CHAPTER 23
Taejin's voice had barely faded when Yuhyun stepped forward, breaking the heavy silence with a gentle but firm voice.
"Sihyun… don't do this to yourself."
He placed a hand on Sihyun's shoulder.
"The prince is going to be okay. At least he's wearing the enchanted pendant you gave him, right?"
Sihyun blinked, slowly turning his gaze to Yuhyun.
"Pendant…?"
he echoed, almost to himself.
Without another word, Sihyun turned sharply and walked to the wardrobe. He opened it hastily—then froze.
There, hanging neatly from a hook on the inside of the door… was the pendant.
Muwon's enchanted pendant.
The same one Sihyun had made for him with his own magic.
The one meant to protect him against dark curses, wild creatures, and unseen spirits.
Still here. Untouched.
The color drained from his face.
Yuhyun noticed immediately.
"Sihyun?"
he asked, stepping forward.
"What's wrong?"
Taejin and Dohyun grew still, tension bristling in the room as they watched Sihyun's back.
Sihyun didn't answer right away.
Then—
A tired, bitter scoff escaped his lips, followed by a frustrated sigh. He turned around slowly, eyes hollow with disbelief.
"He forgot his pendant."
Three sets of eyes widened.
"What?"
Taejin said, straightening.
"No way…"
Dohyun murmured.
Yuhyun's expression dropped, lips parting slightly in stunned silence.
Sihyun swallowed hard, fists clenched at his sides. The ache in his chest deepened—his worry clawing at his throat.
Yuhyun quickly stepped in, voice calm but strained.
"Sihyun… listen. It's going to be okay."
He met Sihyun's eyes, steadying him.
"Even without the pendant, Muwon's strong. He's not going alone. The king's there. The guards. He'll be alright. Everything's going to be alright."
But the weight in Sihyun's heart only seemed to grow heavier.
And the pendant, glinting faintly in the morning light, dangled like a cruel reminder.
Yuhyun's words lingered in the air like smoke.
"Everything's going to be alright."
Sihyun's gaze snapped to him.
A bitter, incredulous scoff escaped his throat.
"Alright…?"
His voice was quiet—too quiet.
Then, in the blink of an eye, it wasn't.
"EVERYTHING'S GOING TO BE ALRIGHT?!"
His voice exploded, filled with pain, fear, and something primal.
Suddenly—his eyes flared a violent red, glowing with pure magic, and the dark tattoos coiling down his neck and arms pulsed, igniting like embers fanned into fire.
The air trembled.
With a deafening crash, the table across the room was hurled into the wall, splintering into pieces like it had been struck by a hurricane.
A force surged from Sihyun's body—an invisible pressure that pushed the trio a step back. The windows rattled. The curtains snapped like whips in the rush of unstable magic.
"HE FORGOT HIS PENDANT!"
Sihyun shouted again, chest heaving, eyes wild.
"HE WENT INTO THE CURSED FOREST WITH NOTHING!"
Yuhyun, Taejin, and Dohyun stood frozen in place, stunned by the sudden power radiating from him—dangerous and unhinged.
"Sihyun—!"
Yuhyun took a step forward cautiously, holding out a hand.
"Breathe, please—calm down—"
But Sihyun's rage drowned him out.
"NOTHING IS GOING TO BE FINE!"
The floor beneath Sihyun's feet cracked.
The air was thick with his fury, his magic writhing around him like a storm barely contained. Even Taejin, who rarely looked shaken, was tense—one hand hovering near the hilt of his blade, unsure whether to use it or not.
Dohyun's voice was low, shaky:
"Yuhyun… he's losing control…"
Sihyun's expression twisted in frustration, grief, and fury—his breath sharp, his shoulders trembling.
Then—
A quiet voice, soft as a breeze and fragile as porcelain, broke through the chaos.
"...Dada?"
The room froze.
Sihyun went completely still.
The glowing tattoos dimmed slightly.
The pressure in the air dropped, barely—but enough to feel.
All four of them turned slowly toward the chamber entrance.
There, standing in the hallway, Taeyang clutched the edge of the doorframe, wide-eyed and holding his small bunny plush tight against his chest.
Still dressed in his nightclothes.
Still half-asleep.
