The entire world ended with her sacrifice, the air turned cold in the burning room.

Nobody had the ability to react for a while. They went straight pale with shock and stomachs lurched in fear from what they just witnessed. Their lips quivering, speechless. Among them, Seokjin was the first one to move. With a strangled, pained cry tearing from his throat, he sank down next to his beloved wife and wailed in horror.

“NO!”

Beomgyu's hands trembled with the realization of what he had done. He didn’t see her running towards them, he didn’t see her coming between them while he was about to stab the senior guardian. His grip loosened on the sword, it clattered on the floor. He looked down at her with a thrilling anticipation that maybe it was a nightmare until his eyes widened in horror and regret. 

He plunged the sword directly inside the girl he liked.

Seokjin never screamed this horribly as he took her fragile body in his lap and softy touched her with his trembling bloody fingers, while she was too in pain to even keep her eyes open. She was making horrible choking sounds while coughing out blood, ruining the pure beauty of her face, fighting for a gurgling breath.

“Yoon Min!” He cried out. “It's gonna be okay. Y-You're gonna be okay, you hear me?”

She couldn’t answer, couldn’t figure out her husband's face. She couldn’t even hear properly. Everything was too blurry, too bloody, too tiring.

“No! God, please, oh God no!” He cried heavily, painfully as he hugged her tightly, their bloods mixing as one.

Slowly, the other senior guardians circled around them, each of them shocked and wordless about the situation. The remaining residents who had run away from the castle eventually came back after figuring out the long silence. Once they arrived, they couldn’t believe the scene in front of them. How had it happened?

Beomgyu was still dazed and shivering in shock. It wasn’t until Nam Joon grabbed his coller and growled at him, “You pathetic bastard, what are you gonna do about this? What did you do!?”

The residents gasped in surprise as they learned it was him who stabbed the female guardian to her nearing death. He was too ashamed, too shocked to even speak for himself. Tears fell from his eyes as his face twisted in regret. What had he done?

Yoon Min, with her fading weak voice, tried to keep her eyes open and say something.

“S-Seok..Jin...” Her fingers tapped on his skin softly.

Battling with his own misery, Seokjin didn’t miss her gesture as he immediately lowered his ear to hear her. And he was taken aback by what she asked for. He lifted his head and glanced at the man whom he loathed with every fibre of his body.

“Choi Beomgyu.” He called out his name, to which everyone looked at him, except the owner of the name. With gritted teeth, he let out, “She's asking for you.”

Beomgyu for the first time raised his head in shock. On her deathbed, she was calling for him? Standing frozen in unbelievable thoughts, he was pushed to her body coldly. His eyes tracked her as he saw the blood everywhere. He saw the girl who had been his friend, shuddering in inescapable pain. He saw her rasping and blinking, who he'd stabbed.

He dropped on his knees and lowered his head in shame snd regret, unable to keep his face straight as he wept helplessly. Then to his surprise, he found one of her bloody hands reaching for his, taken aback by the coldness as it wrapped around him weakly, blood smearing. He glanced at her for an answer and she let out in her weakest voice,

“I-I...forgive...you.”

His face had frozen in an expression of shock until he broke in cries and grabbed that hand of hers tightly before murmuring thousands of apologies. He didn’t meant it, he didn’t want to hurt her, he never wanted her in pain. He was sorry, he regretted the way he behaved, he was a fool to do that. But none of his words mattered now.

Seokjin pulled her body away from the touch of the vile man whose apologetic words meant nothing now. Instead, his heart burst into more tears as he cried and cried, hugging her to his chest. He could feel her pain himself, the way she was struggling to breathe and endure the damage in her. He could feel his chest tightening, the panic rose sharply.

Her face twisted in pain as she suddenly trembled out of control and her hand grew weak before falling. Her breaths slowed, eyelashes rested on her cheeks softly as her eyes closed shut. He screamed in horror and desperation, shaking her to wake up even though a part of him knew she was gone. “Yoon Min, no! Wake up! D-Don't...don't do this to me. No, no, please!”

He grabbed onto every part of her, searching for some signs that she wasn’t gone yet. His searching eyes found Aereum standing at a distance from the heartbroken crowd because she herself looked shocked and ready to cry. He shouted at her from where he grieved,

“Do something! Save her!”

Everyone looked at the princess with a little bit of hope but once they saw the expression on her horrified face, they knew it was impossible. The princess controlled her tears and walked to the crowd. Looking down at the body of Yoon Min and miserably crying Seokjin and Beomgyu, she found herself even more helpless to let them know there was nothing she could do.

Seokjin understanding her expression, yelled again in pained anger, “Do anything! There must be something you can do!”

She didn’t reply.

“I know you never liked us. I know you never approved of our relationship. When you saw us together on the bridge for the first time, you dragged me to your office and revealed I was the reason she committed suicide. You deliberately told me so that I could stay away from her.” He didn’t know why he was saying all that. “I cried so much that time. I even found myself at her doorstep, crying and thinking I should apologise for ruining her life.”

