doahaesunshine

[doahaesunshine]

Don't tease your editors, kids.

@doahaesunshine and I are plotting and @pinkskiddo isn't happy about it. :D

[doahaesunshine]

Chapter 21: Epilogue

Chapter WC: 1393

Note

hahahahhahha Please read the end notes from me -Tristen

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One Month Post Confinement

There was silence throughout the fortress. You had come here for closure after waiting for so long. Jihoon had agreed to accompany you to the confinement chamber, you were going to need the support. He assured you that Joshua, Dino and Minghao would also be present, to ensure your safety and comfort.

Arm in arm, you and Jihoon walked down the spiral staircase that led to the underground levels. You tightened your hold on Jihoon’s bicep as you made your descent, uncertain of what would greet you. 

The dim, torch lit corridor welcomed you with stale air and the hum of warding magic. Jihoon stopped you before moving any further.

“Remember we can take this slow. Don’t feel pressured-”

“It’s okay, Jihoon.” You took a deep breath. “I waited enough, I’m ready.”

With a nod, Jihoon continued to lead you down the hall. As you marched forward the three other Arcanist’s joined you. Minghao was the first to notice you, the Diviner bowing as he met you.

“It’s nice to finally meet you face to face.” Minghao smiled as he held out his hand.

You grabbed his hand and offered a soft shake. He gently flipped your hand, palm side up and traced over the lines.

“Did anyone inform you that your Psyche would be categorized as Fortis?” The Diviner continued to study your palm.

“Minghao, not now. Wait until after this- then you can tell their fortune.” Dino said, half annoyed.

“Are you ready, Sage?” Joshua asked as he motioned toward the cell door.

You simply nodded your head and with that, Joshua opened the warded cell. Your heart rate spiked as you listened to the mechanisms within the door unlatch and click. Slowly, the door opened with grinding stone echoing throughout the hall. 

Kneeling in the center of the cell was Jeonghan, pale and exhausted. He lazily lifted his head and grinned as he locked eyes with you. Carefully, you relinquished your hold on Jihoon and approached the Siren. 

“Hello, Sage…” Jeonghan’s voice rasped out, clearly dry and starving.

“Hi, Jeonghan. I see they’ve been treating you well…” You replied, keeping your tone even and calm.

The man before you chuckled. “You joke now, Sage. Sooner or later, I will be out of these confines…”

“We don’t intend on letting you out.” Joshua said with a hardened expression.

“Emphasis on later then.” Jeonghan smirked to himself, clearly enjoying the attention. “It is nice to see you, Sage.”

“The sentiment is not shared…” You groaned.

“You know, you always spoke like her. I knew the second I met you…” He giggled to himself, delirious from malnutrition.

Dino placed a hand on your shoulder, but you ignored him.

“Wow- You’ve really gone off the deep end while here…” You scoffed. “I don’t know what I was so worried about. This is just sad.” You turned to Joshua. “That’s all the closure I needed. It confirmed that he’s in here and I’m free, so- Lock it up.”

Joshua recast the ward and the door began to close. You got one more look at his face, bright brown eyes, dull in the lack of light, staring at you.

“Oh~ Just you wait Sage…” The Siren laughed to himself. “We’ll meet again…”

With those final words, the door was sealed. Joshua sighed, clearly annoyed by just seeing Jeonghan. Dino gave you a quick squeeze around your shoulders as a job well done and Minghao offered his arm. You graciously accepted it and walked with him. Among the dull surroundings Minghao looked like a beacon, cloaked in white garb. There was a certain elegance to his step as he guided you back upstairs.

“We should all gather here in Diamond Hall proper. Enjoy some tea, Wonwoo could use the company.” The Diviner spoke in a modulated tone, his voice soft and pleasant.

“I was going to ask, how is the old man?” You spoke lightly, trying to keep the mood positive.

“He’s doing very well.” Dino answered. “Still a bit weak and can’t- or- shouldn’t cast any spells, but he’s on the mend. I estimate a full recovery in another month or so.”

“Damn- That blade really did a number on him…”

Minghao clicked his tongue. “Ah- Wonwoo is strong.” He patted your hand reassuringly. “He’s bounced back from much worse.”

The five of you journeyed to Wonwoo’s quarters. His room was a mess, Dino had created a makeshift workstation for himself and Soonyoung must have spent quite some time here if the crawling ivy is anything to go off of. The green leaves grew all along the headboard of his bed and hung from the balcony. You smiled at the change of scenery, it had been a few weeks since you visited.

The Archivist was napping, Cosmos at his side, her head laying on his lap. A yellow eye opened and watched as you all entered. Gently, she nudged Wonwoo and mooed softly to stir him awake.

Wonwoo opened his eyes and squinted in your direction. You approached his nightstand and grabbed his glasses, lightly placing them on his face.

His eyes lit up in recognition as he saw you and the others. “Oh- Good Evening, Sage. What are you all doing here so late?”

“Minghao said he wanted to have tea with everyone here.” You replied, speaking softly due to the Archivist sensitive state.

A soft smile parted Wonwoo’s lips as he looked up at you. “That sounds wonderful. What blend did you bring with you, Minghao?”

Everyone enjoyed a blend of chamomile and rose petals, a calming tea for a silent evening. It was enjoyable and relaxing, you felt safe and whole here with your friends. You knew that no matter what happened, the friends you made along the way were now your family. Even if some of them liked to stray and felt as though they didn’t deserve kindness. You made it your mission to have it so everyone felt loved. It was the least you could do after everything that happened.

Seungcheol had planned in advance his departure from this world. When he thought about it in that way, it seemed dark, so he decided to just call it a vacation. He had messaged his family about his situation. That he wanted to visit the city, go and see the sights to take his mind off things. 

It was a well crafted lie. Everyone knew Seungcheol needed to take time for himself, that he needed to decompress. The only problem was that he was leaving this Earth, this world. He was going to be far away with no way of getting back. Minghao did tell him that it was a risk, that he might not even make it to the other side, but it was a risk he was willing to take. Seungcheol would do anything to his friends again, his found family.

He still had a few more months. December was just around the corner, but he had to be patient. His interactions with Minghao were scattered, far and few in between, but it was enough to take the edge off. The Diviner would tell Seungcheol stories of how Seokmin did everything in his power to recreate photos from his past life . That he needed to get every detail correct, so that he would never forget what his friends looked like. Minghao told him he kept the photos on the wall his bed was against, so that he could fall asleep thinking of his friends, that they would hopefully visit his dreams.

Minghao did warn Seungcheol that his other friend, Sage as they call themself now, did not remember him yet . The Diviner warned the other that memories could be lost, but he and another Arcanist were working on a spell to help him retain core memories. Minghao could not guarantee anything, only that he would try his best and that a successful spell would be a reward to them both.

Seungcheol was ready.

He wasn’t going to back down.

He would finally be whole again.

Our sky is a beautiful thing. In the morning it is a dull blue, As it becomes day it turns vibrant, Dusk is all oranges and purples, While the night sky is a deep indigo.  Clouds can obscure its beauty, But it’s still there, Patiently waiting to show itself once more.

Fallin' Flower Vol.2 coming soon

Co-Author Notes:

I'm going to shamelessly plug myself here because I am an attention whore :D If you wanna read somethings that I've done, check out my master list here

Hi guys :D It's me, @wooahaeruby your lovely cowriter. I hope everyone enjoyed the first installment of Fallin Flower. It was a labor of love for Doahae and I am very proud of him for finishing it back last year on Ao3. When I started posting my own work on Tumblr, I knew y'all would eat it up so I cross posted it for him here.

Now, I'm going to be honest with you. I have no idea when Fallin Flower 2 is coming out. No idea.

TBH, both our editor and I have been joking like "When will Fallin Flower 2 return from war?" for so long so... Yeah, I have no answers for you. But...as you know, perfection takes time and effort.

HOWEVER, I have heard from Doahae, that he was....writing yesterday. I have no idea what that means. I have no checked in because we instead watched Deadpool and Wolverine yesterday (and played Overwatch, don't asked).

Here is a screenshot of our groupchat confirming it. Enjoy

Honestly, I'm hoping I can get him to talk to me about FF2 because there were so many ideas brainstormed then we just never talked about it again lmao

For now, this is goodbye, and an end of a current era in the Fallin Flower Realm.

IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS OR WANNA CHAT ABOUT FF1, YOU CAN SEND ME AN ASK ON MY TUMBLR! I'M ACTIVE I SWEAR.

To join a tag list, please comment on the Fallin' Flower Master List!

@reiofsuns2001 @shinwonderful @starstrawb

[doahaesunshine]

Chapter 20

Chapter WC: 3972

Tags

Some lore, some lore, wooo ahhh shiney

Still sick but so much better than god - T

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Get out of my head Get out Get out Get out Please Leave me alone.

As you ran through the forest stray branches grazed your skin, but the pain was nothing with the adrenaline rushing through your system. Even as your legs grew heavy and tired you continued onward, you had to see Jeonghan, he was calling to you. The lake was so close, your heart was pounding against your chest, but you didn’t care. 

Breaching the treeline, you saw the rocky shore and blue waters. It was a welcome sight, even if it had only been a week. You scanned the surrounding area, searching for Jeonghan.

“This way~” His voice pulled you in the direction of the gazebo.

As you followed the song the structure gradually came into vision. Under the shade of the overgrown gazebo sat Jeonghan, he was staring in your direction, a gentle smile on his face. You rushed toward him, joy filled you as Jeonghan greeted you with open arms. The man huffed out a laugh as you collided with him, enveloping each other in a warm hug, it felt like home.

He held your face in his hands and softly wiped the tears that had stained your cheeks. You didn’t even realize you were crying, and the tears were cold, not warm.

“I want you to try something with me, is that alright?” Jeonghan spoke smoothly as he idly brushed your hair with his hand.

You nodded in agreement as Jeonghan grabbed a journal left on the gazebo bench. Leading you to the edge of the lake, he guided you to sit with him. He sang out a melodious whistle and from the lake brush, appeared one of the albatrosses. 

Jeonghan held out his hand and the bird approached, swimming toward the two of you. The albatross walked onto the shore and sat across from you.

“Sage.” Jeonghan said as he took your hand. “This bird is dying. He’s old and withering.”

You watched the white and gray feathered bird as it struggled to keep itself balanced. Its beak was cracked and its eyes were clouded with age.

“But I think you have something deep inside you that can help him…”

You turned your attention to Jeonghan. “What? You think my empathy can save him?” You were half joking with your question.

Jeonghan shook his head. “No- Arcanists and humans of this realm manifest their base talent, but they can develop more.” He opened the journal and showed you a page. “I dug up a diary from ages ago and found this.”

The entry was written with a heavy hand, nothing like Jeonghan’s neat writing. You saw one specific block of text that stood out:

I don’t know how she did it, but she managed to bring back the village cat. Some of the citizens thought it was Necromancy, that she had raised the feline back from the dead. I believed it, I saw the cat, it was dead, scattered across the stone floor. The poor thing wasn’t able to catch itself. 

Juno found the critter and took it in her arms. I must have blinked or was seeing things because the next thing I saw was the cat walking. It was unscathed, perfectly healed. I thought the young woman must have been a Vitae, but she didn’t show any signs.

I know I will sound crazy, but I believe Juno has the ability to either bring things back to life, or have it so they never died in the first place. I will have to take this information to the council so that the Elders can review it.

The text stopped there. Who was Juno? And there was a council? Elders?

“Who’s Juno?” You genuinely wanted to know.

“No one you need to concern yourself with.” A low voice spoke behind you.

Jeonghan was the first to turn to the source. You didn’t have to look, you knew who it was. With a gentle hand, Jeonghan pushed the albatross back into the water and stood. 

“Wonwoo… What brings you out to these parts?” The raven haired man casually approached the Archivist.

The Siren paused when he saw who accompanied Wonwoo. Junhui stood behind the Archivist, expression unsure and meek. Turmoil written all over the blond’s face.

“Junhui- What did you do?” Jeonghan backed away, slowly reaching at the back of his belt.

You stood and trained your gaze on the two men. There was a sadness radiating off of the blond, but the Archivist was cold and collected. Whatever was going to happen, he was prepared for it.

Eris stayed by your side, protective in her stance. Cosmos’s eyes were affixed to the raven harried Siren, waiting to see what he would do under pressure. 

Jeonghan started to back into the water, hoping to escape.

“Glacies.” Archivist Jeon commanded in a booming voice.

The area turned frigid, the moisture in the air freezing. Jeonghan’s foot met solid ice as he tried to retreat. One look behind you and you saw that the whole lake had frozen over, Wonwoo did not want the Siren to escape. 

Both the Archivist and his familiar lunged toward Jeonghan. You were about to run to stop them, but Junhui held you back. To your surprise, Eris did not make a move to help you.

“I’m sorry, I’m not trying to hurt you.” Junhui said as he tried to place his hand on your temple.

Something in your vision shifted, everything turned red and you felt cold liquid drip from your eyes. With new found strength you shoved Junhui back, Eris rasped out a growl as she tried to stop you. 

“Sage, focus!”  

You heard Eris’s voice in your head.

“Fight it!”

You didn’t understand. What were you supposed to be fighting against? Your head thrummed in pain as your vision darkened. A quick glance to Jeonghan and you saw the Archivist closing in on him.

“Arma.” Archivist Jeon said as he held out an open hand.

You watched as a long, hooked dagger appeared in his hand. The blade was pure white and it gleamed in the sunlight as he ran toward Jeonghan. Once again you tried to dash toward the two, but Eris grabbed onto your arm with her mouth. There was a pressure, but no pain, even if blood began to pour from the limb.

“Eris- Let go!” You struggled against your familiar, but she was much stronger than you.

Junhui closed in on you again, grabbing your face so that you looked at him. Everything was still painted red as you saw the blond’s brow furrow in concentration.

“Mentsuzas Dominae.” Junhui spoke as he held his hand to your temple.

An excruciating pain shot through your head, something was moving beneath your skin. You screamed out as you thrashed against Junhui and Eris. Your mind went into overdrive, using every ounce of energy you had to try and push the two away using your talent. Fear, disgust, malice, sorrow, you tried anything.

Junhui pulled the leech from your temple and crushed it in his grasp. With the pest gone your vision returned to you, but you still felt a pull. Eris released your arm, causing you to take notice of the pain. Your ears rang as the migraine continued to wreck you.

“Help me, Sage.”

Jeonghan’s voice. You turned to where your friend and Archivist Jeon were fighting. The two were immersed in combat. Slinging spells and clashing blades with full strength, the two showcased an equal amount of power. 

You ran at full speed toward Archivist Jeon at full speed, before you could get within a foot of him your movement stopped and you were being lifted into the air. Wonwoo held out a hand toward you as he blocked Jeonghan’s blows with a shield spell. The Arcanist spared you one glance, solid red eyes stared at you, terror consumed you.

Jeonghan backed up with a malicious smirk. “You see what he is, Sage?” A laugh ripped through him as he spoke. “Behold! The Betrayer ! You were right to be afraid of him!”

Wonwoo’s eyes flickered, returning back to their usual deep brown. Something in his gaze softened as he looked at you, but he snapped back to attention as a sickle of ice shot toward him. It scattered against the magical shield.

Jeonghan dashed at Wonwoo, dagger in hand ready to strike. With one blow he shattered the shield and followed up with another stab. Wonwoo blocked the blow with his arm and wailed in pain as the onyx blade sunk into his flesh. You gasped as the intensity of his agony reached you.

Wonwoo lost focus on the spell that was holding you, letting you collapse to the ground. He shoved Jeonghan away and held his arm in an attempt to staunch the flow of blood. 

“Sage~” Jeonghan sang into your mind. “Come here.” He said as he held a hand out toward you.

Obliging, you moved forward and accepted Jeonghan’s hand. You watched as Junhui was still under the effect of emotions you put him through, stunned and afraid. Cosmos prowled defensively around her Arcanist while Eris observed you and Jeonghan. 

Something at the back of your mind nagged at you. Screaming, begging to be let out, but you ignored it.

“Sage.” Wonwoo spoke, voice low and strained. “You have to fight it. It’s the only way I can help you.”

“You? Help? Wonwoo, you’ve done nothing but lock Sage away- and I know why…” Jeonghan purred as he brought you toward him. “You’re afraid of what we could accomplish.”

The statement piqued your interest. What did Jeonghan mean? Did Archivist Jeon know more than he was letting on?

“No- Don’t listen to him, Sage!” Wonwoo’s voice rose in volume. “He only speaks lies!”

Jeonghan clicked his tongue in disapproval. “Well you know that’s not true, right, Sage?”

You absentmindedly nodded in agreement. You trusted Jeonghan, he had never led you astray.

Wonwoo studied both you and Jeonghan. His eyes still flickering between brown and red, brow furrowing as he fought off the pain in his arm.

“Why don’t you ask dear old Wonwoo who Juno is? Aren’t you curious, Sage?” Jeonghan smiled, laughing through his teeth. “Go on, Sage. Ask him .”

“Who’s Juno?” Your voice traveled out of you, the words felt foreign.

There was a troubled look on the Archivist’s face, like he was torn between two decisions.

“I cannot tell you. The information would harm you!” Wonwoo straightened his posture as he kept pressure on his arm.

“Wrong answer, Wonwoo.” Jeonghan smirked. “I can tell you~ All you have to do is ask, Sage.”

You turned your attention to Jeonghan. His eyes were light and playful, as if he was dying to tell you a secret.

“Who is Juno?” At this point it felt like you were programmed to ask the question.

Jeonghan grinned wide. “Juno was our friend… Wonwoo really liked her.” His gaze went to the Archivist and he chuckled in glee. “I like to think I was the better friend though. Juno preferred to hang out with me when she grew tired of Wonwoo. Or well… When Wonwoo betrayed her.”

The Archivist sunk his gaze to the ground. “It wasn’t my fault-”

“What?! Of course it was your fault!” Jeonghan’s voice was laced with venom. “I may be the bad omen but she was the true harbinger. Not only did she leave you, she left me, this world and destroyed more than half of it with her departure!”

Jeonghan was bordering insanity as he spoke. “She killed the council, all of the elders perished! You were just too infatuated with her to strike her down!”

“She was like a sister to me!” Wonwoo spat back. “Of course I couldn’t kill her! And you-” He slowly approached. “You were also blinded. She never cared for you, Jeonghan- She was using you!”

The words sent a twinge of something foul through Jeonghan as he scowled. “Shut up! You don’t know anything!” 

Anger spiked in him, you could finally feel his emotions again. The sensation was uncomfortable, like you dug up something that should have been left alone. You watched as Jeonghan lost focus for a moment as he fumed.

“Incipio!” Wonwoo yelled as he ran forward.

A bolt of lightning shot between you and Jeonghan, causing the two of you to separate. You collided with the hard ice of the lake with a grunt. Before you could react, vines wrapped themselves around your legs. You tried to kick them away but they were relentless. The plants captured Jeonghan as well and when your eyes traced them back to the source you saw Soonyoung along the shore. 

Behind him was Vernon, Jihoon, Dokyeom and Mingyu, even Seungkwan was there, watching the scene unfold. All of their faces were a mix of stern and apologetic. You struggled against the vines, but they held on tight, keeping you in place. Jeonghan cut through them and rushed toward Wonwoo. Cosmos pounced, pinning Jeonghan to the ice with her claws sinking into his chest.

Wonwoo approached you quickly, dagger still in hand. Your heart raced as you thought the Archivist was about to cut through you. With the tip of the hooked blade he touched the amulet. The white blade of the dagger hummed with arcane energy, slowly cracking the magnetite. 

“No-” You cried out as the amulet shattered, your vision turning white as hot pain shot through your skull.

When you opened your eyes you were no longer bound by vines and Archivist Jeon stood in front of you, still as a statue. Looking around, you saw that everything had frozen. Jeonghan, a bolt of Vernon’s lightning, even the snow caused by the spell was suspended in the air.

“Finally- You figured it out.” A mature, monotonous voice spoke to you.

You scanned the area, but no one else was around. Someone poked your shoulder and you turned, meeting a familiar face. A woman who was so recognizable, yet you had no idea who she was.

“Who-”

“Oh- Don’t be foolish.” The woman scoffed in your face and rolled her eyes as she saw you did not recognize her. “I am the one named Juno.” She smiled with closed lips and bowed.

“Archivist Jeon and Jeonghan’s friend?” You asked, unsure of what else to say.

“Archivist?” She, Juno, walked up to Wonwoo. “Oh! Would you look at that! He’s all grown up.” With a gentle hand she played with the beads connected to his glasses. “And he still has this after all these years, what a sap…”

“Um- Not to be rude, but- Why the fuck is everything frozen?” 

Juno laughed as she listened to your question. “That’s a difficult question, little mushroom.” 

The nickname sparked something in you. It made you feel warm as tears welled in your eyes. You hung your head low as the tears fell, sniffling as you tried to conceal them.

“Huh? What’s wrong?” Juno asked as she approached you.

“I- I don’t know.” You quickly wiped the tears from your cheeks.

As Juno looked at you something grabbed her attention. The shattered amulet remained scattered on the ground. She knelt before it and grabbed a piece of magnetite and glared at Jeonghan’s frozen form.

Juno stood and looked between you and the Siren. “You know, if I was still living I would have commended him on this.” She held a piece of the amulet tight in her grip. “But now that I am no longer alive and seeing as he used it on you …” Her gaze hardened, bitterness written all over her face. “Tell him to go fuck himself.”

Everything had happened so fast you didn’t realize how lucid you felt. It was as if the fog had been lifted, you were free and could think for yourself. A smile spread across your face as you were finally yourself, no one was controlling you anymore.

Tears of relief fell from your eyes, painting your cheeks in a steady flow. You wiped them up the best you could, but they wouldn’t stop.

“Oh-” Juno cooed as she returned to you and held you in her arms. “I’m sorry things turned out this way, little mushroom.”

She held your face in her hands, wiping the tears from your skin with her thumbs. “But just know there is so much more out there. This isn’t the end, there is so much ahead of you and you’re going to do great things.”

None of it made sense. You just met this woman, but something about the way she treated you felt correct. She reminded you of someone but their face kept escaping your memory and it frustrated you. 

Juno pulled you in for one last hug before time returned to you. A roar of lightning nearly burst your eardrums, Cosmos yelped as Jeonghan shoved the beast off of him. Soonyoung yelled a warning, you turned your head toward him for only a moment and when you looked back the onyx dagger was headed straight for you. Wonwoo pushed you out of the way, making you crash to the icy surface of the lake. 

“Wonwoo!” Dokyeom called out as he rushed over, sliding to a halt at Wonwoo’s side.

You watched as the Archivist held his abdomen, Jeonghan’s dagger buried deep. Complete chaos erupted, everyone rushed onto the lake surrounding the fallen Archivist, but you saw as Jeonghan tried to escape. 

“Eris!” You called out to your familiar.

The giant snow leopard sprinted at Jeonghan with full force, tackling him and dragging him back to the other Arcanists. He struggled against the leopard’s hold, but her jaw was too strong. 

“What are you all doing on the lake?” Wonwoo rasped out. “Everyone move, before I lose focus.”

Dokyeom and Mingyu moved to help Wonwoo off of the lake’s surface. Jihoon and Soonyoung aided Cosmos and Vernon kept a close eye on Jeonghan as Eris dragged him to shore. Once everyone was safely on shore Wonwoo dropped the spell on the lake with a groan of pain. The snow morphed into heavy rainfall, shrouding the area in white noise. Thunder boomed as purple light flashed in the sky, the change in weather must have triggered a storm.

Jeonghan ripped himself from Eris and ran for the lake. You felt rage begin to overflow in you as you focused on the man. 

“Jeonghan!” Every ounce of betrayal, pain and ire shot out as you yelled his name.

The man froze and turned, everything you felt mirrored itself in his eyes. Your vision fixated on him as you advanced, anger fueling you despite your exhaustion. With the rest of your strength you swung, fist colliding with his jaw. The impact hurt you as well, but it was nothing compared to the six month imprisonment he had subjected you to.

It was liberating, striking your captor, so you let go and swung again. This time the blow forced him to the ground.

“Go fuck yourself!” You yelled, ready to strike again.

Mingyu rushed over and held you back. “Enough, Sage-’

“No- That bastard deserves it-” As the anger melted you wept and sank to the ground.

Mingyu followed you down, still holding onto you. “It’s okay, I got you.” He pressed his cheek into the side of your head, placing a chaste kiss in an effort to calm you.

The others helped Wonwoo under the overgrown gazebo. Dokyeom applied pressure as he held the dagger stable. Junhui knelt down on the other side of Wonwoo, as he examined the wound.

“Open his shirt, let me see the injury.” Junhui said as he moved to unbutton the shirt.

Once the wound was visible, Junhui furrowed his brow. “Tide Maiden steel…”

“Wh- What does that mean?” Dokyeom had never seen a weapon like this before.

“There’s an enchantment on the blade, it feeds on a target’s Psyche. I doubt Wonwoo is even aware of anything right now…” Junhui turned the Archivist’s head to look at him, his eyes glazed over. “I’m going to pull the blade out, I trust your ability to heal him.”

“Okay.” Dokyeom was filled with worry, but he knew he had to remain controlled.

Junhui pulled the blade from Wonwoo’s torso, resulting in the Archivist’s eyes lighting up red as he tried to remain lucid. He moaned in pain as blood poured from the wound. Cosmos limped toward her Arcanist as she could feel his strength dwindle.

Dokyeom placed his hands over the bloody mess on Wonwoo’s chest, crimson soaking into the bandages on his forearms. The Vitae closed his eyes as he concentrated on his elder’s Psyche. He was able to visualize it, a golden string in the darkness of his mind. It was torn, horribly damaged by the magic of the blade. Dokyeom grabbed hold of Wonwoo’s Psyche and breathed life back into it with his magic.

You remained in Mingyu’s arms, shaking as your emotions were still running high. The tears had worn off, leaving you to simmer in a low boiling rage. Seungkwan casted spectral manacles around Jeonghan’s wrists, enough to keep him until they took him to confinement. Realizing that Wonwoo was still injured, you stood and sheepishly walked over to the gazebo. You had never seen so much blood, he was covered in it, laid in a puddle of it, barely conscious. 

“Sage, you don’t need to see this.” Dokyeom’s voice trembled.

Junhui stood and directed you back to Jihoon, Vernon and Soonyoung. “You should go back home. Dry off and rest.”

“But- Wonwoo-”

“He’ll be fine… I promise.” Junhui offered a reassuring squeeze to your shoulder as he handed you off to your roommates.

Vernon put his arm around your shoulders while Soonyoung held onto your hand. Jihoon led the way back to the house. You took one last look back at the scene. Dokyeom was still hovering over Wonwoo while Mingyu tried his best to help. Seungkwan called Junhui over to help him with Jeonghan. The raven haired man’s gaze focused on you as he was led away. Despite everything that had happened, the look in Jeonghan’s eyes was not one of malice, there was grief hidden under the pain and tension.

Your roommates drove your attention away as they talked about anything to lighten the mood. Soonyoung told you that he would grow you a bunch of flowers, ones that didn’t trigger your pollen allergy and Jihoon let you know that there were leftovers. Eris followed behind closely with Shadow, Ruby and Tigris in toe. 

Once you entered the dorm, your home, you broke out into tears. There was so much sadness, remorse and immense guilt that consumed you. Everything you did and said while under Jeonghan’s spell came back in one wave, crushing you. Soonyoung couldn’t help but cry with you which caused Vernon and Jihoon to also tear up.

“If you keep crying, I’ll keep crying, Sage.” Soonyoung pouted as he pulled you in for a tight hug.

“I’m just so sorry-” A sob broke through your voice as you tucked your face into Soonyoung’s embrace.

“Awh- Sage…” Vernon said as he rubbed soothing circles along your back.

Soonyoung released you and used his sleeve to wipe your tears and then his own. You looked over to Jihoon, who was standing a bit further than the other two.

“I was such an asshole to you-” The tears started again as you tried to speak. “Jihoon- I’ll understand if you can’t forgive-”

“Ah- Shut up.” Jihoon pulled you into a firm hug, the action catching you off guard.

You reciprocated the hug and smiled. These were your roommates, your friends, hell, these guys were your family. Through thick and thin, they would stick with you.

And you would do the same for them.

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[doahaesunshine]

Chapter 19

Chapter WC: 4102

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I feel like fear is always necessary here in Fallin' Flower

Hi sorry, I've been sick :D I caught Covid :D - Tristen / @wooahaeruby

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I can’t focus My mind is crowded So many voices Too many thoughts Why can’t I focus?

It had been a week since Mingyu had left your room to aid Archivist Jeon in whatever troubled him. The memory of the emotions you felt burning inside the Archivist still lingered despite your best efforts to forget. What wasn’t helping was the fact you were still cooped up in your temporary bedroom. 

Mingyu and Dino had told you it was for your own safety, that whatever had gotten into your head had to be quarantined. It was hard to believe them, especially when the man whose room you were staying in, Archivist Jeon, kept quiet. The Archivist hadn’t spoken to you at all this week, the first time you saw him was when he called for Mingyu. After that it was complete silence.

You weren’t going to lie to yourself, the past week had been miserable. The lack of answers to your countless questions burdened you. They piled up, weighing you down and draining you of your energy. Wasn’t your amulet supposed to be fixing that?

With a gentle hand you held onto the amulet, warmth radiated from the metal as you squeezed. You thought the action would have soothed you but instead it awakened whatever lingering anxiety you had about your current situation. Suddenly the room felt too small, too still and it made your thoughts blare through your head.

It was like a rollercoaster you couldn’t control. Your heart rate spiked and as much as you tried to calm your breathing it was erratic. As your mind clouded itself with panic you knew only one thing would be able to calm you.

Jeonghan… Where’s Jeonghan? Why can’t I see him? I need him.

In your panic you paced around the room, not able to stand still for too long in fear that your mood would consume you. You were at the window one moment, the door and then the bed but you couldn’t sit still for long. Eris materialized next to you and followed your steps.

“Sage?”

Her inquisitive voice entered your mind, trying to pull you back to reality. Even though you heard her, you couldn’t respond, Jeonghan occupied your thoughts.

“Sage, talk to me. What’s going on?”

As Eris spoke in her mind she cried out with troubled moos, doing her best to try and communicate with you.

“I- I need-” You stuttered, your heart felt like it was reaching your throat. “I need to see Jeonghan…”

Your words trailed off as you made your way toward the door. First, you tried the handle, but it was still locked. Next you banged on the door with your fist, but there was no response. Your last resort was to crash into the door, trying to bust it off of its hinges. 

The pain and anxiety blinded you, it didn’t feel like you were in control of your body. Deep down, you knew the ward spell wouldn’t allow you to break the door down, but your body continued to slam into the wood. Eris jumped around you, trying and failing to get your attention. She desperately pulled at the fabric of your shirt to the point of tearing as she begged you to stop. 

There was a soft click as the door opened, the motion halting your movement for a moment. You watched as Mingyu entered the room. The door was open, you could run past him if you were fast enough. There was only one way to find out…

You bolted, straight toward the door. Mingyu was fast to catch you, holding you tightly.

“Sage, what’s going on?” When his eyes met yours he appeared frightened. “Your eyes-”

Nothing mattered, you had to escape. “Get off of me!” You yelled, forcing fear onto Mingyu.

You were released immediately and with your new found freedom you dashed down the hall. Eris chased after you, still worried, not wanting to let her eyes off of you.

Winding through the halls, you let your feet guide you towards the exit. When you were finally met with the outside you stopped to take a deep breath. The air was fresh and warm, a welcome sensation after being locked up for a week. With renewed energy you jogged your way toward the lake, toward Jeonghan…

Joshua was prepared for the dispelment. He had his component pouch ready along with elixirs for himself and Junhui. The Ward waited patiently as Wonwoo unlocked the cell door. Joshua was familiar with the craftsmanship of the cells, his parents told him that their family constructed the confinement chambers. The doors and walls of each cell were made of steel enforced lead, the latter being the perfect metal to deflect Divination magic.

As the door opened Joshua was met with the fatigued and wounded Junhui. The Siren was barely conscious, a week of no feeding and no contact with water left him in a weakened state. When Joshua entered, Junhui fought against the restraints, the charm did not waver and was still in full effect. Wonwoo was watching diligently, ready to strike if Junhui broke free. Joshua held a hand up toward the Archivist, silently telling him to relax. 

Joshua reached into his pouch and brought out a dark crystal, black tourmaline, perfect for dispelling negative magics.

“Junhui, this may be uncomfortable.” He traced a sigil into the crystal and it began to hover in his hand. “ Purgo. ”

Once the incantation was introduced the chunk of black tourmaline drifted toward the center of Junhui’s forehead. The crystal stayed in its position as Joshua focused on Junhui’s affliction. Slowly, the blackened veins shifted and found their way to the gemstone. The Siren winced as the spell was siphoned from his Psyche. 

“Ah-” Junhui exclaimed in pain. “Stop! Stop- Please!”

