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Meetings.
Eventually, the first day of preschool arrives and he has no way to escape it. ShinLin himself accompanies him in front of the building where the hell is going to take place.
It's a dark building, that looks more or less like the other houses. It's near the walls of the city and a bit isolated from the other houses. It's also surrounded by a medium height wall, with a short path leading from the gate to the door.
The walkway was cleared from the snow, that covers everything else and WonPil assume they had to put something on it, like salt, to make sure it won't get covered in ice or snow again. It has been snowing non stop for days by now. Not a heavy rain, but still… a bit worrying for him. He never feels at ease when he snows, even if he somewhat doubts that ShinLin would ever get angry enough to kick him to spend a whole night outside, like Mr Cho Chul Gang used to do.
ShinLin leaves him by the gate and WonPil can feel his eyes on him all the way to the door. He wonders if it's to make sure he doesn't fall or escape.
He takes a deep breath - the air is so cold it burns his nostrils - and finally opens the door, stepping inside. At least it's warm, in there.
The inside slightly reminds of the school he attended in North Korea, but in a top luxury version. Like what he would have imagined a school for elites to look like.
There are a few other guys there, not too many, of different ages for sure. Even some adults.
After a bit, a woman approaches him and asks him a few questions, then she accompanies him to a classroom.
(…)
Lunch time. The morning was slow and boring, but WonPil really tried to put the effort to listen to the teacher and do as she said. She was nice at least, nothing like the teachers in North Korea.
The class mates were almost all younger than him, only one who looked older, but he didn't get to talk to any of them. He doesn't feel very comfortable around them, he can't help but think they are all judging him.
At the canteen, where he was accompanied to by the teacher, he takes a good look around and then sits by a big, empty table with many chairs. The room is huge and the fact there are so few people makes it look even bigger than it is.
WonPil observes what the other students do, to get their food, but feels hesitant to do the same. He has never been so thoughtful before, maybe it's just that he wants to ponder his actions more, now that he has the chance to start his life all over. And make sure he won't end with a bad reputation again.
While thoughtfully staring at the nth guy filling a tray with dishes, suddenly someone sits in front of him, by his same table.
WonPil slightly jumps as he the other asks: «Aren't you going to eat?».
He eyes the boy sitting in front of him. He looks pretty all right to him, but he wouldn't be able to guess his age or if he is a student or a teacher. They don't have to wear the uniform, for preschool.
«Do you need a hand, by any chance?» asks again the boy.
«I… uh…» WonPil glances again at the "shelves" where the food is and bites his lip.
«Come, I'll show you how to do it!» The other stands up and notions WonPil to follow.
He hesitates a little, but slowly goes after him. «Wait… it's just that…»
The other approaches him again, tilting his head. «That?»
WonPil looks down. «I forgot my money at home…» He thinks that the food has to be paid for, like in a restaurant.
The boy smiles, looking amused. «You don't have to pay for the food, it's included in the tuition. Whether it's paid by your family or the King.»
WonPil feels like a big burden was lifted from his heart. «Jinjja? I can really… eat anything?»
The new guy approaches the shelves and takes a tray, handing it to him. «Place it there and drag it with you as you go by the expositors, take any dish you want to eat and place it there.» He adds some dishes to WonPil's tray himself. «Don't take more than you can eat, wasting food isn't nice. If you are still hungry, you can return to fill your tray any time you need. And don't forget something to drink.» He adds a bottle of water and one of juice - all glass bottles, of course.
With the tray filled to its maximum capacity, WonPil returns to the table, followed by the new guy, and sits back to his chair. He stares at the food in amazement. «It is so cool…»
«It is just a cafeteria, if this impresses you, wait for the massive banquets in Malicedom Great Hall!» He snorts.
«I will wait for when I see that!»
«Good plan.»
WonPil takes a fork and starts to eat a big piece of meatloaf, without cutting it.
«I am Chan, by the way.»
«I'm Lee WonPil… imnida…» he says with his mouth half full, swallowing on the last word.
«Are you from Xuanghen?»
He shakes his head. «I am from Korea…»
«Oh! Is that a funny place?»
«Aniyo! Not at all, it's the worst place ever, you never want to go there. Except the South, South Korea is great!»
«I will keep that in mind. You must be very new here…» Chan points towards WonPil's amulet with a move of his chin.
«Ye… and so many things happen here, I can't keep up. Though… even if I really don't like school, this place is nice. I kind of like it here.»
The other snickers. «Think about it: the harder you work here, the less school years you will have to do in Malicedom. Isn't it a good reason to study?»
«Jinjja?? How many years I can skip? And how many years are there?»
«10 years in total, you can skip up to three years and start straight from the fourth, if you pass the exams for it.»
WonPil moans. «I will never manage… I will have to be in school for all my life!»
«Aw, don't pull yourself down so much! I'm sure you can do it! I can help you.»
«Jinjja? Wae…?»