“But I didn’t. Instead, I stayed with her. I fell in love with her again. I promise I will never do that if you save her. If you save her, I will stay away from her. I p-promise. Just...bring her back, please.” Endless tears streamed down his eyes as he cradled her body in his arms, crying and mourning.

Some of the residents started to tear up watching the tragic scene. The senior guardians felt more than frustrated and upset they were unable to do nothing to help. Her four friends never cried in public this much, seeing their favorite friend slowly passing away.

Seokjin wailed in utter devastation, grief and desperation swallowing him, pained sobs rocking his figure. No matter how he begged them to help her or pleaded her not to leave him, none of them were responsive. His frantic pleads and painful cries reminded him of all those memories from their story, all of their promises.

It was heart-wrenching to see him hurting like that, he didn't acknowledge anyone else in the room as his broken eyes stayed close and his arms wrapped around her fading body tightly. He wailed for her to wake up, the pain hollowed him out, made it harder for him to breathe and numbed him of sorrow.

Somehow, his desperate words and powerless state triggered an idea in Aereum's head. She widened her eyes and let out surprisedly,

“There is a way.”

Everyone gasped lowly and glanced at her. Beomgyu lifted his gaze too despite his wet vision.

She added, “Reincarnation.”

Seokjin opened his eyes and looked at the princess. Thankfully, someone else asked the same question in his head, “What do you mean?”

She glanced at him, “I mean if the crystal ball permits their love right now, she can be saved. Because reincarnating will rescue her from death if she's not gone far.”

Hope regained in the faces of the residents as a little smile bloomed among them. They started their gossip in a minimum level, wondering if that'll work for real. Even Seokjin's devasted self wished for that to work, anything to save her.

She looked down at the other guardian, “The only way to save Guardian Yoon Min is reincarnation. Do you understand, Guardian Beomgyu?”

Beomgyu didn’t understand why she specifically mentioned him. Then he remembered. His wish! He made a wish to cancel their reincarnation. That was why, the princess was asking for his permission. Because if they were to reincarnate, his wish had to be overlooked.

Without hesitating, he replied, "Yes, of course!” He stood up, wiping his face. “Do it. Whatever you can do to save her.”

The princess nodded and ordered her secretary to bring the crystal ball here right now. Baekhyun ran off to her office and within five minutes, he brought the magical crystal ball to them. As soon as he brought the crytall ball in front of the public for the first time, the residents stared at it in awe. The magical crystal ball indeed appeared enchanting in their eyes, a mysterious allurement working its way to their hearts.

He placed it on the ground beside Seokjin and Yoon Min. Aereum kneeled down and informed him, “Place your hands over the crystal ball and repeat the words ‘We wish to be reincarnated’. If the ball turns purple, it means it accepted your love and you'll reincarnate straightaway. But if the ball doesn’t turn purple--” She didn’t feel the need to continue her words.

He nodded. First, he wrapped his fingers with her lifeless hand and placed them over the crystal ball. There was a white light emanating instantly as if the crystal ball sensed their hands. People around them gathered closely to see the scene.

Suddenly, the princess called him, “Seokjin?”

He glanced at her, wet tears pricking his vision.

“There's no gurantee you'll end up meeting each other.” She sounded serious as if there was no turning back. “If you reincarnate, both of you will be given new lives. You may not have any encounter with each other let alone ending up together. Even if you meet, you'll not recognise each other.”

The reason she informed him that was because if he was doing it for the sake of a new life with her, he was wrong. Seokjin unexpectedly smiled faintly but it was a bitter one. He realized that way before anyone dreamt of reincarnation. Right now, he was doing it so that her life can be saved.

He nodded and took a deep breath. Cradling her tightly, he whispered the words,

“We wish to be reincarnated.”

Something inside the ball was changing. The atmosphere was fading and fogged the glass from inside. Aereum stood up and stepped back from them including Beomgyu who stared at the magic creating inside the ball. He suddenly remembered passing the allowance of the crystal ball was impossible. No one in this universe had ever reincarnated because the ball turned down their love right in their faces. What if it did this time as well?

Everyone stared the crystal ball with keen eyes and begging hearts for all they wished strongly for the couple to reincarnate. Some of them started to pray to Almighty with joined hands while some were murmuring prayers several times. They all loved their senior guardian who was also their heartthrob crush and admired the young guardian who was passionate to save humans. Though they recieved hate from people due to their connected past and shared present, a few people rooted for them genuinely.

The crystal ball was processing and it took a long time. When minutes passed, the princess knew it wasn’t going to work. Usually, if a couple's love is strong and true, the ball doesn’t take much time to reveal the result. But when it takes time, it means there is a higher chance of failure. She already guessed this won't work because one of them was already dead.

Seokjin gave up within the next minute and broke down for the final time. His bloodshot eyes and reddish face written with utter sadness and hopelessness drove the others crazy. His misery affected them unexpectedly. However no one in the room knew how to console the mourning guardian. The only person who was capable of doing that was murdered and gone, leaving him alone like he did to her. And no matter how many times she begged him to come back, he didn’t. So this time, she won't come back too.

