Lucas looked back toward the device again.
"He wants them emotionally vulnerable before he moves further."
Kellan's jaw tightened slightly.
"He's sick."
"No," Lucas corrected quietly. "He's patient."
And honestly?
That was much more dangerous.
For a while neither spoke again.
Then Kellan finally sighed heavily.
"Do you really think Neo can handle this?"
The question lingered quietly between them.
Lucas' fingers tapped slowly once against the glass beside him before he answered.
"He already has."
Kellan looked toward him.
Lucas' expression remained unreadable.
"He just doesn't know it yet."
That answer settled heavily into the room.
Because despite everything.
despite the breakdown, the fear, the trauma
Neo was still standing. and still functioning.
Still choosing to move forward.
And Lucas knew better than most people how difficult that actually was.
Kellan noticed the subtle shift in Lucas' expression when Neo's name came up and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You're attached."
Lucas looked at him flatly.
"You say that like it's new information, and it's also vice versa on your case too."
Kellan snorted softly.
"Fair enough."
Lucas ignored him.
"Get rid of every trace before morning."
Without another word Kellan nodded and finally walked out of the office, leaving Lucas alone again with the silence.
The moment the door shut.
Lucas' calm expression faded slightly.
His eyes lowered toward the paused image sitting on the screen now.
Neo. Mid-breakdown. Eyes red.
Breathing uneven.
Shaking. That was something he prayed never to see again.
Lucas stared at the image quietly for a long moment before muttering softly to himself,
"He's not getting you back."
And for the first time that night, Lucas sounded personal.
The next morning arrived far too quickly.
Sunlight spilled across the university campus brightly, students filling the grounds with noise and conversation while final semester stress hung heavily over nearly everyone.
Graduation season.
The last stretch before freedom.
Everywhere people talked about: future jobs, internships, relationships, plans after school, final projects.
Normal life. Normal worries.
And somehow, neo felt disconnected from all of it.
He walked beside Aiden through the crowded campus quietly, one hand loosely holding the strap of his bag while his eyes unconsciously scanned the environment around him.
Entrances. Exits.Movement.People.
Aiden noticed almost immediately.
Again.
Neo was doing it again.
That habit.
That constant awareness.
Like his body expected danger before his mind could even process it.
Aiden slowed his steps slightly before nudging him with his shoulder.
"You're doing it again."
Neo blinked, "Doing what?"
Aiden looked ahead casually.
"Preparing to run."
Neo froze slightly and only for a second.
But Aiden caught it anyway.
Neo looked away afterward with a small exhale.
"I don't even realize when I'm doing it anymore."
Aiden's expression softened slightly.
"I know."
That was the painful part.
These habits had become natural.
Normal.
And neither of them had noticed how abnormal that actually was until recently.
Students passed around them laughing loudly while some called out greetings toward Neo and Aiden.
Ever since the interview and their growing connection to the Familia's public businesses, people treated them differently now.
Too differently.
Girls smiled more.
People approached more.
Classmates suddenly remembered they existed.
It annoyed Neo.
Aiden on the other hand found it hilarious.
"Oh look," he whispered dramatically while leaning closer to Neo. "Another person pretending they always knew us."
Neo rolled his eyes.
"You're unbearable." "And attractive."
"That too unfortunately."
Aiden gasped loudly.
"Oh my God was that affection?"
"Shut up."
Both boys laughed softly while continuing toward their building.
But then, neo slowed slightly.
A strange feeling crawled up his spine.
Not fear exactly. Awareness.
Like someone was watching him carefully.
His eyes instinctively shifted across the crowded campus.
Students.
Groups.
Movement.
Nothing strange.
Then suddenly, his gaze landed on someone unfamiliar.
A tall male leaned casually against the staircase railings nearby, silver piercings catching faint sunlight while several girls laughed around him loudly.
Beautiful.
Too beautiful honestly.
Sharp silver hair and relaxed posture.
And a smile that looked dangerous even from a distance.
The male noticed Neo staring.
Then smiled wider.
Friendly.
Almost playful.
Neo's stomach tightened immediately.
