As predicted, the last 23 hours before Gemini could return to his body were the hardest for them. After four hours, when it was already dark outside, First had to force his brother out of the waiting room and take him to his room, where with the greatest difficulty he forced him to eat only one sandwich. Fourth claimed he wasn't hungry. The roles have reversed. Now First took care of Fourth. First had to use every argument he knew to get Fourth in the shower. Nattawat struggled, wanting to be at Gemini's side again as soon as possible to keep his promise that he would never leave him again.

"You need to take a bath. Just think, tomorrow your Gemini will return and what will he find? You don't want him to get spooked by your stench, do you?"

"I don't stink," Fourth defended himself, sniffing his shirt.

"Really? Your clothes are covered in blood, and you're sweaty, I can smell you from here," First said provocatively and pinched his nose as if to protect himself from the extremely unpleasant smell. Still refusing to listen to him, Fourth headed for the door to return to the infirmary. He wanted to be with Gemini all the time, and he didn't realize that it wouldn't do much. First stopped him by grabbing his hand and dragging him into the bathroom, where he began to remove Fourth's sweaty and dirty shirt. He forced his brother to face the mirror and said.

"Just look at you: puffy and red eyes, a red nose, messy hair and even traces of Gemini's blood on your neck, that's what you call clean? If Gemini sees you, he'll get scared."

"He's seen me before," Fourth replied without enthusiasm.

"I'm serious, get a grip. Take a shower, brush your teeth and go to bed, I'll watch you tonight. Unless you want me to bathe you."

Fourth was disgusted by the thought of someone helping him bathe. The only person he would allow that to be was Gemini, but he preferred not to talk about it out loud so as not to give his brother another opportunity to make fun of him. He pushed First out the door.

"I can handle myself, I'm an adult now, I'm not a little baby, you don't have to help me bathe! Bye!"

First smiled softly.

It was like a minor victory in this bizarre war where you didn't even know what was going on.

Meanwhile, Khaotung peeked into the room. First offered him a seat, but Tung refused, saying he was in a big hurry.

"I just came by to check on you guys. I have to go somewhere with Off and Tay today."

"Oh, I thought you'd stay here tonight," First was disappointed. Seeing his sad expression, Khaotung tapped him on the cheek with his forefinger.

"Smile at me, I'll try to come back soon. I understand Fourth is sleeping at your place tonight?"

"Uhm. It will be best. I want to keep an eye on him."

"Why? Are you afraid someone will attack him?"

"No, he's almost safe at the Institute. Almost" First emphasized the word "almost" while looking meaningfully at Khao. Thanawat understood.

"It'll be fine, you'll see."

"You know? I'm starting to wonder if being a Knight of the Light isn't some kind of punishment for us? See what constant danger we are in."

"Don't worry, I'm sure Zee and the elders and seniors of our Shadowhunter squad will figure something out. And it's our job, it's our biggest gift to be able to help humans. We can be really proud of ourselves. We overcome fear and pain, we fight against evil and darkness, we're strong and brave. That's not a punishment, we're the choosen ones. And about Fourth... I already told you, haven't I? Don't worry."

First very much wanted to believe it. Khaotung hugged him as tight as he could before saying goodbye briefly and leaving.

For the next two days, Fourth hardly left the infirmary, spending all his time with Gemini, who had finally regained his body and was slowly regaining his strength and his magic as well. Jimmy and Mix constantly monitored his condition, jotting down notes on their tablets and talking to each other in conspiratorial whispers. Fourth would have given anything to overhear what they were talking about.

* * *

Meanwhile...

"I think we should tell the boss," New said firmly, examining the image from the camera placed in the corner of building that looked from the outside like abandoned sports hall where the boys were training that fateful day. He saw a dark shadow, only vaguely human-like in shape but ownerless, creep up to the dagger and whip that had been dropped on the floor as Gemini and Pond practiced archery at the target and Phuwin took on Fluke without any weapons nearby. All of a sudden, an ornate dagger rose and stabbed Gemini in the shoulder, cutting the skin and causing him to bleed. Startled, Gemini fell to the floor, right next to what had hurt him. This caught the attention of Phuwin, who asked for time with his hands in a T-shape and approached his brother.

