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Chapter Text

"Good afternoon, sir! Are you Sir Jules Pollirex?" Taehyung tried to smile through the mouthful of foreign syllables. Hopefully he didn't butcher the man's name too much. Judging by the unimpressed look on his possible client's face, he probably did.

The man drew himself up to his full height, towering over the younger boy easily, his neatly combed dark hair brushing the top of the door to his home. He didn't hide the disgust in his gaze as he gave his visitor a once-over. "That depends on who's asking. You should've introduced yourself before demanding I do so."

Taehyung's smile dimmed, and he dipped into a practiced bow. "Forgive my rudeness, sir. I am an apprentice of the Knights of Karma, at your service."

"What!" The shadow cast over Taehyung shifted and engulfed him completely. He gulped when a pair of polished boots stepped close to his face, but he maintained his form. "I asked for a fighter, not a courtesan. Rise, dammit."

Gracefully assuming proper posture, Taehyung met his eyes, conveying the confusion he felt. "Sir, I am a fighter." He had dropped into an apprentice's bow, not a courtesan's. Did courtesans even bow? He wouldn't know!

Sir Jules groaned. "Of course I get the runt of the litter."

Taehyung puffed his cheeks to keep the words from bouncing off his tongue. He was at the top of his batch, actually, even if he didn't look the part. One word, and he'd have Sir Jules on his knees and licking the dirt under Taehyung's feet.

No! Taehyung yelled at himself silently. Those are bad thoughts. You didn't get to where you are now by relying on your curse. And Sir Jules might just be having a bad day, and is actually a nice person. No one deserves bullying anyway.

"Sir, if you would be so kind to tell me what my mission is," he said with the charm that got him out of trouble many times, "I guarantee I won't disappoint you."

"You'd better not," Jules snapped, crossing his arms. "Boys like you belong in harems, and you wield a different kind of sword. I don't like the progressive bull those useless monarchs are pushing on us. Innate potential, pah! Nature decides what your role in life is. Anything against that is a sin. Is evil."

Oh great, another super conservative. No wonder not a trace of modern technology could be found on his land. He probably believed that nature altered too much was unnatural and unforgivable. The only way to end this conversation early was by agreeing and stroking egos, Taehyung had learned that way back when he was younger and surrounded by oppressors on all sides. There was no use arguing. "You know what they say sir," he said easily, "Mother Nature knows best."

Saying that lie made Taehyung sick to his very core, even if he remained brighter than the afternoon sun. He had experienced firsthand the worst of Mother Nature when he was just a baby, as the recipient of a curse that had consumed others before him. Through much determination, he had pushed past his expected lifespan of eight years, but from then on every day was a gamble of whether he lived or died. Others feared death at the hands of enemies, he feared death at a slip of his tongue.

Sir Jules grunted, and his demeanor melted from pissed off to only slightly so. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder, pointing directly at the forest line that ran along the side of the village. "The fishermen of my good people disappeared yesterday. They come in, they don't come back. Not a peep, not a scream. There's a bountiful lake, real near to the entrance, that leads to a bay, that's where they fish. I sent a few of my men over, didn't come back either."

"I see." Taehyung frowned and gazed at the trees in the distance. The forest looked deceptively peaceful, the variety of plants and trees contributing various shades and colors to the scenery. The wind rustled the leaves gently, and the rest of the greenery waved along, almost playfully, dancing to the music only nature could hear.

"No, you don't." Sir Jules shook his head. "There's nothing to see. I've got the best mages and sorceresses come over to inspect the forest from the outside, but they can't see anything. Not a trace of magic, dark or not, or even violence. Well, good luck, boy. And if this doesn't work out, I know a few monarchs who would be interested in you."

Taehyung had to bite down on his tongue until the general sauntered onto the stone path that led back to the center of the village. He didn't need monarchs, he was already on the way to becoming a knight! On the way over, he had noted that the farther he approached the edge of the village, the emptier the houses became. One family was in the process of clearing out their house, loading their bags onto the back of an old horse. Sir Jules had taken up temporary residence in the farthest house, perhaps to keep an eye on the forest without alerting the enemy that he was there.

Taehyung decided to forgo his gun and drew his swords, then approached the forest carefully, keeping a careful gaze on the trees, trying to detect even the slightest of motions. Every rustle of a leaf, every bird perched on a branch, every butterfly that fluttered by. Not one of them indicated that something sinister was going on. Usually, the first clue would be the lack of animals, because they usually fled or went into hiding if something remotely unnatural had occurred. But they were still there, oblivious to the strange events.

The air turned crisp and sweet as he came closer, smelling of dirt and dew and honey. A light breeze kissed him gently, and the singing of the birds was almost hypnotic. The grass grew taller the nearer it was to the forest, yet it easily gave way to his boots, almost as if parting to form a path.

He inhaled, exhaled, kept his heart and his hands steady, kept his eyes wide and alert, kept his knees positioned in a ready crouch. After a moment of waiting, he crossed into the forest, energy thrumming through his body like electricity. The sound of rushing water grew louder, the underlying melody to the chirping of the birds, and Taehyung followed the sound. He silently navigated his way around the roots that crept along the forest floor, the anthills and holes, the leaves and branches. He ducked under branches and carefully pushed aside the leaves that were in the way.

The dirt beneath his feet grew moister and darker until he stepped next to the reeds growing by the lake. He frowned, watching as the water sparkled under the sun and gurgled over the stones. He searched the reeds, walked along the lake, retraced his steps and observed the trees nearby. After a thorough scan of the area, it came up clean. Not a trace of foul play. Heck, not a trace of humanity at all. No boats, no fishing equipment, scratches on the bark or footprints against the mud.

Nothing felt out of place. Even his instincts, which went wild with alarm at the slightest of dangers, were oddly silent.

And that's when Taehyung realized what he was dealing with, even before he heard the first words of the song.

"Look across the river you'll see," an impossibly sweet voice trickled over, mixing it with the rushing water and the singing birds in an intoxicating melody. "The cliffs that stand above the sea."

Taehyung took off towards the voice, not bothering to silence his footsteps, an off-beat that strangely complimented the song. "Careful when you step on stones, I'll walk with you, you're not alone."

He arrived at the base of a waterfall, the glittering wall of water serving as the backdrop for the masterpiece of a monster. On a rock, a beautiful boy sat on a large stone, the lower half of his body melting into water. Despite himself, Taehyung's fingers itched for a camera, because everything about that scene--the waterfall, the trees along the frame, the clear sky, the siren itself-- was picturesque.

"Well!" The siren tilted his head, letting his shoulder-length, golden hair brush against his shoulder. His narrow eyes glinted mischievously as his mouth curled into a smile. "You're just like me! It's the perfect season for sirens to come out, isn't it?"

Taehyung frowned, tightening his grip on his swords. "I'm nothing like you."

"You're not enchanted by me, are you?" The siren shamelessly ravaged Taehyung with his eyes, a forked tongue poking out between his lips. "A shame. You look like a delicious meal, but even better company. Why don't you join me, hmm? Soon, I'll be the only one who can protect you."

"Where are the people you took?" Bitterness swelled in Taehyung, the urge to leap and slice the siren in half growing harder to resist. He'd like to think he was tempted to attack out of justice, but he learned that lying to himself was deadly, especially with a curse like his.

He wanted the siren gone, not because it was evil, but because it was like looking in a mirror and seeing what he had tried so hard to hide.

"Calm down, I'm not a gluton. I've just had a good meal a few days before I came here, so I haven't eaten any of them yet. Would you like to meet them? Or better yet, would you like to join them?"

"Please return them to me. Please, please, please! Or else I'll fight you!" Taehyung hesitated, before adding, "And I'll win, then I'll destroy you."

The siren scoffed. "And why would you do that against your own kind?"

"I'm not a siren!" he shouted, and he really wasn't. He was something worse.

The siren opened his mouth to laugh, but stopped before he could even begin. Closed his mouth and frowned. "If you're telling the truth," the siren tapped his chin, "then what are you? We sirens know truth from lies, we know humans from monsters, and you're not one of us, but you're definitely not one of them either."

"Where are the villagers?" Taehyung demanded, taking another step forward. The rushing water recoiled away from him, creating a damp spot of dirt where it once occupied.

That didn't miss the siren's attention. "See how my water responds to you," he said. "You must be a siren, but . . ."

"Bring them out! They need to go home!" Taehyung stepped into the water, ready to swim, but he didn't have to. The water parted before him, creating a path lined by two walls of moving waves and confused fishes.

Huh, this time he didn't even have to say anything. The desire to kill the siren must've leaked into nature, and it responded. Instead of being convenienced, his stomach plummeted at the sight, because this was only a sign that the curse was getting stronger.

"Oh, my." Taehyung looked away from the water and right at the siren, who was now cackling and clapping his hands in glee. "I know what you are. You're a truth teller. A little older than what I'm used to, but still. Congratulations, let's see how long you last, handsome!"

What a bully. He felt the blood rush out of his face and his knuckles go white from how hard he was gripping the hilt of his swords. "Return the poor villagers to me. They're not food."

The siren grinned, displaying a row of gleaming shark teeth. "Why don't you call for them yourself?"

"Do it!" Taehyung raised his swords, and the siren flinched.

"Oh," the siren said, cringing away from the twin blades inches away from his neck, "I get it. You survived this long because you never used your curse before. Must've been really hard."

Taehyung wavered. "How--"

"Didn't you do your research? When truth tellers want something to come true so much, it'll happen when they say it with enough desire. It'll become involuntary when done frequently. You just yelled a command, and I was only compelled to do it, but the universe didn't bend to accommodate your desire. Which means you haven't used your curse much."

He laughed again, a sweet jingling sound enough to bring the most loveless man to his knees, and it was cut short by the flat of Taehyung's blade slamming against the siren's forehead. The siren fell off the rock and into the water with a splash, and Taehyung quickly grabbed him by the shoulders and hauled it onto dry land before the rest of its body melted into water.

He stared at the prone body in disgust, unfazed by the shiny waves of gold hair that spread from beneath a fair, angelic face. He gazed with the same contempt he reserved for the mirror when his days went particularly dark, when the insults hit too close to the truth. He drove the point of his sword into the siren's chest, and the body exploded into water, flecks of it dousing Taehyung's pants.

Breathing in deeply, he realized that the forest had lost the magical tinge to its woody scent. At second glance, the flowers once bursting with color was bland, and the song of the birds was reduced to random chirping.

He steeled himself for what he was about to do. He was about to break the promise he made to himself, many years ago.

"Villagers, be free from the siren's spell," he said quietly, "and go to the edge of the forest safely."

He jumped into a defensive stance, crossing his swords in front of him, at the slightest rustle of leaves nearby. A woman in a soiled white shirt and ripped pants stumbled out, her hair dishevelled, her eyes wide and disoriented. But when they landed on Taehyung, her confusion morphed into fear.

"You-- you! I--" she stumbled back, and blinked rapidly. Taehyung hesitated mid-step, hovering between the choice of assisting her or leaving her, so as not to risk scaring her any further.

"Hello. Are you breathing?" Taehyung said.

"Siren!" she shouted, pointing a trembling finger at him. "I saw it all!"

"Who cares?" a deeper voice in the forest boomed. A smaller, buffer female stepped out, her hair gathered in a bandana and her simple clothes streaked with mud and dripping wet at the edges. Taehyung adjusted his stance so he could see both of them. "He saved us, so what if he's a siren? We ain't even sure if he is."

The taller, hyperventilating girl held onto the other woman's arms, keeping her focus on Taehyung, who was still hesitating. "He resisted a siren, he broke a siren's spell. Only a siren could do that!"

"Well, are you stupid? You shouldn't'ave said anything, he'll probably make us forget everything!" she scowled at her companion. "He might even kill us!"

This spurred Taehyung into action. He sheathed his swords and held his palms up and said, "I'm not a siren! I'm an apprentice of the Knights of Karma, and I was sent here by the general to find you." He gestured at the scarlet crest resting above his breast, hoping the symbol of justice would inspire a little more trust. "Where are your other companions, miss?"

The muscly girl dumped her friend on the ground, who responded with an indignant oof. She faced Taehyung squarely, spreading her legs apart, but despite the show of dominance, a sliver of fear was etched on her sun-tanned face. "I'm havin' a hard time recalling, all I see is glimpses. Don't remember much since I went fishin'."

"That was yesterday," Taehyung supplied.

"Ah, yes. My poor babies pro'lly miss their momma, don't they?"

Guilt sucker punched Taehyung in the stomach, but he stopped himself from doubling over. What was he doing, interrogating these women? Despite his command, it was only right to escort them home as quickly as possible.

"Right," he said, and began to walk around the lake. "You need to go home, then."

"You should let us lead the way, sonnie," she said, as she hauled the other girl up by the arm. "We know the way round these parts."

"That would be nice, thank you," he said, stepping back.

"He's a charmer," the other girl whispered loudly as they passed by him and began to take the lead. "It's in his siren blood."

"Don't be too harsh on 'im now," she mumbled, but Taehyung's ears were perked up at this point. He kept his head down as they glanced back at him, pretending to be interested in the bugs that crawled around his feet.

