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Concupiscence from An Adventurer’s Guide to Romance Part 6 of @guardians-of-exo and I’s wonderful series! We've worked so hard to get this chapter out, and I am so terribly sorry to everyone who waited a long time for it (one year today since the last one OMG!) There are only three chapters left to our OT9 collection, and we hope you are enjoying them! Pairing: Minseok x f.reader Rating: None. Lots of flirting, some kissing, and suggestive content. Words: 11k

“Y/N, please just,” the Huntress sighs, “Be careful. We don’t know these people yet.” You try your best not to laugh at her skeptical nature outright, but can’t keep the carefree smile from twisting your own lips. “Yes, Mother.” She serves you a deadpan look. “Just don’t jump into bed with him on the first day, okay? I don’t want that kind of reputation, and I would never be able to look the King in the face if he finds out the first thing our leader did when we got into town was… was… that.” This time you bark a loud laugh. “I won’t. I just want to see if he has any information. Taverns and Innkeepers usually do.” She raises one brow at you, as if to call your bluff, but purses her lips and ignores you with a shake of her head. Smiling, you tease, “Doesn’t mean I can’t have a little fun while I gather some intel.” She groans audibly at your immaturity, throwing her hands up and mumbling about it being a miracle you’re the leader and the party isn’t dead yet. Her exasperation makes you grin, knowing it’s mostly for show - she isn’t actually angry. “Thank you,” you coo, giving her a pat on her shoulder before sauntering to the door of your new room at the Inn, “I’ll be up later. Try to get some sleep, yeah?” She ignores you, instead stuffing her hands and face into the midnight tresses of her canine companion who lounges at the foot of her bed. Closing the door, you peer over the railing. There are only two patrons left, men who you saw earlier sitting at the long stone bar and talking with the handsome owner. It’s late, so you wonder if the bar is closed or if you’re just in time for the last call. Feline eyes find your form descending the stairs, and he makes a sound of familiarity when your head pops below the ceiling, “Oh, good evening! Care to join for a last round?” “That would be kind, thank you.” It couldn’t hurt to have one drink, and you’d be lying if you said you were not dying for a cold pint. The two men at the bar raise their half-empty mugs at you in greeting. One of them is dressed impeccably, and you briefly wonder if he is a Lord. Awfully young, and almost too handsome, with a boyish smile, tanned skin and sandy blond hair curled up and over his own forehead. You decide he can’t be a Lord because his eyes twinkle with too much delight. “Jongin,” he says when you sit down beside him, followed by gesturing to his compatriot beside him. This man has thin lips that naturally curl into a smile, and eyes that hold lighthearted mirth and kindness. His hair, much like the owner's, is dark enough to rival the depth of pitch black night. “Jongdae,” he answers politely, “Nice to meet you.” The owner returns with a cold mug for you, “I guess that means I should tell you I’m Minseok.” You grin at his introduction, broadening your smile when you turn and see his face is staring at your own with a lopsided smirk. “It’s nice to meet all of you. I’m Y/N.” They hum in affirmation or nod their heads, until Jongdae asks, “So Y/N, I’m curious about what your party and guild do.” In your mind, you notice this will open the door for information you want in return. Smiling, you take a swig of ale before you answer. “Well, our guild does various jobs that require a guild’s skills. Sometimes they’re simply protecting someone, or other times they’re bigger and harder to solve like our current mission here.” “What kinds of skills do you have?” Jongin asks innocently. His question makes you smile, “I’m the Leader of my crew, and I’m a Shieldmaiden, although any weapon is lethal in my hands.” The blond takes an audible gulp of air followed by the last of his ale. “Scary,” you hear him murmur. Minseok is smiling at you as if your answer was delightful to his ears. “Can you brawl?” he inquires. With a tilt of your head, “I can, although I definitely prefer the weight of steel in my hands.” He nods, “To each their own, I suppose.” The answer piques your interest, “You brawl?” Minseok leans closer to you over the counter of the bar, “Of course I do. How do you think I keep this fine establishment in

check?” “You’re a lot stronger than you look,” you muse quietly, but he grins nonetheless. “I’m all that you think of and a whole lot more, darling.” Jongdae whistles lowly, shaking his head. He finishes the last dredge of his mug before he smacks his lips and claps Jongin on the shoulder. “That’s our cue to high-tail it out of here.” You say nothing as you watch the men excuse themselves with heavy sighs, smiling at them over the rim of your mug. Minseok keeps his hands on the bar spread wide, watching them with just as much mischief and silence. Jongdae tosses one tired hand in the air to wave goodbye just as he ushers Jongin through the door first, letting it swing closed behind him. Minseok mirrors the wave, then turns his attention back to you. “So,” he starts, smirking when you look up through your lashes to meet his gaze, still with your mug to your lips. He pauses to clear his throat, “Do you mind if I join you for one more?” You swallow, enjoying the bitterness of the brew that slides easily down. “I thought you’d never ask,” you coo delightedly, making Minseok’s grin double in size as he makes his way to the spout of the largest barrel behind him. He expertly pours two more, then whips the cloth from his shoulder down to wipe the handle and place the cloth on the bar before rounding it and sitting in the chair directly beside you. There’s something different about him, and you’re not just thinking that because you’re attracted to him. If Huntress’s ability is to watch the land - yours is people. There’s something genuinely unique about the aura of authority and power that surrounds the man sitting shoulder to shoulder with you, and if you were his enemy, it would make you incredibly wary. “You can feel me, can’t you?” he asks bluntly, raising his head to admire the elk antlers displayed above the barrels on the wall. He doesn’t look at you as he takes his first rewarding drink of ale. His direct question throws you off for only a second, “Excuse me?” He smiles, turning to look at you, “Your face says you were trying to guess me. Which means you can feel that I’m not an ordinary human.” Another sip passes your lips, “No, you’re not.” He nods slowly, turning to you completely with his lips pursed to one side, “Does it scare you?” Your immediate reaction is to furrow your brows in confusion. “Actually, it’s quite the opposite,” you murmur. His eyes go wide, blinking before he laughs suddenly at your admission - his cheeks tinged pink. “You’re something else!” he grins once he rebounds his surprise. His comment makes you snort a laugh all your own, “What does that mean exactly?” Minseok’s face relaxes into his best attempt at a neutral expression, “It means I’m impressed…” he begins. “And insanely attracted to you, if I’m an honest man.” You meet his feline eyes, never wavering from your face, although they do peek down to watch your tongue swipe the ale from your lips. His compliment makes you smile. “The feeling is mutual.” Unconsciously, he leans a little closer, “So I really don’t scare you?” You shake your head, “But can I ask what this other part of your nature is? It doesn’t feel quite like magic.” He leans back, draping his arm over the back of his chair. The hand raises in the air, and he flourishes his fingers around as if he were going to cast a spell or something, but instead the skin and bones of the hand take on a new shape with the sound of popping joints. Razor sharp claws extend from the nail beds, and you watch with rapt attention. Before you can understand what just happened, it’s gone and the hand in front of you is humanoid and ordinary. Minseok lets you collect your thoughts for a moment while he takes a swig. “So you’re a shifter? Or a were? Was it a curse, or were you born into some ancient bloodline?” Your questions come rapidly, making the man in front of you smile as he stops you at your last guess. “Probably a curse,” he laughs. “As far as I’m aware, I’m the only one like me.” You take his hand in yours and examine it, fascinated by the transformation you

