Right now, I'm sitting in a quaint little restaurant.
Across from me is a blonde woman happily munching away at her order, completely oblivious to the confusion brewing at our table.
Beside me, a woman with ashen hair—Elaina—stares at the blonde with a mix of irritation and disbelief, her brows furrowing like she's trying to decipher a really bad riddle.
"Hmm?" I glance at her while shoveling a spoonful of parfait into my mouth. Priorities, you know.
She doesn't even flinch. Instead, she stares at me, her tone colder than ice. "Why, exactly, did she drag me here?"
I tilt my head and shrug, ignoring her perfectly reasonable question. "You didn't order anything, Elaina?"
"I didn't come here to eat," she snaps. "She,"—her glare shoots across the table like a laser beam toward the blonde—"just called me out of nowhere and dragged me along for… whatever this is."
Following her death glare, I meet the gaze of the blonde offender. This is Sheila.
"I wouldn't have called you if I didn't need your help," Sheila says between bites, her tone calm like she's done absolutely nothing wrong.
Elaina raises an eyebrow, the look on her face practically screaming, And why should I care? "And what kind of help do you need, exactly?"
Sheila's response is as nonchalant as ever. "I'll tell you… after I finish this."
A pause. A very awkward pause.
"Well," I chime in, holding up my parfait triumphantly, "if you're hungry, I could share this with you. Though, uh, I only have one spoon…"
Elaina's eyes twitch ever so slightly, as if she's seriously considering smacking me with that very spoon.
Then, with a deep sigh, she replies, "No thanks. I'm not in the mood for sweets."
After Sheila finally finishes her meal (seriously, she eats so slowly it's like she's savoring every molecule), she leans back in her chair, her expression turning serious.
"Alright," she begins, brushing crumbs off her hands.
"So, I have a job for you guys," Sheila said, her tone as casual as if she were asking us to water her plants.
Elaina, who had been sulking just moments ago, straightened up.
Her irritation seemed to momentarily vanish, replaced by curiosity—or perhaps the resignation of someone who knew trouble was inevitable.
"What kind of job?"
Sheila leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping just enough to sound mysterious. "In this country, there's an abandoned laboratory."
Elaina blinked. "...Okay?"
"The lab has been abandoned for years," Sheila continued, pausing for dramatic effect.
"But here's the thing—anyone who goes in… never comes out."
Cue ominous silence.
"I want you to investigate it," Sheila said matter-of-factly, like she wasn't asking us to stroll into a death trap.
Elaina raised an eyebrow. "An abandoned laboratory where people disappear without a trace? That sounds incredibly dangerous."
I, of course, saw things differently. "Or incredibly fun."
Elaina shot me a look that screamed Are you serious?
"I mean," I said, grinning, "maybe there's something so exciting in that lab that people choose not to come out. Like, I dunno, an endless buffet or something."
Elaina rolled her eyes, but I caught the faintest hint of a grin.
"So, what you're saying is, I should expect an all-you-can-eat buffet in an abandoned lab?"
"Maybe," I replied with a shrug.
Sheila, clearly unimpressed with my theory, crossed her arms.
"That's impossible. This disappearing act has been happening for a whole year."
"No one's throwing a party in there."
"A year?" Elaina repeated, her curiosity now piqued despite herself.
"Yup," Sheila confirmed. "And no one who's gone in has come out. Not a single person."
I leaned back, stroking my chin as if I were some kind of detective. "So… it's either a very exclusive party, or…"
"Or?" Elaina asked, cautiously.
"...A secret society of lab coat-wearing scientists who abduct people to run bizarre experiments."
Elaina sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You do realize how ridiculous that sounds, right?"
"Ridiculous?" I pointed at Sheila. "She's literally asking us to investigate a haunted lab. Ridiculous is on the menu today."
Sheila ignored my comment entirely, as if she'd already built an immunity to my nonsense. "So, are you two in or not?"
"But I can do this myself, you know? You don't need to involve Elaina," I said, trying to sound confident despite the nagging feeling that Sheila's job was a walking disaster waiting to happen.
Sheila's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Oh? Look at him, Elaina. He has a soft spot for you! He doesn't want you to get hurt because it's dangerous."
I froze. No expression, no denial—just the panic of someone desperately trying to come up with a decent comeback.
"Ah, it's not like that, Witchie—"
"Witchie?" Sheila cut in, her grin growing wider. "That's such a cute nickname, don't you think?"
Elaina sighed heavily, massaging her temples like this was the hundredth time she'd heard it.
"I've told him many times not to call me that…"
"It suits her, doesn't it?" I teased, giving her a cheeky smile.
Elaina gave me a sharp glare that practically screamed You're digging your own grave.
Quickly sensing the need to change the subject before I got hexed, I turned back to Sheila.
"So, Sheila, You're going to pay us handsomely for this, right?"
Sheila nodded confidently. "Of course. I'll pay you generously for your help."
I smirked. "Alright, I'm in! What about you, Elaina?"
Elaina crossed her arms and frowned, clearly weighing her options. After a long pause, she sighed. "Fine. I'll come."
Sheila clapped her hands together, clearly pleased with herself. "Good! Here's the location of the laboratory."
She handed over a slightly crumpled piece of paper. I unfolded it carefully, scanning the details.
Elaina leaned in closer, peering at the paper over my shoulder.
"It's rather far from here," she muttered, her tone neutral but her eyes narrowing.
"Yeah, it's… uh… in the forest," I said, trying to downplay the ominous vibe of the map.
Elaina raised an eyebrow. "So, not only is it abandoned and dangerous, but it's also in the middle of nowhere?"
Sheila ignored her skepticism and waved. "I'll leave it to you guys, then. See you later"
With that, she turned and walked off, leaving us sitting there with nothing but the dubious map and a sense of impending doom.
"That's all the information we get, huh..." Elaina muttered, her tone flat as she pushed her chair back.
"Yeah, but hey, let's head there anyway," I said, standing up with a grin. "Adventure awaits!"
She gave me a side glance, clearly unimpressed. "Sure. Might as well get this over with."
After paying for my parfait (yes, I footed the bill because someone didn't order anything), we stepped out of the restaurant.
"The sooner we finish, the sooner we get the money, right?" I added, trying to sound optimistic.
"True," Elaina replied, though her tone suggested she was more interested in wrapping this up quickly than the cash.
We hopped onto our broomsticks and took off, flying toward the forest where the laboratory was supposedly hidden.
At first, it was just trees. Lots and lots of trees. Endless trees.
But as we ventured deeper, the sight of something massive stopped us in our tracks.
"Is that...?" I squinted, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.
Elaina nodded, her expression serious. "An abandoned laboratory. And it's huge. How has this been sitting here in the middle of nowhere without anyone noticing?"
"I dunno," I said, hovering closer. "But it's definitely the place."
"It must be. The question is, what's inside?" she mused, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"Well, we won't know until we check it out," I said and, without hesitation, flew straight to the half-destroyed door.
"Wait—hey!" Elaina called out, quickly following me.
The moment we stepped inside, it felt like we'd entered a different world.
The air was cold and metallic, a stark contrast to the humid forest outside.
It was eerily silent, and the dim lighting only added to the unsettling atmosphere.
Elaina glanced around, her sharp eyes scanning the shadowy interior.
"It's definitely abandoned… but there's something strange about this place."
"Strange? You mean besides the part where it's a giant creepy lab in the middle of nowhere?" I joked, my tone lighthearted to mask my unease.
She didn't answer, too focused on the surroundings.
"Well," I said with a smirk, "you'd better use your wand to light things up. You don't want me burning this place down for illumination, do you?"
Elaina sighed, rolling her eyes like she'd heard this kind of nonsense a million times before.
With a flick of her wrist, her wand lit up, casting a warm glow across the room.
