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clevernewdimension · 7 years

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New World Part Two

Part One, Part Two, Part Three (Coming soon)

A/N: LOOK WHAT I’M POSTING EARLY! Yay! This was only suppose to be two parts, so it’ll probably be three now. However, I’m loving this world I made, so I’ll probably come back to it from time to time! If anyone else wants to write something in this world, feel free! Just send it my way!

Word Count: 7.5K

I wasn’t entirely aware how much blood was all over me. Small spots on my hands, drying as I try to find the words to answer the question. I looked up at Junmyeon, who was looking at me with a tough look. It wasn’t like the angry looks Sehun and Baekhyun were giving me. Junmyeon looked like he just wanted to help his friend, his brown hair in his eyes. He just wanted answers and to know if his friend is still in danger.

I was hyper aware at the moment. I could hear coins jingling in Sehun’s pockets as he nervously moves his leg. Baekhyun was picking at his fingernails without even realizing it. Junmyeon hasn’t really blinked much. Like if he loses sight of me I’d disappear. I could hear the sounds of the city, loud and unavoidable from the cracked window. The humming of the mass of people talking to each other. The clock ticking away, steady and unrelenting. It all sounds so loud in the silence between the four of us it almost hurt.

“I… He was caught, and they… they were going to kill him so I broke him out, but my brother he stabbed him and tried to stop us from escaping. So I took the machete and I… oh god, I… I killed him. I killed my brother,” I mutter, my eyes filling with tears as I look at the blood covering my hands. It was a mixture of Jongin’s and my brothers. I looked past Junmyeon, seeing my reflection in an award past him. Speckles and sprayed of blood on my face, my eyes red from my crying. I looked like my father did after some time down there. I looked like a monster.

“Why was he trying to hurt him,” Baekhyun asked, glaring from his place beside Junmyeon’s desk. He was dressed in bright colors, colors around his eyes and still wore tons of jewelry. The only thing not bright about him is his attitude. He was glaring daggers at me, which I can’t blame him for.

“They,” I start, feeling that choking feeling as my mouth won’t move. I shake my head, reaching for my throat, “I… My family, they…”

I could hear feet move as I looked over, just in time to see Baekhyun taking a close look at my throat. Baekhyun’s look changed, from furious to angry but curious. “Secret spell? Interesting… Jongin was looking into that yesterday.”

“Now we know why,” Sehun says, looking out the window, not even bothering to look at me. From his body language, what he was feeling was hidden. His reflection as he looked out to the dark sky was blank, the perfect mask to hide away thoughts. I’ve known that look, I’ve had it too from time to time.

“Well, we’re lucky that I was the one studying it with him,” Baekhyun says, his hands glowing a dark blue. He reached forward from his position, my throat now glowing the same color along with his hand. He starts to try to turn his hand, but it looks like he can’t move it. “Fuck,” Baekhyun says, moving the other hand to try and help. It was barely moving, until a flash of dark, black light came from my throat and sent Baekhyun flying back into the bookcases behind him.

Junmyeon stood, moving to him, only to be waved off by Baekhyun. Baekhyun looked at me, his face no longer angry. “That… that’s not just a secret spell. That’s dark magic. The very essence of evil.”

Sehun turned, a look of worry on his face, though I could tell it wasn’t for me. “That’s bad. That’s really bad.”

Junmyeon looked confused, as the only person who doesn’t do magic. He was just as confused as I am. “What does that mean,” He asks, looking from Baekhyun to Sehun.

Sehun looks at him, “Well, Baekhyun specializes in dealing with dark magic, and if he says it’s bad, it’s very bad. You saw what he tried, it didn’t move at all. If he can’t break through it, then we’ll have to find a high warlock who can.”

“It could be tied to an object,” Baekhyun says, looking at his hand. Dark, black tendrils mar his skin like an electric shock, climbing all the way up his elbow. “Can’t be dispelled until the object is destroyed.”

“Then we go to her house,” Sehun says, looking at me.

I shake my head, “No! You can’t, he’ll-” I grab at my throat, feeling the tightness stopping me again. It was like someone held my throat tightly.

“Who,” Baekhyun asked, “You said you killed the person who hurt Jongin, so it’s not like he will be there.”

“He could imply father, since it’s her family,” Junmyeon says, looking at me.

I nod, tears still spilling from my eyes, as I finally get a gulp of air. The second I stopped trying to say, I could breathe again.

“So there’s more, huh,” Baekhyun mutters, signing. “One of them has to be the person who did the dark magic.”

“If that’s the case then we might want to take a high warlock with us to search for the object,” Sehun says, “You’re not strong enough for this type of magic, Baekhyun.”

“Wow, thanks,” Baekhyun mutters, rolling his eyes. “We don’t even know if it is connected to an object. Besides, what do you mean ‘we’? You haven’t graduated yet.”

Sehun glares at Baekhyun, standing up straight now. “If you think I’m just going to sit here and wait-”

“Minseok is a high Warlock, right,” Junmyeon asks, cutting him off. “And Sehun and Jongin are prodigies. You’ll going to be one pretty much right out of magic college, right?”

“No one calls it magic college, Jun,” Sehun mutters, shaking his head. “We’re going to have to study light magic and how to right off dark magic before we go anywhere near that place. But first…”

A light flashes as he flicks his hand. Bright lights touch my temples as bright white tendrils snake around my body, holding me still. It felt warm and peaceful at first, until the magic around my neck started to get hot.

