It was a good thing that the group decided to leave when they did, as just moments later, Mikaelis had appeared in a cloud of black smoke. The dark sorcerer growled in frustration, knowing he'd missed them and that he'd be far behind. It was too bad that he couldn't have the Shades track them, seeing as it would burn them out of existence.

Mikaelis narrowed his eyes in the direction that he guessed they went in, thinking that perhaps they'd take the shorter route around the Lake to get away faster. It was a little annoying that he couldn't know where they were exactly, but if he could just find a way to track them, he could end that nasty little child of Taemin for good. He hated that God with a passion-though he hated all the Gods and Goddesses the same-and he had realised that taking out his kid would be the best thing.

He then decided that he may have to do all the hard work himself, and so, he uses his ability to shapeshift into a normal human of Aurora, and starts making his way towards the Town.

With Hongjoong and the others, once they felt they were far enough away, they slowed their pace. Elya was puffing, and Hongjoong heard the exhausted horse in his head tell them they should keep going.

"Elya, you're exhausted you silly horse. We'll stop for a little, so you can drink from the water" Hongjoong spoke softly, feeling sympathetic.

He really wished his ability to talk with animals carried over to the world he grew up in, but he doubted it. Elya then spoke in his head again, her tone soft, but thankful as she cloped over to the Lake, taking a few small sips. The group had been running away from the dark entity they felt earlier for what felt like hours, but was really only a few minutes, and they had taken the shorter route and we're already halfway to the other side of the lake.

"We'll pass though the town soon enough" San spoke from above them. "We'll properly rest there, and we'll leave at first light tomorrow"

"I say we rest till noon. I haven't had a proper night's sleep in what feels like years" Hongjoong complained.

"I agree with Hongjoong. First light is too dangerous; there'll still be Shades lurking in certain areas" Seonghwa said.

Jongho was silent, but he was leaning more towards Hongjoong's idea. He was drained, and he had a lot of thoughts swimming in his head. He wasn't about to say it out loud, but he missed both Yunho and Yeosang, and he wished Yunho came along with them. Yunho was like family to him, considering the sorcerer practically raised him.

Jongho was utterly terrified of Mikaelis, and would rather be well rested than depleted of energy and de by Mikaelis' hand. He sometimes had dreams of his own death, and often wondered if Banshees could predict their own death. It was always the same nightmare; him being struck by a powerful darkness, and he falls back and dies. The second his dream self hits the ground, he wakes up in a cold sweat every time.

He then wonders if maybe if it's simply his own fear of dying that causes him to have that reoccurring nightmare.

"Hey Jongho, would you please help me set up the tents?" Hongjoong asks for the third time, and Jongho shakes himself out of his stupor and nods.

"Yeah, of course"

Jongho slides off his horse and wanders over to help Hongjoong set up the tents.

"Gods damned, I asked you like three times before you answered me. A bit lost in thought there, weren't you?" Hongjoong asks.

"Yeah, I was...thinking about how much I already miss Yeosang" Jongho's smile was sad, and Hongjoong's heart went out to him.

It couldn't be easy being in love with someone you can't see very often. Then, out of nowhere, Hongjoong had an idea.

"Well, why don't you set up a little home for yourself near the Lake? The light it emits at night will keep you safe from the Shades, and you'd be able to see Yeosang every day if you want to"

"No, I can't" Jongho sighs, "that would be going against their Law. No one is allowed to live on the borders of the Lake. If i were to magically turn into a mermaid, then yes, I would be able to freely live and love Yeosang within his own kingdom, but I'm a Banshee, and my kind are seen as inherently evil. I'm considered a walking danger even being outside of the Inner Shade Forest"

Hongjoong gaped at him like a fish, a disbelieving look on his face. "Number one, that's total bullshit, and number two, that's completely unfair!" Hongjoong exclaims.

Jongho just stares at him. "It's the way Aurora works. There is some amount of discrimination here. Even if you are the son of Taemin, no one sees Sorcerer's as good people anymore, not since Mikaelis sold his soul to the darkness. You are seen as not only a threat to Mikaelis, but to everyone else within Aurora who isn't a sorcerer, you are also a threat"