Seong and Yeong occupied separate wings of the inner chambers of the government office, separated by a wide veranda. Seong stepped onto the veranda and looked towards Yeong's room. Her shoes were neatly placed outside, but the room was dark. He slid the door open, his hand trembling slightly. Yeong sat huddled in the darkness, her back to him. She didn't acknowledge his presence. Seong approached slowly.
"You should have stayed with the others," he said softly. "They rely on us. You can't just run away."
"You ran away too," Yeong retorted, without turning to face him.
Seong couldn't deny it. He had rushed out to check on her, worried about her reaction to the letter, but as she pointed out, he was no different. Escape and seclusion were his default responses to hardship, habits ingrained from years of hiding. But with the arrival of the Crimson Star, Yeong, he could no longer run or hide. Instead, he had to stand his ground, and Yeong was there beside him. She remained a constant presence, observing, occasionally offering a quiet word of advice, but mostly just being there. Her unwavering presence was a comfort.
Summer in Birahng, an isolated island in the vast southern sea, was a time of hardship and resilience, but also of peace. The island was cut off from the mainland's abundance, but also from its turmoil. They endured hardship, heat, and endless rain, but they had learned to adapt, their resilience forged over generations.
However, for Yeong, who had descended to the mortal realm in early spring and spent her time in the mountain cave, this first summer was particularly difficult. Her brief stay in Nahmgyo had been pleasant, filled with sunshine and laughter. Arriving in Hyangdo, a stark and somber city where the surrendered Dahnian soldiers eyed her with suspicion, she felt a deep gloom settle over her. For days after their arrival, she longed for the bustling streets of Nahmgyo, for the children's laughter, for the warm spring days. Though she could part the seas and command the rain within a certain radius, she couldn't dispel the dark clouds that blanketed the sky or summon the sun. She simply gazed at the heavy sky with a melancholic air.
Seong, observing her listlessness, realized her powers could be of use. Though it was a menial task, one that no one would dare ask the Guardian Crimson to perform, he requested her help in shielding the settlers and soldiers from the relentless rain. Yeong agreed. As Seong had hoped, working alongside the people, Yeong began to develop an affection for Hyangdo. During brief respites from the rain, she would wander through the city, pointing out the newly erected walls and thatched roofs, sharing her observations with Seong, and accepting the soldiers' greetings with an awkward sincerity.
Yeong, sensing Seong's desire for her to connect with House Myeonghyeon, offered her assistance in building their new residence. She sat amidst the Myeonghyeon family members, shielding them from the rain as they worked, her presence a silent observer. After one such visit, she remarked to Seong, "They were arguing about something trivial this morning, but in the afternoon, the High Councilor brought a melon and shared it with his sister. He even gave me a slice. Why argue if they're just going to reconcile?"
"That's what family is like," Seong replied with a gentle smile, then immediately felt a pang of sadness as he thought of Hwan. He worried that Yeong might ask if his brother was the same, but she remained silent, her gaze filled with a knowing sadness that seemed to see through him. Though her words often seemed distant and detached from life, Seong believed that living among the people, first in Nahmgyo and now in Hyangdo, had begun to change her.
After developing an affection for Hyangdo, Yeong started to venture out more often. She would walk along the coast, gazing at the turbulent sea during storms, or wander through the forest outside the south gate. When she went to the sea, people would follow, hoping for fresh fish and shellfish, a rare treat during the monsoon season. Yeong, seemingly oblivious to their presence, would gaze at the horizon, then, as if remembering her role, part the waves, revealing a bounty that filled their baskets. Yeong who had once mocked Seong for using his powers to grill food now felt a sense of satisfaction seeing the joy on their faces, her arms aching from the effort.
One day, as the blazing sun abruptly gave way to a torrential downpour, Yeong looked up at the churning sky and declared, "I want to visit the mountain."
"The mountain?" Seong echoed, surprised.
Yeong nodded, her gaze fixed on the distant peak of Shinsuk Mountain, shrouded in dark clouds. "I want to see it with my own eyes."
"Are you sure you're up for it?" Seong asked with concern. "It's hot, and the rain..."
Yeong frowned, as if baffled by his question. "It's always hot, even within the city walls. And why would you worry about the rain with me here?"
Seong chuckled, realizing the absurdity of his concern. "That's true."
Yeong, sensing his amusement, didn't press the matter, but her desire to visit the mountain was evident.
"Shall we go tomorrow?" Seong offered.
Yeong's eyes widened. A faint smile touched her lips, a rare and beautiful sight that solidified Seong's decision.
The next morning, as they were leaving the government office, they encountered Ryang, who had arrived early for a meeting. Ryang's eyes quickly assessed their attire, and he turned to Seong with a frown.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"We're going to the mountain," Seong replied.
Ryang's expression darkened. "Go on ahead," Seong said to Yeong.
Once she was out of earshot, Seong turned to Ryang, his voice laced with annoyance. "What's with that look?"
Ryang, sensing his displeasure, remained silent. He had been openly wary of Yeong, concerned about their growing bond.
"She is making an effort," Seong chided. "You should try to be more welcoming."
"I'll try, but..."
"But what?"
