While a whole new world to Seonghwa, Eastshallow turned out to be a rather confined and cosy space. The people passing them on the streets all seemed to know each other and halted for conversation amid their business. Dogs chased chickens through the streets with no intention of harming them and travellers got greeted with curiosity and fascination for the stories they had to tell. Seonghwa saw the dark-skinned people of Morden with their snowy hair and their just as white wild cats accompanying them. Soldiers with the royal sigil of Briar Glen greeted a group of fair-haired noblewomen from the south and gained coy giggles in return.

Eastshallow was no enormous town, but influential enough that people visited it when in search of work or a way to scale the social ladder. It would offer enough information on their witch circumstance to keep their journey going.

Hongjoong garnered many wary gazes, but aside from the believers who made the sign of the cross at his sight, most onlookers appeared unbothered. Few creatures of myth and tale milled human settlements, and Hongjoong's bold display of his horns and wings intimidated the passersby.

Seonghwa did not hide him from malicious gazes. He stuck to Yunho's side as they wandered the bustling marketplace to get a feel for the town. At least five different stands praised the infamous mead of Eastshallow, and Yunho confessed his curiosity with a snicker.

The doors to the church at the centre of the marketplace stood wide open. Visitors, as well as townsfolk, meandered in a steady flow to receive the blessings of the Lord. Elated at the prosperity, Seonghwa smiled fondly at them.

Yunho picked up on it and took his eyes off a stand selling various kinds of honey to lean his head level with Seonghwa's ear. They squeezed past a group of mercenaries who gave Hongjoong the evil eye. The gargoyle glared back with his hellish gaze.

"Do you wish to visit the church, Father?"

Seonghwa beamed at Yunho. His heart was at ease in this colourful place with the many people that gleamed with the gift of life. The pain was easy to ignore.

"I would like to. Will you accompany me?"

Yunho pulled back with a snicker. His height made it easy for him to glance over the heads of other people as he searched the square for something. When his eyes got stuck to the dangling wooden sign with the name of a tavern on it, he pointed it out to Seonghwa.

"Church isn't my cup of tea, but let's meet again afterwards. I will be in there and feed Perie." He lifted his hand in greeting and disappeared into the crowd. His confident stride and handsome looks garnered marvels left and right. Seonghwa didn't doubt that he would find Yunho surrounded by swooning suitors later.

Seonghwa hungered for a hearty meal, but he delayed it. When he made for the church, Hongjoong followed behind him through the easily parting crowd.

The gargoyle stayed outside the church out of disinterest rather than invisible borders. Seonghwa entered the chilly nave by himself and looked around in awe.

Compared to his tiny Romanesque chapel, this church was much grander. It had space for several dozen people and the altar was decorated with expensive candles and ornaments. Seonghwa counted three members of the chantry in various places of the room as they tended to the visitors. He suspected more of being outside.

Seonghwa kept to himself and muttered his greetings and prayers as he thanked God for the opportunity to visit this beautiful place. He dreamed of working in a church such as this one day, surrounded by his people. The number of people who listened to the Lord's teachings filled his heart with warmth.

In silent reverence at the blessed place that shrouded all visitors, including Seonghwa, in a protective embrace, he relished in the soothing presence of God. He didn't plan to disrupt any priest with his visit so they could tend to the townsfolk, but soon, a man in robes approached him. He smiled when Seonghwa greeted him, recognising him as one of theirs.

"You look weary, brother. Where are you travelling from?"

"Cardend," Seonghwa replied. His exhaustion lifted from the healing energy of his surroundings and was further consoled by the fellow priest. "I make my way west towards the capital."

"It's a long journey. Did you come to rest? I see something else than fatigue wearing you down. If you feel ill, I can advise our local healer."

Flattered by the care, Seonghwa waved it off. He rarely met other chantry members, and this man reminded him of his father with his benevolent eyes. Seonghwa's strained nerves craved to pour out his heart to him, but he didn't want to dawdle. Yunho awaited him.

"It is my mind that is in unrest. Once I slept properly, I will feel better."

A dog barked outside. In the bright sun bathing the town square in pleasant warmth, Seonghwa saw it springing around a laughing child. Reminded of Leila and Moni, a wistful smile tugged on his lips. He missed his home.

Next to the entrance, Hongjoong shifted. No more, but the tip of his wing was visible from here. The bystanders avoided him in a big circle and averted their gazes from the unholy creature.

"If you wish, you could confess. I have some time on my hands."

Awed, Seonghwa looked at the priest again. His understanding smile engulfed Seonghwa with familiarity despite never having met.

He had never done a confession that felt quite right. Back with his father, there had always been a certain strain since they were family outside of their work. Seonghwa wasn't one to fall into the way of sin easily, but whenever he was foolish as a child, he avoided telling so he wouldn't be scolded.

"That might be just what I need," he said with a grateful nod. He followed the priest to the quiet corner of the confessional and slipped into the narrow booth. Inside, it was silent and smelled of wood and incense. At peace, Seonghwa sunk into the chair. Only dim light came through the slits in the ceiling.

For a moment, he was alone with his thoughts and fears. He sorted himself, narrowed his mixture of emotions to those that moved him most at the moment. His homesickness, his illness, and the murder of last night. Hongjoong's face had to do with all three of them, but Seonghwa didn't want to shift the blame on him. If his foolishness hadn't opened that door to the White Lady, Hongjoong never would have appeared in his life. He wouldn't have parted Seonghwa from his home, his health, and his clear conscience. Blood stuck to Seonghwa's hands now, and it was his fault as much as it was Hongjoong's. He handled the demon.

"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been a year since my last confession," Seonghwa whispered. The privacy of the booth made him feel as if he were alone with the Lord as He listened to Seonghwa's sins.

