In a surreal landscape of shadows and fear, Y/n found herself running through a desolate wilderness, the ground beneath her feet was uneven and treacherous as she ran in a dark, twisted forest.

A chilling wind rustled the leaves, sending a reflexive shiver down her spine. A sense of dread washed over her as she heard faint whispers echoing from the darkness, calling her name in haunting tones.

Y/n glanced over her shoulder just in time to catch a glimpse of the creature pursuing her—a hulking four-legged figure with matted orange fur, its eyes glowing a feral yellow and its jagged teeth glinting in the dim moonlight. Its elongated limbs moved with unnatural speed, closing the distance between them with terrifying ease. Fear gripped her like icy tendrils, squeezing her chest, and making it hard to breathe.

Branches clawed at her arms and legs as she darted through the underbrush, desperation fueling her every move. The forest seemed to conspire against her, twisting and turning in ways that disoriented her sense of direction.

With every inch of passing second, exhaustion threatened to pull her down, but Y/n ran until her legs ached and her breath came in ragged gasps. Her pace became slower and her eyes became blurred.

In a split second, the ground beneath her feet gave way to a steep drop. She tumbled down, landing hard on the cool earth below.

.

.

Y/n woke up with a jolt, she shot up in bed, gasping for breath. Beads of sweat adorned her forehead, and the familiar surroundings of her dorm room slowly came into focus—the educational posters on the walls, the clothes strewn on the floor and the eerie atmosphere that surrounded the dormitory.

'Was it a hyena or a fox or a wolf?'

Y/n's mind raced, and her chest heaved as she tried to shake off the remnants of the nightmare, feeling both relieved and shaken by the vividness of it all.

Thoughts lingering inside her brain were the loudest in contrast to the silent hours of the night. She tossed and turned in her bed; her brow furrowed in distress as the slumber had escaped from her eyes. It was a matter of a few seconds when her stomach churned, making her scrunch her features in discomfort.

'I'll take the digestive medicine tomorrow. If that doesn't work then I'm left with nothing but to consult a gastrologist. I'm sick of my clumsiness.' Y/n muttered inside her head before her lids gradually dropped as she drifted back to deep slumber.

┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

In the hush of a pleasant morning, there walked a figure in discomfort and agitated mind on a mystical land of magical creatures. The breeze was crisp and cool, carrying with it the earthy scent of dew-kissed grass, trying to consume his well-gelled hair.

His black trench coat swung along the wind as he nestled upon the slightly arched bridge, down to which a river flew ceaselessly.

The grandeur castle of the Kim clan stood there at a distance as a silent sentinel, as if admiring its courtyards.

As he walked further and made his way through the throng of people, he felt the eyes on his back, curious gazes followed his every step. Feminine stares can't help but wonder about his identity, and so does he. His mind was a jumble of thoughts and questions, and the deservable answers that he's been chasing for too long.

To find these answers, it became an unspoken ritual of his, to explore the hidden and ignored pieces of his childhood memories. Trying to trace a certain person he desperately wanted to meet, glimpse and claim to be his.

Walking ahead of the main cobblestone street, his steps halted, when an elderly-toned voice called for his name.

"Namjoon-ah?"

He turned over his heels, and a small smile got tugged across the corners of his lips.

"Uncle Yeong, how you doin'?"

"Very well, my child." The old man smiled and answered.

"Unlike last time, how's the business now? You can always tell me what's going around the market, right?"

"Yeah, it's all good now. But Namjoon-ah! I was wondering why you three have not visited my shop together, in the last few months?"

Namjoon's eyes twitched as his smile slowly faded. His gaze flickered to every little thing that came across his view as his mind searched for an excuse.

"We're all extremely busy these days, uncle. Aren't you already aware of how messed up royal courts are?"

Uncle Yeong hummed in agreement as he pressed his lips together.

Namjoon soon bid goodbye and started moving forward again, but as he moved further, his steps suddenly came to a standstill. A wave of anxiety gushed over him, as he felt his legs wobble.

An exhausted sigh escaped from his mouth when his mind shifted towards his total condition, the cause, and the measures to be taken before it was too late.

With heavy and slow steps, he ambled forward. The grand castle appeared even closer and looked as if the time had itself woven its ancient white stones into a harmonious tapestry of strength and vigour as it had been standing strong for nothing less than a century. Its arched-edged roofs were doing enough to enhance its beauty gracefully.

Namjoon approached the castle gates, the esteemed royal guards of the Kim clan saluted in his direction before opening the massive wooden doors, weathered by countless thunderstorms and a few wars, revealing a glimpse into a world frozen in time, the time when it all began, the time when it got its signature dimensions by a species apart from them.

The courtyards surrounded the castle from all around, with a beautiful lake of its own, enhancing the beauty of the royal garden located inside the castle.

The tall man nodded in response to the royal guard's actions and took his steps further on a way paved with smooth stones, which led him to a small stony staircase marking the entrance of the prince's quarters.

Upon entering the prince's chamber, Namjoon took a moment and admired the beautiful small artificial lake, surrounded by hallways, consisting of a caramel tree located at the corner, enhancing its virtues.

After successfully clearing his thoughts he moved forward and reached the main hall, where he was welcomed by butler Kwon. He was a man with a complex description of trust and responsibilities, who dedicated almost all of his lifetime to serving and managing the castle.

With a smile plastered on his old features, bulter Kwon spoke in a calm tone, "The Prince asked for you."

Namjoon slightly nodded and without uttering a word, he made his way towards the Crown Prince of the Kim clan. Crossing distinct hallways located on the inside he finally stood, facing the door, raising his one hand to gently knock it.

The door slowly creaked open and Namjoon entered the room. His eyes followed the hurried movements of the servants surrounding the Prince, busy dressing him for an important meeting.

"You asked for me, your Royal Highness. May I help you with something?" The newly arrived man asked.

Prince's back faced his vision as he stood and waited for the helpers to leave. The light escaping from the glass window located high on the wall in front of him, made his shadow fall on the floor beneath.

By this time, all the attendants had left, and the Prince glanced over his shoulder, his well-proportioned features wore a facade of seriousness for the upcoming meeting, contrasting his otherwise lively persona.

Their gazes met, and upon realising no outer presence behind those four walls, the Crown Prince dropped his supposedly Prince demeanour. He rolled his eyes and curled his upper lip, showing his annoyance at the habit of Namjoon.

"Hyung! Haven't I told you enough times to drop the honorifics?" The Prince whined in his characteristic low, husky voice, and a faint smile curled upon Namjoon's lips as he added, "While everyone's around there's no dropping because my job is my job."

His Highness sighed and side glanced at Namjoon, but before he could speak Namjoon further questioned.

"Now you gotta tell me why you asked for me before my working hours, is everything alright?"

The male younger than Namjoon, approached closer in his direction, his eyes suddenly reflecting something un-figurable for Namjoon to understand. He then proceeded to open one of the jewelled buttons of his royal attire before flashing his well-renowned boxy smile, capable of creating a frenzy in the whole kingdom.

"The thing is Hyung... you need to help me with something."

"What?"

"Runaway."

✧