Used to temporary presences, the small village populated with people of different natures  bestowed upon the two travellers a sense of tranquility in the gentle rhythms of daily life. Their small house was one of those at the far edge, away from the crowds assembling at the market everyday, yet Jimin found himself blending in over there more than he should.

The locals carried on with their tasks, with no prying eyes or intrusive questions asked. A sense of respectful distance was established, allowing them to wander freely, their footsteps unhindered.

"Has your wound closed completely?" asked the former Prince as he flipped through the pages of the Allura book Jimin remembered to pack in the palace.

"Hmm" Jimin confirmed, focused on making his soaps with the mountain herbs and flowers he had access to. 

They had to find ways to be sustainable. Unable to work under someone's supervision for obvious reasons, they chose the path of commerce. The pharmacist did was he did best, his life not knowing too much of a change as he only had to adapt the ingredients of his products to the new area and liking of the locals. But he wasn't the only provider.

At the break of dawn, Jungkook embarked on his new ritual. Armed with an axe, a sturdy shovel, and his Pyre-inherent strong body, he ventured into the tranquil forest to harvest wood. With each precise swing, splintered logs fell at his feet, destined to become kindling for the hearths and stoves of the fireless. Then, undeterred by the physical effort, he moved to his shovel which he gave most of the credit for the work, before his hands dug deep into the earth, extracting the black gold of charcoal.

Once covered in regal attire, waking up to breakfast meals at his door and attendants readying his private baths, to being thrusted into the realm of humble labor. Everyday toiling tirelessly to make ends meet, his worth now laid in the quality of the firewood he crafted and the charcoal he meticulously prepared. 

And so, each day, they both met at the market square bustling with villagers and merchants from different places, competing to value their goods above the rest and go back home with enough money to save from.

"Keep your wrist up" Jimin commented after briefly taking a look at the other's gestures. 

Of course escaping from the scouts and working to make a living weren't the only challenges on Jungkook's hands, he had a whole array of elements to learn and knowledge to acquire, so there he was again with his crimson irises and blaring mark lighting up the space enough not to need candles. 

As he read through the pages of the book, he simultaneously practiced his water wielding by driving an amount of it in circles. Out of its container, he needed to be careful not to lose focus or the water would fall down soaking the only resource he owned about his magic.

"Is there a way I can levitate more water while moving it?" he asked, greedily looking at the stagnant liquid in the bowl.

"Not at your level. You would require mastering both movement and extraction to achieve that" he assessed, "But you can start your coordination training by extracting some more water with your other hand" he suggested. 

"My other hand..." Jungkook muttered as he brought it closer to the container. He closed his eyes, trying to recall the basics of his earlier practices, feeling the flow of water first and foremost. Of course that alone had become a lot easier but this time he had to juggle two tasks at once.

"Careful" Jimin reminded as he saw the circle begin to fall apart, just in time for the taller to suspend it in the air. "Push the book away" he advised before limping over to where he sat. 

"I can do this on my own" Jungkook confirmed, refusing to need his assistance for something as simple. 

"I know you can, but don't skip any steps. Remember how you started? Put your hand in the water and work your way from there." he explained.

How ironic was it that he needed to submerge his hands to be able to feel Jimin's touch lately. The shorter had been distant and reserved, only inching closer when he was too cold to bear it, and with the newly acquired covers and small fireplace, he didn't need him anymore.

"While at the market this morning, I heard some men speak of our search" Jungkook announced. "They said it reached some villages by the ocean, and a few merchants passing by witnessed the interrogations."

"They're going towards water, which means Mina and Woobin said the right things" he pointed out.

"Indeed, that should give us a day or two of distance until they find out the truth from the people around here"

"And it's only a matter of time before they speak, we need to move again" Jimin nodded in acknowledgement, a deep sigh leaving his lungs at the thought of packing and starting anew. 

The Pyre decided he'd had enough practice so he let the water back into the basin and lit his hands up dry before dragging the bag of potatoes closer. It was again dinner time, and preparing meals was perhaps the only quality time they spent together, cutting and peeling away while exchanging brief lines here and there.

