Chapter Text
Dokja was very anxious. Today was the festive, the day they'd act on their play. Everyone was backstage at the moment, revising their lines. The teachers, although didn't have much of the supplies needed as they had previously expected, were very enthusiastic and ready to help with other things. According to them, no one before them had ever done something like this. How would they? This thing cost us lot. Joonghyuk did agree to pay for everything and he didn't refuse, but the whole budget was so much that everyone contributed some of their savings even without being asked. Even so, they were all very grateful to Joonghyuk who payed a lot more than the others. Right now, the juniors were performing. There was time before their turn, because the teachers said they want to show the best at the end.
After Joonghyuk, Sang-ah and Heewon were the ones who did the most. They bought the costumes fitting to their budget, and then customised those by themselves to match the theme. That was really impressive considering how well the dresses turned out. Dokja liked the prince's attire very much. The outer robe was lavender-coloured, and the inner ones white, and of course with embroideries. Sang-ah’s was very simple compared to the others' lavish robes, an orange and white frock. Joonghyuk’s dress’s colour-combo was pastel blue and white, and Dokja avoided looking at him at all because he can't take his eyes away if he does. He would've looked better as the prince. Jihye's attire was deep blue and white. Namwoon was just black robes with some scary makeup that won't even be visible because he's going to be covered from head to toe. Hyeonseong's fake Lamellar armor cost the most.
Heewon had fiery designs on white robes. Han Sooyoung wore purple and black robes and appeared more villainous than Namwoon.
“If any of you motherfuckers mess up your lines after we spent a fortune on this, I'm going to make sure none of you find peace for the next five years.” Sooyoung smiled at them.
Why is she always threatening us?
“Worry about yourself.” Heewon says.
“And your highness,” Sooyoung turns to Dokja, “I know you're a loser, but here, you are the main character. So, I hope you can have at least five girls simping over you by the end of this play.”
“That's a given. I'll also have one guy simping over me by the end.” Dokja momentarily glanced the surprised Joonghyuk who also turned to him.
“Ugh. I'm sick of you two.” Jihye walks in with her scroll. Good for her, she's the only one who'd get to see the lines while speaking them as the narrator. Actually, the scroll wasn't that necessary if she was just a narrator, but since she's an Alchemist, she needs a scroll to give off that vibe.
“Alright, I think I'm done revising. The more I look at the lines, the more I seem to get them messed up in my head. Let's do our best, Dokja.” Sang-ah closed the diary in her hand and kept it aside.
“About that, well, if any of you forget your lines just remember the plot and say something fitting. And if any of you forget the plot or feel like you're forgetting it, well, just go along. The others will have your back.” Sooyoung spoke up again.
“Actually, that sounded very suspicious for some reason.” Hyeonseong says.
Dokja follows up with, “You're right. Why would any of us even forget the plot unless it is changed?”
“No shit, Sherlock. Anyways, good luck all of you. Focus on your script like Joonghyuk, guys.”
Han Sooyoung was mentioning Joonghyuk a lot these days. Is there something going on?
<>
“We will crush it, guys!” Jihye whispers. They were finally on the stage. The curtains were still drawn, and would be lifted only after Jihye says the opening line. Dokja was lying on his throne. Well, as an honoured prince, he should be sitting on it. But Dokja's character was somewhat a hopeless romantic when the story begins, as he observed the Oracle on Earth everyday and stayed smitten in her love. He wrote poetries everyday about her and barely payed attention to his princely duties and spent his time lying inside his bed chambers and the throne itself. Han Sooyoung was not at the stage yet, few of the characters were not here either. Hyeonseong stood at Dokja's left, Heewon at a distance, and Joonghyuk on Dokja's right. Everyone had professional expressions, so Dokja focused on his own as well.
