#nct dream reader insert

The title is an archaic one, granted only to the strongest of the GrandMasters since the dawn of their time in the mundane world. Not one to be big on honorifics, Johnny would usually just laugh it off whenever the others would tease him about it. He would always say that it is an outdated position that didn’t matter anymore in this time and age. After all, what use do you have of generals, queens, and pawns without war and discord? 

That was one side of him. As the first Master to be named in this generation, Johnny knew from the moment his Arcana made itself known that he carries a huge responsibility over the family. The Suh’s are not as influential as the Lee’s or the Na’s, but the respect he’s gained is something he so well deserves, especially being one of the firsts trained and mentored by the Headmaster himself. 

“How many?” He asked silently now as he leaned casually against the stone wall behind him. The man stationed in the shadows with him slipped his hands on the pocket of his pants in an equally lax manner. 

“Yuta says probably 20 on his end. Mijeong thinks it’s the same with hers.” 

“Jungwoo?”

“At the tower. He gave a very interesting update.” 

For the first time, Johnny turned to look at the other, his expression mildly curious. Jung Jaehyun, real name Yunoh, looked handsome even under the shade of the darkness, but there was a tick on his jaw that betrayed his usually calm, if not detached demeanor. As the second in line to Johnny, they both were expected to be at the frontlines of whatever it is they were about to face.

“IL Matto and La Morte, they are outside of the castle walls. They went through Jaemin’s end and have broached the forest boundary.”

Johnny looked at him in shock. 

“What do you mean—”

“They ran away. Together.”

Before he could say anything, a thundering explosion boomed from the other side of the castle that sent the very ground they were standing on to tremble. Both he and Jaehyun looked at each other, then, without another word, broke into a run. 

“Johnny, what’s the plan!”

“The Headmaster. We have to find him.”

“And IL Matto?” 

He gritted his teeth before kicking open a door. 

“Pray that she is as far away from here as she can. Or else, we’re all fucked.”

*******

“Yuta!”

Mijeong yelled at the top of her lungs just as she ripped the solid metal gates that were blocking her way. Not even a minute after the explosion from the south of the Academy, soldiers in black uniforms stormed her end of the castle and tried to pin her down. The mundanes didn’t hold much against her as she swung and punched at them, but even in the very short fight she had the unsettling feeling that something was terribly wrong with this attack. 

First, the enemies didn’t use their guns on her once, which in a way makes sense if their goal was to snatch all Arcana GrandMasters like her. However, they didn’t even try to take her either. Instead, the way they moved made her feel as if they were trying to keep her in one place, distracting her… Away from their real target.

She gasped slightly now as she broke through the other side of the castle just in time to see Yuta land on the balcony from above. The man turned to look at her wildly before all of a sudden grabbing her wrist the moment he reached her. He started tugging her towards the edge of the balcony without another word.

“W-wait—what are you—”

“We need to go.”

“Where?! The castle has been infiltrated. Enemies are everywhere!”

“Forget about them. We need to find the others. The Headmaster. They got him.”

The two of them jumped off the ledge, free-falling together.

*******

Mark was very much convinced that there was someone else who had taken over his body at the moment.

After he and the others saw the gaping tear in Rosewood’s protective shield, it was like something came on in him that was entirely separated from the current thoughts spiraling inside of his head. He led the others now in the dark hallways of the Academy, their footsteps thundering against the cobblestone floors. They were about to turn the last corner to the Headmaster’s office when a yell suddenly made them stop. Turning around, he looked on in fear as someone tried to tackle Jisung to the ground. The attacker seemed to have come from nowhere, and the two were currently locked in a tangle of limbs. Before he could take another step to help the boy, a sickly crunch pierced the air. He and the rest stared as the masked person staggered backwards, before finally collapsing with a groan. Red bloomed in the middle of his chest where the silver blade of a dagger protruded. 

“Hey! Are you alright?!”

They all looked up to see Mijeong and Yuta running towards them from the other side. The girl barely stopped at the corpse to pull her knife from the body before turning to all of them, wild-eyed.

“Where is she? Did you get her?” 

The collective silence made the girl’s face turn white. Yuta, sensing the panic of everyone, looked around before starting to urgently push the group forward. More screaming has started erupting in the distance and he knew they needed to get to the next safest space in the whole Academy. 

“Let’s not talk here. We need to go to the Headmaster’s office.” 

“But Johnny, Jungwoo, and Jaehyun-hyung—” 

“They’re the least we should worry about. Let’s go!”

The group, fortunately, did not encounter any more of the attackers as they sprinted to the office. The moment they closed the door behind them, Mijeong urgently grabbed Mark’s arm to shake him. Yuta, meanwhile, ran straight to the head of the room where a communication panel was. He started flipping over switches before starting to press codes on the telegraph keys there.

“Where is she? Answer me.” 

Mark gave her a torn look but managed to answer. “She’s not here. She and Jeno left before the attacks started.”

The girl froze at his answer. Taking a step back, she turned blindly at the room, as if she was considering jumping over the window and making a run after the two. Yuta joined them before she managed another word out. 

“I’ve sent code to the others that we’re here.” He turned to the girl then, eyes steady. “It’s better that she’s out of the Academy. If Jeno is with her, she’s safer than the rest of us probably are.” 

“These people are not here to hurt us though,” she said as she ran her hand through her hair. Renjun’s gaze snapped to her, alert. 

“What do you mean?”

“They were carrying weapons, but they never used it once. And they didn’t bring enough people for a full attack. This is just a distraction. It’s almost like they want to keep us here rather than take us.” 

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Jaemin said. 

“It does,” Mark answered again. He pulled something from his pocket and put out something on his palm for all to see. The Headmaster’s bronze ring glinted under the dimmed light of the room like an abandoned relic. “They’re not after us. Just him. They were trying to keep us here in case we came to his rescue.” 

At that moment, banging knocks started echoing from the doorway. Haechan, who was closest to it, eyed it carefully. Mijeong and Yuta gave him a nod, their poses taut and ready to attack if needed. He reached out to it, turned the knob open and let the door swing freely inside. 

A soot-covered Johnny, Jaehyun, and Jungwoo stumbled inside, looking all a bit out of breath but unhurt. Following behind them, seemingly appearing out of thin air was Ten. Kun and Taeyong were flanking his sides.

“Is everyone alright?” Kun’s voice was urgent as he went straight to the cluster of the youngest of boys. Taeyong didn’t waste time to go over to Johnny and Jaehyun who have both set themselves beside the door.

“Have you taken care of—”

“Yes. Everyone. Dead. There’s about a hundred of them in total. We burned the bodies in the dungeons,” Johnny answered unflinchingly. 

“We’re sure nobody is left?” 

“We are. I checked all the cams. But Renjun, can you confirm?” Ten asked as he ran straight to the window and looked below. “Shit. The barrier is compromised. We’re not sure if more will come.”

“There’s nobody in the vicinity,” Renjun said as his eyes refocused after doing a mind scan of the surroundings. “I can’t sense anyone.” His last word was barely out, however, before his features seemingly froze again. A mixed look of fear and concern overtook him as he turned quickly to Ten. Everyone’s breath caught at his next announcement. 

“Ten-hyung, she and Jeno.”

“They’re back.”

*******

You reeled yourself in as you and Jeno reached out to Ten when he appeared out of thin air the moment you broke through Rosewood’s protected grounds. You knew the moment you went back to the Academy’s protected lands that Renjun would have sensed your consciousness, but you were unprepared for what you came back to as soon as the turrets of Rosewood appeared in your view. A gaping gash in the sheer shield of the Academy rose from the sky down to the grounds, rippling and undulating like a burning bright flesh wound. Ten appearing to teleport you back confirmed your suspicion. 

Something has gone terribly wrong.

You almost tripped on your feet when the three of you landed on physical space again right at your father’s office. Without wasting another breath, and barely looking at anyone else, you went straight to the first person who was closest to the idea of stability in your head. 

“Kun! Papa, where’s my father? I felt something. I can’t feel him—”

Your words died on you at the look in his face. He tried to reach out to you to hold you by your arms, but you have already stumbled back a little. A different set of arms caught you before you crumpled to the floor. You felt numb.

“Oh god… Oh god. They got him. They took him.” 

You heard Taeyong’s voice somewhere behind you. He was saying something, but none of his words made sense as a painful buzz started filling your head. The dull throb that you felt somewhere deep inside of you earlier when your bond with your father first broke was worse now—as if there was a gaping hole punched straight through your chest—now that you were back in the Academy where the center of his power sits. As your vision started to blur around the edges, you felt a gentle hand on the back of your head. Jaemin’s words wove in and out of your fading consciousness as other voices started filtering through in the background. Some were loud, and the others soft, like a radio whose volume dial was being turned up and down.

“Love, you need to calm down.” 

An unexplainable force had started to crush against your temples. Blindly, your fingers reached to tug at your hair from its roots. A crawling, electric feeling like that of liquid fire shot through your whole body and you were gripped by the desperate need to peel your skin off of your bones. It was like your mind was being swallowed by something primal and ancient. What was left of your consciousness gave you a jarring jolt of realization before you went down under. 

IL Matto’s powers were overtaking you.

“Jaemin, you—something. She’s losing—”

“....Haechan, no—!”

“Jaehyun, hold them back—”

“Jeno, she’s pulling me under, too,”

“Hold on. Jaemin. Fight it—”

“Noona. Please.” 

“Listen to me, you don’t want this. You don’t want to hurt them.” 

A shrill, ear-piercing sound shot through your consciousness like a bolt of lighting. Like camera lens that suddenly refocused, your vision sharpened once more. The only evidence of your earlier turmoil were your gasping breaths which tore your lungs even now as if you have ran for miles. Yet even that was temporary, because the moment your brain finally caught up with the scene laid out in front of you, your chest stilled once more.

Rising in the middle of the room was a black shadowy shield that moved like the thinnest of veils. It ran from ceiling to floor and shimmered with an obsidian glow that, from the looks of it alone, could never exist in the mundane world. You knew from the first look where it came from, but it was the slight numbing feeling that licked the edges of your consciousness now that confirmed it. Jeno had summoned nether forces which were now pushing back against your own arcana to reel you back to control. 

But that was not the sole purpose of it. Because on the other side of it were the rest of your friends, shielded from you. The dark glimmer of the protective barrier unfortunately was not enough to cover the states they were in and your heart dropped to your stomach at what you saw.

Johnny, Jaehyun, Ten and Yuta were closest to the barrier, all looking pained even in the defensive way they stood. They looked unscathed, but there was a look on their faces as if they had just come out of a spell. Behind them, just beyond your vision, Jisung was curled up on the floor. Small glimmers of light spots hovered over him and disappeared one by one as you looked on. Beside him was Chenle who was in the middle of picking himself up with a wince. The window behind him was shattered and the floor beneath where he was standing now was ruined, the wooden planks splintered and torn from the ground.

Numbly, your gaze moved to the far end of the cluster. Mark was the first one who caught your attention, his back on you as he doubled over someone who was still out of your line of sight. Jungwoo was beside him, bent over the same person. He looked pale, but you could see his lips moving as if he was talking to whoever they were trying to revive. When he shifted a little, your heart stopped. Haechan was sitting on the floor, his back pressed against the wall. He was not unconscious, but you could tell from the shuttered look in his wide eyes that he was not there as well. He seemed to be watching something inside of his head that only he can see—this time, a prisoner to his own illusions that he used to master.

“Taeyong! Kun! They need help!” Mijeong’s voice made you turn your head blindly to the other side. She and Ten were trying to hold up a half conscious Renjun. You watched as both men she called came running over to her side.

At that moment, the deathly veil disappeared by dissolving into wisps of smoke. Slowly and dreadfully, you finally turned to your side of the room where you were once separated from the others.

Jeno was by your side, standing so still except for the heavy heaving of his chest. Sweat dotted his forehead and he looked on the verge of sinking to his knees as well. Instead, he turned and bent over someone slumped on the seat beside him, his hand trying to lift the boy’s head. A terrified, pained sob escaped you as your eyes focused. Jaemin was unconscious in front of you, blood dripping from his nose. 

You stumbled back in horror before dashing out of the room without a word. 

*******

IL Matto. The Fool. The trump card of the Arcana system. The beginning and the end. While other Grandmasters of the aether forces consider their appointment as vessels an honor since time immemorial, those who were chosen by The Fool were regarded to be unfortunate souls branded with a curse. Often, their stories end the same:

Driven to death by their own madness, or hunted down by the other Grandmasters themselves.

You could not blame the bloody path that your predecessors were thrown into. As you stood now under the shower, the scalding water leaving burning streaks down your bare skin, you wishfully thought someone—anyone would come swooping down on you like a death angel to finally grant you that mercy of being freed from your curse. 

“Arcana holders like us have our limits but what you can do is beyond the usual boundaries that no generation of Masters have ever seen. You can turn a flame into an explosion, or make it destroy itself as if it never existed at all. You will meet many other flames in your life, some of which will want to have and use you, or destroy you."

Your father’s words from many years ago echoed in your head like a death bell. Your fate is one of the few solid things that you thought you were sure of in your life. One day, IL Matto’s powers will consume you from inside out and you will be driven to death by your self-induced madness. But never—not even once—have you ever considered the other side of that constant guillotine hanging over your head.

You almost killed all of them. Your own friends and the only people close enough to you to consider family. You've hurt them by triggering their own abilities into levels they were physically incapable of handling, and you don't have any other excuse to give for it other than your own lack of self-control and weakness.

You stepped out of the bath now, your footprints leaving dark marks on the floor. You have locked yourself up away from everyone after what happened in your father’s office, but you knew you couldn’t stay here forever. As you stared at yourself in your fogged up mirror, you saw, reflected back to you the same emotion that you saw in your friends’ eyes yesterday. 

Fear. 

You swallowed and pulled on your shirt before it consumed you. 

*******

The walk to your father’s office felt oddly too quick. Maybe it’s because of the gnawing, foreboding feeling in your chest, but the sound of your footsteps seemed to thunder against your ears as they echoed down the halls. The truth is that you have no idea about what you will do once you get there, but instinct was telling you that you need to be there now. 

You were about to reach out to the brass knob in front of you when your fingers suddenly froze mid-air. Voices were coming from the inside, muffled, but tensed still in their intonation. You grabbed the door and tore it open the next second.

“...best for Rosewood and its management.” 

Your eyes locked first with Mark who was standing in the middle of the room. His back was slightly on you as he addressed someone and there was a look of surprise and dread that gripped his features the moment he saw your face. Quickly, your gaze swept to the others. Jaemin, Jeno, Jisung, Chenle, Renjun, and Haechan were standing nearest to him with their own stony looks, but it was the older ones—Johnny, Jaehyun, Yuta, Mijeong, and Jungwoo who brought half of the weight of the tension in the room with their icy expressions. Taeyong was with them, as calm as ever, the exact opposite of Kun who looked straight up angry. The expression almost looked foreign in his usually peaceful features. Ten, you saw, was beside him, slightly holding him back. 

“You came just in time, My Lady. We were just about to fetch you.”

You wheeled immediately towards the owner of the voice. The moment you saw him, seated on your father’s table at the head of the room, everyone’s reactions made sense.

Junho Lee. 

“What are you doing here?” Your voice, though scratchy from its lack of use since yesterday, came levelled as you stepped beside Mark. You felt his gaze slip quickly at you before fully-facing his father again.

The man leaned back against the seat and wove his fingers together with calm. The gesture made you tick but you bit back your emotions by gritting your teeth.

“We have been informed that the Headmaster is currently indisposed after an attack on the Academy last night. I am very sorry to hear the news and want to assure you that my men have already been alerted to start looking for him.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.” 

Junho levelled you a look that was equal parts calculating and careful.

“The Academy and the Arcana family will need someone to lead it temporarily in his absence. As the Headmaster’s closest confidante and long-standing benefactor of Rosewood, I am here to take on that role.”

White hot rage surged to your veins. You already knew his answer, but it didn’t stop you from wanting to jump over the distance separating you from the man now and hurting him in any way you can. The fucking traitor. Did he sell your own father to the enemy so he could do this? 

“Father. I don’t think this is a good ide—” 

“I will appreciate your silence right now, Minhyung,” Junho cut Mark off before he could even finish. “Next to the Headmaster, there is nobody else who can take over his post. It only makes sense that our family is next in line for this. Unless there is anyone in this room who can vouch to counter that?”

If the air was already tense earlier, then it was almost deadly now. As the most influential and longest-standing family in the network, Junho asking this question was both a challenge and an insult to the other masters present. Jaemin’s eyes flashed in anger from where he stood while Mijeong looked almost ready to strike. Mark was shocked, before a look of shame made him look away, his hands turning into fists by his sides. 

Nobody answered. Junho looked on at everyone with the satisfied look of a vulture who had successfully sunk its claws on a carcass. 

“There is one actually. What gives you the idea of being the one next in line, when I am here?”

Your words, from the way it unfroze everyone, were obviously the last thing anyone expected. All eyes swiveled to where you stood and the elder Lee, despite his initial surprise, tried to hide it behind a tight smile. 

“What do you mean?” 

You stepped forward, jaw set. Claiming the position your blood has destined for you was the least of your plans when you woke up this morning, but this… this is the obvious path that you must take for now. 

“I am my father’s direct heir,” you said now, voice steady, almost smooth. An almost unnatural calm had taken over you and you saw a flicker of something cross the man’s face as he noticed. You stopped directly in front of the table where he is sitting now and stared him down icily. 

“And I hold the powers of IL Matto, the third of the Triads. If there is anyone who should be taking leadership over the family… It’s me.” 

At that moment, Junho’s face crumpled in disbelief and anger for a flash of a moment before he tried to reel in his emotions again. The mood in the room had entirely shifted by now and everyone looked on in the scene with a different air.

“Your father had signed a deal with me giving me co-ownership of the Academy.” 

“Yes. When I was a child. I have long since become of age now.” 

He looked like someone who was suddenly served with a platter of consequences he was too late to recognize. It almost gave you a sick, twisted glee seeing him mentally crumble in front of you. He may be cunning and smart, but he will never be a match to your father—and you.

At that moment, you felt someone step closer to you. You looked up to see Kun with a thick brown envelope on his hand. He gave you a look full of meaning before he offered it.

“The Headmaster left this for you.” 

You took it and undid the string holding it together. You already have an idea of what its contents might be, but your heart still leapt with relief when you pulled out the first bundle of files there. You quickly scanned over the printed words before reading them out loud to the rest.

“In the event of my absence, death, or any situation that renders me incapable of fulfilling my duties as owner and Headmaster of Rosewood Academy, the right of inheritance will go directly to my only living daughter. With it, all the responsibilities and accompanying duties.” 

You put the documents down and calmly placed them on the table.

"His will and testament. If we are talking about legalities here, this should answer it."

Junho had gone completely still, his face emotionless as he kept his eyes on them. 

Just then, someone else stepped to your other side. You felt Mark’s fingers weave through yours as he looked at his own father. 

“Our family’s role will remain important in the Family, father,” he said. Ever so slightly, you felt his hand give you a gentle squeeze. You gave him the slightest of nods without looking at him.

“As her fiance, I will now help in overseeing everything, to the best of my abilities.” 

If the rest of the people in the room were shocked, it was only momentary and hidden well. No words were needed for everyone to realize the decision behind it. Mark just saved your neck from being in the direct line of fire of his father now that things have unfolded. Unless he also decides to betray his own son, you are safe—for now.

Junho’s interest, at the very least, was caught by this. He looked up at Mark, then at you, with an unreadable look on his face. 

“You have decided on this?” He asked as he stared you down. You met his withering look with your own. 

“Yes.” 

The silence that followed was thick and suffocating. The man kept his eyes on you, but you didn’t back down, meeting him unblinkingly. It was like staring down a beast who wanted to tear you to pieces.

Finally, he looked away and stood up from your father’s seat. The moment that he did, you saw Johnny and Jaehyun move from their side of the room to flank you from a distance in your peripheral vision. Mijeong was less obvious in her actions as she stepped up to almost cover you from him. Junho, however, only smiled. He wasn’t stupid and got the message loud and clear.

A new leader of the family has been set, and its members are there to stand by it.

He turned to walk away with not so much as a look back. Just before he passed you though, he said something that made you stiffen. 

“I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us, IL Matto.”

CHAPTER 10

*******

A/N: Hi. This is Sammy. It's been four years since I started working on Arcane. In the span of years since I started this story up to now, I have had numerous times when I considered putting down this blog. I have only decided to slowly get back to writing again here when the news about Mark came out.

I am not expecting much because I think majority of those who once loved and followed this story have long since left Tumblr now but I decided to pick it up again, for the sake of hoping to close this with a proper ending. Mark will continue to be part of this story and other ones I have where he is also a character. Thank you.

You found yourself standing in the middle of a shadowed hall, its ceilings so far up that you could not see where it ends. There was only enough light to help you see a couple of meters beyond and when you tried to look around, the place looked so dead that it felt like even your own breath—which now came in foggy wisps—was an unwelcome visitor to the place.

The floor you stood on looked wet, but when you tried to take a step, the ground felt solid and cold. Obsidian, you thought, black and well-used by whoever dwells in this stoic hall.

For a moment, you just stood there, waiting. You were aware that you were in a dream, and yet there was a part of your consciousness that was also telling you to listen closely.

Observe. Look. Watch. You were placed here to look for a clue. But what it was, you had no idea.

You didn't have to wonder for too long though. It came in the form of a small wooden box just a moment after, as if your own thoughts summoned it from thin air. Curiously, you took careful steps towards it, taking it in with your eyes alone.

It’s about a foot in length and half in width, made with what looked like polished oak. Aged bronze bands crossed it vertically and where a lock should have been, sat a small rectangular gold plate. There was something etched on it—a collection of random shapes and symbols that didn't make any sense to you.

“Well? Open it.”

A bodiless voice called out from out of nowhere, sounding close enough for it to be coming directly beside you. Oddly, you weren’t panicked by it. You leaned your head slightly to the side, considering its words.

“Why?”

“Because it’s time you know the truth.”

That made you look up. Your breath fogged in front of you like the wandering ghosts from the underworld.

“The truth,” you repeated. The bodiless voice just hummed its assent.

Slowly, as if you were giving the box the chance to disappear if it wanted to, you bent over to pick it up. It wasn’t heavy at all, and when you cradled it in one of your arms, its wood felt warm like it was left close to an active hearth before it was brought here. Stiffly, you reached out to lift its lid. It opened easily under your touch, revealing something glittering nestled upon its velvety lining inside.

The sparkle of the golden blade slightly blinded you before everything turned dim again.

*******

You were nudged awake by a slight forward jolt. Something soft was cradling your cheek and there was a slight tinge of pain that you could feel down the length of the other side of your neck. Blearily, you opened your eyes to the subdued glow of sunlight filtering through the dark tinted windows of the car. There was the rhythmic and soft sound of breathing coming from your left while your right was pressed against something warm but soft. Blinking away your sleep, you lifted your head slightly only to realize who the source of heat was.

Jaemin was snoozing on your side, his head propped against the car window. His silver hair caught the muted rays of the sun and gave them a slightly greyish tinge. You’ve been leaning against his shoulder and his arm closest to you was thrown over the car seat, fingers slightly grazing your left shoulder. The realization hit you like a freight truck and in a second, you sat up straight, hair still tousled from sleep.

A slight grunt of complaint came from your other side as you moved. Looking down, you realized that Haechan was also leaning against you, his head drooping now as you moved away. Eyes still closed, he only turned to the other side and tucked his head against the door.

“We’re here.”

Mark’s voice came from the head of the car before you could take in the rest of your surroundings. He and Jeno were already removing their seatbelts, both still looking very much alert despite having to stay up the whole night. Renjun and Yangyang were just stirring up from their own slumbers in the row in front of you.

With a quick swooping glance, you turned to look at where you are. You didn’t have any idea what time it was, but from what you could see on the sliver of view beyond Jaemin’s side, you were currently parked by what looks like a dock. You could see a slice of the sea beyond, its gentle waves glittering under the now high sun.

“Where are we?” You asked, voice still a little scratchy from sleep. Beside you, Jaemin had also started to wake up. You turned to Haechan then and slightly gave him a push.

“Hey, get up.” The boy didn't budge and just mumbled something under his breath.

“We’re at the South Port already?” Renjun leaned forward a little between the front seats and squinted at the view. “Where are they?”

“They’re coming. We need to unload all our bags. We can’t be late."

“Wait, how about the car?” Yangyang asked, this time looking a little bit more awake. Jeno was the one who answered as he killed off the engine.

“We’re leaving it here.”

“We’re leaving it—What do you mean? Are we just leaving it here like, permanently?”

The boy looked at him as if he asked an odd question.

“Yes. It has already served its purpose.”

You watched as your best friend opened his mouth to argue, before closing it again. Yangyang, unfortunately, is not the biggest fan of water-based activities.

