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jae_riding_ho2022-10-18 03:32 pm
haru_ran) wrote in jae_riding_ho2022-10-18 03:32 pm
[1s] Aschegeboren - part 1
Title: Aschegeboren - Ash-born
Pairing: YunHo/JaeJoong
Universe: Alternative - Medieval
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Historical
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: mention of war and tyranny thus death, despair and angst
Notes: My contribution for the jaeho_xchange in 2020. Crimson Saga gave me this medieval feeling and the lyrics gave me a quest, so here I am. I sometimes used google translate so please forgive possible mistakes in the used languages.
Summary: Assigned to document the flora and fauna of the entire continent, a young scholar and his best friend will find themselves in a far bigger adventure than they had imagined when they first had set foot out of their small village.
Once upon a time a beautiful and majestic phoenix blessed the continent Vernice and its nine kingdoms with peace and prosperity. Deep in the south, on a lonely mountain at the border of Kingdom Crimson, the divine fire bird found its permanent site and nest for its recurring life cycle. The people called it Blazing Mountain for each new life of the phoenix encased the mountain with golden-red flames.
For many hundred years the people of Vernice basked in the warmth and kindness of the phoenix in which the people of Crimson benefited most from its presence. Cheerfulness, happiness, gentleness and most of all peace could never be tarnished in this small kingdom. There was no pain, no illness and close to no sorrow. When death occurred old in age it was welcomed with open arms.
Quite the opposite was to be seen in Vernice’s middle. The Kingdom Ebony, a gloomy and mystical spot of land, was populated with pessimists and a bunch of squabblers reigned by a suspicious and green-eyed king. The Black Emperor, as he called himself, was obsessed with the phoenix on a level that he loathed the divine fire bird and wanted to see it obliterated. He craved for power more than anything else, and the dratted creature was a great hindrance in his want to reign the entity of Vernice. Among the former kings of Ebony, his direct ancestors, he was the most ruthless, devious and atrocious. For the first time of Vernice’s existence weapons were forged and people trained for combat.
With curiosity and wonder the neighbouring kingdoms watched Ebony’s military growth, anxiety spreading among their people on this exceptional progress. The Kingdom Saffron far in the northwest was the first to fall under Ebony’s sheer forces and an unknown wave of agony and despair rolled over the people of Vernice. When Saffron’s temple Goldener Phönix on top of the Sonnenschein Berge lastly gave up its peaceful resistance, an ancient prophecy fell into the Black Emperor’s hands. The few passages his scholars were able to translate fuelled his want for power even more and certified his rightful ownership over Vernice.
Quickly Emerald, northeast of Ebony, and Turquoise in the east were annexed whilst the Black Emperor had his eyes set on Blazing Mountain. The prophecy and its outlook had put him in high spirits and no one was able to stop him. Fortunately for him, unfortunately for Vernice’s people, the divine fire bird far in the south had reached its most vulnerable state and thus the Black Emperor waltzed through the remaining eastern kingdoms, keeping him from Crimson, with terrible force. Ebony’s forces caused a swath of destruction from Turquoise over Lavender and Charcoal until it reached Crimson.
Desperately the people of Vernice called upon their phoenix for aid, desperately the people of Crimson tried all in their might to keep Ebony’s forces and the Black Emperor from climbing up the divine mountain. Their calls for aid were in vain. Their resistance was in vain. The ground beneath Blazing Mountain was drenched with blood and tears when the Black Emperor climbed to the top, desperate calls and whimpers echoing in the air.
Only few written records exist of what happened on top of Blazing Mountain, majority solemnising it as Ebony’s greatest triumph. The ever recurring element, however, is a bloodcurdling scream echoing through the entity of Vernice and an overwhelming sorrow coming over its people with the rising of the sun. The Blazing Mountain never shone in golden-red flames ever since.
And the majestic phoenix bringing peace over Vernice became just a legend.
*****
It is the year 316 in the age of Everlasting Ebony. We find ourselves in a small and peaceful village near the ancient borders of the former kingdoms Crimson and Charcoal. A little off the usual centre we find a small wooden lodge belonging to the hitherto most famous scholar of Vernice. The old man, mostly known as Mok, was of almost 60 years and regarded as an expert on Vernice’s flora and fauna and the other villagers were happy to have him among their circle. Aspiring young scholars from all over Vernice more than once asked the wise and righteous man to be their master. All their proposals were denied however for he already had a very young, talented and quite inquisitive student for about a decade. Sometimes the 16-year-old lad was quite too inquisitive and nosy for his own good he had to admit. Nevertheless he couldn’t imagine any other scholar but YunHo to entrust with the assignment the aide of the Black Emperor himself shortly before had sent to him.
A hand was buried in his greying hair, his bushy eyebrows furrowed when he read through the assignment yet again and wondered who could join the boy on this journey. Humming deeply he reached for his cup and sipped on his tea. His eyebrows furrowed a little more over the chilled beverage before he put it down. With a sigh he leaned back, arching a little to loosen his stiffened muscles and rubbed over his arthritic thighs. He’d been sitting on his knees a little longer than usual and his ageing joints weren’t the least thankful. Just when he focused on the assignment again in a more comfortable position, a clatter and thumping noises echoed through his entrance. He raised his eyes and wasn’t at all surprised when YunHo waltzed into his study room and immediately fell onto his knees.
“Pardon, Master. I’ve been deeper in the forest than I intended and caused HyunAe inconvenience. I hurried back once she delivered your message.” Breathless after his flood of words, YunHo lingered in his position with his head touching the ground to offer an apology. A soft smile played over the old man’s lips when his gaze lingered on the back of YunHo’s head. Quietly HyunAe shuffled into the study room and brought a new set of warm tea. With a curt nod he acknowledged his housekeeper’s mindfulness and addressed the boy to his feet once she had closed the sliding door.
“Sit up, YunHo. I’ve got something important to discuss with you.” YunHo immediately rose to his knees, his back straightened and hands lingering on his thighs when he looked at him. A curious glint in his brown eyes put lie to his stern expression and the old man smiled softly at the obvious excitement. Shaking his head with an amused chuckle he reached for the assignment and deliberately ignored the furrow of YunHo’s eyebrows.
“You see, just recently I received a letter from the aide of the emperor.” YunHo’s eyebrows rose at that and his steadfast gaze was disrupted by heavy blinking. He continued without giving YunHo the chance to comment, “With this he assigns me to categorise and index the entity of Vernice’s flora and fauna.” At the sharp intake of breath he raised his eyes to look at YunHo. A soft crimson had coloured his cheeks and his hands had balled into fists. “This for sure will be a time consuming and physically demanding mission.” He cast another short glance at YunHo and noticed his furrowed eyebrows. Patiently he waited for the lad to bring forward his obvious concerns.
The 16-year-old fidgeted on his knees nervously, chewing on his bottom lip before he had the courage to look the older in the eye and voice his worries, “But Master,” Mok had to smile at his timid voice and encouraged YunHo to continue with a cock of his head. A subtle hue of red spread once more over YunHo’s cheeks. “Please forgive my bluntness, but with your current condition it would be fatal if-”
“If I accepted this assignment, I know.” He got hold of his cane and gently rubbed over his arthritic limbs. YunHo fell silent immediately. He smiled at the boy. “I certainly am not in my best condition to accept this mission, but, as you surely are aware, one does not simply decline an imperial assignment.”
A scowl crossed YunHo’s face. “Certainly not.”
“Well, this brings me to you.” YunHo looked at him astonished. “Of course I didn’t call you over and had you interrupt your work for nothing. You’re a very talented young man and have a formidable readiness of mind which is a very useful gift for our field of study.”
YunHo’s mouth fell slightly open and his eyes opened wide when he understood. “Master! Are you – You want me to?” He stared at the old man in disbelief.
With a fond smile Mok simply nodded. “Correct. Of course I will help you with the necessary documents and proper preparations for this mission, but yes, I entrust you with it. Do you think that you can handle this assignment?”
YunHo tumbled onto the table, his cheeks coloured in excitement and eyes shining when he leaned onto it. “Yes! I will not disappoint you, Master!”
A hearty laughter erupted from the older’s lips. “I very much hope so.” With an embarrassed smile YunHo sank back onto his knees and swallowed at the stern expression crossing the other’s face. “I also hope that you are conscious of the danger it might bring when you snoop around things being considered as prohibited.”
YunHo bit onto his bottom lip and lowered his head. He fiddled with his fingers nervously whilst meekly assuring, “I will bear it in mind.”
