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“In the deep abyss of what cannot be reached,
lying amongst the thousand shimmering constellations
are powers borne before
the first star’s daybreak.
A pantheon of avatars,
Each grasping at reality’s threads,
weaving their voice, spirit, and command
into the never-ending tapestry of the universe.
The realm of humans,
trusting in the divine machinations forevermore,
invoked the names of the celestials,
inviting their guidance unto the world.
Seven princes of divinity chosen by Fate,
bound to the greater beings of old.
Together, they shall lead humanity
into the glory that the stars have destined for them.
So shall the Arcana will,
so shall the Princes follow.”
From the ledge Jungkook stood upon, he saw the pitch-black rupture eat away at the fragile reality it tore apart. Fissures and cracks snaked through the mirror-like facade of the world, revealing the void underneath. A harmony of screeching metal and shattering glass flooded his senses, drowning out whatever thoughts he had. Every nerve and muscle in his body told him to stay away, but his mind said otherwise.
The world barrelled towards him as he took the plunge. Slowly, he sank into the cold grasps of pure nothingness. The endless expanse of blue skies and green lands faded into the abyss. One by one, his senses numbed. For a second, Jungkook knew what it felt like to be dead.
Then, he fell through.
The vast emptiness opened up to the azure firmament that was once above him. White clouds gave way to the swirling winds and drifted away as wisps. The serene horizon of the dazzling sun upon the sea’s gentle lull framed his vision. Mountaintops started to appear from every corner, their peaks more different than the last. Flat plateaus, steep summits, luscious forests, barren remnants, they all painted the landscape with their array of colors.
Flocks of birds parted as he barrelled towards imminent death. For a moment, the world grew silent around him as his heartbeat matched the pace of his hyperventilation. The green blur soon turned into a clear vision of the forest’s canopy, the smell of bark and dew grew stronger. Soon, his fall would meet its end.
Three.
Two.
One.
His body never met the ground. A tingling sensation wrapped around him as the world shifted to its rightful position. His numbed legs failed to support him and down he stumbled into the soft grass. Earthy hints of dried leaves comforted him as he took a deep breath.
“Should’ve known he’d do something wild like that.”
Jungkook recalled the meeting earlier with the Princes. Tasked with bringing Jungkook to the forest, Prince Taehyung gave him a suggestion.
“How about a little flight?” he smirked.
He wouldn’t call it that, but at least he made it to the destination without losing anything else other than his breath. He slowly stood and brushed up.
Not far from where he stood was the decaying forest of Viridi Forest, the basin Life dwelt upon. Believed to be the birthplace of the First Ones, the vast expanse of fauna and flora was protected in a seamless tapestry of eternal youth. Change was unknown to this land, until it started.
The crimson mist spread like wildfire. The evergreen borders choked and withered away, and the immortal creatures soon knew of the afterlife. Not long after, the Princes convened. It was decided that each would be tasked to handle different parts of this affair.
“Jungkook, you knew this day would come.” Prince Namjoon said.
“I know… But I still don’t get it.”Jungkook replied.
“ Fulfill the path you once took, all will lead you to me . It’s simple, all you have to do…”
Namjoon’s voice slowly trickled away with the drifting vision.
“... is to make a choice.”
His words did nothing for Jungkook. A choice? He didn’t even know what choices were there to choose from. And yet, there he stood at the borders of the wilting forest that held whatever the path was.
The forest loomed over him as he took his first steps into the wild. His feet kicked up dust with each step, surrounding him in a cloud of dirt. Above him, barren branches twisted and formed a cruel dome of shriveled thorns and blackened twigs. The stench of burnt skin and fresh blood poisoned the air as vermillion wisps snaked through his arms. Each breath singed his throat and left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“Eugh…”
Jungkook coughed. The miasma felt heavier, weighing down on his body. His legs threatened to give in as he trudged through the invisible tar.
Where do you go?
