Variable

It was a cold and silent night, but the glow of vibrant lights and the sound of chips dropping onto the gaming tables filled the air in a unique way. The "Light of Fortune" casino was a place where shadows and lust intertwined, and the tension in the atmosphere was almost palpable. It was not only a place of gambling, but also a meeting place for those who wanted to hide or conduct discreet business.

Elysian and Seraphina, still disguised under their secret identities, entered the place without attracting attention. Seraphina, in particular, was wearing a mask of confidence, but inside, tension was building. She knew that a part of her past was about to appear unexpectedly, and her heart raced at the possibility of what might happen.

"You know what you're doing, right?" Elysian asked in her cold and calculating voice, her eyes assessing every movement in her line of sight.

"I'm good at this, Elysian," Seraphina replied, keeping her cool, although there was a certain nostalgia in her eyes that suggested she was remembering her time in the army. "And you behave as if you were on a spy mission, not as if this were a simple game."

"In games like this, everything is strategy. No matter how simple it seems." He said coldly, his hands firmly in his pockets. "Don't underestimate what's at stake here. Let's go."

Seraphina nodded, and as they walked through the main entrance of the casino, she could feel the furtive glances of some of the patrons. Their mission was clear: to gather information, or anything that could help them uncover more about the Order of Erebus. They knew that many of the high-ranking figures of this underworld often met in this type of place to do business, and it was precisely there that they would have to act with the utmost discretion.

They walked past the slot machines and poker tables, until Seraphina paused when she spotted a familiar man at one of the tables. Her body froze for a second, but soon her expression returned to its usual rigid control.

"Ethan..." She murmured, almost to herself.

Elysian looked at her, noticing the subtle change in her posture. "Do you know him?"

"Yes. He was one of my allies in the army... before everything happened." Seraphina hesitated for a moment, but soon regained her composure. "He can't be here by coincidence. Something is wrong."

Elysian watched Ethan for a few more seconds. The man was playing poker, but his gaze was calculating and suspicious, as if he knew he was being watched. Seraphina moved a little away from Elysian, intending to discreetly approach Ethan.

"I'll take care of it," she said, her tone firm. "If anyone can get information out of him, it's me."

Elysian nodded almost imperceptibly, agreeing with the plan. He knew Seraphina had a natural talent for infiltrating any environment. She had the background and experience to do so undetected, even if the man was surrounded by allies or bodyguards.

Seraphina approached the poker table, gracefully weaving through the people playing and watching, until she finally reached Ethan. He was almost done with a game, but his gaze met hers immediately.

"Haven't seen you in a long time, Choi Eun-kyung," Ethan said, his smirk and eyes alert, as if he knew there was something more going on here.

Seraphina kept a controlled smile, feigning surprise. "Ethan... I haven't mastered English yet, so stop doing that, but you know... I never thought I'd find you here. How is the war treating you?"

Tension grew in the air between the two. Ethan was an intelligent man, and his past with Seraphina was far from simple. He knew about her abilities, but he also knew that she had a hard-to-read side, which made her an unpredictable ally or enemy.

"I could say I'm much better now." Ethan replied, tossing a token onto the table and watching Seraphina closely. "But I notice you're still getting into dangerous things, don't you? Is that how old friends meet?"

Seraphina laughed softly, still maintaining her composure. "You know how good I am at avoiding trouble. But what about you, Ethan? It seems you've gotten involved with some people who may not be so... trustworthy."

Ethan chuckled, leaning forward and looking at her more intently. "I could ask you the same thing, Eun-kyung. Or should I say Choi? I've been waiting for you ever since the rumor about your presence here started circulating."

Seraphina felt a chill down her spine. Ethan's last sentence wasn't just a provocation; there was something more behind it. He knew more than she realized. "And what do you want, Ethan?" His voice was harder now.

"I could help you, you know? But not without a trade." Ethan leaned back, placing the final bet in the game. He looked at her with an enigmatic smile. "We have unfinished business. And I know you have something to offer me." Seraphina glanced at Elysian, who was watching the scene from afar, but not approaching. She knew it was time to act. She needed to find out what Ethan was doing here and what he knew about the Order of Erebus. "Maybe you'll tell me what you know about the Order of Erebus, Ethan. Because I'll bet we're after the same thing." She said firmly, trying to gauge his reaction. Ethan laughed again, tossing the last chip on the table. "The Order? Now things get interesting." He looked around, assessing the situation before answering, as if weighing the words he would choose. Seraphina knew this meeting wouldn't be easy, but she was willing to play the game with him. What she hadn't expected was what would happen next… The reunion with Ethan was just the beginning of something much bigger.

Seraphina and Ethan were closer now, in the middle of the poker table where he was throwing down the last of his chips with an enigmatic smile. The air was thick, as if the two were having a duel of words disguised as casual conversation.