"Hwan is still out there," Ryang said. "And her intentions remain unclear."
"Her intentions are clear to me," Seong insisted.
Ryang simply bowed his head. "Be careful," he said.
Seong left and joined Yeong, who was waiting for him at the south gate. He had instructed his soldiers not to follow, and they set off alone, the summer mountain path quiet and secluded despite its openness. The journey to the peak of Shinsuk Mountain would normally take half a day for a swift traveler, but Yeong paused frequently to admire the scenery. A sudden downpour further delayed their progress, and they didn't reach the mountaintop lake, Seong'go, until late afternoon.
Fortunately, the sky had cleared by the time they arrived. Seong'go, a small, clear lake nestled amidst the lush greenery, was visible from afar due to the lack of tall trees. A narrow stream flowed from the lake, cascading down the mountainside in a waterfall that dissolved into mist before reaching the bottom.
Though Yeong had seen Seong'go countless times in visions, the reality of it, the clear water shimmering under the sunlight, the scent of damp earth and leaves carried by the wind, took her breath away. She walked towards the water's edge, removed her shoes, and sat down, the cool water lapping at her toes. A chilly wind swept across the mountaintop. Yeong shivered as the wind touched her still-healing shoulder. Seong reached out and gently massaged her shoulder, warming her skin.
As they sat by the lake, the sky abruptly darkened, and rain began to pour. Yeong shielded them from the downpour, drying their clothes and the ground with a wave of her hand. Enveloped in the thick mist, they felt secluded, hidden from the world, even from Sahngjon.
"Are Hwan and I Sahngjon's void?" Seong asked, his voice barely audible above the drumming of the rain. "Is that what this chaos is?"
Yeong dipped her hand into the cool water, her gaze distant. "There are things in this universe even Sahngjon cannot control," she replied. "The smaller the being, the freer it is from his grasp. Humans, for instance. Celestial Scions or Latecomers... it matters not. It is their defiance, their struggles, that fill Sahngjon's void."
Seong's eyes followed the water cupped in her hand. He had spent his entire life immersed in the teachings of the Azure Scripture, the prophecies of Sahngjon. He couldn't comprehend the idea of humans, such insignificant beings, being free from Sahngjon's will.
"It doesn't matter," Yeong continued. "They are but fleeting ripples on the surface of a vast current. No matter how the current twists and turns, all water eventually flows to the sea. But without those ripples, the current's powerful beauty fades."
She released the water back into the lake, tiny bubbles rising and disappearing on its surface.
"Sahngjon seeks beauty within the order he created."
Her delicate features stood out against the white mist, her expression serene. Seong thought that if Sahngjon sought beauty, it wouldn't be in insignificant humans like him, ripples destined to be swept away by the current. It would be in Yeong, who stood before him, her beauty as captivating as the lake itself.
"Then I shouldn't hesitate, no matter what I desire."
"What do you desire?" Yeong asked, her gaze meeting his.
Seong's eyes traced the faint freckles on her cheeks, the delicate line of her jaw, the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.
"I desire you," he confessed.
Yeong looked at him. Then, her eyes softened, a warmth blooming within them.
"Don't hesitate," she said.
They made love for the first time on the shores of that secluded lake, their bodies entwined amidst the damp ferns. They tasted the sweetness of the mountain spring on each other's lips, their skin flushed and damp with sweat. Seong's long-suppressed desires, his hesitation and restraint, melted away as he explored Yeong's body with a gentle, reverent touch. Yeong, who had explored every corner of Hyangdo, the depths of the sea with its treacherous reefs, and the dense forests filled with unknown trees, now savored the unfamiliar sensations with the same meticulous curiosity. Seong's touch traveled down her body, reaching the tips of her toes, then returned, his body pressing against hers. A sharp pain suddenly shot through Yeong, and she cried out. Seong paused, his movements faltering.
"Don't hesitate," Yeong whispered, her arms tightening around his neck.
Seong's lips found hers, offering comfort as he moved within her, deeper and harder. Yeong couldn't distinguish between the pain that shattered her body and the pleasure that consumed her. Seong held her close, his body trembling as he found release.
Night fell quickly, and they slept entwined on the shores of the lake, waking in the cold dawn to rekindle their passion. After their visit to Shinsuk Mountain, they sought each other out on nights when the rain was heavy, their bodies finding solace in each other's arms. Whenever he held Yeong, Seong felt the cool dampness of the ferns against his skin, even within the warmth of their bed. He worried that their connection was a disruption of Sahngjon's order, a fleeting ripple. But when he held her, gazing into her eyes, filled with wonder and passion, his fears faded.
He had hoped to find solace and offer comfort in Yeong, just as he had during the summer in Hyangdo. But the seasons had changed, and Hwan had given them a fortnight. They had to make a decision.
"Can we protect everyone?" Seong asked.
Yeong remained silent.
"It seems I have to protect them alone," Seong observed.
Yeong finally looked at him, her eyes filled with tears. "No," she whispered.
Seong was prepared to abandon everything for her, to follow whatever path she believed was right, but seeing her tears, he couldn't bring himself to ask. Yeong finally spoke.
"Norahn received a vision."