Seungcheol headed to the front door of the Warrior's dorm with a blank expression, his maroon coat fluttering with each step he took. The sun shone down on the green yard on both sides as he walked along the grey, stony path leading to the library. Life felt peaceful, yet it still ached since Joshua refused to be anywhere near him. He didn't want to rush up and force a conversation, but the long wait bothered him. He hated waiting like this, knowing that Joshua was full of anger and emotionally hurt. He worried, of course. He thought about Joshua in the dead of night, wondering how he could fix things without making Joshua loathe him more.

Love was still alive, he believed so. It couldn't die that quickly. Mingyu clearly noticed their strange behavior, yet the prince remained calm and didn't question Seungcheol about it. Jeonghan, on the other hand, glared at Seungcheol with bullets in his eyes. It was hard to say whether Joshua had told his best friend about the auction—probably not; but Joshua avoiding Seungcheol was reason enough for Jeonghan to hate him.

Unexpectedly, Jeonghan took the opportunity to follow Seungcheol discreetly, puzzling the man.

"Can you stop following me? I've known you were behind me the whole time. It's really weird," Seungcheol said, turning around with a slight frown.

"If you're uncomfortable, that means I've succeeded," Jeonghan grinned. Then he added, "Joshua's been holed up in his room like an introvert all week."

Seungcheol could feel Jeonghan's eyes wandering and examining him, taking note of every expression.

"What do you want me to say?" Seungcheol tried to walk faster, as if he could escape from Jeonghan, who was also an amazing warrior. The only thing that might cause Jeonghan to lose a battle was his limited opportunity to learn spells in school, whereas Seungcheol had access to all the dark spells due to his privileged family.

"The truth, of course. That's why I'm here, you idiot."

Seungcheol kept a straight face, making no mistake that Jeonghan stood close enough to read his expression. He responded, "Why should I?" then added, "If Joshua didn't tell you, I don't think I'm allowed to either."

Jeonghan let out a sigh, speaking in a light tone with a devilish undertone. "If you hurt my best friend, I'll make you suffer for the rest of your life."

Hearing those words, Seungcheol finally stopped walking and took a moment to glance at Jeonghan. Guilt arose within him, forcing him to speak out loud. "If you do, I won't protest a bit."

Seungcheol did believe he deserved punishment.

"You clearly did something wrong, and I have to know." Jeonghan understood what Seungcheol meant. "Why don't you tell me the whole story already so we don't waste our time?"

Seungcheol shrugged and walked past him. "How about you stay back because this is none of your business?"

Jeonghan didn't chase after him. He let Seungcheol go his way, leaving the truth hanging heavy in the air. Knowing that Seungcheol admitted his fault and was willing to pay the price made Jeonghan feel better. At least, he could think about what to do next while his friend was still in the doldrums. Or so he thought...

-

Joshua's friends might have thought he was going through a phase of teenage petulance—becoming rebellious, getting mad at his boyfriend, avoiding deep conversations, and preferring solitude. People might have believed Joshua needed saving or that he required their help, but Joshua thought otherwise. He neither had the time nor the desire to explain himself. He was focused on his mission to return to the middle dimension.

All he needed was time alone to devise a solid plan, and he was determined to go alone. If he revealed his intentions, anyone in the secret group might protest and try to impede him, eventually stopping him from pursuing this idea. But Joshua forgot about Mingyu, the only person who knew about Joshua's vision and his need for the hidden library.

They hadn't talked since Mingyu returned to school after resting at Seungcheol's house. Joshua thought it would be awkward to approach the prince and ask about his wound, even politely. To be honest, they weren't friends; they were just classmates who talked because of Jeonghan. Mingyu didn't know much about Joshua, and vice versa.

All this to say, Joshua had almost forgotten about his connection with Mingyu until one random afternoon when Mingyu showed up at his door.

"Jeonghan's not here," Joshua said immediately.

Mingyu's expression was unreadable, but he replied calmly, "I know. I came to talk to you."

