The chest San found and opened with so many difficulties held an assortment of clothes and letters. Most of them were useless, though the group could use the clothes to hide Jongho's identity as a crusader from the prying eyes of the barracks in Briar Glen. If other knights found out he had deserted the army, he would be in trouble, so Seonghwa explained the situation to San. Luckily, the man had no other use for the clothes anyway and handed them over for the crusader to change.

When Jongho returned dressed in soft pants and a belted shirt, he still looked stiff, but much less like a knight. He bundled up his uniform and used his cape as a blanket.

San shifted through the scrolls and books in the chest.

"Looks like some declarations of love, some poems... This was probably a noble on his way to visit his beloved. A shame." He handed all the papers to Seonghwa since none of the others saw any use in them. Seonghwa skimmed them while leaned against the cave wall.

Yunho perched by San's side and held the heavy lid of the chest for him. Their proximity sent bouts of shyness over San, and his voice ended in a mumble whenever he glanced at Yunho's face. Each time it happened, Yunho chuckled at him. It wasn't hard to tell he found the mess of an adventurer adorable.

Underneath another layer of books, something shiny had San perk up. He reached in to cradle the jewellery wrapped in a silky shawl. The heavy necklace jingled as he surveyed the shiny gems with an expert eye. Wooyoung could barely sit still in his greed to grab. A warning glimpse from Seonghwa that this wasn't his kept him seated.

"You know how to tell fakes from real gems?" Yunho muttered, closer to San's ear than he would approach one of the others.

San fumbled, almost dropping the necklace.

"Uh-umm. Yes? They - uh - they shine less, right?"

"Not quite." Yunho's long fingers wrapped around San's wrist to bring the necklace closer to their eyes. Fascinated by the ease Yunho captivated the other man with, Seonghwa watched them. Even Hongjoong looked amused.

"Natural stones have blemishes and irregularities, while glass fakes look almost too perfect."

San didn't dare breathe. When he spoke, he sounded like the squeak of a mouse.

"So- Like this part?" He pointed a shaky finger at something. Yunho snickered.

"No, that's where the necklace holds the gem. You see this one?" Yunho leaned in further to align his sight with San's. Frozen like a bunny in the forest, San stared at the gem without thinking a single thought about jewellery.

Seonghwa was so engrossed seeing San blush as Yunho explained it to him that he startled when Hongjoong appeared by his side. The mighty gargoyle jerked his head towards the entrance.

"If he's this compliant, let's move our camp in here. It's less windy."

In agreement, Seonghwa followed him to help. Jongho dragged Wooyoung along before his greedy hands snatched something.

Together, they set up camp inside the cave. San moved his findings to his own bag after Yunho's class was over, but Seonghwa caught him looking at the blond man every so often. Awe brightened San's youthful features.

The parties didn't need to confirm with each other that they would share a camp tonight. San sat with them to eat and fit right in. Since he was so distracted, he didn't notice how heavily Seonghwa relied on the wall or how he had trouble following the conversation.

"Do you find shiny things often?" Wooyoung asked with his wicked smile and San looked not in the least bit alarmed.

"Whenever I stumble across loot, yes. I don't dare pickpocket others and my adventures only ever took me as far as these mountains. Strictly speaking, this was the first chest I opened in months. Most often, I can't access the things I find."

Yunho looked impressed with how helpless the man was.

"So you live in Briar Glen?" He took over, uncaring of Wooyoung's chagrin. The lutin pouted over the burst trade deal.

"I do. Until recently, I lived with my grandfather, but he travelled east and never returned. I suspect he found a pretty lady to woo." San sighed. "Ever since, I live alone. My adventurer market is coming along, but I still need a lot of practise. You must be so much older than me." Thrilled, San turned to Yunho. A couple of minutes later, they figured out they were the same age. San couldn't fathom it.

"Life is hard all by myself."

"Don't you get lonely?" Yunho hummed as he scooted closer to the other male. Hidden behind his hair, San pretended he wasn't bashful.

"I do. I don't have a purpose here and I always get scared to explore past the mountains. What if I don't find my way back?"

Yunho cooed at him. The prompting peeks he threw at Seonghwa had the priest snicker.

"Not again," Hongjoong grumbled under his breath. Seonghwa inclined his head in his direction so his whisper wouldn't reach San's ears.

"He knows the town well. With him and Wooyoung, we can't miss the witch. You can't classify him as a danger."

Hongjoong scoffed.

"I'd classify him as another dead guy. I bet we will travel with him for half a day before he trips and cracks his skull open on a rock."

"Don't you dare cause that."

Hongjoong's fangs flashed with his grin. Seonghwa had read his mind.

For a moment, they observed San and tried to predict what travelling with him would look like. Chances were, he wouldn't travel further with them than to Briar Glen and stay there with Yunho, but Seonghwa wouldn't mind that. He had his other two friends who would bring him and Hongjoong to the witch and Yunho deserved a break after running along on their hasty voyage. San fit him and might offer the right recreation.

"I can't stop you, anyway. If you want to invite him, do it."

Jongho had tried hard not to look as if he was eavesdropping on them, but even his eyes widened when Hongjoong gave in so easily. No fight, no slamming Seonghwa's dying body against the rock. Had Hongjoong developed sympathy for the wishes of a dying man?

While it could be regarded as kind, it also sent a shiver down Seonghwa's spine. If Hongjoong considered his death inevitable...

