The Pheasant, that fell from the Sky || Hwarang

- 12 -

»Yeseul!«, Yejong screamed as he stormed into the back area of the shop where his sister was sewing a hanbok making her sting herself with a needle.

»Ouch!«, she exclaimed, »You startled me, Yejong!«

»Sorry, Yeseul«, the boy said a little sad, took his sisters hand and touched the spot where she had stung herself.

»It's alright.«

»But I have a letter for you!« He sounded excited again as held a dark blue envelope in front of himself.

»For me?«, Yeseul asked surprised. She never got a letter. All letters always were for her parents.

»Yes. A man at the door gave it to me.« Yeseul took the envelope and opened it.

»From whom is it?«, Yejong asked curious and excitedly sat down next to his sister, »Who is it?«

»I don't know yet.« She unfolded the paper and read the letter.

Let's meet today in the evening at the wall of the Hwarang House.

Yeowool.

»Oh, I don't know these characters«, Yejong determined, »Tell me. Who wrote you? What is it about?«

»No, I won't tell you«, she said and put away the letter.

»Then I'll tell mum and dad that you got a letter!«, he countered. Yeseul thought about it for a second. She didn't want her parents to ask questions.

»I'm going to meet someone later«, she answered her little brother's question.

»It's Yeowool, right?«, he saw through her.

»Anyway, let me work. Mum said I have to finish this today.« Yeseul took hanbok and needle and resumed her work.

»It's Yeowool!«, Yejong teased her.

In the evening Yeseul waited at the foot of a tree that stood right next to the wall that surrounded the Hwarang House. The sun already set dipping her surroundings in beautiful light.

Suddenly she heard something and looked to the wall which was only a bit taller than her. Yeowool sat on the roof tiles smiling at her.

»Hello«, he greeted and jumped down, »So you got my letter. I hoped so.«

»Yejong would've stolen it if he had known all characters«, Yeseul laughed, »But he doesn't so he had to give it to me.«

»Cheeky, your little brother.«

»So why did you want to meet?«, Yeseul asked curious, »It sounded like you have something to tell me.«

»Actually, I just wanted to meet you and spend time together«, the Hwarang admitted. Yeseul smiled a little shy. »Let's sit down.« They sat down against the wall.

»So any news from the Hwarang House?«, Yeseul asked her usual question.

»Let me think. Suho is now somehow in the Palace and guards the Queen. Ah, and Hanseong is now our roommate«

»Oh, why suddenly?«

»He was kicked out of his room. So I offered him to stay with us.«

»Why was he kicked out?«

»I'm not sure«, Yeowool looked thoughtful, »He didn't really tell me. And you, what about your days?« Yeseul thought about what she had done the past days but it wasn't much.

»I didn't do anything exciting. I just tried to meet deadlines and run errands.« It stayed silent between the two of them for a short moment.

»Actually, I have to tell you about the new assignment that will take place tomorrow«, Yeowool confessed.

»A new assignment? What is it about?«

»It's a sparring contest. It was Princess Sookmyung's idea. We will fight each other with real swords.« With real sword? Yeowool had told her they normally trained with wooden swords. Real swords would be a different kind of difficult. One could get hurt easily.

»And what if you get hurt?«

»Then you get hurt.« And strange feeling formed in Yeseul's chest. She didn't want Yeowool to get hurt.

»But won't that have a negative impact on you training?«

»Not only that but it could also minder the number of Hwarang.«

»What do you mean?«

»They said it could be that some dies«, he explained. She looked at him in shock. Die? The Princess' idea was to let the Hwarang kill each other? Or hurt each other? Yeseul began to dislike this Princess a lot. How would someone get that idea?

»I'm worried about Hanseong. He's not that good in sparring. Dansae tried teaching him but he just...«

»You worry a lot about Hanseong, do you?«, Yeseul asked with a genuine smile. She had noticed how often he talked about the other Hwarang.

»Yeah«, Yeowool admitted, »He grew on me.« He laughed and looked up to the sky. The sun was already gone and only the remaining light still lit up the sky dimly. He stood up. »I should get going.« He held his hand to Yeseul to help her stand up.

»Yeah, get some sleep.« For a moment they just stood in front of each other, the sun flattering their face features. Yeseul made a step forward and hugged Yeowool, listening to his heartbeat as she had her head on his chest. He hugged her back and snuggled up his head next to hers. It was a very warm and longing hug. It was so comfortable being so close to him. She was afraid that it felt too much like a goodbye. They wouldn't let a Hwarang die, right? Wouldn't that upset critics? But she didn't know anything about what went on in the world of the Palace.

»Don't get hurt, ok?«, Yeseul said to him.

»Yes«, he answered calm. It was silent for a moment again.

»Are you afraid?«, she asked eventually. It took him a moment to answer.

»Yes, I'm a bit afraid. I don't want anything bad to happen.« He dissolved the hug. He smiled at her, probably to cheer her up, and nudged the tip of her nose. Yeseul smiled back at him. »I'll get going then.« Yeowool climbed up the wall again and turned around to her.

»Yes. See you soon«, Yeseul bid goodbye.

»See you.« He disappeared as he jumped off on the other side of the wall.

Yeseul's head was spinning of all the new information about the sparring contest. She wasn't really able to sort out her thoughts, she just knew that she didn't want anyone to get hurt.