Third Person's P.O.V.

Everyone in North Gate castle agreed that Kian was a bizarre child.

Soon after Seokjin and Taehyung had left the North Gate castle, they had received news about the war that would be breaking out at dawn. The palace guards had instantly closed the gateways and fortified the castle to ensure their safety. They had ensured Seokjin and Taehyung that they'll do everything possible to keep Kian safe.

So, to ensure that the kitchen staff were on their toes. The night was calm, and they had made sure that the boy was fed his dinner but the problem right now was that they couldn't find the little boy anywhere! Currently, all of them ran haywire as they scoured the hallways in search of the child only to finally notice the kid sitting in the open courtyard.

"Kian! Why are you sitting here?" The elder ajhumma huffed making her way to the boy.

"I'm waiting" the little voice informed as he stayed busy scribbling something on the ground with a stray twig.

"Waiting for what?" She blurted, still panting as she crouched before him to see how upset the kid looked.

"My birthday" he spoke quietly, still not looking up "does it not worry you too?"

She could finally see his innocent eyes look up at her under the dimmed light of the moon.

"What should I be worried about?" she inquired trying to understand.

"They're all worried that I'll become a monster tomorrow"

The words left her silenced, she knew the reason why everyone who met Kian felt something unusual...it was because of this...a haunting sensation of him being aware of things that he shouldn't be aware of at his tender age.

"Pfft! Nonsense" she laughed at his morose words "have you ever seen a monster as tiny and cute as you" she giggled, ruffling his hairs "who'd even be sacred of you?"

"You don't know it yet...you will be" he murmured, moving away to fix his hair right. He stood up and began heading inside when he suddenly stopped to ask her "do you think I'll be presenting as an alpha or an omega?"

The elder ajhumma sighed before walking up to him and replied with a smile "I don't know...but whatever it will be, you'll still be my favourite boy in the entire world" she kissed his head and took his little hand in hers as she guided him inside "so which story do you wanna listen to tonight?"

They halted abruptly to see the old lady standing in the middle of the hallway, her eyes gazing at Kian.

"Little boy...do you want to hear a new story tonight?"

The elder ajhumma was a little skeptical about her despite the fact that she knew who she was, she knew the lady meant no harm but it was that dazed far off gaze in her iridescent blue eyes that sometimes freaked her out.

"Oh! You know stories too?" Kian piped in excitement "what's it about? Does it have magic? Is it about wars?"

"It's about love"

The elder ajhumma followed behind, quietly listening.

"Eh?" Kian's little head jerked towards her, a frown crimping on his brow "love stories are borin' though...is it really good?"

"The greatest love ever" she smiled down at him "do you know why the Moon only appears when Night comes?"

"Why?" Kian's eyes were wide with query and the elder ajhumma could see how invested he already was. She could tell that this wasn't the story from the ancient myths, and guessed that it was probably something she had made up.

"Because they're lovers...they can't stay away from each other" she took a seat on the ottoman by the window that opened to give a glimpse of the vast night sky, and Kian followed her like a hypnotized doll "but as the Moon gets closer to Night, she slowly loses herself...and on the night they meet, Night takes her away and hides her in his arms..."

"Then?" Kian asked in hushed tones, as if fearful that the Night would hear him if he spoke too loudly.

"And then he lets her go...so she comes back again" the lady smiled, her gaze moving outside as she pointed to the silvery crescent hanging blithely on a star-spangled sky.

"But...why does Night hide her away?" Kian spoke peering outside the window as he stared at the moon.

"Because he fears that someday someone will steal his Moon away from."

Seokjin's P.O.V.

I remember the day everything changed for me...no it wasn't the day I arrived in Kleon, that day I was still an omega who didn't fit anywhere.

Truth is that the day everything changed for me was the day I was claimed by my trueblooded alpha, and neither of us had known what we had just done.

I watched Taehyung charge forward, his heavy armour glinting against the morning sun and his sword ready in hand to slash down any enemy barring his way.

He has always told me that he was meant to claim me...that I was meant to be his...

The troops crash against the tough defense of Helion and Joran's men, our spirits raging high and a shudder flashes through me to see Taehyung's sword slice cleanly through an alpha's neck, unwavering. The air filled with the stench of death and blood, and I feel my inner omega's hesitation to harm others rise despite my intentions to not feel like an omega.