Seonghwa shook those thoughts off. He wasn't dead yet, and the witch was near. So long as she didn't demand them to travel the kingdom again to pay for her services, he could make it.

"San, how about you join our party? We can promise an adventure if you are up for it," Seonghwa called out. When San glanced in his direction, his eyes nervously flickered over to Hongjoong. He loomed by Seonghwa's side like an angel of death. Flattered by San's intimidation, Hongjoong gloomed harder.

"That's very sudden, although I am... interested." He tried not to look at Yunho, but all of them knew his thoughts strayed there. Wooyoung chortled about him. His fingers played with a coin that Yunho had handed to him.

"Our friend over there is very sick and we are searching for a witch to heal him. She's rumoured to live near Briar Glen. If you wish, you can join us on the way there," Yunho revealed. San shifted in his spot until he sat on his hands.

"A witch to heal someone? Won't she turn us all into toads?" San shivered and subconsciously leaned into Yunho's side. Yunho shifted the hand balancing his weight so his body aligned with San's.

"That's to find out," Hongjoong smirked. He enjoyed the way San shuddered before he looked at his hands to ponder his answer. Perie stalked around him and cosied up to his side until he petted her.

"I will not let you come to harm if I can avoid it. If the witch asks you to obey her, the arrangement is over," Seonghwa promised. By his side, Jongho nodded without a word. His firm confidence soothed San.

"If I saw a witch, that would make me super impressive. I can barely call myself an adventurer if I never encountered one. Yunho has so much more experience than me already." When he stared at Yunho as if he hung the moon in the sky, Yunho caressed his cheek with a slender finger.

"I can teach you," he purred and Seonghwa almost felt bad when even he picked up on the underlying intentions. San looked innocent as ever when he nodded enthusiastically.

"Then come along with us and perhaps we find you some more chests to open."

San agreed in a heartbeat.

"I'm talented at picking open locks! I succeed in seven cases out of ten. Locked locks pose a challenge, but Yunho can teach me until I master them all." Cheerful, he promised himself to get better. Seonghwa smiled along, delighted by his liveliness. While Yunho's intentions appeared anything but innocent - as usual - Seonghwa would trust him more than he trusted Hongjoong.

"We would be happy to have you help us. I trust your guidance."

San instantly doused Yunho in questions about their adventures. Able to tell him everything they had accomplished and more, Yunho charmed the other man with his stories. Wooyoung listened in, intrigued by the parts he hadn't heard yet.

Seonghwa rubbed his temples. His head ached from his constant deficiency, and he wanted to lie down. The climb wore him out and while he upheld a smile to match San's motivation, he couldn't wait to pass out on his soft furs. At this point, he distrusted he could easily stand up again. The temptation of spending his last moments in rest almost overcame him.

When Seonghwa's eyes slipped shut and he dangerously swayed in his spot, Jongho made a warning sound. His bare hands - not secured by armoured gauntlets anymore - found Seonghwa's shoulder as he shuffled up to keep him upright. To Seonghwa's left, the jostle of leathery wings scraping over the ground sounded. A clawed palm touched his forehead and felt Seonghwa's heat. He was too frazzled to bat it away. Once he had the strength for prayers again, he would cleanse himself of the demon's touch.

"His fever is getting worse," Hongjoong muttered while he reached for Seonghwa's bag. He uncapped his bottle, and a moment later its rim touched upon his lips. Struggling, he missed it the first time he reached for it.

"How can we help?" Jongho whispered. Fear laced his voice, and Seonghwa leaned into his shoulder, soothed by his care. The crusader had never lost his honour. He stayed strong for others no matter what, and he didn't condemn Seonghwa for sticking to the faith he lost.

"We need to hurry." That was all Hongjoong said. Together, they helped Seonghwa lower himself onto his furs. Jongho pulled his blanket over him as Seonghwa's exhausted eyes slipped shut.

Behind him, Yunho droned on about the far oceans and the tallest mountains. Wooyoung learned about treasure beyond his wildest dreams that the men of the sea found in its depths. San was most taken with Yunho's descriptions of foreign animals and people.

Briar Glen wasn't far now. Wooyoung knew the way, and if they didn't linger in the capital, they might make it to the witch by the end of the week.

Seonghwa could hold up for another week. His legs still carried him and his prayers still came to his mind if he called upon them. He begged the Lord for yet another day as the pain sunk him like a stone in the water.

Seonghwa drowned in his illness, that had become so much more apparent now. He felt as pale and haggard as he looked, and he knew his companions only waited until he dropped dead. Until they reached the witch, he would fight. Her demands could be immeasurable and might be refused, but at least Seonghwa died having done his best. He gave his companions a cause and got such distinct people to work hand in hand. The peace and generosity he brought upon them would be his ultimate tribute before ascending to the skies.

Perhaps the man Hongjoong had drowned so long ago had been a sign. Just like him, Seonghwa had clawed desperately at every method, only to slip off inevitably. Hongjoong would stand over him with those hellish eyes alive and ablaze while Seonghwa succumbed to his end.

In a different life, Seonghwa might have had enough time to reconsider the demon, but not in this one. This one would come to an ominous conclusion soon.

But he would crawl to the witch if he had to. He wouldn't disappoint those who desperately hoped to save him. With no more distractions now, they would begin the last part of their journey in the morning.