Note: There's a map and info at the bottom if you happen to be confused while reading this haha.

A loud crack of thunder sounded overhead and Minho cursed. He led his horse, Hae, under the roof of the guest stables beside the local pub and inn in what had to be the billionth town he was passing through. He tied her to a pole beside another mare, brushed water off the saddlebags so they wouldn’t soak, and ran to the door after giving her an affectionate pat, promising to bring back something good to eat.

It just had to be his luck that the sky was falling down, soaking him to the bone during the short amount of time it took him to run up to and tumble through the pub’s door. Thankfully, it was warm inside and he let out a relieved sigh as the smell of food, mead, and burning wood filled his nose. The noise of chattering patrons was loud and welcome as well. It seemed half the village had taken refuge in there, laughing loudly, glasses and cups clinking together, a few catcalls hollered after a petite but busty half-elven woman and a pretty, brown haired human man weaving their way through the sea of guests and tables gracefully, trays stacked with glasses held high.

Minho brushed the water from his hair and off his cloak, straightening it and securing the clasp, which bore the crest of his kingdom, before he approached the bar where a gray-haired, half giant of a man stood, filling mug upon mug with mead. He collapsed into a chair waiting to get the bartender’s attention.

He had been travelling for months, from their kingdom – commonly referred to as The East – along the Mountains of Faith, down through the Dark Forest, skirted the Southern Desert to the Union of the Nave, across the Fierce Sea and to The Northern Alliance. He had stopped in every city, village and town he’d come across on his map, asked thousands upon thousands of humans, elves, dwarfs, gnomes, and halflings if they had sighted the prince, run into and fought bandits, trolls, ogres, goblins, and teiflings, and still he was coming up short. It was as if the prince had disappeared into thin air.

The bartender behind the bar said something in his native tongue as he passed him to fill a glass with water, bringing Minho out of his wallowing in self-pity. He looked at him blankly and the bartender smiled and tried again, this time speaking in Generic.

“What can I do you for?” he asked, coming to a stop in front of him. “Warm wine for this rugged weather? A pint of mead?”

“No thank you, sir,” Minho replied politely and the man paused to look up at him curiously, properly taking in his appearance.

“You’re not from around here, are ya?” he stated more than asked.

“No.” Minho shook his head. “I come from the Kingdom of the East and I am looking for our elusive Crown Prince. Have you happened to see him? He has blonde hair, though it looks like gold, is about my height, around his early twenties. He should have about the same accent I have, as well.”

The man’s eyebrows pinched together as he thought.

“I haven’t seen anyone like that around,” he said before turning and waving someone over. “I have to say, you travelled a long way looking for this prince of yours, mate. Without magic, the Kingdom of the East is what? One month of travel from here? Take a seat, your drink’s on me.”

Minho sighed and buried his face in his hands.

“I have been travelling for four months,” he muttered. “I stopped at every city, town and village I came across and no one, no one, has seen him.”

The man gave an impressed whistle.

“I don’t envy you,” he said. “So what’ll it be?”

Minho peered at him through his fingers.

“Would you happen to have warm milk with honey?” he asked.

The man stared at him for a moment before bursting out in booming laughter.

“Yes,” he chortled, “yes, we do. It’ll be right up.” His eyes caught on something behind Minho again and he smiled. “And I have someone who might be able to help you. He’s from the East as well.”

Minho sat up straighter at this, instantly more alert, and turned to watch the brown haired waiter, who looked about his age, make his way through patrons and chairs, smiling at the few who said something Minho couldn’t make out and patted their shoulders.

“What is it, boss?” he asked in Generic, as he sidled up beside Minho, forearms leaning against the bar.

The bartender, who Minho started to grasp was the owner of the pub as well, turned around from where he had been pouring milk into a kettle and gestured at him.

“This lad needs your help, I think.”

The young man’s eyes turned to him with curiosity, his gaze travelling over his face appreciatively before falling to the crest on the clasp of his cape. A frown fell between his eyebrows and the corners of his mouth turned down.

Minho scrutinized him right back, trying not to roll his eyes at the man’s apparent pampered upbringing. He could only guess he had at least moderately rich parents, judging by his pale skin, styled hair and smooth face. It wouldn’t surprise him if he were an ambassador’s son, working in the pub to get some life experience.

“You’re from the East?” the brown haired man asked, not unkindly but definitely not too friendly either.

