As Lucian stared at the three small items gleaming faintly under the pale moonlight, thoughts began to form in his mind. Guilt gnawed at him. He had fallen asleep when he should have been rushing to Ayesha after finding Ivan and confirming his safety. Two lost hours—two hours when anything could have happened to her. The thought alone made his chest tighten.
But it was too late for regrets. All he could do now was move—rush toward Ayesha and pray she hadn't turned into one of those aimless zombies outside.
First, though, he needed to collect the three items before heading out. He planned to bring Ivan; the Shadow Steed is enough to carry them both towards Ayesha's.
"Pack up, Ivan," Lucian said quietly, still peeking through the door's crack.
"Pack up? Pack up to where?" Ivan's voice trembled. His friend had just burst into his dorm, and now he was dragging him into a city filled with the dead. Has he lost his mind from that light?
"Toward Ayesha. We don't know what happened to her. We need to find her as soon as possible."
"But the zombies—"
"Trust me, Ivan. Just as I found you, we'll find Ayesha!"
Lucian's tone brooked no argument. Though Ivan was a year older than him and Ayesha, their friendship had never been about seniority.
Ivan met Lucian's eyes—sharp, alive, burning with purpose—and surrendered with a sigh. "Give me a minute."
He hurried around the small dorm room, stuffing biscuits, water bottles, and whatever food he could find into a backpack. He slipped a kitchen knife through his belt, pulled on a thick hoodie and cargo pants, laced his leather boots, and straightened himself. "I'm ready. What's the plan?"
Lucian's lips curved faintly. "Here's the plan."
The shadows at his feet began to ripple. Black runes etched themselves into the floor, glowing faintly before converging at a single point. Darkness rose like smoke, twisting and folding until it solidified into the shape of a horse. The Shadow Steed stood tall, its mane flowing like liquid night, its hooves trailing wisps of mist.
Gasps filled the room. Ivan and the three survivors stared, mouths agape. The woman clutched her chest, and one of the men dropped the flashlight he was holding.
"W-what is that?!" Ivan stammered. "Why is there a horse inside my room?!"
Lucian didn't flinch. He briefly explained what had happened when the mysterious light descended at midnight—how he had killed a zombie, found a strange book, and gained this summoning ability. He spared them the ranks and System panel details, keeping only the essentials. They didn't need to know everything; they just needed hope.
When he finished, silence filled the room. Then Ivan let out a shaky laugh. "You've gotta be kidding me… a real-life cheat skill."
Lucian mounted the steed, the shadows rippling beneath his hands as he patted its sleek neck. The creature exhaled softly, like a living shadow come to life. "Ivan, hop on. Hold tight—if you fall, I can't guarantee I can turn back."
Ivan swallowed hard and climbed on. It took a few awkward tries before he settled behind Lucian, gripping him tightly.
Lucian explained their route. "We'll grab the items from the lot, then head straight for Ayesha's dorm. Don't let go, and keep your head down."
"I got it," Ivan said, his voice steadier now. He turned to the others. "Take what's left from my dorm. Stay quiet, stay low, and lock the door after we leave. We'll come back for you if we can."
Lucian nodded once to them. One of the men cracked open the door, and the cold air of the hallway swept in, carrying the faint stench of decay.
The Shadow Steed moved like a phantom, hooves making no sound against the floor. They reached the courtyard swiftly. The moon hung high above the walls of Intramuros, bathing everything in silver. Zombies shuffled lazily in the distance, unaware of the two riders slipping past like ghosts.
Lucian guided the horse toward the glimmering objects. He dismounted briefly, crouched, and grabbed the loot—a black-bound book and two glowing orbs. The air around them pulsed faintly. There was no time to inspect them. He immediately vaulted back onto the horse and urged it toward the two-meter wall he had first come in.
The Shadow Steed reared, its muscles tensing, then leapt. For a heartbeat, they were airborne, the wind whipping past their faces. The horse landed smoothly on the other side, shadows rippling from its hooves.
Lucian glanced back at the dormitory—the scattering zombies, the dark windows, the faint flicker of movement inside. What a waste, he thought. I'll come back. I'll clear them all after I save Ayesha.
Ayesha's dorm was farther north, deeper into the city. Usually, it was a thirty-minute walk from Lucian's building. Still, he estimated five—maybe ten—minutes at most with the Shadow Steed.
Clinging to him, Ivan stared in disbelief as they sped through the silent streets. The horse's mane streamed like ink in the wind; the city walls blurred past. No zombie even turned its head.
"This is insane," Ivan murmured, half laughing, half crying. "We're really doing this."
Ivan smiled, realizing Lucian was showing emotions he hadn't seen in a long time, and held on tighter.
Lucian felt Ivan tighten his grip. "Stop hugging me like that, you bear!"
"Sorry, sorry! I can't help it," Ivan said, chuckling through damp eyes. When Lucian's parents died, Ivan had seen how much it changed him. He became more isolated, quieter than before. But Ivan and Ayesha never rushed him—they knew only time could heal that pain.
Now, seeing Lucian again—determined to find their friend even at the cost of his own safety—made Ivan smile.
It had been so long since he'd seen that fire in Lucian's eyes. The same eyes that once made him believe they could do anything.
Ivan smiled through the wind. "Let's go save Ayesha!" he shouted, his voice echoing softly in the night.
"Quiet down," Lucian hissed, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.
Under the eerie moonlight of Intramuros, the Shadow Steed galloped across the silent streets—two friends racing through the heart of an apocalypse, chasing the faint light of hope that still flickered in the darkness.