Chapter Text
The Academia was a place of learning for Vigils, Voils and Theras, who wanted to learn more about the world and their environment. They had once been almost entirely dependent on the sun's solar power and wind for wind for power. They had found that through their understanding of how electricity works, they could instead get power from water and air. They were self-sufficient in this area, but there were too many of them and not enough space for them to grow.
This was when they started working on a huge wall of the Academia that stands up to thirty storeys tall on the outskirts of Hwangsang. It was almost like a small castle decorated with burning torches placed at regular intervals beside the entrances. The purpose of this wall is to protect themselves from their enemies. The moonlight reflected off from the huge lake surrounding the building. Hidden behind the hills and trees which reached high in the night sky, stood the halls of Academia, the most prestigious University of higher and advanced learning for Vigils, Voils and Theras. It was established in the early years of the end of the Great Wars and was a relatively smaller establishment until it came under the authority of the royalties. Academia is the best and the largest university in all of Ahona, housing the best students and top educators, funded entirely by the Royal family. Everyone except the royal family must attend at least five years in the Academia and get a diploma before applying for any higher position. It isn't easy to get in as the top students from all over the nation compete to be chosen and trained to be the best of the best.
Everyone has only one purpose which is to serve the throne.
Sitting in the clearing of the small hill behind the Academia, amidst a sea of fireflies, sat two brothers, gazing at the scenery. The moonlight gave off a warm glow, lighting their surroundings. Neither of the brothers had spoken a word in the past hour, opting to bask in the peaceful silence after the violent argument.
Jungkook seemed to realize that his brother wouldn't dare break the silence after what just happened, "Based on your expression when I mentioned Bangtan, I'm assuming the rumours are true."
"A lot has happened the past few weeks." Junghyun sighed, "I'm sorry, I've been careless not to inform you. I don't know what you've heard but the rumours… most probably are true. There is an early selection of Theras with stricter supervision. Also Bangtan won't be physically present this time."
"Because of the murder?"
Junghyun nodded. "There is going to be a test held on the fourteenth of next month to choose the best Thera. It's going to be entirely practical and won't be focusing on academics. The choice will be made regardless of the year they belong to. The Theras should either be decent fighters or quick learners. Having influence won't help much this time.
"That's all that has been decided for now and the officials are working on the details."
Jungkook frowned, not expecting to hear all that information because the last he knew, Bangtan had enough Theras to last them atleast a year. "How many Theras are left?"
"Park Jimin’s was murdered yesterday; they found the body in the garden, butchered up the same way. General Yoongi's died on the ship, and Kim Taehyung’s and Kim Seokjin's died thawing their freeze on the battlefield. That leaves three… so nine Theras will be chosen this time."
"Sounds like the Theras are just bait to attract the killer?", Jungkook fumed with anger at his own words.
"No, lately Bangtan’s poison has become stronger… Taehyung-ssi’s Thera only lasted two months. The majority of the nobles were in agreement. Though some of the members did seem displeased at the decision there's nothing we can do to alter the decision. For now"
"The majority of the nobles are fools. Their first priority shouldn't be finding the killer; it should be ensuring the safety of the Theras." Jungkook said, enraged.
"… There’s nothing we can do for now", Junghyun repeated.
Jungkook pursed his lips. He knew the hidden meaning behind them and it was true that there wasn't much that could be done right now. He opted to stay quiet on that matter for there were some mistakes he didn't want to repeat.
Jungkook sighed. "I just hope we'll be getting something out of it. Keep me updated from next time, please, no matter how big our fight."
Jungkook looked up to meet his brother's eyes, "I can't stay here for long tonight, so I'll be taking leave shortly. Anything else I should be aware of?"
"No, that's all that's important for now. As for the tests, you can ace them with your eyes closed. Just stop behaving recklessly for a while. You’ll get in trouble way less."
The atmosphere turned lighter and Jungkook snorted, "As if! I'm gonna get way more in trouble now that I know that I can finally leave this godforsaken place after all this torture!!"
"You can't if you're not eligible for the exam. You very well know what handler Choi is capable of."
