⊰᯽⊱┈ A few days prior ┈⊰᯽⊱

Yoongi landed the airship on the hillside. Hoseok hadn't spared a moment of rest, holding Jungkook in his arms and magically keeping him awake. He was pale as a ghost, suffering in excruciating pain. Puddles of all the blood he had lost dripped out of the door seal from the inclination of the ground.

Yoongi jumped off and helped his brother carry Jungkook out of the vehicle. The boy moaned and groaned, unable to hold his tears.

"Yoongi careful!" hissed Hoseok when their little brother let out a cry of pain.

They temporarily laid him on the sparse grass and moist soil. Hoseok started rummaging inside the ship for anything that resembled a blanket.

Yoongi gazed at the landscape.

"Wow...," he exclaimed, "What the hell happened here?"

Hoseok craned his neck outside to look at what had stirred so much awe in his stoic brother. Even Jungkook whimpered in the effort to glimpse.

The late afternoon sky was bright enough to shed light on the field of debris and ashes overlaying the entire land. The remains of a giant Eastern military airship bulged like a small hill, cutting the stream of a river. Burned corpses and animals carpeted the charred grass.*

(*Chapter 2 - Journey Without A Goal)

"Good Gods...," said Yoongi, magnetized by the morbid scenery, "What is this?"

In their astonishment, they failed to notice five dark figures approaching stealthily from the trees. A sharp crackle of a branch snapping under the weight of heavy boots, cut through the sound of the soft afternoon breeze, making the three boys jump.

Hoseok's hands engulfed in flames to his elbows, and Yoongi drew his weapon. The light from Hoseok's magic fire shed upon the strangers, who stepped back by the shock of seeing magic. But instead of fearing it, they all stared in admiration and amazement.

"Who goes there?!" shouted Yoongi.

The stranger leading the group raised his hands defensively. He had a large dagger strapped on his belt, which he did not reach for, nor did his companions.

"We're not here to hurt you, lad," he said with a rough, heavy southern accent, "We know why you're here."

The boys drew their eyebrows and exchanged a look.

"We are members of the Nelson clan. We live in these hills," he explained quickly.

Hoseok's heart gave a little thump.

"Nelson? You mean Eulissah Nelson?" he asked with a hopeful tone, the flames around his hands waning.

"That's correct. She sent us. She knew you were coming."

In a moment of silent confusion, Jungkook coughed out blood once more. His brothers immediately turned their attention towards him.

"Sir, we don't have much time! Our friend here is badly wounded, he needs a healer immediately!" urged out Hoseok anxiously while kneeling over Jungkook, "Please help us!"

"That's why we're here. Madam Eulassah told us. We brought this...," the man began saying and pointed at his men carrying a fabric rack to transport the wounded.

Hoseok and Yoongi nodded eagerly and helped the gypsy goons place Jungkook on the rack. Then they proceeded to climb the hill to the top where the gypsy camp was located.

Dawn fell quickly. The gradient night sky glowed with the light of a full moon. Flickering fairy lights hung from pole to pole, bonfires around each tent, and an appetizing smell of roasting food wafted in the air. In the middle of the gypsy campsite, a large, almost the size of a small house, colorful carriage stood out among the others.

The door of the carriage spread open with force. A young lady came running out. Upon the moon shedding light on her figure, Hoseok and Yoongi's heart skipped a beat, momentarily forgetting of their emergency. She was absolutely beautiful, just like Jimin had described her, with long, lustrous black hair, porcelain swarthy skin, and big brown, intense eyes.

Eulissah Nelson ran next to Jungkook. She kneeled and pressed her palm on his forehead, closing her eyes. She remained still while the gypsy people gathered around to observe the newcomers.

"Get this one to the healers immediately! He doesn't have much time! QUICK!" she shouted urgently.

Her men obeyed without discussion. Yoongi and Hoseok tried to assist but Eulissah raised a hand.

"You two stay out of the way of my healers."

"But...," the boys protested.

"No buts. It's out of your hands now," she cut them off, "And go bathe and change. You smell like the sewers of Jajusek."

The two brothers looked at each other flabbergasted. Yoongi shrugged his shoulders and followed a gypsy woman inside a tent. But Hoseok faced Eulissah.

"How did you know we were coming?" he asked intensely.

"What, Jimin hasn't told you who I am? I saw it in a vision. I'm clairvoyant," she explained, "Now hurry up and change. I have a few things I need to tell you."

"Is Jungk...?---"

"I've told you it's out of your hands now. Let my healers do their job."

She twirled with grace and walked back in her giant carriage, shutting the door behind her. Hoseok followed Yoongi inside their tent.

As soon as they finished bathing and changing their sweat-soaking clothes, a scream emerged from outside. The two brothers leaped out of the tent. Two gypsy guards stepped in front of them like a barrier before they could run to Jungkook's rescue.

"Get the hell out of the way!" shouted Yoongi, pushing against them.

Another bellowing scream of agony cut the air. The gypsy campers showed no sign of concern. They went about their chores, jaded as if this was a daily occurrence.

"Stay away lads, Madam Eulissah's orders!" said one of them.

"GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY!" screamed Yoongi and pushed them with all his body weight.

A brawl was beginning to form between the two brothers and the gypsy goons. Shouts and profanities were thrown in the air, and more of the campers joined in on the growing threat of a violent outburst.

The door of Eulissah's carriage sprang open once more.

