Just when consciousness was slipping away completely, Yetao vaguely perceived a blurry figure cutting through the murky water. His oxygen-deprived brain struggled to process the image as water filled his lungs, but he felt strong fingers wrap around his wrist, pulling him upward.
Huh? Is this another ghostie? he wondered hazily, straining his eyes through the darkness.
The silhouette came into focus—Bam's determined face, his expression fierce as he fought against the current. Relief washed over Yetao before darkness claimed him completely.
I really didn't want to be a damsel in distress... was his final thought before consciousness fled.
....
Yetao's eyes fluttered open what felt like an eternity later. The first thing his blurry vision focused on was the decayed face of the corpse that had dragged him into the water. A blood-curdling scream tore from his throat as he scrambled backward—only to freeze mid-movement as his vision cleared.
The corpse's head hung at an unnatural angle, its neck snapped cleanly. It was no longer a threat.
Footsteps pounded against stone as Bam came running, clearly thinking Yetao was in danger. His expression quickly morphed from concern to annoyance.
"Can't you close that throat of yours for once?" he snapped, golden eyes flashing. "We don't even know where we are. Don't wake up any more... unwelcome entities."
For the first time, Yetao took in their surroundings properly. They were in what appeared to be ancient ruins—massive stone pillars draped with vines stretched toward a ceiling lost in shadow. A still pond reflected the crumbling columns and weathered arches, its surface unnaturally smooth.
"Where are we?" Yetao asked, his voice echoing slightly as he gazed around in wonder.
Bam rolled his eyes dramatically. "If I knew that, do you think I'd still be here? When I pulled you up, we were already here"
Irritation flared in Yetao's chest. "Then use your power and let's get out," he shot back. "Or do you suddenly want to enjoy the scenery too?"
"I can't use my powers, okay?!" Bam yelled, his voice bouncing off the stone walls and echoing throughout the chamber.
Yetao fell silent, taken aback. Why is his power like a fuse that's about to blow? It disappears and appears at random. Isn't he supposed to be a King? His thoughts must have shown on his face because Bam's expression softened slightly.
"It's due to this place," Bam explained, gesturing around them. Yetao started at the unexpected clarification as Bam continued, "That's the reason I've lost my powers."
Confusion furrowed Yetao's brow. Bam approached the water's edge and pointed toward a cluster of lotus flowers floating on the surface, their petals gleaming with an unnatural pink luminescence.
"Those are Khonsu[1]'s flowers," he said, his voice low with respect and wariness. "They prevent gods from using their abilities. Last time too—Makko somehow learned the trick and got his hands on them. Used them in the candles."
He straightened, scanning their surroundings with renewed purpose. "We're most likely in his secret hideout or something. We need to find a way out." Without waiting for a response, he began walking, searching for an exit.
"If we came through the pond," Yetao called after him, jogging to catch up, "why don't we just swim back?"
Bam shook his head without breaking stride. "We can't. I already tried—there's only solid floor at the surface now."
Panic flickered through Yetao as he hurried alongside Bam. "Why didn't you know this place exists?" The question slipped out before he could stop himself. "Aren't you the king?"
Immediately, he regretted his words. A heavy silence fell between them as they walked, broken only by the sound of their footsteps against ancient stone.
After what felt like an eternity, Bam spoke, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "I should have known. But I have a lot to learn, considering how long I've lived." His eyes carried a sorrow so deep it made Yetao's heart ache.
"How old are you?" Yetao found himself asking.
"Twenty-eight."
Yetao blinked in surprise. "You're just twenty-eight" He let out a small breath. "You can discover things slowly, then. You have time."
A sad smile flickered across Bam's face before he continued forward. "Stay close to me," he ordered. "Don't die on me."
Yetao's lips formed a pout. "Why? Because you can't face Chen then?" he teased.
Bam paused, turning to give Yetao a peculiar look before rolling his eyes and continuing forward. Something about that look irritated Yetao beyond reason.
"Why are you giving me that look?" he demanded, quickening his pace. "Aren't you wary of me because you think I'm getting too close to Chen?"
Bam stopped abruptly, his posture suddenly rigid. In one fluid motion, he spun around, lunging toward Yetao. Strong arms wrapped around him as they both tumbled to the side, away from the pond.
A heartbeat later, a small stone statue they'd been passing exploded, sending fragments flying in all directions. Pink smoke billowed from the shattered remains, quickly filling the air around them.
Yetao groaned in pain, feeling his palm scrape against rough stone. The strange smoke carried an unmistakable sense of danger. He covered his nose immediately, turning to find Bam beside him. The King had taken the brunt of the fall, his back clearly injured from protecting Yetao.
"Hey! Why did you protect me and break your bones?" Yetao shouted, concern overriding his earlier annoyance.
"Who broke bones?" Bam shot back indignantly. "I'm not that delicate, even if I lost my pow—Ouch!" His attempt at bravado was betrayed by a grimace of pain as he tried to move his clearly sprained arm.
Without hesitation, Yetao tore a long strip of cloth from his garment and began wrapping Bam's injured shoulder. "Don't move your arm too much," he ordered firmly.
"I can heal once we get out anyway," Bam protested, trying to remove the makeshift bandage. "I don't need this."
Yetao pressed the cloth back in place with gentle but insistent hands. "Just because it will heal doesn't mean it doesn't hurt now," he said, his expression serious and commanding as he continued tying the cloth securely.