"Erm... Do we have anything to discuss in private? I don't think so." Joshua was about to close the door. He didn't intend to be rude, but Mingyu was interrupting his solitude.

Mingyu quickly stepped inside before Joshua could stop him. He said, "Don't be a bolter."

Joshua stood frozen by the door, feeling offended. "I have the right to my alone time. Why are you bothering me?"

Mingyu, ignoring his fury, asked bluntly, "Did you break up with my brother?"

"Break up? No. I'm just..." Joshua stumbled over Mingyu's question. "Are you out of your mind?"

"If you're not breaking up with him, why are you avoiding him?"

"Lovebirds have disagreements. We can stop talking for a while. That's none of your business, Prince."

Mingyu furrowed his brow. "Okay. Are you planning something behind our backs?"

"Seriously?" Joshua crossed his arms. "If you haven't heard, I can't use my magic without harming myself. What more can I do about it?"

Mingyu glanced at him, unsure if he was telling the truth. The prince had no grounds to argue further; Joshua sounded sincere.

"Fine," Mingyu conceded. "I just want to make sure you won't do something reckless while Minghao's out there looking for a cure. I'm questioning your patience."

Joshua remained silent, guilt gnawing at him. Facing Mingyu now seemed unwise. He felt the urge to ask for help but didn't dare. They wouldn't allow it, and Joshua doubted he had time to wait for Minghao to find a cure.

Later that night, Joshua cautiously ventured back into the middle dimension, waiting until he was sure his friends were nowhere in sight.

Despite his fear of the unknown dangers lurking there, the thought of losing Seungcheol steeled his resolve. He tried to dismiss the risks, telling himself they were minimal, though deep down, uncertainty lingered.

The agony from wielding magic threatened to slow his pursuit of truth, yet it couldn't halt his determination.

Stepping into the meeting room, Joshua's mind echoed with the clone's unsettling words spoken earlier.

"Return to the meeting room and pose the same query to me."

Joshua began to suspect that the voice speaking through the clone wasn't just the clone itself. Crafted from magic, the clone embodied the essence of its creator—a physical manifestation of spells and incantations, carrying traces of its maker's mind, soul, and knowledge.

The one who crafted this spell held the key to unlocking the hidden library and resolving Joshua's questions. Determined, he resolved to replicate the spell used in the other room, hopeful it could summon the soul or essence of its original caster.

Joshua swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on the wand clenched in his hand. He could almost feel the searing pain that would come with casting the spell. But he refused to yield now.

He tightened his grip on the wand, raised it, opened his mouth and said:

"Maxima Lumious."

Joshua endured for a half-minute before agony surged through his fingertips. It started as a dull ache in his fingertips, gradually intensifying into a sharp, stinging sensation that seemed to seep into his very bones. As he focused on maintaining the spell, the pressure at his temples increased, feeling like two vices pressing against his eye sockets and drilling into his brain with each pulse.

Pain, cunning and relentless, spread like a parasite, evading detection.

He doubled over, clutching his cramping stomach, struggling for breath as the room's scenery shifted, obscured by a veil of mist hinting at something elusive beyond.

"Shua! Stop!" Seungcheol's urgent voice shattered the fragile concentration Joshua had managed to maintain.

Startled, Joshua turned to see Seungcheol standing before him, his expression a mix of concern and alarm. Before Joshua could react, Seungcheol moved swiftly, knocking the wand from his trembling grasp with a decisive sweep of his hand.

"Are you crazy???" Seungcheol shouted.

"Why are you here?" Joshua's voice quivered, a mixture of surprise and concern.

"Of course I came looking for you, but you weren't in the bedroom," Seungcheol replied urgently, his eyes fixed on Joshua with a blend of worry and disbelief.

Joshua nodded slowly, his mind racing with the implications of Seungcheol's unexpected appearance. He couldn't shake the feeling that Seungcheol had uncovered his secret plan, that everything was unraveling before his eyes. If Seungcheol told Jeonghan, their group would never let him live it down.

"Hah... You know me too well," Joshua sighed heavily, a sense of resignation settling over him. "That's bad..."