Satisfied Mok nodded. “Good. Now give an old man a leg-up.” YunHo did immediately as told and helped Mok to stand up. Slowly they made their way through the study room and out into the entrance hall. “I’ll reply to the aide instantly and will offer you as my substitute. In the meantime we will discuss everything in detail tomorrow.”
“Of course, Master. When shall I come over?” YunHo asked when he slid open the main entrance and stepped through.
“The rising of the sun seems to be perfect. I will have HyunAe prepare breakfast for you as well.” He followed YunHo a step outside and was startled a little when he became aware of a black haired youth sitting next to his entrance. A pair of keen brown eyes fell onto him and a wide smile spread over the youth’s lips when he as well became aware of him and YunHo. “Ah, good afternoon, JaeJoong.”
The black haired rose to his feet, a bundle of parchments pressed to his chest, and took a bow in greeting.
“Did you join YunHo in the woods again?” The 16-year-old lowered his head with a meek smile and held his parchments in a shielding manner over his abdomen. Mok laughed heartily at his and YunHo’s meek responses of being caught red-handed. “Oh don’t look at me like that. I don’t really mind if he joins you.”
YunHo smiled relieved. “I’m glad.” JaeJoong as well seemed to relax a little.
The old scholar chuckled a little whilst looking at the two known childhood friends by turns. His eyes fell onto the bundle of parchments in JaeJoong’s hands and his fingers covered in graphite. He caught his breath when he got a glimpse of the top parchment. “May I take a look at that?”
JaeJoong blinked confused and cocked his head. He shot YunHo a tentative glance, his eyebrows furrowed, and pressed his parchments closer to his body.
YunHo shrugged his shoulders. “Do you mean his sketches?” he asked after a while and looked at his master.
The old man nodded. “Only if he doesn’t mind, of course.” He smiled warmly at the 16-year-old who glanced at him and his parchments uneasily by turns.
JaeJoong chewed on his bottom lip in thought and subconsciously shifted from one foot to another. He glanced at the old master of his friend only to shoot YunHo an imploring gaze.
Said one only raised his hands in defence, “Don’t look at me like that. I can’t make that decision for you.”
A scowl crossed JaeJoong’s features at YunHo’s blunt refusal to help him and he huffed at the mocking grin on his friend’s face. He stared down onto his sketches and heaved a deep breath. His hands were shaking a little when he held out the bundle of parchments.
Carefully the old man got hold of the sketches with a word of gratitude and indulged into the fine graphite lines enfolding before his eyes one by one. Astonished he flipped through the parchments containing a handful of detailed sketches of local animals and plants. “Astounding,” he breathed when he came across a very lively sketch of a tiger keelback.
“They’re pretty good, aren’t they?” YunHo commented with a cheeky grin and earned himself a punch onto his arm from JaeJoong. He glared at him with reddened cheeks.
“They’re indeed outstanding.” Mok handed the bundle back to JaeJoong who immediately pressed them tightly to his chest. He smiled at the lad’s obvious abashment. “Why don’t you join YunHo and me for breakfast tomorrow? I’d like to submit a proposal.”
JaeJoong cocked his head in wonder and blinked at the sudden invitation. He flinched at YunHo’s outcry, “Really?!”
The old scholar laughed. “That entirely depends on JaeJoong.” Said one was very confused and stayed puzzled on his way home when YunHo wouldn’t give in to his nagging nudges.
*****
A week passed with hurried preparations for the upcoming journey and a quick introduction into the field of flora and fauna for JaeJoong. To Master Mok’s delight the boy had agreed to join YunHo on this mission.
On the rise of an already tepid morning, YunHo and JaeJoong entered fully packed the small lodge of YunHo’s master. YunHo was called into the study room while HyunAe led JaeJoong to the kitchen to get a hold of their provisions. He stored the neatly packed servings in his jute shoulder bag near the new stock of parchments his father had crafted for him.
Meanwhile YunHo kneeled before his master and listened attentively to his ever occurring explanations. “As I mentioned, it will be best if you go for the temples first before exploring the regions and their respective flora and fauna. They will be able to help you with their archive and, even more important, might offer you a perfect accommodation for a while.” He paused to take a sip of his tea and watched YunHo by studying his map. He followed the trace of YunHo’s finger and put down his cup. “There’s no need to travel to Town Crimson.”
Baffled YunHo looked up. “Are you sure?”
He nodded. “Of course. All you need about Crimson is stocked in my archive, so you can fully concentrate on the other regions. It’s best if you start with the white temple, Shiroi Otera, hidden in the depths of the white forest, Shiroi Mori.” He leaned a bit forward and traced a path on the map. “You walk through the Ashen Desert and can continue to Shiroi Mori from there. Like this you can process Charcoal’s flora and fauna.” He fell silent and stared crestfallen onto the black spot on the map that once used to be a blooming area. “That is if there is any. I honestly haven’t been there for the past sixteen years to take a look myself.”
A gloomy silence fell over them at the memory of Charcoal’s complete destruction when the Black Emperor had burned it down sixteen years ago. No one knew why he had demanded an entire landscape to be extinguished, nor if it might happen again. Nothing had survived back then. Not a single animal, plant or human being.
Sighing the old man sat back. “I know it’s not a nice place but it surely is the fastest way. I’m pretty certain that you can reach the white temple by the end of the day after tomorrow. In this case you’d have to spend the night somewhere outside. At least once in the desert, I’m afraid, unless you travel for an entire day without rest.”
YunHo swallowed thickly at the lump the former topic had caused him and sat back as well. He took a deep breath. “We’ll give our best. I’m sure we will find shelter for the night on our way.”
Mok smiled. “I’m certain you will.” He reached for a handful of papers on his desk. “This leads me to another important topic.” He handed YunHo the imperial assignment together with a few other documents. “Make sure to always carry these with you. The original assignment and the validation that you take over this mission on my behalf, as well as the permission to travel with an assistant and the possibility to add a translating party.” Diligently YunHo folded the stack of documents and stored them together with his journal in his jute shoulder bag. The old man sighed. “I really wish I could’ve given you more time for preparations but the aide wouldn’t allow any more postponement. I really hope JaeJoong will be okay. After all I took him quite by surprise with such an imperial mission.”
YunHo chuckled and left the older baffled. “No worries. He will be quite all right.” He grinned. “He actually was pretty excited and couldn’t wait to finally get started.”
“Is that so?” Mok mumbled astonished and scraped through his greying hair. He snorted in amusement. “Well, that’s good to hear. Especially since I know that in his company you won’t do anything supposedly stupid.” He grinned when YunHo flinched.
“Master I-” He halted when the old man raised his hand.
“No need to deny it. I’m very aware of your fascination with the phoenix of the ancient legends. I just want you to be careful if you indeed give in to your curiosity on this topic. It can be dangerous after all, and you are not alone in this.”
YunHo lowered his head with a stern expression. “I’m aware of that.”
A creak caught their attention and both directed their gaze to its origin. JaeJoong had just sunk to his knees and greeted YunHo’s master with a deep bow. A small smile graced his face together with a red shimmer when he straightened on his knees.
Mok shook his head with a smile at the obvious display of excitement and got a hold of his tea. “I take it that you stored the provisions HyunAe gave you.” JaeJoong eagerly nodded and looked at YunHo. His left eyebrow raised when he cocked his head aside.
YunHo waved his hand to and fro in a dismissive manner. “Why yes, I’m done already. No need to rush me,” he muttered and folded his map. Once storing it in his bag he slid back from the table and bowed low. “Thank you, Master, for entrusting us with this mission. We won’t let you down.”
“I’m sure you won’t,” Mok replied with a fond smile when the two rose to their feet. “Well then, I won’t keep you any longer. You’ll be out and about for a while after all. Take your time for a thorough research and don’t rush it.” The two lads nodded sternly and fastened their overcoats over their shoulder bags. “Have a safe journey.”
YunHo had walked over to JaeJoong who waited at the door. They both bowed once more. “Thank you. We’ll be off.” With that they walked into the entrance hall and put on their footwear before they left the lodge and made their way northwards.
*
They unhurriedly walked for half a day through their domestic forest, a chipper melody on YunHo’s lips every now and then until they reached a stream, that functioned as a border, in the early evening. They stopped in their tracks, YunHo’s melody dying, when the fuliginous remains of Charcoal enfolded its grim entity before their eyes. An eerie silence surrounded the Ashen Desert, as it was now known, and here and there a stump stuck out that had turned into coal.
