"Woah I really didn't expect all this, like genuinely." Dino wandered around the luxurious place they had received.

"Exactly. I thought we would witness abandoned houses with a dark atmosphere all around." Minghao grazed his hands over the beautiful vases, "But this town is even better than ours."

"Isn't it too good to be true?" Seungkwan sat on the couch staring at the walls decorated with paintings

"Yeah that's why I'm warning you again, don't trust them or anyone here completely." Jun placed the snacks they brought on the table.

"Hyung, we're literally at a place provided by them." Vernon sipped his drink, "What are you talking about?"

"Jun hyung is right though." Dino munched on his waffers, "We know nothing about this place so we've no option apart from accepting their help. But that doesn't mean we've to take everything to heart and melt into their hospitality."

"Makes sense." Minghao fixed the flowers in the vase, "We've to do the research starting tomorrow."

"I still need some time to comprehend everything." Seungkwan stood up walking back and forth, "One part of me says that we're in trouble. Other part says that this is the present for crossing that miserable forest."

"Oh right, that forest." Dino shook his hands to dust them, "I thought we were almost dead."

"That's bothering me too." Jun squinted his brows, "Maybe the forest is the main reason for the rumours."

"We got too entangled in it to do our actual job." Minghao scoffed, "That forest should be in our documentary too."

"Guys." Vernon stood up, "I think our minds are totally fucked up right now. Let's rest a bit and discuss everything with an easy mind later on."

Everyone began to leave one by one to their assigned rooms to freshen up and have some good sleep.

Jun, on the other hand, decided to go on a small walking spree outside after having a cool shower. The streets felt tempting to him when he was on the way to the apartment.

"Hyung?! Did you get the news?" A black haired man along with two others rushed into an immense room of an ethereal mansion.

"What news Woozi?" Another male calmly asked as he continued his work.

"The Serenity Stylth-" The other one, Seokmin continued, "They have got mortals."

"So what am I supposed to do?" The leader, Choi Seungcheol turned around, "We aren't short of blood either." His calm aura ironically screamed authority and power. Of course he wasn't cruel or something to his friends but in general, he wasn't the one to be messed with.

"Hyung, you didn't get it." Wonwoo explained, "They've got alive humans who have successfully crossed the forest."

"What are you talking about?" Seungcheol furrowed his eyebrows.

"That's true." Seokmin continued, "I saw Shua hyung-"

"Shua hyung?" Seungcheol crossed his arms across his chest, "Since when did we start to take those names as if they mean something to us?"

Wonwoo subtly patted Seokmin's back to console him after which Seokmin cleared his throat, "I saw Joshua settling all five of them up in one of their empty apartments. It's pretty obvious that the Serenity Stylth has already built a good image of them in front of those mortals."

"But are you sure they aren't a threat or something?" Woozi folded up his sleeves.

"I don't think so." Seokmin shrugged.

"Let's meet them and visit the elfs afterwards." Wonwoo suggested, "Afterall we can't figure out a conclusion while staying here in the mansion."

"Makes sense." Seungcheol stood up, "Let's begin a drama so that it would look like we accidentally met them. We've already lost a point to Serenity but not anymore."

"Why don't we just kidnap them and then throw them in the sacrifice hall?" Woozi scoffed.

"There will be no use of it then." Wonwoo displayed a book swaying in the air through a spell.

'The human to be sacrificed shouldn't be under a spell. The person shouldn't be feeling any kind of fear or agony while stepping into the Sacrifice Hall. The-'

"And so on." Seokmin vanished the book brought up by Wonwoo, "In conclusion, we can't force them in any way."

"Pleasing them is the only option." Seungcheol declared, "We aren't losing it against Serenity."

Jun smiled. His soul felt good around the beautiful street. It was late noon but due to the winters and the clouds, the sunlight wasn't very strong.

The town was shining in glory, as if it wanted to convey that it was the best place you can ever visit.

And for Jun, this town had that aesthetic look which he would admire only through the internet and social media. For him, it was always the photography skills which would make a place look that ethereal but now that he was witnessing it through his own eyes, he felt defeated.

It was when he bumped into someone and a sorry escaped almost immediately through his mouth.