«Because we are friends and I like you. You are cool!»
WonPil freezes for a moment, but then realises that he didn't mean anything… romantic. «You are cool too…!»
The proceed eating and have to part ways after lunch.
They meet again at the exit from school and Chan proposes him if he wants to hang out together, have a snack.
ShinLin, though, is already there and WonPil has to go with him, saying it will be for another time.
It's a dark building, that looks more or less like the other houses. It's near the walls of the city and a bit isolated from the other houses. It's also surrounded by a medium height wall, with a short path leading from the gate to the door.
The walkway was cleared from the snow, that covers everything else and WonPil assume they had to put something on it, like salt, to make sure it won't get covered in ice or snow again. It has been snowing non stop for days by now. Not a heavy rain, but still… a bit worrying for him. He never feels at ease when he snows, even if he somewhat doubts that ShinLin would ever get angry enough to kick him to spend a whole night outside, like Mr Cho Chul Gang used to do.
ShinLin leaves him by the gate and WonPil can feel his eyes on him all the way to the door. He wonders if it's to make sure he doesn't fall or escape.
He takes a deep breath - the air is so cold it burns his nostrils - and finally opens the door, stepping inside. At least it's warm, in there.
The inside slightly reminds of the school he attended in North Korea, but in a top luxury version. Like what he would have imagined a school for elites to look like.
There are a few other guys there, not too many, of different ages for sure. Even some adults.
After a bit, a woman approaches him and asks him a few questions, then she accompanies him to a classroom.
(…)
Lunch time. The morning was slow and boring, but WonPil really tried to put the effort to listen to the teacher and do as she said. She was nice at least, nothing like the teachers in North Korea.
The class mates were almost all younger than him, only one who looked older, but he didn't get to talk to any of them. He doesn't feel very comfortable around them, he can't help but think they are all judging him.
At the canteen, where he was accompanied to by the teacher, he takes a good look around and then sits by a big, empty table with many chairs. The room is huge and the fact there are so few people makes it look even bigger than it is.
WonPil observes what the other students do, to get their food, but feels hesitant to do the same. He has never been so thoughtful before, maybe it's just that he wants to ponder his actions more, now that he has the chance to start his life all over. And make sure he won't end with a bad reputation again.
While thoughtfully staring at the nth guy filling a tray with dishes, suddenly someone sits in front of him, by his same table.
WonPil slightly jumps as he the other asks: «Aren't you going to eat?».
He eyes the boy sitting in front of him. He looks pretty all right to him, but he wouldn't be able to guess his age or if he is a student or a teacher. They don't have to wear the uniform, for preschool.
«Do you need a hand, by any chance?» asks again the boy.
«I… uh…» WonPil glances again at the "shelves" where the food is and bites his lip.
«Come, I'll show you how to do it!» The other stands up and notions WonPil to follow.
He hesitates a little, but slowly goes after him. «Wait… it's just that…»
The other approaches him again, tilting his head. «That?»
WonPil looks down. «I forgot my money at home…» He thinks that the food has to be paid for, like in a restaurant.
The boy smiles, looking amused. «You don't have to pay for the food, it's included in the tuition. Whether it's paid by your family or the King.»
WonPil feels like a big burden was lifted from his heart. «Jinjja? I can really… eat anything?»
The new guy approaches the shelves and takes a tray, handing it to him. «Place it there and drag it with you as you go by the expositors, take any dish you want to eat and place it there.» He adds some dishes to WonPil's tray himself. «Don't take more than you can eat, wasting food isn't nice. If you are still hungry, you can return to fill your tray any time you need. And don't forget something to drink.» He adds a bottle of water and one of juice - all glass bottles, of course.
With the tray filled to its maximum capacity, WonPil returns to the table, followed by the new guy, and sits back to his chair. He stares at the food in amazement. «It is so cool…»
«It is just a cafeteria, if this impresses you, wait for the massive banquets in Malicedom Great Hall!» He snorts.
«I will wait for when I see that!»
«Good plan.»
WonPil takes a fork and starts to eat a big piece of meatloaf, without cutting it.
«I am Chan, by the way.»
«I'm Lee WonPil… imnida…» he says with his mouth half full, swallowing on the last word.
«Are you from Xuanghen?»
He shakes his head. «I am from Korea…»
«Oh! Is that a funny place?»
«Aniyo! Not at all, it's the worst place ever, you never want to go there. Except the South, South Korea is great!»
«I will keep that in mind. You must be very new here…» Chan points towards WonPil's amulet with a move of his chin.
«Ye… and so many things happen here, I can't keep up. Though… even if I really don't like school, this place is nice. I kind of like it here.»
The other snickers. «Think about it: the harder you work here, the less school years you will have to do in Malicedom. Isn't it a good reason to study?»
«Jinjja?? How many years I can skip? And how many years are there?»
«10 years in total, you can skip up to three years and start straight from the fourth, if you pass the exams for it.»
