Third Person's P.O.V.

'Fear makes a man more dangerous than magic ever could'

Sorcerers had been a feared group since a long time, their powerful magic scared people and their cryptic knowledge began to be considered as evil because the people could not fathom it.

The fount of knowledge that these sorcerers held was rather archaic and not many people had access to such knowledge anymore, especially after all the kingdoms decided to ban their existence, burned all the books and resources that could be used for sorcery and killed who ever dared to practice it.

So, in present day there are no existing sorcerers, and not many are aware of the stories and the teachings of the sorcerers. But if one had access then they would know that for centuries the sorcerers who practiced their magic during night time had a reason to do so...their early ancestors were the very gods of the night and the moon.

The long-forgotten stories can still be traced as decaying carvings on the walls of old monasteries. According to Eulan's ancient myths, long ago when Nox and Selene fought, it resulted in the creation of a spirit that wasn't allowed entry through the gates of heaven. It was but a lover's quarrel between the two gods.

The young creation was castaway because the god of night could not accept that in his rage he had fathered a mere spirit. Selene, however, was a much merciful goddess, and often looked at the wandering young spirit with pity. Myths even dare to say that Selene considered the mere spirit as a child, born with her and her lover's abilities. Since it held the powers of seduction, manipulation, lunacy, magic and the dark catastrophic potential to destroy, all of which had been inherited from its parent gods. It is believed that it was she who named the spirit as Arcana because of how mysterious she found the young spirit to be.

Nox was often displeased with Selene for her interest in the incompetent spirit, he didn't think it was strong enough to prove to be worthy of their attention and decided that it should be left to roam around. However, Arcana started acting as it pleased and became a nuisance for the gods. So, it was punished to remain stuck in between two worlds for eternity.

Selene often grieved to watch the hopeless plight of the naïve young spirit, she even pleaded to Nox and the other gods to free Arcana and promised to keep the sprightly spirit under her watchful eye. But Nox scolded her for making such a demand, calling her foolish to waste her time on such a trifling little thing.

Nevertheless, Selene's troubled emotions led her to visit the sad and restless spirit. When Arcana saw the goddess, it begged for freedom, singing songs of praise for Selene's divine powers but the moon goddess regretted how she couldn't agree because Nox would be upset with her. However, the goddess assured the spirit that she would send help in time, and Arcana needed to be patient and trust her till then.

'Bear this in mind my little one, in time I'll grant you release.

One day my reflection in mortal form will arrive as an awaited gift,

But keep in mind that you must never be too greedy or ruin the peace;

For the day you attempt to walk beyond your limit,

Your freedom will cease.'

After that Arcana waited for a hundred more years, and then a hundred more still but whenever sorcerers would try to summon it or utilise its powers, Nox would bar them. He would not allow anyone to interact with the reckless and impudent spirit.

Until one fine night, after centuries of waiting, Arcana finally met with a sorceress who desperately sought for its help but unlike the assurance that Selene had given it, it didn't catch any hint of divine powers in the sorceress. That was until it's gaze fell on the little baby boy cradled in her arms, and instantly Arcana recognized the magic that radiated from within the child.

Finally, the gift had arrived...and curiously, nothing barred it from acquiring what it intended that night. Arcana smiled knowing that Selene had actually kept her promise.

The freedom it had sought through all those gruesome days and nights of hopelessness was at long last in its grasp. Although, unfortunately someone had placed a seal on the kid and Arcana could not use his powers as it pleased.

So, it needed to find a way to break that seal.

Little did it know that it'd end up crashing against a trueblood, and just like that Arcana found the perfect remedy to acquire the vessel who'd allow it to attain its ultimate wish!

And Jungkook had stumbled onto the complex reality of this quite forgotten legend when he had overheard his father plotting with a few of his very trusted ministers to capture the sorceress who had succeeded in summoning the wandering spirit. The young prince had however beaten them in their own game when after his fathers' death, he acquired all the information and then assassinated those who had any knowledge regarding that secret mission, only leaving the deranged sorceress who spoke in crazy prophecies.

As he delved further into the mystery, his exploration led him to a new revelation and it enticed him to dream the unimaginable dream of getting the divine being's powers for himself so that he can remove the only thorn in his existence. The trueblood half-brother who was prophesied to overthrow him from his throne, and who'd be the one to destroy his kingdom.

Jungkook became restless but all his determination fell flat after he learnt that the spirit Arcana now resided within the body of a young male omega who had been born with the powers of regeneration but the even worse news was that no human being could endure Arcana's spirit within themselves since the spirit's immense powers actually would rip a man from inside out. So, the prospect of acquiring limitless power and immortality became an unreachable one.

That was until the day the sorceress prophesied that it'd be that omega who'd give birth to immortal heirs for Kleon, and Jungkook learnt that whoever would acquire the omega as their mate, they'd be invincible because as long as the spirit resided within the omega's body, it would be bound to follow its alpha's orders.

That was the day Jungkook came up with a new plan, but no one else knows that it was also the day that Jungkook first had a sleepless night, since throughout that long cloudy night, the young king battled with his emotions and his regrets of knowing that he was making a mistake to rewrite his fate but he also knew that he needed to rewrite the fate of his kingdom.

It was a kill or be killed situation for him, and Jungkook had always been prepared for this.

For years his father had pointed at him for being too weak, for years his mother had warned him that he had to have the upper hand against his half-brother or else no one would respect him as the king, and he knew that he had to always be a step ahead than the trueblood in wit since he lacked in strength.

