Chapter 2

It was a beautiful evening in the Mosaic region. The sun settled in its lowest visible position, painting the sky in vibrant hues of orange and pink. The city was notorious for its dark buildings and lush plant life, complementing its modernity. But during this time of day, with the sun providing that extra bit of beauty, it was a mesmerizing experience. However, this was not something Aelious or Lucious cared for. The real world was far too depressing. This was why every Saturday evening, they dragged Astrid with them to their favorite alternate reality café, Meta Brew, where they immersed themselves in a world vastly different from their own—one where it felt like they belonged.

In their usual spot in the back corner, the trio had temporarily paused the other world they occupied to dig into steaming bowls of shrimp and fried rice just placed in front of them. Years of this weekly ritual filled their booth with laughter, tears, and milestones from the other reality they frequented.

Aelious, now distracted neither by the game nor the food, glanced up at Mosaic's now nighttime skyline. Massive holograms took the place of the sun, commanding the sky. Package drones zipped through the air lanes, flying below the cloud cars. The city felt alive, almost breathing, its rhythm and pulse ever-moving, but sometimes, Aelious felt like a mere shadow passing through it, destined to be forgotten. This was a common belief for him. Even within his own friend group, he was terrified of the spotlight. He didn't come from wealth like Lucious, nor did he possess a divine purpose like Astrid. Aelious carried a nagging premonition that the world, even his friends, would eventually leave him behind.

Little did Aelious know, Lucious shared the same foreboding feeling. Despite his secure future financially, he felt just as lost and insignificant. His medications provided little reprieve from his unending energy and anxiousness. He tapped the table, adjusted his collar, constantly shifting his weight. People around him instinctively moved away, as if they could sense his nervous energy. His eyes darted around the room before catching sight of Astrid, watching as a young man approached their table.

The teenager, clearly smitten, stammered his words as he complimented Astrid, who blinked in surprise. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she laughed—a sound both charming and uneasy. This was common for Astrid. With her wavy, long blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, and kind-hearted smile, she was a dream. Every admirer who made a pass at her seemed to chip away at Lucious's nerves. Will this one be the one to win her heart? he wondered, watching the exchange from the corner of his eye. His fingers clenched as he saw Astrid's tentative smile and heard her gentle laugh directed at someone else. It stirred a pang of jealousy he'd never admit.

"Hi, beautiful," the young man greeted, clearly nervous.

"Oh… hello," Astrid replied politely.

Astrid had never been great with romantic encounters. Having invested her entire life in studying spiritualism and history, she rarely considered relationships as part of her life plan. As a child, she'd fantasized about a grand wedding and a happily ever after, but in her eyes, her purpose now felt too important to allow for such things—no matter how much she longed for that type of fulfillment.

"You know she's just being nice," Aelious said quietly to Lucious.

"Nice? About what?" Lucious muttered, feigning disinterest. "At least if Astrid finds a boyfriend, we might stop being stuck on the same level in the game for the past month," he added with a forced chuckle.

"Yeah? You'd be okay with that?" Aelious replied, raising an eyebrow.

"What can I say, Aelious? I swore an oath to Olgath to cleanse the city," Lucious laughed, pointing to the paused mission on the game screen.

Aelious shook his head and rolled his eyes. He never understood Lucious's hesitation. If he found someone special, he wouldn't waste a second. His life had been one long series of dreary miseries, and finding someone special might just be the opportunity to turn the tides.

But the mood quickly shifted. The suitor's flattery grew bold, too bold. When Astrid tried to laugh it off and gently declined, he scoffed, muttering something under his breath. Astrid's eyes darted away, her fingers tightening around the edge of the table as she tried to avoid eye contact.

"I'm really sorry, I—" Astrid began, only to be cut off.

"All you do is hang out with these guys. Quit acting like a saint, you little whore. Everyone knows what you're doing!" he sneered.

A vein in Lucious's forehead nearly popped. His jaw tightened, and his pulse hammered in his ears. In a surge of anger, Lucious clenched his fist and delivered a strike with such speed and force that it knocked the boy back a few feet. Plates from the tables around them clattered, the window closest to their booth shattered, and the young man collapsed, blood pouring from his mouth. Lucious's fist was stained with a bit of it. The entire café froze, patrons staring wide-eyed at the commotion. Lucious, himself, was stunned. He looked down at his arm, noticing the "MedNow" device, surgically implanted to ensure his medication remained steady, was now completely shattered.

Just then, the blare of Euphorian peacekeeper sirens filled the air.

"We should go," Astrid whispered urgently, glancing toward the door as tension thickened in the room. The sirens grew louder, accompanied by the faint sounds of marching boots drawing closer. Aelious nodded, signaling toward the exit, and the three bolted, weaving through the café crowd and into the bustling streets of Mosaic.

The cool night air hit their faces as they pushed past bystanders, Lucious's hand gripping Astrid's as they ran, his knuckles still red from the impact. Outside, the city was alive with noise and color, the towering buildings casting long shadows over the streets. They ducked into an alleyway, hiding behind a row of dumpsters just as a pair of peacekeepers jogged past.

Lucious exhaled, leaning against the wall, catching his breath. Astrid, though often the calming presence among them, was visibly distraught, her anger and anxiousness nearly palpable. Aelious wiped the sweat from his brow, glancing up at the towering cityscape that now felt both sheltering and suffocating, as though the buildings themselves were keeping their secrets in the shadowed alleys of Mosaic.

Yet these shadowed alleys were more dangerous than any prison time. After catching their breath, they slipped back into the crowded streets, heading to the only place they felt truly safe—the Meronin estate.