The city of Azura lay in peace and silence beneath a brown sky, bathed in the soft plush of the early morning sun. Honks and engine revs gradually hushed as cars rolled to a stop at the traffic light glowing red.

  An old woman crossed the zebra crossing with her cat, followed by a small group of nursery school children—about six in number—giggling and laughing wildly.

  On the left side of the road stood a convenience store, neon signs reading “RITE STORE” mounted against its roof. Parked beside the building was a black SUV glistening in the sunlight.

  Inside, narrow walking spaces ran between rows of shelves packed with items. Near the entrance sat a table with a monitor on it, and behind the table was a female cashier in a dark blue t-shirt and black cap. She stared blankly at the screen, chin resting on her palm, eyes fluttering shut as she dozed in the soft light.

  A loud bang jolted her awake. She jumped in alarm.

  “And then I was like bam bam!” a voice shouted. “I need to restock my video games, y’know,” another said.

  The cashier turned toward the entrance. A group of six entered: one boy shouting excitedly at another who looked utterly uninterested, a nervous boy whose eyes darted around like he was being hunted, a girl standing beside a masked man, and another man whose face radiated such profound boredom it seemed living had lost all appeal.

  “Why do I feel like you’re lying?” Code—the uninterested one—replied to Ryūma, who was still shouting.

  Ryūma leaned forward. “I’m serious! I once defeated an upper-class!” he insisted, voice desperate.

  “Ryūma. Keep your voice down! There might be demons around,” Finn pleaded, trembling.

  “Okay, I believe you,” Code said, one brow raised, though the quick flicker in his eyes betrayed his skepticism. “Jeez.” He wheezed and shook his head.

  “Arrrgh,” Ken sighed, the sound almost a grimace. “Why am I even here?” he muttered to himself.

  “Okay, I’ve heard you, but just don’t spend more than the budget,” Van said to Hina.

  Hina frowned. “I don’t know about that,” she murmured.

  “What a hassle,” Van groaned. “Can’t believe I let you guys drag me all the way to this place.” He turned to Ken. “You guys go do your stuff. We’re gonna grab a drink,” he said to the four, then walked toward the cashier’s desk with Ken.

  “Oh, okay,” Code, Ryūma, and Finn replied in unison. Hina, however, smirked slyly and cracked her knuckles.

  “What’s with the smile?” Code asked flatly.

  “She’s probably thinking of something mischievous,” Ryūma scoffed.

  “Can it!” Hina retorted. She stomped off and disappeared between two shelves without another word.

  “Good grief,” Ryūma sighed and shrugged. The three boys headed down another aisle.

  …

  CLINK!

  A beer can opened, cold air whistling out. Ken raised it to his mouth and drained the contents in one long gulp. “Arrgh, that hits the spot,” he grunted, setting the empty can on the table where his left arm rested.

  “Tell me about it,” Van replied, trying to sound casual, though his tone carried an edge of unease.

  The two men sat on stools in front of the cashier’s table. The cashier wore the expression of someone too frightened to speak; so she simply sat behind her monitor and pretended not to notice them.

  Ken stared at Van for a long moment. “What’s got you bothered?” he finally asked.

  “Huh?” Van’s gaze snapped to him. “Do I look bothered?” he asked, feigning innocence.

  Ken wasn’t buying it. He tapped the empty can and met Van’s eyes. “You should know you can’t hide anything from me, Van,” he said quietly. “To others you might be a perfect god, but to me? Man… you’re never gonna stop being Van.”

  The cashier’s eyes flicked up at the word “Van.” When neither man reacted, she quickly returned to staring at her screen.

  Van blinked slowly, then exhaled and sat up straighter. “That was weird,” he said quietly.

  “Totally,” Ken admitted. “Don’t make me repeat that again,” he added and they both chuckled lightly.

  Silence returned. Van’s expression turned serious. “You felt that strange sensation, didn’t you?” he asked.

  “Hmm,” Ken hummed. “Thought it was only me. It seemed like a sudden rise in anti-tenzen percentage.”

  “Yeah,” Van nodded. “The news talked about it too.” He stretched forward, sliding his arms across the table and resting his head on them. “I want to believe it’s not what I’m thinking, but something tells me it is,” he muttered.

  “Vesta?” Ken asked, raising a brow.