just witnessed, “When did you know?” Minseok stutters just a little, taken aback by your blatant lack of fear and the feeling of you tickling at his palm and fingers. “I guess since I was a babe. My parents said I was born with feline eyes, but then they just went back to normal human eyes. Sometimes the feline side would appear and sometimes not. It wasn’t until puberty that I really started to notice that it was so much more.” You laugh, “So you’re not just some house cat.” He pulls his hand from your grip with pouted lips, “Is that a challenge?” You smirk, leaning into his space, “Depends on what kind of challenge we’re talking about here, handsome.” He raises a brow but leans in, calling a bluff, “Don’t test me, woman. I’d gladly take you to my bed right now.” This back and forth does nothing but excite you further, “I’ll t-” Minseok suddenly stops leaning in, sitting up straight and looking around towards the storeroom behind the bar. “What’s wrong?” you ask, uncertain what he is suddenly on edge about. Your skin doesn’t prickle with any feeling. He stands from his seat, giving you a brief smile, “You should go back to your room now. It’s late.” You rise with him, “Are you alright?” He rounds the bar hurriedly, scowling, “It’s really nothing, just an old friend. Please go back to your room now. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He waits until your palm grips the railing at the staircase before he waves goodnight to you and goes into the storeroom. Although a strong part of you desires to investigate and find out what’s going on, you don’t want to rush into this like a fool. You’ll wait - gathering more intel. _________________ The next morning, you’re walking toward the palace, bringing up the rear of your party and watching the townspeople in the square for any signs of odd behavior as you pass through on your way. There are certainly lots of stares thrown around at you, but you pay them no mind. Nothing feels strange right now, or even as you climb the palace road toward the keep. Even upon entering, you’re not sensing anything out of place. Meeting the Lady of the Palace first, she serves the same purpose and holds the same authority as a Seneschal would in so many other kingdoms. She speaks on behalf of the King after his introduction, and there’s a bit of relief in her smile when you assure them that your party will do whatever it takes. Regardless of your words, she looks tired. So does his Majesty, the King. You would expect a Prince of such nobility to be just as tired, or aloof and indifferent, but you’re surprised to see the auburn-haired Prince Baekhyun looks anything but. He watches the eyes and faces of everyone, much like yourself. Waves of frustration keep his shoulders tense as he makes eye contact with the Lady of the Palace when she mentions Knight Captain Chanyeol has first-hand combat experience with these creatures. You look at him, standing like a towering beacon behind the Prince’s throne. His hair is a shade of silver that you’ve never seen before on someone so young, and you wonder briefly if he is a foreigner because of the unique characteristic. He’s huge, at least two meters tall. You smirk, daydreaming of the excitement a duel with him would be like. You find yourself wanting to fight him, and he must sense the intensity of your wish and your gaze. His eyes snap to yours and for just a moment they feel like icy daggers that make your blood run cold with fear. Yes, definitely deadly, you tell yourself. But a challenge you want to face nonetheless. Making a mental note to ask him if there’s ever time, you continue the conversation you were listening to, “Thank you very much.” You get started with some of the resources you can utilize, “I would like to inquire, while we’re here. Are there any regular hunting parties that go out in safe zones around the Kingdom? I would like to request permission to join the next one to gather information. If there is a Cartographer in your court, I should very much like to speak with them as well.” The Lady of the Palace pauses for an

Full of curiosity, you wrap up your business at the Palace with polite formality, “Perfectly, my Lady.” You break away from your party as you reach the market square on your walk back. The second eldest of your group looks at you with furrowed brows, “Where are you going Y/N?” “To observe some more!” you call with a smile, never stopping as you walk away from them with a wave. “Just be careful!” she calls, ushering the rest of your party back toward the Inn. You turn back once, just to see her nudging your starry-eyed bard, who has stopped to stare at the sandy-haired performer in the center of the square. Your pace slows to a leisurely one, striding across the square. At the corner, there’s a Smithy boasting the finest weapons for the middle class. Perhaps with a touch of self indulgence, you make a beeline for the reinforced tables lined with axes and swords. Your eyes glitter upon seeing the various weapons, all polished to a sparkle. Polearms made of sturdy oak, with simple leather banding and clean steel line the walls. You appreciate them, enjoying the organization by class and function between pike and lance, scythe, poleaxe, and even the rarer halberd. “You fancy yourself a halberdier, miss?” The Blacksmith calls from the anvil. He stands up straight and wipes at his brow just as he stuffs a forged longsword into the quenching bath beside you. Smiling, you didn’t realize your fingers were pressed to the cool steel of the blade during your admiration of it, “No, sir. Just admiring.” He stands, perhaps a whole head taller than you but not much more, beside the forge. His head is bald, shining with sweat and smears of smoke, but his features are kind, and the crow’s feet around his eyes are the only indicator of his age. The Blacksmith fusses with the forge for a moment, using the bellows on the flames. “Is there something in particular you’re looking for?” he asks again. You wander to the table closest to the forge, with maces and flails, and various adaptations of morningstars that could be affixed or replaced on either of the weapons. Different sizes on chains at different lengths, some smaller ones on three chains connected together for maximum damage. “No, sir. I’m new in town, so just having a look around. Seeing if I find anything unique.” He strokes his imaginary beard for a moment, “Unique, eh?” In a flurry of movement, he rounds the forge and looks over the table at the front of his collection. It piques your interest, and he mutters something under his breath. A moment later, he turns back to you with a dagger in his hands. “This is probably the most unique thing I’ve got for sale.” He holds it out to you, and you take it to weigh in your grip. It’s balanced, just perfectly. The grip is braided in deep black leather strips, and the way the light of the fire glints off the blade tells you it’s Kadian steel. The pommel is shaped like the moon, and there are three moonstones crested in the guard on each side. “It certainly looks unique. Where did you get it?” you ask, holding it up to admire it further. The Blacksmith hums, “I bought it off an old woman in the Northern Juniper Mountains back when I was collecting rare pieces in my traveling days. It’s the last one of the collection I had.” “Was there something special about it?” He sighs wistfully, “Back then, Kadian steel was barely heard of, and always brought an even higher price. I think she mentioned it was enchanted, but I don’t remember what the enchantment was. The only thing I cared about was Kadian steel.”

