As the sun ascended over the peaks of the Wool Mountains and bathed the valley in an orange haze, a group of travellers came with it. Dusty and wearied from their journey, they descended the steep path to the basin holding the capital. In the light of day, they refreshed their senses with its sight, and Seonghwa was so caught up in his awe that he tripped over his own feet several times. Jongho, who had an arm hooked around his to lead him along, stabilised him.

Briar Glen was a metropolis built into the valley as if a blanket of houses had lowered to fall weightlessly onto the slopes. The homes climbed up the walls like spiders and connected along the hills through wooden bridges that created their web. Up north in the valley's crook, towered the royal palace of the king. Combined with the church in the middle, those two buildings stood above all others and gazed upon them with shelter.

Despite the sheer size of the castle, Seonghwa found the church more noticeable. It was built from the rose quartz native to Morden and considered one of the rarest materials in their kingdom. Its golden cross reflected the sun and shone like a star above the ducked houses of the townsfolk.

Briar Glen needed no city wall, for the Wool Mountains were their walls. In peace, the capital thrived, while not even the man-built towers of the castle could challenge the tall peaks beyond it.

From above, the town looked limited, but the closer they got, the more its size took Seonghwa's breath away. Countless people lived in their houses to go along with their daily business and, despite the difficulties of getting here, merchants from every corner of the world populated the streets. It was much busier than Lewes, even in the morning, and the fabrics of their foreign clothing sprinkled the picture with vivid colours.

Even Yunho was impressed. His attention was on the people and wares he spied from the distance rather than the enormous church, but Briar Glen was as extraordinary as he had hoped it to be. It offered everything and more that an adventurer could dream of.

Jongho, Wooyoung and San had been here before. They led them with secure familiarity as they passed the guards on the mountain pass and delved between the houses. The flat ground under Seonghwa's feet felt alien, but Jongho supported him before he could stumble once more. Through his waning sight and hearing, Seonghwa tried to drink up as much of Briar Glen as he could.

"We shouldn't linger. Rest for a day and we will be on our way," Hongjoong reminded them. He was unaffected by the town even when he was just as curious about the church - or rather its delicately pink gargoyles made of rose quartz- as Seonghwa.

San and Yunho created a path through the idling passersby, who strolled between the market stands and relished the scents of food mingling in the air. With Seonghwa by his side, Jongho followed, while Wooyoung and Hongjoong added the guard on the priest's back.

"I want to visit the church," Seonghwa protested, his voice brittle. He cleared his throat, but no more came out of it.

The looming presence of the gargoyle didn't deter people as much as in the countryside, but he gained respect. No touch brushed past Seonghwa. He was disappointed how quickly they rushed past the fascinating goods and the Red architecture of some older buildings back when Morden had still encompassed Alverton. Briar Glen offered a lot to see, but his companions were quick to drag Seonghwa to the nearest inn so he could rest. His might waned despite the night spent asleep and surprisingly dreamless. He suspected his mind was too depleted to torment him any longer. Whenever Hongjoong appeared from the shadows, Seonghwa didn't even startle anymore.

"You can visit the church once we return from the witch. Every second counts, so we will get a cart and move as fast as possible."

Seonghwa sulked while San and Yunho discussed a discreet place to stay at. They looked like kidnappers, their weird assortment of people who dragged a half-dead priest in their midst. They didn't need the city guard to hold them up while Seonghwa died away.

Once they had found a suitable tavern, Yunho sped through the process of getting Seonghwa into a room. As Jongho carried him up the stairs more than backing him, Seonghwa's limbs got stuck on walls and corners as they flailed uselessly. By the time his back met the soft bed, his lids fluttered.

Jongho formed a cold stupe from pieces of cloth to cool Seonghwa's head with it. The chill cleared his mind as he rested and listened to his companions bustle about. San was scared at the severity of Seonghwa's condition. While he gnawed on his fingernails, the rest assembled on the floor to eat and discuss the further plan. Unable to follow along, Seonghwa dozed on and off as he listened.

"The witch is about four days' worth of journey from here. The fourth day will take us through the swamp so we can't take a sumpter along. We could make it, even if at the last minute," Wooyoung said with a glance at Seonghwa's pale complexion. When he didn't mischievously chase for coin, his voice was soft, like music to Seonghwa's ears. No wonder the fairy was so deceptive.

"We could make some ground if we leave at noon. Perie could travel ahead and alert the witch of our emergency," San suggested.

Yunho shook his head.

"I will not have her become an ingredient in a witch's cauldron. She stays here with me."

Seonghwa perked up at that. Thankfully, Hongjoong cocked his brow in his stead.

"Here?"

With an apologetic glance at Seonghwa's lidded eyes, Yunho nodded.

"I considered joining you on the final spread since we became such wonderful friends, but I'm not ready to meet a witch. I would rather stay in Briar Glen and hope for favourable news upon your return."

Seonghwa understood. Yunho had just arrived in Alverton when they had dragged him into their adventure and he had looked forward to exploring Briar Glen so much. He deserved to take a break while Seonghwa couldn't.

"What a coward you are," Hongjoong scoffed. Too frail to nag him, Seonghwa gave a displeased hum. Warm hands felt over his cheeks before Jongho doused his rag in the cold water again to place it back on Seonghwa's head.

"Hey," San called Hongjoong out, too. Before the gargoyle's gaze could darken, Yunho hushed both of them.

"It's fine. I will stay, and the rest of you will take good care of him. My abilities only reach so far."