YunHo heaved a deep breath. “Well, here we go. Our first breakpoint.” He cast a glance at JaeJoong. “You ready?”
JaeJoong’s eyes lingered on the ashen ground, eyebrows furrowed a little and hands clenched on his shoulder bag.
“Jae?” Startled JaeJoong turned to look at him. “Would you rather call it a night for today and continue first thing tomorrow?” He rubbed over the nape of his neck. “I mean, we could rest well in our woods and easily restore our water supplies.” His eyes slid over to the ashen ground. With a sigh he looked at JaeJoong again. “Honestly, I rather not want to pass these lands in the night.”
Relieved JaeJoong clutched the front of his gown and nodded. Quickly they set up a light place for the night beneath a maple tree near the stream and passed the time refilling their water bottles, freshening up after their walk and eating. Huddled together against the tree they quickly fell asleep.
With the first rays of the sun they rose from their slumber and settled for a light breakfast in silence. YunHo was collecting their bags and coats when JaeJoong was still crouched over the stream and washed his face. Time and again his gaze lingered on the other side and the ashen landscape.
“Are you finished?”
Nodding slowly, he rose and dusted his clothing off before he turned around. Grinning YunHo held out his overcoat and shoulder bag for him. A small smile tucked on his lips when he was ready and with a nudge onto YunHo’s shoulder, he shoved the other forward.
YunHo kept looking at him over his shoulder. “You all right?” JaeJoong simply nodded and shoved him further towards the dead land before them. The ground was covered with a black crust and it crunched beneath their feet with every step. It strengthened an oppressive feeling enveloping them the further they made their way through the landscape with passing time and they cast their glances around in the hopeless attempt to find any form of life.
Halfway through the area that led right to Shiroi Mori, YunHo halted with a huff. “This really is depressing,” he mumbled, his eyes set on the coaly remains of a tree.
JaeJoong wandered a little further, each of his steps accompanied by a crunch. This place was drenched with sorrow and he felt pure sadness enveloping him. Anything his eyes touched with their glance hurt him in a way he couldn’t quite understand. He felt the loss of Charcoal even though he had never been there before. He turned around at the crunch behind him and stared at YunHo. The taller extracted a hand and swiftly moved a finger over his cheek.
“You’re crying,” was all he mumbled and just then he became aware of the wetness. Crestfallen he turned away and rubbed over his eyes. YunHo patted his shoulder. “We should hurry and get out of here.” JaeJoong barely nodded and sniffed into his overcoat when YunHo gently took him by his waist and dragged him further.
“Unusual to see you like this. Crying and all,” YunHo muttered and scratched his head. JaeJoong shot him a teary glare and swatted his arm away. Piqued he stomped further in hopes to leave this area fast and get rid of the melancholic feelings it was giving him.
YunHo hurried after him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that,” he called out, his voice echoing through the eerie silence hanging over Charcoal. He almost crashed into JaeJoong when the smaller suddenly halted in front of a coaly stump. “What,” he wondered at JaeJoong’s awestruck expression. The smaller crouched down and brushed his hand over a cluster of black crust. YunHo crouched down next to him. “Did you see something?” he asked and cocked his head.
JaeJoong nodded curtly and lifted a handful of crust from around the stump. YunHo audibly caught his breath when a small green sprout surfaced. “Impossible,” he whispered awestruck. Gently he inspected the green leaves and eyed it from all angles. “It’s one of Charcoal’s infamous ginkgo trees. I thought I’d never see one of them.” A broad smile spread over his face when he quickly got hold of his journal and scribbled down a few hurried notes.
By then JaeJoong had already finished his sketch and looked at the sprout. His finger gently traced over one of its fragile leaves. Sudden relief flooded his senses and caused a fond smile to brighten his features.
*
Lighthearted after their discovery they quickly had wandered through Charcoal’s landscape and had reached Ivory’s forest Shiroi Mori by the end of the day. The thick forest consisted mostly of umbrella-pines typical for Ivory’s landscape.
They spent the second night and most of the next day in the thicket and explored the area with its many ferns and insects attentively. Throughout their walk chirping was echoing above their heads and a breeze rushed through the leafy canopy. Time and again YunHo used his map for guidance to not get lost in the thick forest, though with advancing time and darkness he had trouble to read it. He squinted his eyes to get a closer look on it when the last rays of the sun were slowly but surely slipping past the forest.
Whilst he was turning to all cardinal points one at a time to make sure of their surroundings, JaeJoong was crouched over a shrub and sketched a yellow-black legged spider YunHo had explained to be a Jorō-gumo. The oncoming darkness was only a small hindrance to his eyes.
“Hm, I think,” YunHo muttered whilst looking at his map and westwards by turns. He nodded with a pleased grin. “Yes, that’s it. JaeJoong!”
Immediately said one looked up. His eyes followed YunHo’s outstretched arm westwards.
“There’s a path somewhere over there that leads directly to the white temple.” JaeJoong cocked his head and stared at the direction with furrowed eyebrows.
YunHo rolled his eyes. “No need to be sceptical, okay? If we reach this path I’m pretty certain that we will get to the temple in about an hour or two.” He walked over to JaeJoong and stood behind him. JaeJoong looked up into his grinning face with a scowl when he nudged his back with his knee. “Come on. The sooner we get there the faster we might be able to grab a nice meal.”
It was JaeJoong’s time to roll his eyes. Shaking his head at YunHo’s antics he gathered his sketching utensils and stored them in his shoulder bag before he rose to his feet. He punched YunHo’s upper arm lightly when the taller didn’t stop grinning at him and shoved him westwards through the forest.
YunHo chuckled which only caused JaeJoong to shove him harder. “Okay, okay. I’ll stop,” he gave in with a laugh whilst they continued on their way. It wasn’t much longer that the undergrowth cleared before their eyes and gave way for a sandy path illuminated by the rising moon.
“Ah, there it is!” YunHo exclaimed excitedly and jumped out of the thicket in a single bound. JaeJoong followed after him more calmly and shook his head with an amused smile. The night had embraced the forest, the only light leading YunHo and JaeJoong the way being cast by the moon and a few twinkling stars above their heads. Here and there cicadas chirred, owls hooted and distant yowls of a wolf heralded the end of the day.
“Just like home,” YunHo whispered with a content smile and took a deep breath. He glanced over at JaeJoong to seek affirmation and stopped short at the latter’s completely spaced out features directed at the stars. His lips were slightly parted, wide eyes focused and he could see a red shimmer on his cheeks illuminated by the moon. It was a well known sight to YunHo. He followed JaeJoong’s line of vision and smiled to himself when he indeed found the constellation of the phoenix twinkling bright on the night sky.
He watched JaeJoong a little longer in the moonlight before he called out to him, “JaeJoong!”
Ripped from his trance JaeJoong was startled and blinked heavily when he looked over at YunHo.
Said one smiled softly at him. “We have to hurry.” JaeJoong nodded and hurried over to his side. YunHo left JaeJoong’s former trance uncommented and thus they continued their way in silence. A shimmering light appeared in the darkness with advancing time and intensified the further they followed the path.
“Must be the temple,” YunHo suggested and JaeJoong nodded in agreement. They hurried a little faster towards the light, its glow intensifying with every step. A mound enfolded before them at the end of the path, a row of torches leading to an impressive wooden building which welcomed them with a torii gate of weathered ivory colour.
In awe-stricken silence they scaled the steps leading up the small hill and passed the row of torches they had seen from the distance. Engrossed in their surroundings they didn’t notice the monk standing at the top of the mound.
“Annyeonghaseyo [Good evening].”
YunHo and JaeJoong halted in their tracks and looked at the shaven monk in an ivory cowl greeting them in perfect Ebony. “Annyeonghaseyo,” YunHo replied likewise in stiff Ebony and bowed dutifully. JaeJoong did as well.
A smile spread over the shorter man’s lips when he reciprocated the act. He moved his left arm in an inviting gesture. “Nae an-e oseyo. JongWan-hyeongjega dangsin-eul gidaligo issseubnida [Please follow me inside. Brother JongWan is expecting you].”
Baffled YunHo and JaeJoong shared a glance, both shrugging their shoulders, before they followed the invitation and climbed the hill to the top. YunHo lowered his head when he stood before the shorter monk. “Ulileul jusyeoseo gamsahabnida. Je ileum-eun YunHo-igo ijjog-eun JaeJoong-ibnida [Thank you for having us. My name is YunHo and this is JaeJoong].” JaeJoong lowered his head in greeting.
