The evening warmth and its golden light was starting to fade as the group tread through the garden. The air was getting cooler with each minute.

Ray led the group with Avey following behind. At the rear, Mark and Vincent walked side by side. Mark kept his focus solely on his environment, trying to make sure the “monster” wouldn’t sneak up. Suddenly a light backhand slaps his cheek. He whipped his head around to face the threat, only to find Vincent and his hand in his face.

“You need to relax,” Vincent said casually, “You’re gonna start bleeding out your ears from thinking so hard.”

“What the fuck do you want, and don't slap me.” Mark snapped, slapping Vincent hand away.

“How’d I do?”

“...What?”

“How’d I do? I was thinking about acting like a man with poor eyesight, but I figured that’d be too—”

Mark slapped a hand over Vincent’s mouth, cutting him off. He shot a quick glance at Ray and Avey ahead of them, then turned back to Vincent. “…I didn’t need your help, you know,” he muttered, his tone low but defensive.

Vincent removed Mark’s hand and also spoke in a low tone, “Bullshit, I can tell that you’re the weak link out of the three just by looking at yall.”.

“I am not the weak link.” Mark snapped back.

“Ah please, the guy in front towers over you and the other girl has more muscle tone than you.”

“Well it’s a good thing my end goal doesn’t require height or muscle toning.”

Vincent gave him a look, as if Mark had just started speaking in tongues.

“Are you saying you don’t need muscle and height to be a top ranked soldier candidate?”

“I'm saying just being the top candidate isn’t my goal.”

“Oh yea, you youngins like to shoot for the “Templar” stars. Vincent said with a hint of mockery.

“Nope…Even bigger than that,” Mark turned his gaze forward, lifting his chin up, “I'm going to be Weather God”.

His declaration hung in the air for a moment. When he glanced at Vincent, he noticed he was just starring blankly at him, his expression unreadable…until his lips twitched. Seconds later, Vincent broke into uncontrollable laughter.

“Wea-Wea-Weather god-Hahahahaaaa”

Mark glared at him, his expression hardening as he took great offense to the mockery.

Ray ended up whipping his head back towards the two, putting his finger on his lips.

“Will you two shut the fuck up.” he hissed.

“Calm your scary ass down,” Vincent snapped, still chuckling as he tried to calm his laughter. “Nobody can hear us from here anyway.”

Ray looked as if he wanted to go and pummel Vincent but was held back by Avey, urging him to let it go.

Vincent finally composed himself and shifted his attention back to Mark.

“Ok, ok. So, you wanna be a God huh?”

Mark didn’t say a word, all he did was turn away from Vincent.

“Oh c’mon, don’t be like that. I’m sorry but what you said was really funny.”

“And what was so fucking funny about it?”

“The fact that you think you can be a God, kid.”

“Again, why is that so funny, and why do you keep calling me kid, you look the same age as me?”

“Fine, I'll call you buddy then.”

“I aint your fucking buddy either.”

“Ok! Let’s just stay on topic. What makes you think you can be a God?”

Mark hesitated for a moment, “Because I have the drive to become one.”

“The “drive”? Really? You know how many people had the “Drive” to be something and still fell on their ass? You got a better shot at reaching the same level as Master chief up ahead”. he said, jerking his thumb toward Ray.

Mark snapped his head towards Vincent.

“Well, it’s a good thing I have more heart than those people.”

Even though Vincent found this conversation amusing, he could tell Mark meant every word that was coming out of his mouth. That fire in his eyes was no joke, and for the first time, Vincent paused to consider whether the kid might actually be serious about his statement.

“Well let me give you one piece of advice buddy.”

“Didn’t I just say I’m not your buddy.”

“Just shut the fuck up and listen.” Vincent cut in, his voice sharp and commanding.

“When it comes to becoming a God, it ain’t about how much “drive” you have. It ain’t about how much Power you have. It ain’t even about how many people worship you.”

Vincent leaned in slightly, his eyes locking onto Mark’s with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. For the first time since meeting him, Mark saw a different side of Vincent. Serious, focused, and almost...haunting.

Mark had seen plenty of stern looks in his life. Especially from his uncle, who could silence a room with just a glance. But this? This was different. There was something in Vincent’s eyes, something deeper, heavier, like he was speaking from experience.

“It all comes down to-Ugh!”

Vincent’s words were cut short as his face smacked into Ray’s back. Stumbling slightly, he glared up at the taller man.

“The fuck man, could’ve told us to stop.” Vincent grumbled.

“Shut up and look at this.” Ray ordered.

Mark and Vincent stepped forward, joining Ray and Avey at the front. The straight path they’d been following split into two, one veering left and the other right. But it wasn’t the fork in the road that was strange. It was the weathered wall directly in front of them.

The wall was old, made of dark stone streaked with moss and cracks, but what stood out was the large, insignia etched into its surface. It glowed faintly, pulsing with a soft, unnatural light. The symbol was unmistakably deliberate. A sword, its blade sharp and clean, with a halo floating above it, all encased within a king’s crown.

“What the hell is this?” Avey asked.

