CW: Explicit language, ableist language, mentions of sexual acts, mentions of imprisonment.
The next few days pass slowly and peacefully. The summer heat is waning, so although the days are still dry and hot, the nights have become cold enough to keep the windows closed.
The guest house lies empty and aside from Jun and Healer Wu, the Rat sees no-one else during his recovery. Nights are long and desolate. His thoughts keep him occupied until they long exhaust him and sleep descends like an unstoppable boulder.
Despite his solitary existence, the visits from the Healer are none that he looks forward to. They usually entail a great amount of pain, and now that he is clear of feverish delirium, he is present enough to be embarrassed by the way Jun has to comfort him. Silently though, he is grateful for the little lord’s steady presence.
Since Rin is awake and strengthening day by day, Jun has returned to resting in his room at night and eating his meals again, much to the relief of those around him. He still spends as much time as he can in his patient’s room, keeping him company and making sure he stays comfortable. Outside of these peaceful bubbles of time he spends with Rin, the little lord is busy with his other responsibilities.
Rin gingerly spoons the rice and fish porridge into his mouth. Every movement is a gamble and whenever he loses, he gives a jolt and a wince. The spoon stays in his hand, as he is determined not to be fed by Jun again.
The little lord eats quietly beside him, his own meal is more substantial with big chunks of fried fish and seasonal summer vegetables added to his porridge. Rin eyes his food enviously, but his stomach is still sensitive from all the medication he’d been given.
The windows are wide open to let out the accumulated heat of the day and the night breeze is refreshingly cool. Within time it will turn into a chill and so the windows will need to be closed. Outside, the pagoda trees rustle in the sleepy currents of air.
Forgetting his porridge, Rin stares at the swaying trees, drenched in Luna’s silver light. He seems to be contemplating something, when he suddenly says, “Is there anyone else staying here?”
Jun cuts a big piece of fish in half with his chopsticks before placing it into his mouth. “No, you are our only guest.” Seeing the odd look on the raven’s face, he carefully sets down his chopsticks. “Rinnie? Is something the matter?”
Rin flushes at the nickname that the little lord has taken to calling him. Strangely, he doesn’t mind it too much. His eyes roam the room as if he were searching for something. They linger on the doorway leading into the main hall. “Whenever you’re here, she’s wandering about in the hallway or saying something I can’t quite hear. A woman, I think.”
Jun’s blood freezes. Somehow, the boy’s words are even more chilling when he says them in such a casual manner. The lord sets his bowl aside and stares at the door, ears pricked. “Do you mean to say there is an intruder? No-one should be here without my knowing.”
A small grimace appears on the Rat’s face. He sighs and stirs his porridge with his spoon, suddenly without appetite. “I thought as much. Have you ever noticed anything weird about this place? Anything in the main house?”
Jun stares blankly at his friend for a moment. Several seconds pass and the light of realisation shines in his eyes. An amused smile lifts the corners of his mouth. His relief, palpable. “We are not haunted, if that is what you are insinuating.”
“That’s exactly what I’m insinuating,” Rin says, flatly.
Jun raises a brow. “Rinnie, spirits do not exist.”
“Yeah, yeah, so everyone keeps telling me. But you know, you have one in this building at least. It might be worthwhile to bring in a witch to exorcise it.”
“A witch?” The little lord wrinkles his brow, clear disdain upon his face. “Do you truly believe in those charlatans?”
Rin shrugs, completely unconcerned by the other’s scepticism. “I’m neighbours with one and she seems to be genuine. Anyway, she knows how to exorcise spirits, which is all I care about.”
The little lord stares at his friend for a long while, forehead creased in consternation. He knew that the lower classes were poorly educated, and thus prone to believing in superstitions and cultism. From what he’s heard from Teacher Hak, the witches are both feared and revered by the common people, namely those in the Slums, and so while they are outlawed, they are also incredibly vital to this microcosmic society. He had thought it baffling that anyone could ever be so irrational (delusional even), so it’s jarring now to come face to face with said irrationality. Moreso that of his friend, one he had come to care for these past several days.
“Rinnie…” he begins uneasily, trying to smile. Unbeknownst to himself, it only comes across as condescending. The indulgent smile one might give to a young child. “Witches…spirits…none of these things are real. They are simply superstitions. Those who claim to be a witch are either very sick people or swindlers. You must know this–”
“No,” Rin snaps, irritated by the lord’s tone. “Look, I’m just trying to do you a favour and warn you about the spirit you got lurking around here. Do you know what happens when you don’t deal with a spirit? They get stronger. Start being able to influence things in our world. They stick to your back. Make you sick. They can even kill you if you don’t do anything about it. But if you’re gonna be an asshole about it, then I won’t even bother.” He takes a big spoonful of the porridge and shoves it into his mouth, chewing furiously.
