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The Name-Seeker
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Yoorae started the next day with the agonising realisation that she really needed to be in four places at once.  There were, of course, the courts, though she had been hearing a lot of cases recently and on the third day of the week every fortnight she only acted as Magistrata until lunch time — an arrangement she was ever grateful to Kyungsoo for.  It never stopped the clerks from trying to get her to work the full day, and Kyungsoo always had to spend a couple of hours in the morning arguing with them about it.  Kyungsoo always won.

The second was down by the docks, at the prison where the murder had taken place.  Yoorae wanted to get to the bottom of why the Nuisance had been killed.  What information had he had that made somebody want to silence him forever?

Then there was the man in the tavern whose historian friend had been abducted.  If he was correct about what the abductors had been wearing, it was the first time in three or four years that there was actual concrete evidence of the crew of the Pirate Prince making landfall.  There were rumours of sightings every couple of months, but it was rare for something to be as certain as this.

The final place was with the Name-Seekers.  They weren’t due to be meeting as a group again for a few days yet, but Yoorae felt that what she’d learnt over the past day was too important to wait that long.  It was also possible that Junmyeon or the other professors might know the historian who had been abducted (she hoped it wasn’t one of the historians that she knew), and that that might give them a clue as to what the Pirate Prince was after.  After all, he was only likely to abduct somebody for information — or possibly a ransom.

“Don’t forget Yongguk’s got some street kids for you to deal with this afternoon,” Kyungsoo reminded her as she took her last opportunity to shiver and stick her hands between her thighs for warmth before people came in for the first trial.  Yoorae nodded distractedly, wondering if she could get away with drawing up a little heat with her sigil magic.  Her intentions must have been clear on her face, because Kyungsoo confiscated her stylus from her pocket before she could reach for it.

“No,” he said.  “Magistrata time.”

“But Kyungsoo,” she protested childishly, “I don’t like being a magistrata.”

Kyungsoo huffed incredulously.  She pouted at him, but he didn’t relent.

 

By the time Yoorae was finished for the day, the courtroom was so cold that her breath was condensing on the air.  She was quick to pull out her cloak and gloves from where she’d stashed them under her chair and to wrap herself up in them while Kyungsoo checked that all the documents she’d reviewed were in order and tucked them away into a satchel.

“Right, let’s go find Yongguk,” Kyungsoo said once he was done, raising his head.

They set off into the wintry streets.  The centre of town was busy since it was market day, and Kyungsoo had to pull Yoorae away from one or two stalls with interesting products as they passed through the area on their way to the city watch administration buildings.  Yongguk was already waiting for them, wrapped up in warm furs.  He walked with them down into the north side of the city, which was much poorer than the rest and backed onto a huge, towering cliff face, on top of which sat the ruins of the old royal palace.  Kyungsoo took the opportunity to fill him in on everything they’d learnt the previous night as they went.  Yongguk looked worried.

“I know the men who’ve been patrolling the docks this week,” he said.  “None of them have reported any strange ships and as far as I’m aware there have been no sightings of it anywhere around the island.  How did the Pirate Prince’s crew even get on land?  Unless they’re masquerading as an officially registered ship and crew, we would have caught them.”

Kyungsoo turned to Yoorae.  Clearly the only answers he could think of involved magic.  Yoorae shook her head, but something uncomfortable was beginning to niggle at the back of her mind, almost like a memory she couldn’t quite reach.

“Kidnapping, though,” Yongguk went on.  “It’s the second case I know of in the past few months.  Didn’t you say that the friend of the Nuisance who was murdered was kidnapped at the new moon?  The night before last was the new moon, wasn’t it?  When was the historian kidnapped?”

“Either last night or the night before,” said Kyungsoo.  “Why?  Do you think the two are related?”

Yongguk shrugged.  “The Nuisance was screaming at the sea to give his friend back, wasn’t he?  It’s a possibility, that’s all I’m saying.”  He stopped and pulled out a key.  Yoorae could sense sigil magic on it.

They had reached a run-down building in a largely uninhabited area.  Yongguk checked up and down the street quickly before opening the door and ushering them inside.  The place was an old house in bad need of repair, but still furnished and still obviously lived in, from the clothes on the floor and the rumpled cushions on a couch not tha

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Korekrypta
First chapter of The Name-Seeker is up! Enjoy! 23/10/17

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weird_fellaf #1
Chapter 4: Whooooa, I finally get to witness the Naming in action! So is it some kinda hypnosis or pheromone that make sure certain subjects/objects to obey the caster? And would we see the story from the Prince's point of view later on, I wonder...?
weird_fellaf #2
Chapter 3: I don't know why but I really love it when I got to read Kyungsoo in action! And nice conclusion, by the way, Kyungsoo. I'd love to got you to summarize all of my studies and stuffs. I think that'd be awesome for sure!

And oh, oh! The captain of Chen Madreen is getting the spotlight little by little! Goodness, this is so exciting! And by the way, your poets in the end really helps to set up the mood, I mean, like, seriously, I love them :DD
weird_fellaf #3
Chapter 2: I guess this whole idea of Naming still doesn't sit well with my brain hehe. I'm sorry, gimme a bit more time to sink into the story :'))

