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Youngjo was tired and exhausted, that day he had trained a lot throughout the morning and afternoon. Of course, when you want to become the most brilliant wizard in the world you can't waste time, so most of his days were spent improving his skills. The bad thing was that during the night he was overcome with a terrible hunger, and trying to satiate your appetite when you share a room with five other kids is a bit tricky. Even worse when you have to rush to the kitchen to fix the mess of dinner Seoho usually prepares. That boy had insisted on being the chef that night, swearing on his life that this time he would take special care with the food, and sure enough, every dish looked like a huge deformed mass. It took a lot of effort to fix everything, including more spices, more ingredients and even redoing some dishes, especially the dessert. Seriously... how did Seoho manage not to improve in the kitchen all these years?
Anyway, Youngjo had the feeling that he would fall on the mattress like a rock. Surely not even the memory of his childhood traumas would haunt him that night, not even that nightmare where he was forced to swallow thousands and thousands of greasy and disgusting hamburgers.
Youngjo was already ready for bed. The bed looked very comfortable, with beautiful and lush silk sheets. The pillows and mattress felt soft and fluffy as his body settled on the surface. How nice to finally get some rest!
Youngjo was about to fall asleep when he suddenly heard a voice behind him. It was the most irritating and annoying voice he ever wanted to hear at that time of night.
— ¡Youngjo! ¡Youngjo!... ¡Kim-Young-Jo!
— Aaah! what do you want Hwanwoong!? — He turned around in annoyance, looking towards the door of his room, from which the visitor's head, adorned by his furry tiger ears, was peeking out.
— I'm bored!
— You idiot! How can you be bored at this hour?
Hwanwoong gave a wide grin and replied as he stepped into the room, swinging his tabby feline tail from side to side.
— Okay, you got me figured out, it's just that I want to sleep with you tonight.
— Surely not! Go back to your room. — He said, settling back between the sheets.
— I don't want to! It's too dark and lonely in there.
At such a statement, Youngjo thought he might as well take that opportunity to make the other one uncomfortable, since his familiar liked to brag about his abilities.
— Huh? The great and powerful familiar that says it can do everything without a magician is intimidated by the darkness?
Hwanwoong seemed to be thrown off for a second by such an assessment.
— Of course not! I need to be close to my designated wizard and keep an eye on his sleeping hours. — He noted as he invaded one side of the bed, forcing Youngjo to move sideways. — I wouldn't have to if someone wasn't doing so poorly in training.
Youngjo furrowed his brow. He hadn't taken too kindly to the comment.
— Who are you talking about?
— You, it's obvious, really...can't you train better than you've been doing?
— Well then stop being my familiar! — He exclaimed with annoyance. — Stop bothering me, really... you're obnoxious.
— All wizards need some kind of familiar, so without my help you won't become the wizard you dream of, you need me. — He said proudly and haughtily.
— ...I still haven't decided whether or not to make you my familiar...
Youngjo still remembers the day he first saw Hwanwoong. His master guide had taken his apprentices to the ritual hall. The assignment of a familiar was an important step in becoming a respected magician. He still remembered the imposing mirror in the middle of the hall; how his companions would stand in front of the object, recite the spell and out of it would come a familiar. It was something close to a lifelong mate assignment.
His friends had had the best luck in the world: Geonhak got a Phoenix, Seoho a Basilisk, Xion a Cerberus and Keonhee a Hippogriff. But when it was his turn, out of the mirror came a boy with tiger ears and a tiger tail, what the hell was that!? His familiar had turned out to be a hybrid who wouldn't stop talking and lounging around, yet somehow he managed to be the most extroverted as long as he was awake. However, the assignment of a familiar was not an irrevocable thing; if the mage felt that the connection with his designated familiar was not adequate, he could return it to the mirror and summon a new one before making their bond official through ritual. The others had already solidified their connection with their creatures, but he was still undecided. Even though Hwanwoong claimed to be the most powerful, capable of defeating anyone even without the help of a wizard. Even though his master had expressed his expectations of what a great duo they would be... he still didn't feel confident.
— It's true that you haven't made up your mind yet, but your silence could be interpreted as an affirmation. After all, you are aware that you cannot achieve your goal alone. You are smart, you know that having a familiar like me is a great advantage.
