“There’s a fortress.” Chi-Woo recognized this voice. “Past the mountains and a flowing river…there’s a place called the Fortress of Heavens.”

Chi-Woo slowly turned around. He saw a slim back, thin like a willow tree. Her small shoulders were shrunken back like she was shivering from the cold. Salem Eshnunna was lying on the ground next to Chi-Woo.

“Truthfully, the defense at the capital is not that sturdy, either,” she murmured to herself with her back to Chi-Woo. “My father often said a country is already in ruins if its capital is being threatened. That’s why he tried his best to strengthen the borders.”

Chi-Woo wondered how long she had been lying next to him. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t realize her presence, and he wondered why she was suddenly saying these to him. Chi-Woo shifted his gaze back to the night sky and turned the opposite way so that he had his back to Eshnunna as well. An awkward silence permeated the air between them.

“I have a lot of…worries,” Eshnunna spoke again.

‘What worries?’ He wondered if she was concerned about the place they were going to.

“Worries about you.” 

Chi-Woo faltered at the surprising response.

“Other people are concerned too…like me.”

“You’re welcome to...