Darkness.

It was the first thing that welcomed her after she opened her eyes. The room was very quiet, and even she was inside, she could still feel the cold weather from the outside. But there was something that made her feel secure.

Soori has always hated the dark. Especially when she was left alone. But this time, she felt like someone was protecting her. A warm presence that watching her all along. Her eyes trailed around the room and that was the time when she finally remembered that Baekhyun had accompanying her all along.

The boy was still asleep with his head leaned back against the chair, which Soori slightly pitied him because that looked a bit hurt. His neck would probably ache when he wakes up in the morning. His arms still crossed over his chest and Soori realized how stiff his position was. She couldn't help but smiled at the sight.

Even it was dark, she could see his figure clearly, as the moonlight illuminated half of the room. Unconsciously, the girl kept examining the boy's face feature for quite awhile. It was gorgeous, she thought.

He looked younger than his age. Wait, it made her wondering how old he was? She remembered now that they both barely knew each other. But a big part of her wanted to know him more. And more after that…

Soori tried to get up and this time; it worked. She smiled as she realized that she had gained her energies back, and it was a relieved. Slowly, she reached the boy. As she looked closer, it was kind of cute how Baekhyun asleep. Because he looked like a lost puppy, and Soori couldn't help but chuckle.

She immediately stopped when Baekhyun stirred but fortunately he didn't wake up. Gently, she tried to lift the boy up—which was very heavy—but she tried hard as she could to move him from the chair. 

"Omo,” she yelped silently. “So heavy…" She muttered as she already half way to lay him on the bed. "Geez, I guess you eat quite much for a skinny boy like you," she mumbled but smiled. 

After a lot of hard work moving Baekhyun from the chair to the bed while trying to be careful from hurting his injured leg, Soori smiled as she was satisfied that the boy was now sleeping peacefully on the bed. Well… Even that his position was rather weird because Soori ended up throwing him like that but at least she managed to arrange Baekhyun into sleeping position—lying on his stomach—and that was quite enough. "Sleep tight… Idiot." The girl whispered as her lips curved into a smile.

Good thing that the corridor wasn't too dark as the small light lightened up the room. Soori was even proud of herself that somehow she was kind of brave walking alone at night.  She kept wondering though. Whether it was midnight? Or probably near dawn? She wasn't sure though, but curiosity kills… and she kept discovering the hall. Different than the corridor before, this time there were picture paintings hanging on the wall. She realized that there were twelve frames along the corridor, and it painted each of the prince’s faces.

She stunned by only looking at each one of them. They were all gorgeous and handsome especially that they looked noble-like and true prince inside the paintings. Suho looked very wisely while D.O and Chanyeol looked like a very kind and cheerful prince. She grinned as she looked at the youngest paint, how he looked very mature and extremely handsome in that paint yet he was so different in reality—cute and innocent one—Soori continued to the next painting and her eyes widened immediately as she recognized the person in the painting. The boy looked extremely good-looking and manly like. His skin tone that was kind of darker than the others making him looked more gorgeous than ever, along with his stare that was very captivating in her eyes. "Kai…" She muttered under her breath. He somehow looked more like a bad boy, but there was a hint of gentleness on his face.

Her eyes trailed to the next one and this time, she didn't know whether it was because of that painting or herself but she felt like her heart stopped for a second as she saw it. 

It was Baekhyun.

His hair was brownish and it fit perfectly with his face features. He was smiling, even it was maybe just a bit but it was already enough to make her heart flattered. He looked… okay, how to put it? Gorgeous, handsome, good looking, captivating? Maybe all of them, Soori thought. 

His eyes looked very gentle and sweet, as a warm feeling appeared inside Soori while just staring at it. And there was a glimpse of kindness if we looked at Baekhyun's painting. It was like… Baekhyun was really a true prince. 

"Tch. But still an idiot," she pouted. Her brows knitted together as she looked at the rest of the paintings. There was something strange because… the rest 6 paintings were covered in white fabric. 

But… Why?

Was it forbidden to look at it?

She was curious for sure. There were something hidden in this castle, about this world. And she will find out soon. 

Her track stopped as she turned to her side and spotted a door. "Kai's room… isn’t it?" She kept staring at it until her body finally moved forward and she was now holding the knob. It was probably rude to barge in to someone else's room in the middle of the night but again, curiosity kills and she wanted to see Kai so badly, she wondered why.

After softly knocking the door and no responses, Soori opened the door slowly and peeked inside. The room was simpler than hers. Even it was dark she could see a figure lying on the bed with his back facing her. 

"Kai?" she called with a soft voice. She was shivering unknowingly but she stepped forward and let herself into the room. "Kai… is that you?" She called again. 

Nice Soori, nice. You would probably drive people mad of disturbing their sleep. She mentally face palmed herself. 

She was now standing at the side of the bed, leaning forward to see the person's face clearly. Sadly, his face covered with his messy hair but she was very sure that it was Kai.  Irritated to know more, her hand moved as she about to brush his hair off but she froze as the person's hand grabbing her wrist very quick. She gasped and tried not to wince as the grip tightened. The person was indeed familiar but she felt… fear? Next time she knew, it was scaring her for sure. The person disappeared and appeared right next to her, his hand still tight on her wrist. Soori gasped even louder and the person leaned down closer to her face.

