Chapter Text
Sang-hyeok is a star guardian.
Since his ascension, his first encounter with the First Star, years have passed, almost a decade. His body remains as young as the first day. When he looks in the mirror, he still sees the eighteen-year-old boy who sold his soul for a wish. Sometimes he wonders if it was worth it, but when he sees him, secretly, now so much older but with the same foolish smile he fell in love with, he knows it was; it will always be worth it for him.
He hides among people, dressed in his school uniform; he has been wearing it for more than ten years, and he hates it as much as the first day. Every so often, he must restart the cycle, his real age a mystery, but to the rest of the world, Sang-hyeok is just another teenager.
One who barely makes noise in the back of the classroom, a book always in his hands, so many years changing from high school to high school, the answers to the exams he knows by heart. So he spends his time on other things, mostly roaming the streets looking for lost souls that need to return to the right path and closing portals that connect his universe with others. His weapon is a staff, his uniform white, gold, and red, magic running through every inch of his body, the First Star his only companion, manifested in the form of a cute little penguin that accompanies him on his hunts. Faker, he named him after his former nickname in his favorite game; so many years have passed, almost no one plays it anymore, he wonders what would have happened had he been there for longer on the professional scene…
Nights are cold, but being a star guardian has its perks, such as not feeling the coldness, the hunger, or the passage of time that rules humans. Magic keeps him alive, his soul in exchange for it. When he begins to doubt, when his life is in danger, on the brink of death, he remembers him, what he has sacrificed for him, that he would do it again and again, always for him, and returns to the fight.
Only his staff, the First Star, and him, Sang-hyeok, who sold his soul for a wish, now living to save the universe, all for him. For one Han Wang-Ho. To see him smile once more as he himself can no longer do.
And he would do it again. Over and over again.
When the First Star orders him to find a new team, his first instinct screams at him to refuse.
The life of a star guardian is dangerous, after a decade of seeing teammates come and go, be born and die, over and over again. He can't help but want to refuse.
But the First Star is his master. And it reminds him exactly what it means to say no. Refusing to fulfill his part of the deal, fighting cosmic threats, redeeming lost souls, recruiting new guardians, saving the universe, all in exchange for a wish.
The First Star has fulfilled it, it has saved Wang-Ho's life, so all that's left for him is to do what it asks. The first day of classes, a new uniform, his backpack empty except for the book he will read this week along with his personal diary, and Faker by his side, invisible to the rest, except for those whom magic has decided are worthy of becoming guardians. He's ready, the cycle begins once more.
"Ah, are you new?" A tall boy approaches his desk, glasses, and a smile on his face. It's lunchtime, and he hasn't brought anything to eat, he doesn't need it, the First Star watches over his life, and with it, he lacks nothing. "I'm Lee Min-hyeong, nice to meet you." His hands close the book that accompanies him this day; it would seem disrespectful not to at least look when someone offers his hand and a warm greeting. "Lee Sang-hyeok, the pleasure is mine."
Their desks are close due to their last names; it wouldn't be bad to get to know him better, start establishing relationships with his peers; after all, he is here on a mission: to recruit new souls for the First Star.
Min-hyeong guides him to the cafeteria while talking about comics and TV series that Sang-hyeok honestly hasn't seen or heard of. The boy finds it fascinating that he has never heard of them, "What kind of teenager are you, Sang-hyeok? Are you living under a rock or something?" He mocks him. The truth is it's been years since the last time he could sit down and watch TV, years since he had a roof over his head that he could really call home.
He spends all day wandering the streets, flying over rooftops, the pendant hanging from his neck guiding him in search of the souls he must cleanse, and in the morning, he returns to his uniform, to his classes that he has heard over and over again, only to repeat the cycle the next day. "You could say that," Min-hyeong just laughs at him in response.
Min-hyeong's friends are... peculiar, to say the least.
Sitting at the table are Moon Hyeon-jun and Choi Woo-je. The latter, the youngest of the group, unlike the rest, is only 15 years old, he is in his first year of high school, while the rest are seniors. He finds it curious because despite the difference, he doesn't seem to have a lick of respect for his elders. “Shesh, Hyeon-junie, you are an idiot, did you know that?”