The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, each aware of the precariousness of the moment and the weight of what had been revealed.

"You can think whatever you want about me. But I can't stand by and watch you destroy yourself over this damn nonsense mission," Seungcheol's voice carried both frustration and genuine concern as he spoke to Joshua.

Joshua struggled to maintain his balance, leaning heavily against the wall. Seungcheol's words were like a sharp slap of reality, and despite his inner turmoil, he didn't resist when Seungcheol reached out to support him. He looked down silently where Seungcheol's hand touched his arm, gratitude and guilt aroused within.

"You spoke to Mingyu, didn't you?" Joshua asked softly.

"We discussed your recovery," Seungcheol replied, his tone earnest.

"But you still don't fully trust it, do you?" Joshua pressed gently.

"I trust you. But seeing you with my own eyes gives me peace of mind," Seungcheol admitted sincerely.

Joshua chuckled softly, a sound that softened the tension between them.

"I know you were just using that as an excuse to come check on me," Joshua shrugged lightly.

Seungcheol guided Joshua to a nearby chair, helping him settle into it comfortably. He couldn't help but ask, "Then why weren't you there?"

Joshua looked up, confusion flickering in his eyes.

"You weren't there when I came," Seungcheol's voice trembled with a mix of hurt and frustration. "You knew I'd eventually come because I couldn't bear the thought of us falling apart. You needed me as much as I needed you. Why were you trying to pull us apart?"

"I didn't..." Joshua's voice faltered as realization dawned on him. Mingyu's question about breaking up with Seungcheol now made sense—it wasn't curiosity from Mingyu; it was concern from Seungcheol.

He could hear the desperation in Seungcheol's voice, the struggle to mask his shaky tone. Looking into Seungcheol's eyes, Joshua saw raw emotion, vulnerability and heartbreak. His gaze dropped to Seungcheol's collarbone, where bruises caught his attention. Joshua frowned, instinctively reaching out to touch them.

"What happened?" Joshua asked gently, his concern evident in his voice.

"It's still hurting, but it'll be gone soon," Seungcheol admitted.

"When did this happen?" asked Joshua.

"A few days after you left..." Seungcheol's explanation was hesitant. "I had a mishap. That's all." He gripped Joshua's hands tightly, pulling him closer. "I've been worried sick about you."

"Don't act like I'm the only one who gets hurt," Joshua replied, his voice tinged with frustration and guilt. He yearned to share his true intentions with Seungcheol but held back, unsure of how to say it.

"Actually," Seungcheol spoke unexpectedly, his voice quiet and pained. "Actually, it was... my father who did this."

"Cheol... I..." Joshua's voice faltered, feeling almost paralyzed by the revelation. "Is it because of me?"

Memories flooded back— the disruption he caused at the auction in Seungcheol's home. He couldn't shake the feeling that Seungcheol's bruises were somehow a consequence of his actions.

When Seungcheol remained silent, Joshua took it as his answer. Guilt washed over him as he realized he had unfairly projected his anger onto Seungcheol and regretted not sharing his true motives. It struck him deeply that Seungcheol had been suffering silently, never mentioning the bruises or seeking sympathy.

"Cheol, I'm sorry," Joshua's voice quivered with remorse. "None of this was your fault, and I shouldn't have let my anger out on you. You... You protected me."

Seungcheol tenderly brushed his fingers along the corners of Joshua's eyes and cheeks, then rested his forehead against Joshua's. A deep exhale escaped him, shoulders sagging with weariness. Despite his attempt to appear strong, his vulnerability was evident.

"I've said it before, and I'll say it again," Seungcheol murmured. "If you ever decide to do something reckless, I don't care how crazy it is, I want to be there. To support you or to shield you."

Joshua looked down, gathering his thoughts. After a tense moment, during which Seungcheol patiently waited, Joshua found the courage to speak his truth.

"I'm not doing this just because Miss Agatha asked," Joshua confessed quietly. "I'm doing it because of you."

Seungcheol's expression turned perplexed.