CW: Explicit language, ableist language, mentions of sexual acts, mentions of imprisonment.

The next few days pass slowly and peacefully. The summer heat is waning, so although the days are still dry and hot, the nights have become cold enough to keep the windows closed. The guest house lies empty and aside from Jun and Healer Wu, the Rat sees no-one else during his recovery. The nights are long and desolate. His thoughts keep him occupied and awake until they long exhaust him and sleep descends like an unstoppable boulder.

Despite his solitary existence, the visits from the Healer are none that he looks forward to. They usually entail a great amount of pain, and now that he is clear of feverish delirium, he is present enough to feel embarrassed by the way Jun has to comfort him. Silently though, he is grateful for the little lord's steady presence.

Seeing Rin awake and strengthening day by day, Jun has returned to resting in his room every night and eating his meals again, much to the relief of those around him. He still spends as much time as he can in the patient's room, keeping him company and making sure he stays comfortable. Outside of these peaceful bubbles of time he spends with Rin, the little lord is busy with his other responsibilities.

Teacher Hak fills his morning with political studies, history, mathematics, and philosophy. Midday meals are often taken in Rin's room after he assists the Healer change his bandages and clean his wound. Then, after a brief respite during which he converses lightly with his friend (for he has quickly come to consider the Rat as such), he rushes off to his afternoon duties. As he will be taking over his father's role as Governor of Hanjuyang in about a year's time, he has since been given much of Lord Hwan's administration and his day to day tasks. In the later afternoon during the few hours before sunset, he is Healer Wu's student, accompanying him as he visits his patients and assisting him with his work. His movements are generally limited to the High District, for no one else can truly afford his services, but every now and then they do venture down into the People's District.

And so, Jun is kept thusly occupied throughout the day, returning to Rin's side when the sun has long set to share a meal with him. Only then can the little lord truly relax and enjoy the Rat's company.

Rin can sit upright in bed now and he gingerly spoons the rice and fish porridge into his mouth. Every movement is a gamble and whenever he loses, he gives a little jolt and a wince. The spoon stays in his hand, determined not be fed by Jun again.

The little lord eats quietly beside him, his own meal is more substantial with big chunks of fried fish and seasonal summer vegetables added to his porridge. Rin eyes his food enviously, but his stomach is still sensitive from all the medication he'd been given.

The windows are wide open to let out the accumulated heat of the day. The night time breeze is refreshingly cool. Within time it will turn into a chill and so the windows will need to be closed. Only the lamplights are on, casting a soft warm glow through the vast room. Outside, the pagoda trees rustle in the sleepy currents of air.

Forgetting his porridge, Rin stares at the swaying trees, drenched in Luna's silver light. He seems to be contemplating something, when he suddenly says, "Is there anyone else staying here?"

Jun cuts a big piece of fish in half with his chopsticks before placing it into his mouth. "No, you are our only guest." Seeing the odd look on the raven's face, he carefully sets down his chopsticks. "Rinnie? Is something the matter?"

"Hm." Vantablacks roam the room as if he were searching for something. They linger on the doorway leading into the main hall. "Someone is wandering about the halls at night. A man, I think. Doesn't look like a servant or a guard."

Jun's blood freezes. Somehow, the boy's words are even more chilling when he says them in such a casual manner. The lord sets his bowl aside and leans forward in his seat. The other's eyes are clear and focused with no signs of fever or delirium. "Do you mean...like an intruder? No-one should be disturbing you without my knowing, especially during the night."

A small grimace appears on the Rat's face. He sighs and stirs his porridge with his spoon, suddenly without appetite. "I thought as much. Have you ever noticed anything weird about this place? Anything in the main house?"

Jun stares blankly at his friend for a moment. Several seconds pass and the light of realisation glints in his eyes. An amused smile lifts the corners of his mouth. His relief, palpable. "We are not haunted, if that is what you're insinuating."

"That's exactly what I'm insinuating," Rin says, flatly.

Jun raises a brow. "Rinnie, spirits do not exist."

"Yeah, yeah, so everyone keeps telling me. But you know, you have one in this building at least. It might be worthwhile to bring in a witch to exorcise it."

"A witch?" The little lord wrinkles his brow, clear disdain upon his face. "Do you truly believe in those charlatans?"

