A HEART FOR AN EYE.

CHAPTER 19: THE GENESIS.

The day had finally arrived. The Kingdom of Neju was draped in resplendent colors, the air thick with anticipation and a blend of excitement and fear. Jimin, the young prince destined to ascend the throne, stood at the heart of the Grand Diety Temple. Today, he would become king and come into his power of Zehu, the legendary supernatural prince prophesied to bring peace and prosperity to Neju.

The ritual of stepping into the light for divine recognition was a crucial part of the coronation. Jimin would not be alone in this; his chosen consort, Jungkook, would accompany him. According to ancient prophecy, this act would confirm the rightness of his choice, with dire consequences for any error.

The entire kingdom watched with bated breath. Dignitaries from neighboring lands had gathered to witness the monumental event, their faces reflecting the mixed emotions of the people of Neju. They were torn between hope for a prosperous future and the fear that the prophecy might lead to tragedy.

Jimin wasn't worried for himself. His concern was solely for Jungkook. He would face death without hesitation if it meant being with Jungkook, but the thought of his beloved suffering because of a wrong choice tormented him.

As the time for the ritual approached, Jimin took Jungkook aside, his eyes filled with a mix of determination and vulnerability. "Jungkook, I need to explain what's about to happen," Jimin began. "When we step into the light, the Diety will judge our bond. If it's not meant to be, a curse will befall us. We, our families, everyone could die. The same will happen if I step into the light alone."

Jungkook listened intently, his face serious but unflinching. Jimin continued, "You have a chance to back out. No one would blame you."

Jungkook's grip tightened around Jimin's hand. "Do you think I'm afraid?" he asked, a small smile forming on his lips. "I've always talked about wanting to die with you. Seems like now I might get my chance."

Jimin chuckled softly, relief washing over him. "I love you, Jungkook. More than anything."

"And I love you, Jimin. We've made the right choice. Together."

As midnight approached, an extraordinary phenomenon unfolded in the sky. Two moons appeared: a scarred, bloody full moon, the symbol of Jimin's birth, nestled within the curve of a starry crescent moon. It was a sight never before seen in Neju, leaving the crowd in awe.

Then, the divine Nightingale flew down from the heavens, its song a celestial serenade that filled the air with an ethereal beauty. The names of Jimin and Jungkook began to form in the clouds above, as the divine book of fates opened for the first time to record their destiny.

A radiant light shone down through the Grand Diety Temple, and a voice, powerful yet gentle, resonated through the kingdom. "Step into the light, my son, for your mother longs to look upon you."

Jimin felt a surge of energy, as if transformed into a being of pure resolve. He grasped Jungkook's hand firmly. Together, they stepped into the divine light.

"Zehu, Luya, you have finally found each other again," the Grand Diety's voice echoed.

Jimin, his heart pounding, asked, "What do you mean, Divine Mother?"

The book of fates flipped back through millennia, revealing the ancient tale of Zehu and his lover, Luya. The Grand Diety's voice filled with emotion as she recounted the story.

"When I gave birth to you, my beloved Luha, you were the most beautiful boy in the realm. I loved you so much," the Grand Diety began. "You roamed the fields, gathering strays and bringing them home. You fed them, nursed them back to health and then let them go on their merry ways.  But one day, when you were sixteen, you found a human, little Zehu, frail and abused. You brought him back home and put him in your princely room which was your safe space and no outsiders,  includingme, were allowed in there. You gave up your bed, which you never let anyone share, your food, and your time for him, but he was not improving. Soon, you started nursing him back to health with your divine blood. That's when i began to worry. Human and Diety blood was never meant to mix. His healing was bound to end up with your death but you never listened to me. Each time you gave him your blood, you grew more human and more frail yourself. You said you loved him and that you could give up your status and life for him. As your mother, I panicked. Your love was never meant to last; he was human, you were a god, my heir. Your destiny was to rule over the world, and people like him, not to fall head over heels with your subjects.  Or so i thought. In an attempt to prevent disaster, I stripped Zehu of your blood's immunity, not realizing how weak he was. You tried to resurrect him with more of your blood, but you were too weak yourself and it was too late for him. He died. You hated me for it and in a feat of fury, you lay the curse of the innocent on my head, never to lay eyes on you until Zehu's last fate in his last lifetime became yours. You would suffer so many injustices in so many lifetimes until Zehu's same exact fate would find you. You vanished, casting a shadow of blindness on me. I could never find you. Only Zehu could lure you out."

