The entryway looked like it belonged to a castle ripped straight from the pages of a fantasy novel. Sunlight streamed through intricate stained glass, scattering colorful prisms across the polished floor. As Kaia stepped through the hallway, a golden-tinted reflection of himself shimmered beside him on the glossy walls.
Is this really a school? More like a castle, no even more than that. Kaia laughed in his mind, eyes wide as he took it all in—but his expression remained unreadable. Just ahead, Shirin strolled more cheerfully than before, hands clasped behind her back as she skipped along, taking in the grandeur with childish delight.
Did something flip a switch in her, or did she just forget I'm here? Kaia's eyes bewitched, suspicion creeping into his stare.
Shirin halted, and Kaia followed. A small wooden plaque hung above a grand doorway: Library.
"This one's for uppergraders," Shirin explained, her voice now calm and composed. "We're not allowed in."
Kaia blinked at the sudden shift in tone, staring at her as if trying to decode her.
"There's another library upstairs for us lowergraders—" Shirin abruptly stopped. Kaia wasn't sure, but for a brief moment, he could've sworn he saw a blush creeping up Shirin's face. Shirin scoffed and muttered under her breath, "Don't stare at me, idiot. At least pretend to admire the library."
Kaia blinked, bewildered, and turned toward the door as instructed. The library behind it was vast—and hauntingly silent.
They moved on. Shirin continued guiding him through classrooms, labs, and various other school areas, giving a short description for each. Finally, they stopped.
Shirin spun around dramatically, planting her hands on her hips. "Now, the dorm rooms!"
Kaia glanced around the open courtyard. "Where exactly?"
"There are four houses. You're in Athyra—see the red uniform?" She pointed toward a looming hill. "That tall mountain over there? That's where your dorm is. It's a wooden-style building at the top."
Kaia stared at her. His expression said everything: Are you kidding me?
"You'll get used to it," she chirped, patting his back. "See you in class."
Her tone was casual, but something about her felt... sincere. Kaia found himself smiling without meaning to. "Yeah. See ya."
Shirin parted her lips, like she wanted to say something else—but a voice cut through the air behind them.
"Shirin! What are you doing with that emo?!"
Kaia turned. Which bitch called me emo? Two girls in green uniforms strutted over—one with a ponytail so high it rivaled a palm tree, and the other had enough hair accessories to stock an entire shop. Kaia couldn't help but stare.
"What're you gawking at, weirdo?" the second girl snapped, leaning forward protectively beside her coconut-tree-haired friend.
"Was he bothering you, Shirin?" the palm tree girl asked suspiciously.
Shirin froze. Her hands fumbled slightly before she raised her voice, "I was just helping him. Professor Noxvar asked me to show him around. That's all!"
"Why waste your time on this loner?" the accessory-laden girl sneered.
Loner?The word stung. Kaia's hands balled into fists at his sides, his expression darkening.
Shirin's gaze darted between Kaia and her friends. "Let's go already! Why bother ourselves for nobody like him?" She commanded harshly, but Kaia noticed the slight tremor in her voice as she urged them away.
They left with disgusted looks thrown over their shoulders, and Shirin followed. But just before she turned the corner, she glanced back at Kaia.
Something in that look wasn't right. Not just nervousness—fear. Pure, cold fear.Kaia's brows drew together. It was only for a second, but in that moment, Shirin seemed to glimpse something behind them, out in the distance—something that drained the color from her face. And just as quickly, she buried it.
Kaia exhaled sharply, turning toward the mountain path. "What the hell was that?"
He walked, but couldn't shake the sensation that someone was watching him. Just for a moment. Then, the feeling vanished.
***
The lift came to a halt with a mechanical whir, and its doors slid open. The President stepped out, his pace leisurely—until faint sobbing echoed down the hallway.
He paused, sighed, and rubbed his temple."Not again…"
Rounding the corner that led to the Cosmic Hollow, he spotted a familiar figure slumped on the floor in front of the glowing, orb-like structure. Kyros sat there like a heartbroken drunkard, knees pulled up, tears streaming down his face.
The President approached—not out of pity, but because this wasn't the place for grown men to bawl their hearts out to a sentient orb like it was some old drinking buddy.
He reached out to tap Kyros's shoulder, but before he could say a word, Kyros yanked him into a tight embrace, smearing tears and snot all over his finely tailored coat.
"Oi—what the hell are you—"
"Shhhh…" Kyros whispered, arms locking tighter as if he was trying to wring out his soul. "I knew you'd come for me, Thalia… I knew it… don't… don't leave me… sobs…"
The President glanced down, spotting an empty liquor bottle beside him.He sighed, again. "What have I gotten myself into…" Still, he didn't pull away. Instead, he gave Kyros a stiff pat on the back.
"It's okay to cry sometimes—just not in my Corporation," he muttered, earning no response from the weeping mess clinging to him.
"Don't leave me… Thalia…" Kyros mumbled again, completely out of it.
Ahem.
The orb coughed. Literally.
The President's eyes narrowed. "Really?"
"Was the meeting fruitful?" Hollow asked in its usual calm tone.
"Oh cut the act. What exactly are you scheming, Hollow? What do you gain from unmasking the culprit? And who even is this Kaia?"
"To be honest… even I'm not aware of everything."
"You see everything, don't you? Then how come Ananya found Kaia before you? Or did you want her to find her first?"
"You will understand in time—"
"I'VE HAD ENOUGH." The President's voice thundered. "Just tell me already! You wanted Ananya to look like the hero, didn't you? Trying to push me out of position—was that your plan?"
Hollow remained silent.
"Answer me!" Saurav's voice cracked, veins bulging at his neck. "You've always been against me! What, do I look like a fool to you? Giving Kaia all the answers just to validate Ananya's claims?"
He gasped for breath, then continued with a rawness in his tone, "This started long ago, didn't it? You never tried to find Kaia yourself—just let Ananya take the credit. Why?! Why does no one want me as President… even my own mother…"
His voice faded into a bitter whisper. Shoulders trembling, he stared down at the ground, then got up and turned behind without waiting for a reply.
Hollow's light pulsed slightly as it spoke, voice quieter than before."I never intended to hurt you… None of this was meant to target you. And if it made you feel that way, I—"
But Saurav was already gone, storming out without looking back.
Kyros, now half-asleep on the floor, drooled on the cold tiles.
"…So this is what it feels like when someone walks away mid-conversation," Hollow muttered.
"Yeah… welcome to my world…" Kyros mumbled, still face-down, then passed out again.
Hollow let out what could only be described as an exasperated sigh."You've thrown me into a mess. I just hope all the misunderstandings clear up in the end."
Somewhere, from the shadows, a low chuckle echoed—[Mysterious Man:That's not fair… heh.]