Jungkook groaned, "There goes my dream of living upto the reputation of the deliquescent that people tell me I am."
Junghyun scoffed but then looked at Jungkook seriously, "Jungkook, I've been meaning to ask you, how have you really been? Having no way to communicate with you all this time is… unnerving."
Jungkook looked away, staring far off, "I know what you mean and it's the same for me. But it's manageable and nothing compared to the other places. But I need to stop taking the pills soon hyung or I'll do something rash. It's driving me crazy."
"I know… let's hope that things go the way we intended to, for everyone's sake…"
They knew talking more about these unguarded, where anyone can earsdrop is risky and stupid so they finally decided to part ways.
"Jungkook!", Junghyun called out just as Jungkook was turning to make his way down the hill. Jungkook turned around and hummed out in question.
Junghyun looked hesitant at first but the issue needed to be addressed. He needed to tell him, he needed Jungkook to know.
"I heard you."
Upon looking at Jungkook’s confused eyes, he clarified vaguely, "back then, after I left. After our fight. You need to know that you're wrong. Don't blame yourself."
Hearing those words, Jungkook’s face morphed from confusion to realization to dread. Jungkook knew his brother was referring to his little outburst with Yerin but he couldn’t bring himself to confront it. Some things were better left unsaid. They can have this talk later. So Jungkook forced himself to school his expression.
Instead, he just smiled and said, "Keep my violin ready for me, will you? My hands are itching to play them."
Junghyun wanted to say more but before he could voice his concerns, Jungkook was gone.
Jungkook didn’t sleep much, opting to keep staring at the wall throughout the night, deep in thought. As a result, he had a pounding headache in the morning which intensified when his best friend slash Satan's spawn, decided to blare the alarm right in front of his ears. With 15 minutes to spare for his first class, Jungkook hurried to make himself presentable and in the process forgot to take his pills.
Then he sat in a 2-hour long class but he forgot to buy his textbooks which resulted in him getting a lecture on his first day from the professor who was already under the impression that Jungkook was failing classes. Then the teaching began, and Jungkook dozed off because he already knew everything that was being taught and was just there due to the arrogance of Handler Choi.
Jungkook didn’t even know when the class had ended and was shaken awake by Mina, his savior but also another Satan's spawn. Thankfully, he was sitting in the last row, obscured from everyone's view, including the professor's.
"You look bad. Did you have another one of your midnightly adventures and then got caught and punished?", Mina asked in her overly cheerful tone. "I had bets going on with Yug that this time you'll be caned."
"Nope," Jungkook groaned and mumbled, "I never get caught. But the handlers were patrolling all night. Miracle 'm alive."
Mina grinned, "so you did go out?"
"I went to see my brother."
"Oh, that explains your face!"
"Shut up!"
Mina was a Thera and one of Jungkook’s oldest friends, far older than he'd care to admit and one of the few people who stuck with him for a long time, even after all that he had done. She was shorter than Jungkook with sea green eyes and stormy gray hair. They had both been trained and educated together but because of the mandatory enlistment in Academia for higher learning and employment, they were forced to learn everything they knew all over again.
But it's good that they know almost everything. It helps them to be the best of the best, academically, and have the least of the least friends.
Mina laughs, "Your face says that it wants to skip classes. And what are you even doing in beginner's astronomy? Didn’t you have", Mina checks the time, "Biostatistics now??"
"Extra classes for students who are failing classes, according to our dear Ms. Choi"
Mina frowned, "well that's stupid… and she send you here of all places? It's for first years."
"She wants to make a point. What more can you expect from her? And how the hell did you even find me?"
"Easy. I tracked your phone. And you should be grateful. I had to pass the most environmentally disgraceful people to come and get you."
"That nickname doesn't make sense to me."
"Things don't have to make sense to have a deeper meaning!"
Then Jungkook abruptly got up from his seat, almost colliding with Mina, who was leaning forward.
"Enough brood-talk! Someone said something about my soul needing to skip classes??"
"It was your face, idiot! And it's either that or getting scolded, class already started ten minutes ago."