When they finally reached the edge of the forest, the women stopped so abruptly that Taehyung almost ran into them. He caught himself seconds away from the disaster. If he'd been a bit slower, he would've sent the taller girl into an early grave. The whole journey over, she kept looking over her shoulder at him, and she flinched if he so much as stepped on a branch or coughed.

He walked to stand beside them and asked, "Why are you stopping?"

They blinked and looked at each other. "Just resting, it was quite a long walk." Sweat glistened on their tanned skin and rolled down the curves of their muscles, but they weren't out of breath at all. They had navigated the forest with ease and familiarity, with the practiced finesse of frequent travellers.

Oh, right! Taehyung nearly laughed at himself, how could he be so silly? He ordered that all of the lost villagers gather at the edge of the forest so they could return together.

"Alright," he said, and leaned against the tree. The weight of their combined gazes pressed on him not long after, but he let them observe him. They were searching for a sign; friend or foe? He wondered what they would find-- the mind was a fickle thing, and it conjured the image you wanted to see.

A few minutes later, other men and women joined them, even a teenager close to his age, until they reached a total of eight. Hugs and greetings were exchanged, and due to his stillness and maroon clothes, he blended against the trunk of the tree, unnoticed. The scene before him warmed his heart, though. The two women he was with were no longer tense and alert, instead, they laughed in relief, arms around their lost friends.

"Listen, lasses and lads!" An old man raised his powerful hands up, easily commanding everyone else. The noise died down. "I've got a tale to tell ya, and while it may not seem true, I seen it with my own eyes!"

"What tale?" The youngest of the pack called out, walking up to the old man eagerly.

"A tale of two sirens fighting," he intoned, and the gathering broke out into loud exclamations of protests and agreements. Some backed him up immediately, some refuted him with disbelieving laughter. Taehyung puffed his cheeks out and fidgeted with the hem of his sleeves, before sighing in defeat. In the midst of the chaos, he detached himself from the trunk.

"I think you're talking about me," he said. Despite his quiet voice and the cacophony of conversations, his words cut through like a knife, leaving the noise cut up in pieces. All eyes swung to him, and he smiled sheepishly under all the attention. "Except I'm not a siren."

"Bullcrap," someone snapped, and all at once, some stepped away while the others moved towards him, like waves converging.

"I'm an apprentice of the Knights of Karma," he spoke above the loud questions fired at him. The knights descended on him, metal glinting under the sun, swords pointed at him threateningly. Another man closed in on his left, swinging his harpoon with his teeth bared. Taehyung squinted his eyes as they caught the reflected light, stumbling back slightly as he put his hands up in surrender.

"No guns," a knight commanded. "These wretched monsters aren't affected by unenchanted weapons." The others obeyed, instead reaching for daggers and knives at their hips.

"Look!" the youngest called out, pushing past a couple of glaring fishermen. "He wears the crest of Karma!"

"Any siren could easily ask an unsuspecting knight to undress," the knight snapped. "Gag him."

Seconds later, Taehyung was on the ground with cloth pushed between his teeth, cheek pressed against the grass. The fisherman on top of him tied his wrists together with rope, yanking viciously. Something cold pressed against the back of his neck, and the tip of another sword went right between his eyes.

He stayed very still, despite the urge to pout and throw a tantrum for the ages. These people were only being careful, and they couldn't be blamed for neutralizing a potential danger.

Nevertheless, he glared balefully at the mud soiled boots that surrounded him. The arguments picked up in volume, and with a sinking heart he realized that they were debating whether to kill him or not.

"Sparing the life of a monster is a sin in itself!" the knight yelled.

"Maybe he shouldn't have spared your life, then!" the youthful voice fired back, and Taehyung frowned and tried to sneak a peek. The sun was in his eyes, and all he could see was glimpses. A head of messy brown hair, narrowed eyes, fair freckled skin.

"Silence, you insolent boy!" a woman snapped. "You cannot address our protectors that way."

"That boy protected us better than these knights did. He saved us all. If I cannot disrespect a knight, then you cannot hurt a hero."

"It's not as simple as that," a soft female voice spoke up, and for the first time that day, Taehyung actually agreed with someone. He hummed through his gag in approval.

"Let's just bring him back alive and let the lord decide," said the other knight. "'Sides, imagine the glory we get for capturing a siren alive. It's unheard of!"

A ripple of thoughtful agreement moved through the group, and with that decision, they returned to the village, a possible monster in tow.

Chapter Text

"You bastards!" The lord raged from his throne. "You useless sacks of shit!"

The two knights kneeling next to Taehyung's prone body flinched violently, but they managed to hold their positions. The once lively chatter that danced through the room from the mouths of gay lords and ladies died down abruptly at the shout, reduced to a tense silence. Even the fluttering feathered fans snapped shut, despite the summer heat.

"That siren, as you so ignorantly put it, is an apprentice of the Knights of Karma. Do you realize what you have done? This is an act of war!" The golden laurel tilted dangerously on the lord's head when he surged forward to stand in front of the trio, heavy robes swishing behimd him. His large hands righted the heavy laurel with ease, and Taehyung imagined how easy it must be for the king to choke the life out of someone.

"But-- but, my lord! He resisted a siren's spell, he killed it! How could he have done it if--"

"If he were a siren, you wouldn't be alive right now! Release him!"

The knights basically leaped on Taehyung, who groaned through his gag. Two adult men in metal was not an easy weight to bear. Finally, the ropes came loose, and Taehyung winced when the remaining burns sliced through his wrists. He pulled himself up, waved a hand when the two knights went to assist him, and removed the gag from his mouth and onto the floor.

Immediately he swept into a graceful bow fit for the lord. "You have my thanks, my lord." His throat itched with disuse, and his voice came out raspy. "I thought I was going to run out of saliva," he mumbled to himself. When the two knights glanced at him, he sent them a smile.

"My men will apologize for this misunderstanding," Lord Pollirex said coolly. The ice in his voice quickly turned to heat when he roared, "You two, apologize!"

"We apologize for our ignorance," the knights quickly said. Taehyung gave them a look full of understanding, but they kept their faces carefully unreadable.

"The feast will go on," the lord announced to the room. He glared at the knights in disgust. "To think we held a celebration for your return. You are dismissed from your positions. By morning, I expect to see your swords and shields back in the armory, and your metal will either be reused or melted. Do not show your face to me anywhere near the castle grounds." Then he turned his heated gaze on Taehyung. "Apprentice, if you would come with me." He swept out of the room with all the force and grace of a catastrophe, leaving a stunned audience in his wake. Taehyung trailed on his heels, careful to avoid the curious eyes of the people around him.

"Is it a big problem this time?" Jungkook leaned against the stone wall of their castle, watching as Jin stepped out of the throne room with a frown on his face.

Jin smiled tiredly when he saw his younger brother, then reached out to ruffle his fluffy brown hair. Jungkook scowled. It was embarrassing how the crown prince loved to baby his already grown--albeit younger--brother. Their close relationship was no secret, and when Jin began taking on the responsibilities of the king to prepare for his own reign, Jungkook refused to let it come between them. He followed behind like a loyal puppy, until their father relented and allowed Jungkook to take the same classes as his big brother.

One of the few things Jungkook was forbidden from was the close council meeting, where the most trusted advisors of the king would gather and assess the situation before presenting it before the rest of the lords and ladies. So instead, he opted to wait out the back door, where Jin would likely escape. As usual, he was right.

Jin retrieved his hand with a chuckle. "It's just an honest misunderstanding that could blow up and end in war. But nobody wants that, so I don't think it's ever going to come to that."

Jungkook raised his eyebrows. "War? Between who?"

Jin looked around, but there was no one around. Night had fallen, and most people had retreated inside to rest. The guards were too far, nothing but a silhouette cast by the torches. But to be sure, Jin cast a heat sensor spell, a faint glowing white light brushing across the empty field and up the stone wall. The light turned into a mess of glaring red and yellow when it washed over Jungkook, but other than that, there was no one alive in the vicinity.

Lowering his voice, Jin said. "The Knights of Karma, and the House of Pollirex. We shouldn't discuss these things out in the open."

Jungkook nodded, and they walked inside the castle, which was by now occupied by a few bustling maids and stock still guards. After climbing numerous flights of stairs, they stopped in front of Jin's room, which was heavily enchanted to keep out any intruders, and watched by four intimidating guards. They nodded at the guards before stepping inside and locking the door.

"What happened?" Jungkook asked, flopping down on the fluffy bed. Jin suddenly had a basket of bread in his hands, and Jungkook cursed himself for not keeping an eye on his big brother. Had he watched carefully, he might've discovered where Jin kept his stash of food.

Jin, of course, was kind enough to give his brother some bread as he went to sit beside him. "The batch of apprentices of the Knights of Karma are undergoing their field practice right now. The apprentices go to troubled villages to investigate and solve the problems there. It doesn't have to be about fighting. It's test of wit as much as skill, so mostly they face withered crops, runaway kids, the like."

His face suddenly broke into a huge smile, and Jungkook groaned. Oh no, Jin was going to go off topic. "You know, when Jimin was still a trainee, his field practices were the best! He went there to neutralize a group of rebellious kids, and ended up having to go to each family and fix the failing marriages. It was--" he erupted into hopeless laughter.

Jungkook laughed too, because he could absolutely imagine a lost Jimin trying to calm down a couple in the midst of a screaming match.

"Anyway, the problem for this apprentice was a series of disappearances in the forest. Mages came by to investigate the forest from afar, but they could detect nothing. When the apprentice went in, he was faced with a siren."

Jungkook choked on his saliva. "A siren?" That was not a problem an apprentice should face. Heck, it was not a problem an army of knights with stuffed ears could face. Ever since humans began to cover their ears, the sirens biologically developed a countermeasure, in which their voice could cut through any medium and any spell. Luckily, sirens were simple creatures of mischief and not of ambition. Humans would've been overrun long ago if they were.

Jin laughed at Jungkook's reaction, but it was heavy with worry. "Now here comes the riddle. The apprentice survived the siren, and even killed it. This is according to numerous witnesses-- namely, the missing people who witnessed the action."

"But that would mean the apprentice is a siren too, right?"

"That's what the missing knights thought, so they gagged and bound him and dragged him to their lord, right in the middle of their welcome home feast. Lord Pollirex was appalled that they had treated an apprentice of the Knights of Karma as such, and he sent an apology letter online, explaining what had happened." Jin shrugged. "He should've sent it by light. By the time we saw the message, the news had spread out among the commoners like wildfire."

"But, the apprentice! He's a siren, right? How else could he have survived?" But how was he initiated into the Knights of Karma in the first place? They had magic guards and sensors against monsters. They would've sniffed him out on the spot. He wouldn't even be able to cross into the training grounds.

"That's just the thing. The king had the apprentice tested with all the truth potions he could find, asking him one question over and over: are you a siren? The answer always came up no, and seeing as he didn't die of truth potion, then he isn't."

"B-but how?" Jungkook frowned. This was a riddle.

"Hopefully we'll find out. The apprentice is going to have an audience with father soon. We'll get some answers then."

"But how will the people react to this?"

Jin winced. "Not very good. Some are furious with the Knights of Karma for allowing a monster to infiltrate their ranks. They are calling for an execution, and that the Paladins be given authority over the security of the kingdom. On the other hand, some are demanding the truth, and admonishing the other side for jumping to death, calling it a sin to wish murder on another person."

"They're not going to riot, are they?"

Jin laughed. "Don't worry about that. No one in their right mind would riot against the Knights of Karma, and these people are not dumb enough to cross one of the most powerful forces for a silly cause." He stood up, patted Jungkook's head, and excused himself. "I'm going to shower. Don't eat all the bread."

Jungkook hurriedly stuffed his mouth with bread, thinking deeply. The problem was, some people were not in their right mind, and some people were dumb enough to cross powerful forces for silly causes. Perhaps he should visit the diviners and ask what they see in the future. He grabbed the bread basket and burst out of the room, hoping Jin didn't hear him escape. Since he was singing loudly and off-tune, Jungkook highly doubted it.

Jimin wiped the sweat off his forehead, grinning triumphantly. The sword in his hand was pointed right at his opponent's throat, who laid on the sand, own sword a few yards away from his loose fist.

"And that is how you disarm someone with a longer sword!" He sheathed his sword with flourish and grabbed his opponent's arm with his other hand. After pulling him up easily, he gave a dramatic bow to his attentive audience, eating up the applause that followed with a grin.

When he stopped sucking up all the praise, he turned to his opponent, who was watching him, unamused.

"You good?" Jimin asked. The guy was a new recruit, named Jae something or other, supposedly a genius, but like many others before him, he ended up on the sand with a sword at his throat. No matter the connections, the recommendations, the reputation, none of them could make Jimin taste dirt.

Maybe-Jae raised an eyebrow. "I'm disappointed."

Jimin released a good-natured laugh, echoed by the trainees behind him. "Why do you say that? You wanna taste sand again?"

"Serve him some sand, Master Jimin!" a sneering voice called out, and the others took up the cry. However, the jeers seemed to bounce off the stoic boy harmlessly, and he kept his bored gaze on Jimin.

"Nah, I'm just kidding." Jimin clapped the guy on his leather-clad shoulder heartily, then threw an arm around his shoulders and began steering him towards his fallen sword. "You see, I'm not fond of roughing up the newbies. But I'm sure the other kids are gonna come after you. Don't worry, though, it's all part of the initiation. After a few bruises you'll get brothers who'll always have your back."