“Who are we waiting for? Do you have a friend who has a boat?” you asked now.

“Sort of,” Jaemin said from beside you. He sounded casual, and for a moment you wondered if he was aware that you’ve slept on him. If he did, he was at least doing a great job not making a big deal about it. The thought made you feel a little hot around the ears. He threw a quick look at his watch. “They’re late though.”

Before you could ask again who he was talking about, a sudden flash of light came from outside. It was brief and blinding and from the way it left a slight shimmer outside, you could tell it wasn’t anything that’s close to a natural phenomenon. In fact, it reminded you very much of the same flash of light you saw in Rosewood’s grounds just a few weeks ago. The very same light that brought the five boys with you. Which only means…

Renjun gave a sigh from where he sat. He was looking at the small jutting part of the port just a few meters from where you were parked where two figures are now standing, highlighted starkly against the horizon.

“They’re here.”

*******

You all lumbered out of the car with your heavy packs and met the newcomers under the heat of the midday sun. Now fully awake, the first thing that you did was to silently study the two boys who were waiting patiently for you by the dock.

They both look close in age, maybe just a few years younger than the rest of you. One has pale skin; he almost looked like he was glowing, with shocking orange hair that only made his complexion stand out even more. He was grinning from ear to ear when you finally reached them, his eyes crinkled playfully into half moons as he accounted for all of you. His brows rose slightly as his gaze landed on you and Yangyang, though he didn’t say anything else.

The other boy was tall—taller actually than the rest of the boys now that you noticed. He has jet-black hair that fell over his eyes which now all looked at you with what looked like a tinge of hesitance. He was the complete opposite of his companion with the way he carried himself, despite how lean and strong he looked with his wide shoulders and steady stance.

“You’re late,” Haechan said in the middle of his yawn. "You should have gotten here earlier than us. Uncle gave you a hard time?”

The orange-haired boy rolled his eyes and motioned to the boy beside him. “You mean Jisung gave me a hard time. Didn’t really need to do much with mine to get kicked out, but mister goody shoes here had to take a moment to finally piss off his dad.”

The one called Jisung turned and scowled at his friend. “I told you stealing his hammer won’t cut it. You just weren’t listening.”

Jaemin looked interested as he looked from one to another. “What did you do then?”

For a moment, Jisung looked hesitant to answer. His friend was the one who did with a casual shrug.

“We had to hack one of his iron maidens. When I tell you, I haven’t seen uncle Hephaestus that mad.”

The mention of the name made you start. You looked at the two now, wide-eyed, something Haechan noticed beside you.

“Oh, yeah. This is Chenle, Hermes’ son. And this is Jisung, heir of Hephaestus. They weren’t exiled like the rest of us so they only came now,” he said casually. Chenle grinned at you and offered a hand. You took it hesitantly and he shook it enthusiastically. Jisung only gave you a small nod.

“Why are you two here?” you eyed both suspiciously. Chenle shrugged, his eyes glinting with mischief.

“I was bored. There’s no way I’m staying there while everyone gets to have fun. Plus, everyone here sucks when it comes to navigation. Now Jisung here, I wouldn’t say he came just as willingly,” he threw his head toward the other who gave a slight wince.

Right. Hermes, God of Travel, Trade, and Navigation. If there is anyone who can be of most use to your odd little group at the moment, it would be his son. The son of Hephaestus though… that’s a whole different thing. Before Jisung could even make a comeback, Mark stepped up and gave him a squeeze on the shoulder. He smiled, a gesture that seemed to at least have calmed the boy down a bit.

“Thank you for coming, Jisung. I know it’s a big ask. We can’t do all of this without you though, so this really means a lot.”

Yangyang made the connection almost the same time that you did. Your best friend turned to the youngest, his eyes round.

“Wait, are you here because…”

“Because how else are we going to take care of the sickle once we get all the parts? Obviously, we can’t ask uncle Hephaestus or any of the giants. Jisung supposedly is the one to forge them together. Now the plan’s changed, and we still need him to pulverize the splinters,” he said as if this is the most logical thing on earth. He reached out for something from his bag then and thrust it into Chenle's hands. It was the map he took from Rosewood with the indecipherable symbols.

“Here. You think this is good enough?”

The boy unfurled it and gave it one quick look.

“Looks good enough. This is one of the most ancient copies, but I can read it no problem.”

“We need to get to Aiaia first. They say one of the splinters might be there. How long do you think it will take?” Jeno asked. Chenle gave him a quick look.

“Are you guys sure you want to go there first though?" He asked, and you thought there was a tinge of hesitance in his tone. "It’s not really the most welcoming island, you know. We can do a roundabout to the other islands first.”

“Perfect reason why we need to get there first though,” Mark answered. “If the traitors are looking for the other pieces, they will probably put that place last.”

The boy sighed. “Fine. I think two days will be enough. We can take some shortcuts.”

“So where’s the boat?” Yangyang asked again, looking furtively around the sea’s horizon. The waters looked calm and undisturbed in the twinkling sunlight.

“Boat? What boat?” Haechan asked him blankly.

“The boat that we will need to get to the island?” Yangyang repeated just as blankly. Both stared at each other for a bit until realisation finally dawned on your best friend’s face. If the situation wasn’t worrying for you as well, you would have laughed at the look of horror on his face.

“No. Nope. No fucking way—”

Chenle looked on calmly before squinting at the horizon.

“Well, I hope you all bought swimsuits.”

*******

There was good news and bad news for you.

The good news was that Chenle was bluffing. You didn’t really need any swimming attire for what you were about to do.

The bad news: you still do not have any fucking idea how you’re going to get from one place to another. You looked on now to the others who, except for Yangyang who seemed to be in the middle of having a meltdown beside you, all looked pretty calm. You turned to your best friend now and sighed.

“Breathe, squirt. You’re going to make yourself faint.”

He turned to you as if he just remembered you were there.

“Do you think we’ll swim there?”

You frowned. “Of course not. That’s impossible,” you said, though you didn’t sound convincing even to your own ears. To be honest, you felt queasy in the stomach too, and it wasn’t helping that the rest looked way too relaxed for your liking. Your gaze landed on Jeno and Jaemin then who were standing closest to you, both locked in a serious conversation. You couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but their hushed tones gave you a clue of what its gravity was. With a quick glance at Yangyang, you finally decided to come over to the two.

Jaemin was the first one to look up. The moment his eyes landed on you, they crinkled to the sides as he matched the gesture with a smile. As someone who was a half-blood yourself, his pull on you was considerably weaker than if he aimed the same intensity to mortals. Still, you have to admit that his beauty can still be disarming, especially if you don’t give yourself enough prep time to brace for it. Thankfully, you did for this moment, and you simply blinked to push back his effect on you. He fully turned to you now just as you stopped in front of them. Jeno remained quiet beside him as his gaze now also moved to you.

“Hey, Princess. Everything good?”

“We're not going to swim to the island won’t we?”

Your question sounded stupid, even to your own ears, but none of the two flinched at its absurdity. You wondered if that was good or bad news.

Jaemin took a quick look at his watch before addressing you again. “No. Of course not. We’re just waiting for something. It’ll be here in about a minute actually.”

Still not entirely sold, you made a quick sweep of your surroundings again. The port still looked deserted as it was when you first arrived, and there was not a single boat in the water that seemed to be coming your way no less. The sea’s horizon looked undisturbed, with not even some faraway birds in sight. Hesitantly, you looked up. Is there someone who is going to fall from the sky again?

Jeno was the one who finally gave you your answer. The boy was staring directly at the water in front of you which, now upon closer look, had started to stir as if some great creature underneath it was moving. Jaemin noticed and simply smiled before walking towards it.

“Just in time.”

He stopped closest to where the low jutting dock could afford to hold him, the tips of his shoes greeting the edge. There was a light wind rippling through the bay and it swept his platinum hair around his head like a halo. He reached out then to his pocket where he pulled a small glass vial. A dark purple liquid sifted inside it as he held it up to the light.

“What is that?”

Jeno, who was still standing beside you, replied. “Wine. For offering.”

For offering to whom, you didn’t need to wonder too long about. As Jaemin uncorked the vial and poured all its contents into the water, the bubbling intensified until they transformed and turned into small waves. He called out then, his voice ringing clear in the open bay.

“Lords of the Seas, Aphros and Bythos, heed our call. Allow our humble voices to reach you, give us time to listen to our appeal.”

Your eyes rounded at the mention of the names.

Aphros and Bythos are two of the lords of the sea, Ichthyocentaurs, they are specifically called. You haven’t seen one ever in your life, but you knew from your studies that they are the faraway brothers of the centaurs who had dominion over the land. You watched now, mouth slightly open, as the ripples of the water in front of Jaemin intensified until the waves finally broke. Two towering figures slowly rose from them.

The first one had a mane of long dark hair that ran along his back wildly. He had a matte of thick bushy brows, and his skin looked dark blue, as deep and rich as the unexplored parts of the sea. Two horns crowned his head, except that they were not entirely horns, but what looked like claws of lobsters. He was looking down at your lot with his intense dark eyes the color of the blackest of coal. Behind him, where a horse’s tail should have been, was a fish tail, strong and muscular. It whipped around him and disturbed the water in undulating movements.

The second was the complete opposite of the other. He looked younger, and his long hair was the color of kelp, held back in a braid that was so long it disappeared into the water behind him. His skin was pale, reminiscent of the white belly of sharks as they moved silently underwater. He also had a crown of lobster tails and his eyes gleamed yellow, as if they were never meant to see above water. His fish tail, though just as strong, ended with silver fins behind him.

You didn’t know how to react. You have only ever seen centaurs a few times in your life when your father would give you the rare chance to accompany him in his meetings with them back in the Rosewood grounds, but this is different. The aura alone of the two had pinned you on your spot, though it seemed like you were the only one impressed by it.

Around you, the rest of the boys have started to gather. They all looked on respectfully and gave a unified bow which you mimicked quietly.

“Jaemin. It has been a while,” the pale brother called out in a voice that made you think of the cold, lightless deep. Other than its sound, however, his intonation seemed kind. Mildly amused even.

“Uncle Bythos. Thank you for answering our call. We will not be taking much of your time,” Jaemin pleasantly said, his smile wide and genuine. For a moment, you wondered about the familiarity that he seemed to share with them, but then you remembered a lore you’ve once read a long, long time ago.

When the goddess Aphrodite was born in her clamshell, it was the twin sea centaurs who charioted her to the shores. According to legend, both brothers raised her during her early years. For their service and duty, the two have been delegated to take honor with the stars, forever immortalized and talked about even by mortals. Thus, the constellation Pisces was born.

The other one you could assume was Aphros looked less impressed by the situation.

“I have heard the news from your mother. I did not expect you to call out too soon. Must you younglings always stir trouble?”

At this, Jaemin looked genuinely guilty. “Ah… that is why we need your help. We’re trying to fix things. We need to get to the Island of Aiaia as soon as we can and we were hoping you could guide us to it.”

Bythos looked on curiously at your odd little group. You could only see half of his body from where you stood, but his tail twitched here and there as he surveyed each face. When he finally got to you, you froze. He looked on at you longer than the others and you tried to give him a polite bow of your head again.

“To whose daughter are you, My lady?”

You drew a blank. In the face of two deities like this, the question of your blood made your stomach feel a little heavy. You were just about to answer when Jeno replied calmly for you.

“She is the daughter of the keeper of Rosewood, halls of the demigods here. She had come with us as a guide to the mortal realm, but is a half-blood herself.”

You felt like a rock was removed from blocking your throat. Surreptitiously, you threw a quick glance at him as a quiet form of thanks. Jeno was still looking straight ahead though his profile told you that he got the message clear.

Bythos gave a little turn of his head as he looked on to you again. “Rosewood. The Academy of the demigods. I see. An interesting choice of companion.” He said before trailing off quietly. Finally, he smiled and turned to Yangyang who you didn’t realize had not moved from where you left him earlier. He was still standing a few feet away from the rest of you, his face now unreadable. Unlike with you, however, Bythos only smiled at him. His teeth were the same color of black pearls.

“Hello, boy.”

“If you need our help, you know how it goes,” Aphros spoke again, his voice steady but commanding. “Bythos has dominion over most of the help you seek, but an offering is needed for the both of us. Our answer lies in our satisfaction.”

Jaemin nodded as if he was already expecting this. He turned to give Haechan a look now, who took that as a signal to pull out something from one of their heavy knapsacks. It was a small wooden vessel, polished smooth and varnished a deep brown. Upon closer look, intricate carvings ran down its circular body, delicate etchings of scenarios of what looked like grand adventures in the sea. The symbols were all lined with gold and gave the container the illusion as if it was glowing as its sides hit different slants of the sun. And yet that was not the grandest part of it.

As Haechan walked over to hand the gift to Jaemin, you caught sight of its contents. There were not that many, but the value of each compensated for their size. There was a bottle of deep red wine that you could only imagine must have come from Dionysius’ stores itself, a block of cheese and some fruits. Tucked right in the middle of everything, nestled in a smaller circular open top container are a variety of jewels glinting in rainbow colors and a number of silver coins.

“A gift, taken and collected from different parts of the world and Olympus itself. An offering for Aphros, the great and brave god of the Sea Foam,” Jaemin said now as he held up the vessel in front of him. Aphros moved closer to the dock and surveyed the offering with great scrutiny. Everyone seemed to have held their breath as he eyed it. Finally, he reared back, a look closest to what would be satisfaction on his face.

“Very well,” he answered with his deep gravelly voice. A wave, acting more like a watery arm rose beside him and gently took the gift from Jaemin’s hand. The boy smiled as he watched it land on the waves and gently float off.

“And for Bythos? I expect nothing less.”

“Of course. Jeno, if you may please?”

Jeno moved to stand just beside him then. Wordlessly, he pulled something from his pocket, a small velvet pouch the color of midnight. It was small and held closed by a golden string. When he unfurled it, he pulled the edges of the container just enough to show the top of its contents which caught in the light. Golden coins glittered there in their glory.

“Obols, gathered from Charon’s stores. The payment of souls to cross the river of the Underworld. A gift fitting for Bythos, Lord of the Sea Depths.”

Bythos' green-tinted brows rose with interest. He gave a nod, before gesturing an arm towards the sea.

“A wonderful offering. If you may?”

Jeno nodded and tied the velvety pouch again. Then, he reached out his hand and let it fall straight to the sea. The waves swallowed it into the deep.

“A good exchange. Now, we fulfill our end of the bargain,” Aphros said. He looked on to his brother, then once again towards your group. “I shall meet you at the right spot before the sun goes down to the sea.” Without another word, he turned and dove into the depths again. The end of his tail did one strong sweep before disappearing behind him.

Bythos, now alone, looked on pleasantly at the rest of you. “I will be ready for you when you are. You know how it goes already, yes?”

Jaemin nodded. You, on the other hand, looked at him in plain confusion. The Sea Lord noticed and gave a chuckle. “Well, it will be best to prepare your new friends about it. The travel can be… disorienting for first timers.”

You didn’t like hearing that at all. Now with panic, you watched as the sea centaur also dove into the water without another look back to the rest of you. The waves where he and his brother both came from earlier looked calm as soon as he disappeared, as if everything that happened was just an illusion.

“That went better than expected,” Chenle said now as he also stepped over close to the dock. He peered down at the waves quickly before stretching back up again. “Everyone ready? It’s best if we do this now so we can reach there before sundown.”

“Ready to do what, exactly?” Your voice rose a bit in pitch now as you turned to the rest. Nobody looked confused, and the fact only made your hesitation solidify more in your chest. The boy merely looked back at you casually. A part of you already knew that his answer was not something you would like to hear, but it still didn’t stop your stomach from dropping entirely once you did.

“What else? Jump into the water, of course.”

******

A/N: Surprise, I guess? I know I said I will only be posting Elysium in AO3 and update will come in a month, but the draft was done and people seem to be interested so here it goes. As usual, comments will always be appreciated. Enjoy!

You stared outside the window of your father’s office, motionless. Beyond you, the protective barrier that separated Rosewood Academy from the mundane world rose strong again like an impenetrable wall. You have managed to repair it with the help of the others and its power and protection licked against the edges of your mind now like a comforting balm. Whether it is strong enough to survive another attack, you will never know. Your father’s Arcana has always been the strongest force that had held it up for as long as you could remember, but you and the rest will have to make do with what you have right now.

It’s been three days since he was stolen away from you. Three days since Junho Lee tried to seize control over the family and three days since you have taken headship to stop him. At that time, it seemed like the most sensible thing for you to do, and while you know that the decision remains the same even now, there were many moments when you wanted nothing more but to curl upon yourself in fear. Because the truth is that, you know you will never be enough to patch over the hole that your father left, especially in a time like this when the fate of the family is teetering on the edge of ruin or total erasure from history. 

“You didn’t touch the food left by your door again.” 

You didn’t move away from your spot by the window even as you heard the voice from the doorway.

“I don’t have any appetite.” 

“It’s been three days.” 

“It could be longer.” 

“Taeyong’s heart will break if  he hears you ignored his cooking again.”

A dry smile pulled one corner of your lips. Finally turning around, you leaned against the windowsill and regarded the man in front of you. 

“The door to the office is there for a reason, Kun-ge. What happened to the idea of knocking?”

Any other time, you know that he would have apologized for barging in. Today though, it was quite obvious from the way he looked at you that he was determined to stand his ground.

“You have to be thankful that it’s me who barged in. I’m convinced Haechan or the others will burn down that door soon if you continue to close us all off.”

Haechan’s name hit like physical weight but you forced your expression to remain cold despite it. From the way Kun almost looked guiltily at you though, it was clear that you were doing a bad job at pulling off detachment.

“You know that if you want to check in on them, you can do so anytime, right? They’ve recovered for a while now,” he said almost too gently.

“I almost killed all of them. You and Taeyong, too, if I wasn’t stopped on time. I think I’m the last person in this castle who has the right to ask how any of you are doing.”

“I don’t think they will like hearing that. Nobody is blaming you and—”

“Oh, cut the crap, I beg of you,” you cut him off bitterly and so suddenly you were almost half-surprised yourself. Frustration had started to make your throat almost close up. It was only a matter of time before you exploded and Kun, for all his kindness and care, opened that hatch that had been barely keeping you in one piece. 

“Look at this whole mess we are in right now,” you spat. “My father is gone. We have been betrayed, and now I’ve foolishly taken over the role of leading this family that I almost wiped out. Me, who, as you have all seen, is not even stable enough to properly control my own Arcana. I have two choices. Either I go like a mad fool to save the only family I have or I do what my father has always wanted and send the rest of us into hiding forever just to escape. I don’t have any idea what I am doing. If I wanted all of you to be kind to me, I would wish you all to at least hate me a little so I could feel more deserving of the self-disgust that’s eating me up.” 

You stopped short, suddenly feeling empty as if you’ve vomited something that you’ve been trying to keep in. Kun was quiet. For a moment too long, the two of you just stood there in silence as you tried to catch your breath.

“You didn’t say you’re wanting to leave though.” 

His words were the least of what you were expecting when he finally decided to speak up. Confused, you stared at him, wondering if you heard wrong.

“What?” 

The way he looked at you said that he was able to confirm something that only he understood. Your frown only turned deeper. 

“First  of all, you are wrong,” he continued. “You don’t have two choices. You have three. You can do either both of what you said, or you can choose to abandon all of us and escape on your own. You said you don’t know what you’re doing, and yet you’re still here.” 

It took a while for you to actually process what he was saying. For a flash of a painful moment, a memory of your father stole to your mind’s eye. You dashed it off quickly.

“You cannot brainwash me into thinking that I am a—”

“A potential good Head of the family? No, of course not. You are right. You are a danger to every single one of the masters here. You will probably make a lot of mistakes too, just like how your father did when he first took the role, and the other Chiefs before you both. But you also gave yourself two choices, and from the way I see it, not one of those is saying that you want to abandon the family or the position. It’s the one choice the Headmaster has always given you. Run away. Forget everything. Tell the others to do the same. But you haven’t really considered that, have you? Why? Because you’re scared, naturally. But you’re not giving up.”

You stared at him, dumbfounded. Kun’s words were gentle. Reasonable. They also broke down your defenses like a fucking wrecking ball. 

The tears were already dropping before you even realized it. He simply stood there and allowed you to have them with no judgment or pity in his eyes. It was the most you allowed yourself to freely feel in the last few days. 

“You are acting way too much like him,” you managed to say finally. He gave a short laugh before finally coming over to hand you a handkerchief.

“Don’t forget that the Headmaster raised me and Taeyong during our time here as students. We will never compare to him, but you should know better now.” 

You kept quiet. You knew there was something he was trying to say in between the lines and a part of you wished he would never go through with it. Kun, however, knew that he had to make himself clear.

“I gave my oath to the Headmaster that I will be your guardian and advisor if ever something happens to him. I’ve sworn my loyalty to him and you, and I’m pretty sure Taeyong did the same. We’ll be your Sword and Shield, as we were to him. We’re just waiting for your orders, Headmistress.” 

The title shook you but he only gave you his kind smile as always. Until that moment, it didn’t hit you how much you value his presence in this twisted system you were all forced to live. L’asso di spada e l’asso di scudo. The Ace of Sword and the Ace of Shield were titles only given to the most trusted members of the Arcana family who do not wield any abilities. Grandmasters are tied together in ways that go beyond the reasons of the mortal world, but Taeyong and Kun are mundane. Their servitude is by their own choice. And for that, their loyalty might be the most valuable of all.

“And as my first ever advice, if you really do want to make up with the others for the accident you made, then make a decision for the rest of the family. We need a leader."

“We’ll be ready as soon as you are.” 

*******

The dark crimson tint of the sinking sun stained the horizon like paint in water. Mark kept his eyes set on the academy grounds while the afternoon wind tossed around him. Ever since the attack happened, there seemed like a perpetual undercurrent of tension that had made the halls of the Academy suffocating. Everyone seemed to be dealing with it in their own way and he was no different, choosing to be alone and away from the rest for as long as he could manage. 

In the long years that he had been in Rosewood, this is the first time that the group had seemed so fractured and directionless. And he knew exactly the reason for it. 

His father. The traitor who had sold the secret of the Family for his own selfishness.

He had not talked to you since the last time you both stood side by side at the Headmaster’s office and announced your 'engagement.' It would have been easier for him to say that he wanted to give you space after everything, but he wasn’t shameless enough to at least not admit to himself the real reason behind his silence. 

Because the truth is that he was scared. More than carrying the guilt of being the son of the man who betrayed the family, Mark knew that the clock was also ticking for him before he was forced to make a decision that he had always known he was bound to make. 

Choose between his own blood or make his own path.

Crack!

His Arcana sensed the attack before he even fully comprehended it. A solid wall of rock leapt up in time behind him to shield him from the blow and now crumbled and shook under the force. Mark didn't flinch. He kept his back from where it came from and waited.

“Did you come to finally kill me, Jeno?” 

A darker shadow stepped from the ones that had gathered at the balcony.

“Seemed like you almost wanted me to.” 

Mark finally turned around, his wall of shield crumbling into pieces as he fully faced the other. Tendrils of Jeno’s Arcana, which were just a few feet from actually striking him earlier, seemed to shake in anticipation before finally rearing back and disappearing to nothing. 

“You could have done it if you tried hard enough.” 

His cousin simply stared at him with an expressionless look in his eyes. This is the first time the two of them have been left alone since that day Jeno almost vanished with you. In the dying light of the day, the air between them vibrated with a tension that was so thick it was almost suffocating.

“Did you know that your father was going to betray us?” 

He knew the question was coming. Mark tried his best to keep his gaze from faltering. 

“Yes. She and I had our suspicions.” 

The other boy’s expression didn’t change much, but he knew, after knowing him for so long, how much his answer was received. The Lee branch of the family that Jeno came from was directly connected with his and Haechan’s, though less prominent in influence by their own choice. If not for Jeno being chosen as the first GrandMaster in his direct line, his kin probably would have decided to keep their lives as far away from the rest as they could. 

Despite that, Jeno is still a Lee. And blood knows blood.

“And now you’re her fiance.” 

His words were plain, yet it struck Mark harder than any physical blows he could have gotten. His eyes turned cold at the implication. Jeno mirrored the same icyness with his own.

“I am the last person who will betray her, Jeno.” 

“And if your own father demanded it?”

“I am not the one who almost stole her away from everything she knows,” he said, his words sharp and cutting. Mark almost felt guilty for saying it, but he is yet to get over the fact that he almost lost you forever because of his own cousin. Jeno looked like he was expecting it and stepped deeper into the balcony to face him. 

“Yes. Because I wanted to give her a way out of this fucked up world that you want to keep her so locked in,” his tone was low, his words slow, like blades digging painfully inch by inch upon flesh. “You and I are not the same, hyung. You want to keep her here because you couldn’t bear to lose her, even if you know that being surrounded by all of us brings her closer to her end.” 