"What's going on?" New heard Phuwin's clear voice from the speakers.

"I don't know, I fell and ... I don't know how it happened" Gemini answered him.

"You're a clumsy one," Phuwin said and helped his brother to his feet. "Will you handle it?"

"Yes, it's just a minor cut, I'm sure Dr. Jimmy has some ointment for it," Gemini dismissed Phuwin's question with a dismissive wave of his hand. For the Knights of the Light, superficial injuries were pretty much a daily occurrence, and this carefreeness didn't surprise NuNew, but he didn't like the strange shadow that was clearly visible in the video. It could have been a demon. And it was also possible that somewhere beyond the range of the cameras there was someone else who had enchanted the dagger in such a way that it would hurt the boy unaware of the impending threat.

New paused recording. He had seen the video many times since he had been informed of the incident. Gem was still in the infirmary, and Fourth sat beside him, holding his hand and assuring him that he would not leave him alone again.

"I'm too afraid of losing you, I can't lose you, can you hear me? I can't...," he whispered.

Gem, regaining his strength, raised his good hand and stroked his head.

"You won't lose me, I'm not that easy to finish you know? Besides, now that I've found you and know you're on my side, I have a very important and beautiful reason to fight."

"Are you suggesting I'm beautiful?"

"You speak as if you didn't know it yourself."

Fourth shrugged.

"How should I know, no one has told me that before."

"That's even better, then I'll be the only one telling you."

Fourth, trying to hide the fact that this exchange between them had set his face on fire, patted his cheek with his hand, mentally telling himself, "Calm down," and joked loudly,

"You're better now and you're trying to piss me off again, aren't you?"

"I don't want to piss you off, I want to hit on you," Gemini said with deadly honesty, then turned his face away, ashamed of his own courage. Fourth just grabbed him by the sleeve and squeezed the material with all his strength, unable to stop the wide smile that appeared on his lips.

"Do you have to be so damn cute?" he asked, still smiling. Now that they knew each other's feelings, they became bolder, and yet Gemini was still shy at times. Ever since he returned, Fourth had promised both of them that he wouldn't leave him for a moment. That's why he had fed him by himself moments before. At first Norawit protested a bit, reminding Nattawat that he had hands too and could use them, but Fourth silenced him by shoving a large, delicious-smelling piece of dessert under his nose.

Too much had happened in the last week, Fourth thought. He considered the return of his mother, whom he had never known before, a great happiness, but the fact that Gem was alive was like a miracle to him. The woman returned to the Institute, as if sensing that her son was suffering like never before. While Gemini was still out of his body, Zee invited Fourth and First to his office and introduced them to their own mother. The woman burst into tears of emotion at the sight of them, took them into her arms and promised fervently that she wouldn't let anything bad happen to them. She also apologized for not being able to find them sooner. Because of Gemini's condition, however, they didn't have the opportunity to talk longer, but the woman understood that for her younger son, this boy's health was the most important thing in the world and she was not going to interfere.

"Uhm, that's right, I have to tell you something, Gem, my mother has been found.

"Oh! Have you met her?!"

"Yes. She's very nice, but I don't know much about her. I feel a little uncomfortable around her, but when I think that she is my mother after all ... You know, she is completely different from the crazy woman who raised us, and I know it may sound strange, but I'm glad that woman is not ours real mother. My real mother..." And Fourth began to tell Gemini about his impressions of their first meeting. His eyes sparkled, and Gemi thought once again that he was lucky if he could look into those beautiful eyes, see that wide smile and hear that melodic voice that would surely sound wonderful if Fourth decided to sing.

Meanwhile, in the meeting room, which was directly across from the infirmary, New and Mrs. Puitrakul were discussing the dangers that threatened the boys. New managed to summon Zee, and Mrs. Puitrakul her second son, First, and Gemini's brother, Phuwin. With the mother of Phu, Dunk and Gemini, they connected via video call on a laptop belonging to NuNew.

