Yay! Here's another not-so-late update! I combined the former chapters of 21 and 22 to extend this chappie's length. That means there's more content to read! I also enlarged the text's size, so it looks more appealing. It looks nice, yes? 

To new subbies: I hope you like it! To old subbies: Hey, what's up?

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

Repost: 6/16/14

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See You Soon

Early the next morning, you were disturbed from your slumber by an insistent round of knocking on your bedroom door. A yawn escaped your lips as you sluggishly rose from bed. By the time you reached the door, the knocking had repeated once more, but more demandingly.

“Hm?” you hummed drowsily as you opened up the door. You blinked up blearily at the person whose form towered over you.

The knocker turned out to be a royal EXO messenger, immaculately dressed in a gray uniform complete with a courier bag, gloves, and hat. At the sight of you, he formally bowed his head. His tone was sincere but thick with urgency as he said, “Excuse me for waking you at this ungodly hour, Princess Aris, but King Heechul bade me to summon you to his office. He urges you to see him this instant.”

The seriousness of the news did the trick to chase away your torpor in a snap. You were immediately wide awake and tense all around. “I understand. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

Relieved, the messenger nodded in acknowledgement and hurried off.

In precisely five minutes, you had brushed your teeth, threw on something decent, and was now rushing to the king’s office while tying your unbrushed hair into a low ponytail. You bursted through ornately carved doors.

“King Heechul?” you implored, breathless.

The king was standing woodenly by his massive desk. At the sound of your voice, his head snapped up.

“Aris,” he breathed, his voice heavy with distress. “A letter from Prophet Yesung had been delivered to me. It’s addressed to the both of us.”

He beckoned you over, and when you joined his side, he handed you an envelope stamped with the royal SHINee insignia. You quickly tore it open, your heartbeat pounding with dread and anticipation as you did, and unfolded the crisp parchment inside. Taking a deep breath, you braced yourself for whatever news it carried.

“To King Heechul and my dearest Princess Aris,” you began steadily. “I had foresaw your most recent conversation and now know that you are proceeding with Aris’s plans. However, I had also seen flashes of the Techas’ invasion. I can very well surmise that they are meticulously prepared for the job—they are heavily equipped and fully organized. In other parts of the vision, I saw the Capitol, the royal castle, and nearby towns be specifically targeted. No other locations were attacked. Then I was watching the scenes unfold through Aris’s yes. The scenes were blurry; I saw her brothers around a magic circle, the Techa forces outside the royal castle, the two queens in the bunker, and finally the princes. Everyone was talking and moving too fast for me to comprehend what was going on, and of course, tears were shed amongst you all. Aris seemed to be appearing everywhere, but because of that, she was a step ahead of the Red Force, who, in the end, will overwhelm the royal city. Aris, I suggest arranging transportation portals throughout the castle and at the moon where I saw you staring at…your reflection of some sort.

Please hurry, Aris. I’ve been trying to pinpoint the invasion’s exact date…and it seems that we have at least a couple of days left—four at most. Aris, on the next page of this letter, I listed the instructions you should follow just in case you missed any steps. King Heechul, I strongly advise that you begin to employ safety procedures. Over here in SHINee, I’ve been whacking some sense into Leeteuk—literally. I am clueless as to why there hasn’t been a space breach yet, but that only implies that the Techas have some sneaky tricks up their sleeves. Be careful, you two and everyone else. My dearest wishes, Prophet Yesung of SHINee.”

You exhaled a long, ragged breath after finishing the letter, feeling as if you were a deflating balloon. Beside you, King Heechul was muttering furiously to himself.

“Four days left? The Red Force? We have to hurry.”

You sighed lamentably and looked up to meet the king’s upset gaze. “Can the spaceship be ready in thirty minutes?” you asked, subdued. “I want to leave as soon as possible. Have your wives help you with the safety protocols—it’ll be done faster that way. Oh, and make sure that your sons remain oblivious to the impending war.” Your eyes were tight when you spoke of them, and your voice dropped dolefully. “Please.”

King Heechul regarded you speculatively. A child a mere fraction of his age was ordering him around like a war general, but oddly enough, he listened. No one should ever cross you, or they would learn the hard way not to. “Yes,” he affirmed. “I will. Everything will be prepared within thirty minutes.”