The lights dimmed, the graphics that the school provided themselves were set. There was a small Earth on the table beside Dokja, through which, apparently, he observed Sang-ah. They put a lot of work into choosing the background. Even the stage decorations, the path leading to Dokja was lined with silver, frosted plants. And the other areas had silvery vines stars hanging. Jihye opened her scroll and began speaking with a dramatic voice.
“In the age before memory, when the sky held breath and the stars held court, there rose a kingdom upon the moon, a realm once shimmering with life, now fallen into silence. When calamity struck and the Moon Kingdom perished, its prince, last heir and last breath was bound by a terrible curse. Cast from the mortal realm, exiled to a barren sphere of cold stone and hanging stars, he was forbidden to set foot upon the Earth until the heavens themselves were moved by song.”
She took a break from speaking and seemed to have taken a breath before continuing.
“But fate is never merciful. For the only soul who could undo this curse walked the Earth as a mortal, unaware of her celestial birth, the Oracle of Eternal Dawn.”
She steps aside from the spotlight and returns to the backstage. The curtains finally parted. Dokja inhaled. He moved his gaze to the small Earth and gazed at it with a melancholic face. No matter how unaffected he tried to appear, he could hear his own loud heartbeat in his ears. I wonder if Joonghyuk is nervous, too. It's time for him to speak his first lines. I just hope my voice doesn't come out cracked.
“Night after night, I watch her radiance. A mortal girl, yet her spirit echoes beyond mortal bounds. Though barred from her world, my heart has wandered there endlessly.” Now that he had said the first lines as the prince, the confidence began coming back to him. He found something really funny. If this play was real, and there actually was such a prince who did nothing except yearning for someone who doesn't know about his existence, Dokja, as one of the court members would've preferred slapping some sense into him. This is his palace, his court, and everyone swore their loyalty to him. But at the cost of what? They were stuck with babysitting that prince for the rest of their lives. Joonghyuk as an actual star guardian would've insulted the prince so much that he'd never think of being lazy again. Unfortunately, Joonghyuk would not be himself.
It was time for Sooyoung to make her entrance. As expected, she walked in carrying elegance as her purple and black robes swayed behind her. The wind effect was specially created for Sooyoung's dramatic character by huge ass fans. And what's more was that she was absolutely perfect as the Seer. Seeing her, Dokja finally sat up straight. According to the play, the arrival of the Seer always means some bad news. But this time, it was going to be good as the Moon prince would finally be given the chance to claim the person he loves and admires from afar. She carried a scroll with her as well, but she didn't even look at it as she began speaking. She definitely forgot and is trying to make it seem like her character is too overpowered to have to speak while looking at scrolls.
“My prince, the heavens tremble. A prophecy long sealed awakens.” She says. Dokja never thought there would be a day where Sooyoung calls him ‘my prince’.
“My kingdom has waited centuries. Speak what the stars dare whisper.” Dokja says, his expression turning serious.
Sooyoung starts saying the prophecy. “The curse that binds you to this pale exile shall break only when your voice joins the Oracle’s, the human you have been sleeplessly longing from the past months, in the Song of Returning.” Her voice dropped a little when she added, “But the universe demands balance. When the curse is undone, the Rift shall awaken, a tear in the firmament, a devourer of sky. It will hunger for all creation, only to return the Oracle to it's rightful place.”
That was the prophecy and it's consequence. But the prince doesn't care about the consequences as long as he has his love with him. So, he asks, “...And the Oracle?”
“She lives upon the Earth. Though she knows not her celestial heritage, visions of you haunt her dreams. Allow us to bring her to the moon. Let destiny guide us in the right path.” Han Sooyoung replied.
“My prince, forgive my intrusion, but to bind your fate to a fragment of the universe, which will only lead us all to the path of doom…I cannot support such a precarious plan.” Joonghyuk finally speaks his lines as the Star guardian. His role was being the prince's advisor, pretty and arrogant. And the Prince had always listened to him, but this time, the Prince would choose his love over everything, even though he knew the Seer's true intentions. Before Dokja's reply, there was one line from Sooyoung.
