Mabsuli Blood || txt

Thirty: Reunion

Night slowly changed to day through the leaved branches above him, but he didn't stop walking.

With each step following the light path, his head throbbed and his scar ached, but he didn't stop walking.

The trees all around him looked the same and made him feel like he was being swallowed whole, but he didn't stop walking.

He had to.

He made it this far already.

He couldn't stop.

Not when he was getting so close.

Sannie.

Wooyoung.

Beomgyu.

They were getting close.

One step at a time.

One foot in front of the other.

The distance between them was closing, the distance being seal—

This is wrong, I shouldn't be here.

He spun and began walking in the opposite direction, chastising himself for getting sidetrac—

Wait a damn minute.

Yeonjun frowned and turned back around to find he had indeed been following the light path. He began walking in that direction ag—

No, I need to turn back.

God, what was wrong with him always getting sidetrac—?

Seriously?!

He huffed in annoyance as he stared down the way he was supposed to go, but was unable to because of his own naïvety. Though he tried to cut himself a bit of slack. It was probably a magic defense for Mabsulle, and obviously an Akabi blood like him couldn't do much to resist—

"Your mind will become completely vulnerable once we're done here, little boy."

There was no breeze, but that didn't stop the chills from shooting up Yeonjun's spine at the voice filling his mind. It scared him shitless, but he didn't know why. He wrapped the cloak tighter around himself, desperately wishing he had Soobin with him so he could hug him and pretend everything was—

"I'm still here with you, Junnie. Everything's going to be okay."

Chocolate... Why did he all of a sudden smell chocolate? Was he that hungry? Well, he was walking all night nonstop. Might as well take a break while he figured out what to do.

He plopped himself down at the trunk of a nearby tree, setting the Crystal replica beside him as he opened his bag and took out a granola bar. As he munched on it, he couldn't help but think that maybe he should've taken the spellbook with him as well. Maybe it had a clue on how to resist the spell. Wait, did he close the—?

The smell of chocolate was only growing more intense, and for a second Yeonjun thought he grabbed a chocolate chip granola bar. But then he felt the unusually warm surface of the replica, and when he brought his hand back, it carried the faint scent of chocolate.

The replica smelled like chocolate. Not the craziest thing he'd seen all day, but still why the hell would it smell like chocolate?

Yeonjun suddenly perked up as he got an idea. He always managed to relax and focus when enveloped in Soobin's scent. This wasn't Soobin, but it was definitely familiar and warm, so maybe...

He stuffed the granola bar wrapper in his bag and stood up again, facing the light path forward. He took a deep breath to steel himself and closed his eyes, holding the replica close and allowing the chocolate scent to envelop his senses. He took a step forward. Then another. Then another. Then anoth—