Another Encounter
"WHAT!?"
The exclamation echoed through the crowd, causing heads to turn in curiosity. Whispers spread like wildfire as people glanced between each other and Lucinia, who stood at the center of the commotion. She quickly assessed the situation, taking a deep breath to maintain her composure.
"May I ask why you're denying the contract? If there's something you'd like changed, we can adjust it to your liking." Lucinia's voice remained warm but carried an undertone of firmness, her diplomatic smile barely concealing her impatience.
Malphas, seemingly oblivious to the tension, sipped on his milkshake, fidgeting under the weight of the crowd's attention. "I just… don't want to work for anyone." He paused, thinking for a moment before adding, "At least, not right now. I'll leave that decision to my future self."
The word "future" felt strangely unfamiliar to him, as if it didn't belong in his vocabulary. Lucinia picked up on the subtle shift in his tone and clicked her tongue quietly. She wasn't one to be easily swayed.
"That doesn't answer my question," she said, her voice losing its prior warmth. It became more assertive, almost demanding. "What exactly needs to change for you to consider joining me?"
Before Malphas could respond, he felt a sudden pressure on the back of his neck. Caelen, with his pearly white teeth exposed in an unsettling grin, had moved in close.
"Well, Miss Lucinia," Caelen interrupted with a casual, almost mocking tone, "It seems Malphas here doesn't want to work for ya." Without giving her a chance to react, he spun Malphas around and began to lead him away. "See ya!"
Caelen waved dismissively as they walked off, leaving Lucinia standing frozen in shock.
'Did… did I just get brushed off?' The thought raced through her mind, her disbelief growing as she stood in place, watching them leave.
The crowd, now realizing the spectacle was over, began to disperse. Lucinia remained rooted in place, her shock quickly transforming into a cold fury.
"Rejected... that's rough," a boy muttered as he passed by.
"Must be embarrassing for her," a girl whispered to her friend, glancing at Lucinia.
'I… Lucinia Numar… was brushed off.' The words echoed in her mind as she clenched her fist over her chest. The memory of a distant voice, her mother's, surfaced in her thoughts, intensifying her resolve.
'I see how you want to play this, Malphas Darkwood. You may have Caelen at your side now, but I will find a way. When the time comes, you'll work for me… not just for my sake.' She pressed her hand against her heart, eyes filled with determination. 'But for my mother's as well.'
---
World: Central Utopia
Location: Central State, City Z
Academy Z
Year: 12386
Time: 2:47 PM
---
The sound of heavy breathing filled the gymnasium. William stood bent over, drenched in sweat, his arms trembling, and the faint smell of scorched wood lingered in the air. Burn marks marred the once-polished floor beneath him as he glanced up, a familiar status window appearing in his vision.
[Fateweaver: William Donstho]
[Gender: M]
[Resonance: Fire Body]
[Essence Type: Essence, Voidence]
[Boon: Burning Torch]
[Flaw: Eternal Burn]
His eyes lingered on the words "Eternal Burn," a scowl forming on his face as memories of his last humiliating defeat flooded his mind—losing to Malphas, who had appeared so weak and malnourished at the time. The embarrassment, the disbelief, all came rushing back.
And then another memory surfaced—a darker one.
Surrounded by a faceless crowd, the only thing audible was their cruel words: "Monster," "Freak," and countless other insults. He looked down, realizing he was much younger, his small hands engulfed in flames, just like before.
William snapped back to reality, anger pulsing through him. He gritted his teeth, slamming his fiery fist into his knee. A shockwave of heat radiated from his body as flames burst out, leaving scorch marks across the gym floor.
His legs buckled, and his body gave out, sending him sprawling onto the ground, gasping for breath. He stared up at the ceiling, frustration eating away at him.
"I'm still… so weak," he muttered through clenched teeth.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from his right. He turned his head to see a figure approaching, their form blurry from exhaustion, but he didn't need perfect vision to recognize who it was. He chuckled weakly before closing his eyes, knowing exactly what expression awaited him.
"Why are you here?" William asked, sitting up slightly as the figure stopped beside him.
"I was worried," a soft voice replied. "You didn't answer my call this morning, so I figured you were here."
Harmony, holding a towel and water bottle, pushed William's head gently with her finger before flicking him on the forehead. The light sting made him grunt in response.
"Ow… What was that for?" William groaned, though his voice held a playful tone.
"I told you yesterday that you hadn't fully recovered. Then you go and train again, early in the morning like an idiot," Harmony said quietly, but her concern was clear in her voice.
"I'm fine," William reassured her. "Your resonance healed me up enough that I can move just fine." He rotated his shoulder to demonstrate, but Harmony's eyes didn't light up as they usually did. Instead, they began to water.
Panicking, William scrambled to make things right. "A-ah, I mean… I promise I won't train without your permission anymore!" He grabbed her hands, knocking the water bottle from her grasp.
The silence between them was broken only by the soft clatter of the bottle hitting the ground. Harmony's voice, soft and almost fragile, finally broke the tension.
"You promise?"
William hesitated before nodding. "Yeah, I promise."
Satisfied, Harmony tossed the towel over his head. "Come on, let's get home before dinner gets cold."
As they walked out of the gym, William couldn't help but wonder what had happened to Malphas. Was he alive? Imprisoned? Will he attend the academy? The questions lingered, heavy in his mind as the day drew to a close.
---
The city was bathed in darkness. Night owls worked late shifts, and shadows lurked in back alleys. For Malphas, though, it was his first time wandering the night streets, with Caelen by his side.
Malphas sipped from a juice box as Caelen pointed at different buildings, recounting strange stories from his younger years. The city felt alive, buzzing with energy that Malphas was still getting used to.
They stopped by a brightly lit gas station, its fluorescent glow casting long shadows on the pavement. Caelen ruffled Malphas's hair. "I'm gonna take a quick leak, kid. Stay here and don't cause trouble."
"Yeah, yeah," Malphas grumbled.
"And review the material for tomorrow."
Malphas groaned but pulled out a small, dog-eared notebook, flipping to a page filled with paragraphs detailing the history of Central Utopia. He leaned against the gas station window, sipping his juice.
"God, I hate history… It's so boring," Malphas muttered to himself.
Just then, rapid footsteps caught his attention. A girl, about his age, with wine-colored hair and a white school uniform, dashed past him in a panic. Her foot caught on the pavement, and she tumbled to the ground, scattering her belongings across the concrete.
Malphas, slightly concerned, walked over. "Hey, are you alright?" he asked, bending down to pick up a binder.
"I'm fine," the girl replied quickly, her voice shaky.
Malphas glanced at the worn-out binder in his hand. It was covered in scribbles, barely holding its papers together. He reached for some scattered pencils, trying to help her gather her things.
Before he could offer the items to her, she pushed him away, her eyes wide with fear. "Please… get away."
Malphas blinked in confusion. "What's wrong—?"
"Ugh, seriously? Did this slut seduce another boy?" A voice, sharp and irritating, cut through the night air.
Malphas turned to see another girl approaching, her blond hair perfectly curled, her face caked with makeup. She wore a grey version of the first girl's uniform, flanked by two lackeys who smirked behind her.
The blonde sneered. "I said, move."