“Oh, wonderful! The Guardian now knows more about prophecies than the Prophet herself! Have you any idea how our Prince had suffered against fate?”
“Guardian… your counsel?” Dokja asks.
“Our curse is heavy, yes. But the Rift’s awakening is heavier still. If breaking our chains means rousing that monstrosity, I beg you reconsider.” Joonghyuk is supposed to be against this decision, but since he serves the Prince, he had to accept his demands as well later in the story. Dokja was actually enjoying this play. They had finally become accustomed to the stage.
“If the heavens grant a path leading me to my destiny, I must walk it, whatever the cost. The Oracle shall be brought to the moon.” Dokja says.
“As you wish, your highness.” Sooyoung says and the curtains drop. Dokja finally let out a deep breath once the spotlights were turned off. Act I was played without any mistakes. In Act II, Sang-ah would finally make her appearance. Suddenly, Dokja saw a water bottle held before his face. It was Joonghyuk.
“Drink it.”
“Thanks. Did you drink water as well?” Dokja asks.
“I did.” He seemed hesitant before adding, “You did good, by the way.”
Dokja was about to reply when they heard it was time to get into their respective positions for the next act. This time, the throne was taken away, the background was changed to a mythical garden and the plants were rearranged. Dokja was standing with Heewon who just gave him a thumbs up. Hyeonseong would enter with Sang-ah. Later, Sooyoung would also appear just to say one line. This would be the first face-to-face meeting between the Prince and the Oracle he loves so much. And the Oracle also falls for the prince's beauty at the first sight, and when she lastly learns of his sorrow, she becomes even more eager to help him. Though, her falling in love with the prince is something that would not be explicitly acted out. The audience is supposed to figure that out from the glances exchanged. Alright, I'm ready.
The curtains parted. Hyeonseong slowly entered, gently guiding Sang-ah to him. Sang-ah speaks her first lines.
“This path… I have walked it in sleep. Yet I never believed dreams could touch the waking world.”
The knight, Hyeonseong replies, “Fear not. The prince has awaited you longer than the moon has known silence.”
Once she was close to Dokja, Hyeonseong stepped aside and stood with Heewon. Dokja had to look at her like he was awestruck by her beauty. And he was doing his best. Sang-ah was conveying her feelings through her looks so well that Dokja was worried whether he could catch up to her. He says,
“So the visions spoke truth. You have come, my Arin.”
Sang-ah fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve. “My prince, I know not why the moon called me, but if my voice may ease your sorrow, I will lend it willingly.”
Heewon steps forward and bends a knee. Hyeonseong follows her. She says, “The Oracle shall be guarded with my life. Anyone who threatens her shall meet the wrath of the sun.”
Dokja was done with his lines for this Act, so the only thing he has to do now is look like he's madly in love with the Oracle. Sooyoung then entered the stage,
“Tonight, the Song of Returning shall echo for the first time in centuries.”
The spotlights on every one of them were turned off and only one remained where Lee Jihye came and stood with her scroll. She held the scroll open and glanced at it before starting to speak. She'd roll the scroll back halfway through her narration.
“Yet unbeknownst to all but the heavens, the Seer held a darker truth. Once the curse was lifted, the Rift would awaken and only the Oracle’s sacrifice could lull the devourer back into slumber. However she said nothing. For she trusted the Oracle’s heart to choose love over life.”
Act II came to an end with that. Their acts were pretty short but they had to fit everything inside the fifteen minutes time limit. Jihye excitedly ran to them once the curtains dropped.
“I'm doing good, right?” She asks, breathing heavily.
“Yep, very good.” Sang-ah grinned at her.
“Right. You're doing very well.” Heewon says.
