Sebastian Aurelian Valken didn't believe in coincidences.
Everything had a reason.
People met for a reason. Things happened for a reason. Even the smallest changes in routine—there was always something behind it.
That's what he believed.
That's what made things easier to understand.
So when he transferred schools, he didn't expect anything unusual.
New place. New people. Same routine.
Simple.
At least—
It was supposed to be.
"—and then he just stood there like he didn't know what to say!"
Cy laughed beside him, her voice bright and effortless. "You're exaggerating."
"I'm not," Sebastian said, shaking his head. "He looked completely lost."
"You just embarrassed him in front of the whole class."
"He'll recover."
"You say that like it's easy."
"It is."
Cy rolled her eyes, smiling anyway. "You're unbelievable."
"I've been told."
They were walking along the corridor after classes, the afternoon light stretching across the floor in long golden lines. Students passed by in groups, voices blending into a familiar background noise.
Sebastian didn't mind it.
In fact—
It felt… normal.
Too normal.
"You adjusted fast," Cy said suddenly, glancing at him.
"To what?"
"This school. The people. Everything."
Sebastian shrugged. "It's not that hard."
"It is for most people."
"Then most people overthink."
Cy laughed softly. "You sound like CJ."
Sebastian paused slightly.
Just for a second.
"…I don't."
"You do."
"I don't."
"You really do."
Sebastian exhaled, shaking his head. "That guy is—"
"CJ?" she cut in.
"Yeah."
"What about him?"
Sebastian frowned slightly, thinking.
He didn't know how to explain it.
CJ was loud. Annoying. Always had something to say. The type of person Sebastian would usually avoid.
And yet—
"…He's weird," Sebastian said finally.
Cy raised an eyebrow. "Weird how?"
"I don't know."
"That's not an answer."
"I said I don't know."
Cy studied him for a moment.
Then smiled slightly.
"You noticed him."
Sebastian scoffed lightly. "Hard not to. He makes sure of that."
"That's true."
They continued walking.
But the conversation lingered in Sebastian's mind longer than he expected.
CJ.
Chris Jian Moreau.
Even the name felt oddly familiar.
And that—
Didn't make sense.
Because they had just met.
Right?
"…Whatever," Sebastian muttered under his breath.
"Hmm?" Cy glanced at him.
"Nothing."
He pushed the thought aside easily.
Like it didn't matter.
Like it wasn't worth thinking about.
And for the rest of the day—
It didn't come back.
Not until night fell.
—
Sleep came easily.
Too easily.
One moment he was staring at the ceiling—
The next—
Darkness.
Then—
Something else.
A place.
But not clear.
Blurry.
Unstable.
Like it couldn't decide what it wanted to be.
Sebastian frowned slightly, looking around.
"…Where am I?"
No answer.
Only silence.
The air felt heavy.
Different.
Like something had already happened—
Or was about to.
He took a step forward.
Then another.
The space shifted around him, shapes forming and breaking apart at the same time.
Nothing stayed still.
Nothing made sense.
"…This is a dream," he muttered.
It had to be.
But it didn't feel like one.
It felt too real.
Too close.
A sound.
Soft.
Behind him.
Sebastian turned quickly.
"…Hello?"
Silence.
Then—
A voice.
"You're late."
Sebastian froze.
His chest tightened slightly.
That voice—
It didn't belong here.
Or maybe—
It belonged too much.
"…Who's there?" he asked, more alert now.
No answer.
Just the faint sound of footsteps.
Approaching.
Slow.
Steady.
Sebastian's eyes narrowed as he tried to focus—
But the figure in front of him wouldn't become clear.
It was there.
Right there.
But no matter how hard he looked—
He couldn't see the face.
"…Tch."
Annoying.
"Show yourself."
A quiet laugh.
Low.
Familiar.
But wrong.
"You're still like that."
Sebastian's expression shifted.
"…Like what?"
"Always acting like you're in control."
"I am in control."
Another step closer.
The figure was near now.
Too near.
But still—
Blurry.
Unreachable.
"Sure you are."
Something about the tone—
Made his chest feel… tight.
For no reason.
Sebastian frowned. "Do I know you?"
A pause.
Then—
"…You really don't remember."
The words landed heavier than they should have.
Sebastian's jaw tightened slightly. "Remember what?"
No answer.
Instead—
The figure stepped even closer.
Close enough that Sebastian could almost—
Almost see—
"…Tch, this is annoying," Sebastian muttered, reaching out.