"Better?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Much better," I replied, grinning. "Now I can see your beautiful face more clearly."
She stared at me for a second, then replied dryly, "Very smooth."
I shrugged, unbothered by her sarcasm. "So, should we start looking around?"
"Yes. Let's stay focused," she said, already walking down the corridor.
I quickly caught up, walking beside her. "You know, for an abandoned lab, this place is kind of… cozy."
She shot me a skeptical look. "You and I have very different definitions of 'cozy.'"
As we walked deeper into the eerie hallway, a door caught my attention. "Huh? Look at that door. Let's check it out."
Elaina nodded, her wand still lighting our path.
"This place has way too many doors. I wonder what's behind each one," she murmured, placing a hand on the handle to test if it was unlocked.
"Maybe a themed party? This door could be hiding a Halloween bash," I quipped.
She sighed, her tone deadpan. "Still running with those party jokes, huh?"
"Hey, comedy's all about timing. I'm just waiting for the right moment to deliver the punchline," I replied with a smug grin.
Elaina shook her head, but a tiny smile betrayed her amusement. "Alright, let's find your 'party' first, shall we?"
She turned the handle slowly, pushing the door open with caution.
"And as we stepped inside…" I began dramatically, my voice dropping to a deep, storyteller tone. "…we saw… darkness."
Elaina shot me a look, unimpressed. "Wow. How incredibly descriptive."
"You're welcome," I said with a mock bow, stepping into the room after her.
Her wand's light revealed a gloomy space filled with shelves, tables, and old, dusty equipment.
As we moved further in, I felt my hip bump into something. A second later, a loud crash echoed through the room.
"Oops. My bad," I said, wincing.
Elaina stopped and turned, "Careful, will you? What did you break this time?"
She raised her wand to illuminate the mess. The light revealed the shattered remains of a jar.
But that wasn't the only thing scattered on the floor—among the shards were what appeared to be… bat wings?
"What the…?" Elaina muttered as she knelt down, picking up one of the bat wings.
She turned it over in her hand, examining it closely.
"Why would there be bat wings here?" she wondered aloud.
"Uh, duh, because this is a laboratory?" I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Haha, very funny," Elaina said flatly, standing up and dusting off her clothes.
"Drinking bat medicine is all the rage, you know. Helps with dieting," I said with a smirk, clearly trying to rile her up.
"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," she said, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.
"What's next? Bat tears cure baldness?"
"If that were true, bats and bald people would've gone extinct ages ago!" I laughed, unable to resist the mental image.
Elaina chuckled softly, shaking her head as we moved on.
The corridor stretched further ahead, and before long, we came across yet another door.
"Another one," Elaina said, gesturing toward it. "Alright, genius, what's your prediction this time?"
I stopped and sniffed the air. A faint, unpleasant odor hit my nose—something animalistic, like the stench of decay.
"Hmm… an animal-themed party, maybe?" I suggested with mock confidence.
Elaina raised an eyebrow. "Animal-themed party? You're really reaching now."
"And have you ever heard of 'Gentleman first?'" I countered, flashing her a teasing grin.
She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile forming on her lips.
"Gentleman first, huh? And here I thought chivalry was dead."
With an exaggerated flourish, she stepped aside and gestured toward the door. "After you, Sir Annoying."
I laughed and gave her a mock bow before pushing the door open.
The room inside was different—dim, but not pitch black. The eerie green glow of oil lamps illuminated the space, casting flickering shadows on the walls.
Elaina stepped in after me, her eyes scanning the room.
"Well, at least this one isn't completely dark," she commented, her tone a mix of relief and suspicion.
"Yeah," I said, looking around. "It's got that whole 'creepy mad scientist chic' vibe. Pretty cozy, don't you think?"
Elaina sighed, shaking her head. "Your definition of 'cozy' concerns me sometimes."
As I rounded the corner of the room, my breath caught in my throat. I froze, shocked by what I saw.
Bodies—animal bodies—piled up like a grotesque mountain, dissected and dismantled in a way I couldn't even begin to comprehend.
"This is terrible," I muttered, my eyes wide.
"Elaina—" I started to say, but I couldn't bring myself to let her see this nightmare.
I quickly turned to find her, and what I saw left me just as stunned.
She was staring at the scene, her face paling as she took it all in.
"What the hell…" she whispered, her usually composed demeanor shattered by the gruesome sight before us.
For a moment, neither of us could move, both of us paralyzed by the horror.
But then, my eyes landed on something worse: an elephant's head, still alive... barely clinging to existence in the sea of mutilated bodies.
A shiver ran down my spine, and I couldn't take it anymore. "Let's get out of here, Elaina."
I grabbed her wrist and yanked her back, desperate to escape.
Elaina didn't argue, nodding quietly as we made our way out of the horrific room.
Once we were outside, I looked at her, I felt a pang of guilt.
Trying to shake the tension, I patted her shoulder. "Forget about that and just remember my handsome face, okay?" I said, flashing a playful grin.
Elaina couldn't help herself—she snorted, clearly trying to hide the fact that my comment had lightened the mood a little.
"You're a lot of things," she said, her voice dry, "but 'handsome' isn't one of them."
I blinked, caught off guard. "Ouch! That's harsh."
But then I realized—I was still holding her wrist. I quickly let go, feeling a little awkward.
"Right, then, let's keep going!" I said with forced enthusiasm, trying to shake off the weird tension that had built up.
As we continued down the dark corridor, the ground suddenly trembled beneath our feet.
The quake caught us both off guard, and Elaina stumbled slightly, catching herself just in time as the tremors rattled through the air.
"What was that…?" she whispered, her voice tinged with unease as she scanned the surroundings, her eyes darting nervously.
And then we saw it.
A creature unlike anything I'd ever seen. The body of an elephant, the head of a lion, and wings… was that a wyvern?
But wait—there was a tail. A horse's tail? What was even going on here?
I stared in awe and disbelief. "Oh, it's been a long time since I saw a hybrid animal…"
"A hybrid animal?" Elaina's voice wavered, her eyes wide with surprised. "You're right, Arche.."
"Ridiculous is on the menu today"
I grinned nervously, trying to reassure her, though I was just as freaked out.
"I'm always right."
"Run!" she shouted, her breath ragged as she darted down the hallway.
"Any idea where to hide?!" she called over her shoulder, her voice panicked.
I spotted a door on the side and, without hesitation, yanked Elaina inside, slamming it shut behind us.
I quickly locked the door with a click. "Phew… that was close."
Elaina gasped for breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "That creature… It almost got us…"
I leaned against the door, wiping my forehead. "We can't hide here forever." I muttered, eyeing the empty room around us.
This room was empty, thank the heavens. I didn't want to be trapped in some creepy, confined space while a terrifying hybrid monster tried to break down the door.
I glanced around frantically, my mind racing for a way to deal with the creature outside. "We need a plan, Elaina. Any ideas?"
Elaina, still catching her breath, gave me a pointed look. "I'd settle for not dying first, if you don't mind."
We both stayed quiet for a moment, waiting, listening for any sign of the beast outside.
"Uh... Elaina!" I called out, voice shaky but trying to sound confident.
"Yeah?" Elaina turned toward me, her expression unreadable.
"I have a brilliant, genius idea!" I grinned arrogantly, puffing out my chest.
Elaina raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Oh? Do tell, genius."
I suddenly hesitated, my smug smile faltering. "Uh... Can you stop that... elephant... or lion... or wyvern... thing?"
My arrogance turned to confusion as I processed my own words.
Elaina blinked, her eyebrows furrowing in disbelief. "You want me to stop that hybrid creature? With magic?"
"YES! Creature! You are a genius, Elaina…" I trailed off, suddenly unsure of how this was going to work.
Elaina let out a long sigh, though the praise was nice.
"Well, I can try." Her voice was steadier now, the sense of urgency taking over. "But what's the plan, exactly?"