So, if it was prophesied that a day would arrive when Taehyung would challenge him, and destroy Kleon...then how could Jungkook have stayed quiet and done nothing to change it.

But after all his plannings and the extensive plans to acquire the omega, when he lost the chance to actually achieve what he had planned, he started losing hope and became reckless. The reason why he tried to kill Taehyung, ruin his brother's bond and attacked Seokjin to own the omega for himself. Although he knew it was just him reacting in his folly, maybe the sorceress was right...no blade could kill a god's will.

An arrow of realization shot through his mind one night as he was pondering over this same line.

A god's will. But Arcana wasn't a god at all...so what god was driving this entire plan?

Who would be so worried about a mere wandering spirit on the mortal world? Why would they even care? Was it really Arcana who was the enemy?

How was he supposed to find all the answers?

So, Jungkook came up with a plan of his own...to let it all happen. To undo the steps he had taken to change what was fated, and rather accept all that should happen.

'Amor Fati'...to love thy fate...

People saw him and said that he had given up on life, but as he sat in the cold lonely dungeon...he didn't question what was in store for him the next day. He learnt that his one true companion, his Jimin had left him and he smiled saying it was meant to be. He hadn't expected that Seokjin would not declare a death sentence on him but took it as a gift of fate as well.

And from there on, he had accepted whatever happened...he got mated to Jimin just as it was written in his fate, he retired from the glorious but stifling life of a royal...just as it had been said in the prophesy, his brother and his mate had the love and respect of the people and had also birthed immortal heirs...exactly as written in their fates!

It was all coming together nicely now...and it appeared to Jungkook that he was right in his derivations, that if he had the patience to allow things to happen as they should, then fate would also let him arrive at the answers to his questions.

If things kept happening the way it was, then he'd soon find out who it was that was driving their fates.

So, he did...and on this battlefield, he really had the upper hand because he alone knew where to aim to ensure the fall of Arcana.

-

"What happened? Why isn't it working?!" Seokjin asked growing anxious, his nervous eyes quickly took a glance at the dark grey clouds gathering overhead and gusty winds began howling through the open terrain "oh god! Is Kian doing this?!"

"What are we supposed to do now?!" Yoongi screamed, his voice piercing through the roaring of the clouds above and the rumbling earth below.

"Without Kian...the link for the legions isn't strong enough, it is impossible to create the seal!" Jimin shouted back the answer to them becoming utterly worried, clutching at the pages that held the spells tightly to his chest "we need someone...someone strong enough to bind us n hold up the link".

"Like how strong?" Hoseok piped from beside Jimin, trying to cover his eyes from the dirt and sand that the whooshing winds were kicking up "would a trueblood be strong enough?"

Jimin's gaze went straight towards Taehyung, who was busy trying to shake off Arcana's control on Kian. But nothing seemed to be working, Kian was still frozen and wordless as he struggled to keep Arcana from taking control of himself entirely.

"That...you know, that might actually work" a spark appeared in Jimin's eyes and he instantly rushed closer to Yoongi "give me your sword."

"Uh...but...you know...are you sure you can use it?" Yoongi was a little startled, and knowing that Jimin had never really handled a sword kinda made him think it'd be better if he does it for him "you can tell me what you need, I'll do it for you"

"No, I need to do this...I apologize for my rudeness, but you don't have my powers" Jimin replied, waiting to get Yoongi's sword "don't worry, I'm not gonna cut up anyone".

And Yoongi hesitantly handed his sword to Jimin, who quickly got busy in etching marks and symbols on the dirt.

"Jin! I need your help!" Jimin called, while quickly stashing the pages in the folds of his silken robes. He knew that time was running out, and each unused moment was an enormous war for Kian to hold back that ferocious spirit all by himself.

"Yes!" Seokjin hurried closer to help Jimin "yes, tell me...what do you need-ahh! Ouch!" He hissed as he felt Jimin grasp at his arm and slash a clean cut on his palm, letting the blood to dribble onto the hilt of the sword and slide down along the blade.

Jimin then jabbed the sword into the earth "call for your alpha Jin...make him come to you"

"Ehm...one tiny issue" Hoseok spoke up from behind Seokjin "that brute isn't his alpha anymore"

Seokjin blinked at Jimin, suddenly going speechless at the reminder.

"There are bondings beyond marking General...and theirs is one of that kind" a smile perked up on Jimin's face, his pale blue eyes moving to Seokjin to see the other gaping at an approaching Taehyung, and Seokjin took a slight moist-eyed glance at Jimin as he saw the truth in his words.

"Who did that to you?" Taehyung's heavy growl instantly sent a shiver down their spines, the trueblood's gaze moved from Seokjin's hand to find the accused.

Hoseok put up his hands in surrender "Him...so he'll be doing the explaining" he spoke pointing towards Jimin.

An irate Taehyung zapped to glare at Jimin but before he could say anything Jimin spoke up, "I have a plan to save Kian...but I need your help."

And almost instantly he saw all rage spill out of the trueblood, Seokjin clutched at Taehyung's hand as he spoke "let's not delay at all...please Jimin...help us..."

Jimin was going to invade into all their minds and join the five of them together so that they can prepare the seal, but his strength wasn't enough to hold the mind link against Arcana. To do that he needed a lot of strength...an enormous amount of strength, so he'd get it from Taehyung, and Seokjin would be the mediator who would transfer the trueblood's gigantic strength to Jimin in a constant flow.