“That’s easy for you to say since you will have her to yourself.” 

Mark saw it coming, but he still didn’t move away when Jeno grabbed him by the front of his shirt. He braced himself for the blows, but instead the other boy just stared him down as if he was trying to see something only he could confirm. With shocking realization, he realized what it is. 

There was no anger or even spite that he could sense in him. Instead, Jeno was looking at him to see if he could trust him. 

The two of them stood just like that for a moment longer before the other finally let him go. When he stepped away, Jeno’s expression still looked grim, but there was no longer a trace of storminess there. The cousin and friend that he knew was back. 

“You made the right decision by telling your father that you’re engaged. But tell me, hyung, can you really assure her safety?”

Mark’s jaw locked. Still, he refused to lie.

“No. I can’t. But what I can be sure of is that I’ll never turn my back on her.”

Jeno didn’t react. He looked like there was something else he wanted to say. Instead, he took a step back before turning away. 

“That will be enough. At least for now.” 

The wind whipped around Mark like the hushed whispers of ghosts as he watched him leave. 

*******

The dark stone walls of the academy library rose to your sides like turrets and disappeared into the darkness of its high ceiling. Everything in there seemed dead, except for the small spot of light that you have in your table where you were currently holed up on. Spread out in front of you, piled high on top of each other, were a clutter of books. Some were face down to mark the pages where you left off while others were covered by the notes you’ve managed to collect since the last few days that you’ve started your research. 

Your eyes burned now as you tried to finish a page that was spread out in front of you. Since the day you spoke with Kun, you’ve barely done anything else. You were just about to turn the page when your ears picked up a slight creak from somewhere deep within the shadowed shelves from your side. You paused, then continued reading the next passage. 

There was silence again. Still, you only managed to finish a few more sentences before you finally sighed softly to yourself. 

“You know that it’s rude to spy on someone like that, right?” 

For a moment, it almost seemed like you were talking to dead air. Then, finally, there came the soft sounds of shuffling footsteps. You turned just in time as three figures stepped out of the shadows and into the small ring of light that your lamp threw on the floor.

Renjun, Haechan, and Jaemin stood in front of you, looking wary and a little guilty. The moment your vision adjusted to their outlines, a shot of guilt pierced through your ribs again. This is the first time you’ve seen them since that day in your father’s office and your first instinct was to try and see if any of them were hurt. They looked fine. Still, that wasn’t enough for you to bring down the invisible wall between you yet. 

“Sorry. We didn’t mean to scare you,” Jaemin finally spoke.

“Why are you here?” 

It was not the first thing you wanted to say to them, but it was also the only question you could manage at the moment. Hesitance lingered in the air. Haechan threw an apprehensive glance towards the two.

“We haven’t seen you for almost a week now. We’ve been worried,” the boy answered carefully.

“Yeah? Well, I almost killed all of you.” 

Your tone didn’t have any particular inflection when you said it. If anything, you almost sounded gentle. Still, your words landed so bluntly that Renjun flinched. Jaemin and Haechan looked straight up upset. You waited for any of them to speak up, but they didn’t—couldn’t because you were telling the truth. Before the silence could become more unbearable, however, you finally looked away and slowly picked yourself up from your seat. Three pairs of eyes watched you as you approached them. 

You hesitantly reached out for Jaemin’s hand first. His fingers were cold when you touched them, but he didn’t hesitate in weaving them around yours the moment his skin felt your warmth. The next moment, you were pulled close, his arms tight around you as he buried his face into your hair. You closed your eyes and hugged him back. 

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” 

“Don’t try to shut yourself off like that again, okay?” he said in a strained voice. You smiled even though he couldn’t see it. 

“Okay… Forgive me?” 

There was a feel of lips touching your temple. Your heart squeezed at how much you missed him. 

“You’re forgiven. Always.” 

“Hey, you know Jaemin isn’t the only one knocked out cold right? I hate to be that kind of guy, but why is he the only one getting a hug?” 

You couldn’t help but laugh at Haechan’s whiny voice. Stepping away from Jaemin, you walked towards him and Renjun and, at the same time, pulled both to a threeway embrace. Both boys tried to jokingly push each other off but finally settled after you gave both a kiss on the cheek.

“I’m sorry to you both too. And to everyone else. I didn’t know how to face you all and I apologize for acting so childish about it.”

“Jisung and Chenle wanted to come too, you know. We just told them no because we don’t want to scare you off,” Haechan said.

Renjun nodded. “Kun-ge actually told us to leave you alone until you came for us yourself, but well… we didn’t know what you were up to,” he exchanged a look with the other. “And to be honest, everyone’s growing so restless day by day.” 

You immediately got what he was trying to say. If what Kun said was true, then you know everyone’s on edge about what’s next for the family with your father gone. This, at least, you can say you’ve not entirely failed them. Unconsciously, you threw your pile of books a glance. Jaemin caught the action and for the first time, finally took notice of your cluttered table. He approached it now and picked up the one you currently have spread open. A frown slowly formed on his face as he read the passage illuminated by the lamp. 

“What are you doing with these kinds of books?” he asked slowly. He picked up the title and held it up against the light. “‘History of the Arcana…’,” he stopped then and looked over the rest laid out on your table. You can see the gears on his head working. ‘‘Aether Forces and the Art of their Control,’ ‘Subjugating the Arcane…’. 

“Noona. What are all these for?” 

Similar looks of worry slowly reflected on Haechan and Renjun’s faces too. They glanced at you, but you didn’t say anything, just took the book Jaemin had and sealed it close. Its sound echoed in the hallowed walls of the library. 

“I’ve been checking on a couple of things,” you said simply. It’s a severe understatement for what you have been doing, and by the way the three exchanged looks, they knew better than to believe you. 

Because the truth is, you’ve spent the past few days setting your mind on a plan—one that can only be thought of by a madman. Looking at it from afar, you doubt it’s something your own father will even put his bets on. But then again, this is not his game anymore. 

The chess pieces are now yours to move.

“I’m sorry it took so long, but I need to talk to all of you about it now.” 

You turned to Renjun and, with a steadiness that you haven’t felt in so long, gave your first ever order as Headmistress.

“Can you call everyone? I’ll explain everything.” 

*******

Taeyong observed the room with his usual calmness from his seat. In the gathering twilight, the office of the Headmaster glowed orange from the light of the lamps set high on the wall scones. Scattered around the space, each in their own bubble of thoughts, were the rest of the other Masters. Even Jeno and Mark, who he hadn’t seen for days were there, both quiet in their chosen spots. 

All looked on edge in their own ways, except for Kun who seemed the most collected beside him. Taeyong leaned back against his chair now, eyes unmoving as he addressed the other in a volume only the two of them could catch.

“Do you have any idea what this is about?” 

In his peripheral vision, he saw the man give the slightest shake of his head. 

“No. But I think we’re finally getting the answer we need today.”

That didn’t entirely put his worries at ease. Taeyong fully glanced at the other this time, his handsome face barely covering his emotions.

“Have you told her of our position? What if she comes up with something because she’s afraid we might abandon her?” 

If the current situation wasn’t so serious, Kun would have afforded his friend an actual smile. If he is going to be entirely honest, he also doesn’t have an inkling of an idea about what you were about to do. But he was also here in this very room with you just a couple of days ago, and unlike Taeyong, he had seen you pick yourself up again that day, even though you probably have not noticed it yourself. And for that, he is giving you the credit you are due. 

“Believe me, Taeyong,” he answered now as he fixed his eyes to the door. “Whatever it is she comes up with, it will be closer to being mad than careful. Give her credit.”

“She’s her father’s daughter after all.” 

As if on cue, the aged oak door to the office opened with an almost hesitant swing. Immediately, all eyes in the room swiveled towards it as you quietly stepped inside. Your silhouette stood out starkly at first against the light from the hallway, but then you closed the door again and drowned the room once more in shadows. Even under the cover of the minimal light, however, the way you held your shoulders didn’t betray what you were really feeling. But then your eyes met with Kun’s across the room, and that was enough to push you to make the short trip to your father’s desk. Carefully, you placed a book that you were holding on top of it, then made a point to look at every single face there.

You took your time painfully, and then slowly, you bent, head low. When you spoke, your words sounded too loud in your own ears against the backdrop of silence. 

“I’m sorry. For what I did. I’ve hurt all of you and then acted like a coward after. I was immature and lost control over myself. I am not expecting your forgiveness, but please know that I take full responsibility for my actions.”

Nobody answered. You didn’t dare lift your head up yet. You could feel the weight of eyes on your shoulders and in the silence, you felt the room hum not with just the presence of your friends there, but by the powers they carry. At that moment, you knew that something ancient was listening to your heed, too. You pushed on, replaying the words you’ve practiced a hundred times earlier. 

“I called all of you not only to apologize but to give you a choice. I have taken my father’s role temporarily and I will understand it if none of you will be supportive of it. I did not have the chance to ask any of you back then, but I do want to give you the space now. Please know that whatever your decision, I will respect it. With that I beg, if you wish to express your dissent, please do so now.” 

You waited with bated breath for any answer. Everyone was still eerily silent and you closed your eyes to try and push back the sick feeling that was slowly pooling at the pit of your stomach. Then, when you thought you couldn’t take it anymore, somebody spoke.

“Do you claim the position with confidence?” 

It was Johnny. His tone was neutral, but it still made your heart jump to your throat. Then, without looking up, you gave an answer that was the most true to you. 

“With confidence, no. But with determination, yes.”

Your words landed heavy and raw. The air seemed thicker, denser, tenser. 

And then, something finally broke the silence. A laugh.

“As expected from our new Headmistress. Lift your head up, Princess. I don’t think anyone is going to be leaving anytime soon.”

The answer came to you as a surprise that you immediately straightened up with no hesitation. In front of you, everyone looked at you with an unwavering decisiveness that made your breath catch. It was the least you were expecting when you decided to face everyone again today. On the side, you saw Kun give you a small, proud smile. You knew exactly what he was saying even without words.

“Is that the only reason why you called us here though? Don’t tell me we’ve waited days just to hear you apologize,” Johnny continued. Slowly, he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. As the eldest and highest ranking of the Masters, you knew exactly where he was leading you on to. They might have accepted you for now, but you are yet to prove yourself to them. 

“Are you going to tell us what we’ve been waiting for the past week?” 

You met his gaze steadily. You spoke before you even had the room to second guess yourself.

“Yes. I’m going to fight. I’m going to save my father, and if you will allow me, I will need all of your help to do it.”

Johnny’s slow smile told you it was the exact answer he was expecting. Around the room, a shift had immediately happened too. The tension that was once there was instantly gone, replaced by one of steadiness that made you breathe just a little bit easier. The oldest ones, Mijeong included, looked almost relieved to hear your answer. Mark didn’t look surprised at all by your decision. Only Jeno was the one who looked as quiet as ever in his corner. 

You pushed on. 

“I’ve come up with something. A plan—but it’s going to be really dangerous. I want you all to know about it. Then after, you can make the decision if you really do want to be a part of this. It’s the fairest way to move forward.”

“Let’s hear it then.”

You braced yourself by taking a deep breath. Carefully, you pulled open a drawer on your father’s desk and pulled a sleek black folder there. It was unlabeled, but you’ve already memorized all its contents from front to back. 

“First, I’ve confirmed who has him. Cypher Institute is a global corporation that deals with all kinds of experiments and studies from military to pharma. My father knew about them himself a few weeks before they took him,” you gave Mijeong a quick glance. “The Kims were the ones he enlisted to keep an eye on them.” 

“Are you saying that the Headmaster knew that they were after him and still walked willingly into their trap? Why would he do that?” Taeyong asked, confused. 

At this question, you couldn’t stop yourself from giving a bitter smile. 

“To sacrifice himself. Whatever Cypher’s goal is, my father knew that they were after the Arcana abilities. A member of the Triad is the best person to walk straight to them because without the other masters, we are useless. He thought he was doing us a favor.”

“The thing is, I think he calculated it wrong,” you continued. “If the Institute was only after an Arcana user for the sake of a wily study, then they had no reason to keep the rest of us left here alive. They know more about the other masters… And they will probably come after the rest of us, too.” 

Yuta frowned. “But that doesn’t make sense. If they do, then why didn’t they just get all of us when they had the chance? We were the weakest when they compromised the barrier.” 

“Because we pose a higher risk to them if they gather us around in one place together. I have reason to believe that Cypher does not have the full information about all of us yet, our abilities, and which Master holds a particular Arcana. If they did, then the army who attacked the Academy would have been better prepared to take us.” 

“How can you be sure of that?” Jungwoo asked. 

“Because my father is not stupid.” The voice that answered next was the least you were expecting. Every head in the room swivelled to where Mark was. He met your eyes before he continued to address the room. “If he did sell us out to the enemy, then he would be smart enough to not give all the information he knows in one go. They would have gotten rid of him early if he did.” 

“That doesn’t protect us from anything nor does it give us any assurance of what he had already done,” Mijeong answered. Her gaze on Mark was sharp. “He can say whatever he wants anytime. He is a liability and we need to lock him up before he causes more trouble.”

For a moment, you thought your childhood best friend would say something to counter her. This was the very conversation that everyone had been trying to avoid, and now that it was out in the open, the rest waited with bated breath for what’s to come. Instead, Mark only kept his silence before turning to fix you with his gaze. You understood what he was trying to say as clear as day.

He had chosen his side. Clearly and plainly. 

“I will leave it to the Headmistress to decide what to do.” 

You were speechless. Not once had your trust wavered when it came to Mark, but having this moment unfold now still took you off guard. It wasn’t lost on you how big of a decision this was for him, to choose his duty over his loyalty to his own father. You couldn’t find the words, but thankfully, maybe even selfishly, you felt relief for not losing him.

“I don’t think that is going to happen anytime soon though,” Jaemin spoke carefully as he looked at his older friend, then at you. “If he really believed that the two of you are to be married, then he is probably weighing his options. He has as much to gain, maybe even more, in this marriage. What do you think, hyung?” 

Mark finally broke his gaze away from you and nodded. “But I still don’t think we have time. I have not heard back from him for days. I have no idea what he is planning to do.” 

“Should we arrange to have him arrested?” Jaehyun asked you directly now. This, at least, you have an answer for.

“No. We need him to disappear at just the right time.” 

The confused expressions on everyone’s faces were not lost on you. 

“If we take him now, Cypher will immediately know that we’ve found him out. I need him to stay long enough… Until the Institute itself thinks that he had betrayed them by disappearing.” 

“But doesn’t that leave us vulnerable? What if they come after us before we even get to do anything?” Haechan asked, his tone reflecting the same doubt etched on his features. This time, you did pause a bit as you fixed your eyes on a framed photo of you sitting on your father’s desk. You were a child, with your favorite book pressed against your chest.

“That’s exactly what I want to happen. For them to come after us themselves.” 

Everyone was silent. The weight of your words and the confusion that they brought hung heavy in the air. Then, for the first time, Jeno finally spoke. It was a question that he asked, but you knew, from his tone alone, that he had already figured you out. It made your chest clench just to hear him say it.

“What are you trying to do?” 

The way he asked made you feel as if there’s only the two of you in the room. You looked at him steadily, before giving your answer as if he was the only one there too.

“I’m not only going to save my father. I want to know exactly what Cypher wants to do with the Arcana and put a stop to it once and for all. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder, hiding and wondering why people are after my head. That’s the fate that awaits all of us if we don’t fight. Running away will only make things harder for us and the fastest way to do that is to,” 

“Attack them from the inside…” Kun was the one who finished it for you. You tore your eyes away from Jeno and nodded.

“Cypher is a powerful enemy,” you continued. “It’s safer for all of us to think that they have the upper hand for now. If we meet them head-on, we don’t know what we will be facing. But if we meet them inside of their own trap, we’ll have better chances of winning the game. To do that, we’ll let them take some of us as they intended, with others planted as spies, working undercover with them to balance the scales. Someone will have to go in and move the plan along at the right moments until it’s time for all of us to escape again once we have all the information that we need and my father.”

“And who is going to be that person?” Jaemin asked slowly. Unfortunately for him and for his best friend, they already both knew the answer. Jeno’s eyes burned against your skin but you didn’t dare look at him this time. You couldn’t afford to. You answered before you could even waver.

“Me.”

*******

Nobody in the room moved. It was as if the Headmaster’s office had turned into a vacuum and everyone was stuck in the same limbo. You stood stiffly still, waiting for the axe to drop. Mijeong was the one who did it. 

“No. Absolutely not. No. No way,” she said as she looked at you incredulously. In the short time you’ve known her, this is the first that you’ve seen her address you so bluntly.

“You’re the last of the Triads. You are the last person you have to get their hands on.” She swivelled then towards Taeyong and Kun as if to appeal to them. The two, however, remained frozen on their seats just like the rest. “This can’t work.”

“That’s exactly why I am the perfect person to do it,” you only answered her calmly. “The person inside their own walls is the last they will think to be a Triad.” 

Ten didn’t look convinced either. “But even if you have a point, the risk is too high. What if something happens and you are found out? The variables are too uncontrollable. They will have eyes and ears everywhere. Who is to say what will really happen once we’ve infiltrated them?” 

“The risks will lower, if we control where their eyes and ears are set,” you easily answered. “And this is where I will need all of you.” 

Everyone watched as you stepped back from your father’s desk and made your way to the middle of the room. Resting on one of the tables there is an untouched chessboard, with its pieces lying unorganized by its side. You picked up the King and turned the dark piece on your palm. 

“A decoy,” you said calmly as you placed it on one side of the board. “I will need the help of someone to fake the identity of IL Matto and send them far away from the Academy.” You then took the other chess pieces—the Bishops, the Rooks, the Pawns, and the Knights and placed them on their respective places. You left the Queen out of the board, untouched. 

“To convince Cypher, the fake IL Matto will have to be protected by our strongest and best,” you lifted your gaze and looked straight at Johnny, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, and Yuta. All looked pale under the ghastly light of the room. Then, slowly, you turned towards Taeyong. Just as you expected, the man was already looking at you with an unreadable look on his face. When you spoke to him, your tone was gentler.

“I wouldn’t have known until I dug through my father’s files, but it’s what you’ve been doing for years, right, Taeyong-hyung? My father asked you to stand as the decoy IL Matto. He’d planted the rumor himself and let it spread to the lesser families.” 

You heard someone gasp. Taeyong, still looking calm, finally smiled.

“It’s an honor to be trusted by your father.” 

“It’s a big ask. And a selfish one.” 

“And I am still saying yes, now that you’re the one asking me to do it.”

For a moment, you actually felt guilt strike you. You’ve spent sleepless nights trying to convince yourself that this is the best course of action, but looking at Taeyong now, so human and still so loyal made you almost want to trash everything. For the first time, you understood in its fullness the weight that your father carried for the family. The sacrifices and the guilt were prices to pay to keep the game moving. 

“If you are going to send Taeyong and the rest, then what about your plan for Cypher?” Kun spoke up to cut your train of thought before it overwhelmed you. He looked unsure still, worried not entirely for his own self. You felt sick for what you were about to say next. 

“I will need a very specific group of people for it,” you answered and this time, you actually felt yourself almost hesitate. With your head feeling as heavy as lead, you turned blindly to the other side of the room. Mark’s worried face met you first, then Renjun’s whose eyes turned round from where he sat. He had gotten into your head. You allowed him to.

“Seven people to be exact.” 

*******

The lock of the door to your father’s office caught with the quietest of clicks. You stared at it, right at the very same spot where Taeyong’s back disappeared before he left the room. His voice was still echoing in your head as you stared at the empty space now. Somehow, his words seemed to make everything more real than they already are. 

“It’s better if we know less about the other half of your plan. That’s safer, just in case something happens and they catch up with us.”

The brief lull was only borrowed though, because still in the room with you, waiting, were the rest that you’ll need to complete the harder, more complicated part of your scheme. Just thinking about how to put it into words right now was already making your throat close up. Instead of wavering though, you turned quietly to them and took in each of their faces carefully. 

Kun. Ten. And Mijeong. They will be the pieces you need to drive you to the right direction when you need to. 

And then there’s the seven. 

Your seven. 

Mark, Jeno, Renjun, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung stared back at you, not knowing how much you’ll be asking of them. 

“I will need you seven to let Cypher take you.”

It was such a simple sentence, and yet it broke something in you after you said it. Your voice had started sounding alien to your own ears as you continued. “The Institute will need a collection of Arcana users other than my father to study. You will be—”

“Your baits,” Jeno finished your sentence. It took you everything not to flinch. Still, you went on, this time turning at the three others in the room. 

“Kun and Ten, you will be our insiders. We will find a way to have you both get hired by the Institute and assigned as doctors to the boys. Mijeong, I looked around the Kims’ connections and your family had been dealing with Cypher for years. I will need your help to let Kun and Ten in.” 

The girl looked conflicted, but it was Kun who decided to voice out her concern. 

“If you want us to infiltrate Cypher, that is fine, but I still do not think it is a good idea for you to be involved in such close contact with them. You are too vulnerable of a target. Even if we successfully plant the boys and ourselves inside of the Institute, there is a huge possibility that they might pull something to make your Arcana act up. Won’t it make the others’ abilities more unpredictable if you let yourself be taken in as a prisoner?” 

“But I am not marching to Cypher as a prisoner, Kun-ge,” you said steadily. “I am coming to them as a doctor too. A fully mundane, powerless one at that.”

He froze, obviously confused. 

“What do you mean?” 

Without looking at anyone, you reached for the book that you’ve carried with you earlier and turned it so that its front faced the rest. Its gold embossed title glowed dully under the lamp light. 

La Historia de la Arcana Famiglia

“About a century ago, a former IL Matto was excommunicated from the roster of GrandMasters. He was discovered to have sided with the Royal Imperial line which found out about the abilities of the Arcana and was trying to possess them. He had the ability of Retroactive Nullification which let him reach out to the immediate past of any GrandMaster to undo any action that they do using their abilities. He can even undo his own death as long as his life force exists. As we all know, even if our physical bodies die, it will take a while for it to merge back into the aether. In other words, he is invincible to the others. As a traitor, they obviously needed him to be gone.”

“Since death is not an option, the other Masters had to think of another way to nullify him. They only thought of one solution.” 

“Erase his memories.”

Everyone stared back at you in total silence.

“By erasing his memories, they rewrote his whole being. He was still the IL Matto, but he no longer has the knowledge of his identity to use his ability in any way. As Masters, our powers are tied to what we know about ourselves and our purpose. In other words, they made him a useless piece. He died of his own accord, knowing he was a mundane.”

Your words echoed as if you were speaking to an empty room. When you finally allowed yourself to look at the rest, every face staring back at you was pallid. Slowly, you smiled, even if it didn’t quite reach your eyes. 

“That’s what we will do. Erase my memories and rewrite a different identity for myself. When I enter Cypher, I will not be IL Matto.”

“The master you are talking about lost his memories forever. Are you giving up on your position willingly by abandoning your ability?” Of course, it was Jeno who asked. Out of all the people there, his expression was the hardest for you to break down. While everyone looked horrified, he remained unreadable. Of course, you knew why. He was the only person, other than your father, who wanted you to abandon your destiny.

But you will have to break his heart again. 

“No. We will do it differently. The previous IL Matto’s memories were erased in their entirety before they were overwritten. But mine will be kept temporarily,” you paused. In your head, the seven pieces were finally lining up to their right places. 

“La Papessa will extract my memories and keep it in his power while the plan is still in motion,” from his seat, Renjun stiffened as you called on his Arcana. You glanced at Haechan next who looked so still in his own corner, he didn’t look like he was breathing. “IL Bagatto will create a new identity for me; bend the reality just enough to give me a reason to try and get into Cypher. I will forget all about my life as IL Matto. La Fuerza will be part of this made-up new story. You will be responsible for leading me to the Institute at the right time,” you said then, smiling slightly at Mijeong. “You’ve been with me in the past couple of years anyway, so a history between the two of us will not be hard to reinforce.” 

“Inside Cypher, we need the right mix of abilities and people. L’Imperatore will offer the physical strength, IL Diavolo, the mental manipulation to make sure that we still keep some level of control over the situation if needed. Being kept as patients inside of the Institute will have serious risks, but IL Carro and Asso di Scuti will have to find their way inside of it to provide a level of protection to the others. You’ll need to be directly involved in the study and be ready to support our escape at the right time,” you continued, addressing Ten and Kun directly. 

“La Morte, as the opposite of all your Arcanas, will be our last ace, in case your abilities get out of control while inside. And finally,” you turned to the youngests of the group. Guilt was obvious in your eyes as you tried to smile at Jisung and Chenle. Your heart ached as you stared at them, looking so young—way too young in the semi-darkness of the office. 

“La Luna and IL Sole, you will be our most important pieces. I will leave it to your hands to mend and heal… whatever and whoever it is that might break at the end of it.” 