They stopped in front of the sword, and Jimin nudged (probably) Jae on the shoulder, waiting for him to pick it up. He just stared at Jimin, almost as if anticipating something.

Jimin's brows drew together. He dropped his arm from around Jae's shoulders and stepped back, gesturing at the sword. "You don't expect me to pick it up, do you? Come on, man, show some sportsmanship."

Jae sighed heavily, and as the air left his body he settled into a lazy slouch unfit for a warrior. He snapped his fingers, and the sword melted into a pool of metal, seeping into the sand and spreading.

Jimin's eyes widened. "Wha--"

A chorus of surprised shouts rang out when the sand turned to glass where the former sword touched it, until the entire arena was nearly invisible. Jimin lost his footing when the sand cushioned under his feet turned hard and smooth, and he landed on his knees with a thud. In the corner of his eye, the other trainees slipped and fell, hands grabbing at each other desperately, pulling each other up but falling in the process until they were a mess of limbs.

Jimin glared at Jae and drew his sword, but when he blinked, the young boy had turned into a short, dark-haired man with pale skin, a fierce, narrow gaze and a simple outfit of a black shirt and breeches.

"Lord Shield Suga." Jimin swallowed, placed his sword over his palms, and bowed his head, still kneeling.

"Shield Apprentice Jimin," Suga said coolly. "You have failed your test."

"You're getting sloppy," Yoongi hissed as he slammed the door to the grand library.

"You were too well-hidden," Jimin complained, face burning at how unfair it all was. Did Yoongi have to expose his failures in front of everyone? All could see how the sword arena had turned into glass, and it was common knowledge that whenever Yoongi made a display of power, it meant that he was teaching Jimin a lesson. "You haven't even taught me the mastery of detection yet."

"You can't rely on me to spoonfeed you." Yoongi yanked his chair back, its legs screeching against the wooden floorboards in a sound not unlike Yoongi's irritating complaints. "I'm not supposed to be with you every step of the way. You have to study and practice for yourself."

Jimin said nothing, instead choosing to stare at the chair across Yoongi.

"Sit," Yoongi hissed, and Jimin hesitated before plopping down angrily. "Why are you angry?"

"I'm not," Jimin said, but the bite in his voice gave it away.

"I'll tell you why. You don't like people seeing you fail, don't you? You love it when they praise you and put you on a pedestal. It's why you weren't able to detect me in a disguise. You were too distracted by the glory."

The words hit home, and it showed in how he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Yoongi smirked at the small victory, but he vowed that by the end of this conversation, he would have Jimin squirming uncontrollably, unable to deny his immense pride.

"You are the Shield Apprentice," Yoongi continued in a voice that cut sharper than their swords. "The security of this kingdom will be left to you after my reign. You are the most familiar with me out of everyone, yet you weren't able to detect me. How can you detect a complete stranger, a spy you have never met before?"

Jimin said nothing, so Yoongi went on. "I chose you not because we were childhood friends, Jimin. I chose you because of your great skill, of your potential. But ever since I put a sword in your hands you relied on it too much. You ignore the weapon nature has given you. You lag behind in magic and knowledge. Especially humility." He paused. "This is unfit for a Lord Shield."

Jimin's head shot up, mouth open and already filling with protest. Yoongi held up a firm hand to silence him. "Jimin, you're one of my closest friends," he said softly, "but the safety of the kingdom comes first. If I see you're unfit to take my responsibility, I'll have to choose someone else."

Jimin scoffed, trying to hide his hurt behind defiance and pride, but Yoongi saw right through it. "Who could possibly replace me?"

Yoongi shook his head. "Actually, there is someone who matches you in physical skill, and surpasses you in combat magic."

Jimin's eyes widened in disbelief. He stuttered before finding the right words, and Yoongi once again took delight in his humbled state. "W-who? And why didn't you pick him?"

Yoongi drummed his fingers against the table, hesitant. "Because people don't respect him."

"No way," Jimin shot back. "I am insulted. I don't know this guy and I respect him already. When can I meet him? I need to spar with him."

"You will not," Yoongi said with the ire that made Jimin flinch, "because you might lose, and people will lose their respect for you as well."

Jimin glared at him. "I won't lose."

Yoongi shrugged. "Doesn't matter. You'll never know who he is anyway, unless I announce him as my new apprentice."

"I don't get it!" Jimin pouted. "Why won't people respect him? This actually hurts my feelings."

Yoongi sighed, annoyed with Jimin's dramatics. "Fine, you want to know? It's because he looks like he belongs in a brothel instead of the battlefield," he snapped, and instantly regretted it when he saw the broad smile that lit up Jimin's once troubled face.

"Don't even think about it," Yoongi said, but the glimmer in Jimin's eyes said that yes, he was definitely thinking about it.

"Yoongi!" he cried out, all the anger replaced with delight. "Why didn't you tell me we had such a gem before? You know I'm lonely, you know I like pretty faces, you know I love talent! This must be destiny!"

"You're competing with him for Shield Apprentice," Yoongi tried to remind him, but Jimin was already up and out of his seat, dancing gleefully.

"Is he nice?"

"Yes, but--"

"Is he my age?"

"A bit younger, but--"

"Is he single?"

Yoongi groaned and slumped onto the table, unmoving even when Jimin shook his shoulders. "Oh, he's single, isn't he? Yes! Yes! Finally, when my mom comes to visit, she won't act like I'm such an undesirable bachelor anymore!"

"You are an undesirable bachelor," Yoongi deadpanned. The temptation to just kill his apprentice and get it over with was strong, but his laziness and fatigue of having to deal with Jimin was stronger. So he stayed still, even when Jimin sang goodbye and let the door fall shut behind him.

Oh, well. Kim Taehyung was out on a mission anyway, and would likely not return for some time. His mission was one of the hardest, so it would naturally take longer.

Since he had nothing more to do, he asked himself, should he sleep, or watch the news? He had already slept for fourteen hours straight though, perhaps some news watching would be better.

He slowed down the particles of the air until its composition changed to water, then let it splash on the table. He waved his hand above it. "Give me the news, please."

Minutes later, Yoongi was left gaping at the table, still processing the fact that Kim Taehyung was possibly a siren, that the people wanted him dead, and that they were accusing the Knights of Karma of betrayal against humanity and their code to protect the people.

He rose from his chair and screamed, "Park Jimin!"

Chapter Text

Jungkook shifted on his uncomfortable throne, wishing that he had brought a pillow to cushion his sore butt. The regal red and brown chair was the third largest in the room, a symbol of his ranking and authority, but he'd be damned if he didn't envy the lords assembled on the cushioned benches. The court room was a large room that resembled a tournament arena, rows of chairs along the sides, all facing the center of the room. At the very front, the king sat on his throne, flanked by his two sons on either side. Behind them, draperies hung heavy against the stone wall, displaying gruesome pictures of execution. Beheading, impaling, burning alive . . .

Two lords were currently engaged in a civil debate. Since they were on opposite sides of the room, they had to raise their voices, only a few decibels away from a shouting match.

"A public trial won't solve anything," a lady was currently saying. "You can never predict the reaction of the masses. We might only make things worse."

A rather scary looking lord said, "But if we don't publicize this trial, the people will think we're hiding something. They'll automatically assume that we're protecting a monster."

"I agree," the king said, and the two sat down immediately. "If we don't take this gamble, there'd still be consequences. At least our subjects will know we're on their side, and that there's no reason for outrage."

"Yet," a lord said, and the others grumbled in agreement.

"One step at a time," the king said, and with a wave of his hand the mages stepped forward from the shadows and made mirrors out of thin air. It looked like ordinary mirrors, but Jungkook knew that in every public space a window into the courtroom had appeared.

Just in time, the large doors flew open. A messenger in flowing red robes stepped inside and into a bow.

"Your Majesty, Crown Prince, Honorable Prince, my lords and ladies," he announced in a booming voice. "The apprentice has arrived!" He backed out, still in a half-bow, and from behind him stepped in a boy that snatched Jungkook's breath away.

Siren, was the first thing he thought upon seeing him, because there was no way he was human.

He had lovely white blond hair that caught the light of the chandelier, tanned skin, large, almond-shaped eyes and the features of an angel. When he bowed, his apprentice robes gracefully swept the ground near his feet, and even with the weight of the entire room pressing on him he maintained a cheerful smile as he walked forward with grace in every step.

Jungkook realized his father was speaking, and tuned in, trying to control his blush of embarrasment at the blunder.

". . . to introduce yourself," the king said.

"Your Majesty, I am Kim Taehyung, apprentice of the Knights of Karma," his voice rang out sweetly, like the beginning of a song, and a mix of admiration and pity swelled within Jungkook. Just by being himself, Taehyung was digging himself further into his own grave. Everything he did only proved that he had the characteristics of a siren. He would've survived the suspicion if the only basis was his charm, but now that he had resisted a siren, his appeal was the death blow.

Taehyung didn't flinch, even when the king fixed his infamous death stare on him. It was a look many were familiar with, especially Jungkook--whenever his father was about to order an execution, he'd give them the look that promised that there was no hope left.

"You recognize the allegations against you," his father said, and Taehyung had the audacity to smile.

"It's hard not to, Your Majesty." The lords and ladies broke into hushed murmurs, but the king silenced them with a raised fist.

"You are under numerous truth potions and spells right now, so you know that one lie could lead you to a slow and painful death."

What happened next was so unbelievable that Jungkook broke composure and gaped. Because Taehyung laughed. Laughed. It would've been a melodic sound had it not been in such a terrifying situation. Between his giggles, Taehyung said, "So that's why I was vomiting all the way over here! I thought I had just eaten something bad. I do steal a lot of morsels from the kitchen."

Instead of killing the insolent boy on the spot, the king just groaned and massaged his temples. "I think Suga did his job do well. Heavens, this is going to be unbearable."

"My apologies, Your Majesty." Taehyung now sounded appropriately mortified, but his face was a complete blank. "I-- I don't know why I said that. And I usually ask permission before taking food."

"We will discuss your gluttony another time, apprentice. For now, answer this question: are you a siren?"

"No." At the firm answer, the jury erupted into conversation, with some rising from their seats and others pulling them down.

"Silence," the king commanded, and so they fell silent. "Then answer this question: what are you?"

"I'm an apprentice of the Knights of Karma." The answer seemed to have escaped his mouth in a rush, and Taehyung's eyes widened and he clapped his hands over his mouth.

"I have no time for cheekiness, apprentice," the king said in a dangerous voice. "Tell me what I want to hear."

Taehyung kept his hands over his mouth and looked down, seemingly deliberating. The jury waited in eager silence, staring at the boy with hungry curiosity. Jungkook almost fell out of his seat when Taehyung finally spoke up.

"I'm half a siren," he said quietly, but nobody missed it.

His admission was followed by exclamations of "Impossible!" and "abomination", regal monarchs losing their dignity in the face of discovery and in front of the public. Jungkook swallowed; he could already hear the angry shouts of the masses, the accusations of a cursed child, a damned halfling, and it was already starting in the courtroom filled with the most composed people in the kingdom.

Even the king took several moments to recover before he got the room under control with another command of silence. "Apprentice," he said, "you do know your admission is hard to believe?"

"Is it?" Jin spoke up, commanding the attention in the room. He continued with ease, "It would explain why he is even able to enter the castle grounds, while at the same time resisting a siren's spell. He is both human and siren."

But it could not be. Sirens feasted on humans, that was that. On the rare occassions they felt lust, they would make love, yet they do not have the biological necessities to impregnate. The only possible way is for the human to dominate the siren, and it was not in the nature of a siren to submit.

"Has he committed any crimes, then?" Jungkook asked himself, but the entire room heard him away. Taehyung caught his eye, and they locked gazes, but Jungkook could not read his expression.

"To my knowledge, there is none," the king said. "What does the jury say?"

Few words were exchanged before Lord Bogum stood up as the representative. "There are no laws against halflings joining the ranks of the Knights of Karma, Your Majesty."

"Very well. We will research and discuss this matter further. For now, Kim Taehyung, you are a free man. You are dismissed."

Taehyung thanked the king, bowed, and walked out of the room with his head held high, as if he were the one dismissing everyone else.

"Do you think he knows we'll set spies on him?" Jin asked his father.

The king was dismissive. "The apprentice is a smart child. He held no grudges towards the knights that accosted him because he recognized it was the logical thing to do. I'm sure he knows we're keeping a close eye on him." He stood up. "Meeting adjourned."

As the lords and ladies filed out of the room, keeping each other busy with heavy discussions masked as polite chatter, Jungkook approached his big brother, who was still sitting on his chair, chin in his palm.

"You two have enchantment lessons at noon," the king reminded them as he walked off. "I expect glowing reviews from your teacher."

"But Suga never says anything nice," Jungkook said, confused. Jin laughed and ruffled his hair.

"That's what you think."

"What are you thinking?" Jungkook asked when he saw the thoughtfulness settle over Jin's face again.

"I think Kim Taehyung's life is going to be more hellish than ever," Jin said dryly.

"He looks like he can take it, though. He was barely fazed by father."

"That's the demeanor of a boy who's used to rough treatment."

"Do you pity him?" Jungkook asked.

