———Red———

"So, you know her?" I ask, still trying to catch my breath from the wild escape. We're sitting on the edge of a rooftop, watching the city below, a stark contrast to the chaos we just left behind.

Kylen gives a grim nod. "Yeah, you could say that. Her name's Spectra, at least that's what she goes by. She's stolen from us before—shipments, warehouse supplies, you name it—but this? This is a whole different level. What's worse is, I'm not sure she even knows what she's stolen. That's probably why she activated its tracker—so she could see if we came after it. Now that we have, she knows it's valuable, and that means one of two things: she'll either sell it to the highest bidder or use it to blackmail us."

I let out a short laugh, though there's nothing funny about it. "Fantastic. So, what? She has some kind of illusion powers?"

Kylen chuckles softly, shaking his head. "Yeah, that's the gist of it. From what I've gathered, she's the daughter of Julian."

My heart stops for a moment. I whip my head toward him, eyes wide. "She's Celestial-born? Is she from Naurus?"

"Not that I know of," Kylen says, his voice steady, though the weight of his words hangs in the air. "But think about it—there's no other way to explain it. No one on Earth has powers. No magic, no anything. The only people who have abilities like that are Celestial-born. It's the only way it makes sense."

I open my mouth to respond, but my mind races, remembering things I heard from Alyse. "Well, not the only way. The Empress—"

"Had influences from the gods," Kylen finishes for me, cutting me off. "Yeah, I know. But I'm telling you, there's something different about her. Something that doesn't add up. Have you ever fought someone with powers like this before?"

I pause, my throat tight. "Not exactly. Why?"

Kylen doesn't answer immediately. Instead, he looks off at the horizon, as if weighing his next words carefully. "I just realized... I'm still a bit confused about how all of this fits together. How did you even get here? Why were you with Draco? Who is Domnik? What all happened after I left?"

I swallow hard, the weight of his questions hitting me like a ton of bricks. I've been avoiding answering some of these for too long, but now, with everything on the line, I can't put it off anymore. I glance over at Kylen, his eyes steady, patient.

"Gods... it's a long story, Kylen," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

He nods, a slight smile tugging at his lips, but it's not one of amusement. It's understanding. "I've got time. And, to be honest, I think we're both running out of options. You're not alone in this anymore. Whatever's going on, we need to figure it out together."

For a moment, I just sit there, the weight of everything pulling at my chest. But then, I take a deep breath and let the words spill out, one by one, because it's the only way I'll ever make sense of it.

And maybe, just maybe, Kylen can help me understand it, too.

-

We sat there for hours, the silence stretching between us like a heavy fog. The only movement was a slow, restless pace back and forth from Kylen, then him sitting again, his mind clearly still reeling from everything I'd told him.

His face is a mix of confusion and disbelief, as if he's trying to make sense of the chaos that's tangled up in my words.

"And well, you saw the rest. Draco died and... I felt Domnik die too," I say, my voice low, as if saying it aloud makes it all too real again.

Kylen sits frozen for a moment, the weight of my words settling in. "You did all that? Went through all of that... while I sat here and played Monopoly?"

"What the fuck is—" I start, but he cuts me off, shaking his head, dismissing my confusion.

"It's not important," he mutters, running a hand through his hair, looking more agitated than before. "You killed not one, not two, but three gods. That's what's important."

I shrug, trying to downplay it, though the weight of it all still hangs heavy in the air. "Wasn't just going to let them take Alyse, wreck our home, and then just get away with it."

He nods, clearly impressed, though I can tell it's mixed with awe and a bit of disbelief. "No shit. But Alyse... that's why she's so mesmerized by all this, isn't it? She's coping?"

I nod, feeling a pang in my chest. "Yeah. That's how I see it. No way she's actually that excited about every little thing without some kind of trauma eating at her. She's repressing it, just like when she tried to step up as the mother figure for us back in Pinecrest."

Kylen is silent for a moment, letting the realization sink in. His eyes soften, the usual sharpness replaced with a quiet understanding. "She's been through a hell of a lot, hasn't she?"

I nod again, my throat tight. "We all have. But we're still here, still standing."

Kylen lets out a long breath, clearly processing everything I've just told him. "Well, if you've got the ability to kill gods, I guess I can't blame her for wanting to escape into the little things. But, Red... this is a lot. Are you sure you're okay?"

I exhale slowly, not sure how to answer. "I'm here, aren't I? I'm still fighting."

Kylen glances at me, the gravity of our conversation not lost on either of us. "Well you don't have to fight them alone anymore, little brother."

"Who are you calling little, I'm eighteen now!"

He laughs. "Maybe back home but here you're, well I guess you're still eighteen."

"Well that's not fair if you're twenty seven now, you don't get to add six more years to your age without letting me do it too!" I smirk.

"Well, the difference is I lived through those six years." He chuckles.

I sigh and then pause for a moment. "What do we tell Claire and Alyse? How do we explain that there are other celestial borns lurking?"