“This is a truth spell,” Sehun explains to me. “What you can’t answer, you’ll just say you can’t. What you can, you will forcibly say the truth. Did you lure Jongin to be hurt?”

“No! I would never,” I says, my heart picking up speed. “He’s the only reason why I’m alive!”

“So he took the hit for you,” Sehun asks, turning to me. His eyes glowing the brightest white I’ve ever seen.

“No,” I say, “He’s the only friend I have. I would have... killed myself a long time ago if he wasn’t there for me.”

Baekhyun looked shocked at that confession. Frowning, he looked a bit guilty for being mean. Not that I blamed him. If it wasn’t for me, Jongin wouldn’t be hurt. He would be perfectly fine, alive and probably hanging out with them.

“Will you help us stop this,” Sehun asks, his tone still hard and a bit cold. He and Jongin are close. I was told a lot of stories about Sehun. Closest in age, always helping one another. He saw Sehun like a brother to him, and undoubtedly Sehun also deeply cared for Jongin. I can understand the coldness and the mean words from him. His best friend could have died, after all. “Even if it means facing what we can assume is your family?”

“Yes,” I say, the bright magic burning at my throat, where the dark magic made it’s home. “I’d die to stop them if I have to. I’ve let this gone on too long. I should have stopped it before now.”

“Sehun,” Baekhyun yells, sending a flash of pink magic to him. There was a loud crack, deep and low. It sounded like the river, when the thick ice gives way. Sehun’s spell fizzles out, his eyes returning to their normal color, golden honey hue.

I gasp, reaching for my throat, the burning still there. The dark magic fighting, like a vine of thorns wrapped around my neck being pulled.

Baekhyun gave Sehun a look as he walked to me. My confession changed Baekhun’s mind, I could see it. He looked guilty, and angry at Sehun. “Now, you know dark magic would react that way when light magic came into play!” He reached for the chain around his neck, multitude of stone and crystals on it, all different colors and shining different lights. He picks out one shining green, holding it close to my neck. The pain going away as the cool, relaxed feeling came back. “If you let it go on any longer, she could have been killed!”

“Thank you,” I mutter quietly, as I see the glow fade from the crystal. Jongin mentioned to me that some crystals and stones can be used to store spells. Must have been what Baekhyun has done.

He smiles, though it was small. “No problem. I’ll just have to ask Yixing to put another healing spell in it.”

“Can’t you just cast it,” I ask, confused.

“He’s awful at healing magic,” Sehun says, looking at him. He didn’t look guilty at all. He doesn’t even look like he felt bad for the pain from his spell. “It’s the reason why his request to become a higher ranking warlock has been denied.”

“Fuck you,” Baekhyun says, rolling his eyes. I could tell the subject was a very tender one for the charming man.

“However, he’s the best at illusions and dispelling other magic there is,” Sehun says with a smile. “Not even Grand Warlock Kim Heechul can beat Baekhyun at illusionary magic.”

“Now you’re just kissing ass,” Baekhyun says, sulking. A second later, he smirks, “Keep going, though. You know I love it.”

“Grand Warlock,” I ask, confused.

“This country's magic users are divided into sections,” Junmyeon says, calming the bit of tension there is in the room. “Three. So three grand warlocks. They oversee all magic here. Heechul, the Grand Warlock here, runs the west. The other two are Kwon Jiyong who runs the east, and Lee Ji Eun who runs the South. The South is the biggest region, but with less population than the West and East.”

I just stare at him, confused by all this new information. I barely understand how nonmagical politics work, or technology, much less any of this.

“We’ll explain more later,” Junmyeon says, looking at his phone. “Now, however, we can go and talk to Jongin.”

“Already,” I ask, shocked. “But he lost so much blood!”

“Magic is wonderful,” Baekhyun says while walking past, showering me in pink glitter lights that dissipate in a matter of seconds. “Power is a burden but it is amazing what can be done with it.”

I follow behind them, walking where they walk. I was quiet, not wanting to upset Sehun more than I already have. I can’t blame him for his ill views of me. I’d be the exact same if the roles were reversed. A few minutes and a ride in something called an ‘elevator’ later, were in a room as Jongin was sitting up, his eyes wide in fear as he was arguing with the person there.

“Yixing, listen, I have to go find Eden,” Jongin says, shifting in the pants and open shirt the hospital provided.

With a wave of his hand, the other man send silver light flashing to Jongin, forcing him back into bed with a bit of a push. It was gentle, but enough to make Jongin lay back without worry. Yixing’s hair was black, in a mess as he frowned. “No, YOU are going to stay there. Just because you’re healed doesn’t mean the pain will go away, you know that.”

“She’s here, anyways,” Sehun says as he walks in, moving over to sit by Jongin’s feet. He softly sits there, looking at his friend, his eyes surveying his torso for any wounds.

“What the hell is going on,” Yixing asks, looking at everyone, and then at me. His stare was intimidating, almost as sharp as a knife. His eyes were a light purple, as light energy flowed around him.

“Dark magic shit,” Baekhyun says, moving in and sitting in the visitor chair. He plopped down, leaning back and quickly made himself at home.

