The streets of Nevenia were alive like they hadn’t been in a while. It was around midday, and the marketplace had reached its peak hours. Not that it mattered much to Junmyeon, whose intent was not the one of buying anything. He kept his pace steady and fast, as his gaze searched for the cross-marked sign. He found it by an alleyway, painted messily on a door handle, which he opened. It revealed a worn out-looking interior, and a desk with a man who looked seamlessly bored, behind it. Junmyeon approached him, and a look of recognition flashed before the latter’s eyes and he straightened up. 

”I’m here for Changkyun.” He said. 

The man looked away briefly before speaking. ”He couldn’t make it today, sent me a letter telling me he was busy. Yesung and Siwon are here, though.”

Junmyeon sighed, trying to keep the ongoing turmoil at bay. ”What room?” 

”Three hundred and fourteen.”

He nodded gratefully, fidgeting with the papers in his pocket, and strolled towards the corridor. There was a gnawing feeling of uneasiness tearing in the back of his head, which the male promptly ignored. He was going to do things his way. 

Not bothering to knock once arrived, Junmyeon opened it carelessly and his eyes met with Siwon’s grey ones. The latter beamed once he was in the room. 

”Junmyeon, son! Sit down.” He gestured towards the wooden chair by the desk. He did as he was told. 

Yesung looked up from the paper he was scribbling on. ”You did well on your last mission.”

”Lee Taemin wasn’t hard to track down.” Junmyeon acknowledged coldly. 

”Right.” Siwon nodded. He then proceeded to open his coat, and pulled out a letter, handing it to him. 

”This is your next mission. Head to south-east Navera. We found this merchant that goes by the name of Jaekyung who runs a battleground ring. He cages people of your kind, and forces them to fight against each other. We managed to get a hold of this letter that he was sending to one of his employees. It’ll guide you well.”

He grabbed the letter, and let out a bitter chuckle. ”It’s funny.”

Yesung raised an eyebrow. ”What is?” 

Junmyeon shook his head and stood up, walking towards the door. The papers in his pocket creaked at the movement of his legs when he stopped once right in front of it; gaze fixed on the door as he spoke. ”My people are being tortured, and this is what you present me with?”

”What do you mean? We’re giving you a chance to save them—” 

”Or you just want me to take out your business rival.” He whispered casually, and turned around to face them. ”It would definitely help the demand to increase at the Astrodome, wouldn’t it?”

There was a tense silence. He could feel the temperature in the room drop. 

”What’d you say?” The color in Yesung’s face had drained completely. 

Junmyeon practically ripped the poster from his pocket in the sheer amount of fury in the action, and reached for the power dormant in his chest. In the fraction of a second, he had sent the poster flying towards the nearest wall, and a golden lazer-like dagger was holding it up for everyone to see. 

The poster was majestically coloured, and on it was the print of a man and a woman, both looking very serious. The letters plastered on it read: Don’t miss the fight of the lifetime - magic the way you’ve never seen it before. The Deadly Dahlia versus The Summoner. This is the moment. This is the Astrodome. 

That poster has been summoned to him that morning, and along with it a second piece of paper that had magically appeared in his pocket along with the poster that morning. He wasn’t dumb, he could feel the magic around it. It had been sent by someone of his kind. It was a letter; a short one. But a letter, nonetheless. It read: 

The people you work for are not the ones they say they are. Visit the Astrodome after the sun has gone down, and see for yourself. 

The two males stayed silent and pale. And that was enough to overthrow the seering anger surging inside him. Their faces spelt one word, and one word only. Betrayal. 

Junmyeon’s face was distorted in a furious frown when he—with a flicker of his hand—sent the desk violently flying towards the wall, shattering it completely. He cleared his mind of all thoughts when he focused his powers on two men he had before considered lifelong friends. 

But the realisation seemed to have dawned upon them too, and a look of resignation coated Siwon’s features as he let out a choked maniacal laugh. He increased the intensity of the spell, causing the latter to choke even harder as he bent down to their level. 

”I trusted you with my life. And this whole time, you have been using me to eliminate obstacles that only served to hurt my people more? You have lied to me, not only about your champion, but everything else too?” No amount of words could ever justify the amount of pure hatred and betrayal that was running through his body, fueling his veins. Instead, everything seemed to suppress into a furious tremor perceptible in his voice. 