The skies darkened further, the winds turned to howling screams and the rumbling earth started to quake and crack. All of creation seemed to be heaving and shrieking in pain, it's regret shown in utter chaos and in frightening lashes of nature's anger.

There exists a tipping point in the universe, when myths confront reality...where gods encounter monsters...a reality which reveals the power of action against long-standing beliefs.

Seokjin clutched at Taehyung's wrist with one hand and grasped at Jimin's hand with the other, "I'm ready, Jimin you may begin"

Jimin shared a quick glance with Jungkook before following what Seokjin advised.

But Jungkook's gaze stayed on his mate, he watched the way Jimin's eyes closed and almost instantly he began to feel the very familiar presence of their mind link expanding and sensed Jimin invading his senses, his thoughts...his very being. A feeling he not only knew about, but cherished utterly. There had been times not too long ago when Jimin's presence within his dark thoughts helped him survive through the madness of his own murky torturous mind.

For Jungkook, Jimin was the wall between good and bad...between easy and difficult...between happy and torturous. Everything with Jimin was good and happy, everything without him was mayhem and torment.

Since the day he had marked Jimin as his, he has known that the mind link that Jimin's omega powers had forged between them was what was helping him heal with every passing day as Jimin erased one difficult memory after another. Jimin was not only helping him to heal, he was building him up by replacing every broken piece of him with a newly reformed piece. He had survived just because Jimin chose to stay and keep all those mad thoughts away, that was the truth that maybe no one knew except Jungkook himself.

He loved Jimin, and he knew that getting marked by him saved Jimin as well...but he also knew that Jimin was trapped with him...trapped to forever bear the burden of fixing him.

In another minute, Hoseok and Yoongi could sense the mind link as well and Seokjin who had witnessed Jimin's powers earlier knew how magnificent the other's gift was.

"We are within the seal, so now we must focus on casting the spell" Jimin's voice echoed within their minds through the shared link.

"Ermm...I got no clue about casting a spell..." Hoseok's thoughts resounded.

"Stay calm General..." Jungkook's calm and composed words floated through the mind link, and for some reason Hoseok found him to be oddly relaxed "you just focus on keeping the link up and running, everything else will take care of itself."

But the truth was Hoseok didn't know what Jungkook already did know, since right now on the battlefield Taehyung was witnessing the real terror of Arcana's fearsome anger as its grip on Kian's consciousness became more powerful.

"Fucking shit!" Taehyung cursed under his breath as he saw Kian's eyes glowing in a dazzle of silvery white and the battlefield instantly became a sight of death and horror as bodies turned to shrivelled corpses. Taehyung gripped at his sword and tried to look for a way to stop that pesky spirit from laying such awful massacres but he couldn't move away from Jin and the others or else the mind link would break and the spell wouldn't be cast.

He was even more shocked to see how the skies grumbled louder, sending streaks of lightning spark unruly fires here and there, and soon not only the battlefield but all of Kleon was under the lashes of bellowing fires. Taehyung knew that if he didn't do anything, soon there will be nothing left of Kleon.

But before he could devise a proper plan, he saw Kian's cold white gaze moving to set where the five of them were building up the spell, and Taehyung knew it was going to be a tough fight for him.

How was he supposed to fight with his own son who was a mere child?

The other issue was that keeping up that mind link meant he was constantly being drained of his energy, but nonetheless he had to find a way to protect all of them.

"God dammit! Why is everything so fucking screwed up?!" The trueblood was grumbling on his own as he watched Kian approaching. After a moment of consideration, he realized he wouldn't be able to use his sword, and in his frustration stabbed its blade into the ground "well, I was trying to avoid this..." he huffed underneath his breath and set his eyes on Kian, trying to think what he should assume to see happening next.

Kian halted as he stepped within an arm's reach and faced his father with the same cold white gaze. Taehyung was about to speak when he heard a voice echoing in his mind and for a moment, he wasn't sure how to react.

"It's over for you Arcana...this is as far as you could go..." Taehyung smirked before intentionally letting his trueblood out, and one roaring command was enough to fix Kian's foot onto the ground where he stood.

"Don't take another step forward Kian!"

Almost instantly, the markings of Noxs' cross glowed alive, a bright glimmering icy blue light emerged from the carved marks to form a glowing double infinity that stretched far up into the sky.

The spell was successfully cast, the prison made out of magical charms that would seal Arcana back into limbo was ready. But one more thing was needed to complete the spell...a soul that was willing to be sacrificed, and this was something that the trueblood wasn't aware of.

A piercing cry erupted from Kian, his body shuddering and shaking as the spirit denied to let it's favoured vessel go. Taehyung tried to reach out to hold Kian, making sure Jin's grip remained secure on him as well.

"Come on Kian! Fight it off!" He screamed knowing that Kian could hear him. However, Arcana was way too strong for Kian to battle against and the little boy was still under the grasp of the spirit.

Taehyung was too focused on getting Kian back from being pulled into the seal. After all that they had gone through to reach this moment, he couldn't allow themselves to fail. He tried his best and finally succeeded in reaching to grasp at his son, but the moment he did so he felt a force that was so strong and unforgiving which felt like it was tearing his soul off of his body.

And yet Taehyung held on because he could guess what might be happening...this must be what Seokjin's mother had felt when she had tried to break off the seal and summon that spirit into the mortal world.

"Ughh...Kian!!" His words were a strained scream "you gotta wake up! Wake up and fight it kiddo!"