Joshua offered an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, I know it doesn’t feel good-”

“No-” Junhui yelled, pushing himself forward, but the chains stopped him. “This isn’t right!”

Now that Joshua could clearly see the Siren’s face he saw that it wasn’t just the veins, something was crawling under his skin. 

“Shit-” Was all Joshua said as he stopped the spell and snatched the crystal away from Junhui. “Wonwoo! Break the chains-”

“No-”

“Dispel them- I need him on his side!” Joshua pleaded.

Wonwoo’s face was stern. “No. If I break the spell, he will attempt to kill you-”

“Do it!” Joshua yelled, tired of Wonwoo’s worries. 

With great dissatisfaction, Wonwoo broke the spectral chains causing Junhui to crumble to the cold, stone floor. The Siren made an effort to restrain himself, squeezing his arms against his body to fight the spell that was still coercing him. Joshua pushed the blond to his side and inspected the side of his face, he was looking for an entry wound.

“What could you possibly be searching for? We know the spell, we know the intent-”

“Quiet!” Joshua commanded as he pulled back Junhui’s hair.

Just along Junhui’s hairline there was a small wound, no bigger than a pea. Black ichor oozed from the injury, Joshua hadn’t seen this in person, but he had heard stories. He retrieved the black tourmaline and held it to Junhui’s temple, pulling more ichor from the wound.

“Purgo.” Joshua spoke the incantation once more.

Another scream in agony, Junhui thrashed against Joshua’s hold.

“Wonwoo- Help me hold him. I need him to be still.”

Wonwoo listened and held Junhui firmly on his side while Joshua continued to work the spell. The Ward watched as whatever was under the Siren’s skin slowly surfaced. He winced at the visual, but knew he had to focus, if he tore his eyes away he would miss the-

Junhui screamed out in pain as an inky slithering leech exited the wound. Joshua recoiled as the creature attempted to latch onto a different target. While it leapt into the air Wonwoo held his hand out and zapped it with a bolt of green energy. With the pest out, Junhui attempted to sit up, grimacing at the weight of his tired limbs.

“Did you kill it?” Joshua asked as he looked at the creature.

“No- Paralysis. I wish to study it…” Wonwoo said as he procured an empty vial from his pocket.

“It’s-” Junhui took a deep breath, still collecting himself. “They’re called Mentsuzas , Mind Leeches. A dirty trick Sirens use in their political games .” He tried to stand, but his knees gave out.

Joshua caught and supported the Siren. “Don’t push yourself, you need rest.”

Junhui leaned into Joshua and laughed weakly. “You know now that I can think for myself, I’m really hungry.”

Wonwoo turned and shot Junhui an irritated look.

“Don’t joke right now-” Joshua scoffed as he helped Junhui to his feet. “We need to get you cleaned up, then you can worry about food.”

Joshua led Junhui to the door and Wonwoo followed close behind. As they slowly walked down the hallway Joshua thought to himself. Did someone from the City of Quartz find their way to Diamond Hall and plant the critter on Jun? Or did Jeonghan finally take his bullying too far? The older Siren had told Joshua stories about Mind Leeches and the effect they had on people’s Psyche. If gone untreated they consume whatever is left of the brain and take over control, creating a husk of its victim.

“Wonwoo- You have a guest chamber, correct?” Joshua smiled as he spoke. “Now that Junhui is a guest he can help himself to the amenities Diamond Hall has to offer?”

Wonwoo said nothing and instead nodded his head as he continued to stare at the paralyzed leech. Joshua smiled, happy that he was able to reward Junhui for withstanding the brutal procedure. There was still a limp to the blond’s steps as he leaned on Joshua for support, the leech had taken a greater toll than he thought.

Junhui continued to use Joshua as a means of support until the two reached the guest chamber. The Siren followed Joshua as he led him into the room. It was nice and quaint. The furniture was made of chestnut wood and earthy green upholstery. Junhui shuffled about the room, studying his surroundings as if he had to take in every detail.

Joshua dug through one of the dressers and put together a simple outfit. He placed it on the bed and then went toward a door on the opposite side of the room.

“Wonwoo kept the bathroom stocked. That’s good-” Joshua returned to Junhui. “Is there anything you need?”

“You’re leaving?” Junhui sulked.

Joshua laughed, breathy and warm. “Just to give you privacy. Besides, Wonwoo might need my help with his research. So, is there anything you need before I go?”

“The bath- Can you make it salt water?” Junhui was shy in his request.

With a smile Joshua walked toward the bathroom and filled the tub. Reaching into his pouch he acquired a pearl and tossed it into the freshwater.

“Mare.” As Joshua spoke the pearl glowed a dull blue-green. “There you go- Warm saltwater. Is that all?”

Junhui nodded. “Thank you…”

Joshua offered another kind smile before he turned to leave.

“Oh- Joshua!” Junhui called out, causing the other to pause and look back. “Sorry… about everything.” He couldn’t help but stare at the subtle bruising on his company’s neck.

There was a moment where Joshua’s expression softened. “Nothing to be sorry for, Jun. Take your time and relax, you need it.”

With those words, Junhui was left alone in the room. He returned to the bathroom and slowly stripped off his shirt. The movement made him wince as the sigil was still burned into his skin. Gazing in the mirror he could see the damage, he remembered Jeonghan telling him to stay away from Wonwoo, but he never listened. Next he studied the wound on his temple, a steady flow of ichor was still pouring from it. 

Turning on the faucet, Junhui let the water run warm. He cupped the liquid in his hands and scrubbed his face, cleaning off as much as he could. After wiping his face clean he rid himself of the rest of his clothes and quickly sank into the bath. He sighed as the water soaked into his skin, the pearlescent sheen appearing as his Siren blood awakened. Lazily, he sunk himself below the surface and watched as his surroundings bled together into a mess of color.

Junhui let himself soak for nearly an hour before he left the tub and dried off. He returned to the bed where Joshua had laid clothes out for him. An off-white button up with a seafoam green knit sweater. The trousers were a similar color to the button up, maybe a shade darker. He didn’t button the shirt all the way up and tested the waters with the sweater, afraid the fabric would irritate the wound on his chest. Thankfully, the clothes were comfortable and well-tailored, fitting him perfectly.

He turned to the mirror and admired the outfit, it had been too long since he had gotten new clothes for himself. His old outfit was essentially ruined, at least the shirt was, which was a shame, he really liked that shirt.

“Well look at you~ Enjoying your time away from home, brother?”  

Jeonghan’s voice echoed in Junhui’s mind, squeezing his eyes shut, he tried to push it away. When he reopened his eyes he saw his raven haired brother in the reflection of the mirror. The older man's expression was teasing, taunting as he draped himself over Junhui's shoulders.

“Joshua is really nice isn’t he~ That’s why I like him so much. Me and him used to be closer, y’know…” 

Junhui backed away from the mirror, phasing through the illusionary form of his older brother. The image of Jeonghan dissipated from the reflective glass as Junhui sat along the edge of the bed, head in his hands. 

“You can’t just shake me off like that, you know this…”

The younger looked up, a pristine and shining vase held a distorted image of Jeonghan. Junhui stood and searched the drawers for anything to distract himself with. He found some extra linens, throwing one over the vase to hopefully ruin the pull Jeonghan had on his Psyche.

“Nice try, Junhui~”

There were no reflective surfaces around him anymore. He was stuck listening to his brother talk, but at least he wouldn’t have to see the man.

“Carry out the mission I gave you… You know you aren’t finished.”

Junhui laid down on the bed and closed his eyes, attempting to ignore his brother’s song. 

“You know it’s not that easy.”

“I can damn well try.” Junhui groaned out as he laid on his side and pulled a pillow over his head. 

There was a moment of silence. He knew that this Jeonghan wasn’t real. It was a lingering effect from the spell mixed with the psychological damage his older brother had caused. A figment of his imagination, his trauma.

For as long as he can remember, his brother chastised him, antagonized him, full well knowing Junhui could do nothing to fight back. The first memory he had of Jeonghan was the only good one, the one he held onto. Junhui let himself drift into the haze of his mind to escape reality, even if it was only for a second.

“You’re a Yoon now, Junhui! Which means you are part of the royal family.” Jeonghan twirled around one of the marble columns in the main hall of the palace. “What do you desire? Riches? Women, Men? Power? Anything is possible in this position.”

Junhui looked up at the ceiling, an oracle opened up into the crystal blue ocean. Shimmering fish swam by as the sun peeked through the watery surface.

“I don’t really want any of those things…” Junhui was being honest, he was still young and didn’t know what his desires were.

“Oh- C’mon~ There has to be something you wish to gain…” Jeonghan leaped from the column and landed in front of his younger brother. “Tell me~ What does the Yoon’s newest addition desire?”

Pausing a moment, Junhui met his brother’s eyes. The two Sirens were completely different. Jeonghan’s appearance was dark and mysterious with bright brown eyes, a rarity among Sirens. Though black hair was considered a bad omen among their people, the Tide Maidens labeled Jeonghan as a ‘curse’. The older always joked how Junhui was the ‘perfect image of a Siren his father always wished for’, Junhui never believed him.

“I don’t know…” Junhui chewed his lip as he thought. “I always wanted to be a good son for my mother… She told me I should grow up to be kind.” Junhui smiled at the memory. “That’s what I desire, I wish to be kind and gentle.”

Jeonghan’s eyes went wide with surprise, or maybe it was recognition, but it quickly faded. “As noble as that goal is Junhui, you can’t be a minnow among sharks. The ‘Game’ will eat you alive if you keep that mentality…” A sigh escaped the older man. “You need to value your life and what it means in this world. If you were to die…”

Junhui waited for Jeonghan to finish his statement, but he never did. The older brother instead offered a sly smile with a glint in his eye.

“Nevermind that!” Jeonghan threw an arm over Junhui’s shoulder. “Father told me we have been gifted a bunch of magical scrolls from the surface. Want to go to the Scholar’s and read them before anyone else?”

With a smile Junhui nodded his head. The two brothers hopped and skipped their way to the library. 

Jeonghan had teased him plenty of times, but it was never to the extent of physically harming him. One day it just changed, everything happened so fast that the memory still stung. The moment had scarred him, he would never be able to forget…

Junhui raced after his brother, his heavy footfalls echoing throughout the palace halls. 

“Jeonghan- Jeonghan, wait! Where are you going?” 

The older Siren didn’t look back, he didn’t want any distractions.

Junhui caught up and grabbed Jeonghan by the arm, causing the elder to stop and spin.

“Why are you pestering me?” Jeonghan spat, clearly frustrated. “This doesn’t involve you!”

“I don’t care about that- Where are you going? Are you leaving the palace?” Junhui’s usual blank expression twisted into worry.

Jeonghan avoided his eyes. “I’m leaving the city… I no longer have a place here.”

“What?” Junhui was flabbergasted. “Where is this coming from?”

A scoff escaped Jeonghan’s lips. “My father is really good at keeping people in the dark- Can’t you see that I am no longer needed? If I stay here I will be nothing more than a pawn in my father’s plans.” There was venom in his tone. “I have been replaced. You’re the crown prince now, Junhui. I am nothing but a stain on my father’s legacy!”

“I didn’t know this…” Junhui was being honest, no one told him anything.

“Of course you didn’t, Jun! That would defeat the purpose- Here, look at this-” Jeonghan pulled an intricate dagger from his belt. “Look  familiar?”

An onyx blade lightly stained with dried blood. The handle was silver, decorated with quartz, a sign of protection. Junhui knew this design.

“That’s a Tide Maiden blade, but they are protectors-”

“Protectors from evil, Junhui…” Jeonghan sheathed the dagger. “Do you remember what I told you? What they see me as?”

Junhui vaguely remembered Jeonghan mentioning he was a ‘curse’. “Those are just words, Jeonghan.”

“Not to my father…” Anger fueled Jeonghan as he spoke. “To the Tide Maidens I am a ‘curse’, I told you that. But they didn’t stop there- They gave me a title.” Rage filled him until there were tears in his eyes. “They told my father ‘Prismus Yoon is a bad omen, he is a harbinger, he is the Cataclysm.’ Do you understand now, Jun?”

Junhui’s expression turned solemn, he knew what this meant. Their father’s plan was to assassinate Jeonghan, which ultimately would make Junhui next in line.

“I’m doing everyone here a favor, especially you. Let go of me-” Jeonghan shoved Junhui away with a firm hand and resumed his march.

“You’re still my brother! I need you here!” Junhui cried out after him.

Jeonghan paused for a moment, filling Junhui with hope. Maybe his older brother would listen to him and stay. That way they could remain a family.

“I am no longer your brother. From this day forward I am no one. Forget about me, Junhui…”

Dread and loneliness darkened Junhui’s heart as he watched Jeonghan disappear in his mind. Without his brother he would become lost, he couldn’t afford to lose him…

“Jun?” 

Joshua’s voice woke him from his nap. He startled as he felt a hand shake his shoulder. Gently, Joshua removed the pillow, his smile dropped as he saw tears trailing down Junhui’s face.

“Are you alright?” Joshua sat on the edge of the bed, keeping a comforting hand on Junhui’s arm.

“Yeah-” Junhui cleared his throat. “Just a bad dream- Did Wonwoo complete his research?”

“Yes. We were able to trace the magic on the leech, it belonged to Jeonghan.” Joshua grimaced. “Why would he do that to you? Why did he- Why does he want me dead?”

“Loose ends need to be tied- Or something like that…” Junhui squirmed, uncomfortable with the idea.

In the corner of his vision Junhui saw a shadow. Dark hair, pale skin, apathetic eyes, Jeonghan. 

“You’re not finished…”

A shiver traveled down Junhui’s spine. Anxiety, uncertainty and fear mixed together as he tried to remain calm in front of Joshua.

“I feel bad for asking… But I’m still really hungry, do you mind if-” 

Joshua chuckled softly. “I understand, don’t worry. Just don’t knock me out like last time.”

Junhui locked eyes with Joshua, but quickly flicked them to the image of Jeonghan. The imaginary Siren shook his head, instructing Junhui to do the opposite of Joshua’s wishes.

With an argumentative sigh, Junhui channeled his Psyche onto Joshua. It was difficult due to the damage from the leech, but he was still able to reach the other. The Siren indulged, more than he should have, but he had to complete his task. Joshua would never agree to help Junhui if he asked for help in his mission.

The fatigue of having his Psyche drained rendered Joshua unconscious. Junhui laid his head on the pillow and unstrapped the Ward’s component pouch, taking it for himself. 

Junhui pulled the blanket over the sleeping mage. “I’m sorry…” He muttered before he left the room.

The Siren knew Sage was here in Diamond Hall’s castle and he had a good idea as to where they were being kept. 

Junhui memorized the way to Archivist Jeon’s chambers, Cosmos had led him to it before. When met with the door he sensed the ward spell that had been placed on it. He retrieved the chunk of black tourmaline from Joshua’s component pouch and held it to the door. With a firm grasp he crushed the stone and casted the spell Jeonghan taught him. Ancient Siren magic that could break Arcanist spells and effects, but it would only last for five minutes.

Peeking into the room he saw Sage fast asleep as it was still early morning. He approached the bed and sat along it gently. With a sigh he held his hand to his temple and winced preemptively.

“Mentsuzas Dominae.”

The ancient Siren incantation provoked something to crawl under Junhui’s skin. He bit his tongue until it bled to muffle his pained voice. Another Mind Leech fell from his temple, it wriggled as it searched for a new target. Junhui picked it up by its tail and hovered the creature over Sage’s unconscious form.

His mind was perfectly clear now that the second leech was out of his brain. There was a moment of hesitation as he considered his options.

“There is no other option.”

Jeonghan spoke in Junhui’s mind. Was the charm lingering in him? Did the leech cause permanent damage? Or did Jeonghan just have his claws so deep in Junhui, that it was all in his head?

“Don’t be foolish Junhui~ Complete the task and you’ll be free~”

With those words, Junhui placed the Leech on Sage’s temple. The venom of the creature made entry painless, but if Sage grew agitated, it would enrage the pest. Instant regret filled Junhui, but the damage had been done, all he could do was run now.

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[doahaesunshine]

Chapter 18

Chapter WC: 4292

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The alarm spell Minghao had casted ripped Joshua from his sleep. Gasping due to the shock, he rose out of bed, disturbing Hewies rest. With a quick apology to his familiar, he grabbed a shirt and left his room.

He took a peek into Seungkwan’s room, the Ward Mage was still asleep. The young Arcanist’s gift of Resistance must have nullified Minghao’s spell. Joshua let Seungkwan sleep, he didn’t want to worry his friend. 

A pleasant breeze greeted Joshua as he left his home. Vitadel was at its full strength and high in the sky, that meant it was midnight. Sighing, Joshua traveled in the directions of the lakes, all he had to do was follow the path north and he would run into one of them.

The first body he ran into was the freshwater lake, Clover Loch, it was where he collected water for spell work. No one was around him so he assumed he had the wrong place, until he heard footsteps coming from behind him. He turned to face Dino, it was obvious the Alchemist had also received the alarm, concern was written all over his face.

“Have you seen anyone else?” Dino immediately asked the question, not wasting time on pleasantries.

“No… Only you.” Joshua started walking around the lake. “Seungkwan’s talent blocked the alarm, so I let him sleep.”

Dino nodded his head as he followed Joshua. Both observed their surroundings as they quickly strolled around the body of water.

“I’m going to have Kelpy check the lake.” The little otter dove into the lake while Dino spoke.

“I’ll start going up the river, see if I can find anything.” Joshua said as he walked off.

After his departure, Joshua thought about the amulet he enchanted for Sage. Maybe it backfired or the spell weakened over time, but it had barely been a month. The magnetite could have been corrupted, but that would be impossible, Joshua was careful with the minerals and crystals he used. 

Joshua settled on the fact that it could not have been the amulet, everything happened too fast. He went through the facts in his mind, the enchantment was balance based, the foundation of the spell was earth but there was an influence of water. The information frustrated him, he did everything right and he knows this.

“Wait for me, I have little legs!”  

A small voice entered Joshua’s mind. Looking behind him, he was met with Hewie.

“What if Jeonghan was the one that messed up?”

Joshua smiled gently and knelt down to hold a hand out for the scaled familiar to climb. She latched onto his arm and was lifted to his shoulder. Hewie chirped happily as she perched herself on her Arcanist’s shoulder.

“Explain, please?” Joshua grew more concerned as his thoughts raced in his mind.

“I didn’t think anything of it before- since we both know Jeonghan - but he was adding to your enchantment…” The little pangolin spoke in a timid tone, unsure of her Arcanist’s reaction.

“Did you catch what he did to it?” Joshua wasn’t mad, only frustrated that he didn’t see it himself.

“It smelled like a Dominare spell…” 

Joshua’s expression hardened. Dominare; A domination spell. If only he were closer to Sage he may have been able to catch it before it took hold.

“It’s okay, Joshua. You didn’t know.” Hewie nuzzled into her Arcanist’s cheek, attempting to soothe his nerves.

With a soft pat, Joshua reciprocated Hewie’s cuddles and pressed his cheek to her scales. Even if he had no idea, he swore an oath to protect others, a Ward Mage is expected to be a bulwark against situations like this. Sighing, Joshua continued to follow the river. 

Eventually, the flowing water led him to The Songweaver, a salt water lake that somehow thrived in land. The brush around him was annoying to traverse and it obscured his vision of the lake. Once he breached the treeline he was met with the delta that connected the lake to the river. Just along its shore was an old, but intact, stone temple.

Joshua was about to approach the structure, but the sound of sloshing water diverted his attention. Walking onto the shore was Junhui, one of the Sirens. Joshua never spoke to him, but he knew the blond had some relation to Jeonghan. 

The young Siren ambled toward the temple and was about to enter when he snapped his head toward Joshua. The Arcanist jumped as piercing blue eyes studied him. All Joshua did was blink and Junhui was in front of him.

“Why are you here?” The Siren’s voice sang out, breathy and low.

Joshua sensed the enchantment, a Cantio charm. He was familiar enough with the spell for it to not affect him, but there was no harm in answering the question.

“I’m looking for Sage. Minghao sent out an alarm- Did you not receive it?” Joshua’s tone was even and calm, no sign of the charm taking hold.

Junhui tilted his head to the side as he studied the man before him. There was an almost alien quality to his eyes, they were too blue, too bright and too observant. They flicked between Joshua’s eyes then darted off to his surroundings only to lock back on to the Arcanist.

“Siren’s don’t tend to be the subject of those spells.” Jun remained close as he spoke. “If we were, the entire City of Quartz would be alerted and that would be bad…” There was a quirk to Jun’s eyebrow as he continued to observe Joshua. “You’re oddly calm and why is your mind so clear?”

Joshua couldn’t help but sigh, he had to explain it to Jeonghan when they first met so he’s not surprised Junhui is just as shocked.

“I’m a Ward. Your charms don’t work on me.” His tone was flat and matter of fact as he gently pushed Junhui away from him.

Thankfully, the man backed away, even if it was only a slight difference. “Not even the physical charms?” Junhui asked with a wolfish grin.

Joshua rolled his eyes. “By the stars- There’s two of you…” He muttered under his breath. “No, sorry, not really. Have you seen Sage?”

Jun’s expression turned indifferent. “Last time I saw them was last night. They are much stronger than they look…”

“What do you mean by that?”

A playful grin returned to Jun’s face. “I’ll tell you if you agree to a deal~” His voice was practically oozing mischief.

Joshua sighed, he knew he wasn’t going to like whatever this man had to say. “Tell me what you have in mind, I’ll decide from there.”

“Bestow upon me an ounce of warmth and you can ask whatever you want.” Junhui smiled, showcasing his slight fangs.

“Are you starving? Jeonghan told me he barely feeds you, I thought he was lying…”

Junhui frowned. “If I’m being honest with you, he fed me yesterday, but it was with Sage.” His brow furrowed as he recalled the encounter. “It was… unpleasant, frightening…”

There was a pang of pity in Joshua’s chest, he may not be a Siren himself, but he understood their situation. Siren’s fed on warmth and emotion, raw energy from others. In their own society they are able to feed on each other, with consent of course, but here in Diamond Hall there are laws protecting Arcanists from being targets of unwanted feeding. Basically, it’s hard for a Siren to find someone willing to be drained until exhaustion for another’s gain.

Jeonghan had explained this to Joshua when they first met and said he had to keep a ‘tight leash’ on Junhui and his ‘insatiable appetite’ . Joshua didn’t believe him, but seeing as Junhui was now in front of him, eyeing him like he was a buffet, but asking nicely to feed, he believed it.

“Fine, I agree.” The moment Joshua spoke Junhui closed in. 

The Siren returned to his original distance, if a bit closer, and locked eyes with Joshua once more. There was an unspoken understanding between the two as they both relaxed into the gaze. Jeonghan had told Joshua that the way Siren’s feed on other species is explained horribly, that it’s been twisted over time. Sure his people would lure sailors to their demise, but the Siren’s song eased their pain, it gave them a quick, painless death. Of course, no one killed anyone anymore, that was illegal.

Feeding was about mutual respect and understanding of each other's Psyche. It was supposed to be enjoyable, as if you were having a mental conversation with a friend. Joshua could hear it, the soothing song of the sea. A calming melody of a flute echoed in his mind and the smell of the ocean breeze clouded his senses. The sensation was pleasant, like he was being lulled to sleep.

Junhui eased Joshua to lean against the trunk of a tree. He gently petted the pangolin’s scales as she worried for her Arcanist’s safety.

“It’s alright, little one. He’s just napping.” Jun smiled softly at the familiar. “He should wake up in the morning… Pallium .” Junhui spoke the incantation and a cloak appeared in his hands. 

The Siren placed the cloak over Joshua and coaxed the pangolin to curl up in her Arcanist’s lap. He brushed a stray strand of Joshua’s honey blond hair behind his ear and leaned into him.

“Meet me at the waterfall tomorrow, after you wake up. I’ll answer your questions there.”

“-shua.” A muffled voice called out. “Joshua!”

The Arcanist jumped from the sudden rise in volume and squinted as the morning sun nearly blinded him. He groaned as he felt a stiffness in his neck, did he fall asleep out here?

Joshua focused on the person before him. “Dino? What are you doing out here?”

Concern consumed the Alchemist’s face. “I should be asking you that! Did you sleep out here? Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, just help me up-”

Dino didn’t have to be asked twice. Immediately, he helped Joshua to his feet.

“I feel like I was hit by a boulder…” Joshua muttered. “Ah- That fucker…” He picked up Hewie and placed her over his shoulders. Without a word, he started heading south.

“Hey- Where are you going?”

Joshua hurried off, frustrated and annoyed at his own foolishness.

The path to the waterfall was familiar to Joshua, he had visited the natural wonder often to help put his mind at ease. In relation to his home it was west, the river outside his home led right to it. He heard the waterfall before he saw it but a steady mist rose from the waterfall, creating a blanket of thin fog around him. There was no Junhui in sight. 

“Junhui?” Joshua called out into the fog, was it getting thicker?

“Help!” A familiar voice yelled, it wasn’t Junhui’s. “Help, please!” It was Seungkwan’s voice.

What was his apprentice doing here? Why was his voice coming from the river?

“Seungkwan?!” Joshua sprinted toward the rushing water and hastily scanned the area.

There was no Seungkwan in sight, only the white waters of the river. Confusion consumed him as he looked around, trying to find the source.

“Help!” The voice sounded as though it was right in front of him and as Joshua snapped back toward the water he saw a pair of blue eyes beneath the surface. 

Before he could react a hand reached up and grabbed him by the neck. The strength took him by surprise as his head was submerged under the water. Hewie chirped in alarm as she clawed at Joshua's shirt, her arms too weak to do anything. 

Struggling as he held onto his breath, Joshua held his palm forward as his muffled voice strangled out an incantation.

“Vi.”  

The water distorted the sound of his voice, but Junhui’s eyes lit up in recognition of the spell. The Siren tightened his grip as he was pushed backwards by the force of Joshua’s spell. The Ward tumbled into the raging river, Hewie disappeared into the safety ether before she sank into the drink.

Joshua surfaced but only for a moment, barely able to take a breath before being dragged under once more. He hit and clawed at Junhui’s wrist, fighting to get the Siren to release him. Junhui looked back at him, eyes filled with uncertainty, slightly clouded and unfocused. Black veins appeared underneath his pearlescent skin, pulsing as he fought internally. 

There was a moment of recognition, Joshua knew that reaction, he had seen it in his research. Veins blacken with frenzy when fighting against certain types of enchantment. Joshua began to create sigils with his hands, he was going to dispel it, but he lost focus when he felt him and his attacker begin to descend. The waterfall’s pull was going to take them to the rocky shore of the Rose Coast.

He quickly changed the incantation. “Custodire!”

A glassy shell formed around Joshua’s form, forcing Jun to let go. The Siren rode the current down with grace as Joshua thrashed in his descent. He saw the ground he was about to collide with and he hoped the magical armor would withstand the force. 

Joshua crashed against the rocks with a thunderous sound of shattering glass and he bellowed in pain as he felt something snap. A quick glance and he saw blood running down his sleeve as he laid on the cold stones. Footsteps approached and Joshua saw Junhui shamble toward him, it didn’t look like he was in complete control of himself.

The Siren reached Joshua and with a firm knee he placed pressure on the Arcanist’s neck. Joshua tried to scream, but all that left him was a strained breath. 

“Get him out of my head… Please…” Junhui said, tears running down his face.

The inky veins had spread to his eyes, turning his scleras black, the blue of his eye more vibrant than ever.

Joshua could help him, he could momentarily break the spell. He wanted to help but he wasn’t able to speak the incantation while his neck was being crushed. The edges of the Arcanist’s vision went dark as he clawed at his attacker’s leg.

“I’m sorry…”

Those were the last words Joshua heard before Junhui’s head shot up as a bolt of crimson energy struck him in his chest. The force sent the Siren tumbling backwards. Junhui released a throaty growl as he recoiled in pain, whatever spell was shot at him was lingering.

A strong hand grabbed Joshua’s arm and he cried out in pain as he was forcefully lifted. When he looked up at his savior he saw Archivist Jeon, his usual stoic expression morphed into one of enmity.

“Wonwoo?” Joshua spoke in a broken voice.

Junhui groaned as he struggled to stand. With a limp to his step, he reached toward Joshua with an outstretched arm.

“Adflictio.” Wonwoo commanded his magic with ire.

The Siren froze in pain as the spell continued to burn in his chest. With an awful wretch he shuffled forward, the two spells mixed, sending burning agony throughout his core. His eyes were still stained black, equally dark tears leaking from his eyes.

“Adflictio.” Wonwoo said again, this time with more venom.

Junhui collapsed with a wounded cry, it was killing him.

“Wonwoo- Stop-” Joshua tried to yell, but his voice came out weak.

“He was going to kill you!” Wonwoo’s eyes were intense as he focused on the blond who had sunk to his knees.

“He’s under a spell. Wonwoo, please- just knock him out.” Joshua pleaded. “Stop putting him through pain, I can dispel it.”

With reluctance, Wonwoo calmed the spell. The crackling of deep red energy subsided but the sigil was still burned into Junhui’s sternum.

“Quies.” This time, Wonwoo’s voice was cold and even.

The Siren’s groans of pain stopped and he toppled over as he fell unconscious.

“Help me bring him to my home, my components-”

“-You will go to the Alchemist,” Wonwoo was stubborn in his words. “I’m taking this one to confinement.”

“But-”

“No, Joshua.” Wonwoo’s gaze was icy. “Go to Dino’s, fix your arm and then you may visit Junhui in confinement and dispel the charm.”

Without another word Joshua nodded his head. Wonwoo used his telekinesis to lift all three of them to the top of the cliff, it was faster than climbing. After planting his feet on the ground, Wonwoo picked up Junhui, spreading the Siren’s weight across his shoulders.

The Ward and the Archivist parted ways. Joshua was able to staunch the flow of blood, but the pain was unbearable, but he knew Dino would patch him up.

You were staring at the ceiling, soft snoring rumbled next to you. Glancing to the side, you saw Jihoon fast asleep on his side with Ruby cuddled against his chest. Mingyu was spooning him from behind in just as deep of a sleep, Yucca curled up on a stray pillow near the two Arcanists. You would have cooed at the adorable sight, but you were just so bored.

Sure, there were books everywhere, but every time you opened one piece of literature you gave up after the first paragraph. So here you were, staring at the ceiling, contemplating life and wondering why there were two men cuddling beside you. Is this what it felt like to have a college roommate? Wait- Did you go to college? Now you were filled with more questions…

A thought, maybe a memory bounced around in your mind.

“Oh my god, they were roommates…”

Huh-

What were those things called? You remembered the concept, but not the name and it was pissing you off. 

You looked over at your friends once more. They were so peaceful, just two men, your friends, cuddling…

Another memory…

“Two bros~ Chillin in a hot tub. Five feet apart cause’ they’re not gay~”

What the hell were those things called?! It was really grinding away at your sanity.

A soft knock tore you from your thoughts and you watched as the door opened. Vernon poked his head in, followed by Shadow. The two of you stared at each other for a moment before you welcomed him with a wave.

Vernon and Shadow entered with bounce to their steps. He sat across from you on the bed and Shadow jumped up, laying beside you to ask for pets.

“How long have they been like that?”

Sighing, you gazed at your friends with a bored expression. “They said they were going to take a forty minute nap. They’ve been here for three hours now…” You pinched the bridge of your nose. “Every hour I’ve tried to wake them up. Jihoon glared at me each time and Mingyu didn’t even budge.”

Vernon nodded along as he listened to you ramble. “So what have you been doing?”

“Oh, y’know- staring at the ceiling, opening and closing books, getting weird phrases stuck in my head.” You swayed your head side to side as you spoke.

“Weird phrases?”

“Yeah- phrases like, ‘ oh my god they were roommates ’ and ‘ two bros chillin’ in a hot tub ’.” You grimaced. “I don’t know where the hell those words came from-”

“-Vines?”

You smacked your hands together in a thunderous clap. “That’s it!”

Jihoon startled awake and Mingyu’s blood shot eyes opened as you yelled. 

“Keep it down, I’m trying to take a nap…” Jihoon complained.

“It’s. Been. Three. Hours. Jihoon.” You clapped your hands between each word. “Get. The. Hell. Up.”

Jihoon clapped his hands once in response. “No.”

“Ok…” You trailed off. “Just know this is all your fault…”

Tapping your elbow twice, you jumped upward and drove your arm into the mass of bodies before you. Slamming into both Mingyu and Jihoon with a grunt, Shadow joined, the pup thought it was playtime. 

“Ow-” Mingyu groaned. “Why…”

“Did you just give them the People’s Elbow?” Vernon asked, trying and failing to conceal his laughter.

“Sage…” Jihoon’s voice bubbled with anger. “If you don’t get up, I am going to body slam you.”

“Do it, no balls.” Unknowingly, you had sealed your fate.

