• • •

Wooyoung

For the first half of the day, I keep thinking about my awkward yet nice interaction with San's grandma, the whole spellbook situation, as well as Yeosang's cryptic text message. His words continue to confuse me, and its made even worse since San left our dorm room before I could talk to him, and Yeosang and I barely had any periods together that morning since our classes were doing that whole obligatory yet sporadic 'shifting' thing due to the official commencement of winter.

And if that doesn't agitate/take you aback enough, about ninety percent of the large campus interior is now filled with a feather-like sheet of raining snow that never seems to touch the grounds, twinkling fairylights that float about the ceiling and even follow you into the lecture halls, and small enchanted snowfolk that hop about and dish out wide smiles whenever they catch your eye.

Yes, the scenery's great, but I can't help that agitation I feel. I can't spot Yeosang or San anywhere, and I don't have the rest of my friends in the classes that I do have. For now, there's really no choice but to see if I can get to them at lunch or even after all my classes are over.

"We wish you a good winter, Wooyoung!" A group of particularly cheerful snow children say to me as soon as I enter the hall that'll lead me to Potions class.

I peer at their little round bodies and don't answer immediately as I'm not really in the mood right now. I'm not perturbed at the fact that they know my name -- they're generated to do this like, almost every year -- but their faces do give me a mild sense of Uncanny Valley. But then again, I should be used to this. I'm a Witch, after all.

Before I can answer, someone steps beside me at that moment, their head of peach dyed hair catching me a bit off-guard. The dye is one of those 'morphing' ones that turn more vibrant shades depending on where you stand or turn, but when I see whose hair this is, I'm not really surprised.

"Jongho?" I grin, surprised at seeing him beside me.

"What's up, Wooyoung?" He grins while subsequently bending his knees a bit to give the snow children hasty high-fives. The magic in him allows him to actually touch them, and when he gets to the third snow child, it plants a small ring on his palm that looks like a combination of frozen snowflakes.

"Awe, thanks," Jongho says as soon as he stands up, eyeing the ring that has tufts of blueish air swirling around it. He looks at me. "Didn't know they were offering those this year."

I shrug, adjusting the laptop in my arms. "They never really did them before. But then again, this is only my second year."

Jongho laughs. "Mine as well."

"Hey," I begin, casting a brief glance at the snow children we left behind. For a moment, they meet my eyes as well, but instead of smiling, they watch on, totally blank-faced until the next set of students come along to greet them. Weird, I think, they're usually so expressive.

Despite this, I look back at Jongho who has now dropped the ring inside his hoodie pocket, and continue to speak. "I haven't seen you in Potions for a while. You suddenly interested again?"

"Well, yeah," he shrugs, the doors to the Potion class opening as soon as they sense our presence. "Plus, it's winter time now. I have to take more classes here in order to be able to pass those exams we have at the end of the year."

"Oh, right. Shit, that sucks," I reply with a sigh. Even with Jongho being a Psychic Witch, one of those rare ones that don't really need to do potions because that's not their area of expertise, he still has to take a required number of classes here in order to do that compulsory spell exam Witches have to perform at the end of the school year. It's all dumb and frustrating, but then again I really can't imagine not being able to cast spells and use magic.

The new designated potions professor, a stern-faced woman called Miss Chwe enters the class as soon as the students are all seated. Like a regular Physics class in the Human world, there's stations made for two people at every corner of the room, so Jongho and I had decided to seat together because we already know each other.

With long red hair that cascades down her back in loose, fiery waves, Miss Chwe slowly flicks her long dark wand about. In a millisecond, a multitude of whitish elements combine like a miniature tornado to make this alternate living, breathing version of her -- but only with snow.

"In light of the Winter season, I want to propose to you all a project that mixes whimsical magic with physical snow. You all have seen the snow kids outside, right? Well, that was a hint of today's class." Miss Chwe smiles, looking a lot less daunting. "We all know how hard it is to keep snow as -- well, snow. So, with what you've been taught so far, create a realistic, live snow version of anything you want and try to make them last as long as possible. The best ones will be on display at the Winter Fair next week Friday. Happy Potioning!"

The classroom buzzes with brewing excitement, and it soon spreads to me as well. Despite how much I despise Potions, I really can't help I turn to Jongho, only to see that he doesn't seem as enthusiastic.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I ask.

Jongho shakes his head. "I'm just kind of worried. I mean, I'm not your typical witch."

"You don't have to worry, though," I assure him, noticing how his hair, like ripples in a calm pound, is starting to turn a bit red at the front. The colour reminds me of San's dazzling scarlet eyes and his pretty shaped lips, and my neck warms up on instinct.

Jung Wooyoung, now is not the time to be thinking about San's lips! My mind chastises me, and I force myself to concentrate.

I clear my throat, hoping Jongho hasn't noticed anything. He is psychic, after all. "I'm sure you'll do great."

Jongho smiles, but it still looks a tad bit unsure. Like, he isn't sure if what he's doing is right.

