dimensions • yang jeongin

s e v e n t e e n

This was definitely not a good idea.

With the absence of other people just like their encounter with this mysterious guy yesterday, it was weird. But Aeri did not question anything since she knew it was possible for the wizard to do that.

"Those were people who came to Ordshire by sorcery. They were outsiders." the wizard said. "Just like you."

Instinctively, Jeongin went on a protective mode by pulling Aeri behind him. "She doesn't mean any harm. She just wants to return."

The wizard did not seem amused with that. He just hummed, "You want the forbidden song, the only way to open the door to the other side."

"For her to return, yes–"

"And you need to communicate with whoever is outside there." he said to Aeri. "The outsider who learned the history of Ordshire, the mystic place with the possible intention to bring harm."

"I don't!" she immediately said as she remembered Minho. He would never do that, right?

"Then why the book?"

"You seem to know what's in the future as well then why assuming?" Aeri shot back. She couldn't believe this guy was accusing her best friend for years. She knew well about Minho's interest in learning these old, mystic cities but that's all. He would never do harm or come here when he knew what the consequences were.

The question made the corner of his lips curled up into a smirk. Jeongin tried to detach the two but as soon as the wizard's fingers touched her chin, it seems like they were seperated. Aeri could not feel Jeongin's presence anywhere. She started to panic but the wizard's gaze was too intimidating for her to look away.

"Now, little one," he started. "Do you want to help me finding the person I've been looking for?"

His touch was cold. Aeri did not know anything about the history of this wizard so she remain silent. Regret washed over her that she did not take interest in anything Minho told about the guy in front of him.

She wanted to speak, but she couldn't. Seeing her struggling, the guy chuckled.

"It's Hyunjin." he suddenly introduced himself. "If you tell that bakery man to stop learning about me, then maybe I could offer some help. I don't need some useless man to dedicate his attention for me."

"T-that would be impossible."

"It is possible." he simply replied. "Possible, just like how you met him before."

Chills crept over her when realising Hyunjin would have probably known everything that happened. She heard a light scoff from him before vanishing.

It was silence and empty again. She trembled badly, her hand gripped on Jeongin's arm as support but as soon as she turned to him, she was surprised.

Jeongin was crying.

♡

"Your ticket."

Aeri took the train ticket from Jeongin with a lot of questions playing in her mind. This morning he suddenly told her to pack a set of new clothes and talked to his parents. It looked serious but she could just watch from the bedroom door. She could not hear anything from the distance, moreover when they were almost whispering.

Safe to say at least, they were not happy.

Maybe that wasn't safe at all.

Despite the worry that sets in her heart, Aeri couldn't help but to admire the train station. Everything she had seen in the early period movies came into life. The large suitcases, big dresses with corset, hair tied up into a high bun, the umbrella's designs, and even the old cigars. She couldn't stop eyeing everyone that walked past her that she almost bumped into a huge fierce looking guard.