Four | Into Songrim

3RD POV

It's way past dinnertime the second Danggu heard that Yul is looking for him in Jeongjingak's library. He wondered what was up with his friend as he saw the other young Mage in his dark green durumagi with a mix of calm and curious look on his face.

"Alright Danggu is here," the blonde mage spoke up as he walked over to the other end of the table. 

Yul was too focused on the bird whistle that was in his hand and this made Danggu raise an eyebrow at him. 

The 20-year-old placed a book that he had brought back with him onto the table before sitting down on his chair across from Yul and asking him a question. "What is that? A whistle?"

"Yes," Yul answered simply, tilting his head to the side, his eyes still on the small object, "I swear I made this."

"Oh, right, I remember," Danggu spoke up as an old memory passed resurfaced, "You used to have a pet bird."

Then he asked, "Are you thinking of getting a new one?"

Yul sighed as he shook his head gently. "No. Not exactly. I just found this on someone unexpectedly. I wonder why she had it."

"Maybe you gave it to her?" Danggu asked with a shrug, "Or you forgot that you gave it to her?"

Yul's eyes changed as he replied back, "No. I clearly remember who I gave this to," and he clenched his hand around the object as he recalled someone from his past many years ago.

Danggu glared at his friend in confusion, finally giving up on enlightening him. "Then go and ask her," he suggested as he leaned back onto his chair.

The chair that Yul was sitting on made a screeching sound for a split second as he pushed it back and stood up.

"Wait, are you going now at this hour?"

"I need to check something."

Yul then walked off, leaving a very confused and surprised Danggu who looked back at the book he brought with him. 

Then someone popped up in his head and made him mutter under his breath, "I wonder what Ryu's doing over at her place... She'd love to read this book for sure."

"Shouldn't you be asleep?" Ryu asked the second she saw Wook walking down the hallway. 

The young lady couldn't sleep a wink after thinking about the events earlier today. She wasn't at all worried about Wook for a few minutes but after overthinking and the possibility of Mudeok being Naksu, Ryu didn't have the time to fall asleep. So she decided to stay out in the hallway right outside her bedroom doors. Her room was near Wook's after all and if something happens, she'll be able to head over there in just a short time. But for almost an hour, nothing much happened. That is until Wook showed up totally wide awake.

"I can ask you the same thing," Wook replied back nonchalantly.

Ryu sighed and got up from the floor before saying, "Oh, how I wish I could but-"

"You can't help it. You, too, think that Mudeok could be Naksu," Wook lowly said, cutting her off.

That shut Ryu up. But then she opened her mouth again when she noticed that something was off.

"So why are you out here..?"

"Oh, that? Mudeok took my Spirit Plaque."

"WHAT?!"

Wook immediately covered his cousin's mouth. Their eyes were both wide open but for two different reasons.

"Shh! You might wake Maidservant Kim up," he told Ryu as he pulled his hand away.

Ryu mentally groaned and wanted to punch him in the guts but she held herself back and tried to calm her temper down. "Alright, so that is why you're here," she whispered back, "Are we going to get it back?"

Wook nodded his head with a soft smirk. "She should be on her way to Songrim by now."

Ryu shook her head at this and asked, "Did you plan this since we were at Chwiseonryu?"

This time Wook shut up and Ryu couldn't believe that Wook would do something like this but something in her made her stop scolding him any further. A memory of the two when they were teenagers. It was right after Master Park had told Wook that he can't open his gate of energy and teach him spells. 

The second Wook kicked his father's sword and walked away, Ryu pulled her hand away from Yul's and immediately ran after her cousin. She passed by Maidservant Kim who gave her a gentle, worried look. Then she ran out of Jeongjingak and out into the streets of Songrim where Wook is at.

"Wook! Jang Wook!" Ryu called out as she caught up to him.

The 13-year-old stopped walking and slowly turned around to face her. His teary-eyed glared at Ryu with a cold and angry stare but seconds later it changed to a soft and sad stare. The young lady clenched both of her fists and she stood in front of him.

"Wook..." She whispered as a tear escaped from him. 

"Ryu..." He whispered back, his voice breaking in the end.

She hugged him right away and patted his back. "It's going to be okay, Wook," she said with a firm tone, "I know it."

"I... I don't know if I can..." 

Ryu pulled away from him and sigh.

"You just told the Head of Songrim that you'll find yourself a Master. Don't tell me now that that was all just an act?" 

Wook gave her a look that made him contemplate what he did earlier.

Then Ryu spoke up with such confidence that it gave Wook some sort of courage.

"Once you find your Master and open your gate of energy, I will master Chisu."

"But... You've only recently mastered Jipsu-"

Ryu raised an eyebrow and asked with a playful tone, "Did you forget who my parents were?" 

This made Wook chuckle quietly to himself before Ryu continued on this time genuinely. 

"My father was one of Songrim's fastest learners while my mother came from one of Daeho's smartest and hardworking families. I'll be able to learn Ryusu if I put my mind to it. So, while I do that, you go out there and find yourself a Master who will open your Gate of Energy, and once that happens I will be able to master Chisu by then."

"Are you sure about this, Ree?" Wook asked, still unsure about this.

