Chapter 138 - A Moment of Tranquility

The lights of the skyscrapers illuminated the dark sky, reflecting off the glass of the buildings and creating a spectacle of shimmering colors.

The streets were alive, even late at night, with the constant traffic of yellow taxis, luxury cars, and pedestrians crossing the busy avenues.

Central Park, a dark shadow in the middle of the city, contrasted with the intense glow of Fifth Avenue, where designer storefronts displayed expensive items under sophisticated lighting. The sound of the city never completely ceased; the murmur of conversations, the echo of footsteps on the sidewalk, the distant horns, and the occasional sirens formed the incessant soundtrack of New York.

From the top of one of the most luxurious buildings downtown, the view was even more impressive. It was from there that Ikki observed the city, standing on the balcony of his new apartment. He let out a sigh and looked at his new home, thinking Medvih had been generous in giving it to him, with floor-to-ceiling windows that allowed the city to become part of the decor.

The living room was spacious and decorated in a minimalist yet impeccable style. A soft leather sofa in neutral tones was positioned in front of a built-in fireplace, whose gentle flame warmed the room without the need for burning wood. Contemporary works of art adorned the walls, balancing the space between modern and exquisite. The gourmet kitchen, integrated with the living room, was equipped with state-of-the-art appliances, quartz countertops, and a central island illuminated by elegant fixtures. It was the kind of place designed for both refined dinners and a quiet coffee in the middle of the night.

The master bedroom was even more incredible, with a king-size bed covered in Egyptian cotton sheets and velvet curtains that, when closed, completely blocked out the incessant glow of the city. A spacious closet occupied an entire wall, and the luxurious bathroom, clad in white marble, had a deep bathtub and a glass shower with directional jets.

Ikki wasn't sure exactly how he felt about this place. It was a good deal, no doubt, an apartment in the heart of Manhattan and a small fortune in a newly created bank account, all in exchange for his mother's building...

He sighed, momentarily pushing his thoughts away as he walked towards the bedroom. He opened the spacious closet where high-quality clothes were perfectly organized. His eyes scanned the hangers until he picked up a pair of white martial arts pants and a simple black shirt. The fabric was soft and comfortable, chosen not for luxury, but for practicality.

After he left his meeting at the real estate agency with the key to the apartment and the documents that one of Medvih's assistants gave him, he came straight to his new place. Instead of buying these clothes, he created them through magic, which wasn't very difficult.

With the clothes in hand, he went to the bathroom, where the white marble and black details created a sophisticated contrast. The hot water soon began to fall on his skin, washing away the weight of the day along with the tiredness that, try as he might to ignore it, still reached him. He stood there for a few minutes, feeling the pressure of the water against his muscles before finally turning off the shower.

He dried himself with a fluffy towel, feeling the chill of the air conditioning as he stepped out of the shower stall. He put on the martial arts pants with an automatic movement and pulled the black shirt over his head. The fabric fit perfectly to his body, comfortable and unrestricted. Finally, he ran the towel through his hair quickly, leaving it slightly disheveled, but not caring much about it since he then dried it with a bit of warm wind with his authority and made it perfect as always.

Ikki walked to the spacious bed in the center of the room, feeling the cold floor beneath his bare feet. The environment around him was silent, except for the distant sound of the city that never slept, filtered by the soundproof windows. The soft light from the bedside lamp cast subtle shadows on the walls, creating a tranquil and introspective atmosphere.

With a fluid movement, he climbed onto the bed and sat cross-legged, keeping his posture straight and relaxed at the same time. He closed his eyes slowly, letting out a controlled sigh as he emptied his mind. His breathing slowed, becoming rhythmic and deep.

He focused on the energy flowing within him, feeling every pulse, every subtle movement running through his body. The outside world slowly dissolved, leaving only the inner silence.

His mind remembered his authorities, especially over magic. He had the idea of drawing the magical energy of the world around him to enhance his abilities, since theoretically it was infinite magical energy. He felt his perception expand, touching the invisible currents of magic surrounding him. It was as if the air itself was charged with energy, pulsating subtly. If he could channel it, he could enhance his spells, strengthen his resistance, and perhaps even elevate his abilities to a new level.

His body remained still, but his consciousness extended like invisible tentacles, testing this theory. He didn't force the energy to come to him; instead, he opened himself to it, allowing it to flow naturally. Gradually, a warm sensation ran through his body, as if small sparks of power were gathering within him.

