..
The moment hovered in heavy silence… until, predictably, the universe decided to ruin it.
Marcus Hale "Damian!"
Damian's entire body visibly twitched.
Damian Derulo 'I hate my life.'
He groaned internally, already bracing for the noise, the drama, the unavoidable attention. And the worst part? Mira's expression had shifted—just slightly—but enough to suggest she'd been yanked out of her quiet suffering.
'Just perfect.'
---
Location: Fort Sentinel – Barrack Outskirts, Under the Oak Tree.
Year: 2026.
Date: March 31st.
Time: 4:09 PM.
POV: Third Person.
--
The late afternoon sun cast a golden hue across Fort Sentinel, bathing its battle-worn walls and weathered stone in warmth that contrasted with the lingering tension in the air. Just beyond the edges of the barrack zone, nestled beneath the only oak tree that had survived the many reconstructions of the outer grounds, Damian Derulo laid—shoulders slouched, eyes half-lidded, and a duffle bag of poorly packed gear crammed beneath his head. He hadn't moved much since Mira had 'joined' him a few minutes ago, the only sign of life being the steady rise and fall of his chest as he tried to recapture the fleeting promise of sleep.
Then came the voice that made his eye twitch.
Marcus Hale "Damian, what are you doing out here?"
Damian opened one eye and lazily turned his head toward the voice. Marcus stood just a few steps away, his casual stance betraying no awareness of the fact that Mira is there, a couple of feet away—or maybe the wide tree trunk had simply blocked his line of sight. Either way, his obliviousness was typical.
Damian Derulo 'What do you think I'm doing? Knitting?'
With a sigh, he pushed himself upright, brushing stray grass from his white shirt.
"I was trying to get some sleep. Too noisy in there."
Marcus gave a small chuckle and plopped down on the patch of grass beside him, sitting with legs sprawled and arms resting behind him, propping up his body.
Marcus Hale "Yeah… it can get a bit loud sometimes."
Silence settled between them like a fog—uncomfortable, not because of tension, but because of words hanging in the air that neither wanted to speak. Damian stared forward, gaze unfocused. He already knew where this was going. And, right on cue…
Marcus Hale "Hey, uh… sorry about earlier. I didn't expect things to spiral like that."
There it was—the apology.
Damian didn't flinch. His expression remained unreadable behind his mask, but his shoulders relaxed just slightly.
Damian Derulo "What's done is done. No point dragging it back up."
'Let's just get this over with…'
"So? How are things in there?"
He wasn't really curious. The question was a courtesy, a verbal decoy to move the conversation forward. He already knew Marcus would talk about it regardless—might as well steer it.
Marcus Hale "Well, when I got back, only Amy and Hustin were there. Apparently, Hannah dragged Kai off somewhere to 'talk,' and Sofia followed them. Not sure where they went."
He leaned further back, hands now clasped behind his head as he looked toward the sky.
Damian nodded slightly and leaned back down, readjusting his makeshift pillow. The way Marcus said those few words—so matter-of-fact—told Damian everything he needed to know. Whatever happened with Kai and Sofia didn't need to be spelled out. Even with the disgust he felt, the implications were more than enough.
And frankly, he didn't want to think about it.
Damian Derulo 'Whatever it is… it's none of my business.'
The air remained still for a while. Then, Marcus spoke again—this time, more contemplatively.
Marcus Hale "Damian… I might go with you. On your journey, I mean."
He didn't say it with certainty, but there was something weighty in the way he said it—like he'd been mulling it over for some time since they exited the office earlier.
Damian Derulo "...I see. That's fine with me."
'Maybe he's looking for his family too…'
Damian had always preferred his solitude, but he wasn't foolish enough to deny the benefits of an extra pair of eyes in the current world, counting Nyxi's as well. Survival wasn't a one-man sport—not anymore.
As if summoned by the stillness, a sound broke the air—rustling grass and shifting footsteps. Both boys turned their heads.
Mira was walking away.
She hadn't said a word. At some point during their conversation, she had stood up silently, brushed herself off, and begun her silent retreat. Her steps were slow, her arms hanging at her sides, like she carried the weight of a world only she could feel. Neither of them had noticed her rise-at least Marcus didn't.
Marcus Hale "I didn't even know you had compa—wait... wasn't she one of the people you went to see earlier?"
Damian nodded once without much thought.
Damian Derulo "Yeah."
