Zazm leaned forward, resting one elbow on the edge of the grand table as the violet and black lights flickered beneath his palm. "Alright," he began, voice calm yet commanding, "I've already broken this down for the others, but since Jennie's new here, let's go through it once more."
He turned his head toward her, his silver earring glinting in the faint light. "There are currently two more Catalysts located in Korea and one in Japan. For now, our focus is on the two in Korea."
Jennie nodded, taking in every word seriously. But before Zazm could continue, Caspian raised his hand like a bored student. "Okay but real question—why do *you* always go alone? Why not take us along for the ride?"
Zazm's lips twitched into a dry smirk. "Because it's nearly impossible to make a portal that teleports everyone *accurately*."
Caspian raised a brow. "Define 'accurately.'"
Zazm stood from his throne, brushing his coat back with a flick. "It means... if I screw up by even a margin while calculating the threads and spatial density—your body might end up in Seoul, but your *head* might still be sitting here at the table."
Caspian immediately sat upright, face pale. "Okay, noted. No field trips."
Jahanox interjected, arms crossed, "Then how did you manage to bring Jennie here safely? Or make those stones?"
There was a short pause as Zazm's smirk faded. "When I was in Sweden," he said, "I overexerted myself. Pushed past my limits. And in that process… something changed. My powers evolved."
Jennie tilted her head. "Evolved how?"
Zazm's fingers twirled a thin strand of glowing thread in the air. "Before, I could only see the threads that connect everything on an atomic level. But now… I can see them down to the *quantum* level."
She blinked, clearly unfamiliar. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Zazm said, voice low, "that I can now see beyond predictable science. The quantum realm is a space where the laws of physics collapse—nothing is set. Everything is unstable, unpredictable... yet manipulable. And that's how I made the stones."
A silence fell over the room as the weight of his words settled in.
Kiyomasa, finally breaking the tension, sat up. "So… why are we gathered here today?"
Zazm leaned back on his throne, his black hair falling across his face, brushing over the earring he wore like a badge of evolution. "It's about the new Catalysts," he said. "We need to approach them—understand who they are, what they want, and whether they'll walk this path with us or choose a quiet life."
Before he could go further, Caspian sprang up. "I call dibs on going this time!"
"No," Jahanox said bluntly. "You and Kiyomasa still haven't fully mastered fire and water elements. You're staying here."
Caspian dramatically collapsed back into his throne with a groan. "Training is pain…"
Zazm ignored him and looked directly at Jennie. "You'll be going with me."
Jennie blinked in surprise. "Me? Why?"
Zazm smiled, the kind of smile that hid deeper meaning. "Because your powers—illusion and invisibility—can be extremely useful. You can help us understand what these new Catalysts want… and whether they belong with us."
Jennie watched Zazm thoughtfully after he'd finished explaining the plan. The room had quieted down, with Kiyomasa off in his own little world and Caspian dramatically draped over his throne like a defeated actor.
She still couldn't believe how much had changed so fast. From being a quiet assistant in an artist's studio to standing in an ancient throne hall with otherworldly power humming in her necklace—it was surreal.
Her fingers subconsciously touched the necklace, its soft glow still pulsing gently with Zazm's threads.
"I'll have to inform the studio about my leave for work," she finally said, her tone polite but firm. "How about you pick me up after that, and then we go?"
Zazm nodded, his earring catching the dim light. "That works fine. I'll meet you tomorrow then."
Just as he turned to leave through the fading purple hue of his own portal, Jennie raised a hand, hesitating. "Wait—how do I even go home?"
Zazm smirked, pointing at the pendant around her neck. "Just hold it and think of going home. I already connected everyone's houses to it—you're welcome. It'll teleport you right there."
Jennie lit up, eyes wide. "That's… amazing. Thank you!"
And with a glimmer of excitement and a flash of light, she vanished.