The so-called 'idiot' does not hesitate for a moment before attacking him, "Who are you calling an idiot, Woo-je?!" The older one grabs him by the neck, his fist against the poor boy's hair. It amuses him somewhat; it reminds him of some of his old teammates. That friendship, almost brotherhood they had, he sometimes misses them.
"Aish, sorry, Sang-hyeok, these guys don't know how to behave," from his tone, this must be the usual at this table. Ah, the youth. He doesn't think he can ever be like them again in what's left of his eternity. His body so young, yet his mind, his soul… he feels so old next to them.
He can only smile at him, his eyes returning to his book.
All for him, he repeats like a mantra.
“Ah, Sang-hyeok, we’re going out to eat with the guys after classes, do you want to come?” Min-hyeong invites him during the last minutes of class. It doesn’t seem like a bad idea, the First Star whispers to him through his companion, it would be good for him to start taking opportunities like these to recruit potential guardians.
“Sure, if my presence won't bother you” Min-hyeong just responds with a smile, his hands start packing his things in his backpack a few seconds before the bell. "Not at all, Sang-hyeok”
The way to the boys' favorite restaurant is similar to lunchtime. Hyeon-jun and Woo-je move ahead through the squares that surround the Han River, discussing things that simply don’t make much sense to him, while Min-hyeong keeps pace by his side, smiling.
He would say it is the typical scene that teenagers their age should be experiencing, except for one thing. The pendant on his neck starts to glow, it’s faint, almost invisible, but Sang-hyeok feels it. It’s strange; the sunlight usually keeps the creatures at bay, only a few lost souls he has encountered during the day.
Something smells wrong. His instinct warns him. Everything is too quiet. He doesn’t feel the presence of a single soul except for the boys next to him.
His gaze begins to scan the landscape, searching, trying to recognize the threat or the soul before it’s too late. The pendant glows, its light intensifies, he can feel the magic that composes it begin to levitate the pendant in the direction of its target. Sang-hyeok thinks he should find an excuse, apologize for a second and change into his star guardian uniform. He needs to evacuate them, and quickly, whatever the First Star is tracking, it must be powerful. Too powerful, to dare to come out in the sunlight “Oh, Sang-hyeok, what is that…” but before Min-hyeong can finish asking about his necklace, a dark portal appears in front of them.
“Back up!” In the blink of an eye, the light consumes him, his staff in hand, his white, red, and gold uniform covers his body, and creatures begin to emerge from the portal.
There are many, too many, small spider-like monsters begin to escape the portal that connects his universe with the Void dimension.
Sang-hyeok steps forward, his staff points and spells fall to the ground, trying to stop the invasion. “Hyeon-jun, what are… what are those?” Woo-je’s voice behind him reminds him that he’s not alone. He needs to get them out of here, away from danger.
But there are too many.
The creatures multiply at an alarming rate, he’s only seen this once, but if his experience has taught him anything, it’s that something worse is coming, if he doesn’t stop them now, if he doesn’t close the portal soon, the next thing that comes out of the void can only be devastating.
“Min-hyeong, get them out of here!” His spells do what they can to slow down the monsters, but it’s no use. The portal still doesn’t close. His magic isn’t enough.
He has to close it. He has to stop them. He has to do something. He runs his hands across the ground, the spell barrier surrounding them, preventing the monsters from attacking the boys, but there are so many. Too many.
“Min-hyeong, get them out of here!” His spells do what they can to slow down the monsters. Quick footsteps behind him tell him his companions have followed his orders.
With fewer people around, he's not afraid to use his magic to its fullest potential. His attacks rain down, destroying the creatures that have managed to emerge from the portal, trying to create distance between the boys and the threat.
"Faker, I need your help," Sang-hyeok murmurs, and the small manifestation of the First Star materializes next to him, hovering over his shoulder. The magical creature, though its exterior is adorable, is a channeler of primal magic, a weapon. Beams of intense energy shoot out from within it, like a stream of water, protecting Sang-hyeok's back.
“There are too many,” observes Faker, his voice inside Sang-hyeok's mind. He had never seen more than three to five come out of a portal, but he’s already counted over ten dead on the battlefield, and at the rate they’re multiplying, there could soon be hundreds.