WonPil moans. «I will never manage… I will have to be in school for all my life!»
«Aw, don't pull yourself down so much! I'm sure you can do it! I can help you.»
«Jinjja? Wae…?»
«Because we are friends and I like you. You are cool!»
WonPil freezes for a moment, but then realises that he didn't mean anything… romantic. «You are cool too…!»
The proceed eating and have to part ways after lunch.
They meet again at the exit from school and Chan proposes him if he wants to hang out together, have a snack.
ShinLin, though, is already there and WonPil has to go with him, saying it will be for another time.
의지.
Medical report (results).
Species: Half auriold.
Sex: Cisgender male.
Age: Under 20. (Dental analysis.)
Pathological conditions: Chromatic dysfunction disorder, metabolic anemia.
Particular signs: Heterochromia iridum -Right eye unaffected by CDD. (One eye stays of a static colour while the other changes.)
Scars: Multiple, scattered all over the body and dating back to several years prior to the examination. Signs of sever beatings, stabbings and of a fracture of the fourth rib.
A recent scar from a firearm shot, with consequent permanent damage to the femoral nerve.
Disabilities: Flagged for a level 2 disability due to the damaged nerve.
Blood type: Tf-.
Height: 1.64+ m.
-Didn't reach his final growth.
Weight: 48 kg.
-7 kg under his ideal weight.
Virginity: Intact.
- No signs of sexual activities, consensual or not.
Puberty: Untested.
Alchemical report (results).
Species: Half auriold - unable to determine the other half.
- Excluded races: Zishian, Werewolf, Human, Shapeshifter.
Age: 14 years, 2 months, 27 days.
Date of birth: 17th of Tifiulhor. (March).
Virginity: Intact.
Alchemical test to drugs: Never used.
Alchemical test to q-based medications: Never used.
Alchemical test to s-factor alterations: None.
Ethnicity: Eastern.
Species: Half auriold.
Sex: Cisgender male.
Age: Under 20. (Dental analysis.)
Pathological conditions: Chromatic dysfunction disorder, metabolic anemia.
Particular signs: Heterochromia iridum -Right eye unaffected by CDD. (One eye stays of a static colour while the other changes.)
Scars: Multiple, scattered all over the body and dating back to several years prior to the examination. Signs of sever beatings, stabbings and of a fracture of the fourth rib.
A recent scar from a firearm shot, with consequent permanent damage to the femoral nerve.
Disabilities: Flagged for a level 2 disability due to the damaged nerve.
Blood type: Tf-.
Height: 1.64+ m.
-Didn't reach his final growth.
Weight: 48 kg.
-7 kg under his ideal weight.
Virginity: Intact.
- No signs of sexual activities, consensual or not.
Puberty: Untested.
Alchemical report (results).
Species: Half auriold - unable to determine the other half.
- Excluded races: Zishian, Werewolf, Human, Shapeshifter.
Age: 14 years, 2 months, 27 days.
Date of birth: 17th of Tifiulhor. (March).
Virginity: Intact.
Alchemical test to drugs: Never used.
Alchemical test to q-based medications: Never used.
Alchemical test to s-factor alterations: None.
Ethnicity: Eastern.
의사와 연금술사를 만나다
The servant pulls WonPil inside a room. He is still so stunned by the fact the man he had been speaking to was the king that he barely manages to breathe. His body is shaking away. *And that's exactly why Mortian didn't want him to know before having their conversation.
The place, this time, looks like the room from a hospital. There is a metal bed in the middle, everything is white and there are two people, a man and a woman. WonPil can't be fooled this time, those two must be doctors. And he isn't very fond of doctors or being visited.
The servant leaves and he is suddenly alone with the doctors. He takes a step back from them, even before they could speak.
The female approaches him and bends slightly. She is the tallest woman he has ever seen.
«Guthnav, there!» she says, cheerfully. «My name is Christophei and he is my nephew, Jackil. You are… WonPil, right?»
«Ye…»
«Are you scared?»
«Aniyo!»
She smiles. «That's good then. You can uncover your top body, so we can proceed with our medical visit.»
WonPil would like to rebel, refuse, deny… but he knows that he doesn't have a choice. The KING sent him there.
He hesitantly takes off his shirt, not because he is shy, but just because he hates to be visited. Reluctantly, he approaches the metal bed and sits on it, as instructed.
He feels nervous and really stressed by all that is happening to him.
Jackil comes in front of him and checks his teeth first, then his mouth and throat, while Christophei is behind, checking his heart and lungs.
They take a while, they write a lot of stuff too. When WonPil thinks they are finally done, though, they tell him that he can wear back his top clothes, but has to take off the rest.
«Ye???» Of course that bothers him too much. He doesn't want to take off his pants, let alone be touched down there, for whatever medical reason.
He oppose for a little, but eventually they manage to convince him to let them do. *They must check that he was not sexually abused.