“JunSu-hyeongje ibnida [I am Brother JunSu],” the monk answered their greeting and with a soft nudge of his head he turned and led the two through a huge wooden archway adorned with a bird and hibiscus blossoms of white colour. Ancient letters of the ivory language labelled it as 白いお寺 – Shiroi Otera. “Dangsin-eun maseuteo Mog-i geuui pyeonjieseo eongeub han cheongnam-ieoyahabnida [You must be the young men Master Mok has mentioned in his letter].”
YunHo had easily closed the gap on JunSu and looked baffled at him. “Ju-in-i pyeonjileul bonaessnayo [My master sent a letter]?”
JunSu nodded. “Mullon. Geuneun dangsin-eul wihae doum-eul yocheonghaessseubnida. JongWan-hyeongjega geu munjeleul seuseulo haegyeolhal geos-ilago hwagsinhabnida [Naturally. He asked for assistance on your behalf. I’m certain though that Brother JongWan will bring the matter forth himself].”
Falling silent YunHo and JaeJoong followed JunSu through a well-tended yard framed by hibiscus trees. Somewhere in the still yard a stream was purling and the soft murmur of praying monks was echoing in the night. Once they reached the main entrance, JunSu slid the door open and paid his respect with folded hands before he took off his zoris to enter the hallway. YunHo and JaeJoong followed him suit.
“JongWan-hyeongjega keun hol-eseo gidaligo issseubnida. Geuleul delyeoda julge [Brother JongWan is waiting in the great hall. I’ll take you to him].” Not waiting for a response JunSu turned around, still smiling, and made his way through a wide hallway. They passed a sliding door on their left and a kitchen to their right until they neared the end of the hallway. A vast open hall had enfolded before them on their left and revealed a gigantic wooden statue of a majestic bird. Eyes wide open YunHo stared at the impressive embodiment of the legendary phoenix he had always found fascinating and stood still in reverent silence. JaeJoong to his right was awestruck as well.
Almost without a sound JunSu moved over the timbered floor towards the phoenix statue. An aged monk sat cross-legged to its feet and was absorbed in a prayer. JunSu knelt down next to him. “JongWan-hyoengjega, Mog-sanim-ui hagsaeng-gwa chinguga dochaghaessseubnida [Brother JongWan, Master Mok’s student and his friend have arrived],” he said softly and bowed when the older opened his eyes.
JongWan set his sharp eyes on YunHo and JaeJoong with a mild-mannered smile. “Gamsahabnida, JunSu-hyoungje. Chinjeolhago sonnim-eul-wihan jamjalileul junbihasibsio. HaeChan-hyeongje nim-i sigsaleul junbihage haejuseyo [Thank you, Brother JunSu. Be so kind and prepare a sleeping place for our guests. And let Brother HaeChan prepare a meal].”
JunSu bowed low. “Mullon [Of course].” He rose immediately after and hurried back to YunHo and JaeJoong who had not dared to enter the vast hall. “JongWan-hyeongje nim-i jigeum dangsin-eul bad-a deul-il geos-ibnida [Brother JongWan will see you now].” With a nod he stepped past them into the hallway. The pitter-patter of his feet echoed through the hallway when he made his way towards the kitchen.
A little flustered they entered and every now and then the timbered floor groaned under their steps as they neared the aged monk. With a gentle smile on his lips he gestured for them to sit down across from him.
“JongWan-hyeongje nim, ulileul jusyeoseo gamsahabnida [Thank you for having us, Brother JongWan],” YunHo replied and bowed low on his knees in gratitude and greeting. JaeJoong followed him suit. YunHo straightened. “Jeoneun YunHo-igo ijjog-eun JaeJoong-ibnida [I am YunHo and this is JaeJoong].”
JongWan lowered his head in acknowledgement. “Mannaseo bangabseubnida [Pleased to meet you].”
“Uliga keulimseun-eseo iyagihamyeon gwaenchanh-eulkkayo [Would it be all right if we talked in Crimson]?” YunHo inquired after quick consideration and looked the kind monk in the eye.
“Of course,” JongWan replied fluently as his gentle smile broadened.
A relieved smile tucked on YunHo’s lips. “That’s very kind, thank you.”
“You’re very welcome,” JongWan muttered and waved his hand slightly in a dismissive manner. “You look though as if something is bothering you.”
YunHo startled and blinked heavily. “Well, that,” he stammered and swallowed, “please forgive my bluntness, but has my master messaged you about our coming?”
“He did, indeed. He asked for assistance in your mission to categorise Vernice’s flora and fauna and for possible accommodation. You of course are more than welcome and may stay as long as it fits your purpose. Our archive is available for you and holds many records. Brother ChangMin is in charge of it and will be of assistance to you. I will introduce you in the morning.”
A little flustered YunHo could only bow again in gratitude. “Thank you so much for your generosity.” He barely registered JongWan’s gentle smile when he straightened and had his eyes immediately drawn to the impressive statue towering behind him. Its outspread wings were stretched across the entire width of the room and YunHo could make out the feathers carved into the wooden surface. Its throat was bent a bit backwards and held its head up with the delicate beak being slightly ajar. It was as if the phoenix’s long forgotten serenade was on the top of its tongue.
“I see that you and your companion are fascinated by our phoenix.”
JaeJoong and YunHo jerked at the calm statement. A subtle redness crossed both their cheeks when they looked at the monk sheepishly. YunHo’s right hand rubbed over the nape of his neck in nervous circles when he chuckled bashfully. “I know it’s frowned upon to even mention it, but I really find the ancient legends of the fire bird very intriguing.”
A hearty melodious laughter erupted from JongWan’s lips and he had to hold his chest in amusement. YunHo and JaeJoong were more than just baffled at the sheer joy and couldn’t resist a smile themselves. “Your master already mentioned that you’re confident about your fascination with the phoenix, but I didn’t expect you to be so blunt about it.” He chuckled a little more. “Just make sure to watch out when you speak so openly about it.”
YunHo bit his bottom lip. “That’s what he said as well.”
“And you better listen to him.” Albeit glancing at him with seriousness he still kept a gentle smile. His gaze darted to JaeJoong and he looked the lad over thoroughly. His keen brown eyes were trained once again on the phoenix, a crease between his eyebrows and head cocked sideways. “What’s on your mind, young friend?”
Startled JaeJoong turned to look at the monk. Shyly he bit onto his bottom lip and twiddled with his fingers. He shot YunHo a side glance who had his eyebrows furrowed in thought when JaeJoong subtly pointed at the phoenix and gestured a question mark with his finger.
JongWan observed their silent conversation attentively until YunHo seemed to grasp whatever his friend tried to tell him and caught JaeJoong nervously glancing at him before lowering his head to concentrate on his twiddling fingers.
“I hope it is not too insolent of us, but he is wondering why the phoenix is still existing here. As I recall, my master once said that all temples had to get rid of any sign of its existence when it vanished 300 years ago and that they had to rename as well. Both the temple and themselves.”
Pondering about his reply, JongWan hummed deeply. He shifted a little sideways to glance at the statue towering behind him. “Your master is right, of course. As the other temples we did change the name of our temple and opted to change our religious names as well. Others opted for more traditional and approved names for that matter. As for the phoenix, our honourable brothers fought well to keep our chosen tutelary deity. The other temples always had secondary deities next to the phoenix so they surely opted for the safer alternative, but since the beginning of time the phoenix had been the sole deity for the Kingdoms Ivory, Saffron and, as you surely know, Crimson.”
YunHo nodded. “I know. The crimson temple was destroyed in the wake of Ebony’s reign. Please forgive my bluntness, but why is yours still existing and that with a phoenix deity no less?”
“I wish I could provide you a satisfying answer, but over time it seemed to simply be of no further interest to the upcoming generations of the king. We keep our phoenix a secret outside these walls and the king keeps a blind eye to us. For now that is. We never know when his mood changes in that aspect.”
Reflecting on JongWan’s words YunHo and JaeJoong lowered their heads and were each engrossed on their thoughts. Subtle clattering echoed through the hall and a pleasant fragrance of rice and roasted fish wavered through the air. A creaking of the timbered floor signalised the arrival of another monk.
“Ah, Brother JunSu. I take it that everything is prepared?” JongWan inquired when the younger halted a few steps into the room. He lowered his head in response and had his hands buried in the depths of his wide sleeves. JongWan smiled when he turned his attention once more to YunHo and JaeJoong. “Brother JunSu will bring you to our dining hall for a warm meal and lead you to our sleeping quarters afterwards. We will continue our conversation tomorrow.”