Before I could answer, the door splintered, and the wall was torn apart like wet tissue paper.
Without missing a beat, I sprinted forward, stepping in front of Elaina to act as a human shield.
"Elaina! Stand back! I'll be the bait!" I shouted, trying to sound heroic but only slightly panicking on the inside.
Elaina didn't hesitate. She stepped back, readying herself to take down the beast. But then she froze.
"Uh… Elaina?" I took a few steps back, my voice quieter now, sensing something was wrong.
Suddenly, Elaina's eyes widened. An eye—a huge, creepy, bloodshot eye—opened right in front of her, making her take a step back in shock.
Our backs met, the tension thick in the air. I whispered, "Elaina...? Hey, there's a scary monster in front of me, you know."
She leaned back, her voice barely audible. "There's one in front of me too, you know..."
I glanced back and my blood ran cold. It was a three-eyed creature—a hideous thing with rhinoceros horns and a body that looked like a chameleon.
"A chameleon?! No wonder we didn't see it..." I muttered under my breath, now realizing why it had blended in so well.
We were surrounded.
Two hybrid creatures, one in front of each of us, their eyes burning with an unmistakable murderous intent.
Great. Just great.
"What now…?" Elaina whispered, her voice barely audible, her eyes wide with fear.
I sighed, trying to stay calm. "If I had a dagger right now, I could take them out easily."
Elaina glanced at me, her expression determined despite the situation. "Yeah, well, we don't have that luxury."
I shot her a quick look. "Elaina... stop the chameleon."
"Okay..." She nodded, her voice quiet but steady, and her hands began to glow with magic.
Without warning, the chameleon creature lunged at her with its long, sticky tongue.
But Elaina was ready. She raised her wand, and with a swift flick, the creature froze in place, its tongue hanging uselessly in the air.
Meanwhile, the lion-elephant-wyvern hybrid—ugh, I hate hybrid creatures—was getting impatient.
I'll just call it 'Creature A' for now. It lunged at me with a snarl, its claws slashing the air.
"I really need to stop running into these freaky things…" I muttered as I dodged its attack.
Elaina, who was still focused on keeping the chameleon still, dodged Creature A's attack just in time.
But then, the chameleon—or Creature B, as I was now calling it—began to stir again.
Elaina hadn't quite kept her full attention on it, and now it was slithering toward us with its long, dangerous tongue swinging around.
Suddenly, from behind us, Creature A reappeared with a snarl, and Creature B charged at us.
"Whoa! Crap!" I shouted, pulling Elaina out of the way just in time as the creatures collided, their attacks barely missing us.
"This is not good..." Elaina muttered under her breath.
"Absolutely…" I agreed, trying to think of a plan, but it seemed like everything was happening too fast.
Then, unexpectedly, Creature A—still furious about getting attacked—turned on Creature B and launched itself at it, slamming into its side with surprising force.
The two creatures began to fight, claws and teeth clashing in a terrifying frenzy.
We stood frozen for a moment, watching the chaotic battle unfold.
Then, just as we thought we might get a breather, both creatures stopped fighting and turned toward us.
Their eyes glowed with malevolent intent, and we knew—without a doubt—that they were done with their fight.
"Witchie... are we thinking the same plan here?" I glanced at Elaina, unsure if we were on the same page.
"Yeah," she nodded with a grim smile. "Arche, you take the chameleon creature's attention."
I raised an eyebrow. "And you'll take the lion-thing?"
"Exactly," she confirmed. "Then we make them collide."
She grinned. "Since you're good at annoying people, maybe you can annoy that chameleon."
"Very well, Witchie!" I gave her a mock salute before dashing forward.
I locked eyes with the chameleon hybrid—Creature B—and grinned.
I started taunting it, exaggerating my movements and expressions.
I even gave it an obnoxious wave of my hand, mockingly flaunting my backside at it.
The creature, completely enraged by my antics, lunged toward me, its tongue snapping in the air.
"It's working," Elaina muttered, her focus unwavering as she prepared to get the lion hybrid's attention.
With a deep breath to steady herself, Elaina shouted, "Hey, ugly!"
Creature A—her target—snarled, immediately shifting its attention from us and charging after her.
We both sprinted to opposite ends of the room—me heading east, Elaina taking the west.
Without missing a beat, we took to the air with our broomsticks, soaring high above the chaos below.
When we saw that we were close enough, we turned sharply, and with a synchronized motion, we urged the two creatures into each other's path.
The impact was deafening as the two monsters collided in a violent explosion of scales, fur, and fury.
Elaina and I hovered above them, watching as they thrashed, each struggling to overpower the other.
"Well, now we can get out of here," I said, grinning with relief.
"Agreed," Elaina nodded, her eyes never leaving the battling hybrids.
We didn't wait to see who would win. As the creatures fought, we flew swiftly out of the room, slamming the door behind us.
As we exited the stairwell, we spotted another set of stairs.
"Oh? Let's go up there," I said, hopping off my broomstick.
"Alright," Elaina replied, dismounting as well.
We ascended the stairs in silence, the soft echo of our footsteps on the stone steps filling the air.
When we reached the second floor, the hallway stretched out in front of us, eerily similar to the one below.
"Again...? That means there are stairs at the end of this hall too," I remarked, glancing around.
"Looks like it," Elaina replied, her gaze scanning the corridor ahead.
The main difference between this hallway and the previous one? Light.
The faint glow of lamps lined the walls, casting unsettling shadows across the floor.
"There are still lights... I'm guessing there are still people here," I said, continuing to walk forward, the quiet hum of the lamps the only sound accompanying us.
Despite the lights, the silence felt oppressive, like the calm before a storm.
"So, it wasn't abandoned after all... then where are these people?" Elaina mused aloud, her eyes darting around, every shadow making her tense.
"Who knows," I shrugged, but my gaze had already shifted. A door stood ahead, partially ajar.
"Want to check?" I asked, my voice quieter now, as though the silence around us demanded it.
"Might as well..." Elaina agreed, her grip tightening around her broomstick, ready for anything.
We moved toward the door, the air feeling colder as we approached.
I stepped inside, and the sight that greeted me made my stomach drop.
The room was like something out of a nightmare.
Elaina peered inside, but I immediately wished she hadn't.
Hanging from the walls were human intestines, grotesque and still dripping.
On the floor, severed heads stared blankly with wide, unseeing eyes.
Piles of dismembered bodies, unrecognizable in their mutilation, lay scattered across the room.
The chilling worst were the eyeballs—stored in jars, their glassy stares fixed on nothing.
"Elaina, don't look…" I whispered, my voice trembling.
But it was too late. Elaina's gaze had already locked onto the room, her face draining of color as she took in the horror before us.
Her eyes widened in shock and disgust, and I instinctively covered them with my hand, pulling her away from the gruesome sight.
"What the…" she whispered, her stomach twisting, but her voice barely rose above a hoarse whisper.
I quickly led her out of the room, slamming the door behind us, the echo of it too loud in the oppressive silence.
"Are you okay?" I asked, my voice full of concern, though I could feel the horror creeping into my own bones.
Elaina took a shaky breath, her hands trembling at her sides, as she fought the overwhelming nausea rising within her.
"I'm… I'm fine," she said, though her voice wavered.
"That... that was…" She trailed off, unable to finish the sentence, her mind clearly unable to process what she had just witnessed.
I cursed under my breath, my guilt clawing at me. "Sorry, it's my fault…"
Without another word, she steadied herself, her voice regaining its firmness. "Just… let's keep going. We can't dwell on something like this."
I gave her a faint smile, relief mixing with concern, before we continued down the hallway, the grim atmosphere hanging over us like a suffocating fog.
We stood before a line of doors, each one an ominous mystery.
I checked one, my mind racing as I eyed the dark hallway.
