Momo had texted and picked up Mal after his shift, it was well past 1 a.m. The drive home felt like a blur, his body was weighed down with exhaustion from the strange and emotionally charged day. He had barely slept the night before, and now, after hours of painting, he was beyond ready to collapse.

As he pulled into the parking garage beneath the penthouse, he parked Nikki and sat for a moment, rubbing his eyes before finally pulling himself out. Making his way toward the elevator, he dug his phone out of his pocket and glanced at the screen. He opened his contacts to look at Nezami’s number one more time, her name still fresh on his phone.

Focus, what if you accidentally called her at 1 in the morning you psycho? he told himself, stifling a yawn.

Entering the penthouse, Mal kicked off his shoes and exhaled heavily, letting the exhaustion settle over him. The day had been a whirlwind of emotions, and now, finally, it felt like it was catching up to him. He had just spent hours on the banner, trying to impress Nezami—who somehow made him feel like he was floating and on edge at the same time. The whole day had been strange, from the quiet moments spent painting in isolation to the unexpected flirty banter with Nezami. It left him feeling unsettled but in a good way.

A quick snack and bed he thought.

His eyes were heavy as he turned the corner to pass the sunken living room—only to stop dead in his tracks.

There, sprawled across the oversized sectional couch, were his four sisters: Aurora, Sumi, Riko, and Elara. Each one sat in their usual way—Aurora with her hands neatly folded, looking composed as ever; Sumi lounging with her phone in hand, probably live-streaming something; Riko looking like she’d rather be anywhere else, legs crossed in that superior, “I know everything” way she always had; and Elara with her usual intensity, sitting up straight like this was a war council.

He blinked in disbelief, running a hand through his messy hair before groaning, "You have got to be kidding me. I am so exhausted."

Aurora stood up, her expression serious but softened with concern. "We know you’ve had a long day, Mal, but this can’t wait."

Mal glanced at the couch, ready to collapse onto it, but just as he moved to sit down, Sumi's voice rang out sharply.

"Don’t sit down! You’re covered in paint!"

He looked down at his clothes, realizing that the remnants of spray paint from working on the banner were splattered across his hoodie and jeans.

"Then you're gonna have to wait 'til I change," he grumbled, rubbing his eyes. "Because I’m shot."

"Fine," Sumi said, crossing her arms. "But hurry up. This is important, and we don’t have all night."

“What the hell… uh neither do I," Mal said as he shuffled toward his room.

His body felt like it weighed a ton, and all he could think about was his bed. But whatever this was, it seemed serious.

As he reached his room, he peeled off his paint-splattered clothes, tossing them into the hamper before slipping into a fresh t-shirt and sweatpants. He caught a glance of himself in the mirror—dark circles under his eyes, his hair a mess—and sighed.

Great, I look as exhausted as I feel.

Mal made his way back into the living room to sit on the far end of the couch away from his sisters.

“Are we about to have another one of these talks? I’ve already told you—”

Aurora raised her hand, cutting him off with a soft but commanding voice. “Mal, we already told you we would give you some time on that… We're not here to force your decision but the universe might be.”

He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, not budging just yet. “So what has happened that you are all here, staring at me like I’m some kind of ticking time bomb?"

“Because you might just be,” Riko said.

Aurora spoke again, her voice calm but serious. “Nova found something. Trails of a shadow pocket in town.”

"Why’s it such a big deal that we saw a shadow pocket?" Mal asked. "Don’t you guys see them all the time? You open one, put things back in the Shadow Realm, and it’s done." He waved his hand like it was routine.

Aurora shook her head, her expression serious. “No, Mal, it’s not like a shadow orb. This isn’t something we control or manipulate. A shadow pocket isn't an item or an object we deal with—it’s a person who's surrounded by one, like they’re carrying a portal with them.”

"A person?" Mal frowned, sitting back. "So... what does that mean?"

“It means they’re existing in two places at once—here, and in the Dreah,” Elara said her voice laced with concern.

"Okay, but again why is that such a big deal? What makes this any worse than all the other craziness we deal with?"

Riko leaned in, her tone sharp but urgent. “Listen, Mal, it’s not just some ordinary phenomenon. Someone walking around with a shadow pocket can cause real chaos. They can’t be restrained by the normal rules. Imagine someone who can tear open realms and bring havoc without even knowing it.”

