Chapter 218
MEET UP (5)
IAM paused for a second, his eyes narrowed.
Thor hadn't mentioned bringing anyone else. So… who was this?
From where he stood, he could only catch the outline of the stranger. They were leaning in toward Thor, speaking in low tones, their heads close together in a conversation too quiet for IAM to make out.
A part of him told him he was probably overreacting.
But still…
IAM's fingers instinctively brushed the inside of his grey hoodie, finding the familiar weight of KASSARA tucked into its holster. He didn't reach for it—but he made sure it was easy to grab, just in case.
He doubted Thor would ever set him up. Still… better safe than sorry.
After a breath to steady himself, IAM composed his face and began walking forward.
As he drew closer, Thor suddenly turned around in his seat, a wide grin already forming."What took you so long?" he said, voice loud enough to carry. "Standing around like you're confused."
IAM blinked, caught slightly off guard.
"You noticed me?" he asked.
"Of course!" Thor replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
His hair was short and blond, the sides trimmed. He looked lean but tall—easily standing over six feet, with the a posture that belonged to the military.
His eyes were brown. But not soft.lThey were cloudy and distant.Like his gaze wasn't here at all—like behind those eyes, something was brewing. A storm that hadn't yet made landfall. You could look into those eyes and get the eerie sense that he was seeing things you'd never understand.
His posture not only spoke of strength, but more than that—authority. The kind that didn't come from arrogance, but experience—someone who had made decisions that still lived with them.
Thor was dressed in a long black leather jacket that fell all the way to his calves, its many pockets weighed down with who-knew-what. The jacket hung open, revealing the dark army-style shirt he wore underneath—faded slightly from use, but still pressed and clean. His trousers matched the tone: dark, rugged, and reinforced at the seams, it was suited for movement and utility.
Strapped along his legs were an array of thick leather belts and holsters, each one housing a different tool or gadget. Some looked like knives, others like compact instruments IAM couldn't identify at a glance. His boots were a scratched and worn brown—military grade—stained from years of use, but clearly built to last.
Thor didn't dress like a civilian. He looked like someone who was always prepared to go to war.
He had a smile on his face as he gestured beside him. IAM caught the signal and gave Thor a wary look, but didn't say anything as he slid into the seat next to him.
Thor grinned and shoved the menu into IAM's hand and patting his back."Come on, come on—eat something!" he said with mock frustration. "How are you just as skinny as the last time I saw you? You need to grow some muscle like a real man."
He grabbed IAM's arm and gave it a quick shake like it was a twig, shooting him a teasing look.
But IAM didn't react. His eyes were fixed on the stranger sitting across from them like he was trying to decipher a puzzle.
Thor noticed almost immediately and let out a loud laugh."Ohhh… that's what this is," he said with a grin. "You haven't figured it out yet, huh?"
He leaned back in his chair, gesturing between them."Come on, you know her! You've 'met' before."
IAM properly studied the woman in front of him.
She was short—probably no taller than five-foot-two—but she didn't seem small. Something about the way she held herself made her presence feel much larger than her frame. She had the distinct look of a descendant of the Knight, and her appearance confirmed it with striking clarity.
Her hair was cut short into a neat pixie style, the kind that required constant maintenance and confidence to pull off. It framed her face well, emphasizing sharp cheekbones and a firm jawline. She looked older than him—early to mid-twenties, maybe—but in a way that carried both elegance and experience.
A single mole rested neatly on her eyebrow, subtle but captivating. It didn't steal attention, it enhanced it. It added to her allure—an imperfect detail that made her even more distinct.
Her dark brown eyes were quiet, but not shy. They made her features look whole. Like they completed the picture.
She hadn't spoken yet. Just sat there, watching IAM study her with a neutral expression.
IAM kept looking at her with narrowed eyes, trying to place the feeling crawling up his spine. There was something oddly familiar about her—yet entirely unfamiliar at the same time. Still, he let his mouth move before his brain could catch up.
"I don't remember ever seeing such a pretty woman," he said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
She didn't smile back.
"Ahaha, you won't get anywhere by giving me compliments," she replied dryly, though her tone wasn't exactly offended—just unimpressed. There was a slight frown on her face, as if she was disappointed he'd gone for charm.
IAM blinked, staring at her. Her voice.
Her voice.
He froze for a moment as the realization bloomed slowly in the back of his mind.
"Wait… you're—"
"Kai," Thor interrupted, raising a hand in casual introduction.
IAM's eyes widened a bit as the pieces snapped into place. Of course.
It was her voice. Back in Haven Hospital, when he had been speaking to Thor—recounting the things he had seen at the Hold—it was this exact voice that had chimed in over the line, feeding them details about the Circle of the Accursed. He had never seen her face back then… but the voice had lingered in his mind.
So this was her. Kai.
KAI was dressed in a long, dark blue dress that clung elegantly to her form. The fabric shimmered under the café's ambient lighting, hinting at a material that wasn't cheap. A modest slit ran up the side of the dress, beginning just below her lower thigh, revealing glimpses of her leg as she moved or shifted in her seat.
Around each wrist, she wore a thick, heavy bracelet—one on the left, one on the right. They weren't decorative in the usual sense; their design was too practical. The material looked strange—neither metal nor stone.