Taehyung knew he'd have to use all his strength against what he was faced with. His teeth gritted and veins popped on the sides of his neck as he felt his chest burning with how his energy was being drained both ways. It was torture of a different kind, and yet his worst fear was that if the pain would end, it might mean he had lost.

But in the next moment the trueblood experienced something unexpected, a blade jabbed at his shoulder from behind and for a moment Taehyung lost his balance before he felt a voice at the side of his ear.

"Arghh..." "I agree brother...I might have been the monster that the prophecy spoke about...and you must be the saviour" the breath was low and shaky, and even though the voice was calm Taehyung could trace the fear in it "maybe the crown always belonged to you...Taehyung."

However, just then the seal had begun to glitch, sparks emitted in unruly flickers giving rise to spirals of devious magic. The icy blue aura of the Nox's cross screeching with shrill crackling noises put greater fear among the people who witnessed the whole scene.

Taehyung clutched at his bleeding shoulder, he was trying to fix things back as he rose and tried to understand what the fuck was happening. But a seething fear clutched his heart when he noticed how his son seemed to be floating mid-air, his eyes still a dazzling white glow.

"No! Jungkook what are you doing?!" Jimin gasped and Taehyung's head shot at them to see Hoseok, Yoongi and Jimin drop to the ground with pained groans, looking utterly exhausted. Jin was the only one still standing in his place, but he too looked utterly clueless to react at the current scene.

Before Taehyung could realise what was happening, he watched his brother slitting his own wrists and then clutching at Kian's arm and muttering something.

"NO!" Jimin screamed "STOP!"

Several things happened simultaneously, Taehyung felt something invisible spear through his body and was left in excruciating pain as he fell to his knees. His wrist felt like it was slashed open and his head bursting in ache, the pain burning through his very veins to make him huff and grunt as he tried to understand what was happening.

Hoseok's was too disoriented and tried to look through hazy eyes, "what happened? Did we win? Is Arcana sealed?"

"Not yet" the answer was curt but he could sense the fear and regret in Yoongi's voice as he watched his mate shed a tear and followed his gaze to see a startling scene.

Kian was floating mid-air, Taehyung was a little distance away and looked to be in utter pain as he screeched and Jungkook stood just below a floating Kian. Hoseok regretted watching the scene because he knew it'd haunt him for the rest of his life.

Since, in the very next moment Jungkook's body disintegrated to become a spiral of golden dust. The seal was open again, beaming from blue to a pristine white and now turning into a shade darker but it was still intact.

Hoseok could swear that he felt something changing, the air looked still, as if someone had obstructed the movement of time itself.

Jimin's eyes looked less sad and more enraged, his icy blue eyes that rarely showed anger were now a burning blaze of mad fury and that gaze went straight to set on Seokjin.

Not a word passed but Yoongi instantly knew what was happening as he saw the seal transform to become the symbol of double infinity, and Seokjin's eyes shot open to reveal an electric blue gleam.

A piercing cry shot from Seokjin, who seemed in pain and stood grasping onto his own head.

"Jimin! Don't do that!" Taehyung yelled noticing how Jin was struggling in pain "you're hurting him!"

But there was no stopping Jimin whose furious icy blue eyes glared harder at Seokjin "bring him back!" He spat out the words, as if commanding Seokjin to work according to his wishes "do what you did to save your mother from the seal!"

The others gaped at the scene to watch Seokjin follow the orders, the horde of soldiers that surrounded them at the battlefield dropped lifelessly onto the ground...ten...twenty...thirty...sixty...a hundred...Yoongi kept counting as he watched with a thudding heart but didn't have it in him to interfere or stop Seokjin, especially because he knew what Jimin was driving him to do.

Taehyung flinched feeling the mark of double infinity on his wrist burning on his skin, and saw a gleaming light emanate from Jin till it veiled not only himself but over the circle of people and to where Kian still floated being clutched under the spell.

Curiously the seal grew with a sudden boost of power, and that's when they realized that Taehyung had let his trueblood out.

And they watched him find his strength to get upright, as he defied the pain and Jimin's furious acts, and prodded in heavy strides towards where Kian was. But as he clutched at Kian's arm to pull him to himself, everyone else froze to see the kind of magic unfold that they had only read in the myths and fables.

Taehyung was pushed back and a kind of blaze was set alight in his eyes as he gazed up and saw Kian looking down at him, his eyes not the usual soft brown but a hue of sparkling sea blue. Kian smiled at him, and right atop of where he still floated, the sign of double infinity stayed like a crown over his head. In one loop he noticed the palling darkness of the night and in the other loop he saw the image of the moon.

And for a moment, Taehyung was struck dumb as a voice echoed within his head...and it whispered 'I am made of all things baneful and beautiful...I am the night and the moon...their wars and their love both reside within me...I am the past, the present and the future...I am real but I am a mirage...nothing escapes me for I am the cage.'

Taehyung watched wonder struck, he knew it was Kian but this wasn't his child. For a moment he had feared the worst, and thought that Arcana might have fully taken over his boy's body but those eyes didn't show a hint of the cold blank spirit. Rather it looked as if Arcana was no more...as if it was Kian who had taken over the spirit.

He watched Kian floating lower, a halo surrounding the kid still and stood unmoving as he saw Kian place a little palm on his chest, right over his armour.

"For his body to regenerate we need a lot of energy...but my energy would be too much for him" his words were all-knowing and Taehyung felt his fears rise as he sensed his wolf agreeing and even accept Kian's intentions.