Ikki didn't hesitate. As soon as he felt the magical energy flowing into his body, he directed it immediately to his [Forge], the core where he refined and enhanced his abilities. His focus was on the innate ability of the [Fragmented King].

The energy condensed within him, being absorbed and processed by the [Forge] in an intense cycle of refinement. Time lost its meaning as he immersed himself in this process, feeling each fragment of power merge with the technique, making it more solid, more refined.

And then, something changed.

The instant the skill evolved, a wave of knowledge flooded his mind. However, that wasn't all. As if an invisible door had been opened, the concept of the [Soul]—something he already had some understanding of—began to expand in his consciousness.

It was like being pulled into a current of sudden enlightenment. His perceptions shot out in all directions, touching truths that had previously eluded him. The nature of the soul, its structure, its layers, and the way it interacted with power... it all revealed itself to him almost instinctively.

The progress was overwhelming. In a matter of moments, his understanding of the [Soul] increased by more than sixty percent, elevating his perception to a new level. He felt it in his own being, as if an invisible barrier had been broken, allowing him to glimpse something beyond what he had ever understood before.

But it didn't stop there.

The magical energy of the reality around him continued to be sucked into him, flowing like an endless river towards his [Forge]. It was a constant cycle of absorption and refinement, where each particle of power was molded and used to strengthen his innate ability: the [Fragmented King].

And then, something unexpected happened.

The technique, which had already evolved once, broke through another barrier. The concept of the [Soul], which he had been comprehending on increasingly deeper levels, expanded in a way that defied all worldly logic. It wasn't just an increase in knowledge—it was an absolute revelation.

The complete understanding of the concept of the [Soul] came like a thunderclap in his mind. Every detail, every nuance, every secret that had previously escaped him was now crystal clear. He saw not only his own soul, but also the structure of the souls around him, their flows, their connections to the universe. It was as if he had unravelled one of the greatest mysteries of existence.

His heart beat faster.

The absolute understanding of the [Soul] now flowed within him, opening doors to possibilities that had previously seemed unattainable. He had enough power to summon souls, explore spiritual realms, and even absorb essences to strengthen his existence. But among all these abilities, there was only one that truly mattered to him at that moment: bringing back his mother's soul.

The parental connection was the key. All he needed was a drop of his own blood—a small sacrifice to achieve the impossible.

But even with all this power, there were limits. He could call her, he could anchor her to his side as a spiritual presence, but he couldn't fully restore her to life. Not yet.

The reality of this fact hit him like an invisible blow. As much as his heart desired to revive her, his newly acquired understanding made it clear that true resurrection was a feat beyond what his authority allowed at that moment.

Still, just the idea of being able to talk to her again, to feel her presence, to hear her voice—that was enough to make his heart race.

He clenched his fists, feeling his nails press against his skin. The idea of seeing her again, of hearing her voice, was tempting, but at the same time cruel.

Bringing his mother back as a spirit might ease the longing that gnawed at his chest, but it would be a constant reminder of his failure—the fact that, despite all his power, he couldn't protect her.

It would be an act of pure masochism.

How could he face her? How could he bear the pain in her eyes, the possible sadness at seeing him move on without her?

No.

Ikki let out a long sigh, trying to dispel the suffocating emotion that was building up inside him. It wasn't time yet.

He wanted to bring her back completely, so he would accelerate his plans…

He closed his eyes and focused on his innate ability; the Fragmented King, which he decided to rename to something simpler, he called it [Almighty], which gave him the ability to manipulate the spiritual energy of the world with a mere thought for countless effects. It was basically what he could do with his [Soul Authority], but with a cool name, it also gave him the ability to distribute portions of his soul more widely and finally, he could consume anything to instantly gain its powers, experience and memories.

With the support of the World's Spiritual Energy and Magical Energy, he evolved his [God's Right Hand] ability twice before stopping. The only change was that he could revive thousands of times instead of eighteen times a day, his conceptual defense also improved much more, and his regeneration was infinite in layman's terms. He also merged it with his technique created to strengthen his body, and due to the fusion with [Qi Refinement] which he used for over a decade to make his body so strong, this innate ability could now consume energy or matter to strengthen his body without apparent limits.

