Half-Blood | NCT DREAM

Chapter 27

It was hard for Haerin to tell which team had the advantage as she hid in the bushes, Mark by her side.

Red team was led by Jeno and had Dasom, Jaemin, and Renjun's cabins. Mark led blue team, with Haerin, Haechan, Jisung, and Chenle. It was odd having Renjun and Haechan's cabins separated, making the teams more equal with archers on both sides.

That also made it difficult though, as Haerin knew Renjun's cabin was much more comfortable with the night, giving them a slight advantage. But at the same time, her team had Mark, and Mark was holding a record for a reason.

"Ready?" Mark asked, exchanging look with Haerin. Haerin nodded, placing her hands on the ground and taking a deep breath.

It had taken a while for her to get the hang of it, but as she focused her mind to the ground, it began to shake, surprising many campers.

Mark had expected it though, and used it to his advantage as he ran through the forest, tackling anyone in his way. Haerin had her eyes on him until she felt that something was off.

Haerin turned around and saw Dasom smirking. Before she could do anything, Dasom had her pinned to the ground, making Haerin utterly useless.

"You have an unfair advantage!" Dasom whined as Haerin tried to get out of her grasp but failed. Damn, I didn't know she was this strong.

"What do you mean?" Haerin asked and Dasom motioned towards her weapons.

"I can't touch those without my hand burning." Dasom said with a pout. "So I hope you don't mind that I have to do this. Jeno really wants to beat Mark before he becomes a trainer."

Trainer.

Dasom must have noticed the sadness in Haerin's eyes as she loosed her grip slightly. "Sorry, that was touchy, wasn't it?"

Haerin shook her head. "No, it's fine. We all know that it's coming, anyways."

"Don't worry, he'll still be here." Dasom said, giving her an encouraging smile. "He just can't go on quests with you, but you can always bring me!"

"Thanks Dasom." Haerin said with a smile.

As Dasom smiled, Haerin took the opportunity to get out of Dasom's grip, much to her surprise. Haerin began running towards the direction Mark was, just to see his body lying on the ground, Haechan over it.

"Mark!" Haerin cried out as Haechan shook his head, wrapping Mark's leg which had a deep gash on it. She sat down beside him, holding his hand.

"You're becoming sloppy." Haechan commented as Haerin spotted the knife beside Mark.

"Well, we all know that Jaemin has good aim." Mark muttered. "I just didn't know that he actually wanted to help out today."

"Dasom probably yelled at him." Haechan said, finishing up. Haerin noticed Mark's eyes turn to meet hers.

"Crap!" Mark suddenly exclaimed, sitting up, much to Haechan's discontent. "If both of you are here, then that means that no one is protecting the flag."

Haerin exchanged looks with Haechan, both of them realizing their mistake before they both got up to run back to their side, just as Jeno crossed the river with their flag in his hands.

"Rest in peace to Mark's record." Haechan mumbled as Haerin watched Dasom engulf her boyfriend in a big hug, the red team celebrating their victory while the blue team was preparing for a scolding from Mark.

To their surprise, as Mark hobbled towards them, he had a wide grin on his face, even giving Jeno a high-five.

"It was about time." Mark said before ruffling Jeno's hair.

...

"You're an idiot." Haerin said once she was done wrapping Mark's leg, the male smiling at her the whole entire time.

"Well come here and hug your idiot." Mark said, opening his arms. Haerin shook her head before lying down in Mark's bed beside him.

"I can't believe you're this calm about breaking your record." Haerin said as Mark held her. She gave her boyfriend small pokes on his cheek.

"I'm becoming a trainer soon, anyways." Mark told her. "Someone else will have to lead the campers and I think Jeno will do a good job."

"He probably will." Haerin said as Mark cupped her face. "But I still prefer you."

"That's because you're biased." Mark said, smiling before giving her a kiss. Haerin shrugged her shoulders.

"Maybe." Haerin muttered, glancing around the room. "So once you're a trainer, all this will be in the trainer's cabin."

"Yeah." Mark said with a deep sigh. "And you can't go in there so that means I have to go to your room."

Haerin narrowed her eyes as she noticed the look on Mark's face. "Yah, what is that for? My room isn't that bad."

"Yeah, it's just dark and spooky and I feel like ghosts and skeletons are going to appear but aside from that, it's not that bad." Mark said, counting with his fingers.

"Mark!" Haerin exclaimed as Mark began giggling before holding onto her tighter.

"I'm just kidding. As long as I'm with you, I'll be fine." Mark said, a sparkle in his eye.

"So cheesy." Haerin mumbled as Mark tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, giving her another loving kiss.

"Oh, that reminds me." Mark said, propping himself up. Haerin removed herself from him, leaning against his pillows and headboard instead.

"Yeah?" Haerin asked, noticing the look on Mark's face.

"Taeyong wants to talk to you." Mark informed her.

"Me?" Haerin asked, pointing to herself.

"Yeah, don't worry though. I'll be there with you." Mark said, holding her hand and rubbing his thumbs against her knuckles, reassuring her.

...

"You're probably wondering why you're here." Taeyong said, looking at Haerin.

Haerin and Mark were inside Taeyong's office, located in the trainers' lodge. It wasn't the first time Haerin had been there, as the head counsellors had gathered there a few times to discuss the retrieval of demigods.

"You're not wrong." Haerin replied, earning a smile from Taeyong.

Sometimes Haerin forgot that Taeyong was Mark's brother, both of them children of Zeus. But as she sat there with the two of them, she felt out of place from the auras both of them were giving off.

"As you know, Mark will be a trainer soon." Taeyong started off as Mark nodded in confirmation. "And you are a head counsellor."

Haerin already had a feeling of what Taeyong was going to offer her. "I don't think I'm skilled enough nor am I ready."

"Really, now?" Taeyong responded, seeming unconvinced. "Mark seemed to have different thoughts."

"I think you're ready." Mark said, giving her hand a quick squeeze under the table. "Have some faith, Haerin."

"Mark, I've been here for what? Barely even two months?." Haerin replied. Mark shrugged his shoulders.

"You're doing better than some people that have been here for years. Plus, it's not like you'll be doing it alone, you can always as the others to help you." Mark told her.

"Think about it." Taeyong said, givng her a reassuring nod. "You don't need to give me an answer right away."

"Alright." Haerin said, keeping the thought in her head as Taeyong shifted his attention to Mark.

"You, on the other hand. You need to start moving your stuff out." Taeyong said, a wide grin on his face.

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:( im sad cuz this is almost over