Seul Gi awoke with a sense of urgency that sent her rushing for her door to find the young prince passed out in front of her room. Quickly looking around, she dragged him into her room and shut the door. Leaning him against her, she brought a cup of water to his lips. "Drink, Wangja-nim." She smoothed back his hair, careful not to move the mask from his scar. He groaned as he came back to consciousness. "Seul Gi?"
"Shhh, yes." She soothed him as she helped him drink, then stand up. Swaying on his feet, she stripped the blood soaked jokki, then jeogori off him, baring his scarred back. Then helping him lay down on his stomach, she reached out to touch his brow before he turned his face away. "Why, Seul Gi? I don't understand. What did I do wrong?" Came a muffled plea, his emotional wounds as deep as his physical ones she finished attending. "I won't give up! The Kangs can burn in Diyu! I hate them all!"
Tears of rage poured down his cheeks as he hid his face in his arms. His young body shook with exhaustion, the pain from the wounds received after fighting off starved wolves, throbbed, warm with sticky rivlets. Gingerly she set to cleaning the blood around the deep wounds with warm water and grain alcohol. "Don't move. I'll be right back." Seul Gi instructed.
Seul Gi purposely moved about her small room as she gathered up the herbs needed for the poultice. Angry and helpless, she remembered the first time she heard his stifled sobs, the night she snuck into the dungeon Lady Kang had the boy thrown into after a severe beating. He had been only five. Over the years she had tended his wounds in secret, hiding food and water where the guards would not find it, whispering words of encouragement before sneaking out. She turned away to hastily wipe the tears from her eyes before turning around again.
She took a deep breath, cursing the Kangs as well as the King and Queen for causing this child so much pain she placed the poltice over the clean wounds and wrapped the bandage tight. "Rest, Wangja-nim." She said as she set the kettle to brew before sitting down. Staring into the small flames of the hearth fire, she closed her eyes. In her vision saw a girl with long silky black hair, big dark eyes, skin soft as a cherry blossom, and lips as red as a rose with another woman's soul overshadowing her. This new soul lived between worlds, belonged to both worlds.
With a mysterious smile, Seul Gi opened her eyes, never taking them off the dancing firelight. With her voice barely above a whisper, she spoke. "When the Moon loves the Sun so much that she must be in his arms, then she will emerge from the water." So listened to her as her voice brought the girl from her vision to life.
"She will fight her growing love for you." Seul Gi continued, entranced. "She will remain here for only ten years, so you must choose wisely, Wangja-nim, so her spirit can return home whole. Remain true to her heart and you will find her again, not even death will keep you apart from her for long."
He lay peacefully on the cot, his tears dried, a sleepy smile on his face. "I promise, Seul Gi, I will love her forever."