He shakes his head. "I don't know, I guess—"

Before he can say anything, we hear an explosion nearby. We both stand instantly and turn in the direction the sound came from.

"Stay close, Red" he says as we both jump down off the building and start running towards where the sound came from.

———Keegan———

"Yeah, just like that. See? You're a natural," I say as Dylan focuses on an empty ramen bowl, holding his hand out with a furrowed brow.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

The bowl wobbles midair before floating upward, hovering just above my head. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he drops it square on my head.

"Bam! Gave you a hat," he says with a triumphant grin.

I snatch the bowl off my head, laughing despite myself. "See? Already pranking people. I told you it wasn't that scary."

Dylan smirks, though he still looks unsure. "Yeah, I guess you're right... but that was just an empty bowl. It's probably really easy."

"Baby steps, man. You've gotta start somewhere. Come on, let's—"

"Walker? Walker, it's Spectra—is everything okay? I heard a loud boom over here and—"

The voice cuts through the moment, and Dylan's smirk drops into confusion.

"Yeah, I'm fine!" I shout back before glancing at Dylan.

He raises an eyebrow. "Who's the broad?"

"A friend. It's fine. Just act normal," I mutter, already moving toward the door. "Hold up, Spectra, I'll—"

Before I can get there, she steps in, the door creaking slightly behind her. She has that confident, unbothered look she always wears, her bow slung casually over her shoulder.

"Trying to be a gentleman and get the door for me?" she teases, her voice light but sharp. "You should know by now I'm the type of girl who lets herself in." Her gaze shifts to Dylan, her eyes narrowing slightly. "And who's this guy? Looks like he hasn't slept in a month."

Dylan straightens, looking offended. "What the—? I've slept! I've just... been going through it, okay? Lady."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying not to laugh at his tone. "Spectra, this is..." I hesitate, realizing I can't exactly tell her his real name. Hell, she doesn't even know my real name. "This is Astralis. Yeah, uh... he's a really good friend of mine. I've been trying to help him learn his powers."

Dylan's eyes light up, and he grins. "Astralis? That sounds sick!"

Spectra snorts, clearly amused, before crossing her arms. "Astralis, huh? Well, nice to meet you, Astralis." She gives him a once-over, clearly sizing him up. "I'm Spectra, in case he didn't tell you. Walker here's been helping me track down some people. And by help I mean letting me do all the work." She giggles.

I smirk. "Yeah, yeah, okay."

Spectra laughs, her sharp tone cutting through the room. "Finally, he admits it." She turns back to Dylan, grinning. "So, Astralis, you got powers too then? Mind giving a demonstration?"

Dylan hesitates, glancing at me like he's unsure what to say. I nod subtly, and he shrugs. "Uh, yeah but probably not a good idea. I'm still figuring them out. Pretty new to all of this."

"Join the club," Spectra says with a smirk. "Guess that makes three of us."

"Wait... hold on. Were you watching the warehouse the whole time, or did you leave and hear the boom?" I ask Spectra, narrowing my eyes.

She smirks, leaning casually against the doorframe. "I was already halfway out of the industrial park when I heard it. Lucky for you two it was me and not Smith. I know for a fact he's still sniffing around the area. You two better be more careful."

I nod, glancing at Dylan, who's suddenly looking very interested in the floor. "Yeah, we'll be more careful. Thanks."

"Alright then, toodaloo! Just wanted to make sure none of you bozos had managed to blow yourselves up." She spins on her heel and heads for the door.

Dylan watches her leave, his eyes lingering a bit too long. "Man... you gonna bag that or what?"

I slap my face, groaning. "Dude!"

Spectra stops dead in her tracks, then turns back, a sly grin spreading across her face. "I'm sure he would if he could, Astralis."

Dylan's face flushes red as he stammers. "Oh, shit! I didn't think she could hear me. Uh, sorry, Kee—uh—Walker!" He lets out a quick snicker and turns around.

I shake my head, biting back a laugh. "You're a mess, man."

Spectra laughs, throwing the door open with a dramatic wave of her hand. "Good luck keeping this one out of trouble, Walker. Seems like you've got your hands full." She disappears into the night, leaving Dylan staring after her, still embarrassed.

———Spectra———

Oh, that Walker. Always getting in over his head, especially now with that newbie. He's going to get himself killed one of these days.

I let out a sigh and close the door behind me. The faint echo of my footsteps fades into the still night—until I hear it. A sharp thud on the pavement in the distance.

I freeze, instincts sharpening. Turning slowly, I spot him—a man standing under the dim glow of a streetlamp. Kylen.

He is a tall, a commanding figure with an air of quiet confidence. His grey cloak is both practical and striking, with a hood that casts subtle shadows over his face when raised, adding to his enigmatic presence. The wide, cape-like bottom of the cloak flows gracefully around him as he moves, giving the impression of both strength and fluidity. Beneath the cloak, his attire is simple yet functional, featuring dark, fitted clothing that allows for ease of movement in combat. His boots are sturdy and well-worn, reflecting a life of travel and responsibility.

