EVERYONE was shocked from the words that San kept on blabbering, even their single braincell-ed fella, Mingi is already at the verge of crying because he couldn’t understand a thing.

“So, you’re implying that we should act like a team more?” Hongjoong asks.

San nods, “Indeed!”

“Aren’t we a team already?” Seonghwa asks in a bored tone.

“But we’ve already revealed ourselves so I think this time, we’ll be a team! Like a united one!” San chirps, smiling towards the eldest male.

“But..” Mingi can’t help but look away.

“What? Don’t tell me that you’re afraid of your own friends now? I thought that you trusted us, Mingi~” San said as he grins.

“I do but.. everything was just so surreal. Like witnessing the calm Jeong Yunho going berserk like that, I can still feel the chills.” Mingi shuddered as he hugged himself, “And everyone kept on blaming each other. As if we don’t know each other at all, as if we don’t trust each other.”

“Hey there, you fu—Mingi.” Mingi looked at the tallest male which seems to be in such a deep thought, “It’s alright if you’re scared of me. Or if you’re disgusted of me, it’s okay it you’ll push me away in order for you to be comfortable.”

“No! I would never do that! I’m just.. surprised of everything that was revealed,” Mingi said as he waved his hands while shaking his head, “Everything feels so surreal and my mind can’t keep up with everything.”

“Oh, Mingi.” Seonghwa can't help but chuckle at the tall male, looking so confused.

“He doesn’t hate you, Yunho-hyung. Chill,” Jongho said as he tapped the tallest and gave him an assuring smile.

“I'm glad,” Yunho said as he smiled in relief, “I don’t know what am I going to do if Mingi despises me.”

“Worry not, Yunho! I would never do such a thing!” Mingi beamed, running towards the older male and dragged him in a warm embrace, “I won’t even dare to do such a thing. You’re special to me, Yunho.”

“How touching.” San snickered before looking at Wooyoung, “Well, Wooyoung. What are you going to do now? Will you keep on hating Yeosang?”

Everyone looked towards the black-haired male that stared at the ground, Wooyoung seems to be in such a conflict with his thoughts and emotions that it made Seonghwa feel bad. It’s such a rare sight to see Wooyoung like this, he’s usually bright and filled with such energy. And the revelation broke him, he had been hating his bestfriend not just for days but years—yet this is what happened behind the ghosting of Yeosang towards everyone.

“I think that you don’t have the rights to know that answer, San.” Everyone was shocked when Seonghwa suddenly stood up for the younger male.

“Oh? And now you're on his side? You’re so confusing, Seonghwa-hyung.” San had this mischievous smile that Seonghwa wants to drop.

“It’s their issue, San. Don’t interfere with them,” Seonghwa stated, glaring towards the fox spirit.

“But Yeosang and me are united. It’s a suicide pact that we’re having and only one of us can break the pact,” San says, smiling in triumph.

“So you’re scared of Wooyoung saving Yeosang?” Seonghwa remarked and smiled a bit when San flinched, “You’re scared of Yeosang being saved and leaving you for Wooyoung so you kept on tormenting him?”

“No!” San shouted as he started on clenching his fists, “I want to save him.”

“If that’s the case then why are you making such an expression?” Seonghwa said, raising an eyebrow.

“Shut up!” San bared his fangs, glaring at the eldest male.

“Stop.” Both of them looked at Hongjoong and saw that his eyes are pink once again, attempting to stop both of them from arguing.

“You know that it doesn’t work on creatures way stronger than you, right? Why do you kept on trying again and again?” San said as he looked at Hongjoong.

“Because I’m such a prideful person. That’s my sin, right?” Hongjoong said as he smiled towards them, “Then I’ll continue on trying to stop you as a leader. It’s my pride as this circle of friends’ leader.”

“How amusing,” San muttered before sighing.

“Are you really going to believe that seven sins shit of him?” Yunho said as he looked at their leader, “Aren’t you even doubting him?”

