00.00.01 (1/1)

Considering all the research and preparation he’d done, one would think he would’ve been less surprised, Baekhyun thought numbly as he exited the sleek hovertrain after the doors slid open with a whir. Though his family occupied a high class position back in his homeworld of Kaien, his fashionable clothing and neat bags suddenly seemed shabby in comparison to those of the rushing throng.                Galactic Capital Xun was an urban utopia; everywhere you looked there were buildings reaching sky high, reflecting in the sunrise golds and reds and blues and every other color of the rainbow, large, flashing billboards sporting the newest cosmetics and clothing lines, movies and products, and people from every world rushing to and fro, sporting fashions of every kind. The air was slightly chilly, but it did nothing for the heavy flush of excitement and anticipation that hummed beneath Baekhyun’s skin. Quickly he hoisted up his bags and stumbled off the platform, mumbling apologies and he pushed past a family of aquatic humanoids. Over the din he heard the bang of the hovertrain shooting off, the wind sending his hair into a flurry.                Baekhyun could honestly say that he’d waited all his life for this moment. Ever since he was five years old and his parents took him to see the Kaien Royal Airforce performing their annual aerial show, he’d fallen in love with the idea of piloting. The way airships swooped and soared across the sky, spiraling this way and that, made his heart beat fast with excitement. Then he learned of those who got to blast into space and explore every crevice of the universe, and he’d knew he’d found his calling. His parents had initially been reluctant to let him pursue his dream, as they’d wanted him to follow his mother’s footsteps and become governor of his home city Kelos. Luckily, his beloved brother Baekbeom came home from university with his lovely wife and persuaded his parents to ease up a bit. With his brother and sister-in-law’s (who was a very talented pilot herself) support, Baekhyun found himself suddenly able to take the exams that would qualify him for an official education in piloting. And life had only gotten better when he’d been accepted into Eudoxus Academy, the most celebrated interstellar academy that was established on Xun, the capital of the galaxy and a world worlds away from his own home. His happiness had been infectious, and even his slightly disappointed mother couldn’t keep from smiling from ear to ear when his family had seen him off only twenty-six hours ago.                Baekhyun found a miraculously empty bench and sat down, sliding his bags beneath his feet. He pulled out his mobile and sent a quick “got to xun! waiting for channie now. love u so much xoxo <3” to his parents. He took the moment to admire the spectacular scenery around him, taking in every glowing advertisement and posh building. A couple of exotic girls in short skirts and elaborate makeup passed by him; one of them, looking distinctly feline with her soft orange fur and cat-like eyes, sent him a flirtatious wink, which he returned with a laugh. He couldn’t wait to raid some of the shopping malls—that cat-girl’s eyeliner was bomb.                “Yo, Baekhyun!” a deep voice called, and Baekhyun looked up to see his old child-hood friend pushing through the crowds. He barely had time to yell “Chanyeol!” before he was scooped up and swung around in circles, nearly hitting an elderly couple that shot them a scandalized look before bustling off.                “Is it just me or did you get shorter?” Chanyeol teased as he set him down. Baekhyun rolled his eyes and sent a sharp kick at the taller’s knees. Five years of separation hadn’t changed their dynamic one bit.                “I think you’ve just gotten taller, you fucking beanpole,” Baekhyun shot back. Sure enough, Chanyeol seemed to have somehow gotten even taller, and the shorter could feel something strange stirring in his chest as his childhood friend grinned down at him. Chanyeol looked good. His curly auburn hair was tied back in a messy but stylish ponytail, and he wore a simple gray sweatshirt over tight skinnies.Chanyeol had come to Xun five years earlier to attend Eudoxus because of his ability to manipulate fire. Baekhyun remembered how frightened they had been when they’d found out; they had been playing around in grumpy Mr. Jaesung’s private orchid when Chanyeol had fallen off the terrace and concurrently set the grapevines on fire. He also remembered how jealous he had been when Chanyeol had received a letter from Eudoxus and a visit from Eudoxus’ own headmaster, Jung Yunho. Eudoxus Academy was the only establishment known to train Elementumancers, people with the ability to control one or more of the four primary elements, fire, earth, air, and water. Jung Yunho, who himself was a dual Elementumancer with the ability to control both air and fire, had barely finished his explanation when Chanyeol was already enthusiastically agreeing. Baekhyun could still recall the bitter taste in his mouth, but now, in the face of their long-awaited reunion, any former feelings of jealousy were replaced by sheer joy and excitement.