“Guys, I think the next act is starting. Let's get to the positions.” Hyeonseong comes to them with Joonghyuk who'd be present in Act III. Dokja muttered a quick, “All the best, guys.” and began to look around to see if the required objects were brought here. This scene would be in the prince's bed chambers, with the Guardian, Knight and Sun Warrior. They would be discussing a plan. A royal bed was brought to the stage, which was prepared by the School as well. The plants were quickly removed and the background was changed to a candlelit interior. Actual candles were also brought for realistic effects. They might be always badmouthing their school, but this time they really helped a lot. On the other hand, Dokja felt envious of the others as they all got to go backstage, but he couldn't as he was the main character. Dokja sat on the bed, and the other three people all stood surrounding him.
The curtains were separated.
“My prince, if the Seer’s prophecy heralds destruction, must we proceed?” Hyeonseong spoke his first lines.
There was another annoying thing about the Moon prince. Dokja really felt bad for the other people who'd have to agree to such a childish plan just because the Moon prince is lovesick and stubborn.
“If I do nothing, the curse will consume what remains of the moon. If I succeed, the Rift will consume the Oracle. And we will stop both from happening.” Dokja replied.
Everyone stayed silent for a while before Heewon spoke. “Then we break the heavens themselves before we allow such a fate.”
“This ceremony should not proceed. The curse is not worth the death of a single innocent. Another way must exist.” Joonghyuk stepped forward and knelt before Dokja. His eyes trembled as he gazed up at the prince. As Dokja, the sight before him was rather…interesting. But as the prince, he must stay unaffected. He says,
“There is not. Even if the curse breaks, I will not surrender her to death. The four of us shall stand against the Rift and carve a path through fate.” Dokja returns the Guardian's gaze.
“Then, my prince, I have no choice but to stand with you, even if the heavens brand me traitor.” Joonghyuk says his final line before lights were turned off and Jihye entered the stage with her own spotlight.
“What the prince did not know…was that the Seer had already foreseen his rebellion. And she chose not to stop him.” The slight pause in her speech was because she was confused. And it was not just her, everyone was confused. This was not in the script. Just like the Seer had ulterior motives of having the Oracle sacrifice herself willingly, the prince, although unaware of the fact that the Rift would stop if she was sacrificed, had made a plan with the others to prevent it. So, it didn't make much of a difference anyway, except that if he had known that she'd give herself willingly, he might've tried to stop her from doing that. That was the only fault in his perfectly carried out plan of fighting the Rift to save her. Which is why, the story ends in tragedy as the Seer's plan succeeds even though she didn't know about the Prince's secret rebellion, making the point that fate can't be fought.
But her narration stated that the Seer knew of this rebellion. This would make no sense unless the later parts of the story were also changed. Jihye came running to them once the act was over.
“You heard that, didn't you?! What the hell is happening? Who changed the script last minute?” She frantically threw questions after questions.
“Did you not revise the script before you came here?” Dokja asked.
“No…I mean, I had things pretty much memorized."
“Who last held your script?” Heewon asked.
“Umm…I think…it was Sooyoung unnie, I guess.”
“I'm going backsta–” Hyeonseong just began when Sang-ah entered.
“What are you people still doing here? The play’s starting!”
What the fuck? Now even the play is starting before time?
Joonghyuk was quiet. He didn't say a word when they talked about the script. Sooyoung came in as well.
“The script–” Dokja was cut-off mid-sentence.
“Now's not the time. Just play along, we're outta time. Remember what I told you.” Sooyoung says. This is too much to be just a coincidence. Dokja hated to admit, but Sooyoung and Joonghyuk were the ones he was suspecting the most. But for now, the only option they had was to go along. The landscape behind them was changed back to the previous garden and other things were arranged. Soft, melancholic music began to play. Everyone stood surrounding the prince and the Oracle. They will sing the Song of Returning, which Dokja almost died practicing. He was not a singer, but it was just one verse that their school's music teacher helped him master. Unlike him, Sang-ah got it in her first try. The spotlights were on Dokja and Sang-ah who stood facing each other. The next act began. Taking a deep breath, Dokja began singing his verse. Yes, I'm doing quite well if my voice is not cracking.
