THE AUTUMN'S MOON - Alchemy Of Souls

--three

– Seo Yul –

THE WOMAN paused her attack before facing her palm towards the sky then turned it to his direction. Another beam of light flashed towards him but as he had learned from his mistakes, Yul brought his blade up and reflected the light back towards her. Hitting her directly on the face, in her eyes.

A beam of light, bent when it made contact with her hand.

Seo Yul stared at his ceiling for who knows how long, as he thought of the events that occurred last night. After he'd left Eun-jeong and Seo-ho behind, he crossed path with Jang Uk and his maid Mu-deok – which he somehow sense some form of familiarity from her, and then he was told to gather in the training center because there's a soul shifter present among them. His betrothed was absent due to her being unwell. He'd informed her to rest in her room instead during his promised visit and thought how it's better that she had, when there's a soul shifter attack not far from him and his friends.

Once he'd returned to his room, exhaustion had hit him and he'd yearned to go to bed. Though his mind was fully awake, too busy replaying the fight he had with Eun-jeong when he'd thought that she was one of Naksu's men.

From the way Eun-jeong had directed the light to him had completely caught him off guard. The ability to bend light was a rare sight to see. It's not an ability that was given to everyone, but chosen by the moon. He'd read about it a few years back, that when twins are born – one for day, and one for night, the moon and sun intertwines with fate and destined them to be the protectors of Daeho one day. Thus granting them abilities no one could master.

Yul knew only one person who had this ability, which was Byeol. Yet not once had he'd seen her use them. But everyone in Daeho was so sure that she possessed such power, so why did he just witness someone else, that is certainly not Byeol, have the moon energy?

Determined to get some answers, he quickly dressed and left his room, and tried to search for the lady's maidservant. Since it's a bit early, he'd thought of taking a small stroll around town and visiting the market just to pass the time.

Though what he didn't expect was to see the woman he was looking for, standing in front of a flower shop with her hands full with bouquets of peonies and chrysanthemums. A small smile unconsciously formed on his face that mirrors hers as he watched her exchange conversations with the stall owner.

He decided to walk over to them and picked up a sunflower.

The stall owner saw him and bowed in greeting and took Yul's money for the sunflower, making Eun-jeong turn around in surprise at the unexpected customer. "Oh! Young master, good morning." She greets him, a soft smile on her lips in which he'd returned.

"Good morning to you too, Eun-jeong. You don't have to use formality with me. Yul is fine." He told her. He watched as she nodded before grabbing her hand and placed the flower he'd purchased in her palms.

"What's this for?" Eun-jeong asked in confusion with her brows furrowed. "An apology gift for last night. I want to give you a proper apology."

"You don't have to give me anything, as long as you're sincere with it." She commented. "But I appreciate the gift."

After bidding the saleswoman goodbye, the two went on a walk side by side around town. They ignored the stares they received and blocked out the whispers as they went. A comfortable silence stretched over them, until Yul broke it.

"During the Lady's arrival, I did not see you.." He began. As much as he wanted to take in the moment without knowing why, he needed to remind himself the reason why he was searching for her in the first place. His curiosity could not wait.