He also evolved his martial techniques with a core created for an ability he called [Grandmaster Martial Artist], and after evolving his mastery skills in various weapons to [Eternal Weapon Master], he fused them together with the [Invincible Sword Law] to create the innate ability he called [Warlord], which was a complete set of unarmed and armed melee combat skills at a near absolute level.

He can perceive, understand, and manipulate any power or ability of his enemies with ease, anticipating their movements and attacks even before they are made. His mind is unbreakable, able to resist any kind of manipulation, illusion, or external control, maintaining total focus, clarity, and emotional control regardless of the circumstances. He instantly adapts to any combat situation, mastering new techniques or strategies with a single thought, becoming unbeatable in any scenario.

In battle, his defenses are impenetrable, blocking or deflecting any attack, and he can reflect or redirect any blow back to the aggressor with deadly accuracy. He is able to bypass any defense. His ability to manipulate combat makes him unpredictable and lethal, being able to control the pace of the fight in his favor. He can wield any weapon with near absolute skill, being a Grandmaster in any combat tool, even a leaf in his hands was enough to split mountains or pierce the moon like a sword or spear…

By uniting all these aspects, he would have the basic powers of the [Warlord] which were passive to him. There were a number of special techniques or versatile powers that he was able to do, evolving the attacks or techniques he had learned throughout his life, by his calculations there were twelve of them.

But when he finished creating his new innate ability, he still didn't stop his meditation.

Time flowed like sand in an invisible hourglass, and when Ikki finally emerged from his meditative state, he realized that a week had passed. The outside world had continued on its course, but for him, each moment within that flow of enlightenment was an eternity of growth.

His body was still like a statue, but his mind had traveled through the boundaries of existence, understanding the concepts that were now part of his own essence. [Defense], [Weapons] and [Sword] had been completely assimilated, filling a part of his [Conceptual Void].

Eight percent.

A gigantic leap forward, but Ikki knew it was only the beginning.

In addition, his perception expanded to other concepts, although partially. He felt he was close to understanding them completely, but had not yet crossed the final barrier.

With each moment, he felt his mind adapting to the new understandings, as if each part of his being was transforming into something beyond what a mere demigod could dream of.

During this time, he also mentally trained his authorities, testing the limits of his powers without the need to move. He discovered that, at the most basic level, his authorities granted him absolute power over the concepts they manipulated. He could alter, destroy or redefine anything within the scope of his authority.

If he wanted, he could erase the very [Resistance] of anything, a barrier, a living being, even something abstract. He could redefine what it meant to have resistance, make a mortal as durable as a god, or reduce an immortal being to the fragility of an ordinary human. But all of this required control, time, and practice.

Ikki opened his eyes, feeling different. Not just stronger, but more aware of the vastness of his own power. He took a deep breath and stood up, his body responding perfectly, with no stiffness or discomfort, despite the prolonged immobility.

Now, it was time to return to the world.

Walking to the kitchen, he decided to make some coffee. As the coffee maker worked, Ikki stretched out his hand and conjured a small fountain of water in the middle of the room. He took a gold drachma from his pocket and tossed it into the shimmering surface.

Calling Iris, he asked to be connected to Percy.

With his cup in hand, he took a sip as he saw his friend's face appear in the projection. Percy gave a relaxed smile.

"Finally showed your face. What have you been up to?"

Ikki rested his elbow on the counter.

"I sold my mother's building and bought a new apartment downtown."

Percy whistled.

"Wow, look at you, all grown up and successful. Any day now you'll be a real estate mogul. But how the heck did they sell to a minor?"

"Magic, remember?"

"..."

"Man, you're so unfair to magic, you probably don't even shave because of it..."

"What does one thing have to do with the other? Is a milk mustache growing on you and you're jealous?"

Percy snorted and said.

"My analogy wasn't the best, and where are you seeing a mustache? My face is perfect..."

"I believe I'm making you conceited..." Ikki said with a sigh.

"Hey! I'm awesome, okay? I crushed a mountain with one punch with the ability you gave me." Percy nodded proudly.

"And now the power is going to your head...." Ikki sighed amusedly, obviously noticing Percy's intention to lighten the mood, since he had just said that he had sold the place he lived with his mother for his entire life.

Percy laughed.

"Not at all. But tell me, when are you coming over here to play video games with me? Or are you afraid of losing?"