“I wouldn’t say that I’m not doubting him at all but he knows a lot that we don’t, Yunho.” Hongjoong stated as he sat on the ground once again, “If we’re going to doubt each other then nothing will happen at all.”

“He also said that he have erased our memories so we have no choice but to listen to him,” Mingi added.

Yunho glared towards the fox spirit, “What are those memories?”

“Oh? Now you’re interested in that?” San asks, amused at his friends’ life decisions.

“That’s our that you took. Of course,” Jongho says.

“Let’s just say that the memories which I’ve erased were the seven sins representatives’ first meeting and the first time that Yeosang’s curse happened,” San replies.

“Our first meeting?” Jongho asked.

“Of course, let me ask you. Can you remember how the seven of us met each other?” San asks, looking at all of them as his eyes turned purple once again.

“Oh.” Even Seonghwa, someone that should be remembering everything couldn’t recall their first meeting and it made him wonder how strong was the fox spirit in front of them.

“As you can see, I removed it in default. It was needed for the seven of us and you might be wondering if I’m that powerful? The answer is no,” San suddenly said as if he’s reading Seonghwa’s thoughts “I was the unfortunate representative that was chosen to bury your memories with the help of your clans’ leader.”

“Father helped you?” Seonghwa gasped.

San nods, “Yes.”

“Are you willing to return our memories?” Hongjoong asks.

San looked at them, “Are you sure about that?”

“It belongs to us.” Jongho replies casually while staring at San.

“I’m willing to return it but Wooyoung will definitely go crazy when he remembers what happened during Yeosang’s ninth birthday,” San said, looking at the black-haired male without any sign of sympathy in it.

“Wooyoung, can you handle it?” Hongjoong asked as he went beside the male which seems to be out of his mind.

“Yeosang..” Wooyoung shut his eyes and as he opened it, he looked at San with bloodshot eyes “It has Yeosang in it. I deserve to remember everything, if I can remember that then it’ll clear my hatred for him.”

“Oh.” San's eyes has a mischievous glint on it before looking at their leader, “Well then, leader.”

“Thank you, San.” Hongjong smiled towards him which made the fox spirit shook his head.

“I am not doing this because of that. It’s just that I haven’t paid Yunho for his dirty job before,” San says, “Is this enough as a payment for that?”

“Bitch, you’re taking advantage of the situation.” Yunho hissed at the blond male before nodding, “Whatever. It’s not like I’m expecting anything in return.”

“Okay!” San chirps as he clasped his hands, “Just a heads up, Yeosang will also remember his memories so prepare to comfort him. He will be in such a depressed state so please don’t let him fall in despair. That is all I ask.”

“For a demon, you care too much for a mortal.” Seonghwa can’t help but tease the blond male.

“I love him, Seonghwa-hyung. I’ve already declared that on our first meeting.” San said in a casual way which made everyone surprised.

“You what?!” Yunho shrieked.

“I said that I love him! Don’t make me repeat myself, twat!” San’s face was burning red as he glared at the tallest male.

“Okay. Too much revelation.” Jongho held both of his temple with his hands and massaged it, “My head hurts a lot.”

“It’ll hurt more if you don’t have a head,” Mingi said, grinning at him.

Jongho glared at the tall brunette, “Do you want me to cut your head off?!”

Mingi shrieked as he hid behind Yunho which sighed, “Enough. San, give us back our memories.”

“With pleasure,” San said.

The blond male started chanting something in an unknown language and the ground that they’re stepping at suddenly had a weird writing in it, circling around them. It suddenly turned into bloody red then blue as the azure sky before turning into purple and suddenly breaking apart from each other and in all of the sudden, everyone seems to fall unconcious as they fell on the ground while San sighed.

“Have a sweet dream.” San muttered before retreating inside the shrine and lets himself fall to the mat beside Yeosang and embraced the male.

