Chaeyoung watched Jungkook disappear into the darkness and out of the area, heading off to the Defense Sector's training ground. The concern in his eyes spread warm within her, calming her down from the thrill she felt after witnessing his true ability unleashed.

She loved gazing into his eyes. Other people who were born to become Defenders had lighter color of reddish-brown adorning their eyes. His were darker that the first time she saw him, she had a mistake of not realizing that he was the future top Defender everyone was talking about. Sometimes she wondered if his eyes only glimmered when he looked at her, because it seemed that way. She selfishly hoped it was really that way.

These days, she wanted to stare into his eyes endlessly. But the longer she stared, the heavier her heart felt.

Chaeyoung didn't need to force her mind to dig deep to find that memory of Jimin telling her of what her future would be. It was always roaming freely in her head no matter the time.

She knew her father wasn't the type to have his mind changed so easily. She cringed at the thought of marrying someone she wasn't in love with just for the sake of the village. She wanted to be useful, but not in that way. It didn't feel right. It certainly wouldn't ever be right.

She couldn't count the times she had tried to open up about it to Jungkook. She feared of what would ensue. They'd kissed. Not once. And they'd even confessed. What would Jungkook think if he knew about it? Would he turn his back on her? Would he hate her for still approaching him while being promised to be united to another man? Would he shut her out of his life?

The words were at the tip of her tongue, all ready to be freed. But it was always the timing if it wasn't her hesitation. She wanted to tell him what Jimin told her. She wanted to explain to him that even if that was what her father wanted, she would fight for it to be changed. Even when in the end, she'd have to admit defeat to her father, she wanted to let him know that he'd still hold the throne to her heart.

Out of the two things Jimin told her, only the first happened, that her practice was ended abruptly. Her father hadn't yet mentioned anything about the marriage. She had a hunch that it would be soon. If it was really going to be soon, she needed to find a way to let Jungkook know everything about it before he heard it from anyone else.

She didn't even know why she needed him to listen to it. Perhaps she just liked it when she told him things. He listened to her attentively, never missing out on things. Perhaps, she found it comforting to have him hold the stories of her life. Perhaps, she needed the strength that he never missed out on giving.

But then, perhaps, she didn't need to tell him. He didn't have to know it. Because she wouldn't let the stupid marriage to happen.

*

Arrows of flames flew endlessly toward him. His moves were swift, managed to dodge them all almost perfectly except for one. He was lucky that he succeeded in stopping the arrow to drill itself deeper into his rib. Yugyeom said nothing, but his panicked eyes screamed his apology at him when he winced.

Jungkook managed a smirk when he let his eyes do a little travelling. He noticed that so many – if not all – eyes were on them now. Some stopped training for pure interest. It wasn't every day to see Yugyeom being obvious with his ruthlessness with his attacks. All the time, only Jungkook was able to witness and experience it himself. This time, his partner gained heavier attention than before.

Give your all this time because I am not holding back, he told Yugyeom. The latter didn't seem to mind the gravity of his message until he really looked into Jungkook's eyes. He noticed that Yugyeom wasn't scared at all, unlike the first few times they sparred. Each session made him braver and colder, although his warm heart never actually left.

When Yugyeom sent another batch of arrows but bigger in size, Jungkook produced a rather large and thick shield. He used it to shield and hit the arrows back. The arrows turned to smokes, darkening and thickening the surrounding, blurring sights for moments.

Jungkook smiled. He jumped to the side, eyes fixed on Yugyeom's silhouette. He could make out the figure coughing as he tried to shoo the smoke away, arms flailing in the air. The smoke cleared seconds later, and Jungkook took the chance to show those who were watching what they'd always wanted to see, what they'd need to see.

He flashed a grin toward the fools watching him with serious eyes, stretched his arm toward them and jerked it sharply once his daggers appeared beneath his palm. The men laughed, snickering at him before their eyes widened when the daggers only increased in speed as they moved toward them, unstoppable.

Now, his mind sternly said.

Inches before the daggers reached the men who already had their shields before their bodies, the daggers made an abrupt turn, going toward Yugyeom who stood with mouth gaping, looking perplexed before his mind seemed to register what happened and what was about to happen.

His eyes went wide as surprise colored his face, but his focus came back as his fists balled into blue flames, big and strong looking flames that almost looked solid. When the daggers were right before him, he punched them out, leaving thick smokes swirling in the air.

Jungkook and Yugyeom looked at each other. A moment passed, grins pulled at their lips.

"Still think that it's less fascinating now?" Jungkook asked, smirk playing on his face.

Yugyeom looked down at his fists that were no longer wrapped in flames, looked over to where the men stood frozen with mouth gaping in bewilderment. His smile broadened on his face. "I take back what I said, Jeon." He looked at Jungkook. "I guess now's the beginning of fun."

*

He couldn't have heard his father wrong. His father did say to his mother that a man, a fine Healer was going to be matched to Chaeyoung. Few weeks had passed since the day Jimin had informed his sister about it. Even the day he'd showed his father of his scar healed by Chaeyoung felt like too long ago. Yet, his father hadn't mentioned anything regarding it. Had his father changed his mind? If he had, why hadn't he put Chaeyoung back into the practices?

