The kingdom's training field was burning with passion as The Elites, with Minji alongside them, prepared for a simulation. The challenge was to bring down Y/n, who would mimic the beast's agility and strength, using her flame magic to simulate its deadly attacks. In this drill, Y/n was tasked with evading the main offensive trio, Yeonjun, Yujin, and Minji, while Kai provided physical support, Chaewon cast defensive spells from afar, and Soobin coordinated the team with telepathic directions.
As Y/n stood in the center of the field, her flames flickering along her hands, she surveyed her teammates, each waiting for Soobin's signal. Then, without warning, he called out "Yeonjun, Kai, front attack, Yujin, Minji, prepare for interception!"
Yeonjun launched forward, his movements swift and agile, and Y/n barely had time to sidestep his charge. His claws swiped just inches away from her as she spun, her flames sparking in defense. She retaliated with a burst of fire toward him, but he was already anticipating it, leaping backward as Minji charged in to take his place. Y/n locked eyes with Minji and made sure there was no pang of conflict.
Minji moved with quick precision, striking at Y/n's defenses while evading her flames. She swung in close, pressing Y/n with a series of swift blows that nearly broke through her guard. Y/n deflected each one with skill, but a glance to her right caught Yujin circling her flank, preparing to use her nullifying touch.
"Not a chance!" Y/n muttered, pulling Minji's hand as her shield, resulting in Minji and Yujin collided with each other. Y/n couldn't stay put for long, if Yujin got close enough to touch her, her magic would be out of the fight.
Soobin's voice echoed in her mind, "Kai, cut off her left side. Yujin, go right. Yeonjun, hold back and wait for the opening!"
Kai darted in from the left, his stance steady. He feigned an attack, making Y/n veer right, directly into Yujin's path. Y/n saw Yujin's grin widen as she lunged, but Y/n twisted her body, dodging just in time. She threw a wave of flame in a sweeping arc to push Yujin back, knowing it would buy her a few seconds to reposition.
But just as she turned, Minji was there again. With a fierce gaze, Minji struck, their forearms colliding as Y/n countered. The two grappled, each testing the other's strength. Y/n could feel the intensity in Minji's grip.
In the backline, Chaewon raised her hands, casting a faint glow around Minji, amplifying her resilience. "I got your back, Minji!" Chaewon called.
Y/n was outnumbered, but her strategy was clear, keep moving, and don't let Yujin's hands touch her. She pushed Minji off with a burst of magic-boosted strength, forcing her backward, then unleashed a spiral of fire that separated herself from the group.
Soobin's voice cut through the air once more. "Yeonjun, now, while she's distracted!"
Yeonjun darted in, shifting to his crocotta form to amplify his movements. Y/n had only a split second to react. She swung a fiery fist toward him, but he dodged expertly, slipping past her flame as he closed in. His claws slashed through the air, and she barely blocked the strike, feeling the sharp edge graze her arm.
"Close, but not quite," she taunted, trying to mask her slight wound. She retaliated by releasing a burst of flame directly in front of her, forcing Yeonjun to leap back.
The moment he landed, however, Minji was on the move again, and Yujin lurked just behind her, looking for her chance. Y/n sidestepped, unleashing a burst of fire toward Minji, who shielded herself expertly, barely flinching under the heat. But as Minji pressed forward, her persistence was beginning to wear Y/n down.
Y/n could feel herself being cornered. "Alright," she thought, "time for a new approach."
Summoning all the agility she had, Y/n launched herself backward and upward, using her magic to give her an extra boost. She hovered briefly above them, surveying the team's positions. But the moment her feet touched the ground again, she saw Yujin darting toward her from her blind spot.
Thinking fast, Y/n ignited her fist, ready to strike Yujin, but Yujin was quicker than expected. She grabbed Y/n's flaming wrist, pressing her other hand to Y/n's shoulder.
Y/n felt her magic sputter, her flames dying immediately under Yujin's grip.
"Oh noooo," she muttered soullessly, feeling her power slip away.
"Oh yessss," Yujin replied, smirking. "See? Gotcha."
Y/n tried to pull away, but Yujin held firm. Yeonjun, seeing an opportunity, moved in, aiming a precise strike at her vulnerable side. She twisted just in time, his strike grazing her ribs as Minji closed in with an overhead swing. She caught Minji's fist, twisting to escape, but her strength felt drained without her flames.
Yujin gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, "You're all set now."
Y/n could feel her magic returning. She wasted no time, stepping back and raising her flames once more. She smirked at Yujin, "Not for long."
Y/n wasn't out of tricks yet, and they kept doing rounds of simulation, until Y/n gave up willingly.
-
After the intense simulation, everyone lay sprawled across the training field, each one catching their breath and processing the day's trial. The effort had taken a toll on everyone, Y/n herself was exhausted, her muscles aching from the repeated evasion and blocked attacks, and her body bore a few light burns and scratches from the team's well-coordinated assault.
Minji, who had caught her breath first, rolled onto her side and pushed herself up, making her way over to Y/n with a gentle smile. "Need some healing?" she asked, concern softening her eyes as she noticed the wear on Y/n's body.
Before Y/n could respond, Kai approached them, brushing a lock of hair out of his face. "Save your magic, Minji," he said with a reassuring grin. "I can handle it." He took a step back and, in a quick shimmer of light, transformed into his caladrius form, a graceful, pure-white bird. He fluttered onto Y/n's shoulder.
As Kai settled there, Y/n felt a soothing sensation spread over her injuries, easing the sharper aches in her muscles and reducing the sting of the cuts, gradually healing her wounds. Y/n closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the pain subside, replaced by a manageable tingling sensation. It wasn't a complete heal, she could still feel the minor scrapes and the itch of skin mending.
