From one place to another, especially in the Defense Sector, Jungkook kept hearing more and more things about him. More comments, more opinions, more insults.

He'd been hearing critics since he was little. That he was going to be a good Defender when he grew up, but that would be it. Good. Not the best, not the greatest. Just, 'good'. People said that he wouldn't go as far as being the greatest. He would only be stuck at being good at it, because they said he was always satisfied with what he could do. Never wanted to have more than what he had.

He never let them bother him, but as he spent more and more time training, he realized that he was sick of them. Sick of the harsh comments. Perhaps, people were right. That he wasn't going to improve not because he couldn't, but because he wouldn't allow himself to.

He thought of Chaeyoung and her passion to improve herself despite the harsh reality that it would be close to impossible for her to improve largely at once. Her kind of improvement was the type to go slow, but it would absolutely be possible for her to be there. Jungkook could see how she would do anything to get to where she wanted to be.

Unlike him.

Jungkook could easily get himself the biggest improvement if he wanted to, but he was all into the current satisfaction, believing that he was doing great. Perhaps, it was all in his head.

"It's as far as he can get."

"Others collect prizes, he collects wounds of all sizes."

"Perhaps, he only looks great, but he's the weakest."

Those comments didn't really affect him much, but then it was his grandfather's own words that made him rethink of his own choice to feel 'just enough'.

His grandfather requested for them to spar early in the morning, when the sun hadn't yet risen. His grandfather also requested for Jungkook to not hold himself back just because he was old. Jungkook did as requested. He showed the older man his best, the way he'd perform on the training ground, because despite his age, the old man was far better than the men in Jungkook's batch. He was an experienced Defender with loaded skills.

"The people were right, boy," the old man said after their third round of sparring. "The longer you ignore your true ability to go further, no doubt you're going to lose it forever."

He'd ignored it, casually attacking his grandfather as though what the older man had just said was unimportant.

"Your lack of will to improve when you're able to do it," his grandfather scoffed. "That is what making you too vulnerable to all attacks."

When his ring glowed, summoning him for his training session, he heard his grandfather said, "Multiple wounds wouldn't always make a Defender stronger, it would only weaken him if he's not going to open his heart to his own potential."

Jungkook's own reflection stared at him from the water of the pond. The people were right. People talked too much in the society, criticized too much, but there were truths everywhere around in every word they said. He needed to make into the cut, he wanted to serve the village in a way he'd always wanted to, he wanted to be front in line.

He wanted to fight when the battle would greet them. He wanted to be like his grandfather, not like his father.

He went through lots of denials, trying to convince himself that he wasn't full of himself. It took him so long to fully understand what it would cost him if he was really ignoring himself, his own best potential. Despite getting his health restored that he was able to fight well, Jungkook realized that he was getting more and more vulnerable to attacks. Just like what the old man told him.

He considered the possibility of how his body was pampered with Chaeyoung's healing touches to be the cause of it, but then it really wasn't, he realized. It was because he'd ignored his own ability, his own potential. If it wasn't for her, he would probably be at the end of his journey in life earlier than he would expect.

Jungkook looked at his own hands covered in active flames. He remembered the big arrow that was sent to attack Yugyeom but had pierced into his shoulder instead. He realized he wasn't able to create something like that if he let his potential float away just like it was mere dust.

He recalled the times when he almost died, when the thick and big sword of burning flames had slashed his shoulder, plunged deep into his abdomen. He would be able to shield himself from it if he hadn't been so satisfied with his armor. He'd thought his armor was strong enough to withstand anything at all, realizing it too late that he was wrong.

He shook his head, suddenly sweating at the horrible incident that was all so vivid in his head. His heart raced at the terrifying memory swirling in his mind. He must better himself. He must reach the highest point of his own ability no matter what.