Jihoon flipped you over and grabbed you from behind, holding you in a headlock. You were laughing through the pain, this was the most entertainment you had in days. Jihoon had you restrained, Ruby was batting at him with his paws, Vernon laughed at the scene while Mingyu was still trying to wake up. Shadow was jumping all around the bed, thoroughly riled up from the noise and movement while Yucca was stretching.

The opening door made the four of you freeze and turned your attention toward it. Archivist Jeon entered the room and watched for a moment as you all settled down. 

“Mingyu. I require your talents.” Archivist Jeon said with a hardened expression, he looked serious.

With another yawn, Mingyu rose from the bed and flattened his hair the best he could. Yucca jumped down from the bed and kept pace with his Arcanist.

“Is someone hurt?” You asked, worried.

The Archivist shook his head. “It is nothing you need to worry about.” 

You didn’t believe him, even if he spoke with an even tone and unwavering expression. Reaching out with your empathy, you sensed Archivist Jeon’s emotions. Searing rage filled you as you focused on your target. It was intense, more so than the night with Jeonghan, there was no sadness behind this anger. It was pure, animalistic fury. 

Mingyu and Archivist Jeon left the room. Your pulse quickened as the adrenaline from the surge of emotions wore off. Jihoon must have noticed because he loosened his hold on you and looked at you with concerned eyes.

“Everything alright, Sage?”

You started to pet Shadow in a soothing motion to calm your nerves. “Archivist Jeon is pissed . I’m not talking about, ‘Fuck I spilt my coffee’, it’s a ‘I am going to murder someone’ type of pissed.”

Jihoon and Vernon appeared curious as to what could have caused the ordinarily calm and collected Archivist to be so angry. The once playful atmosphere darkened as they thought of the possibilities.

Mingyu had followed Wonwoo throughout the endless corridors. The Vitae had never been this deep in the fortress of Diamond Hall. It was dark and cold, everything was made of hard stone and lit with the faintest of torchlight. Their footsteps echoed off of the narrow walls and Mingyu couldn’t help but feel unsettled by the unfamiliar area. 

Eventually the hallway opened up into a somewhat wider chamber. Multiple heavy metal doors lined the walls here, leading into unknown spaces. Mingyu sheepishly followed behind the Archivist, staying close enough that he wouldn’t lose sight of his guide.

The Vitae was led to a specific door, a sigil ingrained in the metal and Mingyu watched as Archivist Jeon traced his hand along the pattern. A dull blue glow bled into the dark chamber, a warding spell, and a strong one at that. As Wonwoo continued to trace the sigil the grinding sound of unlocking mechanisms rumbled through the room. With an echoing click, the door began to slide open, grating against the stone floor. Mingyu winced as the sickening sound made his ears flutter with its volume.

Any discomfort didn’t last long as Mingyu saw the person being held in the confinement chamber. Junhui, the blond Siren that was seen around the grounds every so often. The Vitae thought Wonwoo and the blond were close, but upon further inspection, the Siren was severely damaged.

Slowly, Mingyu approached Junhui. The Siren was bound by spectral chains that hung from the ceiling, his unconscious form kneeling on the cold stone floor. A reddened sigil was burned into his sternum, directly over the heart, it still glowed with arcane residue.

“What happened to him?” Mingyu asked softly, panic threatening to take over his mind.

Wonwoo sighed deeply. “I had to restrain him. He was… strangling Joshua, with the intent of killing him…”

Mingyu turned his attention back to the older. “What? Junhui has never been a threat before-”

“I- I didn’t want to… If that helps my case…” Junhui’s voice was weak and dry as he spoke.

Looking back at the Siren, Mingyu lifted his face gently to inspect more of the damage. Junhui’s eyes were bloodshot, dark ichor stained beneath his eyes and ill black veins were protruding from his temples. 

“Did you do this to him?” Mingyu asked, uncertain.

“Only the Adflictio spell…” Wonwoo explained, voice level and cold.

“Adflictio ? Wonwoo, that’s a torment spell! That could have killed him-”

“It was needed-” Junhui interrupted. “I would have killed Joshua if Wonwoo didn’t intervene. I prefer this outcome…” He fought the pain to try and stay awake.

“I don’t think I can completely heal him…” Mingyu addressed Wonwoo.

“Then don’t. Quell his pain, all I require is his consciousness.”

The Vitae was stunned. “That’s cruel…”

“It’s necessary. Ease his pain.” Wonwoo ordered.

Despite his own opinions, Mingyu did as he was told. The palm against Junhui’s face glowed with a warm light. Some of the damage healed, small knicks and bruises, but the sigil and severe wounds remained. The Siren relaxed into the touch, sighing as his pain was lessened.

“Thank you.” Junhui muttered, eyelids struggling to stay open.

Mingyu stood and approached Wonwoo, even though the Vitae was taller he felt small in the older’s presence. 

“Good work, Mingyu. You may go now.” The sweetness of his tone was contrasted by his steely gaze.

There was nothing else to be said. Mingyu barely addressed the praise and left the chamber. His mind was flooded with questions that he didn’t want to know the answers to. After he had left the door closed behind him, hopefully Wonwoo was nicer with his interrogation.

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Chapter 17

Chapter WC: 4359

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Jeonghan is getting Mental Rocks thrown at him - Tristen

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 Loud music blasted out of the car speakers as wind blew your hair in every direction. The weather was perfect, a warm summer day with a cool breeze. It was practically law to have the windows down on a day like this. 

Seungcheol had insisted on a summer trip, it was an annual thing. Something for Seokmin, Cheol, and yourself to look forward to. It was a beach trip, the coast wasn’t too far and the drive was enjoyable, to be fair Seungcheol didn’t let either you or Seokmin drive his car.

Leaning over the center console, Seokmin turned up the radio. Dialing it up to a healthy thirty.

“Lady, running down to the riptide

Taken away to the dark side

I wanna be your left-hand man

I love you when you're singing that song

And I got a lump in my throat

'Cause you're gonna sing the words wrong”

You and Seokmin sang the lyrics, nearly screaming.

“Hey! Don’t lose your voices before we get to the shore!” Seungcheol yelled over the music, but his own voice was barely heard due to both the music and your screeching.

The oldest gave up on scolding and focused on the road. “You guys are going to regret yelling…” He muttered.

“What?!” You yelled. 

“Can’t hear you!” Seokmin joined in your teasing.

The beach was never your favorite place but being with friends made it so much better. It was a treat, something all three of you deserved with how busy your lives were. Seungcheol saved up some extra cash, more than the group agreed on, so that you had enough money to spend a whole week away from stress. Both you and Seokmin were a little miffed, though you appreciated daddy’s wallet.

“Stop calling me that!”

“Calling you what?” You and Seokmin asked innocently.

“That name! Da- I can’t even say it!”

“What’s wrong… Daddy?” Seokmin asked while batting his eyelashes.

Seungcheol squatted on the ground, releasing a loud sigh during his descent. “I give up.”

You and Seokmin shared a high-five before the two of you checked into the hotel, leaving Seungcheol to brood in the lobby.

Mornings were spent sleeping in, days were spent going to the beach or pool and nights were spent drinking while watching horribly rated movies. Overall, it was paradise. The three of you shared a single room with two beds, it was cheaper that way, and it was a raffle as to who shared a bed. Some nights you and Seokmin shared one, other times you would wake up to Seokmin and Seungcheol sleeping in each other's arms. You were always sure to snap a few pictures as figurative black mail before you jumped on the bed and annoyed them until they woke up.

Seungcheol coughed as you accidentally elbowed him in the gut. “Ah- Sage settle down-”

What?

“Why did you wake us up so early, Sage?”

That wasn’t your name, it was-

“Sage!”

Your eyes shot open and you were met with the familiar face of Mingyu. He seemed mildly worried, but it faded as soon as he saw you woke up. Leaning back into the chair beside the bed, he ran a hand through his hair.

“Finally-” He sighed in relief. “I felt like I was trying to wake you up for the past twenty minutes.” A small smile formed on his face, canines just peeking from his lips.

You watched him as he spoke, but once he finished his sentence you quickly observed your surroundings. Dark cherry wood floors with ebony wood furniture. Bookcases lined the wall behind the bedframe and a spiral staircase led to a balcony that rested over the bed. A large window was built into the wall across from you, the architecture was familiar but you couldn’t quite place it.

“Where am I?” You asked, concerned while clutching your amulet.

Mingyu grabbed your hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “It’s okay, you’re in Wonwoo’s room. He’s letting you sleep here for the time-”

Nearly jumping out of bed, you skipped toward the door. “Sorry- As much as I appreciate it, I have to go-”

The door didn’t budge, it was locked.

“What the hell is this?”

Mingyu rose from his seat as his expression turned forlorn. “I’m sorry, Sage… It’s for your own safety…” 

A strong wave of sorrow and remorse hit you as Mingyu spoke, he was always honest with his emotions, never hiding them from anyone. 

“What do you mean? Don’t tell me-” You started to fume as ideas filled your head. “Don’t tell me you’re working with the Archivist right now?!” The amulet was searing against your palm, but you tolerated the pain.

There was a shift in Mingyu’s expression. He furrowed his brow as he was filled with confusion. “Working with Archivist Jeon? What- Where is this coming from, Sage?” He took a step closer to you. “You should lay back down-”

“Stay away from me!” You shouted, but regretted it as soon as you saw Mingyu flinch. “Please… Take me back home…”

“I wish I could, Sage…” Mingyu held his hand out to you. “Please, sit down. I’ll explain the situation.”

You loosened your grip on the door handle and walked toward Mingyu. Ignoring his hand, you sat on the edge of the bed as Mingyu went back to his chair. The two of you sighed in unison as you settled in.

“We found you in the lake again…” Mingyu spoke, voice shaking.

The statement made you perk up in interest and panic. Clutching your chest you took a deep breath as you felt your pulse rise.

“Minghao, our Diviner, he saw you in a vision… drowning.” Mingyu’s eyes reddened as tears began to form. “For a moment we thought we were too late, but we revived you. It just took a lot .”

He sniffed as he tried to stop himself from choking up. “Dokyeom patched you up again, I was going to but I’m too weak .”

Your heart filled with sadness and the feeling of failure, similar to how Dino felt a little over two weeks ago. Just a deep pit of insecurity and guilt.

“Mingyu…” You felt awful and wanted to stop what he was feeling, for your sanity and his.

Rising from your seat on the bed, you walked over to Mingyu and wrapped your arms around his shoulders. You didn’t know what got into you a moment ago, your friend was hurting and your actions weren’t helping. With a tight squeeze you felt his shoulders start to shake. Using a little bit of your magic, you calmed his nerves, at least stopping the tears.

“I didn’t mean to yell at you earlier… I was just a little out of it.” You reassured him. “And if you keep crying I’m going to cry.”

Mingyu chuckled into your shoulder as he reciprocated the hug. “I think we’re all feeling a bit weird after last night.”

You released Mingyu from your hold and ruffled his hair a bit before returning to your bed. “So…” You paused for dramatic effect, hoping to lighten the mood. “What the fuck’s wrong with me?”

Mingyu wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “We don’t know… Dino examined you and said there was some physical damage. He said you’ll probably have bad headaches and a bad cough. I should be able to help with any discomfort.”

Nodding along you wondered, what the hell has been happening to you? It wasn’t just passing out, there were moments where you lost yourself and could barely remember why you acted out. A twinge of panic made you fear the worst, that your condition had become a bigger issue. Losing consciousness, bleeding from your nose, and intense migraines could not be a good sign.

“Did Archivist Jeon say anything?” You were weary with your question.

Mingyu shook his head. “No, not really. He just said to give you his bed, that he will sleep in his office…” He thought some more. “I hope you don’t hate him. Wonwoo might be hard to read, but he means well…”

“I understand, Gyu but-” You sighed, remembering the night Jeonghan was harmed by the Archivist. “From what I’ve seen of him… he kind of scares me.”

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

“No-no! You don’t have to apologize for anything Gyu!” You said while placing your hand on his, trying to keep eye contact so he could see your sincerity. “I have my own problems and you don’t have to worry yourself with them. I don’t hate Archivist Jeon, I just- I’m a bit intimidated.”

“I can tell.” Mingyu scoffed in a playful manner. “You still use only his title and surname after more than half a year.”

Falling back onto the bed with a sigh you stared at the ceiling, not wanting to think about the Archivist anymore. The weight of the amulet on your chest was heavy, a lingering warmth clinging to the metal.

“Well…” Mingyu cleared his throat. “Now that we’ve calmed down, are you hungry? I brought some food with me.”

You sat up with a big smile on your face. “Yes, that sounds amazing. I didn’t realize until now that I’m starving.”

The lake was cool and dark most summer nights, but tonight it was warm and serene. Maybe in reality the water was no different but it was Jeonghan's sense of gratification that made the lake feel that much better. It was too easy to lead Sage under the water, mere child's play due to the power of the amulet. 

Jeonghan glided through the water, studying Sage’s unconscious form as he swam around their current state. The naive human’s eyes were clouded over due to his Siren Song, the only useful thing his family had ever given him. Magic as ancient as the primordial Psyche of a Siren was unrivaled, and that pleased Jeonghan. 

He knew this couldn’t last forever. As much as he would have preferred to see how far Sage could last, he still needed them. The Siren was about to bring the younger to the surface, but a white light in the direction of the shore alerted him that he was no longer alone. Another kind of ancient magic, he could basically taste it in the water he was breathing. Filled with disdain, Jeonghan swiftly swam away, fleeing the scene before he was caught.

Swimming deeper into the lake, Jeonghan made his way toward his home. Hidden beyond a thick kelp forest the elevation gradually rose. A dull gold glow bled through the water's surface and when Jeonghan’s face breached he was met with a cave entrance. Vines dangled from the cave ceiling, the vegetation growing bulbs that acted as lanterns. Jeonghan climbed out of the water and breathed in the humid air as his skin adjusted to the change in moisture.

He wound through the dimly lit tunnels until he approached a polished archway. With the wave of his hand he dispelled the ward and entered the threshold beyond. It was a leisure room, an area Jun insisted on when he found Jeonghan’s hideaway, he was too observant for his own good. There was only one couch and two chairs with a stone slab Jun conjured to act as a coffee table. A reclaimed bookcase covered in dried barnacles sat on the back wall, mainly housing poetry books and old scrolls on Conjuration spells, Jun’s preference in magic.

Jeonghan recast the ward on the entrance and lazily walked to the west end of the room to his bedroom. He unlocked the door and once he entered he locked it behind him. The room was sparse save for a large bed that had lamps resembling jellyfish hanging over it. On the opposite wall was his study, a large bookcase with a desk pushed against it. Engraved in the stone of the desk was a ritual circle, the sigils belonged to the school of Necromancy.

With a sigh he ran a gentle hand over the patterns in the stone, even after years of practice Necromancy continued to evade him. He knew he couldn’t force it, he needed time for the magic to ingrain itself into his Psyche. Apparently over three hundred years wasn’t long enough…

Echoing footsteps followed by the sound of grinding stone pulled Jeonghan from his thoughts. He returned to the main room and saw the source, Junhui walked down from the surface using their hidden stairs. The bookcase was more than just a decoration.

The blond noticed Jeonghan but paid him no attention as he took a seat on the old couch. 

“You were out late…” The older said as he claimed one of the chairs.

Junhui scoffed. “You’re one to talk… Did you know the Arcanist’s are going crazy up there?” He gestured upward, referencing the surface.

“Oh? I had no idea.”

“Jeonghan…” Jun massaged his temples. “I know what you’re doing and it isn’t safe. What are you going to do if this game you’re playing permanently damages them?”

“No one is going to find out-”

Junhui groaned loudly, interrupting Jeonghan. “But I did! You know what these Arcanist’s do to us stowaways. You could be imprisoned- or worse, exiled and I prefer an Arcanist prison to what the other realms do to our kind…”

“You’re acting as if you’re involved-” Jeonghan sighed, clearly annoyed. “-and you aren’t so stop freaking out, it’s bothersome.”

“This isn’t a game, Jeonghan!”

“And I’m not treating it like one!” Jeonghan’s tone was stern. “Do you really think that’s what this is?”

Junhui frowned as he furrowed his brow. “Then what is it?”

A long silence filled the room as Jeonghan stared down Jun, but the blond did not waver, he stood his ground. 

“Sage has something I want.” A sadistic smile spread across Jeonghan’s face. “No one knows their potential more than me…”

Sages’s talent was so unique that only one Arcanist had it in the past, but due to The Cataclysm all records were erased. A vein in Jeonghan’s forehead pulsed as he remembered he no longer had the last piece of that history taken from him.

“And you, Junhui, made a huge mess of my plans…”

“What?” Jun raised his brow. “Don’t put this on me! Like you said, I have nothing to do with this!”

“Oh really? Then why did you give dear old Wonwoo my journal?”

“That smelly thing?” A thin layer of sweat covered Jun’s face. “It had some old writing in it and I saw Wonwoo’s name written in it. Also you treat me like shit! Did it ever occur to you that maybe when you treat others like they are below you it backfires?”

“Careful, Junhui…”

Jun stood from his seat. “No- I think it’s time I tell you how I really feel-” The volume of his voice rose unbearably loud in the confines of the room. “I never wanted to be a part of the royal family! The Yoon’s? What a fucking joke! Your father only married my mother so that he could have an heir! But guess what? We’re both Stowaways! I ended up just like you because it was ‘You’ll be replacing Jeonghan!’ , ‘If only Jeonghan was here!’ I couldn’t take it anymore-” 

Jun was pacing now, running his hands through his hair. “We’re more alike than you want to admit… You know that right, Jeonghan? In Siren Society we are nothing but bottom feeders!”

“ Junhui~ Sit down and shut your mouth.” Jeonghan ordered in a soft voice.

With complete obedience Jun sat back on the couch and ceased talking. He strained as he tried to fight the song in his mind. Jeonghan’s voice bounced off the walls of his mind, maddeningly loud. 

Jeonghan stood and strolled over to Junhui. “I’m not one for violence, Jun… But-” He brushed the back of his against the blond’s cheek. “There are other ways to hurt you, brother…”

Jun looked up at Jeonghan with his gray-blue eyes, tears slightly forming. The older sneered as he withdrew his hand.

There was a malevolent glint in Jeonghan’s eyes. “Actually, I think I have a use for you… Since you threw yourself into my plans.” He grabbed Junhui’s chin, forcing him to keep eye contact. “I’m in need of a scapegoat and I think you’d do wonderfully .”

Despite your general discontent, you had to admit, the bed was really comfortable. The mattress was softer, the pillows more plush and the blankets warmer than your own. You just wished Eris gained her strength back so she could act as a space heater, she claimed to hate it, but you knew deep down she enjoyed the cuddling.

When you woke up it was still dark out. You slowly sat up and looked around. No one was with you, part of you wished Mingyu stayed over just in case you got bored and decided to make a pillow fort. A low grumble came from your stomach.

“Damn…” You mumbled to yourself. “I should have eaten more.”

You searched for a light in the darkness, but gave up when you found none. It didn’t truly matter as the moon was still big and bright in the sky. The large window let in plenty of the silver light, enough for you to walk around without stubbing your toe. 

Bored, hungry and still a little tired, you walked aimlessly around the room. You couldn’t read any of the books without a light and there was no way you were getting past the door. With a sigh you looked out the window. The room was elevated enough that you could see the courtyard and flat meadow that sat just outside of Diamond Hall’s wall. 

“Eris?” You called out into the room, hoping for a response.

When you were met with only silence you sighed and returned to bed. Once your head hit the pillow you closed your eyes and tried to relax, ignoring the growling of your stomach. 

“How are you feeling?”

You startled awake, sitting up with a swiftness that surprised you. The surrounding room was no longer dimly lit by the moon, it was pitch black. Looking down, you couldn’t even see your own hands.

“Hello? Who’s there?”

A low, staccato chuckle sang out as a pale face appeared from the darkness, Jeonghan. Silvery light returned to the room, but everything was blurry, like a camera lens that was out of focus. The only sharp image was your raven haired friend. Standing before you smiling.

“Thought I lost you for a moment. Glad to see you are well…” His voice was pleasant as he spoke to you.

“What exactly happened?” You massaged your brow as you felt the beginnings of a headache. “I remember visiting the lake with you, but then everything goes fuzzy… Mingyu said I was drowning-”

“- Don’t worry about what Mingyu says. ” Jeonghan sauntered up to the bed and sat along its edge. “All that matters is that you’re okay.” He cupped your face gently, a ghost of a touch.

You sighed as you leaned into his hand. Seeing Jeonghan eased your nerves and soothed your mind into a tranquil silence. Gently, he pulled you in for a hug, patting the back of your hair as you sank into the embrace.

“Lay down, Sage. Go back to sleep.” Jeonghan sang in your ear. “I’ll look after you until you…” His voice trailed off for a moment. “Wake up.”

Once again you were opening your eyes, but this time you were met with the morning sun. It must have just been a dream, even if it felt so real.

Before you could think anymore about it there was a soft knock at the door. You turned, expecting either Mingyu or Dino to peek their head in, but it was Ruby. His little eyes lit up when he saw you and he trotted over to the bed. You lifted him up and placed him in your lap, giving his fluffy face a squish.

“Hello, Ruby! What are you doing here, bud?’ As you spoke to the small critter, Jihoon entered the room.

You offered him a welcoming smile before you focused your attention back on Ruby, rubbing his belly as he rolled over in your lap. The door remained open as Seungkwan entered the room.

“Good morning, Sage.” The Ward Mage said with a friendly tone. “Sorry it’s so early, but Jihoon insisted on visiting super early.”

“Oh- I don’t mind. Especially if I get to see this little dude.” You ruffled Ruby’s fur and giggled as he shook his head.

“Well- I didn’t come over just so you could see Ruby…” Jihoon trailed off, he seemed nervous.

Your expression turned puzzled. “Okay… Then why did you come to visit if it wasn’t to say hello to your good friend, Sage?”

Jihoon sighed. “Seungkwan?” He motioned for the other to come closer. “Since you weren’t able to yesterday…”

Tilting your head, you watched as Seungkwan stepped closer to the bed. He pulled a raw chunk of quartz out of his component pouch and handed it to you.

“Uh…” You stuttered, confused.

“Just hold it for a moment.” Seungkwan said as he situated himself on the chair beside the bed.

He procured a notebook from his pocket along with a pen. “I’m just going to ask you a few questions, is that okay?”

“Okay?” If it was just questions you were fine.

“Alright.” Seungkwan flipped open his notebook. “How are you feeling right now?” 

“Is this like a therapy session? Or…”

“Focus. Sage…” Seungkwan scolded as he side-eyed you.

“Sorry.” You took a deep breath and thought for a moment. “Currently? I feel pretty tired, kinda hungry. I guess emotionally I’m a bit blank, I mean, I just woke up.”

Seungkwan observed you and then the crystal in your hand. He started to scribble something in his notebook. This made you look down at the piece of quartz, it was clear and pristine.

“Do you remember anything from last night?”

“Um-” You paused as you tried to recall the events of yesterday. “Last night specifically? Well, I remember jumping out my window to go to the lake…”

“Anything else?”

There was another moment of silence as you dug deep into your mind. “I met with someone… I think…”

Seungkwan looked at the crystal again only to write some more, presumably your answers, or something to do with the quartz. You glanced at the small mineral and watched as it grew cloudy.

“Have you been experiencing episodes of fixation bordering on obsession toward anyone?”

Well that seemed like a rather personal question. “No. I-”

“Sage…” Jihoon’s expression was stern and unimpressed.

Seungkwan held his hand up in the direction of the Pyromancer. “Don’t intervene, Jihoon. Sage needs to answer these questions, not you.” He returned his attention to you, offering a gentle smile to encourage you to keep speaking.

“Hm- Let’s see…” You weren’t going to lie to yourself, Jeonghan has been plaguing your mind recently. You just woke up from a dream about him, so that seemed like a safe answer. “J-Jeong-” It was hard to admit. “Jeonghan.” 

Once again the crystal was studied and notes were written. Jihoon walked over and handed you a handkerchief, almost forcing it into your hand. You didn’t notice until you grabbed the cloth that there was a familiar warmth leaking from your nose. 

Seungkwan reviewed what he had written in his notebook and held his hand out for you to return the crystal. As the small piece of quartz met his hand, he hissed in pain.

“Ah! What the-” He looked down at his hand, the skin was slightly pink. “Well that changes my diagnosis…”

Jihoon picked up the quartz, unfazed as he was used to extreme heat. He rolled the mineral in his scarred palm as he analyzed it.

“Um… What does the searing crystal mean?” There was worry in your voice.

“It means you’ve had a charm casted on you.” Archivist Jeon said as he entered the room.

Jihoon and Seungkwan snapped their heads back to address the tall man while you jumped. Why was he so quiet? Did the door even make any sound? And where was this dude’s footsteps?

“For the crystal to have such a reaction means the spell is of high power.” The Archivist continued his explanation. “Now the question is; Who would desire to cast such a nasty spell on you, Sage?”

“Do you think it could be Jeonghan?” Seungkwan turned as he asked you the question.

“What?” The idea shocked you. “No! Why would he? What could he gain?” You looked to Archivist Jeon as you asked your questions.

The Archivist only stared as you spoke to him, eyes cold and penetrating. It would have made you uncomfortable in the past, but you were used to it now. There was also the fact that the thought of Jeonghan, your friend, casting a malicious charm on you was preposterous. 

“Really, Sage?” Jihoon said with contempt.

You sneered at his comment. “I just don’t see why he would do that…”

Archivist Jeon walked up to the bed and asked for the bit of quartz Jihoon still had in his hand. The crystal was still warm, but bearable. As he studied it he murmured an incantation, too quiet to understand, and the quartz turned back to its original clear state. 

“Like I suspected, foul magic, a dirty trick…” The Archivist stood in front of you, leaning in close to your face.

You flinched at the proximity, but he didn’t move any closer. He was just simply examining your face, there was a knowing look in his eye, but he did not speak a word. Curiosity got the better of you, reaching out with your empathy, you tried to sense anything. 

Familiarity, guilt and sorrow. The Archivist’s emotions ran deep, making you wonder what could cause such a flood of memories.

“Why do you feel guilty?” You asked the Archivist with innocent inquiry.

A long, drawn out sigh escaped Archivist Jeon as he straightened his back. “Because I fear I may know the reason why Jeonghan has taken an interest in you…”

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[doahaesunshine]

Chapter 16

Chapter WC: 2665

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August 1st

Seungcheol had compiled a list of questions that he wanted to ask Minghao. It wasn’t a lot but it was enough. Six questions in the span of sixteen days, it didn’t seem like much but Seungcheol was content. He may end up asking more in the moment, Minghao did say he would have more time. Apparently a full moon gave him the ability to speak longer, Seungcheol didn’t understand.

What he did understand was that there were very real forces at play like his friend’s father had mentioned. Seungcheol did not want to admit it, he honestly wanted to laugh at himself for believing anything that he had seen or heard in the past sixteen days.

Working at his own father’s hardware shop had turned into him idling behind the counter and occasionally going on his laptop in search for any record of a Minghao on the internet. There were various social media profiles, none of the people on the screen looked like him though. All the profiles were too normal to be him. 

He was told Minghao wasn’t a ghost, which meant he had to be a real person, he had to exist somewhere. Everywhere he searched resulted in a dead end, Facebook, Insta profiles, public databases, nothing, it didn’t help that he didn’t have a surname to aid in his search. The rest of his shift was spent figuratively – and literally – smashing his head against the counter until his father told him to go home.

After work he drove to the plaza near the bridge. He wanted to buy some coffee before talking to Minghao again. Since he was going to be here for a while, he ordered the coffee and took it outside with him. He decided to sit and relax at the plaza fountain for a while, as he still had an hour to wait. Pulling his notebook out from his bag, he turned to the page that had all of his questions written down. With a stern look he reviewed the pages, thinking of every possible answer to each one as he read down the list.

“These sound ridiculous…” Seungcheol muttered to himself.

“I think they’re fine.”

Seungcheol snapped his head to the source of the voice. Right next to him was Minghao, but he looked solid, not see through at all, and he was wearing street clothes. He looked casual with a pair black skinny jeans and a loose band t-shirt that he french tucked into his belt. Even the shoes he wore were pedestrian, a pair of red converse. He looked completely different from the ethereal, white-cloaked persona Seungcheol first saw.

Seungcheol’s eyes went wide. “You’re actually here?” He lit up the screen of his phone: 11:15 . “There’s still forty five minutes til’ midnight.”

Minghao tilted his head upward to gaze at the moon. Seungcheol looked up as well, the moon was full and nearly at its maximum height. 

“It’s close enough… Besides, I’m not actually here.” Minghao was speaking out loud now, lips moving and all. 

“What do you mean?”

“Give me your hand.”

Seungcheol held out his hand, palm facing upward. Minghao gingerly placed his right hand on top of Seungcheol’s. The round-eyed man watched as Minghao’s tattooed hand was on top of his, but the embellished sun tattoo disappeared as his hand went through him. 

“The moon’s energy just makes it easier to blend in.” Minghao relaxed and sighed as he enjoyed the night air.

“And your clothes?”

Minghao giggled. “What about them?”

“They’re… normal.”

Another small giggle sang out from Minghao. “I’ve appeared here many times for a long time. A change in wardrobe is needed if I don’t want another internet article about me.”

Seungcheol smirked as he addressed his company. “It’s a little late for that… I was on that bridge because I read a forum post.”

The two shared a laugh as they took a moment to enjoy themselves rather than go straight to business. When the laughter died down, Seungcheol took another look at his notepad. Minghao noticed this and studied the other man with an inquisitive eye.

“Which one do you want to start with?” 

Seungcheol pointed to the first one.

“Where are you from?” Minghao read the question out loud and smiled. “I’m from the Seventeenth Realm within the Great Wheel.”

Seungcheol blinked in confusion. “I’m sorry?” 

“Next question?”

“Uh-” Seungcheol stuttered as he looked back at the list. “Do you know Y/N?”

“Yes.”

Seungcheol’s eyes widened as hope filled them. “What- Are they alive? Are they safe?”

Minghao smiled softly. “Yes to both. The last time I saw them, they had recovered very well.”

“This is going to be weird.” Pausing, Seungcheol took a deep breath. “Do you know Seokmin Lee?”

“Yes. And before you ask, he is also doing great. He misses you…” 

There was a long moment of silence, Seungcheol struggled to control his breathing. This was everything that he ever dreamed of. Both of his friends, alive and well but not with him.

“Will they be able to return?” He asked expectantly.

Minghao sighed, thinking of the least painful answer. “If they decide to.”

“Can I go to them?”

Another pause. Minghao made eye contact with Seungcheol as he tried to place a comforting hand on him. “Maybe- Hm…” 

Seungcheol watched the Diviner with big eyes, hoping to hear the answer he wanted.

“You’re not going to like this…” Minghao sighed. “Every two years, there is an event that my people call The Joining . You would have to wait until next Christmas Eve before you could travel to my realm and even then, it’s not a guarantee.”

“No, that makes sense…” During Seungcheol’s research he connected some of the dots.

The pattern was there, he remembered the names Joshua and Vernon, two people from Earth that went missing on the same day two years apart. There were more too, the missing persons reports dated back to 1990 and that’s not including the cases before they were made public.

“What do I have to do?” Seungcheol asked, determined.

Minghao smiled and chuckled softly. “Don’t you have more questions for me?” 

Seungcheol returned the laugh. “I do-” He was confused about the situation, but sure of himself. “But I’ll do anything to see my friends again.”

Something light filled Minghao’s eyes, the deep blue sparkling as he admired the human’s enthusiasm. “You do sound just like them, Cheolie.”

Seungcheol smiled to himself, it had been so long since someone used his nickname and the endearment filled him with joy. Happiness had become a stranger over the last six months and Minghao had given him so much hope that he was almost scared of how he would feel if this plan failed.

“Don’t worry, Cheolie, I won’t lead you astray. Just meet me here on Christmas Eve 2025 and I’ll be here.”

Smiling bright, Seungcheol laughed in relief. “I don’t know how to thank you. You’ve done so much just by talking with me. Thank you, Minghao.”

“You’re welcome. If I couldn’t do this, what kind of Diviner would I be-”

Minghao stood from the fountain, his expression frazzled. Seungcheol matched his movement, he reached out to grab Minghao’s wrist for support but his hand went through.

“Is everything alright?” Seungcheol asked, clearly worried.

“I-” Minghao stuttered while looking around aimlessly. “I have to go- If you need anything, come to the bridge!”

Before Seungcheol could respond, Minghao's form disappeared. He was left alone at the plaza, confused once again. At least he could say that he had answers now and something to look forward to, even if it was nearly two years away.

Minghao gasped as he rose from his divining table, startling his snowy owl familiar. The smell of Frankincense filling his nostrils from this incense. He groaned as a ringing headache shot through him, struggling to focus as he searched for his salts.

Recklessly he opened the door to his component cabinet and dug around for anything to help with the premonition that was trying to reach him. He found purchase on a small vial of crystal blue salts, he popped the cork and inhaled the fumes.

