Seo'oh stared at the solidified lump within the cooling furnace, tears welling up in his eyes. It was a breakthrough, a testament to his unwavering dedication throughout the summer, battling the storms and the sweltering heat. Though they had only managed to melt the Iridescent-black Stone, the next steps—extracting the molten stone before it solidified, and then figuring out how to utilize it—remained a mystery. But for now, the tears that streamed down Seo'oh's face were tears of triumph.
Seo'oh's brilliance lay in his hands-on approach, his willingness to experiment and learn from his mistakes. Even Wu, with her extensive knowledge of physics, couldn't offer much practical advice beyond the theoretical. This breakthrough was solely Seo'oh's achievement. Wu rushed towards him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"You did it," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "We took the first step. Now we can run."
Hyeok watched them, unable to comprehend the significance of their achievement, yet deeply moved by their dedication. He bowed deeply to Wu.
"Thank you for your hard work, Master."
Wu chuckled. "It was Seo'oh who did all the work," she said, gesturing towards her student. "Now we need to figure out how to use this on the Sphere. Containing the flames was the challenge, and now that we've overcome it, I'm confident we'll find a way to utilize the Sphere. I have faith in us."
"Faith?" Seo'oh teased.
"You rascal," Wu retorted playfully, "what else is there to hold onto when starting from scratch but faith?"
Though this breakthrough offered a glimmer of hope, the path ahead remained arduous. Their joy was short-lived. Their fuel supply was dwindling, as were their food rations. Wu prepared a letter requesting additional support, along with the schematics of Seo'oh's successful device, to send to Baekyang Seoh. But even after the sea calmed, no news arrived from the mainland. Sunyahng remained silent, as did Sahcheon. Every day, they anxiously scanned the horizon.
The silence was broken by a small, unmarked ship appearing from the south. The soldiers guarding the short stretch of coastline tensed at the sight of the unfamiliar vessel. It was a small merchant ship. The Sahcheon officer stationed on Sahpung ordered his spearmen to line the beach. The ship dropped anchor in the shallows, and a single figure disembarked, wading towards the shore. He wore a sword, sheathed and secured, and introduced himself as a member of House Myeonghyeon.
Hyeok rushed to meet him. He recognized the man as U'nso, a constant shadow beside the Myeonghyeon siblings, though he didn't know his name. U'nso relayed Myeonghyeon Seon's proposal, offering a chance for Kyeong'ui to escape Birahng. He also offered to deliver a letter to her, but warned that he had to return to Birahng before daybreak. Hyeok, though resentful towards the siblings, picked up his brush and wrote, his desire for revenge momentarily suppressed. He couldn't reach Kyeong'ui without playing along.
More than ten days after the letter reached Kyeong'ui, U'nso returned to Sahpung. He narrowed the window for Kyeong'ui's escape to three days.
"Why then?" Hyeok asked.
"Soyeol is coming," U'nso replied. "Birahng will fall. Two cities have already surrendered."
Those who heard his words were shocked. For Hyeok, a young man yet to experience battle, and for the scholar and the student immersed in their research, the news of war, of cities falling, was a heavy blow.
U'nso explained the situation in Birahng, relaying Seon's plan to extract Kyeong'ui before the island fell. Seon, having seen the map Hyeok had drawn within the Dahnian camp, knew he was familiar with the coastline of Birahng. The plan was detailed and well-organized. Rescuing Kyeong'ui during Soyeol's attack would prevent her from falling into their hands, and the chaos of the siege would provide cover for their escape. Hyeok listened, his lips pursed.
"The city will fall only once," U'nso stressed. "This is your only chance to save your princess. Be prepared."
Though Hyeok didn't answer, U'nso left without waiting for a response. Wu watched the ship disappear over the horizon.
"They believe we have no choice, don't they?" she remarked.
"Those Myeonghyeon bastards," Hyeok spat. "How can we trust their words? We'll know more when we hear from Sahcheon. If Soyeol truly is coming, Sahpung won't be safe. You should start making preparations."
"Indeed," Wu agreed.
The sea fell silent once more. Sahpung was enveloped in an unsettling calm. Those waiting on the island couldn't comprehend the prolonged silence from Sunyahng and Sahcheon. Though House Myeonghyeon had indicated a timeframe, their patience was wearing thin. They had given a window of three days, but if their rendezvous point was discovered within that time, the single warship they had sent to rescue Kyeong'ui wouldn't stand a chance against either the Wian forces or the Soyeolish. It was a risky gamble, one that could lead to further casualties. Hyeok lacked the experience to make such a decision, and he didn't have the authority.