The silence that followed rang loud like a gavel hitting judgment. Nobody spoke, moved, or even seemed to breathe. You could feel the heaviness of what you’ve just said sit at the back of your throat like poison.

In the middle of the room, flecks of blood orange light bounced off from the chessboard. The Queen’s piece stood on her square, its shadow looking larger than it was in the darkness. 

The game has finally started. 

You have no idea what time it is when you managed to open your eyes, but the first thing that registered to you as you stirred from your sleep were the beams of moonlight that pierced the darkness of your room. It took you a couple of quiet seconds to prop yourself up from your bed, eyes drifting towards the direction of the music as you tried to gather your bearings. Beside you, the glowing handle of the clock on your desk struck 2AM.

The cold feel of the floor seeped into your skin when you pulled the blankets off of you and finally swung your legs over the side of the bed. The hymn floating in between the cracks of your door was beautiful, but there was something about the way the notes danced around each other that made the deepest parts of your chest throb dully. For some reason, it stirred great sadness in you, so you didn't give it a second thought to pull on your night robe and step out into the hallway to find its source. You know exactly where to go… And in a way, who you will find at the end of it.

His back was on you the moment you stepped into the room. It was dark, with only the light of the moon peeking from the high window providing illumination to the almost empty space. It was enough for you, however, to make out his strong back contrasted by the graceful features of his profile. His lean fingers continued dancing across the piano keys and you decided to stop just on the edge of the hallway to watch him from a distance.

"Aren't you cold?"

You weren't surprised at all when he addressed you, his low voice braiding through the notes of the hymn he was playing. He still hasn't looked at you, but you still gave a slight shake of your head in answer.

"That's a very beautiful piece you are playing."

"Did I wake you up?"

"You did. And I think you did it intentionally, too."

The way the corner of his lips slightly curved into a small smile made you tighten your fingers around yourself. You wanted to reach out to him, touch his face, and pull him over to you all at once. You might as well have screamed your thoughts out loud because Mark finally turned to look at you, his gaze gentle and open.

"Come here?"

Your first instinct was to keep your ground, but the side of you that wanted him close got the best of you in a heartbeat. Stepping away from the shadows, you went straight to him, his arms already opening for you before you even settled beside him. You melted into his embrace, fingers treading through his hair as he pressed his nose against the crook of your neck. You frowned and closed your eyes at the contact, the heavy feeling that you didn't even know you've been lugging around for the past couple of days leaving your chest like smoke. 

"Don't do that to me again. I thought you left me," you half whispered to keep your voice steady. You felt him sigh against your skin.

"I'm sorry… I needed some time alone."

"Do you hate me?"

Mark shook his head before letting you go just enough so he could see your face. You didn't even realize the tears brimming in your eyes until he reached out to catch them before they fell with his rough fingers.

"I could never hate you."

"But I…"

His smile fell a little as he gave a slight laugh.

"I admit the rejection hurt. I needed time to compose myself again. I wasn't really at my best when we talked so I had to distance myself a little."

"Mark, I'm sorry…"

The way his gaze probed your face now made a twisting tightness bloom in your chest again. It was the same way he had always looked at you, but now with a shade of honesty that he never had before. 

"You shouldn't. You made me realize something after all."

Your throat felt tight, but you managed to speak.

"What?"

"That you love me. And that the way you also love the others doesn’t change that."

Your heart squeezed in your chest.  You wanted to answer him, give him confirmation, but the way he looked at you told you that he didn’t need any of that assurance anymore. Instead, you leaned your cheek against the hand he raised to cup your face, eyes never leaving his. When he smiled at you again, you knew right then and there that the two of you will no longer be able to go back from all the pretending that provided you safety before. This was a man who had stopped himself from holding back because for the first time, he was finally standing in the same spot you’ve always been at. 

For once, none of you are afraid.

“Are you back for real this time? I asked the others and they said you were gone for days. Nobody knew where you went.”

A look of recall quickly crossed his features at your question. He almost seemed a bit guilty, but you knew there was more to it than he was letting on. You could feel dread at the back of your throat, but waited for him to take his time to answer.

“I didn’t really leave because of our conversation. There was something I was trying to figure out.”

“What?”

“Who the traitor is behind all of this.”

You paused. Mark's gaze never wavered from yours and you could see the clear frustration from the set of his brows.

“Did you find out anything?”

“Not much. I could have done it easier with the help of my father but I—” he stopped, a hard look flashing in his eyes momentarily. “I know he is supportive of the Headmaster’s decision for all of us to go into hiding. He wouldn’t help me even if I beg him to. I was able to get access to some reports of the investigation that our family have been doing though. Whoever is coming after us must come from an advanced technology corporation. They—”

“It’s Cypher Institute, isn’t it?”

Mark froze in his seat, his gaze one of surprise before it morphed into confusion.

“How did you know that?”

“Jaemin and I snooped around in my father’s office while he was gone and someone called him about it. It was a coincidence. Was it the same Institute that you were able to confirm from your father’s side?”

The way Mark’s expression changed in just a matter of seconds slowly made an uncomfortable feeling bloom in your gut. It was what he said next, however, that really threw you off.

“My father is not aware about Cypher Institute.”

You frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“He had leads but none of the files I cross-checked had any mention of Cypher. And I looked at everything, I am sure of it. Whoever gave that information to your father is not from our family.”

The silence that wrapped the two of you was brief but heavy with meaning. There were so many questions that came to mind but it was Mark who managed to voice out the most pressing thing you couldn’t bring yourself to say.

“Do you know any other family that your father could be working with?”

You shook your head slightly.

“He does work with everyone. The Kim’s are one when he asked Mijeong to watch over me while I was in university, and I’m sure he also had agreements with the families of the other Masters. I’ve always thought that he shares a lot of his plans to your father though… Especially anything related to this threat. It was the Lee's who saved him from the latest ambush after all. It wouldn’t make sense for him to ask another family to look into things over your father…”

It took a while for Mark to finally say something as he processed that. Your throat felt dry, and you could almost feel your hand locked with his slowly grow cold.

“It would make sense. If he doesn’t fully trust my father.”

His words hung thick in the air. You didn’t know what to say, especially with him saying what you couldn’t put into words. There was something about Junho Lee that has always bothered you, but he is also Mark’s family and for that, you still provided the man a level of respect even from a distance. Still, you knew that one of your father’s reasons for trusting him stands on shaky ground—you just didn’t expect for the distrust to run this deep.

“Do you think… He can do that?”

Mark’s jaw tightened at the question. You could see the fight going inside of him so clearly that you almost felt bad for asking.

“He's a very ambitious man. I was still very young when I lost my mom, but I remember enough to know that he was never really the same after what happened. Still, he is the only other family that I have and…”

“And it is absolutely alright if you want to believe in him,” you gently interjected by giving his hand a gentle squeeze. Mark pursed his lips and he shifted his gaze away from you, his expression torn and pained.

Just like you, Mark’s life was greatly affected by what happened in the past. Fate dealt him bad cards, and for that you can’t really blame him for wanting to stand up for things he wants to believe in. You would do the same if you were in his place; choose to stand by your father before anything and anyone else. 

It took a moment before he finally seemed to break from his thoughts. Gaze following him, he reached out for something in his pocket before finally offering his open palm to you. It was dark so it took you a moment to realize what you were looking at, but your lips were soon enough parting wordlessly as he moved to open the small blue velvet box he was holding carefully. 

Lying nestled in black satin, catching the light of the moon, was a deep blue diamond ring framed with smaller clear gems on its sides. It looked ornate but well-loved, like a star that had fallen in the middle of a dark night. Your eyes widened as you stared at it, Mark’s silence in contrast to the sudden loud beating of your heart.

“What…”

“It’s my mother’s wedding ring. My father gave it to me when he told me about his plan of us getting married.”

“Mark… I…”

Your voice sounded so full of guilt, but he gently cut you off by pressing the box against your palm.

“Relax, I am not proposing to you,” he said in a tone that made you pause. “I told you that I understand where you stand now. I am not going to force you to do anything that you’re not comfortable with.”

You swallowed, but let him continue. 

“But we can’t deny how dangerous it is right now. There is a traitor in our family and it could be anyone, including my father. I won’t blame you if you can’t find it in you to trust us right now, but my family can give you protection, regardless of who is the person who betrayed us. Even if it was him, I think he will spare you if we make him believe that you’re engaged to me.”

“What makes you think he will make an exception for me, Mark? If it really was him, and he was willing to sell the rest of the Masters, then he can betray anyone.”

“No. Not you.”

“Why?”

“Because I love you.”

The way you paused gave Mark the chance to really look at you, his eyes roaming your face. You were at a loss for words, and he used that as his window to continue with a gentle voice that made your chest hurt.

“My father can be ambitious and cruel, I admit that, but he knows how to honor love when he sees it. He was hit hard when he lost my mom, but I don’t think he is going to punish you and me for what happened. He will also gain nothing if he hurts you over us being engaged and making our bloodline stronger.” 

“I hate to say this, but it’s the reality we’re living in right now,” he continued. “I can protect you if you choose to continue your life as a Master. It’s that or you move away and cut off all connections with us. Follow what your father has always wanted for you and live like a normal human.”

You slowly shook your head as the weight of his words fully sunk in. You’ve always known this… Everything Mark is saying right now have always been the choices given to you. Not once have you accepted them though, especially with your only other option being to exile yourself from the Family and never see any of them for the rest of your life again.

“So are you saying that we should… tell everyone that we will get married?”

Mark’s gaze dropped before he gave a slight nod.

“Yes. At least while we haven’t figured out who the real traitor is. If they see that we’re both onboard, I don’t think they’ll rush us to it. We can buy ourselves some time.”

You were quiet. Your eyes found the ring again, a testament to a different promise made years ago. After a moment, Mark reached over and closed the box before guiding your fingers to close around it.

“You don’t need to give me an answer right now, but I want you to keep it. Even if we won’t get married, you’re the only woman who I want to have it.”

Your thumb ran over the soft plush of the velvet cover. A few seconds passed before you felt him gently hold your chin to guide you to look at him again.

“I’ll do anything and everything just so we could get to the bottom of this. Whatever happens though, I want you to know…”

“That I will never ever betray you. My life is yours.”

Time seemed to have stopped, the same way your heart did. He looked at you with nothing but bare honesty laid out and you received it, unafraid this time. A cloud shifted outside, and the next moment, you two met in the middle, lips soft against each other. It was a simple kiss, but one that you knew was long overdue. When you pulled away, you whispered softly against him, only loud enough for him to hear.

“I know. I believe you.”

******* “Come in.”

You have barely raised your hand to knock when your father’s clear voice sounded from the inside of his office. The antic would have been amusing if this were any normal day, but instead you found yourself slightly hesitating before finally pushing the door open. He wasn’t looking at you when you stepped into his room, his gaze set instead on reviewing a stack of documents laid out across his table.

“Are you busy?”

It was a rhetorical question at this point, but still, the man’s lips twitched into a small smile as he finally looked at you from over the rim of his wired glasses. He looked unhurt, but the dark shadows under his eyes betrayed how his last couple of days have been.

“Even if I am, I will always have time for you, Princess.”

You didn’t want to immediately soften after that, but you couldn’t help the way your eyes shifted sideways as a reaction. Your father, of course, noticed, and chuckled as a response.

“So? Is there anything wrong?”

Your shoulders slumped a little before you answered. To be honest, you didn’t really plan for anything when you decided to see him today. All you know is that you’re glad to see him again after he had been in and out of the Academy for the past few days, especially since you haven’t really talked after your argument. The way his eyes sparkled behind his glasses now made you think that he already has an idea why you’re here, but the man kept his silence to give you the room to open it up yourself.

“I wanted to apologize… For some of the things I have said last time.”

“Apology accepted. I want to do the same, since I have realized why my decision warranted that kind of reaction.”

Immediately, it felt like a part of the heaviness in your chest lifted. You remained standing in your spot though, your gaze open as you searched his face.

“Did you change your mind? About me and Mark?”

A pause.

“No, my dear. My stand remains the same. And you?”

You didn’t hesitate to answer.

“No… I am still against it.”

He nodded, but didn’t say anything else to counter you. Your father can be as headstrong as he is, but he also knows how to draw boundaries, at least temporarily. What you said next, however, is something he definitely did not expect.

“Mark and I talked though,” you added as you tried your best to work through the lump in your throat. Ever since that night with him, you’ve sat with your thoughts to consider every angle of the situation. You still don’t have a decision, but it would be unfair to lie to your father about what has happened since.

“We… still do not have an answer right now. But we are considering things.”

It was quite hard to gauge whether he was relieved about it or not, but he gave you a slight smile after his pause of silence.

“That’s enough for me. Thank you, darling. Now, do you want to sit? I know you came here to tell me more than just that. At least try to relax a little.”

You hesitated only for a little bit before finally giving in and settling on the chair across his desk. Now that you’re closer, you could better see the lines on his face, proof that the last few days haven’t been easy on him.

“I found out who was after us. I heard it from a call… While you were gone.”

“I know.”

You shot him a guilty look.

“Are you mad?”

The question made him laugh. “Honey, I would be even more surprised if you didn’t snoop around to find out things on your own. Let me guess, did Mark come with you?”

“No. Jaemin did.”

“Mm. As expected from Mr. Na. That young man's loyalty to you is fiercer than his strongest fear.”

“Why is Cypher after us, Papa?”

You didn't know if he was taken aback by your straightforwardness or not, but the moment you asked, a shadow of emotion you couldn’t quite understand flitted over his features. It was fast, but it was enough for you to understand that he knows something more than he is letting on. At first you thought he would avoid the question, but then the light in his eyes shifted again, almost as if he was looking inward to himself.

"It's human nature to crave power. Cypher, unfortunately, is one of those willing to meddle with it."

"Do you have any idea what it is that they want from us? Even with what they have, it is impossible for them to tap into the abilities of the Arcana. Manmade resources have no chance against us."

The pause from him was loaded. The man leaned on his desk now, shoulders slightly slouched as he took off his glasses and pressed the bridge of his nose. You almost wanted to reach out to him, but he seemed on the verge of breaking at the slightest touch. A flash of uninvited memory took over you, and it was then you realized that you've seen him like this before. Once, a long time ago when you were younger…

Back when your mother died.

"I wish I knew. It's hard to go against an enemy without understanding how they could possibly hurt you, but I am sure of one thing. They're dangerous. If there's something even more powerful than greed, it's hatred, and  Cypher… has both towards us. Whatever happens, we can't let them get to us. To any of you."

His words slowly sank like dull blades into your skin. There was something lurking behind his statements, a confession hidden in plain sight. You hated how you're piecing things together slowly, how you're realizing that there is possibly more to this than just going against an enemy.

"What do you mean about them hating us?" You asked softly now, your eyes set on him. Your father's gaze hardened as he continued staring at a spot in front of him. His silence was enough of an answer that you need.

"You… know these people. You know why they are doing this," you continued slowly. Your words seemed to have struck something in him, a look of pain overtaking him for a solid second before he finally reached for your hand.

“When the time comes, you will understand.”

“No, I don’t think I will. Why won’t you tell me everything?! I can help. You don’t have to carry this on your own.”

“Darling, you don’t understand. They are not like anything we have faced before. I’m doing this to protect all of you.”

You were quiet as your mind ran a million different things at the same time. You could see the cracks in him, the dawning realization shaking your core in a silent, terrifying way. There are a lot of moments in your life when you don't agree with your father, but you love the man, and he has always been the epitome of someone you can rely on ever since you were young. It doesn't matter how big the problem is, he will always come swooping down to save the day. As you look at him now across from you, shadows and light bouncing off his tired face, you felt your heart break as you realized one thing. He is afraid just as you are. Unlike you though, there was an air of resignation in him, as if he already knew the fate waiting for him.

“Then why… does it feel like you are saying goodbye.”

The way that he looked at you made something in you break. You shook your head slowly, and he cupped your face with his hand to keep yourself from trembling.

“You will understand it soon. For now, all I wish is for you to trust me. I know it might be too much to ask, but I hope you can give me this.”

You were terrified. In that moment, you felt like a little girl again, afraid to lose the only family that you have.

“Only if you promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“You will not die.”

He paused for a bit before finally giving you a small smile.

“You have my word.”

You weren’t entirely convinced, but you took it, at least for now. Your father may not be perfect, but as much as he is flawed, he had always tried his best to never break his promises to you. You nodded now, your eyes falling to the piles of papers in his desk.

“What are we going to do now, Papa?”

His hand on your face lowered and your gaze landed on his ring as it caught light from the lamp on his desk. It was an ornate piece made with what looked like bronze, the simple band carved with intricate-looping patterns that are reminiscent of snowflakes. It was the only piece of jewelry that he had worn for as long as you could remember, on top of his wedding band that he never took off despite the death of your mother. For some reason, the ring looked different now as it shone against his skin. It looked regal in your father’s hand, yet at the same time... lonely.

When he spoke again, his voice was melancholy.

“When the time comes, you will know exactly what you have to do.”

******* “You know the view of the sunset looks best on the other side of the rooftop, right?”

Your head only slightly turned towards the sound of the voice that broke through your thoughts. Shrugging a little to yourself, you turned your gaze once more to the burning sky, eyes not really seeing the deepening colors there. You have no idea how long you’ve been sitting in the cold, but the freezing chill clinging to your skin gave you an idea of the hours you’ve lost track of. 

“I know. I didn’t really come here for the view though.”

Soft footfalls started moving towards you in answer. The next thing you felt was the warmth of a cardigan going over your shoulders as your visitor dropped to the spot next to you.

“That makes one of us. I do like the view here. Can I join?”

You raised a brow but grabbed the edges of the jacket to wrap the material tighter around you. “You’re already here. Will you leave if I ask you to?”

“Nope~”

The way you could almost hear his smirk in his voice couldn’t stop you from smiling a little. You gave a light-hearted sigh before finally turning to look at him.

“Why are you here, Haechan? Shouldn’t you be resting in your dorm? You just finished training with the others, right?”

“When I can finally have some alone time with you? You do realize how hard it is for some of us to get your time, right? Either you’re sulking on your own or you’re being hogged by my cousins—”

He wasn’t able to finish what he wanted to say as you raised your hand and knocked your fist on top of his head. Haechan jokingly flinched and massaged the spot you just hit, a smirk on his face.

“Did you just come here to harass me?”

“Did I lie? All I’m saying noona is that I’m a Lee too. What does Mark and Jeno have that I don’t have?”

You looked at him dead-panned before giving an answer.

“Height.”

The way his face dropped made your lips twitch. It was taking you everything not to dissolve into laughter with how hard he scowled at you.

“Okay, Princess, listen here. Mark-hyung is literally a centimeter taller than me. Don’t be mean.”

That was the last that you could take. Unable to help it, you finally gave in, your laughter bursting as you curled in on yourself to keep yourself from snorting. You could almost feel his frown deepening without even looking at him, the awareness of it only making you wheeze harder.

"I do know what I can do that those two dorks can't though," you heard him say quietly after he let you have your moment. When you finally gathered yourself again—cheeks pink from the cold and the laughing fit—he was looking at you softly. The sunset was kissing his skin, making him look as if he was glowing. The corners of his lips lifted as he angled his face a little to the side to watch you.

"I'm the only one who can make you laugh like that."

The way your heart jumped made you immediately forget what you thought was funny just seconds ago. Your relationship with Haechan has always been different… Mark is loyal, Jeno is secretive, Renjun is subtle, and Jaemin is passionate. Haechan has always been straightforward with what he wants, but unlike the others, his intensity can sometimes be impulsive, like an open flame ready to spark into a larger fire at any moment. It was in his nature—The Magician, as the master of chaos, is the one force in the Arcana that constantly straddles logic and madness, next to The Fool itself. He is designed to want you in a different intensity from how others feel ever since the Arcana chose him as its Master. 

It's because of this that you have always tried to hold back more when it comes to him. And so when he pushes, you pull back, not because you feel any less for him, but because the idea of you two meeting in the middle has always terrified you.

That, and you know that whatever feelings Haechan has for you at the moment might not be his own, but his Arcana craving for yours.

"You make me laugh just as hard as you can make me mad," you admitted finally, allowing your walls to break down just a little in front of him. Something flickered in his eyes though his smile remained.  

"You always run away from me, noona. Why?"

"You already know the answer to that."

"What I know is that you like me just as much as you like the others."

"I do. But do you feel the same about me? Or is it your Arcana telling you that you want me?"

Your question made him stop. You watched as the smile slowly bled from his face, his well-kept mask slipping for a moment. Haechan is a good master of his own emotions, but this time you knew you hit a chord. 

"I can do anything for you. Destroy worlds… and build new ones if you want me to,” he said, his voice serious. 

"I know. But that is not answering my question."

"Then what—"

"Will you feel the same if I am not the IL Matto, Haechan? Will you still like me if I’m just a regular human?"

The way his eyes hardened a little at the very thought of you living a life as a normal mortal admittedly made your heart break a little. You've always known this, of course… but hearing his answer now in his silence did not make it easier. When it seemed like he didn't know what to say next, you took it upon yourself to take his hand gently. He immediately wove his fingers with yours, his hold tight that it felt like he was giving you his reply through it alone. This time, it was you who smiled at him to try and give him comfort.

“I know how much you like me, but I can’t accept those feelings if you’re not even sure yourself that they’re your own. It’s unfair for me to give you an answer and take your free will from you, Haechan... I can’t do that, at least while you still can’t answer that question.” 

He looked so lost and in pain that for a moment, you could see the chubby-cheeked boy who had always ran after you when you were younger. It made you want to pull him in for comfort, but you settled on giving his hand a squeeze instead. 

"Hey. Don’t feel bad about it, okay? It’s fine. I like having you around, just like this. If you want to do anything for me though, then just promise me one thing."

He still seemed torn, but he managed to give an answer anyway.

"What is it?"

"Never stop making me laugh. You're right. You’re the only one who can do it."

******* Kun kept his eyes steady on the flickering flame of the candlelight in front of him. The room was quiet, but there was a different tinge of melancholy that was lingering in the air as the Headmaster sifted quietly through the papers in front of him. The ticking sound of the grandfather's clock in the room was deafening to him, like a death call waiting for its final drop. It was a reprieve when the door finally creaked open, revealing Taeyong on the other side of it. Kun waited for him to join his side, giving the man the liberty to break the suffocating silence.

"We just finished the final round of trainings, Sir. We’re gathering all the data before giving them to you."

"How are the kids?"

"They have improved a lot. They’re not at their full potential yet, but they can definitely control their abilities better now. They will be able to hold a fight… should the need arise."

"They don't have to. They only need to defend themselves,” the man said evenly. “Have you heard word from Doyoung?"

Taeyong paused before giving an answer. 

"Yes. He has confirmed that it is most likely Junho Lee who is working with Cypher."

The man's hand froze ever so slightly as he moved to pick up a paper from his desk. His face was calm, but there was something about the set of his lips that made Kun and Taeyong surreptitiously exchange glances.

"I appreciate you working with the Kim's, Taeyong. He's probably watching me very closely, so I needed you to do the job."

"Do you want us to get rid of him?" Kun's voice was quiet but steady when he asked the burning question. The Headmaster shook his head, his eyes hooded by the shadows from the flickering candle.

"No. Not yet."

Kun's jaw clenched ever so slightly at the answer. His morals tell him to take the man's word with no question—follow him with blind loyalty like he has always done—but he couldn't bring himself to do it now, not when everything seems to be crumbling around him. From the way that Taeyong was holding himself beside him, shoulders stiff and face set, he knows that the other Legacy shares the same stand.

"With all due respect, Sir. I would like to understand why," he finally decided to ask after gathering enough courage to speak again. The man peered at him from behind his glasses, curious, but not seemingly surprised by his question. He didn't know if it was just a trick of the light, but he thought he saw the shadow of a smile on the other's lips before he finally moved to cross his hands together.

"You and Taeyong always had the right to ask. The pair of you just do not give yourselves the full credit you are due."

For a second, Kun felt oddly like a child being gently reprimanded by a parent. Gathering himself again, he decided to press more to get answers.

"We do not understand why you're protecting Junho. He betrayed you. He betrayed all of us."

"I am not protecting him. I am protecting the Family… From him."

The look of silent confusion from him and Taeyong was not lost on the Headmaster. The man, on the other hand, seemed set and collected as always.

"Cypher is already a formidable enemy on their own. They will wage war on us soon, there is no doubt about it. Going after Junho now will only split the Family more—and we are currently at a disadvantage of not knowing who else within our network has decided to side with him. If he finds out that we know, we'll just be pushing ourselves in a corner. The Lee's have resources, and having those used against us is the last thing we need."

"So we will just let him do whatever, then?" Taeyong asked this time.

"No. When the time comes… And you will know when—you will have to take him down. Even his own son should he decide to betray my daughter."

The way the man said that so evenly without batting an eye made Kun and Taeyong's blood run cold. The Headmaster is a kind, rational man that oftentimes, people forget how cunning and ruthless he can be in his own ways.

