Jungkook hated being in the palace during national celebrations, he'd always have to show up to these fancy royal events, watch, partake in performances, or simply talk to the very people who hated him there. He decided tonight would be different, he wore an all black attire, simple and void of any gold or embroidery. One may ask, why would a prince wear such basic fabrics. Jungkook didn't want to stand out when he sneaks out of the palace to visit the downtown tonight. 

He wanted the full experience of the Dragon Festival, where he could let himself be a young man his own age and not the Crown Prince or the General. Granted, he couldn't just walk the streets exposed for anyone to recognize him, so he decided to hide the top half of his face with a mask he had bought a few months ago on one of his escapades. 

"You're going out again?" Kyungsoo said with a chuckle from the door of Jungkook's chambers.

"How many time did I tell you not to get in your brother's business Soo" Jungkook smiled.

"If I didn't know any better, I would think you're going to see someone special" the younger said with a sigh.

"Well you do know better" Jungkook replied. "Actually good thing you're here, does this mask look ridiculous?" He asked as he looked at his covered eyes in the mirror.

"Does it matter? I believe the purpose is to be unrecognizable, and as far as I'm concerned I think you've succeeded" he said and took a seat on the nearest available chair. 

"You're right. Want to tag along?" Jungkook asked. He picked up one of his small blades. You never know when you need it, he thought as he buckled it around his waist, careful not to touch his fresh stitches. He turned back to his brother awaiting his answer, to find his expression completely blank.

"Not everyone is as free as you are here big brother. Father and mother wouldn't be pleased to find out I missed Chuseok with the family" he replied and Jungkook sighed to express his sympathy and understanding. 

"Well, my mom passed a long time ago" Jungkook stated with a shrug of his shoulders.

"But father lets you do whatever you want anyway" Kyungsoo pouted.

"What can I say, being the favorite child has all its perks" Jungkook joked, earning a light push on the shoulder. 

"Father doesn't have a favorite child" Kyungsoo squinted his eyes in disbelief. 

"Whatever helps you sleep at night little brother. Now if you'll excuse the favorite child, he has a festival to attend" Jungkook last said before walking out of the room. 

"You're annoying!" Kyungsoo shouted into the distance.

"I know!" He replied, mounting his horse before taking off into the darkness of the night, the opposite direction to which the royal festivities had started.

Jungkook smiled as he saw the beautiful lights in the city, he tied his horse on a dark hill away from the crowd and traffic, where he could wear his mask and get ready before getting mixed up with the people of his capital. He took a deep breath, walking closer and closer to the first shop in sight. 

"Well hello there young man! Happy Chuseok! Do you want to try some of our delicious lamb?" The kind woman kindly offered. The night is starting very nicely, Jungkook thought. 

He toured around the markets and got to see what his townsfolk made and prepared for the festival. It was full of vibrant colors and loud music, exactly what Jungkook expected to see sneaking out, he was not disappointed at all. 

"I'm sorry sir!" a young boy said bumping into him with his arms full of different foods freshly purchased. 

"That's okay little one. Do you need help with those bags?" he asked and the boy shyly nodded. He handed the man one of the heavy ones and smiled.

Jungkook's heart melted as he walked behind the child to what he guesses was his home. The two entertained small talk about the food in hand until they reached the place. The boy excitedly entered to tell his parents about how he made a new friend, dragging him by the sleeve to show him off to his siblings.  

"Thank you so much young man. What's your name?" an older lady, whom he assumed was the mother, asked,

"I'm Jungil, nice to meet you" he lied using the first name he could think of at the moment. 

"Likewise Jungil. Would you like to stay over for dinner? The festivities will not end any time soon anyway" the mother invited him in, which he politely declined.

"Oh sorry, I wouldn't want to disturb your family time. I hope you have a blessed Chuseok" he apologized.

"Well, we will not take no for an answer. At least have some dessert, my wife makes the best Neri pies out there!" The boy's father insisted and sat at the table, expecting him to do the same. 

"Thank you very much sir" he replied, bowing and sitting across from him. The kids were not shy at all, then again they looked like Theras so Jungkook wasn't even surprised. He smiled at what they said and listened to their stories of the night while sharing a delicious fruit pie. 