With a strangled shout of pain he slouched over, grabbing his face. A surge of electric pain shot through him, sending him recoiling backward. His neck snapped back as his eyes transformed into a pure white.

Water filled his lungs. Brackish and burning. 

He struggled to breath as he was held beneath the dark water. 

There was a face staring down at him, smiling, sadistic. It frightened him…

He searched for a name, a face, anything.

Suddenly the water entering his lungs ceased and instead the aroma of fresh sage filled his nose. 

“Sage!” Minghao yelled as he was torn from his vision.

Swiftly he scrambled back to the cabinet, grabbing ingredients left and right. He retrieved a vial of yarrow, star-anise, and a polished disc of obsidian. Using his chalks, he hastily drew a ritual circle on the ground and placed the components in their respective positions.

“Praevideo. Monitus.”

As he spoke the incantation, the flowers started to wilt and the obsidian mirror began to swirl. The entirety of Minghao’s eyes turned inky black as the spell took hold.

“I have foreseen. Sage is the subject and they are in danger. The vision showed them drowning. Please, I implore you, find Sage. Ensure their safety.”

Minghao reached out to every Arcanist in the area, alarming them to the danger to come. He could feel that he had reached Wonwoo, Mingyu, and Dokyeom, as well as Sage’s roommates. Minghao exited his room, rushing down the tower to help in the search. It had been so long since his visions had hit him with such force, he had to prevent this.

As he ran down the road that led to the lake, he ran into Mingyu and Dokyeom. The two Vitaes looked concerned and wrecked with anxiety. Minghao gave a nod and the three of them sprinted to the lake together.

“Which lake are we going to?” Dokyeom asked with a slight shake to his voice.

“The Songweaver.” Minghao answered, calm and even. “It’s the only salt water lake.”

The lake was not particularly far but there was so much area to search. It was the largest body of water on land and the evergreen forest that surrounded it was thick. The three Arcanists searched while Ophelia, Minghao’s owl, searched from above to get a better view and Muse, a yellow songbird, wove through the trees. Mingyu and Yucca stuck close together, searching the shore.

“Hey!” A loud voice called out, Soonyoung.

The ash haired man jumped and waved his arms to signal that he had found something. Minghao, Mingyu, and Dokyeom, along with their familiars, rushed over. Wonwoo and Jihoon were crouched over something and as the three got closer, gray fur and a long tail came into vision.

It was Eris, lying on the sandy shore, unconscious. She was breathing, but it was labored. Wonwoo gently examined her with an analytical eye.

“A Sopor spell. A strong one too. I can’t break it now. I need Black Tourmaline to dispel the charm.” Wonwoo explained. “Joshua would be able to dispel it… Where is he?”

Dokyeom knelt down beside Eris and placed his hand over her heart. He focused on her breathing and the strength of her pulse.

“She’s getting weaker. That means Sage is fading.” He said, trying to remain level headed.

“Fuck it-” Mingyu exclaimed as he threw off his shoes and ran into the lake.

Minghao walked up to the lake and submerged his hand into the cool water. “Requaero Sage.” His eyes flashed white and a beam of light shot from the tips of his fingers.

Mingyu understood the spell and followed the glowing trail. He dove under the surface, the water was clear enough to see through and the spell acted as a torch in the darkness. Following the light, he saw something floating deep within the water. Strength surged through him as he swam toward the object, upon closer inspection it was his friend, Sage. 

They were still as a few bubbles of air escaped their lungs. Mingyu hurried and grabbed Sage around the waist, using the rest of his strength to reach the surface. 

Jihoon was pacing along the shore, Vernon was sitting in the sand with Shadow trying his best to soothe his Arcanist. Soonyoung watched the water, hopeful as Minghao concentrated on his spell, and Dokyeom monitored Eris’s condition. Wonwoo searched the water looking for any sign of Mingyu’s return. 

A ripple rose from below the surface as Mingyu breached and inhaled a deep breath. Wonwoo sighed in relief and with an outstretched arm he made a pulling motion. Mingyu held onto Sage as he was pulled forward by Wonwoo’s telekinesis. 

The two reached the shore and Mingyu immediately placed Sage down to focus on their core. With a steady hand, Mingyu held his palm over Sage’s sternum, concentrating on the water in their lungs. Using his Hydromancy, he controlled the water out of them, the water was no longer inside, but they remained unresponsive.

“Jihoon, heat- I need heat.” Mingyu called out.

The Evoker immediately joined Mingyu on the ground. The taller man guided Jihoon’s scarred hands to Sage’s torso.

“Keep them warm. I’ll try to heal them-” 

“-No.” Wonwoo interrupted. “You’re still mending from last time. Dokyeom, revive them.”

Mingyu retreated with his head hung low and Dokyeom took his place. The orange haired man glared at the Archivist as he placed one hand on Sage’s crown and the other over their heart. A golden glow emanated from his palms and using his energy, he focused on Sage’s Psyche. It was weak, trying to repair itself, but failing. Dokyeom took a deep breath and used his magic to heal the younger mage.

Sage startled awake, coughing loudly. “Get away from me!” They screamed, voice hoarse as they tried to shuffle away.

“Sage- Calm down.” Dokyeom said as he reached out to comfort them.

They slapped his hand away. “Don’t fucking touch me!” 

“Sage-” Mingyu tried to calm them.

“No- Stay away!” With a weak burst of energy, Sage scrambled to their feet and started to run back toward the lake.

Wonwoo sprinted forward and grabbed Sage by their arm. Sage whipped their head back in response, trying and failing to pull their arm free. 

The Archivist held his hand to their forehead. “Quies .” As the spell was casted, Sage’s eyes rolled back as they fell unconscious.

“Wonwoo-”

“Do not worry.” He said as he caught Sage’s limp form. “It is not the same as the charm on their familiar. They will return to consciousness in the morning.” Wonwoo lifted Sage’s legs, carrying them in his arms. “Everyone here did splendid work, please, go home and rest.”

“Where are you taking them?” Dokyeom asked weakly.

“To my office.” Wonwoo addressed the fatigued Vitae. “Sage can recover in the safety of Diamond Hall Proper. I will contact Dino in the morning.”

Dokyeom stood slowly, Mingyu helping him to his feet. “Why not let them recover in the water of the Vitae Springs?” 

“I understand your concern, Dokyeom, but you know the magic of those waters will have no effect on them.” Wonwoo sighed. “I know you wish to take care of them, but keeping your distance is the only thing I ask of you. Prolonged exposure could harm them.”

“Prolonged exposure?” Dokyeom spat. “What am I? Some kind of disease?”

“Considering what happens to their Psyche when they think for too long while staring at your face? Yes, I’d say that is an accurate assumption.” Wonwoo did not stick around to listen to anyone else.

“You son of a bitch!” Dokyeom yelled behind him.

His voice carried as Wonwoo walked away, but the Archivist continued to disregard the group. He wasn’t going to stop until Sage was safe and far away from the lake.

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[doahaesunshine]

Chapter 15

Chapter WC: 3789

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Sinking. That is how I would describe my mental state Not a plummet Nor a drop Just a slow, gradual sinking And there is no one to save me

A gentle hand brushed the side of your face, rousing you from your slumber. With a small groan you looked up and saw Jeonghan gazing down at you with tired eyes. Your own expression lightened as you saw he was conscious and you couldn’t fight the smile that grew on your face.

“To what do I owe the pleasure for this being what I wake up to.” He said with a lazy smile as he gingerly stroked his thumb across your cheek.

You leaned into the touch, letting your lips graze against his palm. “Just getting slammed into a tree and flopping like a ragdoll, that’s what you can thank.”

Jeonghan thought for a moment as Obsidian slithered from his arm to your neck. “Wow- I do not remember much from last night…”

You delicately picked up Obsidian to have him curl around your arm. “There was a big argument between you and Archivist Jeon.” Taking Jeonghan’s hand in yours, you sat up. “It turned into a yelling match and he flung you into a tree.”

“Is that why my back hurts so bad?”

“No, I dropped you going up the steps.”

A moment of silence.

“I’m joking…”

Jeonghan chuckled dryly, voice scratching from just waking up. “Ow- Don’t make me laugh, it hurts-”

The door opening caused both you and Jeonghan to jump. 

“Sage- What was all that noise last night? Were you lugging a beast into the-” Jihoon stopped and stared at Jeonghan. “-dorm…”

“Good morning, Ji-”

Jihoon shut the door.

You and Jeonghan shared a look of confusion.

The door opened once more and Jihoon was standing in the doorway, his face was unreadable, but you felt an unease brewing in him.

“Good morning, Jihoon.” Jeonghan was able to finish his sentence this time.

“Morning.” Jihoon said in a flat tone. “Sage, Mingyu made up some breakfast for us. Left overs from him and Kyeom this morning.”

“Is he still here?”

“Yes?” Jihoon was uncertain in his tone.

“Good. Jeonghan injured himself last night, do you think Gyu could help him?”

There was hesitation in Jihoon, he looked to Jeonghan and then to you. “I’d rather send word to Dino. If he -” A pointed glare was shot in Jeonghan’s direction. “-is conscious, then it can’t be that serious.”

You furrowed your brow. “Are you sure? He took a pretty big hit-”

“Sage. Get up and come here.” Jihoon demanded and you listened.

He gently pulled you out of the room, shut the door, and walked a few feet from said door and sighed.

“What is he doing here?”

“Huh-” You were beyond puzzled. “He was hurt- and why do you say ‘ he’ like that? Do you two have beef or something?”

Jihoom pinched the bridge of his nose. “Listen- Sage- Whatever he told you? Disregard it. Don’t hang around him.”

“What? Why? He-”

“He isn’t good for you…”

The whole conversation felt weird. Jihoon’s words were harsh and the feeling of stone-determination meant he was serious. Even if he was being sincere, it didn’t make sense and the way Jihoon was talking made you a little uncomfortable.

“I don’t really believe that…” You said sheepishly as Jihoon stared at you in disbelief. “Jeonghan’s been nothing but kind to me. He’s the one who taught me the Lingua Magica and how things work around here. Out of everyone he has been the most helpful.”

“You don’t really mean that… Do you?”

Now you were beginning to feel a little irritated, why didn’t Jihoon believe you? It was the truth. Out of everyone you had met, Jeonghan helped you the most. He was nice, generous, and a good teacher. How is any of that bad for you?

“Sage-” Jihoon’s voice broke you from your thoughts. “-are you feeling alright?”

Here we go again…

“Yes! I’m fine! I feel amazing! Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

Jihoon raised his hands in surrender. “Alright- Sorry for worrying! Food’s downstairs if you’re hungry.”

Frustration and annoyance radiated off of Jihoon as he turned his back to you and disappeared down the stairs. 

With a sigh, you walked back into your room. Jeonghan was still lying there, exhausted and fatigued, obviously in pain.

“Are you hungry?”

Jeonghan smirked. “No, actually, I’m quite content.”

With a nod, you left for the dining room, the events of the morning worked up an appetite. As you reached the ground floor you heard hushed voices from down the hall.

“He’s here? Like right now?” Soonyoung’s voice.

“Yes- Would I lie about something like that?” Jihoon.

They must be in the living room, gossiping just like a couple of aunts. Ignoring the two, you entered the dining room with confidence and fixed yourself a plate.

Mingyu was cleaning up around the kitchen and he smiled as he saw you. “Good morning, Sage!”

You couldn’t help but soften as Mingyu addressed you with pure joy. “Mornin’, Gyu.”

Another puppy-like smile bloomed on Mingyu’s face as he continued to tidy up the kitchen and dining area. You took a seat at the counter and ate your breakfast, Mingyu watched with a happy expression, clearly happy to see people enjoy his cooking. 

Aggravated, fuming, misunderstood, those are the words Jihoon would have used to describe himself. Sage just didn’t want to listen to his reasoning. Jeonghan this, Jeonghan that. It was infuriating.

Even with his warnings, interventions from Mingyu and Vernon being overall worried, they continued to be avoidant. They just needed to see Jeonghan, be around him, at least they didn’t talk about him all the time. If Jihoon had to hear a single word about the Siren during his freetime, he would lose his mind.

Everything that had pissed him off this past week was running through his mind as he worked on spellcraft. His spells were fizzling out and his spells never did that.

“Fucking- Damnit!” He yelled as he threw a ceramic jar at the wall, nearly hitting a concerned Hoshi who was entering the room.

“Woah!” Soonyoung exclaimed as the jar shattered on impact. “Jihoon- What the hell is going on?”

The shorter of the two sent an apologetic look to the other. “Sorry. I’ve just been really stressed lately.”

“You think?”

Jihoon laughed off the comment and returned to his spellbook. With pen in hand, he marked off another bullet point. Eventually his spell would be successful, this attempt just wasn’t the one.

“Maybe you should take a break… Seungkwan’s here and the yelling is kind of freaking him out-”

Jihoon perked up at the name. “Seungkwan’s here?”

Soonyoung nodded his head.

“Good. I need to talk to him…”

Seungkwan and Vernon were hanging out in the living room, Shadow and Stella, Seungkwan’s lop rabbit familiar, were chasing each other around the room.

Jihoon entered quietly with Ruby in his arms. “Hey- Can I talk to you, Seungkwan?”

The doe eyed man stood and patted Vernon on his head, ruffling his hair. Jihoon led Seungkwan into the hall, out of earshot.

“Alright, Seungkwan, you’re going to have to listen to me.” Jihoon sighed.

Seungkwan nodded his head with bright eyes. “Lay it on me, what’s up?”

“So, Sage.” Jihoon hesitated before he continued. “They’ve been hanging around Jeonghan- You know Jeonghan, right?”

“Yes, he’s the stowaway, correct?”

“That’s one word for him… Anyway- I think Sage might be under a spell. They have been really weird lately.” Jihoon used emphasis to drive his point home.

“Are you sure the two of them aren’t just close? I’ve met Jeonghan a few times, he and Joshua sometimes hang out- Joshua doesn’t seem to like him very much though…” Seungkwan thought to himself for a moment. “Is there a reason you’re telling me all this, or…”

Jihoon took a deep breath. “Seungkwan. I think Sage had a charm casted on them.”

“Oh… I see.” There was a pause between the two. “I can check and see. Is Sage here now?”

With the wave of his hand, Jihoon motioned Seungkwan to follow him. The two journeyed upstairs and quickly made their way to Sage’s door. Loud knocking echoed through the hall.

“Sage! Can we come in?”

There was no answer.

Another knock. “Sage!” Jihoon yelled as he tried the knob, it was locked.

“How worried are you, Jihoon?”

Jihoon glared at the Ward Mage. “Very!”

With a sigh, Seungkwan hovered his hand over the knob. “ Resigno.”

The door’s lock clicked and with a twist, Seungkwan opened the door. Jihoon brushed past his friend and peeked into the room but it was empty. 

Their bed was unmade, their desk was cluttered and the curtains flowed in the breeze from the open window. 

“You have got to be shitting me-”

“Ok-” Seungkwan cleared his throat. “If they are jumping out of windows to see one person that might be a red flag…”

“Might?!”

You snuck out of your room just like a rebellious teen that was breaking curfew, but you didn’t care. For the past week you had been visiting the glade and the lake in hopes that you would run into Jeonghan, but everytime he was nowhere to be found. 

It had been eight days since you last saw your raven haired friend, your nerves were spiking, anxiety filling the majority of your days. This was the evening you were hoping to see Jeonghan, for your own sanity. To say you were relieved when you entered the glade was an understatement.

Jeonghan was resting under the pink petaled tree, sprawled out on the bench as you climbed the stairs. His face was calm and soft as he napped under the branches.

“I’m glad you’re here.” He said, eyes still closed.

You jumped, not thinking he was awake. “I just thought I should stop by- get some fresh air-”

In one swift motion, Jeonghan sat up and locked his eyes with yours. “Don’t lie, I know you’ve been looking for me.”

Now that he was in front of you, the anxiety you felt prior had faded. “How would you know? You were never here.”

“I go to more than two places in a week, Sage…” He stood from the bench and took your hand in his. “I was actually going to visit you at your dorm tomorrow, but now that you're here…” There was a mischievous glint in his eye. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”

You tilted your head to the side, but had no time to speak as Jeonghan dragged you along. Traveling down the path, he led you through the evergreen forest and past the usual spot you hung out in at the lake. He walked you along the rocky shore, leading you to a small, natural peninsula that went into the water.

An old, overgrown gazebo built from white stone sat at the center of the land mass. Its roof was see-through, only made of metal supports and nothing to actually cover it but crawling, colorful flora. Jeonghan led you to its center and sat you on the bench that wrapped around its interior. 

“One moment. I’ll fetch him.” He said as he walked out to the edge of the gazebo.

The lake's water lapped against the stone base of the structure and Jeonghan knelt down to place the tips of his fingers past the surface. He submerged his hand deeper, closing his eyes in concentration. A steady ripple pulsed out from his hand, disturbing the peaceful current of the water.

You observed as a figure poked their head out of the water, only a couple yards away and slowly swam to the shore. 

“Junhui… You answered.” Jeonghan said with a smile.

The figure, Junhui, stepped out of the lake with drenched clothes and slightly pearlescent skin that reflected the moonlight. Once he was completely out of the water, the sheen to his skin faded into a matte beige. 

“Of course I answered! You usually never call for me-” Junhui pouted, but his face went blank as he noticed you. “Who’s this?”

Jeonghan rounded back toward you, pulling you to stand,  and throwing an arm around your shoulder. He smiled as he looked at Junhui.

“This is Sage. The one I’ve been indulging all my time in.” There was a pur to Jeonghan’s tone as he spoke. “You accused me of never sharing, so, here I am, sharing .”

A blue glow emanated from Junhui’s eyes, the color intense in the low, silver light of the moon. He took one step closer, weary of Jeonghan.

Holding you an inch closer, Jeonghan leaned into your ear. “Tell me what he’s feeling.” He whispered with a honeyed voice.

For a moment you hesitated, no one had ever told you to use your talent. Everyone you ran into had a similar aversion to it as you had, but Jeonghan appeared more than interested. You locked eyes with Junhui, focusing on his steady breathing but quickening pulse. He was excited, hungry, similar to waving a delicious steak in front of a dog.

You didn’t break your stare as you pressed into Jeonghan. “He’s starving…” You spoke low, barely a whisper.

Jeonghan chuckled darkly. “When he gets close, inflict despair on him. Punish him for looking at you like that…” His eyes glimmered with that familiar blue and you complied.

It’s not that you wanted to, you just felt as though you needed too. Jeonghan had made a simple request, it wouldn’t be hard to execute, but you did vow to yourself to never manipulate others…

“ Sage…” It wasn’t a request. “Do as you’re told.” It was a command.

Junhui continued his pursuit as he kept his gaze affixed to yours. He was now within arms reach and outstretched his hand in an attempt to cup your face. With a pointed glare, you violently focused on the pain you felt the night Jeonghan was attacked by Archivist Jeon. 

For a moment the man before you faltered, but he didn’t retreat. Jeonghan offered a reassuring squeeze to your shoulder and with another wave of strength, you tapped into something deeper. The fear you felt when you were falling, the cold, lonesome confines of that darkness. Not being able to move, see or scream.

Junhui flinched. You watched as his eyes widened, filling with dread and pupils dilating with a surge of adrenaline. With a hiss, he backed away in one swift motion, baring his fangs in defense before trying to shake off the sensation.

The look of horror in his eyes sent an outpouring wave of power through your system. As much as you didn’t want to admit it, the feeling of being able to defend yourself with your talent filled you with glee.

“Oh~ so sorry Junhui~” Jeonghan teased. “I forgot to mention, Sage bites back.”

A quiet growl rumbled from Junhui as he looked back at Jeonghan, eyes still glowing vibrant blue. He was pissed, humiliated, but that pang of hunger was gone. 

“Don’t worry you still got your fill… Even if it was a bit more than you could chew.” Jeonghan’s laughter could be felt against you. “That’s all I needed from you. You can go home now…”

There was a spark of hurt behind Junhui’s eyes as the glow dulled into nothing. The tall man turned and weakly walked toward the water. With one final look behind him, he returned to the water, diving and disappearing beneath its surface.

Jeonghan laughed, light and playful, as he pulled you in for a hug. “Very good, Sage. That was spectacular!”

You melted into his embrace, your warmth contrasting the cold that clung to his skin. He gently turned you around so you were facing him. With a delicate hand, he grabbed your chin, carefully pinching the skin. He was so close that you couldn’t help but flush due to the proximity. 

The heat that radiated off of your face was unbearable, Jeonghan’s fingers suddenly feeling like ice cubes in comparison. Leaning in close, he pulled your face with him, studying your eyes, nose, and finally your lips. As if by instinct, you screwed your eyes shut, hoping that whatever was going to happen, happened so that you didn’t make a fool of yourself.

A light breath fanned against your face as Jeonghan snickered, causing you to open your eyes. He wore a lazy smile with an equally lax gaze, a teasing expression as he bit his lip and laughed once more.

“You did very well, Sage. You know this, right?”

Without saying anything, you nodded your head, chin still held in Jeonghan’s grasp. Smirking, he released your face, cold digits leaving icy imprints on your skin. 

“Meet me again tomorrow, will you?” He remained close as he spoke. “I have a surprise for you.”

You nodded your head, not a single hint of protest within you. “What time?”

“Midnight.”

When you returned home, you ignored everyone, especially Jihoon who had followed you upstairs. Upon reaching your door he still hadn’t said anything, but you could feel the concern oozing off of him.

“Everything’s fine, Jihoon. I feel fine, just a bit tired. Goodnight…”

“Goodnight.” He replied, still worried.

The majority of your day was spent locked in your room studying more of your tome. Most of the text was perfectly translated with the help of Jeonghan, he even put tabs next to certain words to give extra context. There was only one passage left, it was titled: Cataclysmus . It interested you greatly, but you decided to hold onto it for tomorrow since Jeonghan was expecting you soon. 

Eris apparated next to you. “Are you ready for your date?”

“Are you ready to break my fall again?”

The leopard grumbled as you opened the window and motioned for her to jump out first. Gracefully, Eris leapt out and landed on all fours. She looked back up at you, waiting.

With a deep breath, you stepped out of the window and hung from the edge. Eris positioned herself under you and scratched out a low yowl to signal you to fall. Releasing your grip, you plummeted a short distance and Eris used her strength to support the weight of your fall on her back. 

“Thank you.” You breathed out after you impacted.

Eris continued moving before you could stand, causing you to hold on so you didn’t slide off. 

“It will be faster for me to take you than have you lag behind.”

She said as she sprinted full speed to the woods. You held on tight as the wind whipped past you, Eris had never let you ride on her back before, it was fun. A small laugh escaped you as you let your familiar taxi you to your destination.

Once you reached the lake, you saw Jeonghan waiting by the shore. He welcomed you with a smile as he helped you off of Eris.

“That’s new- You and Eris must be getting along quite well these days…”

Both you and Eris shared a look. “I mean- It’s about time.”

Jeonghan snickered as he grabbed your hand and led you along the shore, guiding you in the opposite direction of the gazebo. As you continued walking hand in hand, the usual stoney shore morphed into sand. Each step was met with a prominent crunch and Eris followed a small distance behind, observing her surroundings as the three of you strolled.

Pulling you toward the shore, Jeonghan stopped right where the lake’s current met the sand. He looked out into the waters and you followed his eye line. From this angle, you could see the gazebo off in the distance, but it was only a speck of white against the evergreen backdrop.

“Sage.” Jeonghan spoke in a sweet tone as he turned to you.

“Yes?” He had your full attention.

Jeonghan beckoned you forward and leaned in. “You like me, right? We’re friends?”

The question confused you and you let it show on your face. “What? Yeah- We’re friends.”

He grinned from ear to ear and with his free hand he gently pushed the collar of your shirt aside, not even an inch. Hooking his finger under the chain of the charm you wore, he glided his fingers down the metal to retrieve the piece of magnetite hanging underneath your shirt. He gently held the hunk of metal in his hand and smiled down at it.

“Do you trust me?” The question echoed in your mind.

Of course you trusted him, why was he asking this? Out of pure curiosity you reached your empathy out to him, trying to figure out what was eating at him. But the moment your Psyche reached him, there was nothing, a blank slate, an empty space. 

“Come, follow me.” He said, snapping you from your thoughts as he led you into the water.

First your feet were submerged, sending a ripple through the surface of the lake. The image of the full moon, Vitadel, warping in the reflection of the waters. The water went up to your knees where it eventually reached your waist. It was cold, but not unpleasant, and Jeonghan placed his free hand against your neck. The touch was gentle and warm despite the temperature of his skin. 

Your heart beat escalated, you didn’t know if the nerves were good or bad, and with a glance you looked over to Eris. She was lounging on the shore, but her eyes remained alert as she watched you and Jeonghan.

“One more question…” Jeonghan tore your gaze away from your familiar. 

Focusing only on Jeonghan, you raised your brow as you anticipated what he wanted to ask.

“Do you love me?”

The voice echoed in your mind, creating its own melody in your head. Without hesitation, you answered.

“Yes.”

A pleased smile painted Jeonghan’s features, he chuckled as he kept his eyes trained on yours. The hand that was grasping yours moved to your waist and Jeonghan began to lower you.

“Prove it to me then… Drown yourself.”

His voice was heavenly as it sang through your mind. A calming song that lulled you into a state of solitude. 

Without a struggle, you let Jeonghan ease you beneath the surface. You watched as his face faded into a smearing of color. Something in the back of your mind told you to fight, to survive, but this was Jeonghan’s desire: you had to, you wanted to.

Your vision was strained under the water despite how clear it was and through the surface you could make out a smile on Jeonghan’s face. You mimicked the expression and with that smile, you exhaled the rest of your air…

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This makes me laugh harder than it should have. I've been wanting a sequel from him since this finish.

-Tristen, @wooahaeruby

Chapter 14

Chapter WC: 2975

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Tristen Note: Will not be queuing anything else until Friday so expect the next chapter on 11/2! Sorry!!

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Sometimes I feel different I don’t have a problem with not being normal But it seems as though people misunderstand me I don’t have to say everything I’m thinking I just want to be myself And not have anyone judge me.

For the next week, Jihoon had joined you on your strolls around Diamond Hall. He was there when you went to the archives, he was there when you visited Dino, oh- and he was there when you wanted to take a trip down the stream. Of course he freaked out when you said you wanted to visit the lake and refused to let you go anywhere near it.

It’s not that you didn’t like Jihoon – quite the opposite actually – you considered him a very good friend and the time you two spent together was nice. There was just this empty feeling in your chest, like something was missing.

Meeting with Jeonghan was nearly impossible. Sure, you saw Obsidian every night and had late night chats with him but it wasn’t the same. You missed the witty comebacks and snarky attitude, not to mention the kiss . 

Yeah- It was only a forehead kiss, but still…

It had to mean something, right?

Regardless of what it meant, Jeonghan was also a friend and you wanted to spend time with him but he never showed up. Maybe he freaked himself out or there were mixed messages, you didn’t know. You couldn’t even sense his emotions because you were too frazzled to focus on them. If you could just have a moment with him to talk about it, your mind would be put at ease and the overall antsy feeling would vanish.

And so you had a really wreckless idea.

Midnight, the safest time to travel, at least around the dorm. Soonyoung and Vernon would be asleep, Mingyu would be in his room at the Vitae Springs, and Jihoon would be diligently working on spellcraft. As long as you were quiet and returned home before sunrise, no one would even know you were gone.

With caution you tiptoed down the staircase, hyper aware of every little creek. Once you reached the ground level you looked both ways, a low orange light leaked out into the hallway on the left side, that was Jihoon. You continued carefully toward the front door and entered the threshold of the entryway. Exhaling softly, you grabbed for the door knob and twisted. 

A small chirp alerted you and you looked behind you to see an inquisitive Ruby staring directly at you. The little furball didn’t have a lot of expression in his face, but you could tell he was upset. You offered him a small “Sorry” and exited the building.

The midnight air was cool and welcoming but now was not the time to appreciate the fresh air. You walked along the stream toward the evergreen forest. Even if you hadn’t been there in three months, the path was ingrained in your memory.

“You know this is incredibly foolish, right?”

Eris apparated next to you, swiftly matching your pace as her paws met the ground.

“I know-” You huffed out a labored breath. “But I feel like a damn prisoner in that room. I need to get out and enjoy the wilderness alone…”

“Translate to; I want to see Jeonghan.” Eris said in a condescending tone.

You scoffed. Eris was right, but you didn’t want to admit it. The two of you barely talked about him and now that you thought about it, you never talk about him to anyone. Your pace slowed as you reached the treeline, your mind telling you to stop and think. 

“Eris, please do not laugh at what I’m about to say…”

The snow leopard gave you all of her attention, intense glare and all.

“You are right about me wanting to see Jeonghan…” You cringed at your next thoughts. “And I actually do miss him- before you say anything- I know, it has only been a week, but still… I kind of feel like I need to see him.”

“Oh wow~ You’ve gone off the deep end, Sage…”

You sighed. “I’m not kidding around, Eris!”

“Okay- alright, I understand. It’s just- I was teasing you about liking him as a joke, but now…” Eris shook her head gently. “It doesn’t matter- Where are we going, Sage?”

A genuine smile spread across your face as Eris supported your decision.

“The lake.”

Once again a nudging muzzle and soft moo disrupted Wonwoo’s precious sleep. Cosmos continued to use her nose to try and wake up her Arcanist, but all he did was gently push her away. With a grumble she jumped on top of the bed, pushing Wonwoo’s side with all of her strength until he teetered on the edge of the mattress.

As he slid off the bed, Wonwoo made no effort to stop himself from falling, crumbling with a thud. He grumbled as he collected himself. 

“What do you want, Cosmo?”

The black panther leapt gracefully from the bed and met Wonwoo at eye level. Her yellow eyes glaring into Wonwoo’s dark brown. For some reason, the pair's telepathic connection frizzled out years ago, the two becoming Man and Animal instead of Arcanist and Familiar.

“Are you hungry?”

The beast shook her head.

“Has there been a breach?”

She shook her head once more.

“Cosmos…” Wonwoo sighed as he rubbed his eyes. “Why did you wake me?”

Silently, Cosmos sauntered over to a book that had been knocked to the floor and she pushed it in his direction. Wonwoo stopped the book from going past him with a hand and lifted it to his face to read. Its cover was made of leather, a bit damaged, and definitely old. The script was too subtle and the room was too dim as he struggled to read the cover.

“Would you kindly light up the office, Cosmos?” Wonwoo requested as he retrieved his glasses from the nightstand.

The yellow of Cosmos’s eyes glimmered softly and in a second the room was slowly enveloped in warm light.

“Thank you…” Wonwoo muttered as he sat on the edge of his bed.

He put on his glasses and focused on the book in hand. There was no text on its cover, only an emboss of a lotus flower in the leather. Recognition sparked as he snapped his gaze to Cosmos.

“Where did you find this?”

“From me of course!” A jovial voice rang out from the balcony that hung over Wonwoo’s bed.

Peering upward, Wonwoo saw a head of near-white blond hair and two glowing blue eyes that reflected the light from below.

“Junhui…”

Jun slid down the ladder of the balcony and stood in front of the Archivist. “Wonwoo…” 

“How did you manage to pass the wards?” 

Jun crouched down next to Cosmos and gently patted her head. “This beauty let me in.” As he continued to stroke the black fur of the panther, a white scaled snake head poked out of his sleeve. “Howl really likes it here…”

Wonwoo glared at Cosmos, he wasn’t mad, he just would have liked to have been made aware of this visitor. “Then how did you procure this book?”

“It’s one of the only positives of living with Prismus Yoon.” Jun giggled to himself. “He’s been so preoccupied that he hasn’t been watching his things as carefully.”

“Jeonghan… preoccupied?” Wonwoo raised his brow. “For some reason I don’t feel comfortable with that information. What has been keeping him busy?”

“You should read that book-” Jun deflected the question. “It’s an… interesting read.”

With a sigh, Wonwoo opened the leather cover. A few of its pages were ripped out or the corners were singed, it had seen better days. 

The first page that was legible read;

March 20th, 1640

The Spring Equinox has welcomed us with budding flowers and beautiful green fields this morning. Which means today marks my 16th Nameday. Congratulations to me.

I did not foresee the loneliness to come since my appearance here in Imperium Septimus Decimus. I knew no one when I first arrived, but thankfully the fates gifted me a friend. He is younger than me by three years, I consider him a brother, a friend, he goes by Wonwoo.

He informed me of his Nameday, July 17th. I will remember this date so I can congratulate him as he congratulated me…

Wonwoo brushed his finger over the page, the rest of it was unreadable due to damage. He closed the journal and looked up at Junhui with slightly reddened eyes.

“Jeonghan had this in his possession?”

Jun’s usual blank expression softened as he saw the change in Wonwoo’s eyes. “Uh- Ye- yes. I don’t know where he found it though.”

“I believe I have an idea…”

You had never been to the lake this late before nor have you ever been alone. It was just as serene and beautiful as before, but there was an underlying sadness. The waters were dark and empty, no birds that were here had flown off to return to their nests. It was only you, Eris, and the night sky. 