---
The next morning, Zazm adjusted the collar of his jacket as he stepped through a thin portal and emerged right under the same flickering streetlamp where he and Jennie first met.
This time, though, she was already there—wearing a soft pastel dress paired with a denim jacket, her hair braided to one side. She looked radiant, and Zazm gave a playful whistle.
"Wow. You're gonna make me look like your bodyguard or something."
Jennie laughed shyly. "You always dress cool, so I thought I'd try too."
Zazm tilted his head. "You succeeded. Let's roll."
They walked down a narrow alley until they reached a hidden clearing between buildings. Zazm traced a circle in the air, and a portal shimmered to life. They stepped through—and just like that, the familiar city faded into the quiet back alleys of Seoul.
The sound of distant traffic, the scent of street food, and the muted chatter of the city filled the air. Seoul was vibrant even from the shadows of its quieter streets. Tall buildings towered in the distance, but here, it was all brick walls, clotheslines, and the occasional stray cat.
"This place has character," Zazm said, stretching. "I like it."
Jennie adjusted her bag and looked around. "So where exactly are the other Catalysts?"
Zazm pointed toward a tall building in the near distance, just past a row of shops and a park. "The threads are coming from that high school. It's got some weird activity going on."
They reached the school gates—only to find them locked shut.
"Of course," Zazm muttered. "Why would fate ever let me be punctual for once?"
Jennie tilted her head. "It's Saturday. Schools are closed, Zazm."
He looked genuinely offended. "What kind of school doesn't open on a weekend to greet a space-time warping visitor? Unbelievable."
Jennie giggled, then grinned. "Since it's closed… why don't we have some fun until it opens?"
Zazm blinked, then broke into a wide grin. "You said the magic words."
---
The next few hours were a chaotic blend of Zazm dragging Jennie into every nearby store, from claw machine arcades where he claimed he had a secret "cheat method" (he did not) to a cat café where he tried to communicate with a sleeping tabby by claiming, "I too am a mysterious predator of the shadows."
Jennie had to physically pull him away after he tried to name all the cats after everyone back at the castle—he named the laziest one Caspian and got scratched for it.
They stopped at a food cart, where Zazm insisted on ordering **tteokbokki** spicy enough to "melt his powers down to atoms." Jennie, teary-eyed and red from the spice, still managed to smile through it.
"You said this wasn't that spicy!" she coughed.
Zazm, sniffling and sweating, grinned. "That's what I wanted to believe too."
They strolled through a market after that, Jennie stopping to admire handmade jewelry while Zazm got distracted by a kid selling toy swords. He bought one, waved it around like a knight, and told Jennie someone likes him deserves a cool weapon.
He was playing with a sword before he nearly hit a grandma passing by with it.
The grandma scolded him for almost knocking over her vegetable cart. Jennie immediately bowed and apologized profusely while Zazm hid behind her like a scolded child.
Eventually, they found themselves back near the school. The sun had shifted slightly, and the shadows had begun to stretch. Zazm's eyes flickered as he looked toward the building again.
"The threads are moving," he said quietly. "Looks like someone's inside now."
Jennie nodded, her playful demeanor shifting to something more focused.
Zazm tossed his toy sword into a trash can, cracked his knuckles, and said, "Alright, break time's over. Let's go see what kind of people we're dealing with."
"Let's hope they're friendly," Jennie added with a soft smile.
Zazm grinned as he led the way. "And if not—well, I brought Seoul's greatest warrior."
Jennie laughed. "You?"
"No," Zazm said, pointing at her necklace. "That thing is way more responsible than me."
---
As the sun dipped slightly lower over the horizon, the streets of Seoul bustled with their usual rhythm—vendors calling out, students in uniforms laughing, bikes zipping through narrow alleys. Zazm and Jennie stood across the street from the high school, backs leaned casually against a food stand, sipping boba tea.