Christophei has to turn around, on WonPil's request, and it's Jackil to do the thing. It is quick, it doesn't hurt nor anything, as it's only looking at his body, but WonPil's HATES it to death.
And of course they take some blood too.
After that, though, he is finally done with the medical examination. The doctors put all the papers they wrote together and wait with him for yet another person to come. They call him an "alchemist". WonPil thinks he heard that term somewhere, but has no idea what it is. He just assumes it's going to be another "torture". *He can be such a drama queen.
The alchemist arrives soon and he is not as cheerful and kind as the doctors for sure.
He demands a sample of his blood too, that Christophei take from him, and also a sample of his hair. The alchemist makes him wear some weird jewels too, nothing he can even remotely understand.
«Results will be in two hours», eventually says the alchemist. After gathering all the stuff, the man leaves.
Christophei and Jackil remain with WonPil and accompany him back to the room where he was before.
They remain together there for hours and even have a rich dinner. The doctors try to reassure WonPil all they can, but he doesn't manage to fully relax.
After eating, a bit more time passes before the servant comes to take WonPil somewhere else again.
This time, Jackil and Christophei don't follow him.
The servant escorts him to massive room with a huge table. The biggest he has ever seen.
In the room are ShinLin and Mortian, with a lot of papers.
WonPil's steps get slower and more hesitant at the sight of the king.
This time, he bows deep when close enough, trying to show more respect. But in truth, he has not even the most remote idea what's the appropriate etiquette towards a King. He didn't have dramas to take inspiration from.
Mortian invites WonPil to sit next to him, in front of ShinLin.
The King explains him a few things, like the fact that as a minor and an immigrant in Heinhoss, he will need a legal guardian, that is an adoptive parent.
When WonPil tries to lie about his age, Mortian takes a paper and hands it to him. To his shock, it's written in hangul. There are information about him that not even himself knew.
(…)
The place, this time, looks like the room from a hospital. There is a metal bed in the middle, everything is white and there are two people, a man and a woman. WonPil can't be fooled this time, those two must be doctors. And he isn't very fond of doctors or being visited.
The servant leaves and he is suddenly alone with the doctors. He takes a step back from them, even before they could speak.
The female approaches him and bends slightly. She is the tallest woman he has ever seen.
«Guthnav, there!» she says, cheerfully. «My name is Christophei and he is my nephew, Jackil. You are… WonPil, right?»
«Ye…»
«Are you scared?»
«Aniyo!»
She smiles. «That's good then. You can uncover your top body, so we can proceed with our medical visit.»
WonPil would like to rebel, refuse, deny… but he knows that he doesn't have a choice. The KING sent him there.
He hesitantly takes off his shirt, not because he is shy, but just because he hates to be visited. Reluctantly, he approaches the metal bed and sits on it, as instructed.
He feels nervous and really stressed by all that is happening to him.
Jackil comes in front of him and checks his teeth first, then his mouth and throat, while Christophei is behind, checking his heart and lungs.
They take a while, they write a lot of stuff too. When WonPil thinks they are finally done, though, they tell him that he can wear back his top clothes, but has to take off the rest.
«Ye???» Of course that bothers him too much. He doesn't want to take off his pants, let alone be touched down there, for whatever medical reason.
He oppose for a little, but eventually they manage to convince him to let them do. *They must check that he was not sexually abused.
Christophei has to turn around, on WonPil's request, and it's Jackil to do the thing. It is quick, it doesn't hurt nor anything, as it's only looking at his body, but WonPil's HATES it to death.
And of course they take some blood too.
After that, though, he is finally done with the medical examination. The doctors put all the papers they wrote together and wait with him for yet another person to come. They call him an "alchemist". WonPil thinks he heard that term somewhere, but has no idea what it is. He just assumes it's going to be another "torture". *He can be such a drama queen.
The alchemist arrives soon and he is not as cheerful and kind as the doctors for sure.
He demands a sample of his blood too, that Christophei take from him, and also a sample of his hair. The alchemist makes him wear some weird jewels too, nothing he can even remotely understand.
«Results will be in two hours», eventually says the alchemist. After gathering all the stuff, the man leaves.
Christophei and Jackil remain with WonPil and accompany him back to the room where he was before.
They remain together there for hours and even have a rich dinner. The doctors try to reassure WonPil all they can, but he doesn't manage to fully relax.
After eating, a bit more time passes before the servant comes to take WonPil somewhere else again.
This time, Jackil and Christophei don't follow him.
The servant escorts him to massive room with a huge table. The biggest he has ever seen.
In the room are ShinLin and Mortian, with a lot of papers.
WonPil's steps get slower and more hesitant at the sight of the king.
This time, he bows deep when close enough, trying to show more respect. But in truth, he has not even the most remote idea what's the appropriate etiquette towards a King. He didn't have dramas to take inspiration from.
Mortian invites WonPil to sit next to him, in front of ShinLin.
