Rumi POV
One second, the roar of Gwi-Ma's fire was in front of me.
The next, I was stumbling back, my wrist caught in a grip like iron.
Sable.
He yanked me behind him without hesitation, sliding into the space I'd been standing like he'd been waiting for the cue. The violet blaze from Gwi-Ma's mouth was already pouring toward us — thick, hot, and alive in a way that made my stomach twist.
I barely had time to catch my breath before it hit him.
The Chalice in his left hand flared with light, his blade coming up in his right, the metal catching the fire's glow. He muttered something — too low to catch — and then the flames swallowed him whole.
The heat punched outward, curling the edges of my hair, prickling my skin. I threw an arm up to shield my face, but my eyes didn't move — they stayed locked on him.
For a heartbeat, I thought I'd just watched him burn alive.
Zoey's voice broke through the roar.
"What—what is he doing?!"
Mira's tone was sharper, but there was something under it — fear.
"He's going to get himself killed!"
The violet blaze reflected in the Star-Veil above, bathing the stadium in its sickly light. All I could see inside that storm were shifting shadows — maybe they were his, maybe I was imagining them. My pulse hammered so loud it almost drowned out the chaos around us.
He didn't even hesitate. Didn't even look at me. Just stepped in, like my life was worth more than his.
My stomach tightened. My fingers clenched so hard around my sword hilt that the leather grip bit into my palms. Every instinct screamed at me to move — to go after him — but my legs wouldn't obey.
"Rumi—" Mira's voice was close now, somewhere beside me, but I couldn't turn my head.
I was still staring at the flames.
Still waiting for them to fade.
Still praying there'd be something — someone — left standing when they did.
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The flames didn't fade.
They just kept coming, roaring in a constant, blistering stream that swallowed the whole world in violet light. My arm ached from keeping my sword raised against the demons trying to push past us, but my eyes never left the inferno.
Zoey stayed close, swinging her weapon in wide, desperate arcs. "Do you think he—?" she started, voice cracking, but she didn't finish the question.
Mira's tone was clipped, but there was strain under it. "Keep your head down and fight!"
Even with the clang of weapons and the screech of demons, Gwi-Ma's laugh cut through the chaos. Low at first, then climbing — full, cruel, triumphant. He thought he'd won. Thought the strange man was gone.
My stomach knotted.
And then… something shifted.
The flames weren't dispersing. They were curling inward, folding into themselves like they'd been caught in a vortex. Slowly, the shape inside them became clear.
Sable.
He stood rooted in place, the Chalice raised toward the oncoming beam, his blade still angled forward. He wasn't unscathed — his face was lightly singed, sweat streamed down his temple, and faint trails of smoke wafted off him. Every muscle in him looked locked in place, gritted against the force slamming into him.
Gwi-Ma's laughter faltered. His flaming eyes widened, confusion twisting into shock. The massive stream of fire didn't stop — not because he didn't want to stop it, but because he couldn't.
And then I saw it.
He wasn't just absorbing the flames. He was pulling something else. Pulling him.
Gwi-Ma realized it too. His roar tore across the stadium, laced with rage, fear, and pure defiance.
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Relief flooded through me.
"Helmet man, you're alright!" Zoey's voice rang over the noise, her face lighting up with visible relief.
Mira didn't look at me, but her voice softened for the first time in hours. "I'll admit… I'm glad he's still standing."
I started toward him, cutting down two faceless demons on the way. My boots pounded against the ground, the distance closing quickly. But when I got close enough, his eyes snapped to mine — sharp, focused despite the strain — and he barked out, voice rough from exertion,
"Leave me. I can handle this oversized campfire. Go deal with your boyfriend."
I froze, torn between wanting to plant my feet beside him and listening to what he said. My hands tightened on my weapon. I opened my mouth—
"I won't tell you again, Fruit Roll-Up!" he yelled, the words almost breaking into a growl as he shoved more strength into the Chalice.
That did it. I bit back my reply, settling for a quick, "Be careful," before turning on my heel.
"Hurry up," he shot back — but I swore there was the faintest hint of a smile there.
I sprinted toward the stage. Jinu stood dead center, still as stone, watching everything like he wasn't sure whether to run or fight.
"For what it's worth," he said first, voice low, "I'm sorry. For everything." His eyes dipped for a fraction of a second — a flicker of shame breaking through his usual composure.
I took a breath. "I don't know if I can forgive you yet…" I admitted, then reached my hand out to him. "…but I'm willing to try."
His eyes went from my face to my hand, then back again. Something in him shifted. He took my hand. Nodded once.
A small smile tugged at my lips. "You can start," I said, "by helping with your boy band mates."
That earned me a smirk. Without another word, he vanished in a swirl of pink mist, reappearing across the stadium where Mira and Zoey were still holding the line.
I turned back toward Sable. The violet inferno still poured from Gwi-Ma, but he was still there — still standing.
And this time, I ran to join him.
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A/N: Jinu may be in the dog house
I want to write jinu's and rumi's relationship where she still feels the sting of betrayal from jinu (cause betrayal stings subconsciously even if the person was coerced/forced into doing it. That's what I believe anyway). Don't worry they will still be together just I won't be writing about it and them mending back together will be on their own time, so for now their interactions will be slightly awkward.
Now leave a comment and leave a review and…..
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