Outworld Mission

11-Yun Geuki

“You won’t be punished. These men were criminals, and they got what they deserved. Stop crying, get up, and I’ll take you home.”

When the young man looked up, his breath caught in his throat. He was stunned by the beauty of the man who had saved him. The moonlight reflected off Taehyung’s ethereal face, giving him an almost otherworldly glow. For a moment, the young man was unable to move, captivated by the Prince’s striking features.

On the other hand, Taehyung found himself equally mesmerized by the young man’s face. It was unlike anything he had ever seen—so pure, so beautiful, and so delicate. His heart skipped a beat.

“Ahm… who are you?” Taehyung asked, trying to mask his own feelings with a stern tone. “What are you doing out here at this hour? You should be at home.”

The young man stammered, unable to form coherent words. “I—I’m… I’m…”

"Will you speak clearly?"  Taehyung's voice sharpened, the frustration of the moment creeping into his tone. The young man flinched at his words, his gaze falling to the ground as if afraid to meet the Prince’s eyes. He trembled slightly, still in shock from the confrontation.

“I—I’m going home,” the young man muttered, barely above a whisper.

Taehyung exhaled sharply, his irritation fading as he took in the young man's frail, uncertain form. The Prince’s expression softened, and he knelt down in front of him, trying to calm the young man with his presence.

"Listen," Taehyung said, his voice gentler now. "I’m not here to hurt you. You don’t need to be scared. Just tell me your name. It’s safe now.”

The young man looked up at him hesitantly, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and fear. When he spoke, it was with a sense of urgency and reverence.
“I—I am Yun Geuki, Your Highness. A servant to the King of Kings… from the South of the North.” He bowed his head immediately, his movements stiff and respectful.

Taehyung blinked in surprise. Yun Geuki. The name was unfamiliar, but something in the way the young man carried himself, so humble and meek, struck a chord deep within the Prince’s chest.
There was a sadness there—perhaps even a hidden strength—but for now, all Taehyung could see was a fragile soul caught in a dangerous world.

“Yun Geuki…” Taehyung repeated the name softly under his breath, as if testing it. The name was simple, yet it carried weight. He stood up slowly, offering the young man a hand.

"Come. I will escort you home. You need not worry about those men anymore.”

Yun Geuki hesitated, his eyes flicking nervously to the bodies of the three men lying in the dirt. He looked back at Taehyung, his expression torn between fear and disbelief.

“Don’t worry,” Taehyung reassured him with a soft smile. “You won’t be punished. I’ll see to it that you’re safe. Come on, now. Take my hand.”

The young man hesitated for just a moment longer, then placed his trembling hand in Taehyung’s without saying a word. The moment their fingers touched, a strange pulse of energy surged between them, a shock that traveled through both of their bodies.

Before Yun Geuki could comprehend what was happening, the world around them seemed to blur and twist, the night air shifting in a way that was both unsettling and exhilarating. In an instant, the two of them vanished from the spot, their figures dissolving into the ether like wisps of smoke.

---

They reappeared in a quiet, secluded area—Taehyung’s secret refuge, far from the bustling palace. The moonlight filtered through the trees above them, casting a soft glow on the ground.

Yun Geuki blinked rapidly, disoriented from the sudden shift. His surroundings were completely different now—no more dark alleyways or the looming presence of the dead men. Just the serene sounds of nature.

“This is…” Yun Geuki whispered, still trying to gather his bearings. He glanced up at Taehyung, his heart racing. “Where are we?”

“A safe place,” Taehyung answered simply, his eyes calm as he regarded the young man. He could see the confusion and uncertainty still clouding Yun Geuki’s eyes, but there was something else there, too—something unspoken, a pull that both disturbed and intrigued him.

Yun Geuki’s brow furrowed slightly as he looked around. He didn’t ask more questions, for fear of drawing attention to his own ignorance. His hand still lingered near his side, and the weight of the earlier encounter hung heavily on his mind.

“Thank you… for saving me, Your Highness,” Yun Geuki said finally, his voice soft but sincere. “But I don’t know how I can repay you…”

Taehyung’s expression softened at the genuine gratitude in the young man’s voice. He shook his head gently.
“You don’t need to repay me,” he said, his tone firm but warm. “It was my duty. And I couldn’t stand to see those men treat you like that.”

Yun Geuki’s eyes lowered to the ground. "But still... I feel like I owe you something. You've... you've changed everything for me, Your Highness. I don’t know how to thank you."

Taehyung studied him closely, a flicker of realization crossing his features. Why does this boy seem so familiar? It wasn’t just his looks or his aura; there was something deeper, something elusive that Taehyung couldn't quite put his finger on.

The prince pushed the thought aside for the moment, focusing instead on the young man before him.
"Tell me, Yun Geuki," Taehyung said after a beat, "do you have a family? A place you need to go?"

Yun Geuki nodded, his face clouding with worry once again.
"Yes, my mother... she's waiting for me. I have to get back to her. But..." He hesitated, unable to voice the lingering fear that haunted him. "I don't know how I’ll get back without the gems or food those men took."

Taehyung could see the uncertainty in the young man’s eyes, the way he carried the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. A sense of protectiveness stirred within the Prince’s chest.

"You don’t need to worry about that now," Taehyung said, his voice firm.
"I'll make sure you’re taken care of. No one will harm you again."

Yun Geuki’s eyes widened at the prince’s words, a mixture of disbelief and hope flashing across his face.

"But... how?"

"Because," Taehyung replied, his voice softening, "I will not let anyone, especially someone as innocent as you, suffer any longer. Come, we will get you home. Your mother will be waiting."

As he spoke, Taehyung extended his hand once more, this time with a sense of finality. And this time, Yun Geuki didn’t hesitate. He took the Prince’s hand without question, trusting him completely despite the unfamiliarity of the situation.

And just like before, the world around them began to swirl. They were bound together by fate now, whether they realized it or not. The young servant, Yun Geuki, had no idea that his life was about to change forever.

---

As they vanished into the night, a shadow moved silently in the distance. King Seokjin watched them from a hidden vantage point, his face shadowed with concern.

A sense of foreboding crept into his heart, as he knew something had shifted—something that might change everything for the kingdom. But for now, there was nothing he could do but wait.

The fate of the Bearer, it seemed, was no longer just about saving the Kingdom—it was about saving something far more important. The story was just beginning.