"WHAT!? You evil woman! You manipulated me into committing a crime!!!"
Mina snickered,"Well, what will you do? Now if you don't mind I'll be kidnapping you and selling you to an illegal auction… So excuse me, I need to drug you… or not.. if you agree to come quietly?"
Jungkook pretended to think, "Well, I never liked the smell of drugs and I certainly don't enjoy getting high… so I guess, I need to come quietly and I'm certainly going to mind it. If my brother learns of this, you'll be getting into big trouble."
Jungkook and Mina looked at each other and promptly burst out laughing.
Despite what Yugyeom had said yesterday, Jungkook and Mina found him sitting under the same old oak tree, writing away at his digi-pad.
Jungkook was amused at his friend's antics when Mina decided to announce their arrival with a loud sneeze.
Surprised, Yugyeom looked up to find his two crazy best friends making their way towards him.
Jungkook decided to continue their crazy skit, "Prince Yugyeom!! My bestest friend! My lover!! Please save me from this big bad evil female brute who has kidnapped me!!"
"Well jokes on you cuz Yugs is the mafia boss and he is the one who staged this kidnapping in the first place." Mina said, sitting her down on the soft grass between the roots.
Jungkook gasped, sitting on the other side of Yugyeom, "How could you?? I trusted you! You were my lover!!"
"First of all, Jungkook, EWWW. Secondly, what drama are my batshit crazy friends creating today?", Yugyeom asked, not at all amused.
"And seriously guys? Mafia? What are we, sixteen years old in a kdrama?"
"Yuggy! You can't deny it wasn't even a bit funny!" Mina exclaimed.
"Why are you trying to destroy my perfectly peaceful work environment?"
"It’s your fault for being friends with us. And why the hell are you sitting here? You know, this just proves my theory of you being a masochist", Jungkook said.
"JUNGKOOK!!! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!?!"
After teasing the hell out of Yugyeom and enjoying the weather, they decided to go inside. The walk back to the dorm room was surprisingly lonely for Jungkook. The other two had opted to eat the special pastries cooked by Aunt Abolia for today's special in the cafeteria. They had asked him to tag along but he refused, surprising all three of them. Jungkook wasn't one to refuse Aunt Abolia's cooking, let alone refuse the delicious pastries that she always saved for the three of them.
But he needed time alone to sort through his thoughts. A lot was running through his mind. The talk with his brother made him more anxious than anything. He didn't even get a chance to talk about what actually bothered him.
Jungkook felt sick and exhausted. He felt distant like his body wasn't his own and it felt as if something was crawling under his skin, begging to be let out.
While these experiences were frequent, they never ceased to unnerve him, more now than ever because of the state he was in. He just hoped to reach the dorm quickly and lay down and rest. But he wouldn't be Jeon Jungkook if fate hadn't had a bit of drama stored for him. He was a few feet away from the room when nausea hit him like a truck and he doubled over in pain. His skin felt as if thousand needles were prickling it and something was clawing at his chest, desperate to get out. He felt trapped, suffocated and an unsettling feeling wrapped around him like a blanket. His knees hit the floor before he could steady himself and he is thankful that no one is there to see him in such a vulnerable state.
What is wrong with him? Why is he so weak these days?
The pain subsided after a while and Jungkook’s head cleared a bit. Embarrassed at his moment of weakness, even if no one was there to see it, he wasn't usually this weak… what had happened to him recently??
Fortunately he didn't cross paths with the one and only most despicable and toxic groups of that cursed place. Fate, as little as it was, seemed to be on his side that day as if to give him a tiny break before he faces the horrors of the future and he passed the Elites' dorms without encountering any of them. Unfortunately, his dorm room is right across the hallway from them.
Jungkook was all but ready to collapse in the stiff bed when he noticed a big box wrapped with expensive blue velvet cloth sitting in the middle of it.
Jungkook had no idea what was inside it, for all he knew it could explode on his face and kill him or it could be a prank. But as always, curiosity won over and he proceeded to open the box.
The content inside surprised him and his face broke into a wide grin.