"They've been attacked twice, they can't stay here, they're not even safe at the Institute," Zee said with a note of irritation in his voice. He stood with his back to them, hands in his trouser pockets, and stared straight ahead at the view outside the window, which did not interest him at all.

"There is a solution, but we need Magnus Bane's help for that, he's currently the only sorcerer I know who can take memories out of someone's head and put them somewhere safe," NuNew prompted, hastily scrolling through his notes transferred from notebooks to his tablet.

"Is there really no other way?" Lady Puitrakul asked anxiously. She had just regained her sons, who had been missing for years, and she hadn't even had time to enjoy it.

"Don't worry, we'll be watching them all the time, if anything alarming happens, we'll send someone to help immediately," New comforted her.

"Okay, so be it, but I have one request."

"Yes? What is it?"

"Don't send them far away from each other, I don't want Fourth to be lonely. My son has suffered enough, send them somewhere together."

"Okay, we'll do that," Zee agreed, seeing no reason why they shouldn't.

Ten minutes later, everyone gathered in the infirmary to announce to Gemini and Fourth what had been decided. Magnus was already waiting in the corridor, informed by Khaotung, who had received news about it from both Zee and First.

"We will take you to a parallel universe where Fourth will be named Gun and will be a senior student of Nyomsil High together with Tinn. Tinn is you, Gemini. Before you take over their roles, you will meet them. The real Tinn and Gun will be sent on vacation to a country called Polonia for this time and will return when you come back to us. Here's all the information you need" New handed the boys tablets displaying personal details and other information such as hobbies, interests, favorite series, favorite subjects in school and the most hated subjects in school. There was also a short cutscene of the school band called Chinzilla, which consisted of Gun, Phat, Win, Yo, and Por.

"It will be a return for you after the holidays, because in that world the holidays are coming to an end." New gave them more information.

"Er..." Gem wasn't convinced by the idea, but Fourth was clearly pissed off. His blood boiled as he clenched his teeth and bit his tongue to keep from saying something nasty. First noticed it.

"I told you mom they wouldn't go for it, especially your other son. He's a fighter, he's not someone who will sit on his ass and wait for someone else to do everything for him. He was the one who always supported me and saved me from trouble, he was the one who put his neck on the line for me. He may be younger, but he's definitely more mature and responsible than me."

What he said shocked everyone. New had forgotten how to say it, frowning as he tried to understand why First supported his brother.

"Boys, we already told you, it's for your safety, someone is trying to kill you, we can't risk it. What if they attack you? You are not safe here" Mrs. Puitrakul squeezed her younger son's hand tighter, next to whom she was sitting on a chair she had provided by Gemini's bed.

"Let them do it! I'm waiting!" Fourth cried defiantly. "I'll beat them if I have to."

"We'll do it together," Gemini added. "We don't train to sit like a mouse under a broom and hide. If we are to become Knights of the Light, which is what you train us to be, you must trust us."

"I told you." First spread his hands helplessly. He knew his little brother all too well, knew that he didn't like to lose, and hated being treated like a child even more.

"This is not a request. It's your job. Who knows, maybe staying in that universe won't be as nice as it seems? And maybe you'll find something useful there too. No world is free from dark powers and monsters, from demons that must be fought. Want to check yourself? So do the job." Zee, who had been silent until then, was adamant. No amount of pleading could change his mind. He had already decided that he would send the boys to a planet called Gaia II, which was the twin of Earth, which they considered their only true home. The differences between the two worlds were really minimal, for example, according to the information given to them, First also had his twin there, who was named Yok, and along with Gun Atthaphan's twin, Black, who on Gaia II had his twin brother, White, in a somewhat aggressive and adventurous way of fighting for justice in their country.

"Okay, but we disagree on one thing," Fourth said, boldly looking Zee straight in the eye as if challenging him. He didn't like Zee, who, according to him, was too firm, mean and selfish, he didn't take into account the opinion of others and believed that he knew best what was good for them.

"Yes?" Zee just raised his eyebrows.