For the first time in a long time, he felt welcomed somewhere. He was seen as a person, worthy of resect instead of fear, a shame it was that he had to be someone else for it. Maybe one day, he'll be able to bare his face, maybe one day it'll earn him more than fake smiles.

---

"Woobin! Long time no see brother" Jimin greeted as he hugged said man. 

"Jimin! Happy Dragon Destival, how have you been?" The two exchanged a few words and made small talk, walking together as they filled each other in on the few months they didn't see one another.

"I see your sister finished the Hanfu she was making" Woobin mentioned looking at Jimin's attire. 

"You knew? Yes, she gifted me it this morning. Such a thoughtful girl" he replied with a smile on his face.

"She's very kind indeed. Actually, I have something to tell you... How do I start" Jimin noticed his friend getting a little nervous all of a sudden and knit his eyebrows in confusion. "Did something happen?" he asked. 

"Yes, it's about Mina. I just... I started having feelings for her... I don't know when or how it happened, but I really appreciate her and would like to court her properly, not as her brother's friend but as a suitor. Of course, I respect you a lot so I would like to ask for your blessing first" Woobin finished with his head down waiting for his friend's reply with a hammering heart. 

Jimin smiled and placed a hand on Woobin's shoulder, "No need to be all formal with me Bin, you're an honest man, I don't think there's anyone better to make my sister happy. As long as she wants it of course" He chuckled.

The taller man scratched the back of his head in embarrassment "Well your father isn't here anymore, so you've got to be the man I should be formal with" He explained. 

"I appreciate the thought, you have my blessing as long as you promise to treat her well"

"I promise"

Woobin's words played again in his mind as the night went by. It's funny how you'll be the one leaving me first, sister. Jimin thought as he walked further away from the festivities. He needed some time to think and reflect on everything that was about to happen after tonight. 

He was going to visit the royal family, see the Crown Prince with his own two eyes and smile to him instead of burying a crystal dagger deep in his chest. If his observations and studies about the royal family were accurate the plan should go smoothly, but if it doesn't, he can always think of a new one. He decided that he will get his revenge one way or another, he doesn't care how long it takes. 

He got up and decided to practice his element a little to release some steam, and this hill couldn't be better a spot to do so. At least he was sure not to hurt anybody.

---

Jungkook was content, he ate a lot and met wonderful people who smiled and danced with him all night. Granted, they didn't know who he really was or else they would all be much less friendly, but the entire point of this getaway was to escape his titles, and he was absolutely satisfied with how things turned out to be. Walking back to the hill, his horse noticed his figure and nickered. 

Suddenly Jungkook's attention snapped to the sound of an object flying at full speed towards the horse. In the blink of a second, he took out his blade and directed a cloud of fire just in time to stop it from stabbing the animal. Jungkook's ear was trained to recognize the sound of arrows and such weapons to be able to protect himself and others during battle, but he was actually impressed by the higher speed of this unknown thing.

He walked towards where the object dropped after hitting his fire and knit his eyebrows. This was not something he's seen before, in fact Jungkook didn't even know what it was until he picked it up. It felt like a sharp ice shard, although it was not cold at all. It seemed like a white rock that was sculpted to look like a dagger. But how did it manage to fly so fast, he wondered. This has to be someone's element, yet it doesn't seem like the work of a Thera, it's too neat.

"Hello... I deeply apologize about your horse I did not mean it any harm, I was just startled at the sudden nicker" a male voice boomed in his ears at once, he barely remembered to put his mask on before facing the person. 

It was a young man, probably in his twenties, wearing a very nice white and blue Hanfu. He seemed a little shorter than Jungkook was, and much weaker physically. His face held a guilty expression, but the Prince refused to put two and two together. There is no way this attack came from such a frail looking young man, such speed can only be achieved with years of practice and endurance training. 

"Well, no harm was done right? There is no need to apologize. However, could you tell me where this thing came from?" he asked, holding the pointy object. The young man stammered and proceeded to retrieve it from Jungkook's hand.

"That's mine" he replied before Jungkook witnessed the strangest thing in a while. The young man's eyes glowed a light shade of blue as the shard started loosing its rock texture and completely melted into clear liquid. The young man let the water drip down his hand onto the ground and quickly wiped it on the fabric of his Hanfu.

(I know they wear Hanboks in Korea but... Hanfus look nicer so😅)

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I hope you're liking this story so far!

-Aida-