Why me?

  I remember sitting at the edge of the living room, trying to make myself as small as possible as Odion and Iris screamed at each other. It was the same argument they’d had for weeks now, only louder, uglier. The kind that made the walls feel like they were closing in on me. I couldn’t focus on anything else, my brain a mush, the sounds of screaming and yelling even overpowering the TV in front of me.

  "How could you be so irresponsible, Odion? You knew we couldn’t afford that!" Iris yelled, her voice cracking, filled with equal parts anger and desperation. "I’m trying, Iris! We’re all trying, but nothing’s going to change if we don’t take some risks! We’re ROYALTY, too much is riding on every decision and choice we make." Odion fired back, his face red, veins bulging in his neck. He was pacing back and forth, hands clenching and unclenching as if he could crush his frustration with his fists.

  "Risks? You call throwing our savings into that ridiculous scheme a risk? You gambled everyone’s future away! What about Thorton?! Tyson?! —--” Don’t call me that. I hate that name. Iris’s voice had gone shrill, every word dripping with venom. She stood there, trembling, hands gripping the back of the couch so hard her knuckles were white.

  I wanted to say something, anything to calm them down, but the words got stuck in my throat. I’m weak. I’d heard enough to know that Odion had invested in some startup or stock or whatever that promised big returns. He said it was a surefire way to get us out of the hole we’d been in for years. But Iris didn’t believe in quick fixes; she wanted to save and budget and hold on tight to every penny. Now, whatever was left of our savings was gone, and they were both blaming each other for it. Tyson tried to help, but ended up leaving when he sensed all the tension. I haven’t seen him in a month. Where is he?

  Odion’s voice broke through my thoughts, sharp and biting. "You’re acting like I did this on purpose! I was trying to help us!" "Help us?!" Iris shot back. "You’ve ruined everything! We can barely get by and we’re supposed to be ROYALTY according to you? You’re trash.” "I was thinking we needed a way out, that we couldn’t keep living like this, scraping by on nothing!" Odion’s voice cracked, the anger giving way to something more raw, more painful. Iris wasn’t having it. "Well, now we have less than nothing! How are we supposed to fix this, huh? How, Odion? We’ll have our status revoked! All our funds went to the ALPHONIAS!”

  Their voices were tearing at each other, at me, at everything holding us together. I felt my chest tighten, the weight of their words pressing down until it hurt to breathe. It felt like the room was shrinking, the air growing thick with every accusation and regret thrown back and forth. I just sat there, helpless, watching as the two people I looked up to the most turned on each other.

  I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t want to hear how badly things had gotten messed up, how our family was falling apart right in front of me. But there was nowhere to go, no way to escape the shouting that was ripping through the walls. So, I stayed silent, sinking deeper into the couch, hoping that maybe, if I stayed quiet enough, I could disappear altogether. But I didn’t, I’m a coward. I just kept listening, my heart growing heavier with every word, the hopelessness settling in deeper with every shout. And I realized, in that moment, that no matter what happened next, things would never be the same again.

  The yelling only got worse, their voices clashing like thunder. Each shout was another crack in the foundation of what little stability we had left. I felt like I was drowning in it, in the anger and fear that filled the room like a storm. My heart pounded in my chest, and I could feel the sting of tears threatening to fall, but I blinked them back. Crying wouldn’t help. It wouldn’t change anything.

  I didn’t even hear the door open. But suddenly, there was a different voice in the mix, calm, steady, like a lifeline thrown into the chaos. "That’s enough," Thorton said, his voice cutting through the noise. He wasn’t yelling, but there was a firmness in his tone that demanded attention. "Both of you, stop. This isn’t gonna go anywhere, obviously."

  Odion and Iris turned to him, their anger momentarily replaced by surprise. For a second, it was quiet, just the sound of heavy breathing as they tried to reel in their emotions. "What are you doing here? You don’t have any authority in this conversation, moocher." Odion asked, his voice rough and seeping with venom.

  "Taking Keen with me," Thorton replied, his eyes flicking to where I was curled up on the couch. I hadn’t even realized I’d started shaking until I felt Thorton’s hand on my shoulder, gently pulling me to my feet. I didn’t resist. I couldn’t. I just let him guide me toward the door, my legs weak, my head spinning. Iris said something, maybe an apology or another desperate plea, but I didn’t catch it. Last time I ever heard her voice. The voices had become a blur, like a radio tuned to the wrong station.

  Thorton led me out of the shop, and began to walk me back to our main home. The night air was cool, a stark contrast to the suffocating heat of the living room. I breathed it in like it was the first time I’d ever tasted fresh air. "Come on, Keen," Thorton said softly, allowing me to climb onto his back. I climbed on without a word, feeling the weight of everything settle in my bones as I felt my body sink.

  I started out as we began to walk, the dark streets blurred past, trying to focus on anything but the storm still raging in my head. Thorton didn’t say anything, didn’t ask if I was okay. He didn’t need to. He just kept walking, the soft hum from his lips the only sound between us.

  When we finally reached the house, I felt like a ghost, hollowed out and floating on autopilot. Thorton helped me to the bedroom, told me to get some rest. I nodded, but I knew rest wouldn’t come easy. Not after tonight. I lay down on the bed, pulling the blanket up to my chin, trying to block out the memories of the argument. But as soon as I closed my eyes, the yelling came back, echoing in my mind. I could hear every word, every accusation, every ounce of bitterness. It was like they were still there, shouting right beside me, and I couldn’t escape it.

  I tossed and turned, trying to find a position where the memories couldn’t reach me, but it was no use. The shouting followed me into my dreams, turning them into nightmares where I was trapped, helpless, as my family tore itself apart.

  I woke up in a cold sweat more than once, my heart racing, my mind spinning. I could still hear their voices, still feel the weight of everything pressing down on me. I wanted to sleep, to find some kind of peace, but the nightmares wouldn’t let me. They clung to me like shadows, refusing to let go. I eventually drifted off once again… but it turned into something much worse then I could ever imagine.

  It was dark, a cold chill rushing through my body as I stared into the pitch black darkness. Inside that darkness, I couldn’t help but get drawn toward the one source of immunization. A purple aura, moving rapidly like fire standing in front of me. “Come, —--” I heard my name, why is it calling for me? I begin to float closer to the glowing light, my mind being consumed by a strong hyperfixation on getting closer to the enigma.

  “H- hello..?” I called out, my voice a quiet whisper, but sounding as loud as a speaker, with an echo following. No response. I moved a bit closer, repeating my question once more, this time being followed by a low voice, chilling. “Hello, child.” A hand reaches out from the purple flame, which completely engulfed the entire arm. “You’re struggling, yes?” I hesitate to respond, the arm scrawny and almost skeletal. “W- Who are you?” “My name doesn’t matter…. You’re —--- Odinson, correct?”

  “J- just call me Keen!”

  “Ok, Keen Odinson. You need help, righttt?”

  “W- who… are you?! This is a dream, so why are you talking like you don’t know me!”

  “Call this whatever you want. But I am not you, I am not an extension of your soul. I am an entirely different entity.”

  “What?! How does that work?? Why would you even be here?! That's a lie! This has something to do with my mental health, doesn’t it…”

  “I am incapable of telling a lie. I know things you couldn’t even begin to comprehend. I understand things that defy the human mind.”

  Those words sent a chill through my spine, I didn’t understand what he meant at the time, and right now I don’t even have the tiniest of clues. But going along with it was optimal for my survival, even as a kid I was sure of it. If this really was another spirit, I couldn’t risk saying anything that would get me killed. I’m not a fool.

  “You want an escape, correct? A way to get out of your terrible everyday life?” “Y- yes…”

  “Let’s make a soul pact then. A deal if you will, Odinson. There’s something I want from you, and in return, I’ll set you free.” Those words rung through my mind like an echo chamber. Soul Pact? I’ve heard of things like that from my brothers before, I didn’t know how they work, nor did I wanna get tied down by somebody I didn’t know, but this was my only opportunity to escape from the incoming doom I could see coming from a mile away. But would it be worth it?

  “W- who are you?!”

  “I am the offspring of death itself. Dullahan.”