Sitting on the rocky shore by yourself was strange, you were used to Jeonghan being next to you, teaching you, smiling at you. But now you were alone.

Eris lounged on a rock beside you and sighed as she rested her head on her paws. 

“What exactly are you doing, Sage?”  

You looked over at your familiar with apologetic eyes. “Waiting…”

“For Jeonghan…”

A drawn out sigh left you as you gazed out into the lake. You knew you were being foolish, you just didn’t want to admit it to Eris.

“Let’s just stay here for thirty more minutes.” 

“But I want to go home, Sage. We’ve already been idling here for twenty minutes and I wish to return to the plushy confines of our bed.”

“Just thirty more minutes.” You pleaded.

Eris sagged her head in defeat, not wanting to argue any more. She tried her best to get comfortable on the rock and closed her eyes to try and get some assemblance of sleep.

For the next twenty minutes you spaced out while staring out into the dark waters. You saw the occasional bat fly by or heard nightingale song from the trees. Bored, you stood and searched the ground for flat rocks, there were few that were suitable but still you collected them. Every so often you tossed one out into the water and watched it skip, aiming to get an extra skip with each throw.

After you ran out of rocks you went in search for more, Eris had dozed off and hadn’t told you to stop so you assumed it was safe to continue. 

“Jeonghan!”

A booming voice startled you as you stood by the shore of the lake. Sprinting over to Eris, you shook her paw to wake her.

“Jeonghan! I won’t allow you to ignore me!”

The voice got closer, it sounded like Archivist Jeon.

“Into the treeline, quick!” Eris spoke into your mind.

You and Eris quickly snuck to the trees, remaining as silent as possible. While squatting behind a thick trunk, you peeked out looking for the source of the voice.

Only yards away you saw a dark form, flowing clothes, long black hair, Jeonghan, walk past at a brisk pace. Archivist Jeon, wearing a light sweater and neat trousers, followed close behind. 

“Oh~ What are you going to do? Pull the leader card? Would you do that, betrayer ?” Jeonghan spoke in a teasing tone, but there was an underlying sincerity to his words. He sounded angry.

An exasperated scoff resounded from Archivist Jeon. “You’re calling me a betrayer ? After everything you did?” He quickened his pace to veer in front of Jeonghan, placing a stern hand on his chest to stop him. “You’re the reason everything descended into madness!”

Rage erupted in your chest, causing your heart to beat fast and hard. You clutched your chest as you felt the pure anger resonating off of Archivist Jeon.

Jeonghan grinned as he let the Archivist push him. “Is that how you remember it?”

Archivist Jeon released his hold on the other man, studying his face. “I-”

“Hm~” Jeonghan provoked as he leaned in. “What’s wrong, Wonwoo? Do you not remember?”

“I just-” Archivist Jeon lowered his gaze along with his voice. “Where did you get that journal?”

“It was a gift.”

Archivist Jeon snapped his attention back to Jeonghan. “I don’t believe you-”

“The real question is- How did Jun get into my room? I really need to get better locks…”

“Jeonghan…” Archivist Jeon stared daggers into the other’s eyes. “Answer the question; Where did you get the journal?”

Jeonghan laughed, breathy and hurtful. “Shouldn’t you know? Oh- wait- I’m so sorry.” Now he was raising his voice. “You were too busy turning your back on people to realize what was happening to our friend! You, Wonwoo, were too egotistical to realize what was going on! You, of all people could have stopped it-”

Before he could finish his sentence, he was shunted backward with so much force that he flew. The trajectory sent him flying into the trunk of a nearby tree and with a sickening crack, Jeonghan cried out, and ceased moving.

“Jeonghan!” You called out as you rushed out of the treeline.

Eris followed close behind, guarding you as you crashed to your knees in front of Jeonghan’s unconscious form. Archivist Jeon was startled the moment you appeared, not realizing you were listening.

He took a step forward. “Sage- I can explain-”

“Go away!” You yelled, voice thick with wrath.

Eris interjected, cutting off Archivist Jeon’s path and growling in his face, fangs on full display.

“Sage…” He pleaded as he backed away.

You didn’t want to hear it. Jeonghan was unresponsive and Archivist Jeon was the cause, nothing else mattered, you needed to make sure Jeonghan was safe. With a glare sharper than any blade, you addressed the Archivist but did not speak. Words were not needed and with a surge of strength and magic you sent your nerves, fury, sadness all toward him.

Something in Archivist Jeon’s eyes faltered, like when you’ve witnessed a horrific scene and couldn’t tear your eyes away. 

“Sage. Please…” His voice broke as he spoke, voice weak, the softest you had ever heard.

You shook your head as a singular tear ran down your face. “Just- Go…”

Archivist Jeon hesitated as he reached out, but he retreated as he saw your focus was only on Jeonghan. Without another word he left, disappearing in the darkness of the evergreen forest.

You stayed there for a moment, looking down at Jeonghan to assess the damage. He was breathing, thankfully, but wasn’t responding to any movement or sounds. 

“Eris- Help me get him up.” You asked, voice vacant but determined. 

Obediently, Eris nudged Jeonghan’s back off of the ground and, with your help, lifted him onto Eris’s back. 

“Let’s just- Let’s go back to the dorm. I can explain everything in the morning.” You held onto one of your friend’s arms to keep him from sliding off.

Noticing your distraught state, Eris said nothing and complied.

Back at the dorm, you hurried Eris through the door and rushed her up the stairs. You didn’t care if you were being disruptive and loud, Jeonghan needed a place to rest. Even though Jihoon was most likely still studying, you weren’t going to steal his room. You decided the best decision would be to have Jeonghan rest in your bed and you would manage in your chair for the night.

Eris did most of the lifting since people are surprisingly heavy when they aren’t supporting their own weight. Gently, you pulled the covers over him, not wanting to disturb him. You pushed the wingback chair in your room to the edge of the bed and sat.It wouldn’t be very comfortable but you had to deal with it.

As much as you desired to stay awake in case something happened, your eyes were heavy with sleep and you couldn’t restrain the yawn that escaped you. Slightly leaning over the bed, you laid your head next to Jeonghan’s arm and let yourself sleep.

The night was silent, dark and lonely, only the stars accompanied Wonwoo on his walk back to his office. He regretted it, attacking Jeonghan with his magic, but the rage he felt was insufferable. Lashing out was just a response to Jeonghan’s hostility though it had been a long time since the two had fought with such malice. 

The whole situation left a bitter taste in Wonwoo’s mouth and the moment he entered his office he sunk to the floor. Tears welled in his eyes and he let them fall, fighting against it was useless. Why did he resort to such brutal actions? Maybe he was still the same man he was all those years ago…

Manipulator, Tyrant, Betrayer.

He had collected many names over the years and he was starting to believe those who pushed those titles onto him. 

As he cried, head buried in his hands, Cosmos nudged her head under his arm and nuzzled into his face, trying her hardest to stop his tortuous thoughts. Wonwoo hugged his familiar tightly as he continued to weep, it was hushed and strained, like he desperately wanted to stop but the tears kept falling.

“It’s all my fault Cosmo. I should have never- I let- all those people…”

“No, Wonwoo…” A calming, nurturing voice spoke into his mind. “Don’t blame yourself. Not again…”

Wonwoo’s eyes shot open and he held Cosmos's face to look into her yellow eyes. “I heard that- I actually-” He smiled as he hugged the panther close.

Surprised but overjoyed, Cosmos leaned into the hug and cuddled with her Arcanist. 

Finally, they were whole again…

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@reiofsuns2001 @shinwonderful @starstrawb

[doahaesunshine]

Chapter 14

Chapter WC: 2975

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Tristen Note: Will not be queuing anything else until Friday so expect the next chapter on 11/2! Sorry!!

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Sometimes I feel different I don’t have a problem with not being normal But it seems as though people misunderstand me I don’t have to say everything I’m thinking I just want to be myself And not have anyone judge me.

For the next week, Jihoon had joined you on your strolls around Diamond Hall. He was there when you went to the archives, he was there when you visited Dino, oh- and he was there when you wanted to take a trip down the stream. Of course he freaked out when you said you wanted to visit the lake and refused to let you go anywhere near it.

It’s not that you didn’t like Jihoon – quite the opposite actually – you considered him a very good friend and the time you two spent together was nice. There was just this empty feeling in your chest, like something was missing.

Meeting with Jeonghan was nearly impossible. Sure, you saw Obsidian every night and had late night chats with him but it wasn’t the same. You missed the witty comebacks and snarky attitude, not to mention the kiss . 

Yeah- It was only a forehead kiss, but still…

It had to mean something, right?

Regardless of what it meant, Jeonghan was also a friend and you wanted to spend time with him but he never showed up. Maybe he freaked himself out or there were mixed messages, you didn’t know. You couldn’t even sense his emotions because you were too frazzled to focus on them. If you could just have a moment with him to talk about it, your mind would be put at ease and the overall antsy feeling would vanish.

And so you had a really wreckless idea.

Midnight, the safest time to travel, at least around the dorm. Soonyoung and Vernon would be asleep, Mingyu would be in his room at the Vitae Springs, and Jihoon would be diligently working on spellcraft. As long as you were quiet and returned home before sunrise, no one would even know you were gone.

With caution you tiptoed down the staircase, hyper aware of every little creek. Once you reached the ground level you looked both ways, a low orange light leaked out into the hallway on the left side, that was Jihoon. You continued carefully toward the front door and entered the threshold of the entryway. Exhaling softly, you grabbed for the door knob and twisted. 

A small chirp alerted you and you looked behind you to see an inquisitive Ruby staring directly at you. The little furball didn’t have a lot of expression in his face, but you could tell he was upset. You offered him a small “Sorry” and exited the building.

The midnight air was cool and welcoming but now was not the time to appreciate the fresh air. You walked along the stream toward the evergreen forest. Even if you hadn’t been there in three months, the path was ingrained in your memory.

“You know this is incredibly foolish, right?”

Eris apparated next to you, swiftly matching your pace as her paws met the ground.

“I know-” You huffed out a labored breath. “But I feel like a damn prisoner in that room. I need to get out and enjoy the wilderness alone…”

“Translate to; I want to see Jeonghan.” Eris said in a condescending tone.

You scoffed. Eris was right, but you didn’t want to admit it. The two of you barely talked about him and now that you thought about it, you never talk about him to anyone. Your pace slowed as you reached the treeline, your mind telling you to stop and think. 

“Eris, please do not laugh at what I’m about to say…”

The snow leopard gave you all of her attention, intense glare and all.

“You are right about me wanting to see Jeonghan…” You cringed at your next thoughts. “And I actually do miss him- before you say anything- I know, it has only been a week, but still… I kind of feel like I need to see him.”

“Oh wow~ You’ve gone off the deep end, Sage…”

You sighed. “I’m not kidding around, Eris!”

“Okay- alright, I understand. It’s just- I was teasing you about liking him as a joke, but now…” Eris shook her head gently. “It doesn’t matter- Where are we going, Sage?”

A genuine smile spread across your face as Eris supported your decision.

“The lake.”

Once again a nudging muzzle and soft moo disrupted Wonwoo’s precious sleep. Cosmos continued to use her nose to try and wake up her Arcanist, but all he did was gently push her away. With a grumble she jumped on top of the bed, pushing Wonwoo’s side with all of her strength until he teetered on the edge of the mattress.

As he slid off the bed, Wonwoo made no effort to stop himself from falling, crumbling with a thud. He grumbled as he collected himself. 

“What do you want, Cosmo?”

The black panther leapt gracefully from the bed and met Wonwoo at eye level. Her yellow eyes glaring into Wonwoo’s dark brown. For some reason, the pair's telepathic connection frizzled out years ago, the two becoming Man and Animal instead of Arcanist and Familiar.

“Are you hungry?”

The beast shook her head.

“Has there been a breach?”

She shook her head once more.

“Cosmos…” Wonwoo sighed as he rubbed his eyes. “Why did you wake me?”

Silently, Cosmos sauntered over to a book that had been knocked to the floor and she pushed it in his direction. Wonwoo stopped the book from going past him with a hand and lifted it to his face to read. Its cover was made of leather, a bit damaged, and definitely old. The script was too subtle and the room was too dim as he struggled to read the cover.

“Would you kindly light up the office, Cosmos?” Wonwoo requested as he retrieved his glasses from the nightstand.

The yellow of Cosmos’s eyes glimmered softly and in a second the room was slowly enveloped in warm light.

“Thank you…” Wonwoo muttered as he sat on the edge of his bed.

He put on his glasses and focused on the book in hand. There was no text on its cover, only an emboss of a lotus flower in the leather. Recognition sparked as he snapped his gaze to Cosmos.

“Where did you find this?”

“From me of course!” A jovial voice rang out from the balcony that hung over Wonwoo’s bed.

Peering upward, Wonwoo saw a head of near-white blond hair and two glowing blue eyes that reflected the light from below.

“Junhui…”

Jun slid down the ladder of the balcony and stood in front of the Archivist. “Wonwoo…” 

“How did you manage to pass the wards?” 

Jun crouched down next to Cosmos and gently patted her head. “This beauty let me in.” As he continued to stroke the black fur of the panther, a white scaled snake head poked out of his sleeve. “Howl really likes it here…”

Wonwoo glared at Cosmos, he wasn’t mad, he just would have liked to have been made aware of this visitor. “Then how did you procure this book?”

“It’s one of the only positives of living with Prismus Yoon.” Jun giggled to himself. “He’s been so preoccupied that he hasn’t been watching his things as carefully.”

“Jeonghan… preoccupied?” Wonwoo raised his brow. “For some reason I don’t feel comfortable with that information. What has been keeping him busy?”

“You should read that book-” Jun deflected the question. “It’s an… interesting read.”

With a sigh, Wonwoo opened the leather cover. A few of its pages were ripped out or the corners were singed, it had seen better days. 

The first page that was legible read;

March 20th, 1640

The Spring Equinox has welcomed us with budding flowers and beautiful green fields this morning. Which means today marks my 16th Nameday. Congratulations to me.

I did not foresee the loneliness to come since my appearance here in Imperium Septimus Decimus. I knew no one when I first arrived, but thankfully the fates gifted me a friend. He is younger than me by three years, I consider him a brother, a friend, he goes by Wonwoo.

He informed me of his Nameday, July 17th. I will remember this date so I can congratulate him as he congratulated me…

Wonwoo brushed his finger over the page, the rest of it was unreadable due to damage. He closed the journal and looked up at Junhui with slightly reddened eyes.

“Jeonghan had this in his possession?”

Jun’s usual blank expression softened as he saw the change in Wonwoo’s eyes. “Uh- Ye- yes. I don’t know where he found it though.”

“I believe I have an idea…”

You had never been to the lake this late before nor have you ever been alone. It was just as serene and beautiful as before, but there was an underlying sadness. The waters were dark and empty, no birds that were here had flown off to return to their nests. It was only you, Eris, and the night sky. 

Sitting on the rocky shore by yourself was strange, you were used to Jeonghan being next to you, teaching you, smiling at you. But now you were alone.

Eris lounged on a rock beside you and sighed as she rested her head on her paws. 

“What exactly are you doing, Sage?”  

You looked over at your familiar with apologetic eyes. “Waiting…”

“For Jeonghan…”

A drawn out sigh left you as you gazed out into the lake. You knew you were being foolish, you just didn’t want to admit it to Eris.

“Let’s just stay here for thirty more minutes.” 

“But I want to go home, Sage. We’ve already been idling here for twenty minutes and I wish to return to the plushy confines of our bed.”

“Just thirty more minutes.” You pleaded.

Eris sagged her head in defeat, not wanting to argue any more. She tried her best to get comfortable on the rock and closed her eyes to try and get some assemblance of sleep.

For the next twenty minutes you spaced out while staring out into the dark waters. You saw the occasional bat fly by or heard nightingale song from the trees. Bored, you stood and searched the ground for flat rocks, there were few that were suitable but still you collected them. Every so often you tossed one out into the water and watched it skip, aiming to get an extra skip with each throw.

After you ran out of rocks you went in search for more, Eris had dozed off and hadn’t told you to stop so you assumed it was safe to continue. 

“Jeonghan!”

A booming voice startled you as you stood by the shore of the lake. Sprinting over to Eris, you shook her paw to wake her.

“Jeonghan! I won’t allow you to ignore me!”

The voice got closer, it sounded like Archivist Jeon.

“Into the treeline, quick!” Eris spoke into your mind.

You and Eris quickly snuck to the trees, remaining as silent as possible. While squatting behind a thick trunk, you peeked out looking for the source of the voice.

Only yards away you saw a dark form, flowing clothes, long black hair, Jeonghan, walk past at a brisk pace. Archivist Jeon, wearing a light sweater and neat trousers, followed close behind. 

“Oh~ What are you going to do? Pull the leader card? Would you do that, betrayer ?” Jeonghan spoke in a teasing tone, but there was an underlying sincerity to his words. He sounded angry.

An exasperated scoff resounded from Archivist Jeon. “You’re calling me a betrayer ? After everything you did?” He quickened his pace to veer in front of Jeonghan, placing a stern hand on his chest to stop him. “You’re the reason everything descended into madness!”

Rage erupted in your chest, causing your heart to beat fast and hard. You clutched your chest as you felt the pure anger resonating off of Archivist Jeon.

Jeonghan grinned as he let the Archivist push him. “Is that how you remember it?”

Archivist Jeon released his hold on the other man, studying his face. “I-”

“Hm~” Jeonghan provoked as he leaned in. “What’s wrong, Wonwoo? Do you not remember?”

“I just-” Archivist Jeon lowered his gaze along with his voice. “Where did you get that journal?”

“It was a gift.”

Archivist Jeon snapped his attention back to Jeonghan. “I don’t believe you-”

“The real question is- How did Jun get into my room? I really need to get better locks…”

“Jeonghan…” Archivist Jeon stared daggers into the other’s eyes. “Answer the question; Where did you get the journal?”

Jeonghan laughed, breathy and hurtful. “Shouldn’t you know? Oh- wait- I’m so sorry.” Now he was raising his voice. “You were too busy turning your back on people to realize what was happening to our friend! You, Wonwoo, were too egotistical to realize what was going on! You, of all people could have stopped it-”

Before he could finish his sentence, he was shunted backward with so much force that he flew. The trajectory sent him flying into the trunk of a nearby tree and with a sickening crack, Jeonghan cried out, and ceased moving.

“Jeonghan!” You called out as you rushed out of the treeline.

Eris followed close behind, guarding you as you crashed to your knees in front of Jeonghan’s unconscious form. Archivist Jeon was startled the moment you appeared, not realizing you were listening.

He took a step forward. “Sage- I can explain-”

“Go away!” You yelled, voice thick with wrath.

Eris interjected, cutting off Archivist Jeon’s path and growling in his face, fangs on full display.

“Sage…” He pleaded as he backed away.

You didn’t want to hear it. Jeonghan was unresponsive and Archivist Jeon was the cause, nothing else mattered, you needed to make sure Jeonghan was safe. With a glare sharper than any blade, you addressed the Archivist but did not speak. Words were not needed and with a surge of strength and magic you sent your nerves, fury, sadness all toward him.

Something in Archivist Jeon’s eyes faltered, like when you’ve witnessed a horrific scene and couldn’t tear your eyes away. 

“Sage. Please…” His voice broke as he spoke, voice weak, the softest you had ever heard.

You shook your head as a singular tear ran down your face. “Just- Go…”

Archivist Jeon hesitated as he reached out, but he retreated as he saw your focus was only on Jeonghan. Without another word he left, disappearing in the darkness of the evergreen forest.

You stayed there for a moment, looking down at Jeonghan to assess the damage. He was breathing, thankfully, but wasn’t responding to any movement or sounds. 

“Eris- Help me get him up.” You asked, voice vacant but determined. 

Obediently, Eris nudged Jeonghan’s back off of the ground and, with your help, lifted him onto Eris’s back. 

“Let’s just- Let’s go back to the dorm. I can explain everything in the morning.” You held onto one of your friend’s arms to keep him from sliding off.

Noticing your distraught state, Eris said nothing and complied.

Back at the dorm, you hurried Eris through the door and rushed her up the stairs. You didn’t care if you were being disruptive and loud, Jeonghan needed a place to rest. Even though Jihoon was most likely still studying, you weren’t going to steal his room. You decided the best decision would be to have Jeonghan rest in your bed and you would manage in your chair for the night.

Eris did most of the lifting since people are surprisingly heavy when they aren’t supporting their own weight. Gently, you pulled the covers over him, not wanting to disturb him. You pushed the wingback chair in your room to the edge of the bed and sat.It wouldn’t be very comfortable but you had to deal with it.

As much as you desired to stay awake in case something happened, your eyes were heavy with sleep and you couldn’t restrain the yawn that escaped you. Slightly leaning over the bed, you laid your head next to Jeonghan’s arm and let yourself sleep.

The night was silent, dark and lonely, only the stars accompanied Wonwoo on his walk back to his office. He regretted it, attacking Jeonghan with his magic, but the rage he felt was insufferable. Lashing out was just a response to Jeonghan’s hostility though it had been a long time since the two had fought with such malice. 

The whole situation left a bitter taste in Wonwoo’s mouth and the moment he entered his office he sunk to the floor. Tears welled in his eyes and he let them fall, fighting against it was useless. Why did he resort to such brutal actions? Maybe he was still the same man he was all those years ago…

Manipulator, Tyrant, Betrayer.

He had collected many names over the years and he was starting to believe those who pushed those titles onto him. 

As he cried, head buried in his hands, Cosmos nudged her head under his arm and nuzzled into his face, trying her hardest to stop his tortuous thoughts. Wonwoo hugged his familiar tightly as he continued to weep, it was hushed and strained, like he desperately wanted to stop but the tears kept falling.

“It’s all my fault Cosmo. I should have never- I let- all those people…”

“No, Wonwoo…” A calming, nurturing voice spoke into his mind. “Don’t blame yourself. Not again…”

Wonwoo’s eyes shot open and he held Cosmos's face to look into her yellow eyes. “I heard that- I actually-” He smiled as he hugged the panther close.

Surprised but overjoyed, Cosmos leaned into the hug and cuddled with her Arcanist. 

Finally, they were whole again…

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@reiofsuns2001 @shinwonderful @starstrawb

[doahaesunshine]

This is @wooahaeruby on Doahae's account because he ain't here :D

me because @leejenoenthusiast kept me up until 2:30 AM reading the wildest rollercoaster of a fantasy au i’ve ever experienced when i had classes the next day:

@doahaesunshine and @wooahaeruby created something incredible, it’s called fallin’ flower, go read it, it awoke so many all consuming feelings

[doahaesunshine]

Chapter 13

Chapter WC: 3576

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eh, I can't think of anything -Tristen

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There are some nights The scary ones Where I feel as though my heart will burst I hear it Pounding against my chest It fills me with anxiety I know I won’t die But my thoughts keep me awake And I’m left staring at the dark ceiling

Half of a year.

That’s how long you have been in the magical world of the Seventeenth Realm.

And it wasn’t any closer to feeling like home…

Of course there were people that you considered friends. For example, Vernon, Jihoon and Soonyoung, your dorm mates, were all very good friends. You ate delicious meals that Mingyu cooked for everyone like a little family. Dino still checked on you and performed routine examinations every other week. It was hard to ignore the Alchemist, especially when his familiar had taken a liking to you.

Archivist Jeon was still keeping his space but you no longer felt awkward around the older Arcanist. Whenever you had a hard question about magic or needed to find a specific book, he was always there to help. Seungkwan was also always willing to lend a hand when finding informational books on language and incantations. You were still yet to meet his mentor, Joshua, but that didn’t necessarily bother you. Apparently, the young Ward was very busy.

Lessons with Jeonghan halted during your short healing period. The raven haired man himself never entered the dorm, but his black ball python familiar, Obsidian, would visit from time to time. The slithering creature was able to climb up to your window and when you let him enter, he would always curl around your forearm. You felt bad, spending all this time away from Jeonghan without telling him what had happened, but through Obsidian you were able to send small messages. 

You found yourself telling the sleek snake about your day and what you’ve been learning while away from his Arcanist. The creature obviously was unable to respond since he wasn’t your familiar, but he understood your words and you were certain he relayed them to Jeonghan. 

There was one evening, during the beginning of summer, where Obsidian tapped on your window expectantly. When you welcomed him into your room, you saw a small note attached to his body. You let Obsidian crawl up your arm and gently untied the note from his lithe form to open the slip of paper. It was in Jeonghan’s handwriting.

Come to the balcony.

With the black scaled snake still wrapped around your arm, you opened your door and peeked out, looking both ways before exiting the confines of your room. Even though it had been three months since your last episode, you knew that if Jihoon or Soonyoung saw you out of your room they would escort you back. Shadow was also a possibility, his sense of smell was good and Tigris had very alert ears, but you saw neither the familiars or their Arcanists. Gingerly, you stepped through the hall to reach the balcony, thankfully no one was there.

The evening air was warm and slightly humid, clouds formed, shielding the orange sky from showing itself. Despite the desire to see the sky you scanned the area, looking for Jeonghan. Obsidian crawled from your arm to the balcony railing, wrapping himself around the structure to climb downward. You watched as he reached the ground and slithered out toward a figure in the grass. 

Jeonghan stood in the small field below you, gazing up at you with his sleepy eyes. His lips tugged into a lazy smile and he beckoned you forward. 

“Come down.” He projected his voice while trying to remain somewhat quiet.

“I can’t- Jihoon will beat my ass if he sees me walking around the halls.”

You couldn’t hear it, but Jeonghan was definitely laughing.

“Jump-”

“What?!”

Jeonghan sighed. “Jump- I’ll catch you.”

Flabbergasted, you rolled your eyes as you processed Jeonghan’s words. He wanted you to jump off of the balcony so he could catch you? That sounded like a sure fire way to break your ankle. 

“Fuck it-”

You leapt over the railing and felt a short breeze blow past you. Instead of Jeonghan’s arms catching you, the wind had guided your fall, the soft grass beneath your feet. 

“See? I would never let you fall~” He said in a playful tone.

“Ha. Ha.” You said in a sarcastic tone, rolling your eyes again.

Jeonghan threw his arm over your shoulder to pull you in for a hug. “I missed you.”

You reciprocated the embrace with a soft smile. “Awh. I missed you too.” The words were less than kind when you spoke them.

As you stayed close to Jeonghan, Obsidian slithered his way back to you, hanging himself around your neck. You stroked the smooth scales and smiled as the python fashioned himself into a scarf, a snake scarf. Jeonghan released his hold on your shoulders and slid his hand down your arm to grab hold of your hand. 

“Do you want to go to the glade or the lake?” He asked as he led you along the stream.

You pondered the options. “Hm… Can we go somewhere new?”

Jeonghan thought to himself as the two of you continued down the path, but paused as something popped into his mind. “Oh! I can take you to see my friend.”

“Friend?”

“Shua! He’s a ward here.” Jeonghan said with a bright smile. “We hang out occasionally.”

“Shua? Like Joshua? Seungkwan’s mentor?”

Jeonghan nodded as he pulled you in the opposite direction, moving toward the woods away from the main path. You were afraid you would get lost, but your company appeared to be well acquainted with the less traveled paths.

The black brick cottage was bigger than Dino’s but much smaller than the Evoker Dorms. Everything was so tidy, the potted plants on the porch were well taken care of and the shrubs around the house were expertly pruned. Jeonghan, still leading you by the hand, knocked on the door and waited patiently.

Without a single creak, the door swung open and you were met with warm, chestnut hair and a fawn-like face, his overall appearance was charming and friendly. He greeted you with a smile but as he turned to Jeonghan his lips flattened.

“Wow- You used the door.” His dark brown eyes peered down to where you and Jeonghan’s were linked.

Blushing, you unlatched yourself from Jeonghan and rubbed the back of your neck while avoiding eye contact. 

“I thought I should be polite since I brought Sage with me.” Jeonghan said with a forced smile.

“Nice to meet you. You must be Joshua.” You muttered in a small voice.

“That is correct! It’s nice to finally meet you, Sage.” Joshua held the door open for both you and Jeonghan, welcoming you into the home with an outstretched arm.

The three of you spoke over tea and biscuits. You learned that Joshua was originally from California, but his parents sent him to the Seventeenth Realm for protection. He also spoke on how even though he is technically younger than Seungkwan, he is still a mentor and is proficient in Abjuration magic.

You briefly read about the Abjuration School, it's a class of magic that is centered around defense, counter spells, and ward casting. Seungkwan spoke highly of Joshua, he often praised his mentor on how skilled he was in casting protection spells as well as enchanting items to create magical charms. 

“Speaking of magical charms, Joshuji here said he had something for you…” Jeonghan leaned on Joshua as he spoke, a playful smile on his features.

Joshua shot a confused look at Jeonghan. “I- Yeah, that’s right. I’ll go get it- one moment-” 

You and Jeonghan were left alone in the living room, sitting across from each other. He continued to sip his tea while you studied your surroundings. The interior of the house was just as neat as its exterior, overall it had a rustic feel with a lot of crystals and minerals decorating the shelves. Even the mantle of the fireplace had plenty of trinkets and geodes that came in different shapes, colors, and sizes. Jeonghan veered into your line of sight with a knowing expression.

“Joshua and Seungkwan like to collect things. They’re like little crows.” He chuckled to himself. “I’m sure half of the things Seungkwan has laying around are from that human boy he’s sweet on…”

“Vernon?”

“That’s his name?” Jeonghan perked up. “He’s one of the Evokers- a roommate?”

You nodded your head. “Yeah- and sweet on each other is an understatement. They need to get on with it and start dating…”

“They aren’t dating?”

Joshua returned from upstairs and reclaimed his spot on the couch. In his hand he held a long chained necklace with a chunk of dark metal attached to it. In spite of the piece of jewelry looking a bit rough, it was still pretty.

“It’s a charm I had been working on for the past three months. The metal has strong properties. For example, the enchantment is-”

“Balance based.” Jeonghan interrupted Joshua’s explanation. “Shua told me a lot about it. Seungkwan informed him you’ve been filling your weeks with studying and so he wanted to give you something that would keep your energy in balance.”

The thoughtfulness made you smile. “Thank you, Joshua. It’s super cool-looking too, I like the long chain style.” You thanked him as you held the necklace in your hands.

Wearing the chain, you looked down and admired the shiny rock. It went down to your sternum so it could easily be tucked into your shirt.

“The enchantment will take effect slowly, gradually repairing your psyche and replenishing your mana.” Joshua explained. “Jeonghan helped me with it, so it should be extra potent.”

You flashed a warm smile to Jeonghan. “So I should be thanking you as well.”

“I’m glad you like it! It suits you.”

A light blush heated your cheeks due to Jeonghan’s compliment. You peered down to fidget with the necklace. but you could feel that Jeonghan’s gaze was piercing through you.

“Alright-” Joshua started as he rose from his seat. “As much as I would love for you to stay, I have some work.” He walked the two of you to the front door. “Get the hell out, Jeonghan- Sage you can visit anytime, I’m sure Seungkwan would love it.”

The door was shut, and with a click you and Jeonghan were locked out of the home. 

“Damn- I was going to ask some more questions about the charm…”

Jeonghan returned his arm to your shoulders and draped himself over you. “I helped with it, I can try and answer any lingering questions.”

Your raven-haired friend was successful in answering most of your questions, the simple ones. He told you that the hunk of metal was Magnetite and that its properties were best suited for balancing energy, emotions and focus. The two of you continued to chat as you walked along the pristine cobbled road. Here the pathways were better kept and fresher, they must have been paved recently.

The trees were a bit more sparse in this area, instead of evergreens they were birch trees with white bark and light green leaves. You saw the evening sky easily through the canopy, the clouds cleared and the deep purple of dusk was clear and visible. 

“Oh?” Jeonghan whispered in a low voice as he focused his attention forward.

You followed his eyeline and saw another man walking down the path. His head was faced downward, reading a book that he held with bandaged forearms. You saw a head of dusty orange hair and tanned skin, his eyes were trained on his book. The outfit he wore was simple, a loose fitting white button up, equally flowy navy trousers, and laced boots that disappeared past his pant legs.

“Ah- Dokyeom! Long time no see!” Jeonghan called out with a lazy yet boisterous smile.

The other man, Dokyeom, tore his eyes from his book to look for the source of the voice. When he saw you and Jeonghan, he froze for a moment and bowed his head as a greeting. The orange haired man began to turn.

“What have you been up to, Kyeomie?” Jeonghan called out while dragging you with him to approach the other.

Dokyeom stopped in his tracks and turned to address Jeonghan. “I’ve just been experimenting with spells. Exploring my potential and such…” His voice was sweet and polite as he spoke, dark, nearly black eyes studied you as he spoke. 

His eyes glued onto where Jeonghan had his arm wrapped around you. There was a subtle bunch of nerves that filled your chest, it wasn’t a comfortable feeling. 

“Oh- How fun! Are you using the tome I lent you?”

Dokyeom returned his gaze to Jeonghan. “Yes. It’s been very helpful with Sanguis Magica .”