“I am,” Minho answered neutrally. “I hear you are as well.”

Eyes narrowing, the man let out a huff.

“That what this old man told you?” He jabbed a thumb in the older man’s direction. “I might’ve been born there, but I’ve lived most of my life in other kingdoms, four years up here in the North.”

Yep, Minho was now certain this was the child of some ambassador. It could work out in his favor, though, as ambassadors often were invited to dine with kings and queens.

“But you do know of our Crown Prince?” Minho asked.

Surprise flickered past his face before confusion took over.

“I do,” he answered slowly. “I don’t see why this is important, though.”

“He has disappeared, and the King and Queen sent me to find him,” Minho explained. “He is to be married as soon as he is found.”

“Well, then I don’t blame him for running away,” the bartender said as he put a steaming mug in front of Minho. “Who’d wanna be tied down at such a young age?”

The brown haired man watched Minho, head tilted as thoughtful eyes bore into his before sliding over to his mug of milk, a small twitch in his lips. Then he put out a hand.

“I’m Key,” he introduced himself.

Minho regarded his outstretched hand questioningly, grasping it slowly. It was surprisingly soft and warm.

“Minho,” he returned.

“So, you’ve been travelling across the world to find the prince?” Key asked, taking the empty seat beside Minho, and he nodded. “And you’re going to continue travelling?”

Minho gave another nod and Key grinned. It made his eyes glitter and Minho couldn’t help but stare for a moment.

“I’ll help you!” he proclaimed. “I met the prince once, I’ll know him when I see him. He’s not in this village, I can tell you that for starters.”

Minho gaped at him.

“Excuse me, but-,” he started.

“I have been itching to go on another adventure for some time now and you just gave me the perfect opportunity!” Key interrupted, clearly not listening to him. “I’ve stayed too long in this town. I’ve missed being on the road.”

“This is a highly important mission,” Minho objected. “I cannot have you slow me down.”

Key waved a hand dismissively.

“I won’t,” he promised. “And besides, two pairs of eyes are better than one.”

“I’ll have you know, this is a mission in the name of – where are you going?!” Minho called in frustration, as Key jumped off the chair and made his way to a set of stairs behind the bar.

“Packing,” he answered over his shoulder. “I’ll be ready to leave in a few minutes.”

Minho could only gape after him and the bartender chuckled.

“You won’t get rid of him unless he grows bored of you,” he snorted and Minho turned incredulous eyes on him.

“He is your employee, is he not?” he demanded. “How can you allow this? His parents?”

The man shrugged.

“His parents have already left town. He’s a free spirit, just works here to have fun and meet new people,” he said, pulling a cloth from his back pocket and beginning to scrub the wood. “I always knew he wouldn’t stay for very long, and I won’t keep him here.”

Minho stared.

“Treat him well,” the man advised. “He’s quite a smart one.”

“What?” Minho couldn’t believe what was happening. “No, you do not seem to understand. I really can’t take him-”

The man put up a hand to stop him.

“It doesn’t matter, I can’t stop him, and you certainly can’t stop him. He does what he wants to do.” He shrugged. “Came in here and just started serving people one day, didn’t even ask for pay, just a room to sleep in and some food.”

Then he walked away, tending to another guest who had just entered and approached the bar where he was dripping a small puddle onto the floor. Minho groaned and buried his head in his arms. This day was just getting worse.

“So.” Key was suddenly back by his side, tattered leather bag in hand. “When are we leaving?”

Minho scowled up at him from his hunched position, then glanced out the window. Accepting his sad fate, he closed his eyes and sighed. He could shake him off in the next town, pretend to get lost or something along those lines and never bother trying to find his way back to Key.

“The rain is still coming down hard,” he grumbled, opening his eyes again and sipping on his now lukewarm milk. “We will need to wait it out.”

Key pouted but took the seat next to him.

“What do you know about the prince?” Minho asked after a moment of silence. “You said you met him once?”

“Oh,” Key grimaced. “He was an insolent brat. Wouldn’t want to be friends with him.” He tilted his head and looked Minho over curiously. “You never met him?”

Minho huffed, some of the hair falling in his eyes fluttering.

“I became a royal guard three months before I set out on this quest and hadn’t had the chance to meet any of the royalty,” he muttered. “My first meeting with the king and queen was for them to give me this mission.”