"I'm really very sorry, are you alright?" The other male asked who had bumped into him.

"Sorry he's a bit clumsy." Another man with glasses apologised on his behalf as well.

"No it's- it's alright." Jun slightly bowed.

"Sorry but are you new here?" The one with a bright smile asked, "We live nearby but haven't seen you ever before."

"Oh yeah, I'm new in the town." Jun walked along with the two strangers, "I'm Wen Junhui. I work at a production company named SVT in Seoul. Me and my friends arrived here this morning, to do a thorough research on this town."

"Wonwoo hyung!!" The cheerful man yelled in excitement, "We have visitors! Can you believe it, I'm so happy!!" He kept smacking Wonwoo's arms gently.

"Yeah Seokmin, calm down, you're creeping him out." Wonwoo held his hands to make him stand still.

Jun laughed at the adorable dynamics between the two.

"I'm sorry, he's just way too excited." Wonwoo bowed, "I'm Jeon Wonwoo and he's Lee Seokmin."

"Everyone in the town gets too excited to see visitors." Jun chuckled.

"Yeah cause it's a rare sight." Seokmin's voice lowered with sadness, "I don't know why people don't want to befriend us."

"Don't be sad Mr. Seokmin." Jun consoled, "It will be fine."

"So you're here with your crew for a research right?" Wonwoo fixed his glasses, "Please make more and more people aware about the beauty and innocense of this town."

"We'll try our best, I promise."

"Would you like to visit us on lunch?" Seokmin asked out of nowhere, "Our mansion is nearby. I'll introduce you to my two other friends. I hope we all can bond well."

Jun hesitated a bit. And why not? He had just met the two and now they were inviting him to their....mansion?

"I get it." Wonwoo broke the awkward silence, "It was so abrupt right? It's okay, you don't need to overthink, we'll not force you."

"No no, I didn't mean that way." Jun looked at his apartment behind him, "Why don't you guys visit our place for lunch? I mean not technically ours, but temporarily."

Your home is always the safest right? That's what Jun thought. Even if something would go wrong, they were at least familiar with their apartment.

"I think it will be okay." Seokmin clapped, "The main motive is to have a gathering that's all."

"You arrived today itself, you must be settling up right?" Wonwoo paused, "Let's reschedule our plan for tomorrow."

"Better."

They exchanged digits after which they went on their own paths.

Seokmin walked through the vacant streets of the dark corner of the town. It was the place where even the powerful ones would rarely visit, let alone the citizens.

His steps halted when he noticed a particular someone. Joshua, one of the members of his enemy stylth.

They stared at each other for a moment after which they....smiled?

They approached each other with steady steps and shared a warm hug.

Were they supposed to do this?
Were they allowed to do this?

Weren't they...enemies?
Yes, they were, they still are.

But, for once, they wanted to breathe love while ignoring the suffocation of hatred.

"I missed you." Joshua mumbled.

"Me too hyung." Seokmin broke the hug as both of them started to walk along the abandoned streets.

"Sorry I wasn't able to show up yesterday." Joshua held Seokmin's hands, "I was caught up in some work which of course, I can't tell you."

In the era of work life balance, they were maintaining a balance between love and hatred. They were comitted to their respective duties as well as their relationship. And they were managing both in an outstanding way.

"It's okay." Seokmin smiled, "I just miss those good old days. All of us had an unbreakable bond. We used to be genuinely happy."

"There's nothing we can do about it Seokmin-ah." Joshua rested his chin on the younger's shoulder, "Although I wish we could go back in time and fix everything. I miss having you in my arms."
-----

"Jeonghan-ie hyung-" Mingyu's voice trembled as he displayed Jeonghan's abandoned friendship ring, "He left."

"Left?" Hoshi's amused voice echoed, "What are you talking about?"

"He asked me to take care of us and just- left." Tears threatened to roll down Mingyu's cheeks.

"Mingyu." Joshua shook him, "You must have misheard-"

"I didn't!!" Mingyu broke down, "He didn't stop even after I insisted so much."

"Where-? And for how long?" Hoshi approached Mingyu with teary eyes.

"I don't know-" Mingyu took a deep breath, "He said he'll be back after he'll gain back himself, after he'll heal from- from today's incident."