"Your nails are dirty" Jimin noticed as Jungkook handled the knife to a proper position.

"I can never get the charcoal out" he nodded, slightly embarrassed by the state of his hands.

"Let me" the Liquis offered before grabbing a straw brush and a brick of his newest soap. He pulled the basin closer and held Jungkook's hand in his own before dipping it in, then scratched the product with the stiff strands to pick some of it up.

The Pyre watched as his pharmacist gently and meticulously brushed his fingertips clean the way he was too impatient to, his smaller thumbs dragging over them every now and then to clear the foam and assess his work. His eyes softened when he looked back up at Jimin's collected expression, appreciating the thoughtfulness behind the gesture.

"Thank you" he said when the other deemed himself finished, and received a polite smile in response. His limbs acting before his mind did, he reached towards Jimin's face and settled his palm on the side of it, then leaned in to capture his lips, not foreseeing those to be turned away in rejection. 

He cleared his throat and lowered his hand back by his side, locking his gaze onto his lap as he scolded himself for reading the situation wrong. 

"You do the potatoes" Jimin instead spoke, "I'll go fetch us some bread" he added and stood again to walk out the door.

They consumed their meal in a deafening silence, their eyes occasionally meeting but quickly diverting away, avoiding the weight of their unspoken words. With each morsel swallowed, a bittersweet ache resonated within Jungkook's mind, for his heart still echoed with emotions the other was hellbent on shutting away. The taste of the food turned insipid, overshadowed by the lingering desire to bridge the void that separated them.

He wanted to talk but every time he did, Jimin would respond with the bare minimum if at all. He didn't know how to make things better, and was tired of letting time do what it's meant to, in fear of what it may. What if giving him space just drives them away for good? What if not reminding him of what they shared makes it all a memory?

"I'm sorry about earlier" he ended up saying. 

"It's fine" Jimin dismissed. 

"I've just...missed you" he tried again.

"Leave it alone Jungkook, I'm tired." the other sighed and finished his last bite before sinking his dishes into the large bucket. "When are we going?" he asked instead and heard nothing for the first few seconds.

"After a day or two more of earnings at most. Early morning." Jungkook caved into the topic change helplessly, "It will be a while until our next location so the more daylight we have the better" he informed. 

"Alright."

---

"Word has come from your search units Master Jung, they have not yet been found but somebody did see two cloaked men riding their horse into southern Guangun" a messenger delivered, reading the words on a letter from the deployed scouts.

"Is this a reliable source?" he asked. 

"A merchant from the area claims he saw the Prince himself" 

"The fugitive." Hoseok corrected.

"Yes sir" he confirmed. 

"So we are on the right track, they are moving along the coast" Hoseok nodded in acknowledgement, leaning with his elbows on his knees while his balled hands supported his chin. "We'll find him wherever he's hiding" he muttered.

"What are your orders sir?" the soldier asked. 

"Jeon Jungkook is to be found dead or alive" he stated, the coldest look filling his eyes as he pictured the younger's face. "I assume the scouts are already moving onto their location, I want close updates on their findings" he added.

"Yes sir."

"Also, let the couple go, they were truthful" he remembered.

"Yes sir." the man bowed and left the room to fetch the pharmacist's sister and her husband, he knocked on the door to their room and waited for the Pyre to open it. 

"What may I help you with?" Woobin asked. 

"Sir Jung Hoseok has ordered your release. The information you have provided was proven correct and thus you will no longer be accused of aiding and abetting. You may leave the palace whenever you wish" he collectively explained. 

"Very well" Woobin nodded after somewhat of a pause and watched the man leave as fast as he arrived. He returned back inside and closed the door behind himself, a look of confusion settling on his expression. 

"What does he mean the information was correct?" Mina asked.

"It was somehow correct, I don't understand either" he shook his head at the lack of answers. 

"Did we accidentally give them their location?" she whispered with an anxious face. 

"It is what your brother requested of us to say. They knew where we would direct the search, so whatever happens out there isn't our fault or our problem" Woobin denied to calm her down. 

