iv

"Namjoon dear, can you please bring me my spell book from the top shelf?"

Namjoon has spent nearly the entire day with the old woman learning new things and helping around wherever he can. He grabbed the book he was asked to bring and set it down on the table in front of the woman.

"Halmoni," He started with a weary eye on the book, "you aren't going to try and teach me a spell are you?"

She smiled at the man in front of her and laughed, "No sweetheart, I have to cast a spell and create a few potions for tonight."

A puzzled look displayed on the man's face, "What's so special about tonight?"

"Why we hold a night of festivities the day the princes visit the townspeople!" Halmoni says with a bright smile as she opens the spell book.

Namjoon had never heard of anything like this. In Veda, the royal family almost never walked outside the palace walls. They would send servants or noblemen out into the town for anything or anyone they need.

Halmoni grabbed a few ingredients from her cabinets, setting them all on the table, and started getting to work.

She let Namjoon help her with the potions, guiding him step by step making sure he understood what he was doing and why he was doing it.

"Now this next potion is quite strong in that it will hurt you if you are not careful." She said carefully as she handed him another bottle.

"The first ingredient is dried pig's heart," Namjoon looked at the woman with shock as she handed him the ingredient, "This is one of the two main ingredients that helps bind everything together."

As they continued, Namjoon couldn't help but wonder what potion they were making. "The last ingredient, Joonie, is the tears of a fairy."

The man held the tiny vile of tears with a sad look on his face. The tears reminded him of his brother's the day they found their parents.

"Are you okay, love?"

Namjoon snapped out of his thoughts and flashed a small smile, "Uhm, yes I am."

He added the last ingredient and waited for further instruction.

"You haven't even asked what type of potion we are making," The woman said as she read the spell book, "Aren't you curious, Joonie?"

Namjoon nodded shyly as he stared at the bottle in his hand, "Is this a good or bad potion, halmoni?"

"Depends on the context of use."

The woman grabs the bottle before blowing over it, engulfing it in a cloud of green smoke that soon turns black. As the smoke clears the contents of the bottle are now a black liquid.

"It's a spell breaking potion," she said as she set it back on the table, "It can undo or break any spell put on a person."

"That's really handy if you are casted a spell that hurts you." Namjoon said as he mimics the woman's action to create the potion, "Why would it be bad though?"

"Well once someone drinks it, it removes the spell but it also has the risk of never being able to cast that same spell on that person again."

"Let's say someone wants a soulmate spell broken, they risk losing the ability to cast that spell on that person again."

Namjoon nodded in understanding as he cleaned up the table, "So there is a good and bad side to everything."

"Precisely, my dear."

Minki sat next to Jimin and Jungkook, braiding flowers into a little girl's hair.

"Prince Minki," the little girl called out.

"Yes, Chaeyoung?" Minki hummed as he continued braiding, "Have you ever been in love?"

The question caught the man off guard as a deep blush and small smile formed on his face.

"I have been in love," Minki responds softly, "Why do you ask, love?"

"I just want to know what it feels like and how you know you're in love." Chaeyoung says quietly.

"Well, when you feel content being in the other person's presence and feel safety in their arms, then that is a great way to tell."

Chaeyoung looked at Minki's love struck face and hugged him tightly, "I hope one day I will find my love."

"You will and I will be there at your wedding!" Minki smiled and hugged the small girl just as tight.

The girl waved goodbye to the princes and ran off to join the other kids playing in the field.

"You've been in love?"

Minki turned to look at Jungkook who's face was unreadable, "Uhm, yeah i have."

Jungkook's expression faltered for a moment and before Minki could ask they were interrupted.

"It looks like Yoongi hyung's halmoni is finally here!" Jimin exclaimed clapping his hands together as he got up to greet the woman.

"Halmoni!"

Jimin ran up and bowed to the woman before hugging her tightly.

"Ah Prince Jimin! It's wonderful to see you and Minki." she said joyfully, "You haven't by any chance seen my grandsons have you? They were supposed to help my set up for tonight's surprise!"

"Yoongi hyung is around here somewhere and Soobin is at the bakery with his friends," Jimin replies before noticing a unfamiliar person standing next to the old woman, "I don't believe we've met, I'm Prince Park Jimin and this is Prince Park Minki and our Guard Jeon Jungkook."

Namjoon reaches his hand out to shake Jimin's, "I'm halmoni's apprentice, Kim Namjoon." The prince smiled a wide eye smile at the tall man and was returned with a dimpled smile.

"Now that we've all gotten acquainted, Namjoon is going to help me set up for tonight." the woman announced before dragging said man away towards the small stage in the middle of the square.

The rest of the day went by quickly and it was full of fun activities and laughter from everyone around. Soon enough it was nightfall and everyone gathered around the stage waiting for the surprise.

"Good evening everyone! I know we've all had a grand time today and we are saddened that the night is coming to a close," halmoni said with a slight pout, "But! i have one more thing for everyone that i think will be a perfect end to the night."

She takes in a deep breath and lifts her hand to the sky, a spew of blue wisps fly into the night sky and, like fireworks, explode into snow.

Everyone's eyes lit up at the sight of snow falling around them. Cheers erupted from the crowd as children ran around catching snowflakes.

With a smile on her face, halmoni sits down next to her grandson, "You outdid yourself this time."

She smiled at Yoongi showing her gums, "Next year Namjoon is doing it."

Yoongi looked at her in shock, "You're already putting that much faith into him?" She nodded and looked over at Namjoon.

He stood next to Yeonjun as they looked at the snow falling. Blissful smiles plastered across their faces.

"He is powerful, I know he is. He just needs time to learn."