Soo-yeon's heart pounded as she hurried through the city, down dimly lit corridors, calling out a name that seemed to vanish into the empty air. No answer.
She turned the corner sharply, nearly colliding with a wooden post, her breath ragged. She had to be here. Somewhere. But each shadow stretched long and empty, offering no sign of them.
She searched the barracks first, weaving between rows of cots, shoving aside curtains, and scanning the pale faces of those resting. Nothing. The training yard was next—silent, save for the wind rattling through abandoned weapons. Still, no sign.
A growing sense of panic clawed at her chest. Soo-yeon doubled back, retracing steps she knew she had already taken, her mind refusing to accept the emptiness where they should have been.
Then—an idea. One that shouldn't be possible. The Glen.
It wouldn't exist for her friend. Not anymore. Not here. But something in her gut twisted, urging her forward. Without a second thought, she ran.
Retracing her steps one last time she found herself in the market. More eyes would find her friend sooner. "Have you seen my friend?" Soo-yeon asked for the fourth time, her patience thinner than the last piece of kimchi at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
The girl before her was tall and impossibly thin with a haughty expression that reminded her of a praying mantis sizing up prey.
Mantis Girl tilted her head, lips curling into a sneer. "You mean the fat one?"
Soo-yeon's eyes narrowed and held the other girl's gaze until her expression faltered.
"Fine." The girl spat out, crossing her arms across herself defensively. "She took a horse and dragged another larper outside the gates. It was bold of her to go off script and into the wild.
Your ugly friend probably kidnapped the guy desperate for her first kiss or something." She rolled her eyes as if it were the most pathetic thing in the world.
Soo-yeon's fingers twitched, resisting the urge to wipe the smug look off the girl's face. "My friend is a lot prettier than your petty attitude. She'd never do that." She shot back, her voice laced with an edge.
The girl sniffed. "Whatever. That hanbok wasn't built for those who resemble farm animals."
"Just point me to the exit you saw her leave by," Soo-yeon demanded, voice as icy as her glare.
With a slight flounce, the Mantis pointed east, turned on her heel and huffed away. No doubt eager to spread her venom elsewhere.
The man with the yugeon posing as the crown prince approached Soo-yeon, "I couldn't help but overhear. I'll help you with your search. Your friend ran away after I set my guards on her. I thought I'd have fun tossing her in prison, but they couldn't catch her. I can't find her either."
Soo-yeon considered the man. His eyes were clear, his intent sincere. "Well, good luck to us. She's always been better at hiding than me. "I do have a lead though. She went through the East gate back toward town.
"Let's take my horse." He began walking toward a nearby stable. "That praying mantis also said your friend and another larper took a horse. That means she's probably with one of the other petulant prince characters."
Soo-yeon coughed and grinned. "My lord, you shouldn't speak so uncharitably."
"It's one of the perks of being the prince. I say what I want, and I can jail people who don't like it." He grinned, stroking the beads of his yugeon like his high born namesake.
"From rescuer to despotic ruler in three seconds. I like it. It looks like I'll have to watch you carefully so you don't overthrow the current king," Soo-yeon cheerfully quipped, flashing him a brilliant smile.
"I have it on pretty good authority that the writer doesn't plan to write the king out of the script."
"NO SPOILERS" I clapped my hands over my ears. "Is this even a proper drama without the queen dowager, the crown princess, and the crown prince who plans to usurp the throne?"
"Larping has enough drama. We're sticking pretty close to the historical timelines for this one."
"Is there any romance arc?" Soo-yeon flirted shamelessly.
Ha-joon looked at Soo-yeon, raised his eyebrow and laughed. "We'll know better once we find your friend. Maybe she did drag him into a bush for some monkey business.
Soo-yeon blushed, grateful for reaching the barn and corral where the horses were kept. Seeing one horse and a sturdy burrow, Soo-yeon rushed forward.
"Dibs on the donkey."