“Sang-hyeok!” A shout from behind him, some of the spiders he hasn't been able to eliminate are dangerously close to the boys. Hyeon-jun seems ready to fight, his body trying to shield Woo-je. “Faker, go to them!” He orders his familiar, “I'll hold them off in the meantime.” His companion obeys, his face full of concern for him, knowing that the farther apart they are, the weaker their attacks will be, but his priority is not himself, it’s getting Min-hyeong and his friends out of here.
The sound of magical attacks resonates in the air as he fights against the Void's forces, preventing the creatures from spreading further. He needs a plan, and fast; he can feel the distance between Faker and himself starting to weaken his magic, but it means they’re fleeing, moving away from him and the portal. Good, he just has to hold out a little longer, wait until they’re safe, and Faker returns to his side, and he’ll be able to fight with all his strength again.
Sang-hyeok fights bravely, but the overwhelming number of enemies threatens to overpower him. He feels the exhaustion; he’s never fought with his familiar so far away, he can feel himself gasping for air, his body without the magic of the First Star is nothing. The hunger from not having eaten anything in weeks, the heat of summer, the humidity in the air. It’s too much. The shadows of the Void are closing in, getting closer and closer, starting to surround him, some managing to attack before he can eliminate them first, some escaping in the direction of Min-hyeong and the rest of the group. There are too many; he needs to do something, and fast.
Suddenly. A shot rings out behind him. One of the spiders falls dead before it can touch him. Another shot. And another, and another. One by one, the monsters attacking him begin to fall. Sang-hyeok doesn’t have time to think about where the attacks are coming from, but he has an idea of who it might be.
“Min-seok! The portal!” He shouts as loud as he can, as his airless and exhausted lungs will allow him, wherever he is, he hopes Min-seok can hear him.
A shot lands right through him, but it doesn't hurt him; instead, a powerful barrier is created around him, the shield enough to give him a few seconds to breathe again. Slow footsteps approach, pure energy shots coming from their direction. “I’ll close it, Sang-hyeok, you go after them.” Min-seok’s voice reaches him, his huge rifle in his hands aimed at the portal, but his eyes on the boys who accompanied him.
He manages to nod before running in their direction. His heartbeat going back to normal with each step he takes towards Faker, who is confronting the spiders, trying to keep them from getting closer. Now that they’re closer, he can finally fight like he’s used to. With his familiar’s help, Sang-hyeok manages to eliminate the last remnants of creatures that managed to pass after him. Min-hyeong, Hyeon-jun, and Woo-je, though confused and scared, seem to want to ask him questions. "Sang-hyeok, what's going on?" Their gaze is intense, but he can only think about going back and helping close the portal. "There's no time for explanations now, Min-hyeong. I need you to stay where it is safe and run if necessary." His eyes don’t leave Min-seok, in the distance, the sound of gunshots and magic still echoing. Min-seok, with his exceptional skill at handling his magical weapon, keeps the Void creatures at bay and gradually closes the portal.
Min-hyeong doesn't seem very convinced and just looks at Hyeon-jun; neither knows what to say. Sang-hyeok takes advantage of their silence to run toward the portal. Faker on his shoulder again, also watches the situation with concern. The battle is not over yet, and although they are safe for now, the danger persists.
Once beside the other guardian, he can hear it, a roar slowly approaching from deep within the portal. It sounds dangerous, like nothing he’s ever heard before. A single look is enough to know what Min-seok is thinking, he’s scared too. Whatever is down there, it’s huge, and it’s unlike anything they’ve fought before.
“I'll finish closing the portal, you take cover and protect me,” Sang-hyeok orders before taking flight, leaving no room for debate. Min-seok has no choice but to obey. From above, he and Faker can protect the younger guardian until he is back in position, beams of light striking the creatures that follow him, and when he’s safely back, ready to fire and offer cover fire again, Sang-hyeok turns his attention back to the portal.
The power coursing through his body concentrates, Faker on his shoulder closes his eyes along with him, a seal begins to appear over the portal, like a magical mesh, a net that prevents more creatures from continuing to come out and expanding the hole that leads to the Void. The sound of bullets and shots stopping the spiders that managed to escape his spell, Sang-hyeok feels it, the wind that moves his hair, the sound of the river flowing beside him, the presence of the souls of Min-hyeong, Hyeon-jun, and Woo-je, their expressions of awe at what they’re seeing, Sang-hyeok feels it, the power of the First Star runs through his hands, and with a shout, a beam shoots out from his staff, finally closing the portal.
