After having no luck at the artist's tower, San and Wooyoung had to change their tactic. Wooyoung had always been a stubborn person and his pride took a hit from his rejection. His need to show off and do a formidable job only doubled with San around. So far, all the people he had met had rather willingly provided their stance on immortality. Now that he was challenged, the chase to getting his information sounded extra fun.

"Our easiest man to access is Seonghwa. Leonardo rarely leaves his tower and bothering him outside might put us on a list of people he doesn't want to associate with. So we better stay clear of his personal home," San summarised their plans, too, not easily swayed by the rejection. Wooyoung was proud of how San dedicated his all to Wooyoung's matters. San had promised him to make the time for it, and he did.

The two men had sat down in an inn near the church that they presumed got frequented by the two artists. If their guesses were right, then Seonghwa might show up here or at another tavern nearby later to get food for his master. Wooyoung and San would use all their charms to convince the man they were worth Leonardo's time.

Wooyoung sat with his eyes on the door while they ate. He rarely glanced at his food or San to watch like a hawk when Seonghwa would come in.

When the maid came over to refill their wine, San addressed her with his chin cradled in his hand prettily. One bat of his eyelashes, and she stood as if rooted to the ground to listen to his every word.

"Say, did the great artist Leonardo ever come by here? The delicious food must have everyone come in, even such exclusive people."

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and glanced between the two of them. Wooyoung peered at her from the corners of his eyes so he wouldn't miss the door or her if she grew too flirty with San. Not that he was usually an envious person, but now it was his turn to spend time with San. Everybody else got to meet him through the flow of time already.

"Not him, but his handsome apprentice drops by from time to time. He might be here today. Do you want me to hold him up for you?"

Wooyoung wondered what her interpretation of their request was. When San nodded with a grin, she nodded eagerly.

"Count on me, then!" She hurried off before the owner could yell at her to get back to work. Wooyoung relaxed finally when San beamed at him. Under the table, their legs loosely leaned against each other to keep up their constant touch.

They finished their meal in peace. Wooyoung finally got to savour the joy of Italian food and exchanged subtle flirty glances with San over the rim of his wine goblet. They kept their relationship hidden from the judgmental eyes of the passionate Christians around them, but Wooyoung knew they couldn't see the adoration that warmed both of their souls either way. It was like a magical shine that only the two of them got to see.

After eating, they lingered in the inn's corner and shared their wine. Wooyoung was careful not to drink too much, so he would still be conscious once Seonghwa showed up. He was amused to find out that San had developed a remarkable tolerance for alcohol from drinking every day for many years now.

"Tell me about one point in time that you particularly appreciated. One with many happy memories," Wooyoung asked after a while of peaceful silence. San hummed. His brows drew together in their adorable, mindful way.

"I don't know what to tell you; given you were present at all of them." San's charming smile melted Wooyoung into a puddle. He gently nudged San's calf with his own to convey his shyness. San beamed at him, delighted to have made Wooyoung bashful.

"A different one. There had to be more," Wooyoung said.

More seriously, San set his goblet down to adjust his arm into a more comfortable position. Lost deep in thought, he stared at some corner of the ceiling while he recalled long lost memories. Fascinated, Wooyoung stared at the melancholy shadowing his face as he dug them back out.

"It was... A couple of years ago. One of the big wars of the crusaders. I was there as a medic, taking care not to get mixed up with the fighters since I wanted to take care of myself for you." When San winked at Wooyoung, Wooyoung grinned at him brightly. Even back then, the warriors seemed to have had the sense of honour not to hurt medics.

"It was a dark time for women. Coming from the Vikings just a few decades ago where women held top ranks and dominated the households, I was shocked to see that the main land had restricted them so much more. I met many strong women in the north that would have crushed those lords under their heels."

Wooyoung nodded along. They were still in the Middle Ages and women were still far from getting the same rights as men, but he was glad to hear that the female Vikings had helped San develop a sense of equality already. A very modern notion.

"The army of crusaders got led by a powerful commander whom they all feared and respected. I was one of the few who knew that underneath their helmet wasn't a war-hardened veteran, but the trained body of a woman who could take any of them in a fight. She was so impressive, so mighty. I had a lot of respect for her. She became commander out of pure spite, because she knew any woman could be just as good a fighter as those lazy men."

"What happened to her?"

"The enemies seized her after a lost battle and found out who she was. She didn't die a pleasant death in the hands of those brutes, but I like remembering her. I believe she was far ahead of the knights during that time. She reminded me of you. A similar mindset."

Wooyoung was flattered at that. San accepted Wooyoung's modern thoughts with curiosity instead of contempt. Wooyoung doubted he could love San as he did if the man showed off the period-typical misogyny and racism. From how long he lived, he already understood the nonsense of these concepts.

"Was she celebrated a hero or a traitor after everyone found out?"

San glanced into his goblet as he considered getting another refill. Wooyoung sipped his last sips for today slowly to savour them.