“I don’t know, I’ve never seen this symbol before.” Ray replied back. He turned to Mark, “Mark, what about you? Your uncle ever mentioned this symbol before?”

Mark shook his head slowly, his brow furrowed. “No. My uncle told me plenty of stories about the different factions in the Templar Division, but... nothing about this. A halo and a sword inside a crown? It doesn’t match any insignia I’ve heard of.”

The group stood in silence for a moment, the faint pulsing glow of the symbol casting an otherworldly light across their faces. Suddenly, Vincent stepped up, closing the distance between him and the symbol.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

“Vincent?” Mark called out cautiously, but he didn’t respond.

The trio watched in confusion as Vincent tilted his head, studying the glowing insignia like it was a puzzle he was trying to solve. His fingers hovered near the surface, close enough to feel the faint warmth radiating from the light.

Ray’s suspicion began to rise. Something about the way Vincent moved, so calm, so deliberate, it didn’t sit right with him. His grip tightened around the handle of his sword strapped to his back, ready to draw it at a moment’s notice.

“You happen to know anything about this?” Ray asked, his voice sharp.

Vincent didn’t respond immediately. He kept his gaze fixed on the symbol, his expression unreadable. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Vincent turned around, his eyes meeting Ray’s, cold and unfazed.

“You guys might need to get out of here now.”

The words hit like a slap, and before anyone could process them, Ray’s patience snapped.

“So you do know something!” Ray barked, pulling his sword out pointing it at Vincent.

“Ray!” Mark screamed, jumping in between the two.

“Move it Mark! You're the one who said we could trust this guy. If he doesn't wanna end up in another life threatening situation he better start talking.”

The atmosphere grew heavy and thick, the air suffocating with unspoken threats. Avey stood on edge, her hands resting firmly on the hilts of her dual knives, her eyes never leaving Vincent. Every muscle in her body was coiled, ready for a fight.

Vincent, however, remained calm. His expression didn’t flicker, even as Ray’s sword was aimed at him and Mark shouted. He kept his gaze fixed on Ray, unflinching, as though the threat didn’t faze him.

Then with a cold tone, Vincent spoke.

“This symbol belongs to a cult. The Remembrance.”

His words hung in the air for a while, leaving the group momentarily stunned. Mark, who had been on edge, turned to Vincent.

“A cult? How the hell did a cult get into the garden?” he asked.

“I don’t have the answer to that but I don’t think it matters now since it seems like they’ve already been in here.”

“Oh please, you expect us to believe that a cult managed to sneak on to campus?” Ray cut in.

Mark frowned, thinking through the possibilities.

“Hey Ray.” Mark interjected, “A cult doesn’t necessarily have to sneak in, there could already be members in the academy, and they’re probably the reason for the students found passed out in here.”

“You believe this B.S.?”

“I don’t believe it. But we have to consider all the possibilities especially if we’re looking at the clear evidence of said possibility.”

Ray clenched his jaw, wanting to argue, but he couldn’t deny Mark’s logic. As much as he hated to admit it, the idea made too much sense. Still, his distrust of Vincent lingered like a bad taste in his mouth.

Meanwhile, Vincent, seemingly unfazed by the exchange, turned and began strolling toward the left path without a word.

“Hey, where the hell you think you’re going?” Ray barked.

“I’m going this way to see if I can find a member of this cult, we can split here from now on.” Vincent replied casually, throwing a glance over his shoulder.

“And what makes you think you can just run off after saying all that?” Avey snapped, her tone cutting through the tension like a blade.

Mark opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself, watching the exchange unfold.

Vincent turned fully to face them and sighed. “Listen, kids, I know you’ve got spunk and think you’ve got the upper hand here, but let me tell you the truth…”

His eyes went cold, a chilling intensity washing over his face. The air seemed to shift around him, growing heavier with an unspoken authority. The trio froze, not out of fear but because something about Vincent’s presence made them hesitate, like an instinct warning them not to move.

“You guys were never in a position to talk to me that way…” Vincent said, his voice low but sharp, each word carrying the weight of authority. The trio felt his presence like an invisible hand tightening around their throats.. “I only allowed you guy’s to talk that way cause I found it amusing. But now, the fun is over. Now Shut Up and Listen!”

The trio didn’t say a word.

Ray, usually brimming with arrogance, couldn’t so much as twitch his lips. Avey’s hands trembled, her grip on her knives faltering as if they might slip from her fingers at any moment. Mark stood frozen, staring at Vincent with wide eyes.

Unlike the others, he wasn’t just stunned—he was awestruck. Vincent had taken control effortlessly, bending them to his will with nothing but words and presence.

After a minute, the tension died down and the threatening energy he displayed dissipated.

“Now, like I said, I’m going this way. I advise you guys to leave this place now, but I doubt an ambitious group like you would want to do that. I mean earlier when yall thought it was a monster, y'all had some bounce in your walk.”

The trio exchanged glances, the same thought passing between them. He wasn’t wrong. Leaving wasn’t an option. If the culprit was a cult instead of a monster, it was a problem they think they could handle

“Yep I was right.” Vincent stated. “If you end up finding one, I want you guys to scream “FOUND ONE!” as loud as you can. Got it?”