Jin shrugged. "I know it's insulting, but I cannot help it if I do. Besides, he's a lot of wasted potential." He kept his tone even, carefully measured, but when he used that stone wall voice Jungkook knew he was up to something.

"No."

"No, what?" Jin cocked his head, confused, and Jungkook scowled.

"I know what you're thinking. You want to make that boy your own apprentice!"

"Don't put words in my mouth." Jin frowned, annoyed.

To everyone, Jin was a mystery, a puzzle unsolvable, the plot twist to a supposedly cliche story. He usually wore his heart on sleeve, he told awful jokes and laughed the loudest, he stole the stories of others, and by extension, most people's hearts-- while at the same time plotting the enemy's demise. So when he muted his bright personality so as not to give away his intentions, it meant he was hiding something, and if he continued to do so after being directly confronted, it was only a confirmation.

"You can't hide from me, Jin." Jungkook crossed his arms. He loved his brother, but on the occassions Jin failed to treat him as an equal, he sorely wanted to put a hex on his brother's pretty face.

Jin met his stare dead on, and they were locked in a silent stare-off. Usually, Jungkook lost, but he knew he was in the right here, so backing off was not an option. He could feel Jin waver under his pressing gaze, and when he raised an eyebrow, it was the last straw.

"Alright, fine!" Jin threw his arms in the air. "I was going to do it after all this commotion died down."

"Father will never approve."

"Father can't stop me."

Jungkook sighed and blew the air out of his cheeks, glancing at everything but the determined crown prince. He tapped his foot impatiently, wondering why he had to be the responsible one of the two.

"What about you?" Jin's soft words snatched Jungkook's attention back effortlessly. "Do you approve?"

"I think you're damn crazy," Jungkook snapped, turning his back on his brother. He tossed his parting words over his shoulder with a childish grin, "Crazy, and capable of anything."

Jin's laughter followed him until he let the doors fall shut behind him.

It was rare that Suga was actively doing anything, so to see him running around the halls nearly gave Jungkook a heart attack. He dove to the side before Suga could barrel into him, pressing against the wall when the pint-sized terror turned to him, eyes wide.

"Prince Jungkook! Have you seen Jimin?" Suga probably wasn't aware that tendrils of smoke was curling from his skin, and that a dark mist hung around him like a second cloak, so this couldn't be classified as treason, even if Jungkook did feel very threatened at the moment.

"No!" Jungkook was infected by Suga's immense panic, and he found himself reaching for his sword and scanning the area. "What happened?"

Suga yelled a curse word Jin had forbidden his brother from even thinking, much less hearing. "I taught him too well." He cast another spell around the castle that rustled the curtains, draperies and the skirts, a swishing sound of cloth whispering down the hall. "He's able to hide from even the most powerful of my detection spells."

That was good and bad news, which Jimin always seemed to cause. It was great that Jimin was developing his magic skills, since he was lacking in that department, but it was not great that he could hide from Suga now, since he was lacking in discipline.

"Why is he hiding from you?" Jungkook asked, trying to get a grasp on the situation. "Did you two fight?"

"I scolded him briefly before he went off to seek a new conquest."

"Oh! Then you shouldn't worry. Jimin never succeeds with courtship. Either he chickens out or gets his heart broken."

The mist and smoke around Suga began to move with more force, conveying his agitation. "If he meets him, his life is ruined," he muttered to himself, casting spell after spell with just a twitch of his fingers.

"Whoa, what?" Jungkook's eyes grew wide with alarm. "Why? Who?"

"Kim Taehyung," Suga said, causing Jungkook to recoil as if he's been shot. "Jimin's going to ask around for a beautiful boy with great skill, and he will be directed to Taehyung."

Oh, no. Jungkook's heart plummeted to his feet. As Shield Apprentice, Jimin was a teacher of the Knights of Karma. Taehyung was still under suspicion as of now, and some may not buy his halfling story. If Jimin was found in contact with Taehyung, he could be accused of granting a monster access to the castle grounds, effetively endangering everyone inside. Especially the monarchs.

"He might be charged with high treason," Jungkook mumbled.

"Indeed." Suga was young, but he aged ten years as he spoke. His shoulders slouched and his frown was deep enough to permanently mar his face.

"Have you tried finding Taehyung?"

Suga shook his head. "I did, but he's not within my range anymore."

Think, Jungkook thought himself. Suga's range was the entire castle grounds and the surrounding villages. He could probably extend it, but it would take time, time they could not risk losing. Both Jimin and Taehyung had plenty of time to get out of Suga's range.

Then, it hit him. "Wait!"

"Do you have an idea where he is?"

"Yes," Jungkook said hurriedly, "Somewhere secluded. Humans aren't friendly with him right now. So it's either the forest, or the mountains, or the seashore."

"I'll check the seashore," Yoongi said, "And you check the forest. If we still don't find him, we'll meet by the mountains."

"Okay." They took off in separate directions, Jungkook's heart hammering in his chest. They couldn't ask anyone else for help on this, because it might look like they're covering for a traitor. Jin would likely help, but it would be too suspicious if the two princes and the Lord Shield disappeared at the same time. The accusations would be vicious: staging a coup, rebellion . . . and if they were asked for an alibi, they couldn't answer with the truth.

Oh, the Shield Apprentice and Knights of Karma trainer just wanted to court the halfling-- no, no! He wasn't the one responsible for Taehyung's initiation! Park Jimin was such a thirsty bastard, he flirted with everyone--from eligible ladies to half-sirens to death. The second Jungkook found him, he'd choke the life out of him, if Suga doesn't do it first.

Chapter Text

To Jungkook's immense relief, the first time he sent out a heat sensor, he came up positive immediately. He followed the light, weaving around tree trunks and ducking under branches. He picked up his pace, praying that his eyes weren't fooling him when he saw only one person and not two, but he abruptly stopped at the sound of sobbing.

Hiding behind a tree, he perked his ears up to listen. A soft "wahh" floated over, and Jungkook considered that maybe he had stumbled upon a lost child. One peek proved him wrong immediately--there was Kim Taehyung, looking even more enchanting with a leaf on his hair and flowers in his hands as he cried. The sunlight that filtered through the leaves bathed Taehyung in a golden glow, making him seem ethearal.

Had the jury been here, Taehyung would've been announced a siren with no doubt.

Taehyung brushed his cheek against his clumsy bouquet of flowers, his tears rolling over the petals. He sniffed and sobbed. Jungkook really wanted to retreat, or maybe drool, but he had a Park Jimin to protect.

So he stepped out from behind the trunk and cleared his throat awkwardly. Taehyung's red eyes rose to meet his, and he tried to rise. Jungkook shook his head.

"No need for formalities," he said. "I'm sorry to disturb, but I have a favor to ask of you."

Taehyung scrubbed at his cheeks and eyes furiously, and he tried to smile through the tears. Jungkook inwardly cringed at how obviously sad the boy was, no matter how much he tried to hide it. There was no saving face.

"What is it, Your Highness?" he asked with false cheer.

Jungkook straightened his posture and folded his hands behind his back, trying to emulate Jin when he was delivering a speech or addressing a room. "Do you know Park Jimin?"

"Yes, I do. Shield Apprentice."

"Also a trainer of Karma apprentices."

Taehyung's mouth formed a small 'o.' "I didn't know about that."

So they had never crossed paths as of yet. "I'd like you to stay away from Park Jimin."

"Don't worry, I'm avoiding every person with power. Wouldn't want them to be dragged under suspicion with me."

Jungkook winced. "I think you'd find Jimin a bit harder to avoid. You see, he's interested in courting you."

This tugged Taehyung's warm smile into a frown. "He doesn't know about me yet, does he?"

"No, and we will inform him as soon as we can, but . . ." He let his sentence falter. How should he finish it? Park Jimin was unstoppable for all the wrong reasons, and if he thought Taehyung was worth the trouble, then he'd still chase after him?

"I'll hide from your friend, I promise," Taehyung said, probably reading the worry on the prince's face. "I don't think he'll find me anyway. I mean, it's a big place. If he's really determined, I guess I can try to scare him off."

Jimin was a hard person to scare, and with a face like Taehyung's, it would be impossible. But Taehyung was getting really into the idea, nodding and muttering to words to himself like "genius" and "good one, Tae," and Jungkook couldn't bring himself to burst his bubble.

"It is worth a try," he said. "But hopefully it doesn't come to that. Like you said, this is a big place."

"Very big," Taehyung agreed. "He'll never find me!"

"Right." Taehyung's positivity was infectious and as warm as the sun, so Jungkook nodded in goodbye. "Thank you for understanding. I'll be off to look for Jimin now."

"Good luck, Your Highness!" Taehyung said. "Make sure you tell him how ugly and scary I am."

Jungkook grinned, even if he knew he was an awful actor. "Of course."

As he walked out of the woods, he stopped in front of a puddle on the ground and stepped on it. He called on Suga, and within seconds the infamous scowl had rippled into life before him. "You're doing that ugly grin again."

Jungkook self-consciously touched his cheeks. "It's not ugly."

Suga snorted. "I presume you found Taehyung?"

"Yep! Seemed like Taehyung was already a step ahead. He told me he was avoiding all the important people so they wouldn't be suspected. He's actually really nice."

Suga studied Jungkook's face for an uncomfortable amount of time. "You're glowing."

"Really? Thank you!"

"You like Taehyung."

"What!" Jungkook flinched at how loud his voice came out. "Do not!"

"Do too! Period, no erase. I win."

"That's unfair. You're a liar."

"I hope I am. Did you warn Taehyung about how dedicated Jimin is?"

"Yes," Jungkook said, even if he wasn't actually sure. "He even said he'll try to scare him off if it comes down to it."

"What an awful plan."

"It's the thought that counts. Did you find Jimin?"

Suga scowled, and Jungkook's ugly grin came back in full force. "Ha! I win."

"This wasn't a competition, anyway. This is a team effort, did you know that?"

"No way. I singlehandedly saved Park Jimin from political doom, and perhaps death. Now that Taehyung's in on it, Jimin will be safe from him forever." He was feeling himself so much that it took him a few seconds to process the shrill scream that pierced the air, right in the direction where Taehyung was. It was followed by a loud, "Oh shit, hi there!" spoken by a familiar voice.

Suga swore. "I'm coming down there now." Jungkook ran as fast as he could to Taehyung's spot, and was greeted by a sight that made him want to laugh or cry.

Jimin had his game face on, all smolder and puckered lips, and his shirt was in his hand instead of on his torso. Taehyung had his eyes shut, waving his hands wildly in the air and shouting, "I'm a siren! Fear me! Put your shirt on!"

"No can do. It's too hot in here, because of you," Jimin was quick to say with a happy grin, "My delicious abs are starting to sweat. Also my pecs and my biceps. All of my many, huge muscles actually. Would you like to see?"

"Noooo!" Taehyung wailed, and he stumbled back as if he had been physically struck. "I'll eat you!"

Jimin laughed. "I'd love that!"

"Park Jimin!" Jungkook finally snapped out of his shock to march over to his friend and scream at him right in his ear. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Prince Jungkook!" Jimin yelled. He grabbed the sides of Jungkook's face to twist it in the direction of a still flailing Taehyung. "Do you see what I'm seeing? It's an angel from heaven, a gift from the gods! It's Kim Taehyung!"

"What the fuck." Suga materialized near Taehyung, his eyes bouncing between the agitated, self-blinded halfling, his shirtless apprentice, and the prince whose face was currently getting squished. "What. The fuck. Is going on."

"I'm a siren!" Taehyung shouted. "I wanna kill you, Park Jimin, so you should run away now! But first, put your shirt on!"

"No way, it's a crime to hide these abs!"

"Park Jimin," Suga said, "Put your fucking shirt on."

Taehyung frowned, turning around, trying to locate Suga. "Someone said lotsa bad words. Who's there?"

"Get your dirty hands off me." Jungkook pushed Jimin's hands off his face and picked up the shirt by his feet. He threw it right at Jimin's face.

Pouting, Jimin grudgingly put the shirt on.

"It's all clear," Jungkook said. "The shirt is on."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Taehyung smiled in relief. "Alright." The moment he dropped his hands from his eyes, Jimin ripped his shirt off.

"Fucking hell!" Suga swore, and Taehyung dove behind him, hiding. "Why would you do that?"

"I wanted to!" Jimin frowned.

"He's so scary!" Taehyung screamed from behind Suga. "I want to go home!"

"You're going to go home soon," Suga promised, twisting to look at the cowering boy. "As soon as we clear this up."

"He doesn't have a shirt anymore!" Taehyung whimpered.

"You're such a sack of shit, Jimin," Jungkook said, sliding his jacket off his shoulders and dumping it over his short friend's head.

"Oh cool, I get to wear the prince's jacket." He put it on eagerly, but didn't button it up, putting his front torso on full display.

"Cover yourself up," Suga said, "Or I swear you'll be sorry."

He hesitantly covered himself up.

"It's okay now, Taehyung," Jungkook called.

"Last time you said that, it wasn't okay." Taehyung curled into a small ball on the grass.

"Oh, it's okay alright," Suga said dangerously, "It's going to have to be okay, or else I'll dump his sorry ass twelve feet under."

"You say a lot of bad words," Taehyung whispered from between his fingers, but slowly unpeeled them one by one until his eyes were free. Still, he kept his gaze on the grass.

