Chapter Text
Kim Dokja grumbled under his breath as he was forced to accompany Yoo Jonghyuk. They walked closer to the noise and were met with a clearing amongst the fores t trees , with a decent size fire pit placed in the middle. Kim Dokja saw some children dancing and twirling with pixies while others were sitting and chatting with their friends.
He could hear muddled giggling and laughter from a distance which definitely belonged to human children along with the sound of running water splashing about.
‘Seems like there’s a river nearby’, Kim Dokja mused. A couple of pixies flew toward them, eyes big and curious. Kim Dokja rummaged through his pocket for a gift. From the corner of his eye, he observed the hero beside him. Yoo Jonghyuk didn’t look like he was about to slash these pixies into oblivion, which was good. Pixies are pretty friendly for the most part, but they also fight if they feel endangered.
Kim Dokja bet that their home was nearby, showing any hostility would mean they would be surrounded in no time. It’s not that he couldn’t defeat them, but with these children scattered around the place might get caught in the fight. Besides, Kim Dokja had been living peacefully till now, he wasn't about to taint his name with the forest dwellers now.
He finally found what he had been looking for, as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. With such a short notice, being dragged here so suddenly and all, he wouldn’t be able to find anything better on hand. He offered the handkerchief to the pixies and they snatched it in delight.
Now that they had given something, the pixies wouldn’t be too wary of them. They were immediately swarmed with pixies, some of them tugging on his hair and he swapped them away, keeping his polite smile. No pixies seem braved enough to even touch the hero though, they must have instinctively known how dangerous that man was.
The demon and hero walked into the clearing, encouraged by swarms of pixies. He heard a lot of chattering and clicking sounds coming from all around him, too bad he had no idea what they were talking about. He never learned the Pixie's language.
Yoo Jonghyuk turned to glower at him in silence question.
“What?” Kim Dokja asked.
Instead of answering he turned back to look at the children playing all over the place.
‘Ahhh…’
“Don’t worry about them.” He said with a smile, waving his hand carelessly to shoo a bunch of pixies that were trying to sneak into his pocket.
“One of the children must have offered them a pretty scrap of ribbon for the pixies to invite them here. Once the moonlight disappears, they’ll stop this little party of theirs.” He pointed upward to the bright shine of moonlight. This place had been enchanted quite well indeed, the moment they stepped into the illusion forest, the sky had darkened rapidly. Although he barely realised it with all the tall looming trees blocking any light from penetrating the forest floor.
“They have been missing for weeks.” The hero grunted back.
“Exactly, we are quite lucky to come just in time for the moon to shine its brightest.” He chided back, looking around the festival. “Meaning this will probably be its peak, it’ll end soon.” He continued, his eyes caught the sight of a boy sitting alone amidst the bright jolly spirits. They were all singing and dancing around but this boy seemed content with just observing and clapping along to the rhythm.
Kim Dokja decided to approach the boy, nonchalantly leaving the hero’s side.
He sat beside him, startling the poor boy. Kim Dokja showed an apologetic smile.
He... wasn’t particularly good with children.
"Why aren't you joining them?" He asked, his eyes observing the merry celebration instead of the boy. He could feel Yoo Jonghyuk glaring a hole into his back.
"I am not good at dancing." The boy mumbled.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Yoo Jonghyuk walking towards them, but stopped a good few feet away. Does the supreme hero have no idea what to do now? Not that he was surprised, Yoo Jonghyuk didn’t look like the type that can handle children either.
"This is a festival, everyone can just dance however they want. There's no rule." He patted the boy's shoulder. The boy shrunk instead, shying away from the contact.
"What if I accidentally step on somebody's foot? Or- or bump into someone?" Kim Dokja laughed lightly, shaking his knee to the beat.
"Han Donghoon." He called the boy. Hearing his name, the boy looked up at the man, his eyes lightened up with clarity, reflecting the beautiful lights of the embers.
"Don't you want to go home?" He turned to look at the boy. The shy boy's face looked pale. As if a switch had been turned on in him, he swept his head around as if he just realized where he was.
"You cannot go home if you don't dance at least once." Kim Dokja stood up, back facing the fire pit, he extended his hand towards his neighbour’s child.
"It would be very rude." The glow encased the man, for a split second, it looked as if two spiraled horns were poking out of his head as the dazzling bon fire spread like a pair of wings from hell. The boy sweat nervously but hesitantly took hold of Kim Dokja's hand nevertheless.
The demon pulled the boy up and led him to the merry dancing circle of pixies and children.
One of the children seemed to finally take notice of Han Dooghoon’s presence, tapping on her friend’s shoulder and pointing in his direction. He smiled and waved at them.
"Go ahead." Kim Dokja pushed the boy. "It isn't that hard." The boy looked up to him. He pursed his lip but before he could back down a wave of pixies pushed him and dragged him along to their dance. The boy panicked and tried to pull himself away but then he saw Kim Dokja’s reassuring smile and he finally conceded, clumsily joining their dance.
Kim Dokja observed him for a moment before turning back to the hero. Yoo Jonghyuk stared back at him, locking their eyes together. Kim Dokja grinned, his legs already started walking towards the man. Yoo Jonghyuk on the other hand, immediately pulled a sour face the moment he saw him smiling.
"Hey hero, " Kim Dokja greeted casually. "You need to join in too. The dance I mean." The hero scowled at him.
"Stop fooling around. These children need to go back home."
There’s a reason why Kim Dokja let these children prance into the illusion forest without a second glance, it's not just because pixies are friendly. He just pitied them a little.
