Crafting The Lust

✨17✨

Seonghwa's smile turned thoughtful, and after a pause, he pulled Felix gently toward a quieter area of the square where fewer eyes lingered. "Now," he said, reaching into his bag, "I thought you might like to blend in a little more." From his bag, he pulled out a delicate mask painted with swirling golden patterns.

Felix raised an eyebrow. "A mask?"

Seonghwa nodded, placing it carefully over Felix's face. "Consider it a gift. This way, no one will recognize the palace's painter. Today, you're just another man enjoying the festival." He stepped back, admiring his handiwork. "Perfect."

Felix's heart swelled with gratitude. With the mask, he felt an exhilarating sense of anonymity, the freedom to exist without the weight of his title. "Thank you, Seonghwa," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Seonghwa's gaze softened. "No need to thank me, Yongbok. Everyone deserves a taste of freedom."

For the first time in a long while, Felix allowed himself to smile fully. And with Seonghwa by his side, he ventured into the heart of the festival, ready to lose himself in the rhythm of the crowd, if only for a day.

They walked through, Felix's eyes in awe and amusement scanned around. Everything looked so beautiful, so elegant, even the laughter of people. The excited little children running from one place to another, the distinct but harmonical sounds of vendors, Murmurs of people and music all together making Felix to forget all his wary for a moment.

This was all memorable and overwhelming for him, his hand clutched with Seonghwa. "Yongbok," Felix averted his gaze to Seonghwa who called him taking him out of his reverie. "Would you like to see a calligraphy master, he lives near the market?"

"A calligraphy master?" Felix furrowed his brows, in confusion.

"Yeah," Seonghwa nodded with a smile, "he's renowned for his artistry. People say his calligraphy is so beautiful, it can move even the coldest heart. I thought you might appreciate it as a fellow artist."

Felix's eyes lit up with intrigue. He hadn't expected to encounter another artist, let alone one so admired. He nodded eagerly, a spark of excitement breaking through his usual cautious demeanor. "I'd love to see his work."

With Seonghwa's guidance, they made their way through the bustling market and down a quieter, cobblestone street. The noise of the festival gradually faded behind them, replaced by a tranquil silence that seemed to belong to another world entirely. Felix felt his pulse slow, and a sense of calm washed over him.

They arrived at a modest home with scrolls of intricate calligraphy hanging from the windows and doorway. Each character was a masterpiece, drawn with precision and grace. Felix's gaze lingered on one scroll, captivated by the flow and beauty of the strokes.

An elderly man emerged from the doorway, his eyes sharp and wise, yet softened by years of experience. He noticed Felix's admiration and approached with a gentle smile. "Do you appreciate calligraphy, young man?"

Felix nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "It's… magnificent."

The master looked pleased, then glanced knowingly at Seonghwa. "I see you've brought me someone with an artist's soul." He turned back to Felix and gestured toward a table inside, where blank sheets of rice paper and an array of ink brushes lay. "Would you like to try your hand at it?"

Felix’s eyes widened. "Me? I… I've never tried before."

"There's a first time for everything," the master replied, his voice calm yet encouraging. "Art isn't about perfection; it's about expression. And from the look in your eyes, I can tell you have much to express."

With Seonghwa's encouraging nod, Felix hesitated only for a moment before stepping up to the table. He took a deep breath and picked up the brush, his fingers steady but his heart racing. Slowly, he dipped the brush into the ink and brought it to the paper, letting his instincts guide him. Each stroke felt liberating, as though he were transferring a piece of his soul onto the page.

When he finished his art, the master and seonghwa offered an admirable look at his simple art. That was simple and elegant, reminding Felix of his day. The painter couldn't hold his smile, his heart felt light with appreciation for his own work.

"See, it turned out beautiful, young man," the master said with an encouraging tone. Felix nodded as he smiled ears to ears.

The master offered Felix one of his art that made Felix too hard to believe in it, it was so unbelievable for him. Seonghwa smiled at the painter's happy expression. They bid goodbye to the master.

Seonghwa glanced at the painter who was holding the sheet that had the master's art in it, he looked content, his smile was contagious. "Yongbok, do you like it?" Seonghwa asked with a teasing smile.

"I love it, thank you so much hyung for bringing me here, I'll never forget it," Felix beamed in appreciation , as they walked further before Seonghwa stopped making Felix bewildered.

The man sent a quick glance at Felix as he said, "Yongbok, I think I forgot something," his expression blank, as if he was panicking. "What? What did you forget?" Felix with a worried expression asked.

Seonghwa licked his lips before he ran his fingers through his hair, "Yongbok, you wait for me here, I'll be back in a moment," Seonghwa nervously gave his bag to Felix. "I'll be back." With that he turned his heels.

Felix nervously gulped as he looked at Seonghwa returning with his quick steps, his heart became heavy with fear but he shouldn't be afraid as he had trust on Seonghwa that he would be back, of course he would be back as he had given his bag to Felix.. atleast he hope. Felix didn't have any idea where he was right now, Seonghwa had told him that they were returning with a shortcut and this place looks more like a forest.

His hands clutched at the bag as he stood there, not knowing what to do, the sun was slowly fading from the sky. His panic growing within the sun sinking down at the horizon, the cool wind began to float. The painter flinched at the shrilling sound of dry leaf floats.

"Seonghwa.." he mumbled the man's name, his pupils dilated with the fear crousing through his veins making him tremble, he took a few steps ahead for nowhere to go.

Within each passing moment his heart began to pace loudly, with the fear. The sun had already disappeared and a slight illumination of moon piercing through the dense trees. His mind began to Fogg, with his thumping heart, looking here and there helplessly. His body shivered that made him look at the bag for something anything, where his eyes widened.

The bag has his clothes....