•===============================•

       WOOYOUNG was curious why his grandparents are taking him in a such a beautiful place, there are fireflies everywhere and the path that they’re walking towards were filled with flowers and trees as if it’s paradise. He wishes that he can take his friend, Yeosang in this place. Yeosang might like this place, Yeosang loves aesthetically pleasing areas. He would definitely ask his grandparents if he can bring Yeosang in this place so they can play together. The child smiled in delight as he imagine his friend's brightened expression when he sees this place.

“Wooyoung, we’re here.” Wooyoung couldn’t help but gasp when they entered a beautiful building and everything around it was filled with furnitures like the ones that he saw in Yeosang’s mansion.

“Mom, why are we here?” Wooyoung looked at a tall child that was clinging to his mom and he saw faerie wings on the woman, making him gasp in awe.

“Come on, Yunho. Don’t worry, Mingi’s here too.” the woman said as the tall child looked around.

“Mingi!” the tall child, Yunho says as he ran towards an another tall child and crushed him in a tight hug.

“Y-Yunho? Why are you here?” the child which was called Mingi asked, hugging his friend back.

“Dunno. Mom took me here,” Yunho replies as he look at his mom and waved his hand.

“Mom and Dad came with me here but I really don’t know why at all,” Mingi said, pouting while looking at his parents, “They won’t tell me why!”

“Mingi? Yunho?” The tall children looked at a small child along with a tall one and smiled.

“Hongjoong-hyung! Seonghwa-hyung!” The two boys shouted in delight as they ran towards them, “What brings you here?”

“Father’s assistant took me here,” the tall male, Seonghwa says.

“My parents.” the small child, Hongjoong said.

Wooyoung can notice that they’re also wearing such extravagant clothes, Wooyoung is aware that he’s wearing a dark purple robe that was stitched with such confusing patterns and along with that was a pair of armlets and chains which seems to be cut off as if he was a prisoner that broke out of a prison. He saw the tallest child, Yunho, wearing something out of some of the Greek mythology books that he borrowed from Yeosang— a headdress made out of grass yet it’s shining so it’s probably made from magic. He was wearing a green robe with confusing patterns too, Wooyoung might looking at it too much but it’s the same pattern as his.

The second tall male which was Mingi is wearing a black cloak as if he’s a grimreaper but with the same confusing patterns in it while the smallest child, Hongjoong, was wearing a crown made out of gold with a lot of jewels in it as he wore something that a prince would wear while a red cape was wrapped on him. It made him look like a ruler— looking like someone that is capable to be a leader.

What got Wooyoung’s attention the most is the outfit that the third tall child which was Seonghwa is currently wearing, he looks like he was taken out of a fairy tale. Just like Hongjoong, he was wearing clothes that is making him look like a prince and a crown that is made out of diamonds with some runes in it. And a blue cape that seems to be sparkling whenever light touches it was wrapped around him.

“Are we having a costume party?!” Mingi suddenly asked, “It’s Halloween, isn’t it?”

“It’s only the fourteenth of January, stupid.” His friend, Yunho said in a plain tone.

“Then why are wearing these kind of clothes?” Mingi asked before sitting on a chair, “I wish that I can take Cupcakes here so we can play around.”

“Cupcakes?” Yunho asks.

“My pet dog!” Mingi suddenly said as he look away from Yunho as if he’s hiding something.

“Aren’t you going to join them?” Wooyoung looked at an another small child beside him which was munching on an apple which was broken into two. Who knows how the child broke it into two..

“Who are you?” Wooyoung asked.

“Jongho. And you?” the child, Jongho asked back.

“Wooyoung,” he introduced himself as he smiled, “Do you have an idea why we’re here?”

“Beats me. Mom and Dad say that I should come along with them,” Jongho replies as he took an another bite on his apple.

“Wait. You’re familiar..” Wooyoung squinted his eyes before gasping, “You’re one of the choir boys in the town church!”

“Oh! You’re from Saavedra town too?” Jongho asks, looking at him with such a brightened expression.

