Lucius lounged on the sprawling pastel pink bed, his smirk widening as he leaned back, looking every bit the troublemaker.
"I'll make the district hate us. I'll make everyone hate us. I'll ruin everything for everybody."
Sid stepped out from the shadows of an adjacent room painted a deep, inky black. Arms crossed, her black hair swept into a loose, messy bun, she eyed him coolly.
"Put that book down before it feeds your already rash decision-making."
"Rash?" Lucius scoffed, snapping the book shut with a dramatic flair.
"I'm not rash—just blindly optimistic."
He traced his fingers over the cover, a polished brown made of what looked like ancient wood. The title read Why I'm the Greatest. Sid winced.
Egotistical prick, she thought, resisting an eye roll.
"On some occasions, you're just a…"
She trailed off, searching for the word.
"Forget it!" Lucius waved her off. "I'm not in the mood for a lecture."
He glanced at the enormous screen mounted on the wall. "Let's watch a game." He slid forward on the bed, fully absorbed now.
The screen seemed to change size depending on how close he got—smaller when near, larger when distant.
Sid sighed, annoyed but curious.
"Re-wars?" she asked, shifting slightly. Her oversized gray tunic and baggy shorts gave her a laid-back but intimidating air.
"It's Retrieval Wars, not 're-wars,'" Lucius said with a sideways smirk.
"You kids these days."
Sid narrowed her eyes.
"You're only, what, a few years older than me? Give it a rest."
She folded her arms.
"By the way, I need new skincare products," she added, glancing at a holographic screen that shimmered into view from her room's pink walls.
The TV flickered to life mid-commentary.
"Towards the re-wars—"
"Argh!" Lucius groaned, mocking the announcer's tone with a dramatic cry.
Sid laughed, but it was cut short as a swirling ball of air materialized, hovering in the room. Her expression darkened.
"Lucius, enough," she said, voice sharp.
But he was entranced, turning the ball in his hands, mischief lighting up his purple eyes.
"It's not much force," he mused. "But what if I used it inside someone? I could just drop it in and let it—"
"Lucius." Sid's tone snapped like a whip.
He grinned, wolfish and unrepentant.
"They'd die. Just like that."
Her eyes began to glow faintly. Faint lines lit up along the walls. The glowing patterns twisted and overlapped, forming complex, three-dimensional designs on the two-dimensional walls—a dangerous and silent warning.
Lucius's smirk faltered as he noticed them.
"When did you etch those?" he asked, a flicker of unease in his voice.
"I carve them everywhere I go," Sid replied coolly.
"Even the bathroom has them. If you want to throw things out of balance, Lucius, remember—I'll always be one step ahead."
Lucius leaned back, regaining some composure.
"I didn't realize you'd be so prepared. But that just makes it more interesting."
"By the way, how did you know about my story skill?" Sid asked.
Lucius raised a brow.
"Your father told me."
"Let's hear yours," she said instantly.
He hesitated, then sighed.
"Fine. Since we're guide and heir, right?"
"It's heir and guide. Rolls off the tongue better."
"Whatever," he shrugged. With a wave of his hand, words shimmered into the air:
Story Skill: Showman Fighter
Starter Pack: Muscle Memory Mastery
– Body instinctively moves for maximum dramatic effect
– Naturally flows between showing off and serious combat
– Movements appear effortless, even in complex sequences
Attachment Skill: Flourish Strike
– Attacks gain power proportional to their theatrical nature
– More elaborate movements create stronger impacts
– Can chain showmanship into devastating combinations
Sid scanned the text with a look of mild disgust.
"Figures. That explains the endless theatrics."
Lucius brushed a strand of purple hair aside.
"I know, right? I was practically born for the spotlight."
Sid gave him a flat look.
"If you're done showing off, can we get back to the game?"
"But this is part of the fun," he said, fingers drumming on the bed.
"Being a showman isn't just about fighting—it's about leaving an impression."
"Maybe if you spent half as much time on strategy as you do on appearances, we'd actually win something."
"Ah, but where's the fun in that? Winning without style? What's the point?"
The glow in Sid's eyes flared, and the etched symbols brightened, casting writhing shadows.
"Maybe I'll show you what strategy actually looks like."
Lucius's grin widened.
"Go ahead. I'll be waiting."
He raised his hands in mock surrender, still gleaming with mischief.
"You're insufferable," Sid muttered, turning away—but her gaze lingered on the glowing symbols.
"Oh, come on, Sid," Lucius said, voice softening with a hint of sincerity.
"Where would you be without me?"
Sid stared at him.
"Peaceful."
He laughed, genuine this time.
"You'd miss me, though."
"Not a chance," she said—but her voice held grudging affection.
They fell into a brief silence, watching the game together. The tension eased.
Lucius sneaked a glance at her. Despite everything, she kept things interesting.
"Fine, fine, I'll tone down the theatrics," he muttered, settling back.
Sid raised a brow.
"Let's see how long that lasts."
The marks still glowed softly as the match continued.
"Out. Now."
Sid grabbed Lucius by the arm and dragged him off her bed toward the door.
"What'd I do?" he protested, stumbling.
"The Navigator almost had the Veil player pinned," she hissed. "And you knew it."
Lucius rolled his eyes.
"You're seriously kicking me out because my team snagged your team's flag? They still have a chance—maybe they'll make a comeback—"
"Out," she snapped, shoving him through the door.
"And watch your step. I may have activated a few etchings."
Lucius sighed.
"Well, that's reassuring..." he muttered.
He grabbed his spear leaning against the wall, the metallic thud echoing. Slinging it over his shoulder, he smirked.
Typical Sid. Holding a grudge over a game.
The hallway was a stark contrast. Cold slate gray. Muted. As if he'd stepped out of a painting and into an old film.
He descended the stairs, each footfall echoing. The dim lights flickered, casting soft fog-like glows. Shadows crept along every edge.
Everything here was jagged or sunken, like a carved-out mountain dulled into stillness.
At the bottom, he paused. The long hallway ahead was patterned in fractured light spilling through odd cutouts.
His posture shifted—no longer cocky, but measured. Focused.
His hand brushed an unfamiliar mark, etched roughly, unlike Sid's careful designs. He traced it. It pulsed faintly.
"She's incredibly reckless for setting these up here," he muttered, clenching a fist.
He pressed it into the wall. The etching flared.
A sudden force yanked him sideways, slamming him into the wall.
"Three effects? That's why they call her a prodigy," he chuckled, grin returning.
"This just got interesting."
He pushed back with a surge of strength, freeing himself. Dusting off his shoulder, he laughed quietly.
Back in her room, Sid stifles a cough. Her black hair fell loose as she shifted, feeling the ripple from Lucius triggering one of her traps.
She stared back at the game, her eyes wide. They did make a comeback.
Down the hall, Lucius smirked, brushing dust from his fingers.
"This girl... is going to make this guiding job sooooo..."
He dragged the word out, savoring it.
"Easy."
His hand passed over the rough mark again, and it faded, its crude energy dissolving.
With a casual stride, Lucius stepped into the deepening dark.