Key hummed.

“That must ,” he offered. “I remember they were nice.”

Minho shrugged.

“Well,” Key sighed and stood up again. “As long as it’s raining I might as well continue helping out here until we can leave.”

Blinking, Minho turned in his seat to look after Key as he made his way behind the bar.

“Leave?” he asked. “I planned to stay here for the night, if any rooms were available.”

Key turned back to him, eyes wide and much too innocent.

“But I wanted to sleep outside, underneath the stars-”

“On wet ground,” Minho muttered under his breath.

“-in fresh air,” he finished, completely ignoring him. “That’s what adventure’s all about!”

Minho sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead.

“You do have a sleeping bag, right?” Key asked.

Shooting him a scowl, Minho downed the rest of his milk before answering.

“I do.”

The grin spreading on Key’s lips was infuriating, though Minho couldn’t help but think it was a little charming as well. He shoved the thought away. He had no time for distractions.

“Then what’s the problem?” he chirped.

That was what the problem was. Minho had already been averse to going on the trip, but his irritation with the prince grew every time he stopped in a city and asked around, only to come up with nothing. He didn’t need the stress travelling companions would cause as well.

Once Key’s back was turned, Minho contemplated sneaking away. He really did. But every time he so much as made a twitch that could be interpreted as leaving, Key turned to him and asked if they were ready to leave. So when the rain finally let up, Minho resigned himself to at least a couple of days having to endure his newfound companion, and allowed Key to lead the way after showing him his map and all the places he had already been.

Key waved goodbye to a few townsfolk as they trudged their way down a muddy street, avoiding large puddles, which should really be called small lakes. They approached the forest on the opposite side of where Minho had entered the town, and he wondered if Key actually intended to travel into the forest. It was well known that forests were generally no man’s land, no matter which kingdom they were in. Minho glanced around for any suspicious looking while tuning out Key, who kept talking on and on and on about all his adventures all over the world.

Upon passing the tree line, Minho was on high alert. Key blundered on, prattling and stepping on every dry stick in the vicinity, their cracks so loud they made Minho wince every time. He was clearly not as concerned about his whereabouts as he should be and Minho had half a mind to knock him out to get him to stop making all those sounds.

“Do you know why this forest is called the Singing Forest?” Key asked.

Minho gave a noncommittal answer, which he apparently took as an incentive to keep talking.

“If you sit down, close your eyes, and listen closely you’ll hear the wind hum as it passes around the trees,” he continued. “And on really windy days, the hum turns into clear, tingling notes.”

“Uhuh,” Minho muttered.

Key moved between the trees as if he knew the place very well, and it proved correct when they reached a small clearing in the trees and he let out a happy gasp.

“We’re here!” he exclaimed and stopped in the smallest meadow Minho had ever seen, barely bigger than a broom’s closet.

Hae immediately went to work on the grass, nibbling it up as if she had been starved. Minho frowned at her, since he always made sure she was well fed, but turned his attention back to Key, who was searching for a spot to settle down. The canopies of the trees had protected the small clearing, so the grass wasn’t wet except in a few spots.

“Key,” Minho said. “I think it best to find an inn or a farmer who would be willing to lend us his stables for the night. Sleeping in the forest is highly-”

“Will you relax?” Key interrupted him, and dropped his bag to the ground. “I’ve spent many nights here before. This part of the forest is less travelled, so we’re safe.”

Minho narrowed his eyes at him and he threw his hands up exasperatedly.

“It’s not the first time I’ve travelled, Minho,” Key informed him. “I know what to do and what to avoid.”

Pursing his mouth, Minho glanced around the small meadow before heaving a sigh and admitting defeat. He took the reins, saddle, saddlebags, and holster for his sword off of Hae so she would be comfortable during the night. She was a loyal horse and wouldn’t leave without him.

“I’ll be right back,” Key said.

Minho turned back to him and blinked. He had disappeared and Minho glanced around, trying to discern which way he had gone. He gave up after a moment of only hearing the breeze through the leaves and decided to groom Hae.

Key soon returned with a small pile of dry sticks, smiling triumphantly when Minho glanced at him. He arranged them in a neat pile before taking the smallest stick out of it and holding it up to his face, whispering something Minho couldn’t hear. The stick caught on fire and Key threw it back onto the pile, the rest of the sticks quickly catching on.