I remember he had once told me that I wasn't meant for wars...that my gifts were to heal and cure...that my gifts are meant to save not to destroy...

But then again, how many wars have I caused? How many wars has he fought for me?

My hands remained frozen on the hilt of my sword.

No matter how many times I witness war, bloodshed always knocks my breath out and fills me with guilt and dread. My insides screech to put a stop to this destruction around me, and I know this voice in my head is not Arcana...but my omega, and it seeks to heal not harm.

"Are you getting cold feet already?"

The words surprise me as I turn to see Jungkook on his stallion behind me, and he gives me a calm smile which is rather unlikely of him. This man will forever be an enigma to me, I'm glad Jimin can read his mind...trusting such a man is beyond me.

"Take my advice and brace yourself Seokjin...the real war hasn't even begun yet" he trots by me, that smile still lingering on his lips as he swings his sword to slash down an enemy soldier "this is a war you'll need more than your strength to win".

More than my strength?

My eyes fall on my alpha again, and realise yet again why they say that he was born as a weapon to win wars.

I'd say he was born to lead...I don't know why he believed that I'd be a better ruler than him, I have never seen any another person be as skilled as he is in war...he truly is an invincible power in a battlefield.

"Archers! Release!" Taehyung swerved his stallion around, pulling at the reins to ride to the head of the army "front line! Charge ahead!"

His commands boomed in the air as he ordered his troops to charge with all their might and let none of the enemy escape their doom. I see our opponents' fierce attack dwindling to doubtful frowns as they began to realize who they were up against.

My alpha is enough to put fear in the hearts of all those who stands against Kleon.

The trueblood in him is an insatiable beast that constantly hungers for victory, for blood...for revenge. He revels in the glory of his own powers to make people stumble to their knees with a simple command. His rage is enough to make the enemy cower before his undefeatable authority, and their lives turning to a mere wisp of fleeting breath as he swung his sword at them.

He remained unbothered of the many cuts inflicted on him from the numerous blades aiming to destroy him. They swarm around him, their cruel swords harshly slashing at him from every side and aiming to put him down because they knew the war would end only when they'd be able to kill him. I catch his red eyes glancing at me time and again although he was surrounded by a horde of soldiers attacking him from every side.

"Shield yourself!" He warns while his hands busy in hacking the life out of the soldier who had foolishly dared to attack at him "put your shield up Jin!"

His commanding voice ran like a bolt through me, my omega responding to his alpha voice on instinct and I instantly broke out of my reveries to realise that I was day-dreaming in the middle of a battlefield. I remind myself that this isn't a mindless fight for power.

My fingers tighten on the bronze of the gilded hilt of my sword as I raised it against my approaching enemy.

I have realized this one thing though, I always had the strength to fight against my fate but never had the guts to do so till I faced him.

I heard a pained screech and saw the man I was dueling with fall to his death. In the next moment, Taehyung was beside me, pulling me behind himself to cover for me and I realised he had just killed the man to guard me.

"What's wrong?" He asks, panting. His red eyes take a full scan of me, and I know he's checking if I am injured.

"Nothing's wrong" I assure him, and my eyes widen to see a man behind him aiming to attack all of a sudden.

Before I could even warn, Taehyung turns around in a flash to disarm the soldier quietly creeping at us, and his sword sliced cleanly down the man's right side. He doesn't even flinch as he grasped at the neck of the man and twists it in one swift move.

This is the reason the world calls him an invincible warrior, but my mind floats to a time we had sat in the comfortable warmth in his study and he had told me what he really thought about wars.

War is a gruesome thing, you know...it might sound funny coming from me, but I have always hated it...because it never ends. Even when it has stopped and the winners have boasted of their victory, I can still hear women wailing for their men...I can hear all those mothers grieving for their martyred sons...I can hear the children who'll never get to experience the love of their fathers...war never ends...neither does the futility it inflicts on the people who endure it and are left to live...

A realisation dawns on me, this is a war he's fighting for me...for us...for the future of our children and Kleon. This is the first war he's actually fighting because he wants to...not because he's been ordered to or been forced to.

I see my alpha turning about to look at me again, and in that moment I take the decision to fight this war for him...for our children...and for myself.