You smile, “What’s your asking price?” The older man smiles, “I’ll not part with it for less than five gold pieces.” You smile back at him, “Is that because you feel attached to it?” He flushes at your question, “Four gold pieces.” You sigh, “I’ll be back for it then. I’ve got the coin, but let me sit on it for a few days. If it’s still here when my mission is done, I’ll take it off your hands.” Handing the dagger back to him, he places it back in the display it was in, “Aye, if it’s here then.” You wave goodbye, exiting to continue your window shopping… or, observing. The shoppe beside the Smithy belongs to a Tailor. The storefront has a large window, perhaps the only one you’ve seen like it. It’s used for displaying the clothes the shoppe offers. Wooden mannequins, one man, one woman, and two small children. A family dressed in various functional fashion. You’re still looking when a young man walks past you, waving in greeting. “Let me know if you see anything you like. There’s more inside,” he says in greeting as he opens the door of the shoppe. It takes you a second after the door shuts behind him to realize it’s the young performer from the square. A moment longer and you realize he is also the other young man who frequents the Inn and seems close to Minseok. When the moon finally rises, you’re four pints deep into shamelessly flirting with Minseok. He, sober as always, never lets you out of his sight. “Don’t do that,” you hiss at him over the rim of your mug. He grins at you as he slides a mug down the bar for someone else, one brow raised, “Do what?” Your face puckers, “There you go, doing that again.” He laughs this time, gesturing around, “Doing what? What did I do?” “You keep smiling like that. Making your eyes crinkle all delightfully at me,” you admit with flushed cheeks. Minseok does nothing to fight back the prideful grin that spreads across his face, and he scoffs a laugh, tongue in cheek. Before he can comment any further, the door slams open, and three men walk inside. Two of whom you recognise from the rendezvous at the palace. The smallest one still recognizable without his crown, and the largest still as intimidating without his sword. You watch their entrance, waving and greeting patrons who raise their glasses toward them. It is then you notice your own party member is sitting alone at a table with Kane, and a pang of guilt washes over you for not sitting with her. Just as you swing yourself off the barstool to join her, the men reach the bar, and the Knight Captain is standing directly in front of you. It is equal parts infuriating and exciting to crane your neck back to see his face properly. “Hello again,” he says, and his voice is exactly what you would expect, deep and gravelly. But warm and friendly, nonetheless. Your hand automatically outstretches, “Hello. I don’t think we got the chance to introduce ourselves earlier. I’m Y/N,” The Knight Captain looks confused, enveloping your hand in his, “Chanyeol.” Minseok has a wicked grin on his face, pointing at you when Chanyeol’s expression remains puzzled. “She wants to fight you,” he says. The Prince snickers at that, and the Knight Captain’s face scrunches in horror. Without knowing the reason for their reactions, it still puts you off. “Oh? Do you think you’ll win so easily?” you wonder aloud, dropping his hand. The man in front of you changes in a split second. The warm, friendly giant is now bigger, somehow, than he was a moment ago. His presence doubled in size, and the friendly warmth he emits is now akin to the flame of danger and challenge. He stares at you for a tense moment, deeply considering your request and probably sizing you up, if you had to guess. Ultimately, he deflates, “With all due respect, I would have to decline.” You’re surprised when the Prince speaks before you do, “What? Why not?” The Knight Captain turns to his friend, “I can’t. My job is to protect you, and it’s too risky. If she or I get hurt, and your father found out, we recklessly put the Kingdom’s mission at risk. I can’t even imagine

You smile at her, sparing a glance at Sehun as you tie the reins of her horse to your own. “Be careful. Whistle when you’re ready.” There’s no doubt in your mind that your Huntress will win the challenge. Not to discount the Kennel Master’s abilities, but you know exactly what your friend’s been through to develop her skills. “Don’t come back if you lose, Sehun!” the Prince calls jokingly, a grin tweaking up his lips on one side. Their camaraderie makes you feel relaxed, and without their entertaining banter, you turn back to observing the Prince. Roughly half a kilometer off, the group comes across a rustling about ten yards further. The Prince is the first to dismount, intriguing you on why he would ditch his steed to hunt. Unless you really have underestimated him, and he is vastly more skilled than you give him credit for. You focus, watching and listening to the entire show. The first thing you notice, or rather, don’t notice, are his footsteps. There is a distinct lack of sound from his careful glide through the Ferns and Veronawart bushes. The control he has over his body is impressive, from the footsteps to the slowest respirations possible. With practiced ease, he doesn’t need to look behind him or fumble with awkward positioning as he removes his bow from his back, coldly silent when he strings an arrow. While watching him with bated breath, he draws the string taut, resting the knuckle of his thumb against the juncture of his jaw and ear with lungs full of resolve. He takes four silent, calculated steps to the left. In the middle of the fifth step, he twists to his right and releases both his arrow and his breath in one go. There’s a gentle, beastly cry from the stag you can’t see, but you know he shot it exactly as he meant to. By the time you reach Frost Flower Inn that afternoon, you are certain there’s something off about the Prince. He is far too skilled with a bow, his gear too worn, to be such royalty. Unless, he isn’t who he says he is. An imposter? No, that’s impossible, and there are too many people connected to him that appear to be in on whatever charade he’s pulling. Your guild members aside, there are too many people who know him well and don’t seem to bat an eye or show signs of suspicion. Rapidly, news of Huntress’s victory earlier rang through the people you already know here. Your usual party of five has gathered into thirteen this evening as you sling your mug into the air with a toast to your friend. Lots of new faces, but some you’ve never seen before have joined you tonight. One, sat beside the Prince himself and doing her best to be as nonchalant as possible with him. Her brother, you’ve learned, is the young Fletcher, Jongdae, part of Minseok’s inner circle of friends. The other, with some meat on her hips, is sitting on the Knight Captain’s knee at the end of the table. Their position isn’t much different from yours, and you can’t find it in you to care about anyone’s opinions of your actions. Using a sliver of an excuse, there wasn’t enough space for all of the asses at the long table. Minseok offered you his thigh much the same, and you were never one to deny yourself. You pause for breath, challenging a roar into the air, “I even dare say there isn’t a soul alive who could best our Huntress!” Laughter and celebratory cheers around the table make you smile, and catch Minseok’s eye, smiling just as fondly up at you as he wraps his arm around your waist. The warmth makes you forget what’s happening outside the walls for a moment. It makes you forget why you’re here, until a burly fellow stands from his seat and asks about the stakes if he challenges the Huntress. Minseok sniggers, releasing you briefly to look at the man, “Winner gets free rounds for the rest of the night.” It takes all of fifty-seven seconds for Huntress to claim her second victory of the day. You’re delighted that she won, and even more entertained at the looks on people’s faces - most rife with either disappointment or glee, but a few stand out. First, Sehun, who is sitting slack-jawed as he