The entire break time he used it on trying to sharpen his skills that he previously thought was already great. He tried to do what he could, tried to see what people meant when they said he could get it if he just tried. He tried and tried and tried and felt nothing of difference. He tried to play around with his daggers, his sword, his fists all made of flames. Nothing.

Perhaps, he thought, he was too used to not practice variance in his life. He was too used to it that it was hard to let his true potential shine. Was this what his grandfather meant when he said that he was going to lose his potential the longer he ignored it? How long has it been? How long has it been since people realized that he had the potential in him but he chose to let it slide? How long has it been since they talked about it? Too long he couldn't count, couldn't remember.

Jungkook calmed himself, fisted his hands and blue fire began to envelop them. He opened his palms, faced them downward and daggers appeared effortlessly. He observed them as he thought of the daggers thrown by his grandfather.

The old man's daggers were small underneath his palm. They were smaller than Jungkook's daggers. But when they flew, they weren't merely flying forward. They grew bigger, thicker, wilder as they made sharp turns, following Jungkook when he tried to dodge them. The daggers he had always used in his performance were nothing like that. Thinking of his grandfather, he realized how dull his skills were. How unexciting his ability was.

Jungkook commanded his daggers to fly toward a large stone across of him. They dashed forward, speedily that it was barely possible for people of different sectors to see them move. Even Defenders themselves would find it slightly hard to follow the daggers with their eyes.

He tried turning his body away, tried to aim the same stone. He failed at making his daggers turn.

He tried for at least a hundred or more times when he finally made it, though he still needed to perfect it. Five daggers floated for mere seconds before he pushed them off by air. They were slow at first, going forward for a few inches before they made a turn, flying in a ridiculous speed toward the darkness made of bushes.

Just before they could be in contact with the plants, Jungkook curled his fingers into a fist like he would stop a small stone from plummeting to the ground, so sudden of a movement. The fire daggers disappeared just like that, transforming themselves into smoke before vanishing into thin air.

The corners of his lips slightly curved, forming a small smile on his face. A sense of pride took place in him. Inhaling softly, Jungkook began doing the same thing over and over again, aiming at different places. His mind was then consumed with the thoughts of the other men who'd insulted him. How good it would be to prove them wrong.

So far, none of them had ever gotten close to make any of their weapons to move in such way. The daggers' movement was clumsy and amateur as compared to his grandfather's, but he knew that with time, he'd be able to be as good as the old man.

He was too immersed in the new discovery of his true ability that he wasn't aware of his surroundings until his fire daggers danced a wild dance in the air. They were turning so abruptly and moving toward a spot with so much speed that he almost missed the chance to stop them after a shriek broke the air.

Jungkook felt his heart almost leaped out of his mouth when his eyes settled on Chaeyoung on the ground, body curling and slightly hidden by the tall, thin grasses. His feet were the lightest as he rushed toward her, knees making evident scars on the ground as he dropped himself and slid against it. His hands were quick to reach her, his eyes opened wide, shaking in fear.

When she turned, her eyes were on his. They were probably as wide as how his were. He saw shock displayed evidently on those blue eyes staring into his. There were a lot more than shock, it seemed, but they were unreadable to him. He felt his stomach sink deeper, fear eating away his heart the moment Chaeyoung rushed to stand on her two feet and practically walked past him in hasty steps before stopping just a few feet away from the mouth of the pond.

"Chaeyoung –" he managed, unable to hide the tremor in his voice. It was unintended. He didn't want her to think that he was trying to hurt her. "I didn't –"

"I've..." she began, voice was low and if it wasn't for the quiet surrounding at that area, he probably wouldn't hear anything she said. "I've never seen you did that."

Jungkook got up from the ground, his feet heavy, burdened with guilt as he dragged himself toward her. He kept his distance while standing behind her, afraid that she wouldn't want such closeness after what he did earlier. He barely made the daggers stopped on time. He almost killed her. "I –"

At the same time, she turned around and said, "That's..." but paused, like she was trying to find the right words to say.