Later that night Jungkook sneaked out of the castle and into the same clearing where he had visited his brother, albeit with a bit of difficulty. Settling down in the peaceful and secluded area, he proceeded to take out the contents of the box, the one that he got that morning and had decided to take with him. Inside it was an extravagant wooden violin, carved from the purest form of blessed elder wood, obtained from magical trees strong enough to rival the power sources of their realms. The wood allowed the violin to store strong destructive magic, which was exactly what Jungkook needed.
With the first note he played, he could feel himself slacken and he started relaxing little by little as the excess energy ebbed out of him. The melody seemed to draw out the beast that was clawing inside him, soothing him. Jungkook let out a contented sigh as after a long time he felt himself truly relax and at peace.
It was so different than the usual stormy feeling in his chest, the usual push and pull of emotions and power that he always needed to keep in check. Jungkook intended to fully enjoy these rare moments of solitude in his own company.
Jungkook stayed there for a while, playing a beautiful melody, losing himself to the feeling of serenity and calm. The surroundings also seemed brighter, happier, as if mesmerised by the melody, responding to it on a spiritual level.
Finally and reluctantly, he stopped, because playing it for too long or too often might be dangerous for him. The clearing fell into a peaceful silence. Jungkook was grateful to his brother for always knowing what he needs.The sickening feeling of overwhelming senses stopped assaulting him and he felt as if he could finally breathe freely. Although it was one of the milder effects, intensified by the pills he took, Jungkook was just glad that his sufferings had halted, for now, for a little while.
The following days leading up to the examination were uneventful and Jungkook couldn’t keep his word of getting into trouble and being a deliquescent due to Yugyeom's constant nagging and Mina looking out for him. The exam itself was quite easy and was more like field tests which Jungkook topped. Jungkook grinned so widely on the day of their result declaration as it was finally fairplay between all the students, the rich and the poor. He aced the field tests, which tested their reflexes and their capabilities to deal with stressful situations with the help of virtual battleground stimulations and passed few the written ones with flying colours which didn't sit well with many of the handlers and other students. They tried to be petty and mean like uncultured jealous meatballs, but Jungkook wasn't the least fazed. It humoured him how jealous and bothered they were of him.
On the day of departure for the final and most important and prominent exam, all the Theras were asked lined up in the Halls to board the craft that would take them to Hwangsang, the Royal Capital of Ahona .Jungkook got a few disdainful looks from the Elites and handler Choi and an encouraging smile from Mina as he entered. Mina didn't want to serve as Bangtan’s Thera but had to travel with them to Gocheok Dome for official rejection.
Jungkook took his place among fellow Theras and they were about to move out when he heard a snicker beside him coming from none other than Lee Ara.
"Look who decided to grace us with their presence. We were starting to think you wouldn't be coming. It's funny how desperate you are to prove yourself. But it's good to see that you didn't quit even before it all began."
Jungkook, who was already stressed with the whole ordeal snapped, "Can't you mind you own business for one fucking moment? Always desperate for the attention that no one will give you otherwise."
Ara snarled, "You think yourself to be so high and mighty, Jeon, how long do you even think you'll last out there? Better quit now and save yourself the embarrassment!"
"Listen here you-"
"Stop it, both of you. What do you think the officials would get the impression of after exhibiting such behaviour in the Royal Dome? If you think they would tolerate such indisciplined Theras, then you are severely mistaken. School your expressions because you are going to give the best impression out there else neither of you will be going. ", came the calm but firm voice of Handler Kim from behind them.
That shut both of them up. Jungkook looked away to avoid getting more stressed but Ara just scoffed and glared at him.
Jungkook settled down after getting ushered into the transportation craft used for short distance travel. It was similar to a spacecraft in size and interior space but had lesser features and controls and wasn't made for traveling in space.
Staring out the window, Jungkook found his nerves returning to him. Jeon Jungkook getting nervous wasn't a normal occurrence but it helped him blend out with the other students. There was nothing he could do about the tremors in his hands or the erratic beatings of his heart but suffer through it. Looking out the window, Jungkook hoped that it would be over soon and he could finally leave.