ᴏɴᴇɪʀᴀᴛᴀxɪᴀ ✘ ᴛxᴛ ✘ ᴛᴏᴍᴏʀʀᴏᴡ x ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ✘ fᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ᴀᴜ

S I X T E E N

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He who looked into the mirror, deep into the soul of his reflection, will end himself as seconds pass by.
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"Do you have any... Leads on the boy, Azazel...?" The woman asked as she sipped a dark liquid, staring down at the forest. ".. I'm afraid not, my lady..."

"Well then what are you doing here then?? Do I need to give you a time limit for you to do your work properly?!"

"My lady, that boy never stays in one place, he's always wandering around that damned forest, I couldn't get close to him even if I wanted to--!"

A sharp dagger was pressed against his neck as the immortal woman turned around abruptly, a cold glare on her face. "You dare use such foul language against me?!" She yelled, her voice echoing throughout the walls of her chamber.

The old man fell silent, his breath hitching as his eyes expanded in size. "N-no, your majesty..."

"Good..." She scoffed before kicking the older man to the ground. "I have sent my beloved 'pet' to that island to distract them. I want you to get a hold of that boy,"

"Yes my lady,"

"And Azazel..." She paused as she turned to look down at him. "Fail me again and I will skin you alive,"

".. Y-yes, my lady..."

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Areum gasped as she awoke from her nightmare, or so she hoped it was. "h-HUH?! WHAT?! WHAT'S WRONG?!" Taehyun jumped awake at the sound of her gasp. Poor boy had fallen asleep while working.

"Ah, sorry I startled you..."

"No, are you alright?? Did you have a vision??"

The girl felt her throat go dry as she sighed. ".. I saw a woman... She was--"

"Taehyun, take your patients and head to the hidden room, immediately!!" Beomgyu shouted as he bursted through the doors. "This beast is far more larger and vicious than what we had thought,"

"You can't face it alone!!" Areum stood up, marching forward.

"You're staying with Taehyun--"

"Why can't I help?! That creature won't be defeated by your stupid swords!!"

"It is too dangerous, if it so much breathes on you then you're gone," Beomgyu shook his head, blocking the way so that the girl wouldn't leave. "I think I can manage myself!!"

"Areum, you're blind!!" He shouted, a long and thick silence following afterwards.

".. Yeah... You're right..." She begun, her voice ever so bitter. ".. Areum, I--", "Yeah, I am blind," she raised her voice, laughing half-heartedly.

".. But I was always blind," the girl finished coldly.

"All my life I have been told what to do. And what not to do. This place is no different..." She pushed the younger aside. "I am not going to let myself be the puppet. Not now. Not ever. And don't think you could stop me..." The girl walked out, leaving the two speechless.

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"Faster, Yeonjun!!" Soobin grunted out as he tried to encage the creature in a cage made out of the solid ground with the help of his abilities. However it seemed like it wass of no help.

"My abilities aren't working!" Yeonjun spoke, both his hands up. "Why is it not working?!"

The cockatrice broke through, Soobin gasping for air as he clutched his chest. The younger immediately went to the older, blocking him from the cockatrice's touch, slowly turning to stone, "No!"