"Do you think they did something on their end?" Mina asked again, more relaxed from her husband's sensible point. 

"Most likely, otherwise we wouldn't be released" he conceded. "In either case, your brother has made his decision to fight everything coming his way because of the Prince and we've done the most we could" he reminded. "Please try not to worry too much, I need you healthy and happy for my son or daughter" his voice softened at the mention of his future child. 

"I'll do my best" she nodded and ran her hand over her belly, thrilling anticipation and unease warred in her heart, both trying to sit atop of the other. But her husband was right, she was granted a gift and a responsibility to look after it. 

---

"Wake up, love" Jungkook whispered as his hand shook the thinner's body gently, then heard a deep hum before Jimin turned over and snuggled under the blankets. He'd been up for a moment now, choosing to make himself useful by packing their belongings once more while the other enjoyed a few more minutes of sleep.

"We need to go you know" he muttered again, his fingers finding the tousled silvers locks and brushing through them leisurely, and it seemed as though the action gave Jimin enough awareness of his surrounding for he opened his eyes and silently slid from under the covers, heading straight to the deep basin in the corner to wash up, without as much as a look in the eyes. 

"Good morning" the Pyre defeatedly said before shaking his head and going to prepare the horse.

Although anticipating the rejection, Jungkook remained offering assistance for the climb then retracting his lonely arm back to hold the reigns. With one last look, they left the ephemeral home in search of the next, this new routine designing their new reality until only the heavens knew when.

Minutes into hours, they rode the steadfast steed across the different landscapes. From rolling meadows of wildflowers to rugged mountains and orange treed taigas, the contrasting vistas mirrored the twists and turns of their own lives. With watchful eyes scanning the horizon, they navigated their path with caution, mindful of the relentless hunt of the kingdom's forces. 

The wind whispered secrets into Jungkook's ear, telling him whether they were alone or had unexpected company, transporting the sounds of animals in the wild, birds flying atop, and the steady beating of a Liquis heart. Maybe we should take a moment to rest, he thought to himself when they neared a stream. 

The gentle sounds of nature enveloped them as they absorbed the tranquility. Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a warm glow on the scene. The bubbling water serenaded them as they made their way through mossy rocks, looking forward to granting their bodies a well-deserved reprieve. 

"Should I practice?" Jungkook asked out loud.

"You need all the progress you can make, but we have a long way ahead and you should preserve your energy" Jimin disagreed.

"Very well, you can get a shut eye if you'd like, we slept late" he suggested.

"I should be telling you that, you woke earlier than I did" Jimin replied, the hot sun making him pull his hair up into a topknot to cool his sweating neck.

"I won't be long, just a few minutes" Jungkook conceded, exhaustion catching up to him faster than he wanted to admit, and as the water meandered through the tranquil woods, he laid nestled upon the grass, surrendering himself to light slumber.

Meanwhile, the Liquis gave some attention to the faithful companion he had the honor to climb. The Prince's noble steed which had taken him from town to palace, from North to South, and now travelled thousands of strides with them despite the physical toll, while bearing the burn marks of a ruthless pursuit.

"How are you feeling, Yong? Are you tired?" Jimin asked as his hand reached for its muzzle. A quiet understanding passed between them, a language unspoken yet deeply felt. The horse, all trusting in the presence he's sensed many a time before, leaned into the touch as his fingers glided along its neck soothingly.

"You're so brave" Jimin muttered while rubbing its majestic coat. "We'll soon get to a new place and you'll have some rest I promise." he tightly smiled and took a seat before leaning his back against the horse's body, now faced with another resting companion he wasn't willing to give as much attention to.

But what could Jimin do when his eyes didn't tear away from his peaceful face, his twitching eyebrows as strands of hair moved ever so slightly against his forehead. How could he look away when his eyes were transfixed by the captivating cadence of his steady breathing. 