"For now, I want to keep him alive. After all… He might still become useful in the future."

Both men stared at him, though none decided to speak up this time. Wordlessly, he picked up a thick brown envelope from his table and offered it to the two. Kun and Taeyong looked at each other before the former took it silently from his hands.

"When that time comes, my daughter will be the first person to know what best to do with him," the Headmaster continued as he leaned back on his chair. "Just the same as she will know what to do next once things start to unfold. When the moment calls for it, give her that envelope. It will help her."

Kun's fingers tightened on the edges of the bundle he was holding. There was a heavy feeling that had started to weigh on his stomach, similar to the one he had when the man talked to him first after his quick absence.

"Are you leaving, Sir?"

A shadow of something quickly glossed over the man's expression. It was so brief, but it was enough to give Taeyong and Kun the answer they hoped they wouldn't have to hear ever.

"There are things that only I can do in this fight. So yes… I would have to leave my daughter. For a while," he said, his eyes moving from one young man to the next. Maybe it was the darkness and the shadows dancing in the room, but in that moment, the Headmaster saw in the pair two other young men who stood shoulder to shoulder in this room once, many decades ago, promising their allegiance to the Arcana. The memory made his chest constrict with a mix of emotions—pain… longing… and sadness for what was and what will never be again.

He let the memories linger for a few more seconds before finally giving the two a small smile.

"I know I have already asked for too much from the both of you, but if I can have one last request… I hope you two can put her and the Family's best interests at heart while I am away."

"Consider it my last request as IL Giudizio."

******* Your footsteps echoed softly in the hallways as you made your way back to your room. Tucked loosely by your side are a couple of hardbounds, titles you decided to sneak out of the library in this unholy hour because you were already out of reading material. It's been weeks since most of the student body have been sent back to their homes, leaving Rosewood silent and vacant. Since then, you’ve tried to take comfort in the stillness surrounding you by keeping mostly to yourself and out of everyone's way.

You have already turned the last corner to your room when your phone suddenly vibrated in your jeans pocket. By the time you managed to pull it out and check your messages, you were already at your door, one hand wrapping around the knob while you tried to open the message notification. You have barely caught Mark's name on your screen when a gasp was suddenly torn from you as someone grabbed you by the arm, the motion causing the books you were holding to tumble to the floor. Your eyes grew wide as your back made contact against the wood, your elbow grazing the cold knob of your door as you were pushed against it. Your first thought was that you were being attacked, but a different kind of shock gripped you when you realized what exactly was happening.

You didn't really need to see him to know whose lips were pressed against you the next second. Even in your confusion, your hands automatically gripped the front of his shirt as he held you close to him. He was holding you so tightly that it took you a moment to guide his face back so you could see him better. Dark eyes met yours, hooded by his windswept, messy hair as you searched his face. The warmth of his breath fanned your lips and his fingers only dug deeper on your hip bones as if he was afraid that you will push him away. 

"Jeno, what—"

"I need you. Now."

Four words. That was all it took for you to pause and for your heart to stop in your chest. You held his gaze for a second longer before grabbing his hand the same time he reached out to turn the knob behind you. Wordlessy, you pulled him in, leaving nothing but the sound of your door closing in the empty hallway.

*******

A/N: This took a while because I simply could not put my thoughts into words properly. Enjoy!

Taglist: 

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The girl quietly crossed the driveway and climbed the short flight of steps to the oak double doors with grace. The moment she stepped on the entrance, it was like something in the air shifted and an invisible barrier parted for her. Average people wouldn't notice it, but she'd learned to spot the slight glimmer of force field that often shields the academy from unknowing, mundane eyes. An amused smile curved her lips as she waited for the barrier to make way for her, revealing beyond it what seemed like an entirely different world. As if a switch was turned on, the once quiet and serene air suddenly became alive with the sound of muffled chit chat beyond. Without wasting another second, she reached out for the brass handle to reveal what’s on the other side of the door. 

The sight of a busy foyer welcomed her in its full glory. Dozens and dozens of students were milling around, chatting with each other as they lugged their book bags in various states of excitement and relief. It was obvious from the buzz that everyone had just gotten out of class and she couldn’t help but smile just taking the energy in. 

Nobody really paid her much attention with all the ruckus in the place, not until she finally started making her way towards the grand staircase that opened up to the other parts of the manor. Though she tried her best to keep herself on the down low as she walked past, she unfortunately stuck like a sore thumb in the sea of uniformed students with her casual clothes. Just as soon as she passed, the chatter died down into soft whispers as the eyes of everyone in the room swiveled towards her. She kept her gaze straight and her stance unaffected, despite the whispered words that replaced the boisterous noise she was just enjoying earlier. 

"She's here…"

"The headmaster's daughter?"

"Yes. I heard she was in England for boarding school."

"No, I think she just finished college."

"She's so cool."

"Good afternoon, Miss."

You finally stopped in your tracks as one of the students finally addressed you directly. To be honest, you weren't expecting any of them to have the guts to actually talk to you, so you turned to look at her now, removing your glasses so you could address her politely. 

"Hi. Do you happen to know if my father is here…?"

The younger girl immediately straightened her back at your question. She seemed surprised and unprepared about you initiating an actual conversation, and her face burned bright just as you and the rest of the room turned their gaze on her. She opened her mouth and closed it again as she tried to grasp for an answer, and you let her gather her thoughts patiently by keeping a steady smile on your lips.

"He—We heard that he is on a—a business trip, miss," the student finally managed to stutter. Your expression ever so slightly dropped in disappointment at her reply, but you were quick enough to pick it back up when you noticed her give you a nervous look. 

"Is that so? Thanks for letting me know then," you said softly as you gave her a nod. "Would you know where the classroom of Class 7 is though?"

"I—It's on the second floor, left wing. The third one from the fourth corridor."

You smiled and gave her a slight bow of thanks.

"Thanks for letting me know. Be careful on your way home," you said before turning to continue on your way, leaving the quiet crowd behind.

*******

The walk to the room was quick. Any new visitor to the academy can easily get lost in the maze of similar-looking hallways, but you knew the place like the back of your hand from your regular visits. You noticed how nothing has virtually changed in the last two years since you came, with the corridors' white painted doors, bronze fixtures, and oak walls still looking exactly the same as you could remember. You gently ran your fingers on the polished wood as you walked past them now, your steps slowing down as a familiar-looking room came into view. The door was wide open and you could clearly hear voices coming from the inside, but you stopped just at the edge of the doorway, safely hidden from its occupants. The sound of a distinct whine floating in the hallway told you that you’ve found the right place. 

"All I'm saying is that, I don't understand why Romeo and Juliet is considered one of the best romances of all time. It was a full-on mess. Girl fake kills self, boy kills himself too because of it so girl finally kills self for real. Total train wreck. It's not a love story, it's a classic case of miscommunication."

"Are you sure you're not saying that just because Mr. Lee didn't give us The Lord of Flies as our book assignment this quarter?"

"Meh, it's more interesting anyway. And Romeo isn't at all hot as he is made out to be. He wanted to marry Juliet less than 24 hours of meeting her," the boy argued. You could almost see him rolling his eyes in your head.

"And just before that, he was madly in love with Juliet's cousin, Rosaline," you butted in as you finally pushed back from the wall and turned the corner to show yourself. "Lesson of the day, don't be as fickle as Romeo." You watched, amused, as the two boys in the room whipped their heads towards you, their eyes rounding in unison after.

"Noona!"

Your smile widened.

"Hello, Chenle and Jisung."

The older of the two was quick on his feet as you walked towards them. Chenle met you halfway, his eyes crinkling at the sides as he beamed at you.

"When did you arrive? We thought you'll be coming back next week!"

"I was supposed to, but I was able to finish my clearance early so I thought why wait longer?"

"Do the others know? The Headmaster left just a few days ago though," Jisung also joined in after he picked himself up from his seat.

"Yeah, I heard. I was supposed to surprise Papa. And no, the others don't have any idea yet. You're the first ones I looked for—oh my gosh you two have grown so tall! You're like trees now!" You said distractedly as you noticed for the first time how the pair loomed over you. Chenle snickered at your reaction while Jisung scratched the back of his head with a small smile.

"We've always been taller than you, even before you left, noona~"

"No, but not like this! And it's only been two years. You're not my babies anymore."

"Well, I am not. I'm a grown up now. Jisung still is though," Chenle said, jabbing his thumb towards the other boy. The latter openly scowled at his friend.

"You're literally less than three months older than me."

"Still the hyung though~"

You laughed seeing the banter between the two. Just like that, the nostalgia came back to you in waves as if you never left. Two years didn't seem like a long time passing, but you could clearly see the difference it makes now just looking at the duo. Have you really been gone that long?

"Well, do you know where the others are? I guess they're done with their classes too. We should meet them."

"Uh… I think Mark-hyung has club activities. Renjun and Haechan-hyung are probably back in their dorm rooms and I'm betting my fortune that Jeno-hyung escaped outside as soon as class ended. Jaemin-hyung is probably just somewhere, sneaking around with a girl," Chenle snickered. Jisung nudged him a little by the shoulder as you blinked.

"Oh, does he have a girlfriend now?"

"Girlfriends would be the right term, something you wouldn't have to worry about with me," a new voice spoke out from the doorway. Looking around, you saw two boys walk over, a brunette and a dark-haired one who rolled his eyes at the other's quip.

"You being a virgin is not something to be proud of, Lee."

"Big words coming from someone in the same boat as me, Huang."

You waited for both boys to finally join your trio with a grin. The taller of the two gave you a wink as soon as he was close enough while the other gave you a warm smile in greeting.

"Welcome back, princess. Missed me?"

"Maybe. How did you know I’m here, Haechan?"

"Through my undying, unrequited love connection with you, of course. How else?"

You raised a brow at him before turning your gaze towards the other newcomer in confirmation.

"He heard it from the students since he is the school's number one gossip," the boy said flatly. "I felt your aura though."

You grinned.

"Now, that's sweeter, Renjun."

"Ouch."

"You should have told us you were coming though," the older of the two continued. "The headmaster was looking forward to it."

You softened up a little upon hearing that. While you wouldn't really say that your relationship with your father was conventionally close, you also were looking forward to surprise him today. After all, it’s been two years of minimal contact with him, too. 

"Did he tell any of you where he was going?" You asked casually now to keep the disappointment from leaking in your voice. The boys exchanged looks, but it was Haechan who ultimately answered the question.

"No, maybe he gave Mark an idea though. Or any of the teachers."

"Right…" you nodded. "I guess I do have to look for Mark. Any idea on where he is?"

"Pretty sure he heard you're back now so he must be somewhere waiting for you too," Renjun answered.

That made you smile. "If that's the case, then I know where to find him," you gave each boy a quick glance before stepping away from your circle and turning towards the door. "I'll see you later? I'll be using the old room I always use when I visit."

"Will you have dinner with us, noona?" Jisung asked just before you disappeared in the hallway again. You looked back and gave him a wink.

"It's a group date."

*******

The smell of old books welcomed you just as soon as you took a step into the rug-covered floor of the library. It was after school hours so the place looked a little darker with the lights still out, but sunlight streamed from the wide, spacious windows, throwing enough illumination to let you make out some of the titles in the towering bookshelves that you now passed through. The place was large, but it didn't take you long to find who you were looking for, leaning against one of the shelves with a book open in his hand.

"Let me guess… Othello?"

The boy looked up from the pages he was reading when you called out to him. Gazes meeting, you gave him a smile as you started walking towards him. You stopped just across where he was leaning, your back pressing against the opposite bookshelf. He closed the book he had been holding and raised slightly to show you its cover.

"Iliad and Odyssey, actually," he answered as he shifted his eyes away from yours to study the intricate embossing on the hardback's face. Your brows lifted at his answer.

"Interesting choice. I thought you hated it."

"I did. Before. So many things can change in a few years though," Mark answered as he shot you a look. You paused at the implication of his words. You weren't stupid, of course… Especially not when it comes to him.

"I wonder what else changed with my best friend then," you replied back, your voice steady as you held his gaze. You saw the exact moment the light in his eyes slightly flickered at your choice of endearment, as if there was a wall you were able to shake. You slowly smiled. You caught him… and he knows it too. After a few moments of silence, he sighed and looked away.

"That's not fair."

You laughed and finally took a step closer to close the distance between the two of you. He easily opened his arms and welcomed you into a hug.

"I missed you, Markie," you whispered as you pressed yourself closer to him. You thought you felt his lips graze the top of your head as he let you melt into his embrace.

"I missed you too… Took you so long to come back."

You pulled away to look at him. He didn't really let you go, holding you at arm's length instead.

"You know how it is. Orders from my father. He was even making sure my calls to Rosewood are kept at a minimum."

You said that casually, but the way Mark looked at you told you that you didn't fool him a fraction. Sometimes, you hate how growing up as childhood friends gives him a better read of you.

"It's for your own good. He's only doing it to protect you," he slowly said, sounding half-hearted himself. You simply laughed and shrugged.

"By throwing me to college, faking my last name, and acting like I don't know anyone here? Sure, Mark. I've always known. It's always been like that anyway."

You finally stepped away and tried to shift your attention to the books surrounding the two of you. You could still feel his eyes on you, but he didn't really say anything, knowing that there is nothing he can offer to make that statement better. It was you who broke the silence again after a bit.

"So, speaking of my father. I heard he suddenly left for something. Did he tell you where he was going?"

Mark slightly shook his head and finally returned the book he had been holding. "No, he didn't. From what I heard from Kun-hyung and the other teachers though, he packed up at the last minute. I doubt he told them anything though."

"I see…"

The boy peered at you again as he buried his hands in his pockets.

"But he knows you are supposed to be arriving soon, so I'm sure he won't be gone for long. He's excited to see you too."

That made you slightly smile. If there is one thing Mark is so good about, it's helping you feel better.

"Till then, I'll have to crash in one of the dorm rooms here again. You wouldn't mind that, would you, Mr. Prefect?"

He slightly raised a brow at you. "Even if I don't, do you think the others will let me off if I say no?"

"Nope~"

"Exactly. Besides…" he trailed off as he levelled his gaze on you. He didn't speak for a couple of heartbeats, but the way he stared at you—as if he was seeing things you couldn't even see in yourself in the first place—made you stop. He smiled, causing your chest to slightly squeeze even before you heard his words. 

"You always have a home here."

*******

The shadows in the hallways have already lengthened as you walked idly in the silent corridors. Beyond the wide windows, the sun had dipped closer and closer to the horizon, its once bright glow turning warmer by the minute. There are only a few hours left before dinner and you still need to unpack, but you also wanted to spend some quiet time going around the place your father considers his second home.

You guess, in a way, Rosewood was also the same for you, but realistically, you haven't spent enough time here as much as he does. It was more like a seasonal vacation place for you, one you were only allowed to intermittently visit every couple of months—sometimes even years—while you were growing up. Even then, it was a tough decision for your father to make, one that you were convinced he wouldn’t have done if not for him seeing how isolation slowly chipped at you as a child. 

And so adjustments and special arrangements were made. Unlike the residents of Rosewood and those in the Family network enrolled here as students, you were thrown to live a normal life—attending normal schools and adopting a different last name to the "outside world." And while you were allowed to visit and reconnect with the rest every now and then, your identity as a Master was hidden from the rest of the family, all except for the ones personally handpicked by your father himself. To the rest of the network, you were simply a daughter of the headmaster, a high-standing member of the family, but one who is still devoid of any Arcana powers. In short, you were living two very different lives… 

An ironic feat, since you felt like you didn't belong anywhere still. 

A view of a familiar-looking door made you finally stop your aimless wandering when you turned the corner. It has been a couple of years, but there is no way you can forget this particular room after the numerous times you have sneaked in here before. You stared at it briefly now, noting the pale spot where the 'Piano Room' plank used to be nailed on the wood. Without thinking too much on it, you reached out for the handle and turned it slightly. The lock caught a bit when you tried to push it open, but then it gave way in your hand again, giving you a peek of the room beyond.

The first thing that registered to you was how dark it was inside. Unlike the corridors where sunlight streamed in from the windows, the same glass panels in the room were boarded up and covered by heavy curtains, casting everything with deeper shadows. The only source of light was from a lone open window where the dying rays from the sun managed to pierce through. You blinked. You were about to flip the switch on the wall beside you when a sudden movement made you start in surprise.

A darker shade of shadows moved from the edge of the open window, followed by some strange rustling. In your shock, you quickly turned on the light just as you took a step back. The sudden brightness blinded you, but your eyes were soon enough rounding in surprise when you finally realized what you were looking at.

The shadow was actually plural—a boy and a girl, to be exact, tangled together against the wall. Their hair was as crumpled as their school uniforms, but those were actually the least that caught your attention. Your eyes moved from the girl's mortified face staring at you…

And locked with the deep brown gaze of Na Jaemin.

"Oh, I apologize, I didn't realize the room was taken," you said promptly as things clicked in your head. You took another step back and was just about to close the door again when the female's panicked voice called out to you again.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't know you were back, Miss!"

You paused in the middle of leaving and blinked at the student in mild confusion. Her face didn't really ring a bell in your head, but the way she had paled so much under the light almost made you feel bad for her. You watched as she quickly detached herself from Jaemin and tried to fix her uniform. The boy in question didn't react, his quiet gaze resting on you still.

"That's fine. I can leave…" you offered carefully. The girl didn't seem like she heard you, rushing instead towards the door with her head down. She briefly stopped in front of you and bowed deeper in apology.

"I'm really really sorry, I didn't mean it—I-I'll leave now—"

And she did—literally speed walking in the corridor before you could even say another word. You watched her, worried, until she finally disappeared around the corner.

"Why is your girlfriend apologizing to me…?"

You slowly looked over to the boy left in the room. Jaemin was still staring at you intently, his expression devoid of any look of worry over being left in the middle of a makeout session. He didn't even bother fixing his shirt, his tie still loose around his neck.

"She's not my girlfriend."

Your brows rose ever so slightly.

"Interesting choice of recreational activity for a non-girlfriend then."

Your comment finally and slowly made his lips twitch into a smile.

"Does it bother you?"

You gave him a deadpanned look.

"No. Why would it?"

"Don't ex-girlfriends usually have those moments?"

In that moment, it was like an invisible switch was turned on and the air had turned denser. None of you broke eye contact with each other, waiting for the other one to give way. Finally, you slowly turned your body to fully face him and started moving deeper into the room. Jaemin watched you steadily, noticing the change in your mood.

"Oh, I'm your ex-girlfriend now?” You asked, stopping close enough for him to easily touch you if he wanted to. He didn't move away the slightest, his breath still fanning your face. You smiled. "Funny… We've never really been into labels before."

"If not that, what would you call it then?" He challenged, his own brow quirking.

"I don't know, a summer fling?"

"Just a summer?"

"Fine. Maybe you can add an 's' somewhere there."

Jaemin's smile finally grew a little bit more honest this time. And just like that, the tensed friction between the two of you was gone as you looked at him with the same lightheartedness in your smile. He reached out for your waist and tried to pull you closer before dipping his head towards yours. You jokingly pushed him away, your nose scrunched in disgust.

"Ew. You're seriously trying to kiss me when you have another woman's lip gloss all over you?"

He laughed, the sound ringing in the vacant room.

"So you are jealous."

"No, I'm not," you answered as you sidestepped him so you could sit on the windowsill. "I'm more surprised at how you've transformed into this total heartbreaker in just two years."

"Two years is a pretty long time."

"Apparently, yes, according to Mark and the others."

Jaemin buried his hands in his pockets and stared at you silently for a moment.

"So you've met all of them again already?"

You didn't answer immediately. Instead, you gave a casual shrug, one you know Jaemin will never be fooled by. The way he looked at you told you that he could read you as clear as day.

"Most of them, yes. I think everyone knows I am here by now."

"But you haven't talked to him yet. Have you?"

This time, you kept silent. Jaemin didn't move from his spot, just quietly observing the way the sun's dying light played on your features. It took him a while to finally sigh and take a step closer to you. When you still didn't meet his eyes, he gently lifted your chin with his finger so you could look at him.

"I think you already know where he is. He'd always spend the end of the day in the same place… Ever since you left."

Your heart constricted in your chest. Jaemin smiled and gently ran a finger on the edge of your lips.

"There's still an hour before dinner," he continued, a silent implication evident in his tone. You sighed softly before giving him a small smile.

"Will you reserve some pot roast for me?"

He nodded. "I'll make sure Chenle doesn't inhale all of them."

You laughed. Finally, you pushed yourself off the wall and reached for his hand still resting on your cheek. You made sure to give it a gentle squeeze before he let you go.

"Thank you. I promise I'll be back after sundown."

"Mmn…"

With one last smile, you stepped away from him and started making your way out. Jaemin took a moment before deciding to call out to you once more.

"Hey.”

You turned to him curiously just before you passed the doorway.

“I'm serious though. She really isn't my girlfriend." He paused before speaking again. "I have very specific tastes in my women."

Your eyes flickered and you smiled.

"I know."

*******

The sky was already painted with warm gold by the time you managed to make your way to the forest path that connected the school to the woods beyond. It was only a few minutes till nightfall so the air bit your skin with a tinge of chill, but you didn't mind it, pushing ahead until the spot you were looking for finally came to view. It was an oak tree standing atop a small hill that overlooked the rest of the forest, with foliage that cast a comforting shadow on the ground it touches. Some of its branches swooped so low that it almost kissed the ground, with others reaching out to the heavens above. It was one of the oldest trees in the forest, and one that you've always loved visiting back when you were younger.

You reached out to the branch closest to you now as you looked out into the stunning view beyond. From where you stood, you could see the way the sun almost dipped into the horizon, its glow making the tips of the trees it touched glow like embers. A slight breeze made the leaves above dance as it passed.

"You're still not wearing your uniform properly, huh?"

At first nobody answered the question that you threw in the air. A few heartbeats passed until a rustling came from somewhere higher on your left.

"And you're still acting like the school's behavior patrol."

You smiled. Turning your head to look upwards, your eyes landed on a boy currently sitting on the higher branches of the tree. Unlike the rest that you met earlier, he wasn't wearing a blazer and the sleeves of his button down were folded to his elbows. His tie was loose, also slightly blowing in the wind. He wasn't looking at you—his eyes also set on the view you were appreciating—and the rays from the sunset kissed the angles of his face in a way that almost made your heart ache.

"Hello, Jeno."

The sound of his name almost broke through his shell. The emotion behind his eyes flickered before he finally looked at you.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm back. I came for you so we can all have dinner together."

He didn't say anything after that. He simply looked at you, an unfathomable expression in his face.

"Jaemin said you're always here. I see you haven't changed at all. This is still your favorite place."

"I wasn't counting on you to come back."

You stopped at the bluntness of his words. His tone didn't have any malicious inflection in them, just a straightforwardness that somehow made it worse. For a moment the two of you just stared at each other, both trying to read off things none of you were ready to talk about yet.

"You weren't counting on me to come back, or did you not want me to come back? Because those two are very different things."

"Why does it matter which one of those I mean?"

"Because you are one of the reasons why I'm here."

This time, it was him who had to pause. The sky was slowly getting dark—with the night's first stars finally peeking behind the clouds—but you could still read the emotions that quickly passed his face even in the growing dimness around you.

"I promised you before I left that I will come back. I've always come back," you continued. Jeno still didn't say anything, the silence stretching between the two of you as the sun finally dipped out to make way for the moon. Just when you thought you will never be getting an answer, he made a move and jumped off the branch he was sitting on. He gracefully landed on his feet and slowly crossed the distance to where you were standing. He stopped at a distance where both your breaths fanned each other's faces, though he kept his hands buried in his pockets still. You didn't flinch, your gaze unwavering from his.

"So your father gave you an exit plan, a chance to live a normal life, but you still came back and chose this mess. Why?"

"Because this is where I belong."

"You're mad."

"I am. And I'd rather be that than be a hypocrite like you who tries to push me away even though you're so desperate to touch me again."

Something in the way he looked at you shifted as you said those words. The thickness of the air between the two of you was so palpable that you could almost taste it at the back of your tongue. Just when you thought it would break, Jeno took another step closer to your space. The warm feeling of hands settled on your waist, and it took you everything to stop yourself from entirely melting on it. His eyes silently danced over your features, as if he's still trying to figure out if you were real or not.

"I will never understand you…"

"You don't have to."

He lifted one of his hands so he could touch your face. His fingers were cold, clashing against your warmth. You couldn't help but finally smile as you leaned your cheek closer to his palm. He wouldn't say it, but you know exactly what he was thinking.

"I missed you too, Jeno."

His thumb rested on your lower lip. "How long are you staying?"

"For the whole summer. I got a scholarship so I have to go back, but I'll be returning more here. That was a condition I struck with Papa."

"I guess the others already know, too?"

You nodded. Jeno lowered his hand again but continued staring at you intently. It felt like he wanted to tell you something, but you reached out for his hand again before he could say anything.

