No matter how often Jongho listened to the story of Asorazey splitting, he still wondered what had been going on in people's heads at that time. When Jongho imagined how he would react if the earth suddenly broke apart under his very feet, then rather than a single person, he would trust in the population of the city. As wishful as his thinking was, though, he knew that the people who had insisted to hurriedly make the Undying - the brother of the original king back in the day - had been selfish. When they heard that their king and his young daughter died, but another member of the family offered safety and riches to them, they complied. They had deliberately looked away as Zey sunk into ruin and the automatons were built. The ban on bridges withheld Zey's people from contaminating the rich eastside. Asora bloomed with development and progress while Zey fell further behind than what it once was.

Zey's people had learnt their bitter lesson. Now, about four generations after, they had suffered enough to see the faults in the Undying's system. But since he was an eternally living human, the respect and fear had even those in Asora who disagreed with his standpoints keep low and shiver. There was no way to change things as long as he remained in his position.

Jongho's father blamed all the misfortune of his existence on this one man. Most of Zey's inhabitants did. Their bitterness gifted them with unfulfilled lives that were fuelled by hate until the day they died. Jongho was not an exception, but whenever his father cursed the king, he felt oddly detached.

Jongho didn't have enough to do with the king himself to despise him. While dissatisfied with the regulations and laws, he blamed his situation rather than a single person.

Undeniably, he was still at fault. His irrevocable mistakes had cost countless lives and would demand even more.

"What has you sighing like that?"

Jongho jolted out of his thoughts at the sudden call behind him. The owner of the deep voice grinned at him broadly as he crossed the last distance between him and Jongho. With his hand held up to deflect the sun, Jongho blinked up at Mingi through narrow eyes.

"Shouldn't you be wearing your mask?"

Mingi waved it off with an exaggerated gesture of his hand. He folded his impossibly long legs under his body to drop down next to Jongho. Then, he handed a bowl over.

"I'll be fine, the wind blows in from the sea, not towards it. Here, eat."

With big eyes, Jongho stared at the sizable bowl in his lap. Then back at Mingi.

"You brought me food?"

"Yeah I did, you look meagre. You better not leave anything!"

Jongho's hands were shaking slightly as he unwrapped the cloth that held the package together. The amount of food Mingi had gotten for him was far more than he would usually purchase, and Jongho's throat tightened at the thought of what this had to cost. He never got full meals for himself; he only ever ate half of them to save money and share with his dad. Sometimes, when his dad couldn't eat much, Jongho allowed himself more, but that was his limit.

"I can pay you back," he murmured as he picked up the spoon and got comfortable. Mingi shook his head where he was busy fiddling with the knot himself.

"Just eat, man. Its compensation for the time you spent with me instead of working."

Jongho swallowed the first bite around his constricted throat, and it was delicious. The best meal he ever had, maybe. When he began wolfing it down, Mingi grinned at him sunnily from his side.

They were too preoccupied with their food to uphold a conversation, but as soon as Jongho had finished scratching the whole bowl clean, he talked. His stomach was full for once and pleasantly rumbled at him for once feeding it the amount it desired.

"Thank you. That was a very brotherly thing to do."

Mingi wiped some rice from the corner of his mouth. He licked it off his fingers mindlessly as his eyes remained transfixed on the airship he had been following since earlier. It shone brilliantly in the sky as it crossed through the clouds and neared the docks. The huge balloon that carried it was dark brown and nearly blocked out the sun from closer up.

"I do have a lot of kids at home to look after, after all. I don't spend much time there, but whenever I do, I fall into the role of their caretaker again."

"Do they restrict your aspirations?" Jongho stacked the two bowls into each other so that he could return them later. Taking part in the work was the least thing he could do to repay Mingi for the wonderful meal.

"Not anymore. Back when I was younger, I desperately wanted to join a crew and fly away. I couldn't, since I had to take care of my family, but by now, that dream also doesn't haunt me anymore. I'm good living in the canyon. It's peaceful, and I make enough money that I can dodge Zey's worst sides well." Mingi leaned back on his hands and dropped his head onto his shoulder. His forlorn expression was stricken with the melancholy a painful memory brought.

"But I think I was normal in that regard. Many kids dream of flying off," he added with a giggle. Jongho stretched out next to him and frowned over how much shorter his legs were than Mingi's. Again, a reminder of Yunho. Jongho had always pouted about being so much smaller than his brother, but the other man had comforted him with a smile and the promise that Jongho had an advantage in hiding.

"Where did you want to fly to?"

Mingi nodded his chin over the ocean. It was the roughest of all directions he could give, but Jongho's little dreaming heart understood. Anywhere. Anywhere new and exciting was fine.