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------

  September 1st 4070 - 6pm (Tuesday)

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------

  Keen's eyes sluggishly flutter open, his vision blurry as the remnants of unconsciousness faded. His head throbs in pain, and his muscles ache as though he’d been hit by a freight train. The smell of damp air and rust reach his nose, and the room around him is a cavernous black void. No windows, no light save for a single dim bulb swinging above him. He tried to move, but his arms were bound tightly to the chair he was sitting on, and thick rope tied his legs to the chair legs. His wrists were raw from the friction of the rope digging into his skin, but his attempts to break free were futile.

  He attempts to snap, opening a portal of some sort so he could make his grand escape, but the rope glows a bright red, illuminating the room, as it shocks Keen. He growls in pain, his body contorting as the lightning zaps through him, binding him from using any magic. "Great. Just great," he mutters under his breath. He tugs again at the ropes, though the pain in his wrists, and the aftermath of lightning. His ankles grow sharper with every pull, his irritation flares.

  "This is so fuckin’ stupid. I mean, seriously…? How many times do people get tied up in dark rooms? Is this a cliché detective movie or somethin’? Good cop, bad cop??? I swear, I’ll-” Keen pauses, shaking his head as he struggles against the ropes. “Gotta be fuckin’ kidding.. Zerofyne, wherever you are, I’ll get you for this! What even was that, ice magic? Who uses ice like that? Cheap, it’s CHEAP is what it is!" His voice grew louder, fueled by frustration. “If I wasn’t knocked down by your stupid ice, you wouldn’t stand a chance! Coward, sneaking up behind me like that! Persistent bitch! You won’t do it again! You CAN’T! You have some serious 4 leaf clovers.” Keen says, clearly projecting.

  He stops ranting for a second, glancing around the dark room as his breath hitches. He squints at the darkness surrounding him, wondering who’s listening, and suddenly feels the weight of the silence pressing down on him. "If that's you Phantom, is your idea of some stupid prank? I’m not laughing, cornball." Keen barked out. “Where’s Thorton? What’d you do to my brother?! You don’t just get to-”

  "Keep talking, and maybe someone will eventually call out to your whims of desperation.," a voice says smoothly from the shadows. Keen’s head snaps toward the sound, his heart skipping a beat as the figure of the Phantom emerges from the darkness. He steps into the dim light, his suit so busted he looks more monstrous than human, his presence felt imposing, even though the room was relatively small. The busted eyes glow a bright yellow color, staring down at Keen.

  "You," Keen spits with venom in his voice. "What do you want, Phantom? Here to gloat? Maybe brag about how you're 'better' than me? Guess what, I don’t care." Phantom crosses his arms, leaning casually against the wall as he regards Keen with a measured gaze. His electric mask crackled faintly with the energy that always seemed to pulse through him. "You're a real piece of work, you know that, Keen? No one cares how many portals you can snap into existence. Got beat fair and square by a newbie. Own it."

  Keen sneers, shaking his head. "Like you’d understand anything about what I’m trying to accomplish you pompous prick. You think I care about losing a fight? It’s not about that stupid fight. It’s-" Keen stops himself, breathing heavily. He clutches his fist as thoughts spiral, the weight of everything coming down on him at once. The anger, the bitterness, it swelled up inside of him. "It’s about my family! Something you’re probably not familiar with you loner! I’m sure you ruined their lives just like you ruin everything else!

  Phantom's expression softens, though barely perceptible behind the mask. He steps forward, crouching down to be at eye level with Keen. "You think I don't get family? You think I don’t understand having someone to protect?" He scoffs quietly. “You haven’t experienced losing it. Losing that perfect balance and life you once had, and having to rummage around to find a purpose.” Keen is silent, the venom from Phantom's voice piercing."You're not as unique as you think, Keen. Your brother, Thorton? The rest of your little family too? I know what they mean to you. But it doesn't mean you're handling this right."

  Keen grits his teeth, straining against his restraints once more before giving up. "What would you know? I’m doing this for THEM. He’s always had to watch out for me, always getting dragged into things because of me. I’m just trying to prove I can do it myself. We’re nothing alike, you don’t understand anything." The Phantom stays quiet for a moment, letting Keen's words hang in the air. He stands up again, pacing slowly. "So, that’s your big plan? Getting yourself killed trying to outsmart people who are stronger than you? To prove a point?" Phantom tilts his head. "How’s that working out for you?" He points to him in restraints.

  Keen clenches his fists, feeling the rope burn against his wrists. "I didn’t ask for your opinion, bitch. I don’t care what you think about me or my brother. I’ll do what I have to."

  Phantom’s eyes narrow behind the mask. "Maybe you should care. Thorton’s strong, but if he keeps having to clean up your mess.” Keen feels a sharp pain in his chest at these words, not sure if it's because of the fight with Eiko, or something else entirely. “He got apprehended by magic knights and your shop is in shambles. You’ve drug him down too. You think that’s what he wants? Watching you spiral out of control and ruin everything.?"

  Keen’s shoulders sag, his anger momentarily faltering. The truth in Phantom’s words hit him harder than he wants to admit. "What am I supposed to do, then?" he asks, his voice quieter now. "Just... stop trying? Let everyone else decide how my life goes?" “If that leads to better results, then do it. I don’t care about you, or your family, but your self destructiveness is what's causing you all these problems.” Keen looks away, staring into the void beyond the dim light. He hated the idea of Phantom being right. He hated feeling powerless, but deep down, the knot in his chest eased ever so slightly. He had always told himself that he was doing this for Thorton, to prove that he could stand on his own two feet. But in doing so, was he just putting them both at risk?

  "You’re pathetic." Phantom says, his voice echoing, the words ringing in Keen’s head. "Thorton’s was fighting for you. Fought till he got captured, and you wasted it.” Keen didn’t respond, still processing everything. Phantom walks toward the door, his footsteps echoing through the room. Before he leaves, he glances back at Keen one last time.

  "Being yourself ain’t for everyone."

  And with that, Phantom disappears into the shadows once more, leaving Keen to sit alone in the darkness. “I lost.” He whispers, his voice filled with venom.

  Phantom—or rather, Roy, left the dimly lit chamber in the basement of the home. His electric mask vanished, revealing his bruises. He enters a room next to the living room, it’s large and comfortable, bathed in the soft glow of magical crystals embedded in the walls. At the center sat Rika, her sharp eyes skimming through a sea of documents and reports that seem to stretch on forever on her desk. Z rests on the sofa, and beside him, Eiko lays unconscious, covered by a blanket with ice on her head. Z messes around with a tablet, using his metal tendrils to do so.

  She looks up from the desk, her face softening slightly, and without missing a beat, greets him in her usual fashion. "Roy! You're late."

  Phantom, still suited in his masked persona, doesn’t flinch at the use of his real name. He’s used to it by now. "Got held up, you already know the mission was successful." he replies evenly, his voice was cool and calm, though there was a faint edge of exhaustion hidden beneath the tone. It had been a long day.

  Rika leans back in her chair, the leather creaking slightly as she regards him with a mixture of amusement and concern. "You always get held up. I’m starting to wonder if that mask is cutting off oxygen to your brain." He remains silent for a moment, watching her with the same guarded expression he always wore in her presence. She might be his superior, but the way she spoke to him often resembled that of a mother—stern but with an underlying care. “Sometimes it's hard to talk to her.”

  "How’s the brat?" Rika asks, tilting her head slightly, her purple hair cascading over her shoulder. "Keen Odinson." Phantom crosses his arms, leaning against the wall. "He’s alive. Stubborn as hell, though. He’s got a mouth on him." He paused, narrowing his eyes. "But that’s not what bothers me. What I don’t get is how he got mixed up in all of this—especially with the Triton race. I’m not too sure if Marin was telling the truth.”

  Rika’s eyes soften slightly as she shifts in her chair. "It’s not as simple as that, Roy. The Odinson family... they’ve been in trouble for a long time." Phantom's eyes remain locked on her, his face becoming more curious. "What kind of trouble?" he asked quietly.

