Jackson's grey eyes stared through Ji Ah's. She couldn't look away, it was as though somebody put a spell on her that she stared into those lovable eyes. He smiled at her in a sad way that Ji Ah couldn't comprehend at the moment. Too many emotions ran behind those irises, yet none were figured out.

"JI!"

She turned around, hearing Jimin's call. Her eyes widened when something heavy pushed her down with an amount of force that made her hit head first on the hard rock beneath. A heavy ringing echoed in her ears, each second passed, the ringing intensified. She held her ears and tears blurred her vision. And through those tears, she saw something falling.

No, it was someone. She scrambled up her feet and ran towards him, gasping at the sight of the man. She fell on her knees near him, blood was oozing down his torso making his white shirt in an awful shade of red, a horrible arrow stuck on his chest.

"It's alright, I've got you." She muttered through her tears, holding his hands. "HOSEOK! HOSEOK, COME HERE!" She cried out, holding his cheeks in her hand. "Stay with me, Jackson. Come on. You'll be alright." The arrow was way too familiar and she wished it was not that. Her ears were still ringing loudly. Jack stared at her with the same smile he did minutes before, his hand pushed her strands away from her cheeks. She saw his mouth moving but all she heard was the horrible ringing. She stared intently, wanting to know what he said but she she couldn't comprehend it. "What- I don't understand-" His hands fell down with a thud, his body went limp.

Ji Ah sat there frozen. Hoseok came running, blocking away a Verde that came towards him. He sat hastily, holding Jackson's hand trying to feel any ounce of beat so that he could use the Elixir. He looked up at Ji Ah, his ruby eyes were watery.

"No, no, use it! He's not gone. He's alive! I know!" She felt someone pulling her into their chest, the smell of lavender was too calming to ignore. Her ringing finally stopped and the eery silence that her ears experienced scared her so much, she wished they lasted longer.

"They've used... Botulinum, Ji." Namjoon's voice was trembling as he sat beside her, looking at the Sebran's form with sad tear-filled eyes. She wished those ringing hadn't stopped. He bowed his head in respect to him, to his courageous deeds, to the great passion that he saw in his eyes. A sword fell below with a clank. Namjoon looked as Luminous fell to his knees, his silver eyes filled with tears.

"Jackson..." He muttered. They didn't know what was the connection between the two. He sucked a deep breath and reached forward to close his eyes, biting his lips to not let out a sob that he was holding so badly. This shouldn't happen. This was not what he wanted... This was not how things were supposed to go!

"Jackiee..." Nevaeh sat down beside him, "come back..." The little girl knew. She knew that she will not see him again, that she will not hear him say anything, not even her favourite Tale of Mr.Believe. She was a Kaal after all. The soul had departed from the body and it was just a vessel. That was simply visible to her and she didn't want to believe it. Because Jack would always tell her that he will be there for her. He promised. "Wake up, Jack!" She screamed, you wrapped your hands around the kid in a secured way. "Come back! Please talk!" She thrashed around in the place, Ji Ah sobbed harder listening to the girl's cry, burying her face deeper into Jimin's chest.

He didn't dare say it's going to be alright. He knew it would do no good in cheering her up. So he held her tight, trying to convey everything he wanted to through it.

"What's happening?" Jungkook's shaky voice made them look at the lifeless body of Jackson. His right hand started to fade away in small silver dust, soon his legs and body and his face. There was nothing there... No corpse. Not a sign of a person being... dead. They stared at it in confusion, at the place where once Jackson was there.

"He knew..." Luminous wiped his tears harshly, his anger reaching his peak, his face flushed from the amount of emotion running through him. "He knew he would die." He never wanted him to die. Jackson was someone Lucas was so close with. He just couldn't accept the thought of losing one good thing that had ever occurred in Lucas' life. He couldn't just imagine how it would be to lose Lucas.

Jungkook was about to ask what he meant, but he stopped when Namjoon shook his head not to. He shut his mouth and looked at the sobbing form of Ji Ah.

"No, hey, hey! You'll be fine, look here, God please help him."

"Please... Kill me," the voice was too strangled, begging for mercy to the one near.

Jungkook turned around to see the begs of a Lyren, the one who he defeated. A Neel was on the ground, none of the men were there. They ran away as soon as Jackson died. Looking at the way he stared, Taehyung turned too and so did the others.

