Not having forgotten about his actual work at the palace, Jimin was in the royal pharmacy concocting his usual products. His hands busy and his mind even more, but the words he quietly uttered every now and then made him feel just a little closer to the incarcerated Prince. 

"Now I'm putting the dried leaves into the solution, and this is how you get that fragrant smell" he explained step by step what he was doing. "With the amount of information I gave you thus far you should be able to make your own soaps one day, my Prince" he chuckled to himself.

The King had just approved their request for appeal that morning, and he spent the day with sir Jin again drafting Jungkook's speech and discussing it with him in person at the dungeons. He didn't allow himself to be distracted by anything else, and therefore was completely in the dark about the uproar outside the palace. 

"Sir Park?" he was called out of his monologue, and turned to find the former General at the door of the facility, sporting one of the grimmest expressions he's witnessed on the man's face.

"Master Jung, fancy seeing you here" he greeted, stepping to his right not to have the dying sun's rays in his eyes. 

"Consider this a personal courtesy. I want you to hear this from me, because I know the Prince truly cared for you" he started, his words vague and tenses confusing. 

"Cared?" Jimin raised his brows curiously. What would the man need to be courteous about? They barely knew each other and he's clearly showed where he stood. 

"I am here to relay... news, about the Prince's trial" he elaborated, "The King has spoken in favor of the capital punishment" he said at once, not attempting to beat around the bush, and watched as the pharmacist's balance betrayed him for a moment. 

"What..." he muttered, his hand finding its way to the closest wall to stabilize him. Capital punishment? Death? But that made no sense, he thought.

"That makes no sense" he breathed, perfectly wording out the only thought on his mind. Suddenly, his head snapped to the direction of the dungeons when he remembered the reason he spent his time in this area lately. "We cannot be here" he stated, beginning to walk past the man for him to follow.

"Where are you going sir Park" Hoseok called, staying planted in the same spot. 

"Will you please come with me, we cannot talk about this there" he responded, his eyes pleading for him to do as asked. He stopped his steps as soon as they were far enough from Jungkook's hearing range and asked, "What capital punishment? What for?" looking up at the taller Pyre.

"His crimes. You knew of the existence of that mark before everyone else, but I don't know what he's told you about it" he stayed unclear, his expression unreadable. 

"He told me the truth, and it isn't the story of switching sides as you all may think" he defended, boring his eyes into the other's defiantly. 

"It is worse" the master muttered under his breath.

"His majesty has approved his request for appeal, what could have happened in the meantime for such a drastic decision to be made? I don't understand." he wondered out loud with a shake of his head, pacing back and forth.

"Sir Park, please" Hoseok sighed, halting his movement with a hand on the Liquis's shoulder. "I need you to calm down and listen to what I have to say" he requested, "The Crown Prince has been involved in matters much more dangerous than anybody thought"

"What is it?" he urged, growing sick of the never-ending suspense.

"The taboo" Master Jung stated, "He has committed the taboo, practiced magic, and that mark is proof of it" he explained, his own disappointment and anger trying to resurface once more that day.

Jimin's eyes widened and his heart shuddered in his chest. "No" he weakly denied. 

"It's hard to believe but it is the actual truth sir Park." Hoseok squeezed his eyes regretfully. "There are things I must tend to, I must go" he said with a heavy voice, clearly not taking the news very well himself.   

The pharmacist was left to deal with the bombshell on his own, standing in the middle of the garden with a blank mind, for the first time in days, it was all quiet. They were never meant to find out, Jungkook was to lie one last time and never be doubted again. "Oh God" he whispered when reality finally caught up to him.

Strides away was the subject of his father's sentence, sitting in his cell with his head in his hands, knowing no more than what he heard from Hoseok before Jimin took him away. Death. And to say he tried to keep his expectations as low as possible, forgetting that there was always a level lower just for him. 

If his own father sentenced him to the gallows, they must all know what the symbol really meant by now. Yet at that moment, the only thing he cared about was whether his pharmacist was going to suffer any consequences. He had come to terms with his own loss against the Changs during the many hours he spent in this cells, confined with his loud bustling thoughts, but Jimin was off limits. 

Since he'd already visited him that day, Jungkook couldn't see him until tomorrow, and he only wished to drift asleep until then. Tortured with the mere idea of staying conscious, counting down the minutes until he's taken to the finish line.

Jungkook.

His head turned towards the wall, as though he could see through it when his ears caught the Liquis's voice again. 

Jimin had gone back to the royal pharmacy and locked the door of the shed behind himself, not wanting any disruptions or interruptions. With a duvet around his body, he sat on the floor in the corner of the room, working to formulate his sentences and structure his monologue.

"Jungkook. How are you?" he started, fiddling with his fingers and picking at the wool clumps on the cover. "I have something to tell you... I don't know if you heard master Jung and I talking earlier, but there has been a change" he gulped.