You nodded gratifyingly and browsed the second page of Yesung’s mail. “I need to rouse my brothers and start on the transportation spells.” You then deadpanned, shoulders sagging. “Unfortunately, they’re not exactly early birds.”

…

“Can you explain it to us now?” Onew demanded in a hushed voice. You, Taemin, Minho, and Onew were idling off to the side in a cramped margin of space. You watched intently as Key and Jonghyun established a ‘portal spot’ used for a basic transportation spell. The portal spot allowed the sorcerer who constructed it to teleport there as long as the inscriptions were legible. You had cleverly located it within a hidden hallway behind the castle’s library walls. The passageway had been introduced to you by the EXO princes the year before. It led to a storeroom, a weapon room, and a set of narrow stairs that descended to the lower levels of the castle. Down there were escape routes, the old dungeons, and other forgotten rooms.

“I told you, I’ll explain everything later!” you nearly hissed at him. The constant stream of badgering questions had thinned your patience. Only Key was aware of the general situation, so he was knowledgeable enough to just shut up and listen.

“Aris, you can insert your magic into the circle now,” Key instructed, leaning away from the magic circle that he and Jonghyun had drawn.

You stepped forward toward the chalky magic circle drawn on the dusty ground. After murmuring a short incantation, you released some of your magic, and the portal glowed faintly at the flare. There—one down and two more to go.

“Come on,” you urged. “We have to create one in the storeroom down this hall and then another in the upper alcoves of the throne room.”

“You woke me up a quarter before seven,” complained Jonghyun, rubbing at his droopy eyes. “And now you’re making me do some random spells while I’m sleep-deprived? Honestly, you’re asking me to blow something up, Little Sister.”

“We also have to catch a spaceship later to EXO’s nearest moon,” you added, ignoring your older brother’s complaints as you helped Minho and Key with the next portal in the run-down storeroom.

Onew and Jonghyun exchanged quizzical glances. “What?”

“Why?” Taemin asked with a disgruntled pout.

Sighing exasperatedly, you paused a moment from your work to pin a serious look at Onew. “Big Brother, go pack up all our things. We’ll be on the moon for a while. Don’t question anything and do not alert the EXO princes.”

Onew judged you quietly for a second before he consented with a sigh. “Fine. Whatever you want. Taemin, come and help me.”

Taemin yawned as he said, “Awiiiiight.” He took his older brother’s guiding hand, and they emerged from the hidden hallway together.

“So…no EXO princes, huh?” Minho inquired casually. You being EXO-prince-free? He liked the sound of that.

“Oh, don’t make me magically glue your lips together, Brother.”

…

Half an hour later, everything was ready for your departure. You and your brothers rendezvoused with King Heechul at a secret underground ship hanger. Even the queens were present to say farewell.

“Your highnesses,” you greeted dryly as you approached them. A last minute checkup was being done to the ship. Soon, it would be ready for takeoff.

Queen Kyungsoon, who was modestly garbed in a long green dress, stepped forward to cup your pale, round cheeks.  Her sincere gaze fervently scanned your young face, and she frowned ruefully at the somberness that dominated your usually soft features.

“Aris,” she said. “Heechul informed us of your upcoming perils. I cannot believe that you’re taking charge in protecting our planet. I mean—you’re still so young and so small. It upsets me greatly that you’re willing to risk so much when we, the adults, should be burdened with these difficulties instead.” Tears blurred her vision. “Thank you so much,” she conveyed from the depths of her heart. “We’ll do our best to guard the nearby towns. Our sons aren’t the only ones with powers.”

That reminded you that the queens had their own set of powers. Even Heechul was power equipped. It was obvious why they were revered by their planet.

“Just concentrate on your own roles,” Queen Ming openly advised, rubbing at one of the many rings that decorated her slender fingers. It was a habit of hers to do so when a fight was coming her way. “Don’t worry about the rest of us. We’ll contact you if anything goes awry.”

“Yes, of course. Oh, wait a second. My queens!” You belatedly remembered a certain portion of Prophet Yesung’s instructions. “Please make sure that your sons stay in one place. And do you know their symbols of power?”

The two older women peered at you cautiously. “Yes?”

“Keep them close to you,” you warned. “It’s very important that they are not stolen or lost.”

The two queens promised to keep the symbols close. It lessened your worries by a fraction.