Ryu softly laughed and nodded her head. "It's my promise to you, my brother."

Ryu looked over at Wook as the two walked to Songrim in silence. 

"Did Wook plan to have Mudeok steal his Spirit Plaque since earlier today to have her become his Master... So that I can finally master Chisu?" She thought to herself as she mentally glared holes at his head.

After a few more minutes, the two cousins made it to Songrim. They've noticed that the protection spell around Songrim has been taken down already.

"She's in Songrim," Wook said as we both stared at the entrance. "She must be looking for her sword."

"How about we split up?" Ryu suggested quickly as worry filled up inside of her.

The tall boy looked at her unsure of her suggestion but it was all they have at the moment. "Okay, let's do that," he replied back.

Then Ryu told him before running off to the left, "If you see her, get her out of here before the night guards find her."

Wook nodded his head and started to head over to the right side. 

Ryu watched as he ran off in search of their new maid while she quietly said to herself, "Let's hope Yul, Danggu, and the other mages are asleep at this time."

Ryu's POV

Once Wook was out of sight, I ran to Jeongjingak, hoping that Mudeok was nearby. But instead of finding the new maid, I noticed a group of assassins entering the training grounds. I knew right away that they were the men of Naksu and are looking for her body and sword. 

I cursed under my breath as I hurriedly went down there. I hear someone yelling 'intruder' and moments after all Junior ranking mages came out with their swords. I looked around the area and I instantly saw Danggu near the bridge fighting off one of the assassins. Things were escalating quickly making my plan to find Mudeok before Wook turn into a failure. I gritted my teeth in irritation and joined in the fight.

An assassin was about to slash their sword at Danggu but just in time I was able to manipulate the flow of energy from the pond beneath the bridge and gathered just enough to throw it at the man in black. The assassin fell unconscious to the ground and Danggu turned around surprised to see me.

"Shouldn't you be at home? Sleeping?" He asked before pulling me to the side to dodge another assassin's sword.

Danggu then kicked our enemy with a powerful force, making them stumble backward and fall into the pond. "I couldn't sleep and ended up walking back to Songrim," I answered with a half-lie.

My blonde friend took it and didn't question me any longer. We then went back to the fight. It was slightly difficult without my wooden tonfas but I managed to dodge every sword with Danggu's help here and there. Soon the assassins start to decrease in numbers as each one died. My focus on the enemies start to dissipate the second I saw a familiar silhouette running to the back of the training grounds. Then my eyes widen as  I realized who it was.

"Mudeok..." I whispered to myself as I deliberately made a decision to go after her.

"Ryu! Where are you going?" Danggu called out right after dealing off the rest of the assassins on the bridge.

"I'll be back!" I hollered while running to where Mudeok had gone to.

3RD POV

Wook heard the same thing Ryu did. He wanted to help but he remembered that he needed to find Mudeok before anyone else does. He knew that Ryu wouldn't be able to find Mudeok at this time with the intruders on the loose, so he focus on the search for his new maid. After 10 minutes of looking around, he couldn't seem to find her. Wook had started to wonder if Mudeok had already gone inside Jeongjingak. But his thoughts of doubt vanished when he saw the short girl running down the road away from Jeongjingak.

Wook grinned both in relief and happiness. The 20-year-old then pulled Mudeok into the back of a restaurant just before Yul could catch her outside. 

"Young Master?" Mudeok asked in surprise.

Wook brought up a finger to his lips telling her to be quiet. Then he looked at the entrance of the restaurant to check if Yul had already left. His friend did leave a few seconds later in confusion.  

Once Yul was gone, Mudeok immediately asked, "What are you doing here?"

Wook turned to look back at her and simply answered, "Because of your eyes."

"My eyes?" Mudeok glared at him, totally baffled at his answer.

Silence fell upon the two as the clouds from the sky uncovered the moon. Letting its light shine over Songrim and the eyes of Mudeok, for a few seconds, the moonlight showed off the blue mark that both Wook and Ryu saw in Chwiseonryu. And it sure was beautiful.

"I knew the moment I saw you," Wook finally spoke up, "You are my master."

- end of chapter 4 -

Word Count: 2061

not yet edited

🌼 a/n:

Halooo LCVENIs~!! 🧡

Finally, with this chapter, episode one is done- 💀 lmao

Yo yo to those who I talked to in the comments in Chapter 3 about Mudeok being Buyeon, that theory went down the drain 😂😂😂 or not... I still haven't finished episodes 9 and 10 because I've been busy with uni, so no spoilers pls lmaooo. But sjksjskjs I'm still getting the feeling that the real Mudeok is Buyeon because of Jinyowon doors opening for her, then that scene with Jin Mu and Buyeon finding the ice stone, and also that new character who stole the women's money on the boat after talking to them about finding her 'friend' Mudeok. Idk but with her talent in theivery, I have a feeling she stole things that belonged to Mudeok like the thing tied to her hair- it had the Jinyowon symbol if I'm not mistaken. 🤡

Anyways, I hope everyone's doing alright! Stay safe and healthy. 😄🧡

I'll try to update the next two chapters within this week. If I can't then I'll announce it on my page. 

-k.