"People have discovered the real meaning of your ink. How? Right? I think we both know... Your father knows as well and today he made a decision" Jimin narrated while trying to find the words, though unsure if he wanted to because it would make this all too real.

"The Crown Prince is sentenced to death" he finally said, bringing his shaking hand to his mouth. "The um- it will happen the day after tomorrow at noon-" he continued and felt his heart beat faster the longer he spoke.

"But don't worry. This is only a setback, we'll find a way just like with the appeal" he nodded to himself. "We thought it was impossible to fight this back then but we did, and we'll do it again. We have an entire day-" 

His throat was tightening, his eyes burned in fear of his words being a complete lie, and he knew-- he knew one day was not nearly enough to overthrow this sentence. Not when it was made primarily by the King himself, not when there was no motive for a man to order the execution of his own son if not as a punishment for his crimes. 

"We have a day and two nights to think of a way and we'll find it my Prince. I will go to sir Jin once more, we will-- read books" he squeezed his eyes shut. What sick farce was this? As though books would save him from that blade, as if any amount of knowledge would convince an entire kingdom overnight that the Prince is harmless.

"I'm lost Jungkook" he cried into his palms, "I don't know what to do, what to tell you. I can't imagine what you're feeling right now and I wish I were there to walk you through the turmoil, my hand in yours." he whispered quietly not to catch any passerby's attention, when what he truly wanted was to grieve to his bruising heart's content.

But the Pyre heard it all regardless. With every sob or sniff that caught his ears he slammed the chains harder against the hard ground, his wrists bruising due to the continuous damage from the blunt edges of the cuffs, but he never stopped. 

"Prisoner! Enough!" the guard shouted from the other side of the bars when the racket became too loud to ignore. 

I'm sorry you heard it the way you did my Prince, though there is no best way to find out. I'm just devastated to let you down as I always feared. Jungkook heard and screamed in rage, throwing the long chains at the bars before his irises ignited in gold. The metal binding him is supposedly efficient again Pyres as it disperses their fire and doesn't let it flow correctly or be strong enough to melt them.

"Stand down prisoner" the man reached for his sheathed sword in anticipation of a sudden attack. Only a fool would let his guard down when faced with anger of this intensity, the consistent fire coating the Prince's fists was as much concerning as it was impressive, and so he decided not to face it alone but rather call for additional manpower. 

He strained his muscles trying to tear the chains apart, and at the sound of the wringing metal, the guards all held their fists up defensively. "This only aggravates your case prisoner!" one of them claimed. 

"You'll have to press those charges in hell" he responded, slamming the heavy wrist chains at the bars and throwing a cloud of fire along to make them stumble backwards, before they engaged in an exchange of long distance Pyre attacks. They were weak, this fight was almost beneath him, but he still found himself cowering down to defense only when his energy depleted again. 

He slumped his shoulder's unable to carry the weight of the shackles anymore, and relied on the movement of his wrists alone to repel the fire as he sat down.

I don't know who else goes to visit you, but I hope I can at least keep you company in this lonely night, help you carry the weight even just a little until I see you again. Jimin said as he sniffed, whispering just a little reason into his ear, and making him realize that throwing a tantrum wouldn't amount to anything other than losing focus of his lover's words.

"Leave me alone" he ordered the men ahead of him. "I said leave!" he repeated when they didn't react the first time, then closed his eyes, waiting for them to do as told. 

I must go see the King, I must ask him to show mercy...

"It is no use" he muttered, gritting his teeth regretfully. He couldn't be there to hold him as he cried, or to reassure him that it may be for the best. If there was anything he had time for in that cell, it was thinking about everything he's ever done and how it affected people around him. 

What if him dying was to finally relieve his pharmacist from a life of pain and lies. He didn't forget how things truly unfolded with Park Jinho, in fact it was the constant and bitter reminder that nothing he had with Jimin was for granted. When he finally tells him the truth, there was no telling what would happen to their relationship, but if he dies, he takes the secret to the grave. 

If he dies, Jimin wouldn't be the guide, he wouldn't be dragged into his mess or targeted for anything. He would finally have the normal life he deserved.

I cannot watch you die. Jimin said, making his eyebrows twitch ever so sightly. I can't do it Jungkook, I can't lose you like this.

"It only took a death sentence for you to be more honest love, huh?" Jungkook chuckled breathily, only making his heart hurt more.

The night was slipping one hour at time as the pharmacist tried to make himself more comfortable in his workplace, glad it was at least warm enough from the heating used to make plants dry faster. He continued talking and saying anything that came to mind, falling asleep every now and then, merely waiting for morning to come so he would request his Majesty's time to give him a piece of his mind.

He woke up with neck and back pain. Exhaustion having gotten the best of him, he barely registered the knocks on the pharmacy door until remembering where he'd spent the night. Good morning my Prince. He whispered to himself, reminiscing the recent times they would wake up to each other's smiles.

