followed Hongjoong while the fire warmed his companions behind them.

The gargoyle led him off into the forest, farther than they ordinarily would venture. Seonghwa followed behind his tall wings nervously and he was about to ask if they were going to leave the others when Hongjoong halted at some random tree. His nose cast toward the sky as he breathed in the crisp air.

"Good. His area of influence only reaches until here."

Seonghwa was about to ask, for he couldn't think when his eyes were stuck to Hongjoong's face, finally in motion again. Before he could exhibit his naivety once more, however, the realisation dawned upon him. Mingi kept his eyes and ears open, gathering all the information around him to use at a later moment.

When Seonghwa nodded mutely, Hongjoong leaned back against the tree with a sigh. His arms crossed in front of his body, and his horns dully connected with the tree trunk when they found no other place to go.

For a while, Hongjoong just stared at Seonghwa. Scrutinised him from head to toe. Searched and probed. His frown deepened when he was displeased by what he found.

Before Hongjoong could start his litany of insults and mockery, Seonghwa spoke up.

"Are you still mad at me?"