With a flick of his wrist, he swatted the buzzing insects daring to draw near the sleeping Pyre, wetting their wings heavy enough to keep them grounded at least for the few minutes Jungkook requested. The scene took his mind back to the few forest escapades they had in the summer, and so he yearned to get just a bit closer, but the fresh betrayal dug his feet deeper into the ground and froze his limbs in their position.

Tell me more about your element, the Prince once asked as he helped him pick different flowers. What do you want to know, he had responded, ready to bare all his secrets to the subject of his affinity. How is it that I see your eyes in the tranquil pools of water. How do I see your hair in the gentle ripples of a pond, your smile in the glimmering mist of waterfalls. How does your element reflect every single thing about you.

He vividly remembers those sweet moments, and that's what made the truth all the more painful. Frustrated I am for not being able to truly experience my anger. How can I harbor resentment when the purity of your intentions and the depth of your love for me shine through every action you take and word you speak. 

"Jungkook" he whispered in the quietest voice, but immediate was the reaction, yet again. He sighed exasperatedly when the said man turned to him, and he knew it wasn't fair, but forgiveness didn't come to him as easy as it did the Pyre. "We need to keep going" he announced and stood up, his voice as monotonous as ever.

"Do you think they've deployed perimeter Vals already?" Jungkook thought out loud. 

"What Vals?" Jimin asked in confusion.

"They are Val officers charged with listening for clues to solve certain matters" he stated, "Have you noticed tall towers in the middle of nowhere every now and then?" he asked. 

"I have" he confirmed.

"Depending on the occasion, a Val stands at the top to transmit a message to the next Val at the listening range limit, or to listen for information within that range limit" he elaborated.

"Should they do so, it would pose problem" Jimin assessed, his brows knitting as he pondered.

"For now I'm leading us in between those perimeters let's say, where Vals cannot reach our sound or each other, but the closer we get to villages the more narrow those become. We'll have to be careful once we are in full range" he responded.

"Do you hear anything? Your ears are stronger than most, as far as we know" Jimin inquired.

"Nothing human-made yet" he shook his head.

It wasn't long before the fading light of the day retreated, casting a blanket of darkness upon the land, and so they found themselves compelled to halt their journey. The worst they could do was march on blindly into the wilderness.

"If only I could use my Thera powers again now" Jungkook huffed as he planted the logs of wood around their camp, designed to keep wild animals away as they slept since fire wasn't an option. 

"Do you remember how you did back then?" Jimin asked.

"I believe I spoke it into existence. I stated that I wanted the ground to split and a wall appeared" he shrugged, "perhaps I should do it again" he wondered. "I want the ground to split" he said and waited as the crickets laughed at him. 

"Keep it down" Jimin hushed as he planted the logs on his side.

"I am in danger" Jungkook attempted, thinking fabricating a sense of urgency was the key, "I need a barrier around this camp right now" he huffed.

"Will you stop, you'll attract the animals we want to keep away at this rate" Jimin scolded with his hands on his hips, not willing to admit how amused he was with the absurd reasoning. 

"Can you be supportive? I'm trying to help both of us out" he complained. 

"If I have to fend off one wild boar tonight I will hurt you immensely for this" Jimin rolled his eyes. 

"I'll keep watch" Jungkook offered.

"Or we can both rest properly without a worry" he countered.

"I surrender... I will finish these since I'm faster, could you build us a tent please?" he requested with a sigh.

With one last push on the wooden chunk, their makeshift fence was up, releasing Jungkook from the strenuous task as he cracked his spine and released tension from his back muscles. He could use a wash.

"Love? Do we still have enough water for a quick cleanse?" he asked, his eyes unable to make out Jimin's silhouette under the thick fabric walls. But a gourd did make it to his hands, along with a sponge. 

He finally shed his armor that day, the straps and strings freeing his body and allowing it to relax before the layered tunics followed. His hot skin meeting the cold air at once made his hair stand, while a shudder coursed through his body at the chilling water drops gliding down his chest. 

His ink, still only filled with three sentences, was even clearer against his pale skin, and he wondered what he needed to do to trigger the appearance of the rest of the words. He's seen what the mark should look like in the end, believing most of the other phrases already applied to his person, but it seemed the star didn't think equally.