"Pharmacist Park Jimin has arrived to the throne room" his presence was announced.

"I apologize sir Park, but his Majesty will not be seeing anybody today" sir Kwon said when he came out to face him, leaving him stunned to say the least. 

"I request a meeting with the King immediately sir Kwon, I need to speak to him about the Crown Prince" he insisted, standing his ground with no intentions of leaving the premises. 

"I must turn you away, I'm deeply sorry" he denied again, leaving all the speeches he'd prepared like a ball of lead in his throat.

"No" he shook his head, starting to sound more desperate. He wasn't going to waste the last day, the last chance he had to act and make a difference. "No sir Kwon, let me in" he said, his eyes brimming with tears once again. 

"I cannot" he repeated, "The King's wishes are clear."

"It is his own son!" he countered, earning surprised looks from the court ladies around.

"Please calm down sir Park. I know what you must be feeling-"

"You don't. Nobody in this palace seems to care half as much as I do about that man, so no, you don't know how I'm feeling"

"Jimin. For the last time, watch what you are saying. These statement are extremely offensive" the advisor warned with an authoritative tone. "Do not claim to know how much the King cares about his son" he added.

"Advisor Kwon!" a call was heard form within the room, and they both turned to it. "I will receive sir Park" he announced, making him nod and open the door for the Liquis to walk through. 

All of a sudden, the anger and nerves seemed to melt into a pool of helplessness seeing the powerful man on his throne, carefully setting his quill aside and giving him his undivided attention. He was the only one who could change Jungkook's fate and the thought of him not agreeing gave a kick to Jimin's desperation. 

"My King, I apologize for making a scene outside" he started, bowing deeply while his heart beat in his ears. 

"Have a seat child" the man invited. "Sir Kwon, I would like you to deploy the murmurer please" he requested, making Jimin raise his brows slightly. 

Murmurers, large pendulum-looking metal structures that swing ever so slowly, generating low frequency vibrations that disturb any Val's hearing. The palace walls were already soundproof, but the occasional use of murmurers was advised for good measure. Even Jungkook could probably not hear through this despite his extraordinarily acquired abilities, Jimin thought. 

More importantly, what was going to be said in this room that required this level of security? He wondered.

"What did you come here for?" he asked, giving him a chance to explain himself.

"To save a life" he stated, "A life that does not deserve to be taken the way you have ordered" he added, cautiously studying every single change in the man's face. Reading the room was not a preference but a priority in this instance.

"Do you truly believe that?" the King asked, his eyes boring into the pharmacist's, his composure not faltering for a second. 

"I do." Jimin said with no hesitation, "He has sacrificed so much, helped this Kingdom on all fronts and put you above himself countless times. Is it too much to ask for the debt to be repaid?" he brazenly responded. 

"Sir Park!" the advisor called, scandalized with the tone he used to address his Majesty, whose hand was slightly raised to stop him from interfering further.

"You dare claim that I, the King of Goryeo, am indebted to somebody?" the King scoffed, looking down on the Liquis. 

If Jimin thought Jungkook was intimidating, he surely hadn't imagined seeing this side of his father. He now experienced first hand the King's charisma and understood how he was able to lead an entire Kingdom the way he did. However, he promised himself to leave fear behind when he marched to these quarters this morning. 

"Why the death penalty" Jimin asked, "It is far within your jurisdiction to announce any sentence and you chose to offer up the Crown Prince to the gallows" he instead said to ease the tension, tactfully changing topics not to overstep any boundaries. 

"I said what I had to say to save face" he started, a simple sentence that seemed to rile Jimin's anger considerably, but before he could respond, the King spoke again. "But it does not need to happen- it will not happen" he asserted, making his eyebrows twitch in confusion.

"Have you revoked the judgement?" Jimin questioned, wondering if he missed the announcement somehow and had this confrontation for nothing.

"No. The judgement stands" the King denied. 

"I don't understand" he shook his head, looking to the advisor for clarification. 

"You came to me for lenience, but I can offer something else" his Majesty said looking at his brother in law briefly before taking a deep breath. "Extrication" he declared. 

"Would you really rather subject him to the life of a fugitive than take the decision back?" he sighed.

"The decision cannot be taken back. You know what he is, what he truly is, don't you?" he asked, earning no reaction from the pharmacist. 

"A devoted man? An honorable man? Or perhaps did you mean-"

"The Allura." the King interrupted, not too keen on entertaining his cleaver attempts.

"Am I supposed to recognize that word?" Jimin relentlessly denied, it was all or nothing.

"I command you for your indefatigable facade I have to say" the King praised, impressed with the young man's ability to pretend with ease. "But I've known your father far longer than you have, child" he scoffed, "And I know he must've told you about the Black Star" he assumed. 

