Prince of Blood

15. Standing Ovation

They made it back to the stone circle by noon.

They were exhausted even after a full night of rest, and some of their injuries had worsened. Seonghwa's back felt as if it had been set on fire even when he held still, and Yeosang, too, had fallen back into his feverish state of unconsciousness.

Mingi was the one carrying him on his back when the grey obelisks finally appeared in the fields of green and black. At the sight of them, Seonghwa audibly let go of a breath. His hair was sticking to his forehead from the humidity that laid in the still air, and he felt physically drained not only by the fight but also this whole realm.

Hongjoong was still walking with a certain elegance and grace; even now in his hurt state, giving the impression of a mighty lion that would be ready to rip his opponent apart if challenged.

Yunho had awoken in the morning and taken care of them fully immersed in his usual role as a doctor. Albeit still slow and mindful of his head, he had taken a huge pressure off their shoulders as he did his best to treat everyone. He was also the one noticing that San had hurt his foot in the fight, somehow having dislocated the bone and not perceived the swelling to be anything to worry about. The man was limping today, and showing grimaces regularly when he thought that no one was looking. Wooyoung supported him around his waist, no matter how often their resident Lothario (a fictional character who flirted a lot, according to Yeosang) asked him to leave him to his manly suffering.

Thus, with them all dragging their feet behind their bodies, they arrived rather weary and with their bones aching at every step.

After the initial relief had subsided, even more of it flooded their systems when they recognised the person who stood in the middle of the circle. He was wearing a long coat that he had his hands buried in the pockets of and was clearly shivering and cursing under his breath about the cold. His dark locks were a sight that was familiar to every one of the pirates.

"Yah! Yongguk!"

Wooyoung was the first one to scream powerfully despite his fatigue and San's heavy arm over his shoulders. It had Seonghwa startling absent-mindedly, and Jongho hissed at him to keep it down.

Yongguk, on the other hand, looked mightily alleviated to see them all closing in on him. He rose his hand in a greeting, not stepping away from his precious shattered mirror that he had brought today, too.

The crew found themselves quickening their steps at the thought of finally having the end close up on them. They would go home after what felt like an eternity but could only have been a few days. Mingi hurried most, not missing a beat in glancing back to see if Yeosang was still comfortable on his back.

They reached the stone plate only a few minutes later, and Hongjoong's heels clicked on the rough surface only once, then he was already wrapping an arm around their warlock friend in a welcoming hug.

"Matey, I always be overjoyed to see ye, but today might be me favourite meeting out o' them all."

Yongguk chuckled deeply, his voice scratchy as if he had been standing in the cold for slightly too long. Despite the warlock's impeccable timing, Seonghwa wondered if he had been worried about them this time.

"I will hold you to those words. And I hope that you brought me what I asked for."

Hongjoong nodded as he handed over the vial with a small amount of Liv's blood in it. He slipped it into Yongguk's chest pocket and closed it with exaggeratedly careful motions.

"I did. A deal well kept."

"Even if you had forgotten, I would not send you back, just so you know." Yongguk frowned as if concerned his sudden question might have been taken wrong by the earnest captain, but Hongjoong broke out in amused giggles.