Black Magic

Change

Chapter 20: Change

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Baekhyun paced the floor of the Grand Entrance, too awake and too angry to even consider going back to sleep.

His hands were clenching and unclenching, the metal of his silver bangles clinking softly with each movement. His footsteps echoed loudly against the marble floor, disappearing upward toward the empty space of the domed ceiling.

Why was he always the one left behind?

He'd probably been out on a grand total of 3 missions within the past few weeks. Which was paltry when compared to Chanyeol's 30.

But Kris always singled out Baekhyun without fail, ordering him to remain at the school, usually with another member. Even Yixing had been on more missions, and he was a Healer for fucks sake.

And it wasn't even that Baekhyun was a terrible fighter, because he wasn't. Never once had he let the team down or gotten himself backed into a inescapable situation.

He knew all the rules of the game. Don't get too close to the Dark Dragons. Go for the eyes, wings, and joints. Watch for pairs.

Baekhyun could do it. Had done it. So why was Kris so adamant on keeping him behind?

The Fire Dragon exhaled heavily, stopping his pacing in favor of glaring out the window. It was pitch black save for the illumination provided by the full moon. A shiver went up Baekhyun's spine. He didn't like the cold light of the moon, and maybe he was biased because he was a Fire Dragon, but he much preferred the warm rays of the sun. A full moon was nothing but a bad omen, in Baekhyun's opinion.

He didn't like it one bit.

The Fire Dragon's gaze slid to the side.

Kris's slave was standing a few feet away, hands clasped behind his back, staring up at the ancient mural that decorated the curved ceiling above. It was an impressive painting, even though some of the scenes were beginning to fleck away, peel back in age.

Baekhyun could remember being so awed the first time he'd passed through the grand double doors of the School of Magic, could remember staring upward with his mouth slack, eyes roving over the story depicted above.

It began with the Jewel Thief, a huge purple dragon, diamond Air Heartstone clasped in his front talons and wings outspread as he made to escape.

Baekhyun's own eyes traced the ceiling, following the painted scene around to the point where the artist had created an image of the very First Dark Dragon. The animal was huge, its red eyes glowing with malice at the Air Dragon painted across from it. The Earth Heartstone was sheltered below the Dark Dragon's massive black wings, almost blending in with the shadows.

Baekhyun stared up into those red eyes until his neck began to crick. He knew the eyes were only painted, but he could feel the gaze of the Dragon drawing him in nonetheless, hypnotizing and mocking at the same time. Baekhyun could only think about Chanyeol, and how far apart they were at the moment, and suddenly it was all he could do to keep himself from running out of the school and launching into the sky to chase after him.

He should be with EXO right now, not reduced to this pacing, shivering mess. The waiting was doing things to his sanity. Bad things. He needed to get out. Surely Yixing could handle things on his own for a while?

Baekhyun broke his stare from the image and strode toward the large double doors, determined to at least get out into the fresh air.

He slammed the doors open, a beam of light escaping the hallway and breaking across the darkness of the yard.