Demonic || Seventeen

Demonic 11

The moment the sun dipped below the horizon, Seokmin found himself restless.

All day, he had waited for this moment. Every second had felt like an eternity as he completed his daily drills, helped out in the mess hall, and endured Mingyu and Minghao teasing him about looking so distracted.

Now, as the clock approached midnight, he was already at the training grounds.

Waiting.

The air was still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the trees above. The moon bathed the clearing in a silver glow, casting long shadows against the dirt.

Seokmin inhaled deeply, rolling his shoulders. Tonight, he wouldn’t hesitate.

Tonight, he would fight back.

The faint sound of footsteps made him straighten.

They were here.

Jeonghan and Joshua emerged from the darkness, their silhouettes sharp against the moonlight.

Seokmin swallowed his nerves and stepped forward.

Joshua glanced him up and down, arms crossed. “You’re early.”

Seokmin nodded. “I was waiting.”

Jeonghan smirked. “Good. That means you’re ready.”

Without another word, Joshua moved.

Seokmin barely had time to react before Joshua’s leg swept forward the same attack as last night.

But this time...

Seokmin anticipated it.

He braced himself, shifting his weight before Joshua could make contact. Instead of letting himself fall, he pivoted, feet steady, movements sharper than before.

Joshua’s eyes narrowed slightly, a glimmer of approval flashing across his face.

Seokmin exhaled, steadying himself.

I didn’t fall.

That small victory ignited something inside him.

Joshua didn’t give him time to celebrate, he struck again, this time faster.

Seokmin’s reflexes were too slow to counter completely, but instead of landing on his back, he rolled with the fall, pushing himself up in one fluid motion.

Jeonghan let out a low whistle. “That’s better.”

Seokmin’s chest heaved, but he grinned despite the sweat on his forehead. “Again.”

Joshua smirked. “Don’t beg for more if you can’t handle it.”

Seokmin just grinned wider.

“Then I guess I’ll just have to prove that I can.”

The fight continued, the moon watching over them as Seokmin pushed himself further than he ever had before.

The days that followed fell into a familiar rhythm.

Each morning, Seokmin would wake up with aching muscles and bruises in places he never knew could hurt, but he would still drag himself out of bed and push through the daily training.

During the day, he trained alongside the others, sparring, running drills, and learning the fundamentals of combat. It was clear he still lacked the skill and experience of Minghao, Mingyu, or even some of the other recruits, but he didn’t let that discourage him.

He had made up his mind.

And at night, long after most had gone to sleep. He would meet Jeonghan and Joshua in the clearing behind the training grounds.