The Neel laid on the land, his voice begging the Lyren to kill him. Hearing his cries and commotion, the officers in the village came there. Taehyung felt something squirm inside him, a feeling of guilt that he couldn't find the reason for. The Neel was the one who left him there, defeated. The one who refused to kill him. The same one who let Nevaeh escape.

Luminous ran towards them, crouching near the crying Lyren who just couldn't bring himself to do it. The Dark Prince saw the way his limb was severed, blood still oozed out through and he was barely alive, he was only feeling pain, the poison was killing him slowly. The Lyren sucked a deep breath, muttering apologies to whoever could hear it and he plunged his sword into the Neel's chest. The Neel stopped moving, his eyes that were begging for mercy finally attained peace. Luminous couldn't make himself to see the scene. He felt the sudden need to throw up. This was not what he wished for. How many more should die?!

He stood up and ran away, into the forest, his eyes were glowing in a brilliant pink as did so. He scanned through the forest and no sooner he found the traitor hiding behind the huge tree trunk like the coward he was. Raven cowered beneath, looking at the looming form of the Dark Prince staring down at him.

"Our Prince..." He squeaked out, "my honor that I get to see your royal form." He bowed low, but Luminous pushed him too hard on the trunk making his back hit hard and groan out in the impact. Luminous was anything that time but royal.

"You defied the orders, you murderer." Raven stared at him with horror in his eyes.

"Your highness, no. He was the traitor, they are--they are from the Light Palace. They're here to ruin the Dark King's plan-"

"You think the King doesn't know about this?" He hissed, leaning closer searching for any ounce of remorse in those grave grey eyes. "He knows everything. Every single thing." His fingers which were clutched around his shirt released. Luminous could think of only one person.

Lucas... He should be here. It only took a second of thought that Lucas showed up immediately from a puff of black smoke. The young man held so much power that made Raven bow his head, two royals... This was not how Raven planned things to end.

"You know what to do." Lucas nodded at Luminous, he knew. Lucas knew what had happened. "Tell father that I'll be there tonight. I shall watch him pay for his crime." Usually, Lucas would've mocked Luminous for his commanding voice, though now, the poor General was so broken that he just bowed his head and watched him leave. He knew it, he felt it the moment Jackson's life left his body. He took a deep breath, gaining more control over his voice.

"Raven Miller. You are hereby taken under guard for defying the oath that you took, murdering two of your teammates which could be the highest crime that you could ever think of." Lucas's pitch-black eyes were as unmerciful as they can be. His voice was firm and steady, how a General's voice would be and Raven felt himself falling to the ground.

"I didn't want to-I didn't want to kill them, it was an accident-"

"You shall say your part in the trial tonight." Lucas waved his hand and a long chain latched itself onto Raven's hands, cuffing them together. Lucas disappeared from the forest with a puff of black smoke, along with the Sebran who was shaking so badly with tear-filled eyes.

______________________________________________________________

The other guards in the town rushed towards the sound and havoc. Yoongi stared at them, with a heavy heart he said. "We have to move. Can't get into any more trouble." He hid his arm behind which was bleeding from the ruckus quickly before Namjoon could notice. Yoongi stared at the way Luminous ran, he wanted to wait but it would take a long time and by then they would be caught.

"I think we need help." Namjoon's eyes stared at a particular Verde who hurriedly came to assist the sobbing Lyren near the Neel.

That resulted in Namjoon pulling Oliver aside from the group. "We need your help, Oliver." Oliver looked shocked a moment, staring at the Sebran with suspicious eyes. He nodded curtly ushered for them to follow. You held Nevaeh's hand tighter who face was coated with silent tears. Jimin supported Ji Ah along with Yoongi.

Oliver came to a stop before the dead end. He peered behind the others back and turned to the lone dustbin in a corner. He dropped three silver coins inside, one by one. Taehyung held onto his left shoulder while he looked at the strange thing Oliver did. He was about to question but then, the dustbin moved away, and below it was what it looked like... A Manhole.

"After me. No need to worry, Ride will be smooth." With a glance at the others, Oliver jumped into the hole. Namjoon moved and peered over it. "Come on, One after the other!" He called out from below so that they know his bones aren't crashed from the fall as they thought it the be. Yoongi dropped the hand he had on Ji Ah who was still shaking after the situation and moved in first, jumped without hesitation.