"It's just a tale" Jimin replied. He knew his father and the King were close, but he didn't imagine them close enough to discuss the taboo, especially not knowing his father's position towards it. This changes everything, the overall tone of their conversation thus far had been defensive, and now it just may become collaborative.

"A tale I believe a little more than I should, and so do other people." he shook his head. "Who would follow a King that protects magic? Previous rulers have punished Alluras just the same but I shouldn't because he's my son? Will any of us in this palace survive if the people rise against my impartiality?" he reasoned. "By condemning the Crown Prince I am securing the Kingdom under my rule. Unity is key, and as long as Goryeans have a figure to turn to, order will not be broken and no one has to suffer from the weaknesses of a crumbling reign" he explained.

"It's unfair" Jimin muttered.

 "It is, but I don't have to let him pay for crimes he never committed" he stated, "My son is my pride, and I'll do anything in my power to leave him a legacy to come back to."

Some fast thinking was in order after his Majesty's grand announcement. When the counsellors left the throne room that evening, him and his right hand man had much brainstorming to do, and the solution they came up with was not the easiest to implement, but a solution nonetheless.

"How may you guarantee that?" Jimin asked.

"With your help" he replied, "You will get him out of there" he stated as if it was not up for question.

"Why me? How will I do that?" he inquired at the sudden mission.

"The plan involved anonymously hiring one of our most skilled stealth soldiers to do the job, but this morning I realized I could put my trust in someone much more reliable. You stood your ground protecting the Crown Prince until now and I know you won't fail him" he said, confident in his choice. "Those men can be bought for the highest price, but a lover can't." 

"I am nowhere near as efficient as a stealth soldier your Majesty. I do not wish to be a liability" he countered.

"Sir Kwon will assist you. We have devised an escape plan for when the time comes, but you need to be the one leading him out of the dungeons" he insisted. "Will you do this for him?"

"If it's the only way to keep him alive" he confirmed.

"Good. Now listen to sir Kwon carefully as he explains your role" he nodded and looked at the said man, giving him the floor to speak in all detail necessary. 

"What we need you to do will be in a few hours. Comes sunset, you shall mount your horse and head to town" he started.

"You want me to leave?"

"Patience" the King sighed.

"You'll need to look busy, interact with your neighbors and make your presence memorable" the other continued. "An hour past, the distractions in the palace will be ready, and you'll ride the horse back to the entrance the Crown Prince uses for his getaways"

"You're cognizant of that..." Jimin muttered in surprise.

"There's little I don't know about Jungkook, even less about this palace, and a breach like that does not go unnoticed" the King affirmed.

"Once inside, the dungeons are only a few strides behind the stables. The only guards you need to worry about are those directly outside the cells. You've been there a handful of times, you know where they stand and you're strong enough to knock them out if needed. I'll be near in case something goes wrong" the advisor explained.

"One of those guards has the Crown Prince's cuff keys, you'll take that and set him free. From there, you'll send him to the throne room"

"But this is the first place they will be to inform you of his escape" Jimin wondered in confusion. 

"They will not. Protocol states that Jung Hoseok is the first man to alert. The search party will take around half an hour to assemble and set in motion, and only then will the former General come here to announce the news" he elaborated. 

"Alright, what do we do then?" the Liquis asked. 

"There is no we at that point. You will return to town immediately and continue your activities as though you never left. That way if somebody saw you, you'd have an alibi that'll keep you safe" the King answered. "The Crown Prince will leave shortly after you. Certainly, every guard will be on his tail but he should evade them without too much trouble"

"Will Jung Hoseok be pursuing him as well?" 

"Yes he will. Master Jung is a complicated variable. I need him by my side and I cannot risk losing his loyalty. Therefore, he can't be let in on my implication in this escape" the King informed, seeming unhappy with his decision.

"Where will the Crown Prince go?" Jimin inquired.

"We cannot disclose that information, the less you know the better, at least until this blows over a little" the advisor denied. "I hope you can be patient" 

While Jimin had this reassuring talk with the two, the subject of their plans had quite the belated visited from none other than his younger brother Kyungsoo. To say the teenager was frustrated would be an understatement looking at the way he paced ahead of the bars with tears brimming his lash line.

"I needed father's permission as a guardian to come see you. He's been hard to reach and I didn't think you'd stay here too long, so I didn't go through the trouble. But I've been trying to get a hold of him since last night, I would've come here sooner if I could" he claimed.

"I know Soo, I know you would've" he nodded knowingly.

"Why did I only find out about this when you were arrested? I could've helped you!" Kyungsoo claimed regretfully.

"I'm sorry, but I couldn't just go to anybody with it" Jungkook shook his head.

"You went to Byunho, and he is six years old" he emphasized the betrayal he felt over not being trusted enough.

"It is because he is six years old that I showed him" he sighed, "I thought it was alright. I didn't think he would remember it" he defended.

