Sol still felt the lingering effects of the spa as he leaned against the floating walkway railing, watching the neon skyline pulse like a living thing. The last traces of tension in his muscles had melted away, leaving him loose, almost weightless. It was strange, this feeling—like he was waiting for the moment to break, for something to snap him back to reality.
Jack nudged him with an elbow. "So, you gonna admit that was the best decision of your life, or are you gonna keep pretending like you hated it?"
Sol scoffed. "It was fine."
Lloyd chuckled. "Right. And I'm a priest."
Jack rolled his eyes. "Alright, enough of this 'too cool to enjoy things' act. You're officially relaxed, and we're not done yet."
Sol gave him a wary look. "Why do I feel like that means trouble?"
Lloyd smirked. "Because you know us."
A short walk later, they arrived at The Luminous Reverie, a lounge that immediately gave Sol a sense of mild unease—not because it looked dangerous, but because it was the kind of place that encouraged letting go. The air shimmered, colors blending in impossible gradients, and the music was less a sound and more a sensation that seemed to weave through the space. Patrons lounged on floating cushions, their drinks glowing faintly in their hands, eyes half-lidded in a dreamlike state.
Jack clapped his hands together. "Now this? This is where the magic happens."
Sol crossed his arms. "I don't trust any place where people are smiling that much… and also, I'm not old enough to drink."
Jack and Lloyd both paused mid-step, turning to him with identical expressions of surprise.
"Wait, what?" Jack blinked. "How old are you?"
Sol sighed, already regretting saying anything. "Seventeen."
Silence.
Jack's mouth opened, then closed. He looked at Lloyd, who looked just as stunned. "You're messing with us," Jack finally said, eyes narrowing.
Sol shrugged. "I don't joke."
Lloyd exhaled, shaking his head. "Well, damn. That explains way too much."
Jack ran a hand down his face. "I thought you were at least in your twenties. Kid, do you realize how insane that is?"
Sol just stared at him, unimpressed. "I grew up in the slums. Age doesn't mean much there."
Lloyd was the first to recover, rolling his shoulders with a smirk. "Eh, whatever. We won't tell. You're not getting out of this."
Lloyd snorted. "Relax, no one's forcing you into some deep spiritual journey. Just have a drink, enjoy the vibe. You do know how to do that, right?"
Sol rolled his eyes but took a seat, watching as a bartender—a tall, elegant figure with iridescent skin that shimmered between hues—set down three glasses filled with softly glowing liquid. The colors shifted as if responding to their energy.
Jack lifted his glass. "To getting Sol to admit fun isn't illegal."
Sol smirked but clinked his glass against theirs, taking a sip. The taste was impossible to describe—sweet yet crisp, with a weightless sensation that spread through his limbs like warmth from a distant sun. The lights around him seemed softer, the music deeper, the world just slightly more vibrant.
For once, he wasn't thinking about what came next.
Jack grinned as he watched Sol relax further into his seat. "Alright, now that you're properly marinated, time for the real fun."
Lloyd smirked. "Oh no. It's happening. He's actually enjoying himself."
Sol exhaled, shaking his head with amusement. "Shut up, Lloyd."
Lloyd leaned back, his own expression more satisfied than smug. "See? Told you we'd find something worth your time."
Sol had to admit—it wasn't bad. The shifting hues of the lounge pulsed in time with the music, the walls seeming to breathe as if the entire place was alive. His drink glowed softly in his hands, the colors shifting in sync with his own slow, measured breathing. The weightless sensation remained, not overwhelming, just enough to make the world feel less sharp around the edges. The city's neon glow reflected in the liquid surface of his drink, and for the first time in what felt like ages, he just existed. No running, no planning, no weight on his shoulders.
Maybe, just for tonight, he could let himself have this.
"Oh no," Lloyd mused, watching Sol's gaze drift lazily over the lounge. "He's really sinking into it."
Sol tilted his head slightly. The music felt like it was moving through him, the lights wrapping around his vision in soft, comforting waves. "It's... different."
Jack smirked. "Different good or different bad?"
Sol thought about it. "Different... manageable."
Jack snorted. "That's the most lukewarm compliment I've ever heard, but I'll take it."
Lloyd suddenly nudged Sol and pointed to an area further inside the lounge where guests balanced on floating platforms that drifted and rotated with the rhythm of the music. "You up for a challenge?"
Sol eyed it skeptically. "What kind of challenge?"
Jack waggled his brows. "A balance test. Music shifts, platforms move, and you just have to stay on your feet. Simple."
Sol exhaled. "And let me guess. If I win, you two shut up for the rest of the night?"
Lloyd chuckled. "Sure. And if we win? You admit this was the best idea we've ever had."
Sol rolled his eyes but stood. "Fine. But if I win, I get silence for a week."
Jack grinned. "Oh, you're so gonna lose."
The three of them made their way to the floating platform area, where shimmering discs hovered midair, pulsing with the beat of the music. Other patrons wobbled on them, laughing as the platforms subtly shifted beneath their feet. Some floated lazily from disc to disc, while others tried—and mostly failed—to maintain their footing as the lounge's rhythm altered gravity in unpredictable ways.
Sol stepped onto the first platform, feeling the soft pulse of energy beneath his feet. The moment he was fully on, the disc adjusted slightly, testing his center of gravity. He barely reacted.
Jack hopped onto a nearby platform, immediately swaying. "Oh, okay, this is a little trickier than I thought."
Lloyd stepped onto his with ease, arms crossed. "It's about balance. Just adjust to the rhythm."
Jack flailed as his platform tilted slightly. "Easy for you to say!"
