Jaemin burst into the living room like a bullet of sunshine.
Jaemin: “I DID IT!!” His voice cracked from excitement as he half-tripped over the last step, arms flailing before he steadied himself. His grin was so wide it practically swallowed his face.

The others, sprawled across the couches with snacks and half-finished homework, froze.

Jeno: “You found your power?”

Jaemin didn’t even answer at first—he just nodded, chest puffed out, glowing with pride like a kid who just pulled off the best prank ever. Then he stretched his legs into a neat split on the carpet. Everyone clapped—until his legs kept going. Long, fluid, impossible—like rubber bands unspooling, like octopus tentacles reaching over their heads.

Chenle: eyes widening, “That’s so cool!!! You’re literally a human slinky!”

Jaemin gasped dramatically, his voice faux serious: “Excuse you. I’m a majestic octopus. With STYLE.” He threw a wink as his leg dangled over Jeno’s shoulder before snapping back like elastic.

The room erupted in laughter and disbelief.

Mark: still laughing, but raising his hand sheepishly, “Okay, okay, but—I think I found another one too…”

The laughter died instantly. Everyone turned.

Renjun: “We have three now?! I haven’t even figured out one.” His voice carried an edge of frustration, though he tried to hide it under a chuckle.

Jeno: calm as ever, “We don’t know how many there are, Jun. Maybe we only get one… or maybe a hundred. When we know, we’ll know.”

Mark: shifting awkwardly, “I don’t know how to control it yet. But I think it’s… super hearing?”

Jisung: leaning forward, “Are you feeling… any changes?”

Mark shook his head, frowning. “Not really. But the ring—when I realized it—it started glowing. Like it was… confirming it or something.”

Jeno: serious now, “When you learn to control it, tell us. That could change… everything.”

Mark rolled his eyes, but there was tension beneath the bravado. “Yeah, no shit.”

Hyuck: clapping his hands suddenly, “Okay philosophers, break it up—we’ve got school.”

Groans echoed around the room.

Jisung: dragging his feet already, “Ugh. Great.”

Jaemin: smirking, “Don’t worry, Ji. At least you can speed-run to class.”

---

At school…

Mr. Jung clapped once, voice sharp.
Mr. Jung: “I will let you create your own trios for this first project. I need to see if I can trust you to choose wisely—or if I’ll have to assign duos myself later. Now, pick your team and start creating your choreography.”

The room buzzed as groups scrambled together. Jeno, Jaemin, and Jisung exchanged a look and just… smiled. No words needed. They stood shoulder to shoulder, already moving to pick a song.

Mr. Jung scanned the room like a hawk. “I see some of you found your groups already. Good. As for the rest—” his eyes landed on San, standing stiff and alone, “you. Join them.” He gestured toward Yeosang and Wooyoung.

San scowled but moved anyway.

By the time the bell rang, everyone practically sprinted for the door—sleep and food calling louder than choreography.

---

Outside the school.

A sleek, black limousine pulled up to the curb, gleaming like liquid under the sun. The tinted window slid down.

Shindong: “Hello, Chenle. Kids. Hop in.”

The boys exchanged stunned looks, then scrambled inside like they’d just been invited onto a spaceship. Plush leather, lights running along the roof, the faint smell of cologne and polished wood.

Jeno: eyes wide, “This is so cool.”

Renjun: shaking his head in disbelief, “I’ve never even seen a limo in real life.”

Jisung: grinning like a kid, “Me neither.”

Hyuck: running his hands over the leather seats, “It’s amazing.”

But Renjun’s face had shifted. He leaned forward, voice quieter.
Renjun: “Guys… I found something today. Something you need to hear. I’ll explain when we’re home.”

The energy dipped. They all nodded, silent the rest of the ride.

---

At the house.

Renjun placed two ancient, leather-bound books on the coffee table like they were made of gold. Dust puffed into the air.

Renjun: “I went to the library. I didn’t think I’d find anything but… look. The first one is a collection of mythical legends. The second… is all about our kind of magic. I haven’t read it yet—just the collection. But listen.”

He flipped the first book open, fingers brushing over the fragile pages. His voice dropped, almost reverent, as he read aloud.

---

"Everyone has dreamt of supernatural skills. For some, that dream has come true. The dream magic is bound by rings—gifts of impossible power. Once worn, the powers are forever carved into the bearer, even without the ring itself. The first owner was God, who every ten years chooses a new holder."

---

The room was silent. Their rings shimmered faintly, as if listening.

Hyuck: whispering, almost afraid to break the moment, “Damn. We have the power of God.”

Jeno: trying to joke, though his voice was shaky, “I mean… is it even different with the rings on or off? No one else can see them anyway…”

Jaemin: rubbing his thumb over his own, “Yeah. And I… kinda like mine. It feels… safe.”

Jisung: pulling them back, “Guys. Focus. That’s just the legend. Let’s see what the real book says.”

Renjun nodded, pushing the second tome forward. Its cover was cracked, its spine fragile. Together, they leaned in, breath held, as if the book itself could hear them.

The words were harsher, heavier, ink pressed deep into the paper.

---

"There are eight rings in total. Only the Master can give them out. Every fifty years, the rings change hands. But the rings are dangerous—deadly. If the chosen one is not strong enough, they die instantly, disappearing without trace."

"There are twenty powers within the rings, divided across their colors. Some rings hold many, some few. All rings contain healing, though one—golden-yellow—can heal everything. That ring belongs to the Sun."

---

As Renjun read, their eyes darted to each other, the colors of their rings pulsing faintly, as if confirming each line.

The list of powers came next—fire, water, wind, light, ice, telekinesis, invisibility… each word like a trigger, sending sparks of recognition or longing through the room.

Mark: under his breath, “Super hearing… wind… invisibility…” He flexed his fingers, unsettled.

Chenle: smirking faintly, “Telekinesis. And I’m only just getting started.”

But then the passage darkened.

"When soulmates find each other, the rings glow. If one is hurt, the other suffers. They cannot abandon each other without risking their lives."

"Long ago, a student grew greedy. He gathered all eight rings. His body could not withstand them. He exploded."

---

Silence. The weight of the words sat heavy in the air.

Hyuck: finally breaking it with a nervous laugh, “Well. That’s comforting. Don’t be greedy or you… kaboom.”

Jaemin: quieter now, “So that’s why it’s split into eight. To… keep us alive.”

Jeno: nodding, but his jaw was tight, “And why it’s us. The rings chose.”

Renjun: softly, “And they’ll destroy us if we’re not careful.”

Their rings pulsed faintly, like heartbeats, like warnings.

For the first time, the boys didn’t feel invincible. They felt… chosen. And that was heavier than any power.