The holy empire had enjoyed a prosperous growth in the past decades, and with that, came the rapid development that started to spread out of the capital. Many farm lands nearby had been destroyed, forests were cut down for the sake of accommodating new structures and vast empty fields were filled with new construction. Illusion forest was one of a few surviving forests that stayed the same thanks to its strong enchantment. Any visitors with ill intent were quickly lured to a cliff or mauled by wild animals. In fact, Kim Dokja’s own farm was partially blessed by the forest because of his continuous nonchalant attitude towards any forest dwellers that intruded into his farm.
"They will, don't worry." Kim Dokja took a glance back. These children weren’t really naughty although sometimes they steal apples from his farm. They mostly just went there to play after their playground disappeared. And Kim Dokja, who never had a normal childhood, simply relented and let them play on his land as long as they didn't damage anything.
Han Donghoon was one of the children Kim Dokja had come to know. A shy boy that mostly trailed behind others but hardly talked or interacted. He reminded him so much of himself that he grew some affinity towards the boy.
That is why he wanted the boy to have some fun here. The pixies were harmless towards children. At most they would be a bit pushy but they never meant any harm.
Of course, they are sometimes a bit cautious with adults but are quick to change their attitude when you make your intentions clear.
Perhaps the air of merriment was getting to Kim Dokja, or maybe some pixies had discreetly charmed him, but he suddenly felt a surge of bravery. He took Yoo Jonghyuk's hand, much to the hero's surprise. The hero tried to jerk his hand back but Kim Dokja can be very clingy when he wants to. He pulled Yoo Jonghyuk towards the dance circle.
The tunes of the pixies song had become slower, almost reaching its end.
"Come on hero, it's not every day you get to dance to a pixie’s song."
Maybe pixies’ charm had also affected Yoo Joonhyuk because the hero reluctantly followed him. His footsteps were heavy, almost dragging on the ground like he's forced to walk.
Once they were inside the dancing loop, Kim Dokja moved his hand that was grasping Yoo Jonghyuk's hand. He smiled mischievously at the taller man and put his other hand on Yoo Jonghyuk's shoulder.
Yoo Jonghyuk twitched, "Don't touch me." He growled but that only encouraged the demon even more. Kim Dokja loved challenges, like a cat attracted towards people that hate them the most. Kim Dokja preened under the hero's glare.
He tugged the man to sway with the music, "Since you've dragged me here, literally , you should take responsibility and dance with me."
They twirled around, well, Kim Dokja twirled around while Yoo Jonghyuk almost never moved. He laughed at the bitter expression adorning the hero's face. When they were completely surrounded by flying pixies, Kim Dokja ditched Yoo Jonghyuk.
The moment he released his hand from Yoo Jonghyuk, the hero automatically raised his hand to grasp the fleeing man only to grip air. The man slipped from him like a ghost.
Kim Dokja internally giggled. It was payback for dragging him here. Now the Supreme Hero wouldn’t be able to escape from those swarming pixies.
He went to find Han Donghoon again and sure enough, the boy was laughing while twirling with another girl. They happily hop and skip and dance anyway they want without a care in the world.
He's glad the boy was finally able to enjoy himself. Before he decided to walk back home, someone grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. Kim Dokja’s head spun as he was face to face with an irritated Yoo Jonghyuk.
"Kim Dokja..."
"Oh, so you do bother to remember my name." His mouth automatically opened to taunt back.
He peeked behind Yoo Jonghyuk's shoulder and saw a buzzing wave of scared pixies. 'What did he do to them...' Kim Dokja really shouldn't underestimate his power.
"Sorry, sorry. Here, I'll make it up to you." Kim Dokja grinned, he tiptoed and came closer to Yoo Jonghyuk's face. He can see in the man's eyes that he's startled by the sudden close up.
Kim Dokja took that chance before the hero could stop him.He tapped the hero's forehead, putting a quick simple hypnotism, "Happy memory, Jonghyuk-ah~"
It was a simple hypnotism that let the victim relish in their happiest memories to calm them down immediately.
He stepped back instantly and joined the children, holding their hands and laughing with them.
Yoo Jonghyuk was left where he stood, surprised and... disappointed for unknown reasons. His eyes never left the stranger’s figure. 'Who is he?' Yoo Jonghyuk wondered. Is he dangerous? He has the ability to block even his Sage's Eye but he hadn't tried to show hostility. If anything, he appeared indifferent with everything.
Once the sun starts falling and it's almost dusk, the dance festival stops. Kim Dokja was munching on wild berries he's offered as he led Yoo Jonghyuk and the bunch of children back to the village. A couple of pixies accompany them. Kim Dokja suspects this is the same pixies that brought the children to their festival in the first place.
The children looked disappointed now that it’s all over. Not that he sympathises with them. They had been partying nonstop for a week now. It's only for the charms they were cast in and foods they were provided that they manage to stay alert and active the whole time.
Once the charm wears off, they would fall asleep faster than a light bulb. Kim Dokja just wishes they would go to their respective home first before that happens. His wooden house can only accommodate him alone after all.
Thankfully, Yoo Jonghyuk didn't try to drag him too once they arrived at Kim Dokja's farm and parted ways. "Hyung." Han Donghoon called him. He turned back to the boy. What is it now?
"Thank you." The boy said before running off, hopefully, towards his home. Yoo Jonghyuk gave him a last glance before walking off behind the children.
Kim Dokja dearly hoped that it would be the last time they met each other.
Obviously the stars in the sky love to see him suffer because he became more and more convoluted in Yoo Jonghyuk's life as time passed on.