He crouched underneath the fabric fold of the tent and crawled into the space Jimin had left him. "Are you hungry? I'll heat up the soup we made last night" he suggested as he grabbed the steel container between his palms.

"How far are we?" Jimin asked.

"One more day of travel and we'll be there" he responded.

"Will we need to move again so soon?"

"If we are prudent with our tracks, we should be able to stay a dozen of days" he estimated. 

"Good, that's enough time to make poisons" he nodded, and missed the way the Pyre's eyebrows rose.

"Should I be worried" he stated.

"Using force isn't my strong suit, I'd rather use my skills" he shrugged.

"For a moment you had me thinking I shouldn't have this soup anymore" he chuckled, shaking it slightly in its container before beginning to pour into the small wooden bowls. 

"Had I wanted you dead, you would be already, trust me" Jimin scoffed. 

"Oh I have no doubt, especially now that you'd be applauded for it" Jungkook replied. "Hail the hero, vanquisher of evil and protector of our kingdom!" he imitated the potential congratulations.

"Don't be silly" Jimin shook his head, entertained.

"Would you enjoy the adulation of fame, the admiration of countless people?" Jungkook asked to make conversation.

"If it is for killing, I'd rather not be reminded of my sins in the eyes of everyone who recognizes me" Jimin disagreed, looking into Jungkook's as he spoke. 

"However regrettable, the righteousness of certain killings becomes a matter of perspective" the Pyre claimed, referring to the assassin's incident.

"Never shall blood taint my hands again, and if my life should give to keep my word, it will." Jimin responded, rejecting any and all absolution from his mistake.

"You'd be a fool to think I would let that happen" Jungkook clicked his tongue at the statement. 

"For as long as blood courses through your veins" Jimin remembered his promise. 

"Correct" he confirmed. "What of wealth? Do you fancy a future filled with luxury for yourself?" he asked.

"Not so much" Jimin denied and he raised a brow. 

"You forget that I know you like the palm of my hand" Jungkook smiled. 

"I am telling the truth" the Liquis insisted.

"You profess simplicity but I know you have a hidden penchant for the finer things in life" he disagreed, "You revelled in the attention my attendants gave you, and embraced the grandeur of nobility" he claimed, certain of his statement from the memory of Jimin radiating an air of regality whenever he strolled along the palace courts.

"Very well... Perhaps I do" the other conceded.

"I'm glad" Jungkook added.

"Why so? You don't exactly have the same preference" he asked, their close distance doing wonders in warming him up enough to focus on the conversation. 

"Because I am to lead such a lifestyle again eventually, and it eases my mind to know you won't be uncomfortable" the Pyre explained, his fingers leisurely fiddling with the mat they laid on.

"What if that has nothing to do with me then" Jimin responded, his tongue speaking things his mind didn't have the time to wrap itself around. He didn't know what his own expression looked like, but he assumed it wasn't the brightest, not with the way Jungkook's brows furrowed into a knot on his forehead.

"Why do you insist on breaking my heart with your words" Jungkook muttered, his hand stilling by his side as he sought unspoken truth from Jimin's dark eyes. And with that, the Liquis was left speechless, unable to find a response, letting silence weigh him down into the soil.

"I shouldn't have said that" Jimin shut his eyes.

"How could it even cross your mind" the Pyre countered, his expression resembling Jimin's several days ago. 

"You don't seem to realize the cleft your lies left in me" the latter argued back, defensive over his coping methods. 

"What must I do to prove how contrite I am?" Jungkook asked exasperated, "What else can I say, how could I possibly apologize for you to forgive me?" he continued. All he wanted was go back to the way things were before Jimin found out, the constant tension between them made him restless.

"This isn't something you simply say, Jungkook" he huffed, "I have little control over how I feel about you currently, and there's nothing that'll hasten this process."

"So am I just left to wait? Days? Months? How can I be sure you will forgive me one day if you keep acting like you never will" he countered. 

"That is the problem, you have to be open to that possibility as well" Jimin argued, this topic stressing him out enough that the knuckles of his fists turned white.

