Ermmm, I really don't have a lot to say today. I've been trying to get my writing magic back, but I think it disappeared in my top hat along with my rabbit. Please excuse me for any mistakes and such.

Reminder: No plagiarizing or copying or stealing or translating my story! Contact me if you find someone stealing my work!

Repost: 7/18/14

The Sacrificing One

So that’s what it was—the reason why the EXO princes were so sheltered.

There really wasn’t much to say afterwards. The princes and their father were awfully quiet—the young boys shocked to their bones upon hearing the planned assassination that demanded their deaths. Seeing how speechless they were, the king summoned a group of guards to his troubled sons back to their bed chambers, and he left them with these parting words:

“Your mothers will be returning soon in the afternoon. When they return, they will take you to the underground bunker where you all will await for Aris.”

“So you weren’t lying when you said that she’ll come back,” Luhan whispered.

King Heechul had the decency to look apologetic. “Of course not,” he replied earnestly. “I merely restated what she said. She is the one holding the promise, not me.” He inclined his head at the burly guards, and they understood the signal to lead the princes away, surrounding them in a close-knit circle as they did so. The king watched them go sorely, feeling terrible that he had lost his temper with them and surely gave them an incentive to have nightmares. Sighing morosely, King Heechul steeled himself and, with his chin straight and back upright, he returned to the war room where his attention and opinion was most sought after for.

Now the twelve princes were all huddled up and crowded in Yifan’s bedroom, too afraid to part from one another as if they’d start to disappear, too. The fact that they were being ruthlessly targeted by their most fearsome and formidable enemy made them...unsettled. Dutiful guards and servants milled outside in the hallway to watch over and serve the princes’ needs, but none of them moved from their spots—frozen like statues.

Yixing was idle by the wall of tall, arched windows, leaning his side against a pillar to support himself. The curtains had been drawn back, allowing him the perfect view to gaze intently at the light blue sky as the sun claimed its glorious spot in the heavens. Baekhyun and Chen quietly joined him, their expressions wan and eyes distant. The three of them were captivated by the imposing sight of the nearest and seemingly largest moon that dominated a huge section of the sky.

Aris...

...

“Aris.” Someone gently shook your shoulder, their touch fishing you back from the sea of oblivion. Their soft, low voice would always be distinctly familiar to you, with his tender tenor and lightest inflection. You stirred and slowly sat up as Onew informed you, “The seals and scriptures are all written out. We can proceed on to the next step now.”

That got your attention. Your eyes flashed open with sharp awareness and you stifled a yawn as you mumbled, “What? Already? That’s good, but what time is it?”

Onew calculated it for a second. “General Sungmin woke me up around six—which was around two hours ago—so it’s about eight in the morning right now.”

Key appeared and knelt down beside you. In his skinny arms, he carried a bag stuffed with chunky foodstuff. From it, he grabbed something wrapped in a napkin and pressed it into your hand. “Here, I got you some breakfast.”

Minho also roused Taemin from his sleep, coaxing the young boy over to eat breakfast, which mainly consisted of bread, milk, and fruit. No one spoke, the spacious room only filled with sounds of chewing and swallowing. Onew noticed how you kept turning a piece of bread over and over in your small hands, eyes faraway and not focused on replenishing yourself.

“You should eat, Aris,” he told you gently.

Hearing him, you snapped out of your daze, then shot him a sheepish smile. “O-oh, right. I am, Brother.” You tentatively took a bite of your bread and chewed it slowly. It wasn’t exactly tasty, but that was probably because your appetite had been sapped from being energy-drained as of the late.

Minho noted your occupied gaze. “What’s on your mind, Aris?”

You exhaled a collective sigh as five pairs of eyes fixed themselves onto your diminutive form. “I...I miss them,” you confessed miserably, but then inwardly chastised yourself for being pathetic—for showing your weakness openly like that. Doing so would only bring doubt and more worry to your brothers. You dropped your pained gaze down to the smooth surface of the blue crystal floor where you saw your reflection...and your sorrowful expression.

The SHINee princes stiffened the slightest, then relaxed themselves forcibly for your sake. They had to cheer you up.

“Everything will be fine, Aris,” Jonghyun reassured in his best convincing tone. “Nothing will stop us, and no one can outsmart you.”

His encouraging words lifted up your upturned lips into a tiny, grateful smile. “Thank you.”

Both Taemin and Key scooted in close to give you a soothing hug. Glistening tears blurred your vision. You buried your face in Key’s bony shoulder, seeking comfort that would never ease you anyhow.

By the end of today or early tomorrow morning, the Techas would have arrived. This could be the last undisrupted moment that you had with your precious, caring brothers.

...

“Mother!” cried out the twelve brothers when the two EXO queens breathlessly entered Yifan’s room.

“My babies!” Queen Kyungsoo gasped and spread out her arms as her six sons ran for her embrace. They hugged tightly, and the queen peppered loving kisses on her sons’ distraught faces.

“Are you alright, Mother?” Yixing asked worriedly as Queen Ming checked over her sons’ overall conditions.

She nodded. “We’re perfectly unharmed. We managed to evacuate most of the townsfolk, and the soldiers are preparing themselves.” Her eyes flickered with regret. “You all found out the truth, didn’t you?”

They shifted around apologetically, the older ones casting their gazes away indifferently because they felt betrayed for not being informed about their fates. “Sorry,” they muttered.