"Do you know what I see, Eun-kyung?" Ethan began, leaning back in his chair with an almost challenging look. "I see a woman who, despite her strength and cunning, is adrift. You feel that, don't you? The war is over, and the army no longer needs you. So what are you going to do now?"

Seraphina kept her composure, but inside, Ethan's words hit her in an unexpected way. Life in the army had been all she had known for years, and after the war, she hadn't really known what to do with herself. However, she wasn't about to show any weakness. She laughed softly.

"I do what I've always done. Survive. And when I find myself at a crossroads, I choose the path that's most advantageous. And you, Ethan, what do you want from me? Other than words thrown to the wind?"

Ethan shrugged, the smile still on his face. "I'm a man of action, Eun-kyung. Words are only the beginning." He leaned forward, lowering his voice as if he were sharing a secret with her. "I'm more than just an ordinary man now. I've been recruited for something bigger... something that might interest you. The Order of Erebus has tasked me with scouting new talent, and you... you have everything they're looking for." Seraphina stood still, her expression now more serious than ever. She hadn't expected to hear that from Ethan's mouth. The Order, that name that sounded like a new threat to the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, a group with unknown intentions. She felt a wave of surprise, followed by a wary reaction. "S-She..." She began, but stopped. "Are you telling me you're involved with the Order of Erebus?" Ethan nodded, his smile now turning darker. "Yes. I was chosen by them. And now, they want new members. And you would be a perfect addition." Silence settled between the two, the tension becoming palpable. Seraphina knew the proposal was tempting, but she was aware of the risk. The Order of Erebos was not something she could get involved with without thinking about the consequences. But at the same time, a part of her felt that this was the opportunity she had been waiting for to gain information and, perhaps, find the answer to everything. But before she could speak, Ethan continued. "Oh, and don't worry. It's not just you. Seo Min-kyu could also join us, if you want. He seems to have great potential." He regarded Seraphina with a subtle smile. "He could be useful to the Order, just like you. Who knows... what he would do in a place like that." Those words struck Seraphina like a sharp blade. Her stomach churned, and she couldn't hide the discomfort she felt at hearing Seo Min-kyu's name—or rather, Elysian's—involved in that proposal.

"Don't involve him in this, Ethan," she said firmly, her eyes narrowing as the tension grew. "He has his own agenda. And you know very well that I won't let him be involved in something like this. I'm not asking for your help with that."

Ethan simply watched her, his smile unperturbed. "It's just a suggestion. But if you want, you can give me an answer after you think about it. I don't need an answer right now."

Seraphina stood up, her movements quicker than usual, trying to move away from the table. She was now in a state of confusion, her emotions torn between the tempting proposal and the worry over the implications of joining the Order of Erebos, especially with the mention of Elysian.

"I will think about your proposal, Ethan. And as for Seo Min-kyu…" She paused before turning, casting a stern look at the man. "Leave him out of this. I will handle it my way."

And then she walked away, leaving the gaming table and heading outside the casino, where the cool night air felt calmer but also heavier with the thoughts that plagued her. Seraphina knew she could not make this decision without talking to Elysian first, but what bothered her most was the way Ethan had drawn her into him.

Seraphina walked away from the casino and walked to a bench near the park where she and Elysian had met earlier. She needed to talk to him, to understand what he thought about the whole situation. But what she didn't know was that Elysian had already heard the entire conversation.

When she approached him, Elysian was sitting quietly, watching the distant lights of the city. But something was off. Seraphina felt a chill run down her spine when she realized he wasn't looking at her directly. He was watching from a distance, as if he already knew what she was about to say.

"I know what happened," Elysian said, his voice soft but filled with a cold intensity.

Seraphina froze, surprised and a little uncomfortable. "What?"

"I heard everything. Ethan's proposal. And don't worry, he has nothing else to offer you." Elysian paused before continuing. "I put a wire on your wrist."

Seraphina looked at her wrist with a mix of surprise and irritation. How could he have the audacity to do something like that without her noticing? "You... You spied on me?"

Elysian looked at her as if it were something completely natural. "It's not spying when it comes to ensuring your safety. And being you, I needed to make sure you didn't get mixed up in something that could be a problem for us."

She felt a twinge of frustration, but also a certain relief in knowing that he was somehow looking out for her. However, that feeling was quickly replaced by an important question. "So, did you know what he offered me?"

"Yes. And I knew you would consider it. There's nothing wrong with thinking, but never forget what really matters. The Order of Erebus is not something you want to get involved with." He said it with a seriousness that Seraphina had never seen before, and she felt the weight of the warning in his words. She took a deep breath and looked at him, feeling that the decision she had to make from now on would be harder than any she had ever faced before.