Win No Matter What

CHAPTER 15 - SHIELD OF SERENDIPITY

I don't think Nam Joon has told me the whole story. After your conversation with Nam Joon, your mind is reeling. A parallel world? The lake being a gateway for malspirits to come through?

You're back in your room now, hastily rummaging through your suitcase. You are looking for the locket that your mother gave you when you turned thirteen. The locket has been a family heirloom for generations, and your mother has always reminded you that it has a special protective charm embedded on it, gradually added to by the eldest daughter in each generation over the last five generations. 

Nam Joon said they needed your help to strengthen the shield around the lake. At first, you weren't sure how you could help, but then you remembered the locket – maybe this is why it has been in your family for all these years. Maybe this was pre-ordained to be its eventual destiny. Maybe. This was all speculation about something you had just been told about. But what Nam Joon hadn't elaborated on was how all this was linked to Ji Min and what he was currently going through, and this made you both suspicious and nervous in equal measure. 

Can you trust them? Oddly, you feel like you can. What little interaction you've had with all seven of them has shown you that they are sincere, albeit somewhat secretive. But now you know there was a reason for that. Maybe Nam Joon thinks he is protecting you by not telling you everything. Whatever the reason, you decide to find out more on your own.

You put the locket around your neck and keep it hidden. You don't want to waste any more time and head out the door. You bump straight into Jung Kook. "Sorry Rumi, but Nam Joon hyung asked me to keep an eye on, I mean, look out for you. Going somewhere?"

How is it they always manage to find me at the wrong time?

Sighing, you say, "Come with me Jung Kook. If you're going to keep checking up on me, you might as well make yourself useful."

He follows you to the entrance of the secret library. You're sure this is where you will find answers since the strange scripture came from here. Jung Kook doesn't know about the library, or much about the parallel world for that matter, so being duty-bound, and very curious, he comes in with you. The aura in the library is a bit different this time, almost dark, as though it has a sense of foreboding.

After what feels like forever going through the old books, you don't find anything useful. "Jung Kook, have you found anything?" you ask hopefully. 

"Nope," he replies, "We're never going to be able to find anything at this rate. And I don't even know what we're looking for."

"Neither do I, but I thought I might find answers here," you reply. Suddenly an idea occurs to you, "Jung Kook, what can you tell me about why Ji Min's been away the last few days?" 

He looks at you, considering his options. Then, shrugging, he says, "I'll tell you what I know since we need your help anyway. Brace yourself though, you may not be able to handle all of this."

"Just tell me", you say urgently.

He tells you that Ji Min has 'episodes' once a month where he suffers physical convulsions. His back goes through distortions as though something is trying to come out of it. Nam Joon and Yoongi have been trying to find out what this has to do with the malspirits and the lake, but they're not making much progress.

"We all look after Ji Min when he goes through his episodes which only started a few months ago. We've been trying to ease his pain with elixirs that Yoongi hyung makes. The last one was pretty bad though and he was suffering for longer than usual. It wasn't a pretty sight. Hyung had to make a very concentrated potion, hopefully Ji Min will be better soon."

You look at him wide-eyed and open-mouthed, listening incredulously. When Jung Kook finishes talking, you have nothing to say. Your heart aches at the thought of what Ji Min has been going through. You've barely had a single conversation with him, but you always felt a powerful connection to him. Not to mention that midnight liaison that almost happened. You realise that this is probably why the scripture came to you; to help Ji Min. Maybe your destinies are somehow intertwined and this is just the beginning.