  Rika sighs, leaning forward slightly as she folded her hands on the desk. "The Odinsons used to be one of the most respected noble families in the city. The usual. Gold, deep connections, a bloodline that ran back generations." She pauses, her gaze distant for a moment. "But nobility isn’t just a birthright here. You know that as well as anyone. It’s maintained through power, influence, and wealth. If you lose any one of those, it can all come crashing down."

  Phantom’s brow furrows, he has seen it happen before. Royals losing their status wasn’t unheard of, but it usually involved scandal or treason. This felt different. "I knew about the stuff with the Odinsons being washed up. But what happened exactly? I’m not a history person, never cared enough to figure it out." he asks.

  Rika nods slowly, as if anticipating the question. "Bad investments. Their family head, Odion, made a series of deals with a group of foreign traders—Triton traders, to be exact. The deals were supposed to secure their financial future, expand their influence across the seas. But the traders were... let’s just say, less than reputable. The contracts were laced with hidden clauses, debt traps that drained the Odinson family's coffers dry." She paused again, her voice heavy with regret. "In just a few years, they went from one of the wealthiest families in the kingdom to barely scraping by."

  Phantom tilts his head slightly, processing her words. "So they lost their title." Rika nods. "Nobility isn’t just about money, like I said. It’s about power. When their financial backing crumbled, so did their political alliances. You know how it works from there. The Council stripped them of their royal status. Now, they’re just like any other struggling family, trying to survive in a city that doesn’t care about their past glories."

  Phantom crosses his arms tighter, the tension in his muscles evident. "And how does Keen fall into this? He doesn’t seem like the type to get mixed up in politics. So what's up with him taking money from the Tritons after they stole it from you."

  Rika scoffs. "That’s the part we gotta try to figure out. From what me and Z gathered, Keen’s been desperately trying to rebuild his family’s reputation. That much is obvious. But his involvement with the Triton race goes deeper than just trying to clear his family’s name. There’s something else at play."

  Phantom steps closer to the desk. "So, we gotta figure out what the Triton race wants with him? They’re not exactly known for playing nice with humans, especially not in recent years. And if his family lost their fortune to them, why would they be working with him now? Especially transporting them into Khourburg from the Underwater Kingdom."

  Rika’s gaze sharpens, her fingers tapping lightly on the desk. "That’s what we’re questioning him about. There’s more to this than a failed business deal. The Tritons don’t just entrap noble families out of greed—they play the long game, and they’ve got a history of using those they’ve defeated as pawns. They could be grooming him for something else."

  Phantom’s eyes narrow. "And you think Keen knows what’s going on?" Rika shrugged slightly, though her expression remained serious. "He might not know everything, but he knows enough. He’s been caught up in something far bigger than him, whether he realizes it or not. And if the Tritons are using him to get a foothold in this land, we need to find out sooner rather than later." "And what about Thorton?" Rika’s expression softens slightly. "Thorton’s a wildcard. He’s protective of Keen, and I don’t blame him for it. But he’s got his own things to deal with. He’s not the same man he used to be." Phantom shakes his head. "None of us are."

  There was a long silence between them, the weight of the conversation settling over the room like a heavy blanket.

  Rika leans back in her chair, her eyes studying Phantom closely. "Be careful, Roy," she says quietly, her voice softer now. “You are an assassin, not a hero. If the Tritons are making moves, it could spell trouble for the state of Eternia." Roy meets her gaze, the tension in his body slowly easing as he nods. "I know. But Keen won’t be the only one suffering if they keep this up.” He imagines the little girl, Emma, and all the innocent people from the city. “Someone’s gotta make sure they don’t get buried under it."

  Rika gives him a small, almost sad smile. "Just don’t lose yourself in the process, Roy. You’re too important to throw it all away for a lost cause. How would your father feel?” Roy doesn’t respond, the words hanging in the air between them for a moment.

  "I’ll figure it out. Don’t I always?"

  Rika’s gaze lingers on Roy for a few moments longer than usual, her sharp eyes searching for something deeper beneath the surface. It wasn’t often that she allowed herself to speak candidly about her concerns for him, but today seemed different. “He feels so off….” She folds her hands on the desk in front of her and, after a pause, breaks the silence with a soft yet deliberate tone.

  "You know, Roy, you’ve got this strange drive when it comes to people with family problems. To help people. It’s always been there, even back when you first showed up."

  Roy doesn’t respond right away. He knew what she was getting at. Rika had seen through him time and time again, and her words hit closer to home than he wanted to admit. His mind briefly flashes to the little lady he’d helped in the city just a few days ago. The one whose job he’d crashed into during a skirmish. She was scared, falling to the ground in the workplace while her co-workers left her to die. Phantom hadn’t thought twice before slipping her some gold coins once he saw the picture of her daughter beside her. Making sure they didn’t see where the money came from. But that wasn’t something he felt like discussing, not with Rika, not now.

  He quickly shut it down, brushing past the topic as if it were nothing. "I help because it’s my job, nothing more. I’m not a hero but I’m not a villain either, I do what I believe is right. And you know as well as I do that getting too attached only causes problems." Rika raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Yeah sure, of course you’re the one to say that.” Instead, she shifts gears. "You’ve been pushing yourself too hard lately. I can see it. You might not say anything, but it’s written all over you. These past few battles—"

  "They’re taking a toll on me, I know," Roy interrupts, his voice quieter now, but more resolute. He ran a hand over the back of his neck, the weight of exhaustion suddenly feeling heavier than before. "My body’s been acting up... and it’s not just normal fatigue. It’s deeper than that." Rika leans forward slightly, her eyes narrowing as she studies him. "Deeper? Roy, you shouldn’t be struggling this much, especially with the level of skill you have. Something’s off, and I think you know it too. You’re out here going blow for blow with lieutenants when you’ve surpassed the level of a captain." Roy listens quietly, as she continues.

  “Let's say you fought Seraphina instead of Zara, you would’ve lost.” Roy let out a sigh, his posture sinking ever so slightly. He’s been avoiding this conversation for weeks, but there was no escaping it now. "I’m running low on soul energy. Lower than I’ve ever been, and it’s messing with my mana output, strangely. Every time I try to fight, it feels like I’m pulling from an empty well. It’s making everything... harder."

  Rika's expression shifts, her usual sharpness softening with concern. "Roy, that’s serious. Without enough soul energy, your body won’t have the strength to generate the mana you need to fight effectively. You know how dangerous that can be." He nods, not saying anything at first. The reality of the situation had been weighing on him for a while now, and as much as he wanted to push through it, he knew that continuing like this wasn’t sustainable.

  "I’ve been feeling it more with every battle," Roy admits, his voice a bit more ragged. "Marin, Thorton, now Zara. My attacks aren’t hitting as hard, and I’m slowing down. The strain is starting to show in ways I can’t ignore anymore. I can still generate mana and shit, but my reserves are running low, my lighting isn't hitting like it SHOULD be." Rika exhales slowly, nodding. "You’re not invincible. None of us are. But pushing yourself like this, running on fumes and adrenaline… it’s going to get you killed if you’re not careful. Fly too close to the sun and there's gonna be someone to bring you back down. Mark my words."

  Roy stands silently for a moment, his thoughts still turning over the past few fights and the toll they had taken on his body. He knew Rika was right. Continuing to ignore his body's warning signs was a recipe for disaster, and he wasn't one to gamble with his life unnecessarily. “So, more training it seems.” Rika leans back in her chair, putting her feet on her desk, crossing her arms thoughtfully. "You need to rest for now, worry about training later. And not just you. Eiko, too. Going into a mission right after being saved was a horrible idea, and this was the best-case scenario. I genuinely have no idea why I agreed to that, you’re both lucky it worked out, her especially."

  Roy's eyes flicker with frustration. "Experience is the best training. She has tons of potential and skill. Probably skills she took from watching movies and reading, but still. Beating Keen isn’t easy, you need smarts and strength for that.

  Rika nods in agreement, though a faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "That's true, but her smarts carried her to victory." Roy raises an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "How so?" Rika throws a book at Z, getting his attention. “Show the footage.” Z nods, plugging their arm into the side of her desk, pulling up a holographic screen displaying clips of Eiko in battle. "This is from the new uniform she wears. They capture everything at a first person POV. Your new suit will have it too. Every movement, every fight, every decision. It's all analyzed by Z.”