“And you couldn’t get rid of it,” Yixing asked, moving and looking at a clipboard. “Don’t you specialize in that sort of stuff?”

“Too powerful,” Baekhyun mutters, “Also, it’s old as hell. Unrefined magic that is centuries old. Maybe even Ancient, as old as Minseok even.”

“Minseok is going to hurt you if he knows you said that,” Junmyeon mutters, rolling his eyes.

I could see Sehun roll his eyes, looking at Junmyeon, “You’d know, wouldn’t you.”

Junmyeon looks curious, “What’s that suppose to mean?”

Yixing laughs, “Nothing Junmyeon. Ask Minseok if you want to know so badly, right Sehun?”

I could see just as Yixing placed his hand on Sehun’s shoulder, the youngest tensed. He didn’t answer, instead looking a bit bitter to the ground before composing himself. It wasn’t hate or contempt like he’s been looking at me, but there was something there.

I finally got the nerve to look up at Jongin. He was looking at me, his eyes scanning me to see if I’m ok. He looked tired. His hair a mess, but the bruises are gone already. There were some bandages on him, but overall everything has been healed. I couldn’t describe my relief when I saw he was ok. The look of worry faded when he saw that I was perfectly fine. “Eden,” Jongin says, letting out a long exhale, “I’m so happy you’re alright.”

I take a step to him, not able to stop myself. Sehun pushes me back with more silver magic. It felt like a vibration all over, moving me back a foot. It wasn’t strong. I could tell Sehun didn’t want it to hurt, just to get his point across. He glared, “Not until we can be sure you won’t hurt him.” For the first time since this whole thing started, Sehun looked at me with pure hatred. “Dark magic is only used by people who are evil. Everytime you cast dark spells, a piece of your soul leaves you until you’re nothing left. How are we supposed to know you didn’t do this to yourself?”

Jongin pulled on Sehun’s arm, glaring at him. “She saved me!”

“It could be a plan to get us to trust her,” Sehun says, not able to even look Jongin in the eyes. “I know you think I’m just being an asshole, but this is no small matter. We have to be careful!”

“The truth spell you did on her,” Baekhyun says, reminding him as he kicked out at his leg. “Idiot.”

“You know as well as I do that the truth spell doesn’t work if a person is too far gone,” Sehun says, glaring daggers at me. “They’d have to be locked into a sacred place, have the ground blessed and doused in holy oil for the truth spell to work on dark cultists who have lost too much of their soul. This kind of magic, this strong of magic, suggests that.”

Junmyeon gave Sehun a look, “Sehun! Stop, you don’t know th-”

“And you don’t know if she has us all fooled,” Sehun says, looking at me with fury. His entire body was tense, as if he hated being in the same room with me. “A pretty face and dark magic can do a lot of damage. One of us has been burned by that trick once, I won’t let it happen again.”

“I suppose it’s good I’m here, then,” The doctor mutters, setting the clipboard down. Yixing waves his hand at me, his eyes flashing green with swirls of white. I could feel a sense of calm come over me that I couldn’t control. There was a small pain in my chest, as I reach up and gasp. It’s odd, a feeling I was blind to is now very apparent. It was like I wasn’t whole. Like something was missing.

“Interesting,” Yixing says, his glowing eyes looking where the pain came from. He moves my hand, leaning down and looking.

“It’ll be ok, Eden,” Jongin says from the bed, wanting to move, only to be given a glare from Sehun who practically forced him back down. It felt awkward, but if Jongin trusts him, then I should too.

“Her soul is mostly intact,” Yixing says, tilting his head as he feel looking at my chest. Though, it was likely that he was looking through it.

“Mostly,” Sehun asks, looking at me. His eyes never softening as he glared.

“What’s missing looks like it’s been…” Yixing’s eyes come back to their normal color as he starts to look a bit ill, color draining from his face. I could see as the pieces of whatever he saw started to click in his mind, he looked horrified. “Like it’s been forcibly taken…”

“What the hell,” Sehun says, looking confused. “No magic these days takes soul fragments. The only dark magic I know takes your own soul, not someone else's.”

Baekhyun snapped, “That’s why the secret spell is one we don't recognize, it’s really old, very primitive magic. I was joking about it being ancient, but if it’s taking others soul, then it most certainly is ancient.”

In all the commotion, my eyes constantly sought out Jongin’s for reassurance. He was looking at me, checking me over with his eyes to make sure I was fine. I took a few steps toward him, holding out a hand. “You’re alive,” I mutter, my eyes filling with tears. Sehun lets me, though staying in his place and watching me like a hawk. I could only assume he trusts Yixing’s judgement.

He nods, taking my hand in his. It felt warm, familiar. “Thanks to you. If you didn’t teleport us here, I’d be dead.”

“I couldn’t do it again if I tried,” I say, wanting to come forward and be closer to him, but still keeping my distance, since I was still getting glares from Sehun.

Jongin rolls his eyes, his hand now turning silver as Sehun flies from the bed, managing to catch himself before his face met the wall. With the other hand, silver stands pulled me to him, so that I came to meet him, though much gentler than what he did to Sehun. He sat up, wrapping his arms around me and hugged me tightly.

“I don’t know what I would have done if you were hurt,” Jongin mutters, holding me close. He was warm, the comfort of being around him immediately washes over me. He pulls away, looking into my eyes. “Your brother...”

