Magic is feared. You have spent your life hiding because of it.
But when the magic across the land begins to fade, and the forests start to die, you are forced into an uneasy alliance with the very kingdom that once cast your kind out.
Working along...
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The events of last night lingered in your mind longer than you would have liked. You were stuck. You agreed out of necessity. If you did not uncover the cause of the recent magical anomalies, the consequences would be catastrophic. Something was happening, and it was greater than your little personal vendetta against a certain brown-haired captain. "Can't sleep?"
Popping out from the wall, you see a dim blue light appear and disappear as soon as Jimin passes through into the mortal world. "What are you doing here?" You grumbled out of frustration - not from Jimin but from the fact that it was currently three in the morning and you had not slept a wink.
"(Y/n), don't act like I can't feel your restlessness all the way in the Spirit Realm." Jimin jumps up onto the bed and sits down next to you.
"Sorry Minnine." You accept that you would not be getting any sleep, so instead you sit up and pat Jimin gently. His fur was always so soft.
While Jimin could shift between his human and spiritual form, he always preferred to stay in his spiritual form when you were alone or travelling. It took much more magical energy to stay in his human form than in his spiritual one.
"What's wrong (y/n)?"
You didn't know where to begin; your mind was left alone to sort through so many contradicting emotions. "I thought I made the right decision by agreeing, but it didn't really feel like I had a choice to begin with." You begin. "The Veil is weakening the magic around us - I can feel it. And now your powers are suffering too." Jimin purred into your soft pats. "I don't trust them. But if working with them is the only way to stop it...then I'll do it." A bitter laugh escaped you. "Even if it means siding with the very people who've been killing Arcane like us for centuries."
He knew exactly how you felt. By agreeing to this alliance would mean going against everything that you believed in.
"I am sure the other Arcane are feeling the same way as you are (y/n)." Jimin says before he lays down, making himself comfortable on the bed. "Leila will speak with the royals come morning," Jimin murmured. "She will make certain this cooperation does not come at our expense."
You hummed in agreement. You knew Leila only had the forest's best interest in mind. She never once spoke poorly or highly about the Capital. She had always been well spoken, choosing her words wisely. "So stop worrying and go to sleep."
Your lips curl into a soft smile. "Yes Jimin, right as always." Jimin smiles to himself, his eyes closed. He was enjoying the way your fingers lightly brushed through his fur. "Why are you here in the mortal realm at this time? Shouldn't you be recharging back in the Spirit Realm?"
"I also couldn't sleep because a certain someone's mind was racing 1000 miles per second." Sinking back down into the bed, you chuckled softly. "You can go back now. I'll see you in the morning."
It was essential that Jimin returned to the spirit realm each night. It was there that his magic replenished itself, and through him, so did yours. Without that connection, neither of you could safely wield magic for long.
But he could not remain there indefinitely. The longer he stayed, the more the Spirit Realm tried to claim him, blurring the line between what he was and what he once had been. If he lingered too long, he risked losing himself entirely.
The last thing you hear before drifting off to sleep is Jimin's soft sigh of agreement.
A few hours later, you are woken up by a gentle knock on your door. Opening your eyes, you see Jane's figure standing at the doorway with a tray of food. "Forgive my disturbance, miss. The young master has sent me with a meal. You must eat something, you are still recovering." Jane places the tray onto the table on the other side of the bed. "The Captain will come for you within the hour to escort you to the council meeting." And with that, Jane exits the room, the sound of the door locking follows shortly after the door closes.
Bringing your hands out from under the covers, you reach over to check if Jimin was where you last saw him. But it seems he had slipped back to the Spirit Realm, disappearing into the night.
You press your lips together and let out a long breath - dreading what was to come.
It was early morning, and the summer sun was just beginning to break through the narrow cracks of the window. Now that the room was properly lit, you finally noticed the boarded-up window, which made you snicker.
You push yourself off the bed and make your way over to where Jane had left the tray. Bread and what seems to be some sort of soup. You pick up the bread and take a bite.
It didn't smell nearly as good as the loaves Yoongi made. Not even close.
You take another bite and force yourself to eat. You weren't hungry, but you knew you had to eat. As you are chewing, your gaze wanders to the door where the sound of footsteps echoes down the corridor. The sound becomes increasingly louder as the owner gets closer and closer.
Then, suddenly, they stop for a brief second before a knock breaks the silence.
You straighten instinctively.
The door opens shortly after, and Jungkook steps inside. You see the two guards who were posted out the front of your room for a second before Jungkook closes the door behind himself.
He breaks the silence. "You are awake." It wasn't a question, just an observation.
Placing the bread down, you meet his gaze. "Evidently," you reply curtly. Even though you have concluded that it is in your best interest to remain civil, it does not mean you have to be nice.
You see his eyes fall down to the untouched tray of food. "You are injured." he says, his voice even, "Recovery requires more than stubbornness."
You scoff at his comment. "Oh, is that what this is called?" His face shifts for a second to an expression you can't quite decipher before returning to his stoic one. You then turn your head to the newly boarded window. "A new addition to the room?"
He follows your line of sight. "You attempted to escape."
"Attempted." You repeat calmly.
"That was enough."
You turn back around to meet his eyes. "So now the window's punished for it?"
His expression hardens, but his voice still remains unchanged. "Now the room is secured." Silence falls between the two of you again; it feels longer than it actually was. "The council is assembled," he begins. "Leila and the others are already there."
"Okay, I'll come." You let out a slow exhale and begin walking towards him.
Your compliance catches him off guard for a moment. He is snapped back into reality when he sees you pause at the door. It was locked. "You won't be restrained." He finally says.
"I wouldn't expect to be," your expression tightens. "If I'm being asked for help."
Jungkook nods his head and gestures towards the door. "Walk with me."
