Yeosang wasn't too angry at Jongho for writing his name down in his book. In accordance to the information he had given Yeosang about Zey, he had a natural right success to that kind of data. After Yeosang had pretended not to blush at the thought of Jongho examining the drawings he did of him, he had complimented him on his handwriting instead.

The librarian had calmed considerably after the initial awkwardness of introducing Mingi to him, and then made sure they all sat in corners of the room where they couldn't be spotted from outside before he turned on the light again. Mingi's hair looked dark in the contrasting shine.

"I also don't have to stick to you guys all evening. If you tell me how I can sneak around those automatons outside, then I will leave you two to the talking."

Mingi's voice gave his discomfort at his intrusion right away. If Yeosang noticed it, he didn't comment on it. Instead, he gave a grave nod, understanding of the issue.

"There are two of them in this building. One patrols on the lower level and the other one the corridors. If you manage to slip around them, you can explore. But be careful, the door to the main palace is sealed shut, so don't stray too far."

Mingi rose and tapped his forehead like a salute in the same movement. He slipped out into the library on quiet soles. Worried, Jongho stared after him, but he decided that Mingi was trustworthy. Whenever they had run into troubles before, Mingi had been reliable and found his way out. Jongho didn't doubt his smartness over the automatons.

"They barricaded the door?" As he inclined his head in Yeosang's direction, the man had already huddled under his blanket anew. He held it over his lap and kneaded it as a cat would. Jongho detected dark circles underneath his eyes and stiffness to his lips, but his expression was gentle as always.

"Of course. Seonghwa was the only one who used it." He stared intently at his fingers that clutched the blanket as if it were his sole anchor in life. Jongho didn't know how to console him, he was bad at compassion. In the time it took him to come up with a mostly intelligent answer, Yeosang continued to talk.

"It's also where the Bishops came in. They patrol every centimetre of the grounds. They make me nervous. I don't like their eyes."

With visible concentration, Yeosang unclenched his fingers. Jongho exhaled when his whitened knuckles resumed their original colour. Compared to Yeosang, he dealt with the loss of a loved one very differently. Yeosang's pain was fresh and palpable in his actions. Jongho had pushed the grief off faster. Again, he found how different the two of them were.

"Bishops? Is that what they are called?"

Yeosang took the bait. He turned his attention to the talk about automatons gladly as long as he could keep quiet about Seonghwa.

"Yes. The ones guarding Zey are Spheres. I expected it to be them that would be stationed here, but then those things appeared... They seem to be a new project of the king. A stronger army, if you will. So that we won't have to lose the war again."

Jongho nearly laughed at the irony. Nothing could bring his brother back, but at least the government had the mind to use robots instead of humans for their killings. For Yeosang's sake, he swallowed his cynicism.

"They are extremely unsettling," he agreed instead, proud at how he had dodged the tight spot. The distance between him and Yeosang was the same as always, but it seemed too cold, too far. Yeosang didn't look at him. His focus seemed to shift right through Jongho as if something exciting was on the naked wall behind him.

Jongho cleared his throat.

"I came to check on you... And hopefully, find some peace. Zey is brimming with spitefulness right now, and the rumours about what could have happened are wild."

After a few seconds of silence, Yeosang curiously inclined his head. His eyes met Jongho's, and even if his expression was dull, he seemed interested.

"What kind of rumours?"

"About who... it might have been. We are sure somebody from Zey did it for revenge. Now all of Zey fears the consequences."

Understanding, Yeosang hummed. His eyes lowered again to his busy hands that abused the blanket.

"Zey should fear. I don't think those rumours are true, though. Seonghwa was extremely well protected and ready for an attack at all times." Right, he had walked like a man who knew how to protect himself. Jongho faltered.

"I don't think that the murderer broke in."

"Then-"

Yeosang quickly interrupted him before Jongho got a chance to share his poisonous thoughts with him. They tasted stale, and like a betrayal.

"Either way, I need to ask you something. Seonghwa... had a lot of visions, as you might have gathered. Great things he planned to do in his future. Many dreams as a king, even if he never truly desired that role."

When he quietened, Jongho sat up straighter. He purposefully softened his voice so that Yeosang didn't feel irritated by it.

"What was he dreaming about?"

"The real Seonghwa wanted to fly. Not to get away, but to feel the wind in his hair and be above the clouds. As a prince, however, he wanted to help Zey. Jongho, how much do you know about the canyon? What is Zey's opinion on it?"

Unsure how this question related to Seonghwa, Jongho dug around his mind for an answer. It was less sure than usual since much of his own opinion carried it.

"We fear it, but at the same time we see it as a blessing that it keeps a line between Asora and us."

Restless, Yeosang shook his head. He leaned forward on his bed and put his elbows on his knees. As his interwoven fingers came to rest under his chin, needy desperation burned on his face.

"No, what I meant was: did anybody ever dare climb down the canyon? Despite the guards?"

Jongho was dumbfounded. He found no possible polite way not to look at Yeosang as if he had lost his mind.