“He’s,” I say, the choking feeling stopping me from speaking once more. “He’s… a very bad… person,” I struggle out, not being able to say more than that. The black magic on the throat was bright as I fought for the words.

His eyes widen as he remembers, looking over to Sehun. “I need to see Heechul!”

“He’s gone to the South,” Sehun says, pouting as he was leaning against the wall. “Annual meeting in a separate void, they can’t be reached. You know the drill.”

Jongin looks at me, frowning. He looks a bit guilty, “I’m sorry, Eden, but your family, they’ve been lying to you.”

“I know that,” I say, “About all this and magic-”

“No,” He says, looking sad. “About everything. He pretends to be against magic, but really he’s been doing dark magic. I don’t even know if he realizes the blood magic he’s gotten himself into. Whatever is making him do this has him wrapped in a sick delusion. Your father thinks it’s God who is calling him to kill sinners, but that’s not it at all!”

“Blood magic is illegal,” Baekhyun says, his eyes wide as he stands up straight.

“He’s sacrificing people,” Jongin says, now looking away from me and to the others. I pull away, shocked by his words. “He’s a religious fanatic, but the thing that’s been talking to him isn’t God. It has him completely fooled.”

“What,” I ask, taking another step back, “I knew he’d do… but how…”

“That secret spell isn't just affecting your mouth. It doesn’t just stop you from speaking about what is going on. It’s making you see illusions too.” He says, “That room, it has magic glyphs everywhere. Directions to summon that thing that’s been talking to him, and he was close.” Jongin says, looking over at Junmyeon. “I don’t have time to sit here and recover. We have to go to Minseok and we have to stop this from happening.”

“Woah,” Junmyeon says, taking a step forward, “Slow down.”

Jongin, moves, starting to get out of bed, “I can’t! All he needed was one more person killed in that room, and that was going to be me, but…”

“I killed my brother. Isaiah…,” I say, shaking my head. The last person that need to be killed was killed by me.

“What else does he need,” Baekhyun asks, “We can stake out places where he has to get the things he needs.”

“He needs the last sacrifice,” Jongin says, tieing the front of his hospital shirt closed. He groaned from the stiffness he felt. Jongin placed a hand on my arm, trying to give me some sort of comfort.

“How are we supposed to watch over literally everyone in Seattle,” Sehun asks, crossing his arms.

“We don’t have to,” Jongin says, finding the bag of spare clothes Junmyeon brought with us as he quickly gets ready to leave. “The instructions say ‘Thy final gift must be the blood of your blood, of your name. A sacrifice to prove loyalty, taken from thy heart. One of thy likeness, slew for my freedom’.” He stands, moving towards the door as we all start to follow him. “It’s obvious, he needs to sacrifice a child. His child.”

“And there’s only one left,” Junmyeon says, putting the pieces together quickly. He looks, keeping a close watch on me as I followed, my heart racing after hearing this. It was like my mind went blank, hearing this.

“But what about her brother,” Baekhyun asks, looking at me, as if doubting what we’ve said.

“Second to last isn’t the last,” Jongin says, pushing the elevator button over and over in a rush. He turns to Baekhyun and Sehun. “I know you, both of you. You two think she’s lying, but she isn’t. I saw her do it, and if using a Truth spell on me will ease your mind, then by all means, do so.”

Sehun shakes his head, grabbing onto Junmyeon and Baekhyun’s shoulders, “Hold on to each other, if this situation is as bad as you say we don’t have time to walk.”

Baekhyun points his fingers at me, a spark of blue energy going around my head before my sight turns ink black. “Sorry,” Baekhyun says, “But we can’t let you see the entrance to the Western Magi Capital.”

When my sight came back, I was sitting in a chair in a room. It looked fairly normal. Glittering images and illustrations were on the wall, along with boards showing the faces and names of people. I rubbed my eyes, the world suddenly seeming brighter than I remember. Screens that were translucent all over. Words, magic things, and news played on them. There was soft, classical music playing. It sounded calming.

“Sorry about that,” A new voice says, a few feet away. I look, seeing a man sitting behind a desk, looking at a metal thing in his hand. He glances up at me, silver hair in a bit of a mess. He wore a tee and some jeans as he stepped around the desk, setting the metal thing on the top. “We keep this place a secret from people.”

“It’s fine,” I mutter in a small voice. “I understand.”

“Good, I’m glad.” He says as he sits down on a chair facing mine. His eyes were a silver hue, looking at me calmly. He also had tattoos, but not as much as Jongin. His ears were pierced, but that was all. He smiled, “My name in Kim Minseok. I’m a high warlock, and, when the Grand Warlock is away, I’m the one left in charge.”

I nod, lacing my fingers together, “I’m-”

“Eden Winters,” He says, nodding. His eyes change, shimmering a bit. It was like drops of neon blue ink in water. Blue shining and flowing in his irises. “Twenty-two years old. Born on the outskirts of Portland, but your family moved here before you were one. Grew up with just your parents and your brother.”

“Um… yes,” I say. “I see they told you all about me.”

“They didn’t,” Minseok says, as his eyes are now completely blue, shimmering with glitter. They shine, brighter than any other light in the room. “When you were four, you broke a finger. Your brother slapped you across the face for questioning him and when you fell, you landed just on your hand a broke your right pinky.”

