Protector from Afar ✔️

Prologue

A/N: In this story I sometimes use different POVs, but MC (Seraphina) is first person. Writing in English turned out to be pretty challenging; if any of you find severe spelling errors or sentences sounding to robotic, feel free to let me know. Hope you like slow build, swords, magic and mythology ;)

~*~ PROLOGUE ~*~

April

Chan's POV

微光

For a brief moment all was right with the world. Chan had been able to sleep, but all too quickly that nagging, familiar feeling spread inside him. He slowly stretched to get rid of the heaviness in his limbs. He didn't feel relaxed, hadn't for months. Starting mid-January, he and his members of Stray Kids were able to agree on an extended break with the company. After two comebacks, increasing international popularity and endless pressure, the group felt burnt out. Now the first half of the year was almost over and nothing had improved.

There was a loud crash, the walls vibrated, and Chan sat bolt upright in his bed. His heart was racing. He took a quick look at his phone, one o'clock in the afternoon. He heard loud, excited voices and as he opened the door, Jisung swept past him and slammed his own bedroom door shut. Rubbing his eyes, Chan waddled into the kitchen where he met Changbin. Changbin sat at the table in his sweaty workout clothes, slurping an instant noodle dish.

"What the hell's going on?" Chan asked, his voice crunchy and an octave lower.

Changbin chewed, swallowed, and then looked up. "What do I know. I just got home myself."

Chan wouldn't get anything more from him, he knew his best friend that well. But he wasn't prepared for the cold, tense tone in Changbin's voice. Shaking his head, he turned around, went upstairs, knocked on Jisung's door and, without waiting, he simply opened it.

He was greeted by a scowling Jisung, sitting on his bed and quickly pulling his hoodie over his face. But Chan was quicker to notice the red eyes and tear-soaked cheeks.

"Get out," Jisung grumbled.

Chan sighed. "Things can't go on like that. Not two days go by when you two don't argue. I'm really trying to save the group here, but if you don't tell me what happened between you and Minho-"

"I don't know either! Now GET OUT!"

~°~°~

Bending over the sink, Chan slapped ice-cold water on his face. It used to always help him wake up. But when he looked at himself in the mirror, he barely recognized himself. Dark shadows under his eyes, the first wrinkles at the corners of his mouth. His band members always teased him because he was the oldest, and from the looks of him, that would undoubtedly continue. He was tired. Physically and emotionally drained. Like he was wading through mud.

Chan had changed into fresh clothes, at least he felt a little better now. Not like a new person, even if he had hoped so. As he passed Jisung's room, he paused for a moment. He felt a strong desire to hold Jisung in his arms and tell him that everyone goes through a difficult phase. And that Chan would always be there for him. He would offer himself as an intermediary between him and Minho, completely neutral.

He raised his arm to knock, only to realize he'd already done the exact same thing before.

He went to Minho's apartment and tried to talk to him. It took some persistence on Chan's part, but in the end they both talked late into the night. Relationships are never easy. And how did it end? For two weeks everything was as before. Peace, joy, sunshine. Jisung and Minho laughed again, flirting unabashedly with each other. The positive mood spread across the entire group and culminated in a picknick at the Han River. Two wonderful weeks that ended abruptly in tears and silence. 

Slowly, Chan's arm lowered.

He went back into his room and flopped onto the bed when a *ding* announced the arrival of an email on his phone.

Dear Mr Bahng,

We regret to inform you that your booked stay for June 2024 in our premises at 'La Rivière D'Or' has to be canceled. The reason is a failure of structural stability.

All payments made will be returned immediately.

If you have any questions, we are available at any time under the following telephone number and email address.

We thank you for your understanding and wish you all the best.

Sincerely

Slightly confused, Chan read the email twice. And then he asked the Internet and found a three-day-old article, including a video, describing how arson led to the explosion of the hotel and surrounding buildings. There was only rubble and ashes left, luckily – or incredibly – no one got hurt.

His plush goose was leaning next to the pillow on his bed. He pressed it to his face, screaming in frustration into the soft fur. Great. Just great. He was so looking forward to this trip. For a whole month, he and all the members of Stray Kids would enjoy the sweet life in Paris.

eat. Carefree. Just the 8 of us. No managers, no staff, no cameras. Totally normal young adults. Friends who wanted to have fun. And for Chan it was the last attempt.

Groaning, Chan got up and turned on his laptop. He flinched when he saw the lock screen photo. It showed himself posing for a selfie with Changbin and Hyunjin in the pool. The spontaneous short vacation in Australia, mid-February. Chan slowly leaned back in the chair. The memory of it gave him a strange feeling in his stomach.

He read the email again. Maybe he was stuck in a bad dream, he thought, because things would never go so wrong so quickly in real life. There was a postscript. He must have missed it.

P.S.: In this way I would like to make your search for new accommodation easier if you are interested and I highly recommend the 'RelaxResort von Kattalin' in Hochmühlstettenegg, Austria. The food is excellent and there are many leisure activities. No wish remains unfulfilled.

Chan hesitated for a moment, then tapped the link.

At least the homepage made a clean impression, and the price was well within his budget. Without thinking twice about it, he booked and paid for the entire month of July. Then he announced in the group chat that the vacation had been slightly delayed and changed, which Felix responded with a crying and laughing smiley. Of all the members, Felix was looking forward to Paris the most. He loved this city. The others either didn't answer at all or gave a thumbs up.

Chan didn't care. He would keep his promise. And even if it was all in vain, Chan had at least tried. He had done everything to save Stray Kids. But at some point he too would have reached his limit.