Why would I bother? I’m outta here in a couple of days anyway. But his heart is unsettled. He’s reluctant to leave without dealing with this irritating spirit. So he thinks of it as a small token of gratitude. And perhaps an apology for robbing this naïve little lord blind.
An awkward silence falls between the two and they quietly finish their meals.
When the silence becomes unbearable, Jun finally speaks. This time with much care and tact. “I cannot in good faith hire a witch since I do not hold the same…beliefs as you do. However, I do appreciate your consideration.”
“Whatever,” Rin scoffs, handing over his empty bowl for the lord to take. The latter does so and sets it down upon the bedside table. Seems like he’ll have to do things alone. It’s not exactly the first time he’s tried to exorcise a spirit, but it’s not very pleasant either.
“What does this spirit look like?” Jun asks, this time with some curiosity.
“I’m not sure. Haven’t been able to get a good look at it yet.”
The lord frowns, concern flaring despite not believing in the existence of this ostensible threat. “Have you always been able to see spirits?”
“Mn. Since I was a kid. Apparently it’s what drove my old man away.” Rin chuckles, free from any signs of bitterness.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Goldens widen in surprise. “You do not seem like…” He trails off, reluctant to finish his sentence.
“Vffw ilxf ktja? C mgjhs jrrtbif ktb yfilfnfr lc rqlglar? Obbx, P vbc’a fzqfma sbe ab yfilfnf wf, rb sbe vbc’a tjnf ab ags rb tjgv. Tbe mjc gfijz, ilaaif ibgv.” Elc’r rjgvbclm rwlif mear lcab j mtffx. “Ccskjs, sbe vbc’a tjnf ab tlgf j klamt lo sbe vbc’a kjca ab. P mjc vfji klat la wsrfio. Qtfc la wjxfr jc jqqfjgjcmf, P’ii pera xffq ws vlrajcmf. Vff ktja la vbfr. Ccv lo la cffvr ab yf fzbgmlrfv, atfc P’ii fzbgmlrf la. Vlwqif jr atja.”
Jun frowns. He glances at the door and a chill runs down his spine. “There really is no need for that. Especially since you are still recovering. But…tell me. How do you exorcise it?”
“You give it what it wants,” Rin sighs, leaning back gingerly against the pillows propped up on the headboard. “Spirits are souls of the dead who can’t pass over to the underworld for whatever reason. Usually it’s because they have unfinished business in this world. But if you fail to appease a spirit, then you just gotta force it into the underworld.”
“Force it how?”
“It’s a ritual song called Izayoma’s Call. It seems simple but if you fuck up a single word or if a note is slightly off, you’ll risk possession.”
Jun falls quiet for a moment, thoughts churning in his head. “You are quite knowledgeable about this topic.”
“Eh.” Rin shrugs, trying not to appear too smug.
“You’ve done this before?”
“Only a few times. And only when I gotta. It’s a lot of effort and I don’t really wanna get possessed.”
Jun sits quietly for a time, deep in thought. He gazes at Rin with distant eyes, a faint smile dancing upon his lips. Just when the raven thinks he can’t bear to be looked at in such a way any longer, the lord finally opens his mouth and says: “I will assist you then. I wish to witness this spirit for myself.”
***
By the time Jun returns from his rounds with Healer Wu, it is long past sunset. He comes to a scene of the Rat lightly dozing as he sits upright and leant against the headboard. His face is pale and small in the surrounding darkness, like a flickering candlelight threatened by the wind.
Heart clenching, Jun reaches over to gently brush raven locks from the younger man’s forehead. His fingers are calloused from the sword and the skin they brush over are incomparably soft, like silken tofu. The little lord can’t help but lean close, wanting to inspect the inky fan of lashes quivering against those gently flushed cheeks.
Golden eyes, darker than the shadows licking at his body, are oppressive and deep as they draw a line from eyes to lips. Lips like flower petals, delicate and tempting. Something unspeakable stirs in his lower belly and the subsequent thoughts are lewd enough to jolt him from his dark reverie.
Jun quickly retracts his hand as if burned, heart thundering in his chest.
“…Little lord?”
Eyes like onyx gems pierce Jun’s chest and pin him to his chair. His heart skips and for a moment he cannot speak. Guilt floods his veins with ice. Quickly pulling his tattered composure together, the noble clears his throat and offers his friend a smile. “My apologies. Did I wake you?”