Marcus hesitated, the curiosity itching at his tongue.
Marcus Hale "I know it's not my place to pry, but—"
Damian Derulo 'Then don't.'
Marcus Hale "They all looked like they'd been through hell. What happened to them?"
His voice held no judgment, just concern and pure curiosity. He glanced back at Mira, now a small figure in the distance, steadily making her way toward the entrance of the bunker.
Damian sat up again and exhaled through his nose.
Damian Derulo "A close friend of theirs died. Recently."
He didn't elaborate. The words were blunt, stripped of emotion but laced with finality.
Marcus paused for a second, digesting the answer, then slowly got to his feet and dusted his hands on his pants.
Marcus Hale "Right… I get it. I'm heading back inside. You coming?"
Damian shook his head slightly, already lowering himself back onto the grass.
Damian Derulo "No. I'll stay out here for a while."
Marcus nodded without pushing further.
Marcus Hale "Alright. Catch you later."
With that, he turned and began the walk back toward the bunker, his footsteps soon blending into the ambient hum of the fortress.
Damian lay back down, head resting once more on the world's worst pillow. The sun had dipped a little lower now, shadows stretching longer across the ground. The wind returned, cool and soft.
And with it—silence.
The kind he liked.
---
Location: Hallway – Sector A – Fort Sentinel Bunker.
POV: Marcus Hale.
Time: 4:59 PM
--
I walked down the bustling hallway, barely registering the people I passed. My thoughts were tangled—mostly about Damian.
He's... hard to read. Quiet. Doesn't talk unless spoken to. Doesn't pry into others' business. There's this cold air about him, but I get the feeling it stems from something deeper—probably being separated from his family. I remember seeing him looking at the board earlier. When I checked it out myself, I saw what he wrote. No names. Just vague words. But someone without loved ones wouldn't write that. He has a family. Or... had.
He also mentioned a dungeon. I wonder what kind he encountered. Was it like the one Fort Sentinel manages? Doubt it. I mean, there are obviously different types of dungeons, right? What am I saying—of course there are. He didn't have any visible Relics on him aside from that menacing-yet cool looking mask and his sword, but I don't think it's the same weapon he used after the Rapture. Then what about the rewards from the dungeon? Maybe he handed off the others to his friends?
I stopped abruptly, realizing I'd reached a door. The sign read: [ HT-43 ].
I exhaled and ran a hand through my short black hair. "Well, here goes..."
I turned the handle and stepped inside.
The atmosphere hit me like a wall—tense and silent. Amy sat quietly on her bed, and Hustin stood off to the side—with his arms folded and back resting on the wall— while Kai paced the room like a caged animal. As soon as the door clicked behind me, all eyes shifted my way.
Kai Renji "Marcus!" Kai snapped. The second his eyes met mine, the anxiety on his face twisted into fury. He stomped toward me and grabbed me by the shirt, fists clenched.
Marcus Hale "Get off me!" I barked, trying to push him away.
Kai Renji "You fucker! You don't even know what happened—" he growled, but Hustin quickly stepped between us, forcing Kai to back off.
Hustin Bright "Whoa, whoa! Guys! Calm the hell down. Use your damn words. We don't need this right now." Hustin said, trying to calm the storm.
Kai clenched his fists, trembled in frustration, and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. The tension eased, if only a little, and I muttered under my breath and smoothed the wrinkles from my shirt.
"Seriously, dude—what happened?" Hustin asked, eyes still on the door. "Kai wouldn't tell us anything."
I clenched my fists, voice tight. "That piece of shit cheated on Hannah... with Sofia."
The room fell into an uncomfortable hush. The words dropped like a stone in still water. But then—
Amy Wiliams "I knew it!" Amy exclaimed suddenly, pride in her voice as she leaned forward on the bed. "I knew something was going on between those two."
Hustin Bright "You knew?" Hustin raised an eyebrow.
Amy Williams "Okay—not knew knew. More like... I had a hunch. Woman's intuition," she said with a shrug, clearly pleased with herself.
Hustin sighed and sat beside her. "This is a mess... How's Hannah holding up?"
"I... I don't know," I admitted, guilt creeping in. "I haven't seen her since our little conversation. Probably should've handled it better... I just hope she's okay."
"God, I hope so too," Hustin muttered.
Amy Williams: "She'll be fine," Amy said, more confident than they felt. "Hannah's tough as hell. And she's got us. We're gonna be there for her. Right?"
