*

                “Well, all set to meet with Min?” Victor asked as he continued to fix their horses.

                Wooyoung looked over them with absolute disdain. He couldn’t even fathom riding a horse right now. “Yes, it is imperative that I find her...and now, it is even more important that I find the prince, that is also crucial to this fight it seems. I now understand that is why I was let go by the Queen of Lunaris.” Wooyoung said and rested a hand against his chest. Somehow he’d managed to tame two Wolves inside him. As he was in the previous dream, he never could have accomplished that. He could barely keep the single one he had contained, and he now knew why: he treated it as a bad thing instead of indulging in it. Something told him that Helios stripped away more than just his memories. If his other self was truly that powerful, then he was only a fraction of it here.

                “I’m wishing you all the best in finding Min. She’s a hard bugger to pin down. We’ve been trying to have a meeting with her for ages.” Zahi said. “Just by doing that you’ll gain much of my favour.”

                Wooyoung looked back at him. It was strange. He felt nothing for this man whom he had once called Master. Perhaps Helios had forcefully attached him to these individuals in the dreams. If that were true, then he also did the same for his ‘intendeds’. The more he got to thinking about everything, the more truth he began to see in some way, the more it hurt. Still, he needed more. He needed to know what his relations were like with Nichkhun and Taecyeon. He needed to find Chansung to see what they were like, and to hopefully remember more truths.

                “Wooyoung?”

                Looking up, he found Victor watching him closely. “Yes?”

                “Do you want to ride with me for a while?”

                To say that Wooyoung felt exhausted was an understatement. There were so many things that had happened in that memory, and he wasn’t quite sure how to take them yet. He didn’t know how many more were coming either, and if he passed out each time that was going to be problematic. Walking forward, Victor mounted his horse and Wooyoung came to sit behind him. He wrapped his arms around his waist and collapsed against Victor’s backside. Tightening his arms he couldn’t help but sigh. They took off, leaving the encampment behind. 

                 Watching the world fly by, he couldn’t help but be in awe of it, no matter what he felt.

                “Victor?”

                “Yes?”

                “Do you trust me?”

                Victor turned back and glanced over him. “Of course I do...”

                “Why?”

                Victor returned to looking forward, and he rested a hand against his. “Because my brother did.”

                Wooyoung held him closer. “Why did he leave?”

                “My brother has always been like that, and I know you would agree if you had your memories.” He said with light voice. “We’ve all been friends for a long time. My mother has always been disagreeable about you, and harsh because...well, we believed in you more than her I guess.” He said and tugged the second horse closer. “It feels good to know you’re here and doing your best. Anyone else would’ve just caved to their circumstances, but you’re always strong. You’re stronger than anyone I know.”

                Wooyoung had to smile, “it makes me comfortable to know you have such confidence in me.”

                “Of course I do!” He grumbled. “Like my brother always says, ‘he teases and he pushes, but once he devoted there’s no stopping him’.”

                He couldn’t help but blush at that. Even in this dream, Chansung seemed to know him so well. Victor also, he surprised him greatly.

                They rode for a while, taking small breaks for food and water. Victor told him about the lands and the many communities that were dying off because of Baxkos’ tax collection initiative. Creatures that Wooyoung had never seen before ran around them and flew in the skies. Despite the wonder of everything, he did also feel nostalgia. His body recognised this place, but his mind didn’t.

                By mid-afternoon, Wooyoung could see the outskirts of a small town in the distance. He was finally feeling much better and rode side-by-side with Victor.

                “We’ll be arriving at the safe house shortly.” He said. “I think we should rest first. It would be good for you, especially since you’re going after my brother after this.”

                “What will you do?”

                “I thought of coming with you.” He said and they stopped.

                Wooyoung met his eye. “And what is your role here, Victor? Can you really dismiss it to come with me?”

                The man frowned and looked forward again. “The person that Baxkos wants...is my brother.”

                Wooyoung tightened his hands over his reins. “Aren’t you both the same?”

                Victor shook his head. “No. We’re twins, but he inherited my family’s powers. I’m pretty strong, but I’ve never been a match for him.”