Rin smiles in turn, innocent and free from worldly wiles as he’s still trapped in the haze of sleep. “It’s okay. I was waiting for you anyway. How’d it go with Wu? Anything interesting?”
“Hm. I cannot speak on other patients since every consultation is confidential. That is the Third Tenet of the Healer’s Oath.” Calmer now, Jun relaxes a little and pours a cup of water for himself. He huffs amusedly at the wrinkled expression Rin gives him and he chides him gently before inevitably giving in. “While I cannot speak on the patient specifically…we did have a case where he had intentionally disturbed a beehive.”
The squints at the lord, nose wrinkling. “Is he a moron or a masochist?”
“From our initial interview, it seems he does not believe in modern medicine. He claimed that the sting of a bee had curative properties, so he inferred that an entire hive would cure his chronic gout.”
“So he’s a moron,” Rin laughs. “Are you sure this is what you wanna do?”
“Yes, without a doubt,” Jun responds confidently, sipping on his water. “As ridiculous as this patient’s actions – and indeed his views on medicine – may be, we cannot neglect him.”
Rin huffs the last of his mirth from his lungs. “Why do you want to be a Healer so badly? It seems like a pain in the ass to me. Why not a lord who lazes around all day?”
The Rat’s question seems to have hit a nerve in Jun, who sits quietly for a moment, his gaze deepening with unknowable emotions. Rin shifts, nervously, realising his mistake. But soon, Jun pulls himself from his heavy thoughts and says, “Despite what you think, being a lord comes with vast responsibilities. If I simply laze around all day, I would not only be neglecting my duties to my family, but also to the people of Hanjuyang. The consequences of not fulfilling my responsibilities as lord and Governor would be dire.”
Rin grimaces, unsure what to make of this lord’s sudden austerity. “Whatever you say, little lord. Sounds like shit either way if you ask me. What’s the point of having all that money and power if you don’t splurge once in a while?”
“It is not my money nor power to ‘splurge’,” Jun says, calmly.
“Then whose is it?”
“Hanjuyang’s.”
Rin stares at him for a long moment before letting out a big scoff. “Then give me my share, little lord. I’ve paid my dues here, and I’ve seen nothing of this money and power I’m apparently owed.”
That seems to shut Jun up, who silently lowers his eyes.
A twinge of guilt has Rin pursing his lips. He scratches the side of his nose before opening his mouth to speak — when he suddenly feels a chill settle deep into his bones. Something is here. He grasps Jun’s wrist and gives him a squeeze, alerting him to the unearthly presence.
The lord frowns, seeing the sweat beading Rin’s brow. He gently pats his hand and gives a reassuring nod. I’m with you.
When they step outside, the first thing they see is the white moonlight, slicing through the gloom of night like polished blades. The dense hallway stretches out to either side, drenched in shadow. The maple tree outside with leaves the colour of blood and branches as black as ink, stroke against the window panes. It’s a sight that might be soothing during the day, but is deeply unsettling at night.
“Where is it?” Jun whispers, feeling his nerves prickle despite himself.
“There.” Rin points at the end of the hall where the gloomy figure of a man stands watching them. A black substance like smoke obscures any discernible features, but Rin knows that this spirit can see them just fine. The body is simply an illusion, a vessel in which the spirit generates to travel through the earthly realm. Their senses are beyond the corporeal.
“It’s a man,” Rin frowns, uneasily. “I must have been confused.” Or there’s a second spirit haunting the Hwans…
The lord follows Rin’s gaze and his brows knit. “I don’t see anything.”
“Just keep quiet and follow my lead.”
“Very well.” But that incredulous glint in his eyes betrays his disbelief.
Human and spirit stare at each other for an eon. And then, as if stirring from a deep slumber, the spirit gestures for them to follow before silently disappearing around the corner. Rin grabs Jun’s sleeve and drags him along as he chases after it.
The spirit leads them through the labyrinthine halls, its form fragile and diaphanous, on the cusp of blinking out of existence. The darkness crowds the youths as they cleave through the thick of it, the air around them thick and muggy. Aside from their breaths and padded footsteps, not a sound can be heard. Even when they step out onto the grounds, the night is still and nocturnal life seems all but absent.
Rin absently grabs the lord’s hand. They could be the last two humans left alive in this realm and he wouldn’t even know it.
The spirit finally comes to a stop and seemingly basks in the boreal glow of the moonlight. Its arms sweep out to the side. Slowly, the translucent form starts gaining presence, colour and life seeping into the spectral flesh until it appears near human. Charcoal smoke dissipates like clouds disintegrating on the wind, revealing a cold-faced man with a stunning aura.
