Chapter 6: The Start of A New Era

(TW: Panic attack, mentions of depression, thoughts of self-doubt)

The smell of alcohol permeated throughout the blaringly white room, as loud constant beeps went off. Laying peacefully on a white bed was Sung Jin-Woo, who has yet to awaken from his time in the D-rank dungeon. Apollo hasn't left his side since, with a week having gone by. Large dark circles became more and more apparent as time went on, with the angel-like male refusing to sleep for a second as he didn't want to miss his friend's awakening.

Every single time Apollo asked the doctors or nurses why his friend continued to sleep, they would simply answer that his friend had been both mentally and physically exhausted. However, those words didn't necessarily comfort the male at all. As time went on, Apollo felt guiltier, feeling as though he had completely failed his friend. He should've gone on the raid, as nothing is more important than his friend, but at the time, he was stressed out from his never-ending assignments.

His father continued to support him through this time, allowing Apollo to use his father's connections in order to stay at the hospital overnight. The first night was the worst, with Apollo breaking down over and over again. He'd been absolutely hysterical at the sight of his best friend who had hardly been breathing. It was frightening knowing that he could have lost his friend so easily.

With his emotions going haywire, Apollo often felt as though he was losing his grip on reality. If only gates hadn't existed, then maybe his best friend wouldn't be laying down in a hospital bed looking as though a truck had run him over. Groaning, Apollo places his face into his hands, wishing the last week was just a dream.

He felt completely useless as his powers refused to work. He couldn't even heal his best friend! What was the point of having special powers if they failed when they were needed the most? Unbeknownst to Apollo, the reason his powers failed him were because his abilities were meant to be used against the monarchs, not for them. The last time Apollo had felt so worthless was when he kept on getting returned back to Heart's Orphanage, making his younger self wonder if he was simply unlovable.

Lost in his thoughts, Apollo didn't hear the slight groan coming from the bed, nor the subtle rustle of the sheets. He was too far gone, spiraling into a depression that hasn't been present for years.

Sung Jin-Woo blearily opened his eyes and proceeded to shut them once the blinding white became visible to him. It took a few seconds for the room to come into picture and he realized that he was in a hospital room. In front of him was a video-game message of sorts. It was dark blue and had the word message within it. He was tempted to open up the message but something else took priority first.

To his left sat his best friend, whose face was in his hands, not making a sound. The world's weakest hunter tried to remember what happened to lead him into this place, before memories upon memories of the horrible dungeon floated into his mind. He wasn't sure how he was alive at all, recalling that he was seconds away from imminent death. Sung Jin-Woo can feel a panic attack rearing its ugly head at him as he clutches his chest, breathing heavily. That eventually catches the attention of Apollo, whose sky blue eyes stare at him as if he's his whole world.

Apollo shakily reaches his hand over to Sung Jin-Woo, before rapidly bringing him into a powerful hug. No words are spoken between the two as they hold onto each other as if a single step away will make them disappear forever. The hug lasts for about 5 minutes, before Apollo finally speaks up. "Jin..I thought I lost you." His voice is but a whisper, shaky and insecure. One could hear the subtle crack in his voice, as if he were holding back tears from falling down.

Sung Jin-Woo says nothing but holds Apollo a bit tighter, as if meaning to convey words without speaking them again. No words could truly describe the horror he felt through his time in the dungeon and if he were honest, he didn't think of Apollo. His mind at the time was far more focused on his possible final moments and being killed by horrifying statues.

"I-I can't lose you! You're like family to m-me! The o-only one w-who really c-cared for me before dad c-came into my life.." Apollo stutters as he speaks, desperately trying to convey his feelings. Sung Jin-Woo was as important as his father was to his life. The two of them made Apollo who he is today: a confident young man who no longer abhors the world around him simply because he wasn't most people's ideal child after not awakening. Losing Sung Jin-Woo would mean losing a necessary part of himself and Apollo isn't sure if he could truly live on without the male by his side.

Sung Jin-Woo continues to stay quiet, simply petting Apollo's hair. Between the two, Apollo was usually the one to comfort him but today the roles are reversed. The short black-haired male finds that his emotions are fairly numb at the moment, as he doesn't want to further Apollo's clear guilt.

Before anymore could be spoken between the two -well by Apollo at least- two men in fitted black suits step into the room. Apollo slowly breaks away from Sung Jin-Woo as he stares at both men, recognizing them as inspectors from the hunter's association. There was an entire sector dedicated to paying attention to special gates, such as red gates or double dungeons. They also focused their work on those who have possibly reawakened. Apollo, through his still hazy mind, can decipher that the two want to speak to his best friend about the double dungeon. The golden-haired male subtly clenches his fists, wanting to yell at the fools for bringing up a traumatic experience just after his friend finally woke up.

"Ah, Go Apollo-ssi. We hadn't known you were close to the victim. As per protocol, you must leave the room despite your status. I apologize in advance if this offends you, however we are just doing our job." The first male with light brown hair stated. At the moment, Apollo couldn't remember either of their names as he hasn't come across the two often. The sky-blue eyed male unclenches his fists that have tiny red crescents within them. His haggard appearance makes him all the more intimidating as he looks directly into the first male's eyes.

"Understood." Apollo grits out, turning towards his best friend whose emotions have suddenly come back full force as he seems, well confused and surprised. This last week has thrown Apollo's emotions into a blender of sorts as he feels more inclined to believe something within him is changing. Normally, he would've just accepted that the men in front of him have a job to do, but now he's tempted to flip them the finger, something he would have never done normally. Quickly, he calms himself down as to prevent a possible outburst that was just waiting to happen.

"I'll come back tomorrow, Jin." Apollo states with a gentle smile that hides all of his raging emotions, before leaning in to whisper into his friend's ear. "If they do anything to wrong you, just let me know. I don't use my dad's name or power often but, I never want anything to hurt you again." He says it with such sincerity that Sung Jin-Woo's eyes widen a bit as he blinks away the wetness rapidly forming.

Giving Sung Jin-Woo's shoulder a small squeeze, Apollo exits the hospital room with his head held high. He honestly feels as though he left his friend to the wolves but, Apollo wouldn't ever want to disrespect the protocols his father has in place to protect and educate hunters within South Korea. Once he exits the room, Apollo finds himself trailing along the hallway, not necessarily in a hurry to get anywhere. While walking, he spots a familiar light-black headed girl who also makes eye contact with him, along with another girl with short-black hair who he doesn't recognize.

"Oppa!" Sung Jin-Woo's sister, Sung Jin-Ah happily waves at him before stopping right in front of him. Her friend beside her simply places herself by the door to Sung Jin-Woo's room, as if waiting for Sung Jin-Ah to visit before the two leave together. "Will you join oppa

and I for dinner once he is released?" Her eyes shine in a way that begs him to see what happens if he says no.

Still a bit emotional, all Apollo does is give her a small nod and ruffle her hair, before leaving to go to a hotel he paid a week for in case the hospital refused to allow him to stay overnight. He's beyond exhausted and just wants to sleep all the negative emotions away so that when he sees Sung Jin-Woo tomorrow, it'll be as his best self.

Had Apollo noticed the oddly quick changes between emotions that Sung Jin-Woo portrayed, maybe he could have saved the male from losing an important part of himself. However, the lack of sleep and heightened emotions left Apollo oblivious to the weird changes that would forever change his best friend.