Nobody said a word until…

“Yea we got it.” Mark replied.

“Hey, who said you can decide-” Ray snapped, stepping forward, but Mark cut him off

“Shut up and think you muscle headed idiot!”

Ray froze, his expression twisting with indignation. “The hell’s that supposed to mean?” he muttered, clearly offended.

“Let’s just let him go,” Mark said, ignoring Ray’s reaction. He turned to glare at Vincent, his expression hardening. At first, Vincent had seemed like a regular guy, cocky but harmless. But after that display earlier, something was off. The way he commanded them without lifting a finger—it wasn’t normal. Suspicion began to creep into Mark’s thoughts, growing stronger with every passing moment.

“He’s capable of helping his-damn-self.” Mark declared.

Vincent looked back at Mark, understanding his feelings.

“...Fine.” Ray surrendered begrudgingly. “But if we do find anything, we ain’t calling for your help. I advise you to leave before I end up reporting you.”

Vincent smirked, already turning to walk away. He waved dismissively over his shoulder.

“Yea, yea. Good luck kiddos.”

With that, Vincent disappeared around the corner at the end of the walkway. The trio stood in silence, watching until he was completely out of sight. Finally, they turned in the opposite direction and resumed their search.

Hours passed, and the night descended, the moon’s pale light casting eerie shadows across the garden. The group trudged along, using their phones as flashlights.

The exhaustion was palpable. Their footsteps dragged, their breaths came heavier, and frustration simmered beneath the surface. Mark limped slightly, the long walk starting to take a toll on him. He gritted his teeth, silently cursing his decision to join this hunt.

“Goddamn it,” he thought bitterly. “This day started off good, but it’s ending like shit.”

As they pressed on, Mark caught a change in the air—a sweet scent growing stronger and more potent. It was so out of place in the earthy garden that it stopped him in his tracks. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could…

“Oh, fuck this!” Ray’s outburst shattered the silence, making both Mark and Avey jump.

Ray spun around, his face twisted with anger and exhaustion. Without waiting, he stormed past Mark and Avey, brushing roughly past them as he went.

“Cult. Monsters. They were probably just a bunch of drunk dumbasses that hit their heads too hard. We’re done here. C’mon!”

Mark and Avey exchanged a glance, neither of them in the mood to argue. They nodded silently and fell in line behind Ray, their shared fatigue weighing heavier than their resolve to keep searching.

After a few seconds of walking, Avey turned around to face Mark while walking backwards. He could see the exhaustion building on her face as she smiled at him.

“Sorry this turned out to be a bust. I was really hoping you get to show us how much you’ve improved in just a day. I mean it’s just so hard to believe you were able to kill a giant wolf.”

Mark returned the smile, understanding why she found it hard to believe. He’d known her for years and had always been the “weak” one compared to her and their classmates. Seeing him do something like that definitely sounds weird. He couldn't even show-off in front of them so the witness plan was also a bust. Before he could say anything though

“But the fact you did it makes me so happy. I’m so glad you finally managed to get stronger like you always wanted to.”

Her smile, radiant in the moonlight, made Mark pause. Her beauty seemed to glow even brighter under the pale light. But it wasn’t just her appearance that stood out to him. It was the sincerity in her words. Avey had always stood by his side, no matter how much others picked on him. She had always believed in him, even when he couldn’t believe in himself.

“Thanks for believing in me, Avey. I really appreciate it,” Mark said, his voice warm with gratitude.

“Of course,” she replied, her smile soft and genuine.

“By the way Avey, did the garden club put some new flowers in here. It smell differe-”

Before Mark could finish his sentence, he saw Ray drop to the ground like a lifeless body.

“Ray!” Mark screamed, rushing past Avey to reach him.

Both of them dropped to their knees beside Ray, panic rising in their chests.

“Ray! Ray! What happened?!” Avey shouted, her voice filled with fear.

“I don’t know! He just dropped out of nowhere!” Mark replied, his heart pounding. He couldn’t make sense of it. There was no visible injury, no impact.

“Do you-Do you th-thin…It was…the…cul-” Avey stammered, but before she could finish, she collapsed as well, her body slumping against the ground.

“Avey!!” Mark yelled, rushing to catch her. He lifted her head, trying to wake her up, but his own panic was overwhelming.

Mark was frozen for a moment, confused and helpless. What was happening?

And then it hit him.

“The smell...” he whispered, his eyes widening as he realized what was causing this.

He quickly covered his nose, and shot up searching the area for any signs of danger. But there were no strange flowers, no visible source for the fragrance.

The dizziness started to hit him. His vision blurred and his legs were shaky.

He fought to stay upright, but his balance faltered. His thoughts were sluggish, and he struggled to focus.

Then Vincent’s words echoed in his mind, "If you end up finding one, I want you to scream “FOUND ONE!” as loud as you can.".

Mark hesitated for a moment, but then, driven by instinct, he tried to scream for help.

But as soon as he opened his mouth, the dizziness overwhelmed him, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.