Queen Kyungsoon shook her head at their somberness. “Nevermind that,” she dismissed. “We need to pack up and head over to the bunker. Ming”—she turned to her fellow queen—“we also need to retrieve the symbols from their case.”

“You take the boys to the bunker, then,” Queen Ming proposed. “I’ll get the symbols.” She gestured at the boys with swift, purposeful movements. “Alright, everyone grab a pack and fill it up with some clothing and items. Don’t bring so much that you can’t carry it, though.”

They did what she asked obediently, spreading out and going to their rooms to snatch up their needed belongings in a flurry. After everyone was accounted for with their things, Queen Kyungsoon led the princes down to the royal bunker. It was located within the center of the castle, but deep down below in the lower levels of the structure, which only could be accessed by the secret passageways. They all climbed down the dark, narrow stairwell, then navigated through the maze-like corridors and rooms. They stopped before a large, thick stone door. It was carved with EXO’s emblem—a hexagon with the straight-edged lines spelling E-X-O. Queen Kyungsoon touched the insignia, and it glowed under her touch. The massive door began to rumble open, accumulated dust and loose mortar falling.

“Get inside, boys,” urged the queen, shooing them into the spacious, box-shaped apartment. Under her command, the door heaved closed, sheltering them safely within its compound. The apartment was actually decent and not too dusty, as if someone had already dropped by to tidy it up. The walls and floor and ceiling were all slate-gray stone. They had a small washroom and kitchenette, and the place was furnished with a couch, a table, a set of chairs, lamps, some shelves, two pairs of bunk beds, and loads of crates. When Tao and Kai went over to inspect the crates, they discovered folded up traveling clothes, extra blankets, lamp fuel, and sorted out weapons.

Meanwhile, Queen Ming had a different destination in mind—a detour of sorts before rendezvousing with her fellow queen and the princes. With the aid of the secret passageways, she quickly made her way to the very back of the castle to the private and secluded section of hallways that was off-limits to anyone but the royal family. Hanging around her neck was a key attached to a chain. She used it to unlock a door partially hidden in the darkest end of an unlit hallway and swept inside hastily.

The room was dim, scarcely illuminated by only a couple of torches hung on the walls, but the queen knew that the room actually had a black interior with a sleek platinum floor. It resembled a sacred room in a temple, how everything was kept pristine and bare of decorations. It was long length-wise, with an elaborate altar situated at the very back. Queen Ming rushed over to the altar, her long skirts sweeping the shiny floor.

“The guardian symbols,” she breathed, her eyes reflecting in the glassy covering of the large, rectangular case that the altar guarded. She carefully lifted the glass lid of the box and, with delicate, deft fingers, she relocated the twelve symbols in a jewelry box she had thought to bring along with her. She secured the box’s latch, closed the original glass case, and then darted out the room without a minute to waste, sparing a scant second to lock the door as she did so.

...

“It’s time to finish the ritual,” you declared in a breathy exhale, standing rigidly before your five brothers.

In simultaneous response, they whipped up their worried yet surprised gazes at you.

“W-what?” Taemin stammered out in a whimper. “A-already?”

“We don’t have a lot of time remaining,” you reminded him, then smiled faintly. “Now is the time.”

Onew inhaled and exhaled to calm his rapidly beating heart. “We’re with you,” he promised. Jonghyun, Key, and Minho nodded supportively, their hearts set. They would not waver under pressure, disregarding the intense urge to stop you.

You touched Taemin’s ruefully drooped shoulder with a tender hand. “Thank you for transferring your energy into me. Please rest now, Taemin.”

He sniffled, on the verge of bawling, but somehow kept it contained. He hugged you tight for a long minute before reluctantly letting you go.

You handed Onew the chunk of crystal Majesty had given to you, and Key passed over the already prepared scrolls into your small, deft hands.

Readily equipped, you walked over to the ritual site, positioning yourself just outside the circle. Taking a deep breath, you released it at the same time of your heartbeat. Mind and body calmed, you entered through the barrier.

Words from your grandmother’s spellbook whispered into your ears.

An eye to remember. One that captures moments. The entrance that leads to one into the pits of one’s soul.

Half a heart to feel. One that bears emotions. The container that influences the soul to react.

You were ready. There was no going back.

You flicked your wrists, and the scrolls popped open at the force, unraveling forward until they exhausted their lengths. You set them down onto the cool ground, then straightened up and stared with fervent determination at your reflection in the grand mirror. You walked straight towards it.

You weren’t just a child.

“Aris!” your brothers gasped in horror as the mirror shone with such incredible brightness that it was a beacon of light, lancing out far and wide and making their crystal surroundings glimmer beautifully. The light engulfed your tiny figure, and the princes squinted when they could no longer see you.

You weren’t just a princess.

Pain. It was excruciating pain, lancing through your head and your chest like laser beams. The light was too luminous, blinding you senseless, and it was hot against your skin. You felt irregularly heavy, like gravity had chained down your body to its center. Your mind was a chaotic mess, so much that you couldn’t register what was happening. Unaware that you were panting madly, you took one agonizing step forward, then another and another, trying to break free to the other side. You had to finish the ritual.

You were...a sacrificer.

...

‘Are all the ships done with their preparations?’

‘Yes, captain.’

‘What about the supplies and the soldiers?’

‘All set.’

‘Then have all the ships be ready for departure in exactly ten minutes. Destination is EXO Planet.’

‘Roger that, sir.’

We will have EXO this time.

...