Morning – Office
Ryan quietly places a warm cup of coffee on Ealina's desk.
But a voice echoes from behind him, light and teasing. "Is that for me?"
It's Ealina.
He turns, slightly startled. "What are you doing here?"
She walks in with a smile. "It's an office, isn't it? What else would I be doing here?"
"But you're early. Thirty minutes early," he points out.
She shrugs playfully. "To witness your kind side firsthand, I decided to come early."
Ryan stares at her. The image of her frightened face from yesterday flashes through his mind. But now, she smiles. Calm. Comfortable.
"Aren't you scared of me anymore?" he asks softly.
"Why should I be?" she replies, tilting her head.
"Did you forget what happened yesterday?"
She says softly, "No… I haven't forgotten. I remember everything that happened."
Ryan's eyes narrow slightly. "Really?"
She nods.
He steps a little closer. "But you were afraid of me then. Terrified. What changed now?"
Ealina looks into his eyes with calm resolve. "Because I didn't know the truth back then."
He tilts his head. "What truth?"
"That you don't want to hurt me ," she says gently. "What happened wasn't you. It was your power… out of control."
"Even when you lost control… you still tried to resist."
Ryan's gaze softens. For a moment, silence settles between them—thick with emotion and unspoken memories.
He whispers, "You really believe that?"
Ealina nods again, steady. "I do."
She pauses, her voice quieter now.
"And maybe… maybe my power is meant to save you from it."
He raises an eyebrow. "To save me?"
His voice is curious, laced with disbelief.
"How do you know that?"
She meets his gaze and says softly, "They told me everything... that your powers calm when I touch you."
A flicker of memory flashes in Ryan's eyes.
"Do you remember what happened yesterday?" he asks, stepping toward her.
She instinctively takes a step back. "Yes. I touched you… that's how I calmed your powers. I remember."
"Do you really?" he asks, now just a breath away.
Images rush through his mind—the moment her eyes locked with his, her slow steps toward him while his body burned with chaotic fire, her soft gaze drowned in the roar of his power.
She hadn't been fully conscious.
When he shouted her to leave, to run far away…
She didn't flinch.
It was as if she couldn't even hear him.
No response. No fear.
Just a soft, serene smile—
And silent steps toward him.
Then, without a word, she had wrapped her arms around him.
In that single moment, his blazing powers—wild and uncontrollable—had quieted.
And as the fire within him stilled…
She collapsed in his arms.
Their eyes lock—
A quiet, electric tension crackles in the space between them.
Ryan leans in, his voice low and deliberate.
"Do you remember how you calmed me?"
Ealina gazes into his eyes, but says nothing.
"You saved me," he continues softly. "When you hugged me… my powers fell silent."
Her brows furrow slightly.
"A hug? But they said… only my touch."
He steps closer, a subtle smirk curling at the edge of his lips.
"So you really don't remember anything?"
She opens her mouth, but no words come.
His eyes narrow, playful and intense.
"Do you want me to help you remember… how you hugged me?"
With those teasing words, he takes a slow step forward—
And she instinctively steps back.
Another step—
Until her back almost hits the edge of the desk.
Just before she bumps into it, he swiftly places his hand behind her, shielding her from the impact.
Startled, she glances down, ready to check if he's hurt—
But before she can speak, his arm wraps gently around her waist, pulling her just inches away from him.
The air grows still.
She can hear the steady beat of his heart.
Their faces are so close—barely four or five centimeters apart.
He leans in, breath warm on her skin…
And in that charged silence—he pulls her into an embrace.
She stands frozen—surprised by the sudden warmth of his embrace.
Before she can react, Ryan steps back, his gaze lingering on her for a brief, intense moment.
Then, without a word, he turns and walks away.
The door clicks softly behind him.
Ealina stares at the space where he just stood, her heart pounding like thunder in her chest.
A soft blush spreads across her cheeks, blooming with a warmth she can't explain.
She quickly cups her face with both hands, trying to calm herself.
Thankfully, the office is still empty—no one there to witness how deeply flustered she is.
Ealina cups her face with both hands, trying to hide her flushed cheeks. She glances shyly toward the untouched coffee on her desk—heart still racing from the encounter.
Just then, a hand pats her shoulder from behind.
