It was about filling the silence. In his past life, the constant applause, the adoring fans, the non-stop work had left him hollow.
Now, he was a ghost in a new world, a stranger in a strange land. The channel was a way to create a presence, to feel like he existed, even if it came from strangers behind a screen.
Living in this new world without knowing anyone was exhausting. Lonely. The loneliness was a quiet ache in his chest, a constant reminder that he was an anomaly, an extra.
How empty... how sad... to be the only one who knows how this world will end. The weight of that knowledge was a heavy burden, a secret he couldn't share with anyone. It was a lonely path, and he had to walk it alone.
"Welcome! What would you like to order?" The saleswoman's smile was bright and genuine, a small beacon of warmth in his lonely world.
"Just a coffee, please," Kael said with a polite smile of his own.
"Of course. Please enjoy."
"Thank you." He took the paper cup, warm in his hands, and stepped outside again, the heat of the coffee a pleasant contrast to the cool night air.
He didn't even know why he bought it. Coffee wasn't his usual choice but tonight, it felt right. He needed something bitter and real to cut through the surreal nature of his life.
Taking a sip, he let the bitter warmth spread through him as he walked back toward the dorms, the quiet night wrapping around him like a familiar cloak.
Kael leaned back against the cold stone bench, letting out a deep breath as the night air wrapped around him. The faint hum of the distant city was barely a memory, leaving only the rustle of leaves and the quiet chirp of insects to keep him company. Above him, a thin crescent hung like a silver blade in the velvet sky, and the park lamps glowed softly, casting pathways in a pale yellow light. It was quiet. Peaceful.
Finally, a moment without anyone bothering me, he thought, savoring the stillness.
In his hands was a small paper cup of coffee, steam curling lazily upward, carrying the strong, bitter scent to his nose. He took a sip and immediately regretted it. His face twisted, his brows furrowing like he'd just swallowed poison. "Ugh… what is this? Did they dump an extra shot in here?" He stuck his tongue against the roof of his mouth, trying to get rid of the foul taste. The cup went down beside him with a dull thud. The moon was far more pleasant to focus on.
Then, the faint sound of footsteps broke that peace. Kael's instincts flared instantly. His Codex shimmered, reforming into the sleek shape of a dagger in his grip. He turned sharply toward the sound, blade ready, only to be met with a familiar voice.
"What are you doing?"
Kael blinked, then lowered the weapon. "Huh? Selene Whitmore?" He let out a sharp breath, his shoulders relaxing. "You scared me."
Selene tilted her head, the corners of her lips barely lifting. "It was you," Kael muttered again, almost in disbelief.
"Why are you so surprised?" she asked, her tone calm but curious.
"Could you not appear out of nowhere like some shadow stalking me?" he said, exasperated. "I was having a moment."
She didn't answer. Instead, she stepped closer and crouched slightly, leaning in. Her hair brushed her shoulders, and the faint, sweet scent of her perfume drifted over to him, a jarring but not unpleasant contrast to the bitter coffee. Kael quickly turned his face away.
Her gaze fell to the cup. "What's that?"
"You didn't even hear me, did you…" Kael muttered. "It's coffee. Want to try?" He held it out to her, a mischievous glint in his eye. He was a hundred percent sure she'd hate it.
She met his eyes for a second, her expression unreadable, then glanced at the cup, a flicker of what looked like disgust crossing her features. What's with that look? Is she grossed out because I already drank from it? he thought.
"Forget it if you don't want it," he said, pulling the cup back.
Before he could finish, she snatched it from him in a blur.
She took a quick sip. "Ahhh." Her face twisted slightly, and she wiped the corner of her mouth. "What is this?" she demanded, the bitterness catching her completely off guard.
"It's black coffee," Kael said flatly as she handed it back, a smirk spreading across his face.
Selene studied him for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"It's just funny," Kael said, unable to hide his amusement. "The great Selene Whitmore, one of the most powerful people I know, unable to handle a simple cup of coffee."
Her lips pressed into a thin line as she snatched the drink from him again. "It's not that I can't drink it," she said, her voice a little too defensive. "I just didn't drink much because it's yours." Her voice softened on the last word, and a faint blush dusted her cheeks. The words hung in the air between them, a fragile, unspoken connection.
From the path nearby, a couple of people walked past, glancing their way. Kael caught a snippet of their whisper: "Look at that couple sharing a drink."
Selene froze, her blush deepening, her eyes wide with a mixture of embarrassment and indignation.
"Well," Kael said with a small grin, "you can drink as much as you want."
"Huh?" She blinked, then looked down at the cup. The challenge was clear. She lifted the cup to her lips, hesitated for a moment, then in one determined motion, tipped it back and drained the rest.
"Cough, cough, cough!" She tried to stifle her reaction, but the bitterness was written all over her face. Her shoulders shook as she tried to contain the violent coughs. "It's… good," she lied, her voice raspy, a watery sheen in her eyes.
Kael chuckled. Was she always like this? He'd only ever seen her as a cold-blooded, untouchable fighter. She was a legend, a girl who could slay monsters without blinking. Yet here she was, coughing over a cheap coffee, her cheeks flushed, trying to save face. She felt so… human. He realized with a start that this was a side of her no one else got to see.
"Well, that's not really my concern," he thought aloud, more to himself than to her. "Everyone's got their good and bad sides."
Selene straightened her posture, regaining some semblance of composure, her face still slightly red from her ordeal.
"So," Kael asked, "what brings you here?"
"Oh, um…" She hesitated, tapping her fingers lightly against her arm, a nervous tic Kael had never seen from her before. "It's about that thing… the unawakened skill you said I have."
"I told you I'd explain once we enter the dungeon," Kael replied, already sensing she was trying to avoid the topic. He'd seen that look a hundred times.