The late summer sun peeked through the tree canopy and seeped warmth into Taehyung's honey golden skin while a gentle breeze rustled the dark green leaves, sending flickering shadows across his eyelids. A sweet summer scent drifted along the path of the wind, ruffling his sandy blonde hair, and the babbling sounds of a stony brook lulled him to sleep.

Lying high up in the branches of a magnificent camphor tree, one leg dangling over the edge, one arm folded under his head, Taehyung smiled softly. He lay there enjoying the simple pleasures of nature while letting himself forget that he was the leader of the Goryeo mages fighting in the war of the century.

As the sun began its descent in the sky, a quiet voice broke into his thoughts.

"Master!" Shouted the voice. Slowly opening his eyes, light-grey and every curious, they took in the scene around him. Blinking away the tendrils of sleep, he became more aware of the voice calling to him.

"V! Wake up! You were supposed to be back hours ago!" The voice continued, in a clearly annoyed tone. Taehyung slowly propped himself up against the tree, his sandy blonde hair shading his eyes as he looked down at the mage standing below. Momentarily startled at how high he had climbed, he saw Jungkook looking up at him in his usual pouting, frustrated way.

"Kookie!" Taehyung exclaimed in his familiar light-hearted demeanor, "You found me!" He ran his hand through his hair, trying to smooth out the kinks from his nap.

Jungkook furrowed his eyebrows at his mage master sitting so relaxed and care-free in the tree. The sight made him irritated at first, his master was supposed to be training him in the field of mental magic, not lounging around and snoozing the day away.

"Are you finished scanning the area? You need to come back to camp. Now!" Jungkook snapped, his large brown eyes glaring up at Taehyung. Taehyung just laughed, always amused by his apprentice.

"Is that anyway to talk to your master mage, Kookie?" He began to pull himself up to his feet, stretching out his long limbs.

Jungkkook watched as Taehyung stretched his arms over his head, shook out his long legs, and swept his short sandy blonde hair out of his eyes. Jungkook felt something stir in his chest as he watched his master begin to perform a mental magic ability that no one else was capable of. Is it because he's so powerful? Jungkook thought to himself. Is it because he looks so pretty? He looks way too pretty to be a man. Jungkook snapped out of his straying thoughts and retorted,

"I'll start treating you like a master when you start acting like one!" Jungkook snapped, trying to cover up his momentary lapse in self control. But Taehyung ignored him as he concentrated on entering his magical state.

Taehyung knew he was the only living mage capable of performing Elenchus so everyone relied on him, but even then he felt it was tiresome to do every time they moved to a new area. Nevertheless, he took a deep breath and reached into the golden pool of magical energy he always felt swirling in his core. Letting the magic course through his veins, he began to perform the rarest form of mental magic.

Also known as truth-seeking, Elenchus allowed him to enter a metaphysical realm that was a blurry mirrored image of reality. This realm was known as the Abstract. Experienced by few, but heard of by many, the Abstract was where the mind could soar as if flying through space and see people and their auras. The auras took on different colors that the user could see to detect truths, lies, feelings and emotions. But the primary mission of King Gongyang's mage army was to detect the presence of Joseon soldiers and mages, and eliminate them.

Entering the Abstract, Taehyung's mind flew over the vast evergreen forest and saw a large cloud of mixed blue and purple aura emanating from a cluster of trees. He flew toward the cloud, no wind or breeze or sunshine to feel, the only thing he could feel was the familiar aura and presence of his comrades. Diving down into the trees, his mind saw the men and women bustling around in their royal blue mage robes, going about their duties.

Not caring to linger in the Abstract any longer, Taehyung flew back up above the trees and began to let go of his magic, letting his mind return to his body. But all of a sudden, he spotted a small dark speck in the distance. Jerking to a halt, Taehyung felt his heart jump into his throat. The small black aura seeping through the trees was not like any aura Taehyung had ever experienced before.

Drawing forth more magic from his veins, Taehyung pushed his mind further into the Abstract, the blurry trees zooming past. As he neared the black aura, he felt an unusual coldness. The Abstract was supposed to be devoid of all the elements and of all tactile concepts, but as Taehyung dived down into the trees he felt himself become entrapped in an icy cold grip that suffocated him with a sort of darkness.

Taehyung's heart was racing, his mind scrambling to retreat from the Abstract and the tightening grip that held him. Trapped in place by some powerful magic, he couldn't escape. He felt the presence of two, no three mages surrounding him, a black sinister aura oozing from their bodies. He couldn't see them, they were shrouded in darkness, but he knew that they were using a type of magic he had only heard of in legends.

Unable to release himself from their grip, Taehyung could do only one thing, he let go of the magic he held in his veins letting it retract back into his core. Relieved to be feeling his mind reeling back out of the Abstract, his panic slightly subsided, only to be exploded back into full throttle when he found himself locked into the stone cold glare of two black eyes as dark as obsidian.

Held teetering on the edge between the Abstract and reality, Taehyung was frozen by the icy glare that belonged to no one he knew. He stared into the infinite darkness of those eyes that burned the edges his mind, unable to look away. Then just as suddenly as the piercing glare appeared, they vanished in a black cloud, sending Taehyung's mind snapping back into his body.

Taehyung felt himself drop back into the real world again. His eyes still closed, he took account of the numbness in his arms and legs that was usual, and the racing of his heart that was terrifyingly unusual. Slowly opening his eyes, he looked out across the forest at the trees he had just escaped from. They knew he was there. He knew they were coming.

"It's been a while." Taehyung spoke quietly.

"What?!" Jungkook called from below. "What'd you say?" Jungkook watched his master with worry, something seemed off.

"I said it's been a while." Taehyung repeated, more loudly so Jungkook could hear.

"Since what?" Jungkook craned his neck to look up in the direction Taehyung was gazing off into, curiosity overwhelming him.

"Since I've encountered a mage as powerful as me."

The words ignited in Jungkook's ears sending his head whipping around to look back at his master. Taehyung had turned his head downward and met Jungkook's eyes as he turned to look at him. His light grey eyes sparked with anticipation, his heart pumped with purpose, and his lips slowly curved up into a sly, hungry smile.