"I'm never accepting such an outcome, do you know me so little?" Jungkook scoffed. 

"It is not up to you!" Jimin raised his voice at the Prince for the first time in months, but if he thought he was the only one holding his ground he was proven wrong right away.

"Well I am never letting you go." Jungkook bore his eyes right back into Jimin's to convey his determination, until he saw them glimmer more by the second as they coated with tears. "I am sorry, I shouldn't have used that tone" the Pyre apologized, his voice radically softer.

"I need some air" Jimin muttered, pushing himself up before feeling a warmer hand on his forearm. He looked back at the other from the corner of his eyes and cleared his throat, "I'll stay in your hearing range" he reassured before retrieving his arm and exiting the tent.

Jungkook laid back down and sighed, his hands rubbing his face as he berated himself internally. He was truly wondering if he was helping his case or sinking it deeper. His bet was on the second, seeing Jimin's reaction.

Unable to stay idle, he decided some late night practice was in order and played with a few droplets of water from the gourd, enhancing his speed rather than control this time by making them slit through space in abstract directions. At least until a strong wind hit him at once.

Trees.

Jungkook was not supposed to be seeing those because of the tent he laid under. The sound of blades clinking and the sight of them glimmering under the moon light suddenly filled his senses and the next thing he knew, he had a knife to his neck. No red eyes, no shining face mark, no water, no fire, he couldn't even feel his element anymore. 

"Look who we stumbled upon" a voice spoke by his ear, likely that of the man threatening to slit away.

"Who are you" Jungkook spoke, taken off-guard on every front. After the initial shock, it was the only sentence making it out of the storm of questions in his mind.

"Crown Prince Jeon Jungkook" the man said, "General Jeon Jungkook... Criminal Jeon Jungkook... Fugitive Jeon Jungkook?"  he spoke while the edge pushed deeper against his Adam's apple. "We don't know what to call you these days" he scoffed.

"I'll be honest, I thought it would be much harder to capture you" another mocked, "Is this the man leading our Army out in the battlefield? Underwhelming." he shrugged.

"Never meet your heroes, or so they say" another man responded.

"Don't let that get to your head your Highness" the second clicked his tongue.

"Fancy seeing you here actually, our plan was to rob ignorant travellers but imagine our surprise hearing your conversation with that other" the one behind stated, "Whom we have no use hurting in case you were wondering, not after finding the real treasure. You can rest assured, we don't want anybody any harm so long as they cooperate" he dragged the tip of his knife along the Pyre's neck as he spoke.

"Have you no fear for your lives, Vals?" Jungkook replied, his eyes glinting under the moon as he glared at each and every one of them.

"You're much less intimidating with element shackles around your wrists" a man sighed as he clinked his blade against the metal weighing his arms to the ground. 

"Are you detaining me or courting me with this jewelry? I appreciate the thought but none of you really fits my personal preferences, I like them smart." he responded, his expression calm and body relaxed. Because of the cuffs, his fire was dissipating faster than it gathered and he needed to focus if he wanted to have something to fight back with.

"Your companion sounds like a remarkable gentleman indeed. That said, what were you thinking being so loud in the forest this late." One man pointed out, his eyebrows knit in confusion. "We could hear your conversation strides and strides away, and I must say, he sounds quite heartbroken. Did you trifle with another behind his back?" he brazenly spoke, overstepping multiple boundaries at once.

"How dare you speak to me as such" Jungkook flatly replied.

"Rise and shine sir Jeon, you are nothing but an outlaw anymore. We will speak to you how we see fit and you are not exactly in a position to argue as far as we can tell" the man behind said into his ear. 

"What is your plan then, handing me over to the seekers? Do you believe you can manipulate me at your whim until reaching them? Quit dallying." he mocked as he rolled his eyes. His fire was slowly becoming stronger and dragging this conversation might just be to his advantage.

"You do have a rude tongue for someone who's wanted dead or alive" the man remarked.

"You are underestimating me gentlemen" he warned.  