  She pauses, her gaze drifting back to the screen where Eiko’s image flickered. "Eiko’s got raw power, but she’s lacking discipline. She’s impulsive, jumps into the fray without thinking things through. But with the right training, she could become one of the best we’ve ever had. Her chances of beating Keen were 4% overall, and the chances of her beating him without losing consciousness or dying were almost 0. As you can see, she lost consciousness at the end."

  Roy watched the footage for a moment, seeing the flashes of Eiko’s ice magic and her swift, aggressive style. She fought with the same ferocity he once had, before he’d learned the value of patience and strategy. “She's strong, but her battle intelligence is what carried her to victory. She figured out how to counter the portals and combined it with her raw strength to clutch the win. If she didn’t force Keen into using so many portals, she’d be dead.”

  "She’s still rough around the edges," Roy says, his tone thoughtful. "But yeah, I can see what you mean now."

  Rika gives a small nod. "She’ll need time to refine her abilities, and that’s something we can’t rush. Right now, she’s out cold, but when she wakes up, I’ll make sure she gets the proper rest and training she needs before we throw her back into the field again. I have just the guy both of you might need to see."

  As if on cue, there was a faint rustling sound from the other side of the room. Eiko’s body lifted up, her movements slow and stiff. Phantom turned his head slightly, watching as she groggily came to, her face contorted in discomfort. Bandages wrapped tightly around her body, covering the injuries she’d sustained in her last battle. Her eyes fluttered open, and she squinted against the low light in the room.

  "Ugh... what happened?" Eiko mutters, her voice hoarse as she rubbed her temple, clearly feeling the effects of her injuries. "You pushed yourself too hard," Rika says with care, her voice gentle yet firm, standing up and sitting beside her on the couch. "But you’re alive, and that’s what matters. You’ll need to take it easy for a while."

  Eiko groans, slowly sitting up on the sofa she’d been resting on. The white shirt she’s wearing is very baggy, along with sweatpants and some slippers. The bandages that covered her wounds made it clear just how much damage she’d taken. “Wait, w- who changed my clothes?!” “Z did. They’re a robot.” Eiko let out a sigh of relief, slouching back. “Thank goodness.”

  Roy stood off to the side, watching her with a mixture of concern and respect. He knew the toll battle could take, and seeing Eiko pushing herself so hard reminded him of his own struggles. "You fought well, Eiko," Phantom says, his voice calm but sincere. She smiles, blushing at the compliment. “H- he ackno-” "But you’re not ready for this level of combat yet. You need time to recover and train. A lot of training. The way you fought was sloppy.”

  Eiko blinks up at him, her expression still groggy but slowly sharpening as the reality of the situation sank in. She falls back and groans "I know... I just thought I could handle it. And.. I mean.. I did, didn’t I? I caught him!" “And you almost died in the process.” Roy says “Keen was a good gateway to gauge your strength though. So good work nonetheless.” “I mean he still acknowledged me. But… that was so half assed! Oh, you did but your fighting was ploopy. I don’t want criticism! I need to hear nothing but positivity from him to feel like I accomplished something!”

  Rika steps in "We all make mistakes in the heat of battle, but the important thing is that you learn from them. You’ve got potential, Eiko, but it’s going to take more than raw power to survive out there. We’ll work on that together."

  Eiko nods weakly, wincing slightly as she shifts in her seat. "Alright... I’ll do whatever it takes."

  As the room settles into silence once more, Roy couldn’t help but feel the weight of his own struggles pressing down on him again. He’d spent so much time fighting for others, for people like Eiko, that he had almost forgotten to take care of himself. Rika glances back at him, her expression soft but determined. "Roy. It’s time you take care of yourself before you burn out completely."

  Roy doesn’t respond. His face is stoic and emotionless.

  Rika turns to Eiko, her sharp gaze softening slightly but still firm. "Eiko, you need to rest. Wait on the couch," she says, pointing to a nearby plush, worn-out bed. Eiko, still groggy and in no condition to argue, nodded and slowly made her way over, settling down with a soft groan. "We’ll be back soon," Rika says, her voice steady but carrying a certain weight, indicating this wasn’t going to be a light conversation. Roy gave Eiko a glance before following Rika toward the basement, covering his face with the electric mask.

  As they descended the narrow stone staircase, the air grew cooler, and the dim lighting created an oppressive atmosphere. The walls of the basement were bare, save for a few hanging tools and a single wooden chair in the center, where Keen sat tied up. His head hung low, a mixture of defeat and defiance etched into his features. He didn’t look up as Rika and Phantom entered the room, but his body tensed, clearly aware of the gravity of the situation.

  Rika struts forward, her boots echoing against the stone floor as she comes to a halt in front of Keen. For a moment, she says nothing, simply observing him with the cold detachment of someone who knew she had all the power in the room. "Do you know why you’re here, Keen?" Rika’s voice says low and dangerous, slicing through the silence like a blade.

  Keen lifts his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. "I’ve got a pretty good idea." "Then you’ll understand that lying isn’t going to help you here," Rika continues, her tone hardening. She steps closer, her presence looming over him. "We know about your family’s situation. The fall from royalty, the debts, the desperation. But what we don’t know is why you got involved with the Triton race. What did they tell you, and how did my stolen funds get involved?"

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  Keen clenches his jaw, his muscles tightening as he struggles to maintain his composure. The mix of pain and annoyance is evident. "I don’t know what you’re talking about." Rika smirks coldly. "Oh, I think you do. And if you don’t start talking, I’ll make sure you’ll regret it." Keen’s breath hitches, but he keeps his gaze locked on the floor, refusing to give in so easily.

  "You see, Keen," Rika continues, her voice taking on a menacing edge, dropping down to eye level with him by crouching. "I know where Iris is." That got his attention. Keen’s eyes snapped up, and for the first time, genuine fear flickered across his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but Rika cut him off before he could form a word. "Yes, Iris. Your precious big sister. I know where she is, and I can have him taken care of at any moment. One word from me, and she’s gone."

  Keen’s face drains of color, his breathing quickening as panic sets in. “You’ve gotta be fuckin’ kidding me.” His gaze darts around the room, looking for any opening, but there was none. The idea of him running away feels like a guy punch, as he feels some pain in his chest. “Not this shit again…” “It’s time for the truth.” The Phantom says, his mask surging with energy.

  "Fuuuuuuuuck." Keen blurted out, his voice annoyed but desperate. "Alright, I’ll tell you."

  Rika remains silent, her face gaining a creepy yet emotionless smile. She gives him a sharp nod to continue., “Here’s the deal." Keen muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn’t want to drag my family into this... but we were desperate. We lost everything after that business deal went south, all cuz of Odion’s stupid choice to invest with the Tritons. But I decided to make the wrong right." The 2 listen silently as he keeps going. “I transported the Tritons from the underwater kingdom to the waters near the Alphonia mansion, due to some recent political shit going on in the underwater kingdom, discriminating and calling for the assassination of all Tritons who procreate with humans.”

  Rika’s eyes narrow. "Go on." Keen scoffs, and continues. “I don’t really care about the cause, and to this day I still don’t. But I knew it was my chance to make that wrong, right. I’m not a hero, so I’m not gonna pretend I did it for some righteous reason. I wanted the money, and Marin was the one who took the incentive to take the money from Rika. That's the truth.” “Where did my money go then?” Rika questions, as the puzzle pieces begin to click.

  Keen swallows hard, his voice trembling as he continues. "I got involved with some... dangerous people. There’s this village—hidden away in the west of Khourburg, full of shamen and necromancers. They offered me a deal, offering to help me save my sister. But it was a setup. They attacked me. The main necromancers… they’re dangerous. I had to give up the rest of our money just to escape with my life."

  "You’re telling me," Rika says, her voice laced with disbelief, "that you gave up my money to save your own skin?" Keen flinches, guilt flashing across his face. "I didn’t have a choice. They would’ve done something terrible to me, turned me into one of their puppets. No way I can save Iris if I die to some necromancers.” Rika’s expression darkens, her fists clenching at her sides. She stands up, looming over him with barely contained fury. "Sounds pretty heroic to me." Keen’s face shrivels up, “Fuck did you jus’ say?”