“But I never… I never told anyone that,” I mutter, looking at Minseok as he just smiled. “I told my Mom and Dad that I just fell…”

He simply just start talking again. “You have a scar on your back from climbing a tree and falling after the branch you were on broke.” He squinted, like he was looking through me, “Your father and brother made you kill someone when you were sixteen, four months, twelve days, twenty hours, fourteen minutes and twenty three seconds old. It gave you nightmares for weeks. Your mother would sneak into your room and when you started to scream in horror, she’d hold your mouth shut to muffle your cries. She didn’t want you to wake your father, or else you’d be punished.”

My blood went cold, as visions of the moment he talked about flash in my mind. The blood and the screams of the man begging for his life. “I.. I never-”

“Told anyone that either,” Minseok says, nodding. His eyes drain their color as the silver came back to view. “I know.”

“You saw that,” I asked, looking at him in shock.

He nods, “Yes. High warlocks gain incredible power when granted the title. We can see things, if we focus on it. The past, things in the present. All we need is to know the person’s name.” Minseok smiles, “But, that’s not why I did that. I did it because I now can tell everyone that you’re not lying or trying to fool anyone. You’re trying to help us, you want this to end.” He sighs, “And, really, it just proves that there is a very powerful illusionary magic places on you. The basement I saw through your eyes is not the same one I saw in Jongin’s.” Minseok shakes his head. “That level of illusion is… unmatched.”

“What,” I ask, leaning back into the chair.

“But we’re going to fix that,” Minseok says, reaching out. His hand glowing with the brightest light I’ve ever seen. Wind blew around us, moving papers all around. “Don’t be scared,” He says, his eyes glowing bright white. “Trust me.”

My throat burned, and I looked down, seeing traces of the darkest magic. Minseok starts to slowly rotate his hand. The more it went, the tighter my throat felt, the more it burned. Countless screams reach my ears and I cover them, trying to stop it. It was useless, as the more he turned his hand, the louder they got. The lights and magic in the room started to flicker. Papers falling off his desk as things around the room were shaking and falling from their places. Tears fell from my eyes, the wind becoming as fast as a tornado. Papers flying around us faster than I could see. I hear things crack and crash against one another, the screams stabbing into my mind like a hot needle until finally, the magic snaps. Minseok’s hand twists, and the magic around my throat cracks, like it was made of glass. Screams came from it, and the magical essence disappeared into thin air.

Silence. The screaming was no more, but my head still ached. I look at Minseok, as he takes a deep breath. Sweat formed on his forehead as he smiled. “There. You’re free.”

“Thank you,” I mutter, nodding. I reach up, holding my head, closing my eyes. It was like everything was brighter, and it burned to look around right now.

“That’s a side effect,” Minseok says, “Unfortunately, no magic can stop that. It’ll pass in a few hours.” He frowns, standing and offering his hand to me. “Here. I’ll take you to where you’re staying so you can rest.”

“But I want to help,” I mutter, “He killed all those people and I just sat by and watched! I let it happen for so long-”

“That dark magic,” Minseok says, calmly as he looks his arm with mine as we’re walking to the door. “Every time you’ve set your mind on telling someone, it would trick you and force you not to tell.”

“But I wanted to tell Jongin,” I say, walking with him. He was a bit taller than me, but there was something about him that just felt comforting and safe.

Minseok nods, his eyes going the inky like blue way again. He’s seeing my mind, but he’s still walking and able to navigate around without focusing on where we’re going. “It’s curious,” He finally mutters, his eyes still cloudy, “Usually, that wouldn’t happen. The spell was powerful, beyond most people’s ability.” He was silent, as we pass by a few doors. All black in color. The floor was black marble, and the walls were a deep green. Pictures hung of past Grand Warlocks, all looking powerful and full of pride.

He hold me tighter, “I’ll have to go deeper.” The ink color in his eyes goes from blue to a deep, dark purple. I felt nothing as he looks into my memories. After a few moments, he smiles. His cheeks blush, as he closes his eyes. When he opens them again, they were normal. “What you two have… that kind of bond is powerful, and makes people’s magic more powerful. People have bonds in their life that makes them stronger. Sometimes it’s a friend, sometimes it’s a loved one, sometimes it’s family. But all magic users have that person, even if that person can’t do magic themselves.It’s a special bond that happens through magic. Altibi, the word used for that person.” Minseok smiles, “Ah, but that’s not all. You love him.”

I blush, hearing him talk about my feelings so openly when I can’t do it myself. “What about you,” I ask, “Do you have someone like that?”

Minseok nods, “I do.” The smile on his face was small and a bit sad, “He doesn’t know it, though. It’s a lot to explain… and there’s risk.”

I smile, “That’s great. Perhaps you should tell this person that they makes you stronger. That they’re important to you.”

He just nods, “I should.” Minseok smiles, thinking of a memory. He glances at me, “That’s how you were able to teleport here. Jongin was in need, and you’ve seen and felt the magic before. You’ve probably read about it in the books he’s lends you.”

“You saw that,” I ask, as we get to the elevator. Honestly, it kind of scared me.

Minseok pushes the button, nodding. “And a few… other things,” Minseok says, his face turning pink. “I’m sorry. In my curiosity, I pried and saw some very... intimate moments. I apologize.”

