The Citadel of Bingyeon (Ice Smoke)

Episode 2: Sanctuary

The brutally frigid frost that had seemed to tear the flesh from the frontier lands had completely vanished, and in its place a heavy, faintly radiating warmth quietly woke me from a deep sleep. I was lying on an absurdly soft mattress. I was snugly buried beneath a thick velvet quilt mound that was pleasantly infused with the faint scent of pine and cedar.

Before I could even fully open my eyes, the low, calm voices coming from the head of the bed slipped gently through the cracks of my hazy consciousness.

"Seriously. He's not from any territory we know."
An urgent voice spilled out in a hushed, rapid whisper. It carried all the restless energy of an anxious puppy.

"The weaving method of his clothes is completely different. What if he really fell through a dangerous rift in space-time? Should I tell the kitchen to boil up some restorative broth or something? Hyung, say something!"

"Breathe."

The second voice cut him off, folding in low and soft with a lightly amused sigh.

"The royal healer already said the fever's completely gone. He just needs rest."

I blinked, my eyelids fluttering. Golden flames from a huge stone hearth danced beautifully across the high, vaulted ceiling of the grand stone chamber.

At the small rustle of the blankets, the room instantly sank into perfect silence. Three utterly unfamiliar pairs of eyes all snapped toward the direction I was lying in.

The first young man, wearing a leather coat, hurried over almost as if he were about to fly to the edge of the bed. His eyes were wide with immediate, intensely focused worry. The vivid orange firelight flashed sharply across the hearing device on his right ear and the cochlear implant on his left.

"Are you awake?"

He drew in a rough breath and knelt on the floor right beside the mattress, aligning himself with my eye level. His forearms were braced firmly against the bed's wooden frame.

"Hey, how do you feel? Are you still cold? Do you know where you are? Don't try to sit up too fast. If you need anything, just tell me anything—"

"Hey,"

I cut him off softly. My voice was rough and cracked from the cold, but a small smile stayed quietly at the corners of my lips as I lightly tapped his arm.

"Calm down. You're making my head spin."

The young man froze where he stood in an instant.
The very moment the extremely casual, unceremonious way I spoke registered perfectly in his mind, the endless stream of questions spilling from his lips came to a lie-like halt. His brain seemed to short-circuit and stop working entirely. In this kingdom, strict honorific speech and rigid formality were absolute rules not only when addressing nobles of high rank, but in every social relationship. So when a complete stranger dropped every shred of formality so naturally and spoke to him like that, he was utterly caught off guard and left dumbfounded. A soft, beautiful blush swept over his cheeks like a waterfall, and he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, letting out a breathless, embarrassed laugh. The tips of his ears were already bright red.

"Oh, seriously……."

He muttered quietly, turning his head toward the other members while wearing a sulky, sweet, and oddly plaintive expression.

"You just woke up, and you already managed to shake someone up this much without even knowing who I am."

From across the bed, the second young man moved soundlessly and quietly closer. He had adjusted his hearing device to match the room's tranquil atmosphere, so even the crackling of the firewood in the hearth was cleanly shut out. The moment he saw that I was fully awake, a bright, dazzling smile spread across his face. With that smile alone, the entire cold stone room felt dozens of times warmer.

"See? That one knows very well how to welcome a guest warmly without bringing a whole storm into this room."

The third voice teased playfully as he came over from the hearth with a steaming porcelain mug in hand.

This man in a white tunic had the bearing of a commander. Even though it was a simple, loose garment, it made his broad shoulders look even more solid, and the two intricately crafted silver cochlear implants gleamed sharply in the firelight. He quietly sat on the empty space beside my pillow. The decisive, commanding air that had been pressing down on me vanished completely the instant my gaze met his, and in its place was a smile as bright as the sun, almost blinding in its warmth.

He didn't bother asking whether I needed help. He smoothly slid one large, warm hand behind my waist, supporting my back with effortless, solid strength. Then he gently guided my body so I could lean comfortably against the soft pillow. He held the warm mug out to me, and the tips of his fingers brushed lightly against mine as they passed.

"Drink slowly."

He murmured softly. His voice sank deep and sweet for a moment, shaking my chest in a dangerously intense way. He gave me a reassuring, gentle look.

"Seeing how comfortably you treat us, as if we were old friends from your hometown, I suppose we should introduce ourselves as well. I am this fortress's supreme commander, Lee Chanyeon."

He pointed with warm fingers toward the man sitting on the floor and fidgeting anxiously.

"The one who wouldn't stop chattering is Park Hyeonjin."

Hyeonjin had his arms crossed and his lips puckered in a pout, but soon enough he was wearing a gentle, soft smile all over his face.

Chanyeon lowered his gaze and quietly looked at the younger man, who was still holding my hand carefully.

"And this quiet friend is Kim Jiseok."

The moment Jiseok heard his name, he gently but firmly tightened his hold on my hand, offering steady, tender reassurance.

Chanyeon leaned a little closer to me and slowly traced a line with his thumb along the edge of the blanket draped over my shoulder.

"When we found you in the frost, all of us really had to breathe a sigh of relief. But you're safe inside these walls now, so don't worry. What is your name?"