"What are you doing?" a familiar voice teases.
She jumps slightly.
It's Lyra.
Ealina quickly straightens up in her seat, trying to compose herself.
"N-Nothing," she mumbles, her voice trembling slightly.
Lyra raises a brow. "Whoa... what's with that tone?" She smirks. "Girl, did you fall in love or something? You're acting really weird today."
Ealina quickly deflects. "No, it's nothing! I always look like this—you just never noticed."
Lyra chuckles and plops down at her desk. As she slides her chair closer, her eyes land on the warm cup of coffee.
"Ooh, thank you, dude. I really need this in the morning," she says, already reaching for the cup.
Lyra lifts the cup and is about to take a sip when—
Ealina swiftly snatches it from her hands.
"Hey!" Lyra blinks in surprise. "It's not for me?"
"It's not," Ealina says quickly. "It's... for me. I bought it."
Lyra squints suspiciously. "You? Bought coffee? For yourself?"
She narrows her eyes. "You don't even like coffee."
Ealina fumbles for words. "I—I drink it... sometimes. So, today I thought I'd try it."
"Okay, okay," Lyra chuckles. "Then at least let me take one sip. I'm really in need right now."
Ealina moves the cup to the other side of the desk. "Nope. Mine."
Lyra raises a brow and leans closer. "Alright, now I know something's up. You're hiding something from me, aren't you?"
Ealina quickly stands. "Nothing! I swear! Look—I'll go buy you another one."
Lyra smiles knowingly and waves her off. "It's fine. I'll go get it myself. You just stay here."
She turns and heads toward the café, still smirking to herself.
"Want anything to eat?" she calls back.
Ealina shakes her head. "No, I'm good."
"Okay then. I'll be back soon!" Lyra says, disappearing around the corner.
Ealina exhales, cheeks still pink, her eyes drifting once more to the coffee cup—guarded like a secret.
At Ryan's Cabin —
His office sits on the first floor, overlooking the open workspace below.
Leaning against the windowpane, Ryan watches in silence.
A small smile tugs at the corner of his lips as he sees Ealina snatch the coffee from Lyra. Her flustered face, the way she clutches the cup like a prized possession—it makes him wonder what came over him earlier. Why did he give her that coffee? Why did he step so close?
What is happening to me...
He's never acted like this before.
With a quiet exhale, he sips from his own mug, eyes still trained on her.
Down below, Ealina takes a sip from the cup. Her face twists in a comical grimace.
Ryan chuckles under his breath.
But almost immediately, he catches himself and straightens, erasing the smile from his face. He turns away—only to glance back.
Another sip. Another weird expression.
This time he whispers to himself, amusement in his voice,
"Does it really taste that bad?"
A pause. His gaze softens.
"…Maybe I should buy from another shop next time."
Later —
Lyra returns, walking beside Aren. A playful smile dances on her lips as she passes Ealina a small cupcake.
"Here," she says brightly. "Eat it—it'll cancel out the bitterness of that awful coffee."
Ealina takes the cupcake with a mock pout. "Thanks," she mumbles, already softening.
Lyra knows her too well. Ealina never liked coffee, and today wasn't any different—so Lyra came prepared.
Aren raises a brow and leans closer, curious. "Hey, where's mine?"
Lyra crosses her arms smugly. "I didn't get you one."
Aren tilts his head with exaggerated disappointment. "Why only her and not me?"
"Because she drank the coffee," Lyra states matter-of-factly.
"But you don't even like coffee," Aren protests.
"I do now," Ealina announces proudly. "Started today... wanted to see what the fuss is about."
Both Lyra and Aren ask at the same time, "And?"
Ealina scrunches her nose. "It's terrible."
Laughter breaks out between the three. The moment feels warm, lighthearted.
Without warning, Aren leans over and snatches Lyra's chocolate from her desk. "This is mine now. You didn't get me anything, remember?"
"Hey!" Lyra yells, springing to her feet. "Give it back, thief!"
She chases him playfully as he dashes off, laughing. The hallway echoes with their footsteps and teasing.
Lyra returns a minute later, slightly breathless but grinning, and plops down into her chair.
Ealina watches the scene unfold with a small smile and whispers, "He's finally back to his normal self."
Ealina leans toward Lyra, her voice low and curious.
