𝐄𝐗𝐈𝐋𝐄 ♕ 𝐉𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐎𝐊

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁

Lake Gyeongcheondaeho came into existence aeons ago and Daeho grew from a village to a city and finally a kingdom from a nomadic tribe that had settled on its banks. The lake, legends said, was borne from the blessings of the cardinal god, the Blue Dragon. It wasn't until two centuries ago that Jin Seolran and Seo Gyeong performed a ritual to end the drought that its waters changed.

Many whispered that the drought was the result of a new, young god's curse. The Great Blue Dragon, Cheongryong—who was the second to fall after the Vermillion Bird—had been invited by Jin Seolran and Seo Gyeong to take refuge in the dried-up lake. Gyeongcheondaeho was his last remaining sanctuary, where Jooyong couldn't touch him, and so Cheongryeong inhabited the lake, bringing with him rain and good fortune to the people of Daeho.

With Cheongryong came the ice stones falling from the skies. Records said they contained the power of the Heavens and could take any shape and form they wanted. But the mortals didn't know that the ice stones were the shards of the pearl that hung around the Blue Dragon's neck. The Dragon's pearl was his source of celestial power and falling from his position as a revered god had caused it to shatter.

Wook listened intently as Gaeun summarized the story. "The lake isn't just a source to draw magic from for mages in Daeho," she said, slightly perturbed as they walked into the bamboo forest together, "It is a prison meant for Jooyong and his Vessel. Jooyong seized the original god's seat, forcing him to fall and this was his means of vengeance. I always thought there was something in the lake. It's how I managed to lock Jooyong away for two years. No wonder the waters could harm me."

"But you saved me from drowning once," Wook frowned, "Nothing happened to you then."

That was strange indeed. Gaeun recalled how the waters had guided her to Wook's unconscious form and had helped them reach the shore together. It had been the perfect opportunity for the Blue Dragon to kill her and exact revenge.

"And the curse?" Wook asked when he found Gaeun unable to answer, "It's completely gone?"

She nodded. "Yes. Lady Heo was very adept with the way she pulled out the curse. It was impressive to see someone work so efficiently."

Gaeun didn't tell him about the way she had writhed and screeched in pain when Lady Heo held up her palms encased in an antidote and sucked out the curse from her ribs. The physician's maid, Suni, had cast a mild binding spell to hold Gaeun down. It had taken fifteen minutes or less maybe, but to her, it felt like forever.

Once the pain had subsided and her vision and mind had cleared, Gaeun asked for a spare tunic from the maid. Lady Heo hadn't been pleased when Gaeun had said that she needed to leave but she had done little to protest, knowing that Gaeun wasn't going to stand down.

"She insisted that I rest," Gaeun told Wook, "But I didn't want you to accidentally trip over your sword and stab yourself."

He made a face, "I am moved by your faith in me."

By the time they reached the abandoned temple, the sun had risen. The place was swarming with mages, both from Songrim and from Yeol. Wook and Gaeun split to speak with Yul and Haneul respectively.

"What are you wearing?" Haneul demanded, tugging at the servant's tunic that was a tad too big on Gaeun, "Where's your uniform? You better not have lost it."

"I ran into problems." Gaeun looked around, "Fox and Coyote?"

She gestured at the temple, "Inside. What problems?"

"Summon them." Just the recollection of Fox's action sparked annoyance in Gaeun. She glanced around, spotting Wook talking to Yul in the distance with Mu Deok approaching them with a pretend gait. "Baihu's Vessel was there." Haneul's head snapped towards her, eyes hardened. "I don't know if you remember but it's one of the Assistant Gwanju Jin Mu's men. Although, GIlju, whose corpse would probably have been retrieved by Cheonbukwan by now, said that there's another person behind the scene. And..."