Ikki rolled his eyes, but a small smile appeared on his face.

"Afraid of losing to you? As if."

"Then come prove it..."

"Later. But what about you? What have you been up to?"

Percy leaned back against something off-screen, his tone lighter.

"I got back home about four days ago. My mom's doing well, and actually, she said you should come over. She wants you to spend some time with us..."

Ikki was silent for a moment before nodding.

"Alright. I'll be there later."

The two arranged a time before Percy ended the call.

Ikki sighed, finished his coffee, and placed the cup in the sink. Then he went to the bathroom. After a quick shower, he dressed in simple clothes and, with a wave of his hand, magically cleaned up the entire mess in the apartment.

Then, without rushing, he left the apartment and headed downtown. He had a few things to take care of before going to Percy's house.

The first was to buy a next-gen video game console—one for him and one for his best friend. He knew Percy already had one, a gift from Sally the year he was away, something to help him take his mind off things. Still, Ikki wanted to somehow repay the most precious friendship he had in his life, now that he was in a better position.

After going through a few stores and choosing the consoles, he decided to prepare some money for Sally. He would be staying at their house for a week and, even though he knew Sally would never ask for anything, he felt it was the right thing to do. She had always been kind to him, treated him with affection and consideration, something rare in his life. The least he could do was help with expenses without drawing attention to it.

With the bags in hand and the money already separated, Ikki left downtown and headed to the Jacksons' house.

Upon arriving at the Jacksons' house, Ikki was greeted by the comforting smell of something cooking in the kitchen. As soon as Sally opened the door, her eyes shone with warm familiarity, but then her expression softened into something more delicate.

"Ikki..." she said softly, pulling him into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry about Sophia..."

For a moment, he felt a tightness in his chest. That name still weighed more than he would like to admit. However, instead of getting lost in that, he just forced a slight sad smile and replied:

"It's okay." His voice was low, but sincere. He hesitated before apologizing, "I apologize for disappearing for a year. I've been trying to adjust to this..."

The atmosphere grew a bit heavy, and Percy, who arrived at the door, noticing this, cleared his throat slightly before giving a suspicious look at the bags Ikki was carrying.

"Hey, what's that? Did you become a delivery guy now?"

Ikki blinked and then simply handed the bag to Percy.

"It's a gift."

Percy took it and, upon opening it, his eyes widened in surprise as he saw a brand new PlayStation 3.

"Dude, seriously?! This was just released!" His excitement was palpable.

Sally, ever the attentive mother, crossed her arms and gave her son a firm look.

"Percy..."

Percy coughed and quickly changed his expression to something more subdued.

"Oh, right. Thanks, Ikki. That was really nice of you."

Sally then turned her gaze to Ikki, softer this time.

"Are you sure you're okay? You don't need to spend money on these things for us."

Ikki just shrugged as if it was no big deal.

"I have a certain fortune now. After I sold my mother's property, I became quite well off."

Before Sally could respond, he held out another bag to her.

"This is for you."

Sally took it, opening it to find an envelope stuffed with money. Her eyes widened, and the refusal came immediately.

"Ikki, I can't accept this."

"Yes, you can." He insisted, leaving no room for argument. "Money is something I barely need, and consider this my mother's last wish."

In truth, he remembered well the Lotus Cash Card he and Percy had gotten on their first big quest. Even without being able to use it for long—since the cards always returned to the hotel after a month away—even without that, he never had financial difficulties. He knew Sally would never ask for anything either, but he wanted to help in any way he could.

Sally sighed, clearly reluctant, but in the end, she accepted the gift with a small smile.

"You really didn't have to do this... But thank you, Ikki."

Ikki just nodded.

Anxious, Percy pulled Ikki into the living room while his mother gave them permission to play; she would prepare lunch.

The controller vibrated in Ikki's hands as he and Percy hid behind virtual cover, advancing through the chaos of digital war.

"Damn, there's a sniper on the roof!" Percy warned, moving quickly to take cover.

Ikki, without wasting time, fired a precise shot, eliminating the enemy with accuracy.

"Taken care of."

Percy snorted, throwing his head back on the couch.

"You're too good at this. It should be illegal to have superhuman reflexes."

"You forgot you have them too?"

"Right… But you're way better than me at this."