"Without your fire, you are but an outnumbered man" the other responded.

"That's not all I have now, is it?" he raised a brow, "You've heard what you've heard, the reason I am even in this circumstance."

"What if you learned a few magic tricks?" he rolled his eyes. 

"What if I did indeed... You really won't kill me? What for, buying time before I am killed elsewhere?" he scoffed, "If there's something you must do I invite you to go right ahead. Isn't your knife against my throat already? What are you waiting for?" he incited.

"Is this some sort of manipulation?" the man asked, his blade starting to cut deep into his neck and draw droplets of blood he would rather save in this sticky situation. "Get him up" the man told his bandmates and he was suddenly being halted up on his legs.

"Amateurs. You know nothing of holding a soldier captive do you?" he shook his head at the sloppy work then grunted when a bandit punched his gut. 

"Shut it" he said, and it was the last thing he did before the heavy metal shackles swung to his jaw, most likely dislocating it and breaking a few teeth on the way.

At the sight of one of their comrades collapsing to the ground, the rest of the squad put up their defenses, raising their blades and focusing their ears to follow the former Prince's actions. Even in the dark they could see through the wind, and that was supposedly their advantage, unaware that the Pyre had the same trick up his sleeve. 

One at a time, he made them all lose their footings and gained momentum enough to make his fire more aggressive for his one and only chance to attack. As two of them burned at fault of wearing no protection against the element, the fourth tightened his hand around the base of his blade and charged at him with a clear intent to kill. 

These men were not cut out for a fight of this intensity, Jungkook reckoned. They were thieves, they could use force every now and then but definitely couldn't handle someone with combat experience. They relied on the element shackles and that was their mistake, because they but slowed him down rather than disabled him.

If not the fire, that heavy metal sure strengthened his punches knocking the man with a bleeding mouth back down easily, and he was just starting to pick up a rhythm when his head began buzzing. He looked around disoriented to find the two burned men moving their hands in unison, while their eyes glimmered purple in the night. 

They were creating pressure around him, his ears popped at the quick changes and rang as he groaned in pain. It was unbearable. His eyes barely focused on the fourth man walking to him threateningly, they felt as through they would pop out of their sockets if he didn't shut them tight. 

Then he felt warm again, and maybe it was an act of God, but one of the shackles broke from the pressure right when his survival instincts began to spike. The fire rampage was his savior in this critical time, relieving him from the crushing pressure and allowing him to level the grounds again.

"Stop this now and no one has to die" Jungkook said between ragged breaths, with his free hand banging a rock on the other shackle's lock. 

"Don't try to save yourself" the bandit responded before swinging his blade to the Pyre's face, who pulled away just in time to take advantage of his opponent's open side. Not having had to the time to free himself properly, he decided the shackle will have to be his weapon despite its inconvenience.

"I suppose letting you live was never an option anyway" Jungkook sighed and tackled the man to the ground, straddling his middle, ready to beat away, then his lungs stopped inflating mid-strike. 

"You are in over your head and you don't even know it" the man replied as his fingers dangled before the Prince's face, as if moving him by strings like a puppet. 

His mouth agape, gasping for air that was only leaving his body and not entering it, he leaned onto the ground with his extended arm, unable to even cough away the dryness of his throat. His skin was heating up, his blood was rushing into his frantic heart before he felt it slow down. He couldn't breathe. 

The bandit played with him like a toy, allowing some air around him then taking it away, torturing him into staying conscious just enough to feel what was about to happen. The man grabbed him by the collar to keep him up and looked into his wide eyes, reddened from the strain. 

"Letting you live was not the option" he last spoke before his curved blade buried itself into his gut. Jungkook's couldn't even gasp at the pain, he sat like a fish on land, his Adam's apple moving pointlessly and his muscles spasming every time the blade moved deeper.

He couldn't believe the last face he'd see before his death was that of a complete stranger. At war that was the assumption, but he thought he escaped that sad ending after his last.

How about another miracle? If that's what the star was for, now was a good time to grant it. 