Zazm squinted up at the towering school building. "So the threads are definitely coming from here," he murmured, eyes scanning faint glowing trails only he could see. "Two of them. Strong, but unrefined. Kinda like fireworks in a box."
Jennie, adjusting the strap of her bag, smiled. "You mean unpredictable?"
Zazm took another long sip. "Exactly. One feels like it's vibrating like crazy—chaotic. The other's steady, almost rigid. It's kinda cute."
Jennie glanced at the school gate, which still hadn't opened. "Still locked. What now?"
Zazm turned toward her with a mischievous glint. "We stalk."
Jennie blinked. "Zazm!"
"I mean observe," he said with mock innocence, putting on a pair of shades. "In my defense, I'm very good at stealth missions. Legendary even."
"You nearly knocked over a whole ice cream cart by accident," Jennie deadpanned.
"That was… strategically clumsy."
Jennie giggled softly, then slowly faded into complete invisibility. "Let's keep our identities hidden for now," she whispered beside him.
Zazm nodded approvingly. "Now we're talking."
They circled around, eventually finding a narrow alley beside the school's sports field. It gave them a view through the chain-link fence, where a few students were still hanging out, despite the school being closed for general access.
Zazm activated a small thread on his fingertip, letting it drift in the air like smoke. "Let's see which one of you little anomalies sets this thing off…"
As they waited, a sudden loud BANG erupted behind them—followed by a splatter of paint exploding against the wall beside Zazm's head. Purple. Glittery. Smelled vaguely of strawberries.
"What the—?!" Zazm ducked instinctively, blinking at the wall.
Jennie gasped, looking around. "Where did that come from?!"
Just then, a light giggle echoed down the alley. Not shy. Not scared. Playful.
Zazm turned fast—but saw no one.
"I swear, if I just got paint-pranked by a Catalyst..."
Another giggle came from above. Zazm and Jennie both looked up, but saw only an empty fire escape.
Jennie turned to Zazm. "Want me to go invisible and scout?"
Zazm shook his head. "Go invisible but make sure to not make anyone suspect a thing, we don't know if we have the right people or not."
Jennie vanished in a shimmer of air. A moment later, Zazm heard footsteps coming his way.
Out from behind the dumpsters skipped a girl in a slightly oversized hoodie with wild, playful eyes and shiny black hair tied in chaotic buns. Her grin was sharp—like she knew she was being watched, and loved it.
Zazm blinked, pretending not to know anything. "You lost, kid?"
"Nope," she said, rocking on her heels. "You're standing in my prank zone."
"Oh really? And what's the entry fee?"
She held up a glitter bomb. "Your pride."
Before he could reply, a calm, irritated voice rang out from behind her. "Myeong-hwa. What did we talk about?"
A tall boy appeared, carrying two bags of groceries and a face full of regret. He had light brown hair that barely covered his forehead. He wore a light blue jacket with a pant.
He looked like he'd aged ten years in the past five minutes. His eyes locked onto Zazm like he was analyzing a threat.
"I'm sorry about her. Please tell me you didn't inhale any of the glitter. It's not toxic, but it's super annoying to clean off."
Zazm raised a brow. "This your sidekick?"
The boy sighed. "No. I'm her sidekick, apparently."
Myeong-hwa grinned and leaned against him, poking his cheek. "Don't let Min-Seok lie. He's my responsible little guardian angel."
Jennie's voice whispered in Zazm's ear, still invisible. "They're both glowing with threads. These are the ones."
Zazm stayed casual, suppressing his surprise. "You two from around here?"
Myeong-hwa shrugged. "Born and raised. Why?"
"No reason," Zazm said, smirking slightly. "Just tourists. Passing through."
Min-Seok stared at him, clearly suspicious. "Tourists who hang out in school alleys during break?"
Jennie suddenly reappeared beside Zazm with a wave, startling Myeong-hwa. "Hi!"
Aaah! She just popped outta nowhere!"
Jennie laughed nervously. "Sorry! I'm Jennie."
