The Jade Oath

As the delicious aroma of home-cooked food filled the air, Dunk's grandmother busied herself in the kitchen, preparing a hearty lunch for everyone before they headed back. The group settled around the dining table, their conversation naturally shifting back to the ritual and all the pieces they had gathered so far.

Dunk leaned back in his chair, stretching slightly before casually announcing, "The ancient artifact thing? Taken care of." Everyone immediately turned their attention to him.

"Wait, for real?" Pond asked, eyes widening. Dunk nodded. "Yeah, my grandparents have something strong enough to be the vessel, and they'll send it to me soon." A collective sigh of relief filled the room. "That's one major problem out of the way," Joong said, running a hand through his hair.

"But wait," Phuwin cut in, "What about the jade? We still don't know where that is." Gemini, who had been quiet up until now, grinned. "Actually, we do." Everyone turned to him. "I called my parents earlier," Gemini explained. "I asked if we had any family heirlooms, anything made of jade. Turns out—" he paused, drawing out the suspense just to be dramatic.

"We do."

A beat of silence. "It's a jade ring." The room erupted.

"NO WAY."
"You're kidding."
"Fate is messing with us at this point."

Phuwin, eyes wide, let out a low whistle. "That's unreal. It's like everything is just falling into place." Dunk leaned forward, smirking. "So, does this mean fate actually wants us to break this curse?" Pond scoffed. "Or maybe fate is just having fun watching us scramble to put everything together."

Joong dramatically put a hand on his chest. "Either way, we're going all in. If fate is playing along, we better do this ritual flawlessly."

Fourth looked at Gemini, his eyes filled with warmth. "This is happening. It's real." Gemini nodded, squeezing Fourth's hand under the table. "Yeah. And we're gonna do this right." The excitement in the room was palpable—a mix of relief, anticipation, and just a hint of nervous energy. They were one step closer. The ritual was within their reach.

.

.

After finishing their lunch, the group took a moment to soak in the warmth of Dunk's grandparents' home. It had been a place of comfort and guidance, and they were deeply grateful for everything. One by one, they all stood up, bowing respectfully to thank Dunk's grandparents for their kindness and support.

"Thank you so much for everything," Gemini said sincerely.

"You've done so much for us," Fourth added, his voice soft but filled with gratitude.

Dunk's grandmother smiled warmly before pulling both Gemini and Fourth into a tight embrace, surprising them both. "Everything will be alright," she whispered. "Put your trust in each other, and you'll find your way." The words hit deep, and Gemini and Fourth exchanged a glance, their hands instinctively finding each other.

Dunk, feeling emotional but hiding it behind a grin, hugged both of his grandparents. "Thank you for everything, really." His grandfather patted Dunk's back firmly. "Take care of yourself and your friends, okay?"

Dunk nodded. "Always."

With heartfelt smiles and one last round of goodbyes, the group finally stepped out, ready to head back. A new sense of determination filled them—this was it. The final steps toward breaking the curse.

.

.

The ride back to the university was quiet yet comforting, a stark contrast to the intense discussions they had been having. With the weight of their mission still lingering, they allowed themselves a brief moment of peace, enjoying the passing scenery. The golden hues of the setting sun bathed the landscape, and the rhythmic hum of the car created a lulling atmosphere.