"Come to my room tonight?" You asked softly. Something flickered in his eyes before he answered.

"Will Jaemin be there too?"

"Do you want him to be there?"

He didn't immediately answer.

"No."

You gave a slight nod. "Then I'll see you after dinner."

Instead of replying, he simply stood there, momentarily silent as he turned the thoughts one by one in his head. Finally, he asked that one question you have been expecting all along.

"Are you really back for good this time?"

You slowly smiled.

"Yes… I am."

*******

[Present Day]

The silence that hung in the room can almost be physically felt in the condensed air. You tried to adjust yourself from the bloody bed you were still sitting on, your face expressionless as you glanced at the red stain that covered your stomach down to your legs. Everyone watched you silently as you pressed a palm against the once gaping hole in your flesh, your hand only getting in contact with the smooth skin there. You smiled before your eyes slowly lifted to the boys standing close to your right.

“You did such a good job patching me up, Chenle. Jisung.”

Your voice was soft, but it was like a trigger everyone needed to finally breathe again. Chenle’s face fell and he looked away while Jisung seemed to have finally gotten over his shock, lips twitching. A look of guilt flashed in you as you saw the boy’s eyes start to water, as if he was on the verge of tears.  

“Ah… I’m sorry… Did I scare you, honey?” you asked, your hand reaching out to cup his cheek. Jisung bowed his head a little bit and gave a shaky nod.

“I thought I wouldn’t be able to bring you back. Your heart wasn’t beating.”

Your chest squeezed. Chenle looked more calm beside him, though his shoulders were set as if he was holding himself back from something.

“Are you hurting?” he managed to ask. You shook your head and tried to reach out to him too with your other free hand. The blood in your fingers stained his pale hand, but he didn’t move away.

“I’m not. You did so great. Both of you.”

You didn’t need to look around to know that the rest of the room was also in various states of relief and high tension. Haechan, who was covered the most in your blood, had to step away from the bed to try and take in a steadying breath. Across the room, Kun and Ten exchanged a charged look between each other as they silently observed the scene. Jaemin and Mark didn’t move from where they were standing, their eyes still set on you, while Renjun reached out for the back of your head to carefully get your attention. Compared to the rest of the boys who had pale, shaken looks on their faces, he looked a little bit more collected as if he’d just recovered from something. You turned to smile at him and he returned the gesture.

“Renjun, how are you feeling?”

“So much better… The others though, I can’t speak for them.”

At that, your eyes immediately found Jeno who was still standing by your side. He was looking at you, but you could see from the way he held himself that he was fighting to stay conscious by the second. Without breaking eye contact, you reached out to touch his hand again. His fingers wove with yours as soon as you did.

“Jeno, I’m fine… You should rest.”

He didn't say anything. From the side, Jaemin silently moved forward and placed a hand on his shoulder after exchanging a meaningful glance with you. Jeno flinched, though he really didn’t fight the induced sleep that took over him in a second. Jaemin and Renjun caught him as he finally went limp, your eyes catching the former momentarily after.

“Thank you…”

Jaemin held your gaze quietly, before giving a simple nod.

Your eyes lingered on them before finally turning to Haechan and Mark. Haechan was trying his best to avoid your gaze—still trying to recover from the shock of almost seeing you die, so you turned your attention to Mark instead when he still refused to look your way. Out of everyone in the room, he was the one that looked the most collected on the surface next to Renjun, but you knew enough to be convinced by the front he was putting. You tried to get off the bed in a motion to get closer to him, but he was quick enough to try and put a stop to it.

“Don’t. Stay there. You’re still sore.”

You didn’t listen. Barefooted, you walked towards him despite the ache in your muscles. Chenle might have patched you up successfully, but your flesh was still screaming from the forced mending that your body had to go through. You didn’t let it stop you though, your feet only stopping when you were close enough to be touched by him. Mark’s jaw ticked as he looked at you, a glimpse of the emotions he was trying to hold back slipping momentarily from his facade.

“Mark… I’m alright. You can touch me if you want. It’s fine... I’m fine.”

He didn’t move at first. Just when you thought he would step back, you felt him tug you towards him instead. Your eyes closed as his arms wrapped around you, and you reached up to hold the back of his head.

“You did so well… All of you. Thank you," you whispered to him quietly.

The sudden banging of a door tore the room before he could even answer. You looked around just in time to see a girl rush in, her hair in disarray as if she had been running. Her eyes were wild as she looked around the room and her lips parted at the sight of the bloody bed that you just vacated. It took her a while to finally spot where you are, with you still being partly covered by Mark.

“Mijeong—”

“Miss!”

You stepped away from Mark as she rushed towards you in panic. You were ready to reach out to her, but she stopped at the last second just as she was about to pull you into an embrace. Instead, she bowed her head reverently, a detached, almost distant gesture that was in complete contrast to the emotions she was obviously trying to hold back. You felt a little hurt by the action, but you didn’t say anything, observing her silently instead.

“I am so glad to see you’re okay. I thought… I thought—”

You reached out for her hand slowly to give her a choice to refuse your touch if she wanted to. She didn’t move away, but she didn’t necessarily try and get closer to you either.

“I’m okay, Jeongie,” you offered a smile as you deliberately used her pet name. She blinked, her eyes bright as if she was on the verge of breaking down. Finally, you tried to tug her a little bit closer towards you.

“I’m still a mess, but give me a hug?”

The hesitation in her only lasted a few seconds before her walls finally seemed to break down. With a slight sob, she pulled you in, her arms easily going around your form. You chuckled and gave her gentle pats on the head.

“Were you scared too? I’m sorry. You did such a great job.”

“Are you really okay?”

“Mm-hm...”

She held you back at an arm’s length now to take in your appearance. You couldn’t really blame her for feeling so anxious seeing you're covered in soot and blood, but she tried to hold herself back from fussing by consciously trying to let you go.

“I’m going to call my doctors so we can have everyone checked. Ten-oppa—?”

The boy answered before she could even finish. 

“I’ll set up the infirmary. Kun, can you come?”

You looked across the room towards the sound of the man’s name. The moment your eyes clashed, you gave him a smile that spoke meanings even at a distance. He nodded and returned the gesture, understanding the message even without words before following his other friend out the door.

“I’ll take care of the rest. You should all come to have yourself checked. We’ll be ready in thirty minutes.”

The rest of the boys in the room didn’t react other than giving nods towards their older brothers. You couldn’t really blame their silence. The tension in the room had dissipated a little bit by now, but you know everyone needed to wind down first after everything that has happened. Mijeong was also about to follow the pair when you caught her forearm. She quickly looked back at you again in concern.

“Can you also do something else for me…?”

She hesitated.

“Yes, miss. What is it?”

You paused before replying. Everything was still fresh for everyone and you still needed to recover yourself, but you also knew that you also couldn’t stand still, not when the game has finally really started. You’re in a race against time itself, and there is no way you’re going to lose, not with the stakes higher this time. When you finally spoke, your words rang in the still air of the room, levelled and determined. Everyone silently listened, already knowing your orders before you even gave them.

“Tell the rest… It's time to come back.”  

CHAPTER 2

*******

A/N: Hi everyone! So I decided to come out of my semi-hiatus and publish this chapter a little earlier than planned. I was originally planning to wait a little longer, but I also didn’t want to halt my drive to write while it’s there. Thank you to all who supported Arcane. If you’re here, then that means you’re ready to join this next part of the journey. I do appreciate all forms of support that I’m getting—if not for your love, I wouldn’t have gotten this far with this story. 

Of course, reblogs, asks, and comments are highly appreciated still. They can help writers like us have the fuel to continue creating stories here. You can also consider donating to help with my cause to feed stray cats in my area. My Ko-Fi account is in my Masterlist. <3 

That’s it! As usual, enjoy the first chapter! P.S. If I missed to add you in the taglist, please send me a message! 

Taglist [OPEN]:  @negincho, @jhornytrash, @aaasteroidsky, @huangberryyy, @marijmin, @ashkuuuu, @reluctantserpent-101, @huskyhunny, @domojoo, @anaveragefangirl, @lostlovesoul11, @dreamisfelix, @lomlwoo, @coconuttiez8d, @jaehyunenthusiastsworld, @shininginthemoonlight, @bettyschwallocksyee, @w3bqrl, @smolpeyy, @chenlejjang, @kunssouschef, @thesunsfullmoon, @chokopocky, @azzygongez, @tito-the-mermaid, @jakeshuneybby, @yutacchin, @baehaechannie, @thefoxsleeps, @caspervoid, @jaeyuuns, @ssuungchans, @furryllamas, @meiinumaki, @yayaistime, @byunniebaekhyunnie, @parkthothwa8, @johnniverse, @bee-bl41r​, @peachyjaemin​, @injeolmiee, @kasperneo​

A soft chuckle passed you now as you turned a daffodil stem between the pads of your thumb and pointer finger. Your days at Rosewood are always your favorite parts of the year… the only bright spots when you get to feel as if you are part of a family despite your erratic visits. For this year specifically, the moment feels a little bit more different, maybe because of the recent talk you just had with your father. You should have known that something must be up the moment the man decided to let you stay longer in the Academy more than usual, but never would you have expected for this specific ‘talk' to be happening so soon… and so swift.

"Hey, are you not joining us? The weather's really nice."

Your train of thought was cut by the voice beside you. Glancing up, you caught Mark just as he plopped on the mat next to you. His hair was ruffled and windswept, and there was a boyish smile on his face that made his eyes sparkle in the sun. Before you could even answer, he reached out to offer something to you—a bunch of spring flowers in a beautiful splash of colors.

"For the birthday girl," he grinned.

Your smile widened as you received his gift and tucked the blooms with the yellow daffodil you have been holding. Another breeze floated by, causing the scent of the bouquet to wrap around you.

"Thank you. You're all being extra sweet to me today. The dress… the picnic, everything is perfect."

The boy looked proud as he gave a shrug. "Renjun was the one who chose the dress. He said yellow would look good on you. It was Jaemin's idea to throw a picnic."

"It's lovely. I'm enjoying it so much."

Mark glanced at you as you lifted the flowers you were holding so you could take a whiff of their scent again. You took your time to enjoy the slice of moment, before you finally said the words that have been sitting at the back of your mind since the day started.

"He wants me to leave, Mark."

You looked up to watch the others still running around in the field. Beside you, you could almost physically feel the boy's stare as he processed what you just said.

"What do you mean he wants you to leave?" He finally asked, his tone confused. You blinked slowly before answering.

"He wants me to quit college and move to a different university far away from here. He told me he wanted me to stop visiting Rosewood until I finish my studies."

You slowly turned to look at your best friend. For the first few seconds when your eyes met, you saw the raw, unfiltered emotions in his face. But then something in him shifted and a look of resigned but controlled acceptance took over. He swallowed before breaking eye contact with you.

"Did he say why?"

His words sounded empty. It was a rhetorical question, one that the both of you already know the answer for. Ever since you were kids, both you and Mark have already known both of your fates as members of the Family. For your case, your father's condition is something that has been a long time coming. Still, you answered, your words soft as you stared ahead.

"He's giving me the choice to stay in the Family, or live a normal life. He wants me to lose all contact with Rosewood—to all of you—so I can experience being away from all these and make a decision."

"And what did you say?"

"It's not like I really have a choice, Mark."

"You don't, but I don't believe you didn't stand up against it."

That made you stop. Slowly, you turned to face him again. He was looking at you once more, the light in his eyes both inquiring and accepting. You felt your chest constrict a little.

"I told him I'll do it… But if I decide to come back, then he'll have to accept my decision and treat me as a member, free from his authority."

Mark's expression barely changed, but you know him well enough to recognize the emotions that your answer triggered, just simmering under his well-controlled facade. He was scared for you… but at the same time, he was also relieved… for himself.

"Being as far away from us as possible might be the best thing for you. Your father knows there might come a time when he won't be able to protect you anymore, so he's giving you a way out now," he said, though he sounded half-hearted. You smiled.

"Are you saying that because that's what you've been told by everyone?"

"I'm saying it for you. Your Arcana is the most desired in the family. You're safest away from the rest of us, where one of us might turn and betray you."

The boys' laughter echoed from the field and floated into the spot where you and Mark were sitting, a stark contrast to the possible future he was painting.

"Do you believe that might happen?"

"What I believe doesn't matter, you—"

"Then let me rephrase my question. Do you want me to never come back, Mark?"

That made him stop. You've known Mark since you were kids. In fact, he was the first member of the Family that you've ever gotten in contact with. Just like you who has a predetermined fate because of your ability, Mark follows the same vein because of his bloodline. His family is considered one of strongest clans in the network of the Famiglia, with generations and generations producing Arcana masters from their line. He is expected to act and think a certain way, but you also know there is more to the boy you've grown up with than just his heritage.

That was exactly what you saw now, reflected briefly in his eyes as he hesitated to give you an answer. He looked torn, but you already both knew what he was dying to say before he even spoke again.

"No. I want to keep you with me. With us, if it was up to me."

Your eyes slightly widened at the way he phrased it. It was too personal and intimate… two things the two of you have been trying to keep away from for the sake of your friendship. To be honest, you weren't even expecting that he would have the courage to say those words out loud, so it took you a moment now to process what he just said.

"So… will you wait for me then?" You finally asked.

"If you will come back, yes."

"You know I will, Mark. I belong here."

He smiled.

"Then I'll wait."

A moment passed as the two of you simply stared at each other. In that little bubble of time, nothing and nobody could ever get between the two of you. He was the one who decided to break the tension after a while, his eyes shifting slightly away from yours.

"You know what might happen once you come back, right?"

You faltered, but not for too long.

"Yes. They'll want us to get married."

He didn't say anything after that. You knew he was making a pointed effort to avoid your gaze but you kept your eyes on him, unswayed. Finally, you sighed.

"It was a silly arrangement between my father and yours a long time ago. When the time comes, we can talk to them about it. You know that we don't really need to go through with it right…?"

You were so sure that you were giving him assurance, so you were a little taken aback when Mark finally turned to you again, his emotions reflecting exactly the opposite of what you were expecting. You weren't sure if it was just a trick of the light, but for a split second, he looked like he was about to say something that you weren't ready for. But then he blinked, and he was back to being the boy you know—your closest friend in the world.

"Of course. We'll talk about it… At the right time."

Silence dropped between the two of you again. You were both looking at each other, trying to read off and pick apart things none of you were ready to talk about yet. You almost smiled at the same time, and that's when you knew that you'd definitely come back to him—and for him—again.

Your moment was ultimately broken when Mark suddenly turned just in time to catch the soccer ball speeding towards him with his fast reflexes. You both looked up to see Jeno looking at your pair, a knowing expression in his face. Chenle and Haechan giggled just a little ways behind him as the others looked on with smiles.

"You joining us, Mark-hyung?" Jeno asked with a slight nod. Haechan rolled his eyes from his spot and smirked.

"Or are we interrupting something? Stop hogging the birthday girl all to yourself. This ain't a date."

Mark was quick to give the others a scowl. He deftly threw the muddy soccer ball to his other hand before starting to pick himself up from his seat.

"I'm coming. Not my fault you all suck at playing."

You smiled at the banter but immediately reached out to fumble for something from your purse. Mark was about to join the others when you called out to everyone.

"Hey, I want to take a photo of all of you. Birthday remembrance."

Jaemin frowned as he caught your request.

"Right now? We're dirty."

"That makes it even more perfect~" you grinned as you stood up, camera at the ready. The boys exchanged unsure looks, but Renjun finally shrugged after seeing your hopeful expression.

"I guess we should. Wishes from the muse of the day."

You shot the group a pleased look. Mark had already started walking away when you called out to him softly again before he disappeared within ear shot.

"Hey, Mark."

The boy glanced at you, his eyes inquisitive. You smiled.

"Forget what I told you for a little bit, okay? I want to capture the perfect shot."

He paused. Finally, he relaxed and gave you a small nod.

"Only because you asked nicely."

You waited for him to join the others who have already taken positions in the field before you. Once everyone was ready, you lifted your camera and smiled as you checked your viewfinder.

"Perfect. Give me your best smiles, okay? One, two, three…"

Flash.

*******

"That was the day you told us you were leaving."

You slightly looked up from the framed photo that you've been holding when a familiar voice spoke up behind you. You were currently standing in one of the empty hallways of the Academy, right in front of a glass case holding other photos taken from other school events and personal gatherings of its students. You quietly returned the framed photo now, your back still on the newcomer.

"I'm surprised to see it here. It was a pretty personal shot."

"It is. Mark-hyung has a copy of it in his room, but your father wanted it on display here. He must have thought it would be the last one you will ever take of us."

A small ironic smile lifted the corner of your lips. You could still remember what happened next during your birthday two years ago, when you broke the news to the boys about your departure. They probably thought the same too.

"Did you think I wouldn't come back? You were putting up a good front back then if I could still remember, Haechan."

You met the steady gaze of the boy leaning on the wall opposite you when you fully turned your back away from the photo. He didn't immediately answer, but he did give a small, knowing smirk.

"No. I know you can't stay far away from here."

You slightly lifted your brows at his remark. There is always something about Haechan that is a little bit different every time it is just the two of you talking. In front of others, he is this happy go lucky boy who is always so straightforward of his affections towards you, to the point that people usually check off his behavior as superficial teasing. In intimate moments like this though, away from prying eyes, there is a different side to him that you know he only lets you see. There’s a more serious light in his eye… a curve to his lips that pulls you in.

"And why is that?" You asked now as you slightly leaned your head a little bit to the side in curiosity. Haechan's smile widened and you watched as he pushed himself away from the wall to cross the distance to where you are. He stopped less than a foot away from you, just close enough for you to appreciate his beauty marks. For the first time since you came back, you realized just how tall he had gotten too as you looked up at his face.

"Because Jeno and Mark are here. And Jaemin," he casually said. He paused then, waiting for you to react. When you remained silent, his expression turned more teasing and brave. "And me… and Renjun. You know you can't keep away from us, just as much as we can't from you," he added slowly as he made another step closer to you. It took you everything not to back up against the wall and give him the satisfaction of making you lose your cool. Instead, you angled your head up higher to hold his gaze.

"Did you enjoy your little sleepover with Jeno, noona?" He whispered then. Your heart jumped in your chest, even though nothing about your expression changed. In the brief second that you didn't answer, you realized what it is about him that also changed ever since you left.

Haechan's Arcana has always been one of the most volatile in the Family. The Magician is a fickle master, because the nature of its power can easily be swayed to evil in the hands of the wrong wielder. Chaos is part of their nature, and right now, you could see a stronger hint of it in the eyes of the boy staring you down. This wasn't the same person you left years ago. This Haechan… knows more of what he wants.

"So you were listening. Why am I not surprised?" You asked steadily.

"You shouldn't. You should know by now that I will be a little jealous."

You didn't get a chance to retaliate as you felt him reach out and settle his hands on your hips. The moment he touched you, the corridor around you dissolved, replaced by a brief slip of darkness before it focused again on a different scene. You looked around in surprise, your eyes taking in the view of the fields captured in the photo. Everything seemed so real… the smell of the grass and the flowers… even the way the wind slightly ruffled your hair. It took a while for the realization to hit you, but when it did, you turned to look at the boy holding you in silent shock.

This isn't an illusion.

He was bending reality by moving you to a different space in time.

"Haechan… your powers…"

He smiled.

"Pretty cool, huh?"

"Since when have you learned to use chaos magic?"

"Not a long time. I wouldn't say I've mastered it. I can only do this now because of you."

You took a step away from him so you could see more of the place he had conjured. Behind you, he did a slight twist of his wrist as he watched you with a smug look. As if a switch was flipped, the field you were standing on changed from the bright colors of spring to the warm tones of autumn. Your lips parted slightly in surprise. You glanced back to meet his proud smirk with a look.

"Now you're just showing off…"

He simply shrugged and stepped closer to you again, pulling you in once more by gently tugging the belt straps of your jeans. You didn't give any outward reaction towards the gesture, despite your heart beating a little faster in your chest. It was obvious now that he was being more open than the boy you knew two years ago—he was never this brave, nor obvious. When your eyes met, his hooded gaze momentarily dropped to your lips.

"You can see it, right? How powerful we both can be together?"

You almost froze in his hold. You were expecting—no wishing—for him to say a multitude of things, but not this.

"What do you mean?"

A slight flicker of something quickly crossed his face, but it was soon gone before you could entirely catch it. You thought he looked momentarily guilty about the topic he opened, but there was something about the way he was looking at you that told you he was being pulled by a different desire. A slight jolt down your spine hit you when you realized what it was.

"Your Arcana and mine can do so much more—"

"Haechan. Don't say it."

Your voice was firm with a tinge of warning when you spoke. Haechan quickly stopped, but the look in his eyes remained. He didn't say anything, but the thick silence between the two of you said so much already.

"Do you like me?"

His eyes shot up to meet yours at your question. Ever so slightly, the curve of his lips changed as if he was about to answer you. His pause, however, gave you what you needed.

"You can't even answer… because you aren't sure yourself… are you?" You phrased what he couldn't say carefully. Haechan's jaw ticked, but he didn't move away when you took a calculated step towards him so you could stare deeper into his eyes.

"I'm right. You want me… because your Arcana feels pulled towards mine. It knows that The IL Matto can make him so much stronger, should I allow you to use me. It's what the rest of you feel," you stopped, your eyes bouncing all over his face.

"You do not crave me. You crave what I can do for you."

For a moment Haechan looked like he was about to disagree with you. His lips parted, but then he closed them again as if he cannot really bring himself to say something he himself doesn't believe.

To say that you are surprised would be an outright lie. You've always known this was going to happen—maybe not too soon, but in time anyway. You will never admit it, but there is some truth to what Mark said before in this very same field when he was trying to convince you to move away. Arcana abilities, after all, are energies. They are sentient outside of their human masters, but they do not have emotions, nor a soul. This nature makes them singularly pulled towards something that can make them stronger… bigger than what they can project in the human world.

The IL Matto is exactly that, the Arcana that can amplify other abilities should you wish to allow it. Haechan… doesn't want you.

It was his Arcana desiring yours.

"You can't even answer…" You smiled, though the gesture didn't really reach your eyes.

You were about to turn around to leave when you felt him reach out to you again. He almost looked pained when your gazes clashed again.

"Why can't it be me?" He managed to ask. Your expression softened and you took a while to gather your reply.

"Because you and I together can mean trouble, Haechan. We'll just bring out the worst in each other," you said softly. Ever so slowly, you flipped your hand so that it was you touching him instead. The moment the pads of your fingers got contact with his skin, the field around you dissolved, leaving you in the empty hallway of Rosewood again. You gently pulled back away from him and smiled.

"Will you like me as a woman, even without an Arcana ability? Maybe that's something you should try to find the answer first…" you said before finally walking away, leaving him staring after you as you disappeared around the shadowy corridor.

*******

You opened the door with purpose and trudged towards the bed in the middle of the room without sparing the surroundings a second look. With an ungraceful plop, you let yourself fall face first into the mattress, before lifting one corner of the duvet so you could crawl under it. A soft sigh of relief and satisfaction passed you as you finally managed to sink your head on the fluffy pillows, a light wood sage perfume scent wrapping you in a relaxing embrace. You took it in slowly before you closed your eyes to let the stillness in the room lull you to peace.

There was a slight rustling that you could hear from beyond your darkened vision but you didn't really react towards it, not until it was finally followed by a soft clearing of a throat. You pulled the duvet higher up your cheeks, but refused to open your eyes still.

"What are you doing, noona?"

You slightly frowned and took a pause before finally glancing upwards with a quiet sulk. Your gaze met Renjun who was currently seated on the wooden desk next to the bed, his hand still up in mid-air with a paintbrush loaded with paint. He didn't look surprised at all as he peered at you, though there was a look of curiosity lighting up his brown eyes behind his glasses. You blinked once before finally giving another sigh.

"Can I nap here?"

His brows rose as an amused look took over his gentle features.

"Well, you're already in my bed."

You grunted.

"Thank you."

He silently observed you as you adjusted yourself deeper under his sheets. Finally, he put down his paintbrush and turned his body a little on his chair so he could better look at you.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong…"

"Uh-huh? You never visit my room unless you want to escape from something."

You paused. Renjun smiled upon seeing your guilty look, despite only having half of your face visible under the duvet. The silence stretched between the two of you as his eyes steadied on yours. Finally, he frowned.

"What did Haechan do this time?"

You quickly looked away.

"You're reading my mind again…"

"Yes. Because you're letting me. What did he do?"

You hesitated before answering. You adjusted yourself a bit on his bed then, sitting up and leaning the back of your head against his headboard instead. You could feel his inquiring gaze on you, and you realized just how thankful you are to be with him at the moment. Your relationship with the others have their own intricacies, but Renjun is the only one who always manages to calm you down. Maybe it's because of his Arcana—the High Priestess is an energy of peace and reflection—but you've always felt like you can rest your head easy whenever you are with him.