He appears to be the same age as Rin, with features that hold both elegance and indomitable strength that confuses the senses. Ones’ gaze cannot help but wander this supernatural form, that is wrapped in a silvery-white light like a gossamer robe, caressing and rippling across his opal skin as if it were alive.
Rin stares at the spirit, legs suddenly weak as jelly. Behind him, he hears the crystalline ring of Jun’s sword leaving its sheath.
“Rinnie…” Jun says shakily, staring wide eyed at the strange figure that seemingly appeared from thin air. “Who is this?”
The spirit smiles enigmatically at the two boys, his severe, arctic eyes coming to rest on the raven with a soul shaking intensity. He says nothing yet, as if he were patiently waiting for Rin to respond to the lord’s question.
“It’s…he calls himself ‘Luna’,” the raven says through numb lips.
“Luna…?” Jun glances between the spirit and his friend, feeling increasingly unsettled. “Do you mean to say, you have a prior relationship with this…” He’s reluctant to say the word. But it needn’t be said.
“I haven’t seen him in years…not since…” His voice dries up in his throat.
“Five summers ago,” the spirit finishes for him, his voice deep and gravelly yet still touched with the tenderness of youth. “When you were imprisoned by the Mar-”
“Yes,” Rin snaps, heart shrivelling. “Yes. But you…you’re different. What happened?”
Jun lowers his sword a little, his initial fear losing its edge. Clearly Rin is familiar with this spirit, and he seems more surprised than afraid.
The raven tears his eyes away from Luna to stare at the lord, his pupils dark with realisation. “You can see him.”
Jun blinks at him. “Yes…it seems that I can.”
Rin swallows, giving a short shake of his head to clear it. “He’s…a spirit that’s been haunting me since I was a child. He doesn’t appear to me very often, but when he does he…he’s usually of some help.” The last he adds with some reluctance, and a faint smile appears on the spirit’s face. He turns his gaze back to Luna, frowning. “Why are you here? How can Jun see you?”
“Fifth Lord Hwan Jun can see me because I have allowed him to,” Luna replies, though neither boy misses the cold flash in the spirit’s eyes when he glances briefly at Jun. After holding those startled goldens hostage for a moment, Luna sweeps his gaze back to the raven. The smile upon his face is injected with warmth, the frigidity in his eyes melted. “I feared that you would not speak with me.”
Rin’s brow jumps in realisation. “Before, in the hallway. It was strange. Like you weren’t really there.”
“My form wanes with the moon.” The spirit smiles and gracefully waves a hand dismissively. “Tonight, the plenilune has given me the strength to tether myself to this world.”
Rin narrows his eyes at Luna. “I don’t need any rescuing, if you can’t tell.”
“But you have been wounded. Tell me, are you healing well?”
“Well enough,” Rin mutters, squeezing the little lord’s hand within his own. “Is that why you’re here? If so, then sorry to disappoint, but I don’t need you. So you can drag your ass back to the underworld.”
Luna’s smile thins. A cool expression descends upon that spectral face, his gaze heavy lidded. “On the contrary. I think this is evidence that you do indeed need me. I have come to do what I should have done, many years ago.”
“Oh? And what’s that exactly?”
“I would like to possess you.”
“…”
The two boys stare at the spirit, then stare at each other, both of their faces contorting in disbelief. Rin’s the first to react, letting out a body shaking, “HAH!”
“How stupid do you think I am?” he sneers, his tone as ugly as his expression. “Go back to the underworld, Luna. Before I force you back there myself.”
The spirit hums, his smile never wavering, and his gaze hardening. “Do you not wish to hear of the benefits of such a partnership?”
“Partnership?” Rin spits out in disbelief. “You’d be a parasite.”
“Think about it, Rin. You would have a spiritual entity at your disposal. An entity that can naturally surpass human limitations, such as your six senses and corporeal form. I could protect you, stop you from becoming wounded in the first instance. Men like the Marquis, like Tiger, they will never touch you again.”
“I warn thee, spirit.” Jun’s sharp voice cracks the air like a merciless whip. His goldens are as cold, if not colder than Luna’s. His sword pointed directly at the spirit’s chest. “Leave from whence you came or you will force my hand.”
Luna hums amusedly, his white immaterial robes shimmering as he hides his hands in his sleeves. “First Lord Hwan Sun has truly spawned an admirable son. A pleasant surprise, given his corrupted personality.”
Jun seethes. “How dare you slander my father? Who are you to say such a thing?”
The spirit lazily sweeps a hand to the side. The sword rips from Jun’s hand and lands several feet away, blade embedded deep into the soil. Jun stumbles back, clutching his aching hand.
