The Promise ♡

🍃 Realization

Inside the village hut, Jeon was resting back on the bed, Tae nestled in his arms. The warm glow of the lanterns flickered softly, casting comforting shadows around them while them glowing in the center. Despite the tension hung in the air,  they are forced to discuss their fears and the dangers surrounding them.
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"Ji Min... he is the father of Mila's child and Yoongi hyung is the father of Ji Min's child and most importantly... I cannot have your child before you turn into a dragon..." Tae's words sounds serious leaving Jeon eyes widen.

"Tae... please don't dig up my hidden agony," Jeon pleaded, his voice quivering. "Deep down, I know everything around me is supernatural... but all this began once you stepped on this island. I'm not blaming you, but if you're trying to bring out the real me, as you call it....the Drago man... then... please stop.

I don't want that life. I don't want that power. I want peace. I want to live a normal life. I want you as my wife, I want kids with you. I don't even want to live in the palace. I wish to live as a normal person in a peaceful village.

Even this general designation and responsibilities  around the power.... it feels like a burden to me... I'm doing this to be with my brother. Don't impose greater things on me," Jeon said, his voice breaking as he struggled to maintain his composure.

"I want the same, hyung... trust me," Tae said earnestly. "I want to get away from this place with you, somewhere people don't know about us... but we are trapped here.

Everything is preplanne... from Ji Min's marriage, me coming with Ji Min, the pirate attack, our meeting, Mila's wedding to the emperor... everything is planned and carefully executed. We are destiny, we are fate, and people want that.

Denying it is not going to take us anywhere. Accept it and make a decision. Right now, you are the target, and I'm your bait. When you turn against them, the whole scenario will change. They will try to use our offspring as their ultimate weapon." Tae said

"If you're talking about my brother... he may ask me to be with him, but he is not that cruel to imprison us and use our baby as his weapon," Jeon protested, trying to reconcile his loyalty with Tae's warnings.

"Your brother is the least of my concerns...  he is just a golden puppet directed by iron hands.... there are people with ulterior motives around him, especially Vlad," Tae said, his eyes serious and resolute.

"Don't you see? Everything is orchestrated. Vlad's strange behavior, Markov's sudden interests on our relationship... they are all pieces of a larger puzzle. You and I are central to their plans. They need you to become the dragon, and they need me to make it happen. "

Jeon took a deep breath, his mind racing. "But how can we fight against such a well-crafted plan? How can we protect ourselves and our future children?"

"I don't know, hyung... Us... getting away from this island without any trace is the only way, but that's impossible. All I know is we have to be together in this... either live or die together," Tae said, his voice tinged with desperation.

Jeon tightened his grip on Tae, his expression fierce. "I won't let you die at any cost... even if that costs me my life."

Tae shook his head, frustration evident in his eyes. "That's also a problem... you can't die that easily. Even if that happens, they'll find another Drago man to impregnate me. Better you kill me with your own hands. But then they'll just search for another bird to breed... it's all so complicated."

"I'm not their slave to listen to them," Jeon retorted. "As you said, I'm an ultimate weapon. If something happens to you, I'll destroy the whole place."

"By destroying Markov?" Tae asked, his voice laced with skepticism.

"He is my savior, Tae. I will destroy all others.... except him... he not a bad person... try to understand"

Tae looked at Jeon with a mixture of sadness and determination. "Listen to yourself, hyung. He is not your savior... he is your master. You are bound to him, whether you like it or not. It's your nature. Drago man's  nature!! He become your madter... He won't even let you take your own life. He's already inside your head, ruling you. When are you going to understand that?"

Jeon's face twisted with inner conflict, the weight of Tae's words sinking in. "What do you expect me to do then? Just accept this fate?"

"No," Tae said softly, placing a hand on Jeon's cheek. "I expect you to fight them... not me and Ji Min... I'm asking you to fight for us. We need to outsmart them, break free from their control. We can't let them dictate our lives or our love.... we got to do this together.."

Jeon took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. "You're right. We can't let them win. We'll find a way, Tae. Together." The cottage went in to deep  silent for few seconds
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"Tae," Jeon began, his voice low and filled with concern, "do you really believe we're in immediate danger here?"

Tae shifted slightly, looking up at Jeon. "I do, hyung. The soldiers in the forest, the strange behavior of people we thought we could trust—it's all connected. We can't ignore the signs."

Jeon sighed, tightening his grip around Tae. "I know you're right, but it's hard to accept that our lives have been manipulated so thoroughly. How can we fight back when we don't even know who all our enemies are?"

Tae's eyes softened with empathy. " Let's  go back to Oasis... please... going to Paradise... I don't feel right.. "

Jeon's expression hardened with determination. "Then focus on becoming  dragon?? Is that what you are asking me to do??! If becoming the Drago man is what it takes to protect you and our future, then I'll do it..." Jeon said with frustrated  sigh..

" No hyung..." Tae started but went silent on hearing noise outside..

Just then, a sudden noise outside the hut made them both tense. Jeon instinctively moved to shield Tae, his senses on high alert. The sound of footsteps approached, and they held their breath, waiting to see who or what was coming.

The door creaked opened, and an known soldier  stepped inside, his expression serious. " Sorry Jeon shi!! I'm  a warrior served with you in first division... you saved me in that land slide accident...  "

" Yeah!! I remember you..." Jeon said unfazed

"We need to talk, Jeon shi" he said with a bow,  his voice barely above a whisper. "There's something you both need to know."

Jeon and Tae exchanged a worried glance before nodding. "What is it?" Jeon asked, his tone guarded, instinctively covering Tae behind him.

The soldier closed the door behind him and moved closer. "I have information that could help you. There's a rumor within the palace that soldiers from the 12th division, led by Vlad, are plotting against you.

At first, I didn't believe it, but I saw the 12th division soldiers stationed in the middle of the forest. They're armed and have been brainwashed into thinking you're a threat to the emperor."

Jeon’s eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "Why would Vlad do this? And why would he convince the soldiers that I'm a threat?"

The soldier glanced around nervously, lowering his voice. "Vlad has his own ambitions. He’s been whispering into the emperor’s ear, manipulating him. He wants to eliminate anyone who stands in his way, and right now, that’s you."

Tae tightened his grip on Jeon's arm. "We need to get out of here, hyung. We can’t stay and fight an entire division on our own."

Jeon nodded, his mind racing. "You're right. But we need a plan. We can't just run blindly."

The soldier stepped forward, his voice urgent. "There’s a secret passage in the western part of the village that leads out of here. It’s rarely used and should be safe. I can guide you there."

Jeon looked at the soldier with gratitude. "Thank you. We’ll gather what we need and leave immediately."

As they prepared to leave, Jeon turned to Tae, his expression determined. "No matter what happens, we stay together. We’ll find a way to survive and stop Vlad’s plan."