My face gets hot as I realise what he’s saying. He laughs, smiling as he shakes his head.

The elevator dings, and standing there is Jongin. He looks shocked, before smiling. He wore normal clothes, all black as the smile seemed to radiate on his face. “Eden,” He says, walking forward and pulls me into a hug. I smile, hugging him back as Minseok remove his hand from my arm.

Jongin felt warm and safe as he pulls me close. He laughs, “The dark magic is gone, good!”

I nod, as he leans away, before taking my face in his hands and pressing his lips to mine. It was soft and short, but the kiss was comforting. My face went red, remembering Minseok was still here.

“I’ll leave her to you, then,” Minseok says, turning back around. “I’m going to be in my office, if anyone needs me. I’ve got some planning to do on how we’re going to approach this. Thankfully Baekhyun is already sending me all the tomes about old light magic he can find. Go, take her to get some sleep, but keep her close. We don’t know exactly what kind of magic we’re dealing with.”

“Minseok,” I say, turning. My head was still hurting, but I ignore him. “Um… that person. You should tell them.”

Minseok’s silver eyes shine as me smiles. He shakes his head, nodding. “I really should.”

As he leaves, I turn, entering the elevator with Jongin. I hug him again, leaning my head on his chest.

“Are you-”

“Shh,” I mutter. The steady beat of his heart thumping was comforting. He’s still here. He’s still alive. “Sorry, I just have a massive headache and I’ve decided I don’t like elevators.”

“From the spell being broken,” He says, understanding. “I’ll take you somewhere you can rest.” He then just holds me closer, “It’s ok. The elevator won’t hurt you.”

“That sounds lovely,” I mutter, the exhaustion hitting me. My time passed out before did nothing to help how tired I felt. There was a fear within me that I was holding down, keeping secret.

Jongin’s hand rubs my back softly. “We’re going to keep you here for a while. To keep you away from him.”

Him. Meaning my father. Who is planning to sacrifice me to whatever evil thing he’s been talking to and doing the bidding of. Jongin could sense my discomfort as he just sighs. I could tell he wants to say something, but he doesn’t know what. All the talk about me growing up to make him proud, give him grandchildren, all of it was just talk. Lies. Like everything about our family. I wonder if my mother is ok, I knew she cared about me, if only a little.

Jongin wipes his thumbs across my face as he held it. This action makes me realize I was crying. “I’m sorry,” I mutter. The doors open and Jongin takes my hand, leading me with him.

“Don’t be. It’s a good thing we know about this in time to stop it,” He says, smiling at me.

“You could have died,” I say, “And it would have been all my fault. If we never met, you would have never-”

“Never found out about this dark thing that could kill many more,” Jongin says, his voice full of confidence as he just smiles. “I’m fine. I’m alive because of you. We’re going to stop this because of you.”

“I… I don’t know what I would have done if you would have…” I say, choking up.

He stops in front of a door, unlocking it with a key he had from his pocket. He opens the door, letting me in and closing it behind him. Be pulls me to him, holding my face in his hands. “Don’t think like that, Eden. Please. I’m alive because of you. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been since I met you. I can’t even begin to tell you how you’ve made my life so much better.”

“Even after all this,” I say, on the verge of breaking down.

“Nothing could change how I feel about you,” He says, smiling at me. In the blink of an eye, he presses his lips to mine. It was chaste, as he pulled away, “Eden, please, don’t blame yourself for something you literally couldn’t help. The magic was strong, and the fact that you would even recognise right and wrong is incredible. Fighting that kind of magic could have killed you.”

“You have no idea how much you’ve changed me,” I mutter quietly, “My entire life is better for knowing you.”

“I think I do, because I feel the same about you.” He says with a smile, “Come on.”

Sleep came to me instantaneously. It wasn’t restful, as I wanted to toss and turn. All I could see was blood. Jongin’s blood. My brothers blood. Their blood on me. I vaguely remember Jongin waking me up, saying something. A flash of purple light and I was gone, drawn back to sleep. After waking, it was peaceful. The sleep was now just nothingness and rest.

Sehun rolled his eyes, sitting on the side of Minseok’s desk as the other one was searching through tome after tome. He was getting a bit chastised for the way he treated Eden.

“I treated her nicer than I would have treated anyone else who would have harmed a friend,” Sehun mutters. “Besides, how about you stay out of my business. Especially since you can’t seem to sort out your own. No need to go sort out my life when you have one all to yourself.”

Minseok sighs, dropping a heavy tome on Sehun’s hand, making the youngest yelp. Completely accidental, of course. Minseok let a tiny smirk out as he watches Sehun look over the hurt fingers, inspecting them of any damage. “What are you talking about,” Minseok asks, not really caring to hear the answer, just really letting Sehun talk out his frustrations.

“You’re the one who hasn’t told Junmyeon that he’s you’re Altibi,” Sehun says, rolling his eyes. “You know what that is, right? You seem to avoid it so much I might as well tell you. Altibi. Which is the magic word given for the latin phrase meaning ‘Per mutua nexis mean’. The person your soul is intertwined with-”

Minseok reaches over, quickly using force magic to shove Sehun to the ground. He feel with a thump and a yelp, but Minseok just keeps his eyes forward, not looking at the younger magic user.

