Underwater World

S

🔅

Hongjoong sighed as he walked sluggishly towards the seaside. He was supposed to be doing some Royal work but had to wait just for this.

There was a note left by his bed when he woke up, addressed from Mingi. It told him that he had something extraordinary to show him, and to go to the edge of the seaside, where they always hung out. He honestly had no idea what Mingi had that was so amazing. It was just an old, rotting trench on the edge of the long seaside. What could possibly be so great?

When Hongjoong was close to the trench, he saw not one, but three figures in the distance. Hongjoong groaned, subconsciously knowing who Mingi brought along. Once he arrived, Hongjoong waved unenthusiastically. Choi San turned around and immediately made sounds of protest.

"So this is why we waited? You never told me HE was coming over!" San yelled at Mingi, then turned to Hongjoong with a glare. Hongjoong sighed again. "Guess we're in the same boat, he never told me either." He spoke monotonously. San grumpily turned back to Mingi and crossed his arms. Mingi just waited until they settled down before speaking.

"Now I invited all of you here because this is so amazing that you all need to see it. So," Mingi quickly turned around and dug into a small patch in the trench. Hongjoong cringed at the action, not wanting to think about how dirty his hands probably got. San and Jongho didn't mind, of course, they do handiwork and are used to getting dirty.

After about a minute of Mingi searching, he let out an, 'Aha!' and turned back to the group, fist clenched tightly. The three looked closer to his closed hand in curiosity, and when he opened his hand and revealed the Oh So Amazing object, all three gasped. Mingi chuckled at their reaction.

"I had the same reaction when I saw it too."

In his hand was a small, triangle shaped shard. Almost as if it was broken from something else. It was a beautiful dark blue, a small grey line covering the bottom of it. It glistened in the sunlight, even though slightly covered by dirt. It was the most beautiful thing they've ever seen in a while. Well, at least what San and Jongho had seen.

"It's a Lapis Lazuli shard! It's so cool right?" Mingi expressed happily. Jongho quickly reached out and took it in his rough hands. "Wow Mingi Hyung, what a find! You think that there's more somewhere? Since this is clearly a shard broken from a bigger piece."

Mingi nodded excitedly. "Of course!" He yelled. While the three were gaping over the shard, Hongjoong sat aback, watching quietly while deep in his thoughts. Is dad going to be mad at me for procrastinating my duties? Will I get them done in time? Will I be fit for a king?

Mingi looked to see Hongjoong with a worried look on his face. He knows what Hongjoong is thinking. "Hey Joong! Stop worrying about your duties and relax a little, have some fun!" Mingi motivated. Hongjoong just scowled at his words.

"Never. As long as I'm in this city, I'll never be able to relax and let go of my duties. I need to protect Sallef, even the whole of Yisernus!" Hongjoong spoke boldly. San scoffed at him and Jongho looked at him in adoration. Mingi's small frown slowly turned into a smirk.

"But what if you're not in this city?" Mingi slyly stated. Hongjoong gave Mingi a suspicious look. "What are you saying?" Mingi quickly snapped out of it and his smirk quickly changed to a smile. "Well, it was nice gathering here! How about, tomorrow we gather here again? At the same time!" While Mingi was speaking he put the Lapis shard back in its hiding place.