Slowly, his feet touch the ground again, landing near Min-seok. It’s been a long time since he last saw him, his serious expression is always a surprise, he misses the kind smiles and his tender eyes, his face simply doesn’t look right without his pout and blushing cheeks, there’s something so wrong, so sad about knowing the reason he doesn’t smile like he used to. He knows very well, he was there when he and his team fell. "Thanks for the help, Min-seok. I couldn’t have closed the portal without you," Sang-hyeok says, genuinely.
But he doesn’t react, his gaze still on where the portal was as his arms cross, hugging himself. “You feel it, don't you? Something's not right,” his tone is so cold, he wonders what he would think if he saw him now, would he blame him for what happened too? Min-seok does, he’s made it known in the past. “Something big is coming.” Before he can respond, footsteps run in their direction, Min-hyeon and his gang approach.
"Sang-hyeok, what's going on?!" asks Min-hyeong, his face reflecting the group's anxiety. Hyeon-jun looks at him as if he doesn’t trust him; it doesn’t surprise him, he wouldn’t either, but Woo-je seems fascinated by Min-seok and him, his gaze on their uniforms and their weapons.
Sang-hyeok exhales deeply, knowing he can’t hide the truth for much longer. “It’s not safe here. We need to get away and find a safer place…” But Min-seok interrupts him, “It’s not necessary, just erase their memories and be done with it, there’s no need to involve more innocent people into this” Min-seok's words cut through the air, creating a tense silence. Sang-hyeok frowns, his eyes closing; it's not like he doesn't have a point, but Min-hyeong interjects again, facing the coldness in his former teammates's eyes without fear.
"Erase my memories? You can’t just erase our memories, not after what we saw!" Min-seok turns to him, stopping looking at the portal as if it might reappear any second. “Look here, pretty boy, you have no idea what you’re getting into, and for your sake, I suggest you keep it that way.” The compliment seems to do exactly what Min-seok intended, distract him, Min-hyeong's face flushes, and he seems at a loss for words, all his bravery now gone.
"Can anyone explain what the hell that was?" asks Hyeon-jun, his voice trembling slightly, unsure if it's out of anger or just leftover horror from what he just witnessed. “What were those creatures? Why are you dressed like that? And how can you fly, and you shoot that thing?” His gaze shifts between them, his fingers pointing at Sang-hyeok and the giant weapon hanging on Min-seok's back.
A sigh is heard from both guardians. “Do whatever you want, Sang-hyeok, it’s your funeral, but at least I refuse to involve one more innocent soul,” he exclaims as he starts to leave, his uniform and weapon disappearing in a flash of light, casual clothes appearing in their place—a huge hoodie the same color as his star guardian outfit, light purple, almost lavender. The collar that reveals the void hangs on his neck. Sang-hyeok does the same, returning to his student clothes, his staff vanishing along with Faker. Min-seok gives one last look before leaving. “I’m outta here. Bye, pretty boy!” He says goodbye to Min-hyeong, who seems to have lost the ability to think, “Uh, bye, um, magic… boy?.”
“Magic boy? Seriously? Boo, Min-hyeong has no rizz,” Woo-je's mocking voice is heard behind Hyeon-jun, who hits him on the shoulder. He also thinks he hears a chuckle from Min-seok in the distance.
“Well… I guess I owe you some answers,” Sang-hyeok says as he can no longer see anything but a lilac spot of Min-seok on the horizon. “Do you still want to go eat?” The group of friends, though still confused and stunned by what they just witnessed, exchange cautious glances. Hyeon-jun and Min-hyeong look at each other, while Woo-je seems more intrigued than scared.
A silent conversation among the seniors, and it's Hyeon-jun who responds. “Okay, let’s go, but you’re paying. It’s the least you can do after all of… this,” his hands point to the corpses of the creatures that had attacked them, slowly dissolving under the sunlight. Sang-hyeok thinks it's a fair deal.
“Let’s go, then.”