He felt his energy draining to be shared with Seokjin who was still busy reforming every broken piece he could find and another miracle vision appeared now as they all watched with open-mouthed wonder as Jungkook re-emerged from the golden dust that he had disintegrated into.

Kian looked towards the others, his face calm as a smirk pulled at the side of his mouth "there...the future will be fine now...Arcana will never trouble anyone ever again" and with that the glowing seal rose like a flash of light and merged with the dark clouds above.

Jungkook, Taehyung, Kian and Seokjin all dropped unconscious.

There was a striking silence all of a sudden till Jimin was panicking and rushing to where Jungkook lay unconscious.

"How could you?! You awful human! You fucking liar!!" Jimin screamed hunching down over his mate, trying to shake him awake and Yoongi rushed to his side to check on Jungkook. He clutched at his arm to check on his pulse.

"He's breathing but his pulse is too low" Yoongi spoke as they tried to understand what exactly had happened and turned with distraught eyes at Jimin "did you just...release your pureblood powers?"

Jimin blinked, choosing not to answer Yoongi, and kept checking up on Jungkook.

"You commanded Seokjin..." Yoongi repeated his concerns, a dazed look on his face "you made him use his extreme powers of regeneration..."

"Please check up on Seokjin and Kian" Jimin sounded apologetic, and yet denied to offer any answers to Yoongi's questions.

Yoongi got up and saw that Hoseok had already arrived to Seokjin's aid. Seokjin was awake, so was Taehyung and they sat holding Kian in their arms. They looked exhausted but were even more distraught to understand what had just happened, and how did Kian even manage to do what he did. They saw Yoongi waving at them and came closer to where Jimin still sat checking up on Jungkook.

And suddenly Seokjin remembered what Jimin had done.

"You!" He fumed "what were you thinking trying to meddle with my mind?!" He yelled out at Jimin, he was stumbling and stammering as he found himself utterly drained of all his energy.

Jimin didn't reply, knowing he had no excuse for what he had forced Seokjin to do. Honestly, he wasn't thinking at that time, he had just acted out in his fear. He still sat frozen and wordless, a sort of chilling daze seemed to have taken over him. But Seokjin couldn't derive why he was acting like that, so he quietened down and turned to Yoongi seeking an answer to understand what the matter was.

"He etched a blood bond with Kian...he's his uncle so they do share a sort of lineage" Yoongi thought out loud but he also knew what could this mean.

"He's alive" Seokjin reassured coming close to Jimin, "Jimin...see you're fine too..."

"His body is...because you put it back together with your powers" Taehyung walked up close as he too realized what Jungkook had just done but he was too startled to understand why his brother did that "his soul is gone".

A quiet gasp choked Jimin's throat as he still sat wordless but his body shook as lines of tears ran down his cheeks "a..f-filthy fucking liar" he fumed under his breath "that's what he is...a rotten idiot!!" He screamed finally revealing his grief.

Yoongi's attention moved to Kian who was perched on Taehyung's other shoulder, his sleeping head resting there comfortably. He suddenly caught sight of the stab wound on Taehyung's shoulder "hey...did Jungkook...do this?"

Seokjin perked up noticing it too and instantly got busy to heal it, taking Yoongi's help "I'm so confused...why would he do this? If it was anyone else, I could understand their intention to help but...this is Jungkook. What the fuck was he thinking?"

Seokjin checked on Kian too for any wounds or scratches and was glad to see none, he pecked at his son's forehead and quietly prayed being glad that it was finally all over now.

And then to his surprise Kian opened his eyes, he was even happier to see that dark brown gaze of his little boy, "hey Kian" Seokjin's smile was full of delight "you feeling okay baby?"

Kian however said nothing, his eyes looked a little sad rather and he blinked around.

"What is it? Do you feel sick?" Seokjin asked again, checking his forehead "you don't have to be scared anymore baby...it's all fine now...but do you remember what happened? What did uncle Jungkook do?"

"Where's aunt Jisoo?" Kian began, his fists clutching tight at Taehyung's armour. He raised his head trying to look over the battlefield which had fallen quiet after the ghastly massacres.

Yoongi and Hoseok also joined the others as they began looking for her. Only Jimin remained frozen, still clutching Jungkook's unconscious body to himself and didn't bother paying attention to anything else.

It took them a while as they searched through the charred and defiled corpses on the battlefield until they found Namjoon kneeling on the ground and wailing in broken sobs.

Seokjin froze, too stunned to utter a word before he broke off into a run.

"Namjoon!" He instantly got busy in healing him, using his own strength to do that till his gaze fell on his sister's bleeding body that he was holding onto.

"L-Let me...I'll h-heal her...s-she'll b-be all bet-tter...d-don't worry" he spoke as he tried to keep his sobs under control because he too understood that it was too late to save her. His sister was gone.

"N-no...please no...n-no...th-this can't b-be..." Seokjin was struggling as his body shook with tremors of violent emotions and Taehyung came to his help, coiling his arms around the omega to help him calm down.

Kian came with Yoongi and as the medic got busy in checking if there was any way to cure her, Kian just stood there gazing down at her. His eyes held a profound sadness before his gaze went back to where Jimin sat holding onto Jungkook's body.

It was a very difficult choice that he had to make, and he didn't know if he was being selfish to choose one. He wished he could save both of them but that was beyond his power. He watched his appa wailing for the loss of his dear sister and gulped thinking if he was making a wrong choice.