I shake off the thought though, my bag falling on my lap as soon as I command it to. I zip it open and pull out a sketchbook which I normally never use -- mostly because my drawing sucks -- but as I'm about to place it on our shared table, an ice cold something drips on my exposed ankle.

I immediately look down, spotting a stain on the underside of Jongho's grey hoodie pocket, which is currently dripping what looks like water.

I suddenly remember earlier when Jongho high-fived those snow children and one gave him that snowflake ring, but I, once again, try to stop thinking about it. The ring probably melted, and that isn't unusual. Snow never lasts long around here anyway.

"Hey, Jong," I let out, and Jongho looks up from what he's doing. His usually brown eyes are dark with questioning, and I almost don't tell him what's up.

Sheesh, Wooyoung. What's up with you today?

"Your hoodie pocket," I point out. "It's a little wet."

Jongho looks down, his eyebrows rising in surprise. "Oh. Crap."

"It's no biggie." I chuckle, mostly because I've never seen Jongho all flustered like this before. He's usually such a level-headed person -- except for when he becomes a little too excited and gets into his apple-splitting, musical-inducing zone. "It'll dry. Or, I can help you dry it."

Jongho purses his lip. He's back to looking unsure of himself again. "...Sure."

I mutter a quick drying spell that usually gets stuff like this done in a matter of seconds, only for the stain to not dry. Which is strange, but maybe it's because the ring wasn't made of normal ice.

"I think it's because the ring isn't your typical ring," I try to explain, although I'm a bit confused myself. I tell myself not to contemplate too much about it though, especially since I have an assignment to do that I haven't even started yet. "I think it'll dry off soon."

Jongho combs his fingers through his hair and nods. He then bites his lip and pulls out his custom-made wand. "Yeah, I guess..."

He doesn't speak much for the rest of the class, and I don't trouble him to talk as well. I manage to sketch the live snow I want to create -- a fenced building reminiscent of a gingerbread house with two seated people in the front, holding hands and smiling. I think of the Wish Ball I have, and sneakily wonder if I can use it to help me with this assignment. No one will know anyway, right?

• • •

A bunch of tiny snow-dogs ecstatically yap and chase after a glowing ornament when I exit my last class for the morning, and this time the sight amuses me as I remember how I barely have classes after lunch due to the shift.

Snowflakes of all shapes and wisp through the cool air, and when some fall into my open palm, they dissolve as if they've never been there in the first place.

I get reminded of Jongho again, and of that snow child that passed him that snowflake ring. After the two hours of Potions class had been over, I hadn't seen Jongho since. I wonder if his hoodie pocket is finally dry or not.

Then something unexpected happens.

Before I can even take a step forward, I suddenly land somewhere with floors that look so dark they seem bottomless, and plum purple walls that look like they stretch on forever. Lamps that appear as golden stars are perched wherever I turn, the force of gravity having no effect on them whatsoever.

Realization flashes across my face. This is none other than one of those spell-proof rooms that also prohibit dark magic.

"Okay... what the actual fuck is going on?" Someone asks five seconds after appearing the same way I did. It turns out to be Mingi in a full-bodied pyjama, a white facemask on and everything. Even with the suddenness of this situation, I find myself resisting the urge to laugh since his whole ensemble looks hilarious.

"Just...take a seat on the floor, Mingi," Yeosang's familiar voice states, and then he appears inside a clear and floating space of water in his merman form, his mystifying tail a soft purple with ruby red scales that glow along with the starry lamps. "We need to hurry since I can't stand to stay in this form for long -- it's weird."

It is weird, because why would Yeosang willingly summon us into a spell-proof room when he primarily uses magic of that sort to keep operating on his legs?

"Wooyoung, take a seat as well," Yeosang gently commands, his tone a little less demanding that how it was when he'd addressed Mingi. He has some sort of black book in his hands, his grey eyes appearing a bit petrified, which surprises me since he's never looked like that before.

"Sure, but I can't help but side with Mingi. What are we doing here, of all places?" I ask, finally sitting on the ground. It's so dark and cool to the touch that I feel as if I'm about to get engulfed in it.

"I'll explain soon."

"What about the others?" I ask. What about San? Is he okay? I wonder if he's at our dorm already. A bit embarrassed about my cringy thoughts, I look over at Mingi who's staring at Yeosang with this sort of forlorn, distracted look in his eyes.

I don't have the chance to ponder on it however, because in the next second Yunho and San appear, looking just as shocked and as taken aback as I'd been earlier.

Just like Mingi, Yunho's in casual wear, unlike San who's dressed in mostly black, his grey locks styled in a way that exposes his forehead. I really can't help but smile, and when our eyes meet, I flash him a huge grin. He ends up returning it with a blush on his cheeks.

"Don't worry, I'm weirded out too," I tell San and Yunho to tease Yeosang, only for him to dramatically roll his eyes.

"Yunho, San, take your seats," Yeosang says. "Unfortunately, Hongjoong isn't around 'cause he's busy -- "

"I'm busy too. At least I was until you forcefully brought me here," Mingi argues, gasping when Yeosang hands him his middle finger. Yunho just comfortingly pats his back, San and I trying our hardest not to burst out in laughter.