"He is in pre-school, pictures are all he learns with, of course he'd remember" Kyungsoo scoffed. 

"What's done is done, and the King has made his decision" Jungkook sighed. He hated to see the younger so distressed, and frankly, he hoped he wouldn't have to face him at all after the sentence was announced. 

"I cannot live with that decision brother" he shook his head, "I'll beg father, I'll beg him-"

"It'll change nothing" the older interrupted.

"Then what do I do?" he raised his arms in exasperation, "Why are you fine with this? Are you going to fight for your life at all?" 

"I am not fine with this" he knit his brows at the absurdity, "I want to burn everything to the ground, if not for these chains draining my energy by the second that passes." he responded before weakly clanking the metal on the ground. "I have never dreamed of freedom so desperately, I have everything to lose and I can't protect it" he shook his head.

"What good were all those years of training if I'm restrained behind bars with nobody to defeat? Why did I absorb all that slander if I can't even use my position to get out of this? My life has been a waste" he grieved.

"I'm with you Jungkook, just tell me what I can do" Kyungsoo pleaded again. Seeing his strong brother so crushed did not fail pull at his heart, him who had never shown weakness or fear before, now hopelessly mourning his own death while he could. 

"You have to promise me that whatever happens you'll take the King's side" Jungkook requested, "The people that are after me can easily cause harm to you too, and I don't want you to be caught in the crossfire. You shall turn your back to me so that you can face your King" he insisted.

"What people? What are you not telling me?"

"It is by no serendipity that everyone found out about the tattoo on my chest. The reveal was calculated, and the people behind it aim for much more than the ruin of a Crown Prince" he vaguely explained. "All you need to know is that father's edict, as sacrificial as it is, might have been the best option for the good of Goryeo" he nodded, uncertain if he was reassuring the young Val or himself.

"What good is Goryeo to me if we can't both live in it" Kyungsoo cried, a tear sliding down his cheek as his ears caught the sound of a guard nearing. 

"You have to promise me, I need to go knowing you'll be safe" Jungkook gulped his own sorrow, his hands clasped around the bars as his eyes begged for compliance. 

"It is time young Prince" the guard announced at the end of his time window. 

"I promise" Kyungsoo last said before leaving the premises.

Blink after blink, exhale after inhale, minute by minute, Jungkook sat in the silence of his cell, looking at the high window through the bars and fine wire to watch the sky change colors, indicating the end of his last day and the start of his last night. He wondered if Jimin planned to visit, if he could look at him one last time before he is taken the next morning. 

Will they meet again in his next life? Will the God be merciful enough to grant him another chance after the horrors he committed in this one? He began to wonder if he could've saved himself by committing one last sin. What if he had taken the proper measures against the Changs, diplomacy be damned, would everything have been alright now? Maybe he's been too good--

He scoffed.

Calling himself good was much too generous.

I hope you've come to terms with this too, Jungkook thought with the image of his pharmacist in mind, and he couldn't be more wrong. Oblivious to his whereabouts and most recent endeavours, the Prince couldn't predict Jimin's relentlessness to save him from his predicament. 

He was in fact in the middle of walking to the front gates of the palace where all guards would see him leave, dragging his horse by the reigns with his hands clutched on the leather, anxious about what will happen soon that night. 

"Sir Park?" a familiar voice called.

"Queen Sunmi." he flatly acknowledged, not even turning to face her and rather waiting for her to catch up. 

"Someone has rubbed off on you" she raised her brows at the unceremonious greeting. "But I understand that you may be going through a lot lately" she sighed, pitying him.

"How may I help you" he replied, forcing himself to contain his temper and seem unsuspecting of her involvement in what was happening to the Prince.

"This is more me helping you actually" she tightly smiled.

"Whatever do you mean?" he asked.

"You know, it hurts to see so many people affected by the recent events" she sighed, "His Majesty is hurting deeply and I hate to be the person to say I knew... I knew that son was up to no good and-"

"I will leave if that's all you're here to say" he interrupted, biting his tongue not to cause a scene near so many workers. 

"It isn't. I wanted to spare you some useless heartbreak since I couldn't spare my husband" she responded. "I am not surprised that man held onto the truth until now to be honest, he was never going to tell you, was he..." she scoffed.

"I have places to be Queen Sunmi, please" he urged, the sun was setting and he needed to be on his way. 

"I would like to set the record straight about the battle of Altar. I'm sure Jeon Jungkook didn't tell you what truly happened, else you wouldn't be here today" she started, triggering the slightest twitch in his eyebrows. 

"My father was taken by the enemy, and they failed to save him in time. The truth is plain" he claimed.

"That's just the thing" she smiled sadly, "The General was given the choice to continue the battle without the healer, or call a temporary truce as both sides were losing numbers fast. He made the conscious decision to carry on and led not only your father, but hundreds of men to their doom. He never tried to save him sir Park, it was all a lie. That was the Army's most heartbreaking return, all because he was too greedy for a victory no matter the cost" she revealed. 