                Wooyoung held his chin. He knew Victor was a doppelganger, but he still had Chansung’s blood. “Why are you working for the Baxkos military then? How do you manage to be free like this?”

                Victor’s expression darkened and he looked away. “Well originally it was for the truce between Baxkos and Lunaris. I guess you could say that’s why my mother is so against you. Only it was never your idea, but mine and my brother’s. It worked for a while, but then, after your attack on the Horvejkul family, Helios saw my being there as the way you got in. They claimed that our niceties was just a way to create the path for the disaster. So, when Helios rose to power, I didn’t really have a choice, I remained as a soldier there...to pardon your crimes. He has not marched on Lunaris because I made a promise that I would ensure you make it to Baxkos, if I found you. As for Chansung, you see...” Victor’s jaw clenched tightly. “My brother didn’t just vanish.”

                “What then?”

                Victor shrugged. “I don’t know. Even I don’t understand what happened that day. He just disappeared, and no one has seen him since. But...he made me promise that I would do my best to keep tabs as close to Helios and Toren as possible.”

                “Then he disappeared?”

                Victor nodded. “Perhaps he’s been waiting for you, I don’t know.”

                “Who is Toren?”

                Victor looked pained. “He’s one of Helios’ generals. He’s sadistic, and he works closely with Kim Min-Jun frequently to exploit the kingdom and its peoples.” He carried on and they made their way slowly to the community. “General Toren watches over the last of the Horvejkul siblings.”

                “Siblings?”

                “Yes, Nichkhun, Sherleen and Yanin; their older brother Nichan hasn’t been seen for a long time. It isn’t clear if he’s dead or not.”

                Wooyoung looked forward as they continued. “It sounds like everything is in chaos.”

                “It has been, and a lot of people blame you because of it. It can’t be denied that you did kill the Baxkos king and queen. But...the fallout since then, I truly believe that if my mother hadn’t gone along with mine and my brother’s plan, we wouldn’t have taken the stance she did, we wouldn’t be here right now speaking to one another.” Victor explained. “Everything was going well...until that day.”

                Wooyoung watched his expression. Whatever happened to him, Helios was the root of the problem once more. Being so aware of the dreams now, and seeing the effects and the intricacy of what Helios built around them, was horrifying. It didn’t surprise him now that Helios would have been able to perfect a dream ritual that could be activated within another. If they’d been doing this for the whole 2,000 years, that was plenty of time to figure it out.

                “We’re here.” Victor announced and they rode up to a small house.

                As Wooyoung got off the horse, he nearly collapsed. “!” The pain raced up his spine and through his thighs and hips. “I hate horses...” He groaned. “This...is worse than rough .” He straightened up and found Victor blushing. Then, he was laughing. “Shut up...”

                “Sorry, seeing you like this is a new experience for me.” He said and helped him inside. “Do you need assistance-

                “No, I’ll just go lie down.” He waved him. “And no teasing, my hips are in no condition for teasing, and I know what that teasing would lead to.” He shot back, his companion was blushing once again.

                “Right, I’ll bring in our things. So rest for a while.”

                “Thank you.” He said and found a bed. As soon as his head hit the pillow he was out.

                 Wooyoung rested until the following morning and finally felt normal, albeit a bit groggy. Victor was looking over some documents when he strolled into the kitchen.

                “All set for the day?”

                Wooyoung nodded. He ate a quick breakfast before they finally made their way out. The small town was more busy than yesterday. They were dressed in less formal clothing now, but he was sure they still looked odd. Wooyoung couldn’t help but be fascinated by what he saw around them. He would pull Victor from stall to stall, and did buy some things, much to the dismay of his colleague. They drew all kinds of stares from the vendors and other customers he noticed: awe, wonder, hatred, condescension, but they didn’t matter much to him.

                “Tell me, Victor, is homouality not accepted here?”

                “Ah...I don’t think it’s that.” He said. “Some may recognise you, others probably know who I am even if I dress like this. And, people aren’t very accepting of Immortals after what happened at the Baxkos palace and our history.”

