"Hold on, Nicholas, please!" EJ gasped, his voice hoarse, his fingers gripping Nicholas's hand with all the strength he had left.
Both of them dangled precariously from a jagged steel beam, high above the chaos below. EJ's other hand clung desperately to the slick, blood-streaked metal above, his knuckles white, his palm already scraped and bleeding.
Around them, the world was a blur of shouting, screaming, and crumbling ruin. People scattered in terror as the ground split and darkness surged like a tide.
EJ's face twisted in pain as his bleeding hand began to slip, but he refused to let go of Nicholas.
"Nicholas," he choked out, his eyes blazing, "help will come. Just hold on a little longer, okay? Don't you dare—"
But Nicholas… he just smiled faintly. His dark eyes locked on EJ's, calm even as the world fell apart.
"It's alright," Nicholas murmured, his voice steady despite the chaos. "You can let go."
"No. No! Don't say that!" EJ's grip tightened, frantic now. "I won't! I won't let go of you!"
Nicholas's faint smile never wavered. Then, slowly, almost gently, he raised his other hand and pried EJ's fingers free from his own.
"Nicholas—NO!" EJ's scream broke through the roar of the collapsing structure.
But it was too late.
Nicholas let go and fell, swallowed by the churning black abyss of the Underworld below.
EJ's howl of anguish echoed through the darkness.
"NICHOLAS!"
EJ woke with a jolt, his chest heaving, drenched in sweat. The sound of his own cry still rang in his ears. His hands trembled as he buried his face in them, trying to steady his breath.
It had only been a nightmare.
But the memory of Nicholas's smile and his fall, still clung to him like a wound that refused to close.
"You look exhausted," EJ remarked as he spotted Yuma slouched at the corner of their agreed meeting spot. The younger man barely looked up, a faint scowl etched on his face.
"That damn Fuma," Yuma muttered, rubbing his temple. "He never lets me rest."
EJ opened his mouth, ready to scold him for speaking so carelessly about His Majesty, but before he could get a word out, Yuma waved him off.
"I know, I know—whatever. Let's just go eat first, alright? I'm starving."
EJ shook his head with a resigned sigh, but didn't argue. Together they made their way to the Center's cafeteria, where Yuma wasted no time piling his tray with an impressive mountain of food.
EJ raised an eyebrow as he watched Yuma devour one plate after another. "Are you really that hungry?"
Yuma shot him a look between bites. "I haven't eaten in days."
"What?" EJ asked, frowning. "What do you mean? Where on earth were you?"
Yuma didn't answer right away, instead shoving another mouthful into his mouth. The confusion on EJ's face must have amused him, because after a beat, Yuma smirked faintly.
"A place where eating is a luxury," he finally said.
EJ's frown deepened. "What are you talking about?"
Yuma leaned back slightly, his fork still in hand, and glanced at him. "I was dispatched to Endless."
The name sent a faint chill down EJ's spine. Endless—a desolate, hidden island somewhere in the realm, unreachable by ordinary paths. It was said to house the most dangerous criminals, both Shadowers and Celestials.
"What were you doing there?" EJ asked carefully.
Yuma tilted his head, his smile almost mischievous but his eyes serious. "It's supposed to be classified," he said lightly. Then, after a pause, he added, "But… since you agreed to hang out with me today, I'll tell you."
EJ watched him intently as Yuma stabbed another piece of food.
"There was a report," Yuma continued, his tone lowering, "that prisoners have been going missing. So I was sent to investigate."
EJ didn't speak right away, his fingers tightening slightly around his own glass. He could tell, just from the look in Yuma's eyes, that there was more to the story than Yuma was letting on.
"So, did you finish your investigation? You got out?" EJ asked, his gaze narrowing slightly.
Yuma clicked his tongue, leaning back in his chair with a groan. "I wish. Endless is too big for me to cover alone. And I can't exactly call for backup—only a handful of people are even cleared to know the place exists."
"Then what are you doing here?" EJ pressed.
"Fuma pulled me out," Yuma said, waving a hand dismissively. "Told me to rest. Another general's been sent to take my place, but I'll be back there once I've recovered."
EJ studied him carefully. "So… shouldn't you actually be resting instead of dragging me out here?"
But Yuma only shook his head, his dark hair falling into his eyes. "No, no," he said with dramatic refusal, "resting makes me feel even more tired. You know what I need? A change of scenery. Let's tour the Mortal World. It's been ages since I've set foot there."
EJ arched an eyebrow. "Suddenly?"
Yuma blinked at him, slowly, deliberately, his eyes wide and almost comically pleading, like a child begging for sweets. "Please? We can bring Taki too. Make it a little adventure."
EJ pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh, already feeling his resolve crumble. Saying no to Yuma was nearly impossible, and they both knew it.
And so, a few hours later, the three of them, EJ, Yuma, and a reluctant Taki..were disguised and walking through the bustling streets of the Mortal World, letting themselves, just for a moment, forget the weight of their duties.
