Tidal-Bore

12. Call of Fate

Wooyoung had a headache from the foreign alcohol in the morning, but that was easily resolved with Jongho's soup. As Wooyoung slurped it at the dinner table, he was sure the man had prepared it, knowing they would be lethargic.

Jongho himself was energetic despite the early hour. He hummed under his breath while he fed Splish Splash and the dishes passed his hands smoothly as he assembled them on the table. Last night, he had tried himself in some conversation with the group, but Wooyoung doubted he drank as much as them.

Neither had he puffy eyes from crying.

Now that clarity blessed him once more, the memory embarrassed Wooyoung. He barely knew San, and the little time they spent together was by far not enough to cry on each other's shoulders. His return with food had marginally improved Wooyoung's mood and soothed his distress, but sober him was mortified at the ordeal. He remembered hanging off San's arm to get handed over to Yongguk when it was time to go home.

"Seonghwa?" Wooyoung asked Jongho, seeking to find out whether he could bury beneath his blankets in embarrassment today, or whether the glamorous man prepared yet another adventure for them.

Jongho dried off his hands at the stove while he thought about it. When he lifted his hands to gesture, Wooyoung gladly guessed along.

"Something round. The shell? No, the marketplace? Palace?"

Helpless, Jongho shook his head, not finding the enlightenment he had been looking for. After a frustrated pout, his face lit up, and he beckoned at the tattoos climbing over his face. He mimicked cradling a baby in his arms and Splish Splash floated around him, interested in his weird dance. Her spindly tentacles drifted weightlessly behind her.

"Ah! The oracle! He will show us the oracle today?" Wooyoung pointed at his own face, showing he understood.

With a relieved grin, Jongho nodded. He was proud of Wooyoung's applause.

"I can't wait to see that."

He was also awake enough to remember Seonghwa mentioning San would be there for explanations. After last night, Wooyoung was embarrassed to look him in the eyes. Would San mind?

Ready to accept the consequences of his emotional fluctuations, Wooyoung got ready. One by one, the others filed in, and soon, Seonghwa arrived to take them along. He had Yunho and Mingi with him and Yeosang muttered a hello to them, most used to their company. Wooyoung thought it was adorable how Yeosang ducked between those two, intimidated by their auras.

"How did you like our festivities last night? Some of you learned our traditional song and dance; it made our elders really proud," Seonghwa greeted them as they all gathered at the table. Curious, since he had gone missing all night, Wooyoung peered between his friends. Kiko had a kiss mark on her neck and her hair was wild despite her best efforts. Across Petra's cheeks streaked leftovers of colour where she must have tried the paintings for herself.

Unbothered and ever so focused on his studies, Yongguk was the soberest of them all.

"We had so much fun last night. There was lots to learn and your people are so kind to strangers."

Wooyoung nodded along, pretending he too had to do with that when he couldn't be farther off. Though it was no lie. San was kind to him.

"I'm glad to hear that. I will teach you some more today. The princess' child was born yesterday and there is a ceremony at the oracle. She agreed to let you observe as the child's destiny is chosen."

Jongho commented something under his breath, and Seonghwa and Yeosang snickered.

"Right, not as if it will be any shock. But we had children of leader blood before that turned out to be most suited for a regular life, away from such responsibilities. We might get surprised." With a brilliant grin that made him shine like the pearls of the sea, Seonghwa beckoned at the door.