He quietly walked to where Jimin sat sniffling and clutched at his hand that rested over Jungkook's head.

"Why do you worry?" His voice was little but he really had to know before he made the decision "he chose this to free you...appa fixed him, he's not dead so you will live too, and he's all new...you may make him into a new person".

Jimin looked up to stare at Kian, and for a moment he didn't say anything.

"You're a child, will you really understand if I tell you?" His ice blue eyes looked hollow and broken.

Kian listened quietly, waiting for Jimin to give the answer.

"He fought a lot of wars within, and yet chose to surrender only for me...I wouldn't know how to love him without all that makes him who he is" Jimin's hand lovingly brushed an unruly tress of hair away from his mate's forehead.

Kian still gazed at Jimin before putting his own hand on top of his, "Jae-hwa will be happy again...we should get them back to Kleon" he smiled up at Jimin "will you go back a few steps please?"

Jimin was a little confused as to what Kian meant before he realised how the little boy was repeating the same steps that he had while reviving Seokjin back to life. Kian's entire being emitted little sparks of luminescence as he used his divine powers to put back the soul where it rightfully belonged.

"I hope you're not misusing your powers Kian"

They were both startled to hear the heavy words spoken at their back, and Kian froze knowing he might be in deep trouble for doing what he had just done.

Taehyung walked closer, crouching down to sit beside Kian as he gazed down at his brother, "I feel like I have missed something...when did Jungkook become your friend?"

Kian bit into his lip, his eyes darting to the side as tried to come up with an excuse.

But Jimin caught his little act already "it isn't right for little boys to lie, Kian."

And Kian sighed realizing that he might have to reveal the entire truth to them.

"Well, it was a month ago when I first met uncle Jungkook" he clasped his little hands together fearing that he'd get scolded any moment now because he was sure uncle Jimin could probably read it all now that he had decided to remove the barrier "it wasn't a normal meeting you know, since he never came to north gate and I never went to the royal palace" he shrugged as he informed "but he'd visit me...in my dreams, I could hear him...he told me that appa was in danger and that he knew how together we could save everyone"

Both Taehyung and Jimin were utterly baffled to hear him and grew even more curious to know what exactly the sly Jungkook had done.

"I was a little worried about trusting him so when he asked me what I thought about him, I told him that nobody liked him and everyone thought he was untrustworthy" Kian shrugged knowing that everyone would agree with him "he laughed at me, and said that I was a smart kid. Then he told me about the five legions of fate and how it was very important for appa to live so that they could create the seal and cast the spell. I also learned about the story from Dad and uncle Yoongi, so I knew that he wasn't lying to me"

Taehyung crossed his arms across his chest realizing just how sly his own son was becoming to be interfering into all these difficult aspects of life, and that too being so sorted about it all.

"He told me about the mythical beings called mystics, and about their powers...and how when I'd be four, I'd probably have such mystical powers, and he taught me how to use it...how if I did it right, I could bring people back to life...he taught me how to help others" Kian got a little quiet, his gaze falling to his own hands "he promised me that if I used my powers correctly all wars would stop and Arcana would be gone, and he promised that appa and dad will be safe" he turned to check on Jungkook still lying unconscious "and today when I saw how he pushed you back to save you and sacrificed his own soul to save all of us, I realized that you were wrong dad, he wasn't really a rotten soul."

There was a silence that hung over them, and neither Taehyung nor Jimin said a word as they tried to process all that information.

"It was all going as per he had said, but he hadn't told me that he would sacrifice himself to seal the spell and I wasn't really expecting aunt Jisoo to do that either" his voice got lower as he regretted how he missed "I tried to grasp at her soul too but I missed and it...it..." he broke into tears and Taehyung clasped him closer into his embrace, patting at his head.

"Shh...it's not your fault...none of this is your burden to bear" he held his sobbing son to his chest and sighed regretting the fact that his child had to bear this feeling at such an early age...the burden of feeling responsible of other's lives, it's one of the heaviest of responsibilities and as a commander of an army Taehyung already knew how burdensome it felt.

"Appa is so sad...I wish I could d-do something" he mumbled into his dad's chest and Taehyung kissed the top of his head, wishing he could erase those torturous emotions from Kian's mind.

Jimin came closer, putting his palm on the side of Kian's head, "it's okay Kian, you did as best as you could...you did better than all of us actually" he allowed his powers to soothe the child's troubled emotions.

He could also read the reality of how Jisoo sacrificed herself to save Kian's life, she had known that to cast a spell and to seal a spirit, a soul's sacrifice was demanded. So, when she saw Nox's markings set aglow, she knew it was time. For a long time she had watched her brother live in utter pain and being cornered by their father, she was so happy to see him actually living and enjoying his own life in Kleon, the way he should have always been able to. She didn't have much going on in her life and believed that Eulan would be fine under Namjoon's authority, so she decided that she had to do this. Kian was her nephew, a blood bond with him was bound to work.

So, just when Jungkook sacrificed his own soul, Jisoo did so too.

And in the flick of a moment, Kian could only manage to grasp at Jungkook's soul because he was aware of his actions. He had no idea that his aunt who was busy on the other side of the battlefield could also do something like that.

Taehyung turned around to check where Jin still sat crying over his sister's lifeless body, and for the first time in his life he felt that he wasn't hated by everyone around him...as if he had people around him who actually cared about him and about his family...as if there were people he could trust. His gaze turned to fall back on the unconscious body of his brother, and his last words echoed in his mind.

