Trails of Intertwined Stars: Chapter 74

~Chapter 7: A Foolish Wish~

Kong Hun let out another angry hiss, spinning around and flicking his wrist at the abandoned fireplace. The old, practically unusable wood in set alight; filling the room with a warmth Leora hadn't seen it in, in years. The ghost let out a groan, sinking onto the covered up sofa in pain; rubbing his temples.
"Sit," He commanded, bluntly.
Leora opened her mouth to protest, but found herself gently sitting down on the covered up sofa opposite him. Kong Hun glanced up at her, his golden eyes looked almost resentful.
"So, what is it? What do you want? Immortality? Money? Name it. Why the hell did you get up at this late hour to summon me," Kong Hun asked, yet he couldn't help but be passive aggressive.
Leora hesitated, she knew he would hate her even more for the answer, but he would loath her if she kept quiet or lied.
"I was actually hoping that I could use you to be my model for my art, until I get the perfect piece," Leora mumbled.
Kong Hun listened, his eyebrows raising. He seemed silent at her response, Leora couldn't exactly explain the emotion on his face. He couldn't seem to place how he felt about it either. His mouth was slightly agape in shock. They stared at each other, the silence was painful and long.
"An...art...model...?" He uttered, lifelessly," That is why you summoned me...? Nothing else...?...Art..."
Leora gave a small nod," Yeah, and I wasn't sure that you were actually real so..."

The silence stretched on more, he seemed lost for words. The only noise was the crackling of fire in the hearth, making the shadows on his face dance. Kong Hun's expression washed from speechlessness to frustration.
"Damnit, you artists are never pleased with your work, I could be here forever!"
Leora blinked in shock, he did have a point. She wanted him to be her model until she could get the perfect piece. Something like that was hard to come by. Maybe even impossible. Kong Hun let out another deep groan, burying his face in his hands.
"This is great...just great...of all the things you could have wished for!?"
"It's not my fault!" Leora yelped.
"This is completely your fault!" Kong Hun jumped up, pointing his finger at her," I told you, did I not? Forget. Forget everything that night! What did you do? Not only remember, which is problematic enough considering the already unsteady balance between our worlds, but you also had the bright idea to summon me! Now, I'm stuck pandering to your artsy whims, whilst both of our worlds suffer and crumble!"
Leora frowned, confused," What do you mean, our worlds will suffer?"
"Did you not read the page after?"
Leora shook her head," I didn't think I had to."
Kong Hun stormed over to the book, the sound of bells gently filling the room, snatching the thing off the floor. He viciously tore to the next page, thrusting it at Leora. Her eyes widened, reading it. His job in the Underworld was to make sure the spirits did not slip into hers and cause problems, as the General of Calamity.
"Ah...I see, that is... problematic..." Leora mumbled.

"You think!?" Kong Hun glared at her," You mortals and your foolish choices. You already caused enough imbalance for both worlds arriving in the Underworld, and now this?"
Leora stood up, holding her hands out in a placating manner," It's okay, calm down. All we have to do is try to get a good art piece, who knows, maybe it'll be the first piece? We can't think of the worst."
Kong Hun glared at her for a moment longer, before forcing himself to take a deep breath and calm down.
"You're right, that's all we can do," Kong Hun glanced at the floor," Okay. I'll stay here and be your 'model' until you can make the perfect piece. And then I'll return back to my world. Okay, that's not awful. It could be worse..."
He seemed to be reassuring himself, but even he struggled to believe himself.
Leora frowned," Are you visible, to everyone else, do you think?"
Kong Hun blinked slowly, like a wild cat, thinking.
"I'm not sure," He muttered, furrowing his eyebrows," Hang on a moment, let me check..."
He walked towards the wall, not stopping as he neared it. Leora winced as he hit it with a thud, losing his footing and falling on the floor.
"I seem to be visible to everyone..." Kong Hun muttered, rubbing the part of his head he'd hit.

"That's not good, my brother and the servants will see you..." Leora frowned, tapping her arm in thought.
"And that's a problem, why?"
"Because you're a strange man who's just randomly appeared in a well protected manor, that's why!" Leora snapped, exasperated," And if we're completely honest, you're a strange, foreign man. And not everyone takes lightly to foreigners in this society, that being the Victorian era."
Kong Hun scoffed, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't scoff, you know you'd do the same Mr. General who kills invaders."
Kong Hun opened his mouth to argue, but glanced away and shrugged his shoulders realising she did have a slight point. Leora bit her lip, thinking for a moment.
"I know, sleep in the stables tonight. I'll fetch you tomorrow and introduce you?" Leora suggested.
"And how would little miss trapped in her own bubble randomly meet a foreigner?" Kong Hun sighed," I'll tell you what, let me test something out on you."
Leora frowned," Test wha-?"
Kong Hun flicked his finger, Leora grew silent her eyes wide. Unable to control her body, her limbs sprung up like a puppet and her mouth opened on its own.
"I'm a dumb, clumsy, stubborn girl~!"
Kong Hun flicked his finger again, and she was free; running her hands over her mouth in shock.
"Oi, no I'm not!" Leora pouted.

"Well, I may be physical now, but I can still use manipulation," Kong Hun smirked, playfully.
Leora glared at him," And what, pray tell, will that help you with?"
"I'll get one of your brother's friends over, someone who might be more versed with 'foreign men' and make them suggest I could be your art project," Kong Hun smirked," A flawless plan, don't you think?"
Leora thought about it. It wasn't like they had much choice and it was the safest. Besides, they could use Lady Gwendolyn; she had said she was in close relations to Lord Walker, who probably would have contact with some people from China. It wasn't exactly unlike Lady Gwendolyn to show off relations she was proud of either.
"Fine, we'll use Lady Gwendolyn," Leora sighed, before glaring at the ghost," But you still have to spend the rest of the night in the garden."
Kong Hun sighed, miserably," Such a warm welcome..."