"Cool entrance," Myeong-hwa said, narrowing her eyes. "You a magician?"
"Something like that."
Min-Seok frowned. "What's really going on here?"
Zazm met his eyes, serious now. "You'll find out. Soon. But right now, we're just here to observe. Promise."
The boy didn't look satisfied, but said nothing more. Myeong-hwa, however, was already smiling at Jennie like they'd been best friends for years.
"You seem fun. You wanna see my fun stash?"
Jennie's eyes widened. "You have a stash?"
"Do I! Come on! I'll show you!"
Min-Seok groaned. "And there she goes."
Zazm chuckled, watching the two girls run off like chaos and calm entwined. He turned to Min-Seok.
"She always like that?"
Min-Seok exhaled through his nose. "Every day of my life."
"Good luck," Zazm said, clapping him on the back.
"Thanks," Min-Seok muttered. "I'm gonna need it."
---
The crowded streets of Seoul buzzed with life as Zazm and Jennie sat at a small corner café across from the school.
Jennie stirred her drink slowly, her eyes watching the entrance gates while Zazm leaned back, pretending to scroll through his phone but subtly scanning the threads in the air.
There were definitely two distinct ones—one calm and grounded, the other jittery and dancing erratically like a firefly on caffeine.
"That second one's got chaos written all over it," Zazm muttered, eyes narrowing slightly.
Jennie chuckled. "Or maybe just a lot of sugar."
Before Zazm could reply, his attention snapped to the gate. A girl with bright eyes and a wild, short bob of black hair strutted out laughing loudly—playful, energetic, practically bouncing. A boy followed closely behind, holding her backpack like a tired older brother, a permanent frown etched on his face.
There," Zazm whispered, and Jennie glanced up. Her smile faded.
"She saw us," Jennie muttered.
"I know."
Before they could move, Myeong-hwa darted away, her movements far too calculated to be random. Min-Seok's eyes locked onto Zazm and Jennie's table before following her, but slower, cautious.
"I don't think this will be easy," Jennie said quietly.
Zazm grinned. "Wasn't expecting it to be."
"These two are sly and clever," Jennie spoke as she still cautiously looked around while Zazm just sat there with a grin.
---
Zazm and Jennie were walking through the bustling streets of Seoul, the city lights dancing across their faces as the neon buzz of life wrapped around them.
Food stalls lined the sidewalks, the smell of tteokbokki and grilled meat drifting past them as people chatted, laughed, and moved along the energetic current of the evening.
Jennie glanced sideways, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "So… what's the plan?"
Zazm blinked, then tilted his head slightly, genuinely confused. "Plan?"
She smiled knowingly. "You know… the plan. You must've thought something through. I mean, back when you approached me, everything was just… perfectly calculated. Like, it didn't even feel like I had a choice."
Zazm's smirk flickered across his face. "Yeah… that was a good plan, huh?"
Jennie raised a brow, waiting.
But Zazm just exhaled, looking ahead. "Thing is… for them?" He shrugged. "I really have no idea right now."
Jennie slowed her steps. "Wait, seriously?"
"Yeah." He chuckled, a bit sheepishly. "Can't exactly do anything reckless either. These two are way more cautious. Especially the guy."
Jennie gave him a look. "And here I thought you had backup schemes for your backup plans."
"I do!" Zazm defended quickly, then added, "But not for chaos incarnate and a human firewall. That's a whole new combo."
Jennie laughed lightly. "You mean Myeong-hwa and Min-Seok?"
Zazm gave a dramatic sigh as he looked around the city. "And there aren't even any cool lamps here. How am I supposed to look mysterious and awesome if I can't dramatically stand under a streetlamp?"
Jennie snorted, rolling her eyes. "You're unbelievable."
"Unbelievably stylish when properly lit," he corrected, hands in pockets, kicking a small pebble down the street.
They walked in silence for a moment before Jennie said, "So… no baiting, no illusions, no fake scenarios this time?"