The snapping of twigs and the hellish rumble of the winds chilled his blood. Hand on the hilt, he whipped his head from side to side.
Why do you go?
The miasma began to invade his lungs. Violent coughs choked his airways, and yet he stood his ground. Sword unsheathed, the brilliant shimmer of the cool metal warded away the creeping darkness.
“Reveal yourself!” The light blazed with his trembling voice.
A thousand needles pricked his spine. He peered over his shoulder and saw an amalgamation of red and grey, of flesh and bone, of rot and pestilence. Its mouth gaped wide open, revealing the abyss within it. His hands buckled with the weight of his sword as the brilliance faded away.
From ash, to ash.
A thick cloud of red smoke was all it took to drain him. His body sank to the ground, and his consciousness drifted with the parting fog.
Rise, Fool.
A pale light shimmered through the darkness. Cold grey, milky white, then warm amber, the world around him bathed in this changing spectrum. The leadlike weight on his body melted away bit by bit until he finally mustered the strength to stand. He couldn't see what was below him, yet it felt like he was standing on a cloud. Light and feathery, there was no resistance to his every move.
"What’s this place?" Jungkook stirred the air around him. With the flick of his hand, sparks of silver and white came to life and drifted away. A low hum interrupted his musings.
A tug on his chest and an unusual clarity took hold of him and trailed him closer to the sound. Slowly, a silhouette pieced itself together in the distance.
Come, we have much to talk about.
The gentle lull of basking under an afternoon sun was imbued in that serene voice. With every step he took, wisps of dry leaves and crisp river water perfumed the air. The silhouette turned into a figure of a woman, her hair floating in strands behind her. Bits of smooth stone and water droplets circled around her like rings, her crown adorned with a halo of glinting pearls. A single piece of white tapestry was enough to cloak her modestly. Then, he saw her eyes, pools of rich hazel, void of all hostility.
“Who..? I mean… Hello, may I know who you are?”
The woman gave him a faint smile as she circled around him. Hints of moss, mahogany, and petrichor flitted about as she passed by.
We are bound together, Young One. Soon, our paths shall meet and, if Fate permits, shall become one.
“Eh? You don’t look like Fool. I’m not the one bound to you.”
Ah, that’s where you are wrong.
"Wrong? What am I doing here, anyway?”
The Mist is your concern, yes?
“Yes…” Jungkook felt a strange aura coming from the woman. The same pull from a Great One, yet he couldn’t pin down which one. A more powerful force exerted itself on his thoughts, quelling the sparks of thought.
The answer will come to you in time. Now you must look into yourself, Young One. Diving with blind faith is who you are, and yet are you satisfied?
The room sparked with a brilliant white as clouds melded together and formed a vision.
“Jungkook, take care of the expedition.” Namjoon said.
“You sure you want to just dive into the lake?” Hoseok said.
“Oi, don’t just leave without knowing everything!” Yoongi called out.
“Just do it, it’ll turn out alright!” Jin cheered on.
Countless times have you followed without question, are you satisfied with that?
The clouds began to drift away along with the woman, into the darkness that was once there.
The path is yours to tread.
The acrid odor of a murky bog pierced Jungkook’s senses, wrenching him awake from his dream.
“What was that…” He nursed his throbbing head as he steadied his stance against a nearby tree. The last thing he remembered before seeing the woman was that beast. The grip on his sword wound tighter in anticipation. Somehow, his unconsciousness drifted him into new territory too.
Snap.
His eyes darted left and right. Traces of white light gathered around the hilt of his blade.
A gust of wind shot through the foliage, aimed straight at Jungkook’s heart.
Clang! The metal clashed with his sword.
The air rang as a flurry of needles shot through every direction. A grand sweep of the illuminated blade disintegrated each projectile, metal scraped against metal with each exchange.
With blazing eyes, Jungkook raised the sword up high and cried out, “Versailles!”