“I see I hit a nerve,” Sehun says, the smirk clear in his voice. He stands, getting up gracefully.

“Junmyeon doesn’t need to be bothered with that,” Minseok says, “Every time a non magical person does the ceremony to bind Altibis, it hasn’t ended well at all.”

Sehunscoffs, shaking his head, “You’re forgetting Krystal and Amber. Worked very well for them. Krystal survived the ceremony.”

“And you’re forgetting that Tiffany literally almost died,” Minseok says, “The only reason she’s safe now is because we had to wipe all her memories of Taeyeon.”

Sehun winced at the mention of that. Everyone remembers that. Taeyeon had to move across country just to get away from it all. She said the pain was just too much to bare, knowing the person who is tied to her soul is someone she’s not allowed to see or speak with anymore.

Minseok looks at the papers in front of him, “I’m not going to risk Junmyeon’s life like that.”

Sehun huffed, “Well, perhaps you sh-”

“No. I shouldn’t,” Minseok hand around the pen tightened, “Perhaps you should focus on finding your Altibi instead! Everyone of us now has except for you!”

The second the words left Minseok’s mouth, he deeply regretted it. Something in the air felt different. He turned, looking at Sehun who just gave him a pained look. He was stood still, looking at Minseok with wide eyes. “Sehun, I-”

“Fuck you,” Sehun says, his eyes getting glassy. “I… you don’t even know…” He shook his head, glaring forward as he walked to the door.

“I’m sorry,” Minseok says, standing and going to follow.

Sehun turned back, tears falling from his eyes. “My Altibi isn’t reciprocated! There, are you happy!”

Minseok pauses mid step, looking at Sehun. His eyes wide. “What?”

Sehun walks to him, standing in front of him. He grabs Minseok’s hands, forcing them to hold his face as he says, “Look. Go ahead. Do it.”

“Sehun, I-” Minseok starts, only to be cut off by Sehun.

“I can’t stand to explain it, so do it,” Sehun says in a pitiful, pained voice. His eyes were shining with pain as he just held Minseok’s hands there. “It’ll be nice having someone finally know the extent of the pain I’m constantly in!”

Minseok sighs, letting the seeing magic flow through him and into Sehun’s mind. It didn’t take long to see the memory, since Sehun knew what he was looking for, it came quickly.

Sehun, sitting in front of Yixing, whose eyes were the white-green as he was looking him over. Yixing looked visibly upset, confused as he look at him. Sehun was younger. Years younger. Yixing just got a job at the hospital.

“This is rare,” Yixing mutters, shaking his head. “Whomever you’re Altibi is… isn’t yours.”

Sehun’s eyes in the memory were flooded with tears that just keep streaming down. Minseok could feel pain explode in his own chest, feeling what Sehun feels in the moment he was looking at. It was like someone sucked all the air out of his lungs. Someone was stabbing directly into his heart. Minseok has never experienced pain as awful as this before. “Can’t you fix it? You’re amazing, you can fix anything!”

The sadness on Yixing’s face was all Minseok needed to see as he pulled out of the memory. “Who,” he asks, looking at the crying face before him as the seeing magic started to fade. “Who is it?”

Sehun close his eyes, shaking his head. “That’s why I was crying so much,” He says, his voice cracking. “Do you know how hard it is to listen to the person who is your Altibi say that you don’t have one?! To have the person who holds half of your soul tell you that they don’t see that you have one at all?”

“Why didn’t you tell Yixing,” Minseok asks, as Sehun pulled away and wipes his eyes.

Sehun just laughs bitterly, “No. That’s not going to happen. You know Yixing will just feel awful and guilty.”

“Sehun, you can’t live like this, with this burden all alone,” Minseok says, stepping to Sehun, who just steps back in response.

“That’s why I want you to tell Junmyeon,” Sehun yells. “I’ve live knowing I was never going to have that person. Years I’ve known this, all the while watching you know you have one, know who it is, and just not do fucking anything about it!”

Before Minseok could open his mouth to say anything else, Sehun teleported away. He couldn’t stop the deep sadness he felt after. The pain in his chest starting to fade. Minseok was too scared to ask Sehun if that pain was something he felt all the time, or when he was just around Yixing.

I was sitting in an expansive library, watching as books and scrolls floated around. Jongin’s face was buried in books, writing notes to what he deemed important. I was reading more about simpler magic, trying not to worry. It’s been a few days, and people around me have been looking through old books and talking to other magical institutes around the world. It was a worry, that little has been achieved, but so long as I’m here, it can’t be completed.

Sehun’s been in an awful mood, casting glares at anyone and everyone. He even had some biting remarks for Jongin before going off into his own corner of the library. Chanyeol and Yixing are in the middle of deciphering a tome that's in some ancient language. Kyungsoo was there, reading his own book but sometimes helping them. Minseok was standing in the middle of the room. He was in the center of a white marble circle, and all around him was different screen like things. Different pictures of books from other places on them as he was quickly getting information.

The door bursts open, Baekhyun running in with Jongdae and Junmyeon on his tail. Baekhyun looked pale, like he was ready to vomit as he quickly calls people to him. Everyone came close, except Sehun, who hung back and looked in a few feet away. He slams a book down in front of Jongin, motioning for everyone to gather around.

