12. Flickering light in the veil of nights
"Have you heard about our God on Earth?" Joshua smiled beneath the flickering rainbow light of the tavern, his red shirt accentuating his dangerously alluring presence. The fabric shifted slightly on his shoulders, revealing the sharp outline of his collarbone.
Seungcheol found himself captivated. The boy in front of him was so mesmerizing that he couldn't help but lean in closer, gently taking the wine glass from Joshua's hand. His gaze never wavered, carefully studying Joshua's face. Drawn in by the softness of Joshua's voice, Seungcheol felt a tug of curiosity as Joshua's words enveloped him.
"I've heard God is famous on Earth," Seungcheol murmured. "People talk about Him all the time."
Joshua chuckled lightly. "People are bound by their faith in God and His teachings. You should read the Bible sometime—it's... interesting."
"I could, but..." Seungcheol's voice trailed off, leaving Joshua to tilt his head in quiet curiosity.
They were barely acquaintances—just schoolmates who had only met an hour ago. Yet, something intimate sparked between them, their conversation taking on a playful, flirtatious tone. Seungcheol's gaze remained locked on Joshua, his lips curling slightly as he bit the corner of his bottom lip.
Joshua felt a flutter of nerves as Seungcheol finally said, "But I'm more interested in you."
To Joshua, the message was clear: Forget the mortals and their faith—I'm captivated by you. That moment marked the start of something unexpected. They slipped out of the tavern, away from Seungcheol's friends. Seungcheol had pulled a clever trick, Joshua recalled, whisking them off to the quiet expanse of Maeve Forest.
In that serene space under the night sky, Joshua felt something new stir within him. Seungcheol wasn't the type he had imagined—far from arrogant, he was gentle, courteous. His playful jokes brought soft giggles from Joshua's lips. Together, they lay under the vast expanse of stars.
The sweetness of that night was something Joshua swore he'd never forget. Seungcheol held him close, and in the stillness of that moment, they shared their first kiss.
But just as quickly as the feeling bloomed, it faded, like smoke dissipating into the night air...
Joshua woke up with the night wrapped around him. His eyes slowly adjusted to the dim light of his room, landing on the familiar figure of Seungcheol, who sat patiently on the couch, waiting for him. It felt like deja vu—just like the first time the syndrome had wracked his body and Seungcheol had stayed by his side, trying to soothe him.
"Cheol..." Joshua's voice was dry and raspy, his throat aching. He couldn't quite recall how he'd gone from the middle dimension to the safety of his room.
Seungcheol stirred at the sound of Joshua's voice, rising from the couch and walking toward the bed. "How are you feeling?" he asked gently.
"What happened?" Joshua asked, his memory foggy.
"You passed out in my arms," Seungcheol replied, "I did the only thing I could—I brought you back to the dorm."
Joshua's brow furrowed. "Did I... say anything strange?"
Seungcheol nodded slowly. "Yeah, you did. You told me I died in your vision—and that everything you're doing is to make sure it never comes true."
Joshua's breath caught in his throat, the weight of Seungcheol's words settling over him like a heavy cloak. He sat up slowly, propping himself on his elbows, his heart beating faster as memories of the vision flickered in his mind. The room felt smaller, as if the very air was pressing down on him, urging him to say something—anything—to break the silence.
"I didn't mean to scare you..." Joshua's voice was a whisper, his eyes searching Seungcheol's face for a sign of understanding. "I saw you, but you weren't alive. I couldn't save you, no matter what I did. You were just... gone."
He bit his lip as the images flashed vividly behind his eyes. The cold, lifeless body, Seungcheol's face pale and drained of all warmth. His death felt too real, too final, even though it was just a vision. But saying it out loud, putting it into words, made it all the more terrifying.
Seungcheol sat on the edge of the bed, his hand resting gently on Joshua's. "And you think that's why you're doing all of this? To prevent it from happening?"