"Why are you telling me this, why now?" he inquired after clearing his throat. 

"So that you save your tears" she shrugged, "Don't cry tomorrow for someone unworthy of of your grief, his death is only fair." she finished and left him gripping on the reigns ever so tightly before he decided to leave, maybe the wind will help clear his head.

He braved through the forest on his horse, running his mind over his newest discovery. Could Jungkook have really lied to him about this? Him who swore to only say the truth when he confronted him? 

Then again, it was Queen Sunmi. The same woman that had a hand in the Prince's execution, the one he was tasked to save him from. It must be another of her wicked schemes, he nodded to himself. He tied the leather around the bark of a tree on the hills they first met in, before heading into town with the intention of being a social butterfly. 

"We'll trade then" the neighbor insisted when he handed her a small basket of cooking herbs.

"No need, it's a gift" he chuckled.

"You're too good for this world child" she praised before entering her home for the night. 

Jimin was distributing goods around his neighborhood to make mark of him being there, then headed to town and bought more merchandise from different vendors, telling them he'll be home preparing new medicine and whatnot. And at a quarter to an hour, he slipped past the street lamps back to the hill, mounting the horse again and heading to the East side of the palace, making sure to remember the different levels of security in the area. 

"You made it in time" a masked man breathed down his neck after he returned the horse to the stable, and he near stabbed him in the eye with a crystal dagger if not for his quick defense. Surprising, considering sir Kwon was a little more than twice his age. 

He was also dressed in black from head to toe, he only showed his face for a moment to establish recognition, then covered it again with his scarf, before smearing charcoal across his closed eyes. The image brought about dreadful flashes in Jimin's mind as he stepped back. 

"You're an assassin?" he asked in a breath.

"No. It's a cover" he quickly responded. "When we leave the stable, I will be taking care of the perimeter around the dungeons. You only focus on what's inside" he reminded, "Put up your hood and cover your face" he added while untying a scarf from his arm and handing it to him.

He was scared, he wasn't cut out for stressful tasks or critical missions. His day occupation was relaxing, slow and precise, and this was the complete opposite. What if his reflexes weren't sharp enough, what if he freezes. There was much to do and so little time, so he blocked all of his doubts away and peeked around the corner to verify that he was unhindered.

A few corridors past, a few guards evaded, he was on the other side of Jungkook's location when he caught sight of the two guards he was warned about. With a light movement of his hand, the water from his flask ran along the cracks of the stone ground to reach the one with the keys, crawling along his leg and aiming for the bunch. 

Unhooked from his belt, Jimin was just about to catch hold of them when the same man seemed to have realized that their weight left his body. The two put up their fire defensively and called intrusion, but before they could alert anyone else, Jimin asphyxiated them with the sleeping powder he had the wit to pick up from his store.

Unlocking the first gate, he didn't have to wait for the scratching sound to notify the Prince of his arrival. Instead, he found him sitting watchful in his chair, carefully observing his surroundings until recognition registered on his face. 

"What are you doing" he said, not mentioning any names given the purposeful disguise.

"Quiet" Jimin demanded, fiddling with the keys and trying each of them on the door until it was unlocked, then moved inside to do the same with his chains. His hands shook as he tried to insert the keys but he tried his best regardless, until the Prince took the matter into his own hands. 

"I'll do it" he said. Once freed from the shackles, he finally felt like himself. He lit his fists up and saw the healthy fire slowly building, then took a deep breath. 

"We need to go" the shorter whispered and he followed wordlessly, watching their backs for any unexpected company. 

"My Prince" Jimin called as soon as they were hidden where sir Kwon had said. He pushed the scarf down and threw his arms around the Pyre's larger frame. Dearly missed warmth spread in his body again upon feeling his arms wrap around him like they used to. He broke the embrace and turned to the bag of things sir Kwon stashed that morning. 

"You need to wear this" he announced while pulling the clean dark clothes out. "Here's the armor. It's not yours, but the golden plates would do you more harm than good in this circumstance. The sleeping powder was loose and mild, it will not keep them unconscious for long. We have 15, maybe 20 minutes before they wake up and realize what happened, if other guards don't patrol too close-" 

"You didn't give up on me" Jungkook whispered, his mind barely wrapping around the situation. 

Jimin's eyes softened, suddenly realizing the Prince had most likely lost all hope, unaware of his father's plans if any, he must've believed he was going to die until now. He wordlessly shook his head while holding his calloused hand reassuringly, before whispering "Get changed." 

"Your father wants you in his throne room" he informed when Jungkook finished strapping his last piece of darkened steal. 

"My father?" he knit his brows in confusion. 

"I couldn't have done this on my own" Jimin admitted, "It was his idea. But worry not, the guards will not be going there-"

"They'll seek Hoseok I guess, since the General is the fugitive" he nodded. 

