HIF 59

Ready

Song Ha-gyun hurriedly approached the sleeping Seon Yi-han. He had already forgotten about things like books.

Seon Yi-han did not wake up. No, he couldn’t wake up. No matter what method he tried, he simply wouldn’t rise.

When he shook the frail body, his eyes would open briefly. But his dazed pupils would blurrily reflect him before he immediately fell back asleep.

Mixed with his ragged breathing was fear. Hot tears poured from beneath his tightly closed, scrunched-up eyes. Seon Yi-han tossed and turned in agony for about a few hours like that, dreaming, before falling still as if a thread had snapped, not moving a muscle.

‘It’s not a frequent occurrence.’

Since that day, Song Ha-gyun would leave the laboratory and walk to his own room once each time the sky turned to dawn. Every single day.

Whenever he brought his hand to the closed doorknob, he would unconsciously tense up and stiffen his body.

It wasn’t that Seon Yi-han had nightmares often. But it wasn’t rare either. And whenever he did, he would always develop a fever.

Whether the fever was high or low, it wouldn’t easily go down even with medicine. Song Ha-gyun had come to realize at some point that the flushed cheeks would only gradually subside after that dream ended.

‘What kind of dream is he having?’

Even now, Seon Yi-han simply couldn’t wake up.

Through today’s conversation, Song Ha-gyun became convinced. That Seon Yi-han’s dream was related to receiving divine power. Listening to the sporadic words he uttered in his sleep, the pieces roughly fit together. It must have been something forced upon him.

However, Seon Yi-han, who had been explaining the situation earlier, had a calm expression. As if it were nothing.

So Song Ha-gyun couldn’t be sure of that. Whether Seon Yi-han himself also knew that receiving divine power was not his own will.

‘No, there’s no way he doesn’t know.’

How could he not know? Whether he wanted it or didn’t want it. The answer is only one of those two.

Song Ha-gyun recalled the things Seon Yi-han had said. That he must go somewhere. That he must do something. Those words held more of something other than his own will. Song Ha-gyun keenly sensed that subtle nuance.

Yet, on Seon Yi-han’s face as he spoke like that, a faint smile consistently appeared. As if he was willingly accepting it.

‘He must receive divine power.’

Perhaps Seon Yi-han thought that way and accepted it like an obligation.

Song Ha-gyun vaguely guessed that Seon Yi-han probably didn’t have good memories of the Temple. Not just Song Ha-gyun, but everyone must have noticed.

Seon Yi-han’s attitude of taking a step back, or his awkward reception of gazes directed at him as if they were unfamiliar, or his actions of not even paying attention to himself. Seeing such things, one couldn’t not know.

Perhaps Seon Yi-han had lived like that all along in the Temple. Always putting things concerning himself on the back burner. When his thoughts reached this point, Song Ha-gyun unconsciously opened his mouth.

“Seon Yi-han.”

It was a voice that sounded suppressed and subdued. Song Ha-gyun leaned over Seon Yi-han and swept his hand over his round forehead.

A tearful expression was clearly revealed. It was a face he couldn’t see on a Seon Yi-han who wasn’t asleep. At that precarious-looking appearance, Song Ha-gyun stiffened for a moment. He struggled to steady his breath, which felt choked.

If the side shown when conscious and the side shown when unconscious are different, which side should one believe? Song Ha-gyun was one who believed the latter.

Burying emotions could become a familiar thing for someone. Song Ha-gyun knew that well.

“If you don’t want to do it, say you don’t want to.”

Song Ha-gyun, who had dampened a towel with water, placed it on Seon Yi-han’s feverish forehead.

Seon Yi-han always said he was fine. Song Ha-gyun constantly wondered whether that truly meant he was fine, or that it didn’t matter what happened.

“Not what you must do… do what you want to do.”

Song Ha-gyun thought. That maybe he had always wanted to say this to Seon Yi-han. That he wished Seon Yi-han would only do what he wanted. And that making him do so was himself…

Song Ha-gyun cut off the continuing thought. Then he looked out the window. Dawn was already breaking.

Seon Yi-han was now asleep without moving. When he placed his hand on his nape, the skin was still heated.

‘The fever is quite high.’

He should have given him medicine once more around now.

Song Ha-gyun carefully sat Seon Yi-han up. Supporting his limp neck, he slightly parted his lips, reddened and hot from the fever. And he dripped syrup with fever-reducing effects drop by drop inside.

As he slowly wiped away the sticky syrup trickling from the corner of his mouth down to his chin with his hand, Song Ha-gyun thought. That like this, he might not wake up for quite a while longer.

And as Song Ha-gyun thought, Seon Yi-han was sick all through the next day.

◇

Seon Yi-han opened his eyes. Transparent water-colored pupils took in the world.

‘Huh, wait a moment.’

It was morning. The world was brightening with a dusky Azure Light. The room, lightly covered in morning air, was quiet as if holding its breath. The scent of medicinal herbs spread around.

And he saw a familiar ceiling. A ceiling that was too familiar. This is Song Ha-gyun’s room, right? It definitely wasn’t here when he fell asleep. Why had he suddenly returned to Ledeo?

“Seon Yi-han.”

