Deity Is Anything But A Stranger

So Eun tread over a mile to the north before the eaves of the Palace appeared on the end.

He initially guessed the walk will take him around the whole central plains, but to his surprise, the outskirts of the capital lead to the Palace he would rather call a residence.

Although he couldn't feel a bit of tardiness creeping on his bones, So Eun might have a headache thinking about what in the world he ended up to.

Work, work, work that he didn't sign up for.

Nonetheless, giving him a Palace to reside in and a whole world to rediscover out-weighted the pressure he's trying to abide with.

He pivoted at the grand gates of the Palace just to point out that the Emperor's massive ones couldn't be compared to this.

Instead of continuing his stroll inside, he stayed there and relish the whisper of the winds for a moment.

He relaxed his brows and shoulders due to being restless for days now, and at long last did he notice his hair had almost tumbled its way onto his face, twisting and tossing in the process.

Also, another thing he hadn't found the time to nitpick was his hair was all laid out down to his back, only the two amber-shade headpieces atop his head were keeping it not to swamp his face.

So Eun noticed it before but didn't put it any mind to think.

The two glistening headpieces are shaped in a phoenix bird. It was on him since the beginning.

He couldn't believe that the part of being a Deity was to wear this thing onto his head around.

But it wasn't grandeur to the point of snatching gazes from the people whenever he goes, it sort of identifies them as the holy warding beings to the mortal land.

So Eun couldn't help to sigh and reckoned to tie his hair up when he had the chance.

And then he entered the gates towards the main door and hoped for the best.

What he expected wasn't any Deities or Guards, but a young man had his knees bent on the floor, his back facing the door.

So Eun didn't recognize him at first, but the young child turned to check the new presence that had entered, and his eyes widened.

"So Eun!"

Dong-Hyun stood on his feet and tried not to run to him, but he did it anyway.

So Eun just watched the entire scene and smiled "Ah, Dong-Hyun."

The young man then offered him one of his bright smiles,

"Ah! How are your adventures?"

So Eun tried so hard not to pull a face at that words and instead replied with a hum, darting his eyes past Dong-Hyun.

"Hmm. It is fun."

Behind the teenager is, no doubt, the ghoul child who was bound by a shackle of thunder, swimming around his petite body.

By the looks of it, the lightning shackle was just there to bound the child in place, and it had no sign of hurting him directly.

But So Eun didn't want to see him struggle out of that holy shackles unless his speculations turned out to be false.

"Did he hurt himself inside?"

He inquired and move in front of the small cage of binds.

Dong-Hyun followed him instantly and shook his head.

"No, he had enough injuries on his body and didn't move any longer inside. Maybe he had tired himself out escaping those people."

He explained, drawing out his hands to give the child a loaf of bread.

So Eun glanced at his hand and remembered the man before that was dragging the kid along the road.

"He didn't like to eat too?"

"Yeah, since the day you went with the other Deity to the forest, I was the only one giving him food and water then. One day he ate it all and has never eaten again up until now."

So Eun fell silent when he examined the child inside, even though his body was laying down on the cold floor.

His wounds are now wrapped in bandages with no spots of blood left. He watched his eyelashes flutter while he dreams in his slumber.

So Eun had a notion that the child hasn't slept so peacefully before, and therefore spend his days sleeping in the Palace without eating.

He couldn't even imagine how horrible it must have been for him to wander in the mortal realm by himself.

After a long strand of silence, So Eun glanced at Dong-Hyun, who looked worried unbeknownst to him and pat his wrist.

"He's okay, it would be better to leave the food here if he wakes up starving."

He reminded him, and the teenager regards him with a confused look before nodding his head diligently.

So Eun studied his face for a while, he's silent compared to the days he was with him.

So Eun had no problem with that at all and thought that the teenager was entirely worried about the child's well-being, so he attempted to soothe him with words again.

But the comfortable silence was thrashed by the loud opening of the door.

So Eun instantly looked back, and there stood another rare sight that he didn't expect to come at all.

Gim Jaebin entered the hall with his eyes fixated in front, his posture screaming fiery and aggressive, but when he saw people inside, and locked eyes with So Eun, his composure straightened up.

The bothered look on his face changed to a free grin and waved at him.

So Eun stopped himself from grimacing because it was all too forced.

"Aiya, If it isn't Tipolo's Deity, hello!"

His quirky sound made the child flinch in his sleep, and Dong-Hyun turned on his behalf to scowl at him.

"I didn't get to introduce myself properly in the forest but unexpectedly met you here. Perhaps the Heavens do aid my ways after all."

Jaebin laughed at himself, and So Eun had nothing to do but regard him with equal greetings, even if he doesn't want to.

And there it sinks to him that he has to put up with this daring Deity to get over his work for once.