Beside him Aiden noticed too.
"…Okay," Aiden muttered slowly. "Nobody that pretty is normal."
Neo didn't answer.
Because his attention had shifted somewhere else now.
A girl stood near the fountain several feet away.
Dark curls.Elegant posture. Calm expression.
She wasn't speaking to anyone.
Wasn't even moving much.
Just watching.
And the moment her eyes met Neo's, something cold settled in his chest instantly.
Recognition.Not familiarity. Danger.
The girl tilted her head slightly.
Then smiled faintly.
Not warm.
Not kind.
Calculated.
Neo unconsciously stopped walking completely now.
Aiden noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
Neo's voice lowered quietly.
"…We're not alone anymore."Neo unconsciously stopped walking completely now.
Aiden noticed immediately. "What is it?"
Neo didn't answer at first. His eyes stayed fixed ahead, pupils narrowing slightly as memories connected themselves together inside his head piece by piece. The silver-haired male leaning against the staircase. The girl by the fountain. The way both of them carried themselves too calmly, too confidently, like people who already knew exactly where they belonged.
And then it clicked fully.
Neo's throat tightened slightly.
"…Aiden."
His voice had lowered enough to immediately put Aiden on alert.
"What?"
Neo slowly looked toward him. "Remember the mansion."
Aiden's playful expression faded almost instantly.
For a second he looked confused, then his gaze flickered back toward the unfamiliar figures around campus. The silver-haired male laughed at something one of the girls beside him said while the girl near the fountain still watched from afar without shame or hesitation.
Then suddenly, Aiden remembered too.
The room.
The line of people standing around D'uther.
The same faces. The same eyes.
"Oh," Aiden muttered quietly.
Neo let out a slow breath through his nose. "Yeah. Oh."
For a brief moment neither of them moved. The noise from the campus suddenly felt distant compared to the tension building silently between them.
Aiden was the first to recover.
"Don't react," he said softly without looking at Neo directly.
Neo frowned slightly. "I wasn't planning to."
"Yes you were," Aiden replied immediately. "Your face literally screamed existential crisis."
Neo rolled his eyes despite the tension. "Shut up."
Aiden's own expression sharpened slightly though, his gaze casually scanning around without making it obvious. "There's only two here."
Neo understood immediately.
Meaning the others were somewhere nearby too.
Watching. Observing.
Studying them.
That realization alone made the back of Neo's neck tighten uncomfortably.
"We should call Lucas," Neo muttered quietly.
"And say what?" Aiden replied calmly. "'Hey, the emotionally unstable spy squad has entered our campus'?"
"That is not funny." "It's a little funny."
Neo glared at him.
Aiden finally sighed and rubbed the back of his neck before lowering his voice further. "Look, if they're here openly then it means this is intentional. They want us to notice them."
Neo hated how right he sounded.
Because people like D'uther never moved without purpose. Every appearance, every word, every interaction had meaning behind it.
This wasn't random.
This was pressure.
Psychological pressure.
Aiden suddenly leaned closer slightly, voice quieter now. "Act normal."
Neo blinked once. "Normal?"
"Yes, normal. Which for you means stop looking like you're about to hunt someone."
Neo stared at him flatly. "I do not look like that."
"You absolutely do."
Before Neo could answer, a voice suddenly cut smoothly through the tension.
"Well damn."
Both boys turned instantly.
The silver-haired male had moved from the staircase without either of them noticing.
That alone was enough to make Neo internally alert.
The male smiled casually once he reached them, hands tucked loosely into his pockets while several curious students slowed nearby pretending not to stare.
Up close he looked even more dangerous somehow.
Pretty in a way that didn't feel harmless.
Sharp eyes. Piercings. Relaxed posture hiding something underneath.
His gaze moved lazily between Neo and Aiden before he grinned.
"So you're the famous ones."
Neither Neo nor Aiden answered immediately.
The male laughed softly. "Tough crowd."
Aiden finally smiled politely, though Neo could tell immediately it was fake. "Do we know you?"
"Not yet." The male extended his hand casually. "Rhael."