Wooyoung nods, “Yes! I’m bestfriends with the mayor’s child, Yeosang!”

“I’ve seen him. But he looks like he doesn’t like everyone..” Jongho said casually as he kept on eating the apple.

“You two!” Both of them looked towards Mingi which was waving both of his hands up in the air, “Come here!”

Both of them looked at each other before walking towards the four children, Wooyoung seems to recognize Mingi because he probably saw him in his school but the other three is a bunch of strangers to his eyes. Meanwhile, Jongho just kept on eating his apple while looking at the children around him. His parents told him to be wary of those kids because they might hurt him and told him to fight back if someone dares to initiate a fight against him.

“Are you guys taken in this place by your parents too?” Mingi asked, “By the way, I’m Mingi!”

“You’re right about that. I’m Jongho,” Jongho replied as he shook Mingi’s hand and everyone introduced themselves to each other, “So.. got any ideas why we’re here?”

“Dunno.” Yunho muttered as he leaned on the wall, “I want to stay at home and sleep in my room now.”

“I’m currently playing this video game that I’ve got when my parents told me to come with them.” Hongjoong said as he pouted, “Anyway! How old are you?”

“Seven!” Mingi, Yunho and Wooyoung said in unison before looking at each other then embraced together as they laugh in delight.

“Yunho is older than me since I was born in August. How about you?” Mingi asked Wooyoung.

“November.” Wooyoung replied, grinning at him “I’m the youngest seven years old boy then!”

“Wooyoungie is so cute!” Hongjoong coo-ed as he looked at Seonghwa, “Me and Seonghwa is eight but he’s older than me!”

“Six.” Jongho said before yawning, “I’m the youngest.”

“You’re the baby!” Wooyoung said, raising his hands in the air.

Jongho smiled proudly as he crossed his arms while standing straight, “Yes. I’m baby!”

“Anyway, why are we here?” Seonghwa asked, looking at all of them.

“I really don’t know,” Wooyoung mumbled.

The door opened and the children’s parents arrived and Wooyoung can see his grandparents looking at them. He smiled at them before looking at a bunch of people wearing formal clothes that came along with them, he can recognize some of them and one of them was Yeosang’s father. He was wondering if Yeosang is around so he can play with him.

“Where is the Demon clan?” Wooyoung heard one of the people wearing formal clothes asked.

“Worry not, we are not going to escape from your forced invitation.” They heard a voice of a woman along with the sound of heels.

“It’s a good thing that you’re willing to join us, Mada’m Choi.” Wooyoung heard Yeosang’s father talk as a smile on his lips was evident.

“Trust me, I wouldn’t even want to participate in any of your games.” The woman said as an another child was holding her hand..

“He’s so cute,” Wooyoung said as he stared at the boy.

The woman was wearing a black dress that reaches her ankles while the child beside her is wearing formal clothes but the red cloak was hiding it and just like the same as them, weird patterns are printed in it. The woman looked towards her son and the child nodded before approaching them, not even daring to bat an eye at any of them.

“Snobbish.” Wooyoung heard Mingi mutters before he was elbowed by Yunho.

“Hello! Who are you?” Wooyoung asks, looking at the male.

“San.” the child replies, not even sparing a glance at him.

“Hello, San! I’m Wooyoung!” Wooyoung introduced himself as he introduced the rest of the kids.

“Whatever,” San muttered as he kept his gaze on his mom.

“Now that everyone has arrived! I wanted to make an announcement!” Yeosang’s father announced, “As the current representative of the Blood Mage clan, we would like you congratulation your children for being chosen as the representative of the seven sins.”

“Is that something that we should be glad about?” One of the parents hissed.

“Sir Song, being chosen as a sin representative means that they’re powerful!” Yeosang’s father replied, “It means that they’ll be wonderful warriors in the future.”

“There’s no need for warriors like them. It’s not like something bad is about to happen in the future. The mortal realm and our own different realms are in peace,” the man, Mr. Song said towards Yeosang's father.