The priest on the other side of the wall between them waited until Seonghwa gathered his thoughts. He was so silent that Seonghwa's own breathing echoed in his booth.

"I... I killed a man." Seonghwa swallowed harshly. "I caused the death of an innocent person whose time had not yet come."

For a moment, the priest stayed silent so the weight of the confession could settle with Seonghwa.

"A person under my care committed the murder. I couldn't do anything to save his life and I feel I am at fault for my companion's misdeeds." Seonghwa lowered his head and dark hair fell into his eyes.

"My friend is no believer, and he doubts the word of Christ. I cannot forgive his sin, and neither can I disregard my guilt. For he is ignorant of the word of the Lord, I carry the burden. This is all I came here for. I am sorry for this and all my sins. "

Seonghwa inhaled the soothing scent of the booth. His fingers had cramped into his knees and left crescent-shaped indents in his skin.

After a long moment of silence, the priest on the other side replied.

"You are not at fault for this man's death. You accepted your companion's sin as your own and you did not remain indifferent. As your friend is no believer, you are forgiven."

Tears welled in Seonghwa's eyes, ugly and hot. He wanted to refuse forgiveness, for it felt too easy an exchange for a man's life, but he couldn't assume the Lord's role. The one who would need to repent was free of guilt. Seonghwa felt horrible for still being with Hongjoong, but neither of them had a choice.

"You need not be guilty for one who does not accept your path. You shall forgive yourself and him for what he did. Do not harbour anger or guilt, for they are not forgiving."

"Yes, Father," Seonghwa whispered through his tears. He knew being bitter had no reason here. The Lord had spoken, and He asked Seonghwa to repent by forgiving. The least he could do was to teach Hongjoong the wrongness of his morals.

"Pray your Act of Contrition, child."

Seonghwa knew the words by heart. He could create his own, but his weak mind only found those he had learned in the dark hours of the night as he sat in his chamber with a single candle and his books.

"My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against Thee whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with Thy help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy."

"May the almighty God have mercy on you, and, having forgiven your sins, lead you to eternal life. Amen. And may the almighty and merciful Lord grant you indulgence, absolution, and remission of your sins. Amen."

Seonghwa touched his forehead, his chest, both of his shoulders.

"Amen."

A deep, shuddering breath sounded in the booth. Seonghwa's racing heart calmed, and he massaged it with an apologetic hand for the distress. It beat as if stabbed through the middle with a never-bending icy blade.

"You did well, child. Get the rest you deserve and practice yourself in the forgiveness of the Lord."

"Thank you, Father," Seonghwa muttered. He escaped the booth first to leave the church in privacy. His mind felt clearer now and ready to deal with his other problems aside from Hongjoong's misdeeds.

When he stepped into the sun, he blinked against the bright light. A moment later, a shadow fell over him, and Seonghwa caught the wide-eyed gaze of a terrified woman looking his way. He turned to see Hongjoong with a wing angled behind him to shield Seonghwa's pale features from the onslaught of light.

"Are you done?" Mockery carried in his voice, but Seonghwa brushed it off. This wasn't the time to fight with Hongjoong. After what he had done last time, Seonghwa didn't know if he could dare risk another person's life to explain his belief to Hongjoong.

"Let's find Yunho," he said instead. He took the lead to weave through the crowd with gentle apologies whenever he had to squeeze past someone. Hongjoong followed in a cloud of doom as they made their way to the tavern Yunho had picked.

A warm room filled with tenants who sought warmth and a warm meal for the evening greeted them. Nobody was drunk yet, so the merry conversation between groups of merchants and workers filled the room in a homey atmosphere. A fire danced to the right and Yunho's bright hair stood out against the corner he had found a seat in. When he spotted them, he waved them over, but Seonghwa paused first to ask a maid if it was fine to let Hongjoong in. She looked apprehensive about him but agreed to ignore him so long that he didn't bother the guests.

With the gargoyle in tow, Seonghwa came to sit at Yunho's table. The man waved the maid over while he secretly fed a piece of potato to Perie on the bench next to him. Her head wore the rim of his backpack like a cloak as she snatched the food and hid again.

"The people don't lie about the mead here. You must try it," Yunho said with a nod at his wooden jug. While Hongjoong arranged his extra limbs on the chair, Seonghwa shook his head.

"I don't drink alcohol. Perhaps you can describe it to me?"

Hongjoong scoffed and earned a frown from Yunho for that. The gargoyle kept wisely silent as the maid arrived at the same time to take their order. Her nervous eyes flicked to the demon repeatedly, but no word of complaint came over her lips.

Seonghwa got food for him and Hongjoong to share and asked her for a room when Yunho mentioned he would stay the night, too. She gladly provided, but ultimately broke her silence about the demon.

"I would rather not have him in a room unobserved. Either you share with him or he stays outside, Father," she decided, resolute.

Seonghwa hesitated, unwilling to sacrifice more sleep to the terror of the demon's presence.

Indifferent, Hongjoong supported his chin in his clawed hand.

"I'll stay outside; it makes it easier to watch over this place. Though I regard this insult for what it is. If something comes for you tonight, woman, I won't stop it." He smiled a fanged smile that looked angelic on his features. The woman paled and Seonghwa was quick to hush Hongjoong.

"Please forgive him. He means no harm. He will do just fine sitting on the roof."

She nodded with a frown. Seonghwa's winning smile convinced her as little as him.

"He can be there then."

She took off, but the tense silence lingered. Ultimately, Yunho dug into his food again with a sigh.

"Now, tell me about this country! And your peculiar friend, of course." Yunho winked at Hongjoong, uncaring of his snarl.

Glad for the distraction, Seonghwa relaxed into the evening and Yunho's company.