The Chosen

Protected Prophecy

The Chosen Squad barely got some sleep last night. To say that they were excited was a huge understatement. They had questions to ask and answers they really wanted to know. Time passed so slow as if Sohye or Seongwu messed up with it and morning couldn't arrive sooner.

Finally, dawn opened the gates of the heaven for the sun to rise. The Chosen Squad performed their daily routine with much more attention to detail and then, gathered at Jisung's room to have breakfast together. Quite fascinatingly, their excitement could not even whittle their voracious appetite. And then at last, they were ready to visit IOI for an explanation. Jaehwan could very much feel the full spectrum of emotions he and his friends were feeling – from excitement to curiosity to nervousness, the Chosen Squad had it all.

Everything led to this moment where Woojin, for the sole reason of being the son of the owners of the hotel, was forced to ring the doorbell of the Chosen Suite. The door opened, revealing, in Jaehwan's terms, an equally antsy IOI.

"Come in, come in. We have been waiting." Somi offered her bubbly welcome.

The Chosen Squad bowed to their predecessors in respect. IOI bowed back in response.

"So, I guess you have questions you want to ask us?" Nayoung started the conversation.

Daniel was the first to raise his hand, "Where, why and how did you disappear?"

"If you're able to return, why abdicate your position as Chosen?" Jisung fired his question.

"Why return only now?" Minhyun also added.

"Okay. Okay. Chill. Relax. Take a deep breath. In order to answer all those questions, we tell you the story from the very beginning." Chungha kept things in order.

"So, everything started after our inauguration as the first set of Chosen. The Seer at that time, Jang Keunsuk, told us of a prophecy immediately after the ceremony. Only the twelve of us knows about this secret up until today." Yoojung started narrating.

"I knew about that prophecy. I read it from the first Seer's book that I got somewhere. Remember, Daniel? Jisung turned to Daniel and Daniel just shrugged, "I told you about it when we were in the train going to the capital of Malman-Oh. The book did not mention any details though. It just mentioned that the prophecy must be fulfilled." Everyone was now looking at him.

"Well, that is true. The prophecy had something to do with both of our destinies as Chosen and it must be fulfilled no matter what." Sejeong continued, "According to our Seer, and I quote: 'A decade shall pass and a heavy downpour shall wash away the currently selected. Shortly thereafter, the balance of power will split into five. Eleven shall be gathered to restore things back into order. They'll be unparalleled, even by their own successors, for powers unlike anyone has ever seen before shall be bestowed upon them.'"

"I do not understand any of those." Seongwu blurted out.

"Okay, let us breakdown the parts." Chaeyeon said, "First part was 'a decade shall pass and a heavy downpour shall wash away the currently selected'. It refers to us. We were only meant to rule for a decade. True enough, ten years after we have been inaugurated, we disappeared amidst that mysterious heavy downpour."

"The second reads: 'shortly thereafter, the balance of power will split into five'. It obviously talks about the Five Pillars." Chaeyeon continued, "It is followed by: 'eleven shall be gathered to restore things back into order'. This indicates the arrival of the second set of Chosen, you guys. Then, finally, 'they'll be unparalleled, even by their own successors, for powers unlike anyone has ever seen before shall be bestowed upon them'. We weren't sure what this meant, but we assumed that you guys will be wielding powers that are not commonly seen. Though one thing is clear. The last part clearly states that your batch shall be the most powerful out of all sets of Chosen."

"That's not true. You're pretty powerful yourselves. We have read all about your abilities. We highly respect you as our seniors." Jisung humbly dismissed the idea.

"Stop the humble talk. We, more or less, know your capabilities, as we've seen it yesterday during the battle." Mina mentioned, "The way only half of you managed to hold off the strongest magical squads of the kingdom proves the authenticity of the prophecy."

"Thus, to answer Daniel's question, we have to disappear to make way for your arrival. The heavy rain during that day magically teleported us to some kind of cosmic void, beyond time and space. That is also the reason why we haven't aged." Kyulkyung answered.

"To answer both Jisung's and Minhyun's queries, that heavy rain was a sign of our compulsory retirement from being a Chosen, again to give way for your arrival. We managed to return back here because of you guys, as stated by the prophecy, to restore things back into order." Somi elaborated.

"But how? None of the current Chosen has that kind of power." Daniel pointed out.

"Maybe it's you, Daniel. Maybe you casted a spell or something to bring them back." Sungwoon theorized.

"Why me? It's the Chosen's duty to restore things into order. I'm not a member of the Chosen. I'm the Seer Successor. BoA's successor." Daniel stated as a matter of fact.

"Wait... Hold up... You're not a Chosen?" Doyeon sprang out of her seat.

"No. I'm the Seer Successor. The current Seer, BoA entrusted me a mission to gather the scattered Chosen. Thus, as you can see, I managed to gather ten so far." Daniel revealed to IOI.

"Wow, this is shocking. We really thought you are part of eleven." Somi mumbled, "Are you sure you have no mark, whatsoever?"

"Absolutely sure. And the last time I checked, I have no powers except my still unstable and uncontrollable spell casting which manifested several weeks ago." Daniel firmly answered.

"Well, that's too bad." Yoojung sighed "Although being the next Seer is also very honorable."

"How about the others? Can we see your marks? Do not bother making it glow. We already know you're real." Mina requested.

The Chosen Squad, except Daniel, showed IOI their marks. IOI also returned the gesture and displayed their marks.

"So, looking at your marks, I believe you are still looking for your center?" Somi noticed.

"Yeah. Unfortunately, we haven't located him yet." Daniel soughed.

"Well, good luck with that." Nayoung said, "As for us, we are going to lay low for now until the eleven of you get inaugurated. We'll be staying in Neither for the time being. So, I guess that would be all. By the way, we will be leaving before lunch."

"Thank you for your explanation." The Chosen Squad bowed as they left IOI's room.