haven - zb1

17

Gyuvin had settled Yujin into his bed and gently wiped any sweat or grime from his body. Yujin fell asleep the second he touched the bed, so Gyuvin only sat at his bedside in silence. He figured he could have been a little less curt to Woohyun, he knew the House of water heir didn't mean any harm but seeing the ruthless, frantic way the water user had attacked Yujin was so frightening.

Woohyun didn't even intend to kill Yujin and he was already this intense. Imagine if he did want to kill him.

A dull knock on the room door shook him from his reverie.

"Gyuvin?" Zhang Hao stood by the entrance, holding a clear bottle of bright blue liquid. "Is Yujin okay?" He dropped his voice even softer when he noticed the slumbering boy. "He should be," Gyuvin turned to look at Yujin's peaceful sleeping expression, "I think he's just tired and a little out of it."

"What a relief," Zhang Hao smiled, then offered the bottle he was holding, "A potion, from the House of water. It helps with pain and dizziness. Woohyun would have come himself but Hanbin is treating his injuries."

Gyuvin swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. "I see."

Another warm, lovely smile from Zhang Hao, "Then, if you're alright, I'll leave you to it. I think today was quite eventful for us all."

-

Yujin awoke in his room. Dusk had fallen, the setting sun painting thin stripes of pink and yellow on the darkened blue sky. Gyuvin was sleeping beside him, chin lowered as he leaned in a chair and snored. Two trays of food had been placed on the table in front of his bed, still steaming and warm, it seemed.

His body was aching but his mind was refreshingly clear. The memories of his spar were fuzzy, he only remembered the terrifying feeling of being overwhelmed by a more powerful opponent. But his whirlwind of emotions were interrupted by his stomach's pitiful growl.

And right on cue, the door to their room cracked open and Woohyun slipped through, starting when he noticed Yujin was sitting up. "How are you feeling?" Woohyun whispered, wanting to not startle Gyuvin awake as he slowly and quietly approached the bed.

"I'm okay, just a little woozy," Yujin beamed. Woohyun sighed in relief, "That's fantastic." His eyes darted to the still sleeping Gyuvin, then he said, "Both of you missed lunch and dinner. Gyuvin refused to leave the room the whole day."

"What did I miss?"

Woohyun shrugged, "Not much. The rest didn't have much enthusiasm to spar, since you were knocked out. So we mainly just did our own things." The duo fell awkwardly silent, then Woohyun stood abruptly, but still careful to not bother Gyuvin. "You should eat. And drink the potion. I'll take my leave now. Make sure Gyuvin eats too. By the looks of it, he might be sparring tomorrow with Jiwoong. They're the last ones."

-

After he had consumed his thankfully still hot meal, he roused Gyuvin who groggily shovelled food into his mouth and promptly went to sleep in his bed comfortably.

Yujin was still a little energetic, likely because he slept through the entire day. He crept out to take a quick bath, then remembered he left the little book he took from Taehyun's room. He quickly darted back to the training grounds, where, with a sigh of relief, he noted the book was still tucked in the little nook he found previously.

Back in their room and all freshly washed up, Yujin finally brought out the book that he hid from Gyuvin's sight. Despite the cover being very faded, Yujin noted that it was probably the newest book among them all. The book was messily bound, as if rushed and with poor skills.

But Yujin flipped it open, where a wall of neat text filled the page.

Today I woke with the most unsettling but crystal clear confidence that I was going to die. It was bizarre to be so awake when the sun had not yet risen. And it's as if my entire body was submerged in ice cold water.

Then I was certain I was to die in an unknown but short amount of time.

I know they worry for me. I know there's still so much I have to say and I know there's still so much they want to know about me, them and their origins. And I had planned to tell them.

But it seems I'm running out of time.

Bahiyyih looked like she was going to cry. I told the rest and some did cry. I think Minhyun might have cried in secret. He always had to be so strong.

There's so much I need to tell them but so little time. So I'll write it down, every single thing I've missed out. At least they'll have something of me when I go.

I've written about most of my life. I wrote of the friends I used to love and who used to love me, and everything I did with them. But I haven't written about what happened after that. And I think the children deserve to know why they're here, how they even got here. I suppose, it'll also help me remember. Because I'd hate to forget all the lovely memories that I wished could have lasted forever.