wraps his head around her impressive display of marksmanship. Second, Jongdae, who is enamored with the magic your sisterly figure just wielded. You briefly wonder if it was the first time he witnessed magic. The third face belongs to Prince Baekhyun. Neutral, but something deeper is there. As if he is analyzing her or sizing her up; he looks pensive. It doesn’t take long for Huntress to dismiss herself after the match, only with a warning to your newfound love interest about the regret he will have for letting you have free drinks. After her departure, the crowd thins out reasonably. Minseok excuses himself briefly to fetch a new round for everyone left in your group. You take the opportunity to address the Prince directly, probing for clues. “She’s amazing, isn’t she?” you wonder aloud, one brow quirked in his direction. Kennel Master Sehun catches your eye as well, interest piqued. The Prince grins, “That she is. Her instinct is spot on.” Sehun nods in agreement, “She could put us both to shame.” “No doubt,” you comment, and the Prince lifts his brow, “With all due respect your Majesty, she uses that bow every day. Her skills with it save lives and put coin in her pocket. I think that’s quite a bit different from hunting parties.” The Knight Captain tries his best not to laugh, but he can’t help himself at your explanation. It leaves you feeling like you’ve missed an inside joke, and the suspicious glance you serve to the Prince is interrupted just in time. Minseok makes bringing an entire platter of ale to the table look like a cakewalk, and he takes his place beside you once more, steering the conversation to another topic. Magic. “Your magical friend was pretty amazing, too.” She hears him, blushing as she thanks him. “Can I ask how you do it?” Jongdae cuts in, curious and genuine. Her lips purse, a little flustered at the question. “I don’t really know, I suppose. Being magical is one thing, but producing functional magic is all based on having the willpower to control even your strongest emotions.” You watch Jongdae’s face thoughtfully absorb her words, and it’s painfully obvious that he is enamored by her. It seems, perhaps, that each of you have found someone to be involved with. Certainly you and Minseok, as the weight of his warm hand still rests upon the top of your thigh while he sits beside you. The Kennel Master seems to have taken an interest in Huntress, Jongdae in your Mage friend, and even Jongin and your Bard seem to be hitting it off well. They nearly ignore everyone else as she writes, struck by inspiration for a new song. Her ale forgotten on the table, and Jongin’s not lifted from the table anytime recently either, although his fingers remain loosely at the handle. He’s leaning on one arm, face nearly touching the table, as he watches her. From your position, you can see his eyes flicking from the paper, to her fingers, to her face, a kind smile gracing his plush lips all the while. From Baekhyun’s side of the table, one might think he’s asleep. The group dissipates before midnight, and you’re left to help Minseok clean up the Inn. You don’t mind, if it helps take your mind off of the worry and the mission. Despite your confident nature, there are times when your mind feels more tired than your bones. In these small moments without people to watch, your mind can rest a little easier. You lift your head to catch Minseok’s eyes smile at you from across the room, his arms full of cleaned ale mugs while you sweep the floor. It fills your chest with warmth, and you don’t realize you’re daydreaming about this being an everyday occurrence until he comes to take the broom from you. “You’re a guest, you shouldn’t be helping me clean up,” he whispers sheepishly. His fingers brush your own in his conquest to retrieve the stick from your hands. It’s in that moment, you lean over to him. You’re not drunk, you’re quite sober, honestly, but you feel like you’re in a trance. A dream, relaxed and natural. He waits patiently, eyes hooded when he seems to catch onto the ambiance. The moment