His eyes were blue, she could see clearly as it was kind of gleaming under the dark, but it was very beautiful and familiar.

He was so close, very, until Soori could smell his sweet scent. But still, her body shivered even more. 

"Soori?" The boy finally spoke with a deep husky voice. He tapped his finger and then light illuminated the room as the torches around finally lightened up. And there he was, a tall brown haired boy with extremely handsome face along with his Caribbean blue eyes staring at her, bewildered. He loosened his grip before finally letting her go and his expression softened. “What are you... Doing here?" He said in confusion but Soori could see a hint of blissful in his eyes.

Instead of answering, she was still freaking out.  "H-how did you… you were there and then you're here and… The light… and… and…" She managed to say although a bit stuttering but Kai cut you off by putting his index finger in front of your lips. 

"Sssh, calm down. I'll explain it to you." He said and finally smiled. That gentle smile of him who could melt down any girl in a moment. He then let out a chuckle, a husky one yet so beautiful in her ears.

She then realized how tired Kai looked like. His face was slightly pale along with dark circles under his eyes. There were a few bandages on his arms and his hair was messy (yet y) but he managed to smile. 

"Here, sit." He said after he climbed to his bed again and patted the spot beside him.

"Uhm..." She muttered awkwardly while staring at Kai unsure. 

"What? Oh, come on. Don't be shy, Soori!" he then pulled her arm and made her sat beside him on his bed. Soori looked away as her cheeks started to flush red by Kai's words and the boy was just chuckling. "You're just seating you know..." He said and then leaned closer to her as he whispered. "…I won't bite." His voice seemed huskier in her ears making her flinched and shivered… again.

Soori looked at him, her eyes wide, as she backed away but Kai was just laughing.

"Yah, I'm kidding!" And Soori finally calmed down. 

"So…" Soori rubbed the back of her neck and looked at him, she immediately avoiding his gaze as she realized that Kai was staring at her intently and she bit her lip.  Why am I nervous?!

"Ah, yes. I have to explain to you." He finally snapped back to reality. "Hmm, let's see… Where to start?" The boy glanced up to think and Soori thought that it was mind of cute. "Ah yes. So actually, we, the princes, are not just a regular persons." Kai said and she finally titled her head in his direction, eager to know more. "We have some kind of powers. Each of us. Suho hyung's is water, Chanyeol hyung's is fire, Kyungsoo hyung’s is earth… Something that could damaged the whole thing without even trying much, Sehun's is wind and Baekhyun hyung’s is light." He explained. She suddenly remembered how Baekhyun fought Kris with his laser lights and it seemed that Baekhyun was indeed strong.

"How about you?" She asked, her eyes full of wonder. 

"Me? I'm a teleporter. My power is teleportation and I could disappear to other place anywhere I want to," he said while smiling, as he proud of his ability. 

"Ahh… that's explain how you disappeared before…" She muttered and nodded slightly, making Kai smiled because he thought it was cute.

"Yeah. But, I only can go to a place that I knew. Or should I say, I have to know what the place looks like. And more difficult the place to be reached then more energy is gained to teleport. Same like how many times I used my power, because too many times are very dangerous. So, my power has so many negatives side too." he explained once again, as his face turned a bit sad. 

She felt bad though. He must be used too many of his power while fighting Kris. And here he was, hurt and fragile Kai. Even if she knew clearly that this boy beside her was very strong. 

"And… how about the light?" Soori asked. For a moment, Kai stared at her confused but then he burst into laugh as he realized her question.

"Oh, you mean… the torches?" And she nodded eagerly. "Ah… well, this world is full of magic too. And even all of us aren't a magician or even a sorcerer but we could do some simple magic in this castle. For example, turn on the torch, move some things and other simple things like that." Kai said.

"Here, you see that flowers on the vase over there?" He pointed across and she nodded. "Watch this.” Kai tapped his fingers and then one of the flowers disappeared and appeared right in front of you, above your thigh. "Get it?" He asked as he turned to you with a smile on his face. You could feel that your heartbeat fastened a bit you managed to calm down. 

He then grabbed the flower and gently tucked it by your ears as he softly caressed strains of her hair back and her hair. Her eyes widened for a moment and her heart raced more. Even the feeling was not strong enough compared to Baekhyun but still, she flattered.

"There. Beautiful," he said as he looked at her with a gentle smile. Didn't know what to do, she just smiled a little and avoided his gaze. 

Silence took over for a moment and Kai cut it off. 

"So, you're a sorcerer, huh?" He spoke and this time, he didn't look at her. His face was somehow unreadable and there was a sad feeling of his expression. 

"I guess… yes? At least they told me that, I even… still trying to believe it. You heard it, huh?" She answered, surprisingly calm and the boy smiled, a weak one, to be particular.

"Yeah. I heard. It must be very hard to endure… I mean, you must be shocked, by all of this. Since you're not from our world," he said, his voice was serious but soft and Soori glad that someone understood that. 