But the moment his hand moved forward—
The world shifted.
Violently.
A sharp sound cut through the space.
Sebastian's eyes widened slightly.
"…What was that?"
The air changed.
Cold.
Unstable.
Dangerous.
The figure moved suddenly—
Not away—
But toward him.
Fast.
"Stay behind me."
Sebastian froze.
"What?"
"Don't argue."
"I'm not—"
"Just stay."
The tone—
It wasn't a request.
It was familiar.
Too familiar.
Like he had heard it before.
Like he had listened before.
But that didn't make sense.
"I don't take orders," Sebastian snapped.
"You do when it matters."
The words hit something.
Something deep.
Something buried.
"…Who are you?" Sebastian demanded.
Silence.
Then—
A softer voice.
Closer now.
"…You really forgot me."
Something twisted in his chest.
Sharp.
Unfamiliar.
And yet—
Painful.
"I didn't forget anything," Sebastian said, more firmly this time.
"You did."
"I don't even know you."
"…Yeah."
The voice dropped slightly.
"And that's the problem."
Another sound.
Louder.
Closer.
The world around them began to crack.
Like something was breaking through.
Sebastian's instincts kicked in immediately.
His posture shifted.
Alert.
Focused.
"…This isn't normal."
"No, it's not."
"Then what is it?"
No answer.
Only movement.
The figure stepped in front of him.
Blocking him.
Protecting him.
Sebastian's eyes widened slightly.
"…What are you doing?"
"Same thing as always."
"What does that mean?"
"You'll figure it out."
Another loud noise.
Right in front of them.
Too close.
Sebastian clenched his jaw. "Move."
"No."
"I said move."
"No."
"I don't need protection."
"You do."
"I don't."
"You always say that."
The frustration built instantly.
"Because it's true."
"…And I always prove you wrong."
Before Sebastian could respond—
Everything exploded.
A loud, deafening sound tore through the space.
The world shattered.
Sebastian barely had time to react before—
Impact.
Pain.
But not his.
He froze.
Because the figure in front of him—
Staggered.
"…What?"
The world slowed.
The blur didn't disappear.
But something changed.
Something clearer.
Not the face.
Not yet.
But the feeling—
It became real.
Too real.
"…You're okay."
The voice—
Weaker now.
Sebastian's chest tightened sharply.
"…What just happened?"
No answer.
Only silence.
Heavy.
Falling.
"I didn't make it in time."
The words echoed.
Deep.
Like they belonged somewhere else.
Somewhere important.
Sebastian shook his head. "What are you talking about?"
"I couldn't protect you."
The sentence hit harder than anything else.
Something in Sebastian's chest—
Broke.
He didn't understand why.
"…I don't need you to," he said, but his voice wasn't as steady now.
"…You do."
Silence.
"…I always do."
The world was collapsing now.
Fading.
Disappearing.
Sebastian stepped forward instinctively.
"Wait—"
But his body wouldn't move properly.
Like something was pulling him back.
"No—"
The figure was slipping away.
Vanishing.
"…If there's another chance…"
"Stop—!"
"I'll do it right."
Sebastian reached out—
But his hand went through nothing.
"I don't even know you!"
A pause.
A final one.
Then—
"…You do."
Darkness.
—
Sebastian's eyes snapped open.
His breath came out sharp.
Uneven.
Like he had just been running.
The ceiling came into view slowly.
Familiar.
Real.
But his chest—
It still felt tight.
"…What the hell was that?"
He sat up, running a hand through his hair, trying to steady his breathing.
A dream.
Just a dream.
It had to be.
But—
It didn't feel like one.
He closed his eyes, trying to remember.
The place.
The voice.
The person—
But just like that—
It slipped.
Blurry.
Gone.
"…Tch."
Annoying.
He could remember the feeling.
The tension.
The words.
"I couldn't protect you."
Sebastian frowned.
"…Protect me from what?"
No answer.
Because there wasn't one.
Not yet.
He exhaled slowly, shaking his head.
"Forget it."
Just a dream.
Nothing more.
Nothing important.
And yet—
As he stood up and got ready for the day—
That strange feeling stayed.
Quiet.
Unfamiliar.
Like something had already started moving—
Without him realizing.
And somewhere in his mind—
There was a face.
A name.
Something just out of reach.
But no matter how hard he tried—
He couldn't remember
who that person was.
Only one thing remained clear—
The feeling that someone had tried to protect him…
And failed.