*Read with my comments for the best experience*

𝒯𝒶ℯ𝒽𝓎𝓊𝓃

The dark abyss gradually drew me a wall of laurel, stretching into the lost on both sides. Tufts of its tiny yellowish flowers glowed softly in the darkness, revealing the gap in the fence in front of which I found myself. 

The entrance to the labyrinth was shrouded in a fine misty haze, a veil that glittered with fine dust. The architectural work itself would fortell failure to anyone who would forcefully try to search for the sensitive codes engraved in this soul and abuse them. Therefore, to step into the fog represented a boldness worthy of a madman. 

Luckily, I only need to get around the corner... although I could and was crazy enough to go and explore it even deeper if necessary. 

I was about to take the first step when I heard the soft flutter of a bird's wings near my ear. I tilted my head to look at the deep yellow canary on my shoulder. 

"Here you are. Will you guide me?" I smiled at him, caressing feathered side of the tiny body with back of my fingers, "right... or left?" 

As if on a spring, after only a few ticks of its head, the canary flew away behind the left part of the hedge. I briskly followed it into the labyrinth until the fine mist thickened and slowed down my steps with caution. 

The subtle light didn't seem to have any particular source... it seemed to be simply bound to the place by a dense presence, time thickened with glittering dust. 

Forgetting to breathe, with my lips slightly parted, I really tried to focus on my own straight path and ignore the spine-chilling rustle of leaves behind the leafy walls I was walking between. The living corridors here had a dreamlike malleability... each one could suddenly change direction or turn into a dead end. 

Yet, this laurel crown of victory... shining with pure love from his heart... was indeed what made Kai immune to evil spirits. 

Hyuka was a born winner. 

Suddenly I didn't hear the crunch of sand with my next step, instead I felt something softer under my toe. As soon as I recognized it, I bent down to the dandelion wreath... or rather to the bundled decrepit stems that were left behind. 

So this must be the right section... 

Just as I dangled my fingers to the withered crown and peered into the hedge, something rough brushed against my hand. 

"A-" I backed up and bit my finger just before I could cry out as my eyes caught a crawling white snake tail that waved once more before disappearing into the darkness of the closest bush. 

Finding me folded awkwardly on my bottom, I took my hand from my mouth and pulled the large black hood over my head with a sigh. 

"So here he is - the greatest Magician, the destined star guardian... freaked out because of a little creature... actually being more scared than himself," I muttered mockingly to myself, getting closer to the hedge on my knees. 

I reached into the fragrant branches and pulled out a rolled piece of yellowish parchment. 

When I unrolled it, I found that many of the verses from that pivotal night were really faded and hard to read... fortunately, the deep grooves of the letters were clearly palpable. 

"Reveal your secrets to me..." 

From my fingers, the lines of the letters glowed violet, thus deciphering the sleepy verse paragraphs of the unconscious:

Serpent Wisdom

Voice long lost in the roar of dragon
Grounded, leading me along the roots
Angel... becoming the devil
Choose,
Which one indeed is the fatal?

:The god-like one,
using your name alike the breaking code
"Believe me, Amor,
you're flying... above the horizons, so broad"

~Whisssper... ~
Then why, ashamed Eve, are your ankles tied?

Oh no, not yet... I've not died,
I'm your power, writhing so alive
Awaken from the slumber,
on your lap, so tight.
Just listen -

let me lead you up to your light
Across the vermilion sea,
to that forbidden apple tree
You already know what's right

The Master says - fall or reach heights
But I warn you -
if you don't learn to swim,
you choose to die.

Loosing your wings?
But they already trapped your freedom
Cut off from the rhythm of its heart...
child, nothing's more pure than your love
Just break the cursed rhyme, decide-

"Be a good boy, Amor! You must be strong!"
- And here emerges the hydra
that's when even the sweetest temptation,
guiding you to your full inborn potential,
turns to deterrence... pain,
twisting your insights... body in vain

Why?

"I can not be a virgin forever, anyway."

"So nasty..."

Nonsense, disgust, ill will in resistance

How are you still able to resist?

The rosy floral scent,
the silky voice so intoxicating...
Ain't he worthy of the sacrifice?

To play with his hair... more.
To wrap my arms around his waist... tighter.
To kiss and cherish his lips so bad... and much more.
More... more... more.

The existence of love,
curing the world alike a magic
Stop the needless suffering, right now
Can't we just leave the monster alive?

Can't you see...?

It's the Bright Bride of your redemption
There's no losing in this game
Break the perfection, the mask of shame
embrace your true self...

"You are doomed to lose a part of yourself or your beloved one."

Does it still make you feel sick?

Poisoned by this absurd fear and guilt...
does the fruit taste bitter?
Oh... then here's your Healer-

Drown! (once again)

I only caught a glimpse of a white reptilian head, lunging at my face. A painful bite. A sting in my ear immediately jolted me back into the daylight of the tree room... made me cover the pain with my palm and clench my jaw. 

"Oh gosh," I hissed. 

"Taehyunie! Are you okay?" 

At first I only nodded with my cheeks cupped in Huening Kai's hands. Eyes closed so as not to lose the threads I tried to hold and repeat in my visualization.

