Cursed Hearts | ATEEZ

024

"It's tomorrow, isn't it?" I asked, looking up at the King of Autumn who was walking next to me, the soft sounds of the lazy river flowing at our feet along the side of the trail by the edge of the city mixing with the mess of my inner thoughts as I slowed down a little.

The two of us had been here before during one of the first evenings after I had arrived at the Palace of Atlas, walking along the edge of the river which separated Martell from The Eight Mountains surrounding the capital, the clear blue water just as bright and lively as back then, dotted with spots of orange and yellow and red as stray leaves floated along its surface.

To think that it had nearly been two months was almost overwhelming, but the seasons had changed and autumn had begun to show its true colours as we got further and further into the month of September; trees shedding their green colours for warmer hues of hazel which had covered the entirety of the capital by now, reminding me of the landscape within the king's hazel eyes every time I looked out of my window, even more now that I was walking in the midst of it.

It had been too long since the last trial, I realized, dreading Wooyoung's answer to my question. The third one had to be soon and, with my luck, horrifyingly soon.

He was glowing, I thought to myself as I waited for Wooyoung to turn his head, to face me, glowing in the midst of autumn, his own element, and power. My heart sank slightly when he finally did, dread and worry etched into those hazel eyes of his, the silence between us becoming heavier as I simply nodded my head in response.

"Who did this to you?" I asked, not missing how he quickly furrowed his brows before cocking his head slightly, both of us coming to a halt near a still-green patch of grass by the edge of the river. "Who is controlling you? What kind of curse is this?"

"It's a punishment," Wooyoung said, turning his head to the sky above us which was covered in a thick veil of darkness littered with stars, "A long time ago, the eight of us made a grave mistake, and" he paused, sounding almost pained, almost out of breath, "someone died. Someone we cared greatly for. The consequences that followed, it's- it's the reason The Trials of The Eight Mountains are still held. We're unable to stop it until-" his words faltered as a pained sound escaped his lips and he clutched a hand to his chest.

"It's fine," I hurriedly said, reaching out for him in mixed surprise and worry as a strong breeze wrapped itself around me before fluttering towards the river, "You don't have to tell me, Wooyoung, I understand."

"You don't, though," he grit through clenched teeth, "It's all our fault, everything, all of it, just because the heart-"

"The heart wants dangerous things," I said, watching as the look in the king's eyes changed. "Did you love her?" I asked, my heart sinking slightly as Wooyoung nodded his head, pain etching his handsome features as locks of ebony hair fell into his face.

"I did," he said, "I did love her. Not anymore though. A lot of time has passed and I've grown both physically and emotionally. What I felt back then was love, yes, but not one I would ever feel again. It was-" he paused, as if trying to find the right words, "It was a dangerous, irresponsible, and reckless kind of love, thoughtless, from all parts involved."

Wooyoung swallowed thickly before finding my eyes again, "We should probably get back," he said but I shook my head at the offer, "I don't want to," I mumbled, "I don't want to sleep. I want to stay awake until the trial begins." He furrowed his brows slightly, watching me silently as I turned to the patch of grass just off the side of the path we had been walking on, making my way over before plopping down on the small stretch of green amidst hues of orange and red.