Lean

I

BEOMGYU

The city of King's Coast captivated all who laid eyes upon it. The warm hues of the stones adorning the buildings and streets added to its visual charm. Within the realm of Mirage, King's Coast stood as the capital of five kingdoms. It was a bustling city situated adjacent to the ocean, offering a view of the harbor. Beomgyu found solace in his high room within King's Palace, a castle where the king and his family lived. He would often lose himself in the mesmerizing spectacle of boats gracefully arriving and departing each day. Some would carry people or valuable shipments. From this elevated vantage point, Beomgyu could easily drift away in the magnificence of it all.

It was rare for him to come to King's Coast. Beomgyu was born on the other side of the continent, facing a different coast with rocky beaches and choppy waters. It took nearly fifteen days to travel here to the capital from his castle in Aurumstone. He was born to the royal Choi family with a lineage that went on centuries before his birth. His family's fortune came from mining gold in their rugged region, contributing to their immense amount of wealth. Among the five kingdoms, his family was the most powerful even if they hadn't claimed the top spot upon the throne that controlled all of the kingdoms. His family name alone could cause someone to tremble upon mention.

When his father heard of the mysterious illness King Shin acquired, they quickly packed for King's Coast. They didn't make it in time, though. King Shin had died shortly after they departed. Now, the powerful lords of the other kingdoms were gathering to discuss what to do in his absence. The children he had left had fled the capital. There was no one to sit on the throne in his place from his bloodline in King's Coast.

The disappearance of his close family members left everyone with questions. Was it possible that King Shin was poisoned? From conversations with his father, he expressed his disdain for the late king. Many people disliked him, and he had many enemies as most kings did. Beomgyu didn't care enough about the politics in Mirage to form an opinion. He did find the disappearance of the Shin family intriguing, though.

Here in King's Coast, everything was about power in the wake of the king's death. Who would climb up the large steps to the golden throne and take over the realm of Mirage? What enemies would be gunning for the new king? His father, Choi Minjun, explained to him that these were important times for their family. Beomgyu didn't pay much mind to the power game between the five kingdoms, much to his father's dismay. He spent the majority of his time pursuing his passion for archery. One of the reasons why he chose to come to King's Coast was to participate in the honorary archery tournament for the late King Shin.

A knock at the door interrupts his thoughts. He quickly turns away from the large window capturing the view of King's Coast and toward the door. It was likely one of the many servants in King's Palace wondering if they could assist him with anything.

"Come in!" He calls out.

The door swings open and he's met with the stoic gaze of his older brother, Yeonjun. Yeonjun was just two years older than him, just recently turned twenty-two. He was dressed in a thin red doublet, the red signaling the royal symbol of the Choi family. His dark hair was parted in the middle and cropped neatly. He had dark eyes and a pair of plump lips. He and Yeonjun didn't look too much alike, as Beomgyu had thinner lips and smaller facial features compared to Yeonjun's expressive eyes that he got from their father. Their mother passed away only a few years after Beomgyu was born due to a widespread flu outbreak. Beomgyu's wet nurse often remarked that he resembled his mother more than his father.