He finished singing and just as Sang-ah lifted her chin to look at him and continue her verse, someone came forward. The spotlight fell on that person, and it was none other than the Star guardian, Yoo Joonghyuk. Sang-ah and Dokja's eyes widened in horror and confusion as Joonghyuk began to sing.
“If heaven swore to bar our hands,
I’d tear the law of ancient lands.
For what are stars to hearts that bleed?
What worth is fate to love’s own creed?
So let the winds of judgment roar,
I choose the prince, forevermore.”
Those were not the same as Sang-ah’s lines. But she was supposed to sing, not Joonghyuk!
Sang-ah's look said, “What the hell is happening?”
Both of them were equally unaware of what was going on, as it seemed. So, Dokja's suspicion about the play being changed was right from the beginning. Whoever changed the script without telling them, was a genius. Because Sang-ah's and Dokja's bewildered expressions can be taken for the Oracle's and the Prince's actual expressions as well judging by how things were going. Dokja had to say something. After coming this far, they can't ruin the play. The fucker who did this will suffer, but not now. He, as the main character, had to pull the play back to its place.
“Guardian… these words were never yours.” Dokja says, looking dazed.
“Then let the heavens rend themselves to silence me. For my heart has long sung for you alone.” Joonghyuk answers.
A loud gasp emerged from the audience. What the fuck is happening?! How is Joonghyuk the love-interest now? Dokja was too shocked to be able to say anything. At that moment, Sooyoung stepped forward, the spotlight soon following her.
“Behold! The stars have altered the tapestry of fate! The Oracle’s blessing has shifted, guided by the unseen devotion of the Star Guardian!” She declared.
What now? But Dokja knew he had to speak. The main suspect behind this was Sooyoung, and if she is saying things like this, the play was going in a direction that was simply not the one everyone knew of.
“…Shifted blessings?” He asks.
“Yes. A soul whose yearning burns brighter than prophecy has been chosen to stand in her place.” She responds.
Apparently, Joonghyuk had become the substitute Oracle. And that meant if Dokja unites with him, the curse would be lifted and the Rift wouldn't awaken either, as he didn't carry a part of the universe in him and wouldn't disrupt any balance. But that would mean Namwoon has no role in this play whatsoever. Sooyoung wouldn't do something like that. Dokja barely had time to think before Joonghyuk grabbed his hand and brought him forward, standing very intimately close for a school play. He holds out his hand before Dokja, who was hardly processing things. To portray that the curse had broken at last because of their union, the frosty landscape changed to a greener one and silvery vines and plants turned green by who knows what technology they used.
“My prince…run away with me. Let the stars judge us as they will.” Joonghyuk says. For some reason, that short-circuited Dokja's brain even more as his cheeks burned. I think the sudden improvising of the play was not so bad afterall.
As he placed his hand on Joonghyuk's, the latter held it tight and ran away from the stage. Everyone tried their best to look like everything was a part of their script as if they weren't equally as shocked as the audience and teachers who helped them with this play. Suddenly, Sooyoung came forward. She took slow steps towards Sang-ah. When their eyes met, Sooyoung gave a rather creepy smile and began to speak.
“Arin, in every vision I sought your ruin. Yet in every vision you shone. The moon was not the only one who watched you.”
Sang-ah and Arin, both just as taken aback, says,
“But I'm afraid—”
Sooyoung doesn't let her finish. “Had the fates denied me your light, Arin, I would have surrendered you to the heavens without hesitation, for if my hands were forbidden from holding you, then no soul beneath sky or star deserved that grace. But now… the threads turn anew.” She takes Sang-ah's hand in hers. “Now the Rift that the Prince would have lulled out of slumber by claiming you, stirs awake because of me, as I, the Seer, the Prophet, have claimed you. And the path you walk leads back to my waiting hand. So hear me clearly; I would embrace ruin itself before I release you again. Elope with me, to a far-wandering star where even the gods avert their gaze. There, beyond the prophecy's shadow, you shall live, and I with you.”