"That can't be true." Wonwoo stared at the floor, "He can't leave us for long."

"He's-" Seokmin gulped the lump in his throat, "He's just hurt, we'll fix everything."

"How will you do that?" Woozi wiped his moist eyes, "Do we even know where he went?"

Everyone was grieving while mumbling incoherent words. But there was one particular person who couldn't comprehend a single thing.

Choi Seungcheol. He didn't know how to react. His body was falling numb, he was feeling dizzy, he just wanted to disappear, just like Jeonghan did.

"YOU!" Hoshi yelled while pointing at Seungcheol, "It is all your fault. Your greed, your ego-" He continued to scream while tears flowed continuously, "You're the cause of all this."

"Why did you do this to him hyung?" Mingyu chuckled sarcastically, "What made you snatch his hardwork? Why did you let him suffer that humiliation when you very well knew he didn't deserve it?"

"I DIDN'T." Seungcheol broke down, "I did nothing. I don't know how my name came up but I can swear on anything that it wasn't my work."

"Then who would do that?" Joshua calmly asked trying his best to not to sound as if he was blaming him.

"I don't-"

"Stop this drama Choi Seungcheol." Hoshi knocked off a vase kept near him.

"Hoshi!" Woozi warned, "Don't forget your ethics and manners."

"In front of him?" Hoshi mocked, "You better say that to him."

"At least try to trust him as well." Wonwoo stood in front of Seungcheol, "If he's saying that he didn't do anything, try to understand him too."

"Him saying nonsense wouldn't do shit." Mingyu walked in front of Hoshi to stand against Wonwoo.

"Guys stop it." Joshua intervened, "What are you all up to?"

"The innocent one endured so much pain." Hoshi's eyes glowed red, "The culprit deserves it too."

And before anyone could understand, he had already generated a bunch of small red glass pieces which were aimed directly towards Seungcheol.

Joshua was quick to notice it and he immediately halted Hoshi's power cloud within his own.

Wonwoo and Mingyu helped Joshua to vanish Hoshi's attack.

"Are you out of your mind Hoshi?" Joshua held his shoulders, "We all are grieving because of what happened but don't exaggerate it anymore?"

"No let him do whatever he wants." Woozi stepped in, "You all are way too blind to figure out that Seungcheol hyung isn't lying."

"Oh really?" Mingyu cocked a brow, "You're talking as if you've a lot of proof to defend him."

"He may not have any proof with him." Wonwoo fixed his glasses, "But do we really need them to prove him innocent?"

"Yes we do." Hoshi stated in an obvious tone, "Why are you overlooking the severe torture Jeonghan hyung just endured and then left abruptly, all because of him?"

"I understand that Hoshi." Wonwoo walked up close, "And that's why I wouldn't have said a single word if he was the one confronting him. But that's not the case."

"Exactly." Woozi raised his hands, "Who are we to create a fuss of what's between them?"

"You guys are unbelievable." Hoshi pulled out his own ring and threw it harshly, "Keep defending him, do what the fuck you want to but one thing is for sure, I don't even want to see his face."

He glared at Seungcheol for the last time and stomped out.

"I hope you'll at least feel guilty." Mingyu abandoned his ring as well before leaving.

Joshua slowly pulled out his ring keeping it on the side table and began to leave, "I'm sorry but I can't defend you on this."

Wonwoo caressed Seungcheol's arms, "Don't worry hyung, we trust you."

"We know you've done nothing wrong." Seokmin wiped off his tears, "And I trust us, we'll fix it all."

"Right, it's no one's fault." Woozi held Seungcheol's hand, "The situations and misunderstandings ruin everything. But we'll make it, we'll get our family back, no matter what."

And that's how the unbreakable world was divided into two. After that night, nothing changed except for one thing. The bitterness between them kept increasing day by day.
---

"That night was horrible." Joshua inhaled a deep breath, "I still hope that someday we'll make it."

"Someday we'll be together again, as one family."

"Someday we'll find the love hidden beneath this huge rock of hatred."

"I'll always wait for that day."

Who will fix the differences between them?
Who?

Moreover, what exactly happened?
-------

A/n : So the introduction part is nearly over, hence, drama begins!

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-Jeonghanneyonghaseyo