Hwanwoong knew how to take edge of Youngjo's weak points, and he knew how to handle his words very well. That was something that annoyed the young sorcerer a lot.
— Damn rat!... very well! You can stay... but don't bother too much!
Youngjo had some trouble falling asleep. Despite the warning, Hwanwoong kept complaining about everything that had happened to him during the day. He would tell him how he lacked patience with the "brutish warlock" Leedo, for spending all his time talking about the "idiot warlock" Seoho, and how he was always on cloud nine drooling over the other one at every corner. Next, that he hadn't been able to take a bite of any of the peaches in the garden because Xion and Keonhee didn't stop harassing him. And so Hwanwoong kept talking until at some point, both he and the sorcerer fell asleep.
Youngjo suddenly found himself in a beautiful field full of flowers. A few meters away he could see his family enjoying a picnic. His father, mother and sister happily devouring small snacks, even his dog was enjoying a brief nap on the grass. After a long time training away from them, he missed them so much that he even saw them in his dreams. Suddenly he felt himself falling down a slope. As his body descended, he collided with rocks and sticks. When he opened his eyes, he was no longer in that peaceful field, he was back in his room.
Youngjo scanned his surroundings with his eyes, realizing that the rocks and sticks in his dream were none other than Hwanwoong's legs and arms. That guy... disturbing him even in his sleep, how irritating, Hwanwoong was impossible! Youngjo had no choice but to settle him back down next to him.
— Seriously, what a troublemaker you are! — he muttered angrily.
Youngjo looked out the window from the comfort of his bed and thought of all the road he had to travel from now on. He regretted that he had chosen a somewhat troublesome destiny; the life of a sorcerer could lead him into confrontations he might not want to have. But there would be nothing to keep him from his goal, and he was quite serious about that.
Youngjo watched the moon peek out from behind the dark clouds. The faint light of the star sneaking through the window, illuminating the room. — How beautiful. — Then he turned to where Hwanwoong slept.
Thanks to the moonlight he could see the sleeping familiar more clearly. It was strange to see him so calm and peaceful; he had already said that he usually spent his time lazing around or complaining, right?
Youngjo watched him in detail. The hair spilling over his face, looking silky and making a perfect contrast to the familiar's pale skin. Youngjo had never noticed how beautiful Hwanwoong was. Most of the time he spend it thinking he was annoying, that he was a nuisance; but on closer inspection... he didn't seem so bad. In fact, the boy was always looking out for everything he did, and practically hounded him to satisfy him in whatever he needed.
During the last few months their relationship had improved quite a bit. Youngjo was no longer so uncomfortable with his presence at training sessions. Despite the complaining and whining, he was learning to enjoy Hwanwoong's stories. It was amazing how silly he could be without ever abandoning the mischief that characterized him. Besides, he couldn't help but feel a little empathy for him. The two of them hadn't chosen each other, the mirror had, and now he had to decide whether or not to tie himself to that familiar for the rest of his life. Youngjo had the luxury of making a choice, but Hwanwoong had the misfortune of not having that privilege, so he was probably having a worse time than the other have.
Youngjo looked at Hwanwoong closer and closer. He stroked her long hair and noticed that he had a sweet peach scent. He felt like enjoying a little more of this facet of the familiar and set out to observe his face. He touched the outlined nose, circled the eyelids with his fingers. He paused for a moment to look at it once more, murmuring to himself — What a beautiful sight, I should thank the moon for this.
Hwanwoong let go a slight sigh, letting his lips half-open. Youngjo couldn't help but notice this, and he didn't know why, but a strange impulse came over him, leaning in to give him a light -but tender- kiss on the lips. Youngjo quickly noticed what he had done and couldn't help but feel embarrassed and annoyed with himself.
What had happened to him? Why had he done that?
He didn't want to give the matter any more thought and hurriedly pulled the covers back over himself, turning his back to Hwanwoong. He thought that, perhaps... if in the morning he met his master... he would talk to him to set a date for the ritual between him and his familiar....
In the nervousness and embarrassment he was experiencing, Youngjo could not realize that someone else was also embarrassed with the recent action. Unnoticed, Hwanwoong also settled on the bed with his back to him, his eyes half-open and a powerful blush on his face.
— Youngjo, you really... are a fool...