Gamangnara is always a point of debate in the creature communities. The politics surrounding it are as intricate as a spider’s web. Some believe that it should be unlocked (no matter how impossible that is), and that all Unruly creatures should be clustered there, leaving the mortal realms alone. Others are perfectly content with its being locked, arguing that giving Unrulies a realm of their own is a terrible idea—the wars they could wage, the power they could exert. Besides, the dark magic of Gamangnara is steeped with ancient evil. The Mad God, Mireuk, is said to have once loved the realm before his imprisonment. And anything the Mad God loves, one must be wary of.

“Kisa?” Somi asks.

“I’ll be fine in just a moment,” she manages to gasp out, peeling herself off the wall and swiping a film of cold sweat from her forehead. “Where has Korain gone?”

The abrupt refocus on the haetae is, Kisa knows, a coping mechanism—the same one that prompts her to dive into piles of work rather than to sit with her own emotions. Even so, they’ve delayed for too long, and have lost sight of Korain. Somi winces, and with a silent agreement to speak more later, the two women hurry off down the hallway.

“Does he have a room up here?” Somi asks as they pass Room 7340. The door is agape, a housekeeping cart sitting a few feet away, piled high with towels.

“He shouldn’t,” Kisa replies warily. All staff sleep on Deck 1, in the small windowless cabins like the one she shares with Hajun. Looking ahead, Kisa’s eyes widen, and she hastily tugs Somi down so they crouch behind the cart together, side by side. Korain is leaving a suite just up ahead—and he’s not alone. Heart in her throat, Kisa counts down the doors and when she reaches the door he’s just exited, her blood grows cold. Room 7346.

The room that connects to Room 7345, Seokga’s room. Which means that Room 7346 is—

“Why is he leaving Hwanin’s room?” Kisa hisses, and although her knees are beginning to ache from sustaining an uncomfortable crouch, she hunches even lower and peers around the cart. Korain isn’t alone. A young woman with long, inky black hair is with him.

Lim Chaeyeon. The serving girl from the greenhouse party.

“My,” Somi whispers. “This suddenly got very interesting.”

Chapter Fifteen

Seokga

Seokga is loath to admit that Hajun looks vaguely familiar, and that Seokga might know precisely what popular boy band he’s from and even like a few of their songs. Perhaps even have attempted some of their complex choreographies himself (and failed spectacularly). This is because Seokga has decided on one of his many whims to dislike Hajun, a decision that is reinforced only when Hajun mentions that he and Kisa share a cabin.

A cabin.