“It’s… That thing he’s… It’s referenced as a ‘Dark one’ or ‘Elder God’,” Baekhyun says, opening the book. “People all around the world have been trying to resurrect this… thing. It’s called Arnokros. It’s a monster that can change it’s form. It feeds on people’s minds after it makes them go mad.”

From the name, I see Minseok have the same reaction as Baekhyun. “The last time it was roaming free, many people died. Whole civilizations have collapsed because of it. The Olmecs, the Aksumites, the Mycenaeans…”

“It can also create children,” Baekhyun says, pointing. “‘Though weaker in power, the spawn of Arnokros thrive still, infecting people, trying to summon it’s father.’” Baekhyun looked at me, “Your father was infected by one of it’s children. He can’t be saved, I’m sorry. His mind, his soul has been fed on and devoured. He’s gone. That thing isn’t your father anymore.”

Minseok shakes his head, “How do you kill it?”

Baekhyun shakes his head, “We lock it away and wait for it to die of hunger. Which takes centuries.”

Yixing looks at me, “That explains why a piece of your soul is missing. After it ate your father’s soul, it probably wanted more.”

Baekhyun nods, “Your father is only alive because it inhabits him. If it left him, he’s dead. It couldn’t eat your soul and kill you, but it looks like it let it’s hunger get the best of it for just a moment.”

“We should also destroy the altar and ritual space it made,” Chanyeol mutters, looking at the book.

Minseok cross his arms, “We have a separate void space made that we can put the creature. We just have to make sure no one comes into contact with it for a while.”

I watch as Yixing sighed, shaking his head. He moves, leaning his head against Sehun’s shoulder with a sigh. I couldn’t help the way Sehun reacted. After the awful mood he’s been in, I expected him to shove Yixing away and tell him to get lost. But what happened was curious. No one else noticed it, but a look of deep sadness washed over him. Sehun looks as if he was physically in pain, looking away. I could see tears fill his eyes as he quickly gathers a hold of himself, raising the arm Yixing wasn’t leaning against and wiping his eyes.

“Well, everyone, make sure to wear your enchanted gear tomorrow,” Minseok says, “We’re going to be needing a lot of magician’s flame oil, too.”

“We’re going to burn it? Alright.” Jongin’s hand finds mine, holding it tightly. I look at him, and he smiles, “It’s ok, Eden. It’ll all be over soon.”

I shake my head, trying not to get emotional. That thing… it took over my father. My father wasn’t a monster before this thing came. Mom told me a long time ago that before he was just a simple farmer and mechanic. That something changed him shortly after I was born. Before I could stop them, tears were filling my eyes as I just looked down at my lap.

“Don’t worry,” Yixing says, leaving Sehun’s side and taking a step closer. He smiles at me, but I just couldn’t bring myself to smile back.

Sehun scoffs, rolling his eyes. “He’s a monster. He has to be dealt with. Face the facts.”

I let go of Jongin’s hand, biting my tongue and keeping myself from snapping. I stand, walking calmly to the door.

Minseok looks at Sehun, giving him a glare. “I know you’re upset, and you have every right to be at what you’re going through, but stop acting like a dick.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with what I said,” Sehun says quietly.

I turn back, calmly looking at him as I keep the anger in me. My tears falling freely. “But he wasn’t always. That thing… it change him. Mother told me how he use to be just a farmer. A simple man living off the land when something changed after I was born. Then he started…” I shake my head, glaring at Sehun. “He was a good person and his soul was… When I was young he use to play with me and read to me, but then, slowly those moments became rare until they stopped.” I refused to look away as I could see how embarrassed Sehun was. “It stopped because he’s no longer in there. That thing killed him, and you expect me to be happy about it? My father was killed slowly, he was taken from me and this thing is using what’s left like a puppet and you expect me not to feel sad?!”

Baekhyun took a step to me, “Eden, it’s ok.” I looked over, seeing his hand holding one of the crystals. I took a step back, “No! Don’t use magic to try to stop me! Sehun wanted me to face the facts, so I am!”

He winces, like my words actually hit him. “It’s just a calmin-”

“I don’t care,” I saw, letting my voice remain eerily calm. “You all don’t get it, do you?! It’s bad enough my father had to die having his soul feasted on. Slowly, agonisingly… but then, when you catch what’s felt of him, his body is going to remain doing nothing but slowly starving and dying for centuries.”

Jongin took a step to me, his eyes shining as he opens his mouth. I just turned, “I… I want to be alone right now. I’ll be back in my room.”

My footsteps echoed though the hall. The marble floor, shining and polished was loud as I slowly made my way to the small bedroom I was given here. It didn’t have much, a bed, a dresser, and a small desk, but it was more than enough for me. I still had some spellbook on it, open to the pages where I was learning about counterspells. It all seemed so small now as I try to breathe in, slowly. My shoulders started to shake, tears fell freely as my silent cries turned into loud sobbing. I couldn’t stop crying no matter what I did. I couldn’t stop imagining how my life could have been if my father was actually my father. How different it would be. How my brother would probably still be alive. How my mother would be happy.

It wasn’t until my eyes were falling after what felt like hours of crying did I realize the door opened. I could feel a hand touch my shoulder, quiet muttering of worry filled the air. Before I finally fell asleep, I could see Jongin looking at me, worried, as his hand just rubbed soothing circles on my back.

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