"Why are you being so meddlesome?" Jimin grumbled, sitting on the ground.

"Because," Jungkook said, "Taehyung's a half-siren and if you associate with him--especially romantically-- you could be blamed for allowing him past our security measures."

"Wait, what?" Jimin gaped at Taehyung. "He really is a siren?"

"Half," Taehyung mumbled.

"That's so cool!" Jimin yelled. "I never thought I'd see a siren and survive!"

"Half," Taehyung repeated a bit louder.

"Can you sing?"

"Yes." Taehyung picked at the grass. "But I don't want to."

"Awww!" Jimin pouted. "Why not?"

"Because you're so mean to me!" Taehyung finally met his eyes, and it was filled with so much hurt it shocked the three other boys. "I told you to put your shirt on and you didn't. You keep flashing me when you know I don't like it!" He hid his face in his hands afterwards

Jimin was an apology speech on repeat. "I'm so sorry, I didn't know it would hurt you, I was just teasing, I'm really, really sorry!"

Taehyung dropped his hands from his face and gave him a cautious smile. "It's fine, I forgive you. I'm sorry I said I wanted to kill you, I was just trying to scare you off."

Jimin laughed. "You're too kind, it's very endearing. Oh, and about the part where I should avoid you? I have a few suggestions."

Suga and Jungkook groaned simultaneously, but Taehyung didn't know Jimin well enough to recognize a pre-disaster Jimin, so he welcomed his statement warmly. "What would that be?"

"Can we rendezvous in secret? It's impossible for me to stay away from you from now on, and I'd like to--"

"No," Taehyung, Suga and Jungkook said.

Jimin tried to speak up, but every time he did, he was cut off with sounds of denial and angry glares. Finally, he gave up, but said, "Well, when it's all clear, I'm going to court you! I claimed you first so no one else can do this."

"Why would you even want to court?" Taehyung demanded. "We're too young!"

"Too young?" Jimin was scandalized. "I'm already nineteen and I'm still single."

"That's still young," Taehyung said, "and I'm only eighteen."

"It is not too young."

"Would you like to be my friend instead?"

"To be your boyfriend? Sure!"

"Nooo! How about, hmm. Best friend?"

"Okay! Best friend . . . with benefits!"

"Nooooo," Taehyung said, pained. "We're too young. We can only be friends."

"I don't mind being your friend, honest, but we're not too young for courtship!"

Taehyung looked at Jungkook for help, but Jungkook only smiled sheepishly. "I mean, we are legally adults," he muttered.

"The prince announced it!" Jimin yelled, victorious. "His word is law."

"But--but--" Taehyung protested.

"You're all still a bunch of kids," Suga said. "I'm twenty-four, so you should all listen to me. No courtship." He glared at Jungkook. "I am disgusted with you, Prince Jungkook. You're as desperate and disgusting as Jimin, only you hide it better."

Jungkook shrugged. "Can't argue with that."

"He's like Jimin too?" Taehyung was on the verge of hysterics once again. "That's it, I want to go home!"

Suga nodded. "Yes, yes, we'll go home now." He waved at the other two boys. "The two of you are on your own. I'll make you eat dirt if you do anything I disapprove of." With that, he grabbed Taehyung's hand, and the wind swept them away, traces of translucent colors riding the breeze until they dispersed completely.

"Boring old man," Jimin muttered. "Come on, Prince Jungkook. I want to get drunk and think about Taehyung."

"You're disgusting," Jungkook snorted.

"It's part of my charm."

Jungkook should've known that Jin would be waiting in his room. He should've known his ridiculous older brother would pose himself across his bed like some kind of seductive mistress. He really should've upped the security spells in his room, but Jin always was better at magic than him. When it came to a brawl though, Jungkook was undefeated.

So he resisted throwing his older brother out of his room and settled for whining. "I told you I don't like you breaking in my room. You keep wearing my underwear!"

Jin spat out the rose in his mouth. "I'm not here to steal your underwear."

"Then why are you here?"

Jin shifted on the silk sheets, disturbing the rose petals scattered around him. "To remind you how much better-looking I am."

Was that a joke? Jin certainly said it like it was one, but he was also the type to say these kind of things seriously. Jungkook said, "It's not working."

Jin scoffed with so much force he almost blew out one of the scented candles perched by the edge of the bed. The curtains were drawn shut, and only the lit candles illuminated the room and scented it with honey and sampaguita. "You must be blind."

Jungkook groaned. "Please don't tell me your naked under that robe. Please!"

Jin paused. "I'm not."

"Thank G--"

"I'm wearing your underwear."

The urge to throw him out the of the room was upgraded to throwing him out of the window, flashing everyone on the way down. "You just told me you weren't wearing it! You're such a liar!"

"I said I didn't come here to steal your underwear. I came to borrow it, there's a difference. Also, it's not the main reason why I'm here."

"Then why?" Jungkook gripped the edge of his bedposts, ready to crack it in half and engage his big brother in a duel already.

"I always sneak in your room when the moon of Xerxe is full. You know, moon of romance and all. If you're going to meet with someone, and you told her to meet you here, and she found me, I'll test her loyalty to you. I mean, if she can resist me, and pick you over me, she must be pretty whipped. Or blind."

The wood trapped in Jungkook's trembling fists began to splinter. "You snuck in here on the half-baked assumption that I might be meeting with a lover?"

"Hey, I'm just trying to be a good big brother. Besides, I know you went off to meet with someone."

Jungkook's shocked face gave him away. Jin threw his head back and squawked in glee. "Aha, I knew it! Don't even try to hide it, sweet brother. I know everything that goes on. I know you went into the forest alone, and you came out with Jimin going on about forbidden love and rejection and destiny. He was being pretty loud about it. Vague, but still loud and clear enough for me to realize there's a lover involved. Mind letting me in on it?"

Jungkook loosened his grip on the bedposts and sagged against it, resigned to another late night gossip session with his big brother. "Okay. First, I'm not seeing anyone, so quit acting seductive. Imagine if an assassin went in here!"

"He'd probably think we're incestuous. But it won't matter, because I'll defeat him, torture him for information, then kill him. Then you'll try to kill me for trespassing in your room, but you'll fail, because I'm better than you."

Jungkook couldn't help but giggle. Jin really was ridiculous. "Jimin wanted to court Taehyung because he's beautiful and skilled. He managed to hide from Suga. Suga and I looked for him, I found Taehyung in the forest. Taehyung already thought of avoiding nobles. I left him. Jimin came and assaulted Taehyung with his abs multiple times. Suga came and saved Taehyung. Jimin refuses to give up. The end."

"What?" Jin shrieked. "Details, Jungkook! Start from the top. And tell me exactly what they said."

It was a long night, with Jin interrupting with exclamations of disbelief or long bouts of obnoxious laughter. He'd usually ask, "no, what did he say exactly?" or "no way, he really did that?" or just really long and deliciously scandalized "nooooo's!" By the end of it, Jin was laughing at Suga, endeared by Taehyung, part-delighted, part-mortified, part-frustrated with Jimin, and really disappointed with Jungkook.

"You had your chance to save a hot guy," Jin accused. "Had I been there, I would've kicked Suga aside and saved Taehyung myself. He'd swoon in my arms and bathe in my beauty, and the rest of you basic peasants would die of jealousy. Especially Yoongi."

"You're the only one who could kick Yoongi around," Jungkook argued. It was true-- the Lord Shield feared no one, and even dared to display indifference towards the king. But when it came to Jin, Suga would turn into the lazy, loving Yoongi of their childhood days real quick. Although, now that Jin was reminiscing about the Perks of Saving The Hot Guy, regret was starting to eat Jungkook up from the inside. Taehyung was probably worth the beatings Jimin and Yoongi would've gently bestowed upon him.

"Very true," Jin was saying while Jungkook was regretting. "Yoongi always did have good taste." He leaned against the pillows, eyes reflecting the candlelight in a sinister way.

"What are you thinking?" Jungkook asked, settling in next to his brother. Jin slung an arm around him and ruffled his hair.

"I'm just thinking of what I'm having for breakfast tomorrow," he replied innocently, but when Jin was acting innocent, it meant he was being the exact opposite at the moment. The crown prince loved to disguise master plans in the mundane, so it fell to Jungkook to take a shot in the dark.

"Don't scare Taehyung too much," Jungkook said, and judging by the delight in Jin's laughter, his guess had hit home.

Chapter Text

"You don't look very rested," Jin pointed out as Taehyung slattered butter on his warm bread.

"I'm not," Taehyung agreed, before putting the entire bread into his mouth and chewing it with ease.

"Impressive." Jin clapped, then placed a bigger piece of bread onto Taehyung's platter. "If you're able to do eat that whole, I'll show you the Lord Shield's cute side."

Taehyung would sooner kiss Jimin than accept uneaten food from the crown prince. He'd been careful, only eating what Jin was eating, and even the possibility of seeing Suga's inner adorableness was not enough to make him stuff himself silly. "I don't think I can manage that, Your Majesty."

If he actually trusted Jin, he'd even swallow the bread whole just to make the crown prince happy-- and to witness cute Suga of course. But he was already aware that the Lord Shield wasn't as rough as he appeared to be; his comforting--albeit murderous--promises that he'll keep Jimin and Jungkook away from him was the main reason Taehyung was able to sleep last night.

"Wouldn't you at least try?" Jin smiled, but Taehyung knew he was being tested. After years of dealing with authorities and adults and even kids who wanted him either dead or shipped off to a brothel, he'd learned to read between the lines, to develop tact.

"Perhaps some other time, Your Majesty." Taehyung faked remorse as he stared at the bread on his plate. "I didn't want to tell you awhile ago, because I didn't want to disappoint you, but I'm already filled to the brim. One more and I might not be able to take it."

To his surprise, Jin only nodded and clapped again. "An excellent response, apprentice," he said. "You turned me down without offending me, or revealing your suspicions."

Taehyung maintained his calm, but he was screaming and praying on the inside. "I'm afraid I lost you, Your Majesty."

"How could you lose me when I'm right here?" He laughed, slapping the table deliriously. Taehyung could not bring himself to pretend, so he just sipped on his water and prayed that the prince would just stop it with the jokes already. When Jin was finally done with his squawking, he said, "I'm done, I'm done, hooo, that was great. You walked right into that one, didn't you?"

He laughed again, and Taehyung stared miserably down at his plate, wondering if he should just eat the bread and let the poision kill him.

"I'm done, for real, this time! I promise. Anyway, I know you think that I might be trying to poision you. Right?" At Taehyung's shocked expression, Jin scoffed. "No need for that. I've been paying as close attention to you as you were to me. You only eat what I eat. You wait for a bit before taking what I've eaten, or you take it in a different order as I did, so as to avoid suspicion."

Taehyung kept his mouth shut, but the truth teller in him wanted to confess.

"I'm not going to kill you, Kim Taehyung. Besides, you still have the protection of the Knights of Karma, and if you died here, right on the castle grounds, where no one uninvited can enter . . . why, that's the recipe for a civil war. I'm fond of the Paladins-- I'm in close contact with their general, Namjoon, do you know him? Ah, I'm rambling. Where was I? The Paladins . . . very powerful force, but I wouldn't bet on them if it comes down to it. They are too uniform; they do not embrace the diversity of fighting styles the way your brothers do. I admit, they have strength in numbers, because they are easier to train, but it also means they share similar weaknesses. They are easier to erase."

There was an unspoken rivalry between the two guardian forces of the kingdom, but Taehyung had never really thought of them coming to blows. When the monsters descended upon them or nature turned, warriors in red and gold fought side by side, moving forward like wildfire. Now that he thought about it, though, Prince Jin was not entirely wrong-- all the Paladins had an identical set of weapons: a sword, bow and arrow or crossbows, and their famous sun shields. The tradition began with the first Paladin, the god named Heirophant, who, with only these weapons, stopped the sun from devouring their world and exiled it to the sky. The Paladins were an ancient and religious order, and was not subject to change.

However, the origin of the Knights of Karma was less dramatic and much darker. A guild of assassins was turned immortal, a curse by the god Hanged Man for their countless unjustified murders. The only way for them to die was to seek and eliminate the most criminal of monsters, and when they were finally granted death, their sons and daughters carried on the war with monsters to avenge their parents' deaths. Taehyung found it hard to believe that they saw the need to avenge their parents, since death was what they wanted, so perhaps they continued it out of the goodness of their hearts.

"But the Paladins are not to be underestimated," Taehyung said. "Their healing magic is amazing, and they're great with fire." They're also really cool, he didn't say, for fear of looking like a total fan boy. He had always looked up to their general, Namjoon, and his right hand man, J-Hope.

Jin waved a hand. "They're weakened by the night, especially during winter. That said, they are very formidable. No warrior is without weakness, same goes for an army."

"What's the weakness of the Knights of Karma, then?"

The prince laughed. "Oh, but why would I tell you that?"

Taehyung frowned. "We work for you."

"For now. As the future king, I trust no one, and expect the possibility of enemies even in the friendliest of relationships. And you don't work for me, you work for the entirety of the kingdom."

"I'm really curious now." Taehyung rocked back and forth on his seat relentlessly. "I wonder what it is! Is it our lack of order?"

