Those Aren't Dewdrops, My Love (Jikook fantasy au)

Chapter 9

SHING! CLANG! SWIPE!

Jimin's silver sword clashing with Jang's golden one creating a horrid harmony of sound. It blends in with the other sounds of fighting, fire raging in the garden, arrows flying through the air, punches and kicks landing painfully.

But Jimin has his eyes on Jang.

They began after Jang had ordered Namjoon and Yoongi to the dungeon. He sent 2 of the elite squadron to go after them while the remaining stayed and tried to get the royal family to safety. But it wasn't easy. There seemed to be an endless supply of fire fairies. Even though they were severely untrained, fire burns no matter what.

"RRRAAHHHH!" Jang yells as he charges for Jimin once again. He's just about Jimin's height, but has heftier hands, manic in his eyes, and rage. So much rage.

Their swords clash again and again, Jimin stepping back more than he would like. But right now he can only defend. Jang is covered in golden armor from the shoulder down, his helmet covering nearly everything above, making it hard for Jimin to land any critical blows. He just has to wait.

For an opportunity.

"COME ON PRINCEY! KILL ME LIKE IT'S THE ONLY THING YOU KNOW!"

The King is weak but tries to help protect everyone along with the elite squadron as well. He's off in the corner fighting a fire fairy with a giant club, glowing from the inside as if it was made of molten lava.

But Jimin still has his eyes on Jang.

Hoseok is carefully sneaking the queen and lower ranking officials away from the scene, towards a safe bunker farther away.

Jimin blocks an attempt to cut him right down the middle by holding his sword horizontally, bracing it with both hands on either end.

"You need to stop this!" Jimin grunts as he manages to push Jang away.

They are both panting, Jimin watches as they both stalk the edges of their imaginary fighting ring, eyeing each other like prey.

Jang looks down to his sword.

Pauses.

"You're right. I should stop this," he says in resignation. Jang's face is in a soft grimace. Jaw clenching as he loosens his grip on the golden sword, stabbing the tip into the soil. "This sword... this gold... it has always meant nothing to me." He crouches down to look at the sword sticking out of the ground, gently stroking a finger along the sharp edge. An air of quiet settles, some of the fighting stopping.

"But it has always meant so much to you," Jang's tone drops dangerously. "You and your father and his father and everyone before. You never saw people and fairies. You only saw resources. But why? Why make gold so important? Because it's shiny?" Jang grips the sword in his hand sharply, the sharp edges cutting into his palm. He takes a deep breath and turns his head up, eyes closed and mumbling something under his breath. "Don't you know? Fire... Glows. It's time for the gold to go. But since I am bestowed with both. Let them become one." His eyes flash open and they seem to glow red.

Jimin could only watch as he moved with terrifying speed. The sword is now melted down into a stringy puddle. The molten material is now gripped by a handle in the form of a long whip.

CRACK the whips goes, scorching the grass it touched, Jimin just barely dodging the hit.

"JIMIN!" It's his father.

He looks weakened.

He looks terrified.

He looks like he's given up.