⤷ townsquare

@♢ sung ziyoung ˡᵃᵈʸ′ˢ ᵐᵃᶦᵈ all seemed tranquil over the heart of hydrosia as its citizens settled in their humble abodes after their daily perennial routines. the golden sun approaching the horizon revealed a cerulean canvas brushed with hues of apricot, rose, and lavender. yet, in the midst of all this serenity, lies an outsider—a shadow clad in onyx dyed garments and countenance hidden behind a wooden mask. mingyu’s heart raced as he darted through the labyrinth of towering infrastructure that surrounded him. he barely managed to escape the hands of the hydrosian rogues near the border of the kingdom. his plan was clear: eliminate the few that were settled in the camps near the outskirts. all was going well but the ambush from their fellow allies caught him off guard, forcing him into a swift getaway. alas, they did not let him leave without a parting gift.

closer to the city’s center than he anticipated, mingyu fortunately stumbled upon a quiet, secluded alleyway to use as a short refuge. his adrenaline began to ebb, replaced by the throbbing ache in his right thigh. with every step he took it felt like a thousand needles piercing his leg. the gnawing pain made him struggle to keep up the stealthy pace. as he pressed on, the sounds of shattering dried pottery and crumpled paper being kicked filled the silence of the alley.

the man halted abruptly, breaths ragged, as the path narrowed into a dead end. unable to bear the pain any longer, he leaned against one of the building’s cobbled walls and slid down until he settled on the cold concrete ground. he kept his right leg extended so he could assess how much damage he suffered. his gaze landed on the glint of the silver dagger nestled deep into the flesh of his skin. he berated himself for making such a rookie mistake as he noticed the bright crimson staining the metal blade and wetness seeping through the fabric of his pants. the agonizing pain and scent of iron brought him to his senses. a feeling of desperation washed over mingyu as an overwhelming myriad of thoughts of his current state of vulnerability in the land of his enemies perturbed him.

with quick hands, mingyu tore a strip of fabric from his shirt and bound it tightly above the wound. he hoped the makeshift tourniquet would suffice as his next move had to be now or else he risked the chance of being discovered. however, no matter how hard he tried to ignore the pain, the persisting ache prevented him from moving. his eyes shifted to the direction of the alley’s entrance and he felt automatic relief as no one was there. he supposed he could steal a moment’s respite—a chance to regain strength. so he sat there, back against the rough stone, as he listened to the drum of his own heartbeat while the long, deep breaths he took helped to calm his nerves.

@♢ jung soojung ziyoung glanced around cautiously before turning to her highness, princess soojung, excitement evident in her deep blue eyes. "your highness, it appears that there is nobody around. we can sneak out now. let's make this quick and savor our time." she said with a soft giggle, extending her hand for the princess to grasp. with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she added, "after all, a little adventure never hurt anyone, right?"