                Wooyoung nodded. He couldn’t deny their outrage then. He wouldn’t want an Immortal walking around freely like he was either, especially himself. “So...this Min, will she put up a fight?”

                “Well, we’re technically supposed to be meeting her officially. She’s denied requests to meet the King of Baxkos as well. Her work is very well known. It’s said she writes the most beautiful books in all the lands.” He informed as they came to a small inn on the other side of town. “Kings seek her tomes, to fill their libraries with wonders and books of fantastic adventures.”

                “Sounds like I need to see her for more than one thing...” Wooyoung said. Something about meeting her was important in more than one way. If his theory that the prince of Lunaris was Chansung, and he needed to convince him to return, something told him Min had a tome or book which would help. His mind strayed to his lover then. If Chansung indeed retained his love of books, then it had always been a part of him. “Did I know your brother well?”

                Victor smiled, “quite well, makes me envious.”

                Wooyoung hugged himself. “Did he feel chained to me?”

                Victor shrugged, “something you’ll have to ask him when you see him I suppose.”

                Wooyoung nodded.

                “To be honest...I’m glad my brother ran away. If you know him, you know he prefers to seek new knowledge more than anything. He loves...books. I think he preferred to read about adventures more than live them.” He chuckled.

                Wooyoung smiled, “I agree. But, let us move on. The quicker we move the faster things can be answered.”

                They wandered inside. Wooyoung noticed the stares more now being in such confined quarters. He might as well give them a show. Noticing the barkeep, they strode forward together. Clearing his throat, the barkeep rolled his eyes. “Incorrigible bastard, you can roll your eyes all you like, I only have a question.”

                He saw Victor cover his eyes. This felt familiar to him. It reminded him of when he and Chansung met Taecyeon for the first time. Well...in the first dream.

                The barkeep looked behind him before indicating to himself, “for me?”

                Wooyoung exaggerated the roll of his eyes. “Am I not speaking to you?”

                “What’s a member of the Revolutionists want in these parts?” The barkeep wondered as he took up a knife. He slammed it down and stared him in the eye.

                “Please, reserve yourself, prince.” Victor urged, loud enough that many could hear.

                Whether or not this ended in a brawl, Wooyoung absolutely detested it when people rolled their eyes at him and discriminated against him and his comrades. “I mean you no offence,” he said, calming himself. If there was one thing he knew he was good at, it was seducing men, even ones he didn’t find attractive. He lowered his voice. “I look for only one in particular. I do hope you accept my apologies, ‘twas a long journey yesterday and my partner tired me out.”

                Victor choked.

                The barkeep went very red in the face.

                “I seek a scribe by the name of Min.”

                A look of absolute distaste shadowed the man’s features. “What would Revolutionists and Lunaris want with that loaded piece of garbage?”

                It took all of Wooyoung’s willpower to not reach over the counter, steal the knife, and end the barkeep’s sorry existence.

                “I request her services, of course.”

                “You, Baxkos, and Lunaris, all dogs you are, rotten.” The barkeep was obviously stalling now. Wooyoung turned quickly and saw her at the door, she bolted.

                “Well, I bid you a rotten day my fine gentleman, finding her has now become easy.”

                Victor took off before him. Wooyoung followed and provided the barkeep two raised middle fingers, and sent a spell through the air, shattering everything made of glass and bending anything of metal. He put up chase after Victor and Min. She wore a mess of robes, purples, gold and reds. She was also very quick on her feet. Then he watched her stumble. Before Victor could nab her she rolled and jetted down another street. Wooyoung flew past him and picked up his pace. “Yah!” He called. “We’re supposed to be meeting anyway you jackass!”

                “You shouldn’t call a lady a jackass you bastard!”

                By the time he caught up with her, she was out of breath. “I say, my fair lady, I would very much like to sit down, catch my breath, and speak with you!” He demanded as civilly as possible.

                “I’m not having anything to do with you and that Baxkos kiss-.” She yelled back.