If I cannot win this war because I'm just a mortal...then I'll die fighting with whatever I got.

Soldiers swarm around us again, and I ready myself for the battle before me.

I chuckle to myself thinking that Hoseok was right, Taehyung really draws the attention of alphas on a battlefield like an omega in heat.

They charge at us, blades glinting against the sun as they raise their swords and we charge at them to attack as well. The sound of steel rattling and roaring as they clashed surrounded us, cries of rage and death filled the air.

My sword slices clean through an enemy soldier's throat, before I swing it to aim at another, piercing into his heart without a speck of hesitation. I feel like I've been with Taehyung for too long to learn his cold unemotional ways in war, and yet I know how I struggle with my omega's instincts. I glance to my sides to see the team of omegas and betas I had trained to join in war, and pride fills me to see them prove their might on the battlefield despite all the frowns and queries they had had to face to take such a decision.

"Argh!" I feel a blade gash across my right arm and my sword slips out of my grip as pain blurs my vision.

"No matter how powerful you are...you're still an omega" my opponent scoffs, pointing his sword at me as he readies to strike. I try to steady my steps, blinking the haze of agonizing pain away.

In the next second, he lunged at me and I dodged to grasp at his other arm, draining him from all his energy to watch him fall down senselessly.

"You talk too much" I complained before facing my next opponent being all healed now and it was fun to watch them sense me as a danger as I clasped at whoever dared to charge at me and drained him completely, till they became a mere unconscious heap on the ground.

The reaction of the other soldiers was instant, as they gaped at the passed out soldiers and gawked at me. Taehyung comes back to stand by me, still panting from the exertion of constant scuffles and I note the numerous bleeding cuts he had already earned in war.

"Had enough?" He smirks, eyes glowing red as he turned to those who still stood before him, his sword dripping with the blood of those who had met their untimely demise by his hands "I'm game if you wanna play some more" he spits before cracking his neck and marching towards the opponent.

My eyes zap to Taehyung as I sense the fury raging within him, his trueblood looming largely over the brawl as he forces off the men attacking him with his sheer strength, snarling at them as he swings his relentless sword and lays a deathly carnage. I could see the fear in the eyes of those who still stood against him, they knew charging at him would mean embracing death and they gulped as they hesitantly held their swords.

"You should have run when you had the chance" Taehyung forewarns them, his sword swishing in air as he readies himself "if death scares you...then you should have thought before facing me."

They retract a few steps and intently note my actions as I clutch at Taehyung's wrist to heal my alpha. They watch the way all his bleeding gashes vanish in a moment to leave no trace and take further steps away from us and I see Tae smirk at their reaction.

"I think we scared them baby" he scoffs, flashing a grin as he mocks at the soldiers gulping and hesitating to charge at us "puny men like you aren't meant for war!"

I watched him, and pride filled me. Inadvertently, a promise rang through me.

I know, we can't seem to catch a break. And sometimes it feels like the whole universe is conspiring against us. But damn the stars, I choose you...and no matter the odds, no challenge or obstacle will ever be enough to stand in my way.

And zeal bubbled within me as I brought my sword down again.

You've been my armour all this time Tae...today I'll be yours

I have a feeling that I was born for this, and here's what they do not tell you about death...when Fate says, 'you are born for this', she clearly means 'you will die for this'.

Third Person's P.O.V.

Jungkook noticed his brother and his mate being busy in war, he noticed how Taehyung constantly guarded the omega despite the fact that Seokjin was rather skilled in combat. The instinct to laugh at his brother's stupid whims came rushing back, he knew that despite that unmatched strength, Taehyung wasn't really the brightest person anyway.

"Tsk...fate had always brought you challenges you'd strive to win over" he had seen Taehyung be the centre of wars since they were mere boys, seen their father command a young Taehyung fight with alphas thrice his age and there had been times he had thanked his fate that he wasn't in his brother's shoes. His gaze moved towards Seokjin, as he reminisced of what he knew "this war will demand sacrifices from all of us...I pray you have the strength to endure the truth."

But he knew now what it was to be in love...he knew the responsibility that an alpha feels for their omega. He couldn't really blame Taehyung, at least not after realizing it himself as to what it feels like to be bonded with your fated mate. His mind moved to the heaviness in his own heart as he remembered the promises he had made to himself. Unlike his brother, who knew to win wars with strength...Jungkook knew that this was not a war Taehyung could win with merely his strength...he knew, this wasn't really his brother's war.