"So, they’re like a Sinshi?” Mal asked, his frustration starting to show.

Finally, Sumi, who had been glued to her phone the entire time, glanced up. She set the phone down and said, “That’s exactly what they are, Mal. We just didn’t want to lead with that.”

“Great. So, demons from the Dreah.”

It hit him hard—if he had taken his orb when he was supposed to, this wouldn’t even be an issue. He would’ve seen this coming. Azrel’s true purpose wasn’t just shuttling souls; it was about seeing any Shadow or Light Pockets that opened up and stopping whatever came through them. His power was supposed to allow him to portal to these pockets, removing or killing anything that slipped through. But that had been a job that hadn’t needed doing for over a thousand years.

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"So they came through one of the towers," Mal muttered, finally connecting the dots.

Aurora nodded gravely. "That’s what we think. And if the Sinshi are here, we’ve got a much bigger problem than we thought."

“Why would they show up now?" Mal asked, his voice frustrated. "I thought we had more time."

"It’s not random. Whoever this is, they probably moved here recently. The orb’s power doesn’t just manifest out of nowhere—especially at that level." Aurora said, glancing at Riko.

"It’s not just a coincidence, Mal. Someone new is here. Someone young, probably your age, their power’s just starting to surface." Riko confirmed.

"And if they’re here, they know exactly what this place is. No one comes to this town by chance, especially not with that kind of power." Sumi added.

"But why here? Why this town?"

“Do you really have to ask? Anyone with knowledge of their power and history would know that this town is... special."

"This is no accident. We’re talking about someone who understands what this town represents—what the towers are. This isn’t some random kid playing with magic they don’t understand. They came here because of the towers." Elara said calmly.

Mal stiffened, the mention of the towers sending a chill down his spine. The four ancient structures dotted across town weren’t just relics—they were gateways. He knew them well, too well. Each tower held a bound demon, their seals part of the delicate balance that kept the world in order. If a shadow orb wielder, even one who didn’t fully understand their power, tampered with those bindings... things could spiral out of control quickly.

"Whoever this is," Sumi continued, "knows about the towers and the role they play in... well, everything. If they’re here, they’re not just passing through. They’ve got a reason to be in this town."

"You’re saying I need to check the towers again," he said, his voice full of dread.

Riko nodded firmly.

"You’re the only one with the ability to cross those gateways. It's your responsibility to ensure the seals are still intact. No one else can do it. You’re the only one who can step through and check if any of the orbs have been disturbed. If someone’s trying to disrupt the balance, we need to find out—and fast."

The room fell into silence again, the weight of the situation hanging in the air. Mal’s heart pounded as he thought about the towers, the gateways, the responsibility that had been thrust on him. He wasn’t ready. He’d never been ready. But his sisters were right—the SinShi wasn’t something they could ignore.

He had crossed into one of the towers before—just once—and the experience had nearly destroyed him. Each tower had a Keeper, one of four ancient protectors—Sparrow, Torah, Ichika, and Yaj.

Mal knew them all.

But Ichika, the guardian of the tower in Sistrell, had caused him the most grief. Baroness Ichika didn’t just dislike him; she hated him. And the last time he’d entered her tower, alone and overconfident, he had paid the price.

Before he could respond, Harper walked into the room, her usually calm face etched with worry.

"He can’t go in alone. Not after what happened last time." Harper’s eyes narrowed. "That mistake nearly cost you your mind. You can’t go unescorted into the towers. You have to talk to the Keepers and make sure they’re with you when you pass through the gateways."

Mal’s breath hitched as the memories flooded back. He had gone into Ichika’s tower without anyone or her knowledge, determined to prove something—to himself, maybe, or to his sisters. The result had been disastrous. He had been trapped inside the gateway in an endless nightmare, a dark void where time stretched and twisted. The bound demon had flooded his mind with horrors, visions of suffering and pain, endless atrocities. He had been stuck there for what felt like years, unable to escape the suffocating grip of its hatred.

Even now, the nightmares still lingered in shadows that followed him no matter how hard he tried to shake them.

"I know what happened," Mal said, trying to push the memories aside. "I won’t make that mistake again."

"Technically, this isn’t any of Harper’s business," Riko said edging with frustration.