“C’mon, Bacon,” Chanyeol said as he tugged Baekhyun after him, the shorter’s luggage slung over his shoulder. He laughed as Baekhyun tried to kick him in the leg again for the nickname, merely speeding up the pace so Baekhyun yelped indignantly as he had to rush to keep up. “There’s so much to see and so much to do!”“Can’t wait to get started,” Baekhyun replied, his own grin stretched so wide across his face it was starting to hurt. > > 9 months later “Ya, wake up Baekhyun!”“SHUT THE FUCK UP CHANYEOL!” Baekhyun shrieked as he burrowed closer into his blankets, tossing one of his pillows blindly at the source of the noise. There was a muffled thump, and Baekhyun smirked, satisfied that he had hit his target. The satisfaction was short-lived, though, as the blinds were suddenly ripped open, dousing him in white-hot sunlight.“WHAT THE FUCK CHANYEOL!”“GET THE FUCK UP BAEKHYUN, IT’S ALMOST NOON!”“IF IT WEREN’T BECAUSE SOMEONE INSISTED ON PARTYING UNTIL THREE O’ FUCKING CLOCK IN THE MORNING, MAYBE I WOULD BE AWAKE INSTEAD OF TIRED AND HUNGOVER AS FUCK!”“Good morning, guys. Please be quiet.” The soft, melodious command was followed by a gentle rapping of knuckles on wood, and Baekhyun rolled over blearily to see Kim Joonmyun standing at the doorway, holding a tea cup primly in his other hand. The Hydromancer looked collected as always, his midnight blue robes immaculate and his dark brown hair neatly combed. Joonmyun flashed a small smile, and Baekhyun could swear the sheer whiteness of his skin and teeth would’ve made him blind it the noon sun hadn’t already done the job.“You really don’t want to miss today,” Joonmyun continued, and Baekhyun grumbled “why the fuck is that” into his pillow, though it only sounded like a jumble of incoherent grumps.“Today’s the ‘Mancing Matches!” another voice sing-songed, and Baekhyun could only groan again as he recognized the voice of Kim Jongdae, one of Joonmyun’s two siblings and the biggest troll in Eudoxus. The pilot-to-be felt one of his eyelids pried open and he was greeted with the site of a cat-like grin and mischievous eyes.“Wakey-wakey little Baeky,” Jongdae cooed. “Today’s the day your boyfriend’s ass is gonna get wrecked by someone who isn’t you, so you might want to come and watch!”“HE’S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!”“I’M NOT HIS BOYFRIEND!” Baekhyun and Chanyeol hollered at the same time, both of their faces briefly flushing red. Jongdae just smiled prettily and let go of Baekhyun’s face.                “Whatever flies your starship,” he said innocently as he joined his brother at the door. “By the way, Minseok was nice enough to make you breakfast, so you might want to get some food into your stomach before our bottomless pit of a maknae gets to it first. Toodles!”                With that, the Kim brothers were out the door. With a grown Baekhyun got up, stumbling blindly into the shower. An hour later—“why does it take you so long to get ready?” Chanyeol had whined while Baekhyun was blow-drying his hair, to which the latter responded “Perfection doesn’t happen instantly”—Baekhyun was seated at their dining table, eyeliner sharp enough to poke someone’s eye out and fashionable clothing in tip-top condition.                “What’s the big deal about today again?” he mumbled around a mouthful of rice.  Chanyeol rolled his eyes.                “Today’s the ‘Mancing Matches,” the taller explained. “Remember, I told you about this last week? When all the Elementumancers are pitted against each other in this tournament?”“Ohh yeah,” Baekyun assented after he swallowed. “D’you know who you’re pitted up against?”“Nah, not yet,” Chanyeol said. “The matches are gonna be chosen on the spot. Hopefully I won’t get one of the newbies, but not someone too strong either. C’mon,” he said as he took Baekhyun’s empty dishes after the pilot-to-be swallowed the last mouthful. “We’re meeting the guys down at the Entrance Hall, then we’re heading down to the Arena together.” Thirty minutes later they were standing in the Entrance Hall, a classically designed rotunda held up by ancient columns. The floor beneath their fleet was marbled and the ceiling painted with faces of olden deities. The Hall was mostly empty, with some students loafing while people streamed in and out. Jongdae and Joonmyun were waiting near one of the many columns along with Kim Minseok, who despite the shared surname was not their third brother but merely a good friend. He studied mechanics and combat, and was remarkably strong for someone who looked like a walking-talking steambun (Baekyun had learned the hard way when he, in a drunken stupor, had tried to make out with him and was instead put in a tight headlock).