☦︎︎ 𝘿𝙀𝙄𝙏𝙔 [𝙈𝘼𝙍𝙆𝙃𝙔𝙐𝘾𝙆]☦︎︎

☦︎︎ 33 ☦︎︎

"Nervous?" asks Kun.

"A little... but I suppose that it's a good thing?" starts Donghyuck, "it means this is important."

"Or maybe you're just nervous because your brain is half the size of others and you can't comprehend what's going on," says Doyoung in a snide manner, looking once at Haechan and smirking at him before whipping his head back around to the front of the door.

"Leave him alone, brat," begins Kun, "if anyone's got half a brain it's you."

Doyoung sticks up his nose and ignores the comment.

The three of them stand outside the door of the First's room. Kun on the left, Doyoung on the right, and Donghyuck in the centre - the two Seconds have been ordered to escort him.

Suddenly, the trio hears faint but quickly approaching footsteps from down the hallway. The owner of the sound seems dainty and cautious yet, nonetheless, in a rush.

"Donghyuck!" A voice calls from behind them. The footsteps grow louder until they come to a stop 20 metres from where they stand.

Donghyuck turns around slowly and, upon recognising the figure, smiles gently.

"Good luck!"

"Thank you, Jaemin," Donghyuck shouts in response. His brother smiles fondly before sprinting back down the hall. Donghyuck watches him until he is out of sight, feeling a warm sense of love in his heart, and turns back to the door.

"Donghyuck," begins Doyoung, gazing down upon the younger, "it's time."

~

Upon entering, Donghyuck is greeted by all the important Firsts sitting at their panel. The room is harsh and particularly blinding today, the white marbled floors and walls creating a cold atmosphere, and the gazes from the giants adding to this. But no gaze is as harsh as the one from Ten, whose eyes seemed filled with hatred, glaring straight through the boy.

Donghyuck walks precautiously to the familiar X on the floor and stands upright before bowing 90 degrees at his superiors.

"Welcome home, Donghyuck," begins Xiaojun, "I'm sure you are aware of how serious this is."

"Yes, sir-"

"Never in my life have I had one of my creations behave so ungratefully towards me," Ten's voice bellowed in the room, bouncing off the walls and echoing loudly. "How DARE you behave like this towards me! And after I gave you life!"

Ten scoffed and stood up, bending over the counter which the Firsts sit behind and leaning his head towards Donghyuck. "Do you have any idea of how disrespectful you are?! I chose YOU to be the dual-title holder of not only the God of Light title, which I stripped from MYSELF to give to you, but also the holder of the vacant Second title of the Protector of People. I promoted you! You had only THREE CONDITIONS FOR YOUR EXCURSION, AND YOU COULDN'T EVEN RESPECT YOUR CREATOR AND YOUR SUPERIORS ENOUGH TO ABIDE BY THEM!!"

Ten pauses for a second and sits back down begrudgingly, before signalling to Xiaojun to continue.

"Donghyuck, although you broke the 3 Rules of safe Earth travel and, by Deity law, should be exiled or killed for your crimes, the council presented you with 2 options. The first option was to remain on Earth but be transformed into a mortal human, with your powers stripped from you and all contact and ties with the other deities on our homeworld severed, including those of the Second Qian Kun and the Third Na Jaemin, of which you are particularly fond of."

"Shouldn't his memories be wiped too, sir?" enquired one First on the panel, directing his question at Ten.

"Hmmm, I never thought of that," pondered Ten.

"But that wasn't part of it!" Blurted Donghyuck, his eyes wide and blood boiling.

"SILENCE!"

Donghyuck hangs his head to hide his cold gaze and bites his tongue.

"Unfortunately, sir," begins Xiaojun to Ten, "by Deity law, we cannot amend the rule." Xiaojun turns back to Donghyuck, "your memories will not be wiped.

"The second option was to return home at the end of your trip in 3 months. You will be stripped of your Protector of People title and all information you acquired on your expedition will be passed to the next title holder. Your memories will remain but you can never return to Earth again. You will also be demoted back to a Third, with your original title still belonging to you along with all of your original powers. You will continue to perform your duties as Earth's God of Light, and you will continue sharing your living quarters with the God of Darkness Na Jaemin."

A silence looms in the air for a minute before Ten's mighty stature casts a shadow upon Donghyuck, making him raise his head. He looks up at the First before Ten asks him the question on everyone's mind.

"Which option do you choose?"

The air hangs heavy with anticipation. Breathing from everyone in the room hitches and the mere seconds of silence between Ten's question and Donghyuck's response feels like hours.

Although Donghyuck was sure he knew which choice to pick, he starts to have doubts. His few seconds of extra pondering whilst twiddling his thumbs angers his superiors, and Ten slams his hands down in anticipation.

"NOW!" Ten bellows in frustration, "CHOOSE NOW!"

Donghyuck grits his teeth at the devils in front of him and further contemplates his options. He takes a deep breath and a slow blink, confirming with himself that he the conclusion he has come to is correct.

Then, with his head held high, and his back straightened in confidence, Donghyuck answers.

"I choose Option 1."