“Are you sure about that?” Yeosang’s father said as he grins.

“What are you trying to imply?” Wooyoung’s grandfather asked and Wooyoung can sense the worry from him.

“We’re not sure about that, everyone. As much as everything’s balanced nowadays, we couldn’t give too much trust on all of the clans. For sure, one of the clans must’ve been planning to have more territory and power so a war might happen in a decade or two.” Yeosang’s father stated as he continued smiling, “This is just a fair warning from me.”

“What if it’s your clan that is planning to be the top dog?” Yunho's mom said as she glared towards Yeosang’s father.

“Oh no. We already have a curse that we suffer into so we don’t have time to deal with that,” Yeosang's father explained, shaking his head slightly.

“Cut the crap and tell us what this ceremony of yours is for so we can get over this,” a female that resembles Jongho said.

Wooyoung can sense the tension happening between their parents and the people that was with Yeosang’s father. He saw that Jongho was cowering in fear so he embraced the youngest child to comfort him, he always do this to Yeosang so the child would notice his presence and know that there’s someone out there that is here for him.

“Impatient, are we?” Yeosang’s father stated as he lets out a hum, “The reason why I’ve gathered all of you around here is that there’s a connection between your children and mine. As you can see, my dear Yeosang is the clan’s cursed Kang for this generation and isn’t it too much of a coincidence for your children to be born in this cursed land and for all of them to have the mark of a Sin?”

“Are you telling us that our children are cursed too?” A tall male said and it made Seonghwa flinch, it’s probably his father was the thing that Wooyoung thought.

“No, sire. The truth is that I’m here to ask for a favor,” Yeosang’s father said as he suddenly kneeled in front of them.

“Sir! Stand up!”

“Sir, what are you doing?!”

“Sir!”

“Don’t kneel for those lower class creatures!”

“Enough.” The words from Yeosang’s father seems to have enough authority to shut everyone that was with him.

“Why are you doing this?” Hongjoong’s mother asked, looking at the kneeling man in front of them.

“I’m here to beg in front of you for a favor. I know how strong the curse on our clan was so I’m asking for assistance on every single one of you to let your children save my child in the future.” Mr. Kang said as he closed his eyes, “Our son doesn’t deserve to live in such a melancholic life and we’re desperate enough to end the curse.”

“Oh. This is such a sight,” San’s mother stated as she smirked, “Usually, your clan would kill the cursed one before it turns nine or eighteen. So what’s with the sudden change?”

“The demon that our ancestors have worshipped is getting stronger with every single sin that everyone in this town have committed and I’ll be needing the power of the non-mortal ones that resides in this town to stop them,” Mr. Kang said, still kneeling in front of them.

Seonghwa’s father faked a cough, “Why don’t you ask help from the other powerful creatures? Or the actual Gods and Goddesses?”

“I’d love to. But the curse can only allow interference from the town residents and your children being born here and was noted as the representatives of the seven deadly sins, it isn’t just a coincidence. It’s our only chance to stop the demon,” Mr. Kang stated.

“So that shows that you barely even care for the poor child, you just want your clan’s curse to end.” Wooyoung’s grandmother said as he looked at Wooyoung, “That poor child doesn’t deserve a family like yours.”

“I'd let you insult me and my family with all you want but please end the curse,” Mr. Kang deadpans.

“He’s so pitiful and I’m quite amused with this,” Mrs. Choi said as she nodded, “Alright then. But here’s the deal, if someone from our children dies then I’ll be cursing your entire clan that no one will be able to break. Understood, Blood Mage clan?”

“How dare you threaten us?!” One of Mr. Kang’s servants screamed.

“Shut it.” Mr. Kang said as he stood, “Ah. It seems that my acting skills isn’t enough to convince anyone, huh?”

“You suck.” Mrs. Choi stated as she crossed her arms, “You’re putting your entire clan in danger against seven clans so remember your place. Your clan might be reigning the mortal realm but once that we decided to act against you then you and your clan’s over.”