“Hello, you two,” Joonmyun said, while Jongdae cooed, “Bless you for coming out in public, you love birds, you,” to which Baekhyun and Chanyeol both spluttered indignantly.“Sehun said he’ll be joining us soon,” the Hydromancer said, ignoring them as he checked his watch. True to his word, in four minutes they saw the slim figure of their aforementioned friend approaching from the other side of the hall.“’Sup guys,” Sehun said with his slight lisp, and Baekhyun internally cried over how perfect his hair was.  Sehun was a Elementumancer like Joonmyun and Chanyeol, an Aeromancer, from the Southern desert world of Raelyke. Tall, blonde-haired, and carelessly gorgeous, his thin frame hid the remarkable ability to inhale anything within reach without gaining a pound. “Just saw Kkamjong, he said he’ll meet us at the Arena. He didn’t say why he couldn’t come now, though.”Jongdae and Joonmyun shared knowing looks at the mention of their youngest brother, and even Minseok looked slightly amused. The group started walking.“Why’re they smirking like that?” Baekhyun whispered to Chanyeol, and he shrugged too, unsure. Sehun, being oblivious maknae he was, just started chatting with Joonmyun about possible opponents.They walked across the campus to where the Arena, a coliseum of ancient design that contained many modern enhancements. Crowds were already gathering, chattering students, patrons, and mere spectators alike taking up the seats. On a platform set high above the rest, the Head Elementumancers stood. Head Hydromancer Junsu sat on the rail, his light brown hair windswept and his grin childish. Beside him, a hand resting on his shoulder, was Head Aeromancer Yoochun, looking amused by his compatriot’s bubbly behavior. In the shadows was a tall, serious figure, Head Geomancer Changmin, his regal face schooled into a calm expression. And at the front, his hands spread across the banister, was Head Pyromancer Yunho, his handsome face pulled into a warm smile as he overlooked the crowds.“I still think Junsu’s butt is better than Sehun’s,” Baekhyun muttered to Chanyeol, to which Joonmyun turned around and gave him an exasperated look.“Fine posteriors aside, please don’t talk about my mentor that way,” the Hydromancer said, looking vaguely pained. Sehun just looked offended, and opened his mouth only to yelp as an arm wound around him.“Hey, Jongin,” Chanyeol said in greeting, and was granted a grin in response. Jongin, the youngest of the Kim siblings, was easily the tallest and the tannest with his sun-kissed skin and height that could rival Chanyeol’s. He, like Minseok, studied combat, though he also did dancing on the side.“Hey, guys,” he said cheerfully. Turning to his eldest brother, Chanyeol, and Sehun, he held up his hands for high-fives. “Good luck! Though you guys better get going, I heard people saying the preliminary melee match is going to start soon.”After luck was wished (and Jongdae smacked Sehun on the butt), Baekhyun, Minseok, and Jongdae followed Jongin up into the stands, where he had seats saved.“Aren’t there a lot of Elementumancers?” Baekhyun wondered aloud as the four sat down. He shook his head as one of the refreshment droids glided by and offered him a menu, though Minseok and Jongdae both took one.“Yeah, “ Jongin said as he squinted at the many barred gates that rimmed the arena with the air of someone searching for something. “That’s why there’s an age and experience restriction. You have to have studied here for two years or more and be older than sixteen to participate.”“…Still a lot of people,” Baekhyun said.“Yup. That’s what the preliminary melee match is for,” the younger said. “Basically, all the ‘Mancers are given a golden token to wear around their necks. They’re released into the arena, and fight.  