Where is Jimin? He wondered, hoping he didn't keep his word and wandered further than promised. There was no point in watching him die, not by the guillotine or other means, it was never something he wanted the Liquis to witness. 

He could breathe now, he realized as he felt his chest contract irregularly. His lungs filled and emptied right away, unable to inflate fully due to his internal wound. His eyes were heavy, closing shut, and he didn't fight the slumber overcoming him.

For the first time in forever, he felt cold. His fire died, and his ears didn't fail to count the last beats of his weak heart. 

I'm finally joining you mother.

---

Jimin walked away from their tent as he dried his waterline from the tears threatening to spill. He didn't know what to think, he was slowly falling apart and could only stay away from the Prince for so long until having to face him again. He didn't have the chance to be alone with his thoughts and reflect upon the situation the way he did before, and it only added to his struggle.

He was careful walking through the leaves and branches, aware that unsupervised woods were never the right place to be at night, then followed the moonlit opening ahead, hoping for a stream or a lake to wash up in.

A sigh left his lungs as he crouched down by the calm pond, he put one hand in and felt the gentle flow soothe him and his turmoil. Why can't I simply wake up with my mind set, and spare us both this stage of limbo?

Sometime during his pondering, the sweet sound of a whistled melody reached his ears, making him close his eyes and listen to it attentively. The hauntingly beautiful song of a nightingale filled the air, weaving an enchanting tapestry through the darkness. Jimin sat still, captivated by each note which carried a sense of longing and mystery, as if the bird had something to tell him.

If only he listened.

Silence overtook the space again, and so he thought to go back to camp as it had been a while of him gone, but first, he leaned over to wash his face with the fresh water. A beautiful starry sky tonight, he thought when his reflection showed a bright dot above him. 

Was he imagining this or were the stars shining brighter by the second?

He dipped his face in his full palms again and rubbed his foggy eyes clean, but he wasn't wrong, now were several more dots than earlier. A flicker of excitement danced in his eyes, convinced that what lay above would be a sight of breathtaking beauty. He couldn't help but turn around, marvelled by the phenomenon and-

A jarring tableau of horror displayed. Each part etching itself into his memory like a grotesque mosaic.

Gemas everywhere. On the grass, the bushes, the trees, the flowers' pearly white color shined under the moonlight screaming for his attention while he cluelessly ignored them. The nightingale's song still fresh in his memory now sounded like a crashing symphony of strings competing for dissonance, creating a cacophony in which each shrill note seemed to gnaw at the edges of his sanity.

The shock of the revelation rippled through his soul, transforming the very air around him into a miasma of profound dread. In that heart-stopping moment, his legs had a mind of their own as they picked him up and ran with the rest of him through the woods, noise be damned, trying to find their tent as soon as possible.

A horrified scream left his throat when his eyes fell upon Jungkook's blueish skin, his wide eyes, and the blade twisting and tearing into his gut at the hand of his attacker. Couldn't the night refrain from showing him so many details? Could it not have concealed the now-unforgettable image? Perhaps that was his punishment for failing at his only task.

Why would somebody do this? Jimin didn't have time to ask nor wait for an answer before his ice blue eyes sent a flying dagger straight into the man's skull, so fast and strong that it transpierced his head and stabbed the tree trunk behind it. In this moment of fear, he couldn't risk another attack and did the same to the three people laying around, making sure they wouldn't wake up and retaliate. Ever.

"Jungkook" he called, desperation melting his voice.

With his throat closing in on itself he kneeled by the Prince and took his face by both of his hands to find his eyes closed and unblinking. He heard the shallow gasps and realized that each inhalation was a measured endeavor due to the stab wound. With a whip of his hand, a sheet of water settled on the Pyre's abdomen and crystallized on the gash to prevent any more blood loss.

"No no no-" he repeated after his shaky fingers left the Prince's neck, no longer able to feel a pulse.

I'm too late.

---

Hello everybody! Long time no update... I hope you enjoyed this chapter and don't forget to let me know your thoughts! 

Thank you so much for keeping up with the book and see you very soon! Love ya ❤️

- Aida-