But fully frightened.
"Dada… what's wrong?"
he asked again, voice barely a whisper.
Sihyun stood there—panting, chest heaving, the red in his eyes beginning to fade.
The glowing tattoos that had flared like fire slowly dimmed…
…until they vanished beneath his skin, leaving behind only sweat and silence.
His fists clenched at his sides.
He forced in a deep breath, then another—desperately trying to shove the storm back into the cage.
Then he looked at Taeyang.
His voice was strained but soft.
"Why are you here…? I thought you were asleep."
Taeyang blinked up at him, still gripping his bunny close.
"I was…"
he mumbled, rubbing one sleepy eye.
"But I heard a loud sound… so I came to check."
Sihyun's throat tightened. His mouth opened, but no words came out.
Then the child looked around the room—the overturned table, the scattered vases, the broken fragments littered across the floor.
His small voice returned.
"Is Dada okay?"
Sihyun blinked hard.
Then—he let out a soft, forced chuckle, his lips curling into a shaky smile.
"Dada's okay. Just… playing around, that's all."
He crouched down, arms open.
"Come here."
Taeyang rushed into his embrace without hesitation.
Sihyun pulled him close—tightly, almost desperately—burying his face in the child's hair.
He held him like the world was falling apart… like he was afraid he'd never get another chance.
The weight of what he'd done crashed into him all at once.
The destruction. The fear. The danger.
The fact that Taeyang had to witness it.
A whisper only Taeyang could hear escaped him:
"I'm sorry…"
Behind them, Yuhyun, Taejin, and Dohyun stood silent—watching, stunned by the sudden shift.
Dohyun's earlier expression of fear softened with understanding.
Taejin sighed and looked away, arms crossed but relaxed.
Yuhyun's eyes lingered the longest on Sihyun's back—his jaw tense, as if he wanted to say something but held it in.
They had seen the demon inside Sihyun just moments ago.
Now they were seeing the father.
And that contrast was perhaps the most terrifying and heartbreaking of all.
The sun had long since climbed to its peak, casting heavy beams through the palace windows.
In one of the quiet side chambers, Yuhyun, Taejin, and Dohyun sat together—each lost in thought.
The earlier chaos still clung to their skin like ash.
Taejin was the first to speak, his voice low and firm.
"We need to keep a closer eye on Sihyun."
He leaned forward, hands clasped.
"And Taeyang… Taeyang shouldn't be around him. Not when he's like that. Who knows when he'll lose control again?"
Dohyun hesitated, then gave a small nod.
"It's hard to say it, but I agree."
He sighed.
"He's dangerous when he's overwhelmed. Even he doesn't realize how much."
Yuhyun sat still. Silent.
He hadn't spoken since they entered the room—eyes fixed on the floor, thoughts miles away.
Taejin turned to him.
"Yuhyun… you okay with this?"
No answer.
Taejin frowned.
"Yuhyun—"
Yuhyun suddenly blinked—once. Twice.
Then his voice cracked.
"I… I don't know."
The words barely came out.
"I don't know,"
he repeated again, this time louder—shakier—more broken.
He lifted his gaze, and they saw it: his eyes glossed over with tears that refused to fall.
"I don't know what Sihyun's becoming."
He inhaled sharply.
"I want to believe in him. I want to—but I can't stop thinking about the prophecy. About that twentieth mark."
His voice broke.
"He can't control it… I know he's trying. But it's too strong. It's taking over him. Every time he snaps—it's getting worse."
Tears spilled freely down his cheeks now, his shoulders trembling as he buried his face into his hands.
"What if one day it's not a table? What if one day it's Taeyang? Or Muwon… or me?"
Dohyun moved closer, placing a steadying hand on Yuhyun's shoulder.
Taejin's brows furrowed, concern softening his stern expression as he sighed and sat beside him.
"You've been holding this in,"
Dohyun said gently.
"You don't have to keep pretending you're fine."
Yuhyun couldn't answer. He just let the sobs come.
They sat like that for a while—the three of them together, no longer just Muwon's friends or Sihyun's protectors, but people burdened with fear, hope, and the fragile wish that somehow… somehow, Sihyun would still return from this descent.
But in that moment, none of them were sure anymore.