your lips touch, there’s no explosion as you would expect from the attraction you feel toward him. There’s just calm, quiet and sturdy. Absolutely right, as you take your time to greet each other this way. When you break apart, he smiles at you, fingers rubbing down the sides of your arms softly. He removes the broom handle from your fingers and moves forward once more to plant a gentle kiss to your forehead. He sweeps ten paces across the floor before turning back to you, unmoving from your spot. “You seem tired,” he comments, coming back to you, “Why don’t you head up to bed.” Blinking, you answer him honestly, “I’m relaxed for once, actually.” His lips form a grin, but his eyes say he knows exactly how you feel, “Then you could probably catch a good night’s sleep.” Before you can protest, he sets the broom down and swings you up, effortlessly, into his arms. He climbs the stairs with you, but rather than taking you to the fourth door, he walks to the end of the balcony and swings open the door of his living space. You barely notice your eyes feeling heavy or drifting closed by the time they can fix on any object in his room. ______________________________ The following morning, you rise, and every aching joint you had yesterday cracks and relaxes as you stretch. You recall the pressure of Minseok’s lips on your own in the quiet hours before you were carried to bed. Looking around, you take note of his absence in the room. The windows to the right of the room allow the stream of sunlight to warm the space, and you feel relaxed once more all over again. You bathe yourself, and wander down to find him making today’s menu in the kitchens. “Did you sleep well?” he asks, grinning cheekily. Fighting your own smile, you nod at him, “Thank you.” “I figured you could use a rest in a room alone, without disturbance,” he explains, but you don’t need it. Instead, you take two steps toward him and let yourself lean over to place a chaste kiss on his cheek. He smiles but doesn’t move away from his task. “I’ll be back,” you murmur, and then you’re off to the Palace to inform the Lady of your team’s plan of action. Tomorrow, Huntress and the Kennel Master will go down into the valley to do reconnaissance. You take a moment to listen for any whispered gossip from the Palace staff as you walk the hall toward the Great Hall. Nothing out of the ordinary comes, and if it were not for your totally wonderful rest last night, you would be grumpy about it. You spy the Kennel Master walking across the courtyard with two small dogs on your way out, and a moment later, the Knight Captain walking with a smaller man who holds a plate of food in his hands pass by you in the hall. The rejuvenated feeling in your veins makes you crave exercise, but the Knight Captain looks much too busy for you to press him to duel you. Evening comes, and you’re at your usual table, drinking after supper with your party. There’s a woman at the table beside yours, looking out of place as you watch her grimace and force every mouthful of drink down her throat. Minseok and his friends seem to know her well, and they force a tragic story out of her by bargaining pints. Your lover extracts himself briefly from the table and exchanges worried glances with you, aware you’re listening. He brings a round of ale a moment later for not just their table, but yours too. You smile a wordless thanks to him as he passes them around before going back to the table with the woman. She tells them about a soldier who died today, screaming in agony while she attempted to sew him up. She must be the Palace Physician, and you feel a pang of sympathy for her as she drinks to forget the horrific scene. Time passes and she becomes more and more intoxicated. You’ve half a mind to ease her turmoil with reassurance - and you’re standing beside her just in time to catch her by the arm when she stands. “Easy there,” you smile at her in an attempt to truly ease her worries. You’re sure you can help, after all, that’s why you’re here. “Don’t worry too much,” you laugh lightly,

“We’re actually here to help out with your Drauger problems.” Not two seconds later, another pair of hands reach for her, and she immediately relaxes into their hold and slurs a name. A lean man with auburn hair and kind eyes behind a pair of glasses smiles minutely at her. “Yes, I’m here,” he says quietly, helping her remove herself from the table. You watch as he collects her with all the care in the world, “I’ve been here all along, dove.” Oof, the heartbreaking tenderness he says the words with have your chest squeezing tightly. “I’ll take her back to the Palace,” he says to Minseok, carefully guiding her out of the Inn. Minseok sighs, standing and checking for other patrons. It’s nearly empty, save for your group and his friends, but the atmosphere sucks after hearing the physician’s chilling memory. Jongdae and Jongin polish off their pints, and your party decides to turn in. Huntress has an early start tomorrow anyway. The mood is somber, but you’re not tired after you slept so well last night. Wordlessly, you collect the mugs from the tables on the platter and carry them back to the kitchen. Minseok gives you a half-smile and follows. You fill the metal washbasin with water and set it over the fire he keeps lit here, preparing to wash the dishes. Curiously, you want to know more about the woman. Or rather, about everyone. The kingdom’s people appear to conglomerate at the Inn, and Minseok seems to know every single one of them. “Can I ask you something?” you wonder, leaning back against the table, dishcloth in hand. You don’t meet his eye, focusing on the herbs drying from the circular wrought iron rack hanging beside the fireplace. Minseok remains relaxed beside you, “Of course.” Turning to him, you ask, “How do you know so many people?” The question is simple enough. “Well, this place is where everyone goes for the best ale. I’ve also been here for a very long time, so I’ve spent a long time getting to know everyone. Why they’re drinking, that sort of thing. Celebrations, guilt, routine, all that. People talk while they drink, so I know lots of things about everyone.” His answer sparks another question. Perhaps he knows something about the Prince. “The Prince comes here often, then?” Minseok sniggers, “Oh sure. He can’t be himself up in that Palace, and his presence here mingling with the common folk does nothing but build trust and bolster the loyalty of his people for when he claims the throne.” You nod, removing the washbasin from the flames kissing at it’s belly, “He seems… different though. Not bad, but he doesn’t strike me as the prince type.” Minseok takes a dry rag and turns to help you with the dishes, “That’s because he’s not the type. Man’s heart is too big, and his Majesty keeps his leash pretty short.” “What do you mean?” You scrub a mug and dunk it in the warm water, passing it to Minseok when you’re finished. His eyes remain fixed on his hands as he dries it and answers, “Well, Baekhyun cares a lot about people. Not just because they’re his people, but he cares about every single person in his kingdom. He is also all his father has left, and there’s a lot of fear in letting his son have too much freedom.” Minseok places the cup down and takes the next from your wet hands, “What if someone with ill intentions did something to the Prince while he was out of sight? Our Kingdom has enemies, just as any other. It would be foolish for his Majesty to allow his only heir to roam freely. It’s why Knight Captain Chanyeol is charged with never leaving his side unless he is within the Palace gates.” The Knight Captain never leaving his side unless he’s within the gates of the Palace sounds dull and painful. Wait a moment… then what about the girl he seems so close with. “Does the young Fletcher girl work within the Palace gates?” you wonder. Minseok serves you a pointedly confused stare, “What does that have to do with anything?” You put your scrubbing rag down, “Or else that’s got to be awkward for the Knight Captain.” Minseok is a master at faking innocence, appearing to work