Jungkook couldn't lift his head to look into her eyes, then. He was scared if what he was going to see was pure anger, hatred and disappointment.

"That's impressive," she softly muttered.

He felt his brows knitted. Slowly, he looked up and found his brows to furrow deeper, leaving deep creases on his forehead. Chaeyoung was looking at him with eyes wide, sparkling like she was awed by something special.

"It was incredible," she said when he said nothing. Chaeyoung moved toward him. "What you did with your fire daggers was incredible."

Sweet chuckle of hers broke the abrupt silence that followed after she said it. Jungkook watched her, disbelief masking him when her countenance was all smile from her eyes to her lips. As though she sensed his confusion, Chaeyoung drew closer, leaving so little gap between them and spoke to him in deep awe.

"I was watching you. The turn of the daggers? It was too amazing it took my breath away. How did you do that?"

Jungkook's mouth fell open, his head slightly shook left to right as he tried to understand the situation when Chaeyoung dropped him another question. "Will you show me again?"

Her eyes were persuading him, innocence was all there, as though what she was asking for didn't just nearly cause her some possible serious injuries. "It's dangerous. I could hurt you."

She gazed into his eyes long, saying nothing for a moment before she let her lips pulled into a warm smile. "I will stay close to you, if you prefer."

Jungkook's hesitation grew within him, but just like any other times, he lost to the battle. It was impossible to win against her, every single time, especially if she pleaded.

"Fine," he said, defeated sigh ensued. "Stay close to me, but not too close. Or else your clothes would get burned," he said gently and noticed the brief moment of her blushing.

A faint smile almost appeared on his face at the sight of her clasping her hands with excitement but he quickly reminded himself that he needed to be extra careful this time and not lose his focus.

He readied himself, looked around for something to aim at and figured that the safest aim would absolutely be the stone. Just like how he did it before, the daggers thrust into the air few inches forward before they went for a turn, slicing the air sharply as they moved toward the stone, hitting it so hard that the stone was left with dark spots. When he looked at Chaeyoung, her eyes were wide, mouth left opened. She was once again awed, it seemed, and there was nothing else as attractive as that sight of her.

A slow smile spread on his face, the corner of his eyes creasing slightly as he rested his gaze on the fascination heavily painted on her face. His smile didn't last long, though. It faded out slowly, brows beginning to knit as his mind reeled back to what had almost happened to her earlier.

Despite their ability to heal, Healers were known to be very susceptible to great injuries and the journey to death would be way faster for them compared to the others. That wasn't even the worst thing about them.

Healers could only heal others, but not themselves.

Pictures of her getting injured because of him began to pollute his mind. He closed his eyes briefly, opening them again to see the smile on her face wiped off as she eyed him.

"Are you not happy that you're able to do that?" she asked, eyebrows pulled up by her confusion.

Jungkook inhaled gently, shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "I am happy."

Her brows slightly knitted, a warm smile softly placed itself on her face a moment later. Chaeyoung placed a hand on the side of his face, her fingertips stroked it with feathery touches. "What's with this face, then?" she asked gently, brushing her fingers against the line of his jaw.

He breathed softly, letting his eyes flutter close as he leaned into her touch. "I just..." he trailed off, giving his head a light shake before opening his eyes and gazed at her. "Are you hurt?" His eyes roamed from her face, traveled a quick journey around her figure to check if she was actually wounded at any place at all. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

Chaeyoung's confusion still hung on her face for a moment before she seemed to realize what was worrying his mind. "I am totally fine," she chuckled.

"You sure?"

"Yes, of course. I am very certain I am not hurt, Jungkook," she placed a palm on his arm.

"Are you not worried at all?" he chuckled, though his face still couldn't rid the deep concern over the seriousness of the situation. Jungkook put his hand at the small of her back, and with a lower voice, he said, "I almost hurt you."