The two bowed in gratitude. Until then they hadn’t really registered their empty stomachs nor their tired muscles.
[part 2]
Pairing: YunHo/JaeJoong
Universe: Alternative - Medieval
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Historical
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: mention of war and tyranny thus death, despair and angst
Notes: My contribution for the jaeho_xchange in 2020. Crimson Saga gave me this medieval feeling and the lyrics gave me a quest, so here I am. I sometimes used google translate so please forgive possible mistakes in the used languages.
Summary: Assigned to document the flora and fauna of the entire continent, a young scholar and his best friend will find themselves in a far bigger adventure than they had imagined when they first had set foot out of their small village.
Once upon a time a beautiful and majestic phoenix blessed the continent Vernice and its nine kingdoms with peace and prosperity. Deep in the south, on a lonely mountain at the border of Kingdom Crimson, the divine fire bird found its permanent site and nest for its recurring life cycle. The people called it Blazing Mountain for each new life of the phoenix encased the mountain with golden-red flames.
For many hundred years the people of Vernice basked in the warmth and kindness of the phoenix in which the people of Crimson benefited most from its presence. Cheerfulness, happiness, gentleness and most of all peace could never be tarnished in this small kingdom. There was no pain, no illness and close to no sorrow. When death occurred old in age it was welcomed with open arms.
Quite the opposite was to be seen in Vernice’s middle. The Kingdom Ebony, a gloomy and mystical spot of land, was populated with pessimists and a bunch of squabblers reigned by a suspicious and green-eyed king. The Black Emperor, as he called himself, was obsessed with the phoenix on a level that he loathed the divine fire bird and wanted to see it obliterated. He craved for power more than anything else, and the dratted creature was a great hindrance in his want to reign the entity of Vernice. Among the former kings of Ebony, his direct ancestors, he was the most ruthless, devious and atrocious. For the first time of Vernice’s existence weapons were forged and people trained for combat.
With curiosity and wonder the neighbouring kingdoms watched Ebony’s military growth, anxiety spreading among their people on this exceptional progress. The Kingdom Saffron far in the northwest was the first to fall under Ebony’s sheer forces and an unknown wave of agony and despair rolled over the people of Vernice. When Saffron’s temple Goldener Phönix on top of the Sonnenschein Berge lastly gave up its peaceful resistance, an ancient prophecy fell into the Black Emperor’s hands. The few passages his scholars were able to translate fuelled his want for power even more and certified his rightful ownership over Vernice.
Quickly Emerald, northeast of Ebony, and Turquoise in the east were annexed whilst the Black Emperor had his eyes set on Blazing Mountain. The prophecy and its outlook had put him in high spirits and no one was able to stop him. Fortunately for him, unfortunately for Vernice’s people, the divine fire bird far in the south had reached its most vulnerable state and thus the Black Emperor waltzed through the remaining eastern kingdoms, keeping him from Crimson, with terrible force. Ebony’s forces caused a swath of destruction from Turquoise over Lavender and Charcoal until it reached Crimson.
Desperately the people of Vernice called upon their phoenix for aid, desperately the people of Crimson tried all in their might to keep Ebony’s forces and the Black Emperor from climbing up the divine mountain. Their calls for aid were in vain. Their resistance was in vain. The ground beneath Blazing Mountain was drenched with blood and tears when the Black Emperor climbed to the top, desperate calls and whimpers echoing in the air.
Only few written records exist of what happened on top of Blazing Mountain, majority solemnising it as Ebony’s greatest triumph. The ever recurring element, however, is a bloodcurdling scream echoing through the entity of Vernice and an overwhelming sorrow coming over its people with the rising of the sun. The Blazing Mountain never shone in golden-red flames ever since.
And the majestic phoenix bringing peace over Vernice became just a legend.
It is the year 316 in the age of Everlasting Ebony. We find ourselves in a small and peaceful village near the ancient borders of the former kingdoms Crimson and Charcoal. A little off the usual centre we find a small wooden lodge belonging to the hitherto most famous scholar of Vernice. The old man, mostly known as Mok, was of almost 60 years and regarded as an expert on Vernice’s flora and fauna and the other villagers were happy to have him among their circle. Aspiring young scholars from all over Vernice more than once asked the wise and righteous man to be their master. All their proposals were denied however for he already had a very young, talented and quite inquisitive student for about a decade. Sometimes the 16-year-old lad was quite too inquisitive and nosy for his own good he had to admit. Nevertheless he couldn’t imagine any other scholar but YunHo to entrust with the assignment the aide of the Black Emperor himself shortly before had sent to him.
A hand was buried in his greying hair, his bushy eyebrows furrowed when he read through the assignment yet again and wondered who could join the boy on this journey. Humming deeply he reached for his cup and sipped on his tea. His eyebrows furrowed a little more over the chilled beverage before he put it down. With a sigh he leaned back, arching a little to loosen his stiffened muscles and rubbed over his arthritic thighs. He’d been sitting on his knees a little longer than usual and his ageing joints weren’t the least thankful. Just when he focused on the assignment again in a more comfortable position, a clatter and thumping noises echoed through his entrance. He raised his eyes and wasn’t at all surprised when YunHo waltzed into his study room and immediately fell onto his knees.
“Pardon, Master. I’ve been deeper in the forest than I intended and caused HyunAe inconvenience. I hurried back once she delivered your message.” Breathless after his flood of words, YunHo lingered in his position with his head touching the ground to offer an apology. A soft smile played over the old man’s lips when his gaze lingered on the back of YunHo’s head. Quietly HyunAe shuffled into the study room and brought a new set of warm tea. With a curt nod he acknowledged his housekeeper’s mindfulness and addressed the boy to his feet once she had closed the sliding door.
“Sit up, YunHo. I’ve got something important to discuss with you.” YunHo immediately rose to his knees, his back straightened and hands lingering on his thighs when he looked at him. A curious glint in his brown eyes put lie to his stern expression and the old man smiled softly at the obvious excitement. Shaking his head with an amused chuckle he reached for the assignment and deliberately ignored the furrow of YunHo’s eyebrows.
“You see, just recently I received a letter from the aide of the emperor.” YunHo’s eyebrows rose at that and his steadfast gaze was disrupted by heavy blinking. He continued without giving YunHo the chance to comment, “With this he assigns me to categorise and index the entity of Vernice’s flora and fauna.” At the sharp intake of breath he raised his eyes to look at YunHo. A soft crimson had coloured his cheeks and his hands had balled into fists. “This for sure will be a time consuming and physically demanding mission.” He cast another short glance at YunHo and noticed his furrowed eyebrows. Patiently he waited for the lad to bring forward his obvious concerns.
The 16-year-old fidgeted on his knees nervously, chewing on his bottom lip before he had the courage to look the older in the eye and voice his worries, “But Master,” Mok had to smile at his timid voice and encouraged YunHo to continue with a cock of his head. A subtle hue of red spread once more over YunHo’s cheeks. “Please forgive my bluntness, but with your current condition it would be fatal if-”
“If I accepted this assignment, I know.” He got hold of his cane and gently rubbed over his arthritic limbs. YunHo fell silent immediately. He smiled at the boy. “I certainly am not in my best condition to accept this mission, but, as you surely are aware, one does not simply decline an imperial assignment.”
A scowl crossed YunHo’s face. “Certainly not.”
“Well, this brings me to you.” YunHo looked at him astonished. “Of course I didn’t call you over and had you interrupt your work for nothing. You’re a very talented young man and have a formidable readiness of mind which is a very useful gift for our field of study.”
YunHo’s mouth fell slightly open and his eyes opened wide when he understood. “Master! Are you – You want me to?” He stared at the old man in disbelief.
With a fond smile Mok simply nodded. “Correct. Of course I will help you with the necessary documents and proper preparations for this mission, but yes, I entrust you with it. Do you think that you can handle this assignment?”
YunHo tumbled onto the table, his cheeks coloured in excitement and eyes shining when he leaned onto it. “Yes! I will not disappoint you, Master!”
A hearty laughter erupted from the older’s lips. “I very much hope so.” With an embarrassed smile YunHo sank back onto his knees and swallowed at the stern expression crossing the other’s face. “I also hope that you are conscious of the danger it might bring when you snoop around things being considered as prohibited.”
YunHo bit onto his bottom lip and lowered his head. He fiddled with his fingers nervously whilst meekly assuring, “I will bear it in mind.”
