A Tale of the Swan Lake [On Hold]

1.7

"Do you think, you can get me a new pair of clothes?"

You cross your arms and arch an eyebrow. You look him up and down and he returns scrutiny.

"What will I get in return?"

SeokJin releases a groan and he rolls his eyes. He throws his hands in the air.

"I'm not asking for expensive garb. I'm just asking for something simple, like what you're wearing,"

You look at yourself. You wore dark green regular cotton pants, a short-sleeved sage shirt with metal shoulder pads, and your usual black combat boots. Today, you didn't feel like wearing your cape.

"Preferably black, if you can, please," SeokJin adds.

You made a mental note that he has to owe you back by the end of this journey.

"But why would a woman like you wear an outfit like a man?" he asks.

"It's comfortable to move around like this, okay? If I'd worn a long skirt, sticks and branches would tug on the material and rip easily. Pants are easy to move around," you explain.

"Or, are you just poor to afford any more clothes?"

"Go die," you retort.

You pick up your belongings and head out of the cave, not giving a care about the hunters anymore. They had already left half an hour ago and with luck, they aren't in the garden anymore.

SeokJin follows behind you this whole time and you turn around.

"Tell me, how do I get out of here?"

"Go back where you came from and just climb up,"

"Do you want help or not?"

SeokJin remembers his situation and beckons you to follow him.

"That's the spirit," you comment.

You check the time from the pocket watch and notice that it's almost midnight. You swallow the lump in your throat, but you're famished. You haven't drunk anything, even water to ease the scorching dryness scratching at your throat.

"Hey, before we leave, what's the reason for the fog?"

"It's better that you don't know,"

"Why?"

"Do you want to be fed to the wolves?"

"No,"

"Good,"

The steps were familiar from when you had your eyes closed. You remember going up a little bit, whilst trying to walk straight. The fog that you mentioned was beginning to spread around the lake. You notice the source from the waterfall itself.

"Freya," SeokJin calls out to you sternly.

"Coming," you hastily replied.

You pick up your pace to where he's standing on top of a curved log wedged deep into the ground. You wonder why he doesn't want to tell you anything about the fog.

Does the fog reveal an ugly truth to the ones who pass through it? Would you be able to figure out your virtues and your flaws? Does it hold secrets and priceless treasures within the gardens?

To be frank, you could not care much about finding gems and rare jewels. You just wanted a break sometimes from the bakery, but it takes two people.

"Walk slower than that and you'll be trapped in the fog," he comments.

Perhaps your guts were correct.

You should stay out of trouble before it snatches you into its den.