Hustin and I nodded. "Yeah."
There was a lull—short but thick with unspoken thoughts—until Hustin leaned forward and tried to steer the conversation away from heartbreak and betrayal.
Hustin Bright: "So… what's the deal with the mysterious guy?"
"Mysterious guy?" I blinked, then realized. "You mean Damian?"
"Yeah, the masked guy with the cool tattoo. I saw him earlier when we arrived. What's his story?"
I rubbed the back of my neck. "Ah, it's... complicated. We met Damian about a month ago, on the outskirts of the city."
And so I told them everything—how he saved us, brought us to his family's store to stock up, how we were ambushed by goblins, our narrow escape by car, the arrival here... and of course, how we tried to mess with him. I barely got halfway through when Amy cut in.
Amy Williams "Hold on—you guys tried to remove his mask?" she asked, eyes narrowed, disappointment bleeding through her voice.
'What's her deal?'
"Yeah?" I replied, unsure why she was reacting like that.
Amy williams "Why would you do that? Didn't it occur to you that maybe—just maybe—he wears it for a reason?" Her tone sharpened, anger rising.
"Look, I get it, alright?" I said, a bit on edge. "I already apologized. He said it was fine."
Amy Williams "That doesn't make it okay." Her voice rose as she stood, fists clenched at her sides. "You violated someone's personal boundaries. For what? A laugh? Curiosity?"
Marcus Hale "Alright, calm down. We made a mistake, I said that. No need to overreact."
But Amy wasn't hearing it. Her glare lingered a moment longer before she turned, storming out and slamming the door shut behind her.
I stared after her, baffled. "What the hell? What's her problem?"
Hustin exhaled. "*Sigh* I'll go after her." He followed her out.
I sat there, alone, staring at the door.
What the hell is happening today?
And I didn't even get to finish my damn story...
---
[ Location: Room HT-43 – Sector A – Fort Sentinel Bunker. ]
POV: Third Person.
Time: 8:21 PM
--
After a three-hour nap, Damian stepped back into the dimly lit room. The moment he entered, he was met with an atmosphere so awkward it made him want to step right back out.
To his right sat the two people he had briefly met earlier that morning—still seated at the lower bunk bed in the same positions. He didn't know their names, but their conversation came to an immediate halt the moment he entered.
To the left, Marcus lay silently on his bed, and above him, Hannah faced the wall on the upper bunk, motionless.
But what truly caught Damian's attention was a new face.
On the second bunk bed to the right, on the lower mattress, sat a girl with her back pressed to the wall, arms wrapped loosely around her legs, chin resting on her knees. She was dressed entirely in black—well mostly, an oversized hoodie and matching baggy pants, paired with clean white sneakers. Her hood shadowed most of her face, and a black nose mask obscured what little might've been visible.
She looked at Damian—and for several quiet seconds, they simply stared at one another. Her striking golden eyes locked with his, shining through the darkness, calm yet oddly penetrating—as though she had seen something in him. Damian found himself momentarily captivated by her eyes.
The silent exchange didn't go unnoticed. Marcus, Amy, and Hustin all caught the shared glance. Only Hannah remained unmoving, but if one paid attention, they might've heard the faintest sound—sniffling.
Damian finally turned away and looked at Marcus, who had now sat up and was watching him with a knowing smirk.
Marcus Hale "Damian, come sit here," Marcus said, patting the space beside him. "We'll be sharing my bed for the next few days."
At the mention of Damian's name, Hannah subtly wiped her eyes, though she still didn't move from her position.
Damian nodded silently, walked over, and took a seat next to Marcus. He dropped his duffle bag beside the bed and slid his sword beneath it.
"So," Marcus began, as casually as ever, "how was your beauty sleep?"
Damian Derulo "...Relaxing," Damian replied, backing into the wall behind them and resting his elbow on his knee.
Marcus gave a nod, then glanced at Damian's forearm—specifically, the white cloth wrapped around it. He had noticed it earlier but chose not to comment until now.
"I see you covered up your tattoo," he said, a hint of disappointment in his tone.
Damian sighed inwardly. 'You had to ask, didn't you?' He hated lying for reasons exactly like this.
"Yeah... it drew too much attention," he said, aware that everyone's eyes were now on him.
Marcus Hale "You said a friend drew it on you earlier, huh?" Marcus asked, clearly skeptical.
