A mysterious thief grabs hold of one-half of an ancient artifact that threatens the lives of the wizarding community. Byulyi, a magical law enforcer bands together with Jungkook, her mentee, and Jin, a peculiar time-traveling wizard, to collect piec...
One child continued to sulk and refused to say goodnight.
In Byulyi's mind, she was torn between staying where she was and going over to the bay window where she had forgotten her purple security blanket. Going over there would mean having to cross Minhyuk's bed and be forced into a truce with the elder brother. The teasing was still fresh in her mind.
Byulyi can't do ma-!
"Where is my starlight?" Mrs. Moon sat on her daughter's bed.
"Hmph," Byulyi pulled on the comforter and covered her head.
Mrs. Moon scooped up the toddler and settled her on her lap. "Now, what's on my baby's mind?"
"Baby," Minhyuk giggled before closing his eyes.
Mrs. Moon unwrapped the blanket, only for Byulyi to bury her face into the fluffy fabric.
"I can't do anything wight (right)," Byulyi's said in a muffled sound.
Mrs. Moon made eye contact with her husband. Mr. Moon gave her a sympathetic look as he crossed the room to Seulgi's bassinet.
Compared to her siblings, Byulyi had not yet manifested any magical ability. When Minhyuk was three, he did accidental magic by making his broccoli change colors. Even Seulgi, who was only one year old, made her stuffed animal hop behind her as she crawled around.
Byulyi peeked one eye out and watched her father cast a spell to make Seulgi's mobile spin. She liked watching people do magic. She enjoyed seeing glowing strands that swirled from people's arms and flowed into ribbons from their wands. The colors changed depending on the spell. That night Byulyi saw pink ribbons wrap around the mobile before slowly vanishing.
"Hm. Tell you what. I need a special someone to do a job for me," Mrs. Moon smoothed out the baby hair from her daughter's forehead.
Byulyi lowered her blanket down to her nose at the suggestion. Half convinced she could not help but want to be that special someone.
"I need someone," Mrs. Moon whispered as if sharing a secret only with Byulyi. "To keep the family heirloom safe tonight."
A spark flickered on Byulyi's face. She turned towards Minhyuk's bed and was grateful that he was asleep.
"Me. Mama. Me," Byulyi hushed.
"Okay then," Mrs. Moon nodded towards her husband for him to approach them.
Mr. Moon sat at the end of Byulyi's bed and tickled her foot. "Ready, starlight?"
"Uh-huh," Byulyi bobbed a little in her mother's arms.
(Soundtrack: Tsungi Horn, Avatar the Last Airbender)
Mr. and Mrs. Moon hummed a pleasant tune, awakening the magic in their veins. Byulyi felt the stir of something tingling in their little circle. They raised their open palms, and like striking drums, glowing streaks began to pulse and formed spirals on their skin. Inked on their hands were the lines of a golden magnolia flower.
"Wow," Byulyi breathed.
Mr. Moon took an inhale and brought his fingers to the tattoo. Like a thin film, it easily peeled off. His eyes then followed the golden magnolia as it floated in front of his eyes and gradually developed into tangible stone, its surface shiny.
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Mrs. Moon followed the same gesture, but instead of creating a shape, the magnolia flower separated into golden strands. The strands then moved to wrap around the stone and twirled into intricate knots and long tassels.
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In front of Byulyi's face was a shining norigae. It had green silk threads, a flower pattern knot, and a jade stone in the very center. She had often seen such trinkets on her mother's hanbok or at the end of her father's fan.
Mrs. Moon lifted her wand, and incense danced from its end. Smoke then gathered in the shapes of palaces, horses, and people in traditional wear.
"After years of war, a king sought to build a symbol of unity for his people. To do so, he asked his scholars to take rocks from the gates that protected the capital," Mrs. Moon paused, and the smoke formed structures with tiled roofs. "With Namdaemun Gate from the south and Bukdaemun from the north, the pieces of rocks were crafted into a jade stone."
Mr. Moon waved over the smoke, and mountains and seas appeared. "But the symbol was not complete, and the king was saddened. Hearing the news, the clans from the different provinces each gave a gift to the king."
"What did they give?" voiced Byulyi.
"A thread," Mrs. Moon replied.
"Not just any thread," Mr. Moon gently took the norigae and placed it on Byulyi's open hands. "The clans were wizarding folk. It was a magical thread."
"Like us?" Byulyi yawned.
"Yes, love. Like us." Mr. Moon replied but felt a pang of guilt.
"With the jade stone and the magical threads, a norigae was created that held mystical powers," Mrs. Moon resumed the story while stroking the back of Byulyi's hand.
"What- what kind of powers?" Byulyi's eyes began to droop at her mother's comforting motion.
"It can give magic," Mrs. Moon beamed. "Healers used it to save people from illness both in the body and spirit. But, in the wrong hands, it can take the magic away. Now the Moon clan-"
Mr. Moon chuckled. "I think someone has fallen asleep."
(Soundtrack: A Avatar's Love, Avatar the Last Airbender)
Mrs. Moon pouted at first, but she smiled at the sound of Byulyi's light snores. She moved closer and kissed her daughter's forehead. "Sweet dreams, my love."
Mr. Moon stroked his daughter's right cheek, brought the comforter up to her chin, and placed her security blanket in her free hand. "Love you as much as the stars in the sky, Byul-ah."
The two parents quietly slid out of the room. Since their children were scared of the dark, they left a small crack on the door for the hallway light to shine through. As the three Moon children slept, the only sounds heard were the ruffled feathers of an owl by the open window and the lullaby from a music box.
