CHAPTER 25
Muwon sat at a distance, his posture relaxed but his eyes scanning the surroundings, ever vigilant. Yuhyun, on the other hand, had knelt near the campfire, struggling to get it started. His hands fumbled with the firewood, frustration clear on his face as the flint struck against the stone, but the spark wouldn't catch.
Sihyun, leaning against a tree and watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but smirk. Yuhyun had always been the more practical one—organized, diligent, and often a calming presence. But in this moment, his attempts to light the fire were proving less than successful.
Muwon glanced over at Yuhyun's struggle but said nothing, his expression unreadable. Meanwhile, Yuhyun's frustration was beginning to show as he exhaled sharply, his hands still trembling slightly as he tried again and again.
Sihyun, with a mischievous grin, finally pushed off from the tree, his boots crunching the fallen leaves as he strolled over casually.
"Need some help, Yuhyun?"
he asked, his voice light and teasing.
Yuhyun looked up, startled at the sudden approach. He hesitated, glancing at Muwon before giving a reluctant nod.
"I can manage it. Just give me a moment,"
he said, trying to mask his frustration.
But Sihyun wasn't one to wait around for things to be done the slow way. With a quick flick of his wrist, a pulse of magic rippled through the air. The flame that had stubbornly refused to spark suddenly blazed to life, bright and warm, dancing merrily in the fire pit.
Yuhyun blinked, startled, as the fire crackled to life before his eyes.
"You—"
he started, but Sihyun's smirk cut him off.
"Couldn't let you suffer out here in the cold,"
Sihyun said lightly, leaning casually against a tree once again.
"Besides, you know I can't resist helping when you get stuck."
Yuhyun's shoulders dropped in resignation, though the faintest smile tugged at his lips.
"You always have to make things more complicated,"
he muttered, but there was no real heat in his words. He stood up and added more firewood, the warmth from the fire beginning to push back the chill in the air.
Muwon, who had been watching the exchange in silence, finally spoke, his voice as calm as ever.
"You're always quick to intervene, Sihyun."
Sihyun shrugged, glancing over at him with a carefree grin.
"What can I say? I enjoy stirring things up."
The fire crackled brightly now, casting warm, flickering light on their faces as they settled around it. The air grew stiller, the only sounds the crackling of the flames and the distant whisper of the wind.
As the warmth of the fire spread through the group, Sihyun glanced at Muwon, his gaze narrowing slightly as he watched him. It was moments like these, where the atmosphere grew tense without anyone speaking, that Sihyun found himself contemplating how much more this entire situation could spiral out of control. But for now, he would let the night pass in quiet play, waiting for whatever came next.
The fire crackled and popped, casting flickering shadows over the small clearing where they had set up camp. The scent of wood smoke filled the air as Muwon, Sihyun, and the guards gathered around, each with a cup of wine in hand. The night was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of the trees in the gentle breeze.
Muwon leaned back against a log, his eyes distant as he took slow sips from his cup. He was calm as ever, despite the tension of the day. The guards, on the other hand, seemed eager to unwind after the events earlier, their laughter a little too loud as they passed around the wine.
Sihyun, sitting on the opposite side of the fire, raised his cup with a devilish grin.
"Ah, this is exactly what I needed,"
he said, taking a deep gulp. The alcohol burned as it slid down his throat, but he didn't mind, even though he knew his tolerance wasn't great.
Yuhyun, who had been sitting silently, watching his brother, sighed and shook his head.
"You've already had too much, Sihyun,"
he said softly, trying to keep his voice light.
"Don't overdo it."
Sihyun only grinned wider, the corners of his lips curling mischievously.
"It's just a little wine, Yuhyun. You worry too much,"
he said, raising the bottle and pouring more into his cup. He drank again, the liquid sloshing as he tipped the bottle too eagerly.
The guards nearby were getting louder, and a few had already succumbed to the effects of the alcohol, sprawled out on the ground, snoring softly. Muwon didn't seem concerned by their state, but he did glance over at the guards from time to time, his expression unreadable.
Sihyun, however, was slowly starting to show the effects of the alcohol. His words were becoming less coherent, and the smirk on his face grew more exaggerated with each drink. He leaned back against a rock, his legs stretched out in front of him.
"You know, I don't understand why everyone gets so serious around me,"
he muttered, his voice starting to slur.
"Life's too short to be all stiff and proper like you, your highness."
Muwon didn't reply immediately. He simply took another sip of his drink, watching Sihyun with a mild expression. He was used to the younger sorcerer's antics, but there was something about the way Sihyun was drinking tonight that made him pause.
Yuhyun, still sitting across the fire from his brother, couldn't help but worry.
"Really, Sihyun,"
Yuhyun said, his tone a little sharper this time.
"You need to slow down. You're already acting like a fool."
Sihyun laughed, a high-pitched sound that echoed in the still night air.
"A fool? I'm just enjoying myself, that's all. Don't be such a buzzkill,"
he said, lifting his cup once more and downing the rest of it in one go. His movements were becoming sluggish, and he swayed slightly, his face flushed from the alcohol.
Yuhyun knew Sihyun's already drunk.