  Keen’s breath quickened, after the words left his mouth. For a moment, it looked like Rika might do something drastic, the aura emitting from her was deadly. But before she could, Phantom stepped in, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Rika," he says softly, his voice steady but firm. "Calm down." She turns her head slightly, her aura still pretty menacing, but she doesn't pull away. Phantom keeps his hand on her shoulder, grounding her in the moment, and after a few tense seconds, she lets out a slow breath, taking a step back.

  "Fine," she mutters, her voice dripping with disdain. "But this idiot needs to face the consequences." Phantom glances at Keen, his expression unreadable behind the mask. He could see the fear and desperation in the boy’s eyes, the weight of his choices hanging heavily over him. But before he could say anything, Rika’s voice cut through the silence once more.

  "Phantom," she says, her tone cold and commanding. "Get rid of him." Keen’s eyes widen in terror, his body trembling as he struggles against the ropes binding him to the chair. "You’re overrea-” But before he could say anything, Phantom had already swung his sword. Keen closes his eyes fast, and he hears the sword slam against something. He doesn’t feel anything, but feels some blood dripping onto his legs. “Am I dead? Is this euphoria?” He decides to finally open his eyes, and his heart drops.

  All eyes are locked onto the shadow, where its shown to be Eiko, her body still covered in bandages but her expression resolute. She had been hiding just out of sight, listening to the entire conversation. The Phantom cut into her arms covered in bricks of ice, holding back enough of the force to not totally tear her arms off. “That girls fast… how did she even react to this?” Keen thinks.

  "Eiko?" Roy says, feeling his heart drop. His hand shakes holding the sword, and behind the mask he takes a distraught expression. He pulls the sword out fast, “You shouldn’t be here, at all! You could’ve got-” She shuts him up, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "You can’t do this. Not like this. I won’t let you…"

  Rika’s eyes narrow. "And why not?" She smiles, genuinely interested to see where this goes. Eiko takes a deep breath, standing her ground despite the overwhelming tension in the room. She remembers when she confronted her mom during the meeting about her marriage, and when she talked to her siblings. “Stand your ground Eiko.” She winces from the pain of the strike, but freezes over the cut with ice. "Because he’s not the only one who made mistakes! You lost your money because you didn’t secure it! What he did after doesn’t matter! There’s always ways to get it back!."

  The Phantom’s gaze flickers between Eiko and Rika, unsure of what was going to happen next. “You shouldn’t have gotten involved.” He says. Rika’s expression is cold, her patience clearly running thin. "This isn’t your call, Eiko," Rika scoffs, her voice low. But Eiko didn’t back down. "No, it’s not. But I can’t stand by and watch someone be hurt when there’s still a chance to do things differently! There’s always a chance to do something else!” Keen winces at these words, slowly having anger build, but not saying anything.

  For a moment, the room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Phantom stands motionless, watching as Rika considers Eiko’s words, her eyes narrowing in thought “If you’re the one suggesting we keep him alive, so give me an idea of what to do with him. If I don’t like it, he dies. Simple.” Eiko looks back at Keen, then at Rika, gathering her thoughts. Keen’s head was down, looking at his legs. “We make a Soul Pact with him.”

  Phantom looks at Eiko, and Rika raises an eyebrow but stays silent. Eiko presses on, her voice gaining confidence. “If we bind his soul to yours, we can keep track of him. He’ll be bound by the terms we set, unable to betray us! That’s how Soul Pacts work!” Eiko says, banking on the hope that she used the term correctly and has a good enough understanding of it. “And instead of executing him, we put him to work, like me! He helps us with missions, a- and he works to make up for the money he lost. No pay, no freedom, but he gets to live.”

  Phantom takes a step closer, clearly unimpressed. “The second he gets a chance, he’s gonna run away. He’ll find some sort of loophole to get out of it, I promise you. I know how this goes.” Eiko meets his gaze steadily, refusing to back down. “A Soul Pact isn’t just any deal. you know that! It’s not something you can break, your soul binds you to it! If he tries to run, the pact will destroy him. He’ll have no choice but to follow through. And besides, it’s better than the alternative. Killing him won’t get us any closer to solving this problem, or getting the money back.”

  Phantom folds his arms across his chest, skeptical but listening. “So you’re saying we just trust that he’ll contribute? He’s reckless, and if we’re bringing him on missions, that’s a liability. What happens when he screws up? We can’t afford that.”

  Eiko nods, acknowledging the risk but countering it with firm resolve. “You’re right, he is a liability, but so am I! That’s why the pact is with me. I’ll take responsibility for him. If he messes up, it falls on me. And I’m not going to let that happen. I’ll make sure he knows the stakes. If he wants to survive, he’ll have to pull his weight.”

  Phantom is quiet for a moment, clearly weighing her words. “Where did this come from? She has a response for everything. Countering my doubts with logical solutions.” But there was always a new question waiting in the wings. He was about to push again, to question whether they could really afford the effort it would take to manage Keen, but Rika finally spoke up, cutting through the tension.

  “That’s enough,” Rika says, her voice sharp but calm. She had been watching them both carefully, weighing the proposal in her mind. Now, she stepped forward, her decision made. “Eiko has a good idea. A Soul Pact will bind him to us, and we can make use of him. Killing him now would be wasteful. Let’s not pretend we haven’t done worse things to get what we need.”

  Phantom glances at Rika, clearly not thrilled but not pushing back anymore. Rika was the final word, and when she decided, that was it. Rika turns her attention to Keen, who had been watching the exchange silently, but clearly full of rage. His eyes were wide, clearly not agreeing to everything but knowing enough to recognize that this was his last chance.

  She approaches him slowly, her expression cold and deliberate. Without breaking eye contact, she reaches down and unshackles one of his hands, lifting it gently but firmly. Her hand began to glow with a faint, swirling energy—the unmistakable sign of soul energy being drawn forth. The room seemed to darken around them as Rika’s power radiated softly.

  “Here are the terms,” she says, her voice hard as steel. “You will be bound to Eiko’s soul. You will serve us without complaint or rebellion. You will do everything we ask of you, and in return, you get to live. If you attempt to break this pact, if you try to escape or betray us in any way…” She thinks for a second, imagining a gruesome punishment. “Your soul will tear you apart inside out, in front of the person you love the most.”

  Keen swallows hard, sweat beading on his forehead. He glares at Phantom, then at Eiko, and finally back at Rika. He was mad, that much was obvious, but he also knew he didn’t have a choice. His mouth opens as if to protest, to hesitate, but then he shuts it. He wanted to live more than anything, a chance to finally save his sister from the clutches of what binds her.

  “I, Keen Odinson, agree to these terms and conditions.” Keen finally says, his voice filled with malice. His hand flows with green soul energy, and a spiritual link binds them. Rika’s eyes narrow. “You better mean that.” She tightens her grip on his hand, and the soul energy flowed between them, linking Keen’s soul to Eiko’s in a way that was ancient and unbreakable. Eiko feels a weight on her shoulders, and throw her chest. The energy glowed brighter for a moment, then faded, leaving a faint, pulsating aura around Keen’s wrist where the pact had taken hold, along with around Eiko’s entire body.

  The deal was done.

  Keen exhales shakily, his body trembling with the weight of what had just happened. He had signed his life away, but he was still alive. For now.

  Rika steps back, releasing him from her grip, her expression hard and unreadable. “You’re one of us now,” she says, her voice low and dangerous. “Don’t make me regret this. I’ll talk to you about your sister at a later date.” Phantom, standing off to the side, let out a slow breath, still not entirely sold on the idea but resigned to it. He glances at Eiko, who gave him a small, tired nod. She had won the argument, but the battle to make Keen useful was only just beginning. Keen sighs weakly, his head hanging low, fully aware of how deep he was in now.