"Not really," Rin says with a shrug, completely unconcerned by the other's scepticism. "Most of them are fake or full of shit. But I'm also neighbours with one and she seems to be genuine. Anyway, she knows how to exorcise spirits, which is all I care about."

The little lord stares at his friend for a long while, forehead creased in consternation. He knew that the lower classes were poorly educated, and thus prone to believing in superstitions and cultism. From what he's heard from Teacher Hak, the witches are both feared and revered by the common people, namely those in the Slums, and so while they are outcast, they are also incredibly vital to this microcosmic society. He had thought it baffling that anyone could ever be so irrational (delusional even), so it's jarring now to come face to face with said irrationality. Moreso that of his friend, one he had come to care for these past several days.

"Rinnie..." he begins uneasily, trying to smile. Unbeknownst to himself, it only comes across as condescending. The indulgent smile one might give to a young child. "I'm not quite sure what to tell you. Witches...spirits...none of these things are real. They are simply superstitions. Witches, they are either very sick people or swindlers. You do know this, don't you?"

"No," Rin snaps, irritated by the lord's tone. "Look, I'm just trying to do you a favour. Give you a heads up about the spirit you got lurking around here. Do you know what happens when you don't deal with a spirit? They get stronger. Start being able to influence things in our world. They stick to your back. Make you sick. They can even kill you if you don't do anything about it. But if you're just gonna be an asshole about it, then I won't even bother." He takes a big spoonful of the porridge and shoves it into his mouth, chewing furiously.

Why would I bother? I'm outta here in a couple of days anyway. But his heart is unsettled. He's reluctant to leave without dealing with this irritating spirit. So he thinks of it as a small token of gratitude. And perhaps an apology for robbing this naïve little lord blind.

An awkward silence falls between the two and they quietly finish their meals.

When the silence becomes unbearable, Jun finally speaks. This time with much care and tact. "I cannot in good faith hire a witch since I do not hold the same...beliefs as you do. However, I do appreciate your consideration and I am very grateful for the warning."

"Whatever," Rin scoffs, handing over his empty bowl for the lord to take. The latter does so and sets it down upon the bedside table. Seems like he'll have to do things alone. It's not exactly the first time he's tried to exorcise a spirit, but it's not very pleasant either.

"What does this spirit look like?" Jun asks, this time with some curiosity.

"Hm. I'm not quite sure. Whenever I try to get too close, it disappears."

The lord frowns, concern flaring despite not believing in the existence of this ostensible threat. "Have you always been able to see spirits?"

"Mn. Since I was a kid. Apparently it's what drove my old man away." Rin chuckles, free from any signs of bitterness.

Goldens widen a little in surprise. "You do not seem like..." He trails off, reluctant to finish his sentence.

"Seem like what? A crazy fool who believes in spirits? Look, I don't expect you to believe me, so you don't have to try so hard. You can relax, little lord." Rin's sardonic smile cuts into a cheek. "Anyway, you don't have to hire a witch if you don't want to. I can deal with it myself. When it makes an appearance, I'll just keep my distance. See what it does. And if it needs to be exorcised, then I'll exorcise it. Simple as that."

Jun frowns. He glances at the door and a chill runs down his spine. "There really is no need for that. Especially since you are still recovering. But...tell me. How do you exorcise it?"

"You give it what it wants," Rin sighs, leaning back gingerly against the pillows propped up on the headboard. "Spirits are souls of the dead who can't pass over to the underworld for whatever reason. Usually it's because they have unfinished business in this world. But if you fail to appease a spirit, then you just gotta force it into the underworld."

“Force it how?”

“It's a ritual song called Izayoma's Call. It seems simple but if you fuck up a single word or if a note is slightly off, you'll risk possession.”

Jun falls quiet for a moment, thoughts churning in his head. "You are quite knowledgeable about this topic."

“Eh.” Rin shrugs, trying not to appear too smug.

“You’ve done this before?”

"Only a few times. And only when I gotta. It's a lot of effort and I don't really wanna get possessed."

Jun sits quietly for a time, deep in thought. He gazes at Rin with distant eyes, a faint smile dancing upon his lips. Just when the raven thinks he can't bear to be looked at in such a way any longer, the lord finally opens his mouth and says: "I will assist you tonight. I wish to witness this spirit for myself."