"...maybe the crown always belonged to you...Taehyung"

Had Jungkook really attempted to save Kian and Jin?

His jaw gritted as he tried to understand what might be his motive this time...there must be something...or else why would Jungkook ever do anything to save him and his family?

It didn't make any sense to him.

"Taehyung" Yoongi's voice brought him out of his thoughts "it's time we sent the news that the war has ended, and began the rituals for the lost lives."

Taehyung nodded, and picked Kian up so that the boy was perched up on his shoulders.

"Yes, let's go" he was about to head towards Jin when he stopped and spoke to Jimin "I'll send a carriage, my men will make sure you reach home safely. You may tell them if you need anything."

"I-" Jimin blurted "Can we stay at North Gate till he gains consciousness...?" He pleaded with his eyes, his worry evidently revealed "I'll feel at peace to have Kian and Seokjin around till he wakes up."

Taehyung quietly listened to the plea, taking a note of Jungkook's condition again and sighed. He wouldn't say he was very happily agreeing to the request but for now he decided to accept the plea anyway.

"Ok then" he turned to call for a few of his soldiers "Chen...Xiumin...prepare a carriage and make sure they reach North Gate safely."

"It will be better to send Aunt Ha-yoon and Kian with them" Yoongi suggested and Taehyung agreed, before he headed to check on Seokjin.

It was not easy for him to console Jin, neither was it easy for him to attend to all the deceased soldiers and check on the rituals being properly done to pay the dues to the dead. He repeatedly instructed Jin to go home and check on Kian, but the other denied stating that it was his duty too since all those people had been valued citizens.

Wars really were the worst, it was like a curse on humanity and bred nothing but destruction.

At the end of the night as Jin stood watching the allies they had gathered leaving after promising to keep peace and to forever be at Kleon's side, he heard their awestruck praises about Kian's divine powers and the way they had already begun to worship him, for some reason it made something settle in his heart.

At least they weren't labelling Kian as a monster.

"Take this" Namjoon walked up to him and held Jisoo's sword for Seokjin "you must decide Seokjin, you're the rightful heir after all...the throne of Eulan can't stay empty".

Seokjin looked at it, his eyes lining with moisture yet again "I can't Namjoon...she would want you to have it because she always believed that you were worthy to rule Eulan..." he placed a hand at Namjoon's shoulder "I trust in you to always do the right thing, our blood doesn't decide who we are...our character does...your morals make you a king Namjoon, please guide the people of Eulan on the right path."

Namjoon stared up at him, his eyes glinting with pride to see how the child he had tried to protect had grown up to become such a wise and admirable person.

So, when he set off to journey back to Eulan, he promised to send Tae-han, Ji-hyun and Jae-Hwa safely back to Kleon.

"At least it's finally over" Seokjin spoke, settling against Taehyung's warmth as they sat in a carriage heading home "I can't believe noona did that...how did she even know about the spell and the blood bond...it's quite strange, don't you think?"

Taehyung was quietly holding onto him, his mind a swamp of queries.

"I think she found it all out so that she could help you...Namjoon did say that she had forever felt guilty of not being strong enough to help you when you needed it. I think she was trying to erase that guilt..."

Jin sighed still not being to able to feel at peace even though Namjoon assured him that Jisoo had requested him not to shed a tear for her, since she was glad that after all those years of pain that Jin had gone through all alone, she had finally done something worthy for her brother.

"Namjoon said it was her choice...I hope she's happy wherever she is" 

And the words made Taehyung gulp the lump in his throat but he decided he needed to speak "Kian..." he began "he said she offered her soul to seal the spell...just like Jungkook did. He had tried but couldn't-" "Don't you think that Kian is rather exceptional?"

Seokjin sat up to face the alpha, his eyes held an abundance of fear and concern.

"He's just gotten his powers and yet he acts like he's done these forever..."

Taehyung suddenly remembered those words that Kian had told him while floating mid-air and wearing a haloed crown...like a young god boasting about his powers.

"We will have to train him to not be rash with his powers..." he looked worried "powers like his cannot be used thoughtlessly, he'll have to be careful."

"They're calling him a god" Jin's voice was a hopeful whisper, as if he was thinking out loud.

Taehyung sighed, pulling the omega to his chest and pecked at his head "we will teach him the right way, when he grows up...he'll be a wonderful person...I just know, so don't worry so much."

Jin nodded to the words, putting his faith on Taehyung's words. He felt a shudder run down his spine as he felt Taehyung's thumb rub at the faded mark on his neck.

"I still can't believe you'd really do something like that...whenever I think about it, it makes me so damn angry and so fucking awful...like you tore something away from me that I never wished to give..."

Jin felt him rubbing his nose at the crook of his neck, breathing over the skin and goosebumps flared on his skin. He closed his eyes feeling sad to hear those words, and even sadder knowing that Taehyung was probably never going to forgive him for doing that. So, he just reached up to circle his arms around Taehyung's neck and basked in the trueblood's warmth as he hugged him.

"I promise I'll make it up to you" Jin assured him.

By the time they finally reached home, they were exhausted physically and emotionally. Yet, the first thing Seokjin did was go in search of Kian whom he found fast asleep beside a still unconscious Jungkook, while Jimin sat close by keeping watch.

"He just fell asleep" Jimin stood up hurriedly to see Jin burst into the room.

Jin didn't reply, trying to show how he was still upset with Jimin about commanding and forcing him to do something without his consent. He picked a sleeping Kian up in his arms and walked out of the room without a word.

