Amidst the fear and the trembling she felt in her legs, Seulgi couldn’t help but be completely awed by what she saw. Around her were specimens of plants and animals that she could never imagine and think of. The entire place was vibrant and vivid, as beautiful as a dream. But what took her breath away was the sight of the sky; it seemed to be stuck in the time between day and night when an infinite amount of colors would make their presence known. There was a sprinkle of stars that sparkled throughout the sky. 

Seulgi was snapped out of her daze by the sound of crackling fire. She turned to look at the sight in front of her and found herself in front of a bonfire. There were girls around her as well, everyone looking exactly the same as their masks concealed who they were.

“Only 5 remain,” Seungwan announced. “Being a songbird is no easy feat… it is a role that requires a tremendous amount of courage. You 5 are here because of the courage you possess… but only 3 may be presented to the Sun and Moon.” She takes a short pause to glance at every one of them before fixing her gaze on the fire. “They are not beings that can be faced by simply anyone. Only the bravest may continue.”

“How can we prove our bravery?” a girl asked out loud.

“You must enter this fire,” Seungwan replied. The flames reflected off of her eyes. There was collective gasp for the fire suddenly grew bigger and hotter as she said this. “No one can force you to enter. All throughout, your destinies have been chosen by the gods. Now, the gods leave it up to you to choose your own path.”

In a blink of an eye, the other girls disappeared and Seulgi was left alone with the fire and Seungwan. 

“Where did they all go?” Seulgi asked.

“They’re still there. But their decision shouldn’t pressure you in making your own,” Seungwan explained. “Trust in your instincts, Seulgi. There is no right or wrong choice. Just go with what your heart tells you.”

Seulgi turned away from her friend to stare into the fire. It’s flames danced around as if taunting and daring her to come closer. In all honesty, she couldn’t help but be afraid of it. The heat radiated off told her to stay away, although she was sure that no harm would come to her if she did walk into it. She didn’t have to go if she didn’t want to. She could just go home and end all of this. She could finally be free from all of this madness that was happening to her. She could already hear the sound of her father’s voice and the warmth of her mother’s arms calling her back home. 

But strangely, she felt conflicted. As dangerous as it seemed, the fire was also very enchanting and mysterious. She knew that although she was afraid and sad because of the great cost that came with it, there was a part of her, deep down in her heart, that longed to become the songbird. She reached out towards the flames in a trance but the seething heat made her recoil just as quickly. 

“Have you decided?” Seungwan asked and Seulgi turned to face her.

“Honestly, I’m afraid,” Seulgi said. “And the thought of never seeing my family again…” Her eyes glistened with tears. “I’m so, so afraid Seungwan.”

“You don’t have to enter, you know,” Seungwan said with her familiar, warm smile. She reached out to hold the hand of her friend. “You can come home with me… Everything would be back to normal.”

“Home?” Seulgi whispered. “My mom pestering me to get married, my father laughing at the entire thing, Wonwoo teasing me… Hoseok, Yoongi…” She smiled fondly at the thought of them. “It hasn’t even been that long and yet I already miss them.”

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