Work Text:
[ In the future you envision, I wonder if I exist ]
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(1)
The rain fell quite heavily, that day–Jeonghan remembered it clearly. He happened to be outside, strolling around out of boredom, when the rain suddenly fell and scared the hell out of every single being in the forest. It was not the usual month for rain to fall that heavy; some thought someone angered the Great Deity and almost started a hunt for the responsible party.
But that part, Jeonghan did not remember it that much.
Because his attention was focused on somewhere else; because the rainy ground was slippery enough to make someone fall right before Jeonghan’s very eyes.
The human child who, somehow, strayed deep enough into the territory of the elves blinked. Breathlessly, he exclaimed, “You’re beautiful.”
In that child’s widened eyes, Jeonghan’s reflection blinked back.
(2)
Jeonghan escorted him back to where any human should be, after the rain stopped. That whole time, that boy with droopy eyes stared at Jeonghan as if nothing else existed in his world.
Was Jeonghan uncomfortable with that?
…was he?
Jeonghan forgot. He was too amused to feel uncomfortable, as far as he remembered.
In Jeonghan’s centuries old memory, that child’s face, which turned red as a cherry when Jeonghan poked his cheeks, was a precious treasure buried by the sand of time.
At that time, that child was small enough for Jeonghan to pick him up.
(3)
Compared to elves, or other residents of the sacred forest, human’s lifespan was on the far shorter side. That was why, a set of rules was set since the beginning of time: ‘ do not show one’s self to humanfolk ’; ‘ do not get attached to them ’; ‘ if an accident happened, one should be responsible to erase their presence from the human’s memory on their own ’.
Or so they told Jeonghan to.
But a bored Jeonghan was a rebellious Jeonghan; a stubborn Jeonghan who casually hung out with that child-turned-youth. Even when the Council of Elders called him out for breaking the rules, Jeonghan merely smiled.
“I’ll do so later,” he said. “When he no longer amuse me, I’ll erase myself from his memories,” he promised.
He was put under the Council’s strict watch, after that.
Jeonghan had no regret.
(4)
Meeting that man was something Jeonghan would not put in his regret list.
No, in fact, if Jeonghan were to be honest, meeting that man who decided to bury his birth name and used an alias ‘S.Coups’ as he wandered across the land was a blessing in Jeonghan’s long, overly boring life.
S.Coups grew to achieve his dream.
The boy who said, “I want to be an adventurer!” truly grew up to be one. He went on a year-long journey, then returned near the end of the year with tales and souvenirs in hand for Jeonghan to enjoy. Books filled with notes about the places he visited, sketches of sceneries S.Coups saw on his journey; on one sunny day when Jeonghan tried to clean his home, he realized the trinkets made his dwelling look like a dragon’s lair.
All year long, Jeonghan spent his time rereading S.Coups’ travel logs, drowning himself in an ocean of words.
Closing his eyes, Jeonghan smiled to himself.
‘ The next time we meet, I should give him an amulet for safe travel. ’
(5)
The rain fell heavily again when the news about the incoming Calamity reached his ears.
“Seal up the gates,” the High Priest ordered. “Don’t let anyone out, don’t let anyone in. As long as no one passes through the gates, this barrier will keep us safe.”
Jeonghan gloomily stared at the crowd at the village square.
Wordlessly, he turned his back on them–and made his escape.
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His treasure should be safe in his home. He sealed the door with his magic, set up a trap array just in case someone wanted to trespass and steal something while he was away. In his bag was the amulet he made for his human, who was still far away–along with travel maps created by that man and lots of potions in the magical space.
After making sure he had everything he needed, Jeonghan put up his hood.
Before the officials started to put up the barrier, Jeonghan was already a step out of the gate.
He never turned back–ever again.
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( “Jeonghan-ah, you’re going to live longer than me, right?”
Jeonghan said nothing. His smile, however, had said everything.
S.Coups brought their intertwined fingers to his lips, giving them a fluttering kiss. He stared straight at Jeonghan’s warm, honey-colored eyes. “I don’t know how long I’ll live, but I promise–
“–no matter which lifetime it is, I will always find you.
“Will you wait for me, until then?”
Out loud, Jeonghan said, “You’re so silly, Coups-ya.”
Inside, Jeonghan thought: ‘ In that other lifetime of yours… do I still exist?' )