Neo looked at the offered hand for exactly two seconds before shaking it briefly.
The moment their hands touched.
Rhael smiled wider.
Not because of the handshake.
Because Neo's hand had instinctively shifted slightly toward a defensive position before catching itself.
And Rhael noticed.
Interesting. Very interesting.
"Transfer student?" Aiden asked smoothly.
"Something like that." Rhael's eyes sparkled with amusement. "You know how life is. New environments. New people. New opportunities."
Neo didn't like the way he said that.
Not one bit.
Before the conversation could continue further, another figure slowly approached from behind Rhael.
The girl.
Diabla.
Up close she was even more unsettling. Beautiful in a cold, elegant way that made people naturally move aside without realizing it. Her dark curls rested neatly over one shoulder while her calm eyes settled directly on Neo.
She didn't smile this time.
Just studied him quietly.
And somehow that felt worse.
Rhael glanced toward her dramatically. "See? I told you I'd find them first."Diabla ignored him completely.
Her attention remained on Neo. "You look tired," she said softly.
Neo stiffened slightly.
Aiden noticed immediately.
The girl tilted her head just slightly after catching the reaction.
Then finally, a small smile appeared on her lips.
Not friendly just Knowing.
"I wonder why," she added quietly.
Aiden immediately stepped slightly closer toward Neo, subtle enough that most people wouldn't notice but obvious enough for both Diabla and Rhael to catch.
Interesting again.
Protective.
Rhael noticed the movement and laughed softly under his breath.
"Oh this semester is going to be fun."
Neo's jaw tightened slightly.
"What exactly do you people want?"
Rhael placed a dramatic hand against his chest. "Wow. Straight to hostility already?"
"You appeared at our school after kidnapping us," Neo replied coldly. "You can't exactly expect friendliness."
That made Diabla finally speak again.
"We didn't kidnap you."
Neo almost laughed from disbelief.
Aiden however noticed something else.
The wording.
Not we weren't involved.
Just: we didn't kidnap you.
Meaning someone else had.
His expression sharpened slightly.
These people played with words too carefully.
Diabla's gaze shifted toward Aiden briefly and something almost approving flashed through her eyes.
Like she realized he caught it.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Rhael suddenly sighed dramatically before glancing around the crowded campus. "Can we not do the intense staring thing in public? People already think we're filming a drama."
Aiden snorted despite himself.
Neo looked annoyed at both of them now.
Then suddenly, Diabla stepped closer.
Not enough to invade space.
Just enough to lower her voice where only Neo could hear.
"You should sleep better," she murmured softly. "Your nightmares are starting to show on your face."
Neo froze completely.
Cold rushed down his spine instantly.
Seraphine stepped back smoothly afterward like nothing happened.
But the damage was already done.
Aiden saw Neo's expression change immediately.
"What did she say?"
Neo didn't answer right away.
Because his mind was spinning now.
How much did they know?
How closely were they watching?
Rhael checked the time on his phone lazily before sighing. "Unfortunately we actually do have classes."
He smiled brightly afterward.
"See you around, boys."
And just like that, both of them walked away casually into the crowded campus like normal students.
Like they hadn't just unsettled Neo completely.
Aiden stared after them for several seconds before speaking quietly.
"…Yeah no. I hate them already."
Neo barely heard him.
Because Diabla's words still echoed loudly inside his head.
Your nightmares are starting to show on your face.
Aiden finally grabbed Neo lightly by the arm, grounding him back slightly. "Hey."
Neo blinked.
Aiden's expression softened once he properly looked at him.
"They're trying to get inside your head."
Neo swallowed hard.
"They already are."
For a moment neither moved.
Then Aiden sighed heavily before throwing an arm around Neo's shoulders dramatically.
"Well unfortunately for them," he announced loudly enough to pull a small laugh from Neo, "we're both already mentally unstable so the competition is fierce."
Neo finally snorted softly.
"You're an idiot."
"And yet you adore me."
"…Debatable."
But even as they started walking toward class again.
Neo couldn't shake the feeling that things had already started moving in a direction none of them could stop anymore.