She looks back at the bushes with a raised eyebrow.
She lights a small, yellow fire above her thumb to light up her path.
Then suddenly, an Adam stands up to smile at her with a sigh.
''Aw, Capricorn…''
He places a hand on his heart.
''You almost worried me there~''
She blinks at him before scoffing.
''I don't need your pity…''
She croasses her arms and glances over at the ship with a grin.
''Say, wanna have some fun~?''
He smiles and walks over to her to get a closer look at the ship.
''Only I am allowed to tease you~''
He ruffles her hair playfully with a chuckle.
She swats his hand away with a glare and clears her throat.
''Whatever, Romeo.''
She fishes out some old inventor goggles in her brown handbag at her hip.
She takes off her hat and coat and puts the glasses on.
''Go inside of the ship and ruin their materials for me, will ya~?''
A slow, dark smirk forms on his lips at her words.
He lets out a small chuckle and kisses her cheek.
''Whatever my Angel needs~''
He enters the ship like a quick shadow, while she wipes her cheek with her sleeve and a groan.
'That was hugely unnecessary…' she thought.
Next thing she did was opening one of the hidden traps of the ship to mess with its wires. Let's say Capricorn wanted to give the guards a little surprise…
Soon enough, Adam came out of the ship with one of his usual smug smirks and wrapped and arm around Capricorn's shoulders.
''So,'' he started. ''What now~?''
Capricorn hummed in thought while pinching her chin.
She picked up her coat with her foot with her hat landing perfectly on her head.
''I don't know…''
She glances at him.
''What do you wanna do?''
Adam's smirk widened.
''You, me, in a place far away from here… hand in hand, while—
-Dude, shut the fuck up.''
She glares at him.
He just laughs sheepishly and pulls away from her.
''Dang, angel… you wound me~'' he whined, a hand dramatically pressed against his chest.
She rolls her eyes at him.
They both hear footsteps nearby and hide in the bushes, waiting for the guards to go back into the ship.
The guards walk into the ship, their weapons held close as one mutters:
''The Moon Goddess has lied to us.''
A woman takes off her mask and reassuringly places a hand on his shoulder.
''Don't say that… she would never lie…''
Another one speaks up while looking down at the ground.
''Well, she just did.''
He turns to them with an empty gaze.
''Our Gods can't even be trusted anymore…''
The woman frowns and lets her sword fall off her grip.
''How can you say this?! Our Gods created us! They created these worlds! And the Moon Goddess did so much for us. She had her reasons—!''
She cuts herself off.
She stares at him with wide eyes.
Then, slowly, as if she was scared of breaking something fragile, she starts turning around.
Her gaze drifts through the crowd.
And all she could see… were emptiness, hurt, and most of all… desperation.
Her eyes slowly lock on the metallic floor.
The guard nods slowly and starts walking further into the ship.
''See…?''
He sighs heavily with a shrug.
''Even you get it…''
The woman opened her mouth to protest…
But even she didn't believe the words anymore.
The woman's blue eyes stayed locked to the ground. Around her, one by one, the guards started following the man.
Their general had died.
Their Goddess had lied to them.
And Capricorn managed to slip out of their fingers…
The King will be mad…
She shivered at the thought.
But it didn't matter.
There was no escaping that.
Slowly, she started following the group.
Meanwhile, in the bushes, Capricorn grinned and slowly stood up.
''Oh, Adam…''
She laughs softly.
''Looks like it's my time to shine…''
She turns to him.
''Do whatever you want.''
Her eyes darken.
A beat.
''But don't get in my way this time.''
Before he could even react, she was already gone.
A trail of yellow lightning cracked through the dark, sparks scattering in her wake as it led straight to the ship.
Adam clicked his tongue, dragging a hand down his face.
Slowly, he rose from the bushes as his gaze locked onto the ship.
His purple eyes glowed faintly in the night— or was it already day? Even he wasn't sure…
His breathing deepened.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
A cold rage began to crawl beneath his skin.
Goosebumps prickled along his arms.
''When will you stop running from me?''
The wind softly blew over the trees.
The atmosphere was calm and relaxing…
A river's flow made it almost… soothing. Adam was in the middle of a painting.
The smell? Indescribable.
The air? Intoxicating.
The view? Mesmerizing.
But Adam's rage was not something you would want to witness.
Not ever.
That's when his ears perked up at something…
He turned around to look at the vast forest…
A slow, sharp smirk slowly started washing away his anger…
Meanwhile, Coco, William and Leyla had just reached the ground.
Coco turned back into his human form as he stretched.
''This was great and all…'' he yawns. ''But you guys will probably annoy us the whole time so…''
He turns to walk.
''Bye.''
William's eyes widen at this as he slowly looks down at the ground, his vision starting to get blurry…
Coco paused in his tracks and turned to them.
''Actually…''
William's eyes lit up as he stared back at Coco.
''Leyla can come.''
Leyla smiles widely and runs over to him.
William just silently gazed at them as his shoulders started shaking.
Then, when Coco took a step forward, William's laughter started ringing in their ears.
Coco raised an eyebrow and turned yet again.
William's breathing was shakier.
His forehead was veiny, his fists clenched tightly, he just… laughed. As if he was giving up on something.
''Oh yes…! I almost forgot—! I'm useless now!''
Coco frowns lightly and crosses his arms.
''You always have been…''
William's laughter slowly died down as a small, heavy tear glinted out of his cheek… and fell onto the dirty grass under them.
He silently started walking away.
Leyla's eyes were wide.
Her innocent face washed with horror.
Why was he leaving…?
''Wait, William—!''
She steps out.
A shaky and hopeful smile starts forming on her lips.
''Can't we talk…?''
William pauses in his tracks.
He slowly looks at her over his shoulder and whispers— too tired to talk.
''Talk about what?''
A small, and unfamiliar silence settle in.
''The number of reasons why you don't need me? Or perhaps the fact that our worlds were never meant to collide…''
Leyla's eyes fill with tears as realization settles in.
William felt inferior this whole time…
And she didn't even once ask if he was okay…
She hadn't even understood the signs.
She silently starts crying into her hands as her knees drop to the floor.
William stares at her for a moment, his heart feeling heavy…
But she wasn't there for him when he needed it.
He resumed his path, each step slowly and almost lazy.
He didn't know where he was heading to…
'As if it even mattered…' he thought.
———
Half an hour had passed since their talk now.
William felt sore and numb…
He sat down at a tree trunk and sighed heavily.
He was about to fall asleep, when he faintly heard some slow, and deliberate applause.
William carefully locked his eyes at the direction of the sound.
His eyes widen as they lock on Adam…
He was walking towards him with a laugh, his eyes showing nothing but amusement.
William raised an eyebrow and lifted his head to gaze at him.
''What do you want…?'' he asked tiredly.
Adam just snorted and bowed.
''Let's make a deal, if I may…''