Soon after the conversation, King Heechul announced that the ship was ready to be boarded. Your brothers were grumpy and tired, but they obliged when you ushered them into the vessel. Your packs had already been stored away, and your guards were loyally accompanying you on the trip. Everyone buckled themselves up into their seats.

“Be careful on the moon,” cautioned King Heechul. “There’s a possibility that the Techas might decide to attack there.”

“What they want isn’t on the moon,” you pointed out in a small voice.

There was a rueful twist to the king’s lips. “It would’ve been better if it was.”

“Goodbye, King Heechul. Hopefully, I’ll see you soon,” you said genuinely.

“Farewell, King Heechul!” your brothers chorused respectfully.

He nodded formally in return. “Goodbye then, children.” He exited the ship and firmly locked the latch. To your right, you peeked out the circular window to see the king and his wives staring back at you. Somehow, you suddenly felt grateful, as if you accepted the fact that you were leaving without the intention of returning. You trusted these proud, strong people to handle the situation down here on this planet. But still, your dismal expression was reflected on their ashen faces. To raise their spirits, you waved at them adorably and tried for a reassuring smile, but your pitiful attempts failed to completely chase away the feeling of impending danger.

It was that moment when realization dawned on you—that moment when the emotions you tried to bury rose to the surface to shake your bones. It haunted you, having the ruthless desire to fill you with doubt and fear. Your heart throbbed painfully. Panic overwhelmed your nerves.

You never had the chance to say goodbye to them: your fiancés. It made you want to cry, being unable to see their happy faces one last time before chaos ensued. But if you had done so, then that would’ve delayed your plan and wasted precious time.

They would’ve had never let me go…

Tell the boys I’ll see them soon, you mouthed. It was impossible to describe how bad you wanted to tell them personally. It tore your heart in two—no, it shattered into unfixable pieces.

King Heechul saw the bout of franticness in your pleading eyes. He nodded assertively. I will.

With that bit of reassurance, you reposed back into your seat. The ship’s engines started up with a rumble, causing the interior to thrum with vibrations. The launch countdown began, and when the numbers had ticked down to zero, the spaceship blasted out of the hanger, hurtling into space.

Nostalgia ate at your insides. You deliberately evened out your breathing, exhaling and inhaling at a soothing pace to calm yourself.

You wanted to be with your loving fiancés. You wanted to be home with your beloved family. And most of all, you wanted to be an innocent little kid living in a safe world.

But that was just a silly dream.

Amidst the stiff silence, your brothers failed to see the sparkling trail of a tear trickle down your turned cheek.

I’ll see you soon…but I’ll be different then.

…

That same exact morning, it was a shocker that Yifan was the first to wake. The flight prince blearily opened his almond eyes, sunlight smacking his disgruntled face. He groaned and sat up, hand raised to ruffle his untidy locks. When the cloud of fogginess dissipated, he decided he should get ready for the day, so he could help rouse his brothers and perhaps go see you.

After leisurely performing his morning rituals, Yifan donned on a decent ensemble suited for a prince. Then he strutted out into the hall aligned with the bedroom doors that belonged to his fellow brothers. He was combing down his tousled locks with his fingers as he pounded on each and every door.

"Guys, wake up. It's nearly eight," he instructed, voice raised. In their rooms, his brothers shuffled about like zombies. Xiumin, Suho, Yixing, and Kyungsoo—dubbed as the reliable four—were already up and about. The older three were struggling to rally the younger ones out of dreamland. Meanwhile, Kyungsoo was meticulously tidying up his bed, patting down the silky sheets and fluffing up the pillows. Contrary to the neat freak, Kai refused to get up, further burrowing himself underneath the comfy covers of his bed. As always, Luhan was slumbering like the dead, but reflexively kicked at anyone who approached his bedside.

Yixing covered his mouth as he delicately yawned. Then he stretched out his skinny arms above his head, loosening out his muscles. He looked at his taller brother tiredly and proposed, “I’ll go see if Aris is awake. Maybe her brothers, too.”

Yifan nodded his consent. "Go ahead."

Yixing traveled down the lengthy hallway and rapped on your bedroom door. "Princess? Are you awake, yet?" Silence answered him. He frowned. "Excuse me, I'm coming in." He promptly entered the room, but didn’t advance any further, hand glued to the bronze doorknob.

