Immediately after school...
Layla, Xenon, Xavier, and Jason walked toward the school gate, their footsteps echoing lightly as students flooded out.
Xenon suddenly spotted his father waiting ahead.
He frowned slightly.
"Come on… you're embarrassing me."
Zytherion only smiled, clearly unbothered. His sharp gaze shifted toward Xavier.
"This is the first time I'm meeting you…"
He paused for a second.
"What's your name?"
Xavier blinked, looking left and right before realizing he was the one being addressed.
"Uhh… my name is Xavier, sir."
Zytherion stepped closer and shook his hand firmly.
For a brief moment, his eyes lingered on Xavier.
Come on… just be free, he thought, masking whatever he felt.
He released the handshake and turned slightly.
"Come on, Xenon. Let's go."
"Yeah, yeah…"
Xenon muttered before glancing back at the others.
"Later."
And just like that, Xenon and Zytherion walked off together.
The remaining three stood for a second before continuing their walk home.
A quiet silence settled between them…
Until Jason broke it.
"So, Layla… what did Xenon tell you?"
Layla kept walking, her gaze fixed ahead.
"Nothing… it's a discussion between me and me."
Jason frowned immediately.
"Come on, that's suspicious."
Xavier looked at her, curious.
Layla sighed softly, giving in.
"Fine… I just asked him where he's been all this time."
Xavier leaned in slightly.
"And?"
Layla hesitated.
Her steps slowed just a little.
"…He didn't answer normally."
Jason raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Layla's expression turned thoughtful… almost uneasy.
"It felt like… he was hiding something."
A brief silence followed.
Even the air around them felt a bit heavier.
Xavier looked down slightly, thinking.
"…Xenon?"
Layla glanced back in the direction he left, her eyes narrowing just a bit.
"Yeah…"
"…Something about him feels off."
Xavier looked back at her, more serious now.
"So what made you think so?"
Layla exhaled slowly.
"He's changed… he's not the same Xenon that we know."
Jason nodded slightly.
"Well… I actually noticed it too. His body feels more stiff… and I even saw his hands… they looked hardened."
Xavier sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Let's not dig into his private life… he won't like it."
Layla nodded.
"Yeah… true."
Jason stretched lightly.
"Looks like we're parting ways here."
Then he added, turning to Layla:
"Come on, Layla. Let's go."
"Alright."
The two of them walked off together.
Xavier waved at them as they left, then slowed his steps.
He took a deep breath, a small smile forming.
"Love this… cool breeze… no noise."
For a moment, everything felt calm.
Peaceful.
Then suddenly—
A hand touched his back.
Xavier froze.
His heart skipped.
He quickly turned around—
Standing behind him was a woman.
Beautiful. Young. Human.
Silky brown hair flowed gently with the breeze. She wore a simple shirt and jeans, yet something about her presence felt… different.
She blinked, slightly surprised.
"Oh… I'm so sorry. I thought I sensed Atheris' son."
Xavier frowned, confused.
"I don't understand… who's Atheris?"
The woman paused for a brief second…
Then smiled casually.
"Nah, don't worry… bye~"
And just like that—
She turned and walked away.
Xavier stood there, unmoving.
"…Atheris?"
A strange feeling crept into his chest.
Something wasn't right.
To be continued…