  Van didn’t reply. Instead he shook his head, rubbing his face against his arms like a tired child.

  “I see. You don’t want to believe it, huh?” Ken said, lips curling slightly.

  “Yeah. If I believe it, it could really happen,” Van murmured. “After all, I believed I was a god, and I really became one… wait… I was always a god from birth!” He lifted his head, face twisting. “No, I wasn’t born. I came to be!” He snapped his fingers convincingly.

  “Jeez,” Ken shook his head. “It’s really not about believing, y’know. We both know better than anyone that life doesn’t reward belief. Whatever’s gonna happen will happen, and whatever won’t, won’t. What matters is surviving whatever happens and drinking beer at the end of the day.”

  Van grabbed another can, flicked the tab open, and gulped it down. “Whew! I needed the last part,” he rasped, slamming the empty can on the table.

  “What’s even the need of being worried?” Ken continued, reaching for a can of his own. “After all, your existence is why Eldrid’s still alive.”

  BEEP! BEEP!

  Van’s phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket; the screen lit up. Below the time was a message notification. Sender: Nico.

  “Aww,” Van groaned, dropping his face flat onto the table.

  “What now?” Ken asked.

  “Nico. I haven’t seen her in months,” Van purred.

  “You’re still dating that chick?” Ken muttered indifferently, sipping his beer.

  “Nah, it’s the other way round: she’s dating me,” Van corrected with a sly smirk.

  “Hehe,” Ken chuckled. “Can’t believe you guys have kept it a secret for so long,” he added, a faint trace of admiration in his voice.

  “Heyy!!” a sudden shout interrupted them.

  “Huh?” Van turned his dizzy gaze sideways. Code, Ryūma, and Finn stood there, each carrying a basket overflowing with items. “You guys are done?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” Ryūma replied, stepping forward. His basket was stuffed with magazines, but not any magazines, but porn magazines.

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  “The hell?” Ken exclaimed.

  “Hmm! Ahem!” Ryūma cleared his throat loudly and tried to angle the basket out of sight. “Something’s gotta kill a man, y’know,” he said.

  Code’s basket held a bizarre mix. The first thing that caught the eye was a small knife engraved with gothic script along its edges.

  “What’s that for?” Van asked, pointing.

  “Hehehe, this?” Code said proudly, lifting it so the overhead lights struck its surface as it glowed with a faint blue sheen.

  “Woah,” Finn’s eyes sparkled.

  “So what does it do?” Ryūma asked flatly, completely unimpressed.

  “Um…” Code lowered it and tossed it back into the basket. “It glows in white light,” he mumbled in embarrassment.

  “Pfft… hahahaha!” Ryūma and Finn burst out laughing. Finn wiped tears from his eyes.

  “I’m guessing everything else is like that,” Ken said, nodding toward the pile of odd junk in Code’s basket.

  “Yeah,” Code muttered under his breath.

  All eyes turned to Finn’s basket. Inside was a single lily flower, a picture book about sorcerers, six good-luck charms—one for each of them—and two large bags of candy and cookies.

  “Ha… hahaha,” Finn chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.

  “What a divine soul,” everyone thought in unison as Finn seemed to radiate an almost angelic glow.

  “Anyway, where’s Hina?” Van asked, looking around. Then he spotted her in the distance, grunting as she dragged something heavy.

  “Hmm?” Van blinked and stared harder. “What the—?” he exclaimed, brows shooting up.

  “What happened?” Ken asked, turning. His eyes widened slightly as he saw it.

  “Ohmigosh!” Ryūma blurted.

  Code’s mouth fell open. “We could’ve bought that much?” he marveled.

  Hina grunted and pulled three fully loaded trolleys out from between the shelves. She walked over to where everyone stood staring in stunned silence. The cashier also watched in open amazement.

  “What?” Hina asked, scanning their shocked faces. “You guys seen a ghost?”

  “Good grief,” Van said, snapping out of it first. “Hina, I thought we said no going beyond the budget?” He eyed the trolleys; piles of consoles, game discs, and trading cards.

  “What budget?” Hina raised a skeptical brow. “Did you even set a limit?”

  “Wait a minute…” Van touched his chin. His gaze shifted between his lap and Hina’s increasingly smug expression.