"No, why would we? It's a certain death trap, even outside of the automatons. There are no supplies there, and no place to rest. An endless drop awaits those who try." He couldn't be too sure if Yeosang had ever been allowed to visit the Chasm. From how trapped he seemed, he might have only a vague image of it in his mind.

"It was what Seonghwa kept saying. Once he became king, he'd have to go down there and fetch something. Something that would restore Asorazey to its old glory."

Doubtful, Jongho tried to think of such a thing. No item would be able to do that. Maybe it was something abstract? A sense of purpose, or his courage as a king?

"Say, Yeosang. Now that he is gone, will they make you the new king?" Despite all the sensibility he tried to put in his question, Yeosang still stiffened. By now, it was clear that he hated the topic of his royal heritage.

His voice got desperate. As he spoke, his face sunk and his fingers came up to ruffle and pull at his hair. Concerned, Jongho sucked his words up like a sponge.

"No. I'm safe. Hence why I need to do this, only I can do this. Jongho, I have to climb down the canyon! Whatever Seonghwa has been searching for, I have to find it. I will go mad with those Bishops, and the king, and all the glances they exchange. I- I have a horrible feeling in my gut, and I want to deny it. So, Jongho, please... Please get me out of here. You come from there. You know how to do it. Get me out of here before I get mad."

As he rose his bloodshot eyes to Jongho, another message reached him clear as day. As if Yeosang had magical abilities, the thought bore into Jongho's head, not as his own.

Or get killed. Get me out before they kill me, too.

It was all an act. Yeosang was unimportant, not even mentioned in their family books. But he had been close to Seonghwa; he knew things. Whoever had taken Seonghwa's life might attempt Yeosang's, too.

Jongho regarded Yeosang's open and vulnerable expression. The man's lower lip trembled and unshed tears glinted in his eyes. Yet, rather than weak, he resembled strength to Jongho. He looked just how Jongho had felt all those months caring for his father. Yeosang, too, fought for his family, and if Jongho could respect something, then it was that.

Both of them had lost their brothers. And just how Jongho would burn down Asora to avenge Yunho, Yeosang would climb a canyon for Seonghwa.

His decision was as easy as that.

"I can do that. In exchange for all the trouble, you went through for me." Also for being late when Yeosang clearly fell apart around the edges. Jongho wanted to hold him together, but he didn't know how to.

Yeosang gave him a broken smile. Gratitude and more emotion than Jongho could express with words shone from it. Jongho's heart warmed at the good deed he had done.

When he spoke, his voice was nothing but a whisper.

"Tonight?"

Yeosang nodded timidly. His fingers restlessly wove through the blanket again.

"As soon as possible."

That memo was all Jongho needed. He was on his feet within a second, ready to see Yeosang out and show him a world beyond dark palace walls and people that either ignored or terrified him. Everything else, every talk and every question could still wait.

As he picked up his bag, he abruptly also remembered the bird. He had nearly forgotten about it from how early he packed it into his duffle so he wouldn't leave it at home once he got to see Yeosang. Now that he thought about it, he swiftly reached into it to retrieve the item.

"Here, I have something for you. View it as a token of our pact." His mumbles into his chest would have been inaudible if not for the tranquillity of the room. Yeosang wiped his eyes and sniffed before he stood to close in on Jongho. Both of them hovered about the hand-sized object in Jongho's careful grip.

"This is a bird, I thought it might symbolise freedom for you, and uh- you know, you are also breaking out as a bird today. It's very fitting!"

Jongho showed him the little crank on the underside that he could turn. He activated the mechanism, and at once, the brass bird that shimmered silvery in the blue light from the moon lamp spread its wings. Soft music played as he took off and flew around the room. Jongho hoped it was calming in some sort, and he watched his creation with a frown, scared that it might drop from the skies.

"You made him yourself?"

Awe laced Yeosang's words as his eyes remained transfixed on the spectacle, too. Absent-mindedly, Jongho nodded.

"I hope he will bring you some companionship whenever you feel lonely."

He was busy staring at the bird, so he missed Yeosang's movement. From one second to the other, gentle hands found his shoulders, and then a pair of soft lips met his cheek. They lingered there for a mere second before Yeosang sunk back down from his tiptoes as soon as Jongho turned.

A second passed of speechless hesitation. Then, Yeosang blushed.

"Oh- I apologise! I don't know if this was too much given that we don't know each other well." Shy, he pulled his hands back, but instead of lifting them off, they trailed down Jongho's shoulders until they dropped from his chest. They left tingling warmth in their wake.

In the back of his mind, Jongho was glad that Yeosang had such temperature despite his cold room.

"You're fine; I'm not mad."

A pause. He had spoken very hastily.

Then, Yeosang giggled. His tense shoulders dropped as he turned to pack a few of his belongings in a bag. There weren't many.

"I'm glad. Now, tell me exactly how we will get out of this place because as much as this terrifies me, I also can't wait to go."

Jongho sat down on the edge of Yeosang's desk and crossed his arms as he talked. Mingi would return soon enough, and with his help, Jongho was positive that they could bring the librarian away from this dangerous place.