"The howl in the wind speaks" he looked at the sky above, and noted how the clouds were growing darker. It seemed as if nature was aggrieved to look at such a grim scene.

"If the gods have decided that this is the end...then I'll make sure to achieve what I intend to before the time comes" Jungkook knew he wouldn't regret death, as a legion of fate he knew how the story would end. It was the reason he had to ensure Jimin would be safe and far away from the war, because as an alpha, it was his responsibility to protect the heart that holds him.

If he regretted anything, it would be the fact that he wished to see Jimin and his son one last time...wished he could look into his mate's serene blue eyes just once more to read about all that Jimin wouldn't say out loud...he wished to know that over the past few years he had atoned his sins against Jimin, and that his mate had forgiven him.

He knew long before Jimin had ever showed him any emotion that the omega adored him but sometimes hearing it spoken aloud feels better. But Jungkook knew he had no right to ask for forgiveness for his sins against him.

He had done terrible things, and he had none to blame but himself...and that's why he knew Jae-hwa would grow up well despite his absence and he knew Jimin would be fine. He knew Jimin is a strong omega who knew how to hold himself together.

Would anyone really grieve for him? Would it truly hurt Jimin to lose him?

Loss is fleeting, and grief is short-lived over the stream of ever-changing time.

"The price of a life...is another's sacrifice" the words twirled in a murmur as a small smile lingered on his lips. For a long time people had accused him of hiding behind the invincible aura of his brother, for years he had chosen to stay behind the protected walls of the palace but Jungkook knew that wouldn't suffice this time because...this was his war.

Jimin's P.O.V.

It's so difficult to understand a child's mind.

"Stop it Jae!" I pulled my son back from the scuffle with Taehan "what's gotten into you?"

I have never seen Jae get so worked up, he never even speaks loudly let alone pick a fight!

"He pushed me" he complains in a low growl, his anger held tightly in those irate blue eyes as I saw him glaring at the other.

"I said I don' wanna be your fren!"

I saw Taehan fume at him, his little teeth gritting in rage as he glowered at Jae-hwa.

"Calm down Taehan" I try to pat at his head and he swats my hand away, scowling at me.

"No touch me! I hate you!" He accuses me in his high-pitched anger "you left appa there! And why izzn't hyung here?!"

I feel a twinge of guilt burn in my chest "your hyung and appa are fine...you'll see them in a few days."

I try to assure and see lady Ha-yoon come to my rescue, as she crouches down to see why the kid was so upset and instantly tries to pacify the boy.

"Taehan...you shouldn't be rude to others-" "Why you bring me here!??" He screams at her, bursting into tears, his anger crumbling into the pain and helplessness he must be feeling inside. He seemed to be missing Seokjin and his sibling but his need for them came out in loud angry growls "I wan appa!!"

I watch Ha-yoon pull the kid to herself, patting at the boy's back as he sobs loudly into the side of her neck.

I struggle to gulp the guilt down, and see the same guilt in her eyes when Ha-yoon looks at me.

We always feel that as adults we're better at dealing with difficult things...but that's not really the truth. Unlike children...we just lie better to ourselves.

It's bizarre really, it's so difficult to understand a child's mind but its way more difficult to understand an adult's heart and how quietly we're capable of enduring all that falls upon us.

"Welcome to Eulan...please feel safe and ask for anything you need" Queen Jisoo greets the lady walking before me with a smile.

"I hope you don't hold any grudges on us for last time, do you?" I inquired, returning her smile and she chuckles as she barely glances at me, although I catch the way her jaw flexed at my words.

"Wars are troublesome things" she informs with a passing sigh, her hand moving to her hip as she caresses the hilt of her sword "you never know when a friend becomes an enemy...and be especially alert to note if an enemy wears the garb of a friend."

I smile to myself, reading her thoughts. She thinks I have been sent by Jungkook to harm her intention to protect Taehan and Ji-hyun.

"You may rest assured Queen, my intention is same as yours" I affirm as we walk through the palatial hallway of her royal abode "these children are Kleons' future...our intention is to protect them."