The King explains him a few things, like the fact that as a minor and an immigrant in Heinhoss, he will need a legal guardian, that is an adoptive parent.
When WonPil tries to lie about his age, Mortian takes a paper and hands it to him. To his shock, it's written in hangul. There are information about him that not even himself knew.
(…)
왕과 소년
After waiting for a bit, using his backpack like a pillow on the table, he decides to kill some time. He takes out the jar of onions and, using a toothpick from the centre of the table - there isn't food on the table, only toothpicks - he takes one little onion from the jar. And he starts to eat it very slowly and thoughtfully. He keeps feeling scared, lost, overwhelmed. What can he do? If they'll make him meet the leader, what will he say? He sucks at inventing realistic stories.
He gets so lost in his thoughts that he doesn't even realise that someone came in the room and sat next to him.
When he finally notices, he jumps and stares at the new person with super wide eyes, while still holding the toothpick with the onion.
The other, a man, is definitely the most particular person WonPil has ever seen. White hair, eyebrows, facial hair and even eyes, but the iris still manage to be very well separated from the white of the eye.
He can't really tell who that man could be, but he is dressed differently from the servants. A white shirt and vest, white pants and boots, but a black bow tie and jewels. Nothing on his head.
The doubt that the man is the leader of the nation crosses his mind and makes his heart pump really fast. «A… annyeonghaseyo…» he eventually mumbles, in a low and shy tone, bowing from the chair and keeping his shoulders hunched.
«Guthnav!» replies the other, affably. The man doesn't look hostile or in a bad mood. On the contrary, he looks at WonPil in a rather soft way.
«Would… you like…?» WonPil asks, after a moment of awkward silence, approaching the jar of onions to the man.
The person looks at the jar and takes one with hands, eating it right away. It relieves WonPil, he thinks it's impossible that a leader would be so nice, eat with hands and, most importantly, eat such a low class food.
«They are pretty good, isn't it?» He gets excited when it comes of these things.
«They are delicious.»
WonPil makes a slight smile at the answer. «I like them very much.»
«Mortian.»
It takes him a couple of moments to figure out that the other said his name. «Na-eun… Lee WonPil-ya imnida. Do you… have to wait here too?» He assumes that it's some sort of waiting room.
«I will sit here for a bit. Have you gotten bored here?»
He shrugs slightly. «Been waiting for a while. Mollayo wae…»
«You don't know why you are here?»
WonPil hesitates, but eventually shakes his head, deciding to lie. He doesn't know the actual reason, but he made his assumption.
Mortian suddenly approaches his hand to him, which makes him startled. He is used to expect to be pretty much only and always hit. But the other just takes the pendant of the necklace Qi gave him. «Did I scare you?»
«A… aniyo, of course aniyo. I just… needed to sneeze but held it in…» he mumbles cutely.
The other lets out a slight snicker, making him guess he didn't buy the lie.
«You are a foreigner. Where are you from?»
WonPil bites his lip. He tries to think quickly about a lie. «Uh… Su… Suangen…» He heard it mentioned a few times, so he assumes it must be a reputable location of that world.
«Xuanghen? Which city?» Mortian tilts his head.
WonPil can't help but have a strange feeling, when crossing those weird eyes. As if they could literally see inside him. But sh*t, what does he invent now?? What cities are there in that place? He couldn't even dream to invent one. «I… I…» He has a moment of literal, pure panic.
«You aren't from Xuanghen. You are from Earth, isn't it? I can tell, from your clothes.»
«Ye… mianhamnida…»
«I know a bit of Earth. I have visited it. Which country are you from?»
«Korea… the… northern one… please, don't tell anyone…»
«Why?»
«I really… really can't be sent back there… I'm going to be killed if I'm sent back there… arayo that I'm here to meet the leader of this country, I really don't want him to send me back. Anywhere but there…»
«Why do you think that… the leader of this country would send you back to North Korea?»
«Because… I'm not a desirable person… I wouldn't like to have me in my country, why would he…»
«I would like to have you in my country.»
«Jinjja? But it doesn't matter… the leader of the nation won't want it…» He looks away.
«So, what do you plan to do?» *Someone getting kind of playful in the situation.
«Can you tell me the name of one city from that country? So that I can tell him that I come from there…»
«One city of Xuanghen? Shiinan.» *Helping WonPil to invent a story to tell to himself. ❤️
«Sinan… Sinan… i must never forget it…» He repeats it a few more times.
«May I ask… why did you say that they'd kill you, if you were sent back to North Korea?»
«Because I'm a defector… i escaped the nation and now they'll kill me on sight…»
Proceeding with their conversation, Mortian gets WonPil to tell almost his whole story, at least of how he left North Korea and ended up in Heinhoss.
And although he says all the truth, he doesn't mention TianQi's name, wanting to keep him out of any possible trouble from associating with him. Too bad ShinLin already told Mortian anyway. XD
«Now, WonPil, there is someone you have to meet. I won't delay you any further.»
