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The courtyard of Duke Seonghwa’s estate was unusually still that afternoon, the kind of quiet that prickled the skin and set nerves on edge, pressing against the ears until every small sound seemed magnified. It was deeply unnerving to those who hadn’t lived in this place their entire lives. The low hum of distant wind through the tall cypress trees whispered faintly, carrying the scent of damp stone and old ivy.
Jisung moved slowly between the tall stone columns, each step deliberate, the marble cool beneath his feet, his thoughts tangled in the pages of a book he barely remembered he was holding. The leather cover, worn and smooth from years of handling, felt strangely grounding in his hands, a tactile tether to something solid while his mind drifted elsewhere, lost in half-formed musings.
Moonlight spilled across the marble, stretching long, sharp shadows that twisted across the ground like dark fingers reaching for him. The silvery light glimmered on the edges of the carved fountains, making the water shimmer with an almost otherworldly glow. The scent of stardust was sharp in the air, metallic and sweet, curling faintly into his nose with each careful step, mingling with the faint aroma of burning torches that lined the courtyard walls.
Then came the sound, sudden and jarring. Shouts from the other side of the courtyard, hurried footsteps pounding against the stone, echoing off the walls and startling a flock of birds from the eaves. Their wings flapped in frantic bursts, feathers scattering in the moonlight as they vanished into the night.
“We’re under attack!” One of the front-gate sentinels shouted, the words slicing through the calm like a blade through silk. The echoes seemed to bounce endlessly, stirring panic in anyone who heard them. The sound bounced off the ornate carvings of the archways, mingling with the distant howl of wind, creating a chaotic, almost hallucinatory symphony of fear.
Jisung barely had time to react before figures burst from the shadows, blades flashing and faces twisted with fury, eyes bright with wild intent. Each attacker moved with a terrifying purpose, boots striking the stone in heavy, resonant thuds. His heart leapt into his throat, adrenaline burning through his veins, making his fingers tremble around the edges of his book, the pages trembling in rhythm with his pulse.
Changbin moved without hesitation, stepping forward with fluid, precise motion, positioning himself between Jisung and the attackers. The guard’s eyes were dark and fierce, every muscle coiled for the fight, body taut as a bowstring. Even in the dim moonlight, the determination in his stance was unmistakable, radiating a sense of immovable strength, like a living statue forged to protect.
As an enemy lunged toward Jisung, Changbin caught his arm in a firm, controlled grip and pulled him close. The solid warmth of Changbin’s chest pressed against him, shielding him from the fray, and the scrape of cloth and steel filled the air around them. Sparks flew as blades collided, the acrid tang of metal and sweat rising in pungent waves. Changbin’s hand pressed against Jisung’s side, right where the black mark lay hidden beneath his robe, the touch grounding him amidst the chaos.
A burst of warmth and color flared beneath Changbin’s palm, rainbow light unfurling like liquid fire across Jisung’s skin. The sensation was sharp and immediate, a living pulse of magic that made his breath hitch, tingling in every nerve, leaving a trail of heat that seemed to thread through his bones.
But there was no time to dwell on it. Steel clashed, shouts rang out, and enemies pressed forward, relentless and loud. Changbin moved with deadly precision, blocking, striking, and pushing back each attacker. His motions were a deadly ballet, limbs and weapon moving in seamless choreography, each action deliberate, focused entirely on protecting Jisung. The sound of metal ringing against metal filled the courtyard, a chaotic symphony, yet beneath it all, Changbin’s hand stayed steady, warm and insistent on Jisung’s side, grounding him, keeping him close in the eye of the storm.
One by one, the attackers fell, staggering, retreating, or crumpling to the stone floor, until at last the courtyard was silent again. Only the distant rustle of leaves in the evening breeze remained, carrying faint echoes of the fight and the sharp scent of blood and sweat mingling with the cold night air.
Changbin stepped back slightly, breathing hard, eyes sweeping over Jisung’s face as though reading every flicker of fear and relief. His chest rose and fell rapidly, but his expression was careful, composed, until the full weight of the moment settled on them both. The moonlight painted sharp highlights on his cheekbones, accentuating the intensity of his gaze, yet there was softness in the corners of his eyes that only Jisung had ever seen.
Their soulmarks shimmered, the rainbow glow still bright beneath Changbin’s hand, the colors reflecting in the polished stone at their feet, painting the courtyard in ethereal, shifting hues. Jisung’s heart pounded in his chest, each beat loud and insistent, as their eyes met in a gaze that held both relief and something more profound. Changbin’s gaze was fierce with protection, yet softened by something deeper, a vulnerability he only ever let show to Jisung.
His voice was low, steady, carrying an unshakable certainty that cut through the remnants of fear.
“You’re my soulmate.”
Jisung swallowed, the words settling in his chest like sunlight through mist. His fingers curled around Changbin’s wrist, warm and steady, anchoring himself in the truth of the moment. A smile, soft and genuine, spread across his face, small but radiant, like a spark catching fire.
“I’m your soulmate.”
For a long moment, they remained in the moonlit courtyard, the air still and vibrating with quiet magic. The rainbow glow faded into a gentle pulse, a heartbeat mirrored in both of them, a silent promise sealed in the warmth they shared. The faint scent of stardust lingered in the night air, mingling with the clean aroma of stone and leaves, binding the memory of the moment into something eternal.