                Wooyoung couldn’t help but grin and laugh to himself. She was the total opposite of his Min. “Stop running! We already arranged this meeting!”

                “I don’t care, you fiend!” She bellowed and raced up a rock face.

                Scrambling to the top after her, she was nowhere in sight. He muttered curses. Victor came up after him and Wooyoung walked slowly. Noticing some dirt disturbed by a great thicket, he cleared his throat. “Please don’t make this difficult.” No reply came. Focusing on his core, he took a deep breath. “Bring her to me.” He muttered and a beam of light flew from his hand into the thicket. The sound of a grunt was followed by a heavy thud. Yells carried in the wind as Min was dragged out by her ankles and hoisted into the air. “All my life knowing you, I’ve never had to do this. I’ll have you know, Scribe Min, I’ve done a lot of things in my life; but I have never forcefully pulled a lady out of the bushes by her ankles.”

                Victor chuckled behind him.

                “I’ve fought all kinds of magicfolk, stolen potions and spells from them, led platoons into battle, and lost many...and all have one thing in common with you, dear Scribe, you’re all bloody difficult to deal with.”

                She finally caught her breath, keeping her robes covering her lower half. She glared. “Let me go, you bastard!” Min yelled.

                Wooyoung wagged his finger in her face. “We had an arrangement-

                “I do not care for that anymore. You killed the king and queen of Baxkos without mercy, and allowed a dictator to seize the throne. What trust should I have in you?”

                “None, but I should have you know,” he said and stood before her, “I’m doing everything in my power right now to fix what has been done.”

                “You can do that without my help. I will never write anything for that demon of a man.”

                Wooyoung was taken aback. He knew Helios was a terrible man, but it was just hearing the absolute disgust and defiance from Min – something he’d never experienced before – that truly shook him. “Well, I do not give services to the current King of Baxkos. He used me, and now I seek to destroy every piece of his soul, and vanquish him for good.” He said and she seemed to be more compliant. “I am now trying to redeem myself. I have given my services to Lunaris, to serve the queen. I believe you have some things for me, very important things.”

                Min seemed to cease her struggling and finally acknowledged him with a look of relief. “Well, why didn’t you bloody say so in the first place?!”

                Wooyoung shrugged, “you ran before I had the chance.”

                “Oh, jump off a cliff. People in that inn were starting to fall head over heels for you with that lure.”

                Wooyoung crossed his arms. “Not that I don’t want to keep humouring you, but we do have pressing matters at hand. You’re the one making everything difficult...”

                “Just let me down, you pompous twit.”

                Victor inhaled sharply, “you wench! Do you realise to whom you are speaking?”

                Wooyoung snapped his fingers and she was released. “No, Victor, after all that has happened I deserve insults.”

                Min gathered herself and sat down, still trying to calm herself.

                “Now that you have made us chase you where no others can hear, what do you have to say?”

                Min grinned and retrieved a bag. “I thought you were lying the last time we met, when you said that something would happen to you.”

                Wooyoung looked at her curiously. “I planned this?”

                She nodded, “you plan everything...” She pulled out a small envelope, a tome, and a map. “The envelope...well, I’m not sure about it. But you said that it contained something important, and when the time was right, you were supposed to give it to your mage.” Wooyoung nodded and accepted it. She took up the tome and the map. “You said these were related, and that you would need to seek someone important. The map is of the lands of the north, and the wintry forest there you said would be important. The tome...you said was a way to reveal why your goals were important and your reason for making that person understand why it was impertinent they join you again.”

                Wooyoung looked over the map. The wintry forest lay far beyond Lunaris. “Where are we now?”

                Victor touched the small community on the map. “It’s at least six days ride by horse. Together we could get there in three days time.”

                Wooyoung shook his head. “If you are behind enemy lines you must return to Baxkos.” He said and met Victor’s gaze. “I need to make this right.” He turned to Min. “I thank you for holding onto these things for me, and remembering what I must do.”

                “It doesn’t make sense...” She said, confusing them both.

                “What doesn’t?”