«Jinjja? Right now? The leader of the nation…?»
Mortian looks amused and shakes his head. «Do not worry, you have nothing to fear.» He then takes a little bell from the table and rings it, to which, the servant who took WonPil to that room comes inside and bows to Mortian.
«Your Majesty…»
Before WonPil could realise his heart stopped, the man he had been talking to till then speaks to the servant: «Please, take dear WonPil to Christophei and Jackil».
«Ja, my King», says the servant, who takes the arm of a still completely petrified WonPil, to pull him out of the room.
He gets so lost in his thoughts that he doesn't even realise that someone came in the room and sat next to him.
When he finally notices, he jumps and stares at the new person with super wide eyes, while still holding the toothpick with the onion.
The other, a man, is definitely the most particular person WonPil has ever seen. White hair, eyebrows, facial hair and even eyes, but the iris still manage to be very well separated from the white of the eye.
He can't really tell who that man could be, but he is dressed differently from the servants. A white shirt and vest, white pants and boots, but a black bow tie and jewels. Nothing on his head.
The doubt that the man is the leader of the nation crosses his mind and makes his heart pump really fast. «A… annyeonghaseyo…» he eventually mumbles, in a low and shy tone, bowing from the chair and keeping his shoulders hunched.
«Guthnav!» replies the other, affably. The man doesn't look hostile or in a bad mood. On the contrary, he looks at WonPil in a rather soft way.
«Would… you like…?» WonPil asks, after a moment of awkward silence, approaching the jar of onions to the man.
The person looks at the jar and takes one with hands, eating it right away. It relieves WonPil, he thinks it's impossible that a leader would be so nice, eat with hands and, most importantly, eat such a low class food.
«They are pretty good, isn't it?» He gets excited when it comes of these things.
«They are delicious.»
WonPil makes a slight smile at the answer. «I like them very much.»
«Mortian.»
It takes him a couple of moments to figure out that the other said his name. «Na-eun… Lee WonPil-ya imnida. Do you… have to wait here too?» He assumes that it's some sort of waiting room.
«I will sit here for a bit. Have you gotten bored here?»
He shrugs slightly. «Been waiting for a while. Mollayo wae…»
«You don't know why you are here?»
WonPil hesitates, but eventually shakes his head, deciding to lie. He doesn't know the actual reason, but he made his assumption.
Mortian suddenly approaches his hand to him, which makes him startled. He is used to expect to be pretty much only and always hit. But the other just takes the pendant of the necklace Qi gave him. «Did I scare you?»
«A… aniyo, of course aniyo. I just… needed to sneeze but held it in…» he mumbles cutely.
The other lets out a slight snicker, making him guess he didn't buy the lie.
«You are a foreigner. Where are you from?»
WonPil bites his lip. He tries to think quickly about a lie. «Uh… Su… Suangen…» He heard it mentioned a few times, so he assumes it must be a reputable location of that world.
«Xuanghen? Which city?» Mortian tilts his head.
WonPil can't help but have a strange feeling, when crossing those weird eyes. As if they could literally see inside him. But sh*t, what does he invent now?? What cities are there in that place? He couldn't even dream to invent one. «I… I…» He has a moment of literal, pure panic.
«You aren't from Xuanghen. You are from Earth, isn't it? I can tell, from your clothes.»
«Ye… mianhamnida…»
«I know a bit of Earth. I have visited it. Which country are you from?»
«Korea… the… northern one… please, don't tell anyone…»
«Why?»
«I really… really can't be sent back there… I'm going to be killed if I'm sent back there… arayo that I'm here to meet the leader of this country, I really don't want him to send me back. Anywhere but there…»
«Why do you think that… the leader of this country would send you back to North Korea?»
«Because… I'm not a desirable person… I wouldn't like to have me in my country, why would he…»
«I would like to have you in my country.»
«Jinjja? But it doesn't matter… the leader of the nation won't want it…» He looks away.
«So, what do you plan to do?» *Someone getting kind of playful in the situation.
«Can you tell me the name of one city from that country? So that I can tell him that I come from there…»
«One city of Xuanghen? Shiinan.» *Helping WonPil to invent a story to tell to himself. ❤️
«Sinan… Sinan… i must never forget it…» He repeats it a few more times.
«May I ask… why did you say that they'd kill you, if you were sent back to North Korea?»
«Because I'm a defector… i escaped the nation and now they'll kill me on sight…»
Proceeding with their conversation, Mortian gets WonPil to tell almost his whole story, at least of how he left North Korea and ended up in Heinhoss.
And although he says all the truth, he doesn't mention TianQi's name, wanting to keep him out of any possible trouble from associating with him. Too bad ShinLin already told Mortian anyway. XD
«Now, WonPil, there is someone you have to meet. I won't delay you any further.»
«Jinjja? Right now? The leader of the nation…?»