Junmyeon’s hand tightened around itself, and both of the men closed their eyes in agony, the usual beige of their faces transitioning into a pale blue. 

”Come on, kill us then!” Yesung managed to choke out. ”Do you really think this will stop us? That it all ends here, in this room? No, no. Our legacy will continue, and it will haunt you and your people until the end of time. We’re going to destroy every single one of you. Even if we die, we will live on forever!”

His reply wasn’t with words. It was with actions. One action, more precisely. Junmyeon nicked his head sideways sharply, and both Yesung and Siwon’s necks snapped at an unnatural angle. And then, both of their bodies relaxed, slumped on the floor, lifeless. 

*********

The golden paint that constructed an intricate flower-pattern across half of Seoyeon’s face was already starting to dry and crumble off her cheek. She suppressed an annoyed sigh, at the sweet time that the woman before her was taking while applying red paint to her lips. The tight outfit that she had been forced into was not making the situation better, by pressing uncomfortably down on her waist. Seoyeon was sure there would be burn marks left from the friction once she’d take it off. 

The preparation room - that she now figured it was, was yet against bustling with people. One of them was Baekhyun, waiting for the woman to finish up impatiently, as he crossed his arms and tapped his foot repeatedly on the ground. 

When it finally seemed that Seoyeon’s makeup was done, the male did not hesitate twice to pull her into a corner of the room, eyes travelling shortly around the room before he spoke. 

”Remember the diversion. Once you get the sign, it’s time to act. We’re always going to make our own attempt at escaping in case, you know, he doesn’t show up and we’ve been wrong this entire time. But it should work out fine.” 

Seoyeon narrowed her eyes. ”Should, or will it work?” 

His gaze faltered, and he blinked away a look of worry. ”I’m as clueless as you are.” 

She opened to speak, but was abruptly cut off by a voice sounding at the far left of the room. 

”It’s time! Get her ready.” 

Baekhyun gave her an affirmative nod which Seoyeon awkwardly answered, before heading off to a secluded section of the arena, specifically reserved for fighters of rank thersis. 

The people in the room rushed her to the entrance of the arena, where a voice warmed the crowd up. It wasn’t the voice Seoyeon had heard last time, though. This time, it was Im Changkyun who roared to the crowd. 

It’s been a while, eh everyone? But I come to you all with good news - which I’m sure you’ve all heard about at this point. Our beloved champion; The Summoner, is back on his feet again! 

The crowd responded eagerly. Seoyeon closed her eyes, inhaling deeply. 

He’s not going to fight just anyone, though. I’m sure you all have heard of the rank uno who beat a rank thersis, around two weeks ago. I found it a waste to keep a deadly beauty as such in the midst of, how do I put it, unworthy people? This will be a fight like you’ve never seen it before. And I know this is something we repeat every fight - but this time I mean it. Same power. Two completely different combat styles. Our champion, an unknown mystery. Who will win?

Eyelids remaining shut, she couldn’t help but scoff. No matter how many fights she would’ve participated in, Seoyeon would never get used to the dramatic introductions. They were utterly ridiculous. 

Now, she might look intricately beautiful. Fragile, if you must. But don’t let her looks deceive you. She can pierce through your skin like the most exotic snake. Let’s welcome the Deadly Dahlia! 

The next thing she knew, Seoyeon was pushed into what had to be the largest indoor-arena she had ever laid her eyes on. Granted, she hadn’t been in many, but this was beyond anything imaginable. The cage must’ve been constructed with some kind of spell, because it was completely transparent, take the door where she was supposed to enter from. Huge lanterns were draped on the shaped limestone walls, lit with a majestic fire. And then there was the crowd. Roaring, cheering, dismissing. But all of those were directed towards her. Everyone was watching her, pending by their seats on whatever action was next. Her eyes proceeded to land on a more private row - the fighters. Many were there to watch, probably from all three ranks, and with the tail of her eye, Seoyeon could spot Baekhyun, Seulgi and Chanyeol. 

The door of her end of the cage closed with a slam, and she looked ahead, awaiting her rival. Remember, diversion. 

Im Changkyun was standing in the middle of the cage, eyeing Seoyeon with a smirk that sent cold, nauseating shivers down her spine. For all the wrong reasons. He turned to the public again. 