"Anyways," Yeosang continues, only for Mingi to interrupt again.

"I object!"

Yeosang's expression grows exasperated. "Someone shut this guy up please."

"No one can. In case you haven't noticed, there's no spells allowed here," Mingi replies with a smug smirk.

"Want me to try?" Yeosang counters.

"Guys, guys," I beg, because I'm pretty sure Yeosang and Mingi would succeed in killing each other before we can even discuss whatever we want to discuss about if I don't step in as soon as I can. "Let's just talk about what we need to so we can leave this place, alright?"

Yeosang hums while Mingi quietens down, and then Yeosang's throwing the book in his hand my way.

"Woah -- " I start. The book would've almost hit my face if not for San's better-than-average reflexes. "Uh, thanks San."

Mingi pretends to barf, only to stop when Yunho shushes him.

"What book is that?" Yunho asks.

"I've recently gotten a new dormmate," Yeosang explains, "and he's fucking strange."

"Yikes," I comment, flipping open the book. Instantly, I'm met with creepily drawn symbols I can't decipher, yet send incessant chills down my spine. "Yeo...what is this book?"

San stares attentively at it, so I pass it over to him in order to check it properly.

"You guys remember during freshman year history?" Yeosang tells us. "Especially when the teacher taught us about forbidden books to never look for and other boring shit. This is one of them, I can remember it."

San lets the book go. "Really?"

"It can't do anything since we're here," Yeosang assures. "Anyway, I caught my roommate with it in hand yesterday evening. Said he'd borrowed it from the library. And that isn't the craziest part. Apparently when you search the library's website, the book actually is there. It's just not accessible to read. I called you guys here to show you the book in case it tries to hurt us, plus my roommate isn't around right now."

Yunho takes the book and goes through it, his dark eyebrows furrowing the more pages he flicks past. "It's about Demons. Most of it."

San's eyes are wide, mirroring mine.

"What? How do you know?" Mingi questions.

"I can kinda read the language," Yunho replies. "Don't ask me how."

San stares at Yeosang, the starry lamps illuminating the urgency in his red irises. "What's your roommate's name?"

"Jang Kangmin," Yeosang replies.

"You know him?" I ask San, only for him to shake his head. He still looks disturbed, however, so I slowly reach over and squeeze his hand, trying to calm him down.

Yunho bites his lip in thought. "Hey, what if...what if Kangmin's a demon?"

Yeosang shakes his head even when he looks a bit doubtful. "No. As far as I know, he's supposed to be a Shapeshifter like Mingi."

I suddenly remember the incident with Jongho for some reason. "Demons...hate the cold, right?"

"Well, yeah," Yunho replies. "Except for the ice demons, but those are rare anyway."

"Ice melts around them, actually," San adds next to me, and my pulse starts to race.

"...Wooyoung, you good?" Yeosang asks.

"What's his hair colour?" I ask again, hoping with all my heart my suspicions end up being wrong.

"It's kind of peach coloured."

• • •

Kangmin seemed to have totally disappeared entirely after our meeting, and while Yeosang, Yunho and Mingi take the spellbook back to the school library, San and I search around for Jongho.

"Do you think anything's happened to him?" San asks me with a worried lilt to his voice.

"I don't think so," I reply, heading into the hall that leads to Jongho's assigned room. "I had no idea that it probably wasn't Jongho. The only thing that seemed weird was that snowflake ring melting. I should've been more careful about it all."

"You know...he talked to me a bit by the library."

At this, I stop in my tracks and face San. "What?"

"He said he's glad I'm here and that he's happy to talk to me," he replies. The magical falling snow causes a bit of it to frame his grey hair like some sort of makeshift crown, but I'm in too much of an anxious mood to get all awestruck at the sight.

"But you said you don't know him," I say.

"Truly, I don't," San presses. "I kept thinking he was Jongho, so I never really thought much about his words until now..."

"Guys?"

San and I turn around at the same exact time, only to spot Jongho a few feet away from us. And his hair is black.

"Jongho," I immediately start. "Are you okay?"

Jongho rubs his eyes. "Yeah? Why wouldn't I be? Although I feel a bit uncomfortable."

San and I exchange nervous glances before he speaks up. "Like how?"

"I woke up an hour ago only to feel a little put off," Jongho explains, "like...like something is going on that shouldn't be. But then again, maybe I'm just reading too much into things."

I shake my head. "No. No you aren't."

Jongho stares right at me, his brown eyes turning into these deep, inquisitive pools of onyx, and usually I would've looked away since I hated having my soul or mind read, but Jongho could seriously be in trouble. We could seriously be in trouble.

"Someone called Jang Kangmin shapeshifted into me," Jongho then states, his stoic tone of voice forming a harsh contrast with his widened eyes. "But...what for?

I don't even know myself.

• • •

a/n: this book is fluffy and lighthearted, keep calm.
thoughts?