"Yeah... yes, I'm fine," I replied as soon as the thorny pain was almost gone. 

"Good...," was one word of relief, barely audible, as Hyuka waited for me to sort out my thoughts and new information, loud in the silence.

"Do you remember the white snake?"

Hyuka didn't hold back too long with a nod of agreement.

"It woke me up from my sleep with the promise of sharing knowledge with me..." After the angel tried to search his memories again for a moment, he shook his head with a frown. "... but I've been blacked out since entering the forest... all I remember after that is how Beomgyu found me all desperate."

Grounded, leading me along the roots... Replaying the verses in my memory, I manifested a book of symbols and flipped through its pages.

"Why? Did you see it?"

"The snake wasn't really there... it was projected from your subconscious. It's a huge hint and symbol for you... practically the whole script is just mindblowing and clever. Deep knowledge indeed," I started with my eyes wide open from the excitement, as I tried to search through the key words, "except the snake being a general symbol of sexuality and depicting the awakening of feminine part of your energy... it also represented your ancient blood of summoner that was brought to the surface by the pixie dust... it guided you through your obstacles... it sought to banish the terrifying dragon of your inculcated beliefs so that you could relax and surrender to your full potential of pure boundless love."

Just wow, a glimpse into Kai's subconscious completely changed my view of the damned dust.

"... in theory, it disconnected your mind... almost," I added.

"Hmm... but then... why am I still not a summoner and have no idea how to be one...?" Kai wondered.

"Easy, you were already prepared for it all, but Beomgyu... unknowingly of course... reminded you of your hurting perception of sexuality as nonsense - it pissed off the snake and when Gyu threw you into the water, you came back to senses... thrown into the raging waves with an intimidating monster of shame and guilt," I explained in short, briskly placing my finger on the page with key word I was searching for.

Basically - to become the summoner, the responsible mature lover and to get rid of his blood curse... Kai had to give up on being the "perfect angel"... and make love.

Hyuka fell on his back into the covers and sighed heavily.

"So it's actually Beomgyu's fault," he grinned softly.

"Indeed," that light judgment made me giggle. I realised I finally managed to blink, before I looked back into the book.

"In the symbolism of dreams - the white snake represents a positive direction, thought out of control without a choice. Just like your subconscious revealed me - you already know what's the right decision and you will try to fulfill it even at the cost of sacrifices...," I slowly closed the book and slid my gaze back to the fairy of light.

"However, the snakebite depicts your fear that the decision may be bad anyway and you are afraid of the consequences of the loss...," I finished the second half with a sinking voice. Why?

The book disappeared in sparkles and Hyuka grabbed the bridge of his nose overwhelmed.

"Ahhh... I-" he hissed, "I actually fleetly talked about it with Beomgyu already... about the curse, about us."

So he talked to him too? I see... that's why Gyu was so done, addressing both of us with... - "ahhh, you mad... mad pixies."

Perhaps the time is slowly coming for me to reveal what I have hidden from him - I rubbed my tired, enchanted eye, a little bit anxiously.

"Hyuka, I know it's hard for you and I just accept it."

On the contrary, my hope for his acceptance of my mistake was clenched in my stomach with Kai's unexpected declaration.

"But I don't," interrupted the angel, sitting on the bed and clutching his knees, "I don't want you to accept it anymore, Tyun."

What...?

"It's all true - these signs and what Beomgyu told me - as long as my curse exists, there's still a risk that we could lose one of you... and we actually don't even know how much time we have left together. I don't really have a choice."

... even at the cost of sacrifices... 

I can't really object... and so I only bowed my head. We were still so pretty far from saving the world, the progress was slow... but first of all, we had to find and save our true selves. It just doesn't work the other way around.

"I mean... I definitely can not do the great move immediately, but I want to start the change... by allowing you and Beomgyu to do some nice gardening in my head," Kai finally spoke his decision out loud, bringing relieving clarity between us.

We are safe... it's safe to communicate with each other.

It made me look up at him again. I held my breath, building up the urge to finally tell my stupid secret too.

"Kai that- that's a huge thing for me. It's an honor-" Suddenly, my mouth went speechless. I felt just so proud and grateful that he opened up to me... he trusts me.

... and I shall not be a disappointment to him either.

Being so touched, the warm chills ran through my whole body, glistening in my eyes, when Kai gently grabbed my hands and leaned a little bit closer.

"Well... that one can wait for now, my Muse," he smiled at me relieved and lovingly kissed the back of my hand. "I still owe you the anagram, remember?"

Trying to finally get the lump out of my throat, I just nodded confusedly, until it blurted out of me:

"Wait! Please... first I have to confide in you something too..."

"Mhm? What is it...?"

...

If any fear is true nonsense, then it is certainly the fear of burdening your loved one with your hardships...

... those, after sharing their weight... become light as a feather, flying in pure love between two deeply connected souls.

•.°✫⍟✫°.•

•.°✫⍟✫°.•

+x+

Oh gosh! It took me longer again, right? But teeheee woiejfiwo it is 2k chapter, Pixies! So fkin juicy oml... how are you feelin? T^T I love it so much!