"Safe guys." Yoongi's voice barely reached the top and so one by one fell into the hole. You found yourself landing on a comfy pile of soft things that were kept to break the fall. As soon as you stood up, the horrid smell of the sewer filled your nose. You grabbed onto Nevaeh, who was looking at the place with amusement, the slide ride down had surely calmed her nerves a bit. Ji Ah stared around the place numbly, not even noticing the apologetic stares of her brother.

Oliver counted to make sure everyone are there and pulled a lever right above his reach. One Sebran, One Verde, One Urgen, Two Laal, One Neel, Three Kaals ( Ji Ah, you and Nevaeh to be exact as he didn't know who you are), And two Prextrans. Totally eleven. The lid over it closed shut and the little ray of light faded. Jungkook wished he could see through the dark because they definitely needed some light when they are in a drainage pipe. It was like the nature heard what he had thought, a huge buzzing insect flew, its huge bulk in the back glowing an eery blue.

"Where's Mr.Mon?" Hoseok asked, looking around.

"He'll be around, Hobi. He went into the forest, and animals need it. It's his habitat." Namjoon smiled at Hoseok. The Laal turned away, his heart giving a little tug at the way he called him by his nickname. Namjoon sighed. Not in this life he would forgive me.

"Light flies.. you won't see one often here," Oliver murmured and lead the way. He was used to this way so there was no need for any light, yet he was partly glad to have the one big fly that lit up the whole tunnel for them to walk through. Their foot splashing the water away as they walked, not even daring to think what it would be in their shoes. Soon after a walk of what Jimin thought would be seven minutes, Oliver came to a stop. Oliver pushed three gold coins in a row and the small door creaked open.

The light fly was moving away now and the light became dimmer and dimmer, but the brightness of the room was enough to spot it. They went in one at a time as the door was narrow and crooked.

"Make yourselves comfortable. In you go," he ushered them inside with a warm smile, "Ladies and Men, we have guests." Ji Ah wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. Loeva scanned through the area, looking through the bunch of Laals and few Kaals among the group and there were, few children at Nevaeh's age too. Almost seventeen people would be there. Oliver collected exactly six coins, three silver, and three gold from a socket that was near the doorway and pushed them into his pocket, they were the same ones he dropped.

"Who are they?" A Kaal asked, his eyes pitch black, and were looking at them all curiously.

"They are... uh, who are you?" Oliver turned and asked, he remembered that his memory was modified and his bottle-green eyes showed that he didn't remember a single thing from it, yet his eyes stared at Taehyung's way often.

"Seokjin?" A girl who was standing in the corner asked, she was an Urgen, though she had Kaal's eyes. The General stared at the girl with confusion and Loeva sent a subtle stare in his way. At the mention of the General's name, a rush of murmurs went through the room. Namjoon sighed heavily, he didn't want them to know why they were here or where they were from.

"We're from the Light Palace," Jin said, his voice carried across the room brought a pin drop silence. "On a mission."

"So the Queen finally thought of doing something..." Somebody among them said though they couldn't point out who did.

"Our Queen is doing everything she can-"

"Surely not everything, General." The girl sighed, "We've all lost our family, twenty more towns, and whole Arcturus would be in the control of The Dark King. Not even once your Palace soldiers came out to help. They didn't stop when they took away our friends and family. So as I said, your Queen is not doing everything." There was a moment of pause, an agony-filled silence. They didn't have anything to defend their Queen about, true that it was not Inez's fault, still, they can't blame the Queen like that. Something familiar about the girl kept ringing in Jin's mind. It was Taehyung who said it.

"Jisoo?"

"About time you remembered guys." She chuckled sadly, her pitch-black eyes boring them while the others looked at their feet guiltily. How can you not remember Jisoo? She was one in all your adventures after all. She looked different now though, her chubby cheeks reduced and she looked taller, her purple hair reached her mid shoulders. She was a mix of Kaal and an Urgen, though her Kaal trait was dominant.

"Come in, everyone. It isn't very nice of us to let you stand on the doorstep." A Laal woman ushered them in, her elderly eyes were kind towards them.

"I guess you'll get along well, I have to go, the commotion there, two dead." He shook his head and the others stood with an apologetic gaze. "Heal them, the bunch are awfully affected. I'll tell you later about it later." He waved to Namjoon and shut the door behind him.