Joshua nodded, unsure how to explain the depth of his fear. "It felt so real, Cheol. I couldn't stand the thought of losing you, so I did whatever I could."
Seungcheol's thumb brushed against Joshua's knuckles, grounding him in the present. "You don't have to carry that burden alone," he said softly. "You should've told me. We'll face it together."
Joshua blinked, his chest tightening at Seungcheol's words. He wanted to believe him, to hold on to the hope that things could be different. But deep down, the fear of that vision still lingered, gnawing at the edges of his mind.
"And what if I can't stop it?" Joshua whispered, his voice trembling.
Seungcheol squeezed his hand gently, his eyes filled with quiet determination. "Then we'll face that too. But I'm not giving up on you. On us."
Joshua felt a bit of relief, then closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath before saying, "I came back to the library, cast a spell, and I saw something blurred, like somewhat hidden behind a veil." He wanted to say more, but exhaustion tugged at him, pulling him back toward sleep. His eyelids grew heavy, and despite the storm of emotions swirling within him.
"You're in pain, Shua. We can talk about it later." Seungcheol whispered, his fingers brushing softly through Joshua's hair. "Jeonghan and the rest of your team are coming back from Bloomfield. They'll certainly find something to help you. Now I need you to rest."
Joshua's body relaxed, his head sinking back into the pillow as Seungcheol's warmth anchored him. He felt safer than he had in days, the haunting vision momentarily fading into the background. Just before sleep claimed him, he whispered, "Promise me you won't leave."
"I promise," Seungcheol replied, his voice firm yet tender. "I'm right here."
As Joshua drifted into sleep, the looming darkness in his mind remained, but it was dulled by the comfort of Seungcheol's promise. For now, that was enough.
-
Jeonghan's heart pounded as he walked down Bloomfield Street, his mind racing. The old cobblestone road was lined with weathered buildings, their windows fogged and dim. There was an eerie stillness to the air, like the city itself knew the gravity of what they were searching for. He glanced at Jihoon and Minghao, who walked beside him in silence, their expressions tense. Each step felt heavier as Joshua's condition weighed on his thoughts.
"Do you think his bloodline has something to do with it?" Minghao asked, breaking the silence as they walked.
Jeonghan looked at him, frowning. "What do you mean?"
"Joshua's Foreign Blood," Minghao continued. "His parents were human, no magic in the family line. Maybe his system is rejecting the very thing that makes him a wizard."
Joshua wasn't born to live with magic like the rest of them, it bloomed within him unexpectedly when he turned fifteen. Magic clearly wasn't something he could prepare for, and now, it turning against him, Joshua was facing an even greater struggle. He needed more than a temporary fix, he needed a way to harmonize his magic again, to allow it to flow freely instead of becoming jumbled and erratic inside him.
"Maybe Joshua's magic is expanding beyond what his body can handle, it could cause blockages." Jihoon said.
"Except his magic isn't expanding," Jeonghan responded, frustration bleeding into his voice. "His body is turning against itself, and we still haven't known why."
Then the boys became quiet. None of them said a word as they walked among Bloomfield street– lined with crooked, tightly packed buildings. The air smelled some kind of faintly old magic and herbs, with a soft mist rolling along the ground. It made them felt hopeless and fearful at the same time.
After a long walk, they finally approached an old building nestled on the quiet edge of Bloomfield Street. Faded runes adorned the stone walls, their glow barely visible beneath the layers of moss and ivy that had claimed the structure over time. High above where they stood, broken shingles hung precariously, casting uneven shadows on the cobblestone street.
An ancient street like Bloomfield has its own forgotten spells and worn-out magic. They held secrets and perhaps even the answers they sought.
Minghao stepped ahead, glancing over the symbols. "This place deals in energy flow. It might have something we can use to help regulate Joshua's magic."
Jeonghan exhaled sharply. "It's worth a shot."
The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit interior filled with floating orbs of light. Ancient books lined the walls, and the smell of incense hung in the air. A middle-aged wizard, draped in robes of deep green, glanced up from behind a counter, eyes sharp and inquisitive.