  “Shit!” he hissed as realization hit.

  “Kukuku!” Hina laughed, shoulders rising proudly.

  “You little…” Van bit his lip.

  Hina turned to Finn and Ryūma, who were still dazed, and snapped her fingers sharply. “You two, help me with this!” she commanded.

  “Uh… oh, yeah,” they replied in unison, grabbing the trolley handles and pushing them toward the cashier’s table.

  …

  “That’ll be four thousand Eldrithes,” the cashier said after scanning everything.

  Van reluctantly pulled out his card and swiped it through the POS terminal.

  “Done,” the cashier nodded, handing over the receipt. “Thank you for your patronage!” she said politely as Van turned away.

  “Hehehe, didn’t see that coming, huh?” Hina laughed, already carrying several bulging nylon bags.

  Code stared at his modest haul, then at Hina’s mountain of purchases, jealousy plain on his face. Ryūma leaned in and whispered, “You might wanna throw that away,” gesturing toward Code’s fake glowing knife.

  “Shut it!” Code snapped.

  The group walked out of the store, and the moment they left, silence returned.

  The cashier kept staring after them even once they were gone. ‘That masked man…’ she thought. ‘…the other man called him Van Ackerman.'

  (A/N: 1 Eldrith ≈ 30 dollars. Do the calculation in your head.)

  Meanwhile, a jet-black luxury SUV tore down the road, kicking up dust. The royal Ackerman crest gleamed on its right door. Inside, Van drove while Ken sat beside him. In the middle row sat Code and Hina; Ryūma and Finn occupied the very back.

  The car radio crackled to life. “Nico Reeves and Daisy Mallen are finally stepping into the same ring, and there’s no bigger fight on the calendar. Branded Clash of Titans, the bout is set for this Saturday night at The Octagon, where two of the sport’s most dangerous women will settle a rivalry that’s been simmering for months.”

  Van’s gaze flicked to Ken, then back to the road. Ken simply smirked.

  Code’s head rested against the window, eyes staring blankly until he noticed something strange. Through the glass, he spotted a group of men, all clad in black robes with red sashes tied around their waists. Two of them led the procession, solemnly carrying a large golden grandfather clock between them.

  “Hourbearers still exist in this time and age?” Ken muttered, also staring at the group.

  “Hourbearers?” Code repeated and glanced at him.

  “They’re members of the Horologism church,” Van said as he drove off. “It was founded by a man named Gideon Horloge centuries ago. Rumor has it all its members committed mass suicide. But history isn’t always honest.”

  “Damn,” Code exhaled.

  Ken opened his window and tossed his empty beer can out. It arced perfectly and landed in a waste bin by the pavement. “However, it was the first religion in Eldrid before Aethralism arrived,” he said, closing the window again.

  “Oh?” Code mouthed, settling back into his seat. “Always thought Aethralism was the only religion,” he muttered.

  “Nah, there are several religions in the world,” Van replied, eyes fixed on the road ahead. “But the one that stands above all is the religion of me, kekeke.” He let out a smug laugh.

  Code turned his head away quietly.

  The silence broke with Hina’s sudden shout. “Wait… Van, stop! Stop!” she cried, staring out the tinted window.

  “Heh?” Code blinked in alarm. Ryūma and Finn leaned over to look.

  “Wha?” Van hit the brakes. The car screeched to a halt. “What happened?!” he demanded.

  “Look at that,” Hina said, pressing the button to lower the window. Everyone followed her pointing finger to an entrance where people streamed in and out. Above the gates hung a large banner: “Mid-summer festival!!”

  “A festival’s going on?” Ken asked.

  “Looks like it,” Hina replied. She opened the door and jumped out. “I’m gonna go check it out.”

  Van glanced at Ken, who shrugged with an “I don’t care” expression.

  “Might as well join in,” Van said, unbuckling his seatbelt and stepping out.

  Code, Ryūma, and Finn followed. Ken stayed behind. “I think I’ll pass,” he said, waving them off as he lit a cigarette.

  The sun had begun to set; night was slowly rolling in.

  “Woah,” Code said as they entered the festival grounds. The area was strung with lights and ornaments dangling from overhead wires. Stalls lined both sides, each advertising its wares. A large crowd filled the space, their whispers and chatter blending with distant background music.