An awkward silence lasted among the place while everyone eyed them warily. "Are you really from the Light Palace?" Hoseok smiled at the little girl, he stared at the way she held her mother's sleeve and how her ruby eyes looked up at him. "Yes. We are."

"So you'll save us?"

"Of course sweetie, that's what we are here for." He assured her with a smile. The little girl smiled at him and he felt his heart melt away. We have to save them. He thought, just so we could see them all smile again.

They were not sure, but it looked like Hoseok's statement towards the child made others sigh in relief. The Kaals rushed forwards, four of them to be exact, and looked into what must be done.

"There you go," Jisoo tied the strap around Taehyung's hand, pulled it with her might, and tied it. "I healed it, make sure to rest it for a night." She smiled at him and he nodded gratefully, thanking whatever gods up there that his hand stopped hurting. Sometimes, he wondered how nice the Kaal's magic was.

"You can stay here as long as you want." His black mist lingered in your hand for a moment, a sudden stinging sensation ran through your muscles but the relief was too good.

"Thank you for your offer, but I'm afraid we can't do that, Mister. We have to move fast." Loeva looked at the Kaal apologetically, sitting next to you on the couch.

"You should stay the night at least. You lot look awful." Jisoo looked at you, her pitch-black eyes were filled with worry, she glanced at Ji Ah as she said that.

"I guess we must." Namjoon too eyed the elder Princess who was away in a corner, while Jimin sat next to her, talking to her gently.

"What is this place?" Jungkook was playing with Nevaeh and the other two kids of what looked like tag, yet they didn't go by the rules at all.

"It was not really a place when we came. A dungeon of some sort. Oliver found it when he was desperately trying to hide his family." She paused a moment, her delicate features catching onto worry, "he couldn't, they took them away. But he helped us to be here. We just added few things more." She played with the ring on her finger, blinking back the tears that threatened. "Do you want to look around? I'll show you. This place is bigger than it looks." She got up from her seat and patted Taehyung's arm twice, checking for pain. When there was no sign of it, she pulled you to your feet, like those days didn't change at all.

You heard a squeal and found she was dragging Loeva along too. Dragging was the thing she would do. This made you chuckle. An identical door was on the left corner of the room and the sudden brightness made you squint your eyes.

"This place is connected to the forest." She said slowly, eying the trees and plants growing gloriously.

"Wait, how is it possible? Isn't this tunnel under the ground?" Loeva said, fascinated by the pretty flowers.

"We could just produce theories. Can't predict the exact reason."

"Like?"

"Maybe someone came here already, lived here and they planted these, this may have served as a home before. The plants are magicked to grow even though there is no sunlight here. The light comes from that glow," she pointed up at the white mist that looked like clouds. You couldn't believe it, it was actually an artificial forest if you name it that way... But why would someone make this? "There are huts too. Signs showed that people lived here once, something made them move away... We're not sure. We'll stay as long as we can. You lot could use some. Almost seventeen are free."

True to her words, there were a few huts and people inside too. Now that you notice, curious eyes were peaking at the new people with distrust.

"Loeva? You're here, Jin called you." Hoseok peeked through the iron door you came in, for a second you forgot that it was there at all. He waved at Jisoo and she nodded.

"I'll be back, you go on." She ran towards the door. Your eyes fell on Jisoo's ring, she was absentmindedly playing it around and you too walked ahead.

"So," you cleared your throat, "you're married I see." A smile formed on your lips while you eyed her. She was few years ahead of you in school, but she still would take part in those mischiefs when time permits.

"Not yet, just... We were planning to." The word were stuck you. "It was ruined Luane. They took her away." Her voice broke off in the end. "She's a Prextran... They took every last Prextran here." It was clear to you that she was trying not to let the tears fall. You wrapped your arms around her, feeling bad for the girl in front who deserved every love in the world. You took a deep breath, the scent of the plants was more calming than ever. "I saw her later when I left the Palace..." She pulled away and stand on the ground, a small lake was there too. Swans were swimming in it, staring at the light that came through the fog.

"Why did you leave the Palace?" You didn't see any reason to leave the palace, especially when the Queen was that sweet and caring.

"I didn't have any work to do. I can't just sit and eat, Lu." She sighed and leaned against the trunk of a tree. "I left the town for good, working in few places, you know, as a Kaal and earning money by some works."

