As the wind murmured in the cold forest ground, sun-pecked foliage flew, fusing with the minuscule troops of wild daisies pollens in the mid-air. Squirrels, badgers, and cousins left their small footprint tracks on the ground, after foraging some nuts and seeds. The once rumbling sound of the water flowing down the stream, competing who would pour down first on the tributaries fell silent. The unimaginable stature of the pine canopies limited the faint beam of light coming from Heaven's ball of fire, leaving the entire place blue despite the green colors of the leaves.

There, in an old, hoary tree, Dae Wong has been tied around, unconscious. His poor, pale face and dewdrops of sweat in the forehead were the eyewitnesses of an unfortunate event he had gone through. As his weak eyes sensed the limited light from the sun, it voluntarily opened. Squinting his eyes to the new surroundings, he murmured, "Where am I?" A moment of seconds had passed before he learned that he was tied around a tree. Groaning, he tried to escape from the inanimate serpent wrapped around his body but he broke off when his arrow wound at his back pinched his skin, begging to be noticed.

"What happened to me?"

With a hoarse voice coming from his desert-dry throat, he cried for help. However, it seemed like no ears were interested to listen to his desperate plea. He needed to break free and arrive at the palace on time. His determined mind wanted to continue, but his weak body opposed constantly.

"Help... Help me!"

"Anybody... please... help me."

He fainted.

~~•~~

The King gathered all officers from different departments in the main hall. Perhaps, this would be the final briefing for the upcoming ceremony, which would happen in a few hours.

"Everyone, is everything ready? The hwarangs and their positions in every part of the palace, the food for the offering and for the people, the receptionists to organize the order of the people, the candles and incense, everything!" the King asked. His voice seemed tired and a bit cracky.

"Yes Sire, the hwarangs were oriented with their positions. A thousand gratitude to our governors here. The number of palace hwarangs was enough already to protect the whole palace."

The Prime Minister bowed his head, annoyed for saying those words for the second time.

"Thank you for your report, Prime Minister. Extend my gratitude to the governors," the King said.

"Yes, Sire. Will do."

Surveying the entire hall, he asked other departments about their status for the preparations, "How about other departments? Is everything ready?"

All of the people inside answered in unison, "Yes, Sire!"

In the middle of the meeting, the doors creaked open, and Lady Jang entered the hall unexpectedly. Everyone inside looked at her, confused. Some were even disappointed. The Head Priestess heard different chatters, walking down the hall.

"Why was she late?"

"What a shameful Head Priestess"

"Oh Heavens, she just did not do that."

Jae Joong's eyebrows knit, and his eyes narrowed. He thought of yelling to reprimand her unacceptable decorum, but he thought that yelling would not be necessary. It was done. She was late. All he had to do was to demand an acceptable reason.

"Lady Jang. I want to hear your reason. Why did you arrive just now? It has been fifteen minutes since we started. Your shrine maidens arrived on time. How can you be irresponsible?"

The Head Priestess swallowed, her eyes scurried a glance to the Prime Minister who was seating, a level down from the King's throne on his right.

Annoyed as he, Jung Ho squinted an eye, giving a signal to provide an alibi. It was part of their stage play. He had ordered Lady Jang to be late in order to avoid probable suspicions that she was taken out of the palace.

"My apologies, Sire. I went to Mount Toham to pray for the preparation," Lady Jang reasoned out, hanging her head in a bow.

With a mild skeptical look to the Head Priestess, Jae Joong accepted her alibi, ordering her to stand before the council members. The meeting continued for about thirty more minutes. It focused more on checking and polishing all the things needed.

After the meeting, with their personal court ladies, eunuchs, and hwarangs, the King paced down the palace grounds, alongside with Yeol.

"Minister Yeol, any reports about Minister Dae Wong?"

"None yet, Sire."

A deep breath escaped through Jae Joong's lips.

"Sire, what if he did not make it on time?" Yeol asked.

The King looked at the minister. His worrisome eyes spoke with sincerity, "I have trust in him. He will come on time."

Hoping that Dae Wong would come back on time, the King uttered a silent supplication, looking to the clear sky. He prayed fervidly to the Heavens for him to have an appropriate declaration to the people. Just in case the minister would not make it on time, he wished to the Heavens their grace, hoping that the eclipse would not truly occur.

Apparently, it was not just the King who fervently prayed in the Heavens. In the Queen's bedchamber, Dong Hee reported everything that happened in the council meeting to the Queen, who was lying on her bed.

"Your Grace, the palace is already doing the final preparations for the eclipse prediction."

"I see. Let us all hope that the predictions of the King are correct. Everyone, I want all of you to get down on your knees and pray to the Heavens," the Queen ordered.

All personnel in the Queen's room knelt down and bowed their heads. They had prayed to the Heavens about the King's correct declaration and most especially, the safety of the kingdom.

