Slow was the descend. The ground was not very safe for zuzu to land yet.

so, while the turtle looked for a place to land the two on her back had gotten into a conversation.

"So you have a loving family and you have so much interest in the world. Yet you don't have many friends?"

"I just have the people of the palace and my family. It's a pretty small circle.. I'm glad i am out and free. Going places i never dared to dream of" Taehyung smiled looking at Jungkook. "and i met you. A big plus"

"Really now~" Jungkook chuckled and leaned closer. "In what way? Is my appearance attractive? Am i funny, is my power drawing you in. Or is it my unique eyes that put you under a spell...Hmm?"

Taehyung glanced at Jungkook"s purple  left eye. Yes Jungkook's eyes were mesmerizing but that wasn't what made him feel like this.

"no, its just....You"

"o-oh!" Jungkook didn't expect to get such an honest and forward answer. He was a bit taken off guard by that. "im flattered. I hope you get to like me more"

"well....Honestly you are already likable. I mean, i....I don't know....But...This feeling i keep having with you...." Taehyung frowned. He doesn't dare to label it but he is more and more starting to feel like there is only one word for it.

"I have the same problem Tae.... I feel things  that I don't know how to deal with right now.... I want to acknowledge them, but... Something holds me from it.

"we...Will leave it at that then.....I guess"

"Tae, I mean.... We-woah there!" Jungkook and Taehyung almost fell over when Zuzu landed unexpectedly with a heavy thud. "okay, we uh arrived"
he chuckled.

"yea..." Taehyung was a bit disappointed their conversation got broken off so suddenly. But they should focus on their search now. When they are back somewhere private they might be able to pick up this talk.

-

After getting off the turtle and changing their jackets, the two were heading to the front of the city. While they walked Taehyung saw a part of the city was completely destroyed. It was as if a huge bomb went off there. Like a huge mortar hit the city....
But it was too far to tell clearly what caused the destruction.

The two walked through the streets that were not damaged. It was a silent city. Not a lot of talking or workers outside. It was really reserved. As they passed people glanced at them.

"It doesn't feel very welcoming here" Taehyung said and went to walk closer to Jungkook.

"i think its because of what we saw from the sky... Something happened here, '' Jungkook replied. He also had the same off feeling as Taehyung. It didn't seem that they were very welcoming.

Not as lively as Jungkook remembered it to be.

Suddenly an elderly woman approached them holding out a basket of fresh peach like food. "greetings travelers, would you care for so-....." the lady stopped talking and quickly pulled her basket back. "oh, no, its him." With fear in her eyes she grabbed her husbands arm and they rushed inside their home.

And that lady wasn't the only one. Now they noticed it clearly. Taehyung looked around and saw more people close their doors and windows. Behind them everyone stared at them.

They were not welcome here.... But why?

"they are afraid.... Why?"

Jungkook stayed silent.

"maybe they got attacked. You spoke about the war, maybe it's damage from that"

"maybe" Jungkook kept walking. Until one man was too late to run off and Jungkook grabbed him by the shoulder to keep him from running. "Hello young man, i would like to ask you something."

Taehyung looked at the visibly shaking man who looked terrified at Jungkook.

"p-please don't hurt us!"

"You saw the one that damaged your city? Where did he go?"

"p-please!"

"answer it. Tell me where I went." Jungkook's voice lowered and his eyes glared.

"t-the farms, ask the f-f-farmers" the man was released and he ran off almost tripping over his feet.

"Jungkook...What's going on here, I don't like this. You're being scary right now" the Prince said after he saw Jungkook questioning without any compassion for the scared man.

"don't worry, everything is fine! Lets go ask the farmers. I think we are getting close" Jungkook smiled and wrapped an arm around Taehyung.

"isn't that where the damage was"

"exactly. And I get the feeling that this damage was made quite recently. Seeing that the people's reactions are still so fresh. As if it happened yesterday"

"....Strange," Taehyung muttered while walking with the raven. Not even making any movement to move away. He likes that Jungkook held him like this. And his mind went to the raven, making him blush....

-

After a short uncomfortable walk while they were being avoided like the plague the two arrived at the first farm homes. Walking over a sandy path through two big fields. Near the fourth house was the huge crater and a, what looked like, sinkhole on their far left in the field they were passing through.

"alright. Let me just knock-"

"Let me do it. People seem....Afraid of you " Taehyung interrupted the wizard before he could knock and did it himself. Stepping in front of the other to greet the farmer.

He didn't actually expect someone to open but it did. A lady opened the door and smiled at him.

"Well, hello there young man, what brings you here on this sunny afternoon?" The lady smiled. She was older than taehyung expected to see when they were told to go ask farmers.

"Dear, who is at the door??" a man came from behind her and also stood in the doorway examining the two strangers. "you...You are not welcome here!" the man shouted and pointed his finger at Jungkook.

"wha-"

"you monster! Leave us alone. You've done enough damage!!"

"please, we just want to ask one thing. This wizard here didn't attack your village. It's someone who apparently looks like him. We are trying to find him and get him. '' Taehyung quickly got in between. Hoping to calm the situation before the door would be closed in their faces.

"After you burned our homes and destroyed our fields you left. You went up in the sky, we thought we would be safe. But here you are" the man looked like he was about to fight Jungkook on the spot. His arm went to the side of the door and in just two seconds he took out a loaded crossbow and fired it at the raven.

Jungkook quickly raised his hand and an invisible force made the arrow stop mid air and fall down to the ground.

"get inside, dear. You, both of you. Leave this town, you are not welcome anymore!" and with that the man shut the door.

"that was one aggressive man." Jungkook picked up the arrow from the ground and put it into their mailbox before walking off into the field.

"Hey, where are you going? Are we not gonna talk about what just happened??!" Taehyung asked while chasing after Jungkook who was walking through the young corn in the field.

"We can, later. First I want to inspect this strange crater. They say I did this but I know I didn't. And I can prove it."

"What are you talking about?!" Taehyung stopped next to the wizard inside the crater with a ring of burned nature around it.
It was an ashy area with a good chunk of ground missing.

"as you can see this is not something i... Oh...It really is burned...'' Jungkook mumbled the last part and frowned. Some bits of magic traces were left. A faint purple glow seemed to be seen between the burned nature. "a-ah let's go to the sky Island above here and find this killer. We are done here.

"but you said you can get proof you didn't do it. "

"yea well. I'm no expert detective or whatever. I will leave that to someone else." Jungkook chuckled and patted Taehyung's head with a smile. "come now, adventure awaits. You and me, together"

"together..." Taehyung blushed with a shy smile.
Jungkook smiled back seeing the reaction.

---

Thankies for reading, again it took me long to update. I hope you like it. Things are going to get serious soon. Im curious if you will be able you figure it out before i reveal all the truths👀.

🌼🌼🌼