"I met her once, well, you see, she liked me and I did too, at the first glance? We were together for three years." She was smiling through the tears. That's what memories do. Make us smile even in these uncertain situations.

"She'll be okay, yeah?" You assured and she nodded.

"I thought you were dead." Her statement made you stare at her, she gnawed on her lower lip, weighing her words. "When I heard about your Mum and Dad." You looked away, suddenly the swans becoming more interesting. "What is happening, Lu? Why are they here? Why are you here?"

You pondered on it, that was the exact question you asked yourself more than a thousand times. "I'm..." You sighed, as much as it was still difficult to believe it, "a human." Jisoo stared at you as if someone said that they don't know what pink potatoes are. "You heard me right." You chuckled at her baffled expression.

"Not funny." She stared ahead while you stayed quiet. "Really?" You nodded, the way the swans moved about, there was some beauty in it that drew you in. "How?"

"Still a mystery. Tae and Kook said me last... Oh, gods, it's been a month already? Time flies fast." You sighed and leaned back comfortably.

"So you're the one who's going to destroy the evil?"

You raised an eyebrow at her. "You're putting it dramatically. Jin was such a bad influence." You clucked your tongue and she laughed at it.

"When was he not? It just rubbed on me. Didn't go even after years." She sighed, remembering those days when she would come with you all. Most of the time she missed it because of her family situation, however, she would never fail to not go along when she gets the chance. "Your friend, the one with short hair," you looked at her, "She's hurting."

"Ji Ah... No-nobody healed her?" Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"We can mend you bones in a second, Lu. But not hearts."

__________________________________________________________

She just stared at the white plate in front of her, her fork drawing patterns in the food though she didn't like to have a bite. Not that it wasn't tasty, comparing this with the food they've had while traveling, this was so good. Just, her heart wasn't in it. The way Jack fell down, the way his life left his eyes... She sighed and stood up, her chair creaked behind. "Excuse me. I-I'll go and have some rest."

Jisoo sighed and looked in your direction, you felt helpless. "It will take some time, she'll be fine." Jisoo squeezed your hand. "Let her be."

Jimin sighed and looked at her way, he was playing with it too. She was not in the mood to talk, and he wanted her to talk. He heard what Jisoo said, but deep down, he didn't really want to let her be alone.

Your eyes glanced over the table, Jin was discussing with Hoseok, Yoongi, Loeva, and Namjoon by his side about where to go and how to go because there were soldiers all through the town.

Taehyung, whose shoulder still had dressing around it, was playing along with Jungkook with the kids. Four of them to be exact, including Nevaeh. Jungkook imitated a hen and the children were giggling and laughing around, even Taehyung was laughing hard. You were glad he was making Nevaeh laugh.

Your eyes wandered over the table, Jimin stood up and placed his and Ji Ah's plate along with the other dishes. Something was wrong... Something was missing. No... Luminous was missing...

You hurried and caught Jimin by the wrist, he almost dropped the plates in his hands, but you caught them. Placing them over the pile, you pulled him into the room that was empty at that time. Jimin's heart rate increased, he wasn't sure why. Keep it together!

"He's missing." You said. It took a while for him to process who you were talking about and his eyes widened when he got what you were talking about.

"Since... When? He was with us-"

"He ran into the forest. We moved away without him, god, how can I be stupid! I should've kept an eye on him all the time." You kicked the dustbin in frustration.

"Hey, hey, Luane. Calm down."

"How are you being this calm? What if he was in the Dark Palace? He never had the time to report to the palace all these days because someone was with him. Now he's left alone, what if he informed Marcus?" He sat on the chair heavily, you were panting from the whole rant.

"He won't." You stared at him.

"How are you so sure?" Jimin stared back. He didn't want to ask this, he didn't want to say this too but...

"Don't you trust him?" His voice was heavy with emotion. You want to, of course, you want to trust that guy with all your life. The sincerity in his eyes when he scolded you for running away from the Sauger, the way he controlled it so that the whole palace would be saved, the way he brought you back alive from the Synex and... The way his hands wrapped around you, how he was so ready to let him eaten up by Cronus that night...

"I do," you sighed, eyes blurring with tears, "and that's why I'm scared, Jimin."

___________________________________________________________

Heavy footsteps echoed through the huge hallway. The walls, unlike the Light Palace, were Dark just like its name. Strangely, Luminous felt repulsed. The home he grew in, didn't feel like one now. It had never been a home after Evelyn's death.

