I hear the wind whispering through the trees

-·=»‡«=·-

There isn't much Jungkook remembers from eight years ago.

He can only recall bits and pieces of a long day, where most of it comes in a blur, full of pain, anger, and heartbreak.

He remembers the sun, bringing about a blistering heat that made him yearn for the rain. It was scorching on his skin, against his scalp - seeping through his clothes. It was a type of warmth that embedded into the stone benches, burning his palms whenever he gripped the edge, making him wince.

He remembers the colosseum. The grand architecture that took up the center of the mountaintop. Its white stone and concrete exterior, shining underneath the sun's radiant rays. The crowds that gathered at the entrance, beaming with excitement. There was joy in the air, mixing with tension - enthusiasm combining with anticipation.

He remembers the thrill of the fights, thrumming through his veins like adrenaline. Every movement sparked a sort of wonder he had never felt before. His eyes had followed every action that took place beneath him, studying the fighters, learning their techniques. It left him antsy and eager; itching for the day when he would be down there, fighting just like them.

He remembers his brother.

Jinsun had been dreading the day. He had been wound so tight that every movement on the battlefield looked stiff and forced. There were times where his attacks seemed sloppy and uncoordinated, causing him to make foolish mistakes. It was the last thing Jungkook had been expecting from his brother after a year of being separated.

Yet he still cheered from the sidelines, yelling chants of praise and excitement, slamming his feet into the concrete beneath him after every attack. The rankings were important, he knew that, but he never cared where Jinsun fell. Whether it was at the bottom, the middle, or right at the top, Jungkook just cared about seeing his brother.

He remembers being proud of Jinsun for how far he had gone. As the oldest son, he looked up to him - idolized him. He aspired to become just like his brother one day, standing tall on the battlefield, fighting despite the odds being against him.

Jungkook had always believed in his brother, regardless of what the others around him had always murmured; what they labeled him as. He knew of Jinsun's troubles that followed him all the way to the capital, but it never mattered. He never let it matter.

At the end of the day, Jungkook loved Jinsun. His family. His best friend.

He remembers the way everything changed. When the crowd had gone from brimming with excitement, eager to see who would come out victorious, to absolutely horrified. He saw the signs of it, but his beliefs - his faith - had remained stronger. Jungkook was convinced nothing would go wrong.

Until Jinsun's magic spiraled out of control, claiming every inch of his brother's mind, forcing the weapon from his hands. The result was fatal.

He remembers the way the crowd fell silent. He remembers the blood on the sand. He remembers screaming his brother's name.

The rest was a blur. In-between all the frantic movements, yelling, and harsh words, Jungkook couldn't remember what happened next. His eyes had been glued to Jinsun's shaking form, watching as the magic pulsed around him in volatile waves. He watched as several gods rushed to the scene, yanking his brother away with rough hands. The desperation in their movements was evident, but he knew there was nothing that could be done.

There was lightning in the air and all around them. Jungkook clung to his distraught mother, attempting to peer through the crowd at anything that would explain what was happening. He heard only a few words amidst the panic and outrage.

Betrayal. Banishment. Exile. Son.

Dead.

He remembers the rain that he had yearned for earlier in the day. It descended upon them in violent downpours as they were shoved toward the doors of the colosseum. His eyes found the sky for a moment, taking in the darkened clouds of a storm that hadn't been anywhere near them. Thunder rumbled the ground. Lightning struck the arena in uncontrollable bursts.

Jungkook tried to find his brother in the chaos. He searched for Jinsun through the endless figures of the gods around him. He found him for only a second.

They locked eyes from across the battlefield, and for a moment, it was just them - just Jinsun's tear-filled scarlet irises as he struggled against the onslaught of gods who fought to pin him down. Then it was gone.

That was the last time Jungkook ever saw his brother.

*

To whom it may concern:

You have been formally invited to partake in the upcoming Battle of the Gods.

If you are receiving this invitation, it means you have been chosen to participate in training for the 87th tournament to be hosted next year. As a graduate, you are required to fulfill your last education year here in the capital, at Asmana Academy.

Here you will:

- Interact and train with other gods-in-training to ensure that, as a future god, you understand what it takes to serve and protect our nation.
- Grasp a thorough understanding of our history, laws, and this tournament's regulations.
- Participate in regularly scheduled activities that take place on and off our campus.
- Check your comprehension through various examinations of these subjects.

In order to qualify for next year's tournament, you must pass:

- Physical Trials.
- Aptitude Assessments.
- Psychological Evaluation.

All graduates are required to live in the Academy dormitories throughout their final education year. To ensure your admission, all gods-in-training must arrive at Asmana Academy within the first week of spring.

We are looking forward to your arrival.

Good luck,
Asmana Academy.

Jungkook clutched the letter in his hands, fingers leaving visible imprints in the parchment as he reread the words over and over again. He memorized their order and their meaning until it was all he could think about; until each recitation embedded into his mind and body.

It was the invitation he had been waiting for. Ever since the battles that took place eight years ago, he had been training from sunrise to sunset, pushing past his limits to grow stronger. Every day was the same routine, the same set of steps that forced him to improve. Until the time came where he could go back to the capital.

The day Jungkook lost his brother, he vowed that he would return to that colosseum - that he would compete in the Battle of the Gods and rank amongst the top fighters. He promised to prove everyone wrong, no matter what it took to do so.

After eight years, his ticket back to Asmana was finally here.

-·=»‡«=·-

A little bit of backstory (:

As you can tell, this rewritten version of ETU has some major changes. Hopefully y'all enjoy them!

I purple you<3

~Pisan.