After a few minutes, Kai transformed back into his human form, stretching his shoulders as he glanced down at Y/n's healing marks, now faded into pink scratches. "That should be enough for now," he explained, inspecting the half-healed marks. "The rest should clear up by tomorrow."
Minji tilted her head, watching as Y/n touched one of her still-itchy cuts with a wince. "I thought your ability took away pain completely," she said, looking at Kai.
Kai gave a small shrug, "I can," he replied, "but sometimes it's more efficient to split the pain. I take on half and let the other person carry the rest. This way, we both heal faster without draining too much energy." He gestured to Y/n's remaining scratches. "Since your wounds aren't too deep, it makes sense to share the load. We'll both be feeling fine by tomorrow."
"Good deal," Y/n said
Kai grinned back. "Exactly. A little teamwork doesn't hurt, right?"
-
Inside of Minji's room, Y/n and Minji sat close together. With less than two days before they would face the beast, the normal teasing and light-hearted banter between them faded, replaced by a raw, honest conversation.
Minji's fingers traced small, soothing circles over Y/n's hand as she spoke. "After all of this... when we finally win, what happens next?" She looked up at Y/n, "I want to tell everyone. About us. About everything we've kept hidden."
"So do I." Y/n's gaze softened, "It's been tough keeping this quiet, and maybe they already suspect," she chuckled slightly, "but telling them, saying it out loud, feels different."
Minji nodded slowly, her smile a bit tentative as she thought of the others. "I keep replaying how everyone might react," she admitted, her voice eventually went low "Especially Hanni..."
Hearing her name, Y/n's smile faltered slightly, "Minji," she whispered, "Is this about what you noticed the other day? About Hanni?"
Minji glanced away for a moment. "Yes. It's just... it caught me off guard. When I saw her expression, I... I was afraid, just for a moment, that maybe she felt something more for you than friendship."
Minji held Y/n's gaze, "I know you love me, and I trust you. But I want Hanni to be happy, too. I guess I just worry about what telling everyone could mean for her, for all of us."
Y/n nodded, understanding what Minji meant, "If Hanni needs time, we'll give her that. We don't have to rush. We'll talk to her together, and we'll handle whatever comes."
"And after that? After we make it through this battle... what do you want to do?"
Minji smiled softly, leaning her head against Y/n's. "I want to... just live, as Minji and Y/n. I want to wake up every morning knowing we can just be ourselves, no hiding, no more constant battles like this."
"That sounds perfect," Y/n murmured. "Maybe even travel. There's so much we haven't seen, places we've only heard about..." She trailed off, envisioning the upcoming future waiting for them.
"But..." Y/n trailed off, "we've been only talking on the bright side, haven't we? What if..." Y/n was struggling to say it out loud, "what if- I didn't survive?"
At Y/n's words, Minji's smile faded, and her fingers, still wrapped around Y/n's hand, tightened instinctively as if she could physically hold on to the future they were imagining. She turned fully to face Y/n, her eyes glistening in the dim light of the room.
"Don't say that," Minji whispered, she fought to keep her composure. Her thumb gently traced the back of Y/n's hand, "Please... don't even think that way. You're not allowed to leave me. Not after everything we've been through to finally have this." She let out a soft, trembling laugh that broke, her head shaking as if she could deny the mere thought away.
Y/n looked down, unable to meet Minji's eyes, her own mind swirling with the dangers ahead. But Minji cupped her face, gently lifting her gaze until their eyes met. "Listen to me," she said, "If there's even a single moment you feel like you might lose... remember me. Remember that I'll be waiting for you." Tears threatened to fall as Minji spoke, her words holding a desperation she could no longer hide. "Remember how much I love you, how much I need you here with me. You can't just go and leave a void in my life like that, do you hear me?"
Y/n felt her own throat tighten as Minji's words sank in, "Minji..."
"No, don't 'Minji' me," she cut in softly, "I'm serious. You come back with me, Y/n, together. Even if you're broken, even if you're hurting, I'll be there to fix whatever I can. I don't care if it's hard, if it takes time, just... come back with me. That's all I ask. I'd take a lifetime of healing you over a single day of losing you."
At that, a tear escaped down Minji's cheek, and she leaned forward, pressing her forehead gently to Y/n's. "So don't you dare talk about 'what ifs,'" she murmured, her voice a fragile thread of determination. "If you won't come back for yourself... come back for me."
Seeing Minji cry for the first time shook Y/n to her core. Y/n wrapped her arms around Minji, holding her as close as she could. They stayed like that, feeling each other's breaths.
"Minji," Y/n whispered, "Promise me something too. Promise me that no matter what happens, we both come back. Together. Safe and sound."
"I promise, Y/n," Minji replied, "I won't leave you alone, no matter what." She clasped Y/n's hand tightly in hers, pressing it to her chest.
Slowly, Minji initiated, her voice barely a whisper. "I vow to never lose myself to anger or to fear, even when things look impossible. And I'll always remember the life we dreamed of beyond all this."
Y/n smiled, "And I vow to stay true to us. To keep going, not out of revenge, but because of the love I have for you... for all of them. And for what we can have together when this is over."
Minji's fingers brushed against Y/n's cheek, her touch both tender and grounding. "No matter what changes out there, we won't lose ourselves."
And, in a quiet whisper, they said together, "We vow to carry each other, even when we can't see each other. And to come back... whole."
After that moment, Y/n's restless nights began to change. The nightmares, the haunting dreams of Hanni, they all faded. Y/n began to dream of something simpler, something warmer. It was always her and Minji, together, walking under the sun, holding hands, or simple thinsg. She woke each morning with a sense of hope, knowing her dreams were filled with laughter and light.
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WHAT HAVR I DONE TO MINJI AND HANNI.... I'm sorry, bbangsaz....