"Elaina, you stay outside, okay?"
She nodded, her face unreadable as she leaned against the wall. "Alright, I'll wait here," she said, her posture stiff, as if anticipating something.
I stepped into the room. No surprise crossed my face anymore.
This place—this hellhole—was a place of torture.
A jar sat on a table, its contents dark and thick. "Collecting blood, huh…?" I muttered, feeling my stomach churn.
The walls were lined with torture devices—some gleaming, others rusted, their dark history practically screaming out.
Dead bodies, mangled beyond recognition, were strewn across the room, their lifeless eyes staring into nothingness.
I swallowed hard and backed away, the grotesque sight searing into my mind.
I quickly shut the door behind me and stepped back into the hallway, my heart racing.
"I understand now," I murmured, feeling the weight of the realization settle heavily on my chest.
Elaina looked up at me, eyebrow arched in curiosity. "You understand now?" She asked, voice laced with confusion. "Understand what?"
I exhaled slowly as we walked, trying to steady my nerves. "That room… it's a place of torture."
Her expression shifted, her lips parting as I continued, "People who enter here are used for experiments, tortured beyond recognition."
Her pace faltered for a moment as the words sank in, and then she nodded solemnly.
"That means there's a mad scientist still alive here."
Her voice dropped to a near whisper, "A mad scientist…"
"Yeah," I said, my voice quieter now. "Makes sense, doesn't it?"
She nodded, her face now set in grim understanding. We both turned to face a staircase ahead, the path leading us higher.
We climbed to the third floor, every step heavier than the last.
As we reached the top, there was only one door. A single, imposing door.
"Only one door?" Elaina mused, her brow furrowing. "That's odd. The layout's different from the others."
"I'm sure this is where the mad scientist is," I said, my hand brushing against the cold doorknob.
"Seems likely," she agreed, stepping closer, her eyes alert as she followed me.
I turned the doorknob slowly and pushed the door open.
The room was a chaotic mess, papers scattered everywhere, some covered in strange markings.
And in the center of it all stood a man.
He was huge, though not in the muscular sense—his body was fat, bloated even.
His head was bald, and his green clothes were a jarring contrast against the dingy walls.
The sight of him sent an unsettling chill down my spine. This was the person responsible for all of it.
"You're right, Elaina"
"About what?"
"He might be trying to cure his baldness with some kind of bat potion."
She grinned, "I'm always right"
"Welcome... I've been waiting for you," the man greeted us, his voice cool and collected.
He adjusted his round glasses as he stepped forward.
I narrowed my eyes at him, instinctively on edge. "You're from the Lunar Ascendance Organization, right?"
A chill ran down my spine. The logo of the Lunar Ascendance had been visible in the previous room—an image that haunted me more than the grotesque displays around us.
I glanced at Elaina. Her face was pale, and her eyes held a look of disbelief.
Did she know something about this organization too?
"Yes! You're right, Zero Four!" He pointed at me as if we were old friends. "I know you too, you know."
A strange pride swelled in his chest as he continued, "Because, well... you could say I'm one of His Majesty DEATH's trusted people."
The words hung in the air, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. The man was connected to DEATH himself?
"You've met Zeph before, right?" he asked, a mocking tone creeping into his voice. "You failed to defeat him, right?"
The mention of Zeph hit me like a slap. Valth, Zeph, and now this man—what twisted trio had I walked into?
"Valth... Zeph... And your name must be..." I hesitated, piecing things together. "Hugh, right?"
The man let out an exaggerated sigh. He stood up straight and struck a dramatic pose, his smile wide as if enjoying some secret joke.
"Too bad, but my name is..." He paused for effect, "Johannes."
I blinked in confusion. "Huh?"
Johannes chuckled at my reaction, clearly pleased with himself. "You don't know me, huh?"
"You're not the first person to forget about me. But I assure you, I'm every bit as dangerous as those two."
I narrowed my eyes, still processing. "You're one of DEATH's trusted men, right?"
"Yes, that's right!" He responded with a grin that sent a cold shiver down my spine.
"Valtherion, Zepharion, and Johannes," I muttered, the names swirling in my head.
His name, his appearance—they were nothing like Valth or Zeph. Something about Johannes felt... off. Different.
"Are you sure you're one of them?" I asked, my voice betraying my disbelief.
Johannes' expression twisted in mock hurt. "Of course I am! Why is it so hard to believe? Why is it only Valth and Zeph who get all the fame?!"
I stared at him for a moment, feeling a strange mix of pity and disgust. "I feel sorry for you," I muttered.
But his expression softened, as if savoring the moment.
"Rather than that... I'm just glad I could meet you again, Zero Four."
"Wait, have we met before?" I asked, my mind racing. I couldn't recall ever meeting him before.
His face was unfamiliar, yet something about his presence felt unsettlingly familiar.
Johannes' smile widened as he looked at me, a flash of amusement in his eyes.
"Oh... I understand now," he said, his voice dripping with mock sympathy.
"Being part of the organization is a bad memory for you, isn't it? You don't want to remember it, do you?"
I frowned, not sure how to respond. What was he implying? The organization? What was he talking about?
He continued, his voice suddenly becoming more smug, "I am Valth's rival, you know. We've always been in competition to create the perfect human."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My mind raced, processing what he had just said.
Valth's rival? A competitor in creating perfect humans? The thought sent a chill down my spine.
I could see Elaina, who had been silent up until that point, was equally stunned by his confession.
Her face had paled, and her usual composure had cracked.
Johannes seemed to enjoy the shock he'd caused. He leaned back, eyes gleaming with pride.
"And unlike him, my experimental creatures didn't betray me," he added with a cold smile.
Before I could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows. The moment I saw him, my stomach turned.
"Come here, Johan Junior," Johannes called out.
The figure limped toward us, and the sight of him was grotesque—his body was a patchwork of mismatched limbs, scars, and signs of crude stitching.
I could see the unmistakable traces of teak wood fused into his skin, as if it had been grafted onto him.
Johannes' voice dropped to a whisper, full of eerie pride. "I took this handsome face from one of the most beautiful men I met..."
"Then I took the brain of a brilliant scientist." His eyes gleamed as he spoke, as if savoring every word.
"I took this hand from a knight I poisoned, and this leg? I took it from the fastest runner I could find, though he put up quite a fight. "
"The most troublesome, because his speed made him hard to catch."
He paused, letting the weight of his words hang in the air, before finishing with an almost reverential tone.
"I combined their greatness and created him. My masterpiece."
The creature—Johan Junior—stood silently, as though it understood the twisted pride behind Johannes' words.
Elaina felt a sickening wave of disgust wash over her as she looked at the creature—Johan Junior—its grotesque form standing as a twisted mockery of life.
Her gaze then shifted to Johan, who stood proudly before his creation, as if he were admiring a work of art.
She could barely believe it. He actually saw this... thing as a masterpiece.
The air around them seemed to thicken with the madness emanating from him.
"Elaina, move back," I whispered urgently, my voice low but sharp.
Elaina didn't hesitate. She nodded and silently stepped back, her face pale as she distanced herself from the grotesque scene unfolding before her.
"And the people who try to get in here?" I asked, my voice edged with disbelief, trying to make sense of what was happening.
Johannes smirked, almost as if enjoying the twisted conversation.
"Oh, I caught them. Tried to make them into something like Johan Junior, but it didn't work out. Not like this one."
His gaze flickered toward Elaina, his eyes narrowing with a calculating gleam.
"Oh, that Ashen woman over there," he said, his finger pointing directly at her.
My instincts flared, and I immediately stepped in front of Elaina, raising my hand to shield her.
Johannes' smile twisted into something darker, almost predatory.
"She's interesting, you know," he continued, his voice slow and deliberate, savoring the words as if they were a forbidden secret.
"I could make the best creatures with her as my base. She's... very different from the others."