Mortian looks amused and shakes his head. «Do not worry, you have nothing to fear.» He then takes a little bell from the table and rings it, to which, the servant who took WonPil to that room comes inside and bows to Mortian.
«Your Majesty…»
Before WonPil could realise his heart stopped, the man he had been talking to till then speaks to the servant: «Please, take dear WonPil to Christophei and Jackil».
«Ja, my King», says the servant, who takes the arm of a still completely petrified WonPil, to pull him out of the room.
비밀 가족
The next afternoon, Richard suddenly comes to Qi's house. Surprisingly for WonPil, but it's likely that he warned ShinLin beforehand, he can't know. He just finds it strange that he came. He doesn't even know what the other two spoke about, the previous day. He spent his time talking with the servant Richard sent to serve him hot tea and pastries, that he appreciated a lot.
Speaking with the servant, he realised that his job wouldn't be unpleasant at all, since it lets him live into such a massive and luxurious house for very simple duties, that even he could do. He could consider it his perfect plan for the future, but life always stands on the way of his brilliant plans.
He heads to his room while Richard and ShinLin speak, giving for granted that it has nothing to do with him. After all, the tall man didn't even greet him.
Not long after, though, ShinLin comes to his room and tells him to pack his things. He doesn't say why, but WonPil obeys. In truth, he has always his things packed, his backpack is always ready. The one with weapons was taken by Oliver and he has no idea where it is anymore, he only carries the brown one.
He joins ShinLin and Richard downstairs and looks at them in confusion. He wonders if he is simply getting kicked out. In any case, the wound is totally healed and he said he would leave by then.
«If you are both ready, we should go», says Richard.
ShinLin looks at WonPil, who nods. «But… is Shine going to be alone for a long time…?»
«ShinLin has already contacted one of his servants to come take care of the dog while it's alone.» The tall man walks out of the house, followed by ShinLin.
He goes after them last, feeling a bit nervous. Why aren't they even telling him where they are going? He wonders if he should escape.
They head outside the city gates, which he finds even more odd and worrying. Suddenly, in the grass, Richard stops and looks at the other two, placing a hand on ShinLin's shoulder. He also tries to grab WonPil, but he dodges his hand, not fancying to be touched so randomly by a man. ShinLin, though, clings to WonPil's sleeve afterwards.
What happens right next… he isn't able to explain to himself. He feels a terrible dizziness and a crazy force against his face, that makes it impossible for him to keep his eyes open. He suddenly feels as if he just landed on a hard ground. His whole body is shaking uncontrollably, especially the legs. It's as if they could no longer support his weight, so he ends up falling on his knees. He feels like to throw up, but the only thing coming are tears from his eyes.
When he manages to open his eyes again, he realises that they aren't in the same place anymore. And the sudden awareness of what happened overwhelms him.
That far, he had not taken seriously the mentions of magic he heard. Or at least, he saw them more like the typical human view, superstition and tricks. But the fact it's real and it got literally smashed into his face didn't feel so good.
«First time teleporting can be harsh, don't worry ShinLin», says Richard. «Our carriage, thankfully I hired one.» He has to literally pick WonPil up, to get him off the ground and into the carriage.
ShinLin gets inside and sits in front of WonPil, staring at him without saying anything. WonPil isn't sure, but he thinks the other might be worried for him, by his look.
The carriage starts moving at a great speed, faster than he would have expected - and in that sickly feeling, he would have preferred a slower transport for sure. But he doesn't puke easily.
After a time WonPil couldn't measure, they stop. He avoided looking outside the small window, but now that they are there and the doors get opened, he realises that they are in front of… black walls. Like ancient walls from the Joseon era, but different. Black and lucid, soldiers everywhere and, at a distance, a castle literally encased into a mountain.
WonPil moves some hesitant steps; his legs still feel so weak. But ShinLin clings to his sleeve again and pulls him towards the massive gate of the walls.
Two soldiers approach each one of them and before WonPil could question what's happening, they search him very carefully. One of them takes his backpack away from him and, with the help of the other, starts to take out everything from it.
Jar of onions, jar of pickles, jar of sausages, pants from the uniform, one single clean, but old and damaged sock, a necklace and… a sort of plushie-pillow. The shape is that of a disk, basically, not big, can cover two palms of an hand. Orange, but quite dirty and damaged, with a fox face.
WonPil weakly, but quickly, grabs the plushie with both hands, when the soldier takes it.
Since it doesn't have anything suspicious inside, the soldier lets it go and soon enough, hands WonPil his backpack, with all of his things back. Clearly they find themselves prepared enough to not consider the possibility he could throw those jars at someone as a threat.
After that very unpleasant practice, they are allowed to proceed and, to WonPil's horror, they have to go through the same three more times. Until they are finally inside the castle. Just to change, walls and floors are totally black and lucid, but the place is finely decorated and very warm.
A man approaches them and bows. WonPil would have mistaken him for a businessman if it wasn't that he bowed and addressed them as "my lords". Another proof that servants are the cool people in this world.