"Correct" he confirmed. 

"Let's go" Jungkook said and he halted. 

 "I won't be going with you" Jimin informed, "I was told to go back in town immediately for my alibi" he explained.

"That's smart" he agreed, "When will I see you again?" he asked.

"I don't know" the shorter replied, then Jungkook pulled his scarf down and cupped his cheeks before pressing a loving kiss on his lips. And to think just a few minutes ago he believed he'd never do this again. 

"Be safe" he whispered against them.

"You too" Jimin responded. "Sir Kwon is waiting for you at the back of the King's quarters" he last said before a branch cracked under someone's feet, making them both look at the sound's direction. 

Jungkook put a finger against his lips, gesturing not to make a sound while he unsheathed a small knife from his waist, then waited around the corner until a figure walked past it and right into his chokehold.

"Wait Jungkook" the pharmacist said upon seeing the man's face. "What are you doing here, sir Kim?" he whispered to the royal doctor, who held his hands up in surrender.

"I could've killed you doctor, what were you thinking..." the Pyre huffed, loosening his hold slightly.

"I saw sir Park entering the palace secretly so I watched him from a distance, and suddenly I see you walking out together from the dungeons" Namjoon explained, "I just wanted to understand what was happening" he admitted. 

"Did you understand that I am escaping?" Jungkook sarcastically asked.

"Yes"

"And? I wouldn't tell anybody if I were you" he threatened, bringing the blade closer to his neck again. 

"I will not" the silver-haired replied, "Not since his Majesty is involved, and especially not because of who you are" he huffed when he was finally let go.

"I don't know if you've been caught up to date, but I no longer have authority here" Jungkook mumbled.

"He's talking about the other thing, aren't you doctor?" Jimin mentioned, addressing his fellow Liquis. 

"Indeed. The Allura in the flesh" he smiled to himself, "Sir Park Jinho wouldn't have believed his eyes" he added.

"Did my father go around telling stories to everyone?" Jimin wondered out loud. 

"You've chosen, and you've chosen well" Namjoon said to the Prince, looking at his Guide. "But I wanted to let you know that I am here for you if you need anything in the palace" he offered, and they nodded gratefully before parting ways.

As promised, the advisor stood by the door of the garden, already changed back into his usual attire. Jungkook jumped from one roof level to another, choosing heights rather than grounds to move freely, he hopped off the ledge and landed next to the older man who sighed in relief upon seeing him. 

"You made it" he said. 

"I did... Thank you" he genuinely replied.

"It is the least I could do for my sister's child" he smiled and led him inside. 

"Long time no see" Jungkook greeted his old man when a disturbing sound drowned his ears, "What is that?" he groaned, clasping his hands against the sides of his head to try and block it away. 

"Son! What are you talking about?" the King stepped down from the platform and toward the young Pyre. 

"The murmurer" sir Kwon realized, urging to shut it off. 

"If not by the blades, you would've killed me with that father" he wittily said, blinking the dizziness away. 

"Don't be silly" the said man sighed and settled a hand on his black hair, his signature gesture of affection. 

"Couldn't you have told me what you were planning before I despaired in that cell?" he asked, wishing he wouldn't have let his mind reach the thoughts it did. 

"There was no way, somebody was watching me too closely" he shook his head and pulled him to sit.

"Is that why you had the murmurer on?"  

"Yes, ever since someone found out about your request for appeal. Though it is probably best not to use it now. It would be suspect for it to be active during your disappearance" he wondered out loud.

"What's peculiar is that it affected you" his uncle mentioned and he nodded. 

"Tell me everything Jungkook. When did it start? How did it happen? How far are you in your mastery of the other elements" the King inquired, needing to get to the bottom of this. 

"I'm surprised you even want to discuss that knowing what it is" Jungkook muttered, "Aren't you going to reprimand me for putting myself in this situation?" he asked the two men. Coming out of that cell, he was ready to face his father's disappointment, so when Jimin said it was his idea he thought it was but a fatherly duty. It was one thing not to want him dead and another to engage in a conversation as if nothing happened.

"There are things you don't know about me..." the King started, "I was never against magic. My position forced me to keep up appearances, but unlike my father I believed magic could do good. Slowly but surely I started surrounding myself with people who shared the same views" he confessed. 

"I was so afraid of you thinking I am an abomination" the son confessed.

"You're a miracle" he corrected, "The star chose you among millions of people" 

"It is probably random" Jungkook dismissed.

"You could believe that, or you could believe that it saw you, the potential for greatness within" the advisor suggested. 

"To answer your question, I'm only starting to learn how to wield water thank to sir Park. I'm not making any progress in Air or Earth though" the Prince responded. 

"That child, the gift that keeps on giving" sir Kwon sighed. 

