PROLOGUE
PROLOGUE
I'm Elias Stefano, a 26-year-old Auror deeply embedded in the wizarding world. For the last eight years, I've worked as an Auror at the Ministry of Magic, navigating through tough challenges on my way to the top ranks.
Today, I faced a fierce fight that took my left eye. The battle was brutal, leaving me with a throbbing head and blood dripping down my face. My body ached, and my right arm was injured. This struggle was unlike any I've endured in my eight years, presenting new challenges.
As I looked upon the lifeless bodies of ten comrades—peers of my age, including my closest friend—It dawned on me that I was among just five people who made it through this terrible experience.
A bitter lament echoed within me.
Should I just quit this job?
Choosing to persist feels like willingly embracing death.
"Good work, Mister Stefano," Frederick Harrison approached, flanked by medics hastening to my side.
They tended to my eye and began the healing process, casting spells that stemmed the flow of blood and alleviated pain with a gentle green glow emanating from the tips of their wands.
"Captain Harrison," I murmured weakly, too fatigued to muster enthusiasm.
"You've accomplished enough," Frederick reassured, placing a hand on my shoulder. However, his attempt at motivation faltered in the wake of my deadened gaze, fixated on the shrouded body of my best friend.
"This was a situation we shouldn't be dealing with," Frederick muttered, his gaze shifting to the dark wizard responsible for the carnage. We had managed to subdue him with a magical rope, an endeavor that consumed considerable time but ultimately succeeded.
The dark wizard's demeanor shifted—tired, subdued, and silent, bound by the enchanted rope that secured his head, body, limbs, and extremities. He remained under vigilant watch by the other witches and wizards under Frederick Harrison's command.
Looking up at Harrison, I inquired, "I'm sorry, but... what do you mean by 'situation we shouldn't be dealing with'" My tone betrayed a mixture of confusion and exhaustion.
Frederick's hand casually delved into the depths of his coat pockets, retrieving a cigarette that soon found itself ignited by the dancing flame of his lighter. As wisps of smoke curled around him, he casually remarked, "Well, this predicament falls in the hands of Choi, not ours." His words hung in the air, punctuated by the exhale of smoke from his now-lit cigarette.
"In the hands of Choi?" I queried, my voice tinged with uncertainty.
The captain remained stoic, merely expelling another plume of smoke.
In the ensuing silence, the slumbering dark wizard stirred, awakening with a menacing growl that reverberated through the air. The once placid scene transformed into a tableau of chaos as the wizard, now akin to a creature possessed, thrashed and contorted in a desperate bid for freedom.
The onlooking wizards and witches, initially calm, were now gripped by a mixture of horror and fear, witnessing the manifestation of a dark power that seemed to have transformed the wizard into a feral entity, complete with razor-sharp teeth reminiscent of a lion's menacing grin.
I stood up and gently brushed away the medics out of my way as my eyes fixated on the dark wizard and my hands clenched at my wand, “Cap-Captain! We should—”
“Yo~ Am I late?”
I shifted my gaze to the sudden interruption, my eyes locking on a man who appeared to be around my age. His raven-black hair framed his face, and his eyes captivated me with their peculiar uniqueness—blue as a cloudless sky, yet sparkling like precious jewels. It was a sight unlike anything I'd ever witnessed. I couldn't deny the undeniable charm; he could easily grace the pages of magazines. Yet, there he stood, casually holding a cup of coffee and a bag of bread.
"Captain Choi, pleased to make your acquaintance," Frederick greeted with a respectful bow. However, the man, seemingly unimpressed, rolled his eyes and contorted his face in a blend of disgust and offense. "Gods, cut that out. It's rather annoying..."
So, this was Choi—a Choi problem?
My gaze shifted between the animated conversation of Captain Frederick and this enigmatic Captain Choi, all while the dark wizard wreaked havoc nearby. A cacophony of chaos surrounded us, yet they engaged in casual banter. Did they not care about the fallen witches and wizards, victims of the rampaging dark wizard growling like a wild beast?
"You!" I spat, my anger boiling over as I directed my wand at the supposed Captain Choi. "I don't know who you are, but is this your doing? Your problem?" My voice dripped with accusation. "You were late. Very late."
Frederick, visibly alarmed, shot me a panicked look. His cigarette tumbled from his mouth to the ground. "Hey kid, watch your tone. Don't spe—"
"Because of you, many lives were lost! And here you are, casually strolling with coffee and bread?" I accused, closing the distance between us. Frederick intervened, placing a restraining hand on my shoulder, but the elusive Captain Choi met my ire with an inscrutable gaze, even allowing a momentary chuckle.
"My fault? Nah, it's on them," he declared, taking a sip of his coffee before dropping a bombshell. "Their fault for being so weak and not surviving."
Shock reverberated through me at his callous words. Abandoning my wand, I advanced toward him, seizing his coat collar and giving him a vigorous shake. "You better take back what you just said about them being weak," I spat, locking eyes with his piercing sapphire gaze. "They fought against that dark wizard with everything they had, while you—stayed useless."
Frederick swiftly intervened, gripping my shoulder and yanking me away from the man. Despite my fervent actions and words, Captain Choi maintained a stoic silence, his penetrating gaze fixed on me as if dissecting my very essence—or perhaps passing judgment.
"What the hell are you doing, kid? You're going to get yourself in trouble!" Frederick hissed, his voice low yet sharp and annoyed. "Trouble? Is it because he's the captain and I'm just a nobody in the Auror rank?" I retorted, spitting out my words defiantly.