"The day will come when you will be as good as me… But tell me something to tell me that I don't know about your time at camp without me?" Ikki gave a small corner smile when he asked.

Percy thought for a moment, his voice taking on a more casual tone as he spoke, "Oh, speaking of which... When I mentioned to Annabeth that you like Artemis, she got... I don't know, kind of weird."

Ikki furrowed his brow as he took down two more enemies in the game.

"Weird how?"

"I don't know, kind of grumpy. She got kind of quiet."

Ikki blinked, surprised. Annabeth? He never thought much about it. But now that Percy mentioned it, he remembered the farewell before his last quest... She had been a little bolder, even giving him a kiss on the cheek. His thoughts drifted to Silena, who admitted she liked him before everything went to hell. Could Annabeth have felt something similar?

He quickly pushed those thoughts away.

"Speaking of which..." Ikki began, changing the subject. He adjusted his aim and eliminated another opponent before sighing, "I kind of kissed Artemis at the Olympus party..."

Percy's controller slipped from his hands.

"Wait... WHAT?!"

Percy was still trying to process the information when Ikki, without giving room for any interruption, continued naturally:

"Yeah, Artemis and I are in a relationship..."

The silence that followed was almost comical. Percy paused the game without even realizing it, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly open, as if his brain had crashed.

"What?!" He finally managed to blurt out, his voice coming out slightly choked. "But... But she's a virgin goddess! How is that possible?"

Ikki just shrugged, picking up the controller again as if he hadn't just dropped a bomb on his friend's lap.

"It was unexpected. For her too. But it happened."

Percy blinked repeatedly, trying to piece things together.

"Are you telling me that you convinced one of the goddesses most steadfast in her vow of virginity to... like... have a boyfriend?!"

Ikki chuckled, but didn't answer immediately. In a way, he didn't fully understand it either. What happened between him and Artemis seemed to transcend any mortal or divine logic. And honestly, he saw no reason to question it.

Percy ran a hand over his face, still trying to absorb the idea.

"Dude, I need a minute. This is too much to process."

Ikki just smiled.

"You have until the next round."

The sound of the game restarting filled the room, but Percy was clearly still in shock.

Ikki continued playing, his eyes fixed on the screen, but his mind was elsewhere. He knew Percy was waiting for more explanations, and after a sigh, he decided to speak.

"We had a disagreement last year... a breakup, I guess. But even I don't really understand what happened. I always continued to like her, even when it seemed impossible. And at the end of the quest, when she confessed to me, I just... decided to stop thinking so much and kissed her."

Percy almost dropped the controller again.

"Hold on... since when are you so forward?!"

Ikki gave a short laugh, but without much humor.

"Relationships are complicated, man. Every couple goes through their own difficulties. Artemis and I... we had ours..."

He paused, the words swirling in his mind. How to explain something he didn't fully understand himself?

"Sometimes, love isn't about following a straight, perfect, flawless path. It's about taking detours, getting lost, and finding each other again. It's about making mistakes and learning, about fighting feelings and, in the end, accepting them. What happened between Artemis and me was like that... a chaos, a storm that almost drove us apart for good, but that, somehow, also brought us back together..."

He leaned his head against the back of the couch, staring at the ceiling for a moment before continuing:

"And love isn't just about happy moments. It's about enduring hardships, about accepting the scars the other person carries, and understanding that things won't always go right. We're both stubborn, we have our own convictions... and we had to learn to yield, to trust, to allow something new to arise between us..."

Percy was silent for a moment, processing. Then, he snorted.

"Dude, you're really in love."

Ikki smiled sideways.

"I guess so..."

Percy returned his focus to the game, but not before letting out one last taunt:

"Just don't come to me with talk of divine marriage, or I'll have a fit."

Ikki laughed, shaking his head.

"Calm down, we're still learning to deal with each other. One step at a time."

He then looked at Percy seriously.

"Don't tell anyone about this."

Percy made an exaggerated gesture with his hand.

"Relax, my mouth is the water of the Styx."

Ikki frowned.

"What a crappy analogy. Why not just say your mouth is a tomb?"

Percy crossed his arms, feigning indignation.

"Because I'm not a son of Hades, I'm a son of Poseidon! It makes more sense to use water."

The two stared at each other for a second before bursting into laughter.

After the laughter subsided, Percy glanced at the game screen, hesitant.

"But... how's that going to work?"

