For Peace

3. Keep Out

Warnings for blood and gore

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Clouds flecked the skies like patches on a cow. From time to time, they drifted under the sun to shroud the lands in darkness. Their shapes threw lines across the meadows that shifted to greet the travellers marching against the wind. As if welcoming them, it ran its invisible fingers through their hair and made Mingi's feathers flutter. The scent of wood and smoke carried with the breeze. The unassuming peace of the Red lands reflected in the display of nature.

After the group had traversed the soiled battlefield at the foot of the mountains, a healthy landscape engulfed them. The flattened paths showed where the Red fighters had marched to meet the crusaders, but this wasn't a place where armies had clashed. The crusaders had penetrated much further into Red territory and the occasional tribes of savages were no match for the steel of the sacred swords.

In passing, Seonghwa caught sight of a forgotten silver helmet in the grass. The gryphon wings of the royal crest grew from the sides with pride. The metal hinge was ripped from its fixtures and dried blood discoloured the innards like rust under the ruthless sun.

Shuddering, Seonghwa focused on the flat land spreading out in front of them. His trusty staff accompanied his every step as they followed Yongguk through the tall grass.

Jongho still looked pale around the nose, and Seonghwa doubted his condition would improve before they left this forsaken place. As if he needed it as an anchor, the crusader clutched his fist around the grip of his sword until his knuckles stood out white. His eyes were haunted by the terrors of his past and the present that bore on him with fresh dread.

Yunho and San flanked their distraught friend left and right. They offered protection for his vulnerable spirit, presenting both sweet empathy and a steadfast promise that they would get out of this together.

Wooyoung sniffled as he walked with Yeosang close behind Seonghwa. They left it to Mingi to seek the source of magic that Yongguk had promised them. Uncaring of the shift in scenery, the witch guided them. Not an ounce of hesitation passed him.

"Smells like dog?" Seonghwa offered with a feeble smile when the lutin scrunched his nose.

"I would be worried if it didn't, walking in this position." Wooyoung threw a brilliant grin at Yeosang that soothed any pout the wolf might have thrown his way. He continued before anyone could chide him. "It's not him. This place reeks of death and blood."

Hongjoong nodded before Wooyoung could launch into a litany of disgust. The gargoyle's eyes also looked into an unclear distance as he reconstructed what once was by its trails.

"Many left their lives here. Almost a decade's worth of blood soils this earth and with it comes the lingering hatred. Most Reds who died out here are vengeful, even in death."

Seonghwa wrapped his coat closer around his frame when a chill overcame him at those words.

"A lot of crusaders died, too," San perked up behind them. He glanced at Jongho to make sure he wasn't troubled by the topic, but the crusader didn't listen to them. His senses were strained on the highest alert. More than ever, he looked like a soldier instructed to embrace death on the battlefield and take as many enemies with him as he could.

The sight both pained and humbled Seonghwa. In his eyes, no one was stronger than Jongho in his endless courage and his pursuit of a better world. Yet, as he saw how large of a price he paid for it, Seonghwa suffered with him.

"The crusaders are the ones who rekindled this dispute. No Reds passed the borders since Alverton became its own kingdom, apart from their might."

"Strictly speaking, the savages started it by taking so much land that was never theirs to bear. Including the large part of Morden that is still sacred. They brought war and heretic belief to holy ground," Seonghwa recited what he had learned from his father in late evenings in the chapel as the two brooded over historical records.