"You're here." He turned around, sighing in relief to watch the Kaal standing there. "You look... dashing, My Prince. In white." Lucas referred to his outfit, true to his words the shirt seemed to shine in bright white in the Dark hallway. Luminous clucked his tongue and waved his hand, the shirt changed to a silky black one and a huge coat draped itself over his shoulders.

"Better?" He rose an eyebrow at the General.

"I prefer that one though." His eyes were cast down, all the cheerfulness in those black orbs was drained off.

"You mustn't." Luminous stared at him for a long time. "That never does any good." He moved forward towards the door without another word.

Both he and Lucas know that their conversation was just not about the colour of shirts, but something deeper, a shade what they want to be.

The huge doors opened, his footsteps echoed magnificently, the sword in his belt loop dangled with his every step, the cloak billowed behind him in the Darkroom. The throne room or that was what Marcus called it was nothing compared to what was in the Light Palace. A little creature fluttered around his head and sat on the edge of the throne. Luminous' jaw tightened, he closed his fists tighter and took a deep breath, controlling him down to his pores to stay calm and not strangle the bird right at the moment. He kneeled on one knee. "Father," He muttered.

"Rise, my son." Luminous face scrunched into disgust when he heard Marcus calling him a son. That man treated him as anything but a son. He rose up and stared at him. His face softened a little when he saw his father's face. There was a gentle smile, one that people would call... Sad, in his lips. It had been years since he saw something more than the manic gleam in those eyes... What seemed different?

"How is it going on? With our... Friends?" Luminous regretted thinking that something was different, that he might have changed. No, that gleam was back in those unmerciful grey eyes.

"Nothing that you do not know, father. And it just goes as we planned. They're being way too predictable with their moves." Something in his tone made the little bird lookup. It tilted its head and stared at the Dark Prince's form. Luminous held his face stoic and stared right back at the King, ignoring the total presence of the bird and the way its beady eyes scanned him. The Dark King nodded, his stone studded cape rested elegantly over the armrest.

Luminous took this sign to sit in his seat, the one just below the two seats. He tried very hard to not notice that the bird was sitting on the other chair's armrest which was once the Queen's.

"Well, well, well. Welcome back, My Prince." Luminous hated its voice, he nodded in acknowledgment and stared ahead. "What do we have this meeting for, Marcus?"

"You'll see, Bethany."

Two soldiers came in, dragging Raven with an unmerciful gait. His pleas echoed all over the quiet walls. Bethany looked between the three people, its brain frustrated due to the suspense.

"Y-your hi-highness, I d-didn't want to defy the oath. I wouldn't d-dare. Please, H-have me-mercy. Please, M-my Lord-"

The Dark King held up his hand and as though something was stuck against his mouth he struggled to speak. "Then tell me, why are there two soldiers dead?"

Raven remembered the way Nathan, the Neel tried to stop him and how he had to use the weapon on him too so he could have a clear shot at the Princess.

"My sources tell that they died by your very own hand. Do you have anything to say?" His low voice made a shiver run down their spine.

"I-- yes, yes, sire. He was the betrayer, I was trying to help you, t-to make things easier. He was t-trying to help the Princess! I-I thought i-if I could get her t-to you, t-then it would be easy for you, w-we could u-use her as bait, your highness, yes, and you could easily take over that throne." His Sebran mind was running, thinking of clever points that would save him from this doom.

Marcus chuckled. One that resonated deep in his throat that made Raven sweat profusely. "You thought I'll go that cheap? And why should I take over? Why should I take over WHAT IS MINE IN THE FIRST PLACE!" Luminous jumped at the sudden outburst of the Dark King.

"Calm down, Marcus. The soldier was trying to help, Don't you see the thing he did? He really got rid of the ones who are most likely to stab you in the back. You should reward him for what he's don-"

"DO NOT QUESTION MY AUTHORITY IN MY OWN PALACE!" Luminous smirked evidently, his hatred towards his father faded a little. Why not? Only now he seemed like he's acting by himself. "And my people would never, ever, betray me." Okay, that seemed stupid now because everyone was waiting for his end...