"Not yet," Zazm muttered. "I need to understand them more first. Min-Seok especially… he's not the type to just follow someone. He's calculating everything we say. And Myeong-hwa?"
"She's too slippery," Jennie said, already catching on. "Seems carefree, but she's always ten steps ahead."
Zazm nodded. "Exactly. If I come at them directly, they'll slip again. Especially her. She'll just laugh and disappear."
Jennie smiled, eyes twinkling. "So… what now?"
Zazm stopped walking, staring across the street at a tall glass building with a rooftop café.
"Now," he said slowly, "we improvise. But first—coffee."
Jennie tilted her head. "Seriously?"
"I think better when I'm caffeinated," he replied smoothly, already crossing the street. "And hey, maybe our mysterious duo will show up again."
Jennie watched him go, then sighed with a fond smile and followed. "You're just hoping they're nearby so you can 'accidentally' run into them."
Zazm grinned back. "Exactly. Nothing says 'we're not stalking you' like bumping into someone at a rooftop café."
Just as Zazm and Jennie opened the café door, a gust of warm, roasted coffee air welcomed them—along with a familiar, mischievous voice.
"Well, if it isn't the weird tourists from earlier," Myeong-hwa said brightly, waving at them from a table near the window. She was mid-sip on something iced and overly colorful, her playful smirk practically glowing.
Zazm didn't miss a beat, pointing a finger at her dramatically. "It's not polite to call guests weird, you know."
Min-Seok, standing beside her, raised a brow in clear suspicion. "Guests? What do you mean by that?"
Zazm shrugged, hands in his pockets, completely at ease. "Well, we are in your country, aren't we? That makes us your guests by default."
Jennie blinked. Her eyes darted from Zazm to the two other Catalysts as she thought to herself, 'He's not even flinching. Not once. He's not falling for their jabs, and he's not giving them anything to work with. He's far more cunning than I thought…'
Myeong-hwa leaned forward on her elbows, her voice laced with challenge. "Then what kind of guests go snooping around school alleys?"
Zazm sighed, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish smile. "Fair point. That was on us. Tell you what, to make it up to you…" He pointed to the counter. "Let me treat you both. Whatever you want."
Min-Seok instantly stepped forward, hand on Myeong-hwa's shoulder. "There's no need—"
"It'll cost you," Myeong-hwa chimed in with a dazzling grin, completely ignoring him.
Zazm smirked. "Treat yourself. I'm buying."
Min-Seok looked like he wanted to say literally anything else, but Myeong-hwa was already halfway across the café, sliding into a booth with her chin in her hands. He turned to glare at Zazm—but Zazm just smiled, eyes half-lidded with amusement and not even the faintest trace of guilt.
Jennie leaned in beside him, eyes narrowed with a knowing smirk. "You planned this all along, didn't you?"
Zazm glanced at her, chuckling under his breath. "Nope. Just going with the flow."
"Uh-huh." Jennie rolled her eyes with mock disbelief. "Sure you are."
She turned to follow Myeong-hwa to the table when Zazm quickly stopped her.
Jennie leaned back toward him, confused. "What? What's wrong?"
Zazm whispered gravely, "The problem is… I've had way too much food today. I can't drink more coffee."
Jennie blinked. "Okay? So?"
He snapped his fingers dramatically. "Which means you, Jennie, are the lucky one. You get two drinks."
Her eyes widened in betrayal. "No way. I have no wish to be this so-called lucky one."
But Zazm had already slipped into the booth beside Myeong-hwa, arms stretched over the backrest like he belonged there. Jennie was left behind with the burden of ordering for both of them and muttering curses under her breath about annoying teleporters and irresponsible caffeine addicts.
From across the table, Myeong-hwa grinned at Jennie like they were old friends. "You're the nice one, right? The one who bowed a lot?"
Jennie gave her a sheepish smile. "Yeah, that's me."
