Hwarang and The Jewel.

Chapter 5

Hwarang house was absolutely massive. A-ro was quick in guiding me to the library, but I had looked around as much as I could while I was being tugged along. This didn't look like a fancy school, it looked like a palace!

A-ro led me up a set of stairs and into a building, then quickly shut the door behind her. "Sorry about that," she said to me, "the men here like to gossip. I would rather you be here without them noticing."

Oh, that must have been why she woke me up before dawn. I was going to ask her why it would be a problem if the men were gossiping but A-ro had taken me by the arm again and sat me down at the nearest table. It was low to the ground, like the tables at A-ro's house, so we sat on cushions. A-ro placed a large piece of parchment in front of me, along with what looked like an ink block and a ... was that a paintbrush? Noticing my confused gaze A-ro patted my hand.

"I'll show you how to use it when Sun-Woo comes. Oh, and Ji-Dwi as well... sorry Alice I forgot to mention that."

"Mention what?" Speaking of the devil, Sun-Woo had come into the room with a small smile on his face, that is, it was on his face until he saw me sitting down at the table.

"Good morning." I said meekly. Sun-Woo may be A-ro's brother, but he certainly looked a lot more serious than her. 

"I hope you don't mind, I brought Alice with me so she might be able to learn as well."

"That's fine." It obviously wasn't fine but A-ro didn't seem to pick up on his drop of ease or just ignored it. 

I jumped when another man suddenly strode into the room like he owned the place. He shot A-ro a cheeky smile, Sun-Woo a smirk and me a confused eyebrow raise. This must be Ji-Dwi, because A-ro doesn't seemed fazed by him and placed parchment in front of him after giving Sun-Woo his own.

"Another student, Miss A-ro?" Ji-Dwi says. I duck my head a little, apparently none of these men wanted me here. I wasn't surprised, I hadn't expected everyone to treat me like A-ro does, but my loneliness certainly increased ten-fold.

"Yes, and if you have a problem you can leave." A-ro said it politely, but there was a certain steel in her eyes as she looked at Ji-Dwi, who only grinned in response.

"No problem from me, but I wonder, how will you teach two illiterates instead of one?"

"Oh? I thought that was why you were here, to share your wisdom?"

"It doesn't matter to me," Sun-Woo suddenly butted in "I don't mind sharing my teacher."

I glanced at Sun-Woo in surprise, that was the most he's ever said to me. He wasn't smiling, but he wasn't frowning either, so I took it as a good sign.

                                                                                  *******

The next hour consisted of A-ro drawing a symbol on her parchment and having us try and copy it. Ji-Dwi was doing well from what I could see, and even Sun-Woo was making a good effort. I, on the other hand, was at war with the brush. Every stroke I made was either too much ink, too little ink, not enough pressure or way too much pressure. On one stroke where I had to flick the brush slightly towards me I ended up flicking the brush too hard and having tiny ink dots on the front of my dress. Ji-Dwi looked like he wanted to say something scathing at me so I put the brush down before I could make more of a mess.

A-ro gave me a reassuring smile "why don't you have a break Alice. There might be something to entertain you at the back of the library." She pointed behind her at the massive rows of books and scrolls. I nodded at her in thanks and stood from the table.