A red sky was the primary vision that kept returning to Ara when she went to mount Oma. There was no rain any more, but the sky was red. She was standing in Pan Plaza - the largest public square in the city - and in front of her were thousands of armed Ranharan civilians. When she turned around, she was faced with even more human-like black, shadowy figures who charged towards her and the civilians. Ara was unharmed. The mesh of black and blue swirled together until it turned into a framed abstract painting hanging on a wall. A large tiger was sat beside her, calm, unmoving and with a noble aura. Her necklace was hanging around its neck and as she reached out to touch it, a bright white light blinded her, the scene morphing into the court room at the Palace. No one was inside, but two robe stands sat on opposite sides of the stage. On the left side hung the Ranharan King's robe. On the right was a very elaborate robe whose design she didn't recognise.

And that was the last vision she had.

She didn't feel afraid by what she had seen, but she didn't feel it was positive, either. Visions as clear as thousands of civilians rising up together was rarely going to be a sign of anything except that. The atmosphere was still different from the last vision she had - less hopeless, less fearful.

As she sat in the City Council room, she mulled over her thoughts, exhaustion sweeping over her as the headache that arrived on the morning of the King's burial had refused to budge. She looked around the room full of middle-aged men in dark green robes and smirked. Not a single member of the Royal Family was present, not even Zhan, who would be crowned in a few days time. Would any of them ever bother to get involved? Were they just going to rely on her forever to make their decisions and come up with solutions for their problems? Was there really nothing those useless leeching Royals would do for themselves? Were they even capable at this point?

Ara's nostrils flared as she picked at her nails, waiting for Southern District Representative to shut up before it was her turn to speak and inform them of what she knew.

There was going to be some kind of uprising against an enemy and civilians would be involved.

Something big was coming.

"Her Holiness, The Witch Ara." a deep voice boomed over the room, gaining her attention.

Righting her posture, Ara stood up, wincing as the pain in her head throbbed harder when she rose.

"Chairman." she greeted the elder man. "Most recently I have been having visions of a red sky. They have been appearing consistently over the last few months. However, there appears to be no ill-will or ominous aura during the vision which leads me to conclude that the red symbolises a more positive energy."

"Such as?"

"Intimacy or passion. It could be a marker for closer relations with another territory. Given our status as a primarily isolationist nation this strength of colour could simply indicate the beginning of a new relationship with another country which, for us, would largely be unprecedented. Since His Highness, Crown Prince Zhan has yet to be crowned but it is most certainly a positive sign of his impending leadership."

A murmur rippled around the room at her statement, ceasing as she continued.

"However, the presence of a golden fish swimming through that sky means it is much more likely to simply be a symbol of an impending child. Crown Prince Zhan has yet to have any children with his wife, this is a sign that there will be good news on that front this week." she smiled sweetly as the room brightened up and their doubt turned into applause.

"Any other visions to report, Your Holiness?" the Chairman asked.

"Nothing of any significance." she lied, nodding as she sat back down.

"Your Holiness, we've arrived." Wan's voice floated through the carriage as they came to a stop in the forest at the base of Mount Oma.

Ara's eyes flitted open, having tried and failed to nap on the journey to the mountain.Pushing herself up, she leaned on the door handle, stumbling out of the carriage and almost tripping over, Wan's arms out in alarm as he rushed to catch her.

"I'm fine, Wan." she assured him, shaking her head to get rid of the dizziness.

"I'll be waiting here." he replied, stepping back to let her go about her business.

She had been going to the mountain more frequently over the last few months, which was out of character for her. She never used to go unless she had to but it seemed like something was forcing her to go more often. Or someone. Wan mounted the carriage again, kicking his feet up and pulling his novel out. He didn't care in the slightest what she was up to, even having refused Prince Min's generous monetary offer to spy on her. He knew better than to trust him, accepting anything from Min would almost certainly end up with him mysteriously disappearing and ending up dead in a river somewhere.

"Miss Ara!"