                “You are different, but I know you are the same.” She said and produced a bottle of liquor. “It also doesn’t make sense that Helios would make you go through an assassination, killing many from Baxkos, and then erase your memory of everything.”

                Wooyoung stilled.

                “I’ve been thinking the same thing.” Victor said. “Nothing seems to make sense...”

                “What makes me even more curious is...if you truly forgot what happened, you should remember your earlier years, otherwise you would be useless to all of us.” Min continued and took a long sip from her bottle. “So...what you told me was true.”

                Wooyoung held her gaze for a long time. “What did I tell you?”

                “We are made, and this reality we are in right now...is an artificial dream.”

                Min was conscious and aware of where they were but she couldn’t place it. However, the Wooyoung before him said he tampered with her presence in this dream. “Did I say anything else?”

                Min shrugged. “Life is going to change, and this.” Min produced another piece of parchment. “You told me this was to stay with you, and when the time was right, a sacrifice would need to be made. Wooyoung...” She said softly. “I know you would go to any length to protect the people you care about, but this is dangerous.”

                Wooyoung accepted it. “Then it is necessary, and I thank you for helping me. I hope after this, things work out for the better.”

                Min looked upon him gravely. “Whatever, do what you must.”

                “I intend to, as always.” He said with a grin.

                Min shared it and handed over the bottle. “I hope we never cross paths again.” She said and rose to her feet. “Maybe my life will finally be normal.”

                Wooyoung watched her turn and leave. He took a swig from the bottle and packed away the objects he received. He would need to hide them on his person somehow. Turning back to Victor he found him looking discontent. “What is it, Victor?”

                He looked up and held his eye. “I just...worry for the outcome of all this. You took a grave hit, and now...it seems you are resorting to drastic measures.”

                Wooyoung held out his hand which Victor took, and he hauled him to his feet. “Until I am sure, I cannot tell you what I plan.”

                “That’s what concerns me.” He pressed urgently. “You’re making decisions without any help.”

                Wooyoung smiled, “I guess I still haven’t learned to depend on people then.”

                Victor scowled and looked away.

                “I’m sorry, Victor. But...please know that it comforts me I am getting somewhere.”

                He nodded.

                He started back to the town and Victor followed.”Tell me something...”

                “What?”

                “What’s Nichkhun like?”

                A smile graced Victor’s lips. “He pretends to not know you, putting himself at risk. I fear something may be wrong with him though. He’s weakening from something.”

                Wooyoung stopped, “will you be able to find out?”

                “Maybe...he’s been more guarded as of late. Perhaps you are right, and I should remain at Baxkos for a while – at least until you are prepared to move.”

                Wooyoung nodded. “It’ll take me nearly two weeks at best to find him and bring him back.”

                Victor gave him a curt nod. “Will you truly be alright?”

                Wooyoung shrugged, “I don’t know, but I’ve made it through worse things.”

                His companion deflated. “That doesn’t comfort me at all.”

                Wooyoung laughed. “I will depart tomorrow morning for the wintry forest then. You shall return to Baxkos.”

                “Alright,” Victor said.

                Back at the safe house, Wooyoung prepared for the trek north. Once ready, he picked up the tome and ran his fingers over it. Whatever his other self had cooked up, if Min was having apprehensions and worries, then it was something extreme. He knew more than ever that he was at his wits end. He dreamed terribly that night, wondering what would come to pass, if he could even find Chansung, and just what the hell would enable their survival.

                The following morning, seated on his horse, and Victor at his side, he looked towards the north. He turned his gaze and found Victor looking troubled. “I promise, I will find him and I will make things right, Victor.”

                “I...I know, but please be careful. Witches also inhabit the northern regions, and if you lose consciousness...well, just be careful.”

                Wooyoung nodded. “Until we meet again.”

                Victor waved him off.

                There was much riding on this venture, and Wooyoung needed to succeed. There was no other option.

***

A/N: Finally something a little on the light side and a bit of Wooyoung's playful, sassy tongue.

Next Chapter: The Baxkos Prince: The One with the Frozen Heart (will be in Nichkhun's perspective)