Before Frederick could respond, the dark wizard unleashed a chilling scream, "I'M GOING TO KILL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WHEN I BREAK FREE OF THIS SPELL. I'LL KILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES ONE BY ONE!" His venomous words hung in the air, sending shivers down the spines of wizards and witches alike, their wands trembling as they maintained a cautious distance.
"Whew," Captain Choi sighed, glancing at the spilled coffee and scattered bread on the ground. He muttered under his breath, "I brought those breads for my girlfriends..." With a pout, he smirked at me. "You owe me bread after this, you know."
“What…?”
And then, he nonchalantly shed his coat, revealing a uniform that diverged completely from the typical dark monochrome attire worn by Aurors. His ensemble gleamed with shades of white, gold, and even a touch of blue. Who on earth was this man?
"Let's get this over with," he declared, adjusting his blue necktie as he approached the rampaging dark wizard without a hint of fear or anxiety.
The dark wizard, jaw frothing like a rabid dog, fixated on him with sharp teeth and crimson eyes. "You—you're a Choi," he snarled, a manic smile breaking across his face. "I fucking hate Chois."
"The feeling's mutual," Captain Choi replied casually, rolling up his sleeves. He positioned himself in front of the dark wizard, dangerously close, yet exuding an air of confidence that seemed to reassure the surrounding wizards. Oddly, he made no move to draw a wand.
Is Captain Choi exceptionally powerful?
"When I'm free from this spell, I'm going to—"
"Yeah, blah blah, kill my loved ones and—" Captain Choi interrupted, extending his arm, palm hovering over the dark wizard's face. A smirk played on his lips as he uttered, "Goodbye."
What transpired next was surreal—the dark wizard's body seemed to be drained, growing paler and thinner, while his mouth expanded. Captain Choi, with his hand over the dark wizard's mouth, appeared to be extracting something, all without the use of a wand or spoken incantations. The spectacle left me bewildered—
How was he performing such feats without traditional regular magic?
In the wizarding world, wielding wands to cast spells is a common sight among wizards and witches in the world of magic, casting spells typically involves wizards and witches using their wands. Having been a student at the prestigious Arcanum Academy of Mystical Arts, where conventional spells and nonverbal incantations were the standard, I never came across THAT. Even within the forbidden realm of dark magic, extensively covered in the school's dark magic tomes, there was no mention of such extraordinary technique.
Shortly thereafter, the once menacing dark wizard lay motionless on the ground, an empty vessel controlled by an unseen force. His lifeless state betrayed the fact that he had become a mere puppet.
My attention was drawn to Choi, whose hand clasped a dark, reddish orb with a mysterious, swirling magic inside. It was as if he held the very essence of the dark wizard's control.
Choi, seemingly aware of my intense scrutiny, called out, "Hey, new guy! If you're eager to understand why I'm a big deal and superior to others, consider this your answer."
Intrigued, I raised an eyebrow as he consumed the orb, swallowing it down. He had ingested something, something from within the dark wizard.
Should I be alarmed?What the fuck just happened?
Yet, observing the other witches and wizards, there was no panic; instead, their heads were lowered in a show of respect, and even Frederick bowed his head.
The question lingered:
Who is this Choi?
After downing the orb, Choi couldn't hide his distaste. "Swallowing their magic, ugh. Tastes like crap..."
The remaining magical folk gazed at Choi with a mix of admiration and awe, like he was some wizarding rockstar. It made sense; the guy was good-looking enough to have a horde of fangirls, maybe even some fanboys. Frederick, attempting to express gratitude, approached the dark-haired wizard with a relieved smile. "I am honored to be in your presence, Captain Choi. Thank y—"
Choi rolled his eyes and scratched the back of his hair irritably. "Cut that shit, Fred. That's annoying. Are you stuck in the '90s or something?"
Frederick bit his lip in embarrassment, a sight I never thought I'd witness from the usually composed Captain Frederick Harrison. It seemed Choi had a unique effect on him.
The dark-haired wizard shifted his attention to me. "The bread." His tone was demanding, but I shot him a dirty look. "Buy your own. You're not that big of a deal anyway."
The gathered witches, wizards, and even Captain Frederick stared at me in disbelief. I didn't care. Choi might be their beloved captain, but being late and disrespecting those who fought the dark wizard, including my fallen friend, was unforgivable.
I'd never forgive him.
But Choi just laughed, "I like you. Let's hang out after this."
What?
Did he just... want to hang out?
"What the hell?" I muttered under my breath. I had openly expressed my hatred and disgust towards him, yet he somehow interpreted it as a desire for friendship. This guy was seriously messed up.
Choi casually grabbed his wand, stating, "We're not done here yet."
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA”
Soon after, a bone-chilling scream echoed through the air, and a monstrous beast erupted from the ground, cracking the earth just a short distance away. This creature was no ordinary magical beast—it resembled more of a demon, a curse. Its shrieks were piercing, akin to a little girl's scream that could make your ears bleed.
Captain Choi issued commands as he calmly advanced toward the menacing beast in our midst. "Fred, evacuate the casualties."
Frederick promptly responded with a sharp salute and a crisp "Yes, Captain, sir," before organizing the witches and wizards under his command to assist with the wounded. I lay there, bewildered and in shock, trying to comprehend the surreal scene unfolding before me. I wasn't alone; the astonishment was shared by a few others, newcomers to this chaotic reality, much like myself.
It dawned on me that this day marked the revelation that Choi was no ordinary wizard, not like me or the others in the Wizarding World. He was extraordinary.
Seemingly the chosen one.
The honored one.