Sol took a slow step forward onto another platform, the surface tilting slightly beneath him. His movements were effortless, precise. The gravitational shifts tried to throw him off, but he adjusted without thinking, his body moving fluidly as if he were part of the environment itself.
Jack scowled. "Oh, come on. You're not even trying!"
Sol smirked, stepping onto the next disc with practiced ease. "I thought you said I was so gonna lose."
Lloyd watched, an eyebrow raised. "You're built different, huh?"
Sol shrugged. "Just used to unstable footing. Slum rooftops, scrap piles, half-broken scaffolds. This? This is nothing."
Jack groaned as he barely managed to keep himself upright, his platform tilting wildly. "Yeah, well, some of us didn't grow up in a death trap."
Sol crossed another platform without so much as a twitch of discomfort, arms relaxed at his sides. The shifting gravity didn't faze him in the slightest. Other patrons started to notice, eyes widening at how unshakable he was compared to the others wobbling and flailing around him.
Lloyd sighed, stepping off his platform. "Alright, alright. We get it. You win."
Jack huffed, dropping down as well. "I hate this. I hate you. I hate that you made it look easy."
Sol smirked. "So, about that week of silence—"
Jack threw up his hands. "Not happening. You get a day. A very short day."
Lloyd chuckled. "Fair enough. But damn, Sol. You really don't go down, huh?"
Sol stepped off the last platform, stretching his shoulders. "Not if I can help it."
Jack rubbed his temples, muttering under his breath. "Stupid unshakable mountain of a teenager..."
With an exaggerated sigh, Jack dramatically spun on his heel. "Whatever. I need a drink and a woman who appreciates my charm."
Lloyd snorted. "Good luck with that."
Jack waved them off as he strutted toward a group of women near the bar, flashing his most confident grin. Sol and Lloyd watched as he leaned in, said something with far too much enthusiasm—only for the group to collectively shake their heads, one even rolling her eyes before turning away. Jack stepped back, blinking in disbelief.
Undeterred, he tried again with another group. And another. Each time, rejection met him with increasing speed and precision, his shoulders slumping just a little more with every failed attempt.
Lloyd chuckled. "This is painful to watch."
Sol, arms crossed, smirked. "It's kind of impressive, honestly. He's persistent."
Jack finally stomped back over, throwing his hands in the air. "Unbelievable! You two are over here laughing at my suffering like you could do better!"
Lloyd raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You challenging me?"
Jack narrowed his eyes. "I am challenging you. Let's see if your luck is any better."
Lloyd cracked his knuckles with a smirk. "Watch and learn."
Sol leaned against the railing, watching as Lloyd casually walked over to a woman sitting alone near the edge of the lounge. Unlike Jack's desperate theatrics, Lloyd simply exchanged a few words, offered a confident smile, and within moments, the woman was laughing. A few minutes later, she stood, nodding as Lloyd motioned for her to follow him back.
Jack's jaw dropped as Lloyd returned with his newfound acquaintance in tow. "No. No way. That fast?!"
Lloyd, ever the picture of smugness, clapped a hand on Jack's shoulder. "It's all about confidence, my friend. Confidence, and not looking like a desperate idiot."
Sol let out a rare, genuine laugh, shaking his head. "That was painful to watch, Jack."
Jack groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "I hate both of you."
Lloyd, still grinning, turned to the woman beside him. "Alright, introductions. This is—"
"Veyna," the woman supplied smoothly, her voice carrying an effortless confidence. She had a sleek, angular look, her dark violet skin shimmering slightly under the neon glow. Her short, silver hair framed piercing golden eyes that seemed to take in everything with quiet amusement.
She took a seat beside Sol without hesitation, her body language relaxed, as if she had already decided this was the most interesting spot to be.
Jack, still sulking, gestured vaguely. "Yeah, yeah, great, welcome to our table or whatever."
Veyna ignored him completely, her golden gaze settling on Sol instead. "You don't talk much, do you?"
Sol raised an eyebrow. "Compared to them? No one does."
She chuckled, leaning her chin on one hand. "Smart answer."
Jack squinted at the exchange before glancing at Lloyd. "Hey, uh... I don't know if you've noticed, but she's not talking to us. At all."
Lloyd, arms crossed, watched as Veyna remained utterly fixated on Sol, nodding along as he gave short but direct responses to her occasional questions. The longer the conversation went, the more obvious it became—she wasn't interested in small talk with Jack or Lloyd.
Lloyd, arms still crossed, muttered under his breath, "This is ridiculous... I did all the work, and she just—just ignores me?"
Jack, who had been sipping his drink, nearly choked in laughter. "Oh, this is rich. Lloyd, Mr. Smooth, Mr. 'I can pull anyone,' just got his date stolen by our unshakable rock of a friend here? I am living for this."
Lloyd scowled. "I did not get my date stolen—"
"Oh, you absolutely did." Jack grinned, nudging Sol. "And this guy didn't even try! He just sat there, existing, and boom—you're irrelevant."
Veyna barely acknowledged their complaints, her focus still on Sol. "You two whine too much. It's distracting."
Jack burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Oh, this just keeps getting better! Lloyd, I don't think she even remembers you exist!"
Lloyd groaned, rubbing his temples. "I hate everything about this."
Sol, unable to help himself, let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "I like her."
Jack dramatically slumped against the table. "No. No, this is not happening. I refuse." He pointed an accusing finger at Lloyd. "This is your fault. You're supposed to be the smooth one, not—not him!"
Lloyd, still watching the scene unfold, exhaled. "Yeah, well… guess I've been dethroned." He sighed slightly before nudging Sol. "Didn't even try, did you?"
Sol, with a rare amused expression, sipped his drink. "Didn't have to."