Chereads / Unexpected road to nostalgia / Chapter 4 - Chapter III: Who are you? (year 1395)

Chapter 4 - Chapter III: Who are you? (year 1395)

The lost and confused Iseul was rushing through the busy streets, careful enough to not knock anyone aside; He wanted to go home, now more than ever. He wanted to be with his friend, he wanted to wake up from this nightmare but even the muddy puddles of water didn't seem to wake him up from the cold water soaking his shoes and no longer snowy white socks.

His rush went on and on until he ran right into a soft yet hard surface, knocking him back right in another puddle with his rump, his attire completely ruined from head to toe.

Once he noticed he bumped into someone, his eyes widened in realization "Oh-" He struggled up on his feet "My apologies!" Iseul said as he clumsily bowed his upper body.

Before the lost boy could say anything, he heard a huff as a strong hand gripped onto his jaw "Such a pity," what was a pity? What was this person talking about? "A respectable tailor bumping right into his mentor." Iseul's vision cleared up with a few blinks as he looked right at a handsome man, who was this charming individual?

Iseul noticed himself staring and cleared his throat before quickly looking to the side while trying to swallow the saliva building up in his throat, he was afraid, this gentleman looked like he was of high status, but not the status of a prince thankfully.

"I'm sorry but who are you exactly," Iseul asked, trying his hardest to not sound disrespectful to this well dressed and mannered gent.

The man blinked slowly "...I'm your mentor Tae Kim, are you okay dear? Have you fallen ill? You look quite pale..." the man's gaze softened, making Iseul feel just a little more at ease.

At least he didn't get punished for nearly knocking such a high ranked official off his feet "Wait-" Iseul just processed what this man just said "My mentor?" His head dropped slightly after the man named Tae Kim let go.

"Lets have some tea, I worry for you" The man said as he abruptly turned around and started to head towards his favorite tea house 'Geopum.' Iseul figured it'd be best to follow this stranger as he showed nothing but kindness so far, even after his ruthless action.

The scent of the tea could be picked up from the light breeze he was all too familiar with, but instead of feeling at ease, he felt nauseous realizing the breeze he had been feeling all this time was his consciousness being right here in this unknown place all along.

There was no time for him to grief now, he had to figure out what his role was in this time and place while trying to figure out a way to return to his own time period.

The kind Tae Kim waited for him to enter the cozy tea house, it seemed he had already ordered tea and surprisingly... It was his favorite; Strange yet again as no one but his grandmother knew ginseng tea was his favorite and she had passed on for a few years now... Or rather in the future.

Iseul out of nerves immediately grabbed onto the tea and took a sip, his hands showing a slight tremble from the burn.

"Always an eager drinker with a hint of clumsiness..." Tae Kim chuckled while his eyes fell onto Iseul's slightly swollen and red spot on his plump top lip.

Iseul carefully placed the hot cup down and lightly touched his top lip with his right hand's pinky finger, flinching at the pain. He always had a great sensitivity to temperatures, especially such temperatures as high as this burning hot tea.

Tae Kim slowly began to start a conversation about a client who had tried to reach out for Isaul about an order, Iseul looked at Tae Kim with big empty eyes; Was that person that tried to talk with him at the large building a customer of him? But what kind of customer... "May I ask... For what exactly?" Iseul asked, taking a careful sip now.

"Have you had more of those sleepless nights and memory loss, dear? The order for the lord's new Gonryongpo of course," Master Kim answered with a slightly raised left eyebrow, rippling his smooth pale skin slightly.

Iseul's face went pale and empty once more "...Lord-" Iseul could already see where this was going so he stood up abruptly, making sure he didn't knock any hot tea over his 'mentor' "Excuse me... Thank you for this kindness but I'm afraid you have the wrong person..."

The boy turned around and was about to turn the corner until he bumped into yet another taller figure, but not nearly as soft as Master Kim, no... This man had a strong build, the build of a fighter, a fighter in dark red robes. Iseul slowly looked up "Ah... Apologies, sir," Iseul gave a head bow before he felt a light nudge in the back of his two knees; He fell onto his hands and knees.

It seemed Tae Kim had put him there sneakily as his mentor stood next to him "Good day my lord...-" The mentor bowed his head "Apologies for my apprentice's unusual and unkind act, this truly isn't like him." His mentor excused for him as the large individual simply let out a frustrated groan.

Iseul tried to peak up, but right as his eyes moved up, they were locked with that of the mentioned lord, he felt his heart nearly jump out his chest when he noticed it was prince Jun-Suk, of course he had to disrespect him out of everyone in this historical era.

His already pale complexion lowered to near white as he got pulled up onto his feet by Tae Kim who spoke about the order with the prince who he wouldn't dare look in the eyes, especially after disrespecting him so.

He listened carefully to their conversation however, to at least pick out some form of information he could possibly gather to at least make his time here a little easier or bearable, but that didn't seem to be much of a possibility given his reputation already dropping below zero before he even had one in the Jang family to begin with.

All he could do now was pray, pray Tae Kim would teach him how to weave these robes so he could be as far away from this prince as he could, he didn't ever want to meet with his eye again.