Torn, San looked between Seonghwa and Yunho. Adventure called to him, but Yunho's wariness of the witch had San hesitate. After all, he had joined for Yunho over Seonghwa. If Yunho, in his endless experience, hesitated, perhaps San should do the same.

Jongho, ever so steadfast, didn't let his decision wane.

"I'm with you. I won't lose someone important to me again." His voice was firm, even when its meaning was vulnerable. When Seonghwa reached to hold his hand, Jongho's rough fingers squeezed his.

Wooyoung rubbed his hands.

"I will get you to the witch's very door. If I'm good, I will get the shiniest coin." He nodded to himself like the evil little gremlin he was. Even when Wooyoung was on the same wavelength as Hongjoong, Seonghwa found him adorable.

"I have no choice either way. If we succeed, we return together and explore the town and take a rest after this race. If you don't make it, everyone can go their way. There is no other cure we could find in this short time." Amber eyes bore into Seonghwa's and the priest gave a defeated chuckle.

"I'm impressed you're still trying. If my death set you free, you wouldn't. You would even attempt to speed it up. Your determination comes as a surprise," Seonghwa croaked.

Hongjoong smirked back his mocking smile.

"You're worth more to me alive."

Shuddering when that sentence reminded Seonghwa of his dream and how the demon wanted to taste him, Seonghwa huffed a nervous laugh.

"Of course, wicked one."

Hongjoong faced the group again.

"Yunho, use your charm to get us a cart to transport him. I want to depart once he rested for a while. If anyone has business here, do it now."

Jongho wavered. An urgency was written across his features, but he didn't dare leave Seonghwa's side.

When Hongjoong picked up on it, he nodded the crusader to leave while the others dusted off their knees.

"Get it done. I'll stay with him."

Jongho nodded, relieved. As he dipped outside to execute whatever matter that had to be connected with his crusader existence, the others followed one by one. Yunho wished Seonghwa the best before he left, and his smile was more of a grimace. Seonghwa forgave him easily. Yunho had done more for him than anyone else.

When Hongjoong closed the door behind them, Seonghwa sighed. His rag was getting hot, but he wouldn't expect Hongjoong to change it for him.

"Just who I wanted to stay with me," Seonghwa chuckled and then coughed when his torso squeezed as if punched by an iron fist. His breath rattled in his chest and his body convulsed as the cramps around his heart almost became too much. The blackness spread in front of his features as he suffocated.

Before he could die a merciful end, the gargoyle's hand met his chest. Warmth seeped into Seonghwa's body and released his heart of its throes. Soothed by Hongjoong's magic, it picked up its beat.

Drained, Seonghwa blinked until he could see Hongjoong. The gargoyle shook his hand off after taking it from Seonghwa.

"You'd do better not laughing at the one who got you this far."

This time, Hongjoong didn't leave for the roof. He sat down in the room's corner with his wings sorted around him like two tall pillars hugging his sides. Watchful eyes followed Seonghwa's movements as he freshened up his rag and slapped it back onto his forehead. It was too wet and water ran over his temples, but he relished in its icy trickle.

"I doubt we would have made it this far without Yunho and Jongho. You became bearable only because of those two stood between us to offer a bridge. We couldn't function together. You would have killed more and I would have sent you away and died in silence if they hadn't given us a new purpose."

"Isn't it drastic to either be stuck to your god for life or dead? The crusader is like that, too. Why?" In disbelief, Hongjoong scowled to himself. Seonghwa closed his eyes to relish in the softness of his bed that cradled his feverish body like a cloud. He barely felt anything anymore, and it seemed like a suitable place to die. Maybe he could convince his companions not to make him stand up from it again?

"If the Lord is the purpose of your life and you lose that purpose, what else is there to live for?" That much, Seonghwa could forgive. Hongjoong couldn't know what that felt like. Since the priest had no more energy to argue, he accepted in serene peace how different they were.

"Everything? Adventure, if you ask Yunho. Coin, if you ask Wooyoung. Family to some, enemies to others. There are many purposes, yet you choose the one that asks suffering and submission from you. Why?"

Seonghwa sighed.

"I'm too tired to explain it to you," he muttered. It would be the same as always. Him explaining, Hongjoong mocking. Over and over again.

Hongjoong chuckled his sinister laugh.

"You have been cursed only because you believe. To me, that is a solid reason to stop. Your god didn't wish well on you."

"Not if there is still good I can do. Not if my kindness can still touch people's hearts and fill them with hope. It's not my job, Hongjoong. It's who I want to be. Just as you want to be a hateful, ugly creature." Seonghwa opened his eyes to gaze upon him in understanding. His feverish, glassy gaze didn't mix with Hongjoong's gold as swiftly as usual. His illness put a protective layer between them that kept Hongjoong's darkness from consuming him.

"What if that isn't true? What if nobody needed your heroism?"

"That's fine. They will still experience kindness then. We need that." With a smile, Seonghwa allowed his heavy lids to slip shut. He heard Hongjoong rustling in his corner as he stood and padded through the room. No dread squeezed Seonghwa's heart when the demon stopped at the side of his bed. No fear drove him mad. Sedated by his faith and hope, Seonghwa didn't react as Hongjoong's heated breath brushed over his lips.

"Look where that got you," the gargoyle growled.

Seonghwa smiled, half asleep.

"I'm happy where I am."

He slipped off, too crippled to fight anymore.

As Hongjoong straightened and returned to his corner, he knew they might not make it in time.