Sang-ah was just as flabbergasted as everyone on the stage. She was flustered and also screaming in her mind, Who the fuck planned this?! Soon, Sooyoung, just like Joonghyuk did, runs away from the stage with Sang-ah. Everyone remaining at the stage knew how much chaos the backstage room would be in. By then, it became pretty clear what the intention of the improvised script was. The actual reason behind the Seer knowing about the prince's rebellion and still not doing anything to stop him was because she knew it'd be beneficial in the end. Because the Rift might not have awakened because of the Moon prince, but it did because of the Seer. So, the people who promised they'd fight the Rift would be left with the option of fighting it anyway, because the culprit had escaped with the Oracle and the Prince himself with his guardian.
Jihye steps out of the darkness with her scroll, about to read lines that were not what she rehearsed for all these days. “And thus, the heavens bent once more. For love, even jealous, secret love, carries power enough to reshape destiny.”
As she stepped aside, the scenario changed and everything became dark. Dramatic effects were shown in the background as the Rift finally approached like a large, looming shadow. Namwoon definitely used a voice changing mic because everyone knew his voice couldn't be that monstrously deep. He says,
“I rise…drawn by celestial transgressions.”
That's when Heewon and Hyeonseong finally got their spotlights. Since everyone had escaped, they'd be the one ending the play. Heewon made up her own line as she stepped forward with her blade ready to strike Namwoon down.
“Great. I needed something to strike.”
“With me, Sora.” Hyeonseong approached her from behind and stood at her side. He had a tough expression but everyone could tell just how loud his heart was beating.
“Let us destroy the doom itself, Ren.” Heewon says as they both ran towards Namwoon, or the Rift at once. Since everyone was already doing whatever they wanted, Jihye didn't see any fault in joining them either. She quickly approached Heewon and Hyeonseong fighting the Rift, and tossed the vials at Namwoon that had a different purpose in the original script. She couldn't let them go to waste, afterall. She yelled,
“Behold my elixir of radiant annihilation!”
The lights were then turned off. They laughed as they walked to the backstage room together. Namwoon was shouting on his way,
“Why must I always be the one to suffer indignities, you bastards! I was much more powerful in the original script!”
Jihye still had to deliver the ending narration, so she didn't join them backstage for much longer. She was supposed to be angry because they changed the story she came up with, but surprisingly, she was very happy. This way, everyone got to enjoy the play in their own way, and nothing ended in tragedy. Although it did end in scandals. She smiles at the audience. They looked really entertained.
“And so concludes this tale of shifting stars, where prophecy bent beneath jealous hearts, where duty failed but devotion triumphed, and where the Moon Prince found freedom in the arms of one who sang for him even when the script forbade it.” She bows. She didn't care what she was saying and just read the script. The curtains fell as a loud round of applause sounded out.
In the backstage, however, Joonghyuk and Sooyoung were going through hell.
“Joonghyuk I can't believe you joined hands with her!” Dokja says in disbelief. He still couldn't come to terms with the fact that everything that happened was Joonghyuk and Sooyoung's plan. Apparently, Joonghyuk said he wanted the guardian to end up with Dokja, and Sooyoung didn't want Sang-ah to end up with Dokja. And thus they did something this outrageous. I can't believe they're this petty. But a part of Dokja was impressed to see that Joonghyuk went to these lengths to be the love interest of the Prince. He was even kneeling before Dokja in front of their friends now.
“I'm sorry. She made me do it.” He says, as if innocent.
“You motherfu–” Sooyoung glared at him from where she was kneeling before Sang-ah.
“Shut up, Sooyoung. You're not any better.” Sang-ah says.
Looking at these four, Hyeonseong and Heewon looked at each other and smiled.
“They're so in love.”