Great, so the guy was a mage too, Minho thought. Mages were notorious for thinking highly of themselves.

Key turned to his bag and began rummaging around in it, pulling out a blanket. Minho finished grooming Hae and squatted beside his saddlebags, putting the grooming tools away.

“Did you bring anything to eat?” Key asked as he rolled the blanket out on the ground. “I haven’t eaten since this morning and I kind of forgot to bring food.”

Minho turned around from where he was looking through his saddlebags for his own blanket to give him scowl. Key returned it with a sheepish smile. Heaving another heavy sigh, he reached into one of the saddlebags and pulled out some bread and cheese along with an apple, throwing everything over at Key.

“Thank you,” Key said.

Minho grunted in response and grabbed his blanket, trying to make as comfortable a bed as he could. He decided to use a saddlebag as a pillow and, after eyeing it for a moment, threw the other over to Key.

“For a pillow,” he explained shortly when Key sent him a puzzled look.

“Aw, aren’t you chivalrous?” he snorted and Minho instantly regretted his actions.

He didn’t respond. Instead he placed his sword beside the blanket and lay down on it, turning his back on Key, crossing his arms, and squeezing his eyes shut.

“If any trouble finds us tonight, I will use you as a distraction and flee,” Minho muttered.

Key laughed heartily, though a little muffled. Minho assumed he had bread in his mouth.

“Right,” he said, voice still muffled. “Because you’re on your important mission to find the prince.”

He began laughing again, and Minho couldn’t understand what was so funny. He decided to ignore it and tried to make himself a little more comfortable. Key took up his storytelling about his adventures, obviously not taking the hint Minho was trying to sleep, or just plainly trying to cause him as much pain as he possibly could.

Just as he was dozing off, when the fire burned low and Key had finally shut up and laid down to sleep as well, a small explosion of light had him bolting up, pulling out his sword, ready for attack. Hae snorted nervously, stomping her hooves. Key sat up as well; guilt taking over his initially surprised expression.

Before him stood a very furious looking, frazzled man. His brown hair was tousled as if he had just rolled out of bed, his eyes were blazing with the power to smite, and his fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white.

Minho scrambled to his feet and the man flicked a hand at him without even sparing him a glance. He found himself flung back and pinned to a tree trunk, an invisible force tying him to the tree. Wonderful, another mage.

“I cannot believe you!” the man growled at Key. “You just leave without telling me?! Do you want me to kill you?!”

Key laughed nervously and backed up a little.

“Onew,” he greeted. “I forgot. I’m sorry.”

The man, Onew, took a threatening step in his direction and the invisible restraints around Minho tightened. His groan was drowned out, though.

“You forgot?!” Onew yelled. “How could you forget?! We live in the same inn! How hard could it be to knock on my door on your way out?! But no! I had to find out through Hana when I went down to dinner!”

Key opened his mouth to respond, but Minho had had enough.

“Excuse me,” he interrupted and they both looked at him as if they had forgotten he even existed. “Could you kindly kill your boyfriend after you’ve let me go? I have no part in this.”

The twin looks of horror he received would have been funny had his patience not already run out long ago.

“We’re not-” Onew spluttered at the same time Key let out a loud: “No!”

Minho raised his eyebrows, unimpressed, and Key nudged Onew’s shoulder.

“You should let him go,” he murmured.

Onew narrowed his eyes, glancing between them suspiciously.

“He didn’t force you to go with him, did he?” he asked. “You’re still-”

“I’m fine, Onew,” Key interrupted irately. “You don’t have to baby me.”

Onew’s lips thinned and his jaw set, but he didn’t answer. Instead he took a deep breath through his nose and lowered his hand. Minho slid down the tree trunk, agile enough to land on his feet without stumbling.

“Who are you?” Onew demanded once Minho had straightened his clothes.

Shooting him an annoyed look, he remained silent and brushed some dirt off his shoulders.

“His name’s Minho. He’s a royal guard,” Key answered for him and Onew spun around to stare at him. “See, I was perfectly safe with him.”

“A royal guard,” Onew repeated. “Which kingdom?”

Key hesitated, his lip catching between his teeth briefly.

“The East,” he murmured, not looking at Onew.

Minho frowned when Onew tensed.

“Is there a problem with that?” he asked testily and they both looked at him again.

“Uh, well…” Key hedged.

