Once Upon A Dream | Jackson Wang x Reader

01 In the Shadows

"I know you
I walked with you once upon a dream
I know you
That look in your eyes is so familiar a gleam

And I know it's true,
That visions are seldom what they seem
But if I know you
I know what you'll do
You'll love me at once
The way you did once upon a dream

But if I know you
I know what you do
You love me at once
The way you did once upon a dream"

- "Once Upon a Dream", Lana Del Rey

Unfortunately, in this so-fucked-up, sick, hopeless and chaotic world, money won't get you anywhere. Can you imagine that?

Money has become less and less valuable these days, sad to say. It can't bring you anything, let alone happiness or even basic needs. And no, this isn't happening because of inflation, recession or any economic and business bullshit and anything like that. It's just the way it is.

Alas, power isn't shared among politicians or celebrities, no. Now-a-day, in this city, power belongs to The Wizards and Magicians. Power belongs to those with tainted blood. It allows them to morph and abuse the world that they live in.

The poor in the street die in fire and warfare. Most of the lower class vanished. They were banished either by severe disease, deadly plague, hunger or poverty. They were scraping together a living only to perish abruptly.

The Wizards and Magicians rule the flow of the economy recklessly. They act rashly, carelessly, haphazardly and injudiciously.

They are just lowly, greedy, fat pigs who make all the people live even more miserable and languish in sorrow. Most of them even take sick pleasure in watching society burn.

Only the thing is, the government doesn't know there are peasants being born with magic coursing through their veins. Apparently, the magic is in their blood or DNA, stuff like that. It's like their lifeline, their fate.

Young men and women are rising up in the world with unbridled gifts that can't be explained by scientists or The Old Sorcery. These youths have started their guerrilla movement secretly.

They want to rebel and fight for their rights to a better life, even if in silence and in secret. They want to be independent and do not want to be enslaved by anyone, even though in the process, the council members still have power over them.

And Jackson is one of those young men. He has fixed his place in this fucked-up society through ruthless bonds. He was consuming all opportunities for growth. He had to do it.

Often, he has to do whatever it takes to survive. Killing, stealing, cheating and slandering, Jackson has done it all. Don't blame him for that. He didn't have a choice. He was forced to do so.

Jackson lives alone in this crazy world, all by himself. His family died long ago. His beloved mother passed away because of chronic cancer and sometimes he misses her. A lot.

Never mind property, this poor young man doesn't even have a place to live, he's totally starting from scratch. The death glare has watched and haunted him for years. And Jackson wants to free himself from all this madness.

He's been trying his best to find a way out to escape the shackles of darkness that continue to bind him with chains in this city. He's been waiting in the shadows for his time to come.

Until one day, Jackson finally managed to fix himself an apprenticeship with The Daemons Mastery. It's an ancient type of magic that has been ignored for centuries. Probably because it often comes at the cost of blood sacrifices.

Needless to say, those who deal with it must willingly confront the demons and evil spirits. But Jackson doesn't give a damn. He's desperate, he has no way out. No one has a better way out.

Now for him, living in this world is like a dream, a nightmare to be precise. That way, if some demons will help him get higher up in this doomed, hopeless and pathetic world, then so be it.

Jackson has nothing more to offer a demon besides his blood, his body and his soul. If that means he won't die in hunger as a victim of the murder on the streets, then he's pretty much happy.

One night, his wizard master, Mark Tuan, leaves for a Wizard and Magician function of some deed and sort. Mark was leaving him beyond bored in the abandoned warehouse they've been living in for a while, it was in some area called Dongdaemun.

Jackson finished all of his studies. He is already done with all their equipment. However, he wants to learn something new. So, without any doubts, he decides to steal his master's grimoire. It's that little black book of many types of demons and how to summon them.

The young wizard smirked. He flips through the black book without hesitation as he is looking for the simplest demon to summon: a servant.

Yes, a servant, that kind of demon that will do everything he desires, they wouldn't even complain; they wouldn't even bat an eye.

He thought, yeah, that would be pretty fun and entertaining. Usually, it only requires some sort of blood or lock of hair, or something and anything that is easily given.

So, Jackson quickly sets up the table. The young man is mixing together all the necessary ingredients on the altar before gridding the rundown warehouse with blood and salt.

He makes it that way so no other wizard and magician can hijack his spell, or worst; steal his precious demon. Nah, not tonight, Satan. Not even a chance. He thinks this is his own magic circle and no one else's.

After several minutes completing the protection spell, Jackson takes the ceremonial dagger to his wrist. The young man frowned as he carved the necessary symbol for summoning a demon of servant. He winced and grimaced slightly at the pain of his cut skin.

As soon as he finishes, his blood turns black as it drips in the silver goblet on the table. Jackson chants the proper words solemnly and religiously. He is watching in intrigue as his black blood pools in the cup.

And then some deep green smoke starts to form. The young wizard covers his wrist as he steps away from the table, allowing the smoke to freely form.

Jackson is cursing under his breath for the blood to stop oozing from his veins. Why the heck do humans have to bleed so freaking much? It's really inconvenient at this point it's so annoying and pissed him off-

"Mmm, I smell something yummy..." Jackson heard a deep yet so sweet voice singing, it surprised him.