through your thought process in his head. “Unless of course, the Prince is sneaking off without his protector, so he can have his privacy,” you muse. Your lover’s posture stiffens, pausing briefly at your probing thoughts. He doesn’t answer you. “What else does the Prince sneak off to do?” you ask, curiously. Minseok isn’t feigning confusion anymore. He doesn’t hide the deadly stare, nor does he try to hide the immediate shift in his aura. You smile, refreshed at his protectiveness. “Relax, I mean the Prince no harm. It’s a bit obvious he is hiding something if you watch him closely enough. His bow skills and hunting attire were enough to put me off about him being just a Prince.” He only deflates after he watches your eyes closely, gauging your intent. “Keep it to yourself, please.” You nod at him, moving to dump the washbasin out back after you pass him the last mug. “You’re a good friend, you know.” He smiles when you return, setting the steel basin upside down to drip-dry. “I do what I can to protect him. My friends are all I’ve got.” The end of his statement catches your attention, “No loved ones?” He smiles wistfully, “They’ve been gone a long time.” You don’t press the conversation with him, walking back to the main room from the kitchen. Although you’re not sure how you ended up like this, you rouse with the sound of the Inn’s door opening and footsteps approaching. You hear whispered conversation between Minseok and another familiar voice. It takes a moment for your sleepy brain to conjure the face it belongs to in your mind. Prince Baekhyun. “I was just stopping to deliver coin to your window, but saw you still had the place lit up,” Baekhyun whispers with amusement. “What did you find out tonight?” Minseok asks him. There’s a pause as you remain, eyes closed and head down on the table. “Don’t worry, she’s asleep,” you hear your lover reassure. The Prince sighs, “That damned rat of a Lord keeps harassing my father about the farmers.” He pauses, hissing through his teeth, “He keeps running his mouth about not earning his coin from the farms he owns. Father has tried to tell him it’s the Draugers making it difficult, but he said he doesn’t care if this Necromancer or whatever roams freely as long as he gets his coin on time.” Minseok makes a hushed sound of disgust in the back of his throat, “What a bastard.” Prince Baekhyun hums in agreement, “Anyway, I just did my usual rounds, this is what’s left of the rest.” You hear the clinking of coin being passed off, and a refusal from Minseok, “I’m not taking the money, Baekhyun. Please, double up on the homeless or something.” Baekhyun scoffs, “But I know you end up spending coin to keep folks tight-lipped. Let me put it back in your pocket.” Minseok growls lowly at him, “I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m fine.” Then, he laughs quietly, “Maybe quit leaving your notes at the end of your arrows and people won’t ask questions. You don’t want it to come back to your girl, do you?” Prince Baekhyun’s tone takes a serious edge, “I won’t let that happen.” Minseok chides him, “I wouldn’t be so sure about that. This one here is on to you, and she’s been in town for less than a week.” You can feel two pairs of eyes on you. “Lucky for you, she doesn’t want to put you or your father in the ground, so she promised me she would keep her lips sealed.” “Wouldn’t be hard to keep her quiet with your hands all over her, now would it?” the Prince interjects with a haughty remark. You hear Minseok hit him, “I’m serious. You’ve got to be more careful. What if the wrong people find out you’re this Robin Hood hero stealing their dirty coin to feed the lower class, hm?” “Alright, alright!” the Prince retorts, clicking his tongue. After a moment, you hear the door open and close, and a single pair of quiet footsteps make their way to you. Minseok’s weight joins you on the bench, and you can feel the warmth of his body beside you. “Come on, I know you’re awake.” You take a deep breath, rising to meet his eyes with your tired ones, “For the record, I was asleep

until the door closed the first time.” He gives you a half smile, leaning on his hand, “I know. And I know you heard everything.” You nod at him, “Aye. So it’s a Necromancer?” Minseok shakes his head, “Not necessarily. That’s just what everyone thinks it is.” “Well, it could be,” you deliberate. “Would certainly be fun for me that way.” The man beside you grins, “Yeah, but I’d be more worried about your team.” “Just my team?” Your fingers dance along his arm, tracing absent patterns along the skin there. His smile drops a little, “I don’t want you to get hurt.” A beat of thick silence passes between you, “I thought you said you didn’t have any loved ones?” The intention of your question isn’t lost on him. “Perhaps I’m starting to,” he confesses. _________________________________ “If it’s really a Necromancer then what do we do?” Your singing friend asks, twirling a pencil around in her fingers. It’s after supper, and your party is pouring over notes and maps, all things you’ve compiled about Necromancy and dark magic since you began adventuring. “Do you know anything about this?” The Mage asks Jongdae, who settles his eyes on the map with a grimace. He sighs, “It’s only a rumor that it’s a Necromancer though, right? I’ve only heard what everyone else has.” “Yeah, nobody has actually seen a Necromancer around,” Jongin cuts in. “Unless they were in disguise,” Jongdae says back. Your hands find themselves splayed on the table, shoulders hunched as you stand over the map, “A Necromancer would be a hard thing to miss around here, even in disguise. Necromancy turns their features into ugly, rotten things. A permanent side effect of using dark magic.” The wise Mage nods along, “Yes, and I’d be able to sense another’s magic. Much the way I can sense the Apothecary next door, although it’s faint.” Minseok wonders aloud at her comment, “Is that the only person you can sense magic from?” Your eyes find his, understanding why he asked. He doesn’t seem pleased or upset when she gives a simple “Yes” in reply. Knight Captain Chanyeol shoulders his way in from outside, carrying a stack of books with him. “Did you carry those all the way here?” you shout, surging forward to help him. The Prince comes in behind him, “I helped!” Chanyeol grunts as he sets the pile down on the nearest table, “Yeah, until you bailed to drop something off across the square.” Prince Baekhyun rubs the back of his head sheepishly, and Jongdae serves him a knowing look. The Bard strides over and collects a book off the top of the stack with the Tailor’s son on her heels. He leans over her shoulder, fingers gently smoothing down her arm as she cracks open the cover with a smile. You’re not sure when they got so comfortable, but you suppose you can’t say much as you turn to give Minseok a gentle smile. Taking the next off the stack, you pass book after book around the table. “Remember, we’re looking for anything about plants involved in Necromancy,” you direct the group. You’re very thankful to have come to such a kingdom and met such wonderful people. The stack of books would take you and the party more than a day to comb through, and you’re not the type to enjoy books. Minseok does his best to still serve the patrons, between reading his book at the bar. By the time night has fallen, you’re all starved. The Prince drums his hands loudly on the bar and sets a bag of coin on the bar, “A bowl for each of us?” Your lover grins at him, surely wanting to say something snide, but he doesn’t get the chance. A voice yelling outside the Inn turns everyone’s heads, and finally a Lord bursts through the door screaming about a pickpocket. “I know that dastardly thief came here to hide!” he shouts, his full peppered beard surrounding his red face. His attire looks just a smidge small for his portly frame, and it struggles to keep him together as he gracelessly bounds through the sea of tables towards the great stone bar. Minseok comes around from behind it quickly, holding his hands high to ease the man down. “Now, now, Sir, what’s all the

