Beneath the Surface Ch 2: 2nd Draft
Floor tests throughout the tower is just like life itself.
It has its hopeful ups and dreadful downs, sometimes it's in the melancholic middle where anything could happen.
Today is near the top, although someone like Khun wouldn't be relaxed on this victorious occasion.
Khun observed the mid afternoon sunny weather, though there's clouds breezing along on the air currents.
'These floor tests are getting too easily resolved for us. This must have something to do with FUG, but what if it's because of our general strength as a whole.' Khun pondered on the matter, walking back and forth despite the light ball directing its heat on top of him.
Of course, if it were the case of Khun's team winning through their skills, it wouldn't be much effort when you have an irregular, two Zahard princesses, and a direct descendent as your strongest teammates. It's a matter of not wanting to be too overconfident. The tower is just that dangerous.
Khun looked back and forth, the bare surroundings alas didn't offer any hint on which possibility is more plausible.
The environment is a mere plain with a dirt path, leading up to a cliff with a drop to a big canyon with two bases on the opposing sides, both of them combined wouldn't be enough to occupy half of their current residence they were staying at.
Khun's feet ached from the walking he's been committed to since recently after the completion of the floor test. Fortunately for him, there's a bench parked on the side of a dirt path. He's seen that bench before walking into the test area, but he thought he wouldn't need it until now.
Seating down and letting his feet rest, he can now feel the space of solitude enough to let his thoughts come in relative ease.
'I mustn't overestimate the upcoming floors. We may have gotten lucky with this one, but if I were to take Hwa Ryun at her word, we might get in a situation where we're in too deep over our heads. We might even meet someone as powerful as Ha Jinsung.' Khun let that frightful possibility ran its course in its mind as he let the image of his surroundings consume his vision.
Khun knows it's not so good to be so complacent in letting the worst possibility scenarios play out in his mind over and over again, otherwise how will you get anything done if you're worried all the time. If only he can apply it to what he feels what Baam needs.
It's hard enough being aware of what Baam's putting himself through, but it was quite another bringing it up to him. Someone like Shibusu or Wangnan would have better luck talking to him. Khun couldn't pride himself in social skills unless it's for manipulative purposes, which Baam wouldn't approve off in the first place, regardless of context.
'How did Hwa Ryun deal with him for all those years, or should I be asking that about Jinsung himself?' Khun theorised to himself, knowing the connection between the two of them, he should remember to think on it later adding that Hansung is not too far when it comes to forcing Baam against his will.
Looking once again at the bare scenery, he noticed Hwa Ryun walking closer and closer to where he is.
By the looks of it, Hwa Ryun was lost in her own world, not walking with any purpose or intent. Even the way she moved her body was minimalistic. Not forcing her way against the wind, nor letting the air blow her clothes too far to break her melancholic mood.
Khun adjusted his posture probably to be as relaxed as much as he could. Doing so opposed the rhythm of his mind and body. However, it's justified when you're facing someone that required adaptability to have a chance of victory.
'I should be more careful of how I talk to her this time around.' Khun kept his attention on Hwa Ryun who's away at a far distance, seeing when she'll notice him eventually.
"What's bothering you?" Ran asked, sitting on the bench next to Khun.
'Heh, at the rate you're growing, Maschenny might start to worry about your power.' Khun turned his head over in recognition of what Ran said.
"Nothing much, just some intelligence work. Unfortunately, your skills aren't necessary this time." Khun said. How easy would it be for him to sic Ran on Hwa Ryun and electrocute her to death?
If he hadn't met Baam, it would have been more convenient for dealing with people that annoyed him.
Ran nonchalantly stared at Khun. The way Khun brushed him off would infuriate him, but he doesn't think Khun ever stared at anyone quite like that except for Baam.
'She must be a slight bother to him.' Ran observed Hwa Ryun tilting her head up to the sky as she walked ever closer to where he is. 'She doesn't seem to be as bothersome as Anak or Novick, so he'll just leave her be for his older cousin to deal with.
Ran left his seat on the bench and walked onto the dirt path, along the way spotting Anak who's just training by herself.
'That was too easy, Ran wouldn't usually let up until he knew for certain.' Khun focused on Ran walking up to Anak in the middle of the field past the dirt path.
'Well at least Ran is getting along with Anak, whether he wants to admit it or not.'
By the time Khun had concluded his Ran thought piece, Hwa Ryun had already sat down on the opposite end of the bench.
"I'm not telling you where Baam is." Khun fired the first blow, which doesn't faze Hwa Ryun and only made her sighed.
"If I wanted to find Baam, I wouldn't need you to tell me where he is. Can't a girl like me enjoy the scenic route once in a while." Hwa Ryun said, referring to the scenery Khun was previously looking at.
"What's so scenic about this place? It's not exactly touristy or anything worth paying to visit. It's more or less a prelude to the floor test over there." Khun pointed out the bare plains, as well as the dirt path leading to the canyon where the floor test took place a couple of hours ago.
"Every place in the tower has their value. Who knows what this place would have been like if it wasn't for the king of the tower." Hwa Ryun said, not blinking her non covered eye.
'There she goes blaming Zahard again. Was she brainwashed, or was Zahard just like Hell Joe that she came to resent him ever since.' Khun thought up these two conclusions as he watched the clouds passing by.
"Anyhow, I assume my god has won the test for you. Time flies by when you're having fun." Hwa Ryun smiled in good humour.
"Baam is doing just fine." Khun forced himself to be readjusted to match Hwa Ryun's calm tempo.
"In fact, he's doing so superb he doesn't need to stand around after it's all over." Khun's eyes drifted themselves from the clouds to Hwa Ryun's amused eyes. "By the way, what do you even do besides think about Baam and going on a tirade about FUG?" Khun asked.
