Chapter Text
The day a farmer’s son and new foot soldier of the royal army met the soldier Lim Jaebeom, the future general and pride of the whole nation of Joseon, his first in command, Park Jinyoung and lastly the crown prince Mark Tuan was Jackson Wang’s most shining memory even now 8 years later as he was bleeding out on a tree he had dragged himself to. It had been a trap and he had known it too well. The sequence of events, the faces and names of all the attackers and the target, that was far far away from this ambush thanks to him.
It had taken all of Jackson’s strength and skills to kill one and each of these attackers he had once called companions before they could kill him or even flee but that was it. He had overworked his body these past weeks just for this day to change once and for all. And it did, it finally did. Lim Jaebeom, the general of the royal army, had not been killed again this time. Nor would Jinyoung as long as Jaebeom was alive. Jaebeom had not met his end in these woods where he would have been lured to by a fake message of his best friend and current nemesis, Park Jinyoung.
He knew Lim Jaebeom would have died by now, slowly bleeding out from the wounds he was carrying himself now. At the same time a letter would reach the rebellion led by Park Jinyoung to inform him that his best friend Lim Jaebeom had been betrayed by his own king and killed due to the betrayal. It had taken Jackson four- what he now realized were time loops, repetitions of a certain time span only he re-lived, just to learn of his closest friend’s death and Jinyoung going after Mark’s, the current king’s, throat for vengeance. That creature, Shigan, had warned him of the price but Jackson had been too helpless back then, too desperate. Running and running after all of them: Mark, Jaebeom and Jinyoung for years and intensely these past weeks when things had gotten heated. Even after he had gotten a second chance it was in vain, the third time a close call but Jinyoung’s dead eyes as he was being executed. The fourth and last time, this time, was all he got in the end, so he had risked it all.
A cough of blood gushed out and Jackson was about to laugh. So, this is how he ended, huh? It was ridiculous how this all could have ended differently, if their friendship hadn’t been this fragile since Mark had marked Jinyoung a traitor, using his power to command Jaebeom to kill him when they all knew too well, how Jaebeom felt about his other part. Half of his heart had always belonged to Park Jinyoung, Jackson knew this better than anyone. The way it had always been Jinyoung when they had to choose sparring partners. The way they had spent even their free time outside of training and missions together as if breathing was not possible without the other. The way he had been tormented by Jinyoung’s absence for the past months. If they had just listened to Jackson for once. If they had believed him and let him try to mend their broken hearts and trust, this could have ended differently.
Jackson knew he would do anything to protect his friends and that’s what had happened in the end. After all his failures and tries he had resorted to this. Tricking his friends in order for them to stay alive and surely, one day, restore what was once their most treasured thing in this world: their friendship. Jackson Wang’s life was coming to an end in an ambush that wasn’t meant for him. He took out the little piece of paper, the words on it paled and nearly invisible now. It was burning to ashes on its own, so he was really dying, huh? Still, he couldn’t be any happier because this was all for them. For his friends, the people he loved the most.
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“Jaebeom, listen to me! I know you are angry about Jinyoung’s escape but he chose this, we have to-” The other turned around in a menacing way, a hand raised: “It’s general to you, Wang. Don’t talk so casually about the nation’s enemy. Park Jinyoung is a traitor if you may have missed the public announcement yesterday by the king himself. You are excused.” Jackson’s mouth fell open. Jaebeom was an amazing leader and general, always set on a goal and never wavering but he was just as measured and respectful towards anyone, rank not mattering. And now he had pulled his rank on one of his closest friends without hesitation? This was crazy.
“Jaebeom-hyung, I know what the king said. The young and not much experienced king, our friend, who is fearing for his life and position every single day. You know I was there, when Mark was crowned king at barely 21 because the late king was assassinated by a group of rebels. I know it all, but I know just as well that him making Jinyoung into the kingdom’s traitor is because of him being hurt and feeling betrayed as a friend, not as a king. We can’t just-” The sword was pulled faster than Jackson could have seen but the next second a blade was nearly at his throat, a pair of glaring eyes staring him down. “Jackson Wang! If you dare to continue speaking ill of the king or his royal decrees, you will force my hand. Park Jinyoung is a traitor because he went against the king, there is no other truth for anyone in this kingdom. Don’t make me do this”
Jackson was really about to risk his head, literally, opening his mouth to refute a last time, when the general’s eyes became desperate too fast, his voice hoarse: “please.” And with that Jackson was silenced. He couldn’t make his friend suffer more than he already did. Jaebeom had changed since his outfall with Jinyoung a few weeks ago. He knew Jaebeom barely slept for weeks now. Always on the run to either hunt for any hints of Park Jinyoung’s whereabouts or to control the uproars and commotions in the districts these past months. The people were not satisfied with the current taxes, property law, martial laws, inheritance laws, basically with no laws at all. Mark had been trying to comply at first but then got frustrated and frustrated the more unrest reigned. Now he was trying to get through the day by keeping things quiet with a firm hand as his advisors and the ministers suggested. Jaebeom felt responsible and guilty from all of that and had started to become stricter and more careful with his words around everyone, face unreadable.
Jaebeom walked away, not wanting to continue their disput but Jackson was still left with too many thoughts at once, so he went looking for an audience with the king. “Commander, the king is busy at the moment and ordered to not let anyone inside while the meeting lasts.” Jackson nodded: “I am aware of that but please tell him it’s Jackson Wang. He will-” The guard sighed: “Sorry, Commander Wang but he denied any audiences except for general Lim Jaebeom.” Jackson was more than frustrated, what was he supposed to do, when none of his stubborn friends listened? Jinyoung...Jinyoung would have listened to him but they had heard nothing new of him since he jumped into the waters after the fight with Jaebeom a few months ago and disappeared. He was gone and out of their lives for now and he couldn’t change anything about that. Pathetic.
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“Your majesty! We have found the general…” The messenger was drenched in blood, his eyes glassy and reddened. Jackson had been informed of an attack near the palace, heading there with his group of soldiers as fast as he could only to arrive and realize he had been tricked. The message was a false alarm and since he had parted ways with Jaebeom in the east, they had heard nothing of the general or the group of men, who had been with him. They had been missing for hours now and Jackson was planning a search group and system with the king currently, when the messenger arrived. Mark breathed in relief: “That’s a relief. Is he fine? Tell the general to meet me in my study as soon as he-”
The messenger had flinched at the question about Jaebeom’s wellbeing, making Jackson pale instantly as he had only one desperate prayer: Please let him be alive. The silence was suffocating but no one dared to make the messenger speak further, too scared of the outcome but the man swallowed and continued on his own in the end. “I am deeply sorry to inform you of the general’s death. He had been ambushed by a group of well-trained rebels. They had lured him into a secluded area of the woods and fought all against one. None of the rebels have survived but two arrows had been pierced through his heart, when we arrived. There was blood everywhere and no survivors. He died an honorable death as a brave warrior deserving his title more than ever. I am so sorry, your majesty.”