Aand, right. About this dangerous, secret rendezvous they're doing - The Name-Seekers, if I'm not mistaken? I wonder if a betrayer will turn up later on in the story... That'll surely lead to me thinking up some cuss words but that'd be a pretty awesome twist to the story, I imagine. But this story is all yours to create, anyway. And I believe your storyline would be awesome as always! >;D
weird_fellaf #4
Chapter 1: Ahaaahah, if you're sorry because you're not acquainted that well with neither boat stuffs nor poetry, I must say I'm sorry because I at understanding them stuffs more than you claim you are, Korey :')) I hope that my brain can process all this stuffs as the story rolled out, tho. :'DD
weird_fellaf #5
Well, I guess it's just me and my thick head. But I don't really get the foreword ;((
But for a pretty long time that I was a reader, a foreword that leaves me intrigued and not really understanding it usually has an awesome plot waiting! Soooooo, I'll just go drown in this story, then! >:DD
zan8901
#6
Chapter 4: I love the relationship between Yoorae and Kyungsoo. They may not end up being biological siblings, but their bond is akin to one and that's all that matters. And I felt so bad for her in the beginning, she has so many responsibilities and tasks she needs to carry out, that's so much hard work! "By the time Yoorae was finished for the day, the courtroom was so cold that her breath was condensing on the air." D*mn! How was she able to function? XD It's so sweet what they are risking to help out those children.

And with what Yoorae did, it was so nice to read her using her powers on the troubled children. Yeah, maybe in a way it's ridding them of their ability to make choices, but it's not like they don't want what they're striving for. They finally don't have to deal with the mental trouble of wanting to gain a better life whilst also falling back into a sea of crime; now, they can focus only on fixing their future. In the long run, it really will be worth it and they'll have safer lives that are meaningful and positive. Honestly, what more could you ask for? It was nice to see her mention the other kids she'd helped who managed to gain better lives because of her. "It was long enough for them to break bad habits and form good ones - long enough for them to get a taste of what an honest, good life could be." Exactly! Couldn't have said it better myself. XD Reading how the sigils act in the story and also just being able to read Yoorae use her naming magic was awesome. Can't wait for more of this amazing story and its characters. <3 Missed you lots, Korey. Hope you enjoyed the comments and they brought a smile to your face. <333
zan8901
#7
Chapter 3: "A thick mist hung over the capital city as they wound their way through the streets, punctuated every so often by the low-burning lamps. The mist clung to the cobbles, making them slippery, and Yoorae grabbed at Kyungsoo's elbow more than once to stop herself from going sprawling." Wow, Korey, it's the second paragraph and already I'm stunned by your incredible detail of the environment. I can picture the scenery so clearly along with our main characters interacting in it. I had to re-read it because I found it so beautifully done, and just had to comment about it.

So interesting to read about what happened to the Nuisance. I don't have a theory as to why he was murdered but it what happened to him. When finding out what occurred inside the jail, it highlighted how our mysterious murderer (cough, Chen, cough) is quite a dangerous opponent. Everyone passed out and couldn't remember who he was - now that's exciting and had me super absorbed into finding out more! And I was so happy to see that Yoorae was beginning to suspect Chen and his medallion. Then they couldn't remember of his details. I liked reading that part, it kind of upped the mystery and made Chen so much more of a powerful threat.

"So basically, he was handsome." LMAO Kyungsoo always coming in with them witty comments. XD Chen (and his lackeys) are really getting around! Now abducting historians? I can't wait to find out more of who he is and what exactly his plans are (after he gets those Lifestones. I mean, why would he need to have that much power? Either he's greedy as hell or has a plan for them.). Ugh, need I say more about your poetry? XD You know exactly what I'm going to say. <3
zan8901
#8
Chapter 2: Korey, you are so d*mn brilliant. Your mind still manages to boggle me and I have known you for how many years? I actually went back and checked and funnily enough, my first ever comment I sent to you was September 11, 2015. XD Isn't that insane? How time flies by! Reading this, I actually felt myself get goosebumps; it was like I was reading your writing for the first time all over again. I've said it countless times before but your writing still manages to blow me away and make me feel so happy because it's just so beautiful - the descriptions, the details, the flow and the writing itself. Korey, I swear I'm not kissing a*s, but you're still my favorite writer after all these years. <33 Your writing does stuff to my soul, and I love it. <333 Please don't tell me you've forgotten me, my senpai/queen. <333 I'm still your number one fan, just because I went AWOL doesn't mean anyone can take my place! XD

Anyways, onto the story! I apologize if I don't remember some details from chapter one. I wanted to start immediately where I left off and make some comments before I went to sleep. Very intriguing to learn more about Junmyeon and his history, as well as Yoorae's and Kyungsoo' speculation on being related. It's so sad to know that he had actually known his parents and felt the pains of loss because of the plague. =( I can't help but comment on how beautiful your descriptions were when introducing the new characters. It's just enough to gain an understanding of who everyone is without having to dump too much information on the reader so they become confused. What they're doing is pretty admirable, trying to help out the orphans so that they may better their lives. And then the ending, bringing up the "pirate prince". Oooh, I'm so excited now! Especially since Yoorae has actually seen Chen and the medallion - it just makes things so much more interesting.

"Oft at new moon he comes ashore. And prowls the darkened streets." "-but others that he's searching. As he hides within the throng. He vanishes like vapour. His presence like a dream - or possibly a nightmare - back to the Chen Madreen." I'm sorry, but do you hear that? It's nothing, just the sound of me screaming at my Queen's amazing poetry skills. <33 You could write two words and I'd still do my best to analyze the sh*t out of it and make a comment AT LEAST two paragraphs long. I could gush endlessly about how much I missed you but I'm going to refrain and continue to read the story or else I'll be here all night. XD <333 Missed you, girl. Hope you're doing alright (and that you've been managing without my amazing, lovely, lengthy a*s comments to brighten your day ;D).
exokexomkai
#9
Chapter 4: I can feel my gut bubbling. Ready for this story.
softsology
#10
Chapter 4: theses poems at the ends of the chapters are so beautiful!!
woaahh naming magic is so cool (and kinda scary!)