Satisfied Mok nodded. “Good. Now give an old man a leg-up.” YunHo did immediately as told and helped Mok to stand up. Slowly they made their way through the study room and out into the entrance hall. “I’ll reply to the aide instantly and will offer you as my substitute. In the meantime we will discuss everything in detail tomorrow.”
“Of course, Master. When shall I come over?” YunHo asked when he slid open the main entrance and stepped through.
“The rising of the sun seems to be perfect. I will have HyunAe prepare breakfast for you as well.” He followed YunHo a step outside and was startled a little when he became aware of a black haired youth sitting next to his entrance. A pair of keen brown eyes fell onto him and a wide smile spread over the youth’s lips when he as well became aware of him and YunHo. “Ah, good afternoon, JaeJoong.”
The black haired rose to his feet, a bundle of parchments pressed to his chest, and took a bow in greeting.
“Did you join YunHo in the woods again?” The 16-year-old lowered his head with a meek smile and held his parchments in a shielding manner over his abdomen. Mok laughed heartily at his and YunHo’s meek responses of being caught red-handed. “Oh don’t look at me like that. I don’t really mind if he joins you.”
YunHo smiled relieved. “I’m glad.” JaeJoong as well seemed to relax a little.
The old scholar chuckled a little whilst looking at the two known childhood friends by turns. His eyes fell onto the bundle of parchments in JaeJoong’s hands and his fingers covered in graphite. He caught his breath when he got a glimpse of the top parchment. “May I take a look at that?”
JaeJoong blinked confused and cocked his head. He shot YunHo a tentative glance, his eyebrows furrowed, and pressed his parchments closer to his body.
YunHo shrugged his shoulders. “Do you mean his sketches?” he asked after a while and looked at his master.
The old man nodded. “Only if he doesn’t mind, of course.” He smiled warmly at the 16-year-old who glanced at him and his parchments uneasily by turns.
JaeJoong chewed on his bottom lip in thought and subconsciously shifted from one foot to another. He glanced at the old master of his friend only to shoot YunHo an imploring gaze.
Said one only raised his hands in defence, “Don’t look at me like that. I can’t make that decision for you.”
A scowl crossed JaeJoong’s features at YunHo’s blunt refusal to help him and he huffed at the mocking grin on his friend’s face. He stared down onto his sketches and heaved a deep breath. His hands were shaking a little when he held out the bundle of parchments.
Carefully the old man got hold of the sketches with a word of gratitude and indulged into the fine graphite lines enfolding before his eyes one by one. Astonished he flipped through the parchments containing a handful of detailed sketches of local animals and plants. “Astounding,” he breathed when he came across a very lively sketch of a tiger keelback.
“They’re pretty good, aren’t they?” YunHo commented with a cheeky grin and earned himself a punch onto his arm from JaeJoong. He glared at him with reddened cheeks.
“They’re indeed outstanding.” Mok handed the bundle back to JaeJoong who immediately pressed them tightly to his chest. He smiled at the lad’s obvious abashment. “Why don’t you join YunHo and me for breakfast tomorrow? I’d like to submit a proposal.”
JaeJoong cocked his head in wonder and blinked at the sudden invitation. He flinched at YunHo’s outcry, “Really?!”
The old scholar laughed. “That entirely depends on JaeJoong.” Said one was very confused and stayed puzzled on his way home when YunHo wouldn’t give in to his nagging nudges.
A week passed with hurried preparations for the upcoming journey and a quick introduction into the field of flora and fauna for JaeJoong. To Master Mok’s delight the boy had agreed to join YunHo on this mission.
On the rise of an already tepid morning, YunHo and JaeJoong entered fully packed the small lodge of YunHo’s master. YunHo was called into the study room while HyunAe led JaeJoong to the kitchen to get a hold of their provisions. He stored the neatly packed servings in his jute shoulder bag near the new stock of parchments his father had crafted for him.
Meanwhile YunHo kneeled before his master and listened attentively to his ever occurring explanations. “As I mentioned, it will be best if you go for the temples first before exploring the regions and their respective flora and fauna. They will be able to help you with their archive and, even more important, might offer you a perfect accommodation for a while.” He paused to take a sip of his tea and watched YunHo by studying his map. He followed the trace of YunHo’s finger and put down his cup. “There’s no need to travel to Town Crimson.”
Baffled YunHo looked up. “Are you sure?”
He nodded. “Of course. All you need about Crimson is stocked in my archive, so you can fully concentrate on the other regions. It’s best if you start with the white temple, Shiroi Otera, hidden in the depths of the white forest, Shiroi Mori.” He leaned a bit forward and traced a path on the map. “You walk through the Ashen Desert and can continue to Shiroi Mori from there. Like this you can process Charcoal’s flora and fauna.” He fell silent and stared crestfallen onto the black spot on the map that once used to be a blooming area. “That is if there is any. I honestly haven’t been there for the past sixteen years to take a look myself.”
A gloomy silence fell over them at the memory of Charcoal’s complete destruction when the Black Emperor had burned it down sixteen years ago. No one knew why he had demanded an entire landscape to be extinguished, nor if it might happen again. Nothing had survived back then. Not a single animal, plant or human being.
Sighing the old man sat back. “I know it’s not a nice place but it surely is the fastest way. I’m pretty certain that you can reach the white temple by the end of the day after tomorrow. In this case you’d have to spend the night somewhere outside. At least once in the desert, I’m afraid, unless you travel for an entire day without rest.”
YunHo swallowed thickly at the lump the former topic had caused him and sat back as well. He took a deep breath. “We’ll give our best. I’m sure we will find shelter for the night on our way.”
Mok smiled. “I’m certain you will.” He reached for a handful of papers on his desk. “This leads me to another important topic.” He handed YunHo the imperial assignment together with a few other documents. “Make sure to always carry these with you. The original assignment and the validation that you take over this mission on my behalf, as well as the permission to travel with an assistant and the possibility to add a translating party.” Diligently YunHo folded the stack of documents and stored them together with his journal in his jute shoulder bag. The old man sighed. “I really wish I could’ve given you more time for preparations but the aide wouldn’t allow any more postponement. I really hope JaeJoong will be okay. After all I took him quite by surprise with such an imperial mission.”
YunHo chuckled and left the older baffled. “No worries. He will be quite all right.” He grinned. “He actually was pretty excited and couldn’t wait to finally get started.”
“Is that so?” Mok mumbled astonished and scraped through his greying hair. He snorted in amusement. “Well, that’s good to hear. Especially since I know that in his company you won’t do anything supposedly stupid.” He grinned when YunHo flinched.
“Master I-” He halted when the old man raised his hand.
“No need to deny it. I’m very aware of your fascination with the phoenix of the ancient legends. I just want you to be careful if you indeed give in to your curiosity on this topic. It can be dangerous after all, and you are not alone in this.”
YunHo lowered his head with a stern expression. “I’m aware of that.”
A creak caught their attention and both directed their gaze to its origin. JaeJoong had just sunk to his knees and greeted YunHo’s master with a deep bow. A small smile graced his face together with a red shimmer when he straightened on his knees.
Mok shook his head with a smile at the obvious display of excitement and got a hold of his tea. “I take it that you stored the provisions HyunAe gave you.” JaeJoong eagerly nodded and looked at YunHo. His left eyebrow raised when he cocked his head aside.
YunHo waved his hand to and fro in a dismissive manner. “Why yes, I’m done already. No need to rush me,” he muttered and folded his map. Once storing it in his bag he slid back from the table and bowed low. “Thank you, Master, for entrusting us with this mission. We won’t let you down.”
“I’m sure you won’t,” Mok replied with a fond smile when the two rose to their feet. “Well then, I won’t keep you any longer. You’ll be out and about for a while after all. Take your time for a thorough research and don’t rush it.” The two lads nodded sternly and fastened their overcoats over their shoulder bags. “Have a safe journey.”
YunHo had walked over to JaeJoong who waited at the door. They both bowed once more. “Thank you. We’ll be off.” With that they walked into the entrance hall and put on their footwear before they left the lodge and made their way northwards.
They unhurriedly walked for half a day through their domestic forest, a chipper melody on YunHo’s lips every now and then until they reached a stream, that functioned as a border, in the early evening. They stopped in their tracks, YunHo’s melody dying, when the fuliginous remains of Charcoal enfolded its grim entity before their eyes. An eerie silence surrounded the Ashen Desert, as it was now known, and here and there a stump stuck out that had turned into coal.
YunHo heaved a deep breath. “Well, here we go. Our first breakpoint.” He cast a glance at JaeJoong. “You ready?”
