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Epilogue

It was quite the unfortunate awakening. Yet again, my covers were ripped away from me without warning. An audible groan left my lips and I turned away from the source of torture.

"Get up."

The two words uttered in that exact arrangement in isolation had me mentally kicking my feet. I could hear the smile in Yeosang's voice. My eyelids painfully peeled open and I sat up in a daze, rubbing my face. Yeosang moved over to Mingi, the typical scene of morning violence just to wake up the giant. I heard a rough 'why' from Mingi who sleepily glared at Yeosang. Yeosang angelically beamed back and walked out.

"Man, I wanna go back to sleep." Mingi slurred.

I hummed in agreement, though the sound barely came out due to the hoarseness of my throat. If Yeosang wasn't enough to disturb the early morning, Yunho barged in wearing a bright expression.

"Rise and shine." Yunho chirped.

I grumbled to myself. I wished it was 'decline and die' so I wouldn't have to do anything.

"I take that you're not a morning person?"

I squinted at Yunho, recovered my covers and laid back down, turning my back to him.

"I'll call Yeosang back."

At that I opened my eyes and glared, daring him to do it. Yunho chuckled at my response, having spectated the routine before. He approached Mingi and slightly bent down.

"Twin tower number two, let's go."

Yunho slung Mingi's arm over his shoulder and pulled him up who sleepily tilted to the side.

"Princess Minki, time to get ready. Today we're having fun just as you suggested." Yunho spoke directly into Mingi's ear who winced at the volume. "Now remind me who was the one that was jealous and claimed that I abandoned their moral loyalty?"

I watched on as Mingi's body drooped towards his bed. Yunho struggled to keep him up. Although I had been woken up abruptly, I managed to crack a smile at the comedic duo.

"Ex-apprentice, you better hurry up."
Yeosang peered from out of the room.
I trudged along, passing the duo who were still in the same battle, Yunho with Mingi's extra weight and Mingi with sleep.

"Close your eyes." Yeosang blocked my field of vision, waiting for me to do as instructed.

I obliged, nerves tingling in anticipation. Afterall, I did not like surprises. Yeosang led me forward until he let go and I stopped. I heard him rummage for something before it became quiet again.

"Open your eyes." He produced a bow from behind him, "tada."

It was made from metal with a protruding piece for easier arrow alignment. The curves were elegant and the hand grip seemed customised. It did answer the baffling midnight encounter of waking up to Yeosang measuring my hand and making a mould out of my clenched hand.

"I don't know what to say." I marvelled.

"Then don't say anything."

And the mood was gone. Nevertheless, I took the bow and inspected it.

"I saw how sad you seem every time you see your old bow so I made you another one."

I couldn't bring myself to explain anything. I developed a sort of resentment against archery but the gesture touched me. On rare occasions, in spite of everything, I did practise whenever the thoughts became too loud. Yeosang must've caught me during those times, monitoring behind the clear walls of the hallway.

'Want to test it out?"

I sensed an underlying mischief under his angelic halo. He marched out through the side door, holding it out for me to pass through. When we were positioned next to Wooyoung's garden bed, I belatedly realised that I didn't have projectiles to shoot.

"Look here." Yeosang held up his arms and waved his fingers. "You see nothing right?"

I nodded, entertained by Yeosang's antics.

"Now, with the snap of my fingers, I'll make arrows appear out of thin air."
I hummed in acknowledgement, watching closely where Yeosang waved his fingers over. He snapped his fingers and arrows slid from his sleeves. He handed the bound bundle to me before moving to snap his fingers again with the other hand. Half of the bundle slid out but the tail end was a little bulkier, getting caught on the sleeve. I snorted at the struggle with his sleeve.

"There." Yeosang finally handed the bundle to me.

"Why did you choose here?" I asked him.

"You'll see." He grinned.

I was a little startled at the glimmer in his eyes. It seemed so alien in face of this innocent maltese image I had of him. I rolled my shoulder and cracked my neck side to side before loading up the bow. I aimed to shoot above the full extent of the garden, hoping that nothing was struck. Admittedly, I was a little rusty and barely skimmed the garden's edge.

"My plants! My babies!" The loud screech of panic came from the shed.

Wooyoung scowled when he scooped up the arrow and stormed up to us. I gulped, sensing big trouble. Yeosang on the other hand was giggling at the reaction of his long-time friend. Wooyoung deposited the arrow in my hands before tugging at our ears with unrestrained fury.

"Augh." Yeosang exclaimed at the discomfort.

I couldn't find myself to make any noise, feeling wronged at the accusation. I simply glared at Yeosang who returned it with a giggle. Neither Wooyoung nor I could stay mad for long. Wooyoung released our reddened ears. He threw gardening tools at us. I caught the spade and Yeosang caught the rake.

"You guys better help me after that scare. I'm expanding my garden."
He stalked off and I placed my bow on the ground before following behind like a duckling.

•••

After hours of gruelling labour, I collapsed to the ground, not caring that my clothes were dirtied. I stared up at the darkening blue sky as the stars emerged. Footsteps thudded against the ground until they were close enough that I could feel the vibrations of each step.

"Doing laundry for you lot is hell." Seonghwa tsked.

I sat up slowly, taking in the sight of the rest of the crew filing out and setting down blankets. Groups of three settled on each blanket. I dusted myself off before I sat besides Mingi who was in a quiet mood. He stared off into the distance. San collapsed next to Mingi, curiously following his line of sight.

"We all had dreams before." Mingi started, "a lot of ours were to be on stage, whether it be advocating, dancing or music in general."

It did explain that nearly everybody hummed whilst they were focused or the ability to sing in tune and so stably too.

"We joke that in some universe, we are all on one stage together where eight makes one team."

"I'll be your number one fan then." I joked.

Mingi chuckled and San reached over to ruffle my hair. I once again swatted his hands away. He settled as well as I. We sat cross legged on the floor in silence to watch the brilliant sunset. I soaked in the hues of orange, pink and purple. It made me think.

All of the hardships from the other dimension, all the hardships in this dimension. The sun may disappear everyday but without fail, it rises again. I had wandered around with an unknown fever in search of a place where I could find myself, to a place where my heart lies.

This was an end to a beginning and the beginning to an end. Regardless of the beginnings or the endings, they all led to a place I call home.

♡ ♡ ♡