"He's changed. He has become more powerful," you mumbled softly as you stared blindly at the wall. Renjun processed your words slowly, understanding the hidden things you didn't verbalize.

"We've all changed. Our abilities have matured a lot in the last two years," he said carefully. Your gaze flickered though you kept silent. When he spoke again, he could barely conceal the slight tinge of worry in his voice.

"Did he… force you to do anything?"

"No. No, he didn't," you were quick to correct his concern. "He was just—he was asking me… about the two of us. I guess I was just surprised."

This time, you could almost feel the unspoken words that his stare sent you. You made a pointed effort to avoid meeting eyes with him but he knew… you both knew…

"I don't think you're surprised, noona. You were just hoping it wouldn't happen so soon… don't you?"

Your fingers closed just a little bit tighter around the blanket covering you. Renjun continued, perfectly reading you, despite not having to get into your head with his ability.

"It's bound to happen. All of us are maturing, which means our Arcanas are also developing. Our instincts are shifting—it's part of who we are. Haechan is just a little bit different, because the nature of his powers can turn chaotic if he doesn't work on controlling himself. But all of us are changing. I think that's one thing you should learn to accept…"

You slowly turned to look at him. Renjun's face was still serene, but you thought there was a quick shadow that quickly passed his gaze when your eyes met.

"Is me being here hard for all of you, then?"

He smiled.

"Yes and no. Most of us have learned to control our abilities, maybe except for Jeno and Haechan since theirs are more dangerous and volatile in energy. But I would be lying if I say the pull now towards your Arcana is not stronger from how it once was."

A flash of guilt passed you.

"Should I leave your room… right now then?"

Your question made him laugh suddenly, the sound honey-like as it filled the room. You must have looked so worried because he shook his head after as he tried to calm his amusement.

"No. Unlike Haechan, I have self-control. I'm not a beast in heat."

You winced. You barely noticed it when he picked himself up from his seat to perch on the side of the bed. He nudged you playfully, and you made space for him to join you under the covers.

"You know what, I need a nap too," he said as he scooted to lay down on the mattress and removed his glasses. You blinked at him slowly, your gaze almost suspicious. You knew he caught it from the way his lips twitched.

"Just nap, right?"

"Why? Do you want to do more?" He asked with a raise of his brows. You grabbed one of his smaller pillows and playfully hit him with it. Renjun laughed but pulled you down with him after.

"I can't lose my pure boy yet. Don't."

He gave a slight scoff as he casually wrapped his arm around your waist. For anyone else, the gesture might seem too intimate, but you honestly felt more comforted than anything else. When he said you could trust him… you knew you could take his word on it.

"I never really was the pure boy you've always imagined to be, but if that's what will make you relax right now, then sure. Now, can we nap?"

He didn't need to ask you twice. As if it was something natural for you, your body relaxed on his hold. You were close enough to each other that you could almost count the long lashes that almost kissed the tops of his cheeks when he closed his eyes. Renjun has always been ethereally beautiful… but looking at him up close made you notice some changes on his features too. He definitely grew more into the curves of his face, and he looked more mature… manlier now than before.

"You smell like paint," you said softly without even realizing the words that left your lips as you admired his beauty. "And sage…"

He smiled.

"Good night, noona."

You closed your eyes slowly and moved to press your face closer into the crook of his neck. Your heartbeat was slow and relaxed and a soft breath left you as you let your mind relax in his embrace.

"Renjun?" You asked sleepily.

"Hm?"

"You never did try to make a move…"

He was silent. Just when you thought he had fallen asleep, you heard him speak again, his voice barely a whisper.

"You want to know why?"

You simply nodded, too sleepy to even manage speaking. You were a second away from slipping into slumber when he finally continued.

"Because if I do, I wouldn't want to share you with anyone else."

*******

[&]

"What do you think about the sunset here?"

You turned from the ledge that you've been leaning on and watched as the newcomer joined you on your spot by the rooftop. It was a few minutes before night falls and the sky was fading its last golden rays from the sun. You smiled at the boy beside you now as you straightened up and tucked yourself deeper into the oversized cardigan you're wearing. It's been almost three days since your escape from Cypher and the return of your memories, and you've been spending the time you have just recovering just like the others.

"It's beautiful… though not as beautiful as the view we have in Rosewood."

The man also trained his gaze at the sight, his expression solemn.

"I agree. Though I don't think anything can really come close to that."

"Thank you, though, for offering this place. I'm sure we're all safe here. This is such a big help while we're trying to come up with new plans. Cypher will never find us here,” you smiled.

"I don't think lending a former fortress owned by my family is much reason to be thanked for, but you’re welcome, I guess."

You easily caught the undertone in the voice he used. Looking around, you slightly frowned at him as he kept his face trained towards the view stretched out in front you. 

"Kun-ge… You know you've done a lot in all of this, right?"

Kun's expression didn't change, but you knew him well enough to know the exact things running through his mind right now.

"I have to. I don't have an Arcana like the rest of you so I have to do more. I… "

"You are still a part of the family. A very important member of it," you cut him off firmly but gently. His eyes shot to look at you and you held it before he even had the chance to look away. In that brief moment, he confirmed exactly what you were thinking—his worries and frustrations in full display for that slip of a moment. This wasn't the first time you've seen it in him, and you know exactly where it was coming from.

The Arcana network is a complex organization, a secret brotherhood made up of families with heritages tracing back centuries. Masters of the twenty-two major powers are born every generation, jumping from one family name to another, which means that those who are granted abilities can change just as soon as a new Master is chosen. Kun—unlike you and the others who currently hold the status of 'Masters' in the hierarchy—is a 'Legacy,’ a born member of a family that has a heritage of being Arcana masters but is not currently a holder of any ability. Legacies often have more freedom in detaching themselves from the private circle of the network but some, like him, decide to dedicate their life working closely with the private circle of the current masters.

For some, the decision is a perfect show of loyalty. However, it can also be a main cause of frustration.

"You did so well. I'm sorry I didn't get to thank you sooner, but I couldn't have done it without you," you said now as you reached out for his hands. You gave them a gentle squeeze to urge him to look at you. "You saved all of us, you know that, right?"

Kun's eyes finally met yours again. This time, he actually looked a little pained, though he managed to give you a small nod.

"I know. But please, do not make me betray you again."

Your chest squeezed. As a Legacy, people like him are naturally pulled to help and protect the Masters. What you asked of him—to betray you at one point to make sure your plan goes smoothly—is going directly against that instinct. He must have been so torn in both directions ever since.

"I promise… thank you so much for helping me out, gege."

He took in a slow breath before he finally managed to smile at you again.

"I'm sorry we couldn't save your father. When Ten and I realized what was happening, we decided to go and help out your group instead."

This time, it was your face that fell a little. You finally let him go and turned towards the view again. This time, the sky is now painted an inky black with a smattering of stars that weakly winked from the distance.

"No. You made the right decision. It would have been worse for all of us if we all got stuck there."

"So… what's the next plan…?" Kun asked carefully. You set your jaw as you looked on ahead.

"We need to move as soon as everyone has recovered… We can't wait too long. Cypher has exact copies of the seven Arcanas. They might be creating armies of clones of all of them right at this very moment."

Kun looked equally worried. No matter how he looks at it, this war seems to be a losing battle. Mark and the others might be powerful, but they will still be against numbers in the end.

"How do we even win this…?" He asked with a low voice.

"We might not," you answered, not even beating around the bush. "We might not have a chance against the number of their forces, but I can help amplify our side's Arcanas if I want."

"But that will be extremely damaging and dangerous to you, and even the others," Kun reasoned.

You nodded.

"Which is why we don't only depend on that. Cypher only has access to seven abilities… What will give us an edge are those they haven't had their clutches on yet."

Kun's eyes slightly widened in realization as things clicked in his head. He was about to say something when the door to the rooftop opened, ushering Mijeong out of it. She gave you and Kun a quick look before she slightly gave a polite bow of her head.

"Miss, you have visitors."

You turned just in time as the door once more and ushered new guests in. A number of men stepped outside, unbothered by the icy bite in the air. Your eyes lit up when your gaze landed on the man in the middle with jet black hair. He gave a small nod of greeting as the rest filed in beside him.

You smiled. 

"IL Matto, it's nice to see you again."

"Welcome back… Taeyong-oppa."

CHAPTER 3

-------

A/N: New chapter is up! I’ve dipped in activity for a little bit in Tumblr because of personal things but I wanted to make sure I push out something before I get lost on work. As usual, thank you to all of those who keep up with Arcane! I appreciate each and everyone of you. <3

P.S. If I might suggest, y'all cam reread Haechan's confession again in Book 1. 😏

Taglist [OPEN]:  @negincho, @jhornytrash, @aaasteroidsky, @huangberryyy, @marijmin, @ashkuuuu, @reluctantserpent-101, @huskyhunny, @domojoo, @anaveragefangirl, @lostlovesoul11, @dreamisfelix, @lomlwoo, @coconuttiez8d, @jaehyunenthusiastsworld, @shininginthemoonlight, @bettyschwallocksyee, @w3bqrl, @smolpeyy, @chenlejjang, @kunssouschef, @thesunsfullmoon, @chokopocky, @azzygongez, @tito-the-mermaid, @jakeshuneybby, @yutacchin, @baehaechannie, @thefoxsleeps, @caspervoid, @jaeyuuns, @ssuungchans, @furryllamas, @meiinumaki, @yayaistime, @byunniebaekhyunnie, @parkthothwa8, @johnniverse, @bee-bl41r , @peachyjaemin, @injeolmiee, @kasperneo, @chelzinha26,   @peaceout97,   @yongboksfreckles,   @kpopstanforlifeuwu, @dearj43​,  

You've never really given it much thought before, but you've always imagined it to be similar to the snuffing of a candle. Where there was once life, death comes and blows it away until it simply ceases to exist. There is no consciousness or memories. There is not even pain. What was something, simply turns to nothing.

You have no idea how death feels like, but if it is anything like the numb floating feeling that's cocooning you right now, then you'd prefer it over being alive.

"Hyung, I think she's waking up."

The voice sounded muffled and indistinguishable as they reached your ears. You could hear the words, but none of them were making any sense yet to your muddled brain. Taking a slow breath in, you blindly turned your head to the side in the hopes of blocking them out. You didn't really want to wake up, but your consciousness was slowly getting into focus, similar to how one would see the light above the water as they swim closer to its surface. The gentle hand wrapping around your wrist was the first sensation that really shocked you back to a more wakeful state. All of a sudden you could  breathe again, but at the cost of your veins firing up with pain. 

"Hey. Can you hear me?"

Your eyes slowly opened at the low voice that whispered to you. Things were still moving slowly in your head but you slightly frowned at the two faces that started to come into focus on your line of vision. Jisung and Mark were both peering at you with identical expressions of concern, their faces taut with worry.

"Noona. Thank god you're awake," the younger of the two finally said in obvious relief. "Do you need a nurse?"

You wanted to reply, but your throat felt too dry and tight so you simply shook your head. Mark fortunately noticed your struggle, and he promptly turned to Jisung to answer for you instead.

"I don't think it's a good idea to let the doctors see her this soon. Go tell the others and try not to alert the guards that she's awake."

Jisung still looked on edge but gave a nod towards the other's orders. With one last glance at you, he drew back from what you can assume is your bed and left the room. You heard the closing of a door in the distance soon after.

"Can you talk? It's fine if you can't. Just shake or nod your head. Are you in pain?"

Your eyes drew back to Mark. You weren't sure if it was just the stark lighting in the room you were in, but he looked a little thinner with shadows clinging to the curves of his face when you tried to focus on him. You felt him give your hand a squeeze when you slightly parted your lips to try and speak again. When no words came out, you settled for another shake of your head.

"That's good. I'll go get you a glass of water."

He was just about to stand up from his seat when you tried to hold him back with the little strength you can muster with your hand. The rest of your body still felt on fire but you pushed yourself to finally speak.

"W-Where am I?"

He immediately paused at your question. Mark looked like he was trying his best to control his expression but you could see the way the gears in his head tried to work fast for an answer. He was dreading to give you a reply… and you think you know why.

"Mark… What is this place…?" You asked again, this time with a slightly steadier voice. He slowly lowered himself back to his chair, his gaze looking everywhere but you. His silence gave way for the last memories you could remember to crawl back to you just then. They came in batches... Stumbling over one another. 

The glass room. The shocks. 

The torture. The pain.

And then the deaths.

"You're at Cypher," his voice rang loud in your ears despite his tone being low and soft. "Not at the Institute, but in the place where they first sent us for the experiments. After what happened, they all brought us back here again. You've been out for almost two days…"

The pain in your throat has intensified. Blindly, you turned your head to look around, your eyes roving around the place for the first time. Just as you expected, you were in what seemed like an infirmary setup, though it looked starkly different from Ten's room back at the Institute. The ceilings were unpainted, with thick steel rafters and reinforced metal crisscrossing across its expanse. Even the bed you were currently in felt roughly made, reminiscent of the ones in military camps than actual hospital wards. You swallowed. Beside you, Mark was silent as he closely watched your face. None of you could bear to say the obvious fact hanging thickly in the air at the moment, but you didn't really need words to confirm it.

You're now a prisoner of the Institute too… Just like them.

"Where are the others? Jeno… Is he…"

This time, you actually saw distress quickly flash through Mark's features. You felt your heart drop to your stomach at his expression.

"We're all here, though we've never seen Jeno since we were moved. We are sure he is here though. He's the reason why they had to ship us back to this fortress after all. Cypher knew they couldn't keep him at the Institute."

"What do you mean?"

For a moment, Mark looked torn. He pursed his lips, before carefully framing his next words.

"I don't think this is the right time to talk about this. You just woke up, you need to recover first," he reasoned, his gaze pointedly avoiding yours. You held on to him, fingers squeezing his this time.

"No. I want to know. Please," you insisted firmly despite your voice still being scratchy. He was right. You still felt like you could break at any moment, but you also couldn't bear to wait anymore. You have so many questions that you need to be answered. Not tomorrow, or even in the next hour—but right now. Mark still looked torn as you tried to keep his gaze locked with yours, and it felt like forever before he finally cracked and gave a defeated sigh. 

"You… saw what he could do… didn't you?" he started carefully. You didn’t answer but managed to give a slight nod in reply. To be honest, you were still terrified of the memories from that day at the torture room, but you tried your best not to let your emotions get the best of you right now. 

"That's not even half of what he can do," Mark continued. "You see, Masters of the Death Arcana are different from the rest of us. They do not fall within the category of users you already know. Jeno… he can cause physical damage like elemental users like me, but he can also control ether realms similar to how masters like Haechan can. He's a hybrid of both."

"So that thing that I saw… It's…"

"It came from a different dimension. This is going to sound complicated, but the universe that we know is made up of different layers. There's the aether, where the source of the Arcana powers are, the middle world—this plane that we and other regular humans live in—and the nether, the opposite of aether. People know it as—"

"The underworld…" you finished in a hushed whisper. Mark paused and gave you a silent  look of affirmation.

"Nether, just like the idea of death, is an abstract plane. It’s a life force that can flow through different dimensions. Jeno's powers are focused on the underworld, but he can also cause damage in the world of the living if he wanted to. If Cypher is looking for a trump card who can almost rival what the Arcana Triads can do, then it’s him."

You processed that slowly. A thought was forming in your head as you tried to piece things together… but you didn't exactly like where it was going.

"If he can control the different dimensions… then does that mean that he can access aether too?"

Mark didn't immediately answer. You wanted him to say no to your question, but his silence was already speaking volumes in itself.

"Theoretically… he can. It has always been a myth among the family, but none of the former Arcana masters of La Morte have been able to do it. He can, but he may need an external force to push his abilities to that level."

Your mind had started going numb again as you tried to process everything. If aether is where the source of all the Arcana are, then that means having access to it will give anyone ultimate control over all the abilities in their purest form, right? When that happens, Cypher doesn't even need any of the boys or even the other masters to have full control of the Arcana system.

"Do you think Cypher has figured it out?" You asked hesitantly. With the way Mark was looking at you, it seemed like he exactly knows what you were thinking.

"Possibly. If Haneul Lee is an Arcana holder and used to be a part of the family, then he might have an idea of what the other masters can do, except for the other two members of the Triad since their abilities evolve and shift every generation. But he got to your father… which means that he knows the ability of the Judgement Arcana. Your father never really told us anything about his relationship with him, so we can’t really know for sure what he knows and do not know."

"So he might also be aware of what The Fool can do."

Mark's jaw ticked.

"I'm hoping he doesn't… because then it will really be the end."

You were on the verge of asking again about the last Triad master, but then you stopped as you remembered what Jaemin said about sparing you from information you didn't really need to know at the moment. He is right. Especially after the torture that Cypher did to you, it would be better for you to be left unknowing of things you might be forced to betray.

"Cypher… created something to copy and duplicate Arcana powers with my father and Haneul's abilities… Do you think that machine and my father are being kept here too?"

Mark looked hesitant to answer but gave a nod anyway.

"We think so. This is where we were experimented on so the chances are high that this place is designed to hold other Arcana masters. You haven't found out what type of machine it was?"

You shook your head.

"No… they just called it a mimicry unit, nothing else. Did you notice any strange devices during your experiments? Have you seen any traces of my father or Haneul during the tests?"

"I… can't really tell. Our memories were always erased by Renjun's abilities so I'm not sure if they were in the same room while it was happening. What I'm sure of though is that they weren't just doing those sessions to study what we can do. They were 'harvesting' our abilities, that's why they were forcing us to show the maximum of what we can do."

"So they could copy and duplicate the most powerful forms of your Arcana with this monster they made.”

The two of you fell silent then. You were both lost in your thoughts for a while, until you finally felt Mark gently tug your hand for attention again. You looked at him, clueless at first, before the look on his face caught you off guard. Ever since you knew him, there were only a few times he’d ever let his mask slip. The way he stared at you now was so open and raw that you felt an unexplainable pain echo from deep in your chest.

"I'm sorry… for pulling you into this. I didn't know you would be hurt this much. If I did, I wouldn't have said yes to any of this."

It took you a moment to understand what he was talking about until it finally clicked. Of course he was doing all of this… for the girl he loves. The woman who was moving all the chess pieces against Cypher—including you.

"Does she know… that Cypher has my father all along?" You asked slowly, your voice barely above a whisper. "Is that why she chose me to be one of her pawns?"

Mark shook his head. "Yes. And No. She knew the Institute was after him, but she didn't really know why. That was part of the reason why she plotted all of this. To know what Cypher was planning with the Arcana and to get one of the Triads back. She wanted to believe that your father was alive and you… were the only one she trusted who could help."

"She's known me all along?"

Mark stopped. For a moment, he looked like he was about to say something he’s not allowed to share. 

"Yes. And you will meet her too. Soon."

You were about to ask him what that means when he cut you off gently again. This time, the tone of his voice was taut with urgency. Even the way he held your hand was tight, as if he was telling you to hang on to every word he was about to say.

"Listen, I should have told you this before, but your father did everything he could to hide you from the world. That was the reason why he was always gone and hid this part of his life from you—because he didn't want groups like Cypher to know who you are and use you against him. We've dragged you into this mess already, but I promise from now on, we'll try our best to protect you too."

You didn't know what to say. You weren't sure if you felt betrayed or used or made a fool of, if you’re going to be completely honest. All you were sure about, however, is that you wanted this to end.

"What's done has been done. I’m already involved just as much as you are, but if you're going to make a promise, can you do one thing instead?"  

Mark kept silent, waiting for your condition.

"...If we're going to get out of here, promise me that we'll never leave without my father."

He froze. The silence rang so loud in the room but you didn't let it deter you. The seconds felt long as you tried to hold his gaze, but you finally felt a wave of relief as you saw the light in his eyes change. 

"Yes. I promise."

*******

It took you five more days before you were officially released from the ward.

In that length of time, you've tried your best to try and get as much information as you can about this unknown place you were thrown in. It was hard given the restrictions, but you have been able to paint a basic picture of the predicament you are facing now. For one, you could assume from the way people treated you that you were here for the sake of being kept alive rather than actually being cared for. You were not allowed any access to anything in the outside world and you also have guards constantly stationed by the door of your quarters. Every time you tried to speak and ask someone, the people in the blue coats would either only glare at you or completely ignore you. At one point, you even tried to make a scene just to see how far you could push your luck, but no one ever really gave you attention regardless of what commotion you caused.

It was clear that you don't have a say about anything here, but at the same time, nobody really dared to blatantly hurt you too. In fact, there are times when you felt like people were dreading to get close to you or even look towards your direction. You haven't really seen any of the boys since you talked to Mark so you have no idea if they were being treated the same way, but you could only hope that they are also being spared now from any sort of torture or pain.

Today is obviously a little different from the routine of the past week. For the first time since you gained consciousness, you were actually allowed to be out of your ward room. Your sneakers squeaked now against the grey flooring of the corridor you were walking on, mixing with the heavier thuds of the boots of the guards flanking your sides. Other than the gruff instructions you were given when one of them threw you the black overalls you needed to change to today, they didn't really spare you another word on your way out. And so your eyes silently roamed the halls that you passed now, trying to take in clues, until your trio finally stopped at the end of the corridor.

You surreptitiously watched as the pair moved in unison towards the heavy-duty door that loomed in front of you. Now, you may not know a lot about security systems and other tech, but you know enough to pick up the level of access that you are seeing now. With a slight nod at each other, both men stepped closer at notches placed on both sides of the door. Their actions triggered a low beep before a thin strip of laser burst out from the portals. The blue light made a low hum as it scanned them from head to toe. You swallowed, watching the process of it all.

Eye and full body scans… Systems that are definitely harder to hack because of their unique IDs. You were right all along. This is no longer just a research and testing hub…

But a high-security prison.

You took in a slow, calming breath when the door finally started to part with a whirring sound after a moment. Keeping your eyes ahead, you waited with bated breath for it to reveal what was on the other side. Just as the gates parted enough for you to slip in, however, a sudden force in the middle of your back pushed you inside and sent you toppling forward in surprise. You gasped. Instead of impact, the air froze in your throat the next second as you felt a pair of arms catch you before you lost your balance and hit the floor.

Renjun wrapped his arms around you, his hands immediately going around your waist and upper back to keep you from falling over. You have barely recovered when you saw two figures move past where the boy kept you in place. Mark and Jaemin stopped in front of you, their towering backs covering you from the view of the guards who remained standing by the threshold. They were soon followed by Chenle and Jisung who both stepped in to flank your sides. Haechan silently brought the rear, his own withering gaze set on the door. You were at a loss for words. Everything happened so quickly, but it was enough to entirely shift the air buzzing in the room.

"You know the rules. Try anything funny and she gets a dose of what you get too," one of the men finally spoke to break the silence. You turned to face the door again just as you felt Renjun press you closer against his side. From what little you can see of Mark and Jaemin's profiles from where you stood, both were shooting ice cold glares at the wards in front, their silence radiating deadly intent.

"Big words coming from two apes who can't even take a step beyond the entrance. Balls shrunk so bad because of a bunch of kids?"

You didn't need to look at Haechan to recognize his taunting, lilting tone. Beyond, you saw both guards visibly pale in anger at the verbal attack, with one actually reaching out for what looks like a stun gun strapped to his belt.

"You freaks—"

"Try. I promise you'll regret it."

You felt a quick chill run down your spine when you heard Chenle say that from your side. Instead of his usual good natured humor, his voice seeped with barely concealed venom and threat. You gaped at him openly. You never thought you would ever hear him talk that way, but as it turns out, your shock was nothing compared to what followed. On your other side, small crackles of electricity started forming around Jisung's right hand, sizzling and churning in the air.

"I haven't tried, but I'm pretty sure I'm faster than electric guns…" he said softly in a voice that made the hairs at the back of your neck stand on end.

A short but highly tensed beat of silence followed—in which you could swear you almost stopped breathing—but it seemed like the guards got the message loud and clear just like you. Before anyone can make another move, the same mechanical whir filled the room again as the double doors started to close. You looked up just in time to catch the taller of the wardens lift his lips into a threatening leer before the gates sealed shut again.

"Enjoy while you still can. You don't have much time left anyway."

The echoes of the door's mechanical locks was like a death sentence that hung in the room. You were still frozen in your spot, trying to take in those last words when you felt your body all of a sudden being turned to the side. Your wide eyes met Renjun's worried gaze before it quickly went over the rest of you. Not once had he let you go during the tense exchange and his hands now grabbed at your forearms as if he was checking if you were real. Around you, the others finally loosened their stances—all except for Haechan who still seemed frozen in his spot.

"Are you okay? You're not hurt anywhere are you?" Renjun asked, his voice tense.

You blinked at him, still feeling a little disoriented. 

"I'm fine…"

"Did they touch you?" Jaemin quickly followed through as he also closed the distance towards you. You numbly shook your head.

