Shadows and Sparks (Yungi)

Crown

Seonghwa, standing nearby, could feel the heavy tension rolling off Hongjoong in waves. The room felt charged, almost suffocating with the weight of the emotions swirling around the leader of their group. As an empath, Seonghwa had always been attuned to the feelings of others, but what he was sensing now from Hongjoong was something far more intense than he'd felt before.

He stepped closer, his expression softening with concern. "Hongjoong," Seonghwa began gently, his voice cutting through the silence like a soothing balm. "What's wrong?"

Hongjoong's jaw clenched, and he took a shaky breath. He hadn't intended to let his emotions slip so openly, but the fear gnawing at him was too much to contain. "There's a new threat emerging," he finally admitted, his voice low but laced with urgency. He paused, the weight of his words hanging in the air. "It's something called The Crown of Power."

Seonghwa's eyes widened slightly at the mention. He had heard whispers of it — an ancient artifact said to grant unimaginable power to its wielder, but at a terrible cost. The stories claimed that it could magnify one's abilities a thousandfold but would consume the mind and soul of anyone who wore it, driving them to madness. The crown was believed to be a mere myth, a tale told to scare off those who sought forbidden power. But if Hongjoong was speaking of it now, then it was no longer just a story.

"The Crown of Power," Seonghwa repeated quietly, his gaze searching Hongjoong's face for answers. "How do you know about this? Has someone found it?""Someone stole it," Hongjoong confessed in a low voice, barely keeping his composure as he gathered the group together. His eyes were dark with exhaustion, a mix of frustration and fear clouding his usual sharp gaze. "The place where it was hidden... it's been raided. The Crown is gone."Seonghwa felt the anxiety surging through Hongjoong's body, and he instinctively reached out, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder. "Hongjoong, calm down," he said softly, but with an edge of firmness. "Your emotions — they're starting to affect your powers."

Sure enough, the lights in the room began to flicker, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Small electric sparks crackled at Hongjoong's fingertips, dancing along his knuckles like tiny bolts of lightning. He looked down at his hands, noticing the sparks for the first time, and took a step back, trying to rein in the energy spilling out of him.

"I'm losing control," Hongjoong whispered, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and frustration. He clenched his fists tighter, trying to force the electricity back inside.Seonghwa squeezed his shoulder gently. "It's alright," he said reassuringly. "Focus on my voice. Breathe. We'll figure this out together."

Hongjoong took a deep, shuddering breath, closing his eyes as he tried to steady himself. The sparks around his hands slowly faded, and the lights stopped flickering, leaving the room in an unsettling silence.

"Whoever seeks the Crown," Seonghwa continued, his voice low and serious, "they're going to be incredibly dangerous. If they manage to put it on..." He trailed off, not needing to finish the thought. The implications were clear — absolute power, with the price of one's sanity."I can't let that happen," Hongjoong said, his voice filled with a grim determination. "We can't let that happen."

Seonghwa nodded, his eyes hardening with resolve. "Then we need to move quickly. Find this crown before they do, and destroy it if we can."

Hongjoong looked at Seonghwa, the weight of his fears still visible in his eyes, but there was also a glimmer of hope. With Seonghwa by his side, he felt a little more grounded, a little less alone in the chaos of the storm brewing within him.

"Let's do it," Hongjoong agreed. "We can't waste any time."

Seonghwa, standing off to the side, watched Hongjoong closely. He had been trying to stay attuned to Hongjoong's emotions, but something strange was happening. Even with his empathic abilities, he couldn't get a clear read on him. It was like trying to look through a fogged-up window; everything was blurred and distorted. Seonghwa frowned, closing his eyes for a moment, trying to center himself and reach out with his powers.

And then it hit him — a startling realization. It wasn't that he had stopped trying to feel Hongjoong's emotions. It was that his powers were out of control, like a broken compass, spinning wildly with no true north.

Are you okay?" Hongjoong asked, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. He must have noticed Seonghwa's troubled expression.

Seonghwa hesitated. He wanted to say yes, to reassure him. But he couldn't bring himself to lie. "No," he admitted quietly. "My powers... they're not working the way they should. I can't... feel you. Not clearly, at least."

Hongjoong's eyes widened, a spark of worry flashing across his face. He took a step closer, lowering his voice so the others wouldn't overhear. "You think it's because of the crown?"

"I don't know," Seonghwa confessed, running a hand through his hair. "But whatever it is, it's affecting all of us. It's like our powers are being... scrambled."

Hongjoong clenched his jaw, a dark determination settling over him. "We need to find out who took the crown," he said. "Before this gets any worse."

Seonghwa nodded, but a wave of fear washed over him. If the crown's influence was already this strong, what would happen if its new wielder decided to use it even more? And worse, what if the crown's power was amplifying not just their abilities but their darkest emotions too?

For the first time, he truly understood the depth of Hongjoong's fear. The Crown of Power wasn't just a tool of immense strength. It was a catalyst, a wild, untamed force that could turn their gifts into uncontrollable chaos. And now, it was in the hands of someone who had stolen it, with intentions unknown.

"We need to be careful," Seonghwa said, his voice barely above a whisper. "This crown... it can make everything go haywire. Even us."

Wooyoung burst through the door,

"GOSH, I'VE BEEN CALLING YOU GUYS FOR THE PAST FEW MINUTES! CAN YOU STOP BIENG LOVEBIRDS?"

Hwa and Joong's ears went red and Wooyoung continued,

"We all plan on going to the beach this weekend , no excuses OK? I'm gonna tell this to Sangie as well. Min, Yunho, Sannie and Jongho have agreed"

Wooyoung disappeared in a mist and Hongjoong spoke'

" But the crown..."

Seonghwa put a finger on his lips,

"Don't worry about the crown, let's have a break. It isnt everyday Mingi agrees to do something"