"Pfft...mighty words coming from the slave of a man who tried to destroy my land and my family" she scoffs at me, glancing with contempt "your intentions may have changed, but I have seen what you are capable of...you're being good only because you need my help...don't mistake me to be my brother" her glare is threatening "he's unaware of the world and trusts easily, but I'm no fool"

She closes in and faces me square, her face too close for comfort but it doesn't scare me. I have faced alphas worse than her, and a little threat doesn't even raise my heartbeat...I'm used to all the torture they could possibly think of imposing on me.

"I can smell that crazy bastard on you..." she hisses at me "and if you think of doing anything weird while you're here, I swear I'll make you regret your decision to ever step on Eulan."

"He's my alpha...and a royal" I grit the words out as I stare up at her, letting her know that I'm no meek omega whom she can intimidate with a few threatening words "so, please speak about him with honour in front of me...I expect as a royal you haven't forgotten your manners Queen...?"

She grows quiet, assessing my words before she turns away from me to greet lady Ha-yoon with a smile, and ushers her inside. I stand at the same place for a while more, realizing Jungkook was right...Jae-hwa isn't going to be safe here. She won't protect our child if she harbours so much hatred against Jungkook. But I understand why she hates him so much, she blames him for all that is happening today...she blames him for taking Seokjin away from Eulan, for putting him through so much trouble, for putting Eulan at the risk of war...also the reason she lost her father and her brother.

I can read how alone and regretful she feels.

And it is this which has me stupefied right now, something that I had not expected to find in her chain of thoughts. I peer into her thoughts further, trying to understand her.

"Jimin...?" Ha-yoon's voice draws my attention "come inside, we should get some rest...the kids are exhausted too."

"Y-Yes...I'll follow you" I hasten, remembering Jae must be feeling too left out without me.

"Don't worry...they're getting along slowly" she informs me assessing my worry and gestures for me to see where Taehan and Jae-hwa were eating quietly "they must've been famished after the long journey".

I feel glad to see the boys hungrily devouring the food served to them, their little cheeks puffed with food. I smile to myself to see Jae-hwa acting so differently and trying to compete with Taehan in gobbling up the bits of meat but Taehan beats him to it.

"I am not worried about Jae" I explain calmly, glad that they're getting along better now "I have a feeling that Jungkook was right, Jae-hwa needed this to learn about the outer world."

But why do I have this feeling that Jungkook hasn't told me everything...what is this odd restlessness that has my heart wrapped in barbed wires?

And it was this restlessness due to which Jimin couldn't fall asleep, so he decided to walk about the palace.

Jisoo was retiring for the night after giving Namjoon the order to set sail with another troop of their army. She knew this war was going to be something they could not anticipate, they would have to be prepared for the worst. She was striding down the hallway towards her chambers when her eyes caught sight of soft pink silk robes as they fluttered against the wind, a soft tinkle of bells flitting between the folds. Before she could make Jimin aware of her presence, she saw the omega snap around to face him. His calm blue eyes were sharp before he realized who it was and then gently greeted the queen.

"Good evening"

"Is there something you're looking for?" Jisoo inquired, walking closer to the omega.

"I'm a little anxious"

"Don't worry, I wouldn't get so low to murder you in your sleep" Jisoo joked with a chuckle.

"I am grateful for that-" "You would know it anyway if I had any such plans"

Jimin smiled this time to realize that she must have caught him reading into her thoughts.

"I apologize, it's an instinct...not because I do not trust you" he assured.

"I know...I had seen my brother struggle severely when father forced him keep his unique gifts under control" Jisoo reminisced "but I knew we wouldn't be able to keep him under control anyway...Mother had warned us long before."

And in that instant another secret was revealed to Jimin "uh...I don't know how to say this...but I don't know if there is any better way to say it" he looked at her as he revealed what he knew "your mother...she is alive, and safe...she's currently with Kian, in the North Gate castle."

"Well, you can stop playing with me Jimin...that is a mean joke to play" Jisoo's eyes instantly became annoyed, her demeanour showed the rage she was holding back.

"If you do not believe me, you may ask Lady Hayoon" Jimin cleared, turning back to continue his stroll.

"Mother is alive?" Jisoo sounded devastated and lost.

