cheolsoo • The Society of The Shadow / Eng ver.

13. Bind and break

Since I don't want my characters to use some magic stones, or paper cranes, or another magic spells to contact to eo, here's what we got: LINK - easy to use.
From this chapter, LINK is a type of communication network in Carat Land. ^^

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Mingyu was tending to check his bruised ribs, a reminder of his recent encounter with the clone, when his magic watch chimed softly. He paused, taking a deep breath to settle the rising discomfort in his chest before answering. Jeonghan's voice, soft yet laced with a quiet urgency, flowed through the magical link.

"Mingyu, we're heading back from Bloomfield. I need your help. Can you check on Seungcheol?"

Mingyu stilled, his mind immediately on high alert.

Something wasn't right.

He frowned, the words hanging in the air before he cautiously asked, "What's going on? Is Seungcheol okay?" From what he could recall, aside from the emotional fallout between Seungcheol and Joshua, everything had seemed normal. But Jeonghan's tone spoke volumes.

A tired sigh came through the line, and with it, a wave of tension that tugged at Mingyu's chest. "We found a temporary solution for Joshua's syndrome," Jeonghan began, his voice holding a heavy weight. "But... it's not just a magical imbalance. It might be... a curse. Dark magic."

Mingyu's grip on the edge of the table tightened, his breath hitching.

A curse. That changed everything.

"You think Seungcheol can help?"

"He has to," Jeonghan answered quietly, but with certainty. "Seungcheol is one of the most skilled wizards I know, and... he loves Joshua. He deserves to know what's really happening."

The line fell into a quiet stillness, only their shared breathing filling the space. Mingyu could feel the emotional strain on Jeonghan's end, the way his usually steady voice now held a quiver, as though he was holding back something far deeper. The weight of their burdens hung between them, unspoken but palpable.

"Alright," Mingyu finally broke the silence. His voice, though calm, carried the gravity of the situation. "I'll check on Seungcheol. Let's hope he's not too shaken by this. At least... it's just a hypothesis. We're not out of options yet."

Jeonghan exhaled, a faint smile touching his lips even though Mingyu couldn't see it. There was always something about Mingyu's calm, unshakable demeanor that brought him peace. It was as if Mingyu could take on the world's weight without flinching, and it made Jeonghan feel lighter just hearing him. Even after everything they'd been through—the pain, the heartbreak—Mingyu remained a constant. Steadfast. Reliable. He had never truly resented Jeonghan, even though Jeonghan had broken his heart once.

"Mingyu," Jeonghan's voice softened, almost a whisper now. He felt the words forming before he even realized he was speaking. "I love you."

There was a pause on the other end, then Mingyu's warm chuckle broke the momentary tension. "You should tell me that face-to-face. You owe me one."

Jeonghan felt a rare warmth spread through him, the teasing lifting the heavy weight in his chest. "You're such a calculating prince."

"I am," Mingyu replied, the humor still lacing his words. "But since I love you too, I'll let you owe me for now. Come back and pay me back soon."

But Jeonghan's smile faltered slightly at Mingyu's playful words, the mention of a debt stirring an unsettling memory in him. The old wizard's cryptic words about debts and the ties of dark magic replayed in his mind, sending a shiver down his spine. Yet, he pushed those thoughts away, not wanting to reveal the dark cloud lingering over him. "Soon," he replied, keeping his voice steady, though his mind was already racing.