The light dimmed.Every flicker of the runes twisted from faint blue to pulsing black, spreading across the walls like veins. A deep hum filled the air — low, steady, wrong.
Kuro stood completely still, eyes glazed, his pupils faintly glowing white.
"Kuro?" Mika's voice cut through the humming, sharp and urgent. "Kuro!"
[Oh no. Oh f*** no. Not this again.]
Lucien looked around, gripping his sword. "What's happening to him?"
Mika ignored him, stepping closer to Kuro. The air around the boy shimmered, thick with mana that didn't feel like his own. It was heavier — colder.
[Kuro, you idiot, don't listen to the voice. You don't talk to strange cursed gates! We've been over this, remember? First rule of not dying twice: ignore the spooky whispers!]
{I… I'm not—}
The voice returned, slipping through the cracks of his mind like poison.You were chosen once. You will be chosen again.
{Who… are you?}
[Kuro, NO—]
The air exploded outward. The blast of mana knocked everyone off their feet. Dust filled the room, the sound of cracking stone echoing as the gate began to open—slowly, deliberately.
Lucien coughed, shielding his eyes. "What the hell—!?"
Mika stood quickly, hair falling over his eyes, the crimson glow in his sword flaring to life. "Enough!"
He grabbed Kuro by the shoulders. "Hey! Look at me!"
Kuro blinked. For a second, his eyes were blank. Empty. Then—focus. His breath hitched as the glow faded and the humming stopped, leaving only silence.
The gate froze mid-opening.
Mika held him tightly, almost shaking. "You idiot—don't ever do that again."
Kuro looked up weakly. "I… didn't mean to—"
[You never mean to, that's the f***ing problem! One creepy artifact and suddenly you're possessed like it's Tuesday!]
Lucien blinked, still catching his breath. "Wait—did that voice just swear?" (Can't actually hear Elvastia just hearing what Mika and Kuro are saying. Kuro accidently said Elvastia to stop swearing out loud...Hope it wasn't too confusing..)
"Yes," Mika hissed, glaring into the air. "And he won't shut up."
[You're welcome for the free exorcism tips, sunshine.]
Mika's glare deepened. "You are infuriating."
[And you're loud. We all have our talents.]
Kuro let out a shaky laugh despite himself, clutching his chest. "You two… sound like an old married couple."
Both Mika and Elvastia froze.
[…Did he just—]
"Don't," Mika said sharply.
[Oh, I will.]
Lucien choked back a grin. "You know, I was just thinking that myself."
"I hate all of you," Mika muttered, sheathing his blade and turning away to hide the slight flush rising to his face.
But the tension hadn't truly faded. The gate still pulsed faintly — waiting.
Kuro could feel something watching him through it. Not fully awake, but aware.It whispered again, softer this time.You cannot run from what you are.
{Elvastia… what does it mean?}
[It means whoever's in there knows too damn much. And for once, I don't have the answers. That's the part that scares me.]
Mika glanced at Kuro, his eyes narrowing slightly. "He's talking again, isn't he?"
Kuro nodded slowly. "Yeah. But… it stopped when you grabbed me."
That made Mika pause. His eyes softened, just for a moment. "Then I'll stay close."
Lucien raised a brow. "Wow. That sounded almost romantic."
"Lucien," Mika said darkly.
"Right, shutting up," Lucien replied quickly, though the smirk never left his face.
[Oh, he's enjoying this too much.]
{Elvastia, stop egging him on.}
[I'm not egging him on, I'm encouraging healthy emotional chaos. It builds character.]
Kuro sighed. "You're impossible."
[And you're cursed. We all have hobbies.]
Despite the bickering, something heavy lingered in the air. Mika noticed the faint tremor in Kuro's hands.
He stepped closer again, quieter this time. "Kuro… if that voice tries anything again, I'll destroy this place myself."
Kuro looked up at him, surprised — not at the threat, but at the protective edge beneath it.
"Thanks," he said softly.
Mika turned away again, muttering, "Don't thank me yet."
[He's blushing again.]
"Shut up," Mika growled under his breath.
Lucien sighed dramatically. "I have no idea what's going on anymore."
[Welcome to our life, pretty boy.]
Lucien froze, staring into the air. "…Did that voice just call me pretty boy?"
Mika rubbed his temple. "This day never ends."
The gate pulsed one last time—then went still. The room fell silent, leaving behind only the sound of three unsteady breaths and one laughing voice in Kuro's head.
[Well, that was fun. Next time, let's not almost unleash ancient evil, yeah?]
{I'll… try.}
[Good boy.]
Mika stiffened. "Don't ever call him that again."
[Jealous much?]
"Shut. Up."
Lucien coughed. "…So, who wants to tell the Guild Master we might've accidentally awakened something ancient and evil?"
Mika groaned. "You're volunteering."
[Finally, something we all agree on.]