Chapter Text
Within the confines of his kingdom, he watched the owner of his heart gazing up at the star-filled sky with an adoring smile.
His long red hair shimmered in the night, fluttering in the breeze, a soft chuckle resounding.
"Altalune." He said, the figure that enraptured him paused and turned around, allowing the flame-like hair to brush against his pale cheeks, with both jewel-like eyes focused on him.
"Ashborn." The young man in royal robes stretched his hand forward, beckoning for another hand to welcome his warmth.
"My love." Altalune's hand met his and he grasped it tenderly. Ashborn then pulled the master of his heart into his arms and inhaled the scent of nature emitted by his beloved.
"Doesn't my kingdom's sky look beautiful now?" He whispered into the ears that were turning a cute shade of red, though whether from embarrassment or the cold night air at the heart of the spacious palace balcony remained to be seen.
"Yes. It's beautiful. It feels like the end of Hiraeth."
(Hiraeth = longing for a place to return to that has not been visited for a long time)
The Ashborn figure smiled sweetly, tightening the embrace on the young man in his arms. Truly, his feelings were now beyond words.
No words felt enough to quantify and convey how immensely he loved his 'Altalune'.
That every smile he gave, was able to steal the very breath he took.
Causing his heartbeat to resound throughout his entire body.
It filled the recesses of his mind and soul.
And also took over the royal chef because the dragon and two kittens said the food was very good.
"What are you laughing at, Ash-ya?" The king just chuckled more, earning a narrowed gaze from his lover.
"Just thinking about Raon, On, and Hong plotting to kidnap the royal chef." Reddish-brown sparkling eyes stared in wonder at Ashborn and snorted.
"Such a dire matter it seems, that the King of the Velaris Kingdom can't help but devote his entire focus to it," the redhead sarcastically quipped, making Ashborn laugh even harder.
"Ash-ya."
"-and Choi Han-nim, will stand guard so that the chef can be kidnapped safely-!"
"-Ashborn."
"Ahahahha, alright, alright, I quit, I-"
.
.
.
"-STOP!!!"
Teary-eyed with a voice that cracked, Ashborn watched as his beloved was forcefully taken over. Chains cruelly forced their way into his veins, binding themselves to the frail body he desperately wanted to embrace.
"HUMAN! RELEASE HIM!"
"CALE-NIM! LET GO OF CALE-NIM!"
Ashborn's eyes now turned to stare at the traitor who destroyed his star kingdom. Tears flowed freely with a heart broken by the betrayal of their friendship.
Why...?
Why...?
WHY...?
WHY?!
"DON'T HURT MY ALTALUNE!" Forcing his body to move despite having been pierced by thousands of weapons, Ashborn, with the help of the two Beastmen at his side, and the Golden Dragon, tried to stand up to save his lover.
"A-Ashborn..."
In the silence of war, Ashborn's silver eyes gazed at the red-haired man smiling gently at him. Tears as clear and pure as his heart fell, delivering a thousand points of rage into the mind of Ashborn, who once promised himself not to see those tears fall again.
"See you again, Ash-ya." The chain-wrapped body was cruelly pulled away from the destroyed family and home.
"NO!!!"
The King's strong body fell to his knees.
The war instantly ceased at the loss, overshadowed by a resounding cry.
Intermixed with the cry were the roars of pain, sadness, and rage of his lover's children, family and kingdom, even Ashborn's hearing was deafened.
Gone was his beloved... his Altalune... his moon...
He would never see his fiery red hair again.
No longer laughing at his sleepy behavior.
His smile when seeing his family.
His laughter when seeing his children.
And his jeweled gaze, full of warmth when he sees them.
Ashborn's eyes then gazed at a speck of light in the middle of the night's horizon. So luminous in that vast darkness that a prayer was subconsciously offered.
"O The Absolute One... are you willing to hear of the rage in my soul?" Ashborn whispered in a trembling voice. The silence was so strong that his small voice was heard by the world.
"My Altalune, my world, has been taken."
"Is there even a sliver of hope that I can regain him?"
"Though unworthy, with the grace of blessing, in my darkness, I can make a guiding light."
"So that his beautiful figure can return to my arms..."
More tears fell, dripping down the cheeks of a King who had lost the crown of his soul.
Without realizing it, the spot became brightly lit. All beings in the universe were stunned and watched in silence as the dot known as The Absolute One, in the legend of the Kingdom of Velaris, took on a majestic form.
"The Greatest Fragment of Brilliant Light."
Answered a majestic voice so soul-shaking, Ashborn could only stare silently at the image of The Absolute One who answered his call.
"Along with the other 7 and 8. I will give you a chance."
"You will become one of my Rulers. Obey me and-"
Ashborn's soul was now bright with light. His eyes that still glittered like broken gems observed the speck of light with a face of astonishment.
"-reach out to him, who is trapped in pitch darkness."
He grasped the light as the world began to spin around him.
"Father's lover!" He turned to look at the little dragon who was trying to get close to him. Then at the two Beastmen, the Black Swordsman, the red-haired Mage, the leader of the Wolf tribe, the Dragon elder, the Roan King and everyone else present with determined eyes.
"Don't worry about me!"
"Wait for us to return!"
"I'll pick up Cale!"
The black dragon's sky blue eyes misted over as he shut them tightly. Seemingly holding back tears before nodding along. To be strong while Ashborn and his father had to be far away.
"Please bring Father home! We'll wait and also look for another way to help too!"
Ashborn smiled widely and laughed wetly. His lover had such a great family. Drawing his last breath, Ashborn shouted powerfully with silver eyes that shone with determination.
"I WILL!"
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.
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[Seoul, Year xxxx]
[3.06 AM]
And the memories ended as a slender, toned young man woke up from his sleep. His body was drenched in a cold sweat, his heartbeat quickened, and black hair now damp, but he did not feel cold. On the contrary, his head and body were extremely hot.
The heartbeat of the Black Heart was in a frenzy, sending out a million memories of 'Ashborn''s Altalune, his lover who was still trapped in the darkness.
His eyes then gazed longingly at the moon in the night. It suddenly looked so lonely behind the multitude of dark clouds. Was 'Altalune' also lonely there? In solitude waiting for Ashborn's presence?
... his presence?
A strong feeling of melancholy hit him. Making a single tear fall down the man's cheeks.
"Who are you?" His whisper was fragile.
"Why do you always appear in Ashborn's memories?"
...in my memories?
His eyes turned back to the moon.
Expecting an answer to the silent question that Sung Jinwoo knew would go unanswered.
Unless...
... he goes and asks directly.
