Flower-Embroidered

With the warmth brought by the morning sunlight, the windy breeze came after and fluttered their sleeves in the middle of the forest.

The bamboo and evergreen trees resting as tall as one another, leaves of autumn let go and fell.

The atmosphere forms into something freezing.

"That ghoul didn't come in because of you. You scared him away." Han Min crossed his arms and gazed around. He noticed the crippled door swaying fiercely because of the wind and went back to close it properly.

"Is this Yun Hwa's scarf?" So Eun asked despite himself, finally having a cover to block his face whenever he wants now.

"No." Han Min answered just as casually, that the other barely heard it. So Eun stood there blankly and pondered, when did a Demon King bring a scarf with him? It seems out of place.

He furrowed his eyebrows and observed the cloth on his face.

But after putting his attention on it, the scarf didn't look like it was bought recently, the cloth itself was worn-out, and the texture wasn't as soft compared to a newly-bought scarf.

The color of peach was fading, the embroidered flower was messy and not as good as a new one. So Eun noticed the poorly embroidered flower beneath it, and consciously unwrapped it around his neck to take a good look.

By the thin strands of thread poking here and there, the flower was barely visible. He observed for a while, but couldn't put a name on it.

From in front of him, Han Min didn't fetch any bags or things they brought inside, he just strolled behind and around the hut to investigate. So Eun watched him, lowkey believing that the other knew what flower this is.

The scarf itself was old and torn, ragged enough that the texture and designs were ready to be recycled, but deep in his mind, something tells him it belonged dearly to someone, someone who kept and took care of it, despite the inevitable passing of time that made it look unpleasant.

He waited for him to look his way while continuously glancing at the flower. He waited for a while and the other spoke;

"Didn't leave any traces. We have to continue our way down this hill." He pointed to his left, the path they were supposed to traverse last night was exposed in direct sunlight, earning a hum from So Eun, before his mind thought of something else.

"That ghoul… you can't control him?"

Han Min was already walking towards the path he gestured and turned to glance at him.

"There's a few that I can control in the Underworld. Specifically, those stray spirits, who completely lose their memories and senses, and who just died recently. They were the ones who'd always heed my call." He stepped first down while he spoke, and the other dashed behind him to follow.

So Eun earnestly listened, completely interested in his capabilities. "Is ferocious ghouls one of them?" He brought about the topic of the creatures that bothered them back in the Forest.

"No, those spirits bear a deep resentment and died a hundred years ago. The Adrift Soul Demon, Nan Yang was one of them. They are nearly impossible to control, which I don't plan to in the first place."

So Eun remembered the mysterious ghoul he met at the Mountain of Tipolo, being one of his first clues to seek the Demon King. The ability he has to see the future always bothered him, and that's exactly what he remembered when he mentioned Han Min.

The other went silent and So Eun mindlessly voiced out his thoughts again.

"So, you didn't call them to turn upon us?" Han Min's steps faltered and tilted his head to glance at him.

"I didn't call anyone. I just want to talk to the Emperor." He blinked at him, and suddenly caught a glimpse of anxiousness within that figure alone, he shut his mouth and let him continue.

The words "He is not a bad person." from Yun Hwa resounded through his ears. Evoking a flame inside his chest.

"I've never even called a hundred spirits since the day I become like this." His tone of voice and the kind treatment, he showed him since he woke up, only aggravated the burn.

That flame burned even more, tormenting his insides with utter guilt. Thus, he never spoke again and went silent.

The other didn't spare him a glance and continued to walk. Autumn leaves decorate the stone path beneath their feet.

After a moment passed, So Eun's eyebrows furrowed.

"Aren't you cautious of telling a Deity how a Demon King handled things?" So Eun was genuinely confused, about how he saw people the same as Deities treated ghosts and demons like the most cursed being that fell on the world. So Eun suddenly felt nervous.

Han Min side glanced at him, but continued walking, "You just descended and became one, we all have our minds to believe if things are right or not. Like I have my reason to trust you. However, something confused me about the ordeal that caused you to become a wanted criminal in front of the Emperor."

So Eun didn't comprehend the first one and widened his eyes at the last one, proceeding to bury his face in the scarf. Found out that it doesn't smell bad as how it looks like.

"I didn't see you, but next time I know you interrupted us. Why?"

Maybe because of his embarrassing state and a rumbled mind, So Eun didn't notice the change in his tone.

He was busy contemplating if he'd answer honestly or just play it off until his mind finally found the right answer.

The other didn't glance nor look at him this time, but his steps were slowing down. Seeming to be occupied as him.

"I uh--acted on my instincts." He decided to tell the truth while having flashbacks from inside the hut.

The other was holding both of his hands behind him and asked;

"Drawing a sword between me and the Emperor, or blocking yourself in front of me? Which one was it?" The tone of the other's voice seemed serious, while So Eun nearly tripped behind him.

That… he still wasn't sure, but all of it happened because he followed his instincts. He pondered about it for a while just to seek an answer for him, but the other abruptly stopped and crouched down.

"What is it?" He lowered his arms that were clutching the scarf and walked beside him.

Han Min stood up and dusted off a vermilion medicine bag. The pouch exactly fits in his palm, the details of herbs and flowers embroidered on it. So Eun stood beside him and tried to look.

"Is it from Yun Hwa?"

"No, but the end of this path is the outskirts of Yang-ir. One of the town folks may have ventured here and dropped this."

He flipped it around and decided to pull on its strand to open. What he saw was a bunch of herbs plastered and crumpled together, with coins of copper and silver hidden underneath it.

"This really looks like one of the commoners." So Eun looked around them and saw no tracks of anyone.

"Yun Hwa likes to stay on guard even at the night, even if I didn't tell him that. If something bothered him, he'll go out immediately to look over. The rustle and footsteps we heard was probably the one he heard too, so he checks it as usual, but didn't return this time."

He set aside the pouch within his sleeve and looked forward.

"Since the Ghoul didn't leave any traces and still wandered outside while Yun Hwa's gone. Then the creature was no ordinary demon, even a ferocious ghoul will cower away from Yun Hwa's spiritual aura, but this creature is more powerful than them. That I couldn't control, and also couldn't match with Yun Hwa's abilities."

He finished his sentence with a solemn attitude and proceeded to step forward.

This time, So Eun was walking beside him. And he whispered within himself, "You couldn't fight them?"

Han Min heard it and turned to look at him, "Course I can, but I prefer to be fighting with them alone."

There was a small smile on his face, and So Eun suddenly checked if he was dreaming or not, because this guy can really smile.

He didn't know what exactly he meant by that, so he just set it aside. Although the 'fighting with them alone' bothered him a little.

They ventured along the deserted forest and arrived at the outside gates, the huge stone figure beside it was carved with the words,

"Glazed Lake Inn this way"