Darkness pressed in from every side.
"Kova, we have to hurry. Once we're finished here, we'll come back for the rest."
"But we can't just leave them."
"Who cares? They have no choice but to follow us. Let's get going."
The voices echoed through the stone halls like ghosts.
Kota stood in the estate library, younger smaller his feet barely touching the floor as he sat across from his father.
"Now remember, son," Kalamity Akoma Speedhardt said calmly, "there are four forbidden acts. The first is Forbidden Blood Acts. The second is Forbidden Demon Acts. The third is the Forbidden Act of Eyes."
Kota frowned. "Dad, this is too much. Why are you teaching me this now? I thought I'd be doing training."
"There's plenty of time for training," Kalamity replied gently. "Be patient."
He continued. "The last forbidden act is the Forbidden Void Acts. You already know about the Void."
"The Void is where you send one's soul," Kota said slowly, recalling the words. "Meaning you could essentially erase them from existence."
"Yes," Kalamity nodded. "But it can also be used for teleportation so long as you don't lose yourself to the empty souls within."
"I wanna learn about the Eyes."
"There are three," Kalamity began. "All belonging to the Three-Eyed Horseman. The first is the Future Seeker allowing one to see one hour into the future in five seconds. The second is the Death Eye when opened, a look or touch could kill instantly. The third…"
A scream cut through the halls.
"Sound the alarm! The secret scrolls have been stolen!"
Kalamity stood sharply.
"Hide, son. Hide now."
If the scrolls are stolen… they're coming for me next.
A voice laughed from behind him.
"I know what you're thinking, Father. What should I do? Hehe… it's too late."
A figure zipped out of the Void itself.
"How has he obtained a forbidden act?" Kalamity whispered. "I didn't sense intruders"
The mask came off.
"Hello, Father."
A fist tore through Kalamity's chest.
"Your eyes" Kalamity gasped. "My son… what happened to you, Koma?"
"Kova," Koma Jr. said calmly. "I've marked the target. Make the portal."
Kota screamed.
"Father!"
Lightning swallowed the estate.
Kota bolted upright.
"Tch… same old dream."
His chest burned. The cave around him trembled faintly as dark energy leaked from his body. His hair once black had begun to bleach white in places.
His pupils sagged unnaturally, the dark circle within each eye warping and drooping like liquid being pulled downward never falling, but never stable.
"Kota, I'm back," a voice snapped. "Ugh, you reek of Yen. I told you to start masking it there are people around here."
Leiya froze when she saw his eyes.
"Oh no… it's getting stronger. Your pupils and your hair "
"In this world," she continued, steadying herself, "Yen and Yan are the source of power. But when one outweighs the other, it causes sickness. Changes."
"In your case, Kota… your Yen is leaking."
"Tch. Stop talking to me like I don't know that," he snapped. "It's getting annoying."
He looked away.
"The only reason you're even around," he added coldly, "is because you swore you'd take care of me if something happened to Father."
Leiya didn't flinch.
"I did," she said. "And I still am."
The cave fell quiet again Yen pressing against the walls like something alive.