Chapter Text
Jongho was what one would call a wannabe witch. He, since a young age was an avid follower of all things witch. he didn't care for wizards. hunched over old men with pointy white beards that reached the floor and long stupid looking robes. He was all about witches. broom riders, mysterious familiars, and cool spells. sorcerers were interesting, but not comparable to witches. (they're basically the same thing but don't tell little Jongho that, he'll put your hair in a jar of mayonnaise and chocolate syrup.) He read a book on the bases of witch powers and after that, it was downhill for his poor parent's sanity. This had him doing things like going to the park during a thunderstorm in the quiet of night, trying to gain favor of the thunder spirits, which worked when a family of them came over to him, led by the children as they came over with sparky giggles and each member of the family zapped him. the zap was more like a tickle, and before the parents of the family took Jongho home, they played at the park. That was Jongho's first blessing, in his book.
His actual first blessing came when he was 3, awake in the dead of night and too terrified to move because he couldn't see anything but the bed he was on. he didn't hide under the blankets, he didn't want to engulf himself in more darkness. But after a long, long while of sitting there in darkness, he was engulfed by a sudden warmth, even without the blankets on him. he was hushed to sleep in the embrace of the dark and the shadows, receiving their blessing, and after that day he never feared the dark again.
Through all of his success and failure to receive blessings, he pinned the blame on his brother. It was the way of life, and he was in the crossfire. So he got shot down, repeatedly. When there was dirt and sand all over the house, "it was him" he pointed a finger. When the bathroom flooded "It wasn't me." when there was rainwater all over the entryway and up the stairs.. well he couldn't convince his parents it wasn't him when there was clearly sopping wet pants and a shirt on his floor and he came up with a cold.
When Jongho came of age, he took early college courses and got a business degree to please his parents. He was absolutely not going to use it. He became a freelancer as he traveled the world, doing crazy shit only influencers would ever do. He got dangerously close to a bear during his stay at a remote lodge, praying it'd like him. if he died his parents, one, wouldn't have known how, and two if they found out would've went to wherever it is he ended up, and beat the crap out of him. But lucky lucky Jongho, came out of the incident with a familiar. a bear cub, which he found, or rather found him standing around and snuggled up to him. He didn't know what happened, but the bear wouldn't leave his side during the rest of his stay, until it suddenly disappeared. Jongho assumed it was for sure his familiar when his nails and hair grew way faster than it did before, his hair was softer his senses heightened. as well as when it showed up suddenly after he got his apartment.
Now, at the age of 24 with many accomplishments and faults under his belt, he's going to do, something. He's laying on his bed, borderline being crushed by a bear in its adolescence. he's got a flight in a few days to Tibet, so he can climb Everest, and hopefully succeed at gaining the blessing of the wind, his second ever, and less embarrassing fail. For now, his tummy is grumbling so he gets up and makes food for himself and Pooh, his big little bear.
The next days, he goes out, wearing an incredibly fluffy light brown open hoodie with bear ears on the top, he doesn't really do anything, but walk until its way too dark out, then return home to be tackled by an overly large orange bear. What a life. When the day of his flight finally comes, he's wearing the same hoodie with a t-shirt and black sweats, and when he lands, he shuffles out of the airport, not intending to do much, but knowing he has to continue his training regime so he doesn't ever have to attempt the wind's blessing again.
When he finally starts the climb he thinks its horrid, and that he wants to leave, but he wants to reach the summit or high enough before thinking about forfeiting. He reaches quite high up before deciding to call it quits. he hums the hymn of the tempest, a song created to appease the gales and hopefully gain its favor, he'd like to have sung it, but he didn't know the lyrics and his body had not adapted nearly enough to put on his best performance. he stops when he hears an airy voice, almost not there tell him to leave. the voice has nothing prominent to make you remember it, but it most definitely was harsh, having a very sharp edge to it. This being because of the conditions of the wind where he stand. He assumes its the wind and speeds forward into conversation. He'd read that the wind doesn't like hesitation and it hates being mistaken for a mortal.
"No, I wont leave until you give me your miracle." he stays firm, even though he's terrified it'll pick him up and throw him off the mountain.
