𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐬 𝐈 |𝐕𝐌𝐊|HIATUS

𝐈𝐕: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞

The messenger left the castle following the north. The forest surrounding the palace was dense and it was hard to get around with a horse. After a three hours ride, the messenger looked at his pocket watch, it was already five pm. He had another three hours ride to get to the Green Stone castle.

The boy decided to take a break, he has been on the road all day long. It took four hours to get to the Purple Stone castle and six hours to get to the Green Stone castle, so a total of ten hours. It was a hazardous trip, but the messenger didn't complain, he was more than honored to serve his master, Prince Park.

He got off his mount and attached the reins to a tree, then sat on the ground covered by orange caramel and red leaves. He reached for his bag thrown on the ground and pulled and a leather jacket, some warm socks, and a fur blanket. It was only five in the afternoon and the boy knew he shouldn't be wasting time but he was too tired. The messenger was halfway between the two castles, he could wake up early tomorrow morning and continue his route. He drifted to sleep, relaxing his sore muscles from the day's events.

The young boy had just gone to sleep that, a warm touch on his cheeks woke him up. The sun well set in the sky beamed on the dark forest. The messenger rubbed his eyes. "WAHHHHHH" he screamed. He looked at his pocket watch, it was already ten in the morning he was supposed to wake up earlier. He got up, put the blanket back in the bag, took a piece of bread and some water. The horse annoyingly sat up to let the boy on.

The two of them continued their way to the castle. It was only three hours away. The forest was getting thicker and thicker as if no soul had ever wandered in this nature. The boy decided to jump off his horse to help him get around the stacks of dead trees and holes in the mud.

Then unexpectedly, the animal stopped

As if someone had put an invisible barrier.

"Ahh come on, here I'll give you an apple.

The horse didn't budge. He seemed paralyzed. "Ah come one, I'm cold standing here without moving!" The boy complained. The horse was as hard as a rock, only his ears moved. He was following a sound. Then they stopped and the horse backed up vigorously looking far in the woods. The boy followed his look and his eyes met with another pair.

It was standing, eyes like bullets aiming at the boy. The red beaming eyes approached. The boy drew his sword out of precaution. He backed up as the beast was getting closer. A shiver ran down his spine, for the second time today. In a quick movement, the beast jumped in front, the messenger closed his eyes and swung his sword. But nothing came, only a satisfied laugh resonating from behind the boy.

He instantly whirled back to face a troupe of soldiers arrows in their hands. One of the men stood out particularly. He had short brown hair and a sharp look. "It's dangerous around here, what are you doing alone, farmer?" He asked. "I'm-"
The messenger looked around and noticed the soldiers, they were probably the royal patrol, and the young male in front was probably their officer. He hesitated to reveal his identity and the reason for his trip, they could throw him out before he could even reach the castle. He paused and tried to think of an answer. "So you don't know." The officer continued while studying the boy's body. "You are covered in wounds and your clothes are too thin for this weather, have you never traveled in the country before?".

"Um, yes. I'm actually looking for the Green Stone castle... Um, could you... Show me the way?" He asked. "Why would a countryman like you want to go to the prince's castle?"  The boy could not reveal his identity and had find a way to get to the palace. It was freezing cold outside, even with that sun. "As soldiers of the Green Stone kingdom, we are at the service of the prince and his countrymen."The officer threw and a fur coat to the boy. "Follow us, we'll treat your wounds when we get there. Call me Officer Yeontan. What's Your name?"