Hansen, The Kingdom of Joseon, Three days before Daeboreum, 1774.
The entire kingdom was preparing for the Daeboreum festival. Joy and happiness spread over people’s faces. The streets were filled with kids running, playing, and laughing loudly. Donggun was walking with his childhood friend, Iksoon.
“The weather is warm today,” Donggun said, gazing at the cloudless sky. The weather was warm for a winter’s day. He didn’t mind, feeling the warm sun laying its luminous rays over his skin was like being on cloud nine.
Iksoon hated it when it became sunny; the scorching sun’s rays always hit his bold head, making it itching and unbearable sometimes. “A lot warm” — Iksoon rubbed his hand over his bald head, cringing from the slight pain he felt — “It supposed to be winter?”
Donggun chuckled when he looked at Iksoon’s cringing face. Their friendship was strong, and they overcame many hardships despite the obvious differences between them.
Donggun was courageous, ambitious, and sometimes impulsive. A descendant of the highest-ranked swordsmen who served the royal palace for decades. Donggun’s life is filled with duties. He was like his ancestors; famous for his strong persona and his loyal, kindhearted soul that made him the crown prince’s confidant.
On the other hand, Iksoon was affectionate, calm, and sensible. Iksoon’s future was a clear path since his childhood; being a monk was the only path that suited his calm personality. He was well-mannered and wise.
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It was an unusual friendship that began when Donggun’s father took him when he was ten years old to visit the Kingdom’s biggest temple where he met Iksoon, who was a year older and a student in the temple.
They became close and visited each other daily, each fascinated with the other’s life and secretly they taught each other what they learned from their fathers and teachers. After Iksoon and Donggun finished their regular early morning walk, each went to a different road to start their busy day.
Later.
Donggun was inside Jeongjeon Palace’s main hall, checking on the guards there. He was talking to one guard, informing him about his latest orders.
Donggun suddenly stopped, and the guard eyed him waiting for him to finish, yet Donggun looked away, narrowing his eyes. “Master… are you okay?” the guard said. Donggun didn’t answer. He looked at him, then at the floor, feeling it spinning underneath his feet.
He felt a sudden sharp pain conquer his head. Groaning from the intense pain, he collapsed unconscious. The guard held his body before his head touched the hard floor and took him inside, followed by the rest of the guards. Donggun wasn’t moving and for a moment they thought he was dead, yet his slow breathing denied it. “Get the doctor now!”
The news of Dong-gun moved fast and reached the royal palace by one young guard. The crown prince ordered the best doctors to treat him. In a matter of a few hours, his room filled with doctors from all over the kingdom.
No one knew what happened to him. He was a healthy man that never complained of any type of illness before, yet his unforeseen collapse was a real shock to everyone.
While the doctors were talking to one another in the room, Donggun’s whole body trembled and heavy sweat covered his body, soaking his clothes. Everyone ran to his side, examining him fast to know what was happening to him.