chapter 4:
asphodel meadows
[please note that they are still on namjoon's bike]

ay: so how do we get there? the river styx?

nj: are you from the 1800s?? it's the 21st century. we go by portal now a days. either by possessing a teleportation crystal or by magic. in this case, we're taking magic.

hs: and if we did take the styx, we wouldn't be able to pass cerberus.

nj: someone's been paying attention in your mythology lessons!

hs: mom always insisted on us taking that class. i guess we know why now.

nj: and it will serve you well. now, hae seul. we need to teleport us to asphodel meadows.

ay: oh i heard about that place! that's where all the ordinary or indifferent souls go to. the ones who didn't commit any major crimes or just don't belong anywhere else in the underworld. probably the non- creepy side of the underworld, you could say.

nj: correct. that's where the witch council is found.

hs: how do i do that now???

nj: it will come to you. every witch should know how to teleport.

hs: well please keep in mind that i just found out im a witch today.

nj: you know the spell, hae seul. just keep the place in mind and focus.

hae seul followed namjoon's instructions. she took the black wand her halmeoni previously gave to her and centered her thoughts on the destination: asphodel meadows.
suddenly she felt that weird spark inside her, the one that she felt earlier when she was fighting. that surge of power. foreign words began to spur out her mouth and her wand started to glow. a portal then opened up in front of them.

nj: good job! now hold on tight girls!!

namjoon pressed on the gas and sped into the portal. they then ended up on the other side, where it was now day in a field of strange but beautiful flowers.

nj: good job. you already can have visions, make explosions, as well as form portals. i think you will survive just well, harriet.

hs: is that nickname permanent?

nj: you bet.

namjoon smiled and hae seul just rolled her eyes.

hs: whatever. just take us to the witch council.

nj: you're looking at it.

hae seul looked around and all she saw was flowers.

ay: where??

nj: here..

namjoon put his hand up and a tall castle like building appeared.

nj: cloaking spell. only gives access to members of the council and those working with the council. like me.

the girls were still admiring the building in front of them until namjoon gestured "let's go".

they entered the tall building and were then in a dark room.

ay: where are we??

???: the council room, young choi ain yeon.

ay: what the-

nj: your excellencies.

namjoon bowed to the three ladies before them as well as the other members of the council.

hae seul and ain yeon followed him and politely bowed as well.

lady 1: welcome to the council headquarters. my name is deino and these are my sisters, enyo and pemphredo. we-

hs: you are the graeae. the grey witches. you founded the council.

namjoon leaned over to hae seul and whispered, "how did you know that?"

hs: i don't know...

ey: she. who is she namjoon?

enyo pointed to hae seul and she stepped forward.

hs: um greetings, members and associates of the council. im choi hae seul, daughter of the deceased choi haeji. granddaughter of kim hae young.

gasps and shocked whispers occurred between council members until pemphredo silenced them with a snap of her fingers.

ph: so YOU are the kim descendant? the one who going to "save" us?? oh, how kind of you to grace us with your presence! show us your ever so spectacular powers!

pemphredo said sarcastically as she slid into her seat. to her hae seul didn't look like much. and hae seul wouldn't disagree with her.

ey: be easy on her sister! from what i heard, she learnt of her talent to today. give her time!

ph: can't you see enyo??! we don't have time! the broken wands are planning our demise as we-

dn: that's enough you two. namjoon?

nj: yes your excellency?

dn: escort hae seul and her accomplice to their rooms. brief her on our status and her training schedule for the week. you will be her mentor. as that is how haeji would want it.

the council members each bowed their head in respect and said, "may she rest in peace."

ey: hae seul, we hope you are aware of what is at stake. please work hard.

ph: and don't disappoint us.

hae seul was about to answer when ain yeon opened up her mouth first.

ay: don't worry sis! my sister is the hardest worker out there!! the witch race is well protected! you can bet your ass on tha-

nj: okay, that's enough.

the graeae were a little shaken by ain yeon's severe informality towards them and were not amused.

namjoon tried to make everything less awkward.

nj: ain yeon, such a wild youth, am i right?

ph: leave namjoon. 😑

nj: yes your excellency. 😐

namjoon gave a short and final bow to the council, took hae seul by her hand and ain yeon by the ear.

ay: aish~

she mumbled in pain.

nj: "sis"?! seriously?!

that evening
in the sleeping quarters

ain yeon was fast asleep in her bed while the elder choi was gazing out of her bedroom window, looking at the field of asphodel flowers down below.

the door suddenly creaked open, pulling hae seul out of her thoughts.

it was namjoon.

nj: may i come in, or is it a bad time?

she smiled and shook her head

hs: it's fine.

namjoon walked in with his eyes closed and hae seul couldnt help but giggle.

hs: what are you doing?

nj: um...well...your choice in uh...evening attire...

hae seul looked down on her pajamas and so how exposing and lacy it is.

she mentally cursed herself.

hs: oh, sorry. give me a second.

she got up to drag on a white hoodie that covered her figure completely.

hs: im back.

she gestured for him to sit beside her on her bed and he obliged

nj: um so, how are you feeling? i mean this has to overwhelming.

hs: don't even mention it. but to be honest, i kinda knew it.

namjoon tilted his head in confusion.

nj: how so?

hs: i guess- i always had this feeling. that i was more than what meets the eye. that i was abnormal. but witch was not what i expected, but definitely something that crossed my mind.

nj: fascinating.

hs: who are the "broken wands"?

nj: that anti witch group that i mentioned before. lead by an ex-member of the council. but they take orders from abraxas.

hs: abraxas??? isn't that guy like, really bad news??!

nj: don't worry. haeji used her last bit of energy to banish abraxas from asphodel meadows for good. he's currently locked up somewhere underneath tartarus.

hs: oh. seems like you were close with my mom.

nj: she basically raised me 😊 seeing her go, hurt me just as bad as it did you. but i don't show it because she always said before a battle, "if you stop to mourn over the ones who have fallen, you have already lost the war."

hae seul turned her direction back to the window thinking of what her mother would say right now. she was always a woman of wisdom.

nj: anyway, the medallion is now safe in the hq vault. so for now we are in the clear. so about tomorrow's training-

*RED ALERT RED ALERT*

startled the pair immediately got up from the bed.

this sound also wake up ain yeon.

ay: what the fuck is happening??

hs: we don't know...

*THE BROKEN WANDS HAVE INFILTRATED THE BUILDING. I REPEAT THE BROKEN WANDS HAVE-*
the intercom light shut off. the line was cut off

hs: namjoon?

nj: hae seul-

the doors were busted down and there stood a tall female, wearing an all black ripped ensemble with a smirk on her face.

nj: jade

jd: hey joonie~ did you miss me?

hae seul stepped in front of namjoon clutching her wand in her right hand.

hs: who the hell are you?

jd: well you, sweetheart, can call me your worst nightmare.

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