I turned toward the symbol once more, standing over the man I had just fought. His eyes were still fixated on the glowing symbol from Moon. The fear wasn’t projected toward me anymore, but from the warning given by Moon.

I clenched my jaw, a part of me tempted to just end him here, just to make sure there were no loose ends. But I wasn’t a killer, unless I had to be. With a final glare at him, I walked away. With every step I took, the symbol faded away. “I need answers,” I said to myself.

The city was quiet, no noises, no sounds, just the echoes of my heavy steps. “What an odd night, with everything that had happened to me. Watching winged beings fight in the sky, people in a coffee shop being murdered, stabbed in my side, a random fight, and then suddenly a being named Moon?” I said to myself. “Seems like I have no choice but to be a part of what’s going on.”

“What’s my role in this war? Am I a hero? Am I supposed to be some sacrificial pawn? Am I going to go out of my way to save people? I cannot grasp the severity of this situation… PLEASE WAKE ME UP, WAKE ME UP,” I cried out loud. “PLEASE, tell me this is a dream. I cannot stan—”

A noise broke through my thoughts, a soft rustle followed by a groan. I paused, turning my head slowly toward the sound. In the alleyway to my left, a figure stumbled out, collapsing to the ground. Confused, I took a step forward.

It was a young teen, his clothes torn, his face all bruised up. Looking up at me, he cried to me in desperation, “Please... help me.”

I hesitated. “Can I trust him? Is this a joke?” I thought to myself. “After everything I’ve just dealt with, how can I trust anyone?” After staring into his eyes, I decided to help him, only because his eyes reminded me of myself.. lost, desperate, and trying to cling onto whatever hope and motivation I could find.

With a sigh, I stepped toward him, offering my hand. “Get up.”

He struggled to his feet, wincing with every movement. I watched for a moment, then turned away, starting to walk again. I didn’t offer a hand to help him walk, didn’t bother looking back to see if he could catch up.

I finally decided to turn around, seeing him catching up, still pushing. I thought back to how I healed when I was injured, wondering if I could heal others. I focused on my hand; it emanated purple. I placed my hand onto the young man, watching his injuries fade away, his eyes filling back up with life.

“Wh- who are you?” asked the young man.

“My name is Toru, doesn’t matter. Who are you? What happened to you?” I asked.

“My name is Ren. They called themselves Nightborn. They followed the Hierarchy of Darkness, the lower-ranked beings there,” Ren said.

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I looked at him, anger building up inside me. “What connection do you have here? Why were you attacked?” I asked seriously.

Ren responded, “I’m the son of a rogue Hierarchy of Light member. One of the strongest members in the weakest group named Blessers.” He opened up his wings, white with gold shown.

“A rogue member of the Hierarchy of Light?” I echoed, narrowing my eyes. “And they came after you because of that? What do they want from you?”

Ren's wings began to flow back into his body. “They want information. About my father, about what he might have known. He betrayed the Light, and now the Dark think I’m hiding secrets. But I don’t have the answers they’re looking for.”

I exhaled in frustration. As if my situation wasn’t complicated enough, I was now stuck dealing with the politics of celestial beings, and a kid with a target on his back was depending on me. But there was fear in his eyes, the way he looked at me as if I were his only hope.

“Alright, listen,” I said, turning to face him completely. “I can’t promise to keep you safe, and I’m not on a mission to save anyone here. But it sounds like you know more about these... Nightborn and the Hierarchies than I do. So you’re coming with me. But if you slow me down or if I get the feeling you’re hiding something, we part ways. Understood?”

Ren nodded, his eyes a mix of hope and fear. “I understand.”

I scanned the darkened street. The unease I felt earlier hadn’t dissipated; it had only intensified. We couldn’t stay here. “We need to move. The Nightborn might return, and if they realize you’re with me, I’ll be in even deeper trouble.”

Ren took a shaky breath. “Where are we headed?”

I glanced back at him, ”There’s a coffee shop I need to check out. Let’s head there first.”

We began walking. Ren could now keep up due to the healing, but I could also see his confidence returning with each step. The city around us remained quiet, the echo of my earlier thoughts lingering in the air.

As we reached the cafe, the crime scene tape was still there. We walk under it and go through the door. Blood stains still everywhere, as I bent down to grab a black feather, Ren said under his breath, “Dad?”

I look up, a man in a tattered robe is looking down at me, angry. “You dare bring my son into this you foul being?”

I stand back up, judging his moves, he’s standing completely still, his wings still. “Your son was already hu-” Before I could finish my sentence, he charged at me, “He reeks of your power.”

“Dad, NO!” Ren yelled before I put my hand out, grabbing his dads face as he charged at me, slamming him onto his back. “Do NOT try me.”

“No kid, you’re mistaken. Don’t try me.” he responded. Beams of light and darkness crash into the cafe. “You’re outnumbered.”

One man stood out, a man who stood over 9 feet tall. He walks toward me, “So they weren’t lying, The Crownless King returns.”

Ren’s eyes quickly switch over to me, with fear. “Yo- you’re him?”

“So what if I am, who are you?” I responded to the man.

“Caelith, surprised you haven’t heard of me. I was part of the 10 highest ranks in the Hierarchy of Light, until I went rogue.” he responded.

Ren’s eyes widened, “Wait, don’t kill him! He saved me!”

All 10 beings and figures charged at me.