”And now, for the most awaited guest of the night.” He stopped, letting the mass of people acknowledge the presence for him. Changkyun nodded proudly before continuing. ”I don’t think we need an introduction for him. You all already know who he is - give it up for The Summoner!”

She didn’t think the cheers could become any louder than they already were - but Seoyeon was proven wrong when she was forced to cover her ears from the frasternous sound. The wait was over - and the other end of the arena revealed a short figure walking towards her. Do Kyungsoo. 

His eyes glare was intense—like it always was—except it now held a silent dialogue. A dialogue, about something only they had known about. Would it work? Was he even here? 

Then came the very last part of the plan. Kyungsoo soon entered the cage, and Seoyeon noticed the way they had fixed him up. His face had been for the most part left alone - though his neck and hands were coated with gold-red patterns resembling pentagons. His powers. 

Im Changkyun was still standing between them when Seoyeon spoke. 

”I don’t want to fight you.” She announced as loudly as she could, praying the crowd would hear her. And they did, because soon a dead silence swept through the arena. Changkyun’s astonished glare bored through her. 

Kyungsoo proceeded with the act. ”I don’t want to fight you either. But we have to. Or else—” 

”What the hell are you two doing?! Get on with the damn fight and shut your mouths!” Im Changkyun whispered angrily. 

Seoyeon ignored him. ”Or they’ll kill us.” 

”Alright,” The male cut in, unamused. ”Time to fight, ladies and gentlemen ignore them - they’re just nervous.” He exited the cage, warming up the crowd a bit once again in the process as an attempt to lighten the mood. 

The doors locked behind them. Now it was only them left. Seoyeon and Kyungsoo. Against each other. 

”Three!” 

Their gazes were locked on each other. She reached for the slumbering power in her chest, feeling the gem wedged into her chest warm up and glow a faint reflection of light gold. 

”Two!”

Kyungsoo mimicked her movements; he too, reached for his powers. 

”One!”

”Start!” 

Seoyeon didn’t hesitate before clapping her hands together twice, separating them quickly, the action unfolding a golden string which she launched in Kyungsoo’s direction. 

It caught him - but not for long. At a distance, she could see him muttering something under his breath, before her magic completely dissipated into thin air. Seoyeon couldn’t help but remain there, watching her hands in shock. How had he freed himself that easily? 

She didn’t get to ponder on that, though, because he had soon regained his posture, and extended his hand in her direction. It wasn’t long before Seoyeon felt a chill seep through her spine, before an invisible weight pressed down on her body, completely immobilizing it. It was the same spell he had used back at the boat, a spell she wasn’t particularly fond of - to put it lightly. 

Kyungsoo’s gaze was boring into her own, and Seoyeon made sure to sustain his same glare. It was probable that in order to focus a spell on her, he was forced to have her locked in his vision. 

The spell was still holding her petrified on the spot, as the commentary avidly explained the situation, and the crowd cheered in excitement along with every word resonating off the walls. Kyungsoo whipped his arm sideways - and Seoyeon’s body was launched in the same direction helplessly. Her back collided with the hard, grainy sand, and all of her breath escaped her lungs in a gasp. The impact was painful—not unbearable—but painful nonetheless.

In her peripheral vision, Seoyeon could see Kyungsoo flinch in what looked like mixed worry and caution. And there went his mistake - he let go of the spell for just a second, a second in which she managed to materialise and produce a dagger from the palm of her hand and sent it flying towards him. 

He dodged it with a yelp, seemingly caught by surprise. It worked immensely as a distraction, because the magic had completely lost its grip on Seoyeon, who didn’t waste a second more to repeat the same action over, and over again. 

Don’t let him mutter a spell. Was her thought. Kyungsoo fought smartly, which was probably what brought him so far into the competition to begin with. He made sure to keep his enemies far, where he’d have time to manipulate them for afar with spells, thus ensuring his own safety and the ruin of the other. But if Seoyeon wouldn’t give him the time to think of a spell - it’d be surely easier to get close to him. 

But he latched onto her strategy quicker than she’d expected. The daggers kept flying from her side - and the prince drew a circle with his arms, the golden laser strings enlightening his features in a way that made him look a tad bit more intimidating than usual. It looked to be a sh