"All the more reason why you should leave this place. You need to go and find the people who will support you on this journey" the King nodded decisively. 

"Well you didn't really give me a choice there" Jungkook chuckled.

"I am deeply sorry my son" the King apologized, "I needed to do my best to protect the throne. The Changs are diligent, and this unforeseen Black Star discovery was a gold mine for them, full of ways to extort me. I needed to show that even the most violent kicks wouldn't shake me" he defended yet again. It was his decision and it was a sound one looking at things from where he sat.

"With this happening, your reign will be longer than you wanted" the young Pyre pointed out, "I can't even imagine a time I'll be taking your place" he huffed. 

"You have to" the King denied. 

"What I mean to say is I don't know how long it'll take for me to achieve the promised wisdom at the end of this path, nor do I know if the people will be ready to take me in again-" Jungkook elaborated. 

"You'll need to figure it out fast Jungkook, I can't stay King for long" the man claimed.

"Retirement is not an option" his son countered, "I remember what you said about passing down you crown but it is no longer possible." 

"I am terminally ill" the man announced, and saw the younger's expression fall as he looked between him and the advisor. The news felt like a boulder to the chest, how come he'd never heard about his father's medical problems? He looked healthy and well. It was almost a deja vu from when his father sat him down to tell him his mother was withering away.

"What are you saying?" he breathed out.

"I have a few more years to my life, that's why I wanted to see you rule before I go" he admitted, knowing how betrayed his son must be feeling for being kept in the dark, a dead giveaway being the rising temperature of the room. 

"Stay calm nephew" the advisor said. 

"Who else knows?" he instead asked. 

"Queen Linha, and doctor Kim" the King replied. 

"Maybe you need a new doctor. Why haven't you told Jimin? He can make you better medicine" Jungkook insisted.

"Sir Kim learned from the best, and Jimin's father used to make me the medicine himself before passing the knowledge on to his disciple. My time is simply nearing" he disagreed. 

"You've been ill for years already?" Jungkook muttered in disbelief.

"I don't want you to think about this, I am preserving myself and will stretch my life as much as I can for you" he promised. 

"I can't leave you behind knowing this" he shook his head, and as if on cue, the sirens blared from the towers of the palace for all guards to assemble on the training grounds, indicating that the escape of the Crown Prince has been discovered.

"You are strong my son, leave and come back to your kingdom when the time is right, then rule like no one ever has before. You will be a great King" his father affirmed.

"You need to go North past Nimsan, once you reach the foothills of the mountains you will find a hut not far from the Bandu waterfall. You can stay there for temporary shelter before you decided where to go next. Take this map, I've labeled everything-" the advisor began explaining, and he knit his brows. 

"So I'm just going to leave not knowing if I can see you again before you're gone?" Jungkook addressed the King, his heart tearing at the thought. 

"Jungkook" the father called, "I will not witness my first child die before I do. I held your mother's hand in her deathbed as she made me promise to guide you and protect you, and I will not fail her" he declared, his throat tightening at the sight of his son's round eyes brimming with tears just the way they did all those years ago.

"Give your trust wisely. Just like Minsu and I--" the King gestured towards his advisor, "--There will be others who believe in you out there. You are not alone... I will do all in my power to keep the nation united, but you must meet your fate outside these walls" he continued, firmly grabbing his shoulders to shake him out of his blues.

"Take care of yourself father" he muttered, "And please tell Kyungsoo about me, his heart shattered outside of my cell and I don't want him to spend the night with that ache" he requested, "And about yourself as well" he added. 

He remembered how his father only told him of his mother's illness when it started becoming noticeable, and the way he felt cheated from all that time he could've spent by her side, the time he took her for granted. When he confronted him about it, his father explained that he didn't want him to look at his mother with lingering sadness in his eyes, anticipating her loss, and that he wanted him to enjoy their moments fully. It seemed some things never change. Nonetheless, he understood, but he hoped Kyungsoo wouldn't be left to have any regrets the way he was.

Out of the palace his horse galloped, cutting through the wind and drying the tears running down his cheeks. How could his father say he wasn't alone when he had no home to go back to anymore, nobody to share his pain with--

No. He did.

He slowed down and looked at the town lights the size of fireflies, then turned his horse around.

---

Arc II: Complete.

There we go, we are two arcs into the story! How do you feel about this chapter's events? I reckon many of you were disappointed with the King's judgement, but everything has a part to play in the development of the plot. 

On another note, I don't know if anybody noticed or has questions about this, but this chapter's title doesn't seem consistent with its content at first glance. In fact, it is the name of the 12th Tarot card, which is a symbol of sacrifice, surrender, and letting go. The card represents a time of suspended action, a moment when the seeker must wait and be patient, or when they must give up control and accept their circumstances.

I hope you can comment your thoughts of what will happen next, and whether or not you are enjoying this book of course. Love you ❤️ 

-Aida-