White swung his hand sharply.
"MIN SHIN KAN!"
Fwooooom—! A portal tore open, glowing with a brilliance that shook the space around it.
On the other side, White stepped out—flanked by two shadowed beings. One tall and cloaked, the other smaller, trembling with barely contained emotion. Together, they appeared before Flux, Mike, Hidori, and Flux's mom.
---
Author's Note: Sorry, readers… I made a mistake earlier. "??" and "????" are not the same. Let's call them 1 and 2 until I reveal who they really are.
---
The smaller figure, 2, stepped forward. Her voice was soft but quivering.
"Hmm… is he the one? The one with Silvanus-white hair, glowing eyes, and that ruby mark shining like crystal?"
White's gaze stayed fixed on Flux. "Did you recognize him… or did you sense his potential?"
2 whispered again, almost breathless.
"…Potential."
From beside her, 1 echoed in a low, controlled voice.
"…Potential."
---
Telepathic Exchange
2 💭💭: White… c-c-c-can I… please hug him? I feel like my body will break. I'll die with regret. I won't forgive myself if I don't hug him… please.
White's voice in her mind was firm.
White 💭💭: Wait. He can't handle this right now… if you know what I mean.
2 💭💭: I know… but he's right in front of me. I can't hold myself back.
White 💭💭: Please. It'll get worse if you touch a history only a few even know… and he's one of them.
2 💭💭: …Okay. But don't make me wait too long.
---
On Flux's side
Hidori froze, then quickly dropped to one knee. He bowed deeply, his head nearly touching the ground.
"Lord White…"
Flux's mom also trembled as she felt the overwhelming aura. Her voice cracked as she lowered her head.
"Please forgive me, sir… I've obeyed your last order."
Flux, however, narrowed his ruby eyes. Something about this felt different.
"Mike… do you feel that?"
"…Mike?"
Flux turned. "Oi, jackass!"
Mike was clutching his face, shaking violently.
"Ahhh! My… my eyes! They're burning—burning like hell! What's happening to me?!"
Flux grabbed him. "What the hell?! Where—where do you see right now?!"
Mike's body arched, his voice breaking.
"Up… ahhh! U-up above… someone—someone pure white is standing… ahhh!"
Flux's eyes widened. 💭 Above… White?
He lifted his gaze—and saw White standing with 1 and 2, all three staring back at him.
Flux clenched his fists.
"Oi, blank canvas… what did you do to my best friend?!"
White, 1, and 2 all turned their heads toward him.
1 sneered. "Hey, bastard… you didn't forget, did you?"
White blinked. "Ah… sorry. I forgot to turn it off."
1 and 2 exchanged deadpan stares. 😑😑
"…Bruh. Literally."
Flux snarled. "Oi! Cure him right now or I'll make yo—"
But in a flash, White closed the distance. His hand stopped inches from Flux's chest.
White's voice dropped like a commandment.
"Okay, okay… I'll cure him. But first—change your attitude, brat."