I felt my blood boil. "I won't let you!" I snapped, my voice laced with fury. "I'll chop you up if you so much as touch her."
Johannes let out a short, cold laugh, the sound echoing ominously in the room.
He didn't seem at all disturbed by my threat. In fact, he looked almost... entertained.
"Oh, don't be so hostile, Zero Four," he teased, his tone mocking.
"You know, you're actually the only true masterpiece of Valth."
"The most interesting one, by far."
His eyes gleamed with dark curiosity, as if he were studying me, probing for something deeper, something more dangerous within me.
"But... what if Johan Junior fought you?" he said, almost casually, the challenge hanging between us like a noose. "Let's see who the real masterpiece is."
Without another word, he gave a cold command. "Johan Junior... Destroy Zero Four."
Junior dashed toward me with lightning speed. I raised my hands to block his punch, but the force sent me flying backward.
Without wasting a second, I launched an uppercut that sent Junior soaring upward.
I reached for his leg, intending to grab hold, but his foot came crashing down onto my face instead.
I stumbled back, dazed, and caught a glimpse of Elaina locked in combat with Johan.
But my momentary distraction cost me dearly. Junior's kick connected with my face, sending me sprawling to the side.
I couldn't afford to lose focus, not even for a second.
Meanwhile, Elaina fired spell after spell at Johan. Despite his massive, lumbering frame, he dodged with surprising agility.
He retaliated using gadgets of his own design, one of them being an electric pistol—capable of firing charged blasts directly at Elaina.
She dodged each shot with precision, their battle becoming a clash of wits as much as skill, each trying to outmaneuver the other.
Back to my fight, I was now straddling Junior after managing to bring him down.
My fists slammed into his face repeatedly, but Junior wasn't just brawn—he was smart.
He flipped the situation in an instant, pinning me beneath him.
He raised his fist to strike, but I slammed my forehead into his, making him stagger back.
Taking advantage of the moment, I scrambled to my feet and charged at him, aiming a kick.
Junior caught my leg mid-air and hurled me to the ground, slamming me against the staircase.
Pain shot through my body, but I grabbed his shirt collar, dragging him with me as we both tumbled onto the second floor.
Back to Elaina—my move to the second floor gave her more space to fight.
She launched an ice spell toward Johan, followed by an attempt to ensnare him with vines, but Johan deftly dodged the icy attack.
In response, Johan poured some kind of concoction over the vines, causing them to wither instantly.
He then hurled a bottle filled with poison toward her.
As the bottle shattered, Elaina quickly conjured a barrier to shield herself from the spreading toxins.
Outside the barrier, Johan tried to electrocute Elaina from behind.
Unfortunately for him, she had already enchanted the floor behind her. Anyone who stepped on it was frozen in place.
As the poison's mist began to clear, Elaina turned and saw Johan immobilized.
With all her strength, she delivered a kick to his chest, then released the enchantment.
Johan stumbled back slightly, regaining his footing.
"Maybe I should ask Arche to teach me some hand-to-hand combat," Elaina muttered to herself.
Johan, undeterred, grabbed a nearby bucket of water and poured it over the floor, drenching it completely.
Elaina stepped into the puddle, eyeing him cautiously. "What are you planning to do?"
Johan pulled out a device capable of discharging electricity.
Realizing his intent, Elaina quickly grabbed her broom and leaped onto it.
In an instant, she soared into the air, hovering above the ground and avoiding the electricity that surged through the wet floor.
On the second floor, Junior and I traded punches and kicks, each strike fiercer than the last. I was still searching for a way to take him down.
I managed to slip behind him, grabbing hold and slamming him hard onto the floor. Seizing the moment, I yanked his collar and hurled him into the wall.
Junior wasn't one to stay down. He charged at me again, launching a flurry of punches that I barely managed to dodge.
Switching tactics, he lunged forward, grabbing my face with his hand.
With terrifying strength, he slammed my head into the floor.
Pain exploded in my skull, but I saw an opportunity. While still on the ground, I drove my foot into his stomach with all the strength I could muster, sending him stumbling back.
Not wasting a moment, I dashed toward him as he struggled to recover, delivering another punch straight to his gut.
This time, I made him pay. Grabbing his head, I slammed his face into the floor with brutal force.
I pulled him up by his hair, noticing his face now covered in blood.
Grabbing a sharp piece of metal nearby, I plunged it into his body without hesitation.
The metal sank deep, and blood poured from the wound. His eyes went lifeless.
I had killed Johan's masterpiece.
Letting out a heavy breath, I dragged his lifeless body and tossed it into one of the nearby rooms, leaving it behind.
Blood trickled down my forehead, but there was no time to rest.
I had to keep moving. Steeling myself, I climbed to the next floor to help Elaina.
When I reached the top floor, I noticed the ground was damp and slippery.
Elaina was hovering above it, perched on her flying broom.
In front of me stood Johan. I gripped the sharp piece of metal I brought from the floor below, ready to strike him the moment he let his guard down.
I moved quietly, creeping closer until I was right behind him.
I lunged to stab him, but Johan's hand shot out, catching the metal mid-thrust.
"Did you really think I wouldn't notice you?" Johan said with a mocking tone.
I yanked the sharp metal back and quickly moved to Elaina's side.
"Hey, miss me already?" I asked with a grin, even though my face was covered in blood.
Elaina sighed and conjured a barrier, preventing Johan from attacking us. She then floated closer to me.
"Instead of flirting with me, how about asking me to heal you first?" she said.
She raised her wand then used healing magic, and I could feel my wound closing instantly.
"I've said this before, but magic is really terrifying," I remarked, still marveling at how quickly I was patched up.
"In a good way," Elaina replied with a faint smile.
"Well, we've made a mistake now," I said, straightening up.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Elaina asked, confused.
"We've wasted too much time. By now, I'm sure Johan has already come up with a plan," I replied grimly.
"We can't underestimate those bastards from that damned organization..."
As Elaina lowered her barrier, Johan came into full view, standing there silently and staring at us with a chilling intensity.
He said nothing, but his presence alone felt heavier than any words.
"I swear, this is scarier than when he starts yapping."
"He's probably going to pop up right in front of us any second now," I muttered, breaking the silence.
"If that happens, it'll be truly horrifying," Elaina replied, her gaze fixed on Johan.
"One thing's for sure—he's planning something right now."
"Oh, how sweet. You two make such a lovely pair," Johan finally spoke, his tone mocking.
"But you're not wrong. I've devised a plan that will end both of you right here."
From inside his suit, he pulled out a knife. Both of us froze for a moment, caught off guard by how underwhelming it seemed.
"See, Elaina?" I said, tilting my head toward her.
"For once, I'm not the only weirdo who keeps dangerous, pointy objects hidden in their clothes."
"Ugh... fine. You win," Elaina replied sarcastically, clearly uninterested in humoring me further.
"So, what exactly are you planning to do with that knife, fatass?" I asked, smirking.
"WHAT ELSE?! TO DEFEAT YOU BOTH!" Johan roared, his voice echoing across the room.
Johan charged at us, knife in hand, aiming directly at us.
I stepped forward and stopped it—by letting the blade pierce through the palm of my hand.
The knife went clean through, blood dripping from my hand, but I didn't flinch.
"Why?" I asked, glaring at him. "I thought you were supposed to be the smartest one among Valth and Zeph."
"And I am," Johan replied with a smirk. Suddenly, I noticed a small button on the knife. He pressed it before I could react.
I immediately kicked his bloated stomach, sending him stumbling back, but it was too late—he'd already pressed the button.
A surge of electricity coursed through my body, causing every nerve to scream in agony.
Gritting my teeth, I yanked the knife out of my hand, tossing it aside.
"Arche!" Elaina rushed to me, her voice filled with worry.
