Short Stories-Kai Ships Only! Volume 3

Yeonkai- Betrayal

"You could literally stop this but you won't. We could use them more efficiently."

"Why should I?" Kai didn't have a reason too. These creatures (because he didn't see them as human) were the ones who spent years trying to hunt his kind for his magical abilities. They did a damn good job too. He could count on one hand how many elves were left in the world and one finger how many still had powers. Taehyun kept him alive as a slave because he did. The only reason he didn't retaliate was because his sister and her baby were spared. When they eventually died in prison, his morals did too.

Yeonjun looked down from his position at his post by the throne, to see the new slaves eight hours into digging the mines. He was an elf as well. While not magical, he was skilled fighter and an even more skilled strategist who helped Kai claim the crown.

The once wealthy class worked night and day to find a substance called "Eponyx". A supposed blue liquid that was said to revive a heart when extensively purified. Supposed because no one had ever seen it before. Volelites, small furry creatures that lived near the earth's core, were allegedly found with traces of it in their blood but they too had not been seen since the elves last ruled the world hundreds of years ago.

"You're not going to find what you're looking for" said Yeonjun with a bit of sympathy. "Even if you did somehow find it, she's been dead for a whole season now. I doubt it would work."

"She?" Kai coldly kept looking at the mines.

"Your sister?"

"Oh. Right. Her."

"Is that not who you were trying to bring back?"

It wasn't. While Kai did miss his family, he missed someone even more. Someone who died long before his sister or his nephew did.

Beomgyu Choi was the first person to hide him when the purge started. A human taking pity on an elf, much less risking his life to hide one, was unheard of. Neither expected them to fall in love with each other but they did.

Taehyun found out after nearly a year into his campaign. The only thing worse that a human could do than take pity on an elf was to fall in love with one. To make an example out of their relationship, Beomgyu was dragged into the town square and whipped at the stake. He then raised him onto a platform while Taehyun waved his sword in the air for the world to see.

The last word that Beomgyu said to Kai was "run". If he hadn't, his shock wouldn't have broken in time to escape.

"Kai?"

Kai snapped out of it when a tray of wine and cheese was presented. "You don't know him."

"Him? Is it your father?"

"No. He's the only reason I'm still alive."

"I beg your pardon?" Yeonjun was sure he didn't hear that correctly. Last time he checked, he was the one who slayed knights for Kai. His ass was silent in an interrogation room while Kai hid in the forest. Confident he heard it wrong, he more harshly asked "are you certain?"

"Yes." Kai sipped some of his wine while his brow furrowed. "If it wasn't for him then neither of us would be free. He died for me so I could lead us to our freedom."

Still jealous of a dead man, Yeonjun pressed "and what about me?"

"What about you?"

"Do I hold any value in your eyes?"

"Of course you do." Kai bit into a buttered slice of bread then challenged "why?"

"It just... felt as if my own efforts weren't comparable when I feel as if I deserve more thanks."

The truth was that Yeonjun was right. They weren't comparable. Kai saw Beomgyu as an angel while he saw his knight as just that. A knight doing his duty. Still, to please him he offered up a bunch of grapes and mocked "well what could I offer then, besides the throne I've given you, to make you feel worthy?"

As pathetic as it was, all Yeonjun craved was recognition. Kai was the highest being left in the elven race. Being honored by him was like being honored by God but his pride got in the way. So, he straightened his uniform and said "nothing. I apologize."

"If you think of something then let me know. Your wish is my command."

Looking down at the slaves did inspire one request though Yeonjun was doubtful it would be given. "Any wish?"

Kai was originally joking but he couldn't back down now. "I suppose it depends? If it's within my power then it's yours."

"Call off this search if you can't find what you're looking for by your 25th birthday."

"Why?"

"This is cruel and we have better things to do."

"They were cruel."

"We aren't them."

"You certainly were when you hacked their King to pieces."

"True but-" A truth spell was placed on Yeonjun. His mouth began to run and he couldn't help it. "-I worship you Kai. I'll follow you anywhere and do anything for you and only you. I don't want nor will I listen to this person who you want to bring back. I hate the idea of you holding this stranger in a higher regard than me and I HATE the fact that I'll be forced to respect them too. In a fucked up way, I'm in love with you."

Kai lifted the spell then let the blonde process what just happened.

Panic spread throughout Yeonjun's entire body. Excuses of "I didn't mean it" were said but there wasn't any bullshitting the raw truth. Even though he was cursed against his will, he secretly admired Kai for doing it.

A large bell rung to indicate the slave's workday was over. 12 hours of mining into the layers of the earth turned up nothing like each day before. Kai still wasn't discouraged. He dismissed his wine server then created a portal for the two of them into his study. "Feel free to leave but I'm open to speaking with you if you'd like."

Yeonjun sat down in a lounge chair with nerves still shaking his body. "I would."

"First, I'd like to say that you don't need to be ashamed."

"It's hard not too but thank you."

"Simply put, I'm not sure why you'd feel threatened by him if I was able to bring my partner back to life. Your relationship with me and the one I have with him are very different. I guess I'd understand more if you were romantically in love with me but you aren't."

Yeonjun took a good hard look and realized Kai was right. There wasn't any physical attraction there but his jealousy remained. "That's true. Well let me ask you this then. Say you did somehow revive him. What then?"

"The throne would be yours."

"And where would you go?"

"Back to rebuild a precious city." Kai took that nod as an end to their conversation. The sun was now set. He bid his knight a good sleep then left towards his own quarters to do the same.

Yeonjun didn't go to bed. Instead, he left towards the slave master's home and entered the basement lab. Inside was a cage with a singular baby volelite. The little creature was intended to be a surprise gift for Kai's 25th birthday but hearing that his King planned to abandon him, made him change his mind. With a slash of his knife, he decided gems were a better gift anyways.