"No. They didn't. I don't—Where are we?"

The boys briefly glanced at each other at your question. Mark was the one who finally offered an answer when nobody seemed willing to break the silence. 

"In one of Cypher's dungeons. We've been moved here recently from our individual cells."

His answer made your head snap up as you finally took a look around the place. It was a plain wide room, with double bunker beds stacked on the sides, a table set, and some spare seats smattered here and there. Calling it a dungeon was a fitting term, with its walls made of rough stone and a ceiling held out with steel and rock. You swallowed. When your eyes landed on Chenle, another realization hit you.

You were wearing the same clothes that they are.

"Jeno? Where is he?" You managed to ask despite the sudden tightness in your throat. The pause that followed didn't help lighten the situation at all.

"They… still have him," Jisung quietly answered. He exchanged a quick glance at Chenle who decided to explain the rest.

"We still haven't seen Hyung since that day he showed his Arcana. It's been a while since we've been called for tests but they haven't returned him to us yet."

His words made your gut twist. Blindly, your eyes grazed around the place again before settling on the sealed door. You've already accepted the fact that you are now one of Cypher's prisoners, but you would be lying if you say standing here now is not making you falter. Finally, the gravity of your helplessness is sinking into you in its full, morbid glory.

"You shouldn't be here…"

Haechan's distant voice was what finally snapped you from your thoughts and brought you back to focus. Looking up, you met his brown eyes still staring at you from a distance. He still hasn't taken a single step towards you, though his gaze told you everything you needed to know.

He was right… you shouldn't be here… but so are they. The thought made your mind set off into a different tangent, until it settled into an emotion you were shocked to recognize yourself. 

Yes you are terrified. Petrified even. 

But you're also very… very angry.

"No. I'm exactly where I need to be," you finally said, your jaw set. All of a sudden, the fear you were feeling was gone and your focus was back. Yes, you may be stuck in one of the worst situations you've ever found yourself in, but you're also exactly in the place you need to be in at this moment.

"Cypher has my father. If I want to get him out of here, the easiest way to do it is from the inside. We can work with this, all of us. Are there other things that have changed since you were sent to this room?"

"We're pretty sure there are no cameras here anymore," Renjun said as his eyes quickly bounced on the other faces in the room. "We are barely being watched or checked on. It's like they are doing the bare minimum to keep us alive."

"Which might not be for very long…" Mark continued and put into words what you couldn't say so yourself. All of you turned your heads urgently towards him as his words sunk in. He nodded towards the sealed door, his expression grim. "It's obvious that they've lost interest. Whatever it is that they need from us, they got it already. We need to get out of here soon."

"But not before we get Jeno and my father back," you interjected. "We also need to find the mimicry unit that Cypher created and break it."

"But how? This place is a labyrinth," Jaemin asked with a frown.

“He’s right. We tried busting ourselves out from this bunker, but they've studied our abilities enough to design this place to be mostly resistant to what we can do," Renjun said.

You tried to bite back your emotions before they even had a chance to make you falter. You were already thinking of a plan, but you'll have to sit on it first to make sure that it will work.

"If they're dead set on keeping us here, then I'm sure they've done everything to make sure that all routes of escape are blocked from the inside. We can't win against that no matter what we do at this point. Which only leaves us with one option…"

You set your jaw and fixed each boy with a pointed look.

"We'll have to make them open the doors for us ourselves."

*******

"Shouldn't you be sleeping already?"

Haechan's spine straightened in surprise as you called out to him softly in the darkness. You have no idea what time it was already, but you figured evening has finally come when the lighting in the room automatically dimmed an hour earlier. Around you, the other boys have already retreated into their assigned bunker beds, retiring for the day. You tried catching rest yourself, but your mind was being too noisy to give you peace.

You smiled a little now as you met his gaze from across the room. He was trying to read a book under the light of a small lamp which threw enough light and shadows on his face. From the moment you joined them earlier, he has barely said a word or even looked towards your direction... And you're convinced you know the reason why. You saw the way his eyes flickered with guilt and uncertainty now as he stared at you, though he did close the hardbound in his hands when you walked over to join him. You made sure to keep your noises to a minimum as you settled next to him, not wanting to wake up the others around you.

"You're still avoiding me… Didn't you want to see me again?" You asked carefully, your tone almost teasing to lighten up the air as you fixed him a small smile. His Adam's apple bobbed at your question before he looked away. It was obvious from his body language alone that he wanted to draw back from the interaction, but you were also set on fixing this tonight. You have to admit... It somehow worries you to see him this way, especially since he has always been so unapologetically forward towads you before. Haechan looked like he was trying his best to avoid looking at you, but then you leaned a little closer to peek at him better. He frowned before finally giving you a quick glance and a sigh.

"Of course I wanted to see you again. I thought it was you who didn't want to have anything to do with me anymore."

"Why would I want that?"

"Well. Because I hurt you."

"Mm… Yeah, that kinda sucked. Anything else?” 

He looked at you as if you’ve gone crazy. When he didn’t seem to be able  to offer you an answer, you shrugged and continued. 

“Look, I know you're still bothered about what happened, but I don't know... I’m looking at it as more of a wakeup call more than anything else if you ask me. I was terrified, I'll admit that, but I also kind of realized why my father chose all of you over me after I saw you what you did…" you explained, carefully choosing your words. He listened quietly, his eyes never leaving your face.

"What I'm saying is that... He may not be right for being an absent parent, but knowing what you can do—and how you can hurt yourselves or other people without a figure like him… I could see why he chose to raise you over me. It still sucks, but it gave me a new perspective."

Haechan was silent. You couldn’t really read what was going on in his head, but you knew he was turning over your words and trying to see your perspective. It took a while, but finally, you heard him give a soft sound similar to that of a scoff. You peeked at him, and sure enough, the boy was looking at you with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

"Seriously. I butchered your shoulder and all you can think of was—oh okay, that makes sense. My dad abandoned me because he was raising monsters on the side. Understandable. How the hell does your head work, noona?"

That actually made you laugh. Haechan's lips quirked and that's when you knew the worst has finally passed. You reached out to knock your closed fist on top of his head then before pinching his ear. He jokingly gave a small yelp as he drew away and massaged it.

"That's your punishment for accidentally hurting me. Now that's done, will you stop avoiding me?"

He rolled his eyes at the comment but smirked after. "Why? Did you miss me running after you so much?"

This time, it was your time to scoff. You weren't going to admit anything to him, but maybe he was a little bit onto something.

"I'm just not used to you being so broody."

His smirk melted into a more casual smile as he briefly paused. You waited for him to say something, but he simply looked at you as if he was weighing something important in his head.

"For real though… I'm really sorry. I promised myself that I wouldn't hurt you again… and I still did."

His words made you stop slightly in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

Instead of answering, Haechan only quietly smiled. He angled his body a little sideways then in his seat so that he could properly face you before propping his head against his hand.

"You do know that I like you, right? Unironically."

Your eyes widened in surprise. You were so caught off guard by that curve ball that for a moment, you wondered if you actually heard him right. Your knee jerk response was to think that he was just being his usual teasing self, but you know from the way he was looking at you now that he was anything but. Your face obviously clearly showed your emotions because Haechan laughed seeing your expression.

"Oh come on, noona. I'm sure you're not clueless. I'm also sure you know that I'm not the only one."

You shot him a slightly guilty look before glancing away. Well, he is not wrong… Of course you've noticed things—your job is to read people for heaven's sake—but you haven't really paid much attention to it intentionally because of… well, more pressing things. Haechan obviously is the least subtle of all, but you honestly weren't expecting that he was serious enough to talk about this—now of all times. You tried to avoid his eyes now to try and think of an answer, but he simply dipped his head again to catch your gaze.

"Hey, what do you look so guilty for? Relax, I'm not expecting you to say anything back. You look like I'm trying to keep you hostage or something," he snickered.

"Haechan…"

"Ah, ah, ah. I already know what you're going to say. I know it's the least of your priorities right now and that's fine. I get it. I really just wanted to tell you, okay? Gotta be the first one to do it since those other simps can't. Also, who knows, we might be dead tomorrow, eh?" He said with a wink. You scowled at that last bit in reply.

"Don't say that. We are all getting out of here."

"Will you date me then after~?"

Your face burned.

"Yah. Lee Donghyuck."

The use of his birth name mixed with your obvious flustered expression made him throw his head back in laughter. Of course he is enjoying teasing the heck out of you again. While you don't particularly like it, there was also a part of you that let him enjoy it now, if it means you can see him amused and happy over being sad and distant. You hated the way your cheeks burned, but you also let him have his moment with a roll of your eyes.

"Hey."

"What?" You grunted.

"I do like this side of you too, princess. I really do."

That made you glance at him again. You leaned your head a little to the side as you fixed him with an amused gaze.

"I kinda like this side of you better too."

He raised his brow at you teasingly.

"Even if I can be a madman sometimes?"

You smiled.

"Yes... maybe even especially then."

*******

"Patient 00, step out of the room. Go to the door and wait for it to open."

You all looked up from the sudden female voice that echoed in the room. It was evening, just an hour or so before the lights in the bunker would be turned off again, and all of you were trying to busy yourselves doing random stuff to waste time. You have been sitting idly with Mark and Jaemin on the couch, absent-mindedly listening to their conversation, while Renjun and Haechan played a makeshift game of tic tac toe on your other side. Both Jisung and Chenle have already settled on their own beds, but they popped their heads out simultaneously from their corners when the voice repeated its message over the speaker.

"What the hell? They're giving orders now through that?" Jaemin whispered with a frown as he glared at a point in the ceiling where the sound was coming from. You looked at him, confused.

"This is the first time they did that?"

"They're limiting personal contact with us as much as they can…" Haechan observed from his seat. He scoffed. "Cowards."

"Patient 00. I repeat. Go to the door right this very moment."

"Noona! That's you."

You looked at Jisung in surprise just as he and Chenle walked over to join your little group. He was staring pointedly at something on your chest and you followed his line of sight in confusion. The moment your gaze finally took in what he was seeing, however, all the blood in your face slowly drained. You have never really paid much attention to your assigned clothes before this, but printed on the pocket of your overalls were two zeroes… similar to the patient codes also embroidered on the boys’ uniforms.

You were still trying to process what you were seeing and what it means when you suddenly felt a hand close around your wrist. You turned to see Mark staring at you urgently.

"You're not going anywhere."

Beside you, Renjun fixed his eyes on the door. "He's right. Nobody leaves this room. Don't move," he added lowly.

Well, it's not like you needed to be told twice about it. You don't have any idea what is happening, but the last thing you're going to let happen is to let Cypher's claws anywhere near you again. From the way the rest of the boys stiffened in their own positions and glared at the entrance, it was obvious that all of them were dead set on watching each others' backs too.

The tension in the room has thickened so much that it almost felt like it was going to break at some point. Just when you thought it couldn't get anymore worse… a new voice spoke from the speakers again that made your heart drop.

"Patient 00. You have 30 seconds to get out of the room. Do it...”

“Or Jeno suffers."

Your group gave a collective reaction of shock and surprise. Chenle, who was standing beside you, seemed to be the one to have received the brunt of it all. He looked confused, unsure… before his emotions finally turned into hurt and helplessness. He turned towards you, and you stared at him with the mirrored emotions he was going through. 

You thought you saw your own heart break in the boy’s eyes as he said his name.

"Kun-ge?"

*******

You felt numb as you let the guards guide you into a new room in dead silence. Other than the shaking of your hands that you tried to desperately keep steady, nothing else about you seemed responsive at all. You stood, immobile and silent, at the space, completely ignoring the table setup waiting for you on its center. Sitting behind it, wearing Cypher's blue uniform... was the man you swore you could have trusted your life with just a few weeks ago.

It didn’t make sense... and yet it all made sense at the same time too. 

Of course, it has always been Kun. 

For a few brief seconds after you first heard his voice from the speakers, your initial reaction was to try and conjure excuses for him and the situation. In your head, it's just impossible for any of this to be real... Kun, after all, was the one who was there with you from the beginning. He took care of you. Protected you. He made sure you were okay. Kun wasn’t just your partner. 

He was also your friend. 

All of your hopes dissolved now as you looked at him from where he was sitting, his expression cold and befitting of the blue uniform that you’ve grown to associate with the Institute’s evils. For the second time that day, you thought you heard your heart break in the deafening silence again. No matter how much you tried to look at him now, there was no longer the trace of the man you knew behind those eyes.

"You should come and sit."

The sound of his voice made you unconsciously flinch. You didn't move a muscle from where you were standing, your gaze remaining fixed on him instead. There were so many things bubbling to burst out of you and you croaked out the first thing that your lips managed to form.

"Why?"

It was one question, but the word still sat heavily in the room like a death sentence. Kun's expression barely changed, but you noticed a storm of something briefly pass through his brown gaze.

"Sit first and then we will tal—"

"I don't want to ever get close to you, you traitor!" You screamed before you could even try to control yourself. The rest of you has turned into a shaking mess now but you didn't care. It was like a floodgate of emotions were unlocked inside of you, this betrayal being the last of what you could take in before you finally, fully broke. Kun looked on as you chipped away, his mask impenetrable. God, it felt like you were screaming at a total stranger.

"I trusted you… Chenle… he trusted you."

The mention of the boy's name made his expression slip just a little. For a split second, you thought he actually looked pained, but the emotion was gone as soon as it came.

"I have to do it," he finally said. "I care for him. For you. But I also can't pass up the chance to do this. You will never understand, but this might be the only chance I will ever have in my life to be a part of something as big as this. Cypher gave me an opportunity and I simply made a choice."

You felt nauseous. So that was it? The only reason he decided to sell his soul to the devil? All for his ambition?

"Since when have you sided with them?" you asked coldly, your voice thin as you tried to process everything. Kun looked hesitant to answer at first but replied anyway.

"...Since you knew about Rosewood."

You gave a slow and shaky exhale. It all makes sense now… He was the only one who was with you when the boys showed the reach of their powers back at the test drill in the arena. He was the one who called you to Cypher the day Renjun was tortured and Haechan lost control. He knew about your plan to sneak in and meet Jeno the night the guard caught you. The random meetings with the head honchos… the consultations with Miyoung.

All throughout the time you thought he was on your side, he was selling you and the rest of the boys to the enemy.

"Oh my god," you whispered to yourself now, one hand going over your stomach as other realizations started flooding in. He let them hurt the boys and you, but that might not even be the worst of it. Ten and Winwin. Did he also rat them out? More than that… Your father… He knew everything about your connection to him too.

"I don't think she's considering changing her mind, Dr. Qian. Perhaps you need a little help?"

You were so caught up in the choking fear consuming you that you didn't even notice that another person had joined you and Kun in the room. Looking around, you felt ice in your veins at the sight of the man who silently stepped from the threshold. You've only seen him once—sitting behind his table in an office that seemed as cold as him—that it almost overwhelmed you now to have him towering over you.

Haneul Lee fixed you with his gaze, like a hawk eyeing his prey.

*******

It felt like having a stare down with the devil himself.

You stayed in your spot, frozen, as your gaze clashed with the man's stare. His eyes roamed your face carefully, before they slowly dipped to take in what you were wearing. Similar to the first time you met him, there was not an ounce of empathy in the way he regarded people. It was only now, however, that you finally realized what it was about him that you found unexplainably unsettling before. You can’t exactly capture it into words, but it was almost like there is an undercurrent of something malevolent that sizzles in the air around him… something that not even Jeno, Renjun, and the other ability users carry around with them. At the back of your mind, you knew exactly what it was.

The power of one of the Arcana's Triad.

"Please excuse us for the unsightly choice of clothing we've given you. My wife was adamant in letting you wear one," he said, finally breaking the silence as he fixed you again with his stare. At first you couldn’t understand what he was talking about, but then you saw the way his eyes briefly dropped to the patient number emblazoned on your chest. You stiffened. He noticed your reaction, and you knew from the way he drilled you with his gaze that he was trying to read you just as much as you were trying to pick him apart.

"Sir. I didn't know you were coming," Kun's tensed voice broke the rising tension in the room. You heard the scratching of his chair against the floor as he picked himself up from his seat.

"I wasn't supposed to, if you did your job well."

"I haven't talked to her about it fully yet. If you can just give me more time to try and convince her, I'll—"

"Time, I'm afraid, is something I do not have the privy of wasting too much," the older man said in a calm tone that effectively cut off the other’s words. Not once had he removed his stare on you during the exchange, and it was taking you everything not to look away and show any sign of weakness as you matched it with yours. If Miyoung is chaos and discord, Haneul is control and boundless power. Both land in different ends of the spectrum, but are equally terrifying on their own.

"What are you talking about?" You asked, addressing the question to him. Something flickered in his eyes at the sound of your voice.

"Your partner here is trying to do you a favor, doctor. He is convinced that he can encourage you to join and help us with our cause. Since he has worked hard to finally earn our favor, I wanted to trust him with his decision. After all, it was not just him, but the two of you, who have done a lot to get the research to where it is now."

You were stupefied. That was the last thing you were expecting to hear as the reason behind you being called here. You briefly glanced at your former friend now and paused when you saw the look in his eyes. It's like there was something he was desperately trying to tell you when your gazes clashed, but you couldn’t entirely get hold of it just yet. It looked like a plea for consideration… or was it a warning instead?"

"And why would I do that…?" You asked slowly now, not taking your eyes off Kun. It was slight, but you saw the other's expression tighten, as if he was dreading the incoming answer.

"For a few reasons. You see my dear, I am a very ambitious person. I have a different way of looking at the world—a perspective that, lets just say, righteous people like you can't easily comprehend. But I don't think I am entirely evil. Or at least…" he stopped, only for his next words to make your heart do the same.

"...Not evil enough to kill my best friend's daughter."

*******

The shock that went over you as you heard his answer made you go numb all over. Your eyes snapped towards Haneul once more, disbelieving of the words he just said. The man, on the other hand, remained stoic as he silently watched you start to shut down right before his eyes.

"What... Are you talking about?"

"Aren’t you curious as to what really convinced us to welcome Dr. Qian into our fold? I don't have a shortage of talented people, Doctor… but I do value information more than anything else. It just so happens that he had something to sell to us that no one else can. Imagine my surprise when I found out that the Judgement's daughter herself is right under my nose."

It was like all air was knocked out of you then. You could feel the ice slowly climbing your veins, before sinking into your flesh like small knives.

"You... were his friend?"

The last word made the man's lips twist into an ironic, bitter smile.

"Was I his friend...? My dear, we were more than just that. We were brothers. At least until he left me with no choice but to do things he is too cowardly to deal with himself."

As if on signal, a sudden flicker of light from your side made you turn instinctively turn around. What you thought at first was only a plain black wall came to life now as a huge screen that ran one side of the room from ceiling to floor. At first you couldn't understand what you were looking at, but then your gaze focused on the video that made your lips part in a silent gasp. 

It was a  live feedback of an unconscious-looking Jeno strapped to a collection of machines crowding around him. Wires stuck out from different parts of his body, which then connected to what looked like small vials fixed to the wall. Before you could even make out what’s inside of them, however, the feedback on the screen changed again...

This time sending you reeling back with horror at what you saw. Lying in almost an exact copy of Jeno's room…

Was the unconscious form of your father.

You stared, petrified, at the blown up video in front of you. The man on the screen was almost unrecognizable with hair chopped close to his head and skin sticking close to his bones, but your eyes can never betray you on who used to be behind the almost empty husk you're seeing now. You will recognize that face anywhere… those kind set of brows that were either frowning at you with guilt or twitching in happiness, and those lips—now chapped and dry—that never failed to give you a goodnight kiss in the rare times that he was home when you were a child.

You were in pain, more pain than any physical anguish you've felt before, because this time, the torture doesn't seem to stop at all.

"I'm sorry."

Kun's voice barely broke through you as you remained frozen on your spot. You couldn't bear to look at him, or anything or anyone else.

"What have you done to him?" You whispered finally, your broken voice barely heard in the room.

Haneul was the one who answered your question.

"What did I do to him? I did him a favor is what… by making sure his ability doesn't go to waste."

For the first time ever since you've heard him, his voice actually sounded a little different than his usual stoic tone. His words came out harder, but for some reason, you felt more emotions from him when he spoke. The sound of it finally made you tear your eyes from the screen and sure enough, his stare burned differently when they met yours.

"Your father and I... go a long way back,” he started, his gaze stone cold as he rolled the other’s name in his tongue. “We were friends—two people who used to look at things the same way, especially when it came to the Arcana. We both believed that we can change the world with it if we wanted. We were both powerful… but not enough to actually turn our ideas into solid plans without the help of someone. Because even as members of the Triad, we pale in comparison to someone else."

"His wife."

All the blood drained from your face. Your breath stuttered, but you couldn't stop yourself from listening.

"You see, your mother was a very special woman. She’s the last of the Triad masters and the wielder of the powers of The Fool. As the trump card of the Arcana, her abilities surpassed any of the other users and ours. She could absorb powers, but unlike me who could only copy one for a time, she could keep them as hers if she borrows the life force of other masters. Magic Unification is how we called it, because she could wield multiple abilities all at once."

"She could have been unstoppable if she wanted to… but she made the stupid mistake of falling for your father, the man who did nothing but cage her. He was so afraid of her potential that he did everything to hold her back. When she could have had everything, he reduced her to nothing."

"What… do you mean…"

The way he stared you down almost made you taste his silent, controlled rage. He had not moved once from his spot, but everything about him seemed ready to combust.

"All users of the IL Matto are born special, even in the context of the Arcana's family of abilities. They are blessed with a different level power, but every single one of its masters are also born cursed. If the wielder of The Fool doesn't use their ability well, it can drive them mad. Your father held back your mother so much that she started going insane from the need to utilize her Arcana. He held her down, until the time came when she snapped and he could no longer control her."

Your vision was starting to spin. You threw a weak hand to hold on to the nearest edge you could reach to keep yourself from falling over.

"Do you ever wonder why all these Arcana masters you are trying to protect now are younglings, my dear? Arcana abilities get passed down to new people only when their masters die. Who do you think was behind the death of the former generation of users?"

Your breaths are starting to grow shallower by the second. You wanted to run just as fast as the pieces are falling into places in your head. You knew it was coming, but you still silently hoped he wouldn't say the answer you were expecting.

"Your mother. She wiped out every single one of them in a mad dash to consume their life force," Haneul said, no louder than his speaking voice. You shook your head in denial. He barely raised his tone, and yet the words echoed and bounced in your head as if he screamed them. You wanted to beg for him to stop, but instead he stepped closer to you, an action that caught you off guard that you stumbled back to get away from him. He was faster than you could move away though and he easily caught your wrist in a tight grip.

"And your father… killed her for it. With his own hands."

That was the last thing you could take before you finally lost feeling in your legs. He let go of his hold on you at the same time which sent you crashing straight to the floor. Your sight has gone blurry, and it was too late for you to realize you were blinded by your own tears. You were numb and in pain all at the same time. Your vision already started to blur at the edges, but you were forced to hold on to your consciousness when cold fingers gripped your chin and forced your drooping head to look up. You blinked, unseeing from the tears that spilled down your cheeks. 

"I can't sense any Arcana from you. Could it really be possible that you didn't get any from your parents?" Haneul's soft voice barely broke through the sobs wrecking through your body like tremors. You didn’t answer him—your mind too consumed by everything you just learned.

"We've checked her thoroughly?"

Kun's voice sounded distant when he answered.

"Yes, sir. The machine she was put on was designed for Arcana holders. If she has any abilities, then they should have manifested already with the level of shocks she got…"

For a moment, Haneul didn't say anything at all. He simply stared at you as if he was trying to desperately look for something in your face. It took a long while before he finally let you go. Like a doll discarded, you fell down weakly again at the lack of forced support.

"What a shame. You look exactly just like her."

You felt his cold eyes drilling on the back of your head as he slowly straightened himself up from his crouch. You could almost taste the panic attack about to take over the rest of you, but you still managed to catch his last words.

"I'm giving you eight hours to change your mind and join us," he said quietly. "You may be powerless, but you're still a member of the Famiglia. I'm doing it for your mother."

You haven’t exactly wrapped your head around what he said yet when you heard him address Kun next.

"Are we almost done with La Morte?"

"Yes, sir. We'll close his case today."

"Then it's time to move on to the last phase of the project,” he ordered as you heard the sound of his footsteps start to finally retreat from where you were slumped on. He was already at the door when you heard him speak again, his order ringing clear like death bells.

“Tell the others that Project Vision is starting."

"It's time to hunt down the Master of The Fool."

CHAPTER 13

*******

A/N: I... really tried with this update. I really did. Also, this is going to be the second to the last chapter before this ends! Before that, I’d like to thank everyone who has supported this story until now. I have received so much support during its run. I truly appreciate all of you. <3

P.S. Some people won’t show up on my tags no matter how much I try. I hope you can all see this update despite tumblr acting up. T.T