Everyone seems to be scared of their parents’ outburst and Seonghwa took them to the room next to the hall and saw a long sofa and an organ so he gently accompanied them to the sofa and closed the door before proceeding to the organ and played it, distracting the boys as they listened to the beautiful music coming from the huge instrument. Meanwhile on the hall, the guardians and Mr. Kang along with his underlings was still in discussion. Wooyoung decided to sneak out of the room and hid behind one of the pillars as he listen on their conversation.

“Kim Hongjoong, the bearer of the sin of Pride. Your son has been prideful and has an obsession on leading, doing everything just to attain that position.”

“Park Seonghwa, the bearer of the sin of Wrath. The child hates mortals and he smiles at people’s misery.”

“Jeong Yunho, the bearer of the sin of Lust. It’s more like bloodlust though, whether it is a mortal or an another creature, he enjoys killing them during his training and craves for more that it’s starting to get disturbing.”

“Choi San, the bearer of the sin of Greed. As much as I try to get a research on why he’s been selected to be the bearer of that sin. I wasn’t able to know why aside from the fact that he got the mark.”

“Song Mingi, the bearer of the sin of Envy. He envies mortals, how they can feel such emotions and be normal. Wanting to become like them that it becomes an ugly emotion.”

“Jung Wooyoung, the bearer of the sin of Sloth. Just like Choi San, I don’t know why he is the sin representative. I know the child and he’s too kind for this.”

“Last but not the least, Choi Jongho as the bearer of the Sin of Gluttony. Not an actual gluttony to food but to attentions. He wants to stand out most of the time that he doesn’t care if he’ll be stepping on other creatures and for a young age, that’s quite a bad attitude.”

“I’d like to ask you once again. Are you willing to cooperate with my clan?” Mr. Kang asked as he smiled, “I’m afraid but you aren’t allowed to decline because I’ve already casted a spell to your children and if you decline then their blood would stop flowing and they’ll die.”

“Why, you—” Jongho’s father is about to attack when his wife halted him.

“Remember that we couldn’t go against the reigning clan of this realm,” Jongho’s mother stated as she looked at Yeosang’s father, “You could’ve just asked us in a normal way and you didn’t even need to force us.”

“But I know how hardheaded the other residents of the other realms are,” Mr. Kang said as he lets out a deep breath, “So, will you help us?”

“As much as we want to decline, we have no choice since our clan’s heads have asked us a favor to help a pitiful clan like yours.” Hongjoong’s mother said as her eyes turned into pink, making Wooyoung gasp in awe.

Wooyoung witnessed how every single one of their parents agreed to whatever Yeosang’s father is asking them, making the man smirk in triumph. Wooyoung have always thought that Yeosang’s father is someone that’s caring but that expression creeped him out, maybe he’s not as nice as he thought he is. He even made Wooyoung’s grandparents angry— his grandparents that has a patience of a saint.

“The children will forget this even except from one of them in order for him to gather everyone once the curse activates,” Mr. Kang said, looking at everyone.

“Let it be my child then, he doesn’t get attached to mortals that easily.” Mrs. Choi said as she smiles mischievously, “How about that?”

“Alright then.” Mr. Kang said as he bowed at them, “Thank you for your cooperation. I’d like to talk to all of you in the office to agree on some rules and regulations. So shall we?”

--------------

I said that I’ll be updating on Sunday but shit happened and here’s an another filler chap. Geez, fourth day is too loooooong bc of the flashbacks but I can assure you that the next chapter   will be the end of the fourth day but y’know what I've written on the fifth day?

;)

I’ll be asking y’all every single chap who is your guess on the traitor. :> So who’s the traitor?

Also! I’m lonely most of the time in twt and I really need some ATINY mutuals in it so I can cry about my ideas for fics there hhhh most of them are angst though. So uh.. my username’s @_hyriette and I’ll follow y’all back! hhhh