  Rika glances over her shoulder, giving Phantom a pointed look. “Untie him.” Phantom hesitates, his hand twitching at the command. He clearly wasn’t a fan of this, but he wasn’t one to defy Rika. “Are you sure about this?” he asks, his voice low. Rika’s eyes don’t waver. “Do it.”

  With a reluctant sigh, Phantom steps forward, crouching beside Keen and slowly untying the ropes binding his wrist and ankles. Keen winces as circulation returns to his limbs, but he remains silent, his eyes flickering between Phantom’s masked face and Rika’s authoritative stance. Phantom stands back up, looking down at Keen. “Don’t make me regret this.” Rika motions toward the door. “Before we go any further, take a shower. You smell like you’ve been running from death for days.” Her tone was sharp but not unkind.

  With that, Rika turns to leave, her footsteps echoing up the stairs. Phantom follows behind, his mind still racing with everything that had just transpired, while Eiko lingered for a moment longer, looking down at Keen with a mixture of sympathy and determination. “We’ll make this work,” she says quietly, though whether it was for his benefit or her own, she wasn’t sure.

  Keen blinks, his mind still catching up to everything that had just happened. He nods, slowly rising to his feet, the soreness of his body starting to fade. Eiko gave him a nudge, not too hard, but enough to get him moving. Keen followed the direction they pointed him, leaving the room under the watchful eyes of his new captor.

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------

  September 1st 4070 - 9pm (Tuesday)

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------

  A few hours later, Keen walks through the base, feeling the warmth of a clean shower and fresh clothes against his skin. The environment around him was a far cry from the grim tension he’d felt earlier. “Should’ve just let them kill me. It was good to take a shower though, glad I didn’t die stinky.” The base itself had an odd comfort to it—quiet corridors lit by soft, magical lanterns, and the hum of a distant conversation from another room. For a brief moment, he almost forgot where he was and what had happened.

  Rika, standing beside him, finally decided to say “You’ll need to come up with an assassin's name at some point. Can’t exactly go around with people calling you Keen anymore.” Keen nods, though the weight of that hadn’t really sunk in yet. He was still trying to process the fact that he was now working for a group of assassins. “Right,” he mutters, running a hand through his twists. “I’ll think of something.”

  Rika seems satisfied enough with that answer, waving him off for now. “Good. But for now, you’ve got some time to relax. Make use of it.” She walks away and Keen is left to his own instinct to find his way around. He finds himself wandering into a cozy lounge area. He sat down on a couch, feeling an odd sense of rejuvenation in his bones. The ache and exhaustion of the day was still there, but they were fading. His mind, though still heavy with the weight of his situation, was calmer than it had been in a while.

  “What have I gotten myself into? Where’s Thorton? I can’t stop thinking about him.” Keen thinks, leaning back and staring up at the ceiling. “An assassin’s base. I was supposed to be dead by now... and now I’m alive because of some weird pact. Not exactly how I imagined my life would turn out. I really hope he’s ok.” Despite everything, Keen felt a small flicker of hope. He wasn’t dead, and that meant there was a chance to rebuild. A chance to make things right, and help his family.

  As he sat there, lost in his thoughts, Eiko suddenly plopped down next to him on the couch. She had changed into more casual clothes, her bandages visible beneath her sleeves. With a smile, she grabs the remote and turns on the TV, flipping through the channels without much care.

  “Hey,” she says, looking over at him. “You look... less miserable.” Keen scoffs softly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, I guess a shower and not being tied to a chair will do that to a man.” Eiko sighs and settles back into the couch. “Yeah, that tends to help.”

  There was a brief moment of comfortable silence between them before Eiko pauses the TV, walks up and turns on a console. The light glows, and she enters a disc, then puts on a video game of sorts. On TV, it features some sort of fighting game. The title flashed across the screen in vibrant letters: "Star Shuttle Showdown.”

  Keen raises an eyebrow. “What’s this?” “Only the best fighting game ever,” Eiko grins, grabbing a pair of controllers from the side table. She tossed one to Keen. “Come on, let’s play!”

  Keen caught the controller, feeling a bit out of his element. “I’m not much of a game person, never had time for that.” Eiko waves a hand dismissively. “You’ll catch on. It’s easy! Pick a hero, fight, win. That’s it.” “Eugh. A hero..” He says, but with a shrug, Keen selected a character, watching as his avatar a brown haired man with blue glasses, and a red jacket. “Hot Shot, huh?” Eiko’s character is an Assassin-like character with a sword.

  The match starts, and for the first round, Keen is completely outmatched. Eiko’s character darts around the screen, landing quick, precise strikes while his character moves swiftly but not as fast, struggling to keep up. But after a few matches, Keen starts to get the hang of it. He manages to land a few heavy hits, earning him a laugh from Eiko.

  “There you go!” she says, grinning. “See? You’re getting it.”

  Keen couldn’t help but laugh along with her, caught up in the fun. “It’s been so long since I let myself relax. It’s strange. Really… strange.” As they continue to play, Eiko leans back, her eyes still on the screen. “So, I’ve been wondering... back when I passed out, why didn’t you run?” Keen’s smile falters slightly as he thought about the question. He hesitates for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly on the controller. “I made a Soul Pact once,” he says quietly, his voice serious now. “With my sister, Iris.”

  Eiko pauses the game, glancing over at him with genuine curiosity. “Your sister? The one Rika was talking about right?””

  Keen nods, his expression distant as the memories came flooding back. “Yeah. Back when things were... better. She and I made a pact. I promised I’d never leave her behind, no matter what. It’s... complicated, but that pact saved my life more than once. I guess, in some way, it was still guiding me when everything went to hell.” Eiko doesn’t say anything, letting him talk. Keen’s voice softens as he continues.

  “After we lost everything, Iris was in a bad spot. That pact was the only thing that kept us together. I couldn’t just run. It didn’t feel right. Even now, after all this... I couldn’t break that promise.”

  The weight of his words hung in the air for a moment, the room feeling quieter than it had before. Eiko seems to sense the depth of what he was saying, her gaze softening. “You really cared about her,” Eiko says quietly. Keen nods, his mind drifting back to that time, to the promise that had defined so much of his life.

  ——————————————————————————————————————————

  The sun was low in the sky, casting this strange, orange glow over what was left of our home. The manor—our estate—was nothing but a pile of rubble now. Windows smashed, walls crumbling, the whole place felt like a graveyard. I could still smell the burning wood, and every breath tasted like ash. This wasn’t how it was supposed to end.

  I stood next to Iris, my sister, and our three older brothers, Thorton, Tyson and Odion, just a few steps away. None of us said a word. We just stared at the wreckage, each of us dealing with it in our own way. “I can’t believe this is real,” Iris whispered, voice shaky. She sounded so much older than she really was. I mean, she was only a year older than me, but right now, with everything that had happened, it felt like she was carrying the weight of the world.

  Thorton stood off to the side, arms crossed, jaw clenched so hard I thought he might crack a tooth. He looked like he was ready to explode. Odion, quieter as always, was staring off into the distance, like his mind was already somewhere else. Tyson had nothing to say, his head in his hands, crying silently and wearing his feelings on his sleeve.

  The silence was suffocating, but none of us had the energy to break it. Not yet.

  “We’ll rebuild,” Thorton finally said, voice tight with frustration, but laced with that same fiery determination he always had. “We’ll get everything back. I don’t care how long it takes.” Odion turned to him, shaking his head slightly, and I could see the sadness in his eyes. “It’s not that simple, Thorton. We’ve lost everything. The money, the status, even the land. You can’t just... wish it all back.”

  Thorton shot him a glare, eyes blazing. “So what? You’re just giving up? Walking away like none of this matters?” Odion didn’t flinch, and didn't react at all to Thorton’s anger. “I’m saying we need to be smart. If we rush into things, we’ll end up worse off than we are now.”

  Thorton kicked at the dirt, scoffing. “Smart? Look at where your smarts GOT US. Every second we waste, someone else is taking what little we’ve got left!” I stood there, feeling useless as always, watching my two brothers go at it. I wanted to say something, do something, but what could I say? I wasn’t like Thorton with his energy, or Odion with his calm, calculated plans. I was just... me. And that didn’t seem like enough. I was never enough.