Kylen's eyes are sharp and calculating, glowing faintly as he summons his plasma-like ward, as though reflecting the power he wields. His hair is neatly kept, dark with streaks of grey and white, symbolizing his wisdom and experience. His overall demeanor is one of calm control, but there's an undercurrent of tension in his posture, hinting at the weight of his responsibilities and the battles he has faced.

Now he stands here before me. His ward fashioned into a blade in his hand. His brother walks out of the shadows behind him.

His brother wears a well-fitted, dark leather jacket, its slightly worn texture giving it a rugged edge. The jacket has subtle red stitching along the seams, hinting at a fire within him no doubt. Underneath, he dons a plain, dark grey t-shirt—simple and unassuming, perfect for blending in.

His pants are dark denim, almost cargo-style, sturdy and functional for movement. His boots are heavy-duty, combat-style, worn but still functional. Around his neck, he wears a red scarf—it's frayed at the edges, suggesting it's been with him through many battles. His hands are wrapped in fingerless leather gloves, for style I assume.

He glances at me, then back to Kylen, like some nervous puppy waiting for permission to step forward. It's almost cute. Almost.

"Well, look at that," I say, breaking the silence, my tone laced with mock amusement. "I guess you caught me. Took you boys, what, twenty minutes? That's actually impressive. Most people can't find me in twenty hours."

I'm not even lying—I'm genuinely impressed, though I doubt they'll hear it in my voice.

"Who are you working for, Spectra? Why'd they want you to steal our part?" Kylen's voice is sharp, direct.

"Why assume I'm working for anyone?" I smirk, arms crossed. "I'm a freelancer. I work for myself."

"Bullshit," he fires back, taking a step closer. "You knew about the other group trying to steal it and intercepted them. I saw the reports." He grins, like he's outsmarted me, like he's caught me in some elaborate lie.

I can't help but chuckle. "So then you know I didn't work alone. Smart. I like a man who does his homework. That Voidwalker guy hired me, wanted me to team up with him to nab it."

"Voidwalker?" The younger one asks, looking at Kylen with wide eyes.

"Yeah. I'll explain later, Red." Kylen mutters, brushing him off.

Their partnership is weird—so off-balance it's almost uncomfortable to watch. Kylen's sharp, focused. Red's... well, he's just kind of there, clearly out of the loop. He hasn't even heard of Voidwalker, which is insane. Everyone knows Voidwalker. The guy's practically a celebrity in this city.

Kylen narrows his eyes. "And why would Voidwalker hire you? Or work with you? He's supposed to stop people like you."

I shrug. "Didn't ask. I never ask."

A sudden boom echoes from the warehouse behind me, followed by the sound of uproarious laughter. I resist the urge to groan.

"What's going on in there?" Kylen demands, taking a step forward.

I throw up a hand, feigning innocence. "I don't know what you're talking about."

He doesn't buy it for a second. "Red, I've got her. Go check the warehouse."

"Wouldn't do that if I were you," I say quickly, my voice low and dangerous. "You don't want to know what's caged up in there."

But Red doesn't stop. He brushes past me, his eyes locked on mine with a steely determination that, honestly, I didn't expect. It's enough of a distraction to slip in—mentally, at least. My eyes glow faintly, and his do the same. A perfect connection.

He pushes the door open, stepping inside.

"There's... nothing in here?" Red's voice echoes back, confused. He turns to look at us, brow furrowed.

I smirk, triumphant. "See? Told you." I close my eyes for a brief second, savoring the victory. The idiots inside owe me big time.

"Red?" Kylen asks, suspicion dripping from his voice.

And that's when it all goes to hell.

Red yelps as he's suddenly lifted off the ground, flailing in midair before being hurled forward. He crashes to the pavement with a loud, painful thud.

"You've got to be fucking—," I mutter under my breath.

The warehouse doors burst open, and out step the culprits, grinning like they've just won the lottery. Walker and Astralis. Their hands are raised in mock victory, and they actually high-five.

"Get shit on, intruder!" Astralis shouts, pointing at Red, who's still sprawled on the ground.

Idiots. Complete fucking idiots. They broke cover, which means my powers won't work on them anymore. They're lucky I even bothered to try and cover for them.

"Nothing in there, hmm, Spectra?" Kylen's voice drips with smug satisfaction. He doesn't even try to hide his grin. "Hold it there, you two!" he barks at Walker and Astralis.

That's it. I'm done trying. Let them handle this mess themselves, it's their fault at this point. Back to saving my own skin.

"Toodleloo, Kylen," I say, letting my voice linger in the air as I vanish into a cloud of smoke. I dart away silently, leaving them to clean up the disaster.

Good luck, Walker. Hope you make it out alive.