Ara looked up, smiling at the sight of Jun waiting for her by the edge of the forest. Her whole body relaxed somewhat, her light blue robes feeling a lot less uncomfortable against her skin. Her energy seemed to perk up a little as she strolled a little faster, picking up the skirt of her robe as she crossed the forest floor to reach him, his own smile as bright as hers was upon her arrival.

"Miss Ara." he repeated with a respectful bow that she returned in kind. "How have you been?"

Jun's smile faded as her face crumpled, her small body collapsing against his chest as she burst into tears. Automatically his arms wrapped around her shoulders, unsure whether to ask what the matter was or whether it was better to just let her cry. He couldn't help but feel a little bit glad that she felt comfortable enough around him to be vulnerable. Still, he felt concerned for her first and foremost, the heat of her skin wasn't normal and it was clear that she had a fever of sorts.

"Miss Ara?" he murmured, slightly startled as she suddenly drew back and began apologising profusely for her behaviour. "I think you have a fever."

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"Do I?" she asked, her puffy eyes widening somewhat as she felt her own forehead.

"You're practically a radiator." he joked, managing to get a bubble of laughter from her. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small green paper talisman. "In our neck of the woods this is how we cure minor illnesses."

Ara allowed him to turn her around and separate her hair so as to apply the talisman on the back of her neck. He carefully put her hair back and handed her his bottle of water that she gulped down.

"How come you have fallen ill?" he asked gently, brushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear and placing the back of his hand on her forehead, noticing it had already cooled somewhat.

"I don't know." she admitted. "Probably just stress."

"Just stress? You've had all the stress in the world placed on your shoulders." he said. "You've been taking care of everyone."

"You're not wrong." she laughed bitterly.

"So you should marry me, then." he began, both of their smiles growing as this joke began again. So, this was going to be their thing? "And I promise you'll never have to lift another finger again! You won't have any stress at all."

"I'm not so sure." she replied, suppressing a grin as Jun feigned shock. "Perhaps you'd be a lazy husband."

"Is that how you think of me?"

"Of course not! But many a man has been more than proactive when chasing the lady he wishes to marry and then completely changes after the wedding is over."

"Miss Ara, as much as I can assure you I am not that kind of man, I do have the feeling you're not the kind of woman who would let such behaviour slide. I wouldn't dare take your love for granted."

Love?

Ara stared at him for a moment as Jun froze in shock. 

Hospitality, he meant to say hospitality.

Is that what he really meant, though?

"Well, then. I ought to keep that in mind." Ara grinned, her headache finally subsiding.

The pair didn't ascend the mountain this time, instead following the crooked path around the base. The sun came out and a warm breeze engulfed them as they walked in a comfortable silence peppered with chit-chat here and there. Neither of them acknowledged their fingers brushing together until Jun's large hand captured hers and both of them felt as though they would explode from giddiness.

"What kind of woman do you think I am?" Ara asked suddenly, glancing up at Jun.

"You're fascinating." he replied immediately. "You're an absolutely formidable woman and you certainly don't need any man in your life and dare I say you certainly don't need any guidance, either. Many people would do well to learn from you, I certainly would."

"I feel like there's a lot I could learn from you, too." Ara said, their feet coming to a gradual stop as they reached a large pond on the western side of the  mountain.

"Miss Ara, I doubt there's anything I could possibly teach you."

Jun's handsome face softened somewhat as she gave him a good look. He wasn't one iota intimidated by her, on a physical level at least. He had no doubt she could kick his backside up and down the street when it came to anything involving witchcraft, government and policy, regardless of all his years of study. And yet, he was so intrigued by her. Perhaps because she was only carefully revealing parts of herself to him and he had yet to know the full extent of who she really was. Perhaps because he was doing the exact same thing, that was what kept her coming back to him - they knew how to pique the other's interest in the right way.

"I feel like that should be true, but something is telling me it isn't." she smirked.

"Well, would you like to find out?" he asked, taking her other hand in his.