I dropped to my knees, trembling from the shock. My right hand was limp, barely responsive.
"Elaina!" I shouted, shoving her away just as Johan hurled the same knife toward her.
It narrowly missed, embedding itself in the wall.
"I'll electrocute you both to death!" Johan roared, his voice brimming with malice.
Forcing myself back to my feet, I smirked through the pain.
"H-Huh...? That's your big plan? Pathetic. Anyone could've come up with something like that."
Johan sneered. "Says the idiot who let the knife stab through his hand in the first place."
Elaina swiftly summoned magical vines, which wrapped tightly around Johan's body, binding him completely.
With a forceful motion, she hurled him back into the room.
The knife slipped from Johan's grasp, clattering to the ground.
I picked it up with my left hand—my right still too weak to move.
Without hesitation, I sprinted toward Johan. With his entire body restrained by Elaina's vines, he was powerless to fight back.
I drove the knife straight into his chest, aiming for his heart, and pressed the same button he had activated earlier.
Electricity surged through his body, causing him to convulse violently, his muscles twitching uncontrollably.
When his movements stopped, I pulled the knife out and looked down at his lifeless body.
"Huff..." I let out a deep breath, my chest rising and falling as the tension slowly drained away.
Elaina approached me slowly, her expression soft, as if searching for any sign of injury I was trying to hide.
"Are you alright?" Her voice, gentle and laced with concern, reached me, and I could feel the weight of her worry settle over me.
I tried to force a smile, brushing off the pain. "You worry too much, Elaina." I attempted to be strong, but the effort was evident in my strained tone.
Before I could say anything more, Elaina's hand was already glowing with magic, and the warmth of her healing flowed into me, easing the ache in my body.
Despite my best attempt to mask it, Elaina wasn't fooled.
"You're always saying the same thing," she muttered, her voice barely audible but filled with concern.
"And you never give me a straight answer."
I let out a soft chuckle as the healing magic finished, leaving me feeling much better.
"Thank you, Witchie," I said, offering a playful grin.
Elaina rolled her eyes at the nickname, a small, exasperated smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"You're welcome, Idiot," she teased, her tone light, though her eyes still held a trace of worry.
Suddenly, a man's voice cut through the air, low and filled with a chilling determination.
"I won't lose..."
I whipped around in surprise. There, standing in the doorway, was Johan, holding a strange device with a large button in his hand.
I froze.
He's still alive?!
"If I die here... you will die too," Johan continued, his voice steady, but there was a hint of resignation behind it.
The words hung in the air like a threat.
"I'm not as strong as Zeph..." he muttered, his eyes distant.
"And it turns out I'm not as smart as Valth... I'm the weakest one of them all."
"The only thing I can be proud of... is my intelligence."
He looked down at the floor, the weight of his thoughts apparent in his posture.
"Your Highness DEATH... Is this what you want...?" Johan spoke to no one in particular, as if addressing an unseen presence.
"One of your trusted people... the one you thought was the smartest... and yet, it seems I'm not that smart after all..."
He lifted his head, his eyes locking with mine as if he had found some clarity.
"...No... I am smart. It's just that my enemy is smarter than me."
A faint, twisted smile tugged at his lips as he spoke again. "Huh... there's always a bigger fish, huh?"
I tensed, sensing the danger in his words. Before I could react, he pressed the button.
The moment he did, the atmosphere seemed to crackle with imminent danger.
"Don't!" I shouted, but it was too late.
Elaina and I exchanged a look. Without another word, we bolted for the door, rushing out of the room just as the air seemed to pulse with an overwhelming force.
The blast that followed was deafening, shaking the very walls of the building.
I could feel the shockwave hit just as we made our escape.
The explosion ripped through the room behind us, leaving nothing but the remnants of Johan's final, desperate move.
"We have to get out of here!" My voice cracked as I tugged Elaina's hand, panic clawing at me.
The explosion behind us was getting closer—too close.
If we didn't run faster, we would be caught in the blast.
"Arche! Calm down!" Elaina's voice cut through the panic.
Her steady tone was like a lifeline, pulling me back from the edge of hysteria.
"Huh..? Sorry, I panicked," I mumbled, feeling the weight of my own fear pressing down.
Elaina didn't waste a second. She pulled out her broomstick, the sleek object glowing slightly in the dim light.
I scrambled to follow suit, but my right hand was still stiff, unresponsive from the earlier battle.
When I tried to use my left hand, the explosion surged closer, forcing my heart into my throat.
"Elaina!" I barely had time to call her name before she reached out to me.
Without hesitation, I grabbed her hand, and in one fluid motion, she lifted me onto her broomstick.
"Thank you..." I said, breathless.
"Hold on tight," Elaina said, her voice surprisingly calm. The determination in her words steadied me.
She kicked off the ground, and we were airborne, darting toward the exit.
But the explosion was relentless, gaining on us with terrifying speed.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw that we wouldn't make it if we didn't act fast.
I fumbled in my pocket and pulled out a small, glowing gem.
My fingers trembled as I handed it to Elaina.
"Elaina, take this," I said urgently.
She looked down at the gem, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"What's this for?" she asked, her gaze flickering between the gem and the growing inferno behind us.
"That's a teleportation gem. Destroy it, and you'll be teleported to safety," I explained quickly, knowing there was no time to waste.
We were so close to the exit now, but the explosion was catching up to us with every passing second.
"Hurry up!" I shouted.
"Are you—" Elaina started to ask, but I cut her off.
"Do it!" I screamed, my heart pounding. "I'll be fine!"
With no more hesitation, Elaina crushed the gem in her hand, and a burst of light erupted around us.
In an instant, she was gone, transported to safety, far from the danger.
I wasn't as fortunate. The explosion roared behind me, hot and unrelenting.
I took a deep breath and pulled out my own broomstick.
With a desperate push, I soared toward the exit. The wind whipped past me, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't match Elaina's speed.
She was already out of reach, leaving me to face the explosion alone.
I just had to make it out... before the blast caught up.
The world around me spun as the explosion hit.
I was thrown violently, my body crashing into the ground far from the source of the blast.
My vision blurred, but through the haze, I saw Elaina—her form glowing with a protective barrier, shielding me from the full force of the explosion.
Then, darkness claimed me, and everything went black.
When I finally regained consciousness, the first thing I noticed was the sterile smell of a hospital room.
I blinked, trying to focus, and my surroundings came into sharper view.
I was lying in a hospital bed, bandages wrapped around me like a second skin.
But as I turned my head slightly, I saw her—Sheila, sitting quietly by my side, her blonde hair shining under the soft light.
She had been waiting for me to wake up.
"Huh? Are you awake?" Sheila said, her voice a mix of relief and concern.
She moved to get up, clearly intending to call for the doctor. "I'll call the doctor."
I shifted slightly, trying to sit up, though my body protested. "Sheila... Is Elaina okay?" My voice was weak, but the question burned in my chest.
Sheila smiled faintly, a soft warmth in her expression.
"She's fine, thanks to you," she said gently before heading out to fetch the doctor.
Soon after, the doctor came in and began checking my condition.
I could feel the weight of the bandages as he examined me, but hearing him say that I was fine, despite the obvious signs of my struggle, brought me a sense of relief.
The pain was manageable, and knowing Elaina was safe was all that mattered.
Once the doctor left, Sheila returned to my side, sitting down with a soft sigh. Her voice was filled with guilt as she spoke.
"I'm sorry. Because of me, you became like this."
I gave her a reassuring smile, though it probably looked more strained than I intended.
"Well... I've been in hospitals more times than I can count, so this is nothing," I said, trying to lighten the mood.
"But... don't forget the payment, okay?"
She looked at me, a playful glint in her eyes despite her earlier concern.
"Don't worry. I'll take responsibility," she said with a faint smile. "I'll pay for your medical expenses here."