Bam found himself captivated by Yetao's eyes—they carried worry, determination, and above all, unwavering confidence. His heart raced unexpectedly. Now I'm having doubts. Can she really kill someone? he wondered, staring into those eyes that seemed to glow with an inner light. Her eyes are glistening pink...
Realization struck him like lightning. Wait. Pink?!
The surrounding area was rapidly filling with the pink miasma seeping from the shattered statue. Without warning, Bam grabbed Yetao's hand and ran as fast as he could, pulling him along.
"Don't breathe in the smoke!" he warned. "It might be dangerous!"
They ran until their lungs burned, taking turn after turn through the ruins, but somehow they kept ending up back where they started.
"It's a loop," Yetao panted as they finally stopped, both bent over trying to catch their breath.
"This is going nowhere," Bam said between gasps. "We need to find something— a key to break the loop."
They scanned their surroundings carefully, searching for anything out of place. Yetao's keen eyes caught a tiny detail on one of the pillars.
"Here!" He pointed to a small crescent moon symbol, carved so subtly it was almost invisible unless you knew to look for it.
Bam's expression brightened with recognition. "Khonsu," he murmured. "Search for these symbols—they mark the correct way."
Yetao nodded, asking no further questions as they methodically searched for the small crescents. Following the trail of hidden symbols, they navigated the seemingly endless maze until finally breaking free of the loop.
A raised podium appeared before them—something they hadn't seen during their previous circuits. Yetao collapsed onto the stone floor, a sigh of relief escaping his lips.
But their respite was short-lived. Yetao's pupils dilated in alarm as he noticed the pink mist had followed them, now surrounding them completely.
"Hey... I feel... strange," he said, voice slurring as he tried to reach for Bam. His limbs felt impossibly heavy, refusing to obey his commands as the world around him began to blur.
Through the haze, he could only make out Bam's back, the King standing frozen several paces ahead. Why isn't he moving? Yetao wondered blearily. As he stared, Bam's silhouette seemed to flicker and glitch, transforming momentarily into someone—something—else standing in his place.
The figure had pointed, elf-like ears. Am I hallucinating? Yetao squinted, trying to focus his vision.
When the figure turned, it was actually Bam—but not as Yetao knew him. His eyes glowed a deep, blood red instead of their usual warm brown. His previously injured arm moved freely, and his attire had changed completely to something more ancient and elaborate.
Before Yetao could process what was happening, this strange version of Bam strode toward him and pulled him into a tight embrace, holding him so firmly Yetao couldn't move.
What's wrong with him? Yetao tried desperately to push away, but his body refused to respond. It was as if he were merely a passenger, trapped inside someone else's form. Looking down, he realized with a jolt that his own clothing had changed as well, transformed into something royal and unfamiliar.
"I can't do that. I'm sorry," Bam whispered against his ear, his voice raw with sorrow and barely controlled anger. He sounded desperate, broken.
Yetao tried to speak, to ask what was happening, but his mouth wouldn't obey. His body acted of its own accord, gently pushing away from the desperate embrace. Hands that were his and yet not his cupped Bam's face tenderly, and to Yetao's horror, he felt himself leaning forward to place a kiss on Bam's lips.
Eeeekkk! What am I doing? Stop!!! his inner voice screamed in panic, but his body continued, utterly beyond his control.
Bam kissed back with equal fervor, and Yetao's traitorous arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer. The kiss tasted of salt and desperation—a bittersweet farewell. They clung to each other as if the world were ending around them.
For heaven's sake, do something, Hu Yetao!!! he continued to scream inside the prison of his mind.
Finally, Bam pulled away, his crimson eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I'm sorry, princess," he whispered, a single tear sliding down his cheek.
To Yetao's shock, he felt answering tears falling from his own eyes, though he had no idea why. Bam turned and began walking away. Yetao's body moved to follow, running after him—
A sharp, blinding pain lanced through his skull.
....
Yetao gasped for air as consciousness returned, his eyes flying open to find himself staring at the cracked ceiling near the podium. Did I fall asleep after inhaling that pink stuff? But....What was that? he thought, his heart still racing from the vivid hallucination.
Pushing himself up on trembling arms, he spotted Bam lying unconscious beside him. The King was panting heavily, sweat beading on his forehead as if caught in the grip of a terrible nightmare.
"Hey!" Yetao shook him urgently, but Bam remained unresponsive, his body shaking with whatever vision held him captive.
The gentle sound of rippling water drew Yetao's attention to the pond behind them. A figure stood there—a handsome man with tanned skin, midnight-black hair, and eyes the pale blue of a winter sky. He seemed to have emerged from the water itself, not a single drop clinging to his perfect form.
"He'll wake up in a while," the stranger said, his voice deep and resonant like the depths of the ocean. "Let him dream."
Yetao should've been terrified—a mysterious being appearing out of nowhere in this strange, forgotten place. Yet instead of fear, he was only shocked as he actually recognised him.
The familiar features, now enhanced with an otherworldly beauty, belonged to someone he knew.
"Bison?" Yetao whispered in disbelief.
The bodyguard he had barely spent a day with before being thrust into this unknown world now stood before him in the form of a celestial being, power radiating from him in gentle waves. Is he a fellow traveller? Or just another stranger with a familiar face?
To be continued...
[1] Author's note: Khonsu is a moon god. (He is said to have healing abilities, ward-of evil spirits, blesses fertility and can guide lost people with his moon light. He also has another ability. I'll keep it a secret for now lol)