They slowed down, five streets from where the left that man. Luna yanked her wrist from his grip, stepping back a few paces. He stopped and turned, only to find Luna's hand aimed at him.
"Come on." Ravyn said, raising his hand. "What's wrong with you?"
Luna's eyes narrowed at him and then she lowered her hand. Her gaze softened just slightly. "I'll let you live this one time." she said. "Because you saved my life back there."
"Yeah, whatever." Ravyn muttered, not looking away.
"Why did you do it, though?" she asked, stepping closer. "When I tried to kill you first?"
"You were really trying to kill me?" Ravyn asked, tilting his head.
Luna smirked, a fleeting flash of amusement crossing her fiery eyes. "And for someone who just realized that, you're pretty calm."
Ravyn shrugged. "Well… it's not like I haven't tried it myself."
"Wait… killing yourself?" Luna's brow furrowed.
"Yeah." he replied plainly. "Yesterday… I even jumped off a bridge but couldn't die. Maybe living in this world is my punishment." He lifted his hand and turned it over, showing her the mark. "Then I woke up with this tattoo… I don't even know how I got it."
Luna's eyes widened. "Wait… you don't know what that is?"
"Should I?" Ravyn asked.
"Well... it's your loss." she replied, shrugging casually.
"Wait..." he said, frowning. "Shouldn't you be… telling me if you do?"
She raised her hand, showing him her's. "You should've read the rules."
Ravyn blinked. "Wait… you got it too?" He stepped closer, eyes narrowing as he observed it.
"Everyone in the Game has it, dumbass." she said, tone sharp but amused.
Ravyn paused, then he remembered. "Yesterday… before I jumped, something about a game and a wish popped out on my face but I didn't know what it was." he muttered.
Luna's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "Either way, you accepted. So welcome to The Arcane Game."
"I… didn't accept anything." Ravyn replied, with disbelief.
"The only reason you're here with a mark and mana is because you did." she replied evenly.
"So… what's up with the Game?" he asked cautiously, keeping his calm.
"There's only one thing you need know." she said, her voice low and serious now. "It's a kill-or-be-killed game to win the Desideria Tria."
Ravyn's eyes dropped to the ground. "So… we gotta kill other humans for… some wish?" His voice was quiet.
"For someone who nearly killed a fellow classmate..." Luna said, tilting her head slightly, "you shouldn't have a problem with killing strangers." She started to turn, walking away. "And when you get rid of everyone… you'll get your one wish."
Ravyn stood frozen, staring at her as she disappeared. Then he started walking slowly and thoughts clawed at him.
"Kill people for a wish?"
"How do we even know we'll get the wish?"
He reached the edge of the street, stopping beneath a rusted sign that hung loose from a pole.
And then clenched his fists.
"I'll do it." he whispered to himself. "The the cost of miserable existence isn't much... I despise living anyway."
He looked up at the sky. "I might even survive and with it I can show my family that..."
"I'm not worthless."