Sighing deeply, Onew closed his eyes.

“I have bad memories of The East, especially from when I worked in the palace,” he muttered. “The crown prince was getting on my every nerve. Deliberately.”

Key laughed under his breath and Onew shot another scowl at him.

“I know what you mean,” he answered. “He was an exemplary brat.”

The corners of Minho's lips turned up and he snorted. Maybe these guys weren’t so bad after all.

“I share the sentiment,” he confessed. “If it weren’t for him, I would not be here. I was unfortunately tasked with finding him and bringing him home.”

The irritated lines on Onew’s forehead vanished and he burst out laughing. Minho's faint smile grew a little wider and Key shook his head, eyes dancing with amusement.

After calming down, Onew dropped his bag, which Minho hadn’t noticed before, to the ground and kneeled down to rummage through it. It was quite small for being a bag for travelling and Minho wondered what essentials could possibly fit in there. His jaw dropped when Onew pulled out a bow and a quiver of arrows, handing them over to Key.

“You forgot these,” he said and Key accepted them, grinning.

“Right! I was so focused on leaving I completely forgot I had left them in your room,” he confessed.

Onew snorted, but didn’t say anything and went back to rummaging. Minho watched in anticipation, wondering what else he would pull from his bag. It seemed an expanding spell had been cast upon his bag. Minho had never seen one before.

“So…” Minho began as Onew pulled out a blanket and two pillows, handing one over to Key. “Who exactly are you?”

Onew pursed his lips for a moment, clearly considering his words before answering. Key had returned to his own blanket, inspecting his bow.

“Well, I used to be the head mage of the royal court,” he muttered. “But then I became friends with that one,” he pointed at Key who stuck his tongue out at him, “and he convinced me to go on a trip around the world.”

“The only reason my parents even let me go travelling on my own was because they made him promise he would be my chaperone,” Key added with a heavy sigh.

“I’m not your chaperone,” Onew muttered.

“Then what are you?”

Onew grimaced, looking reluctant.

“In my contract it says protector,” he mumbled, clearly not liking the sound of it either.

Minho's shoulders sagged.

“So, you must go with Key wherever he goes?” he asked.

Onew looked at him, exasperated and weary.

“Yeah,” he answered. “I don’t appreciate it much either, but the contract is binding. I can’t break it.”

Minho sat down on his blanket again with a groan.

“I hope you two prove useful,” he said. “I cannot have you slow me down. I’ve already been searching for four months, and the more days pass, the more likely the Western Tribe will break the treaty.”

Key and Onew exchanged a look.

“We promise we’ll help you to the best of our abilities,” Onew assured.

Minho looked from one to the other, the light of the dying fire casting a red glow over their faces, before he nodded curtly.

“Fine,” he agreed. “I suggest we all sleep, now. We leave at dawn.”

The other two sighed but conceded, Key making himself comfortable on his blanket again and Onew giving the fire a little more life with his magic before laying down to sleep as well.

Minho really hoped he hadn’t just made a mistake.

A/N: I forgot to mention in the last chapter that same marriage is not a weird thing in this world, as there are other methods to have children (magical, involves DNA and all that, not gonna go into details).

A list of the races and classes in this story (ignore the future, ailien and zombie ones). I didn't write the list, I was too lazy to, so I just searched Google xP

Here's the map (it took me ages to make, but I'm quite proud of it):

The Kingdom of The East, are mostly where humans live, though the Royal family are Aasimars.

The Southern Desert has a lot of barbarians, orcs, tieflings, goblins, gnolls, trolls, etc. since there are really no rules there and such.

The Union of The Nave is ruled by dwarfs.

The Northern Alliance is a mix. It is a democracy and everyone can live and work there, as long as they follow the general laws.

The Tribes of The West is the home of elves. Their royal family live on the Earthern Island, where earth tribe elves mostly come from. The Fire Island houses the fire tribe, The Island of Lakes houses the water tribe, the Island of winds houses the air tribe. Though they are of different tribes, all elves follow the rule of the Royal Family.

The Drifting Isles are inhabited by pixies, centaurs, satyrs, jann, minotaurs, and gargoyles.

Wow, that was a lot of info! Please don't give up, haha. I will try to make it easy to follow. I don't know how often I'll update this either, but yeah... We'll see...

I hope you liked this chapter! I worked hard on it haha ;D

Bye~