“You study blood magic?”

The orange-haired man was about to speak, but Jeonghan leaned in close to your ear.

“Mhm- Dokyeom here is a Vitae and a damn good one…” He chuckled darkly. “He’s learned how to enhance his healing magic by using his own blood. Kyeomie has always been a bit of a martyr .” Jeonghan sighed another laugh as he fixed his posture.

“This is great actually!” He continued to talk. “You can thank Dokyeom in person now, Sage!”

You raised an eyebrow at Jeonghan’s statement but returned your attention to Dokyeom as a wave of panic crashed into you.

“He’s the one who saved you and brought you to Dino- He practically drained himself dry healing you…”

The words hit you like a truck as you realized this man, Dokyeom, had saved you more than once. He retrieved you from the lake, healed you, and then the time your head almost burst, he saved you again.

“Ah- I- Thank you!” You stuttered. “I honestly don’t know if I can thank you enough. You saved me twice and I’m thanking you six months later- Wow- I am awful.”

The concern and anxiety that was radiating off of Dokyeom started to fade away as you spoke to him. A bright smile plastered on his face and your heart skipped a beat at the sight.

“It’s my duty to help people if I can. Even if it means sacrificing my own strength.”

You heard Jeonghan snicker next to you and whisper a soft, ‘Martyr’ You nudged him with your elbow, softly but enough to get him to behave.

“Were you heading somewhere before we interrupted your path, Kyeomie?” Jeonghan asked playfully.

Dokyeom shook his head. “Just returning to the Springs…”

“Oh- Then we’ll be on our way, I’m sure you need to recharge-” Jeonghan began to walk away, dragging you with him.

“It was nice to finally meet you!” You said in a raised tone as you looked back.

Dokyeom was still standing still in the middle of the road as he watched you and Jeonghan walk away. 

For once, Jeonghan walked you to your dorm. Twilight was in full effect with indigo skies and a rising moon. The late evening air was refreshing compared to the warm midday weather. Jeonghan had resorted to holding your hand instead of smothering you with his arm. He stopped at the opening in the treeline, the dorm only yards away.

There was a moment of pause as the hold Jeonghan had on your hand anchored you in place. Instead of his usual lazy expression he looked nervous as you turned back and approached him.

“Thank you for seeing me today, Sage.” He said, keeping an even tone.

A smile creeped its way up to your cheeks. “You know it’s no problem and thank you for the gift.”

“Why are you thanking me for that, it’s from Josh-”

“I knew that was a lie.” You snickered. “You were too eager and he was too confused.”

“You got me there…” Jeonghan trailed off with a dry chuckle.

Another pause.

Smiling at each other, the two of you shared a look.

Jeonghan raised his hand to your face, brushing a stray strand of hair from your cheek. The proximity made you hold your breath instinctively and you closed your eyes as Jeonghan leaned in slowly.

The feeling of soft lips gently pressed against your skin as Jeonghan placed a delicate kiss on your forehead. Heat immediately filled your face, making the chilled touch of Jeonghan’s hand more prevalent. Your eyes fluttered open and you saw Jeonghan staring down at you, eyes soft and full of adoration. 

“Goodnight, Sage.” He said as he released you.

Too stunned or flustered to speak, you nodded your head to show that you understood his words. With another quiet laugh, Jeonghan turned and made his way into the tree line.

“Ah- Goodnight!” You called out before he fully disappeared.

With a spin, Jeonghan looked back at you and waved goodbye with a two finger salute.

What had just happened finally caught up to you, and you blushed once more, a surge of energy threatening to burst forth. The feeling in your chest was warm and light, and it lingered as you entered the dorm.

A resounding chorus of chirps welcomed you at the door as you saw a gaggle of familiars in the entrance. 

“Oh- Hello, Ruby, Shadow, Tigris, oh- Yucca is here too… Kelpy? Is that a rabbit?”

Without another sound, Ruby chirped an order and led the rest of the familiars into the house. Sheepishly, you followed behind, hoping that everyone would just ignore you as you passed by the dining room. Before you could even think of executing your plan, you were stopped by a very agitated Mingyu leaning against the archway.

“Sage- Where were you all evening? We’ve been searching for-” Mingyu checked his pocket watch. “A whole two hours…”

“Uh- I went for a walk, got a little lost…”

“Two. Whole. Hours?” 

“Jeez, sorry mom I’ll be home on time next time…” You rolled your eyes at Mingyu.

The taller man crossed his arms and leaned his weight on one hip. “Seriously, Sage?”

“Y’know what? Dinner sounds great right now.” You walked past him, ignoring the flames in his eyes.

Just as you suspected, the whole gang was here. Vernon sat side by side with Seungkwan, Jihoon and Soonyoung ceased all conversation as they watched you enter, and a troubled Dino sat across from them. Sauntering to the counter, you fixed yourself a plate of food and sat next to Dino.

“Where-” Dino started to ask a question.

“I went out for a walk to get some fresh air and I ended up getting lost. I found where Joshua lives- You were right Boo, he’s very nice.”

Mingyu took a seat at the table as Dino rose from his chair to refill his plate.

“Oh and I met this nice guy named Dokyeom-” 

The sound of a plate shattering against the hardwood floor had you whipping your head up in surprise.

Everyone paused and stared after you spoke. The atmosphere was… weird and the feeling in your chest was even weirder.

“Did I say something wrong?” You asked with an innocent expression.

Dino crouched down and began cleaning up the plate he dropped. Vernon and Seungkwan noticed the tension, standing from their place at the table and leaving with their familiars. Mingyu patted his hand on the table to grab your attention.

His puppy-like eyes filled with worry. “Are you feeling alright?”

“What? Yeah-” You thought for a moment. “Is he, like, not cool or something?”

“No- No! He’s fine, he’s cool.” Soonyoung stuttered, the tone sounding a little forced.

Jihoon lightly smacked Soonyoung’s shoulder and muttered a low “Shut the fuck up.”

Dino returned the table empty handed and sat right beside you. “Did he say anything to you?”

“I mean- now I know who saved my life.” The table went still as everyone held their breath. “And I thanked him… Why are you guys acting so weird?”

“We’re just worried that because he was present when you entered this realm that it would tie in with your memory loss.” Jihoon spoke with an analytical tone. “Dino told us he could have triggered the near-hemorrhage you had. We just want you to be careful…”

As Jihoon spoke, a bad taste covered your tongue. Jihoon himself was feeling uncomfortable, you could sense it. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to focus on your friends at this moment…

Dino was the easiest to read, you didn’t need to dig deep, his concern was evident from his appearance alone. Mingyu was indifferent, more worried about where you were than who you were with. Soonyoung seemed a little lost, like he was missing a piece of the conversation, but the others' uneasiness must have bled onto him.

“Guys- I’m fine- No headaches or nose bleeds while I was out. It was actually really refreshing because, y’know, I’ve been cooped up in my room for three months…”

“No- That’s fair.” Mingyu spoke and all heads turned to him. ‘What? The balcony can only provide so much, it’s only fair that Sage gets to take a walk.”

“Thank you, Mingyu-”

“But-” He interrupted. “It would also be nice if you let someone know and took a buddy with you…”

“Okay- I can do that. Jihoon, wanna go on a walk with me tomorrow?” You spoke as you dramatically turned your head to the man in question. 

He sighed deeply. “Yeah- Sure…”

“Don’t sound too excited…”

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Chapter 12

Chapter WC: 2576

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July 15

Twenty-eight weeks and two days…

Any sane individual would have given up and moved on by now, but Seungcheol’s sanity was slipping. He would never admit that his determination had bordered on full blown paranoia and it didn’t go unnoticed. 

It started back in January when he refused to attend the funeral. He didn’t see a point in seeing an empty casket get lowered into the ground, even if his family begged him. They meant well – and Seungcheol knew this – but no amount of closure or peace was going to stop him from searching.

After he had confronted his friend’s father about staging a suicide, Seungcheol was filled with endless questions. First of all, why was the father okay with staging the scene? Next, why was there no body? And finally, what the fuck does ‘you don’t understand the forces at play’ mean?

The majority of Seungcheol’s free time was spent scrounging up any information at the town library. He started practical, digging up every missing persons case in town via the library’s digital scanners, but the only person in the local news was Seokmin Lee, the first friend he lost. Another article mentioned an unusual earthquake that nearly wiped out the town, the natural disaster causing the river’s current to shift and strengthen.

Seungcheol turned away from the scanners and moved onto the computers. The public databases would offer more than local news. Missing persons cases were plentiful, but  the added detail of it being on Christmas Eve helped narrow it down greatly. Four years ago in New York, a young man by the name of Vernon Chwe went missing in the city. His little sister said that he went to hang out with some friends and he never came back home. The poor family thought he ran away, he was only 21.

On the other coast there was an incident in Los Angeles, California that took place on Christmas Eve 2014. A married couple were found dead in their estate; they had a son, Joshua Hong, but his body was never found. The police concluded that it was a robbery gone wrong and the family suffered because of it, none of the suspects were found guilty. 

There were a few other missing persons during the month, but reports the day of Christmas Eve only happened every two years. Seungcheol saw a pattern the more he researched, the only problem was what he was going to do with that information. They were all freak accidents or people disappearing into thin air. He had a foolish thought, one that would end up in nothing, but his curiosity had to be satisfied.

Seungcheol opened up a new tab and searched local urban legends. The first link was a forum dedicated to his small town, but everyone had an online tag or was anonymous so none of the names were familiar. 

its.ya.boi.19 : Some people said they’ve seen a woman walking on the bridge alone at night. They said she dresses in all white and lures any men that come across her. I think she drowns them… Hi~Welcome2Chilis : I heard it was a man Dr.Pepe : Sounds like bullshit ur.mom.rated.E.4.everyone : I think its legit. I saw something on the bridge at midnight. But it didn’t look like a person… Dr.Pepe : That’s so stupid. ur.mom.rated.E.4.everyone : No! Think about it! MERMAIDS Hi~Welcome2Chilis : It’s a river… the_G.O.A.T_69 : i mean times are changing. what if they moved to the rivers because of pollution??? Dr.Pepe : Do you proofread your posts? the_G.O.A.T_69 : i don’t need to “proofread” and i believe the guy. you ever hear of sirens?

Mermaids? Sirens? What even was a siren?

Seungcheol returned to the search bar and typed in: What is a siren?

He pulled up the Wikipedia page and read through it.

In Greek Mythology, a Siren is a human-like being with an alluring voice. Old stories tell of Sirens luring sailors to their deaths by attracting them with the Siren’s song. Sailors became enthralled, steering their ships onto rocky shores resulting in a shipwreck and the crew's demise.

A mythological creature? Ghosts were one thing, but fish people who lured humans to their death by singing? Inconceivable.

So here Seungcheol was, walking along the bridge at nearly midnight, waiting to see if anyone would show up. The fairy lights were gone, only the dull yellow street lamps lit the path, making it difficult to see out into the water. A chilled breeze blew past Seungcheol causing a shiver to go down his spine, he should have worn a coat.

He stopped in the middle of the bridge and checked his phone, the time was midnight on the dot. Lifting his head from the device he looked around, scanning the area to see if anyone had appeared. Nobody was here but him, not surprising…

Sighing deeply, he grasped onto the railing of the bridge and looked out into the dark, murky water. He chuckled at his own stupidity.

“God, I’m an idiot… Maybe I really have tipped over the edge.”

He stretched his back and with an exhale, he stood up straight from the railing. A big yawn escaped him, strong enough to make him squeeze his eyes shut and when he opened them, he saw a figure. He blinked his eyes in disbelief, but no matter how many times he closed and reopened his eyes, the figure was still there. Seungcheol was no longer alone on this bridge.

Just as the forum described, a woman, or man, Seungcheol couldn’t tell from this distance, wearing all white. At first he thought the person was wearing a sheer outfit, but as he focused on the figure he saw that their legs faded into nothing. A ghost. Great, this is exactly what he needed right now.

Slowly, Seungcheol approached them, not wanting to scare the spirit. As he approached the figure, more details came into view. Their hair was a dark blue, almost black and their skin was fair with a slight glimmer, but that could be from the fact that this person was see through. Once Seungcheol was within reaching distance, the white cloaked figure gracefully turned their head to him. 

They were beautiful. Long, elegant features were perfectly sculpted, creating a face that anyone would be charmed by. Their eyes were a deep blue, akin to the midnight sky and Seungcheol found himself getting lost for a moment. 

“You can see me?”

The figure’s lips did not move but a calmly, modulated voice eased into Seungcheol’s mind. He flinched as it breached his senses but he stood his ground.

“Am I not supposed to?” Seungcheol asked, not knowing what else to say.

The spirit mildly smiled as a small laugh rang through.

“That means I was successful…”

Seungcheol cocked a brow at the statement. “Successful? What do you mean by that?

“I wished to communicate with this side of things and here I am.”

As amazing as this interaction was, and even though Seungcheol was thoroughly enthralled by this individual, he knew gawking wasn’t going to get him any answers. 

“I want to ask you something…”

There was no response, but the spirit gave Seungcheol their full attention.

“Are you a Siren?”

Another laugh bled its way into Seungcheol’s mind.

“No, I am not a Siren… I am a Diviner.”

“You’re saying that as if I know what you are talking about-”

“All of you humans have such a funny way of speaking. You sound just like the others.”

“Others?” Seungcheol’s interest was piqued, but he was so confused and didn’t have any idea what was going on or why this was happening.

“This river must have some sort of connection to the Arcane. It keeps pulling people in and the Weave led me here.”

“Arcane. Weave. Things I do not know. Please speak in words I understand…”

Another pleasant smile spread across their delicate features. 

“You really do talk just like them…”

Seungcheol huffed out a deep sigh. “Please stop being so cryptic. I came here looking for answers about my friends. If you know so many humans then maybe you know Seokmin or Y/N. Those names ring any bells?”

The spirit’s face softened, their eyes turned solemn and their smile disappeared. Anyone would be able to read that expression, this Diviner knew something.

“If you know something, please tell me. Both of them are my friends, my family .”

“Oh-” The raven haired figure turned their gaze away. “You must be Cheolie…”

Seungcheol’s eyes widened, tears threatening to fall as he furrowed his brow. “How-” His throat started to constrict as the tears started streaming. “How do you know that name- My name?”

The spirit gingerly reached out to Seungcheol, but flinched as something else caught their attention.

“Shit…” They said under their breath. “I have to go now- Return to this spot when the moon is full. I’ll have more time then- I promise.” Their image began to flicker.

“Wait! The next full moon- I don’t even know your name!”

“It’s Minghao…”

After the name was uttered, the image of the white-clad spirit dissipated and Seungcheol was left with hundreds of questions. If he was being honest with himself he didn’t even believe that any of that really happened. A ghost on the bridge? That could not have been real, but the spirit, Minghao, spoke to him. 

Seungcheol looked up at the night sky to gaze upon the moon. It was crescent shaped, but it was only a sliver. He unlocked his phone quickly and went to the browser search bar and typed: When is the next full moon?

The phone screen read August 1st.

On the bright side, he had sixteen days to compile a list of questions. But holy shit sixteen days seemed so long when you had to wait on someone else's behalf.

Morning approached faster than Seungcheol expected, the insomnia stunting his sleep and causing him to stay up countless nights. In total he slept two hours last night and was suffering, but it was nothing coffee couldn’t help. Besides he was on a mission and it started with meeting up with his friend’s father.

There was a local old-fashioned diner that served breakfast, Seungcheol decided that if he was going to bombard his friend’s father with questions, he may as well treat him to good food. Thankfully, the diner was mostly empty, save for a few regulars and the occasional commuter looking for a quick cup of coffee.

Sitting by the window, Seungcheol observed the people passing by on the street while spacing out. The past few interactions with his friend’s father had been strained to say the least. There were so many questions in Seungcheol’s mind already and the added confusion of ‘ You don’t understand the forces at play’ made his head hurt. The last time Seungcheol saw the man he was told to ‘not go looking for trouble’ but Seungcheol was a magnet for trouble. Being the oldest of his former friend group, he was in charge of keeping the others out of trouble but that meant he knew where to find it as well.

“How’s it going, kid?” The usually chipper voice of his friend’s fathers voice was now somber.

“I’m doing fine…” 

A long sigh left the man’s lips. “You don’t have to lie to me, Cheol.”

Silence filled the space between the two men, the only words spoken were their orders and nothing else. When the food was served, the waitress could tell the tension was high so after placing the dishes down she bolted. Eating was easier than talking, especially when the food was good.

“I know you didn’t invite me out for breakfast, Cheol…”

Seungcheol looked up from his plate. “I’m not trying to hide that fact.” He placed his fork down to sip from his coffee. “I just want to know what happened…” Leaning in, he lowered his voice. “I know they didn’t kill themself…”

There was a moment of pause. “Seungcheol…”

“Please just tell me the reason…” Seungcheol’s round eyes welled with tears, but he refused to let them fall.

“I wish I could, I really do.” Even their father’s eyes reddened. “But I can’t.”

Every time Seungcheol asked his friend’s father the same question, he was given various versions of the same answer. It was always a ‘I can’t tell you’ or ‘You don’t want to know’. He was never given a straight answer.

“Please, you’re basically my father and Y/N is like a sibling to me. I need to know-” Seungcheol choked on his words. “Why did you stage a suicide? Why was the casket empty? Why am I seeing apparitions in the middle of the night telling me they saw Y/N?”

“What did you just say?”

“Ghosts, man. I’m seeing fucking ghosts!” Seungcheol raised his voice and a few of the customers turned their heads to spectate his rambling. “I swear I’m fucking losing it-”

“Cheol, stop.” The father that Seungcheol considered his own met his gaze. “Go wait outside, let me pay the bill.”

“But-”

“Just- Go cool off.”

Seungcheol obeyed the older man and walked outside while he wiped his tears away with shaky hands. He inhaled deeply and exhaled the breath after holding it for a moment, his heart was out of control. 

The door opened once more. “C’mon, Cheol- Let’s walk and talk…”

Walking side by side, the two men followed the road to the bridge. It was still morning so the lamps were off and the overall atmosphere was different. Instead of deep, dark water that seemed to have no end, the river was slightly murky with fish visible just below the surface. 

“Is this where you saw him?”

Seungcheol turned his attention away from the water. “Huh-”

“The apparition or ghost - is this where you saw him?”

Answering with a nod, Seungcheol took another moment to breathe. “Yeah- I didn’t just see him though, we talked.”

The older gentleman sighed and massaged the wrinkle out of his knit eyebrows. “I was really hoping to keep you out of this just like I did for my child. I tried hard to be a good father, I really did, but the others kept ruining it.”

“Others? The ghost I spoke to? Or is there more than one?”

“Cheol, he wasn’t a ghost, he was an-” His sentence was halted. “He- Ming-” Blood trickled from his nose as he struggled to speak. “Shit- After all these years…”

Seungcheol held onto the older man’s arm to support him. “Hey- Are you alright?”

“Yeah- There are just somethings I can’t talk about or else this happens.” He pointed to his nose.

“I know who you are talking about. Minghao, right? He called himself a Diviner .” Seungcheol rambled everything he remembered from the previous night.

“I physically can’t answer your questions, Cheol- All I can tell you is that if you want to continue searching, be careful.”

After a quick nod, Seungcheol helped the older man to his car and paid him back for the meal even after arguing. He watched as the older man drove off to ensure he got onto the road safely and once the car was out of sight, he entered on his own.

“Great, more questions…” Seungcheol muttered to himself before putting the keys in the ignition and starting the car.

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Chapter 11

Chapter WC: 4438

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Dusk in early spring was the epitome of solitude. Crickets sang through the night as fireflies lit up the forest, creating twilit pathways to be explored. The night was young and waiting for anyone to explore its depths. 

The tranquility of the woods put Jeonghan’s mind at ease as he threaded through the greenery. In one hand he held his tome and in the other his shoes, feeling the earth beneath his feet always immersed him in his surroundings. After he parted with Sage in the glade, he longed to experience the late evening air at the grand lake. 

Breaching the treeline and finding his place on the same rock as before, Jeonghan rolled the ends of his pants legs up to dip his feet in the water. Upon contact with the lake’s current, the pale skin of his legs shimmered with a reflective quality, catching the low light of the deepening sky.

He let himself relax, closing his eyes to enjoy the subtle smell of the lake. It would have been perfect if it weren’t for the abrupt sloshing of water. 

An elongated sigh escaped his lips as he opened his eyes only to see his friend and his kin, Junhui, emerge from the water, wearing a thin, white linen shirt and loose black trousers matted to his body along with his shaggy blond hair. Gray-blue eyes met Jeonghan’s brown, with an expressionless stare.

“Do you have a good reason to interrupt my alone time?” The raven haired man asked, clearly annoyed.

Junhui scoffed. “Considering most of your time is ‘alone time’- I wouldn’t be able to find a good reason.”

Jeonghan rolled his eyes. He planned on brooding the night away, but his younger kin had to appear and ruin it. The blond sat on a rock opposite from Jeonghan. His eyes searched for some kind of reaction in the older man.

“If you have something to say, spit it out.” Pleasantries were not on Jeonghan’s list of priorities as a sneer formed on his face.

Junhui hesitated, he wasn’t offended, all too accustomed to Jeonghan’s attitude to take offense. “You’ve been well fed lately…”

The statement garnered attention from Jeonghan, his gaze was seething and judgmental as if to say ‘so what?’ .

“If you’re going to be a glutton you may as well share…” Junhui said, voice laced with jealousy. “Who is it anyway? The one you’ve been indulging in?” He leaned in, curiosity beamed off of him.

“That is none of your business.” Jeonghan replied as he lifted his legs from the lake to lounge on the rock. “And you know I’m not one for sharing…” 

“Not even with your brother?”

“We’re only related through our parents marrying, brother is a generous term.”

Junhui grabbed his heart dramatically. “Oh! You wound me! How could you treat your brother with such malice?”

With the click of his tongue, Jeonghan decided he had enough foolishness and in one swift motion he stood from the rock. He grabbed his shoes and sauntered toward the tree line, purposefully ignoring the young man who had invaded his space. 

“I’ll figure it out!” Junhui called out. “I always figure it out…”

The words fell on deaf ears as Jeonghan strode away from the lake. Only the soft splashing of Junhui returning to the water was heard. Jeonghan dreaded that eventually his younger brother would do exactly as he said.

Jeonghan followed the forest path instead of swimming through the lake and down the river. The forest offered peace and silence. Besides, he wouldn't want dripping wet clothes where he was going, it would result in him getting scolded.

Winding through the trees, Jeonghan clung to the shadows to remain unseen to any watchful eyes. In his mind the foliage was safer than any road in Diamond Hall, not to mention faster. The paved roads wove through the trees, creating difficult paths to follow, whoever made them had a poor sense of direction.

The sound of the nearby river’s current was now within earshot, alerting Jeonghan that he was close to his destination. With careful steps, he navigated toward the sound of the running water. Beyond the treeline he could see the dark outline of a black brick cottage, quaint and alone near the river’s edge. 

Golden light shone through the windows of the bottom level, the source of the warm glow akin to that of a fireplace’s flame. Through the window, Jeonghan could see a figure near the fire, warming their hands as they sat on a plush couch. It was not the Arcanist he was looking for so he turned his gaze upwards to the second level. There was no light in the upstairs windows save for a small lantern that illuminated a standing figure. The figure's face stared off in the direction of Jeonghan, who was idly waiting in the treeline. 

Swiftly and quietly, Jeonghan snuck his way to the side of the house, he remembered that one of the windows had a busted latch, making it easy to crawl in.

“Gustus.” Jeonghan whispered softly.

A strong wind built at his feet, and with a bit of strength, he leapt onto the roof that sat outside the window. He silently pushed the window open, noting that the latch was left unlocked and without a sound he planted his feet on the hardwood floor. The figure was still peering out the window, presumably lost in the darkness. Jeonghan’s footsteps were unheard as he closed in on the man before him.

“You have to do a better job of sneaking. One of my alarms caught you.” The man spoke, breaking the silence.

Jeonghan snickered as he closed the distance between them, standing close enough to feel the warmth radiate off of his company.

“The latch was unlocked… Were you waiting for me?”

The man turned around, his chestnut brown hair was messy, slightly obscuring his eyes as he met Jeonghan’s gaze.

“As I said- My alarms caught you.” He said with a small smile.

Jeonghan squinted his eyes in suspicion as he leaned in. “You said one alarm, Joshuji.”

“Don’t call me that.” 

“Aw- But why?” Jeonghan cooed. “The way your face heats up is delectable .”

“I feel colder than the northern tundras- Please, just call me by my name- my actual name.”

Jeonghan shrugged. “Whatever you say, Shua. And you can’t lie to me by the way, you’re a furnace compared to me.”

“J. O. S. H. U. A. Joshua.”

“Shua!”

Joshua sighed in defeat and shook his head to quell his frustration. “What do you want, Jeonghan?”

Jeonghan skipped toward Joshua’s cluttered desk and scanned its surface. A metal-like chunk of rock rested on a stack of books, it glimmered in the lowlight of the lantern. 

“What is this pretty thing?” Jeonghan asked as he studied the mineral.

“Magnetite, it looks like ordinary iron but its properties are much stronger.”

Jeonghan raised an eyebrow. “How so?”

Joshua pulled out the chair and sat at his desk, he thumbed through the pages of his journal and stopped at a page full of notes. “Magnetite is known for its ability to attract and hold. It has been used to enhance or invoke feelings of love and loyalty.”

“Ah- I see.” Jeonghan said as he leaned over Joshua’s shoulder to read the rest of the page. “Make me something, using that stone.”

“Now why would you want that?” Joshua asked as he grabbed the stone from the black haired man.

“I want to give a gift to someone.”

Bewildered, Joshua gasped. “You give gifts?”

Jeonghan hid his annoyance with a lazy scoff. “Fine. Forget I asked.” He fixed his posture and turned for the exit. 

“No. You don’t just get to leave.” Joshua grasped Jeonghan’s wrist. “Who’s the lucky person who has captured Prismus Yoon’s attention?”

Jeonghan grimaced. “Do not call me that.”

“Consider it payback.” Joshua’s smile reached his eyes as he laughed.

There was no reason for Jeonghan to linger if he couldn’t get what he wanted. He turned his attention toward the still open window and sighed.

“Look- I’ll make you something with a small chunk of magnetite if you tell me who it’s for.”

Jeonghan chewed his bottom lip as he thought of his answer. He could tell the truth, that he wanted to give Sage a gift that would signify their friendship. Or he could spin a lie and tell Joshua that he wanted it for himself, that a necklace would be perfect for his aesthetic. 

“I’ve been teaching the newcomer our language. We’ve become close over the past few months and I think a gift would be a good way to congratulate them on how far they’ve come.”

It was a half truth, but Joshua would understand. Jeonghan was never the best when it came to emotions and expressing them. 

“I see…” A small grin formed on Joshua’s face. “I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting them yet, but I’m glad you two are getting along. I always said you needed a friend.”

“We aren’t friends?”

Joshua stared at Jeonghan for an uncomfortable amount of time before a breathy chuckle escaped him. “You’re funny.”

A loud, dramatic gasp roared out of Jeonghan. “We’re not friends?!”

Startled chirping and the sound of crinkling made the two men turn around to see Joshua’s pangolin rouse from its slumber. 

“You woke up Hewie. She helped me with spell work today- she needs her rest.” Joshua said as he walked over to the armored familiar and smoothed its scales. “By the way- where’s Obsidian? I haven’t seen the little guy in a while.”

“He’s probably balled up with Jun’s familiar back home.” Jeonghan sighed. “Speaking of home- I should get going, I’ve been up since dawn.”

Joshua nodded in understanding. “Okay, I’ll work on the necklace. Do you want me to polish the stone or keep it in its raw form?”

“Which makes for a stronger catalyst?” Jeonghan sauntered over to the window.

“Unpolished. Is that what you want?” 

With a nod, Jeonghan hoisted himself out of the window only to peek his head back in. “Goodnight, Joshuji!”

“Get out!”

Jeonghan smirked and laughed as he hopped off the roof, casting another gust of wind to cushion his landing. Lazily, he made his way back through the forest to return home. It had been a long day for him and he was ready to pass out the second he hit his bed. 

The fog of unconsciousness slowly cleared as you felt a bundle of warmth nuzzle into the crook of your neck. Soft blankets and pillows encased your form, restricting your ability to move. Using most of your strength, you struggled against the covers to sit up only to hear a small squeak. Peering down at your pillows, you saw a sleeping Kelpy clutch onto your arm and held it close. 

Cuddling next to the otter was Yucca, his ears laid flat and relaxed. On the other side, Ruby woke up due to the noise and Shadow huffed with mild annoyance at the foot of your bed. Even Eris was curled up on the floor next to your bed and across from her sat Dino, who had dozed off in the plush wingback chair by the window. 

You didn’t remember going to bed, all you were able to recollect was spending the day with Jeonghan and then returning home to eat dinner. Mingyu was stuck with dish duty, washing the plates when you entered. He had said something about Vernon being concerned about you, but the actual conversation escaped you. 

Delicately, you picked up Ruby, placing him in your lap and petting his fluffy coat. Ruby sighed in content as your fingers carded through his fur. A louder squeak resonated from Kelpy, a jealous squeak as he tried to shove himself onto your lap as well. 

With a soft exhale, Dino startled awake. A relieved smile painted his face as he locked eyes with you. “You’re up, good.”

“Did I pass out again?” There was a subtle tremble to your voice, the anxiety of possible harm plagued your mind.

“Yes.” Dino answered in a calm manner. “But only for one day this time.” He rose from the chair to grab his suitcase. 

“Am I being examined again?”

Dino returned to the bed with a sigh. “I know it’s bothersome, but we need to be sure you are unharmed.”

“It’s been months since the last time I passed out-”

“If I’m being honest with you Sage, it concerns me more that there was such a long period of time in between…” Dino grabbed the clear crystal from its case and began his examination. 

The words made you pause to think and eventually worry. 

“Because that means I missed something.” 

You turned your attention to Dino who studied you with stern eyes and a slight frown. A sense of stress and failure bubbled in your chest; your friend was disappointed in himself. Despite your better judgment you blamed no one other than yourself, none of this would be happening if you weren’t broken. 

“D- Chan…” 

He perked up at the use of his birth name, an expression equivalent to that of a kid who was about to be scolded. Instead of berating him, you outstretched your arms, silently offering a hug. With a small smile, Dino sat on the edge of the bed and accepted the affection.

“Don’t beat yourself up over this.” You told him. “I’ll be fine. You always fix me up.”

Dino’s heart swelled with adoration and he smiled as he tucked himself into the hug. You tightened your hold on him, fearing that if you didn’t Dino would doubt your gratitude.

“Sage-” He giggled. “I can’t breathe.”

You loosened the hug with a sheepish smile. “Sorry.”

The examination resulted in more of the same, nothing life threatening, just fatigue and migraines. Dino handed you a freshly enchanted vial of peppermint, explaining that the only thing he could do is help with discomfort since there wasn’t anything wrong with you. After ensuring that you were stable, he grabbed a defiant Kelpy, who was still resting on your lap and left with a quick goodbye.

There was a short moment of silence before your door opened again and a mildly perturbed Jihoon entered. You assumed he was here for Ruby, but you were proven wrong when he climbed on to the bed to sit across from you. His expression was serious as he looked at you and exhaled, a wandering hand went to Shadow’s ear, scratching the thick fur. 

“Are you feeling better?” A strong wave of sincerity radiated off of Jihoon as he spoke.

The question caught you off guard, you and Jihoon were comfortable around each other, but definitely not as close as you and Vernon or as talkative as Soonyoung. It wasn’t awkward per se but the two of you never really had a reason to hang out. Ruby, the sweet little guy, interacted with you more than Jihoon himself. 

“Uh- Yeah… I’m feeling a lot better now. I think I just wore myself too thin these past few weeks.”

“You mean throughout the end of winter and beginning of spring? Try a few months, Sage.” Jihoon’s voice turned stern. “Mingyu freaked out when you passed out, Vernon and Soonyoung were pacing around the house and Ruby was so worried he refused to leave your side. Dino rushed over as fast as he could, but Mingyu had already tried healing you…”

You nearly sprung out of bed. “Is Mingyu alright?” 

Mingyu was a caring individual, he had a big heart and kind personality. He was a textbook example of a true Vitae , a healer who valued charity and altruism. If he tried to heal you that meant he put himself in a weakened state to help you, another debt to be paid.

“He’s fine, Sage. Sit back down.” Jihoon motioned with his hands for you to calm down. “He refused to return to the springs, so he’s sleeping in my room right now.”

“I should go thank him-” You rose from your bed again, the speed in which you shot up causing you to teeter.

Jihoon swiftly yet gently grabbed your arm. “Sage, please. Resting and healing is enough of a thank you for him.”

With a sigh, you sat back down and pulled the covers up to your shoulders.