It took a while for Jimin to explain everything, he had to be careful too because he knew Jungkook could be accused of trapping her in Kleon, which wasn't the reality. By the time he was done explaining everything, Jisoo had to sit down.

"But how is that even possible?" Jisoo was completely startled "every magic has a price...to save Jin-ah, she had bartered her own life...then how is it that she survived?"

It was unbelievable because it was a deal beyond mortal powers, it can't be that Arcana just let her go out of the goodness of her heart. Then how was it that she had survived?

"There is an answer to your question, queen." A new voice spoke from down the hallway drawing the attention of the two.

They saw a short rotund man walking towards, accompanied by Namjoon.

"Master?" Jisoo stood up to greet him.

"I have decided to accompany Namjoon on his voyage to Kleon tomorrow, I have a feeling this war needs me as much as it needs our commander" the man smiled as he relayed his decision to the queen. He noticed Jimin, "ah Jin-ah's dearest friend, I hope you had a comfortable journey here..." he greeted him with a smile, making Jimin smile back at him.

"So...what's the answer to my question you said you had" Jisoo reminded him and the man took a seat beside her before he spoke.

"First off, this is something that I think happened because not only have I spent years reading about the myths and the mysteries...but I have spent seventeen years noting that child grow into who he is today"

Jimin grew quiet, taking a seat to listen beside Namjoon.

"And one thing that I have realised is that no normal human could survive with an immortal residing within...it's the reason all the other vessels Arcana had taken had failed it" he shook his head as the air around them got heavier with tension "I fear saying this because I am not sure, but I have a feeling that it was Seokjin's omega that brought his mother back to life" he turned towards Jisoo "you remember that day when he incinerated thirty men to revive your mother?"

Jisoo gave a quick nod, a deep frown boring down on her brow.

"I feel it isn't just Arcana who forces him to do that, if that was the case then why would Arcana even allow him to do that knowing that his mother's life wouldn't be spared?"

"But his eyes-" "Yeah...those become a deathly white" Jisoo explained joining with Namjoon.

"Who knows? Maybe that's' Arcana taking control to ensure the seal remains intact to keep them bound" the master fell into a short silence as he seemed to be lost in thoughts "what if his omega has the power to absorb enough energy to become so powerful as to expel the spirit from his body?"

This made all of them go silent as well as they shared glances.

"Mother had warned us long ago that she had done something terrible" Jisoo's voice was regretful "even though she had saved him from imminent death, she knew he would die because of what she had done...she had once told me that magic is a tricky thing, one tries to fool fate but forgets that fate fools you too."

"There are other ways to break that seal" master reminded.

"His mate can help in doing that too" Jisoo spoke up, "I heard only a trueblood can command to break off the seal."

"Arcana has made a deal with him, to ensure it gets to capture their first born as its vessel" Namjoon informed "if that happens, it will be beyond us-"

"There is a way" Jimin intervened, his blue eyes intent with purpose "yes, Arcana will try to win anyway possible but there is a way...only the legions of fate are capable of putting an immortal to an end."

"You mean kill Kian?" Namjoon sounded horrified.

They stared at him and Jimin informed them about all that he had learnt from Jungkook, and all that is alpha had warned him about.

"We need to get to Kleon" Namjoon's eyes were unfocused as he began to realise why Taehyung had demanded him to join the war this time. His mind drifted to Jimin as he noted that he too has to be on the battlefield.

"Queen Jisoo, please grant me one humble request" Jimin pleaded before her "don't punish Jae-hwa for the sins my alpha and I have committed against you"

"You really think very low of me Jimin" Jisoo assured with a smile "I guess that's what happens when you stay with shitty people for too long."

She stood up, turning towards Namjoon "Commander, make provisions to take Jimin back to Kleon" she spoke before walking away, then halted to turn around again "you know what, I'll come along...and we'll take Eulan's entire army along!"

Namjoon tried to warn her not to go, he knew what this war could lead to and he didn't want Eulan left monarch-less...not to mention Jisoo didn't even have an heir.

But she brushed his concerns off with a wave of her hand "I can't really think of sitting here and doing nothing, can't let ya'll have all the fun eh?"

á na márië.

[A/N] A shorter chapter than the usual ones of this book but hope it gives you an insight into the finale 🌚

Borahae 💜