"E, E—look! That fruit is being frozen. It looks yummy!" Yuma's voice rang out, followed immediately by Taki's enthusiastic agreement.
EJ glanced over and saw the two of them practically pressed up against the glass of a small street vendor's cart, their eyes wide with wonder. He felt like a parent babysitting two overgrown children. With a resigned sigh, he stepped forward and ordered the treat for both of them.
"Woah," Yuma marveled as he took his share, examining the chilled, glistening fruit. "The Mortal World has really advanced. They've got… something cold now."
"Yeah," Taki chimed in, biting into his own piece. "The food in the Celestial Realm is so bland and simple compared to this."
That comment made all three of them pause, then burst out laughing at the same time, their amusement echoing softly through the crowded street.
As they strolled on, the city lights shimmering above them and the aroma of food and spice in the air, Yuma and Taki grew more and more restless. Like excitable children, they kept darting off to peer into shop windows or watch street performers, while EJ followed behind at a steady pace, quietly praying their disguises wouldn't fail.
He had a sinking feeling about it—and of course, he was right.
Taki, in his enthusiasm, bumped hard into someone passing by, nearly knocking them over. "Ah—sorry!" Taki exclaimed, bowing quickly.
EJ stepped forward, ready to apologize properly, but he froze when his eyes met the stranger's.
It was K.
One of Nicholas's generals. A Shadower.
Panic coiled in EJ's chest. He shot a quick glance at Yuma, his stomach tight. Yuma was sensitive, exceptionally so—to Shadower energy. If he picked up on K's presence, everything would unravel right here.
But Yuma only tilted his head and, with a teasing grin, said, "Hey, weren't you the one who bumped into us?"
EJ nearly sagged in relief. Yuma hadn't noticed.
"I was watching where I was going," K shot back coolly, his eyes narrowing. "Seems to me it was you who wasn't."
Yuma arched a brow, clicking his tongue in mock irritation. "Tsk. Such a jerk," he muttered under his breath, though loud enough for K to hear.
For a fleeting moment, K's expression stiffened, a faint flash of offense crossing his sharp features. But then his gaze locked with EJ's.
EJ held his stare, steady and firm, silently willing him: Don't. Not here. Not now.
Though they didn't share a pleasant history nor could they be called acquaintances in any real sense they had crossed paths before. Each knew enough of the other's origins to understand exactly what a fight here would mean.
K's jaw flexed, but he finally let out a quiet breath, his lips curling in a faint, unreadable smirk.
"…Never mind," he murmured, turning on his heel and striding away into the crowd.
EJ released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, tension melting from his shoulders. At least that small disaster was avoided.
But just as he allowed himself to relax, the universe proved its sense of humor.
Later, as they stood among a lively crowd watching a street performance, the air fragrant with roasted chestnuts and sweet smoke, Yuma elbowed him, pointing excitedly at the dancers spinning under lantern light.
EJ followed his gesture… only to feel the hair at the back of his neck stand on end.
K was there. Again.
And to his utter disbelief, when they moved to find seats on the low wooden benches surrounding the stage, K slipped into the empty spot beside them as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
EJ stared at him, his thoughts caught somewhere between exasperation and dread, as the music swelled around them.
"What are you doing here?" EJ hissed under his breath, leaning just enough to make himself heard without drawing attention.
K didn't even bother looking at him. His gaze stayed fixed on the stage, his posture loose and nonchalant.
"I don't think we know each other well enough for me to answer such a personal question," K's voice slid into EJ's mind without warning, smooth and sharp telepathy.
The intrusion startled EJ, but he managed to keep his expression composed, his eyes also fixed ahead as if nothing unusual was happening.
"You shouldn't be here," EJ shot back through thought alone. "I'm with a high-ranking Legacy. You know what happens if he figures out what you are."
He caught, just barely, the faintest smirk ghost across K's lips.
"Oh, I know exactly who you're with," K replied lazily, his tone almost amused. "I'm simply enjoying my vacation. That's all. Let's not bother each other. I won't cause you trouble… if you don't cause me any."
EJ bit back a sharp retort, forcing his knuckles to relax where they'd started to tighten in his lap.
The performance continued, bright and loud, but between them hung an invisible line of tension quiet and ready to snap at the wrong move.
EJ…
The voice slithered through his mind, soft but insistent.
EJ.
His breath caught. At first, he thought it was K, but when he risked a glance, the man beside him remained relaxed, arms folded, eyes trained on the stage, utterly absorbed in the performance.
The voice came again, closer this time, curling at the edges of his thoughts like smoke.
EJ…
His eyes darted around the crowded plaza. People milled about, clapping, laughing, oblivious. But that presence , heavy, cold, unmistakable, pressed down on him until his chest felt tight.
And then he saw it.
In the dimness beyond the flickering lights of the stage, at the edge of the crowd, a figure stood. A shadow shaped like a man, its form indistinct, as though carved from darkness itself. Its presence pulsed faintly, thrumming with that same chilling energy he'd felt back at the hideout.
The Onyx.
That same sinister force, now walking among them. Watching him.