Song Ha-gyun’s voice was heard right beside him. There was no presence, so he didn’t know he was next to him. Song Ha-gyun slowly stretched his hand toward me. Then he removed the lukewarm towel that had been placed on my forehead.

“…How’s your body?”

“Huh? I’m fine…, cough.”

His throat was clogged. This is bad. This situation was familiar. I must have slept for a long time.

I shouldn’t be like this this time. I said I only have a week off. Time was short. Could I go to the Temple and meet the Teacher?

Song Ha-gyun quietly placed his hand on my shoulder as I hurriedly tried to sit up. Then he slowly supported my lower back and sat me up. It was a careful touch.

Song Ha-gyun directly brought a glass to my mouth. After drinking a few sips of water that was neither hot nor cold, my throat finally felt like it was coming back.

“Ha-gyeon hyung, how much time has passed?”

“…A day. We returned yesterday morning.”

That was fortunate. Not that much time had passed. Song Ha-gyun, perhaps sensing my anxious heart, continued speaking at a faster pace than usual.

“I contacted the Temple yesterday. As soon as we arrived here.”

“There’s a way to contact the Temple? No, more than that, what was the answer?”

“According to regulations, it’s not allowed…”

Song Ha-gyun, who had been quietly examining my face, lightly brushed my cheek. It was a soothing touch. Song Ha-gyun’s voice continued.

“There are means of contact. We can try contacting again. …If you want to speak directly yourself.”

I nodded my head vigorously. I needed to speak with the Teacher first. Song Ha-gyun lightly gripped my chin.

“Stop that. It hasn’t been long since your fever went down.”

It seemed I had indeed come down with a fever as Song Ha-gyun had said before I fell asleep. Once the situation was sorted out, I needed to think a bit about my physical condition. This was really a problem.

Song Ha-gyun supported my legs and back and lifted me up.

“Hyung, I’ll walk. Where do I need to go?”

“…Right now, can you put strength into your body?”

“Uh…”

Thinking about it, my body was in a limp state. It felt mushy, like I had been soaked in hot water and just gotten out. To realize this only now, I must have been out of my mind.

“Thank you, hyung.”

“You had a high fever. …I expected it.”

Song Ha-gyun exited the room and slowly walked down the corridor. The corridor was empty. Well, at this time, everyone would be asleep. It seemed it hadn’t been long since morning arrived.

The air felt a bit warmer than before. It already felt like summer was rapidly approaching. Spring always left quickly.

Song Ha-gyun’s body, slowly descending the stairs, swayed slightly.

“…Everyone is in the study.”

“Huh? At this time too?”

“Yeah.”

I was curious why they were in the study at this time. But before I could bring up this question, Song Ha-gyun was already standing in front of the study door.

Whether Song Ha-gyun used magic or not, the door opened by itself. Inside, as Song Ha-gyun said, all three people were there.

Raen was sitting in a chair in front of the desk. Park Yul was sitting on something like a long, black sofa placed opposite him, and Min Joo-hyuk was leaning against the wall.

Everyone was looking at me as if frozen. Soon, urgent voices were heard.

“Seon Yi-han! Are you okay now?”

“Yi-han, you were really sick. How are you feeling now?”

“I was worried, Yi-han-ah. Do you want to eat something? Should I make something for you now?”

I think I said I was fine about five times. I didn’t even want to eat anything right now. Song Ha-gyun calmly sat me on the sofa and sat down beside me as well.

“He’s going to make contact. With the Temple.”

“I see. So you’ve decided.”

“I’ll be right back.”

As soon as Min Joo-hyuk heard Song Ha-gyun’s words, he sprang up and disappeared outside the study.

Raen floated a small glass toward me. Song Ha-gyun picked it up and brought it to my mouth. It was honey tea at a suitable temperature.

“There’s a means of contact provided by the Temple. Ju-hyeok went to get it just now.”

Soon, Min Joo-hyuk returned. He was holding a large, luminous blue crystal in his arms. As Raen spread something like a thick cushion on the desk, Min Joo-hyuk placed the crystal on it.

“You can make contact by breaking this crystal, Yi-han-ah. Until it turns to powder and scatters completely. Tell me when you’re ready.”

“I’m ready.”

“Right now? You don’t have to rush.”

I shook my head. Of course, my heart was in a hurry right now, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t ready. I know myself well. I could do it calmly.

“Alright. Then I’ll start. This can’t be broken with magic, so it might be a bit noisy. Hyung-nims, I’ll begin.”

Min Joo-hyuk exchanged glances with Park Yul and then nodded. Soon, I felt hands covering my ears from behind. The hands brushing my ears were warm.

Min Joo-hyuk placed something like a thin nail on the crystal. Then he struck it hard with a long, silver rod. The tendons on his rolled-up forearm bulged.

After Min Joo-hyuk repeated that three or four times, the crystal split in half. From the split part, sparkling blue powder flowed out. That powder surged upward like smoke and slowly scattered.

Not long after, a quiet voice resonated in the room.

[Yes. Please state your business.]

It was the Teacher’s voice. It was fortunate; if it had been another Priest, the situation would have been complicated. I steadied my breath and opened my mouth.

“Teacher… It’s Seon Yi-han.”