"That is something you and your brothers should discover for yourself."

"I wonder when the Paladins are coming to visit us." Taehyung smiled giddily. "I want to see General Namjoon in full battle armor!"

"You admire him?" Jin placed a hand over his heart, horrified. "Gwah, what a tasteless choice. He's so old-fashioned, he and the rest of his Paladins. They're awful with technology. Namjoon keeps posting awful selfies on Instagram, has he ever heard of a filter?"

"I haven't," Taehyung said. He couldn't afford gadgets, so he relied on magic to communicate.

"Oh, you innocent dear." Jin smiled fondly, and Taehyung blinked at the surprising show of affection. "Would you like a phone? But you have to rein your magic in, you know technology is sensitive to such energies."

"No thank you. I'll probably break it," Taehyung said, because Jin was suddenly being a sweetheart, so he must be plotting his murder. At the very least, the phone he'd receive would blow up in his face. At worst, it would turn into some kind of torture device even magic couldn't defeat and slowly kill him.

Jin's smile turned sharp. "It would not be wise to reject a prince twice, apprentice," he said softly, "You will accept the phone I give you, you will let me take your pictures, and you will let me make you an account on Instagram. Do you understand?"

"No." Taehyung's smile fell. "I have no idea what you're talking about." An account on Instagram? Was that a code word for murder?

"Just leave it to me." Jin picked up his wine glass and took a dainty sip from it, indicating that their conversation was over. Taehyung eyed him for a bit before drinking his water as well, wondering why Jin was drinking orange juice from a wine glass.

"Why are you drinking orange juice from a wine glass?"

Jin frowned. "Haven't you ever heard of class?"

That didn't actually answer his question, so Taehyung thought that it was probably okay to ask another one. "Why did you want to eat breakfast with me?"

"You flatter yourself. That's okay, I like confidence." Jin laughed. "This little date of ours is a coincidence. I finished my assignments before eating breakfast. You woke up late, so I decided to eat with you."

Taehyung finished the rest of his glass before answering. "Did you do your assignments in the grand library?"

"Of course. The archives there are extensive; have you been there?"

Books made Taehyung want to bash his head against the wall, so of course not. The crown prince didn't have to know about that, though. "I know it's across the castle grounds."

"Yes."

"You were there early this morning."

"Yes."

"You saw me sitting at this table, all alone, and you joined me."

Jin huffed, clearly annoyed. "Is there a reason why you're stating the obvious?"

"Then how did you know I woke up late?"

They held each other's gaze, and silence stretched between them for a tense moment. Taehyung thought, this was it, he was going to be beheaded for disrespect. If he was lucky, maybe they'd just cut his tongue off, but the chances of that were slim since he was suspected a siren. Siren tongues grew back almost immediately, and Taehyung really didn't want to get the chance to test his.

Just when Taehyung was about to throw himself at Jin's feet and apologize, the prince broke into a huge grin. "You caught me!" he said, delightedly. Taehyung blinked, suddenly devoid of emotion. What was happening? "You actually caught my slip-up. My father will be pissed for sure, but whatever. Yes, I kept an eye on you, and waited for a chance to step in and converse with you."

Taehyung's gut churned uneasily at the admission. There was about a million ways Prince Jin could keep an eye on him, and he might not be able to detect and block them all. "Why?"

Jin frowned. "What do you mean, why? Everyone here is dying for a chance to have one conversation with you. You're a mystery, Kim Taehyung." He stood up, casting a broad shadow over his companion. His bright smile did not soften the intimidation his large build inspired. After brushing himself off with one hand, the prince said, "I suggest you watch your back, apprentice. Talking to you isn't the only goal people have in mind." With that, the prince strode off, not once glancing back.

The farther from the castle, the better. Taehyung kept his hood up as he maneuvered the streets, observing how the lined stones beneath his boots turned into gravel as he arrived at the far end of the city. Here, people of all features and colors mingled freely, laughing boisterously and tossing opinions about as if they weighed nothing. The assortment of buildings were unique from each other: one shop would be low and brightly colored, displaying playful lights and swirly letters. Right next to it was a tall, gray building that could pass as a jail but was actually a shoe shop. The establishments were too random, like puzzle pieces that didn't fit into place, but somehow they still created a beautiful picture. Unlike the place of the monarchs, were all houses and shops were tall, wide, sported graceful arches and arcs and supported by intricate columns.

Hundreds of years ago, humans had begun building from their hands devices that could imitate what magic did. Magic slept in all men and women, waiting to be awakened. Yet it took a lot of discipline, knowledge and time to even begin to scratch its surface. Those who could not afford such education created magic of their own: technology. Cars could now match the flight speed of a novice mage. Light bulbs offered the same conveniences as miniature suns conjured by the scholars of magic. These people were called the Free Thinkers, for they saw possibilities without the aid of magic.

Yet try as they might, they had difficulty merging magic with technology. Technology relied on the convertion of energies, but magic was one energy they could not seem to process, much less translate. Simple magic could power machinery, but it could not improve machines. Free Thinkers and scholars of magic alike were currently working on a possible collusion of the two forces. Taehyung wished they would hurry up. He had visions of lightning being used as ammo for a gatling gun.

But technology wasn't the only specialty of Free Thinkers-- they also possessed unorthodox beliefs which they called progressive. They believed in innate equality of potential in all people, so that everyone should be allowed to participate in their chosen jobs, not the ones most suited to their nature. It was a lovely cause, really, very supportive of Taehyung, but the reason why he avoided the Free Thinkers' side of the city was that they freaked him out. When he was a kid, they had obsessed over him, putting words in his mouth, speaking for him, dictating what he wanted-- not unlike some of the oppressive monarchs. What made it worse was that they believed they were helping.

He remembered attending school with his strangely colored eyes and hair for his heritage, and while the kids bullied him, the Free Thinker teenagers had fawned over him. They had called him special, how he was so brave not to dye his hair or wear contacts to hide his identity, how he must be so mad at his oppressors, how it was his responsibility to fight back and make his voice heard when he grew up. And they did grow worse when he grew up, and they became demanding, asking why he stayed silent, didn't he care about his people?

Of course, they had assumed his heritage was part Plefaerian, descendants of the fairies of love and lust. Those people were enslaved as pleasure providers for years, and when they were freed from bondage, they still hadn't escaped the stigma attached to their race.

And now, after years of avoiding Free Thinkers, he walked among them anonymously, trying to pick up bits and pieces of conversation. Because while monarchs may want him dead or controlled, the Free Thinkers might be his only allies in this situation.

"--said that Lady Sinang Ibanez cheated on her wife? I don't--"

"--nothing wrong with using beautification spells, I mean, it's just--"

"--scrolls should be accessible to the public! Knowledge is essential to--"

Taehyung couldn't help the spring in his step when he was reminded that, indeed, the world didn't revolve around him. While wars might be waged over his existence, other people's biggest problems were who slept with who or whether or not it's "in" to use the newly released beautification spells. It wasn't supposed to be much of a comfort, but somehow it made him feel good enough to walk with his head slightly tilted up. Maybe it was his distance from the castle that made him feel safer, or maybe it was the enthusiasm of the people around him, for they freely spoke what they wished to say, as if the world owed it to them to listen. As if, perhaps, they weren't weighed down by a curse that was tied to their speech.

He stepped into a sleek building, obsidian walls splashed madly with vibrant paint. The Speech Bubble Brewery appeared to be a very popular coffee shop, for there was a steady stream of patrons entering and exiting. Taehyung stepped inside and was immediately alerted by the unique ambience. He was accustomed to hushed, peaceful coffee shops that seemed like home. This coffee shop had electricity in its atmosphere, civil debates and conversations in the air, and a strong aroma of coffee beans. People were in constant motion, standing up and moving from table to table, asking questions to strangers.

Taehyung blinked, a bit overwhelmed by the change of scenery. Then, he broke into a huge grin. What a nice place, he thought as he approached the counter and ordered his coffee.

He sat down in the corner table, a bit surprised when the volume of the chatter dropped. Everyone was paying attention to the wall-sized televisions, which was on the news.

"After the shocking news of Kim Taehyung's half-siren heritage, the king has granted him freedom since there are no known charges against him. This matter is still up for discussion among the council members. Let's see what some of our leaders have to say." The pretty reporter flashed a blinding smile before the scene changed to another reporter with Lord Kilma. Taehyung winced-- it was just like the media to pick one of the tactless, opinionated monarchs.

"Lord Kilma, what is your stance on halflings?" the reporter asked.

"Halflings are similiar to loaded guns," Lord Kilma said firmly. "We don't know which nature of theirs is more dominant. Does he have the cravings of a siren? How can we trust them? They are too big a risk to the safety of the public."

"How do you suggest we deal with Kim Taehyung?"

"For one, I believe he should be closely monitored. Any further action must be discussed with the council."

"But what do you believe, my lord?" the reporter pressed.

"I believe that," Lord Kilma hesitated. Taehyung held his breath. "That we must prioritize the greater good. That is all, thank you."

"No, you just don't understand, Joonie." Jin stressed over his reflection in the mirror, rearranging his fringe for the thousandth time in the space of fifteen minutes. His eyes zeroed in on the bare beginnings of a zit planted by his jaw, and he cursed. He nearly yanked the drawer right out of the dresser as he searched for his homemade concealment cream. "I have to look flawless for this press conference. I mean, it's the first one I'll attend that actually matters!"

"You say that every time you're scheduled for a press conference," Namjoon said dryly from Jin's summoning pot. His signature gray smoke drifted from the pink clay pot, mixed with his voice that only Jin could hear. They had to be careful about hiding the intimacy of their relationship; one slip up could result in rumors about how the public servants were actually under the monarchy's thumb.

"But this one really is important!" Jin gently patted the cream over his jaw area. "It's the opportunity to calm the people down. There was a small-scale riot in Heathermore about this whole Taehyung thing, and heavens know that's all it takes to start a domino effect of outrage."

"Taehyung, huh. You're on a first name basis with him now?"

"Jealous?" Jin threw his head down to laugh, then scowled when his previously immaculate bangs fell out of place. "I like the kid, but I think he's terrified of me, actually. I had breakfast with him and he read me better than I expected. He keeps expecting me to kill him, though. Oh, you have to meet him. I've never met anyone so perceptive yet so dumb."

"He does look dumb, but I tried not to think that."

"He does not look dumb," Jin knew he was deluding himself as he said that, "Just kind of . . . blank. He saw a dog humping a cat and seriously wondered what their baby would look like. I told him it was impossible, and but he swore up and down that he once saw a catdog breed." Jin snorted at the memory of the early stages of breakfast. He was cringing so hard that he had almost dropped to his knees in joy when Taehyung began polishing the breakfast tabe with that large mouth of his.

"Did you ask him what it looked like?"

"Of course I did. He just looked at me like I was the dumb one and said, it looked like a cat and a dog."

Namjoon laughed. "What does that even look like?"

"A lot like you, I should think."

"Taehyung's blessed then, to have seen even a copy of my face."

Jin laughed. "Why do I even talk to you."

"Because you were asking for advice about the press conference? Of course, you took us off topic and started discussing hair colors and your face."

Ah, Jin's face. A classic Jin topic he never tired of. All conversations led to his face eventually, he was sure of it. "So do you have any advice for me?"

"If Taehyung's likable, I think you should bring him. It's easy to hate a monster you've only known of from legends. Things get complicated when they realize that monster actually has feelings and hopes and dreams and is actually a lot more similar to them than they'd prefer. You see, people are like pebbles at the bottom of a lake. The lake is their home, but when the fish swim downstream . . ."

Jin groaned. Joonie was making complete sense until he started bringing out the dreaded metaphors. Those metaphors always killed his speeches.

"Oh no, look at the time," Jin said, "I have to go prepare now."

". . . lost their purpose in the lake filled with life, only one of many, leaves fall into the water and cause ripples . . ."

Jin made absolutely no noise as he crept over to the summoning pot and blew the smoke, severing the connection.

Hmm, bring Taehyung. That'd be a big blow to the conscience. Jin could also dig up family members and friends who'd speak for the boy, maybe bring up fond and sweet memories. If majority of the people could unite and agree, the minority would be forced into silence. No one should know that the crown prince was behind the scenes though, so they'd have to stage it to make it look like Taehyung's loved ones had spoken up on their own. The more public, the better.

One step at a time, though. For today, Jin decided that in the middle of the press conference, Taehyung would be summoned to the main hall to fetch Jungkook or something, and once the reporters spotted him, they'd latch onto him and force him up front. He wouldn't tell Taehyung about the plan, though, to make his shocked reactions more organic. Jin was such a genius, he patted himself on the back. Bona fide brains and beauty, this boy.

He ran his finger along the pouches strung against his summoning pot on a piece of rope, and stopped at a black one. He opened the pouch and took a pinch of power, dropping it into the pot and setting it on fire. As soon as the first tendrils of dark blue smoke curled up, Yoongi's lazy voice drifted over. "I was sleeping."

"Of course you were."

"I'm awake now."

"Yes, I noticed that."

"Don't waste my time."

"I need you to do me a favor." Jin straightened out his perfectly cut dark green jacket, admiring himself in a full body mirror. "Can you ask Jimin to ask Taehyung to call for Jungkook at two o'clock this afternoon? Father wants to see Jungkook's progress on melee combat some time this day, and I couldn't spar with him, since I have a press conference this afternoon. It'll likely take long."