trouble about?” he asks calmly, eyes focused on the Lord before him. It seems he hasn’t noticed the Prince without his crown, briefly making you wonder if he even cares to know his Prince’s face. None of you move, watching the interruption. “A damned stinky thief, that’s what! Came and stole from my storehouse last night, and I know he came here! Where is he?” the Lord bellows. Prince Baekhyun’s brows rise to his hairline, but only you seem to notice his expression across the bar. “Sir, no strange thief came here, I promise you.” Minseok urges kindly. But the Lord refutes, jabbing one sausage-like, bejeweled finger at Minseok, “Promise me nothing, you filthy scoundrel! Where did you hide him?” The sharp angle of Minseok’s brow twitches, and you notice your magical friend whip her head to him at the sudden change in his aura. Wisps of steam or smoke, you’re not sure, begin to billow slowly from his skin as he asks again, “Sir, I’ll not tell you again.” “I suggest you leave, good Sir,” you advise, slamming your mug of ale on the bar beside Minseok, and looking the Lord directly in the eye. The Lord takes a good look around the room, albeit a bit too quickly to take in any detail. He looks back at Minseok, whose eyes have changed to something alluding to the danger that lurks beneath his skin. “I’ll not be had, you lowly thug. If I catch so much as a whiff of thievery around here, I’ll bring it straight to the Merchant’s Guild, and you can kiss your establishment goodbye!” the man threatens, although after a pause. But he’s caught, trapped by the horrific display of Minseok beginning to lose his cool. Of the sound of his breath coming ragged and bones starting to pop as the transformation begins. You’re torn between letting it happen and touching him gently to stop him. Until another man’s hand comes down upon the Lord’s shoulder, and he whirls to see the Knight Captain frowning down at him menacingly. “Now good Sir, would I, nor the Prince, be here if we sensed any ill intent?” he wonders aloud. His steely hair is swept back from his eyes today, and the visage of him makes the Lord relax and look around the room for the Prince. Baekhyun waves at him cheekily from his place at the bar, not six feet from Minseok. Resisting the transformation, the owner of the Inn is taking measured breaths beside you until the steam emitting from him quiets to beads of sweat. He wipes his brow and gives Chanyeol a thankful glance. “But, but I -” the Lord continues, but Chanyeol tuts at him to cut him off. “I can promise you, Serah, there are no nefarious ties to this establishment,” Prince Baekhyun assures, taking two strides closer to the man and smiling. It isn’t lost on you that the very thief the Lord is upset about is the very man talking him off the ledge. The irony is hilarious, but your face remains coolly unaffected. After another moment, the Lord huffs and turns on his heel. He stops by the door once more and looks from Minseok, to the Knight Captain, to the Prince, then shakes his head and walks out. Your Mage is still staring at Minseok with a surprised expression, until she’s even more surprised to notice everyone else around her seems unimpressed - as if they knew. Including you, she must think, if the incredulous glare she serves you is anything to go by. Your group seems to favor rest over food, a unanimous decision made by the continuous snapping of book pages meeting their other halves. “You know, I forgot I have some errands to run,” Jongdae laughs, excusing himself first. He clears his throat at the end, stealing a glance at the Prince before he goes. The auburn-haired royalty grins wickedly, raising his brows in quick succession. “Nice night for an evening!” he announces, rushing for the door. Chanyeol sighs and gets up, waving, “I’m going home.” Jongin takes the hand of the Bard and kisses the back of it before taking his leave as well. The others make their way upstairs, and just like that, they all retire for the evening and you’re once again left with the handsome owner of Frost Flower Inn.

It’s early still, but the Inn is otherwise empty tonight. “Are you alright?” you ask your lover, turning your full attention to him. He’s caught his breath, but his pupils are still cut into feline slivers when he looks back at you. Immediately, it’s there, simmering under the surface. There is a rush of adrenaline that floods your veins at the sight of him. Perhaps born of the sweat that rolls down from his jaw to his neck and disappears beneath his clothes. Or the desire that’s written across him plainly as he spies your lips. He is angry, tense, and considering his options for working it out of his system. You have an idea what he might be thinking, and you quite like it. After all, who were you to deny yourself? He huffs a breath and looks back to your eyes. You’re not sure who surges toward the other first, but you move with him behind the bar and into the storeroom in a display of something between dancing and fighting to tear clothes off. ______________________ Tonight, as you ignore the fact that the books from the Palace library were utterly helpless, you drink. You drink, and you make merry and laugh at yourself and the other couples who seem to have done their fair share of illicit activities under the cover of darkness last night. Knight Captain Chanyeol brought his woman tonight, and although she does a decent job hiding them, the marks of her lover claim the top of her bosom just along the line of her clothes. The young Fletcher woman ignores the fact that hers are absolutely obvious; delicate petals of purple and pink that touch her at the juncture of her ear and jaw, the base of her throat. You’re no better off, having your own deep marks of affection from the man sitting directly beside you tonight. He wears his own bruises from your lips proudly, much to the sniggering of the others. This evening, even the Baker and the Lady of the Palace have come down from their places to enjoy a few pints with everyone. The young Baker, Junmyeon you’ve learned, seems to be close with the Kennel Master. He does his best to make him laugh or smile. You know it must be so frustrating for both him and your Huntress, just waiting for an answer. It’s frustrating for everyone that you can’t just go down blindly and attack every damned Drauger that walks. If it truly is Necromancy, that would do nothing more than put everyone’s lives in grave danger. The Huntress in particular seems to be struggling to find decent sleep. You rarely find her in the room, too uncomfortable for her to sleep in a warm bed not her own. _____________________________________ It’s mid-morning when Kennel Master Sehun rushed through the door of the Inn, startling your Huntress, who is half-asleep where she leans on her palm at the table. He shouts her name, striding toward her. “Yixing,” he breathes, “The plant is altered. Unnatural, magical properties. That odor it gives off are toxic fumes.” The explanation gets her to her feet immediately, forgetting the bowl of grains and sop in front of her. Kane wastes no time in stealing her buttered bread from the table, but she allows it. She turns to the Mage of your group, “Come on, we need you too.” Then, they’re off. Gone before you even get a chance to warn them to be careful or just, something. It’s bothering you more now, knowing the very little information the Kennel Master just gave. It makes you wonder what it has to do with the Draugers, if anything at all. Are they connected, or is it just some side effect of the defiled corpses of them? Or something entirely different and wholly problematic? How do you fight a plant? The next several hours have you pacing the floor, thinking and trying to make the connection somewhere. You wonder if you should’ve gone with them. They return mid-afternoon, just before golden hour. The Kennel Master has Huntress’s hand in his as he nearly drags her through the door, followed by your spritely Mage. “I have to deliver word to his Majesty and Yixing, but I’ll be back,” Sehun says, quickly pressing his lips to the Huntress’s forehead. With

