A/N: Please play the song while reading💖

♈︎ ♉︎ ♊︎ ♋︎ ♌︎ ♍︎ ♎︎ ♏︎ ♐︎ ♑︎ ♒︎ 

Take a deep breath
Look away
And stand up again
Endure it

♈︎ ♉︎ ♊︎ ♋︎ ♌︎ ♍︎ ♎︎ ♏︎ ♐︎ ♑︎ ♒︎ ♓︎

Namjoon's eyes narrowed at the shift of the atmosphere surrounding them. It was as if a magical element just entered. He looked with furrowed brows as he saw the pink tinges on both Dan-gu's and Cha-yeon's cheeks. A sudden ache in Nam-joon's chest started to intensify as he couldn't understand why an undefined emotion was making him feel shivers up his spine.

He could see the blossoming affection between Cha-yeon and Dan-gu. This can't be. His Árin cannot be falling in love in this period. They have to leave soon. He had a life outside this time, and she did also. He just couldn't fathom why all his friends in this era were so different. 

Yoongi is more cheerful and pleasant, and well, Hobi is the opposite of sunshine. He looked like someone unceremoniously poked a stick up his butt. He was cold and stoic with no sense of humour. Just as if Yoongi magically transported into each other's bodies. Everyone seems the same and yet not.

He is part of the royal dynasty in this era, and he has a brother. He hasn't seen Taehyung and Jin, his real close family, at this time, not even his real fiancée. How will he get back into his own time?

A light bulb moment suddenly illuminates his analytical intellect. If Arin is Cha-yeon in this period, part of the four dynasties and the protector of dangerous relics. Isn't it true that she might know where he could find the lost relic? It looked exactly like the piece that opened the time portals, but in this era, all Songrim mages and people who worked inside the training centre had one. So if everyone has their own 'key' maybe it's a very common relic. Anyone could have the cursed relic. He needs to get closer to Cha-Yeon; maybe her mom will know about it.

But right now his biggest dilemma is that Cha-Yeon is openly admitted with Dang-gu, and the feelings seem mutual. He can't dwell on the possibility of losing her to this silly boy. He needs his friends to be aware, but how will he get started? No one knows him like a soul traveller.

 Luckily he is not a soul-shifter, or he would've been killed by the skilled mages by now, and that spirit dog would have sniffed him out. No one seemed to grasp that he was from another time era. He could always hide behind amnesia, and according to Master Heo, it might take months to recover. So, he can ask uncomfortable questions and get away with it. They might think it's just curiosity. He notices how Cha-yeon cutely whispers something in a blushing Dang-gus' ear.

"Nam-joon, er... you won't mind if I accompany our lady Jin Cha-Yeon for tea and some sweet treats?" Dang-gu tugged his side while grinning brightly.

"Joon, it was so lovely talking to you," Cha-yeon said, her eyes shining brightly as she gazed into Nam-Joon's. Let's all meet again for lunch, shall we? Would you like that?"

Namjoon scowled, not particularly enjoying the thought of her and Dang-gu being so publicly infatuated."Er... Ar... Cha-Yeon, it was a pleasure speaking with you. Enjoy your tea date. "

She grinned up at Dang-go, who gazed warmly into Cha-Yeon's beautiful eyes. He timidly took her hand and waved excitedly at Namjoon, who was uneasily watching the interaction.

 Nam-joon's heart ached as Cha-Yoen waved back her radiant beauty illuminated the atmosphere, "Bye Joon. See you soon. And please don't work too hard, and don't allow that idiot Jung-Uk trick you into mischief...-"

She smiled brightly and turned as she and Dan-Gu turned with the Jin bodyguards trailing them. Cha-Yeon's delicate beauty mesmerized the onlookers, and he could understand their sentiments. Arin was always beautiful, but her coldness and bitterness eradicated most of her radiance in the modern world, and he was the cause of such a drastic change inside of her.

Nam-Joon sighed deeply as he walked aimlessly around, not wanting to go to the establishment as Cha-Yeon and Dang-go were heading that way.

