The kingdom of Solara had grown too quiet lately. The kind of quiet that felt like the world was holding its breath before everything went to hell.
High above the capital city, in the shimmering halls of the Sunspire Palace, Kim Namjoon, ruler of the fractured empire, stood leaning on the railing of his balcony, watching the sky melt into scarlet.
"Moon's turning red again," he muttered,more to himself than to the nervous royal guard behind him. " It's always red before the bad stuff happens."
The guard cleared his throat. " Shall I summon the high priestess?"
Namjoon shook his head. " She's probably halfway through a dramatic faint already."
And indeed, somewhere deep in the temple, the high priestess was on the floor, surrounded by scrolls, incense,and a goat statue she swore wasn't cursed.
Namjoon wasn't afraid of prophecies. He was afraid of paperwork. And if the moon turning red meant any ancient nonsense was about to resurface, it meant more paperwork.
But far beneath the palace, the ancient chamber known only as the Void Vault was beginning to hum. Inside, wrapped in centuries -old chains and layers of forgotten spells, a sealed sarcophagus quivered. The carvings on it glowed faint red.
Then __ crack
And another.
Until the entire chamber echoed with a loud shatter. And a very irritated voice echoed into the silence:
"Who the hell woke me up?"
From the mist, Min Yoongi sat up with a groggy glare, dragging his hand through his hair. " Ugh," he groaned. " Which idiot disturbed my nap ?" He looked around. Dust. Runes. Chains. " Oh. Right. I'm still cursed." Stretching like he'd just rolled off a tour bus, Yoongi floated lazily to his feet. He snapped his fingers, summoning a worn black coat over his faded robes. His guitar - a sleek cursed thing made of bone and blood wood- floated into his arms like an old friend.
The walls hissed warnings in old languages: Return. Restrain. Re-seal.
He plucked a string. They quieted.
Back upstairs in the palace.
" Is it true?" Jungkook asked, bouncing on his feet like a hyper-trained puppy, with a sword." The sealed vampire? He's really awake?."
Taehyung, lounging on a couch, slipped another one of his ancient star-metal rings on. " If the moon's red, he's awake. And if he's awake, we're in trouble."
" I mean.." Jimin offered carefully, holding a glowing herb pouch." He's not all bad. Just ... cursed. And moody. And a mind-controlling musical menace."
Hoseok burst in through the side door, grinning like a fox. " Great news! The kingdom's on panic level three, the palace chef fainted, and apparently, a bat was seen playing piano near the south tower."
Namjoon entered the war room moments later, eyes rolling. " Anyone wants to tell me why my royal court is screaming and hiding under the tables? "
" Yoongi's up?" Taehyung and Jungkook said in unison.
" Oh," Namjoon said dryly. " Lovely."
Suddenly, the candles flickered. A cold breeze crept through the floor tiles. From the shadows of the door, a calm voice echoed:
"You really let the people go."
They turned.
Yoongi stood at the threshold, guitar on his back, expression unreadable.
Jungkook whispered. "He's shorter than I imagined."
Yoongi raised a brow. "Say that again, dragon-boy."
The tension snapped.
Namjoon sighed. " Someone get tea. This is going to be a long night."
And somewhere beyond the walls, Jin sighed, already regretting not taking a century-long nap himself.