brows raised, you watch him leave and meet Huntress’s sheepish gaze. She walks to the staircase, ushering for your party members to follow. Once in the privacy of your shared room, she sits on a bed, “I don’t know whether or not it’s a Necromancer’s doing, but what I can tell you is that the situation is a lot more complicated than it seemed.” The Mage nods her head, “The plant is a Barcathisis Root, but certainly imbued with dark magic.” You and the Bard lock eyes briefly. “Why, though?” you ask, not that anyone knows right now. “I don’t know,” Mage says anyway, “But I know enough about the plant to know it has spread like veins underground.” The Huntress rises from the bed, folding her arms, “That would explain why Sehun and I found the bulb of it in the forest. And how Draugers seem to be coming from everywhere.” The Bard speaks up, “You think the Barcathisis Root is causing the Draugers?” It clicks in your head, “I think she’s right. What if those noxious fumes are causing them to rise?” “What do we do?” With furrowed brows, Mage sighs, “We have to track it to the source to eradicate it.” “Can you do that?” you inquire. “Can you track it by feeling for the magic imbued in it?” She nods, “I can, but it will take a while to find the source. It could be a maze of branches to follow.” “Not if you know it’s South of here. Our best bet is to keep going South until we reach the source,” Huntress suggests. You scoff, “Yeah, all while fighting a horde of undead and trying not to get a single scratch.” “I thought you liked a challenge, Y/N,” Bard sings at you. You smile, “I do. Just want to remind everyone one scratch is all it takes.” The solemn atmosphere draws in an uncomfortable silence. “For now,” you start with a hand on Huntress’s shoulder, “You deserve a break. I’m proud, you did well. Let me take it from here.” You lead her down the stairs to the bar, motioning for your lover to put a drink in front of her, which he does immediately. Just after nightfall, you’ve forced two pints into her, and the young Kennel Master comes through the door. He makes a beeline for her and takes her hand in his. She visibly relaxes in his hold as he leads her outside. Minseok passes you a surprised look, shrugging. “I suppose I should go inform the Lady,” you announce, sluggishly pulling yourself from the barstool. “You won’t have far to go,” the Bard assures you from her place two stools down. “I’m sure she’s just next door at the Bakery.” “How do you know that?” you wonder. She smiles into her ale, “Jonginnie and I see her coming and going from there all the time when we’re in the square.” You try not to laugh at the cute way she said the man’s name, but you do suppose she sees a lot of things happening from her place in the center of the square. She has spent most of her days there at the side of the stage, singing and playing instruments, and occasionally dancing with the handsome young man as he entertains the people. ____________________________ The next morning, you’re at the Palace. With the King’s order, you’re officially dispatched to the valley to eradicate the threat. “Father, I should like to accompany them,” the Prince inquires tirelessly. Much to his father’s horror, “Absolutely not. Do you want to get yourself killed?” Prince Baekhyun huffs, “Father, I assure you I am more than capable.” His Majesty holds a palm up to his son, “I’ll not have my only son risk his life.” Prince Baekhyun actually stands, scoffing at his father, “What if they get hurt, too? What would you have me do, Father? Watch as the Kingdom falls when I could have been out there fighting to help us win?” “Enough!” the King commands, rising to his feet. His chest rises and falls, but he says nothing more. The Prince walks slowly to the edge of the room before turning to him, “You didn’t raise me to be a coward, your Majesty.” The Knight Captain opens and closes his mouth twice before he sets his lips in a hard line and quickly follows the Prince out of the room. Your party awkwardly left after the royal crossing of

swords in the Great Hall, and you can’t help but be excited to start the next part of the mission. You’ve all packed your gear, and you walk into Frost Flower Inn to find a second group of people waiting with their own bags, satchels, and weapons. The Prince, dressed in the darkest leather you’ve ever seen. The depth of the black nearly matches that of the Knight Captain’s plate mail, if not for the matte shade versus the shining of metal. A cloak, just as dark, surrounds the rest of him, and the bottom shows tatters and mud stains. This must be what he wears when he is out gallivanting as the Robin Hood. You wonder if he has shown himself to anyone else, or if he’s really just this bold. Knives are stuffed into his armor in hidden pockets, and he has a full quiver of arrows on both his back and his left hip. The bow he carries beside him is old and smoothed from use. Beside him, the Knight Captain looks a bit nervous, but stoic nonetheless, and just as intimidating and ready for war as you remember the first time you saw him. Standing nearly as tall is the Kennel Master. He’s dressed in his usual unaffiliated garb, crossbow in his hands, and a pack with a bedroll on his back. Lastly, and smallest of all, is your lover. No wonder the Inn is quiet as a mouse today. You look back briefly, grinning at the sign on the door, ‘Temporarily closed’. “Minseok, no,” you try. He fixes you with a challenging stare, “You can’t stop me, and you can’t change my mind.” You sigh, “You’re not the ones getting paid to do this. I can’t let you put yourselves in danger like that. It’s not your duty.” The Prince is the one who speaks up, “No, but it is my duty to protect my people. That includes them,” he gestures out to the square, “and you.” His hand returns to point at your party, and the sentiment isn’t lost on any of you. “I believe that trumps your duty, with all due respect,” he says with finality. Your girls look at you, waiting. “Fine,” you relent, “I can’t stop you from following us, but we’re not affiliated, got it?” Minseok laughs, whistling, “Oh, we’re affiliated baby.” The laughter that barks out of the Knight Captain makes you scowl, and you fix your guildmates with a stare that stops their giggles. Grabbing your rucksack, you clasp your sword to your waist and fix your shield to your arm. At least you can start the fun part. Now, it gets interesting.

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