Nam-joon sighed deeply and wandered back through the forest on the path towards Songrim. He suddenly realized that he didn't have a spirit plaque to let him into the barrier at the hidden entrance. He just sank on a smooth rock near the entrance pillar, hopefully waiting for some mages to open the portal.

He felt his frustration rise as he knew time was running out. It felt as if he had been in this time for years, but it was only a few days. Suddenly, he saw swift movements. He recognized them as Sogrim mages heading his way. His brother Yul was part of the group.

Some had wide smirks on their mouths as they saw him looking miserable all by himself. Yul shook his head as he looked at him with a calculated look.

"Why do you look so sad, Namjoon? Was your time at the library a little boring? I thought you and Min Yoongi hit it off— " Yul chuckled pleasantly. The rest only snicker, finding his memory loss humorous.

Namjoon scrunched up his nose and waved dismissively, "He went on his errand, while I just came from the village market. We met up with Cha-Yeon and Dan-gu."

As he walked nearer, he caught sight of the dazzling white-haired Hobi. "Do you still have problems with your memory? Can this happen at the most inconvenient time, with soul shifters stealing people's energy everywhere? Can you even remember how to wield a sword? "Hobi made a sarcastic retort.

Nam-joon gave him a sharp glance. He was starting to hate this new haughty and arrogant Hobi. "Well, thank you for reminding me. I'm sure I'll know what to do if a need arises, "he retorted back coldly.

Yul placed his hand on Hobis's chest to keep him at bay because he never liked people to go against him," Okay ... cool it now. I'm sure Nam-joon can still remember how to fight. Even if he is clumsy, he has a very good command of the sword. What are you doing here, Nam-Joon?"

He grumbled, "I don't have a spirit plaque to open the barrier, so I was hoping to catch someone with one." He simply shrugged.

Hobis' eyes widen as he fiddles with his hanbok and holds up a spirit plaque. "Oh, so this is yours. I recall picking it up days ago when we discovered you dazed and disorientated at the bottom of a cliff. It must be yours." he shook his head smugly.  Namjoon just nodded.

He held it out to Namjoon, who looked relieved about being given a 'key.' He no longer needs to sneak past with someone or ask a kind mage to let him through. 

"Thank you so much," he bowed to Hobi in appreciation.

Yul smiled." Come on, we need your medication and a check-up from Master Heo. I've heard his Master will also be visiting. It's hard to believe that old Master Heo has a youthful master who appears to be in his forties yet is nearly 100 years old. "

Nam-joon furrowed his brows; are there people here who appear younger than their ages? Perhaps he felt older than his years right now. This reality has become increasingly unfathomable for him.

He and the mages passed through the opening, chatting comfortably. Yul opened the barrier for everyone with his spirit plaque. Namjoon felt relieved that he had recovered his 'key'.

The mages all walked to the library to relax, and some went on to resume the training of the younger students. Nam-Joon and Yul decided to walk to Sejukwon, the best medical institution in Daeho. When they entered the facility, Master Heo Yeom looked red and flustered. Yul was pursing his lips amusedly as Namjoon looked up at his brother's light demeanor. His brother was always known as calm and very serious, but to see him with an amused smile made Namjoon chuckle. Nam Joon looked with inquiring eyes to Yul.

Yul snorts softly. "Master Heo Yeom loves his fermented wine. It seemed he had taken a lot this afternoon—"

Namjoon grinned as he saw Master Heo dramatically enter the room; he looked overly giddy, and that was not because of the wine. Something happened that made the old physician so perky and overly cheery. Namjoon wondered if the master would be in his right mind to prescribe him the medicinal herbs to aid his memory. Not that he needed those herbs, only to keep up the pretence.

Master Heo looked super excited."Oh, come in, boys... Well, isn't it a glorious day? My niece and my old master came for an unprecedented visit. I want you boys to meet them. Come...come—"He feverishly gestured for them to follow him into another section of the room. 