"Jin..." Jimin followed after him, and saw him halt "I-I won't say I'm sorry...because I'm not...I'd probably do it again if..." he sighed knowing that he wasn't really mending the mistake he had made "but I'm sorry for not telling you that I can do something like that" his voice got lower and Jin turned around to frown at him, not really getting the hint of what he meant to say and when Jimin looked at him, he knew that "you see, my parents...they're both omegas, so I was born as a pureblood omega...but they always taught me to keep my powers hidden, I was already in a lot of trouble with the little powers I had showed off to the world".

"He's a very rare kind" Yoongi spoke walking up to stand beside Jin "just like a trueblood alpha...that's the reason his command made you act beyond your reason."

Jin gaped at Jimin, "then...all those years, why the hell did you endure-" "The same reason why you stayed in the mountains for all those years" Jimin took a step closer "we were always threatened and cornered to believe that we must act the way the world demands us to...we must never dare to do anything on our own...or else we will be punished."

Jin gulped and realized the truth in those words.

"I didn't really know that I could do something like that...I have never really used my pureblood powers before...and today, I just let it all out...fearing that I'd lose everything again if was too scared this time."

They stood there in the quiet hallway, the light emanating from the burning torches flickered and Jimin could see the line of moisture in Jin's eyes, that's how he knew that he had already been forgiven.

"I really treasure you as a friend Jin...even if you tell me to leave your home right now and never appear before you ever again, I'll still treasure you"

"Stop talking nonsense and go to sleep" Jin spoke, hiding the tears lining his eyes as he turned around to walk away "and you're not allowed to leave North Gate castle till I hear from that annoying mate of yours what really happened on the battlefield today."

He didn't notice the way both Yoongi and Jimin smiled quietly to trace his concern underlying those angry words.

Seokjin turned a corner and was met with the whole lot of concerned people who wanted to check on Kian as well as on him.

"We were so worried" Midel spoke in a rush as she checked on Kian.

"Are you okay?" Yuna looked utterly worried.

"How could he just take a child to the battlefield? That's so wrong!"

"We tried to stop him but something happened and I don't really remember anything clearly...my mind went blurry..." the elder ajhumma spoke trying to recollect.

"Ya'll stop hovering around them like that, you'll wake Kian up" Lady Ha-yoon came to check up on the commotion she had heard from her chambers. She noticed a still war-drenched Seokjin, his soldier's attire had undergone a lot of adversities and she could trace the exhaustion and grief he was trying to poorly veil under his pale smile as he answered to their concerns.

"Come with me Seokjin-ah" she guided him to her chambers and ordered Midel to bring some warm soup.

Once Seokjin had put the sleeping Kian down to comfortably rest on the bed, he sighed sitting down beside Lady Ha-yoon.

"It's alright dear..." she placed a hand on his and tried to soothe his rumbling emotions "it's perfectly fine to allow yourself to feel grief and accept the emotions you feel"

And with that Seokjin broke out into tears as he grieved the loss of his dear sister and his mother. He knew that it was better for his mother to pass on since she had often regretted living like a hollow worthless shell who had no purpose, but knowing that his sister willingly chose to sacrifice herself made him feel burdened. Both of them had sacrificed themselves for him, did he really deserve to live this life that was borrowed on so many people's sacrifices?

Lady Ha-yoon sat closer and hugged him to herself, trying to soothe the continuously sobbing omega.

"Life is rarely the perfect kind that we picture, things keep happening...times keep changing...people arrive and leave...it's the hard truth that time teaches us" Ha-yoon spoke gently patting at Jin's back as she tried in her own way to help him to bear the pain "but even in the midst of the difficulties that we didn't wish for, life hands us certain remarkable rewards that we didn't know we deserved, and all of a sudden there is meaning in the chaos."

She smiled to herself remembering the early days when Taehyung had brought Jin to North Gate castle, she remembered those hard times and yet she knew it was simply fate that was spinning its own tale.

What is meant to be will be...we must protect what we receive and make peace to let go of what is no longer ours.

The door clicked open, and Ha-yoon saw Taehyung enter.

"It's past midnight" he spoke walking close to where they sat and saw Jin rubbing away his tears, still sniffling and gulping his hiccups. He paused sensing the heaviness of grief in the air and spoke the next words carefully "I'll put Kian to bed" Taehyung gulped thinking over his words because he had never really been good at consoling "you need to rest too...don't be too late to come to bed."

Ha-yoon smiled to herself, seeing this softer side of her hot-headed son...it never failed to amaze her how much Taehyung had changed from the cruel reckless war-crazed trueblood to become a loving mate to his omega and a doting father to his children. It would be an understatement to say that she was proud of this change in him.

"Let Kian sleep here" she spoke with a gentle smile "look how comfortably he's tucked in, so go...rest well" she advised shooing them away "ohh I almost forgot, tomorrow I'm going to set sail with Yushik to Eulan, we'll get Tae-han, Ji-hyun and Jae-hwa back...so prepare a carriage to go to the port".

Taehyung and Jin nodded to that, they had already informed Namjoon to make the preparations at Eulan.

They turned to head to their chamber when Ha-yoon spoke again.

"You better go and fix it the way it was..." she smiled as they looked back at her and tried to understand what she meant "mend your bond...back to the way it should be."

P.S. The next chapter will officially be the end of this book :)

I purple you love💜
Stay safe and healthy!

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