JaeJoong’s eyes lingered on the ashen ground, eyebrows furrowed a little and hands clenched on his shoulder bag.
“Jae?” Startled JaeJoong turned to look at him. “Would you rather call it a night for today and continue first thing tomorrow?” He rubbed over the nape of his neck. “I mean, we could rest well in our woods and easily restore our water supplies.” His eyes slid over to the ashen ground. With a sigh he looked at JaeJoong again. “Honestly, I rather not want to pass these lands in the night.”
Relieved JaeJoong clutched the front of his gown and nodded. Quickly they set up a light place for the night beneath a maple tree near the stream and passed the time refilling their water bottles, freshening up after their walk and eating. Huddled together against the tree they quickly fell asleep.
With the first rays of the sun they rose from their slumber and settled for a light breakfast in silence. YunHo was collecting their bags and coats when JaeJoong was still crouched over the stream and washed his face. Time and again his gaze lingered on the other side and the ashen landscape.
“Are you finished?”
Nodding slowly, he rose and dusted his clothing off before he turned around. Grinning YunHo held out his overcoat and shoulder bag for him. A small smile tucked on his lips when he was ready and with a nudge onto YunHo’s shoulder, he shoved the other forward.
YunHo kept looking at him over his shoulder. “You all right?” JaeJoong simply nodded and shoved him further towards the dead land before them. The ground was covered with a black crust and it crunched beneath their feet with every step. It strengthened an oppressive feeling enveloping them the further they made their way through the landscape with passing time and they cast their glances around in the hopeless attempt to find any form of life.
Halfway through the area that led right to Shiroi Mori, YunHo halted with a huff. “This really is depressing,” he mumbled, his eyes set on the coaly remains of a tree.
JaeJoong wandered a little further, each of his steps accompanied by a crunch. This place was drenched with sorrow and he felt pure sadness enveloping him. Anything his eyes touched with their glance hurt him in a way he couldn’t quite understand. He felt the loss of Charcoal even though he had never been there before. He turned around at the crunch behind him and stared at YunHo. The taller extracted a hand and swiftly moved a finger over his cheek.
“You’re crying,” was all he mumbled and just then he became aware of the wetness. Crestfallen he turned away and rubbed over his eyes. YunHo patted his shoulder. “We should hurry and get out of here.” JaeJoong barely nodded and sniffed into his overcoat when YunHo gently took him by his waist and dragged him further.
“Unusual to see you like this. Crying and all,” YunHo muttered and scratched his head. JaeJoong shot him a teary glare and swatted his arm away. Piqued he stomped further in hopes to leave this area fast and get rid of the melancholic feelings it was giving him.
YunHo hurried after him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that,” he called out, his voice echoing through the eerie silence hanging over Charcoal. He almost crashed into JaeJoong when the smaller suddenly halted in front of a coaly stump. “What,” he wondered at JaeJoong’s awestruck expression. The smaller crouched down and brushed his hand over a cluster of black crust. YunHo crouched down next to him. “Did you see something?” he asked and cocked his head.
JaeJoong nodded curtly and lifted a handful of crust from around the stump. YunHo audibly caught his breath when a small green sprout surfaced. “Impossible,” he whispered awestruck. Gently he inspected the green leaves and eyed it from all angles. “It’s one of Charcoal’s infamous ginkgo trees. I thought I’d never see one of them.” A broad smile spread over his face when he quickly got hold of his journal and scribbled down a few hurried notes.
By then JaeJoong had already finished his sketch and looked at the sprout. His finger gently traced over one of its fragile leaves. Sudden relief flooded his senses and caused a fond smile to brighten his features.
Lighthearted after their discovery they quickly had wandered through Charcoal’s landscape and had reached Ivory’s forest Shiroi Mori by the end of the day. The thick forest consisted mostly of umbrella-pines typical for Ivory’s landscape.
They spent the second night and most of the next day in the thicket and explored the area with its many ferns and insects attentively. Throughout their walk chirping was echoing above their heads and a breeze rushed through the leafy canopy. Time and again YunHo used his map for guidance to not get lost in the thick forest, though with advancing time and darkness he had trouble to read it. He squinted his eyes to get a closer look on it when the last rays of the sun were slowly but surely slipping past the forest.
Whilst he was turning to all cardinal points one at a time to make sure of their surroundings, JaeJoong was crouched over a shrub and sketched a yellow-black legged spider YunHo had explained to be a Jorō-gumo. The oncoming darkness was only a small hindrance to his eyes.
“Hm, I think,” YunHo muttered whilst looking at his map and westwards by turns. He nodded with a pleased grin. “Yes, that’s it. JaeJoong!”
Immediately said one looked up. His eyes followed YunHo’s outstretched arm westwards.
“There’s a path somewhere over there that leads directly to the white temple.” JaeJoong cocked his head and stared at the direction with furrowed eyebrows.
YunHo rolled his eyes. “No need to be sceptical, okay? If we reach this path I’m pretty certain that we will get to the temple in about an hour or two.” He walked over to JaeJoong and stood behind him. JaeJoong looked up into his grinning face with a scowl when he nudged his back with his knee. “Come on. The sooner we get there the faster we might be able to grab a nice meal.”
It was JaeJoong’s time to roll his eyes. Shaking his head at YunHo’s antics he gathered his sketching utensils and stored them in his shoulder bag before he rose to his feet. He punched YunHo’s upper arm lightly when the taller didn’t stop grinning at him and shoved him westwards through the forest.
YunHo chuckled which only caused JaeJoong to shove him harder. “Okay, okay. I’ll stop,” he gave in with a laugh whilst they continued on their way. It wasn’t much longer that the undergrowth cleared before their eyes and gave way for a sandy path illuminated by the rising moon.
“Ah, there it is!” YunHo exclaimed excitedly and jumped out of the thicket in a single bound. JaeJoong followed after him more calmly and shook his head with an amused smile. The night had embraced the forest, the only light leading YunHo and JaeJoong the way being cast by the moon and a few twinkling stars above their heads. Here and there cicadas chirred, owls hooted and distant yowls of a wolf heralded the end of the day.
“Just like home,” YunHo whispered with a content smile and took a deep breath. He glanced over at JaeJoong to seek affirmation and stopped short at the latter’s completely spaced out features directed at the stars. His lips were slightly parted, wide eyes focused and he could see a red shimmer on his cheeks illuminated by the moon. It was a well known sight to YunHo. He followed JaeJoong’s line of vision and smiled to himself when he indeed found the constellation of the phoenix twinkling bright on the night sky.
He watched JaeJoong a little longer in the moonlight before he called out to him, “JaeJoong!”
Ripped from his trance JaeJoong was startled and blinked heavily when he looked over at YunHo.
Said one smiled softly at him. “We have to hurry.” JaeJoong nodded and hurried over to his side. YunHo left JaeJoong’s former trance uncommented and thus they continued their way in silence. A shimmering light appeared in the darkness with advancing time and intensified the further they followed the path.
“Must be the temple,” YunHo suggested and JaeJoong nodded in agreement. They hurried a little faster towards the light, its glow intensifying with every step. A mound enfolded before them at the end of the path, a row of torches leading to an impressive wooden building which welcomed them with a torii gate of weathered ivory colour.
In awe-stricken silence they scaled the steps leading up the small hill and passed the row of torches they had seen from the distance. Engrossed in their surroundings they didn’t notice the monk standing at the top of the mound.
“Annyeonghaseyo [Good evening].”
YunHo and JaeJoong halted in their tracks and looked at the shaven monk in an ivory cowl greeting them in perfect Ebony. “Annyeonghaseyo,” YunHo replied likewise in stiff Ebony and bowed dutifully. JaeJoong did as well.
A smile spread over the shorter man’s lips when he reciprocated the act. He moved his left arm in an inviting gesture. “Nae an-e oseyo. JongWan-hyeongjega dangsin-eul gidaligo issseubnida [Please follow me inside. Brother JongWan is expecting you].”
Baffled YunHo and JaeJoong shared a glance, both shrugging their shoulders, before they followed the invitation and climbed the hill to the top. YunHo lowered his head when he stood before the shorter monk. “Ulileul jusyeoseo gamsahabnida. Je ileum-eun YunHo-igo ijjog-eun JaeJoong-ibnida [Thank you for having us. My name is YunHo and this is JaeJoong].” JaeJoong lowered his head in greeting.
