' The Wall That Shattered '.
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Xavier’s eyes snapped open, his mind already racing with thoughts of the past. He lay in bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling as memories flooded in like a storm he couldn't escape.
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Flashback
“Sana, wait up!” Xavier called, jogging to catch up.
Sana, the ever-cheerful Luminari, turned with a bright smile. “Xavier, slowpoke! We’re gonna be late for the meeting!”
He grinned. “Hey, I’m not that slow. Besides, Hunter’s always late. We’ll probably beat him.”
Sana chuckled. “You’re on. Loser buys dinner.”
As they walked, Xavier felt grateful. Their friendship—so full of light—was something he cherished deeply.
The group met at their usual spot: a secluded clearing deep in the woods. Freya, the gentle healer, was already there, her eyes closed in silent communion with nature. Scarlet paced, eyes blazing. Hunter leaned against a tree, silent and brooding.
“We’ve got a tip,” Hunter began, voice low. “There’s a powerful artifact hidden deep in the forest. We need to decide if we’re going after it.”
Sana’s smile faded. “I don’t support this. It’s too risky.”
Hunter’s eyes narrowed. “We can’t just sit around. We have to act.”
Scarlet nodded. “I’m with him. Fear’s not gonna save anyone.”
Freya turned to Xavier. “Thoughts?”
“I… I don’t know,” he said. “It just feels like we’re rushing into something we don’t understand.”
Despite the tension, they decided to go. They were a team—and teams stick together.
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As they pushed deeper into the forest, shadows stretched longer, darker. Xavier couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Trees loomed like silent sentinels.
He stayed close to Sana. Her presence was a quiet strength.
They stumbled upon a hidden clearing—and they weren’t alone.
A group of humanoids stood before them, eyes glowing with eerie, unnatural light.
“Everyone, watch your backs,” Scarlet warned, voice deadly calm. “These are S-ranked. One mistake, and we’re dead.”
The fight erupted.
Sana cast a protective shield around the team—a dome of shimmering light. Hunter surged forward, vampiric energy flaring. Freya unleashed lightning with surgical precision. Scarlet fought like wildfire. Xavier fought too, his magic burning blue as he struck, dodged, countered.
But they were overwhelmed. The enemy kept coming.
Then Xavier saw it—a humanoid barreling toward Sana.
“NO!”
He dove forward, magic blazing, and struck it down.
But he never saw the second one.
A blur behind him. A fist raised.
And then—
Sana moved.
She threw herself in front of him.
The humanoid’s blow struck her square in the stomach. Time seemed to slow.
Blood spilled.
Sana stumbled, her eyes wide. Her lips trembled with a fading smile as she fell into his arms.
“I’m sorry, Xavier…” she whispered, her voice like a dying star. “I’m so sorry…”
And then—nothing.
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Xavier’s scream tore through the clearing—raw, broken, inhuman.
The others turned. Faces pale. Eyes wide.
Scarlet’s grief morphed into fury. “This is all your fault, Hunter! If you hadn’t pushed this—”
“Don’t!” Hunter snapped. “We chose this together.”
Freya’s voice cracked. “We should’ve listened. We should’ve listened…”
But Xavier heard none of it.
He held her close, his world shattered.
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Present Day
The memories faded. Xavier blinked.
He was back—in his parents’ lavish room. Blankets tangled around him like chains.
He sat up slowly, breath trembling.
The pain still lingered.
He walked to the window, staring out at the night sky. Moonlight bathed the room in silver.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you, Aria… Emily…” he whispered. “And I know it hurts you too, Hunter.”
Tears fell, quiet and steady.
Behind him, Hunter stepped into the room.
“I know, Xavier,” he said softly.
Xavier turned. His voice cracked. “How… how did you know I was here?”
Hunter gave a small, sad smile. “I just… felt it.”
Silence.
Then Hunter sat beside him on the bed, eyes heavy with the same grief.
“It’s been a long time,” he murmured. “I’ve missed you.”
Xavier’s chest tightened. “I’m sorry, Hunter… I’m so sorry…”
Hunter placed a hand on his shoulder. “You don’t need to be. We both know what we lost.”
Xavier met his gaze—and saw the same pain mirrored in Hunter’s eyes.
Without a word, they embraced.
No speeches. No promises.
Just shared pain, and the quiet comfort of not grieving alone.
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