Jimin sighed dejectedly and of course, it didn't go unnoticed by his friend on his side. He'd finally gotten a leave and used that day to fulfill his promise to Taehyung on helping the latter to bring all the vegetables to the market to be sold.

"Worry not, Jimin. I will treat you with some rum after we're done with this," Taehyung said, smiling kindly at the middle-aged woman, a Healer, purchasing half a cart of the greens. "You've agreed on this."

Jimin lightly chuckled at his friend. "I know. I am not complaining on this."

"What else could you worry about other than being ordered around by me?" Taehyung lifted a brow. "This is payback, for all the times you ordered me around."

"Shut it," Jimin laughed, shaking his head at his friend.

They were silent for a moment before Taehyung asked him, his playfulness left aside. "Tell me."

He hesitated for a moment, didn't know where to start or how. He didn't even know if he should be telling Taehyung about the tension in his family, about what the situation was. But sooner or later, Taehyung would know, sooner or later, none of that would remain a secret. But if it was to remain a secret, if there was anyone he could trust with his life, it was Taehyung.

So he told him. Taehyung remained silent all the time that Jimin thought his friend wasn't even listening. Nevertheless, he kept talking, throwing heavy sighs here and there every time he mentioned of his father.

"I wish you're a Healer, Tae," Jimin muttered when they stopped by a stall.

Taehyung sputtered on his side, brushing off what he said, telling him they were complete nonsense and even added that he would never want to be something else other than a Cultivator even if he would be born again. Jimin could only smile sadly.

"And what would my being a Healer do anything to help this situation? I don't remember you telling me Healers can soften a stubborn heart," Taehyung said, laughing lightly.

"At least I can accept you into the family with open heart since I know you well. And I know that you can make her happy," Jimin responded.

When he looked at Taehyung, the latter's mouth was clamped shut, staring at him for too long that he thought his friend had lost his ability to even move. He watched as Taehyung's mouth opened a moment later, but he closed it a second after.

Jimin shook his head. Taehyung really hadn't the slightest clue. But it shouldn't be a surprise to Jimin of all people who'd been sticking around with Taehyung for so long, spending most of his times with his dear friend. That was how Kim Taehyung had always been. A clueless boy, yet not one bit lacking in his intellect.

"Stop saying nonsense things, Jimin," Taehyung laughed uneasily.

"She likes you. Only you didn't know that," he told Taehyung, no longer caring what his sister would do to him if she knew he'd just spilled the beans.

He expected Taehyung to have his cheeks burn so much the golden skin would completely be painted with red. It would be great to see that to happen so he could use it to tease him. Instead, Taehyung only sighed softly, the look on his eyes softened and he smiled warmly.

"No, she doesn't," Taehyung simply responded. Jimin wanted to counter it, but Taehyung spoke before he could. "She is...like my own sister, Jimin."

"But she doesn't see you as her brother," Jimin insisted.

"As her friend, then."

"No, Taehyung."

"Jimin, listen," Taehyung's voice dropped lower, forcing Jimin to hold his tongue. "Even if I am a Healer and you want me instead of the man of your father's choice to take her as a wife, you are doing the exact same thing as what your father has been doing. Taking away her rights to choose what she wants."

He pulled a face. "I won't be taking away her rights if you're to marry her, Taehyung," Jimin said and further pressed, "She likes you."

"Perhaps, yes, she likes me. But it's not the kind of what you have in your mind, my friend. Besides, I am sure that kind of feelings that she has is for someone else."

Jimin shook his head, protesting and disagreeing. He still firmly believed that her sister's feelings for Taehyung had never changed. Perhaps, even if it had changed, it had only grown stronger.

"If she has feelings for someone else, I would have known."

Taehyung looked away from him, taking a deep breath and the silence was long enough for Jimin to assume that Taehyung had admitted defeat. It was long enough for Jimin to believe that Taehyung had dropped the topic and their conversation regarding that ended just like that.

"You do realize that you've been too busy lately, don't you?" Taehyung said after a while with a chuckle and his smile lingered when he said, "If you aren't so busy, then it wouldn't be so hard to notice that she seems to be very close to a particular someone from the Defense Sector."

Jimin gave his friend a look, stifling his own laughter at his friend's point. "You know her, Taehyung. If she could, she would make friends with everyone. That person included. Whoever he is, he's no more than a friend to her," he shrugged.

Taehyung had a big smirk hanging off his face when he turned to Jimin. "Are you quite sure?" he asked with a lifted brow. Taehyung nodded his head at somewhere and Jimin followed his gaze.

Far from them, at the north of where he and his friend were, Jimin saw his sister, walking with a Newcomer of the Defense Sector beside her with gaps so little between them.

He noticed the way the Newcomer looked at her and the way she stole glances to stare at him. He noticed the way Chaeyoung flicked off whatever it was that had landed on the man's hair and the way he'd pulled her to avoid her from being knocked by some children running around. He noticed the way she leaned into him and lingered there like it was home and the way his hand held her arm with gentleness that he didn't know would exist within a Newcomer.

He noticed the comfort that existed between the two as they were simply walking and talking. He noticed all of those even from quite a distance.

Jimin frowned. On his side, Taehyung chuckled and slung an arm around his shoulder.

"Not so sure now, are you?"