"They are never yours, Marcus." The bird hissed. "Ask them whose their King, they'll tell their Queen. Your little sister has them under her spell, she made them think you like this. She made you like thi-"

"No one gave you permission to speak. It would be better if you keep your beak shut, Bethany. And as our King said, you're not the one in control here." The bird seethed at Luminous, if that was even possible for a bird. "The Queen doesn't have them under any spell. They are afraid, father. They don't know our intention, they are not aware of-" The bird cut him off.

"They would if Inez was not so selfish having everything to herself-"

"ENOUGH! You, you dare cut off the Prince?" Marcus' face was flushed with anger that Bethany took small steps away from him. "Know what you are." He whispered dangerously and stared at the Sebran who was watching the commotion with wide eyes. "I give you a life sentence in the palace dungeons."

"N-no, your highness, have some m-mercy!"

"Be grateful that I'm not feeding you to the Dark creatures!" He stood up, his long stone studded cap fluttering behind him, and moved towards his chamber. Luminous grinned in his father's direction, suddenly feeling glad that he's in the right mind. He turned to look at the bird with a raised eyebrow. He moved near it and bend so that they were on level.

"Know your place, Birdy. That would keep you alive." He touched the bird's head with his index finger, smiling at it cutely and moving away, feeling like a huge weight was lifted off his chest. He skipped along the corridor and stopped in front of his room. He pushed the door open, the huge vanity table reflected his form as he entered. His huge bed with black sheets, oh how much he missed that shade.

He fell on it face first, feeling the gentle mattress beneath his face. "I'm home!" He said though his voice came muffled as he took in the scent of it. He stood up and walked to the table, looking at his reflection, he winked at it. Suddenly he shook his head. Yeah, Light Palace's General is a bad influence really. His eyes fell on the draw, he crouched down and pulled it open. The old almost worn-out journal, he took it and smelled it. The old parchment's smell made him sigh at ease.

He found this journal two days before his father asked him to go in with that stupid plan. Not that he doesn't enjoy it. His fingers ran over the pages, looking for where he stopped. Written in that in loopy handwriting were his mother's precious moments. He stared at the way she dotted over the ends, her commas being cute little beings that he had ever seen. He started reading.

30th December 2001

Dear diary...

YOU WON'T BELIEVE THAT I HAD THE COURAGE FOR IT, OH YEAH, I did it! I sneakily crept out of the castle. Marcus started acting strange and oh I can't even predict him anymore. One time he's being nice and the other, he's snapping at every people here. Lumi came crying to me today evening and that took a fat load of time to comfort him. But, finalyyyyyyy (she really had written that many 'y's) I sneaked out without my son and my husband's knowledge. I made sure that little Lucas was asleep too, so that the lil guy wouldn't come behind me.

It's my darlings birthday today! How can I not meet those three fluffsies? Last year I went, I had thought of bringing Lumi, his dad's against it that I had to sneak out without him. T_T

"She's so dramatic." He chuckled.

I made sure to bring them gifts and cookies. Raehyun was glad I could make it, though he warned me not to if it gets me in trouble. Oh hell, what's life without risk? And oh those three fluffsies-

"Raehyun? Three fluffsies?" He read on more. He usually thought those fluffsies referred to some kind of pet, but... Oh hell. It must be-

Taehyung, Jungkook, and Luane! Honestly, they were so damn sweet dairy! Oh if you were a real person, you would be understood how I swooned over them. Luminous would've loved to meet new friends, poor thing is bored being in the palace for all day and night. Raehyun made sure to take a Polaroid of us three. The little birthday party ended with another photo of all the six of us.

The next page held the photo, stuck on the page neatly and decorated well. The resemblance between Raehyun and Evelyn... He cursed under his breath and searched for any other page that would say more about Raehyun. But no, they were mostly about oh how my Lumi sucked his finger in sleep (Ji Ah had been right...), or how my Lumi played darts or how he loved her cookies. He resisted to facepalm himself, still can't control the smile that took over.

"Never knew she's this dramatic!" He fell on his mattress again, flipping through the book. He couldn't get the picture out of his head. He flipped back to that and stared at the polaroid. Smiling three young faces that he could very easily recognize was staring up, the colourful eyes were shining so bright with adorable smiles. He could understand why Evelyn called them fluffsies. Jungkook was missing a tooth as he smiled wide, you were in the middle, Taehyung had a hand over both their shoulders, cake frostings were there in everybody's face, even Evelyn. Emma, who must be their mother was a lovely woman with electric blue hair.