"We're looking for something to help with magic flow," Minghao said, cutting straight to the point.
The wizard's gaze lingered on them before he nodded. "A blockage?"
"More like a disruption," Jihoon corrected. "The magic isn't just blocked—it's chaotic, fighting itself."
The wizard's eyebrows raised slightly, a spark of curiosity flickering in his sharp, inquisitive eyes. "Ah," he murmured, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the counter, "that's a more complex issue than I anticipated." His gaze lingered on each of the boys for a moment longer, as if weighing the weight of the problem. He stepped out from behind the counter, moving closer with a slow, deliberate grace, his deep green robes rustling softly with each step.
"And who, may I ask, is suffering from this... tangled magic?" he said, his voice low and laced with intrigue.
Jeonghan hesitated, glancing briefly at Minghao and Jihoon before answering. "It's my friend," he said quietly, his brow furrowing. "He's been struggling with this curse for a while now."
The wizard's eyes narrowed slightly as he absorbed the information. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, his expression unreadable. "And what's his bloodline?"
"He's Foreign Blood," Jeonghan explained, his voice edged with concern. "His magic didn't bloom until he was fifteen."
The wizard's lips curled into a faint, enigmatic smile. "Foreign Blood... and cursed magic. A rare combination indeed. This friend of yours must be a very interesting individual."
Jeonghan stepped forward. "Is there anything here that can help our friend?"
"Cases like this... they are few, but they always come with a deeper story." The wizard moved toward a dusty shelf, his fingers brushing over a line of scrolls. As he reached for one, he glanced back at them. "I know the price and how to break it... I've seen it before. But you need to understand something—it isn't natural."
Jeonghan's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"
The wizard turned, a serious look in his eyes. "There's dark magic involved. Your friend isn't sick by accident. Someone did this to him."
A chill ran down Jeonghan's spine. His thoughts raced.
Dark magic?
Joshua had never even known about magic until he turned fifteen—why would someone target him?
"Wait," Jeonghan said, stepping closer. "You're saying someone cursed him?"
The wizard nodded, his expression grim. "Dark magic was banned long ago, but it still exists in the shadows. It was the Queen's penalty for traitors after the Great War. Our precious magic is not for traitors to wield." He added a smirk.
Jeonghan clenched his fists. "My friend isn't a traitor. He didn't deserve this."
"Look at you, naive young boys," the wizard said with a smirk, his voice laced with something between pity and amusement. "Too young to know the horrors of the Great War, I suppose. Your friend might not be a traitor, but clearly, someone still wants him to suffer."
He let out a weary sigh, his expression softening slightly. "The curse was cast, and dark magic—well, it leaves traces. If you really want to help your friend, you'll need to follow those traces and uncover the source."
The wizard stepped closer, the dim light reflecting off the aged parchment as he handed them a scroll. "This will help, for now. But understand this: unless you find the one who cast the curse, the dark magic will keep festering within him."
Jeonghan took the scroll, his hand trembling slightly.
All this time, they'd thought it was some natural consequence of Joshua's Foreign Blood, but it wasn't. Someone had cursed him, and now, they have to find that person before Joshua's magic destroyed him from the inside.
Minghao's voice cut through the silence, steady and resolute. "We'll figure this out," he said, his gaze locking with Jeonghan's.
Jeonghan nodded, forcing himself to stay composed as his thoughts raced. He turned to the wizard, his voice low but firm. "How can we pay for this magic?"
The wizard shook his head, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Not today, young ones. I won't take anything from you at this moment. There will come a time when the stars align, and I'll come for you."
"Until then, safeguard your friend's life— and remember, debts have a way of surfacing."
***
I may write slowly, but I promise to always come back. The storyline is all mapped out in my head, so don't worry, I won't leave it unfinished.
Feel free to comment or ask me anything about the Carat Magic World! Kkkk
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