"Good," I chuckled weakly. "Because I'd hate to be buried under a mountain of debt while I'm lying here looking like a mummy."
I gave a casual shrug, trying to sound nonchalant despite my current state. "Well... I'm used to being involved in danger."
Sheila raised an eyebrow, a sly grin creeping onto her face.
"Because you're a former famous thief, right?" she asked, teasing. "The Emerald Thief, is that right?"
My eyes shot wide open, and I froze. If I could move properly right now, I would've lunged at her with a thousand questions. "When—"
She laughed, clearly enjoying my flustered reaction. "Oh, don't give me that look. I figured it out the moment we met."
"What?!" I sputtered, my voice a mixture of confusion and disbelief.
Sheila leaned back in her chair, a smug expression on her face. "Yeah, I started investigating."
"I noticed the similarities—the way you fight, the way you joke, the way you move... all of it."
I blinked. "You're kidding..."
She gave a little shrug, her face beaming with self-pride. "I'm pretty smart, you know."
I couldn't help but let out a chuckle at her antics. "So, what now? You planning to imprison me? 'The infamous thief caught red-handed,' and all that?"
She thought for a moment, her expression a mix of mock seriousness and amusement.
"Well, at first, I was totally going to imprison you right away."
"I mean, you've mocked me so many times, I could've just thrown you in a cell and been done with it."
"Wow, I see how it is," I grinned, trying to suppress the chuckles bubbling up. "And now you're my worst nightmare, huh?"
"But, after seeing how you helped me," she continued, her tone shifting slightly, "and after seeing your current... condition," she added, with a wink at my bandaged-up state, "I thought, maybe I'm not that bad of a person, you know."
"Wait, does this mean I'm off the hook?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sheila stood up, stretching as she walked toward the door, a faint smile on her face.
"Arche, to repay my debt of gratitude, I'll remain silent about your past life as a thief."
I blinked, taken aback. "Really?"
"Yep. Your secret's safe with me." She threw me one last playful look. "Are you satisfied now?"
I gave a dramatic nod, acting like I had just been granted a royal pardon. "Mhm, I'll accept that gladly."
With a final, teasing grin, she opened the door to leave, but not before adding one last remark.
"Just don't get yourself into any more trouble. It's exhausting keeping secrets about a thief who acts like a walking disaster."
"Who, me?" I said with an exaggerated innocent look. "No promises"
Sheila looked surprised as she turned to talk to someone, and my curiosity was piqued. Who could it be?
"Arche, you have a guest," Sheila said, waving her hand dismissively. "I'm sure you'll want to talk to her."
The door creaked open, and I nearly jumped out of my bandages at the sight of the person who walked in. You guessed it, right?
Yes, it was Elaina.
"Good..." I muttered, my eyes lazily drifting to the window.
It was still pretty dark outside, and when I checked the clock, I saw that it was only four in the morning. "Morning."
Elaina let out a sigh of relief as she heard me speak, clearly relieved that I was awake.
"It's not quite morning yet," she replied, her gaze immediately focused on me, scrutinizing every little detail as if making sure I hadn't turned into a pile of bandages while she was gone.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," I said, trying to sound upbeat.
"Even though I have a few broken bones..." I paused dramatically. "But my condition is fine!"
Elaina crossed her arms, giving me a look that screamed 'parental disapproval.'
"A few broken bones aren't what I'd call 'fine,' you know."
She stepped closer to my bedside, her face shifting from concern to a mix of worry and relief.
"Why did you do something so reckless?"
I grinned, as if the answer was the simplest thing in the world. "Because I'm Arche."
She stared at me for a moment, her expression turning to a dry sarcasm.
"Ah, of course. 'Because I'm Arche.' That's a perfectly logical response when it comes to you."
"Heheh! I do!" I wanted to strike a cool pose, but my body felt like it was made of broken glass, so I settled for a pose that didn't require much movement.
It was... a cool pose, obviously.
Elaina raised an eyebrow, clearly fighting back a smile.
"Of course you do," she said, shaking her head with amusement. "Only you would think you could pose cool right now."
I winked, as dramatically as I could muster with my current state. "When you've got it, you've got it."
She laughed softly, her eyes softening with affection, though she still looked at me like I was an idiot. "You really never change, do you?"
"Well, that's the point," I said with a mischievous grin. "Why change perfection?"
The room grew heavy with silence, the weight of Elaina's words hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break.
I shifted uncomfortably in my bed, unsure of how to respond to the unexpected tension.
Elaina, sensing the shift, let out a soft sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly as she sank into the chair beside me.
Her gaze softened, but there was still a trace of worry in her eyes.
"You really had me worried back there," she said quietly, her voice thick with concern.
"You always manage to get yourself into trouble."
I flashed a grin, trying to lighten the mood. "You're really worried about me, huh? Aww, you're gonna make me blush."
But instead of the usual playful banter, Elaina's eyes narrowed, her expression hardening. She wasn't amused.
"You can't just joke your way out of everything, Arche," she said, her voice sharpening.
A hint of frustration slipped through. "There's a difference between being a jokester and being reckless, you know?"
I could feel the tension building, the weight of her words pressing down on me.
She leaned in slightly, fixing me with that intense, serious gaze.
"You always do dangerous things and make people worry," she continued, her voice trembling with the force of her feelings. "Why can't you just—"
Before she could finish, I cut her off, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
"'Always'? You say that as if you know anything about my past."
My tone was sharper than I intended, but it was too late to take back.
The words hung between us like a challenge.
"You don't know anything about me, Elaina," I added, my voice colder, trying to put some distance between her and the truth I'd buried for so long.
Elaina's expression didn't waver. She didn't flinch or back away, instead, she took a deep breath.
The air between us thickened, the silence now louder than ever.
"I know," she said, her voice quieter but resolute. "I know about your past."
I froze, my heart racing in my chest. The room seemed to close in on me.
The weight of her words hit harder than any physical blow. She knew. She knew. And that—that—changed everything.
The silence stretched on as Elaina's words sank in, each one heavier than the last.
I felt a wave of disbelief crash over me. How could she possibly know?
My past had always been something I kept buried, locked away, only visible to those who had a reason to dig.
But Elaina... She knew.
I stared at her, my mouth slightly open, unable to form a coherent response.
How could she know all of that? How?
Her calm, steady gaze met mine, unwavering.
She wasn't looking at me with pity, nor was there any judgment in her eyes.
But there was something else. Determination. And maybe... understanding.
"I know," she repeated softly, allowing the words to sink in.
"I know about the things you've been through, the pain you've endured."
I barely managed to croak out a response. "H-How did you know...?"
She didn't flinch. "I have my ways."
Her words were simple, but they carried weight. There was no hesitation, no uncertainty in her voice.
She knew. And now, so did I. My heart raced in my chest, and I struggled to breathe as the truth hit me, overwhelming my senses.
"You know... all of it?" I asked again, my voice barely above a whisper, still trying to grasp the enormity of it.
She leaned back in the chair, her posture relaxed, but her eyes locked onto mine with unflinching intensity. "Yes."
She didn't stop there. She continued, listing off the pieces of my shattered past like she was reading a book she knew by heart.
"About your father and mother, about your life on the streets, when you were a slave..."
"You were experimented on by a man named Valth."
"The death of a friend who liked you at your academy..."
Her voice was steady, but every word felt like a dagger, carving into the walls I'd built around myself.
"I know all that, Arche."
My breath hitched, and for a moment, everything around me blurred.
My heart was hammering in my chest, my mind racing as I struggled to process what she'd just said.
She knows.
She knows everything.
I couldn't speak. I couldn't even look at her. The weight of her knowledge pressed down on me, and my mind scrambled to make sense of it.
This wasn't supposed to happen. No one was supposed to know.
I forced a laugh, though it came out hollow and empty. "Is that so..? I knew you would find out sooner or later..."