"You can't erase our memory."

"But it's for your safety..."

"That's a bullshit" Fourth interrupted New in mid-sentence. Gemini had never seen Fourth so furious. His eyes literally shot lightning at his ex-boyfriend, whom Fourth approached, unexpectedly grabbing at a piece of his lilac hoodie. "Don't say it's for our safety. Don't stoop to lying. You want our memories erased, so I don't remember you and what an asshole you really are. Also, you're forgetting one thing. How would we defend ourselves if we don't remember anything? How do you imagine our fight against impure forces, since we won't even know how to recognize them? What if we forget everything we've learned here?"

NuNew pushed Fourth away from him. He didn't understand what he meant. Was there any reason to be angry with him? To hit him? Or was it due to recent events? Nattawat and Norawit certainly needed rest.

But NuNew was terrified of something else: the possibility that Fourth had discovered something about him, that he was about to uncover some inconvenient fact that would sink him and possibly end his career in both the Magical and Non-Magical worlds. He didn't want to give up music, it was his greatest passion, he even preferred music more than the dirty, disgusting, sometimes filled with stench, sweat, blood and fatigue of fighting demons or hordes of angry vampires who were forbidden to attack unwitting foreigners who came to Thailand to admire its beauty and culture. Just in case, he preferred to side with Fourth, at the moment he was the biggest threat. Sending him off to another planet seemed like a perfectly reasonable idea that favored NuNew's plans. Already in the morning Chawarin had overheard rumors circulating around the Institute that Iris had spent the night with Norawit and Nattawat. He didn't like what he heard. He asked his sister about it again, but she didn't tell him anything new. She just insisted that none of the boys had hurt her in the slightest. NuNew needed time to sort out the mess and chaos in his mind.

"The boy's right, boss," New addressed Zee directly. He was the weakness of Pruk Panich. Zee just couldn't say no to him. He waved his hand resignedly, as if shooing away an annoying fly.

"Do what you will, as long as you don't come back to me with bad news later. Want to do everything your way? Okay, so be it. We'll see what comes out."

Gem and Fourth nailed the turtles together, satisfied that they had been heard. They didn't expect Zee to succumb so quickly. Zee hurriedly left the infirmary, he had a lot of other problems on his mind, first of all, it was necessary to contact Earth Pirapat, who had been on Gaia II for some time and regularly sent them reports on the state of security in Thailand there.

"Our boss seems to be in love," First whispered in Fourth's ear, winking at him knowingly.

"Why such an assumption?"

"The fact that he agreed is suspicious, it's clear that even such a great and serious Mage has the ability to love, no wonder. But others may be a bit shocked when they find out."

"Uhm, right. But they fit together" Gemini interjected. "Okay, but for now, I'm tired of sitting here. Fourth, are we going to our room?"

"It's okay, we can go. Dr. Jimmy says you're recovering, in two or three days you could train again. That's good news."

"Very good, even," Fourth agreed. First said goodbye to them with a very fake smile plastered on his face. He couldn't enjoy the fact that his brother would be taken and sent somewhere far away. He had never been on his own without Fourth's help for more than a week before, and this time they didn't know how long it would take. They could only guess and hope that when Fourth and Gemini were safe, they would finally be able to capture this disturbed woman who they believed was responsible for everything bad that had happened to them recently. First, with some clumsiness and fear, told their real mother about how they had been treated by the kidnappers, and he wasn't at all surprised that his mother was upset. As he walked to his room, he couldn't stop thinking about it. Eventually, however, he changed his mind and instead of going to the suite, he went out to the back of the Institute, where there were swimming pools, gardens, and a large pond full of various species of fish and other aquatic creatures, some so strange that First was surprised that they could exist at all.