"BREAK IT UP YOU DIMWITS! CHARLIE PUT THAT KNIFE AWAY NOW!" she stormed at them furiously, her voice abnormally loud and heavy for such small lungs.

She stepped between them, pushed Yoongi away, and threw a savage slap at one of her guards who drew the knife at Yoongi. The man, who was twice her size, dropped to his knees apologetically.

"What the hell are you all gawking at? GET BACK TO YOUR BUSINESS!" she ordered her people, then faced the two boys, "You two. In my carriage. NOW! AND WAIT FOR ME THERE!"

Her dominant stance and severe tone of voice forced their muscles to act before their brain could process it. They walked straight to Eulissah's carriage without question, like toy soldiers.

With the corner of his eye, Hoseok saw the girl throwing nasty glares and sharp rebukes at her goons, who lowered their heads obediently.

They entered the cozy little room and sat on two stools in front of her bed. Hoseok's heart ached when he heard Jungkook's agonizing muffled screams from the outside.

"What are they doing to him?...," he wondered in a distressed cry, running his fingers through his hair.

After a few minutes, Eulissah stepped into the carriage. She seemed to be fuming with anger. She set a pair of silver cups on the bedside table and filled them with ale. She hinted, or more like ordered, for them to drink.

They obeyed and took a sip. Yoongi, being the long-time sailor that he was, gulped it all down in one go as if it were child's play. Hoseok glanced at him astonished by his brutish mannerisms.

"What?! This is nothing compared to what my sailor comrades used to force me to drink almost every evening," he explained with his typical apathetic stoicism.

"Silence!" Eulissah interrupted them.

The boys immediately turned to face her.

"You know, all of you brothers share one common trait," the girl began with a venomous tone.

"What's that?" asked Yoongi.

"THAT YOU HAVE A REMARKABLE TALENT TO BURY YOURSELVES UNDER AN OCEAN OF TROUBLE!" she yelled, but then she sat down defeatedly when she saw the dread in the boys' faces when Jungkook let out another bellowing scream.

"Look, Miss Nelson, we humbly ask forgiveness. We didn't mean to cause trouble...we're just...we're so worried...," Hoseok gulped, his emotions clogging his throat.

"I know...," she muttered softly. She glanced at Yoongi. Behind that mask of ice, his eyes gave him away. Although he kept his composure, he was clearly devastated.

Yoongi observed the girl.

"You said you wanted to talk to us," he stated.

"Indeed," she nodded.

Before she began her speech, she reached a hand to her bedside table. She tapped around, catching each object and sensing it with her fingers.

The boys glimpsed each other, confused, sharing one single question: Could it be that she was blind?

When she finally clasped the item she was looking for, she raised to eyesight level.

Hoseok's stomach churned when his eyes caught the glint of silver of the pairless piece of an earring. An earring that he could recognize anywhere.

"Jihmm!" exclaimed the two brothers.

"Yes. His travels lead him here. And so did Jinghim alongside him," she confirmed with an affirmative nod.

"They're alive...," Hoseok breathed out in relief and utter joy.

He hadn't heard these names in so long, he almost feared he would never hear them again. Their faces flashed in his memory, their voices. A sense of familiarity and warmth filled his heart. Only to be swiftly frozen once more when the girl's next words reached his ears.

They hanged from Eulissah's lips to absorb everything they missed the past months. And the more they listened, the more fear and suspense flodded their hearts.

"No...," uttered Hoseok with a single tear streaming down his cheeks.

Eulissah's voice cracked, moved to tears by her own words, "I wish I could give you better news, believe me I do, but I'm afraid it is all true. Jinghim captured awaiting trial, Jihmm off to the capital alone, Selenya also making her way North..."

A sepulchre silence stifled the carriage for a few painful moments. Jungkook's screams had die down, perhaps marking the end of the operation, or the anesthesia finally taking effect.

Yoongi sighed and buried his face in his palms.

"This...this venture was all for nothing...," he whimpered.

"Nothing is for nothing, Yoon," Eulissah said firmly, almost scolding him, "Everything in life happens for a reason. Besides, what you accomplished with the clandestine train made the road just a wee bit safer for all of you to travel," she glared and added, "As much as it was a reckless and stupid thing to do."

The girl snapped her fingers, refocusing their attention on her.

The two brothers, now burdened with the new developments and the hopelessness among the heavy luggage, they raised their heads slowly, faintly nodding their heads.

"I know this is hard for you. But there will be time for grief. Eventually."

"What do we do now? Where do we even start?" breathed Yoongi.

"What about Jun?" Hoseok quickly interrupted him.

"He will live...," she began.

The tangled nod tightening his gut, suddenly released him. Relief ran through his veins like a stream of fresh water.

"Oh, thank the spirits...," sighed the boy.

Eulissah smiled faintly.

"He will never walk properly again."

The two brothers suddenly gawked at her. Her smile fell from her lips, replaced by a frown of bereft melancholy.

The boys let their jaws slip open in jarring shock. Their voices were cut by the gasp that escaped their mouths.

"He'll have to use a walking stick. The physical trauma will leave scars that will never fully heal. Pain will be a part of his life. But, he'll be a wiser man for it," she said calmly, but with carefully selected words, as if premeditated.

"When he's ready to ride a horse. You will also head to Jajusek. Find Jihmm. He's heart is broken, and his will weakened. Those scars will also mar his spirit. Scars that can perpetuate through time. Unless healed by the touch of the brotherly love you most certainly share."

THE END?