A delightful, conniving smile spread over her lips and for some reason Jun found it many times more charming than her smiles of joy, so much so that he could feel his heart skipping several beats, especially as she stretched up on her tiptoes to be closer to him as she whispered:

"I think I would." 

Ara's heart rate skyrocketed as his hands softly cupped her face and his lips cautiously found hers, her feet slowly falling once more as her fingers curled into the pristine white and blue fabric of his robes - colours matching the soft chiffon of her own dress. His hands moved to her waist, his lips moving perfectly with hers. There was no rush, she didn't want the butterflies in her stomach or the dizziness in her head to dissipate any time soon. It felt too good - comfortable yet exciting, new yet familiar.

Jun broke away by only an inch, their foreheads still touching as their eyes met.

"I do, too." he breathed. "I want to know every single part of you, Miss Ara."

The second kiss was searing, Ara finding herself pushed up against the trunk of a redwood tree, their hands snaking around each other's necks, tangling in each other's hair, though never venturing anywhere that might offend. They didn't notice the humidity in the air, the steam rising from the pond with the temperature, the sounds of nature surrounding them, they didn't notice any of it. The only thing that mattered was the feeling of being this close, of finally breaking through the flirtatious glass wall that had been hanging between them from they had first met.

Part of Ara wished that he would go further - he was certainly stronger than any other Ranharan man she had ever met - but she also wanted to wait. Her standards were higher than the forest floor for a first time encounter, nor did she think her ancestor's former abode would be appropriate. Delight ran through her as his lips travelled down her jaw and settled on her neck. General Lang suddenly sprung to mind and she tightened her grip in Jun's hair, wishing he would leave a glaringly obvious mark that would be impossible to miss. It might not get the General to back off, but it sure as hell would knock his cockiness down a few rungs. 

She didn't mean for such a lewd noise to leave her lips as Jun worked on her neck - a mixture of surprise and pleasure. How come she had never felt this with any other man? Not even Prince Min who (though she would never ever admit it to his face) was probably the best lover she had ever had in terms of attentiveness had made her feel like this over something so simple as a love bite. 

Stars above, she needed more of this.

It was only as their lust fueled make-out session cooled down somewhat did Jun suddenly snap back into gentleman-mode and look horrified at his own work.

"Miss Ara! I am so sorry-"

"Don't be." she said coolly, holding a palm up and tugging her robes back where they had been pushed aside. "Really, don't apologise for that. The only thing to be sorry for is that I must go or I'll be late for a meeting with our new King."

"I'll accompany you back to your carriage." he offered and Ara accepted, welcoming his hand this time as they set off again through the woods.

"Jun..." Ara began, realising she had never learned of his own relationship status. "Is there perhaps someone you're engaged or married to?"

"Ah, that?" he smiled gently. "You don't have to worry. There's no one else like that in my life."

"Really." she replied, somewhat unconvinced. "How is it possible that someone has handsome and eligible as you is still single at your age?"

"I never said I wasn't being pursued by anyone, Miss Ara. However, like yourself, I have had past loves but nothing ever came of it and now I find myself in my late twenties with more work than ever and I simply wasn't interested."

"And now?"

"If I didn't make myself clear I could always show you again." he teased, laughing as Ara squealed when he suddenly picked her up and peppered a few light kisses over her face. "Besides, I have an awful lot of competition to beat myself, it seems."

"Perhaps." she shrugged nonchalantly.

They stopped short of the carriage only a hundred metres in the distance.

"I'm not worried about any competition." he said finally, facing her fully. 

"Is that so?"

"In the end, I know we will be together. No matter who else is in the way at the moment."

Ara stepped back and folded her arms, taking him in fully. 

"And here I thought that marriage was just a running joke between us."

Jun clutched his chest in mock anguish. "How could you, Miss Ara? Stepping all over my feelings like that."

"You are aware we are of completely different worlds, Jun? I am supposed to marry a prince or a member of the aristocracy, a high ranking military man or perhaps even another member of the clergy... I'm not sure a teacher is on the cards for me."

"I am." Jun grinned, gesturing with his left arm. "Your King awaits."