~~•~~

If there was someone who needed prayers the most at that moment, it was Dae Wong who was fighting for his life. With his location and condition, it would be easy for the shadow of death to take his life. However, when his eyes opened slowly, it seemed like the shadow of death would fail from his mission. Dae Wong got confused with his new location. Why am I lying down? He examined the place, scanning every portion of a small, candle-lit room. The brass chimes hanging on the ceiling greeted his adjusting eyesight. A big cauldron over a blazing furnace released a leafy, herbal scent, stinging his nostrils. Unknown wooden equipment which looked like talismans, hanging on the walls, sent creeps on his core. What is this place? How did I get in here?

He heard a familiar voice, coming from an old man who was standing in front of the bed. It was the monk who helped them, "Minister, are you awake?"

"Where am I?" he muttered.

"Minister, you are at an underground of our temple. Hyukjeong here, found you tied around an old, big tree," the monk explained, pointing to his beggar friend.

The young minister's mind had yet a lot of information to consume. It felt like there was a troop of fire arrows fusillading his head at that moment. However, first things first. He slid on the bed and raised his upper body. The mild sting from his wound made him grimaced in pain.

"What wound do I have in my back? Last thing I could remember; I was in a chase with an enemy. Then, I tumbled down from my horse."

"According to Hyukjeong, it was an arrow wound. You were shot by an arrow."

Who could that be? Chil Yook? Certainly, it was Chil Yook.

"By the way, how did Hyukjeong find me?"

"I ordered him to look for some woods. When he came back, he was carrying you on his back. He told me that you were unconscious, barely breathing. Thank Heavens, you were safe."

The minister turned his head to Hyukjeong. Staring at the scruffy beggar, he expressed his full gratitude. If it was not for him, he could be dead the moment they were talking. Hyukjeong smiled at him upon hearing his warm words of gratitude. He was often pigeonholed by the village people as a scruffy, scrawny, good-for-nothing beggar, but now, he felt differently. That changed him.

"Minister, if you would allow us, we will remove your robe to apply some herbs to your wounds," the monk said.

After a short nod and an awkward stare from the minister, the monk helped him remove his robe, exposing his broad shoulders and impressive body figure. The monk applied mashed red herbs unknown to him. He grimaced in pain at first, but he felt a refreshing, cold feeling afterward. The stinging sensation faded away slowly.

"I owe you my life. If it was not for you two, I would have been feasted by some hungry ravens."

The two bowed their heads. "It will always be an honor to save a life," the monk replied.

"Ah, before we forget, please drink this tonic. It will ease your pain," he added.

Hyeokjeong gave a cup of tonic to the minister. The odor wafted to his nose, which made him flinch a bit. It smelled like a wood combined with random leafy herbs. When the two nodded, the minister drank the tonic quickly, down to his throat. With a puckered face, he smiled and thanked the two again.

"I shall leave. I still have a kingdom to save. Please show me the way out."

~~•~~

The month-long planned ceremony came into life finally. All the things needed to be were all prepared. All palace personnel was on their designated positions. The main palace ground was ready: from the decorations to all equipment needed. Drums thundered throughout the palace, marking the commencement of the ceremony. The main gates were opened, and people from the different parts of the kingdom entered the palace.

"The King is about to announce the mandate from the Heavens. What could it be?" asked by a peasant who walked with his entire family.

"Let us just all hope for blessings," a woman carrying a child said.

In an ocean of people, fishes were still distinct from each other, whether high or low classes, whether nobility or the commoners. All people regardless of social status were eager to witness the ceremony per se. With a monstrous number of people, dropping a needle from the skies would be extremely unnoticeable.

After a couple of minutes, all the eight gates had closed, marking the formal start of the ceremony. The council members led by the Prime Minister went up to the dais and stood before their chairs, waiting for the King. When the King followed a few seconds after, he sat on his golden chair in the middle and so as the council members.

As the King laid his eyes on the immeasurable number of people, he could not help but worry about Dae Wong's whereabouts who was supposed to sit on his left. Noticing the trembling hands of the King, the Prime Minister, who was on his right, talked to him right away, "Sire, I beg your pardon for my insolence. Your hands are trembling. Relax."

Chil Yook and Lady Min who were standing on the Prime Minister's back noticed the King's hands too. Lady Min whispered something to the Prime Minister, which engraved a weak smile on his lips. With a lifted eyebrow and widened eyes, the Prime Minister conveyed encouraging words to the King, "Sire, we are counting on you."

The King just shot a quick glance, but he did not respond.

"His Majesty graces us all!" announced the Minister of Ceremonies.

The King rose from his throne, facing the people. Everyone got down on their knees and bowed their heads down. Raising his right arm as a symbol of blessing, he seemed to ignore the people as he scanned the gates.

"Dae Wong, where are you?" he uttered softly.

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