“JunSu-hyeongje ibnida [I am Brother JunSu],” the monk answered their greeting and with a soft nudge of his head he turned and led the two through a huge wooden archway adorned with a bird and hibiscus blossoms of white colour. Ancient letters of the ivory language labelled it as 白いお寺 – Shiroi Otera. “Dangsin-eun maseuteo Mog-i geuui pyeonjieseo eongeub han cheongnam-ieoyahabnida [You must be the young men Master Mok has mentioned in his letter].”
YunHo had easily closed the gap on JunSu and looked baffled at him. “Ju-in-i pyeonjileul bonaessnayo [My master sent a letter]?”
JunSu nodded. “Mullon. Geuneun dangsin-eul wihae doum-eul yocheonghaessseubnida. JongWan-hyeongjega geu munjeleul seuseulo haegyeolhal geos-ilago hwagsinhabnida [Naturally. He asked for assistance on your behalf. I’m certain though that Brother JongWan will bring the matter forth himself].”
Falling silent YunHo and JaeJoong followed JunSu through a well-tended yard framed by hibiscus trees. Somewhere in the still yard a stream was purling and the soft murmur of praying monks was echoing in the night. Once they reached the main entrance, JunSu slid the door open and paid his respect with folded hands before he took off his zoris to enter the hallway. YunHo and JaeJoong followed him suit.
“JongWan-hyeongjega keun hol-eseo gidaligo issseubnida. Geuleul delyeoda julge [Brother JongWan is waiting in the great hall. I’ll take you to him].” Not waiting for a response JunSu turned around, still smiling, and made his way through a wide hallway. They passed a sliding door on their left and a kitchen to their right until they neared the end of the hallway. A vast open hall had enfolded before them on their left and revealed a gigantic wooden statue of a majestic bird. Eyes wide open YunHo stared at the impressive embodiment of the legendary phoenix he had always found fascinating and stood still in reverent silence. JaeJoong to his right was awestruck as well.
Almost without a sound JunSu moved over the timbered floor towards the phoenix statue. An aged monk sat cross-legged to its feet and was absorbed in a prayer. JunSu knelt down next to him. “JongWan-hyoengjega, Mog-sanim-ui hagsaeng-gwa chinguga dochaghaessseubnida [Brother JongWan, Master Mok’s student and his friend have arrived],” he said softly and bowed when the older opened his eyes.
JongWan set his sharp eyes on YunHo and JaeJoong with a mild-mannered smile. “Gamsahabnida, JunSu-hyoungje. Chinjeolhago sonnim-eul-wihan jamjalileul junbihasibsio. HaeChan-hyeongje nim-i sigsaleul junbihage haejuseyo [Thank you, Brother JunSu. Be so kind and prepare a sleeping place for our guests. And let Brother HaeChan prepare a meal].”
JunSu bowed low. “Mullon [Of course].” He rose immediately after and hurried back to YunHo and JaeJoong who had not dared to enter the vast hall. “JongWan-hyeongje nim-i jigeum dangsin-eul bad-a deul-il geos-ibnida [Brother JongWan will see you now].” With a nod he stepped past them into the hallway. The pitter-patter of his feet echoed through the hallway when he made his way towards the kitchen.
A little flustered they entered and every now and then the timbered floor groaned under their steps as they neared the aged monk. With a gentle smile on his lips he gestured for them to sit down across from him.
“JongWan-hyeongje nim, ulileul jusyeoseo gamsahabnida [Thank you for having us, Brother JongWan],” YunHo replied and bowed low on his knees in gratitude and greeting. JaeJoong followed him suit. YunHo straightened. “Jeoneun YunHo-igo ijjog-eun JaeJoong-ibnida [I am YunHo and this is JaeJoong].”
JongWan lowered his head in acknowledgement. “Mannaseo bangabseubnida [Pleased to meet you].”
“Uliga keulimseun-eseo iyagihamyeon gwaenchanh-eulkkayo [Would it be all right if we talked in Crimson]?” YunHo inquired after quick consideration and looked the kind monk in the eye.
“Of course,” JongWan replied fluently as his gentle smile broadened.
A relieved smile tucked on YunHo’s lips. “That’s very kind, thank you.”
“You’re very welcome,” JongWan muttered and waved his hand slightly in a dismissive manner. “You look though as if something is bothering you.”
YunHo startled and blinked heavily. “Well, that,” he stammered and swallowed, “please forgive my bluntness, but has my master messaged you about our coming?”
“He did, indeed. He asked for assistance in your mission to categorise Vernice’s flora and fauna and for possible accommodation. You of course are more than welcome and may stay as long as it fits your purpose. Our archive is available for you and holds many records. Brother ChangMin is in charge of it and will be of assistance to you. I will introduce you in the morning.”
A little flustered YunHo could only bow again in gratitude. “Thank you so much for your generosity.” He barely registered JongWan’s gentle smile when he straightened and had his eyes immediately drawn to the impressive statue towering behind him. Its outspread wings were stretched across the entire width of the room and YunHo could make out the feathers carved into the wooden surface. Its throat was bent a bit backwards and held its head up with the delicate beak being slightly ajar. It was as if the phoenix’s long forgotten serenade was on the top of its tongue.
“I see that you and your companion are fascinated by our phoenix.”
JaeJoong and YunHo jerked at the calm statement. A subtle redness crossed both their cheeks when they looked at the monk sheepishly. YunHo’s right hand rubbed over the nape of his neck in nervous circles when he chuckled bashfully. “I know it’s frowned upon to even mention it, but I really find the ancient legends of the fire bird very intriguing.”
A hearty melodious laughter erupted from JongWan’s lips and he had to hold his chest in amusement. YunHo and JaeJoong were more than just baffled at the sheer joy and couldn’t resist a smile themselves. “Your master already mentioned that you’re confident about your fascination with the phoenix, but I didn’t expect you to be so blunt about it.” He chuckled a little more. “Just make sure to watch out when you speak so openly about it.”
YunHo bit his bottom lip. “That’s what he said as well.”
“And you better listen to him.” Albeit glancing at him with seriousness he still kept a gentle smile. His gaze darted to JaeJoong and he looked the lad over thoroughly. His keen brown eyes were trained once again on the phoenix, a crease between his eyebrows and head cocked sideways. “What’s on your mind, young friend?”
Startled JaeJoong turned to look at the monk. Shyly he bit onto his bottom lip and twiddled with his fingers. He shot YunHo a side glance who had his eyebrows furrowed in thought when JaeJoong subtly pointed at the phoenix and gestured a question mark with his finger.
JongWan observed their silent conversation attentively until YunHo seemed to grasp whatever his friend tried to tell him and caught JaeJoong nervously glancing at him before lowering his head to concentrate on his twiddling fingers.
“I hope it is not too insolent of us, but he is wondering why the phoenix is still existing here. As I recall, my master once said that all temples had to get rid of any sign of its existence when it vanished 300 years ago and that they had to rename as well. Both the temple and themselves.”
Pondering about his reply, JongWan hummed deeply. He shifted a little sideways to glance at the statue towering behind him. “Your master is right, of course. As the other temples we did change the name of our temple and opted to change our religious names as well. Others opted for more traditional and approved names for that matter. As for the phoenix, our honourable brothers fought well to keep our chosen tutelary deity. The other temples always had secondary deities next to the phoenix so they surely opted for the safer alternative, but since the beginning of time the phoenix had been the sole deity for the Kingdoms Ivory, Saffron and, as you surely know, Crimson.”
YunHo nodded. “I know. The crimson temple was destroyed in the wake of Ebony’s reign. Please forgive my bluntness, but why is yours still existing and that with a phoenix deity no less?”
“I wish I could provide you a satisfying answer, but over time it seemed to simply be of no further interest to the upcoming generations of the king. We keep our phoenix a secret outside these walls and the king keeps a blind eye to us. For now that is. We never know when his mood changes in that aspect.”
Reflecting on JongWan’s words YunHo and JaeJoong lowered their heads and were each engrossed on their thoughts. Subtle clattering echoed through the hall and a pleasant fragrance of rice and roasted fish wavered through the air. A creaking of the timbered floor signalised the arrival of another monk.
“Ah, Brother JunSu. I take it that everything is prepared?” JongWan inquired when the younger halted a few steps into the room. He lowered his head in response and had his hands buried in the depths of his wide sleeves. JongWan smiled when he turned his attention once more to YunHo and JaeJoong. “Brother JunSu will bring you to our dining hall for a warm meal and lead you to our sleeping quarters afterwards. We will continue our conversation tomorrow.”
The two bowed in gratitude. Until then they hadn’t really registered their empty stomachs nor their tired muscles.
[part 2]