Your room was deserted—bare of your packs, and the bed was neatly made. Nothing was out of place, aside from the fact that you were supposed to be here.

It was as if you had never touched this room.

 "Aris?" The healer’s voice was underlined with escalating panic. He whipped his head left and right, thinking that he was just a blind bat and had missed your presence, but you were really gone. Hysteria scared away his morning drowsiness. "Where'd she go?" A chill crept down his spine. Something was wrong. Something he had missed.

The foreboding feeling freaked him out. Yixing rushed back into the hallway where he found Yifan and Suho casually conversing.

“Yifan! Joonmyun!” the healer cried. “Aris isn’t in her room!”

Both princes reacted with alarm. "What?"

Yixing looked shaken up as he stopped before them, breathing hard. "I didn't see any of her belongings. It was like she was never there."

"What about her brothers?" Suho asked, a sense of dread about to consume him.

"Let's just go see," Yifan inserted crisply, diving straight into action as he dashed towards the bedroom the SHINee princes shared, his brothers hot on his heels.

He banged on the door loudly. “Hello? Is anyone in there?”

Nothing. No reply. A chilly response.

Yifan slammed the doors wide open. The three of them stampeded in. Suho and Yixing hastily searched for any clues, investigating every inch of the chambers.

"Nothing," Suho gasped. "There’s no packs, no clothing, no items! But the bathrooms were definitely used. The sink is wet, and the baskets are filled with dirty towels.”

"Where did they go?" Yixing dared to ask out loud, frightened by the mystery hanging over them. "It's like they disappeared out of thin air. Did they return home? But Aris would never leave without telling us..."

Aggravated, Yifan grinded his teeth. "Forget it. Let's ask a servant or our parents."

The trio raced back outside into the hallway. Along the way back, they stumbled upon a messenger talking to Luhan and Xiumin—the same messenger who had delivered news to you earlier this morning.

Luhan repeated the message quizzically. "Father has lengthened our training periods? An extra three hours?"

The messenger merely nodded, careful not to give anything else away. "It is mandatory. He says it’s necessary for your training regimen."

“Messenger!” Suho beseeched breathlessly as he, Yixing, and Yifan halted to a stop. “Wait a moment, please! Do you know the whereabouts of the SHINee royals?”

The messenger maintained a passive, straight face. "No, I’m sorry, I haven’t.” He regarded Luhan and Xiumin again. “Remember, my princes, training is right after breakfast. You cannot miss out. Your mothers are also expecting your presences in the grand dining hall. Please do not keep them waiting." He bowed his head. "Excuse me, I have other deliveries." He fled the scene.

"Wait, what did you say about SHINee?" Xiumin demanded suspiciously, narrowing his elfish eyes at his spooked brothers.

Yixing swallowed, a lump forming in his throat.

"Aris and her brothers are gone."

...

You and your brothers were now located on one of EXO's Two Moons—the nearest one nicknamed Crescent Moon because, whether it be in the morning or at night, the moon always seemed to be shaded or waxed with a crescent edge.

The ship had landed on the shady side of the moon, dwelling within the crescent shadow. Upon landing in the private spaceship hanger, you, your brothers, and royal guards were herded from the hanger to the neighboring facilities.

"Wow," Onew whispered in awe as he peeked out the windows. The moon's surface was tinted with a luminous ivory coat, but under closer inspection, the rocks and minerals were actually a frosty-white hue that glowed when hit with natural sunlight. The terrain was bumpy and rough, dented with massive craters and topped with large rock formations and mountain-like planes.

"Come this way, please," advised the head of security and martial. You and your flock followed the man as he navigated through the facility briskly. "Heechul has asked me to you to a restricted area on the moon. My name is Sungmin. I'm Heechul's younger brother, and his longtime General, so you can trust me with your...plans."

You and your brothers nodded. During the space ride, you and Key had briefed your other brothers on the important tidbits of your plan, so they weren’t entirely clueless about the chaos that was swirling around them. “Thank you,” you said quietly.

Key addressed the older man dubiously, “You know, if the Techas do invade, shouldn’t you be on EXO by your brother’s side? To fight alongside him?”

Without turning around to face the prince, Sungmin shook his head. "No, I was purposely stationed here for that very reason. It’s my duty to stop their advancement into the atmosphere as best I can. But more importantly, it’s also my job to protect you six from danger."

"Nice to know," muttered Minho.