  Before things could get worse, I felt a tug on my sleeve. Iris. She gave me a look, one that said, Let’s get out of here. I nodded, grateful for the excuse, and followed her away from the chaos. We walked in silence until we reached what used to be our garden. It was dead now, the flowers wilted, the earth dry and cracked. She sat down on an old stone bench, and I sat beside her, not sure what to say.

  For a while, neither of us spoke. The quiet between us was heavy but not uncomfortable. Iris had always been the one I could sit in silence with, no need for words. “It doesn’t feel real, does it?” she finally asked, her voice soft. I shook my head. “No. It feels like some kind of nightmare. Like I’m going to wake up and everything will be normal again.” She laughed, but it was more sad than anything else. “Yeah... I wish it worked that way.”

  I glanced at her, seeing the worry in her eyes. She was trying so hard to stay strong, to keep it all together, but I could see it. She was cracking under the weight of it all. “How are you holding up?” she asked, surprising me with the question. I shrugged, not really sure how to answer. “I don’t know. I feel... lost. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do now.”

  She nodded, like she understood exactly how I felt. “Me too.” She reached over, placing a hand on my shoulder. “But I have a plan, I just need your help. Just you.” Her words were supposed to comfort me, but they didn’t. “A few days ago… I was offered to marry the future king of Reptar. Sell myself to him, and secure wealth for all of you. I just have to be loyal, and have his children.” My heart dropped at these words, as I ran toward my big sister. “You're only 14! Don’t do it! Please!” Even now, she’s giving up things to protect me.

  All I could think about was how much she had done for me, how much she was trying to protect me even now, after everything. It wasn’t fair. “I don’t want you to carry all of this by yourself,” I said suddenly, the words spilling out before I could stop them. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to protect me all the time.”

  Iris blinked, surprised by my outburst. “Keen...” “I mean it,” I said, my voice firmer than I expected. “We’re in this together. I want to help. I need to help. You don’t have to do this alone! Don’t sacrifice yourself for me! Don’t do it for us!” She just stared at me for a long moment, and I could see something shift in her eyes. Then, slowly, she smiled. “You’ve grown up, haven’t you?” she tears up, but there was pride in her voice.

  We fell into another stretch of silence before Iris spoke again, quieter this time. “You know... we could make a Soul Pact.” I turned to her, blinking in surprise. “A Soul Pact?” She nodded, her face serious. “It’s not something we should take lightly, Keen. But it would bind us together. Make sure that no matter what happens, we won’t lose each other. Not now. Not ever.” “

  I felt my heart skip a beat. A Soul Pact... that was no small thing. It wasn’t just words. It was a connection—something deep, something that couldn’t be broken, not by anyone or anything. “Wait.., that means, you’re gonna do it?!” “I have no choice.” “B- b- but-” “Listen.” I stopped talking, listening to my sister's commands. I can’t believe this, this can’t be happening. Not ever. No way.

  Iris reached out, taking my hand in hers. I closed my eyes, focusing on the warmth of her soul, the steady pulse of her strength. We whispered the words of the pact together, our voices quiet but firm. As we spoke, I could feel the magic building between us, wrapping around our souls like a thread, tying us together. A soft glow surrounded our hands, and when we opened our eyes, we both knew things had changed.

  “Keen.” Iris said, her voice steady, “we’ll always have each other. No matter what stands in your way, I never want you to run away, and I will do the same. Don’t run away at the sign of failure, take every loss as a new opportunity for growth. And one day, I hope you’ll be able to save me. ”

  I nodded, feeling the weight of that promise settle deep in my chest. “Always.” In that moment, despite everything—the ruins, the loss, the uncertainty of our future—I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

  H?o?p?e?

  “The offspring of death awaits you, Keen Odinson.”

  ——————————————————————————————————————————

  Keen jolts up, a shiver running down his spine. He shakes his head as if trying to physically dislodge the thoughts, then glances at Eiko, who looks at him curiously, but she doesn't push for more. He picks up the controller, masking his discomfort with a grin. “Ready to get fried again?”

  Eiko smirks, giving him a light nudge. “You wish.”

  They dove back into the game, the fast-paced fighting and colorful action on the screen quickly pulling them back into the present. Keen liked this. The simplicity of it. It was easier than dealing with the complex layers of everything else going on. Here, it was just about combos and counters—no life-or-death stakes, no pacts, no betrayals. Just a game.

  But, of course, it couldn’t last.

  As Keen and Eiko traded blows in the game, the sound of footsteps caught their attention. Keen glances over to see Roy standing in the doorway, no longer in his Phantom attire. It was the first time Keen had seen him without his ominous mask and tactical armor, and it made him seem almost... normal. Still, there was an edge to him, an intensity that lingered even when he wasn’t dressed for battle.

  “Rika wants to see you two,” Roy says, his voice even but commanding. “Conference room down the hall.” Eiko quickly pauses the game, the lighthearted energy evaporating as she stands up. Keen, however, wasn’t ready to let the tension of the moment pass without a sarcastic remark. “What, no ‘please’? You sure know how to give a warm invitation, Phantom.” Roy didn’t even turn around fully before glaring at him with a look that could freeze fire. Keen’s smirk fades instantly, and he could feel the tension. “My fault.” The weight of Roy’s stare shut him up quicker than anything else, and Eiko shot him a glance as if silently saying, “Really?”

  Without another word, Keen stood and followed them both down the hall. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Roy still didn’t trust him, and after everything that had gone down earlier, he wasn’t sure he could blame him. The hallway was long and cold, the sterile walls adding to the tension. By the time they reached the conference room, Keen’s nerves were on edge.

  They step inside, and Keen’s eyes immediately lock onto Rika, sitting confidently at the head of a sleek metallic table. Her small robot companion, Z, perched on her shoulder. It continues to mess around with its tablet, not really paying much attention.

  “Sit down,” Rika instructs, motioning toward the chairs opposite her. Keen and Eiko sit, with Roy standing off to the side, arms crossed as usual. The atmosphere in the room was thick with unspoken expectations, and Keen knew whatever Rika had to say was going to be serious. “Either a lecture or a mission.”

  Rika leans forward, her sharp eyes cutting through the silence. “Your next mission is in about a week.”

  “Knew it.” Keen’s stomach drops at the casual way she said it, as if the whole ordeal was already a foregone conclusion. “A mission, of course.” He wasn’t naive enough to think he’d be left alone to sit and do nothing after what had happened, but hearing it so soon was still jarring.

  Rika doesn’t miss a beat, continuing, “We’re going to get my money back from those Shamans.” Keen tenses at the mention of the shamans, knowing exactly where this was headed. His mind flashes back to that hellish encounter, the misty forest, the fear, and the sheer power of the people he’d crossed. “I barely made it out and she expects me to go back?! No way-” But as he has that thought, he feels a pain in his chest, and he can tell Eiko feels the effects a bit too, shaking. “Fuckkk.”

  “We’ll need details,” Rika says, her voice sharp with intent. “Where exactly are they located?” Keen hesitates for a moment, gathering his thoughts before answering. He glances at Eiko, and complies. “They’re hiding out near Infinity Forest. It’s a secret organization, deep in the mist. The Royal Knights have been trying to track them down for years, but the shamans are too elusive. It’s not just a random village—it’s a place steeped in old magic and protection. Their power... It’s no joke.”

  He pauses, glancing at Eiko once more before adding, “If we go in now, both Eiko and I? We wouldn’t stand a chance. We’d be dead before we even knew what hit us. I assume Phantom would be able to win solo based on what I’ve seen, but he'd be forced to go all out.” Rika leans back in her chair, considering his words. The silence in the room stretched, the tension thickening as she weighed the gravity of the situation. Keen could see the gears turning in her mind, her eyes flicking between him and Eiko.

  Finally, a small smile tugs at her lips. “I see. Well, that’s why we’re not going in unprepared. You two are going to be put through a special training regimen over the next few days.” Keen grimaced. “Of course. Training. I knew it was coming, but that doesn't make it any easier to swallow. Getting thrown into a brutal regimen after everything that had already happened wasn’t exactly appealing, but it seems there isn’t much of a choice.”