The Grand Diety's voice trembled with regret. "One hundred and fifty years later, Zehu reincarnated with traces of your blood, carrying your aura. I adopted him, and he ascended into the divine realm in glory as my beloved son. I owed it to you, to love and cherish the man my son loved so much he could give up his life for him. I took care of your Zehu, your Jimin, Jungkook, i have loved him as we both waited patiently for your return. But we could never find you. Zehu's parents lived through so many different fates, good and bad, had so many children, boys and girls. And in every lifetime, we combed this earth for traces of you.  But none of those children was you. For thousands of lifetimes, Zehu begged me to come to earth in search of you. In each lifetime, you refused to be reborn, my stubborn Luha. But Zehu never gave up on finding you. Even with the curse of oblivion, he still did his best, my courageous Zehu. Until in this lifetime when he felt the cry of your blood reaching out to him. My Luha, my Jungkook. Please forgive your mother. I am so sorry, my beloved sons. For what I did, for the pain I caused you both."

Jungkook's eyes widened with the revelation, his breath catching in his throat as the fog on his brain finally lifted to return his lost memories. Tears streamed down his face as he took in the magnitude of the Grand Diety's words. "Mother?" he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

"Yes, son, I am as much your mother as I am Jimin’s mother in Law." The Grand Diety then manifested in flesh to pull both her sons in her warm embrace. "I have been a bad mother, a bad Grand Deity, and a bad mother in law. But i believe i have been punished enough with you banishing me out of your life for thousands of lifetimes. I believe i have been punished even more by watching my beloved son in law being tortured by the immense love he bore for one he couldn’t find even in his dreams. Every time agony tore at Zehu for failing to find you, my heart broke for you, Luha, and then it broke again for my Jimin’s pain. So forgive your mother, you two. I am but only an old Diety."

"Mother, I understand you now. For taking care of my man, for loving him and treating him like a god in my absence, i am so grateful. I forgive you. I have found my way back, and that is enough."

Jimin stood there, tears glistening in his eyes, feeling the weight of their ancient love and the pain of their separation. He looked at Jungkook, seeing in him the same spirit, the same soul that had loved him so deeply across lifetimes.

He looked at his mother too, the woman he had known all this divine life as a great mother, was in fact his husband’s mother. He felt so sorry for her. For the pain she must have had to endure all alone with no one to turn too.

"Mother," Jimin whispered, his voice breaking. "Oh, my mother! Why did you never tell me about Luha? Why did you have me believe that I was your real son? Oh my dear, poor mother, how could I never know your pain ran this deep? I thought when you wept for my failure, it was because you felt sorry that I had failed to find my love again. I am so sorry, mother, Jungkook. I think I failed to protect my mother from the pain all these years."

"No, Jimin!" Both Jungkook and the Grand Diety said in unison.

"You, my very beloved son, were my balm, my shield, and my hope. You who carried traces of my son's blood. You, in whose heart love for my son, ran eternal. You who tirelessly combed this planet to find my son. You, my dearest Zehu, have protected me beyond reason. And I love you with all my old Diety's heart for being both my son and the most faithful love of my son's life."

Jimin moved again to hug his mother and Jungkook moved to join them.

"Baby, I love you. I love you, and I want to love you more if godly possible. " Jungkook spoke with a heart full of love and faith, his voice trmbled a little with it. "Please take me, my heart, my love, my family, and everything. We want to belong to you, my King."

"I love love you too Jungkook and I want to belong to you. Your mother has been my mother. She never for once made me feel like i wasn't her very flesh and blood. My family has been yours. My heart, you have owned for millennia even though you were out of reach. And we are together now. We've found each other again. I am yours forever."

The divine light enveloped them, a symbol of their unbreakable bond, and the prophecy fulfilled. The curse was lifted, and Neju erupted in celebration, knowing that their new king and his consort were truly meant to be.