“Since the six of you were not born as Exotics, we must address to that first,” Sungmin continued on brusquely, stopping in front of a closed entrance. He pushed a button, and the latch gaped apart. They entered the enclosed pod. “You cannot fully handle the lack of oxygen up here—unlike us Exotics who depend mostly on the Tree of Life’s energy. So you’ll need these oxygen breathers.” Adhered to the wall was a storage box. Sungmin unlocked it and plundered the rows of masks, tossing you and your brothers each one. The small mask-like invention covered your mouth and nose and was strapped around your neck. “But you also can’t handle the energy, so the masks will filter it for you.” He jerked his chin. “And as for your guards, they will have to stay here.”

"Do as he says," Onew told the guards sternly, and they acquiesced reluctantly.

Your packs were loaded onto multiple space riders—a vehicle that was a motorcycle-hoverboard hybrid. With you and your brothers seated as passengers—all of you gripping at the waists of your drivers—Sungmin led the troop of space riders to a restricted area that was mentioned to be ‘out of bounds’. Your destination bounded towards the very eastern side of the moon. You originally assumed it would grow darker if the sun was blocked out, but you were wrong. There still was light, but not sunlight.

"Oh my goodness," you gasped in wonder. EXO's secrets still ceased to amaze you. Inhabiting the dark side of the moon was and only a land of crystals. That was the only way to describe it. The term earth seemed to be replaced by the term crystals. The ground, the dirt, the rocks, and even the dust were composed of crystalline particles. It reminded you of the chunk of crystal Majesty had given you. It had a harmonious, pure glow that served as unadulterated light. The icy-tinted crystals were similar to mirrors due to their smooth facets and neat edges. You could peer straight through them or see your own reflection. It was mesmerizingly beautiful. Even your brothers were struck speechless with amazement.

No wonder the Exotics hid such a treasure.

"We're here," Sungmin announced as the space riders idled their vehicles after traveling deep within the land of crystal. You stood at the entrance of a large, naturally-carved, crystal temple. "This shelter offers protection and secrecy. Will it fit your needs, Princess?"

You nodded in affirmation. "Yes, it's perfect," you replied from behind your mask. "Please put our stuff inside. Brothers, we need to find a good place to perform our ritual."

At that, they shifted in disagreement. Their torn expressions made your knees weak.

"Aris…" Jonghyun appeared unwilling, distraught flashing in his round eyes. Onew and Minho looked sad, pleading without speaking. Taemin’s lower lip wobbled terribly, hinting the round of sobs that were sure to come. Key’s flawless face was scrunched together in frustration, but he held his form together. He’d promised to help you, so he would help you—no matter what the repercussions were.

You inhaled shakily. "Brothers, there's no stopping now. We need to start the spells today." Turning around to avoid their unspoken pleas, you curtly followed Sungmin inside the crystal temple, your brothers unwillingly dragging themselves after you. The interior was spacious and wide, to the point where sound echoed like the whispering wind. Although the glassy surface of the crystal appeared fragile, it was hard and sturdy. The temple was like a maze with its many corridors and never-ending hallways, but Sungmin knew every single direction by heart.

"Lead the way,” you commanded. “Take us deep into the temple. I want a large, hidden room."

...

“Mother!” Luhan’s exclamation rang across the dining hall. The two queens glanced up from their ministrations to witness their rowdy sons bolt over to them as if fleeing from a ghost. Luhan gripped his mother’s outstretched hands, the comfort of her touch blanketing his franticness. “Mother!” he pleaded. “Do you know where Aris is?”

“No, I haven’t, dear,” his mother lied, drawing forth as much sincerity as possible. Her son’s doeful orbs threatened to penetrate her iron defenses and make her spill out the truth. “I think your father knows, though.”

"What about the SHINee princes?" Yifan questioned, distressful. "Onew, Jonghyun, Minho, Key, and Taemin? It looks like they all disappeared."

"Like poof," emphasized Chen, gesturing with his hands.

“Like I said, I think your father knows,” Queen Ming repeated firmly. She coaxed Luhan to release his grip and made the dejected boy sit. She waved at the remainder of them. “Now sit and eat, children. Due to your reckless actions during your trip, your father has extended your training period and study sessions.” They all obeyed under her stern leer, situating themselves at the table. The older princes exchanged worried glances. The younger ones fidgeted uncomfortably, confused by the tense atmosphere.