Aurora’s eyes flared immediately. "Excuse me? Harper’s been with us through everything. She’s earned her place here."

Harper didn’t flinch.

“You might not be my family by blood, but you are my family and Mal is my family and I will fight you… make no mistake on that.”

“It’s not about that Harper” Aurora said “…and Riko you are out of line on this.”

Harper ignored the sisters looking at Mal directly.

“It’s not just about you making a mistake. You need the Keepers. They have to go with you. The last time you entered the gateway alone, Ichika almost trapped you for good."

Riko shifted her gaze to Mal, her expression softening slightly but still holding firm.

"This is family business, Mal. Harper may care about you, but she has no idea what it feels like—the burden you’re carrying. What you have to face."

Aurora stepped closer, her voice sharp.

"She’s seen everything, Riko. Where were you when Mal got trapped in that tower? Harper was there for him when he came back."

Riko’s face tightened, but she sighed deeply. "Don’t get me wrong, Harper—I love you. I’m thankful for you in so many ways, but this is different. This isn’t just some choice. Mal listens to you, and I can’t have you persuading him when—"

Harper interrupted, her voice calm but resolute.

"I’m not trying to persuade him. This has nothing to do with me. I’m just making sure he doesn’t end up in that same dark place again."

Mal ran a hand through his hair, eyes dropping to the floor. "Look, I know everyone means well, but this isn’t about someone pushing me one way or the other. I just don’t want to face it again. I don’t want to go back to that tower, to that feeling. I don’t care about my duty right now—I just know I can’t go through that a second time."

The weight of his words sank in, cutting through the argument. Riko’s stance softened, though her eyes still held a glint of worry. Aurora stood beside Harper, her loyalty unshaken, but even she knew Mal’s fear wasn’t something to brush off.

Riko spoke after a long pause, quieter this time. "I get it. But you can’t run forever. You’re going to have to face it eventually, Mal."

"But he doesn’t have to be solo now,” Aurora added softly.

His jaw tightened.

He hated that they were right.

Entering one of the towers without the help of a Keeper wasn’t just dangerous—it was a death sentence. And Baroness Ichika had made it abundantly clear that she had no intention of making things easy for him. The thought of stepping back into her domain, of facing her wrath again, made his skin crawl.

"So I’m supposed to convince the Keepers to come with me?" Mal asked, half-dreading the thought of it.

Harper nodded. "Yes. You need their help. The Keepers are the only ones who can ensure your safety while you’re inside. The last thing we need is for you to get trapped again.”

Mal’s mind spun, his thoughts racing as dread settled in. If I go into the towers again… if I face Ichika again… His breath quickened, his chest tightening. I barely made it out last time. And now they want me to do this three more times?

“Why is it always something with this… and why can’t the four of you handle it? You all have powers and abilities far beyond most anything that could start something…especially at this level?” Mal spat, half to himself.

His words carried a hint of desperation, but the truth behind them was undeniable. His sisters wielded world-ending powers—abilities so immense that if someone were to discover or evolve a Shadow Orb, they could easily pose a threat capable of taking them down.

Part of this felt that maybe they were trying to push him into his role, or was it panic?

He wasn’t entirely sure.

His palms felt clammy, his pulse racing. He could feel the weight of their expectations bearing down on him, but the fear inside was louder. It was the fear of stepping back into that tower, of facing the dark, twisted void of Ichika’s domain—and the demons that waited for him.

"I’ll talk to them," Mal finally conceded, his voice low, resigned.

As he turned to leave the room, his legs felt like lead, every step heavier than the last. The weight of what was coming pressed on him harder than it ever had before. He had always known that this moment would come—he couldn’t avoid it forever. But now that it was here, he wasn’t sure he could face it.

He knew the answer deep down. There was no running from his fate. But that didn’t make it any less terrifying.

Not by a long shot.

His breath quickened, his hands still trembling as he pushed open the door to his room.

I don’t want this. I never wanted this. But there’s no way out, is there?

The endless dark, the cold grip of fear as Ichika’s voice echoed in his mind.

Why are you here, little Death? she had taunted.

You think you can stop what’s coming?

He had barely escaped with his sanity intact. The thought of going through that again—of facing her again—made his stomach churn.