"Miracle? You flatter me. You're still not getting it. Leave." it responds, humor lacing its light voice "If not.. maybe I'll just blow you away?"
Jongho was about 3 seconds away from turning back and leaving with the Sherpa.
"Okay.." He speaks, voice shaking.
The wind giggles "You're funny, take the blessing and get out of here." He's hit with two huge gusts of wind which almost knock him over, he suppresses a scream of delight and stops himself from jumping for joy, but he probably would not have and could not have done that anyway. Afterwards, he returns to where the Sherpa was and tells them he wants to leave.
The descent is no easier.
When he returns the the Airbnb, the place looking no different than when he first arrived, he books a plane ticket, for 2 days from then. He spends the 2 days enjoying the country he traveled to.
Upon returning he finds that, Pooh is very, very, very large. Maybe Jongho shouldn't have left such a large mound of meat for him to eat. But either way, he freshens up, then hibernates (he slept for 11 hours.) When he wakes, he cleans the place up, cooks and goes out again, missing the familiarity. One of his favorite parts of going out, Is being able to see all of the higher lands. Higher lands are where more esteemed covens, which gained the recognition of the witch council (The eldest witches in the world, Jongho's like their biggest fan) live. The floating islands did not block the sun. The masses having been created by ancient magic, which allows them to exist and be seen by all eyes but not block any natural light. You wouldn't notice them unless you really looked up. The largest higher land is located over the Pindus Mountains, Jongho learned that from a documentary. Some covens decorate the bottom of their land, his personal favorite has pretty dangling lanterns, cream color with rose pink and lilac enchanted flames.
He continues walking, and after stopping at a street vendor, is approached by a guy. Warm skin, a mole under his eye, and on his bottom lip, with eyes that are dark gray. He wore a bright smile, radiating confidence and evidence of a good mood. "Hi! I'm Wooyoung and I think you're really cute and I really want your number. but we can get to know each other first if you want." He rushed out. Jongho flushed, hopping his overgrown red hair served well at covering that fact.
The energy around this individual, Wooyoung, was strong and vibrant. Powerful but being suppressed. Unmistakeably the aura of a seasoned witch. Jongho doesn't have any witch friends, so he will happily take this opportunity to make one.
He continued his observation subconsciously, eyeing the wisps of bright red swirling around him, and the obvious heat emitting from his body, likely only palpable by fellow witches. His pupils were catlike, a rounded diamond shape in place of a circle indicating a feline familiar (which Jongho wouldn't know because he's severely uneducated.)
"Oh!" He hesitated, "sure." He pulled his phone out hiding a smile at the way Wooyoung's eyes seemed to get infinitely bigger (his pupils dilated) at his words.
He handed the other his phone, who dialed his own number before hanging up and handing the device back.
"I'll text you soon!" The other spoke giddily.
Jongho only waved slightly before the figure walked away, conversing with another person who seemed to have been waiting in the distance. Jongho decided it's time to head home to Pooh, his lovely bear.
It was the usual routine when he crossed the threshold, except Pooh seemed to have just woken up, so instead of getting jumped, he simply got a nudge and sniffs. After washing up, and having a minimal dinner, he curled up in bed next to his animal blanket, warm and cozy.
When he woke up the next morning, he answered a text message from an unknown number, who identified themself as Wooyoung. He chatted in bed a bit before getting ready for the day, making himself breakfast and setting out a platter of fish and fruits for Pooh. Then he set out to go to work.
When he checked his phone during his lunch break, he was met with a long dialogue from Wooyoung and a list of questions he had. Jongho answered them, telling Wooyoung he was indeed a witch, and he did have a familiar, who was a bear named Pooh, and a multitude of questions. Then he resumed working after his break was over.
On his way home, he pondered his new acquaintance and all things to do with him. Why he approached him, what he wanted, why he was so eager etc. Wooyoung told him he had a coven, and covens tended to be incredibly close, spending an incredible amount of time together, but Wooyoung didn't mentioned them much if at all, focusing on Jongho and mildly on himself.
He's probably like that with all new friends, Jongho assumed, stepping off of the bus and into the crisp and chilly night. Warm, despite his clothes not suited for the temperature.