"Did you… do that?"
Lyra glances around, then nods. "Yeah."
She taps a few times on her tablet and turns the screen toward Ealina.
Rows of names appear—each one the same.
Daerien N.
Masked Artist: Daerien N.
D.N. – Anonymous Portfolio
MaskedBrush_DaerienN
So many entries. All with similar names. All shadows hiding behind the same mask.
Ealina stares at the screen, stunned. "This many people with the same name?"
Lyra shrugs. "Apparently being mysterious is a trend now."
Ealina exhales, determination flaring in her eyes. "Alright then… let's contact them. One by one. We'll find the real one."
Without wasting time, the two of them get to work—messages sent, links opened, portfolios scanned.
The hunt begins.
At Ryan's Cabin —
The atmosphere is thick with tension.
Jace and Liora stand facing each other, frustration simmering between them.
"I told you!" Jace snaps, voice sharp. "The boss made it clear—Ealina was not to be involved. So why did you call her yesterday?"
Liora's eyes flare with emotion. "Because I couldn't just stand there and watch him in that state! He's our Guardian, Jace. It's my duty to protect him—and yours too."
"Our duty," Jace shoots back, "is also to follow orders. You know what could've happened to her?"
Their voices rise. The air buzzes with conflict.
Then
"Enough."
Ryan's voice cuts through the chaos like a blade.
Both turn to him instantly. Silence falls.
He doesn't raise his voice, but the weight in his tone is enough.
"Liora," Ryan says firmly, "I know you acted out of concern for me. I'm not ungrateful… but risking Ealina's life is not a price I'm willing to pay. Not ever."
Liora opens her mouth to speak—"But—"
"Don't," Ryan interrupts, gaze hard. "Don't do it again."
The room stills. The message is clear.
After a beat, he turns toward them both. "Prepare for the meeting. This afternoon. I want everyone ready."
Jace and Liora exchange a glance, nod silently, and leave the room.
Ryan stays behind, alone now—his jaw tight, his thoughts heavier than ever.
Back in the Office —
Lyra and Aren are slouched over their desks, tired eyes scanning rows of names.
"Another Daerien N.," Lyra mutters, tapping the screen. "That's the twelfth one."
Aren sighs. "Still the wrong one."
They've been at it for hours—cross-referencing artists, names, portfolios, even pseudonyms. All dead ends.
Frustration builds, silence stretches.
"I need a break," Aren says at last, rubbing his temples.
Lyra nods in agreement. "Let's pause. We're chasing shadows."
In the Cafeteria —
Ealina picks up a tray, heading for snacks. As she turns around, she bumps into someone.
"Liora?" she says, surprised.
Liora offers a hesitant smile. "I… was looking for you."
Ealina tilts her head. "Is something wrong?"
Liora's gaze lowers. Her voice is quiet. "I wanted to say… I'm sorry. For yesterday. I shouldn't have pulled you into that situation. I just… I didn't know what else to do. He was losing control and I panicked."
Ealina stares for a second, then smiles softly. "You were worried about him. It's okay. You did what you thought was right."
Liora's eyes widen slightly, clearly surprised. She expected anger. Maybe resentment.
But Ealina simply nods and adds, "Whatever you did, you did it to protect him. I understand that."
For a moment, Liora is silent.
Then she breathes out, relieved, and watches as Ealina walks away with the food tray.
She's not angry at me… even though she could've been seriously hurt.
She's... stronger than I thought.
Back at the Desk —
Lyra and Aren are still discussing the last few names when Ealina returns, setting a small plate of snacks down in front of them.
"Peace offering," she grins. "I know the search isn't going well, so… sugar therapy."
"You're an angel," Lyra says dramatically, already biting into a cupcake.
"Still no luck?" Ealina asks.
"Not unless the real masked artist is hiding as a ghost in the system," Aren mutters.
Ealina chuckles—and then her phone buzzes.
She glances down.
Her breath catches.
New Message — Unknown ID
Sender: Daerien N.
Her eyes widen.
"It's him," she whispers, stunned.
Lyra and Aren look up instantly.
"What?" Lyra asks, mouth still half-full.
Ealina turns the screen toward them.
The name on the message glows across the screen like a long-awaited spark in the dark:
Daerien N. — The Masked Artist.