"I thought Jungkook came along for those kind of stuff."

"And so do you, Lord Shield Suga," Jin said mildly, "But I'm not taking you along for today. If you're there, it'll imply that something serious is going on, and we have to show that there's nothing to worry about when it comes to Kim Taehyung."

A snort. "Thank the heavens for that."

"Your fans will miss you. Anyway, please tell Jimin what I said, and inform me if he has my message."

A long pause, filled only with Jin's humming and soft compliments aimed at himself. Then, Yoongi said, "Oh, I get it now. You're not as sneaky as you think."

"To you. Those dumb chickenheads will never figure me out." Jin was beyond thankful that his closest childhood friends ended up in positions of power close to his. Suga was the Lord Shield, Jimin was currently a mentor of the Knights of Karma and Shield Apprentice, Joonie was the leader of the Paladins and Hobi was his second-in-command. At least he never had to worry about a mutiny. In a life like his, loyalty was a necessity, but an unbreakable one was a luxury.

He went off to find Lady Marielle to drop a subtle comment about Jungkook's lag in training. That woman was aiming for the position of queen and stuck to his father's side whenever possible. Should you feed her any royal insider information, she'll immediately convey it to the king just to show how informed and reliable she was. And she was very reliable indeed when it came to delivering messages Jin couldn't risk telling himself.

Chapter Text

Suga was in the mood to piss someone off, so he decided to slither into Jimin's mind. He knew it creeped Jimin out to the max whenever he did that, so he was going to do just that.

Suga laid back against his bed and closed his eyes. The Lord Shield, working hard to keep an eye on the kingdom? Ha! He could sense disturbances and unauthorized magic use from the safety of his room. Okay, so that one siren had slipped from his notice, but sirens never released sinister vibes. They were a bit harder to sense, and almost impossible to find during springtime. So, other than sirens, the kingdom was good. "Jimin."

"Yoongi hyung, don't do that!" Jimin had learned enough telepathy to shield the rest of his thoughts from Yoongi. Yoongi almost went deaf the first time he tried to prod in his apprentice's mind, and the things he heard had left him deeply scandalized. "I'm swimming right now, what if I drown?"

Oh, Jimin was studying elements right now. Yoongi should really get around to memorizing Jimin's schedule. "That would suck for you, I think."

"You think? It's so hard to telepathically communicate while learning, you know?"

"Please, you always talk in your classes. This one's just sneakier."

"Ugh, don't talk about classes. Summer's almost ending."

"Don't excite me." As soon as formal school starts, Yoongi would have a lot more time to himself. Jimin and Jungkook and the rest of their peers would be preoccupied with balancing their formal lessons and their combat studies. "You need to spar with Jungkook two o'clock this afternoon. The king's going to test him today, I think. Anyway, he needs the practice."

"How am I going to tell him that? I'm busy with training today. The senior trainers will catch any outgoing messages for sure!"

"Get one of your trainees to do it for you," Yoongi said, and he knew Jimin would fill in the blanks from there.

"Oh, I have just the trainee in mind," Jimin said slyly, and Yoongi was thankful at how predictable the kid was. Jin was right in picking Jimin-- the kid picked Taehyung willfully, so none of this would be traced back to the crown prince.

Just to keep up appearances, Yoongi said threateningly, "Don't do anything suspicious. Just, casually, normally, order him to fetch Jungkook from the main hall. Okay?"

"Sure, I'll absolutely, casually, normally do that. You can't see me, but I'm winking right now-- oh shoot, shoot! One of the teachers saw me. I--" The connection cut off, and Yoongi sighed. He'd probably be summoned to fetch his troublemaking ward later this day.

--

"Kim Taehyung," Jimin sang playfully, chuckling when he saw the boy's eyes widen. "Why were you late for roll call?"

The rest of the apprentices stood still as statues as Jimin wove through their ranks with long, lazy strides and a large, lazy smile. He stopped in front of a random boy, who flinched slightly and swallowed, shoulders tense. Jimin chuckled and moved on, holding eye contact with anyone who dared to meet his eyes. Every time, they were the first to look away.

He finally stopped in front of a rigid Taehyung, hands folded behind his back. No wonder he never noticed the boy before-- he was assigned to a different batch of mentors, and whenever the complete ranks were assembled, he stood at the very back. What a shame.

"I asked you a question, apprentice," Jimin said quietly, impressed that Taehyung didn't reveal the slightest hint of inconvenience at their closeness. From here, Jimin could see the sweat that glistened on Taehyung's temple, the shadows that his long lashes cast over his cheeks.

"My apologies, Master Jimin," Taehyung said monotonously, so different from his shrieking, panicky self that Jimin experienced a mild whiplash from hearing it. "I had come from the other side of the city, and didn't check the time needed to arrive on time."

Jimin so, so badly wanted to rip his shirt off and pry about Taehyung's whereabouts--specifically, if he was meeting someone-- but he remembered Yoongi's warning, and so he settled for smirking and saying, "Well, don't you seem like a spirited traveller. You can have fun travelling when you fetch Prince Jungkook from the main hall of the castle while we begin our session." Jimin pried Taehyung's closed fist open and pressed a pass into it, letting his fingers linger against the callouses of his knuckles before dropping it. "Now go."

Taehyung nodded and swiftly turned on his heel. Jimin risked a look at that glorious behind before rounding on the apprentices and shouting, "Who's ready to have fun today? I've got a great idea, you guys-- the losers for today will have to take their shirts off for the rest of the session. Am I not original?"

Nobody was surprised when Jimin purposefully lost the first round.

Taehyung didn't resent Jimin for making him walk across the now bustling castle grounds to get to the main hall. Really. Even if it meant scooting around nobles and servants alike with nothing to hide his face. His strategy for maintaining a semblance of peace in his life was laying low and waiting until the spotlight shifted onto something else. So maybe parading around, rubbing in the fact that yes, a halfling was inside the most heavily guarded place in the kingdom, wasn't a very smart thing to do, but neither was showing up late.

To his surprise, the entrance to the main hall was closed, and guarded by four armored knights. The shadows cast by the pillars shifted, and Taehyung knew that other mages had blended in to up the security. Perhaps Lord Shield Suga was there, but he probably had more important things to do.

He approached the guards with a cautious smile. "Good afternoon, sirs," he said, holding up the pass Jimin gave him. "I was sent to fetch Prince Jungkook under Master Jimin's orders."

He couldn't see anything past the armored helmet of the knights, but they weren't very happy from the way they moved to rest a hand on their respective weapons. "The princes are not to be disturbed," a sharp, female voice said, "We are under . . ." She faltered, then spoke, "You may enter."

The large doors opened slightly, just enough space for Taehyung to squeeze through. He was too busy trying not to get squished that he didn't notice the rows and rows of packed seats and murmurs. By the time he shut the door, it was too late. Someone had called, "Halfling!" and as he tried to locate the voice, he was met by the sight of many big name reporters staring right back at him. At the very front, Jin and Jungkook sat on the chairs on a raised platform, frowning.

Taehyung pressed against the door, hoping that it would un-solidify enough for him to slip through. "I apologize for the intrusion," he said, voice a bit unsteady. He dropped into a bow, and said, "I was sent by--"

"Would you please answer a few questions for us?" someone asked, and the others followed suit, the questions and demands picking up in volume as each endeavored to make themselves heard. Taehyung held his bow and bit his lip, wishing the princes would just throw him out already.

"Silence," Jin said, and the reporters quieted. "Apprentice, rise and join us up here to state the reason for your visit."

Taehyung did as he was told, stopping at the foot of the platform. "Master Jimin sent me to fetch for Prince Jungkook, Your Highness. They are to spar in preparation, for the king wishes to see his highness's improvement in combat."

Jungkook's eyes widened. "I was not aware that it would be today. Do our guests have any more questions for me?"

"No, Your Highness," the reporters replied. Taehyung could feel their gazes driving into his back like swords.

"Then you will excuse me." Jungkook stood, and everyone bowed until he was out of the room. When they rose, Jin motioned for Taehyung to come closer. Taehyung obeyed, and kept his face blank when Jin leaned over to whisper in his ear. "A favor, apprentice. Would you be so kind to answer a few questions? I'd like to take a quick break, my throat is going dry, and so are my lips." He sounded genuinely horrified, but composed himself when he said, "I assure you the questions are nothing you can't handle."

Taehyung never did understand why Prince Jin gave commands the way he did. He posed them like polite questions, as if his subjects were in any position to turn him down. His method did win over plenty of hearts, and the label of humility was slapped onto him, as if a prince asking for a favor was a big achievement. It didn't convince Taehyung, though-- from the way the prince's mouth curled up slyly whenever he "asked" for a "favor," he knew exactly what he was doing.

So Taehyung responded the way he was supposed to. "Of course, Your Highness." He stepped back but remained next to Jin's seat.

Jin called out, "You may ask the apprentice a few questions until I tell you to stop."

Hands shot up in the air, and Taehyung was a bit overwhelmed. He went on automatic, picking the reporter closest to him. "Yes?" he asked, and he winced at how shy he sounded.

"Do you have any urges to feast on humans?"

"No!" Taehyung squealed, absolutely horrified. Beside him, the prince shook with soundless laughter.

"Who are your parents?" another reporter asked, and quills and pens alike hovered above notebooks, waiting.

Taehyung couldn't control the heat that crept over his face. "I don't know who my mother is. My father left me when I was a child. He was a fisherman." His father was more than that, but he did go fishing, so it wasn't a total lie.

Thoughtful conversation broke out, mingled with furious scribbles on paper. One person in the back raised his hand earlier than the others, so Taehyung picked him. "If that's the case, who raised you?"

Memories of nymphs and naiads playing with him invaded his thoughts. They pointed out cute boys and girls to him, steered him away from those who oozed danger, taught him basic woodland magic so he could make strawberries grow during winter. A secretseller had employed him along with other orphans, teaching him how to blend in and pick locks and pockets, taking documents of faked certificates, pictures of love affairs, proof of blackmail material. The baker near his school always gave him sweets, until they became freshly baked pastries, until they became three meals a day. An innkeeper heard him singing to himself, and offered a free room if Taehyung would sing at his inn for every night. It was a typical lone--but happy--orphan story, and while the other stories may have variations, they always included people willing to help-- and also secretsellers, because those guys loved employing orphans. Orphans were effective spies-- no ties to anyone, small and unremarkable.

It was a hard question to answer. His face grew warmer when he said, "That's a bit complicated. Would you be so kind to expand on your question?" Beside him, the prince shifted towards him, a sudden lift in interest.

The reporter standing in the back seemed as lost as Taehyung. "I believe my question was straightforward. Which part confused you?"

"What do you mean by raise, exactly? Was it someone who showed you love while you grew up? Was it someone who fed you, or someone who provided you a place to stay, or someone who taught you how to survive?" They were all different people, all little bits of home scattered in different places.

"Are they different people for you?"

"Yes."

"Will you please tell us about all of them?"

"Okay. I stayed at an inn for free, because the innkeeper said I could stay as long as I sang for his customers. A secretseller employed me, a baker fed me, and . . ." He hesitated. "That's all." The nymphs and naiads taught him magic unauthorized. Using, teaching and learning unauthorized magic were criminal offenses. Since they weren't human, they followed their own law and not the laws of man, but Taehyung did. The man nodded at him, and as soon as he sat down, the hands were back in the air.

He picked a woman who was waving her hand frantically. "So you have no family relations? At all?"

"Well, my father's still probably alive. And, I've made some nice friends at school. The baker who fed me said I reminded him of his son. I've had some regulars at the inn who dropped by just to hear me sing and to check on me, they've told me so. The secretseller didn't want me to go, and he threatened to expose my darkest secrets if I did. When I left him, he didn't send his spies after me, he followed me himself. He threatened me a lot, but I knew he must've been serious if he took a lot of time out of his busy schedule to watch me."

"Care to drop any names?"

"No, sorry." No way was he subjecting any of those people to unwanted attention.

The reporter sat back down, and Taehyung steeled himself before picking another one. "What would be your message to your father, and to the other people who raised you?"

"Please be detailed," a reporter in front called out, the one that oozed curiosity and sported a hungry smile. "Don't leave anything out."

Huh. That wasn't a bad request--it was actually a very good request. His home, Hearthill, was a long way from Guillotia, and he didn't have any mementos of them so he could track them down or communicate with them. "Mr. Cha--I mean, um, anonymous baker, thank you for giving me your best pastries. I know you reserved some for me, even if you say they're just leftovers. I once came to your shop early and I overheard you tell a customer that the blueberry cheesecake was not for sale. And when I walked up, you gave it to me." He cleared his throat, thankful that his eyes remained dry. "So thank you.

"Mr. Innkeeper, I know you never would've thrown me out, even if you kept telling me you would. Some students at school told me a scary story about a ghost thief in our town, so I hid all my stuff under my mattress and ran to the chapel so the ghost won't catch me. Later on I heard you were asking the priest and the diviners if they had seen me because you thought I ran away. When you saw me back at the inn you didn't react at all. You only told me to get to work. But I know you cared, and so do I. Care about you, I mean. I hope you're still doing well.