Disappointment breathed in the air. Almost many of them gave up on the magic of love. The trust broke, and desperation sang. A pain grew and hurt, blossoming from the inside out as though it were implanting itself to plague them forever.

Some souls are connected by a thread no matter how far they are.

“Do you think ours are connected?”

“Undoubtedly.”

Until the crystal ball glowed purple and spread its light everywhere like the touch of a glorious sun.

The residents broke out in cheers and applauded in happiness. Beomgyu for the first time cried tears of joy as he fell to his knees and covered his face while tears made their way down again. Aereum couldn’t believe her eyes. The color inside the crystal ball was a beautiful purple; the color she had wanted to see ages ago, the color she had wanted to see for other couples. After so many disappointing fails, she was forced to believe love wasn’t real. But she was proved wrong to her utter surprise.

Among all of them, it was only Seokjin who still didn’t see. He lifted his head and once he saw the purple color brightening, his jaw dropped as a cracked chuckle left his throat. With a triumphant gaze, he looked at the crowd of guardians and fairies who were praising and congratulating them. A tear left his eye as he glanced down at the sleeping body of Yoon Min whose eyes were still shut, no intention to come back to him.

His smile was about to disappear when Aereum told him, “She won't wake up now. You don't have much time. Maybe a minute or two before both of you will vanish from here.”

For the first time, he saw tears in the princess's eyes, that too out of pride and joy. The way she was trying to hold her smile was too praiseworthy. He looked up at his friends who were smiling at him. Except the maknaes. They were already shedding tears.

“Boys--”

“It's fine. We'll meet again, won't we?” Jungkook asked with genuine hope.

Seokjin nodded his head and he suddenly started to feel weird. He felt lighter like a cotton. He knew time was moving fast.

“I love you guys.” He confessed to which Yoongi scoffed but wiped a tear quickly.

He looked at Aereum and smiled sincerely, “Thank you, Princess Aereum. For everything.”

She returned a tiny smile but he knew she was dying to let him know she was going to miss him. But she only crossed her arms and covered her true emotions.

He didn’t want to look at Beomgyu but he eventually did, because if Yoon Min was alive right now, she would've hugged him despite bearing a sword, stabbed by him. She would've told him to forgive himself. Because she would understand whatever he did was in the name of love.

To honor her sacrifice, he looked at him whose face looked nothing like he did an hour ago. Right now, he looked guilty.

“Don't be hard on yourself.” That was the only thing he managed to tell him. Beomgyu was surprised he talked to him and nodded, though he was unsure he could do that.

And finally, Seokjin glanced down at Yoon Min and ended up smiling sadly. How he wished she was alive right now...how he desperately wished she could see all of these! She would've been so happy, so thankful to the universe and to Almighty. She would've been so excited to go back to Earth as a human. His heart broke again, realizing she was missing her last moments here.

So he cradled her more closer to him and rested his forehead on her, not forgetting to hold her lifeless hand and closed his eyes too. He could feel both of their bodies bluring into little pieces like dust, their breaths shortening. By realizing she took the sword in her chest to save him, he knew, as clear as he knew nothing was permanent, that he loved her more than anything he'd ever seen or imagined. And she loved him back.

With a soft gasp for breath, he whispered in hope she could hear him,

“We are going home, Yoon Min...”

Smiling faintly, he felt themselves fading and withering. The world was slowing and blurring around until all that's left were him and her. And with one last look at the universe, he breathed his last breath with her name in his mind. And she breathed her last breath with his name in her mind.

“Promise me something.” Yoon Min whispered.

They were standing at the shore of the neverending ocean. The waves were glowing and the stars were dancing.

Seokjin glanced at her and waited for her words.

She rested her head on his chest. “Promise me you won't forget me. If something happens to either of us, if we drift apart or move on from each other, please don't forget me. As I will not forget you.”

He didn’t answer. She continued, “We've shared far too memories together, shared so much joy and pain, went through life and death that if we forget each other, it will be a waste. It will all be for nothing.”

She pulled back her head slightly and met his eyes, “So please promise me you'll never throw away what we shared. Promise me you'll find a way to me as I will to you. Promise me, Jin.”

He smiled and let his arms wrap around her body tightly. The air was musical against their ears, the moonlight in the ocean witnessed their promise.

“I will look for you in every lifetime until we finally stay.” He whispered, feeling her smiling against him.

Until they breathed no more.

There was a feeling of inevitability when they met each other. Somewhere between the stardust and the milky way, there was a pulse that echoed their names.

Because after the conclusion of their epic story, they began to hurl through space and time.

Through every collapse and creation.

Towards a new beginning.

Towards the most beautiful collision.

“Thank you Love Universe,
for turning the pages and painting a second chance.”

THE END
***********

-------------------

Aaaaand it ends! Wow! Yayyyy....

However, the epilogue will be out in a few days. So please don't leave me yet. It's very important for the story.

Thank you so much for reading this far. I love you ❤️

And Happy Birthday to dear Beomgyu 😘