10 Min Family

Min Yoongi stood outside his house. He was leaning against a wall with his eyes closed. He had an expression of pain and was doing his best to calm himself and hold back his tears. He wouldn't cry over this. He slowly slid down the wall, sitting on the ground. Although he did his best to block it out, he couldn't help but think of the argument he just had. His parent's voices echoed inside his head.

'Magic isn't a real job. Being an Adept won't provide you with anything.'

'You have to go to school. Study and get a proper job.'

'Enough with your childish wishes. Time to grow up.'

'Do you think we have the money to pay for you to play around? Get a job and earn a living.'

'There are more Adepts then there are stars in the sky, what makes you think you can make it? Are you that special?'

Yoongi held back his anger. His voice was already hoarse from shouting. He would rather embrace the anger than feel the hurt.

"Here."

Yoongi opened his eyes and a water bottle was in front of him. He looked up and saw a young man holding the water bottle out to him. Yoongi nodded and took the bottle and drank some. He put the bottle down and wiped his mouth. The young man came and sat next to him.

"So that was pretty rough. How're you holding up?"

Yoongi stayed silent. He just closed his eyes and leaned his head on the wall. The young man sighed.

"That bad huh?"

They sat in silence for a few minutes before Yoongi opened his eyes.

"This is what I want to do. I know that it isn't what they want for me, but it's my life and I should be the one to decide how I live it. I don't care what they want or think."

The young man chuckled quietly.

"You say that, but you wouldn't be this shaken up if you didn't care."

Yoongi grunted in response. He knew he was right. It hurt him knowing that his parents disagreed to him wanting to pursue a career as an Adept. Although it was a job that was largely elevated in society, to be successful in it, it took a lot of skill, good fortune and talent. There were many people trying to be top Adepts so it was a career path that had become congested. There were so many Adepts around now.

But Yoongi still wanted to make this a reality. He wanted to walk down this path. He enjoyed magic, creating and experimenting. He relished the joy of building something and empowering magic.

Yoongi turned to the young man.

"I know that no one believes I can, but I want to prove them wrong. I want to pursue this to fruition."

The young man laughed and hit Yoongi on the arm.

"So what, I'm no one now?"

The young man placed his hand on Yoongi's shoulder.

"Regardless of what they say, or what anyone says. I believe you can do it. I know how much of a fighter you are, you won't give in so easily. You will keep pushing and fighting until you make it. You will always have my support. I have your back, little brother."

Yoongi stared at his older brother.

"Junki hyungnim..."

Present Day.

Yoongi yelled as the flames rose up around him. Ikje was in shock as he just seemed to refuse to go down. He shouldn't be able to do anything in his sphere of pressure, yet Yoongi continued to fight and chant. The blue fire coalesced together and created what looked like a giant claw. With one more yell, the claw was sent flying towards Ikje.

Ikje knew he wouldn't be able to take it on head to head so he created a force on the side that deflected the claw, slamming into the claw forcing it to lean to the side, missing Ikje. The claw flew past him and collided with a tree, exploding and setting it ablaze. The staff moved into contain the fire.

Ikje stared at the fire, knowing full well that he could've been seriously injured if that had hit him. He turned to see Yoongi drained and swaying before collapsing and passing out. He was about to run over and check on him but he fell to his knee, he was also drained. That last attack to redirect the claw and the sphere around Yoongi had taken a lot of energy out of Ikje.

"As he is still conscious, victory goes to Ikje."

Everyone went silent. That last attack was a complete shock. No one had expected such a powerful surge of energy.

Hitman Bang, Hun-cheol and Namjoon came over. Hun-cheol and Namjoon went to check on Ikje as Hitman Bang went to check on Yoongi.

"Hyung are you OK?"

Ikje was breathing heavily as Hun-cheol and Namjoon helped him up.

"I'm OK. Just exhausted. That kid really knows how to pack a punch. I wasn't entirely sure that I would beat him."

"That would be an accurate assumption. You couldn't exactly call that a clean victory."

They turned to see Hitman Bang walking towards them. Hun-cheol looked at him confused.

"What do you mean Pd-nim? Hyung is still standing while he isn't. That shows that it was clear that he won."

Hitman Bang laughed and shook his head.

"You still have a lot to learn. Magic-Channelling is brought about through the combination of the Word's you have empowered and ready, and then fused with the Energy Flux. While it is clear that Ikje is more prepared and has a deeper understanding in terms of Word Smithing, Yoongi over there had a firmer grasp on the Energy Flux. He was able to manipulate and control it to allow a stronger force behind his attacks. If he had more experience and came in as prepared as you were, would you still have won?"

Hun-cheol was about to defend his friend but Ikje put his hand on Hun-cheol's shoulder to stop him.

"It's true. His ability to use and control his power was crazy. He has a powerful understanding of the Energy Flux. In that aspect, he has me beat."

Hun-cheol and Namjoon were shocked to hear that and couldn't help but stare at Yoongi who was currently being carried off by the staff. Hitman Bang smiled.

"Use this opportunity to learn and grow stronger. You won so we will be expecting a lot from you. Welcome to Big Hit Academy."

Hitman Bang stretched out his hand. Ikje smiled and shook it and gave a small bow.

"Thank you Senior."

Hitman Bang nodded and walked over to some of the staff.

"Take them back to my office; I have a few errands to handle. I'll be there shortly."

The staff nodded and took the three boys away. Hun-cheol and Namjoon were both supporting Ikje on either side.

"You OK hyung?"

"Yeah. That kid was truly something else. C'mon, let's get moving."

Over in the recovery tent, Yoongi slowly opened his eyes as he woke up.

"How're you feeling?"

Yoongi looked over to where the voice had come from. He saw that Hitman Bang himself was sitting next to his bed. Shocked he tried to sit up to properly greet him.

"No need, stay down. Just tell me how you feel."

Yoongi stayed lying down but couldn't stop from freaking out. He had joined this competition because he had seen Hitman Bangs name on the poster, so seeing him here now was a little overwhelming.

"I'm a little tired from..."

Then he remembered the competition. He remembered how Ikje had deflected his attack and that he had lost all his strength after that. He must've lost.

This hit him hard. Hitman Bang saw that Yoongi had gone silent and knew that he must have recollected what had happened.

"You shouldn't feel bad. You gave a brilliant display of power and control. Not many people can reach the level you displayed, especially at your age."

"I still lost though."

Yoongi lay back disappointed in himself. He gave his all and still lost. It was a huge blow to his self esteem. Hitman Bang smiled.

"I actually wanted to talk to you about that. While it is true that you lost, so Ikje will join the group that I'm training. But that doesn't mean you can't enter the Academy as well."

Yoongi looked up in shock. He had accepted his loss and assumed that meant he would have to go back and try again somewhere else, but Hitman Bang surprised him.

"What do you mean?"

Hitman Bang laughed as he leaned forward.

"You said you were a Power Designer, correct?"