  The group walked in, eyes wide with awe. Suddenly a stall owner called out: “Get your Van Ackerman merch here!”

  “Huh?” Van spun around. A middle-aged woman stood in front of her stall, displaying clothes of various colors, each printed with a face meant to be Van Ackerman’s. People rushed over, eager to wear “Van Ackerman” on their shirts.

  Van’s face darkened.

  “Hahahaha!!” Code, Ryūma, and Hina burst into chaotic laughter when they saw the printed face. It looked nothing like him.

  “What a rip-off,” Van rasped.

  “You can’t blame them,” Hina said, still holding back laughter. “Most people know Van Ackerman, but they don’t know what he actually looks like.”

  “Well, what can I say?” Van admitted with a shrug. “Last time I removed my mask…” The memory of the Marrowfen building incident flashed through his mind, a shiver running down his spine.

  After buying one, a young woman smiled and hugged the shirt to her chest. “Now I’ll always be protected against demons,” she murmured.

  “Mummy, is Van Ackerman protecting us?” a boy asked, clutching a merch item.

  “Yes. We’re safe now,” his mother replied as they walked away.

  Hina leaned close to Van and whispered, “The good thing is even though they don’t know who Van Ackerman really is, they believe he’s out there protecting them from demons.”

  “Right!” Van nodded, tone firm and authoritative. “Believers’ trust in their god should never waver!” he declared.

  “Hey, there’s a Van Ackerman mascot!” Ryūma announced, pointing ahead.

  Everyone looked. A mascot danced across the path, again, bearing no resemblance to the real Van. It was surrounded by delighted children laughing and playing without a care in the world.

  “I always knew you were popular, but not quite this popular,” Code said.

  “Yeah, is there actually anyone who doesn’t know me?” Van replied arrogantly. “You should be glad I even talk to you. Hohoho!”

  “You made him feel good, now he’s gonna get all pompous,” Hina said, rolling her eyes.

  “Um, you guys, I think the fireworks event is about to start!” Finn called.

  “There’s a fireworks event? Cool!” Ryūma beamed, jumping with excitement.

  The group wove through the crowd and found their way to a mostly empty hilltop at the far end.

  “Perfect! We’ll be able to see the fireworks from here!” Hina said as they settled onto the grass.

  Van removed his mask and set it behind him. The others gave him a collective “you sure about that?” look.

  “No one’s watching,” he said, then tilted his head back to gaze at the glittering stars as a memory surfaced.

  He couldn’t see the face, but he could hear the voice from years ago clearly: “I’m the way.”

  Ryūma and Code were bickering when Finn suddenly spotted a spark in the sky. “Guys, it’s begun!” he cried.

  Everyone stopped and looked up. Thin trails of light streaked upward with a loud screech. At their peak, they burst into brilliant explosions of color. Code’s pupils reflected the glow. Ryūma grinned at the spectacle. Van watched unblinkingly, and Hina took photos of it.

  “I heard if you make a wish, it’ll come true,” Finn said.

  “That’s for shooting stars, stupid!” Code, Ryūma, and Hina replied in perfect unison.

  The lights reflected off the tinted glass of the distant SUV. Ken slid his window down and looked out. A slight smile touched his lips.

  Elsewhere on the street, not far from the festival, Glock Harbinger stepped out of a house with Terror following close behind. Both raised their heads to watch the fireworks burst across the night sky in cascades of red, gold, and blue.

  In stark contrast to the distant joy and laughter carried on the breeze, the house they had just left was pure carnage.

  Dead bodies lay sprawled across the floor in twisted poses. Blood streaked the walls and ceiling in long, dark arcs. Every corpse wore the same uniform: black robes cinched with red sashes—the Hourbearers from earlier. Before the pile of bodies stood the golden grandfather clock, its steady tick-tock cutting through the silence like a heartbeat that refused to stop.

  The ceiling fan creaked slowly overhead, stirring the coppery air.

  In the center of the slaughter stood Aghnis. He tore into a corpse’s throat with feral lust, blood bubbling and spilling as he drank in savage hunger, eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.

  “Very soon,” Glock muttered under his breath. He and Terror lowered their heads in unison and walked away into the night, the distant pops and whistles of fireworks fading behind them as the clock inside continued its relentless counting.