Always without giving him many explanations, the group parts and another servant escorts WonPil to a room.
The room looks like a living, there are couches and armchair, fireplace and a table with chair. A library and various furniture.
WonPil sits by the table, close to the fire. And there he waits, not even he knows for what. He is not smart, but he could tell that the castle they are in must be the House of someone really important. The leader of their nation for sure.
Speaking with the servant, he realised that his job wouldn't be unpleasant at all, since it lets him live into such a massive and luxurious house for very simple duties, that even he could do. He could consider it his perfect plan for the future, but life always stands on the way of his brilliant plans.
He heads to his room while Richard and ShinLin speak, giving for granted that it has nothing to do with him. After all, the tall man didn't even greet him.
Not long after, though, ShinLin comes to his room and tells him to pack his things. He doesn't say why, but WonPil obeys. In truth, he has always his things packed, his backpack is always ready. The one with weapons was taken by Oliver and he has no idea where it is anymore, he only carries the brown one.
He joins ShinLin and Richard downstairs and looks at them in confusion. He wonders if he is simply getting kicked out. In any case, the wound is totally healed and he said he would leave by then.
«If you are both ready, we should go», says Richard.
ShinLin looks at WonPil, who nods. «But… is Shine going to be alone for a long time…?»
«ShinLin has already contacted one of his servants to come take care of the dog while it's alone.» The tall man walks out of the house, followed by ShinLin.
He goes after them last, feeling a bit nervous. Why aren't they even telling him where they are going? He wonders if he should escape.
They head outside the city gates, which he finds even more odd and worrying. Suddenly, in the grass, Richard stops and looks at the other two, placing a hand on ShinLin's shoulder. He also tries to grab WonPil, but he dodges his hand, not fancying to be touched so randomly by a man. ShinLin, though, clings to WonPil's sleeve afterwards.
What happens right next… he isn't able to explain to himself. He feels a terrible dizziness and a crazy force against his face, that makes it impossible for him to keep his eyes open. He suddenly feels as if he just landed on a hard ground. His whole body is shaking uncontrollably, especially the legs. It's as if they could no longer support his weight, so he ends up falling on his knees. He feels like to throw up, but the only thing coming are tears from his eyes.
When he manages to open his eyes again, he realises that they aren't in the same place anymore. And the sudden awareness of what happened overwhelms him.
That far, he had not taken seriously the mentions of magic he heard. Or at least, he saw them more like the typical human view, superstition and tricks. But the fact it's real and it got literally smashed into his face didn't feel so good.
«First time teleporting can be harsh, don't worry ShinLin», says Richard. «Our carriage, thankfully I hired one.» He has to literally pick WonPil up, to get him off the ground and into the carriage.
ShinLin gets inside and sits in front of WonPil, staring at him without saying anything. WonPil isn't sure, but he thinks the other might be worried for him, by his look.
The carriage starts moving at a great speed, faster than he would have expected - and in that sickly feeling, he would have preferred a slower transport for sure. But he doesn't puke easily.
After a time WonPil couldn't measure, they stop. He avoided looking outside the small window, but now that they are there and the doors get opened, he realises that they are in front of… black walls. Like ancient walls from the Joseon era, but different. Black and lucid, soldiers everywhere and, at a distance, a castle literally encased into a mountain.
WonPil moves some hesitant steps; his legs still feel so weak. But ShinLin clings to his sleeve again and pulls him towards the massive gate of the walls.
Two soldiers approach each one of them and before WonPil could question what's happening, they search him very carefully. One of them takes his backpack away from him and, with the help of the other, starts to take out everything from it.
Jar of onions, jar of pickles, jar of sausages, pants from the uniform, one single clean, but old and damaged sock, a necklace and… a sort of plushie-pillow. The shape is that of a disk, basically, not big, can cover two palms of an hand. Orange, but quite dirty and damaged, with a fox face.
WonPil weakly, but quickly, grabs the plushie with both hands, when the soldier takes it.
Since it doesn't have anything suspicious inside, the soldier lets it go and soon enough, hands WonPil his backpack, with all of his things back. Clearly they find themselves prepared enough to not consider the possibility he could throw those jars at someone as a threat.
After that very unpleasant practice, they are allowed to proceed and, to WonPil's horror, they have to go through the same three more times. Until they are finally inside the castle. Just to change, walls and floors are totally black and lucid, but the place is finely decorated and very warm.
A man approaches them and bows. WonPil would have mistaken him for a businessman if it wasn't that he bowed and addressed them as "my lords". Another proof that servants are the cool people in this world.
Always without giving him many explanations, the group parts and another servant escorts WonPil to a room.
The room looks like a living, there are couches and armchair, fireplace and a table with chair. A library and various furniture.
WonPil sits by the table, close to the fire. And there he waits, not even he knows for what. He is not smart, but he could tell that the castle they are in must be the House of someone really important. The leader of their nation for sure.