"Both. A traitor by those commanding her who never knew and found it unsightly that a woman did her job as well as a man could. But a hero from those in her squad since they never questioned her leading skills."

Wooyoung smiled at San's glee while he told his story. He was about to ask if San had got to know any other women in the past who withstood the pressure of their time to become influential people when the maid neared them again. With her, she led a tall man with dark hair. His young features were guarded as he scanned the two men they were approaching.

The maid left them to sort themselves out while San pushed out a chair on their table for the apprentice to sit on. He didn't complain, but his back remained stiff once he sat with them. With cool eyes, he stared down at them. All laces on his brown tunic were closed orderly and his dark hair was held out of his face with a ponytail that was about as successful as the one San had in Nottingham. His hair was simply too short to fit in there fully and instead played around his stormy eyes, still.

"Hello. Pardon our sudden request for you, but the circumstances were dire," San greeted the man to soothe him. Just as San had said, Seonghwa looked orderly and stuck-up for an artist. When he noticed Wooyoung's curious gaze on him, the man shifted awkwardly.

"What do you two want?" He asked in a low voice that was quiet in the loud room. Wooyoung strained to hear him.

When San nodded at Wooyoung, he seized control of the conversation.

"I'm Lord Wooyoung from Salerno. I came a long way to meet with your master. This is my companion, San."

Wooyoung gave him a charming smile. Seonghwa raised his dark brow at them. His plush lips thinned into a sceptical grimace, but he didn't take off. Maybe he was more diplomatic outside of his working place.

"You are the two from earlier?"

When Seonghwa's food arrived, he dug in without hesitation. Wooyoung played with the wine in his goblet, stirring it around while he listened to the man. His alcohol-heated insides were comfortable even around the stranger and he hoped the wine would get Seonghwa to relax, too.

"Yes. We wouldn't have bothered you had we not an important mission. We hoped you could help us out."

Seonghwa chewed thoughtfully. With his long legs in the way under the table now, San and Wooyoung couldn't play their feet game anymore. Wooyoung withstood the need to find a subtle way around Seonghwa.

"What can be so important that you have to bother me during dinner with it?"

"My friend right here is a historian, a person of great importance in his field of studies. Your master has knowledge that we would like to explore. We aren't out to steal art or ideas. We merely collect wisdom from those willing to share it with the people," San took over again. The combined efforts of the two men had Seonghwa relax some more. His stiff shoulders sunk into a comfortable position as he eyed them over his food.

"His work has no importance to us. Theoretically, you could even provide the same answers without us having to invade the working space of your master if he so allowed you."

"What is this important knowledge that you seek?"

Wooyoung emptied his wine. When he glanced at San, he found the man's eyes dark with the glow of the alcohol. A subtle smile played around his lips when Wooyoung answered.

"Immortality. Legends about those who don't bleed and never die. It's a rather intimate interest of your master, and we are aware how this invades his privacy, but our trail led us to you two."

Seonghwa sighed. When Wooyoung picked up the bottle to refill his cup, the man didn't even notice in time to glare at him.

"I don't think he has the time for that nonsense. Surely, he must have someone else in his circle of friends that you can track down and question. But the great artist himself already finds no time to rest. He shouldn't waste the little time he has on this matter."

Wooyoung wondered if they should change their tactic. If Seonghwa at least mentioned them towards Leonardo, the tables might turn. Or maybe they needed someone less strict to find their way in.

San seemed to have the same thought. When his hand settled coyly over Seonghwa's unoccupied one on the table to establish skin contact, Seonghwa's eyes wavered. Quickly, he glanced between his hand and the two men. Wooyoung caught his gaze with a smirk and leaned back to look at Seonghwa through lidded eyes.

"At least mention us once. Maybe this has importance to your master, as well. We come to gather knowledge, but we also can provide some in return," San purred. His attention visibly short-circuited Seonghwa's brain. Whether it was out of actual attraction to San's beauty or if Seonghwa was just confused by the attention of a man whom he wasn't interested in didn't matter. His fumbling did.

"I- I suppose I could mention you two, but I'm not sure if he will listen. In the unlikely case he agrees, I will forward his response to you." Seonghwa's speech had quickened and his eyes flicked around the room. He seemed to have forgotten they were in public, and when he noticed the other people in the same tavern again, his lashes lowered bashfully.

Wooyoung snickered to himself. Before he would overwhelm the poor man, San pulled back his hand. He reached for the jug with wine when Seonghwa hastened to down his drink.

"That would be delightful. If there is anything you consider a worthy repayment, let us know." San winked at Seonghwa and then at Wooyoung. Wooyoung beamed back, proud of his success.

"I don't know yet whether it will work, don't get hasty," Seonghwa grumbled. From the way he looked between them, however, it wasn't hard to guess that this evening would haunt his memories for a while.

Wooyoung doubted he would forget asking. So now their luck depended entirely on Leonardo's personal interest in the topic.