Ikki raised an eyebrow.

"What exactly?"

Percy cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable.

"You know... the relationship. I mean, she's a Virgin Goddess and all that. Technically, wouldn't that be impossible?"

Ikki rolled his eyes, letting out a sigh.

"This is fantasy. Artemis made that oath after helping her mother, the Titan Leto, give birth to Apollo right after her own birth. The labor was long, it took days and nights, and it marked her so much that she decided she would never have children. Therefore, she swore to be an eternal maiden and began to avoid men. And, well... she also formed the Hunters, who share this vision..."

Percy frowned.

"So... it's not a 'divine curse' kind of thing or something?"

Ikki shook his head.

"No. Zeus admired her determination and blessed her oath, just like he did with Athena and Hestia. But, in the end, it's still just that: an oath. Something she decided, not a universal rule."

Percy made a thoughtful expression.

*Huh. I'd never thought of it that way."

"Because you're a seaweed brain."

"Oh, screw you."

The two laughed, returning their focus to the game, but Percy still seemed a bit impressed.

"You know, that explains a few things... But I swear if someone told me Artemis would be dating someone one day, I would have laughed in their face."

Ikki shrugged, a discreet smile on his lips.

"Yeah. Me too."

The two continued to play as they talked, and soon Percy's mother called them for lunch. For the rest of the afternoon, the two went to a field to play soccer and then train, they returned when it was almost night.

And so a week passed in the blink of an eye.

Time passed peacefully, a rare thing in the life of a demigod.

Most days were spent with him and Percy playing video games, teasing each other, and exchanging jokes as if they were still the same boys who had met years ago before Camp Half-Blood. Call of Duty, God of War, even a few rounds of Mario Kart for a change - Percy was a sore loser when it came to racing games, and Ikki made a point of reminding him of that with every victory.

Sally, in turn, always appeared to spend time with them. Sometimes, she would sit on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, watching the two play and laughing at the ridiculous arguments that arose over a lost game or a wrong move. When Ikki was alone with her, the conversation took on a more serious tone. She would ask how he was coping with everything - Sophia's death, his new life in Manhattan. Ikki would respond with a slight smile and say he was fine, but Sally, being a mother, perceived the truth he didn't say aloud. Still, she respected his space and didn't press.

It was also during this week that Ikki met Paul Blofis, Percy's mother's boyfriend. He was a nice guy, an English teacher with a sharp wit and impressive patience. Ikki liked him immediately. Paul was genuine, without any sign of falsehood or ulterior motives.

The most surprising thing, however, was Percy. Ikki imagined that his friend would be bothered, perhaps even reluctant to accept Paul in his mother's life. But, to his surprise, Percy seemed... okay with it. Maybe he was still getting used to the idea, but there were no signs of rejection or resentment.

Ikki understood. Sally Jackson deserved to be happy. And if Paul was the right person for that, then who was he to question it?

At the end of that week, as he watched Sally laughing alongside Paul and Percy, Ikki felt a strange warmth in his chest. It was rare to find a moment of peace amidst the chaos that was the life of a demigod. But there, in that room, surrounded by friends and laughter, he allowed himself to relax.

At least for a while.

After a week, the time came to say goodbye. Ikki stopped at the door of the Jacksons' house. The week had passed quickly, but it had been one of the most peaceful he had had in a long time.

Sally smiled at him, that warm and welcoming expression that only mothers could manage.

"It was good to have you here, Ikki. You're always welcome."

He returned the smile, sincere.

"Thank you, Sally. And thank you for everything."

She didn't say anything, just squeezed his shoulder in a maternal gesture before stepping away, making room for Percy to approach.

"You know you can show up whenever you want, right?" Percy said, crossing his arms. "But next time, at least let me win a round of Mario Kart."

Ikki let out a short laugh.

"I think I'd rather keep my winning streak intact."

Percy rolled his eyes, but smiled. Then, without thinking much, he punched his friend lightly on the arm.

"Take care, man..."

Ikki returned the gesture, lightly punching Percy's shoulder before turning to go down the front steps. But as he walked to the sidewalk, his mind wandered to something else.

The Iris message he had received on his cell phone a few hours earlier. Artemis wanted to see him that night.

A surprise visit.

Ikki felt his heart beat a little faster at the thought.

Maybe he and Artemis needed some time alone.