"H- he's... Ill?" Sunoo asked her. His worry showing on his face. Hoping he heard wrong or maybe Sunghoon wasn't as ill as he was thinking.

"He is burning up, feeling dizzy, nauseous, and just having difficulty breathing." She replied kindly to him.

Sunoo took his backpack off, opened it and revealed it to her. "I am a herbalist. I can help him. Can you tell him that Kim Sunoo wishes to aid him?"

The woman peeked at the apothecary inside Sunoo's bag before nodding. "I will tell him." With that, she walked back inside the castle.

Sunoo smiled widely and waiting patiently for the maid to return. He thought about small talk with the guards, but then decided to not...

After many minutes, she returned. "Right this way, sir." She said to him and gestured for him to follow. And he did.

She led him through the castle halls. It was huge, and beautiful. The walls and floor were all stone. And some statues were made of marble.

It would take lots of work to be able to get my hands on such a thing.

The maid's footsteps echoed through the castle halls. Sunoo, however, wore leather shoes that did not make any noise.

His eyes were wide, he was amazed by the castles beauty. It was nothing cozy or homey like a cottage. But it was breathtaking.

"Here you are.." the maid gestured to the room Sunghoon was in.

Sunoo bowed politely before walking in.

Sunghoon was lying down on the bed, underneath some thin sheets. He looked the same as Sunoo remembered seeing him last. Except this time a little more pale.

"Sunoo!" Sunghoon sat up. "I was actually surprised you came." Sunghoon smiled. He enjoyed company. As long as it wasn't someone trying to convince him to marry their daughters. Or someone wanting to discuss politics. That was usually the only company he got since the princess left.

"Of course!" Sunoo sat on the bed next to Sunghoon. "Well, actually I came to tell you something. But I also want to help you get better."

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. "What do you need to tell me?"

Sunoo placed his backpack on his lap and started digging through the herbs he had. "Uhm. I wanted to inform you about a disease killing the forest, and even the wildlife. It's happening North of here. A day's walk away."

"What? Really? It's that bad?" Sunghoon asked, worriedly.

"Yeah. It's pretty bad." He laughed awkwardly and put some tinctures on the nightstand. "I've tried studying it. It's nothing like I've ever seen before. Like some sort of curse, or something unnatural. It sucks the life from things. Turning the plants, or wildlife, black and lifeless."

Sunghoon watched as Sunoo prepared medicine. His eyes wide. "Well okay then... It has nothing to do with me being sick now does it?"

"Uh.." Sunoo itched his head. "I believe not. But it's good to be cautious. These herbs here were immune to it. It'll help you." Sunoo dropped a few drops of herbal medicine on a spoon, and put it in front of Sunghoon's mouth. "Say ahh." He said in a higher pitched voice like he would do for Yumi.

Sunghoon cringed and took the spoon from Sunoo, and took it himself.

Sunoo blushed from embarrassment, but didn't say anything.

He gave the spoon back to Sunoo. Realizing he probably shouldn't trust someone he only met recently. But it was too late now, and he just didn't feel like Sunoo was going to do something bad like poison him.

"Do we have enough of these herbs to stop the forest from dying?" Asked Sunghoon, knowing it was probably not possible.

Sunoo bursted into laughter. "No no no.. definitely not. These herbs are harder to find. And the disease is getting bad."

"How can we stop it then?"

"Uh... I think magic would be the best."

Sunghoon's eyes widened. He heard about magic in history books but he was always told that the art of magic was forgotten.

"Magic? Who the hell knows magic these days?"

"Whoever started the disease might have." He said seriously. "I'm sure someone else knows magic too. It's a big world and magic can't simply be forgotten."

Sunghoon hummed. He knew Sunoo was probably right but finding someone who had the ability to use magic was not going to be easy. Especially since only certain people could use magic. Some could train for decades and never be able to use it. And others could use magic without even realizing it.

"We can get word out through out the country... For now, we should prepare Korzan, warn the people, and especially farms and such. Animal products and produce should be checked just in case." Said Sunoo with a serious tone.

"Right.. I'll take care of that." Sunghoon sighed and sat back. "You just keep up your herbalism."

"I will. Don't worry." Sunoo chuckled. "So... How are you feeling now?"

"Fine. Just dizzy. And nauseous, lightheaded. I feel alright when I lay here."

Sunoo hummed and gently placed the back of his hand on Sunghoon's forehead to check his temperature.

Sunghoon blushed awkwardly at the touch.

"You're cold as ice." Said Sunoo. "You should be just fine. I'll come check on you, if you'll allow it."

"Yeah... You're welcome whenever you wish." Sunghoon replied softly. He really enjoyed his company more than anything else.

Sunoo smiled and then began putting the herbs and medicines back into his bag.

Seems I've already made two great friends in Korzan....

Sunoo left the castle and headed back to Taki's house. He really needed to buy his own cottage. He felt guilty staying at Taki's.

He stopped when he saw a small library.

I wonder if I can find a book about magic...

He decided to look really quick. He entered the library.

Yumi doesn't doesn't like books anyway.

The library was dark, dusty and nobody was inside except him, and the old librarian who sat quietly at his seat besides the door. Reading a novel.

Sunoo made his way to a section any books about magic would be.

After a few minutes, his eyes landed on a crimson book with golden words on it's spine.

It was the exact book he was looking for.