 A small smile formed on Jihoon’s lips. “Rest a little bit more. I’m going to take Yucca back to Mingyu.” He reached out for the fennec fox, picking up its small form and cradling it as he walked to the door. “C’mon Ruby, let’s make sure Mingyu is comfortable.”

The red panda took one last glance at you before following his Arcanist into the hall, leaving you with Shadow and Eris. The black wolf was still fast asleep at the foot of your bed, he was practically melting into the comforter. Eris on the other hand remained on the floor with only a rug underneath her.

You lightly poked her round tipped ear. “Eris-” You whispered.

She looked at you with tired blue eyes. “What is it?”

“There’s room on the bed now if you want something softer to lay on…”

Without another word, Eris leapt onto the bed making Shadow’s ear twitch, but he remained asleep. The snow leopard kneaded the mattress next to you and after spinning herself in a circle, plopped down to nap. Carefully, you scooched closer to her, even though you were under the covers you felt a slight chill. Eris was warm and soft, like a big stuffed animal. You would never tell her this for fear of your livelihood, but you were safe in your thoughts or so you hoped.

There was a shuffling outside of your door. A low voice, presumably Vernon’s, was heard speaking in the hall. The footsteps slowly grew clearer and eventually there was a faint knock at your door.

“I’m up-” You called out. “Come in.”

Vernon’s handsome face peeked past the door, a kind smile spread across his face.

You lit up the moment you saw your friend. “First Dino, then Jihoon. Now you and So-”

Before you could finish your statement, Vernon entered the threshold of your room and behind him followed Archivist Jeon. Despite your best efforts to hide your feelings, a subtle grimace contorted your features.

“Hello, Sage. Dino informed me of your condition.” Archivist Jeon paused for a moment, staring at Eris. “I was unaware that your familiar had manifested…”

“Oh- Sorry. I’m still not used to this-” You waved your hands in the air, as you spoke in half-truths. “I wasn’t sure who to tell so I stayed quiet. Everyone here kind of just ran into her eventually…” 

Cosmos peered around Archivist Jeon, yellow eyes studying both you and Eris.

The Archivist trained his gaze on you as he remained near the doorway. “My title as Grand Archivist is not an overly elaborate word I use to describe myself, Sage.” He spoke in a reserved tone, voice low and chilling. “I am the acting power here in Diamond Hall, the Mayor, if you need a relative term. We are all a part of this community and I prefer to understand those who live within it. It’s for the security and well-being of all of us, do you understand?”

Maintaining eye contact became a challenge as Archivist Jeon continued to speak with his full attention on you. Eris’s gaze turned cold as she watched the Archivist blabber, obviously not entertained by his speech. Even Vernon and Shadow shifted uncomfortably as he spoke.

“I understand-” Your throat went dry as you looked down at your blanket, aimlessly playing with the cloth. “I’ll be sure to tell you everything from now on.”

As if realizing what he just said, something in Archivist Jeon softened. He approached the side of your bed and sat along the edge, holding his hand out to you. There was a moment of uncertainty, but you swallowed the feeling and placed your hand in his. 

Archivist Jeon tenderly squeezed your hand, staring at your palm as he drew the ghost of a sigil on the skin. “I do not wish to sound cruel, Sage…” A dim glow shone on his finger as he traced the symbol. “We all have been through a lot, some of us are still healing and that includes you. All I ask of you is to stop avoiding me, I want to help you just as much as your friends here but I cannot aid you if you refuse to speak with me.”

You nodded your head, listening to every word he spoke. In this moment Archivist Jeon no longer appeared stone-like and intimidating, his expressionless eyes turned kind and his lips tugged into a delicate smile. His overall aura had changed from cold tyrant to stalwart guardian, a feeling of ease washed over you as you managed to make eye contact.

When Archivist Jeon unclasped your hand you were left with a light weight in your palm. Looking down, you saw a perfectly crafted, silver acorn.

“What’s this for?” You ran your thumb over the smoothness of the seed.

Archivist Jeon rose from the bed and straightened his suit. “An acorn for luck. There is no enchantment, it is nothing but a simple sentiment.”

“Thank you…” You mumbled as Archivist Jeon made way for the door.

He offered a nod in response and proceeded to exit your room. Cosmos stayed for a moment longer, staring at both you and Eris one last time before following her Arcanist. Vernon closed the door behind Cosmos and after a few seconds, released a deep breath. 

Turning around, Vernon met your gaze and the two of you shared a moment of silence. The abrupt sounds of Shadow scratching behind his ear snapped the two of you out of your awkward staring contest. Eris grumbled in irritation as the bed shook due to the wolf’s endless movement. 

“Did you get that speech as well?” There was a jovial tone to your voice as you tried to lighten the atmosphere.

Vernon huffed a short sigh. “I mean- Yeah. I didn’t really understand everything that was going on around here until a few months in.” He plopped stomach first onto your bed and pet Shadow. “I didn’t get a cool acorn though- Why are you getting all these gifts? I got jack when I got here.”

“Guess I’m just popular.” You bit your lip in an attempt to hold in your laughter.

Vernon scoffed. “Oh, I see~ You’re so special, Sage.”

The both of you shared a look and not even a second later, the two of you burst out laughing. Shadow’s tail began to wag as he saw you and Vernon smiling, excited that it might be time to play. 

“I wanna go to the balcony, but Jihoon told me to rest…” There was a slight whine to your voice. 

Vernon chuckled as he watched you sink into your mattress. “I’m sure some fresh air won’t kill you. C’mon, I’ll help you up.” He held his hands out for you.

Slowly, you rose from your bed, using Vernon’s hands as support to safely plant your feet on the ground. Shadow hopped off the bed, standing close to you in case you needed stability while you and Vernon journeyed to the balcony. 

The evening sky was a mural of marbled orange and purple, slowly darkening the sky to reveal the two rising moons. A peaceful silence filled the confines of the balcony as you and Vernon relaxed, enjoying the cool air. Exhaling a content sigh, you peered up at the deepening sky, watching as the stars began to appear.

“What did Chan say about your condition?” Vernon asked, breaking the silence.

“That I just need to take better care of myself.” You didn’t need to look at Vernon to know that his expression turned worried. “There’s nothing physically wrong, he just said that I was fatigued.”

“So you’ve been over exerting yourself?”

Staring out into the sky, you took a moment to yourself to think. With how the past few months have been you wouldn’t say you have been pushing yourself too hard. If anything you were enjoying yourself, learning about the Arcane and its language. Your time spent here was everything but tiring, you were sleeping well, eating great thanks to Mingyu, and you liked the people you were surrounded by.

“I wouldn’t say that.” You were confident in yourself. “The first month was rough but after that everything was amazing. I guess I have been a little tired, but I always go to bed when I start dozing off at my desk!”

Vernon held his hands up in surrender. “Hey- I’m not accusing you of anything! I’ve seen that you take care of yourself- well- when you’re here I see it…”

“Oh…” You remembered a bit of your conversation with Mingyu last night. “Yeah, I know I’ve been a little hard to reach lately, sorry about that.”

“It’s okay, Sage. You’ve been busy with learning and it’s obviously paying off.” He laughed softly at his own statement. “I mean- I’ve been here longer than you and I don’t even know the Lingua Magica.”

“I just learned a language, nothing cool.” A dry chuckle rasped out of you. “I’m not throwing lightning like you are.”

Vernon raised an inquisitive brow. “Learning an ancient language is cool, Sage…”

Rolling your eyes,  you playfully scoffed and shook your head. “I learned that ancient language because I wanted to better understand all those magical tomes in the archives.” You huffed out a sigh. “But none of that magic is sticking. Only this stupid Empath shit.”

“Hey, I don’t think it’s stupid. Do you know how many people would love to be able to know how others are feeling just by looking at them?” Shadow nudged Vernon’s hand, asking for attention. “I sure would…”

The words resonated, there was a weight to them, and even though you tried to will your empathy away it told you everything. Vernon was struggling with something or someone…

Thankfully your little talent didn’t go any further. You learned the surface thoughts and you were able to will yourself from morphing Vernon’s emotions. Unique talent or not, it all just seemed wrong. Every time you inflicted your own emotions onto another person it made you feel like an asshole. People are people and should have the freedom to work through their own emotions. You just hoped that you were able to keep a tight leash on this magic.

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Chapter 10

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Is there anything more tempting Than secrets? Knowledge is Power. And some will do anything to obtain it. Seems like a Fool’s Errand to me.

These past few months were busy with learning history, spellwork, and language, each had taken up an abundance of your time but it was worth it. The tome Archivist Jeon had given you, Historia Arcanorum – or History of Arcana in English – has shown to be very helpful now that you could read a decent bit of Lungue Magica. Deep diving into the book was enough to have you learn more about Arcanist Society and the vaste individual schools of magic. Sadly, none of them included Empathy. 

As it turns out, Empathy was what Arcanists call a Personalis Ars – a personal talent – which is the reason there was no formal school of magic for Empathy. All Arcanists and their families had personal talents that were unique to their bloodlines. The information had filled you with even more questions. Why would someone like you – a human – have a personal talent? But then you remembered Vernon also had one which left you with even more questions. 

There was still a lot to learn despite the lengths you have taken. A few of the passages in the tome were still unintelligible and you were hellbent on needing to understand every single word. Thankfully Jeonghan had agreed to continue teaching you, really you didn’t know where you would be without his help. 

The spring season had bloomed with warmer weather and longer days. Even though you were making plenty of progress, you felt like you could be doing more. Magic was still a mystery to you, it was overwhelming more than anything, and you didn’t know what school to begin studying. 

Soonyoung desperately tried to convince you to learn Evocation, something about you being in their house anyways, but when you asked him if he would teach you, he said that Jihoon would be a better teacher. While the idea of Jihoon, an Arcanist who specializes in Pyromancy and has experimented on spells way too often in your presence, was tempting, he was ultimately a no-go at the idea. 

Seungkwan mentioned that if you were interested in practical magic, Archivist Jeon could mentor you in Transmutation. The thought of the icey, unreadable Archivist teaching you was inconceivable though. It wasn’t that you didn’t trust his abilities, you just weren’t too keen on the idea of both him and Cosmo staring you down, probably a little judgemental, as you learned. 

Several nights were filled with wonder, trying to figure out if there was a school of magic for you, yet nothing seemed to click. After a while, you stopped worrying about such a big step and threw your focus into Lingua Magic. It became more important to read what you were going to learn, rather than casting cool magic with words you didn’t fully understand.  

The balcony became your favorite place to study, finding it easier to focus on the words in the presence of fresh air and natural light. As you sat on the floor, back pressed against the fencing and time resting in your lap, you studied in peace. Your notebook was open on the ground beside you for easy access when scribbling down a definition, a new word, or a question you would ask Jeonghan at your next lesson.

Just above you on the stop of the railing sat a small yellow warbler, it was a seemingly constant presence each time you were out here studying. Something about the small song bird was so familiar yet you couldn’t place your finger on it. It chirped a quick but pleasant melody that made you smile in response. It hopped further down the railing, easier to look at without craning your neck. You stared at the vibrant bird, appreciating its simple yet charming beauty, but it startled when the door to the balcony opened a little too quickly. 

At your eye level, you first were met with the soft, fluffy face of Ruby, but as you looked up you saw Jihoon’s stern expression. 

“You’re still studying up here?” He asked as he walked to the railing. “Aren’t you hungry?”

The question caught you off guard. “No- or- I don’t know. What time is it?”

“Half past two.”

“Shit-” You grabbed your books and stood to leave.

“You’ve learned the Lingua Magica pretty fast.”

You paused and turned your attention to Jihoon who was now leaning with his back against the railing. He raised his brow as if he were waiting for a response.

“Um- yeah. I want to learn it so that I can translate the tome Archivist Jeon gave me. Also the language isn’t super far from English so…” You trailed off.

“So?” Jihoon appeared puzzled. “Out of all the humans who have come here from Realm Nihl, you are the first to dedicate yourself to learning the language- well, besides Joshua- By the way, who’s teaching you?”

“Seungkwan’s Mentor? He’s from Earth -Earth? Like me?”

“Don’t dodge the question.” Jihoon sighed as he leaned his head to the side.

“Fine. If you’re so curious about me learning a language then ask about it, but I want to ask some questions too.”

Another deep exhale escaped Jihoon as he nodded his head, agreeing to your proposition.

“Okay-” You took a deep breath. “An Arcanist I met the same day Dino was freaking out about me going into the forest, that’s who’s teaching me.”

Jihoon tilted his head to the side as he furrowed his brow. “Does this Arcanist have a name?”

“My question first!” You said with a smug grin. “You said Joshua is from Realm Nihl? I’m curious about that.”

“Fine.” Jihoon groaned. “Joshua comes from a family of Arcanists, the Hongs. Very good reputation, the best Wards you will ever find, but Joshua and his parents broke away from the family. Something about not agreeing with how their talent was being used- whatever - basically Joshua’s parents had a target on their head for turning against the family. Mr. and Mrs. Hong begged Archivist Jeon to take their son back so that he could grow up in a safe environment…”

Surprised by the amount of information Jihoon offered, you listened intently.

“So overall Joshua Hong is a very powerful Ward Mage that is essentially Archivist Jeon’s responsibility. It’s complicated as hell.”

“I can see that.” You chuckled.

“My question now. The Arcanist who is teaching you, what’s their name?”

As Jihoon asked his question, you checked your pocket watch, a cute trinket Dino gifted you so that you could manage your time better.The two of you had been chatting longer than you thought.

“Hold that question- I have to attend my lesson.” You said as you rushed toward the exit.

With a scoff, Jihoon tried to follow inside but you were already down the hall. “Hey! I’m not going to let you evade me like you evade Archivist Jeon!”

“What’s that?!” You yelled. “I can’t hear you from over here!”

Rolling his eyes, Jihoon returned to the balcony as you continued to sprint out of the building. 

Memorizing the route to the glade was easy, especially when Jeonghan had been teaching you the Lingua Magica daily. During the winter you had wondered why he never offered to teach you at his home or traveled to your dorm. You assumed the glade was a middle ground and left it at that. 

As you were running down the path Eris materialized next to you, matching your pace.

“Going to meet the charmer once again are we?”

It still amazed you that familiars could be with their Arcanist one moment and then decide to escape into the ether the next. You remember the first time it happened – it scared the shit out of you – but it also put you at ease knowing that the leopard could hide herself. Eris still intentionally jumpscared you for her own entertainment, needless to say the dynamic you two shared hadn’t changed much.

“Yes, I am. Does it really surprise you that I have a genuine interest in the language?”

Eris’s chuckle resonated in your mind. “It surprises me that your only intention is to learn.”

“What?” You said out loud without realizing.

“I’m just stating the obvious. He’s very kind to you and very handsome too. I wouldn't be surprised if he fancies you-”

“Woah!” You exclaimed. “What the hell are you on about? Are you my mom or something? Trying to get me to date my friend?”

Eris rolled her eyes. “Oh! So you two are friends now?”

You scoffed and dropped the subject leaving the rest of the hike in peaceful silence.

Entering the glade, the familiar sight of the pink blossomed tree welcomed you. A calm breeze blew through the branches causing loose petals to scatter in the wind and the chimes to sing out their notes. Jeonghan was nowhere to be seen which was odd because he was almost always here before you. Carefully, you walked up the steps and found your company lounging on the old stone bench.

An open tome rested on his chest as he napped in the shade of the tree.

Secreta Sanguis et Mors. Secrets of blood and death.

“You’re later than usual.” 

Jeonghan’s voice startled you as he spoke with his eyes closed. Slowly he rose to address you, a smug smile across his face.

“Did you get lost after all this time?”

“No, of course not.” You sighed. “My roommate was bombarding me with questions.”

“What kinds of questions?”

“Unimportant ones.” The words sounded more peeved than you meant them to be.

“Sage…” Jeonghan sang your name out, beckoning you. “What kinds of questions?”

There was a slight tug in your chest, Jeonghan always said your name with such an inviting quality. 

“Um-” You stuttered. “Like I said, they weren’t important. He just wanted to know why I was so interested in learning Lingua Magica. Speaking of- I’m ready to start my lessons!”

“About that…” Jeonghan thought for a moment and then shook his head. “I had something else in mind. Something I wanted to show you…”

A twinge of ambivalence filled you as Jeonghan spoke.Was he nervous about something? 

You disregarded the feeling. “Oh- Sure. What did you have in mind?”

“You’ll just have to find out- and don’t worry, I’ll still teach you today. I just wanted a change of scenery.” Jeonghan stood from the bench and offered you his hand.

The promise of learning was all you needed in order to agree to a small journey. Gently, you placed your hand in Jeonghan’s, his skin was cold to the touch, nearly matching the weather outside. Almost  instinctively, you held his hand tighter and rubbed your thumb into the skin of it, hoping the gesture would warm him.

A soft snicker emanated from Jeonghan. “Thank you, but I naturally just run a bit cooler than most people.”

Learning that fact made heat begin to rise to your face but you quickly pushed away the embarrassment. 

The two of you ventured out of the glade and in the direction that Jeonghan usually left in. Tall evergreen trees hugged the stone path you walked, the trees were imposing and made you feel slightly claustrophobic with how close they were. You squeezed Jeonghan’s hand to provide some sort of comfort, his skin was still cool to the touch but it wasn’t uncomfortable.

“Here we are.” Jeonghan said as he picked up the pace, nearly dragging you along.

The tree line grew sparse and an opening appeared, the subtle scent of salt carried in the breeze that blew past you. Jeonghan halted, causing you to bump into his back, you were going to complain but the scene before you was a good distraction.

A vast, deep blue lake centered itself in the forest. It spread so far that you could barely see the other side. Floating in the lake were white winged birds, gray patterns decorating their feathers, you recognized them as albatrosses, a rare yet beautiful bird. They were so eye catching you nearly forgot that you aren’t meant to be here, that it could harm you to linger.

“Jeonghan-”

“It’s okay, Sage.” He stopped your warning and slowly brought you toward the edge of the lake. “This isn’t the same area.”

You raised your brow at his comment. “How do you know?”

Jeonghan looked at you with kind, gentle eyes. “I spoke with the person who saved you.”

He released his grasp on your hand and sat on one of the many rocks along the lake’s shore. Still you were nervous, even if it wasn’t the lake, it was still a lake and you didn’t know exactly what would trigger an episode and you didn’t want to find out.

“Come sit with me, Sage.” Jeonghan said as he lightly patted the rock next to him. “Enjoy the lake air with me.”

You sighed in defeat and joined Jeonghan on the shore, placing your books in your lap as you sat next to him. 

“Did you just want to show me the lake?”

He laughed softly. “I wanted you to see the birds…”

You turned your attention back to the albatrosses in the lake. The two birds floated side by side, grooming each other, obviously a mated pair. As you focused on your surroundings, you could hear birdsong coming from the woods behind you. You closed your eyes and listened, allowing yourself to enjoy the sound.

“Really.” You kept your eyes shut as you spoke. “You wanted me to see some birds.”

“Yes. I saw that you sometimes draw birds in your notebook.”

The idea of Jeonghan bringing you to a lake just because you like to doodle them every so often made you snicker.

“How thoughtful of you.” Sarcasm laced your words.

“I was also getting tired of that glade.” Jeonghan said as he chuckled.

“There it is~”  You rolled your eyes dramatically. “I knew this was for your own personal gain.”

A small smile formed on Jeonghan’s lips. “Yup, I’m so selfish~ Now give me your tome. I’ll make some notes for you.”

Swiftly, you handed him your tome along with your notebook and watched as he translated more passages. 

You had to admit, the change in scenery definitely helped with the lesson. The atmosphere was different, calming even though you were nervous in the beginning. As Jeonghan continued to scribble in your notebook, you looked out into the lake. The albatrosses were long gone, leaving the lake empty and lonely. 

Another brackish breeze blew by and this time it lingered. It didn’t smell bad, but it wasn’t a scent you would want around you all day. There was something familiar about the aroma as well as the way the lake’s current lapped at the side of the rocks. For a moment your vision unfocused as you lost yourself in your thoughts.

“Sage?” Jeonghan called out.

You blinked back to focus and looked over at your company.

“Did you hear what I said?” He stared at you with round eyes, a slight furrow to his brow.

“Hm? Oh- no?”

Jeonghan pointed to your notebook. “ Incantatio . It means Enchantment, like the school.”

You read the note Jeonghan made. As usual he provided the Arcane sigil and the translation in both Lingua Magica and English. 

“I could teach you.”

The statement piqued your interest.

“Enchantment is all about words- incantations. You learned the Lingua Magica so fast, I’m sure you would absorb the school of Enchantment easily.”

You took a moment to think. From what Seungkwan told you, Enchantment was all about charms and enchanting items. It was apparently a more tame school, scholars and artists enjoyed the subject. Less flashy than Evocation but flashier than Transmutation.

A grin formed on your face. “Now try and really sell it to me. Like you work at a car dealership.”

Jeonghan squinted as he tried to figure out what you were saying.

“Haggle with me.” You said in a flat tone. “You really want me to learn Enchantment? Convince me.”

Jeonghan smirked, accepting the challenge. “Enchantment is a school that embraces creativity and cunning. You’ll be able to learn a person’s deepest desires and use it to your advantage. Fighting with intellect is just as powerful as fighting with brawn.” His eyes locked with yours. “Isn’t there someone you’re curious about? Someone that intrigues you or maybe even pisses you off? Wouldn’t it be nice to know what makes them tick?”

The more Jeonghan spoke the harder it was to tear your gaze away, it was enrapturing. As you continued to stare, a subtle blue glow emanated from his irises and you couldn’t help but train your focus on his eyes.

“But that would be ridiculous.” Jeonghan snapped his attention away from you. “The school of Enchantment has a lot of potential, but Arcanist’s mainly use it to create magical objects.”

“Even if it’s just that, I’m interested.” You finally replied.

Jeonghan smiled as he looked out into the lake. “Good. I’d be more than happy to teach you Enchantment.” He returned his attention to you. “I’ll teach you something simple right now.”

Soon the space between you two shrunk as Jeonghan leaned in eye locking onto yours once again.

“ Dominare Mentem .” He whispered close, the same blue tint appearing in his eyes.

A dull throb pounded in your head but it didn’t last long. The pain subsided and you were left with a cloudy feeling akin to the sensation of waking up in the middle of the night not knowing where you are.

“Domi- I understand Mentem . It means mind, correct?”

A pleased expression consumed Jeonghan’s face as he grinned. “Yes. See you learn quickly!”

“Did you just cast a spell on my mind?”

Jeonghan scoffed. “Oh please. If I wanted to cast a spell on you I would have done it the first day we met.”

“Thank you, Jeonghan. That is very reassuring.” You stated monotonously.

He didn’t say anything other than laugh in your face. Enchantment may have been his school of choice, but the raven haired man had the eloquence of a toothpick. 

“Well-” Jeonghan gathered your books and stood, holding out his free hand for you to grab. “It’s getting late, Sage. You should head home.”

You held onto his hand and pulled yourself up. “You’re right, the sun is starting to set.” A quick peek at your pocket watch showed that it was already six in the evening. “Shit, Mingyu is going to kill me if I’m late for dinner.”

“Mingyu lives with you as well?”

“Huh? No. He just makes us dinner.”

Jeonghan nodded. “Let me take you back to the glade, we can part there.”

Agreeing, you followed Jeonghan down the path from which you came without holding his hand this time. You clutched onto your books and shuffled next to Jeonghan, something about the trees here unsettled you. Without even noticing, you held onto his elbow for support, the proximity immediately calming you.

A low chuckle resonated from Jeonghan, but he bent his arm to create space for you to link arms with him. The two of you continued down the path, arm in arm.

By the time you were back at the glade, the sun had set beyond the treeline, causing the area to be shrouded in dim light. 

“Are you sure you don’t want me to accompany you back to your dorm?” Jeonghan asked before you could leave.

“I’m sure!” You called out as you passed the threshold and exited the glade. “Goodnight, Jeonghan.”

You received a two finger salute in response from Jeonghan before he turned around and disappeared into the woods. 

As you were traveling down the stone path, Eris materialized beside you.

“You forgot to ask him what the spell did.”

Stopping in your tracks, you turned to Eris, mouth agape in disbelief of your own foolishness.

“This is exciting! What if you turn into a toad in the middle of the night?”

By the time you reached the dorm, all worries had washed away.If Jeonghan had really casted a spell on you it probably would have had an effect by now. Upon entering the building, you were met with Yucca sitting in the center of the entrance, big ears twitching curiously. The small fennec fox stood and turned his butt to you, walking down the hallway. You followed the little familiar to the dining room and were met with Mingyu cleaning the table of plates.

“You’re late.” 

“I’ve heard that a lot today…” You responded with a sigh.

“You’re usually only gone for an hour and a half.” Mingyu pouted as he complained.

“I know, it’s been-”

“Four hours!”

With a deep breath you calmed your nerves. “Okay. How about I clean up? To make up for being late.”

“No-” Mingyu continued to sulk. “I fixed you a plate. It’s on the counter, eat.”

When you turned your gaze to the counter, a full plate of eggs, pancakes, and sausage was left untouched. Breakfast for dinner, for some reason the idea of it was nostalgic. You grabbed the plate and took a seat at one of the stools by the center island. As you enjoyed your food, Mingyu carried on, scrubbing the plates clean and wiping down the counters. Yucca stationed himself at the archway leading to the dining room, guarding the entrance.

Drying his hands on a clean towel, he wandered over to the center island, throwing the towel over his shoulder. 

“So…” Mingyu exhaled.

You looked up to him with the fork still in your mouth. “So…” 

“Where were you? These past few weeks you’ve been… vacant.”

Puzzled, you grimaced. “Vacant?”

Mingyu groaned. “Why do I have to be the one to do this? Vernon said you’ve been a little- I don’t want to say unapproachable but …” He muttered for a moment as he searched for the words. “Distant, maybe even a bit guarded? I don’t know, he just said the two of you haven’t been hanging out as much lately.”

You swallowed another bite of your food. “Oh my- Is this an intervention?”

“Sage! Be serious for once, please.” Mingyu frowned. “Is it really so weird that the people you live with are worried about you?”

A prominent crease formed on your brow as you digested Mingyu’s words. “I don’t know why they’re so worried. I’ve just been receiving lessons on the Lingua Magica. I want to fully translate this tome Archivist Jeon gave me…” 

“Jihoon told me about that, he said you avoided his questions.” 

“I answered some of them!” You interjected.

Mingyu’s expression was shrouded with doubt. “You never told him who was teaching these lessons. Will you tell me?”

You tried to avoid his eyes but Mingyu was adamant, smiling like a puppy with sparkly eyes to try and persuade you. 

“Fine, I surrender- I’ll tell you whatever you want!” You sighed deeply. “It’s-” The name was on the tip of your tongue but it faded immediately. “It’s uh…” A familiar dull ache thrummed in your head. “Sorry- The person who’s teaching me- right- um…”

Mingyu rounded the counter to stand in front of you. “Are you alright, Sage?” He gently placed his hand on your forehead, checking for a fever. “You’re a little warm. Were you outside the entire time? It’s still cold out, you should be wearing warmer clothing.”

There was worry in Mingyu’s tone and you felt concern radiate from him. His heart was like an overflowing well, you were nervous he might start tearing up.

“Um- yeah… I was outside all day-” Your words trailed off as you sunk into the warmth of Mingyu’s hand, lethargy setting in.

Taking deep, calming breaths, you felt yourself drifting closer into unconsciousness. Your limbs tingled and if you weren’t careful, your knees would give out. 

“Sage? Are you sure you are okay?” The concern in Mingyu’s voice felt distant, nearly distorted. 

As you tried to speak next, no words came out and it was the final push to unconsciousness. You heard another shout of your name and a firm grip on your body before it all faded to black. 

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Chapter 9

Chapter WC: 3383

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I’ve always struggled with doubt I doubt myself I doubt my friends love for me I even doubt that I’m worthy of love But there are always those who hold you And show you that you are worthy

You rubbed your eyes again.

No, yeah, there was definitely a giant snow leopard staring back at you.

Its sharp eyes were imposing and almost a little judgmental.

“Are you going to just sit there and gape? Please, I am so terribly bored and am in need of some fresh air.”

The leopard leapt off the bed without a single sound and turned back to look at you.

“Come on now. No time like the present.”

Despite the pleasant tone of its voice, you couldn’t help but feel insulted. This was all very new and strange, and you were being bossed around by a snow leopard.

You looked down at your pajamas. “I need to change.”

The leopard paced by your door, waiting for you to dress yourself, deciding on a simple outfit of long trousers and a flowy shirt. Grabbing your cloak, you made your way to the door, pausing momentarily as you came face-to-face with the snow leopard. It was gigantic, its head reaching your shoulders. It seemed too large from anything you could remember… 

“Why are you staring? Never seen a cat before?”

“You’re very- uh- tall.”

“Aren’t you observant!”

It spoke to you like you were a toddler, sarcasm thick in its tone. You rolled your eyes, not ready for sass so early in the morning. Once you opened the door, the leopard stretched and sauntered out of the room, chin held high.

You stumbled as you struggled to secure your boots but caught up with the beast quickly. The two of you traveled down the hall, following the leopard more than leading it. Ruby’s fuzzy head was the first thing you saw as you got closer to the stairs. His little dark eyes lighting up when seeing you, but Jihoon paused as he got to the top step, taking in the sight before him. 

“Either I’m dreaming or I’m about to be, goodnight.” 

“It’s morning-”

“Goodnight!” He waved a hand as he brushed past you and disappeared into his bedroom.

Ruby lingered for a moment, inching closer on all fours. You could see his nose twitch as he sniffed your new companion. The leopard peered back to the tiny creature, tilting its head slightly to the side. The red panda tensed up and jumped back before quickly scrambling into Jihoon’s room.  

A shiver trickled down your spine as you were met with the icy morning air, your breath huffing out in a fleeting, misty cloud that left your lips. The majestic beast was unfazed by the frigid weather and led you outside towards the stream. It stole a few sips of water then continued on walking beside it. 

“So um-” You hesitated as the leopard looked back at you. “What’s your name?”

“That’s for you to decide.”

“Oh- Sorry, I’m kind of new to this.”

You studied the snow leopard for a moment as you contemplated. The leopard held itself in a queenly manner, always looking ahead and swishing its tail with each step, not to mention the beautiful gray fur that was decorated with black spots. 

A hum resonated from you as you thought until the sound formed a name.

“Eris.”

The leopard practically grinned at the name.

“The sound of the name pleases me. I will respond to Eris from now on.” It purred in delight “Hm- Eris…”

Walking along the gentle stream was relaxing, however, Eris was elegant and fluid with each step. You on the other hand felt like a lumbering fool. The stream you were following fed into the lake and Eris didn’t hesitate to lead you towards its shore. Its water was mostly clear and a brackish scent filled your nose. There was no fish to be seen, but a few birds floated idly in its water.  

“The lake has haunted your thoughts these past few weeks. Why have you not explored?”

Communicating through telepathy was going to take some getting used to. The sudden voice invading your mind, though pleasant sounding, never failed to make you jump. 

“Dino said I shouldn’t-”

“You don’t have to actually talk out loud.” There was humor laced in Eris’s words.

You rolled your eyes and stared daggers at the leopard. “Okay then. Dino said I shouldn’t go snooping around… That if I look too close I might hurt myself.”

“Ah! That’s right! Your head nearly burst like a melon.”

A long drawn out sigh escaped you. “Yup- Wait, you knew about that? Whatever- That’s why I’ve been really careful for the past month.”

“I’ve had the displeasure of spectating your life since you arrived here. I was existing as a shadow before today.” Eris sounded slightly peeved. “Thank the stars your magic and Mana manifested. One more day as an observer and I would have fallen into lunacy.”

A few questions like: ‘ what is Mana?’ and ‘ you’ve been watching me this whole time?’ popped into your mind, but you decided to ignore them for the sake of the leopard’s temper.

Eris sighed as she studied her surroundings, head turning every way as if she were in search of something.

“Well… Nothing has caused you to scream out in pain yet. So I’d say we’re safe to venture a bit further.”

You scoffed. “Woo! Congratulations to me! I’m not dying!”

Now Eris rolled her eyes and you swear she sneered at you. “So happy for you! Here- how about we stroll a little further and test the waters? Since you’re not dying…”

Turning around, you stared back at the dorm, the more you walked the more it shrunk in the distance. The idea was tempting and it was becoming easier to ignore the warning bells in the back of your mind. 

With one last sigh, you decided a few more minutes of walking couldn’t hurt. 

“Only a little further.”

“It’s a promise.”

Eris continued to prance ahead of you at a swift pace, causing you to trip and lag behind. Every so often you would look behind you, only to see the place you could call home becoming a mere speck on the horizon. Taking note, you were no longer along the edge of the lake, and you weren’t too worried about your brain exploding , but this was more than the little further you were speaking of. The path you were following disappeared into the evergreen forest and Eris appeared adamant on breaching the tree lines. 

“Um-” You muttered out loud.

Eris paused for a moment. “Oh come on. Let’s explore more! I want to be beneath the trees and skip in the meadows.”