Blazing pillars of light bore down from the sky and surrounded him in golden brilliance. Scorched earth and molten metal complemented the rotting stench of the forest. As the pillars dwindled, the radiance seeped into the sword once more, coating it with the sun’s blessing.
“Reveal yourselves.”
From all sides, the culprits carefully approached him. Adorned with tattered and bloodstained robes, the figures carried the odor of the Mist with them. Their hoods hid whatever face they had underneath.
Wails poured out of them as they shuffled closer.
“Mist…”
They all lunged at him in a flash. One, two, three sweeping arcs brought down the lot of them. The blade sizzled as it sliced through the fabric, and before long, the hooded figures lay flat on the ground.
“Find the Mist Breather…” was all Jungkook heard as the entities dissolved into tar.
“What even is happening?”
The ooze scorched the ground in a bizarre manner; the trail snaked deeper into the woods. Sword plunged back into the sheath, he continued forward.
The surroundings warped every now and then, showing him glimpses of his past. The forest was alive with voices telling him what to do, and apparitions of his younger self following them listlessly.
“You remember your duties, right?”
A young Jungkook wistfully looked to the stars.
“Weavers of stars. We’re here to make sure humanity keeps going. Even if it means…”
“Not doing anything. I know, Jimin. It’s just… Was there no other way to save them earlier?”
“I’m sure Taehyung had his reasons. Sacrifices are necessary, if it weren’t for those who died, we wouldn’t have known how to stop the illness.”
Jungkook sighed.
“It just feels… wrong. I was the one who found the first victims, if I had just found out sooner, if I thought about it first…”
He shook off the memory as soon as he heard footsteps. The crackling of leaves and snapping of twigs heralded the beast. The stench grew stronger and stronger once more, invading his senses. This time, the sword’s glow wrapped around him, alleviating him of the mist’s allure.
Why, do you go?
Jungkook could see the beast better this time. A four-legged lump of flesh with bulbs all over that emitted fumes. Exposed bone connected its bull-like skull to the flesh, and its ebony horns were adorned with tangled black strings.
“I go because the spirits told me so.” He put the blade close to him in a defensive stance. The beast heaved and ejected fumes except from its mouth.
Why… do you still go?
Jungkook crept closer to the beast. “Because I want to.”
Truth..?
The beast’s horns clashed with the metal.
“It’s what I want this time. I want to do this my own way.”
The blade shone brighter than it did before.
And then..?
The beast let out a low rumble, it emitted a thick cloud of mist, enough to obscure his vision.
“I’ll end this mist.”
He plunged the sword right into the Mist Breather’s skull. A piercing shriek erupted from the wound, and black clouds swiftly engulfed him. Once he opened his eyes, another scenery greeted him.
He stood on a thick, twisted branch. Beyond him, a beating heart tainted with crimson and ash caught his attention. And then, the woman from before stood next to it.
You’re here, finally.
The familiar warmth wrapped around Jungkook like a blanket.
“How did this all start?” The smell of mildew and honey eased the tension in his muscles.
A change of pace, merely. Viridi did not know of Death, and now… They know the blessing of the mortals.
“Is there a way to reverse the damage?”
Death is permanent, you know that Little One.
“Then…”
He took a moment to breathe. The tree’s heart seemed to slow down with its beating too.
“Then, is there a way to stop this Mist from spreading?”
That is only natural. There are no loose ends in this reality. What has come by, shall come back.
“Will the Forest recover?”
In due time.
Jungkook took up his sword once more.
"This is the decision I have to make?”
Waiting no more, Jungkook plunged the sword into the heart and filled it with golden light.
You have done well. Truly, you have earned your title.
As the Fool took his rightful ascendance, the brilliant colors of nature seeped back into the earth. The World has relinquished her unchanging winds to the beat of the Fool’s footsteps.
The Seventh Prince, Jungkook. With him, the cycle shall revolve once more.