haven - zb1

32

The rest of the days were pretty standard and similar. The House of earth and air's heirs trained and sparred with each other, occasionally, Quanrui or the water boys when they did leave their room for some fresh air. (The fire heirs' room was everyone's room now.)

Jiwoong was doing decently, he set a few bedsheets on fire and caused Woohyun to shriek from surprise on multiple occasions but usually were well under control.

They were starting to get to know each others' powers better, and Gunwook, the more adventurous one, even started to suggest mixing their powers together. "You know how Jiwoong's fire mixed with Yujin's air when they sparred?" He said, with a mad glint in his eyes, "What if we do that on purpose and use that to our advantage?"

The others, understandably, were sceptical. "And you might burn someone's eyebrows off," Taerae reminded. "I think that idea is creative, but..." Gyuvin trailed off, trying to select the most tactful word. "Stupid and dangerous?" Quanrui supplied helpfully.

Yujin winced, "That was what I was thinking, but then again...If we're careful and we do it slowly, maybe it'll work. Maybe it'll even be better than we think."

Just then, Hanbin and Woohyun emerged, strolling towards all those gathered in the training grounds. "What are you doing?" Hanbin asked casually, heavy eyebags beneath his eyes. "You look terrible," Taerae cheerfully greeted, which Hanbin could only respond with an exasperated look, "I look like this for our dear Jiwoong to be up and about in mere hours."

"What?" Quanrui shot up from his seat under the shelter, "You mean-"

Woohyun grinned brightly, "It'll take us even less time than expected. Hanbin and Zhang Hao's combined powers- they're too good."

"You did a lot too," Hanbin nudged Woohyun, he too, mirroring Woohyun's happiness. It was as if the weight of his world finally fled his shoulders, Quanrui only smiled gratefully as his head dropped to his chest.

"So, what were you guys talking about?"

Yujin jumped up excitedly, "I think we should try combining our powers, mix them together and see what comes out of it."

Woohyun and Hanbin actually looked intrigued, before Woohyun said, "Well that certainly won't work for fire and water."

"Earth and fire probably won't work well either," Gunwook admitted, "Unless we're trying to be a kiln."

"We'll never know until we try," Quanrui suddenly said, a mischievous look on his face as he summoned a ball of fire. Not wanting to back down, Gunwook too, jerked his hand and balls of earth flew to his hand.

The two materials collided, and as expected, the product was a steaming hardened ball of earth. Gunwook made a move to grab it, but it was still heated and he yelped as he dropped it. Everyone held their breath but when Gunwook assured them he was fine, they all laughed as he made yet another attempt to pick it up, before juggling it between his hands, still too hot to handle.

Yujin laughed along, the breeze from his fan rustling his bangs, before he suddenly froze, raising his head as he sniffed delicately. Gyuvin too, stood abruptly, before extending his arm outwards, clenching his fist and bringing it towards him. From there, a strong gust of wind billowed towards them, madly tousling their hair.

Everyone raised their arms to shield their faces as leaves swept past them and the wind howled in their ears.

"Hey, what's up?" Taerae shouted as he combed his hand through his messy hair. Hanbin joined Gyuvin and Yujin at where they stood, lips parted to ask, before Yujin, with a start, suddenly said, "It's smoke, it's-"

"Fire," Gyuvin gravely said. The duo shot towards the direction the wind came, and startled and confused, the others chased them, desperate to keep up.

"Zhang Hao is with Jiwoong, isn't he?" Quanrui sounded so panicked, now worried for two people.

"Maybe it's not actually fire," Gunwook tried to soothe all their fears as they ran, especially Quanrui, whose face had gone white the moment he heard the word fire, "Maybe it's-" The words crawled down his throat as they came to a stop.

It was quite a poetic, tragic scene, actually.

The fire heirs' room, on fire.