The goal of the melee is to defeat as many people as possible and take their tokens. The more tokens you get, the higher up on the final tourney chart you’ll be placed, but lose your token yourself and you’re eliminated.”Baekhyun nodded to himself as he leaned back, watching as the gates open and the participating Elementumancers spilled into the arena. Headmaster Yunho got up, presumably to make a speech, though to be honest Baekhyun wasn’t really listening. He wondered how Chanyeol would fare; he hadn’t ever really seen his childhood friend actually fight before.He was struck from his reverie as the crowd emitted a collected earsplitting roar as the Headmaster finished his speech. The four Head Elementumancers lined up in front of the platform, looking regal and powerful. With calculated, fluid movements, each produced a column of their own element, four pillars of fire, water, air, and earth shooting in and out of existence. The second the dust had cleared away, the battle began.Baekhyun found his mouth falling open as the arena was suddenly filled with blasts of different elements. Quickly he scanned the chaos, searching for a certain tall figure—Not because I’m worried about him, but because I don’t want to miss watching him get his ass beat, I’M NOT WORRIED ABOUT HIM I SWEAR—slightly stunned by the flashes of fire and the quaking caused by the Geomancers. Blasts of wind could even be felt from the stands, and all over the arena water solidified into ice and back as the Hydromancers molded the element into any state they wished. He saw Joonmyun, still graceful even in the midst of action, a simple wave of the hand sending a whip of water around him in a neat circle. Sehun was ducking and whirling around his opponents, gusts of unseen air knocking other battlers off their feet.And finally, Baekhyun found Chanyeol. The giant didn’t seem to have any trouble at all, sending blasts of red-hot fire in intimidating swells around his person. He looked incredible, dangerous, nothing like the silly goof-ball who wailed whenever Baekhyun kneed him in the groin. His attacks were overpowering, leaving in his wake defeated opponents.And suddenly, the Head Elementumancers were standing, signaling the end of the preliminary melee battle with another summoning of the four elements. The din quieted, and those who had been defeated trickled out of the arena, nursing wounds or cursing their bad luck. Besides Chanyeol, Joonmyun also succeeded; Sehun, however, had been taken out by a surprise attack from a female Geomancer, was pouting as he exited. Only one fourth of the original Elementumancers remained, and Headmaster Yunho stood up to congratulate them.“Quite a show, wasn’t that?” Jongdae said cheerfully as he stole some of Minseok’s drink. “Pity Sehun didn’t make it, though.”“Do you think Chanyeol will win?” Baekhyun asked, and it was Minseok who answered as Jongdae tilted his drink back and swallowed the rest of it.“Maybe,” the mechanic said, studying those who were left. “It depends on who he’s pitted against.”On the Heads’ platform, a large, iridescent ball was being placed on a platinum pedestal. Inside, slips of papers bearing the names of the remaining contestants swirled. Above them, a large billboard shimmered as Headmaster Yunho reached his hand in, reading out the names on the slips he pulled. As the names were announced, the shots of the contestants’ were displayed as well.The first battle was between the female Geomancer who had gotten Sehun’s token, a boyish girl named Amber Liu. Her opponent was Hang Sanghyuk, an Aeromancer. The battle ended with a victorious Amber, the two shaking hands before they exited on separate ends of the arena.The second battle was between Joonmyun and Seong Seungwan, a Pyromancer. To Baekhyun’s delight, Joonmyun won with ease.The third battle was between Jung Daehyun, a Pyromancer, and Yoo Youngjae, a Hydromancer. When Jongdae had heard the names announced, he had collapsed in a fit of mirth, because “those two fight like cats and dogs and fuck like bunnies, this is rich!” This battle had been far more vicious than the two that preceded them, finally ending with a victorious Daehyun. Jongdae watched as they shook hands, their grips unusually tight and the glares on their faces unusually venomous, and promptly fell into more convulsions of laughter.“He can laugh because he doesn’t live in the suite next to theirs,” Minseok told Baekhyun somberly. “So he can sleep the night without listening to them rage-boning.”Baekhyun perked up as Chanyeol’s name was announced for the next battle. He stared at the space next to the hologram of his friend’s face, wondering who the opponent would be.“Do Kyungsoo!”Baekhyun felt a sudden wave of relief as the face of Chanyeol’s opponent materialized. Do Kyungsoo looked so small, so innocent with his soft black hair, pale, pale skin and wide eyes—there was no way he could stand up to tall, strong Chanyeol. No way in hell.“Thank the gods,” Baekhyun said, laughing slightly as he settled back in his seat. “Chanyeol’s definitely gonna win.”He watched as Chanyeol and Do Kyungsoo descended onto the field, his friend’s height far outstripping Do’s. The huge height difference only fueled his conviction, and Baekhyun thought about how he ought to congratulate him later.Minseok was frowning slightly. “Oh, I wouldn’t bet on that.”