{M}ℝ𝕦𝕟 𝔸𝕨𝕒𝕪 | ✨𝕐𝕖𝕠𝕟𝕘𝕪𝕦 & 𝕊𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕒𝕚✨

Chapter 60

Yeonjun covered his eyes as embers flew around him when the tree finally fell, dying by the same fire that had trapped Yeonjun. The great tree soon succumbed to the raging flames, giving up seconds after Yeonjun had pushed Beomgyu away from the blue and green trap towards the safety of the jungle.

But now. . . His only escape route was blocked as Yeonjun found himself between the suffocating flames; trapped and awaiting death. The ends of his hanbok were ragged and burned, his eyes were squinting against the shining of the flames, and his hair blew against the very same smoke that was slowly beginning to choke him.

Yeonjun looked around, feeling disoriented when the smoke blurred his vision and covered up his nostrils, sending him into a frantic fit of coughing. Likely so, Yeonjun's body could no longer stand the environment as the strength within his legs vanished; sending Yeonjun to the ground in a crouched position. More smoke engulfed him as the flames drew closer, making Yeonjun's chest constrict even more. . . But the fire or the mere thought of his death wasn't much of a terrifying nightmare than the scene that began to play in front of him.

Suddenly, the flames around him began to shift away from the weak, beaten 20-year-old, dancing in a hypnotizing manner as they parted to create a small pathway. Yeonjun could feel his heart sink to the bottom of his chest as he knew damn well that the parting of the fire wasn't a blessing from the moon or Beomgyu coming back to save him. . . But yet another curse amongst the many others that engulfed this island.

The dark smoke unwrapped itself from Yeonjun's throat and began to wriggle its way slowly towards the path created by the flames, merging itself with the dancing streaks of evil as the blackened figure of malice began to take form; a type of malice that Yeonjun was a bit too familiar with. . .

The cracking of the angry flames suddenly died down as the sound turned into a maleficent cackle; a cackle that caused Yeonjun's ear to press against each side of his now pale face.

"My, but what do we have here?" Eclipse tilted his head, a snort of amusement leaving his lips in that mocking way of his. "The traitor of the prophecy!"

"You. . ." Yeonjun wheezed, his eyes darkening as they met Eclipse's. No fear engraved the th20-year-old's orbs, there was only rage and hatred; both of which hadn't let his body collapse to the fullest. The rage he felt towards himself for being such a fool to believe Eclipse and let the wicked cat control him and the hatred he felt when seeing Eclipse's mocking figure, which made his blood boil.

"Me?" Eclipse widened his eyes with surprise. "You mean your beloved ally? Well, I couldn't just leave you here to die!" The cat then lifted a paw and examined his claws, disappointment filling his gaze. "I mean, I know it's a bit cliché to send a dragon to kill you. . . But where is the fun in that if I can't watch?"  Another laugh interrupted his dialog, but the mocking continued.  "You might as well wonder why you're here. . . After all, you were dumb enough to trust a mere stranger in the first place."

Soon, Eclipse began to suppress his laugh; his eyes darkened as his face showed a monotone expression when he gazed into Yeonjun's familiar brown eyes. "I can't really blame you, can I?" He said in a cool tone. "After all, your mother was as dumb as you were when she encountered me."

Yeonjun widened his eyes, surprise replacing the burning pain as he stared at Eclipse as the cat curled his lip.

"You share so many similarities with her," Eclipse continued with a growl, disgust foreshadowing his fury as he noticed that even if Yeonjun had inherited most of his father's looks, his eyes were still as haunting as Yeonghon's. "Like her, you were born to protect and serve as a guardian for this island. But instead, both of you betrayed the very same thing you had oathed to protect and love." Eclipse's eyes became dark and hollow, the disappearance of his smile making a greater impact as his voice lowered. "But despite everything I promised, despite becoming traitors in the eyes of the moon and this island. . ."