For Peace

11. Siren's Song

As the coldness of winter was cast aside by the increasingly sunny spring, thunderstorms became a common occurrence. The warm air crackled as the breeze chased dark clouds over the skies and blew the white thistle seeds in a flurry.

Used to hearing thunder roll where Hongjoong treaded and not minding the few drops of warm rain, Seonghwa led his group south. Their tempo had slowed since Yongguk couldn't ensure safe passage anymore. They were wary of their surroundings, rightfully so, and only passed suspicious spots after Perie and Mingi's birds agreed the coast was clear.

It would take them some time to reach the ritual site, but Seonghwa preferred to be safe. The ache in his chest was not yet bad enough that they had to hurry, and he knew how to battle the weakening of his strength.

Hongjoong walked by his side, alert to every rustle of a mouse in the grass. His knuckles brushed over Seonghwa's ever so coyly, and from time to time, Seonghwa found the courage to hook their fingers around each other for a few moments. If someone addressed them or Hongjoong had to jostle his wings so they didn't shield their junction any longer, they parted in shyness.

Seonghwa didn't want to make their relationship public before he didn't know whether the ritual would succeed. If he was doomed to die, Hongjoong didn't need everyone else to pity him. His grief was best dealt with by himself.

Now that they were so close to the last answer to their puzzle, Seonghwa was on edge once more. So far, he had trusted the judgement of those guiding him and promising him healing. This time and so far beyond their borders, he barely dared to hope anymore. Another disappointment would be too much for his fragile heart to bear, so he tried to accustom it to the inevitable.

With heavy eyes, he glanced around his companions. He remembered their laughter and their fooleries, every fight and every discussion that had happened since they were all so different.

Their shared goal moved them along and turned them into better friends than Seonghwa could ever hope for.

How would he say goodbye to them once the time came? Would his dying heart last witness their sorrow? Would he leave in the night like a criminal, unable to bear their disappointment after trying for so long? Or could he face them in happiness?

He didn't even dare think about what he would tell Hongjoong. The gargoyle would freeze hell to save Seonghwa, but it would all be in vain.

As Seonghwa's burdened eyes swiped over his friends, they got stuck on Yunho. With Perie on his armoured shoulder and Fléau trailing by his side, he chatted up San, trying to woo him back into his arms.

Though glad that his infatuation with Mingi had found its end after Yunho got what he wanted, the priest didn't like how he attempted to lure San into yet another trap. He was far from improving his running instinct enough to deserve the courageous man. Especially after hurting him so.

Until now, San had been resilient. He refused to fall for the same trick again, and his stubborn mind posed a challenge that had Yunho reconsider his behaviour.

However, those walls seemed to crumble. Seonghwa caught the same love-struck expression on San's face as he had sported when he just got to know Yunho. Glassy-eyed and with flushed cheeks, San clung to his every charming word. Yunho was back to his flattered, triumphant self.

Curiosity got the better of Seonghwa. He found it unfair that Yunho did bad without karma ever striking him. His endless luck got him through any narrow spot. Since the priest wanted to look out for his most innocent fosterling, he slowed his step until his pace matched theirs.

When Yunho looked up to greet him, a spell seemed to fall from San. He shook his head as if befuddled about what he had been doing, and his eyes were sharper when he smiled at Seonghwa.