•~○Cursed castle[NCT]○~•

~°○<•

Chapter Two

“There's nothing in here!!!” Mark’s voice cracked as he slammed shut yet another dusty tome, sending a puff of golden motes into the air.

“We’ve looked through every single page of every single book in this castle!” Jeno’s tone was sharper, more restless, his eyes darting over the endless shelves like they might suddenly reveal a hidden door.

Jisung, perched cross-legged on the floor, looked up from a stack of scrolls. “Guys, relax. We’ve got this. If we keep panicking, we’ll miss the clues that are right in front of us. And if we miss them… we’re not just losing them—we’re losing the kingdom.”

Johnny leaned his massive frame against a marble column, arms folded. “He’s right, fellas. This is Heaven’s library, not the whole universe. We’ve only been looking for four hours since the attack. Four. Hours.”

Mark glared at the shelves. “And every second we waste on useless talking is another second they’re further away from us.”

Jeno ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “Should we… call the Fairy Guardian?”

Mark raised a brow. “At this hour?”

Jisung shrugged. “He’s gonna have to be awake.”

Jeno didn’t hesitate. “LEETEUK hyung!”

The air above the grand oak table shimmered—soft at first, then blooming into a swirl of stardust that fell like snow. From it emerged a tall man in flowing silver robes, his hair the color of moonlight, his smile warm but tinged with mischief.

“How may I help you this fine evening, children?” Leeteuk’s voice had the calm weight of someone who’d seen centuries pass.

“Hyung,” Mark began, urgency pulling at his words, “we need to find a way to the underworld.”

“Ah.” Leeteuk’s expression dimmed slightly. “Yes. I heard whispers of what happened. The three stolen lights—Chenle, Jaemin, and Donghyuck.”

“Hyung, we have to save them,” Jeno said, fists tightening.

“You will,” Leeteuk promised, his gaze sharp despite the gentle tone. “But you’ll need the Book of Forbidden Destinations. It holds the paths to places most beings aren’t meant to walk.”

Johnny tilted his head. “And I’m guessing it’s not just sitting on a shelf here.”

Leeteuk chuckled softly. “Of course not. It’s hidden in the Sea Kingdom. The king there is… let’s say prickly. But his child is kinder than the tide itself—you might win them over.”

“That’s doable,” Jisung said quickly.

“I read about the travel spell,” Jeno added. “Even if you’re not a sea creature, you can adapt to their world. But…” He hesitated. “We can only stay for three hours.”

Mark grimaced. “Not so doable.”

“And if we stay longer?” Johnny asked.

Jeno’s voice dropped. “We turn to stone. Sink into the depths. Forever.”

Mark rubbed the back of his neck. “Can’t we just… redo the spell?”

“Once every seventy-two hours,” Jeno replied. “I was thinking—two of us go first. If we fail, the other two go in right after.”

Leeteuk nodded approvingly. “That is a sound plan. I can help you with the spell. And as fate would have it…” He raised a hand, and a glimmering image of a rare golden mushroom floated above his palm. “…I have one of the hardest ingredients already. The Honey Mushroom.”

Mark’s shoulders lifted with hope. “Then let’s go!”

Leeteuk’s smile widened, but there was a knowing gleam in his eyes. “Not so fast, Minhyung. The Honey Mushroom is only the final step. You’ll need the other components first.”

“What’s first?” Johnny asked.

“Salt,” Leeteuk said simply. “From the Salt Caves near the Cloudfall. The crystals there are alive—they resist being taken, so tread carefully.”

Jeno straightened. “I can get the dairy leaves. I know where they grow. But I’ll need someone taller—Johnny or Jisung.”

“You’ll need Jisung elsewhere,” Leeteuk countered. “The abandoned Nature World. You’ll bring back cactus fur. Their leader adored Chenle—if you appeal to that, they might help.”

Jisung smirked faintly. “Guess I have the face for diplomacy.”

“Exactly,” Leeteuk said with a wink. “Gather large quantities of everything. If you fail the first time, we won’t have the luxury of starting over slow.” His voice dipped lower, serious. “And remember—not every kind face is truly kind in the afterlife.”

Jeno bowed his head. “Thank you, hyung.”

Johnny offered a respectful nod. “We’ll call you when we’ve got it all.”

Leeteuk’s form began to fade back into stardust. “May the stars guide your hands… and may the sea show you mercy.”

The glow vanished, and the library’s silence returned—thicker now, laced with the weight of what lay ahead.

Mark took a deep breath. “Alright. Let’s move.”

And just like that, they scattered to begin their dangerous errands.