THE AUTUMN'S MOON - Alchemy Of Souls

--two

– Lee Byeol –

"STOP. DON'T hurt me."

"Why should I?"

"Because... Because..." The intruder stuttered.

Byeol narrowed her eyes at him as she waited for his reason. She took a glance at his worn out clothes, and to his dirt covered skin. The female couldn't help but take pity, making her posture falter and the grip on her sword loosen. She figured that this man might be innocent with the way he handled himself in front of a blade. There were no weapons on him, so he's defenseless.

And for Byeol, fighting against someone defenseless was not fair.

She sighed and dropped her weapon, fishing out her pouch full of money. She won't be needing it since she'd already paid before she came to the brothel. Even so, she could just get more from her luggage back in Songrim.

Byeol held the bag in front of him. "Here." She simply said. The man stared at her cautiously and reached out for the bag, only for her to pull it back towards her slightly. "But first, who are you, and why have you decided to interrupt my meal time?" She questioned.

The man scratched the back of his head and tilted his head to the side. "Why should I tell you? Are you going to hand me over to the authorities?"

"Are you a thief?"

"No–"

"Do you want me to hand you over to them?"

"What– Of course not!"

"Then tell me why you're here?"

He sighed. "I got separated from a friend of mine, and the guards are chasing after us. More specifically her, but she's blind so I doubt she'll get far. I tried to find her before they could but it seemed like I got the wrong room."

Blind? Byeol thought. "By any chance, this girl you're with is Mu-deok?" The man nodded. "I saw her passing by through the window. She went to the other room." She pointed at her neighbor.

"You still haven't told me your name."

"Oh.. uhm. My name is Ji....Jin Seo-ho." He said. Though there was an uncertain look on his face and hesitation laced in his voice, making Byeol wonder if he's telling the truth. "Your name is Jin Seoho?" "Yes, ma'am?"

"You're not related to the Jin family, aren't you?"

"Not the slightest."

Byeol nodded understandingly. "Then, if your friend is a thief, where do you stand?"

"I'm her accomplice."

"... That makes you a thief."

"... No, it's not." She stared at him in disbelief before shaking her head. Taking his hand and placing the money pouch on his palm, then closing his fingers around it. She was about to step back, when she saw something at the side of his face; an old faint burnt mark – one that she might have known the story behind it. Byeol discarded her thoughts, thinking she might be overlooking it.

"If you're trying to lie for not being a thief, as well as your real identity" She mumbled the last part. "At least be good at it. My maidservant could even figure it out in an instant without any hesitation."

She turned away from him to return to her table when she suddenly heard the voices of the approaching guards getting louder. No doubt that they'll be checking on her room. Byeol reached for her veil and was about to warn him, only to find him holding her sword and staring at the white hilt.