  Rika’s smile widens slightly as if she could see the reluctance on his face. “I’ll be sending you to someone who knows how to push you beyond your limits. He trained Phantom for a time, so by the end of the weekend, you’ll be ready for whatever those shamans throw at you.” Roy, who has been silent up until now, straightens at the mention of his training. His eyes narrow slightly, and Keen could sense a shift in the air. Then, Roy speaks, his voice low but full of respect. “Baxter and Hikone.”

  The name hung in the air like a loaded gun. Eiko could see the way Roy’s expression hardened at the mention of it, and Keen seemed to tense. “Whoever these Baxter and Hikone people are, they’re no joke.” She thinks, squeezing her fist. “I’ve gotta show them my best!” Rika’s smile grows, a glint of amusement in her eyes. “Exactly. Baxter. He’ll be the one to make sure you two don’t end up as corpses in the mist.”

  Keen swallows hard. “Great. Another hard-ass mentor to break me down and build me back up. Just what I needed. Only thing that would be worse is if they play the KSI song in the background.”

  “You have three days to rest and prepare yourselves,” Rika continues, her tone sharp and commanding. “Enjoy it while you can because when the weekend hits, you’ll be heading to Las Verados for training. Trust me, Baxter isn’t the type to go easy on anyone.” Keen leans back in his chair, the reality of the situation settling over him like a heavy blanket. Las Verados. A name that stirred up a sense of unease. “What's Las Verados?” Eiko asks, and Keen quickly answers. “It’s a city infamous for its rough training grounds and even rougher people. If Baxter was anything like Phantom, this was going to be one hell of a weekend.”

  “Any questions?” Rika asks, her gaze flicking between the two of them. Keen shook his head, keeping his thoughts to himself. There wasn’t much else to say. He had a week before they were sent to face off against the shamans, “now I gotta survive whatever hell Baxter was going to put them through first.”

  As they stood to leave, Roy speaks again, his tone softer but still holding that weight of authority. “Make the most of the next few days. You’ll need every bit of strength for what’s coming.” Eiko glances at Keen as they walk out of the conference room, her expression a mix of determination and worry. Keen could see the same thoughts reflected in her eyes—the uncertainty, the fear of what was coming. But there was no backing out now. They were in this, whether they liked it or not.

  And as they made their way back to the lounge, Eiko couldn’t help but feel that familiar sense of dread creeping in. This wasn’t going to be easy. But if they wanted to survive, if they wanted to stand a chance against the shamans and come out alive—they’d have to push themselves further than ever before. Las Verados awaited them, and with it, a trial that would either make them stronger or break them completely.

  “Either way, the weekend was coming fast.” She says, ignoring her internal monologue.

  As the group exit the conference room, the tension lingering in the air hasn’t quite disappeared. Keen can feel the weight of Rika’s eyes on him as they walk, and he could practically hear the gears turning in her head. Just when he thought they were done for the day, Rika’s voice cut through the silence, sharp as always. “Oh, and one more thing,” she says with a casual wave of her hand, as if what she was about to say was no big deal. “For bonding purposes, Keen and Phantom will be sharing a room.”

  Keen froze mid-step, his mind struggling to process the words. “Sharing a room? With Phantom?” He scoffed out loud, turning to Rika with an incredulous look. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.” Rika just raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with his reaction. “I don’t joke.” Keen’s frustration flares, but before he could say anything more, Roy’s reaction made him pale. Roy, usually composed and cold, turned on Rika, eyes blazing with outright fury. “No,” he said, voice tight with rage. “Absolutely not. That’s not happening.”

  Rika, to her credit, doesn’t flinch under Roy's intense glare. “It is happening, Roy. This isn’t a debate. My word is law.” “So that's his name.” Keen thinks. Roy’s fists clenched at his sides, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring ready to snap. “He’s a liability,” Roy growls, his gaze snapping toward Keen like he was some kind of disease.

  Keen crosses his arms, glaring right back at Roy. “I’m not exactly thrilled about this either, Roy. Believe me, if I had a choice—” “You don’t have a choice,” Rika interjects, her tone final. “You’re both going to be working together. This is non-negotiable. Figure it out.”

  Roy lets out a sound that was somewhere between a growl and a sigh, his jaw set in frustration. He turns without another word and storms down the hall, clearly seething. Keen can only shake his head, following after him, though every step felt heavier than the last. Sharing a room with Roy wasn’t exactly how he thought spending his time before getting shipped off to Las Verados for training.

  The moment they reach Roy’s room, Roy throws open the door, barely waiting for Keen to step inside before he starts barking orders. “Don’t call me Roy, I’m Phantom to you. Don’t touch my stuff. Don’t go near my bed. Don’t talk to me unless it’s absolutely necessary. Got it?”

  Keen rolls his eyes, stepping cautiously into the room, trying not to breathe too loudly lest Roy spontaneously combust. Roy’s room is, admittedly, much neater than he’d expected, though it still had that lived-in feel. The bed was perfectly made, and most things were arranged in a meticulous order, but there was still a sense of clutter. Posters of singers Keen vaguely recognizes were plastered across one wall, and another was dedicated to video games, their covers and artwork meticulously displayed.

  A bookshelf sat in one corner, its shelves stacked with a mix of tactical manuals and novels—some that Keen had read himself. A small desk, covered in various papers and notes, sat to the side, and a few sets of gear were draped neatly over a chair in the corner. Roy clearly lived here but managed to maintain a strict order to his space, one that was in stark contrast to the chaos of his emotions right now.

  Z hovers in a moment later, dragging in a bed for Keen with an almost too-perfect grace. The bed is dropped next to Roy’s, the legs scraping against the floor as Z placed it down, its glowing eye whirring as it hovered there silently, watching. Keen glances at the bed—simple, unremarkable—and then back at Roy, who was still glowering at him like he might explode at any second. Keen couldn't resist a quip. “So, which side of the room’s yours? Are we gonna draw a line through the floor or some shit?”

  Roy doesn’t even dignify it with a response, just pointing at the bed. “You sleep there. Stay out of my way.” Keen throws up his hands in mock surrender. “Fine, fine. I’ll just sit in the corner and try not to breathe too loudly.” For a moment, they lock eyes, the tension between them thick and barely held together by the fragile thread of their forced cooperation. Z, ever observant, hovers nearby, its single eyes flicking between them through its mask, as if it was silently taking notes on their behavior. “Mmm.” It says.

  Keen lays on the bed after a while, staring up at the ceiling, feeling Z’s quiet presence still watching them. He sighs, muttering under his breath, “Great start to bonding. What a great way to spend the rest of my life.”

  Meanwhile, in another part of the base, Eiko lays down on her bed, feeling the exhaustion of the day finally catching up with her. The adrenaline from the earlier battle and the intensity of the conference room has kept her on edge, but now, lying in her room, the weight of it all seemed to crash down on her. She groans as she turns over, grabbing her diary from her nightstand. Her room is bland, virtually empty with a few bags and some clothes she managed to take from the rubble of the carriage way back.

  Her pen hovers over the page for a moment before she starts writing, her thoughts pouring out onto the paper.

  "First mission... survived."

  She pauses, thinking about everything that had happened. Keen. Roy. Rika. It had all gone by so fast, and now here she was, with another mission looming over her head. But as stressful as it all was, Eiko couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement bubbling underneath the surface.

  "I’m getting stronger," she wrote, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I’m going to get stronger. I have to if I’m going to keep up with Roy."

  Her heart skips a beat at the thought of him. Roy—serious, stoic, and always in control. She admires him, maybe more than she’d care to admit, and the idea of one day being as strong as him filled her with determination. She smiles to herself, her cheeks heating slightly as she thinks of the way he carried himself with such confidence, the way he took charge.

  “One day… I’m gonna be just like him. Strong, reliable, unshakable.”

  Closing her diary, she hugs it to her chest, her smile growing as she thinks of the future, of the training ahead, and the missions yet to come. Exhaustion finally overtakes her, and her eyelids grow heavy. She falls asleep with the diary still clutched in her arms, the peaceful image of Roy in her mind as she drifts off into dreamless sleep.