“I am Luna, Imperial God of the Night. Who are you to challenge me, boy?” Pure venom drips from his words as he glares at the lord, pupils constricted to needlepoints.
Jun clenches his jaw and his fists, trying to hide the bad tremour in his hands.
“If you’re an Imperial God, then I’m the Mother,” Rin snorts, not believing this spirit’s claim to identity for one second. No god would ever care to interact with a Rat like him, let alone save him time and time again. He smoothly steps between Jun and the irate spirit with a bored expression. In truth, he’s about to wet himself from fear, but if there’s one thing Rin is good at – it’s lying. “So I let you possess me and gain all this power. I don’t see how this ‘partnership’ would benefit you in any way.”
Luna’s anger is doused when he realises that Rin is considering his offer. Even if hypothetically. “I have my reasons. A mere mortal could not hope to understand the will of the gods.”
“You are so full of shit.” Rin sighs, glancing at the little lord. The latter meets his eyes, pale and grim. There’s an understanding that passes between them, and the Rat has his answer. “Sorry, no can do.” He grabs Jun and tugs him away from the spirit, just in case they need to run. “Thanks for all your help over the years, but I don’t need it anymore. I can handle myself just fine.”
Luna gives the Rat a chilling smile. He glides towards the humans, diaphanous robes dancing around his graceful form. “That is disappointing, Rin. I had hoped to receive your cooperation. It seems as though I will have to do this without.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Rin sneers, eyes narrowed into twin flints. He quickly places himself in front of Jun, shielding him from the encroaching spirit.
Without hesitation, he opens his mouth and a clear voice rings out, weaving notes and ancient words into an eerie melody. He steps back for every beat and the spirit follows suit, the latter smiling calmly all throughout.
Jun listens enraptured, moving as the raven does, goosebumps raised along his arms. Evanescent scenes tumble through his mind, induced by Izayoma’s Call. Lost civilisations and primal worship, the apocalypse of another world far vaster and stranger than their own, and the natural cycles of life and death eternal. Foreign wistfulness fills the lord’s being, a longing for the home beyond the veil. One that he cannot yet return to.
And sure enough, the outer edges of Luna’s form begin to blur and disintegrate. Delicate shards are slowly shed from his ephemeral form, until all that remains is a black wisp, lazily drifting through the air like smoke on a windless day.
A note hangs in the air, unfinished. Releasing a light breath, Rin reaches out to touch the wisp, brows knitted in perplexion. When a spirit is exorcised, it’s not usual for it to leave anything behind. But this wisp…it appears like an abandoned shred of a soul, a lingering echo of a living being.
Pale fingertips graze the black smoke and it eagerly sinks into his flesh. He jerks his hand back with a gasp, but it’s too late. The wisp is gone, entirely absorbed by his body.
“Rinnie? What is it?”
Jun’s concerned voice fills his ears as Rin reels his hand into his chest. His heart hammers beneath his palm. Calm down, he scolds himself silently, it’s probably nothing.
He raises his face to Jun’s golden gaze, quickly adopting his trademark smirk. “Spirits don’t exist, huh?”
The little lord’s tense expression eases a tad, a faint smile dancing on his lips. He gathers the raven’s hand into his own, intertwining their fingers. His palm is as cold and clammy as the other’s. “It appears as though I must reconsider my position.” Mahogany lashes lower over his gaze, regret dripping from his voice. “That is to say, I apologise. I have been rather narrow minded.”
“Hm. You can make it up to me by bringing me more sweetmeats,” Rin murmurs, glancing down at their interlocked hands.
An amused smile warms the little lord’s face. “…Consider it done.”
It keeps getting better! Thanks for the chapter!!
thank you for reading!!!! (ಥ◡ಥ) <3
Innocent…? Rin?? You’re too naive my poor Jun 🤭
Thanks for the chapter 🍆🍆
Heheheh (*≧艸≦) Thank you for reading~~! (and for the eggplants) <3
(≧▽≦) handholding!!! -wait maybe I’m focusing on the wrong thing
Thank you for the chapter!!! ❤️❤️
Nope~ you’re totally focused on the most important thing!!! (*≧艸≦) Thank you for reading~~! <3 <3
Oh wow, this is so awesome.
Thank you for reading Blu!! ^3^ <333
i don’t vibe with healer wu somehow ಠ_ಠ
Jun got hammered a lot in this chp oof
I vibe with Luna. I like him.(＾∇＾)ﾉ♪
I love Rin and his sharp tongue(｢`･ω･)｢