화랑 - a tale of curiosity [ON HOLD]

🌸chapter thirty-four🌸

Ji-ae was walking with Hansung through the courtyard as they made their way towards the hall in which all Hwarang's would complete their first task. Ji-ae had tried helping Hansung, but he didn't seem bothered at the end of the day, making Ji-ae just shrug at the whole thing.

"Do you think I can do it?" Hansung asked, pouting his lips out as he turned to face Ji-ae. Ji-ae observed his face, hesitating for a moment before nodding.

"I think you can do it." She answered, making a triumphant smile appear on his face. "I think it would ahve been better if you listened to me though." Hansung's face then fell and he knitted his brows.

"It's not my fault." He exclaimed. "You use big words, and confuse me."

"I said Tao Te Ching!" Ji-ae exclaimed. "As soon as you heard that, you complained that your brain hurt." 

"It did!" He reasoned back. Ji-ae just sighed and shook her head as they entered the building.

The two were quiet as they walked in, looking at all the other Hwarang's reading their notes at the last minute, or quickly scribbling down the ink on their skin. 

"That'a clever idea." Hansung commented, earning a slap on the back of the head. "Ow." He whined, holding the back of his head. "Why did you do that?" He complained, shuffling on the spot.

"You are going to complete this without cheating, Hansung." Ji-ae said, making him gulp down a lump in throat. Hansung quickly nodded and then scampered to his seat, sitting by Soo Hoo, with Yeo Hwa in front of them.

Ji-ae sat at the usual spot at the front, her canvas already set up, with paint already by the stand. She smiled small, but realised how repetitive this position came to be. Drawing pretty boys every once in a while can eventually lose it's charm. She sat down comfortably, looking at the three boys in the middle as they conversed. Hansung noticed her looking and instead of smiling, or waving, he widened his eyes slapped Soo Hoo constantly on the arm, causing him to turn to him, However, Ji-ae cuaght a glimpse of the notes stuck to Soo Hoo's back, making her features turn pointed.

"She looks scary." Yeo Hwa said, motioning to Ji-ae who's usual soft features turned dark. Yeo Hwa looked back to Hansung, who had fear painted on his face. "Ah, the disadvantages of being in love." Yeo Hwa mused, pulling on the strands of hair that fell in front of his shoulders. Wanting to avoid Ji-ae's gaze, Hansung looked to left to see Sun Woo gazing at his paper in front of him, causing him to turn back to Yeo Hwa and Soo Hoo.

"What happens if Dog-Bird fails?" He asks, his tone laced with curiosity. Soo Hoo was the first to answer him, stealing a look at the said man.

"He will lose 1 of his 3 chances." He commented, shrugging his shoulders. "Then that will make it harder for him to stay." He also reasoned. 

With that, We Hwa had entered the room, causing all the Hwarang's to sit straight as he made his way up the stairs tot eh raised wooden platform that was situated in the middle of the room. We Hwa stood at the centre, glancing at all the men before him before releasing a sigh.

"Do you all crave authority?" He asked. "Do you want to become an official?" He asked again, but it was followed by a few chuckles. "It would be nice to be an official. You do not have responsibilities, but your power becomes unbelievable. When you become an official, you will own Silla for the rest of your lives." All the Hwarang's - even Ji-ae - had their attention focused on him as he spoke to all of them. "If you wish to climb to somewhere higher than where you are now. If you want to protect what you have. If you want to survive, you must pass." We Hwa paused for a brief moment, looking at the people in front of him. "This is the only way for you, to get what you want." When he paused for another moment, everyone was eager to begin, but he continued talking. "Let me repeat. Discuss a King as water. However, it must be based on 'Tao Te Ching'." With the next breath of words, everyone looked down to their pieces of paper, eagerly picking up their brush and dipping it into the pots at their table.