Fourth helped Gemini change out of pajamas into normal clothes and led him to the room where they were supposed to live together, but they didn't make it. He looked around the room with some sadness. This was a room previously owned only by Gemini, and all the items belonging to it had been placed on shelves and on cupboards, while Fourth's luggage was still unpacked in the corner next to the wardrobe. Fourth noticed that someone had taken care to move the boxes he had packed earlier from the cabin where he lived in the Non-Magical world. You could bet it was NuNew. Although he didn't understand why NuNew was helping him. Was he tormented by remorse? It was very likely. It still hurt Nattawat that Chawarin had simply lied to him, that he had deceived him all these months, telling him that he loved him and wanted them to be together. He felt as if he was a toy that was tossed from corner to corner when the owner got bored with it. The disappointment of NuNew's behavior was even greater because Fourth himself never lied to Nu, he always told him exactly what he felt, even when he knew his words might hurt them both. He was honest, he didn't hide anything, and he believed New was doing the same thing, but it turned out to be different. Perhaps New had never been honest with him, perhaps under the guise of a good friend, a charming partner and a great singer with a look so captivating that everyone fell in love with him, not only women but also men, perhaps under this guise was someone with a black character, a dark soul that Fourth, being the embodiment of the purest of intentions, was unable to recognize. Or maybe on the contrary, maybe he recognized his evil soul and perversely his own soul wanted to try to heal NuNew's sick soul? He wasn't sure about anything about Chawarin anymore. The musician had let him down, made Nattawat not sure if he would ever trust him again.

"We haven't even had time to enjoy living together," Fourth said grimly.

"Don't worry, we'll still have plenty of time to spend together, I promise."

Gemini smiled so beautifully and broadly that Fourth couldn't help but pinch his cheek.

"And you're trying to be cute again, aren't you? Hmmm?"

"I'm not trying. I am cute" Gemini stated with disarming honesty. Gemini's little lion cub didn't seem pleased that his master was paying more attention to someone else, so he walked over to Gemini and laid his big head on his lap, demanding the standard amount of caresses. Fourth laughed at the sight, and Gem scratched the big kitten's belly. Fourth's phoenix was sleeping peacefully with its beak hidden under a wing on its perch right next to the door, which meant that at least he didn't sense any danger nearby.

"Too bad we can't take them with us, huh?" Fourth asked, gently stroking the fur of the contented little lion.

"True, but if we took them with us, we might draw a little too much attention to ourselves. It's not every day you see a boy walking in the company of a young lion cub or a phoenix."

"What do you think Tinn and Gun are like?"

"I don't know, but they're definitely a little different from us. From what I've heard, they're rivals, or so NuNew told me."

"Rivals?" Fourth's stomach clenched as he heard that. He wasn't going to be Gemini's opponent, he loved him, and he couldn't imagine how he would even be able to even pretend not to like him. "Does that mean I'm supposed to hate you from now on?"

"I guess so" Gemini said only, and when he saw the sour face of his beloved, he put his arm around him and pulled him to himself to hug him tightly. For them, it was their language of love: sometimes they would make jokes with each other, have pillow fights, attack each other, push each other from chairs to the floor, all to have an excuse to feel the touch of the other's body for as long as possible. When Fourth hugged Gemini, they both drew strength and new energy from this embrace. Now Fourth knew that whenever he felt worse, he could come to Gemini, and Gemini would be waiting for him with open arms to comfort him. His closeness, the warmth of his body, the sound of his voice, and his distinctive scent always brought Fourth relief and peace. He couldn't imagine giving it up anymore, so when Gemi told him that Tinn and Gun were rivals, he felt like he was losing ground.

Rivals. Tinn and Gun are rivals. Damn!

"Don't worry, we'll find a way," Gemini comforted him, stroking his back. A plan was already forming in his head, but he preferred to write it down first and discuss every detail with Fourth calmly, so that he could implement it when they were in the other world. He thought it would be good to write a detailed plan of events, plus a script. "I already have an idea."

"You have an idea? What?" Fourth wanted to know immediately. Gemini released him from his embrace, got up from the couch where they were sitting and walked over to the white board where he began to write down the points that appeared in his thoughts.

Problem to solve: Tinn and Gun are rivals.
Solution: Make Tinn and Gun fall in love.

"You're crazy, you know that?"

"Yes, I love you madly, you're right."