"Yeah. I guess, I have to learn to accept things slowly." 

Kai turned, and smiled again. "It's okay. You'll love it when you mastered your ability." And she turned to him, giving him the same smile. 

"Show me your power." Kai suddenly said. She froze for a moment. How could she do that? Last time the power appeared on its own, she didn't even know how to make it happen. 

"What? I-I can't! I don't know how to do it!"

"You can. Just need some practice." Kai said surely.

"Give me your hand." He commanded, but Soori was just staring at him. But Kai glared at her and gesturing her to give her hand and she did it. He lifted her right hand with her palm on above. "Now close your eyes."

Soori raised her brow.

"Just do it!" Kai raised his voice but he smiled. 

"Okay, okay!" she closed her eyes. 

"Now, focus." 

"How?" She said, stubbornly. 

"Just—don't think of something else, just listen to me, and calm your mind." He said. 

"Okay..." Soori tried what Kai told her. 

"Now slowly, take a deep breath and exhale it from your mouth. Remember, slowly." Soori nodded and did what he said. Suddenly, a different feeling started to appear again inside her body, and she started to think that maybe Kai was right. It was getting stronger and stronger but not as strong as before when she was fighting the dragon. But still, it was the same feeling. 

"What do you see now?" Kai said, staring at the girl in front who was now frowning. 

"A hall, empty hall." She said softly. 

"What else?" Kai asked, the girl was now trembling, and he patted her arm lightly. "It's okay, I'm here with you, you're not alone, Soori. Now what else do you see?"

"I see… a light? A blue light. But it's very far…" 

Kai smiled, it was a good progress he admitted. "Good. Now reach it, reach the light." He said calmly. 

"But it's very far!" Soori said unsure.

"Concentrate. You can do it." 

With a nod, Soori concentrated even more. And suddenly the light was getting closer. She held up her hand in her mind and tried to reach the light. It seemed getting closer and closer. 

Kai's smile wider as he noticed that a blue light started to appear above her palm and it was getting clear and bigger. 

Soori finally reached the light and the blue light above her palm transformed into an orb of blue light. 

"You did it! Open your eyes!" Kai said, a bit too excited. Soori opened her eyes slowly and its color was now gleamed blue just like before. 

Kai's lips parted a bit as he stunned by Soori's look. She was very… beautiful along with the blue eyes. 

The color was surprisingly similar with his but hers was brighter and it glowed beautifully. "Look…" Kai said while glancing at her palm and Soori followed his direction. 

"You created a magic." 

She automatically gasped and amazed on her own. She didn't beliee it that she managed to do it again and she was glad that kai helped her. Kai slowly letting go of her hand and smiled at her. 

"See? It's not that hard." 

Getting too excited, she jumped a bit and her hand moved quite uncontrollably and the blue orbs flew across to the side, hitting that flower vase before and it crashed into million pieces. 

Soori screamed a little while Kai gasped for a moment and then everything finally stopped. The color in her eyes fading and the blue orbs gone, leaving Kai and Soori sitting there dumbfounded.

"I just… destroyed your vase…" Soori said flatly and a bit guilty, but Kai was just laughing. 

"Oh God, that was great! You're indeed a strong sorcerer, Soori!" He said in excitement.  Soori bit her lip as she stated at him. Really? He's happy after I destroyed his vase. Soori glanced across again and realized that she left a burn mark at the table where the vase was. 

"Oh my… I'm so sorry!" she said and Kai followed her gaze.

"It's okay, it's nothing though. Chanyeol usually burned some things too so I don't mind." He said casually.

"Uhm, Kai… you seem to know magic very well. I mean… you're not a sorcerer like you said." She finally asked in spite of curiosity again. 

Kai suddenly remain silent and his expression changed.  He sighed heavily before answering. "I once knew a very powerful sorcerer... just like you," he said with a flat tone. "She was very skillful sorcerer and we were very close. Well, actually she was—"

"Your girlfriend?" Soori blurted, a bit regret it as she looked at Kai's face that was now stiffened. 

"You could say that." He said desperately. Kai was different now, he looked kind of hurt. 

"Where is she now? What happened?" She continued, even she mentally slapped for asking too much. 

"Well, you must be heard that sorcerers are a wanderer, right?" He said and this time, he looked at her, his expression was unreadable. "Well, she… she left me." 

Soori's eyes widened a bit and she could feel how hurt it was. 

"I wasn't mad if she wanted to go, but she didn't even bid a goodbye and just left like that." He said as he let out a dry laugh. He looked like he was about to cry but he didn't. 

"Kai, I'm sorry—I shouldn't interfere—"

"No. It's okay. It’s in the past anyway. No need to worry about it anymore," he said firmly, tried to hide his pain.  He then looked away, bitter expression was still there. 

"Kai, may I ask again?" Soori said, a bit hesitant. It maybe a wrong thing to do but she already asked it anyway. 

"Sure." The boy answered.

"What's her name?" 

It was a moment of silence but Kai finally managed to answer. 

"Soojung. Her name is Soojung."