"Don't worry," Myeong-hwa whispered, leaning in, "I've already planned ten pranks for your friend."
Jennie sighed, half-laughing. "You're going to regret that." As she looked at Zazm who appeared to be simply chilling but she knew he wasn't the one to simply mess with.
"You sound like him now," Myeong-hwa pointed to Min-Seok, who was still glaring at Zazm across the table, arms crossed like a disapproving older brother.
Zazm, oblivious to the tension or perhaps simply enjoying it, smiled as the server approached.
"Five drinks," he said casually, "and keep them coming. This conversation's just getting started."
Min-Seok narrowed his eyes at Zazm's casual confidence. "What do you mean 'the conversation's just getting started?'"
Zazm raised both hands in a mock-peace gesture. "Relax, my guy. Try being a little friendlier with nice people."
Min-Seok didn't budge. "I can't trust someone who's not even from here."
Zazm tilted his head thoughtfully, fingers resting on his chin like he was genuinely considering it. "Hmm… that's fair. Trust is earned." Then he snapped his fingers. "So how about I earn it?"
Min-Seok crossed his arms. "How exactly do you plan on doing that?"
Zazm shrugged easily, like this was the most natural thing in the world. "Well, for starters, maybe we all introduce ourselves properly. That's not too demanding, right? Good manners and all."
Jennie took the cue, standing up gently and offering her hand with a soft, polite smile. "I'm Jennie Aurelia, and this guy here is Zazm Mystic. We're just… acquaintances traveling around together."
Min-Seok, still watching Zazm like he was some kind of ticking device, slowly reached out and shook Jennie's hand. "I'm Min-Seok," he said, then nodded toward the girl now fiddling with a sugar packet like she was planning to prank it. "And that's Myeong-hwa. We're childhood friends."
Myeong-hwa waved excitedly with a grin. "Heya!"
Jennie returned the gesture with a warm nod, but her eyes flicked between the two with curiosity. Zazm, now leaning back comfortably, clapped his hands like they had just wrapped up a business deal.
"Jennie's from Sweden, and I'm from Switzerland," he said with a bright grin.
Myeong-hwa's eyes lit up in surprise. "No way! I didn't expect that. So how did you two meet?"
Zazm didn't miss a beat. "Well, I was out on a trip, you know classic rich spoiled kid" he said, gesturing vaguely. "Then I became friends with her, and both of us were hunting so we just decided to hunt together."
Min-Seok carefully studied him before furiously asking, "Hunting what?"
Jennie turned her head toward him slowly, trying to calm him, "Hunting good food nothing else."
But Myeong-hwa's eyes narrowed with delighted mischief, her grin stretching wider. "I like you. You're my type."
At that, Zazm's eyes flicked sharply to Min-Seok. He wasn't disappointed. There was the slightest twitch in Min-Seok's jaw. A flare of tension behind the eyes. Barely there—but Zazm caught it.
His own smile widened like a cat who just spotted a mouse.
"Sadly," he said, tilting his coffee cup with a sip, "You aren't my type."
Myeong-hwa leaned back, unbothered. "And what is your type then?"
Right then, the waiter arrived with a tray of drinks. Zazm didn't miss the timing. Just as the cups were set down, he picked his up dramatically, sipping before answering.
"I'm into… nicer girls."
Min-Seok's voice was quieter, but firm. "Myeong-hwa is nice."
Zazm set his cup down and smiled like he agreed with everything in the world. "Sure she is."
The tension at the table was light on the surface, but underneath—Jennie could feel the sparks.
She looked at Zazm out of the corner of her eye, her smile still polite, but her thoughts spinning.
'He's not just testing them… he's playing with them.'
And yet, even Myeong-hwa looked amused—like she wasn't sure if she was winning or losing.
As the conversation led on Zazm found even more interesting things about him, Jennie was surprised at how he was getting more without giving.
___________________________