I swallowed hard, trying to push back the fear, the panic that rose inside me.
I had always expected this moment to come, but I never imagined it would be this soon. This real.
"But... I didn't think it would be this fast," I mumbled, my voice cracking with the weight of my emotions.
Elaina was silent for a long moment, watching me, her expression unreadable.
And then, when I couldn't bear to look at her anymore, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and muttered the words I was dreading to hear her answer.
"That means you're going to stay away from me after this, right...?" I asked, my voice barely audible, as I braced for the rejection I felt was coming.
I didn't want to see the pity in her eyes. I didn't want to face the inevitable.
But somehow, I knew it was coming. The moment she knew everything about me, I was sure she would walk away, just like everyone else always did.
But then, the silence stretched longer than I expected.
And when I finally gathered the courage to look at her, I didn't see the rejection I feared. Instead, Elaina was simply... watching me.
Elaina's eyes softened as she listened to my words, her expression faltering for just a second.
It wasn't the reaction I expected. I had braced myself for rejection, for her to back away slowly, to tell me that she couldn't be close to someone like me.
But instead, she looked at me with something that resembled... understanding.
"What makes you think that?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion and concern.
I bit my lip, unsure of how to express the storm that was raging inside me.
"Huh? Because everyone close to me will die... like my father, my grandfather, Luna..." My voice trailed off as the memories flooded in.
The faces of those I had lost, the ones who had been taken from me.
"I've experienced being shunned before, after the students at the academy found out about my past..." I continued, my words barely more than a whisper now.
"They stay away from me, they think that if they are close to me, they'll be unlucky, and worse, they'll die."
I couldn't help the bitter laugh that escaped me.
I had seen it too many times. Every time someone got too close, I saw the fear in their eyes, the way they slowly distanced themselves as if I were cursed.
Elaina fell silent for a long moment, listening carefully, her gaze soft but intense.
When she finally spoke, her voice was calm, steady, but there was a firmness to it that made me pause.
"You think I'm going to do the same? Avoid you because of what you've been through in the past?" she asked, her eyes meeting mine with a quiet determination.
I couldn't respond right away. What could I say?
I had lived my whole life with this fear that anyone who came close to me would be dragged into my chaos, that they'd end up hurt, or worse.
It was all I had known. And yet, Elaina was standing here, not looking at me with pity or fear, but with something else—something that made my chest tighten.
Her voice broke through my thoughts, as calm as ever, but with an undeniable sense of resolve. "No. I'm not going anywhere, Arche."
I blinked, my mind racing.
She wasn't going to leave me?
She wasn't going to walk away after everything I had just said?
I couldn't process it.
I opened my mouth to argue, to tell her how dangerous it was to stay close to me, but the words stuck in my throat.
Instead, all that came out was a rushed, panicked confession.
"No, if you come near me, you'll have bad luck, you know!" I blurted.
"I don't want anything to happen to you! Just before, you almost got seriously injured in the lab." My voice was frantic now, my breath quick.
"I don't want you... I don't want you to get hurt!" I felt my body tense up, the fear clawing at my chest.
I wanted to protect her, to keep her safe from everything I had brought into her life.
"Because of me..." I trailed off, my voice barely audible as I looked away, unable to face her.
"Bad luck...? You think being anywhere near you is going to cause me harm? That's ridiculous," Elaina snapped, her voice sharp and cutting through the tension like a blade.
Her eyes held a fierce determination that made me hesitate.
"And who says I got hurt because of you? You're the one who was hurt, you know."
Her words were firm, but there was a softness underlying them, a softness I wasn't used to receiving.
She let out a frustrated sigh, clearly trying to hold back her own emotions.
"If you weren't there, I might have been badly hurt if you hadn't given me that teleportation gem."
I flinched at the reminder. It was true. I had put her in danger, but she was still blaming herself for what happened.
I didn't want her to feel that way. I didn't want her to think I was some kind of burden.
"That's not wrong... but still—!" I tried to argue, to keep her at arm's length.
I wanted to protect her, keep her safe from my own chaos.
I didn't want her to get dragged into this messed-up life of mine.
She didn't deserve to be caught in the web of my past.
"Arche!" Her voice cut through my thoughts, sharper than before, full of conviction.
She stood up, her posture tall, her gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.
"Stop trying to push me away!" she exclaimed, her voice full of frustration, but also something else—something soft, something that tugged at me.
I was stunned into silence, unable to say anything in response.
She took a breath, her eyes never leaving mine, and continued, her tone a little softer but still unwavering.
"Yes, you've been through a lot. I can see that." Her words struck me, making my chest tighten. "But that doesn't mean you should cut people off."
I opened my mouth to protest, but she held up a hand, stopping me before I could say anything.
"It doesn't mean you should be alone," she continued, her voice low and gentle. "You need support. You need friends."
I wanted to argue. I wanted to tell her that being close to me would only hurt her, that I was too broken, too dangerous to be around. But I couldn't.
Her words kept echoing in my mind.
For the first time in a long while, I didn't have the energy to push her away.
Hearing Elaina's words, I couldn't bring myself to say anything.
My face felt ridiculously hot, and I could feel it turning a deep shade of red.
I turned away quickly, trying to hide the embarrassment creeping up on me.
My eyes flicked everywhere—at the floor, at the ceiling, at the wall—anywhere but her face.
I couldn't bear to look at her right now.
Elaina, of course, saw right through me. I could almost feel the smirk in her voice as she spoke, suppressing the urge to laugh.
"Are you... blushing?" she teased, her tone light, the amusement evident.
"No... I'm just not used to it," I muttered, still not daring to face her.
If it had been any other woman saying those things, I would've teased her right back.
But with Elaina... I had no idea how to handle it. I just felt like I'd turned into a mess of awkwardness.
Elaina's smile was soft, and I could hear the fondness in her voice as she spoke again, "So, don't blame yourself all the time, silly."
My heart skipped a beat. Her words were like a gentle hand brushing away the weight I'd been carrying.
"And you can rely on other people, you know?" she added, her voice still calm and reassuring.
I didn't know how to respond to that. For a moment, I just sat there, feeling small and unworthy of her kindness.
A soft sigh escaped my lips, and I finally looked at her, my voice a little softer than usual.
"Thank you, Elaina." I nodded, a faint smile tugging at my lips.
"You don't have to thank me," she said, her eyes meeting mine with an intensity that made my heart beat faster.
"Just promise me one thing."
I blinked, unsure of what to expect. "Hm? What?"
Her expression softened a little, but there was a seriousness in her eyes.
"Don't get involved in danger that could threaten your life."
I let out a small groan, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly. "Ugh... that's a difficult thing to promise."
She rolled her eyes in exasperation, but there was a flicker of fondness in them too. "I know you can at least try, Arche."
Her voice grew a little sterner, and she fixed me with a gaze that made me feel both nervous and oddly comforted. "Promise me."
I took a deep breath, unsure whether I was ready to give her the promise she wanted.
But then I saw the quiet concern in her eyes, and I couldn't refuse.
I raised my little finger, offering her the only thing I could at the moment. "I'll try."
Elaina looked at my raised little finger, and for a brief moment, I thought she might say something more.
Instead, she sighed, her voice a little softer this time. "It's the best I can expect of you, I suppose."
A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she lifted her own little finger and linked it with mine. "It's a promise, then."
My heart fluttered in my chest. I couldn't help the wide grin spreading across my face.
I felt so incredibly happy, seeing Elaina so worried about me, so protective.
I could no longer hold back the joy bubbling inside me.
I couldn't stop smiling. Every time I remembered her care for me, her attention to my well-being, it kept me awake at night.
And now, as I lay there thinking about her, I realized something—when you're in love, the happiness that fills you makes it hard to sleep, because reality is far better than any dream you could have ever imagined.