In the vast, elegantly adorned house, a lively hum filled the air as everyone moved with purpose, preparing for the special occasion. People darted across the expansive hall, adjusting decorations, perfecting the setup, and ensuring that every detail was in place. Brightly colored banners hung along the walls, and the scent of freshly baked treats wafted from the kitchen, mingling with the excitement.
Soojin stood in the center of it all, a fond smile on his face, his usually composed demeanor softened by a whimsical touch—a bright, cone-shaped birthday hat perched on his head. He looked at ease, surrounded by his makeshift family, and he glanced affectionately at his five loyal comrades standing before him in a line: Jinwoo, Taeyang, Haejin, Minseok, and Kyungsoo. Each one stood at attention, chests puffed out and shoulders back, as if they were soldiers reporting to their general, their faces a mixture of pride and barely contained excitement.
“Everything is ready, sir!” they called out, their voices harmonizing in joyful unison. Soojin’s smile broadened as he chuckled, a warmth in his eyes as he took in the lighthearted spectacle.
“Good job!” he praised, clapping his hands together. “The five of you can rest now.”
“Understood, sir!” they shouted again, grinning. Soojin laughed, shaking his head at their playful seriousness, a chuckle escaping him as he watched them ease into relaxed chatter amongst themselves. For a moment, he stood in silent contemplation, admiring the camaraderie they shared. “You chose well, Cale,” he murmured softly. “Not only are they talented, but they’re kind-hearted too.” He couldn’t help but feel proud, thinking of Cale’s judgment and the bond these young people had formed.
But then, his smile faded as a shiver of realization cut through him. The fine hairs on the back of his neck rose, and his heart gave a hard thud. The aura he sensed was unmistakable. He’s here. The thought struck him sharply, and he straightened, giving a brief nod to the others, his expression serious.
As if on cue, the front door opened, and Minho stepped in, immediately showered in a blast of confetti and a cheer of “Happy Birthday, Minho!” He staggered back slightly, caught off guard, his eyes wide in astonishment as the colorful paper rained down over him.
“Sir… Soojin… and all of you…?” he stammered, blinking at each of them as they beamed at him.
“Smile a bit more, you weakling!” Taeyang’s playful voice rang out as he threw an arm around Minho’s shoulders, giving him a friendly shake. His laughter boomed through the room, infectious, drawing laughter from everyone else.
Minho looked around at their smiling faces, a wave of warmth swelling within him, and his lips broke into a wide, genuine smile. “...Thank you,” he said softly, his eyes gleaming with appreciation.
“Come on in!” Taeyang exclaimed, pulling him deeper inside, barely giving him a chance to catch his breath as they ushered him forward.
As they made their way in, Minho’s gaze scanned the room, but his smile dimmed as he glanced around, searching. “Is Cale… not coming?” he asked, his voice quiet, a flicker of disappointment shadowing his eyes as he looked toward Soojin, before his gaze dropped to the floor.
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Soojin opened his mouth to respond, “He’ll be here as—” but the words froze on his lips. A powerful, bone-chilling aura filled the room, like a storm crashing down upon them, forcing everyone to their knees as the very foundation of the house trembled. The intensity of it sent cold sweat trickling down Soojin’s spine.
Eyes wide with alarm, Soojin turned to the window just in time to see a colossal shape hurtling toward the ground, smashing into the fountain with a resounding crash that shook the earth and sent a plume of dust and debris spiraling into the air.
“What the…?” Soojin breathed, blinking in shock as he bolted outside, squinting through the swirling smoke, trying to make sense of the massive form looming in the haze. Gradually, the shapes within the smoke became clearer—two silhouettes, one towering and one distinctly human. As the dust finally settled, Soojin’s breath caught.
Cale stood atop the massive form of the Green Serpent, a fierce, cold expression etched on his face as he held a bottle of potion, dripping it carelessly over the creature, prolonging its agony with a casual brutality that sent a chill down Soojin’s spine.
“Cale! Is that the Green Serpent?!” Soojin’s voice rang out, a mix of disbelief and awe. Without waiting for a reply, he rushed forward, his eyes wide with horror at the battered, defeated state of the Green Serpent. "What a horrible state. You put him in!" Soojin said as sweat dropped from his hand and looked fearfully at Cale. 'What a brutal way of taking vengence!'
Cale turned, his expression unchanging as he met Soojin’s gaze, The others also ran outside as the pressure on them was gone. Cale then shifted his focus to Minho, his eyes hard and unyielding as he approached him. With measured steps, he reached Minho and handed him a set of potions, his voice low and resolute. “I’ve taken my half. Now it’s your turn,” he said, his gaze never wavering, the weight of his words pressing upon Minho.
Then, without waiting for a response, he moved past him, throwing a brief glance at Soojin. “Soojin, I need a word with you.” He continued into the house, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.
Soojin hesitated a moment, then turned toward Minho, catching sight of the flicker of cold fury that had settled over Minho’s face. There was a new hardness in his eyes, an edge to his expression that Soojin had never seen before. Minho’s hand clenched tightly around the hilt of his arcane blade as he stood before the Green Serpent, his jaw set, and his breathing slow and controlled.
As Soojin passed, he couldn’t resist glancing back over his shoulder, watching as Minho approached the beaten creature, his face dark with an intensity that radiated a chilling rage. 'The Green Serpent… it’s him.' The realization struck Minho as he glared down at the beast, his grip on his sword tightening.
“I won’t let you get away with what you did to my mother!” he shouted loudly, his voice cold and resolute, a promise of the vengeance that lay ahead. With a swift motion, he unsheathed his arcane blade, the metal gleaming with a sharp, lethal edge.
The others, sensing the danger in Minho’s aura, instinctively took a few cautious steps back, their faces pale with surprise. This was not the Minho they had come to know. This was someone transformed, a shadowed side of him awakened by the sight of the creature that had wronged him so deeply.
The Green Serpent, weak and bound, let out a soft, pitiful hiss, barely able to muster the strength to move. Its eyes met Minho’s, a glint of primal terror reflected in them as it recognized him—the boy it had once struck down, now grown into a force capable of enacting a terrible justice. It could sense that mercy would not be found here. These monsters won't let him live and won't let him die.
As Minho raised his blade, the air grew thick with tension, the impending reckoning hanging heavy in the silence.