As the autumn chill settled over their makeshift camp, Seo'oh turned to Hyeok. "Two messengers have come from Birahng," he said, "but we haven't heard anything from Sunyahng or Sahcheon. The sea is calm now. Aren't we going to rescue Her Highness?"
The Sahcheon officer added, "Not only are we concerned about the princess, but our food supplies are also running low. I should return to Sahcheon tomorrow."
Hyeok shook his head. "It's not safe for you to leave Sahpung," he said. "I'll go to Sahcheon. Please protect the island."
At dawn, the warship that had been hauled ashore was pushed back into the sea. Hyeok set sail for Sahcheon, his heart heavy despite the ship's eagerness to return to the waves after a season on land. The lack of communication from his brother was a troubling sign, especially after his insistence that their family's fate depended on this mission.
His anxiety turned to anger before he even reached Sahcheon. The harbor was overflowing with warships, far more than he had seen before his departure. They stretched across the water like a vast plain. Yet, the atmosphere was eerily calm, with no signs of imminent deployment.
Gahngyun Yeol, having received the report, came to the harbor to meet Hyeok.
"Are you having a leisurely boat party with all those ships?" Hyeok demanded as soon as he saw his brother.
Yeol ignored his anger. "I was expecting you," he said calmly.
"Expecting me?"
"You seem to be in good health."
"Don't avoid the question!" Hyeok snapped.
Yeol glanced at him. "Calm yourself," he instructed.
He turned and walked towards the government office, Hyeok following closely behind, his jaw clenched, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
Once inside, Yeol revealed the plan that had been hidden throughout the summer. Hyeok listened, his blood turning to ice. The plan belonged to Sunyahng, and also to Dong'gyeong. Dahnian forces, manipulated by Dong'gyeong, were aimed at Soyeol. Birahng was not in their sights. Warships were gathering at strategic locations along the southern coast, including Sahcheon, but the preparations for the expedition weren't complete. Hyeok couldn't comprehend their willingness to abandon Kyeong'ui, to prioritize Soyeol over Birahng. He couldn't bear Sunyahng's betrayal. Yeol had no further explanations to offer.
"The King hasn't abandoned the Princess," he said, trying to reassure his brother. "Seven elite soldiers from the Shadow Legion have arrived in Sahcheon with a secret mission. They'll infiltrate Hyangdo and rescue the Princess before the situation becomes too dangerous. They have the drawings of Hyangdo; they know the layout. They're more than capable."
"I thought the elite soldiers were all killed in Nahmgyo," Hyeok said.
Yeol glared at him. "This isn't something you should be questioning."
Hyeok continued to press his brother.
"What about Hyangdo?" he demanded. "Do you even know what's happening there?"
"Just tell me what you've learned."
"Soyeol is attacking Birahng!"
Yeol's face hardened. "How did you learn that? Who told you?!"
Hyeok's suspicions vanished at his brother's outburst. He scoffed. "A member of House Myeonghyeon came to Sahpung," he explained. "He said they'll sneak the Princess out of Hyangdo during the attack and asked us to send a ship."
"Myeonghyeon?"
"They said it's too dangerous to wait," Hyeok continued, his voice rising in frustration. "Hyangdo will fall. It's our only chance. Do you think our family will be safe if she falls into the hands of those fucking seals?"
"Don't be reckless," Yeol warned. "Those Soyeolish pirates may be a rabble, but they won't ignore a royal hostage."
"So you're saying it's alright for her to be captured?"
"We'll try to rescue her."
"Try?" Hyeok retorted. "They gave us a deadline!"
Yeol's expression hardened. "You blindly trusted those Myeonghyeons and got us into this mess," he said. "And now you want to trust them again and mobilize the Shadow Legion without the King's command? Haven't you learned your lesson?"
"Why would they deceive us now?" Hyeok argued. "They're desperate! And they were right about Soyeol! You've been hiding it from us all this time!"
"I was waiting for the right time."
"Now is the right time! We have to act now!"
Hyeok's desperate pleas fell on deaf ears. "I believe your affection for the Princess is genuine," Yeol said coldly, "but I don't trust your judgment. And I certainly don't trust those Myeonghyeon bastards. The Shadow Legion won't move without the King's command. Return to Sahpung and wait. Or you can go straight back to Sunyahng."