First, Yul and Namjoon saw two women in a far corner conversing with each other. One with their back towards them and the man nearer looked dignified and very lanky, but his eyes looked like black beads looking straight into anyone's soul.

"Ah...Master Lee. Please come and meet the two very skilful mages and our youngest historian from the Seo Dynasty. They are part of the four dynasties of Deaho." He excitedly bowed several times in front of his master. Nam Joon's eyes widen in sheer shock at the childlike idolization that Master Heo Yeom shows to a man younger than Master Heo. Namjoon and Yul both bow politely and accept the introduction.

Master Lee smirks and bows, "My name is Master Lee Cheol, also known as Teacher Lee... I also taught Master Heo Yeom."

Master Heo was delighted as he said, "Oh, Master Lee is one of the most powerful mages to have ever lived, and he was the last student of Master Seo Gyeong, the founder of Songrim."

Namjoon's eyes widened; that must have been a long time ago.

Master Lee smiled gently. "Yes, Master Heo. Young Master Seo, I'm almost 100 years old, so don't seem astonished. I was one of the mages who could legally perform soul-shifting."

Yul smirks at his puzzled appearance and murmurs, "It is known that Master Lee has relocated his soul into a new body after his old one died. Now he can live a few years longer."

Namjoon looked at Master Lee with wonder", Wow!"

Master Lee then looked at Namjoon with a deep penetrating gaze, and an almost new delicate discovery captured his eyes, making Namjoon feel so little in those piercing eyes that cut right through his soul.

Master Lee smiled, "Young man...you have a very peculiar aura about you...maybe we can...have a drink sometime. I'm still spending a few days with my wonderful student."

Namjoon's eyes widen with awareness, and he wonders if Master Lee, the great mage, can sense his spirit and soul from another dimension. Maybe...but before he could react, Master Heo brought the two women who were deep in conversation to attention.

Master Heo grabs his and Yul's arms hard and pulls them excitedly towards the two women. When they turn with wide eyes, Mr Heos 'small eyes light up.

When the women paid attention and turned with huge grins and bows in front of the men. Namjoon's eyes widen in shock.

What the heck? He felt as if he could faint at the soft, subdued manner of the younger woman, who smiled beautifully and elegantly as she bowed again deeply in front of them.

Her smile was radiant as she beheld the two handsome men from the Seo dynasty.

Master Heo looked with deep pride and introduced his niece, "Young mages... this is my lovely niece who came to visit her uncle for a few days. Meet Heo Yun-Ok... She also wants to become a physician." his eyes glowed with affection at his lovely niece.

He started to laugh loudly when he saw Namjoon's eyes almost bulging out. He was speechless, and Yul was starting to snicker next to him. Everyone around him smiled, amused at his fixated eyes on the blushing girl. Namjoon was blinking numerous times to see if his eyes were not playing tricks on him.

She was beautiful, but that was not the reason.

In front of him stood his fiancée, Min-ju, in all her traditional splendour.

She smiled sweetly as she started to snicker in her hands as Master Heo nudged Namjoon to the presence. The woman next to her just shook her head, because most men find her mistress enchanting.

Heo Yun-ok chuckled softly, "It is my pleasure to meet you, young master Seo Nam-joon."

Namjoon just gulped and bowed again politely, totally flabbergasted to meet his modern fiancée in the same period.

A/n: Arin seems to fall in love with Dang-gu and Namjoons'fiance finds herself in the Joseon period.

Thank you to all the readers who made this book possible. I hope you enjoyed the loose adaption of the Alchemy of Souls drama. 

A big shout-out to all the voters and commenters on this story. Please don't stop to support this historical fantasy book of Namjoon.

MarieKarlsson3  

1. Do you think Namjoon is already tired of this period?

2. Do you think Arins'new affection for Dang-gu might be a complication?

3. Would you want Arin to leave the place where she seemed so happy?

4. Why do you think is Namjoon suddenly jealous?

5. Do you think Master Lee knows something?

6. Will the new Master Lee be able to help Namjoon?

7. Will his fiance in this period recognise their connection?

A piece of eye candy😊