“But that kid’s a squirt! He’s gonna get pounded!”Jongdae smirked as he shot a knowing look at Jongin, who was unusually quite. “Oh, Kyungsoo may look like an angel, but that little fucker is a demon beneath those wide, wide eyes. He’s Shim’s protégé, you know that?”“Geomancer Changmin’s?”“The very one. People say Kyungsoo’s the youngest since Shim himself to master the Six Scrolls of Geomancy.”Baekhyun frowned. “I still think Chanyeol’s gonna win,” he said, mouth set.He watched as the battle was signaled to start, and Chanyeol rushed forth, his hands blazing with fire and his gaze determined. He sent a quick succession of flames, the heat so intense that it left the ground slightly charred. Baekhyun was relieved—surely this strong start would ensure a victory.Do Kyungsoo did little to retaliate, and Baekhyun fleetingly hoped that meant the small Geomancer was getting overwhelmed. But the dark-haired boy merely weaved in and out of Chanyeol’s attacks, his face blank. He didn’t raise a hand in defense, simply dancing his way around the flames. The pilot-to-be felt annoyance rise up like a wave.“Why won’t he stand his ground and fight?” he snarled as Do once again slipped out of danger’s grasp. “Is he that much of a coward?”As if he had heard Baekhyun’s venomous words, Do suddenly changed stance, slipping into a crouch not unlike a tiger’s. A wide sweep of his arms sent a sudden rumble through the ground, and then columns were sprouting, forming a cage around Chanyeol. Quickly, the Pyromancer rolled out of the way, bringing down a flaming flash like a knife, but Do countered by drawing up a block of earth as a shield. He then sent the protrusion rocketing at Chanyeol, who rolled out of the way, before striking the ground with his foot. The rocks beneath his feet crumpled, and suddenly Do was gone, the ground smoothing over as if nothing had ever happened. Chanyeol stood up, circling warily, hands held up in attack stance. The arena and the stands had suddenly gone deathly quiet as everyone held their breath.Then there was a sudden eruption right behind Chanyeol. The Pyromancer was only a few moments to slow, however, and was sent sprawling as Do’s hand, encased thoroughly in a gauntlet of metallic earth, smashed palm-first against his face. Tendrils of gravel sprouted from the earth and bound Chanyeol’s limbs to the ground, and the Pyromancer could only struggle fruitlessly as his opponent slowly came closer, face still cold and impassive, and reached down and calmly plucked off his token.Baekhyun felt rage burst through him, scalding like lava. Quickly he stood up, ignoring Minseok’s look of worry and Jongdae’s of amusement, and stormed out of the stands.He couldn’t get the sight of blood trickling slowly down Chanyeol’s face, or the emotionless expression on Kyungsoo’s, out of his head. >> 4 hours later Jongdae exited the archives, his arms laden with scrolls and holograms. He had left dinner early. Baekhyun had been positively livid at Chanyeol’s defeat, and had developed a personal vendetta against Do Kyungsoo not only for his (boy)friend’s defeat but for his attitude—“Who the fuck does he think he is? You can’t just fucking play around with people that! THE LEAST HE COULD DO IS SHOW A LITTLE RESPECT, INSTEAD OF TREATING EVERYONE LIKE THEY’RE DIRT OR PEASANTRY OR AUGH—“ Chanyeol himself hadn’t been very bothered, merely showing up from the infirmary with his wounds patched up and his happy-virus grin on his face.As he was walking down the hall, Jongdae felt his phone buzz, and with a groan he balanced the scrolls and holograms on one arm as he took out the device. Upon seeing what was displayed on the electric screen, a smirk broke out across his face. Quickly, he sped up his pace, until he was on the top floor of the student quarters, in the Northern ward. He made his way over to a familiar door, wrapping his knuckles impatiently on the sleek metal.Kyungsoo opened the door, blinking his owl eyes.“Fantastic match, by the way,” Jongdae said in lieu of a proper greeting. “Though I think you made your opponent’s boyfriend hate you.”Kyungsoo merely rolled his eyes. “Fascinating. Now why are you here?”Jongdae smirked without humor, holding up his phone. As his eyes quickly scanned the screen, Kyungsoo’s wide eyes got even wider, and his plush lips immediately pursed in a frown.“How’d you get this info all the way from Shinon?” he asked, his eyebrows furrowed as he helped Jongdae set the items on the empty coffee table. The electronic devices clinked softly against the glass as they were set down. “Isn’t that all the way down in the southern part of the Outer Rim, where the slums are?”“Yup,” Jongdae hummed as he began clicking, pulling up electronic copies of different reports from all over the galaxy. The holograms glowed in the darkness, thirty-two different languages reading the same thing. “There’s been another kidnapping.”