"Nothing that you should know. I have a role to play on Viole's path and that's enough for me." Hwa Ryun said, resting herself on the bench and lulled her neck to stare at the sky upwards.
Khun resisted the urge to roll his eyes. This is just getting annoying hearing Hwa Ryun go on about destiny and fate. Did she get that line of thinking from reading a lot of fantasy books in her youth?
"Despite our different opinions, I believe now it's the appropriate time for us to resolve our differences and work together to help Baam." Khun proposed.
Hwa Ryun stared at Khun in amusement, not adjusting her stance at all.
"You're doing well on your own so far. There are people at FUG who could help Viole better then you can, but I suppose my god is patient enough to do with 15th best" Hwa Ryun no longer is preoccupied with staring at the sky as she arched her body sideways to get a better look at Khun.
Her words bought Khun to sit up straighter on his side of the bench. He couldn't pretend no longer that he and Hwa Ryun were having a pleasant conversation.
'Does she talk this way to everyone except Baam and whoever's in FUG? So much for a decent conversation.' Khun thought this to himself.
It wasn't much, but perhaps Khun will have to get this conversation to be more pleasant perhaps.
"It seems like you're enjoying yourself." Khun said, referring to Hwa Ryun's relaxed state.
"I guess so, but I don't need any compliment. I would rather enjoy myself with Viole, he might need some advice right about now." Hwa Ryun stood up to stretch her body, which is probably why she walked all the way out here in the first place.
"If you say so" Khun shrugged. He trusted Baam in his judgement, hopefully due to his rice pot training, he wouldn't need to rely on Hwa Ryun's judgement. Though, that could cause a backlash in the long run.
"Oh… It seems like a romance is blooming over there." Hwa Ryun observed, staring out past the dirt path.
'Why would there be a couple over here. It's just me and Hwa Ryun, plus Ran and Anak.' Khun concluded, staring where Hwa Ryun is staring.
Khun could only see Ran and Anak sparring by themselves. Anak seems to be trying a strategy of dividing her flurry to a rhythm of punches and kicks. That's what he concluded, though Ran is not doing half badly for a guy who's his entire skillset is built primarily on his arsenal of electric shinsu.
"You're deluding yourself. Just because a male and a female is participating in an activity together, that doesn't mean there's anything romantic happening." Khun huffed in displeasure. "With the amount of times you mentioned Baam, by your logic, that would mean you have a crush on him."
Hwa Ryun throw out a half attempted sigh before sitting down where she was before.
"I don't throw myself out on false hopes. At best, I can only hope for becoming his priestess." Hwa Ryun said that as if it's a guaranteed outcome in the future.
"Baam is not that type of person." Khun looked away from Hwa Ryun as he gripped the railing.
"Now who's making the assumptions." Hwa Ryun responded back in return.
The light ball had gone down across the sky enough that it was now evening. Ran and Anak had stopped when their stamina depleted enough. Anak looked across to where Khun and Hwa Ryun were, but was deterred by Ran who shook his head.
Anak nodded and turned around. Ran looked back at Khun for a second then followed Anak back to their residence.
"Your views are way too much romantised. But I won't judge you, it's understandable given the hope my god brings. It's not any of my business on what you think. In fact, by my estimation, you wouldn't be too far from becoming a priest yourself." Hwa Ryun said, smiling at her hypothetical claim.
'Is that supposed to be a compliment?' Khun was pleasantly caught off guard.
Was this something worth getting mad about yet?
"I see, but I don't hold Baam up to that same height you do. He's just as human as me and I'm going to be the one who will protect him as much as he protects me." Khun said, asserting his position in the matter.
"I see." Hwa Ryun nodded her head thoroughly. "Although your emotions are wasted on a god like him, it's only a matter of time before you two have to part ways."
"What do you mean part ways? Is FUG actually up to something?" Khun asked, willing his body to not lunge out and force Hwa Ryun to tell him the truth.
"Whether it's FUG or Zahard, or someone else, I can only see great misfortunate happening in the future. This is to be expected for those with great courage to walk their own paths." Hwa Ryun shrugged afterwards, then stood up from her position on the bench.
Khun stood up as well, noticing the light ball descending in the sky, signifying the arrival of evening.
"Baam was separated from me for several years. If that happens again in the future, then I'm sure we'll meet again." Khun said, his rebuttal built at last to withstand Hwa Ryun's insults if they so come down on him in the future
'I should get going and help the team pack. It might be good for Hwa Ryun to help out for once.' Khun thought to himself as he noted Hwa Ryun not backing down from him.
If only Khun could know what Hwa Ryun was thinking right now.
"Do you think you could help us with moving to the next floor?" Khun asked, though he wish he could order her to, but it would stop his current momentum.
"My god needs some guidance from me elsewhere at the moment, but I'm starting to see why Viole keeps you around." Hwa Ryun said as she walked away.
"You do that, Baam is generally receptive, even to people like you." Khun forced himself to chuckle. Perhaps that would make him more favourable in her eyes.
Hwa Ryun only gave a short wave as a response before she left. Knowing her sense of direction, she probably would find Baam better then Khun ever could. If only he had someone like Hwa Ryun back when Baam was kidnapped.
'She's a bit of work talking to, but I think I could get through to her now. Her gibberish about destiny and fate does show a correlation with her worshipping Baam's potential in killing Zahard. Now if I can figure out why Hwa Ryun thinks this way, then that's one step forward to figuring out what she could do next.
With that in mind, he followed where Hwa Ryun was walking, back to their residence where they should be staying for one or two more nights.