But there's still time till evening," Perun said as they stepped out of the restaurant. We're not going to the bar until then… so what do we do now?
Serin tightened the strap of her crossbody bag. For now, I'm going back to the library, she said softly. Mom must be tired. I should help her for a while.
She said it casually, but Perun could hear the weight in her voice—like something had been unsettling her since morning.
Vaelor stretched his arms. We'll head home. We also have some… things to take care of.
Perun blinked. "We do?"
But Vaelor only gave him a small, firm look as if he wanted to tell something but can't tell now.
Perun kept quiet.
They walked together until the library came into view. The evening crowds had begun to thicken; the sunlight filtered through the tall buildings, painting long shadows across the road.
We'll meet at six, Serin said, waving before stepping inside.
Her mother greeted her from the counter the moment she entered, and the door closed behind them with a soft chime.
Vaelor and Perun turned the other way, heading down the quieter street.
They walked a good distance in silence before Perun finally spoke.
Why did you lie? he asked. What work? We don't have anything to do.
Vaelor didn't look at him. She was anxious, he said simply. Going back to help her mother will calm her down. That's all.
Perun sighed. "Oh… okay. That makes sense."
They walked a few more steps before Vaelor suddenly stopped.
You noticed him, right? he said quietly.
"Who?"
That man from the restaurant,"Vaelor replied. The one with the fedora. The cologne trail.
Perun looked ahead, jaw tightening. Yeah, he said after a moment. I noticed.
He kept checking his wristwatch, Vaelor said. Every few seconds.
Perun thought for a while, then spoke even more quietly, almost whispering.
I think… he had a gun under his waistband.
Vaelor raised an eyebrow.
At the restaurant, Perun continued, he just intentionally glare at you. When he adjusted his suit after the bump he pulled both sides of his jacket together. His coat button wasn't broken, just open. That's something people do when they want quick access to their weapon. He was staying alert.
Vaelor walked in silence, absorbing the words.
Perun walked beside Vaelor, hands in his pockets, glancing at him from time to time.
"Well… what did you see unusual about him?" he asked finally.
He tried to sound casual, but the question lingered in the air.
A faint memory brushed the back of perun mind the cologne scent from the man . It felt familiar somehow, like a scent he had smelled long ago. But it slipped away before he could grasp it, and he pushed it aside, convincing himself it didn't matter.
After that
Vaelor took his time before answering. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and steady.
"I saw something inside his mind," he said. "Not clearly… more like a flash."
Perun listened quietly.
There was a person sitting in front of a mirror, Vaelor continued. Someone with purple eyes. They were applying makeup so heavily that their real face was impossible to recognize. Layers and layers of it… like they were hiding behind a mask.
He paused.
Then another person entered the room. Same dark brown fedora hat as the man from the restaurant. But he had a different makeup pattern. His entire face was covered with red, black, and yellow paint, and across it was a unicursal hexagram six points made by interlocking triangles.
Perun felt a chill crawl up his spine, but he kept walking, letting Vaelor continue.
I couldn't tell if the second man was the same person we saw,". "The disguise was too heavy. He pulled out a gun and aimed it at the one sitting by the mirror."
Vaelor's steps slowed.
And the person with purple eyes didn't even turn to look at him. They just kept staring at their reflection and said… I know you would come for me eventually. After everything. But I have no regrets.
The words hung between them like fog.
"Then the man fired,". But before the bullet reached him… black shadow-like tentacles started rising from the purple-eyed person. They spread through the room, swallowing everything. The chair, the walls, even the door. Everything except the mirror. There is unicursal hexgram drawn on the mirror with black colour.
Perun stopped walking for a moment. The street noise seemed far away.
What if it was just his imagination? he asked, though even he didn't sound convinced.
Vaelor shrugged lightly. That could be true. Maybe it was nothing.
Perun rubbed the back of his neck.
Either way, he said, this isn't our business. Whatever that was… we should stay far away from it.
They left the matter behind and walked toward the small public park, Perun rolling the bicycle beside him. Neither of them spoke much. The earlier conversation still sat somewhere between their thoughts, but neither wanted to touch it again. Not now.
From the park, they rode back home. The sun had climbed higher by then, shining softly through scattered clouds. Once inside the apartment, Perun reheated some leftovers—they ended up eating the same simple meal they had for breakfast at living room. Quiet, warm, and familiar.
After lunch, Perun walked into the Living room and opened the cupboard into the wall. He took out a folded fibre mattress, a pillow, and a thin blanket. Carrying them to the corner of the room on the wooden floor.
Since for some days you will live here. so, "For the night". you can sleep here. The floor is wooden, so it won't be too cold. And this corner doesn't get any rainwater even if it drips in from the window.
Vaelor watched him for a moment. "And what about you?"
"I'll sleep in my own room," Perun said, shrugging. Or we can switch places if this makes you uncomfortable.
Vaelor looked away, almost embarrassed. I can't sleep alone, he admitted quietly. Not after what happened.
Perun froze mid-step, staring at him with a half-confused, half-incredulous expression.
Man… what are you thinking? he said, rubbing his forehead. You want me to sleep with you? That's the most ridiculous idea I've heard today.
His voice wasn't harsh just baffled. Vaelor's honesty had caught him off guard, and he didn't know where to look.