ateez theory time; the painting’s origins and why it’s so important

this painting is our catalyst to the storyline. it must’ve been in the library/a classroom of the school and one of the boys (yunho?) saw it and really liked the island. he then gathered the other 7 and talked about his ambitions to go there and since they were all sick of the

school’s tryany and oppression they devised a plan. they were going to sneak into the school late at night and set it on fire so that the place that had stepped on and their dreams and ambitions for so long with no longer exist. so they did.

once it was on fire the boys began to flee, but one of them (wy) realized that they had left something behind. their precious painting which had inspired them to go there: the reason it’s half charred because it was inside of the burning school and one of them went back for it!!

this is also why in smn it’s in its own room. its their prized possession and a ray of hope for them. it’s the reason why they had the courage to leave. that’s why all of the surrounding casings are empty, because they believe that nothing will ever compare to it’s importance.

the reason the treasure album is called all to zero is because they gave up everything to go on this journey in smn and the next cb. yunho had promised them a better life with whatever they wanted, and for that they were willing to “give it (past lives) up”. like a pact.

but we know from wonderland that someone... wasn’t able to stay loyal to their agreement, and for that they were executed. but it’s interesting because wooyoung may have been the one to go back into the school for the painting. so why would he betray them?

i had to rewrite this a couple of times, so i’m sorry if it doesn’t make sense, but i really do think that this next comeback is the origin story. and the painting will show up in the school somewhere uncharred. this theory is ALL based on my observations and it could be wrong.

i rewatched the smn mv and realized they talk about the moon a lot. “when the moonlight calls to me, i get so hot, i’m about to cover the world.” could mean “the night of the full/crescent moon, the school will be flaming, and we’ll start our journey across the world!!”

guys... the crescent moon party, the phases of the moon, the upside down cards in anewz, what yunho said “which what kind of moon is tonight” and it was crescent. they burned down the school and escaped on the night of the crescent moon...

if the moon that hj is watching at the start of treasure is a waxing gibbous, then the full had just passed. ateez burned the school on the night of the crescent (party), left the smn hideout the night of the full (in the lyrics), and arrived to the painting on the next gibbous:)

this is where my theory starts from!! https://twitter.com/flcweryunho/status/1276976563133825028?s=21 https://twitter.com/flcweryunho/status/1276976563133825028

so hala hala ateez might might their lost souls that they left behind in the next cb which is why they only can present themselves as shadows or in mirrors or in ILLUSIONs!! they aren’t tangible but are good spirits trying to save them from the yunho/hj???

that explains why we see hala hala yeosang but only in the mirror, and we can see someone in the hala hala outfit in the cave in illusion because it’s their dream. spirits commonly try to find gateways of communication with the mortal world through dreams and reflection.

yunho keeps yeosang in a lockbox full of light (he has the key) so hala hala wooyoung can’t reach him there. san breaks the mirror so that hala hala yeosang will stop trying to convince him to change his mind about going “don’t stop me, give it up” all the gateways are destroyed.

main points:

1. the painting was the spark for their journey

2. they burned the school the night of the crescent moon, left smn the night of the full, and arrived to treasure on the gibbous.

3. halateez are good spirits whos main purpose is try to protect ateez from danger

so san is seeing himself in the mirror! yeosang is just playing his alter ego (he’s so cute pls)

also ignore my headass calling the sahara DESERT an island when referring to the painting.

um this is amazing???? if you want to check it out, it gives more depth to the significance of a partially destroyed painting! https://twitter.com/ellenidaglas/status/1277163395905544194