She stared at him for quite long, her eyes were telling him that she understood his concern. She gave him a small smile, patted his chest lightly, gently giving his heart a steady beat again after the panic. Softly, she replied, "But you didn't."

"Chaeyoung... You fell. The daggers..." he sighed, leaning his forehead against hers, "they almost hit you." Or perhaps, they already did that. Chaeyoung was sometimes unreadable, knowing when and where to hide the agony she had if she didn't want to share it.

"I promise I will only speak of truth to you, Jungkook," she murmured. She pulled back, made him look her in the eyes. "And here I am keeping my promise to you. Yes, I fell. But I was not hurt. I'm not hurt at all, I swear. Just shocked, is all."

He was not convinced, and she certainly could see that by the way she looked at him. Chaeyoung laughed, shaking her head. "Jungkook, I have sworn to you. Do you still not believe me?"

Jungkook's arm pulled her gently toward his chest and he immediately felt her hands gave his back gentle rubs. "Forgive me," he muttered. "I really didn't mean to harm you."

Her hands that were slowly rubbing on her back disappeared, sneaking toward his front before Jungkook felt her push. "I am not forgiving you."

His heart sank at the words, suddenly wanted to kneel and beg, but before that could happen, she pressed her hands on either side of his face. "Why do you feel the need to apologize? You certainly didn't know, didn't realize of my presence. I was watching you quietly and you weren't aware of me. I'm not going to forgive you, because you are not at fault and you are going to take it back, you are not asking me for forgiveness. Do you understand?"

It took another repetition of her 'do you understand?' and all his might to nod and smile, leaning in closer to eliminate any gap they had, kissing her slow with a rhythm so steady it almost felt like nothing else matter in the world until he heard a soft rustle from far. Jungkook pulled back with curious eyes wandering farther into the woods.

"What is it?" he heard Chaeyoung asked.

He narrowed his eyes slightly to adjust to the darkness of the woods but found nothing. "Nothing," he shook his head a little. "I thought I heard something."

She looked around while still pressed against the warmth of his body. "Perhaps," she turned back to look at him, "it's just the wind."

His brows were unsure but he nodded anyway. Right after, the leaves moved in a slow dance as the wind blew softly. "Yes. Perhaps it's just the wind blowing."

He was about to attach his lips again onto hers when the band on his finger lit up in the color of fire. He caught the slight change of her face when she saw that, but the next moment was of her smiling softly. "You should go now."

"I should," he agreed, but his hand on her hip didn't budge. Her eyes downcast and he wondered if she had something to say. "Is something the matter?"

Chaeyoung blinked, shook her head but he had a sense that there was something. "Nothing. Go now. Don't keep them waiting for something new to show," she chuckled.

Just before he left, Jungkook pressed a kiss once more on her lips, long enough that the ring brightened up even more that his finger began to throb in burning pain. An involuntary sound escaped him as he tried to suppress the agony, shaking his hand as though that would successfully eradicate it.

Chaeyoung immediately wrapped her fingers around his new wound while he hissed, her blue light glowed around her, a brighter one at her hand and his finger was recovered from pain moments later. "You shouldn't be late, go before the ring bites off your finger."

"I should just let it be, so I could spend more time with you," he said, trying to ease the worry in her eyes.

She smiled shyly, pushed his arm, ushering him to go, reminding him how he was never late to any of the training session before he pushed himself through the trees and dashed away.

When Jungkook was preparing himself to begin the training session with Yugyeom, the latter was grunting, whining as he dragged his feet to their spot. "We are doing the same thing every single day. None of this fascinates me anymore. I wish I was born to become a Cultivator."

Jungkook threw a brief glance at the other men who were fooling around with each other as they took their spot. The trainer headed back to inside the building and left them to train on their own. Averting his attention back to Yugyeom, he felt the corner of his lips pulled up slightly, forming a small smirk.

"You might want to take that back," he said to Yugyeom and his partner merely lifted a brow at him. "We'll have some fun today."