Baekhyun refused to drop the subject, begging, “Mother, please. Where is Aris? Did she return home?”

Queen Kyungsoon sighed, avoiding the puppy pleading eyes by studiously rearranging the silverware. "No, I’m certain she’s still around, and her brothers are surely with her, too."

"Stupid SHINee brats," Chanyeol muttered, staring bitterly at his food. Kai and Tao silently agreed with him, thinking of more insults to describe your brothers. Yixing, Suho, and Yifan were beyond grateful that you hadn’t returned to your home planet yet. The constricting knot in their chests loosened enough so they could breathe. But it was Luhan who was unconvinced, his intuition signaling out the queens’ forced tones and guarded masks.

Queen Kyungsoon lightly clapped her hands. "Now hurry and eat your fill! There's no question you'll be worked to the bone today!"

"Oh, great," Xiumin groaned and began to sulk. Yay, more bruises and sores to endure tonight.

Breakfast ended much too soon since the princes had a loss of appetite. Much to their sons’ surprise, the queens announced that they had business to attend to in the nearby towns for some unfathomable reason. The princes’ instructors dropped by to round them up for their lessons, making the boys part with quick farewells to their departing mothers. As they were all being escorted to the library, Luhan was pondering deeply to himself, trudging far behind his brothers, his head ducked.

Like it was a six sense, the telekinesis prince perked up, just in time to see his father and his fellow advisors pass by in the opposite hallway. Not thinking about his actions, he quietly snuck away from his brothers and darted over to his father before he disappeared from sight.

"Father! Father!"

The king stopped in his tracks, tuning out his droning advisors when he heard his son’s seeking voice. Raising his chin from his papers, he saw a distressful Luhan running towards him. His fatherly instincts took over.

"Excuse me for a moment," he murmured to his advisors. He handed his papers to a random person and met his son halfway down the hall, the boy tackling his waist. "Luhan? Shouldn't you be studying somewhere?" he chided the doe-eyed boy, his hair.

Luhan sniffled woefully, tears prickling at the rim of his eyes. "Father...Mother says you know where Aris is. Can you tell me where? I'm worried because I didn't see her go." The pumping muscle in his chest known as the heart ached in agony as he begged to hear any news about his beloved.

King Heechul winced inwardly. The ghastly look in Luhan's eyes were full of dread and hopelessness. He had grown too attached to you. It was like every fiber of his being was meant to live because of you. You were his light, his oxygen, his happiness.

The same could be said for you about them, your fiancés.

"Luhan, son, she's..." The king hesitated, then relented. "She's just visiting the Capitol and meeting with important people. Her brothers are there, too. Don't fret."

Lies. He was spouting lies, but it was to protect his children.

Luhan visibly drooped. "Oh," he said in a small voice. "When will she be back?"

"Three days, perhaps," replied King Heechul. He then leaned down and cupped his son’s cherubic face in his large hands. He made the boy look at him directly in the eyes. His gaze was rich and powerful, hypnotizing anyone who fell prey to him. "Luhan, you and your brothers must focus on your training, alright? It’s imperative that you do."

"King Heechul!" His advisors were growing impatient of his delaying.

"In a minute!" the king shouted over his shoulder, not breaking his gaze with his son's teary-eyed one. "Son, she told me to tell you—to all of you—that she will be back soon. Do you hear me? She'll come back for you."

The words loaded with reassurance and promise consoled Luhan. He brightened up. “R-really? Soon? A-alright, then. I’ll wait for her return.”

But deep inside, Luhan couldn’t shake off his uneasiness. Everyone was acting weird, their bodies heavy with tension. That included his parents, the royal messengers, the Capitol dignitaries, and the military officers. He’d never seen them so busy and so agitated in his entire life.

King Heechul nodded and squeezed his son’s small shoulder. "Now, go. We both have work to do." He managed to muster an encouraging smile. “Let’s do our absolute best, alright, son?”

“Yes,” Luhan acknowledged, determination blazing. He hastily bowed his head before darting down the hall from whence he came, stretching the distance between him and his father. The king watched him go with sad eyes before rejoining his group of agitated advisors.

Luhan ran, pretending that he was running towards you. He wished that you were there waiting for him, ready to greet him with open arms.

See you soon, love. Just like last time.

...