Fourth laughed at this text. He slapped his own forehead in disbelief with his own hand, and at the same time thought about the fact that Gemini would never let him get bored. He was funny, cheerful, loud and full of energy, he rarely stopped for long, took life to the fullest and was not afraid to be himself. Fourth was impressed.

„I love you too, Gemini." He replied completely casually, remembering his promise not to miss any chance to tell him. "But let's get back to your plan."

"So my plan is this: NuNew said that Tinn and Gun are enemies for now, and we're going to become them. We don't know for how long, but supposedly time flows a bit faster there than in our country, although I don't understand how it's possible, after all, time should be universal? Why should it flow differently in our universe than in another? Isn't that weird?"

Gemini got carried away with his academic reflections on the theory of time and space-time, according to which transferring to a parallel universe was so difficult as to be almost impossible, and yet they were about to do it. Fourth thought if he put round glasses on Gemini now, he could turn into a pretty handsome nerd. It was quite an enticing vision, Gem with glasses... Fourth shook his head to rid himself of such thoughts, which for some reason made him feel slightly embarrassed and intimidated.

Gemini with glasses... Fourth couldn't help but want to see it live. Currently, the only glasses he's ever seen him wearing are sunglasses, which Gemini must have been obsessed with, as there was a cupboard in his room that contained nothing but a whole lot of different types of sunglasses.

"You're getting a little off topic, aren't you?" Still amused, Fourth walked over to him and patted him gently on the cheek. "Now is not the time to solve the puzzles of this stupid physics, we must come up with a plan to bring Tinn and Gun together."

"Oh, you're right. But don't say physics is stupid, because it isn't."

"Good good. Focus on this." Fourth tapped the board next to them. Gemini wrinkled his nose playfully for a moment, as if he was dissatisfied, but then his face lit up with a radiant smile. Just making the plan excited him.

"I know how to bring them closer! If I remember correctly, there was something in the news about Gun being a member of a music club and dreaming of winning Hot Wave. How about Tinn helping him?"

"They hate each other, if Tinn suddenly starts helping them, won't their friends find it seem suspicious?"

"We can always say that Tinn was in love with Gun from the beginning."

"You are genius."

"I know, thanks," Gemini smiled triumphantly. Fourth's praise sent a pleasant warmth spreading throughout his body. He wrote another point on the board.

Way: Tinn has to help Gun win Hot Wave.

"Remember that no one can know our true identity," Fourth admonished him.

"I know. I think I'm starting to understand why our Gun, Gun Atthaphan, was so insistent on taking acting classes, now we're going to need that."

"And I still don't know if I can handle having to pretend that that universe's Gun hates Tinn. I don't want to hate you."

"Take it as a challenge, as a role to play. Imagine you are the hero of a movie. This hero initially dislikes his opponent, wants nothing to do with him, but over the time they spend together, he opens his heart to him more and more and finally, without knowing when and how it happened, he falls in love with his rival, surprised to discover that his "rival" reciprocates these feelings. What do you say? A beautiful plan?"

"Very."

"Exactly. So let's do everything we can to make it happen. Let's treat it as an adventure that we will tell our friends about when we return."

Suddenly, Fourth's face fell as he remembered that they were taking over the lives of real people from planet Gaia II.

"Gem..."

"What is it about?"

"Because you see... We're having a great time coming up with this plan, what about them, the real Tinn and Gun? What if they don't agree to it, if it doesn't suit them? What if it makes them uncomfortable?"

"I think Zee has already thought of that. Tinn and Gun will be sent together to another country, to a place where no one will look for them. They will be sent there together and will have to learn to cooperate with each other, or maybe this will give them a chance to get closer to each other? Who knows? Maybe they will also fall in love?"

"You'd like them to be together, wouldn't you?"

"Of course. I love the idea of them loving each other as much as we do."

Gemini wanted to take a picture of his plan, but he knew it would be of no use to him. He could not take his phone with him to that planet, Zee only allowed them to take notebooks in which they would keep journals and a stele. Instead, he started copying everything into a notebook with a thick red cover.