To love and to Hate

3: No room

The two mages caught sight of the town just in time for the downpour to begin. Minho didn't seem bothered by it while Jisung held his bag over his head and picked up his pace. Natural water didn't hurt him, but that didn't mean his body enjoyed being soaked by it while it was dumping from the sky.

The town was fairly small and spread throughout a grove of peach trees. Small houses glowed warmly in the cold evening rain and the town square was filled with fountains and lanterns dangling on banners. It didn't take long for them to find an inn.

The lobby was accompanied with a bar, and several people looked their way as they entered. Neither mage cared. They were used to getting stares. There were times Jisung wished mages weren't branded with a magic symbol on the right side of their neck, but councils all over the world had done it for a reason.

The barkeeper raised his busy eyebrows at them as he finished serving someone at the far end of the counter. He approached them a moment later. "Can I get you gentlemen anything?"

Minho lightly shook his head. "Just a room, if you have any."

The man glanced around the lobby and then leaned across the bar. "Better mind your surroundings. The folk here are wary of mages ever since the Unseen have been spotted roaming these parts."

Jisung's gut twisted. The Unseen was a clan, or in his opinion more of a cult. They claimed to be people that were once wronged by a magic user and therefore vowed a pact of hatred against all mages. Nothing was completely proven when it came to the Unseen, so they were left free to wander despite most everyone knowing they had to do with the disappearances of several mages. The group had only recently started gaining power and a name, and for good reason.

Minho sighed slightly. "I get it, no one wants us attracting dangerous people, but we only need a room for a night. We're passing through."

The man glanced between them. His eyes lingered on Jisung for a moment, who raised a questioning eyebrow in return. "I'm afraid the rooms here are filled. But..." he leaned forward even more and lowered his voice. "I'd like to help you lads out no matter how paranoid this town is. I've got a hay shed on my property. It may not be comfortable, but it'll be a shelter against the storm."

Minho set his map on the bar. "Where is it?"

Jisung's back tingled, and he felt himself tense up. Something wasn't sitting right. Was it the barkeeper? Was it Minho? Was it this town?

"Ji?" A warm hand was suddenly pressing into his back. Minho gave him a strange look. "Didn't you hear me? We're going now."

"Right." Jisung shook Minho's hand off and followed the water mage out of the inn.

Minho started down the street, hands tucked into his pockets, shoulders relaxed. "What a nice man, offering his hay barn to us for the night. We could... have some fun." He wiggled his eyebrows.

Jisung scoffed. "You're disgusting. Also, aren't you nervous at all?"

"Why would I be?"

"The Unseen have been hanging around here, does that really not raise any alarms in that big head of yours?"

Minho shrugged. "They may be a crazy cult, but they're still regular people. They can't exactly do a lot against our magic. We're the strongest members in one of the biggest guilds. We'll be fine."

Jisung gave him a flat look but it was ignored.

Fortunately it didn't take long to find the man's property and the shed that he was referring to. Both mages stopped in their tracks and stared it, then at each other.

If attempted carefully, one could squeeze a double bed inside.

Minho chuckled but there wasn't much humor behind it. "Looks like we'll be nice and cozy tonight."