"I wanted to go to one of the big universities that I heard about from the sailors. Even if they are far off, they have so much knowledge to share. I know somebody who went there, and he's the most interesting person I ever met. He studied physics and build a pair of wings that allow him to fly. How amazing is that?"

Awed, Jongho crossed eyes with Mingi. Genuine respect and envy painted both of their features.

"He can fly? Without a ship underneath his feet?"

"Yeah! They taught him all about it in school, and he builds his own stuff based on that knowledge. I also saw weapons and vehicles of so many interesting kinds. We always think about Asora and what they have that we don't, but out there is an even bigger world."

Deeply impressed, Jongho approved of that statement with a nod. He could relate to Mingi's search of meaning and knowledge. Zey lacked a lot in these categories, and few studied experts were willing to settle in a city like theirs.

"Maybe I should ask Yeosang for some books to lend when I see him next time. He might have just what you need if you're interested in that," Jongho offered kindly. After learning what Mingi's hopes were, he yearned to support the man to the best of his ability.

With a giggle, Mingi nudged his elbow into Jongho's side.

"Hey, I would love that. From how that Yeosang boy sounds, he would love to give you anything to write your reactions down."

They laughed together about the well-meant joke. Yeosang intrigued Mingi just how he did with Jongho. Their tentative attempts to understand and meet on a middle ground between their very different home towns had them all on the edges of their seats.

"How about you, though? I know you have to take care of your dad, but what would you do if you had the choice to go anywhere?"

Jongho fiddled with his gloves. He had to think about the question for a few seconds before he found his definite answer.

"When I was younger, I also wanted to fly away. Many kids did, or so I've heard." They grinned at each other. "But honestly, I don't know. I like Zey as my home, even if it makes living unbearable. If my future would consist of a Zey without automatons as the prince wants, I would just stay here with my dad. I don't think that I need anything more. Or would be comfortable with that change for any matter."

Mingi dreamily sighed into the blue sky. Its expanse reached far until the horizon where it seemed to merge with the ocean in one blur of light colours. Airships dotted the heavens like oversize birds.

"It would be such a dream if his wishes came true. After all, I saw and heard from him I would bet on him, too. But I won't trust that promise until I see it become a reality."

"I feel the same."

For a moment, silence wrapped around the two of them. The roar of distant machines near the docks that led to the open sky accompanied their peace. Jongho played with a stone he found on the ground.

"I think I might try to go back soon. Out of curiosity. I think there is much more to find out about that family, and I'll research some more." Mingi gnawed on his lips as he mulled his idea over in his head. The safety risk it posed demanded caution and careful reconsideration.

"Do you want to join?" The wind messed up Mingi's hair as he turned to look at Jongho. Like fire, the red locks tumbled around his head and into his forehead.

"Yeah. Seeing Yeosang helps us with info, and if I save some of the money he gets me, then I don't have to worry about my father at least for now."

With a smooth movement, Mingi sat up straight. Jongho followed his example, and for a moment, they just stared at each other in clueless silence. Then, Mingi cocked his head with a hum.

"When do you want to go? I'm working on a little project right now, and depending on when it is; I might finish early."

"Yunho's death day is coming up. Let's go the night after. Give me four days."

The bright smile that probably made his little siblings laugh whenever he was around was back on Mingi's face. As he pushed his tousled hair back, his focus was already on something beyond his sight and in the depths of his mind.

"Sounds good! I can finish until then. If you want me to, I can also help with his memorial in case you might need it. I'm not busy."

Jongho pondered it. Ever since he and his parents had held the first ceremony near the cliff for Yunho and bid him their goodbyes, Jongho had the only one coming back. His father was too sick to go last time, and both of his parents had pushed it off their minds the year prior. If Jongho managed to get his father here to mourn his son rightfully, he would feel less regretful towards Yunho.

"That would actually help me a lot. I think my dad might need it. If you want, you can come by in two days whenever you have time. We will await you, and then we can go together." Jongho stumbled onto his slightly numb feet but quickly regained his footing. The salty breeze of the sea combined with the bright sunlight made him sneeze. While Mingi clumsily stood up, too, Jongho fixed his mask back in place.

"Got it. If your old man's not up to dick, then I can just go with you. Any brother of my chuckaboo is a brother of mine!"

With a disbelieving snort, Jongho picked up their bowls. He tucked them neatly under his arm as they began making their way back.

"Is that how you collected so many siblings? You stole them from your friends?"

Mingi gave him an impish grin that bordered sinisterness. It had Jongho chuckle into his mask.

"Maybe I did. Now, where might those friends have gone, then? Maybe I ate them!"

Mingi was a funny guy to be around. His presence did wonders to make Jongho forget his life's direness and let him relax for once.