For Peace

32. Return to Cardend

The travel distance between Eastshallow and Cardend seemed ridiculously short compared to the many days the group travelled all throughout Alverton and Morden. Seonghwa felt they had just started walking by the time he already spied the fields surrounding Cardend across the hills. Light-flooded and paired with the golden hue of the grain, they glowed in scenery like home.

The sight filled Seonghwa with a yearning for home he had forgotten about. After so many days spent far from everything familiar and accepting his death, his return here seemed like a dream come true.

Hongjoong held his hand and watched how melancholy and glee battled on Seonghwa's face. What remained was a serene reverence for the place he had grown up in.

By the time they were near enough to see the villagers working on the fields, Seonghwa tugged Hongjoong aside for a brief break under a mighty oak tree. Confused, Hongjoong reached for his waist.

Shy at the attention on him, Seonghwa fumbled with his words. He stretched to kiss Hongjoong first when they wouldn't come and the gargoyle snickered when he recognised Seonghwa's sudden pause as a means to gather some affection before stepping into the public eye to be swamped by the flood of questions from his people.

Their lips engraved the promises to be there for each other into their bodies. Despite the uneasy curl of Seonghwa's belly, he trusted Hongjoong to be by his side. When his words would die because he was so nervous about his return, Hongjoong would bring them back to him.

Seonghwa parted from him with a dreamy sigh. Hongjoong's taste lingered on his lips like a potent drug that Seonghwa could never get enough from.

"Are you alright? We can pause another night if you need to." His claw caressed Seonghwa's face, tucking a strand that had fallen from his ponytail behind his ear.

Gulping, Seonghwa shook his head.

"No, that's not it. I wanted to-"

Seonghwa touched Hongjoong's arms, then his shoulders. When his forlorn hands trailed back down the gargoyle's sides, Hongjoong tilted his head at him.

After another exhale and gathering his thoughts, Seonghwa found the right words.

"I brooded about what Mingi said a while back. Shortly after you returned to us."

Inquisitive, Hongjoong watched him. Doubt darkened his brow as he feared nasty thoughts got stuck with Seonghwa.

"It was about the chain. The one that binds you to me." Seonghwa's fingers skimmed Hongjoong's throat, the place where he knew the golden collar hugged his skin snugly.

"You needn't know of it. He desired to taunt us, as always." Hongjoong's voice was quiet in their private surrounding and its drawl never failed to make Seonghwa's heart flutter.

The priest couldn't feel the cold metal under his fingers, but he was so aware of it he believed it to kiss his fingers.

"I wish to remove it."

Before Hongjoong got to reply, Seonghwa continued, meeting the gaze from wide amber eyes.

"Though we swore to stay with each other, I don't want to bind you. Your future shouldn't be tied to me and to your curse. If you so wished to leave, you should have that freedom."

"What are you saying?" Hongjoong muttered, disturbed by the suddenness of his words.

"I will take it off. And if you want to leave, I beg you to leave. Don't stay with me because you were forced to. My longing to return here with you wasn't related to dragging you along on a leash. I don't want this to be secondary happiness since you have no other choice. Either it's your first, or you get to go."