"Mr. Secretseller, thank you for still watching over me. I know a spy of yours when I see them. A different kid follows me home every night. I'm sorry I didn't leave a note that I was going to Callimire for a field practice. I guess now you know my deepest secret. But even if you'd known it back then, I still wouldn't have stayed. I know you never would've revealed it."

He hesitated when it was time for his father. "Um, my father. You were smart to leave early. I don't know you, and I don't know how to find you, so if you're going to be convicted with bestiality, I guess you'll be safe anyway. Good job?"

The mood in the room had morphed into something bleak and heavy. The former fervor of the reporters, the burning curiosity of the prince, had toned down into something more respecful. It showed in their muted conversations, their careful movements, as if they were attending a funeral instead of a press conference, and the eulogy had just come to a close.

But Taehyung didn't need their respect, and he certainly didn't want their pity. He was okay. Pretty great, actually. He was still alive, and he wasn't kicked out of the Knights of Karma . . . yet. He'd made some happy memories, perhaps they deviated from social norm a bit, but that didn't mean they were any less happy. There was a time when he would've showed his father resentment, but perhaps it was for the best. Had his father stayed with him, his life would be very different, and he loved the one he had right now, flaws and all. He couldn't complain about the life he had when he cheated death everyday.

"I think that's enough," the prince said, and he looked appropriately serious and unaffected, but his body spoke novels of relaxation. No, not relaxation . . . satisfaction. His eyes gleamed like he was playing chess and had the king at a checkmate. "Thank you, Taehyung."

"It was my pleasure," he lied, but hey, he had spoken enough truths for the day.

Namjoon flipped the page of his newest book with a loud crack. Hoseok still didn't look up from his notes, his usual sunshine smile missing. Namjoon cleared his throat, crossed one leg over the other, sighed dramatically. His friend's head remained bowed over the table.

"Hoseok," he finally said, and that's when he was rewarded with a response.

"Hmm?" Hoseok's eyes flicked to his before returning to his notes, which was a highlighted essay of Wen Junhui on the ancient art of performance magic.

"You've been to the logicians again?" Namjoon really didn't care if Hoseok was a bit, how the others put it, untraditional by relying more on mind over magic, but the constant criticisms had made his friend defensive in the most positive way possible.

"Yes, but they've got really interesting predictions, Namjoon, you have to trust me!" The books and notes were all but forgotten, and Hoseok was on his feet, buzzing with energy and the thrill of discovery. He had the sun in his smile and magic in his veins, and he would've been the general of the Paladins if he hadn't went searching for fulfillment somewhere else.

"I trust you," Namjoon said, but his second-on-command was on a roll, and nothing could stop a rolling Hoseok. It would be like trying to stop the sun from crossing the sky, and Namjoon would know, for he was in charge of the coven of sunspinners who slowed the sun down during summer.

"I was going to research more on their theories for the future, but you know, with school coming up, I decided to start on my thesis! I could tell you more though, if you really want."

"Start on your thesis?" At his exclamation of disbelief, Hoseok dimmed a little. "Hobi, that was assigned summer homework! The deadline is tomorrow! Why were you even at the logi-- oh, I get it. You were checking the odds of a school suspension tomorrow," Namjoon accused. "You're just like the rest of the kids."

"I am a kid," Hoseok said, "Currently undergoing metamorphosis, but I am a child. At heart. Forever."

"I'm not going to help your childish ass. You know I'm too busy for that." Too busy with his own actually, not that he was going to admit it. His first few drafts had turned out into complete disasters that left Jin in tears of laughter. He had trouble sticking to his thesis statement, and the rambling supporting sentences were similar to navigating a dead end maze. He had only completed his final rewrite a few days ago, and his very frank proofreader was still going through it with the eye of a hawk. No holes so far, Jin had reported, but just to be super extra sure, Namjoon. Defense day was going to make or break his grade.

Hoseok's eyes narrowed at him. It was a look Hoseok was famous for, the narrowed-eyes-sharp-smile combination he typically aimed at criminals under interrogation. Madness masquerading as mischief. "What are you busy with?"

"Just Paladin general stuff." Namjoon lit a cigar as an excuse to break eye contact. If Hoseok didn't lay off him, he'd have half a mind to blow fumes of smoke right into the man-child's face.

"Summer's ending," Hoseok intoned, spreading his arms as if bearing news of the apocalypse. Which he was, technically. The apocalypse of their freedom days. "Lots of your sun duties are finishing up. You'll be a regular ol' general again, with time to help an ol' friend of his with his thesis."

"I would have free time," Namjoon said, "If I could pass on some of my duties to my second-in-command. Do you think I should ask him?" He sucked on his cigar and released smoke in little puffs in Hoseok's general direction.

"Ask him." Hoseok stood from his seat, smile widening. "I dare you." It was as if they weren't enclosed in the small space of Namjoon's study, and instead they were on the training field, sand beneath their feet and the harsh sun beating down on them. For a scary moment, Namjoon almost reached for his sword and kicked the table between them over. It's been so long since he'd been in combat. He'd been trapped in temples and caves for weeks, working overtime with the Lord Shield to sense any more monsters and unauthorized magic, while at the same time working on summer assignments and keeping the tumultous sun in check.

But this was his study, his personal little haven that only he and Hoseok were allowed to enter, where his most precious books resided. Sometimes when the burden of his responsibilities became too much to bear, the books would take him far away from his whirlwind of a life and give him time to breathe. He couldn't risk harming his most valuable treasures.

Another look at Hoseok's irritating grin made him decide. Screw it.

With a battle cry, he flipped the table over and dove for the enemy, sending them crashing into a stack of books.

"No swords!" he managed to yell before Hoseok's kick made him fall against the wall.

Needless to say, neither of them got much work done that day.

Hoseok was so very screwed.

The schoolteachers were harsher on nobles like him, something about being the pillars of society, which was ridiculous because each student was an important member of society and therefore everyone had to suffer. He didn't dare speak up though, Namjoon had been getting a lot of headaches lately and he didn't want to add to that. So instead of starting a revolution at school, he went to Logica, a tower where logicians typed away on their computers and predicted the future.

So far, logicians were the only people who had partly merged magic and machine together. Diviners saw too many possibilities, too many paths branching out into other paths with just a slight alteration in reality, and finding the most likely future was like trying to untangle knots out of the yarn, or a pair of earphones. That's why people who had an affinity for divinity rarely became diviners, and those who did become diviners had a short sanity lifespan.

A company named Stingberries opened up a whole new market with their latest invention: the Logica, which could be used by diviners to narrow down the possibilities and find the most likely paths. It had something to do about computation of probabilities and logical reasoning, stuff that made Hoseok's head ache even if Stingberries swore up and down that they were working on a gadget that was more stupid-friendly.

It instantly drew Hoseok in, but his brothers-in-arms were traditional and closed off against such technologies. It was against the wishes of nature, they argued, but Hoseok thought to himself that if it really was like that, then an earthquake would've torn down Logica already. Since it was still standing, he stepped inside.

Polished black walls and floors surrounded him on all sides, reflecting everyone inside clearly. His first time here, he had gawked openly at the strips of light that ran along the walls like strings, the doors materialized whenever convenient. It wasn't really anything new, but it had such pizazz to it that he couldn't stop gwahh-ing.

Since he was a regular at this point, the receptionist allowed him in with a smile. The card he was given took him to the three hundredth eighty-seventh floor. Business must be booming today. One quick look at the teenagers milling around explained it. Seemed like he wasn't the only one hoping for a little delay in classes. Hopefully no one will notice a Paladin, the role model for outstanding citizens by the way, slinking in with the rest of the slacking would-be students.

He entered the office of Professor Avi and quietly sat down on one of the chairs. It's best not to disturb logicians while they were working their magic. Professor Avi's usually calm composure went missing today; he kept adjusting his glasses and muttering to himself, jabbing at the keyboard furiously enough to worry Hobi.

"Good afternoon, Professor!" he called out and instantly regretted it when the logician flinched violently in his seat.

"W-wha? Oh, Paladin Hoseok! Nice to see you again. Let me have a moment, I've got a particularly daunting task today. I just won a comfty loveseat at the lottery, you can have a seat next to-- oh, you're already seated. I always appreciate a little initiative." By the end of his spiel, his attention had returned to his computer.

A loveseat did sound much better than the small office chair Hoseok was currently seated in. He peeled himself away from the leather seat, nodded at the harried man behind the desk, and walked around the room, looking for the lottery loveseat. Turned out it was hidden behind a section of the wall next to a bookshelf, and a small figure was curled up on it, taking up half the space.

Always open for a new friend, Hoseok seated himself next to his sleeping seatmate and opened a magazine, peeking at him in the corner of his eyes. All he could see was white blonde hair and fuzzy long sleeves crossed over the pillow covering the rest of the person. Hoseok shivered a bit; the temperature in this corner was much colder. He silently gave props to his seatmate for wearing a sweater, and sighed down at his thin white shirt.

He was reading an article on how to tell if your man's cheating on you--useful information, for sure--when Professor Avi walked up to them, brimming with victory. "Oh, hello Hoseok! Sorry I took so long, but I'm done with my first customer now. You'll be up shortly." He then turned to the blonde, clearing his throat awkwardly.

The fuzzy blob next to Hoseok shifted, until a pair of sleepy eyes emerged from behind the pillow. The person shuddered, and slowly stood, placing the pillow on the couch and sleepily shuffling after the logician. Hoseok barely snatched a glance at the mystery person's profile before they disappeared behind the wall, talking quietly.

Curiosity piqued, Hoseok stood and pressed himself against the wall, straining to catch the conversation.

". . . So I'm not going to die, then?" The client's voice was heavy with sleep and hope, and Hoseok's own heart turned heavy at the revelation of the client's visit. While Hoseok came over to see if there was a fighting chance the teachers would give an extension, other people's purpose was to check if they were going to survive.

"Your possible deaths are not any time soon, fortunately. Although, I've foreseen an unlikely death at the hands of a persistent admirer of yours. On the off chance he actually strangles you with a hug, I'd advise you not to say yes to any dates within this week."

"Wah! I don't date, I'm too young!"

"Then you're good! I do see a lot of mishaps in your future, but you seem used to it. Also, in almost every path I've seen, there's a constant. You'll make powerful, new friends. Oh, this day is included, it seems. Have you crossed paths with any monarchs or nobles today?"

"No, not today."

"Strange. Perhaps my calculations are off-- no matter. It's a constant trend in your future, with a probability rate of 87%. If it doesn't happen today, you may meet them tomorrow, or the next."

"That's nice. I'd like new friends."

"I must warn you, though. You'll make some life-changing choices this year. Something you've been trying to hide may be revealed. In some paths where you choose to keep it a secret . . . it mostly ends in darkness. There's a 3.7% chance you can keep it a secret and stay alive and well, but I can't guarantee your happiness. If you do reveal it, you'll be facing heavy consequences, but . . . you won't die, at the very least. And there's a 67% chance you'll find fullfilment in this path. Your determination is also a constant trend, and it influences your future very much."

"I like the new friends part a lot more. Did you see anything about school?"

"I was trying to avoid that."

"Ah, I understand."

"Study hard, will you?"

A long, pain-filled moan followed, and Hoseok couldn't agree more.

"I won't be held back, right?"

"There's a fifty-fifty chance, so you really do have to study."

"Mmmff... anything else?"

"I see that you'll have many questions about your identity soon, and the things you know will conflict with the truth. This is because of your denial and your running away. I recommend you reconnect with your roots, because in the paths you do, you help many people and also yourself. Of course, there is the risk of misfortune, but no choice comes without that risk. Your future shifts more than most, so I can't say more than that. How about you give me more time to work on this, and I'll get back to you?"

"How much will that cost?"

A fluttering of papers. "If you would just look at--"

"Oh my--!" A loud gasp, and the sure sound of a heart breaking.

"Deal one guarantees results after three days, but the advice I will give you won't have probability rates. Deal two offers--"

"I'm sorry, Professor, for I am but a poor man. Thank you for your services, though, I think it's helped me a lot. I think. It mostly only scared me."

"One last thing! Can you fill out this review form about my performance? And submit it at the counter on your way out, please."

"Oh, sure."

Professor Avi went on about membership promos and installment plans and loyalty awards, and for a suspicious moment, he highly encouraged the boy to invest in health and travel insurance. His client was scrambling for excuses to go at this point, so Hoseok decided to be a knight and slide in to save the day.

"Professor Avi?" He stepped around the wall, pretending to look intently at the digital numbers flashing on the wall. "Perhaps I can come back tomorrow, I have a, uh, dentist's appointment coming up in an hour, and it's pretty far from here."

"Oh, but it's my off day tomorrow," the professor said, startled. His client had already inched halfway towards exit, and from what Hoseok could see in the corner of his eye, he looked as young and lovely as he sounded, and also vaguely familiar.

He kept his focus on Professor Avi, smiling sympathetically. "I guess I'll have to ask for someone else, I--"

"No, no need! Please, take a seat, Paladin, I'll be quick and efficient, I promise. Oh, have you met Tae--"

The door clicked shut. The professor blinked. "Hmm, seems like he's in a hurry too. Well, give me your hands, and let's begin."

Hoseok really should've focused on his thesis instead, because all the logician told him was stuff he already knew but tried so hard to deny.