You could hear the sarcasm, it was blatantly obvious, but you still grumbled in disapproval.  

“Please?” She drew out the question like a child trying to persuade her parents.

“Alright.” You muttered.

Eris was the image of ‘The cat who got the cream’ . She didn’t have the ability to smile, but there was still satisfaction written all over her face.

The path into the forest wasn’t well traveled but it was still visible even with the overgrown grass and loose stones. This time you took care to watch where you placed your steps, doubting Soonyoung would be out here to save you again with a pillow of ivy. Eris didn’t seem keen on altruism either. 

This forest was more green and verdant than the woods around Dino’s cottage, it was closer to what surrounded the dorm. Pretty, peaceful and home to many of the same woodland creatures you saw before. Gazing upward, you were met with the lush canopy, thick enough to give the sun’s light difficulty in reaching the ground. Eris was able to navigate the path easily which came as no surprise. She was feline after all.

“Ah- Well isn’t that nice…”

Snapping out of your thoughts, you turned your attention back to the path. Eris rushed ahead, shocking and forcing you to stagger forward to match her pace.

“Hey-” You were about to complain but as you reached Eris’s location, you froze in place.

The sight before you was beautiful. A breach in the forest’s endless flora opened into a quaint glade. A stone path led into a pond. Hugging the small body of water were two staircases, covered in vibrant moss and littered with petals. An out-stretched, lush tree sat atop a small hill where the stairs led, catching your eyes in the morning light. Eris wasted no time in sauntering up the steps, stopping at the landing to gaze down to you.

Tracing your hand along the stairs railing, you ascended up to meet Eris on the landing. Her expression softened, clearly pleased by the tranquility of the area. Overgrown shrubs surrounded an old stone bench that sat tucked under the tall tree. You wandered over to the tree, studying the features of it. 

It wasn't evergreen, that much you could gather. Its bark twisted around itself like a braid and its leaves resembled that of a willow tree. The only difference was the leaves were soft pink and held green blossoms. 

As you gazed up into the branches, you saw paper talismans and windchimes similar to the ones that decorated the dorm. Soonyoung must have made his way here at some point.

Eris, with ease and grace, climbed the tree and found a sturdy branch to lounge on. You took in the atmosphere around you, the weight that you didn’t know was heavy on your shoulders faded for the moment as relief washed over you. Here, in this little area of serenity, there was nothing to worry about, no nosebleeds, no headaches, just pure solitude.

“Oh-” A gentle exclamation from an unknown voice.

Jumping in surprise, you snapped your head, being met with a figure who just reached the top of the steps. 

Breathtaking was the best way to describe the man before you. 

The shirt he wore was flowy and long sleeved, the black fabric almost glittering in the sunlight despite being sheer, trousers just as loose and flowy. His hair was down and barely reached his shoulders, fine strains nearly blending in with the color of the fabric. Around his neck rested a dainty silver locket, gleaming as it caught the light. Looking at him sent a chill down your spine, he didn’t look cold but his outfit was not suited for the weather, and you wondered how he wasn’t frozen to the core.

With delicate features and a soft smile, the stranger addressed you. “I was hoping to find a peaceful place to read but I see I am beaten.”

You raised your eyebrows at his words, his voice took you by surprise, it wasn’t deep by any means but there was a faint resonance to it. 

“Ah- I was just sightseeing! I was just about to leave.”

“What?!” Eris’s voice invaded your thoughts as she jumped down from the tree landing directly in front of the stranger. “We were here first! Tell this man to shove off!”

“ That’s entirely too mean, Eris… ” You grumbled out loud.

The stranger’s bright brown eyes widened as he was met with the imposing snow leopard. A weak wave of uneasiness washed over you from him, but it was fleeting and quickly morphed into simple fascination. He tightened his grip on the book he held under his arm’ a thick leather bound tome similar to the one Archivist Jeon gifted you.  

“Eris, play nice.” You sighed, annoyance laced in your words. “Sorry, I’m still new to this.” 

Another glint sparkled in the strangers eyes. “Oh! You’re the new one! Finally I can put a face to all the gossip.”

Gossip? Uh oh.

“I’m Jeonghan. It’s nice to finally make your acquaintance.” He said with a small but elegant bow.

“Uh- Sage. Nice to meet you.” You stuttered as you returned the bow. “Now when you say gossip-”

“Hm?” Jeonghan perked up. “Oh- Nothing bad, I promise. Just people wondering which realm you were from.”

“Well, I’m human and from the Mortal Realm as some people say.” You did your best to suppress the scowl growing on your face. “And which realm are you from?”

Jeonghan sat down on the bench under the tree. “I’m just another boring being from this bland realm.”

Bland? This world was everything but bland and boring .

With a small smile, Jeonghan leaned into the bench and opened the thick book he had in his arms. It looked much older and more intricately designed than the tome Archivist Jeon gave you. Curiosity took over and you took a peek at the title: Ars Motus.

More of that old language you couldn’t read.

“Art of Emotion.” Eris spoke in your mind.

Your ear twitched as you heard Eris speak. Maybe the tome Jeonghan was reading had a connection to your magic, that or it was a romance novel. 

“Jeonghan?” 

He looked up at you through his eyelashes, another soft grin painting his face as he gave you his full attention. 

“Can I ask what you're reading?” 

He smirked. “You may ask.”

Great, he was a smart ass. Suppressing a roll of your eyes, you sat down beside him, leaving space between the two of you

“ What are you reading?”

“A book I found in the archives.” Another shit-eating grin.

You sighed. Despite his mature and tasteful appearance, he was playful, a jokester. Fine. If he wanted to be tricky you would play along.

“What is the book about?” Surely his answer wouldn’t be too dodgy.

Jeonghan scanned the page open in his lap. “Psyche and what it can tell us about an individual.”

“Psyche? Like psychology?”

He chuckled, his nose scrunching as he smiled. “You ask a lot of questions and no, it isn’t psychology . Psyche is the spirit of a person.”

“Oh-” Now you felt naïve. “So kind of like the mind?”

“Kind of. Not only the mind but also here.” With a slender, pale hand, he placed his hand on his own chest, spreading his fingers across where his heart rested.

Your eyes followed his movement but you quickly averted your gaze. It felt rude to stare at Jeonghan, even if it didn’t seem to bother him.

“I’ve always had an interest in others and their emotions…” He flipped to the next page. “I’m not very good at reading people and it always ends up with me being tricked.”

A sudden breeze blew past you, freezing you to the bone and a shiver wrecked through your body. Above you, the wind chimes rang out in beautiful notes. Tugging the cloak close, you curled up slightly and tried to take another peek into the tome Jeonghan held. He noticed your interest and placed the book on his thigh for you to see better. As you scanned the pages, you soon realized it was in the same language that was engraved in the archives. 

“Can you already read the Lingua Magica?” Jeonghan sounded impressed as he asked.

You groaned. “No. I’ve been seeing it everywhere and I don’t understand any of it!”

“I can teach you, if you wish to learn…” His voice came out shy.

Eyes lighting up with excitement, you looked over to Eris who had taken to lounging near the shrubs.

“I’m not going to teach you.” She said matter-of-factly.

Your face flattened into an unimpressed sneer. At this point you weren’t surprised. As it turned out, familiar’s had their own personalities and they can be assholes. Noted.

Returning your attention to Jeonghan, you met his gaze and sighed. “That sounds nice. I’m tired of not being able to read some of the passages in my tome.”

Jeonghan grinned from ear to ear and flipped back to the first page of the tome in his lap. He gently handed the book to you and shifted a little bit closer as he pointed to the first page. 

“ Ars Motus. The direct translation into Lingua Simplex- the common tongue- is Art of Emotion. I’m sure you can guess which word means art .”

You pointed to the first word Ars and Jeonghan nodded his head in approval.

“See? It’s not that different! You’re going to learn very quickly.” Another big smile spread across his face as he praised you. 

For the next hour, Jeonghan took his time translating the first page for you. It wasn’t too entertaining, just a simple introduction that didn’t offer any real information into what you were looking for but was still interesting. You were so absorbed in learning that the bite of the cold no longer bothered you. Even Eris was relaxing as enjoying a good nap while Jeonghan taught you. 

“I think I’ve stolen enough of your time, Sage.” Jeonghan said as he retrieved the book from your lap.

“Huh- I’m not doing anything today. I can keep learning-”

“It’s cold. Did you not notice that you’ve been shivering all this time?” Jeonghan interrupted with a snicker as he fixed your cloak to stay over your shoulder.

“Oh- No. I haven’t…”

Jeonghan looked over at the entrance of the glade, you felt a twinge of annoyance but it faded immediately. He turned back to you and smiled.

“Meet me here again? I’ll be sure to bring the book.”

You nodded and returned the smile. “Sure.”

“Perfect.”

Jeonghan bowed to you as a goodbye and walked down the steps, traveling briskly to exit the glade. You noted that he did not take the same route as you as he walked down a different path, his image faded into the dimness of the forest until he could no longer be seen.

“Well, look at you, staring off all dreamily…”

“What-”

Eris stood from where she was lying down and stretched her back. “Nothing. I’m just glad I don’t have to teach you a simple language.” 

You scoffed. “Yeah, that would be all you care about.”

“Sage?” You heard your name being called out from beyond the glade entrance.

“Sage?!” A louder voice, Dino’s voice.

Both you looked toward the glade entrance, Dino and Soonyoung slowly came into view.

You leaned up to the railing. “Over here!”

“Sage?” Dino said as he turned his attention to you, his pace quickening as he approached you. “There you are! We were looking all over for you.”

Before you could say anything, Dino enveloped you in a warm hug. It was nice, comfortable even, and you melted into it.

You laughed as he squeezed you. “What’s this for? I was only gone what? An hour?”

He pulled back, beginning to examine you. “Are you hurt? Any headache? Nosebleeds?”

“What? No. I’m fine, don't worry.”

“Also it’s been two hours-” Dino paused as he looked behind you.

You turned around and saw what had grabbed his attention, Eris. Soonyoung also took a moment to stop and stare at the leopard. 

“Is this-” 

“My familiar? Yes! I named her Eris.” You responded to his unspoken question.

Soonyoung pouted. “Jihoon said it was a big cat but wow!”

“We can admire Sage’s familiar later.” Dino said as he turned back to you. “What were you doing out here?”

“Just exploring. Eris persuaded me to go on a walk with her.” 

Dino’s face grew worried. “What if you had an episode and no one was around? You could have gotten hurt-”

Even though he was genuinely concerned you couldn’t help but smile. “It’s okay, Dino. I’m fine, really!”

Dino sighed and lightly grabbed your wrist. “Let’s get back to the dorm, it’s freezing out here.”

With a nod, you let yourself be dragged back to the dorm. Eris joined you followed by Soonyoung who couldn’t stop staring at the snow leopard.

Arriving back at the dorm you were met with your roommates congregated in the living room. As you walked into the room, Shadow and Ruby rushed over to you, nuzzling and doting on you.

“See? I told you they were fine…” Jihoon said as he lifted his head off of the couch. “Can I go back to bed now?”

Jihoon stood and proceeded toward the archway, when he turned the corner he was met with Eris. 

“Woah- Okay. Yeah, not a dream.” He continued to walk to his room.

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[doahaesunshine]

Chapter 8

Chapter WC: 4393

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Tristen Notes: Still on me Hoshi to Soonyoung Agenda

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I always knew when my friends were in pain. They were too afraid to talk to me, But I knew. Art is what healed us, We spoke through it And not a single word was needed.

The past month has been… interesting.  

Every now and then you have been feeling these motes of emotion. You knew this was normal, everybody felt things , but this was different.

One evening, you enjoyed some time relaxing with your roommates. The energy in the room was high and the vibes had everything flowing comfortably. That night, Vernon was a little…off, to put it simply. Jihoon and Soonyoung were deep in conversation regarding spell components which you only listened to due to limited knowledge. Drowning out their voices, you let yourself focus on Vernon who had become quieter as the night progressed. 

Overall, you were feeling good, you were happy and able to relax, however as you allowed your mind to focus on Vernon, you seemed to step into a shallow pit of sadness. The feeling itself wasn’t very intense, if anything the sadness was more shrouded in confusion and loneliness. 

Vernon’s brows furrowed together, a prominent crease evident of the action on his forehead. The sadness has shifted into stress muddled with anxiety, leaving an unpleasant taste in your mouth. Part of you wished to take Vernon’s hand and let him know that everything would be alright, that whatever was plaguing his mind would work itself out and he didn’t need to worry so much. 

A deep sigh resonated from Vernon as he looked up, smiling softly as he met your gaze. The moment he smiled the negativity was gone, he was content and worry-free. There must have been a moment of realization for him and it allowed him to sort out his emotions.

Another time after that, Soonyoung had been working on a ritual. He had mentioned something about Geomancy and how the ritual cast would help strengthen his bond with nature. Each time he attempted to perform the spell, it kept fizzling out and continued to fail for three days straight. 

Emotions were high in the house, tension thick enough to cut with a knife because of how unhappy Soonyoung was with his spellwork. His fuse was immensely short and though he snapped at people, he apologized each time. The longer his frustration lasted, the more it bled into you. Your patience was stretched thin and being tested with each turn. An insignificant misunderstanding had caused you to explode and you made a harsh remark to Jihoon due to it. 

The insult didn’t only affect Jihoon, but Soonyoung as well. He was within earshot of your comment and rushed into the room, a fire burning behind his eyes. Not long after, the simple misunderstanding had escalated into a screaming match. The irritation that had been growing within you made you want to cry, not to mention the outright hostility that spat between you three. Everything that was being said started to hurt a bit too much and all you wanted was for the arguing to stop. 

“Okay! We’re getting nowhere! Soonyoung, stop being so fucking mad all the time! And Jihoon, I’m sorry! So can we please stop yelling at each other?!” You remembered shouting at them.

You let out a haggard breath, only to watch as Soonyoung’s and Jihoon’s expressions softened, the room no longer heavy with tension. For a moment you all stared at each other in confusion. Though awkward, you each managed to apologize and went separate ways for the rest of the day. By breakfast the next morning, it was as if nothing had happened. Soonyoung was boasting about his final attempt at the ritual being a success and Jihoon seemed to hold no grudge against you. 

One night, you and Vernon were having your rather frequent balcony hangout and chat times when he brought up his emotional state.

“I don’t know. One moment I was really anxious and then it just washed away.”

Your eyebrow raised at the comment. That was odd…

“Maybe I just saw you and the others and thought now’s not a time to be sad.”

You let your jaw drop the slightest bit…Huh?

“And Soonyoung mentioned something about his anger just evaporating after that fight.”

What the fuck?

“That’s weird. I’ve been feeling everything lately.” You spoke your worries to Vernon. “Every time you guys start freaking out, I freak out and just want it to stop- and I feel it stop. Does that make sense?”

Vernon thought for a moment. “You must be really good at reading people then.”

The most recent incident was when Seungkwan, a Ward Mage so you were told, came to visit. He had walked in, saying he was going to ‘hang with everyone ,’ but you only saw him with Vernon. You had been sitting in what the others called the living room, more an open room with two couches, playing with Ruby when an unfamiliar warmth nestled its way into your chest. 

It was fuzzy and felt like hundreds of butterflies fluttered in your stomach. It was a new sensation, one you never experienced while in the dorms. Peering out into the hallway, you saw Vernon and Seungkwan chattering. Quickly, you picked up Ruby and held him close to your chest, sneaking towards the archway. 

Ruby softly chirped as you held him like a teddy bear, shushing him as to not alert the other two men of your presence. Investigating further, you saw no danger in being caught with how the two were only focusing on each other. They spoke in hushed tones, neither’s eyes straying from one another.

“No way-” You whispered to no one in particular but Ruby perked up at your words.

Seungkwan snickered at a comment Vernon made and another warm wave of adoration washed over you. Internally you gagged, wishing for the feeling to stop.

“Nonie?” You heard Seungkwan say in a worried tone.

Peeking down the hallway, you watched as Vernon started to walk away from Seungkwan. The former turned around, confused as if he had no idea why he was moving. Ruby chirped once more and this time it was loud enough for the other two to hear. 

“Sage?” Vernon asked, still puzzled.

“Uh- I wasn’t eavesdropping! If I’m being honest I didn’t hear anything- you guys were talking really quietly.” You tried to stop your rambling but the words kept falling out. “I just felt really weird and warm and-”

Both Seungkwan and Vernon stared at you in visible confusion, a light blush dusting their cheeks.

Seungkwan’s face lit up in realization. “Oh!”

“Oh?” You and Vernon parroted.

“This is good!” Seungkwan sauntered toward you, pulling you back into the living room.

He sat down on one of the sofas, bringing you down with him. Ruby settled into your lap and watched as Seungkwan took one of your hands. 

“Sage, I think your magic is manifesting.”

Your eyes went wide. “Wha-”

Seungkwan smiled as he released your hand. “It appears that you are not only able to read other people's emotions, but feel and morph them as well.”

Every word Seungkwan spoke sounded like gibberish and you had a hard time swallowing the information.

“Oh wow~” Your tone was sarcastic. “I’m an empath~”

Seungkwan sputtered. “I-it’s a little more than that. You might not see it now, but that gift has potential.”

You scoffed. “Hell yeah, I’ll be a master negotiator. No one will be able to resist my charm.”

Vernon laughed at your words while Seungkwan tried to remain serious.

“You joke like this now, but who knows? Maybe one day you’ll enthrall the cosmos!” There was a lightheartedness to Seungkwan’s voice.

He was right and you knew it. While the gift of empathy may seem lame in the moment, there may come a day where it could prove itself useful. There wasn’t any worry found in your heart, it was simply reading emotions and changing them some.

Where was the danger in that?

Wonwoo roused from his slumber as Cosmo’s warm snout nudged his face. He swatted the panther’s face away as a plea to let him get more rest, but she wouldn't allow it. Cosmo quietly leaped off the bed and bit on the end of the bed's countless amount of blankets. With little effort, she pulled the covers, only leaving Wonwoo with the pillows under his head.  

A low grumble resonated from Cosmo as she paced in front of Wonwoo’s bed, occasionally brushing against his arm that had draped off of the mattress. The soft shuffling of sheets stopped the panther’s movement as she watched her Arcanist rise from bed. 

“Good morning, Cosmo.” He said as he lightly scratched under the cat’s chin. 

She purred in delight as Wonwoo continued to pet her, he gave her one last pat on her head before he stood. There was calm stillness in the darkness of Wonwoo’s bedroom as dawn had yet to break. The Archivist reached into his nightstand, retrieving a chunk of fluorite, violet and green in color. A dull glow emanated from the stone as he held it.

“Lux.”

The dull glow radiated outward, blanketing the room in a dim, iridescent light. He gently tossed the light source up and the gemstone remained in the air, hovering around Wonwoo’s head. 

First, a bath was in order and he would have to do something about his hair, no amount of spell work was able to tame his bedhead. After freshening up, he brushed Cosmo, making sure her coat was sleek and prim. He fed her his own leftovers from last night, Mingyu had grilled salmon for everyone which Wonwoo was thankful for. Sure he was a powerful mage, but when it came to cooking… it wasn’t his strong suit. He couldn’t even conjure a slice of bread without it tasting like ash.

Deciding his breakfast could wait, he began his rounds of Diamond Hall. The archives needed to be checked at least once a day to ensure all of its knowledge was still in place. Next, the sealing wards would have to be strengthened, the week was coming to a close which meant the magic of the wards were dwindling. He would have to employ either Seungkwan or Joshua to recast the spells to guarantee the archive’s safety.

Once Wonwoo concluded that everything was in order in Diamond Hall proper, he set out to visit the rest of the grounds. Dawn had come, casting a cool blue hue onto the early morning mist that shrouded the land. The sun itself hadn’t peeked over the mountains yet, but Wonwoo could tell just by the air that today was going to be colder than usual. A shiver ran down both his and Cosmo’s spine as they were met with the frigid air. 

“Pallium.” Wonwoo spoke through chattering teeth and a heavy cloak with a scarf apparated in his hands.

Quickly he pulled his arms through the sleeves before kneeling down to wrap the scarf around Cosmo who grumbled in content at the warm cloth. The two walked briskly towards the plaza and down one of the many paths. One area of the territory was always warmer than the rest and he wished to warm his limbs.

Dino had enchanted the land and atmosphere around his cottage so that it would remain a comfortable temperature. It was more for the health of his garden than himself. Wonwoo knew this and was the reason why he would frequent the Alchemist's residence. 

He knocked softly, using the iron knocker on the old oak door. There was a moment of silence as Wonwoo and Cosmo looked at each other in discomfort. Even with the enchantment, the cold was beginning to bleed through their clothing. After another minute, Dino answered the door, wearing his nightwear along with a soft robe.

“Archivist Jeon? Doing your rounds already?” Dino rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he held the door open for both Wonwoo and Cosmos.

The Arcanist and his familiar quickly entered the cottage, not wanting to stand outside for any longer. 

“Yes.” Wonwoo answered. “It’s still winter. An early start is a must if I wish to finish my work before nightfall.”

He nearly sprinted toward the hearth, Dino had always kept the embers low in order to keep central heating. Cosmo rushed to the foot of the hearth, nuzzling her form into the warm stone and sighing in comfort. 

Dino chuckled at the sight of his superior cozying up to the fire with his familiar. It wasn’t the first time the Archivist had rushed to his home in search of warmth.

“Archivist Jeon?” Dino asked sheepishly.

Wonwoo turned his attention toward the young Alchemist. “You don’t need to worry yourself with formalities at this hour, Dino.”

Dino nodded as he understood and he approached the hearth to feed the flame. The embers began to eat away at the added fire wood, growing in size. Cosmos brushed against Dino’s legs as a thank you.

A chirping squeal called out from the stairwell as Kelpy descended the steps. Cosmos quickly retreated behind Wonwoo’s chair but the little otter was faster. The panther trotted away to try and escape the small creature, but Kelpy was relentless in his pursuit as he clung to the larger beast. 

“Would you like some tea? It’s Minghao’s blend.” Dino offered.

Wonwoo smiled softly as he watched Cosmos and Kelpy play. “Yes, tea would be nice.”

It didn’t take long for the kettle to begin whistling, the noise causing Cosmo’s ears to tilt in every direction. Dino placed a teacup filled with pale golden herbal tea in front of Wonwoo, despite his physique he held the cup delicately. 

“Are there any elixirs you need?” Dino asked as he sat across from Wonwoo.

Wonwoo procured a small notebook from his cloak and scanned its pages. “A few mana elixirs would be wonderful, but I won’t be needing them for a while.”

“Are you working on something?” There was an innocent curiosity in Dino’s eyes.

Wonwoo shook his head once. “Nothing in particular. I prefer to have the potions nearby in case I am practicing heavy spell work.”

There was a moment of silence as the two Arcanists enjoyed their tea. The subtle sound of the hearth’s flames and the occasional howling wind filled the room. Cosmos continued to trot around the room as Kelpy chased her. Eventually the small otter was able to climb on top of Cosmos’s back and the large panther decided she had no more fight left in her. She curled herself into a ball at Wonwoo’s feet while Kelpy remained nuzzled in her fur.

“Oh!” Dino exclaimed as his eyes glimmered with excitement. “Did you hear the news?”

Wonwoo cocked an eyebrow in confusion. “News?”

A bright smile spread across Dino’s face, showcasing his perfect teeth. “Sage’s magic manifested! Seungkwan didn’t tell you?”

“No, he forgot to mention it.” Wonwoo’s mind filled itself with endless curiosity. “Do you know the details of their magic?”

“Seungkwan said it was associated with Empathy. Apparently Sage can feel other people’s emotions and they said they can influence them too!” Dino continued to smile as he spoke. “I’ve never heard of anything like that, have you?”

Wonwoo thought to himself for a moment. Empathy was a very rare gift and many Arcanists were fueled by envy to try and replicate the magic. It had no recognized school, there was no way to teach it and no formal spells attached to the subject. Empathy was completely natural, if an Arcanist really wanted the magic they had to be born with it.

“Empathy…” He pondered the term. “It’s an esoteric practice, not many Arcanists can say they have mastered it.”

Dino’s eyes widened. “Woah~ Does that mean Sage is some sort of big shot?”

“Big shot?”

“Oh- sorry. It’s a term Sage taught me.” Dino chuckled, self-conscious of his word choice.

The room was blanketed in silence once more as Wonwoo considered the possibilities of the new human who had joined their realm. This required research, a lot of it, and that made Wonwoo internally groan.

“I may need those elixirs sooner than expected…”

Grand Archivist or not, Wonwoo was still an Arcanist and he knew he was going to exhaust himself with research.

Learning to control your new found gift of Empathy was proving to be very difficult. No Arcanist specialized in Empathy or anything related to it within the Diamond Hall grounds and it frustrated you to no end.

Even studying the tome was fruitless. Any Empathy Arcanist, or Empaths, were long gone. They were either exiled, disappeared into the ether, or simply passed away. 

Sitting at your desk, nose deep into the tome, you let out an irritated groan. You methodically bashed your head into the aged paper, not enough to damage yourself or the pages, but enough to tame the annoyance growing within you. Needless to say, it didn’t work. You sat up and scanned a few more pages, only to find nothing, prompting you to drop your head onto the tome. 

You roared out another groan, springing from your chair and closed the book. Pacing about the room, you lost yourself in thought. Nothing was really making sense regarding your new found ability and it was slowly eating at your mind. 

A soft knock interrupted your brooding.

You sighed. “Come in!”

Gently the door to your room creaked open and Vernon poked his head in followed by his black wolf familiar, Shadow.

“Everything alright in here?”

You flopped onto your bed, breathing out a loud sigh as you laid on your stomach.

“This magic stuff is hard.” You whined but the comforter muffled most of your voice.

Shadow leapt onto the bed and sniffed at your face, his cold nose ticklish against your cheek.

“Thanks, bud.” You muttered as the wolf licked your cheek.

You felt a dip in the mattress as Vernon took a seat on the edge of the bed. Shadow laid down, leaning his weight against Vernon and keeping his muzzle rested next to your face.

“I’m sorry, Sage. I wish there was someone around that could help you.”

“Me too.” 

Vernon was quiet as he pet Shadow, the wolf closing its eyes as it relaxed into its Arcanist.

“Have you checked the archives?”

With your head still sunken into your blanket, you shook your head.

“Why not? There’s so much information there, I’m sure you’ll find something.”

Your ears burned with humiliation. “It’s intimidating.”

“What is?” Vernon’s face lit up in realization. “Don’t tell me Archivist Jeon scares you-”

“No!” You shot up from bed, answering a little too fast. “H-he doesn’t scare me, he’s just hard to read.”

Vernon snickered. “If the Grand Archivist was easy to read, I don’t think he would be very grand. ”

With a little convincing from Vernon and big puppy dog eyes from Shadow, you agreed to search the archives for information.

As promised, Vernon accompanied you to Diamond Hall. Shadow stayed close, nose to the ground and ears alert as he followed . If you were being honest with yourself, you haven’t ventured out to Diamond Hall since your initial meeting with Archivist Jeon. The thought of running into him didn’t scare you per se, but you wouldn’t know what to say or do if you were met with the Archivist. 

The archives were just as dimly lit and maze-like as you remembered. Vernon navigated through the halls with relative ease and led you to a small room that was filled with rows of tall bookshelves. Looking up, they appeared endless, each had its own ladder to help reach the highest shelves. 

You stopped and stared upward, skylights lit the room from above while floating globules of light danced along each row of bookcases. 

“It’s over here!” Vernon called out. 

He turned one last corner and you were met with a stone archway, letters engraved into the structure.

“Antique- scien- does that say science?” You attempted to pronounce the words but gave up quickly.

“Antiqua Scientia, it just means ancient knowledge, or at least that’s what Seungkwan told me.” Vernon said as he neared the opening of the archway, but was stopped hard as he ran into an invisible force. “Ouch- That’s weird.”

You tried to reach out toward the opening and were met with the same solid surface. The longer your hand lingered, the colder it felt.

“That wasn’t there before.” Vernon mentioned as he rubbed his forehead, a red bruise slowly growing below the skin.

“Are you two in search of something?” 

Both you and Vernon jumped as the low vocals of Archivist Jeon surprised you. 

“Oh- Archivist Jeon! I was just showing Sage the archives. We were hoping we’d find some knowledge about their magic here.”

The Archivist looked between you and Vernon, expression unreadable. Cosmos prowled out of the darkness, yellow eyes glaring at Shadow. 

“I see…” Archivist Jeon trailed off.

There was a twinge of something, uncertainty. It didn’t linger and it was gone within a second but you felt it nevertheless.

“I regret to inform you that some of the archive’s knowledge is missing. I’m currently working on a solution, but until then the Antiqua Scientia is warded off. I apologize for the inconvenience.” His words were sincere and he bowed with his apology.

“Do you have any idea where it went? It’s not like books can fly away. Wait- can they?” You knew that almost anything was possible and soaring parchment was in the realm of possibility.

“I am unsure.” Archivist Jeon addressed you directly. “Another Arcanist could have borrowed the tomes and merely forgot to return them.”

“ Tomes ?” Vernon emphasized the fact that the term was plural. “What’s missing?”

Archivist Jeon paused for a moment. “Tomes on Hemomancy, blood magic.”

You winced at the thought. “Is that a bad thing?”

“Not particularly.” Archivist Jeon said as he shook his head once. “Hemomancy isn’t illegal by any means. It is merely a tool, just like any other class of magic.”

“But it has the potential to do some messed up things…” Vernon muttered though it was still heard.

“That indeed Vernon, but all magic has the potential to be dangerous, you of all people should understand this.”

Vernon nodded his head and remained quiet. A strong sense of shame radiated off of him and you couldn’t help but be a bit curious as to what the Archivist meant. The room grew eerily silent, enough to make your heart pound with nerves.

“Okay… Uh- Vernon!” You exclaimed, trying to fill the awkward silence. “We should head back to the dorm. I’m sure Jihoon needs us for that crazy spell he’s working on.”

Vernon perked up. “What spell-”

“Uh- The one that creates a bunch of big fireworks! Let’s go!” You said as you locked arms with Vernon and rushed him out of the area.

Shadow sprinted ahead of you, the poor wolf must have been just as uncomfortable.

“This is exactly why I haven’t gone to the archives since I got here!” You raised your voice as you paced in the living room.

Vernon was lounging on the couch with Shadow, absentmindedly stroking the wolf’s fur. He had been unfocused and quiet the entire trip back to the dorm. Shadow rested his head on Vernon’s chest as the man scratched behind his ears. Jihoon sat on the floor with his spellbook, meticulously scribing formulas on the paper while Ruby nested in his lap.

Soonyoung on the other hand had his full attention on you as he and his orange tabby familiar, Tigris, tracked your movement about the living room.

“He’s so cryptic and creepy and- and-” You were at a loss for words. “What’s that term for someone who bothers you?”

“Um- Annoying? Irritating?” Soonyoung offered.

“No- it’s more than that.” 

“Aggravating?” Vernon handed out another term.

You shook your head dramatically.

“Obnoxious.” Jihoon stated with confidence.

“That’s it!” You proclaimed as you clapped your hands together, waking up Ruby and startling Shadow.

You winced. “Sorry boys, I’ll be quieter.”

“Hey!” A raspy voice called out in the hallway. “Are you guys hungry? I brought- Am I interrupting something?”

Mingyu appeared in the archway carrying multiple containers in his arms. Yucca, his fennec fox, was also carrying a small container in his mouth. Both Mingyu and his familiar froze as they made eye contact with you.

“Is this like a family meeting or-” 

Jihoon closed his spellbook. “I’m hungry! I don’t care what you brought, I just want food.”

“Okay, well, come to the dining room, you’re not eating on the floor.” Mingyu said as he walked down the hallway.

Dinner didn’t last long. Mingyu served steak with roasted vegetables that got devoured quickly. After your meal, you washed up and bid your roommates goodnight as you returned to your room. 

Before going to bed, you returned to your desk and opened the tome. There wasn’t a particular question you had in mind but flipping through the pages was relaxing. 

You stared out the window across from you, taking in the night sky. Vitidel, the main moon, was not present in the sky but Gi-Enos, the smaller, blue moon was in a waxing state. It still astounded you that there were two moons in this realm. They both were beautiful, Vitidel was always a shade of orange unless it was full, in which it became silvery in color. Gi-Enos was always a shade of blue no matter its size.

Clouds slowly obscured the light of Gi-Enos and rain began to patter lightly against your window. Closing the tome, you sighed and stood from your desk. You dove into the covers of your bed and bundled up as you fell asleep to the sound of rain.

The sun’s light bled through the curtains, shining directly onto your face. With a grumble you rose from bed and rubbed your eyes.

“ By the Stars you sleep a lot.”

A breathy, melodious voice rang clear in your ears.

Your eyes shot open in search of the voice. At the foot of your bed, sitting up right was a huge and striking snow leopard. Its crystal blue eyes stared straight into you.

“Your room bores me. How about we take a morning walk by the stream?”

“Oh what the fuck-”

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