Taehyung mostly looked like Raehyun... Luminous couldn't just put it right. If Taehyung looks like Raehyun, that goes the same for Luminous. They practically look like colour copies as Ji Ah mentioned. He flipped through the diary, to the end page. There was nothing more about them. He saw his sword lying on the table. The lion's face with silver and black design and Taehyung's sword, with blue and gold design...

Luminous was still not one hundred percent sure that they were the twin swords, but what if they are the twin swords?... And how did it come to his mother?

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Ji Ah never thought that huts could be comfortable, she was tired, her body was worn out with the emotional drain. Every cell was begging for her to sleep, but no... She couldn't. She had tried it and every time she closed her eyes, the image of Jackson's sad smile crossed and she just can't. The ghost of his fingertips, the way they caressed her cheeks for last time, and the way he disappeared. Tears blurred her eyes and slowly streamed down her cheeks. Staring at the eery mist that now glowed a faint blue that resembled moon, she sighed and leaned behind.

Her head hit something halfway through. "Hey." She sat straight, taking her head away from his knees, wiping her tears away.

"Go to sleep, Yoongi." She muttered, too tired to bring the words out that her voice sounded hoarse. Despite her words, he sat beside her, making her raise an eyebrow.

"What?" He raised his eyebrow. Ji Ah stared at him a long time, a staredown between the two. Her eyes telling him to go away while he was stubborn as he didn't move. Finally, she broke away from the contact. "I agree that you want to be alone and all those sentimental shits," she was staring very intently at a flying insect, "but being alone makes it worse. The sooner you talk about it, the sooner you'll feel better."

She plucked a strand of grass from the ground, Yoongi internally winced. She didn't have to hurt the plant. He waved his hand and the poor thing grew up. She plucked it again making Yoongi frown. Controlling himself from saying anything, he waved his hand and the green dust made it grow up. Ji Ah took her hand to pluck it again when Yoongi stopped her by holding both her hands.

"You're hurting it."

"Look at you, understanding a plant's feeling better than humans-uh, Arcturans." She pulled her hand away and tried to reach it and Yoongi caught her hand before it. He sighed.

"I wanted you to talk, Princess. I don't know how that Sebran helped you or what happened, but... I want to help." Ji Ah pulled her hand away and reached or the grass again. "Forfucksake, listen to me." Ji Ah stared at him bewildered by the sudden usage of profanity. Yoongi's cheeks flushed when he realized it. "Sorry, didn't mean to curse, but-hey woman, stop plucking it!"

Ji Ah chuckled at him, he dropped her hands and stared away. As much as her hands were itching to pluck the grass again, to see that angry look on the Verde's face again which she started to enjoy, Jackson's face came to her mind again too. Ji Ah wished that she heard what he said, that her ears would've been better that she could have listened to his last words.

"He's dead." That was the truth. It sounded as plain as she said it. The Verde looked at her, the faint glow of pink hues in his cheeks were visible in the night's blue rays. "While he shouldn't be." She sucked in a deep breath, "the arrow, it was aimed at me. I should've died." Tears filled her eyes again, "I feel horrible. He d-didn't have to, Yoongi." She let out a sob, turning away so that he wouldn't see her crying. She hated it, crying in front of others. "The k-kid, he was the only one for her. She-she's all alone now and I'm t-the reason. How could I ever look at her?"

Yoongi wrapped his arms around her shaking form, closing her head in his chest. She breathed in deeply, he smelled of grass and soil, and strangely, the smell of nature calmed her nerves. "She loves him so much." Yoongi ran his hand over her hair, gently caressing it, smiling at the few pink strands. He did that till she stopped sobbing.

"She's gonna be okay, Ji. True she lost one brother, but she gained all of us. We'll take care of her, okay?" Yoongi's deep voice resonated from his chest, his heart was beating faster that Ji Ah could hear it.

"He said something... Jack." He hummed, asking her to go on. "I couldn't hear it, I-I wish I'd know." He rocked slowly back and forth.

"You will." He tucked her strand behind her ear, "Before that, you have to sleep, Princess." No sooner he said that she found herself feeling dizzy by the gentle sound of the crickets and the man's strangely comforting smell. She closed her eyes, and he rocked slowly, his touch very gentle like he was touching something fragile and precious in his hands. Ji Ah would be a fool to say she didn't like it.