Damian Derulo "I said that because I didn't want to go into detail," Damian replied flatly.
"I see. So... how did you get it?" Marcus continued, clearly not getting the memo.
Hustin Bright 'What part of "he doesn't want to go into detail" doesn't he understand?' Hustin thought slightly bewildered.
Amy furrowed her brows at Marcus, then glanced at the golden-eyed girl. Her opinion of Marcus was steadily declining.
"And you've never really told us what happened in the dungeon either," Marcus added, now entirely consumed by curiosity.
'I should've slept outside,' Damian groaned inwardly.
But, as if on cue from the universe, the door burst open before he could respond.
"Lana!!" a voice cried out.
A short girl came charging into the room in red-and-black gear. Light armor covered her more vulnerable spots, but her appearance was anything but intimidating. She stood somewhere between 160 and 170 centimeters tall, with features suggesting Asian heritage, though her shoulder-length blonde hair and bright blue eyes clashed playfully with that assumption. A beautifully crafted golden bow was slung across her 'chest', with a vivid red bowstring. A black quiver filled with arrows was secured at her right thigh.
With arms stretched wide, she dashed straight to the girl in black—Lana—and launched herself into a tackle. Lana didn't react or attempt to dodge. Her expression didn't even change.
Amy Williams "Riko! How many times do I have to tell you to stop barging in like that?" Amy scolded, storming over to the intruder and grabbing her cheeks.
Hanabira Riko "Itai-tai-tai! Moo~ Onee-san! I told you to stop pulling my cheeks!" Riko whined, puffing her chubby face—likely the result of repeated cheek-tugging over time.
Damian Derulo 'Onee-san? Is she Japanese?' Damian wondered, finally getting a better look at her.
Amy Williams "And I told you to stop tackling Lana like that. She could get hurt! You're literally wearing armor!" Amy added, hands now planted firmly on her hips.
As if only now realizing this, Riko began patting Lana in a panic.
Hanabira Riko "Lana! Are you hurt? I'm so sorry!" she cried, nuzzling her head into Lana's 'chest'.
Finally, Lana reacted. Her golden eyes widened, and though masked, the faint blush coloring her cheeks was unmistakable.
Lana Williams "Let go of me!" she said, trying to push Riko off. But Riko clung stubbornly.
Damian blinked in stunned silence. Honestly, he didn't know whether to leave or pretend he wasn't even there.
A quick glance around showed Marcus shaking his head helplessly while Hustin just smiled faintly. Clearly, this wasn't the first time this had happened.
Unbeknownst to them all, Hannah, who had been quietly crying, cracked a small smile thanks to the lighthearted commotion.
Amy, still annoyed, peeled Riko off her sister once more.
Hanabira Riko "Itai-tai-tai-tai-tai..." Riko whimpered again, rubbing her cheeks.
Then her attention turned to the unfamiliar presence in the room.
"Hm? Nee, Onee-san—Are wa desu ka?" she asked, pointing directly at Damian.
"Oh, Riko—this is Damian," Amy said. "He's a friend of Marcus and the others. Damian, this is Hanabira Riko." No one noticed, maybe due to his mask but Damian squinted his eyes when Amy called him a friend of Marcus and the others.
Riko stepped up to him with a bright smile.
"Hello!" she said with a clear Japanese accent. "Nice to meet you, Mister!"
Damian leaned back instinctively, blocked by the wall behind him. 'Mister?' he echoed internally, tilting his head. 'Do I really look that old?'
"Yeah... nice to meet you too," he said flatly.
"Nee Mister, where did you get your mask? I like it! I wanna get one for Lana!" she said eagerly. Lana flinched slightly but didn't speak. Still, her curiosity about Damian's mask was obvious.
Damian Derulo "From a dungeon," Damian replied.
Riko gasped in delight. The others, meanwhile, remained silent—they had all overheard Marcus asking about it earlier and were equally intrigued.
But Damian was frowning.
'Why did I answer her? This girl... she has a way of dragging others into her rhythm,' he thought, already deciding to keep some distance.
Looking around the room, he noted their curious gazes—Lana included. Her subtle glances weren't subtle at all.
He sighed and was just about to speak when—once again—the door opened.
Marcus, clearly at the end of his patience, snapped.
Marcus Hale "Ugh! Let him speak!"
Everyone turned to the door.
Sofia and Kai had just walked in.
Kai looked worn out, as though he had come straight from battle, he had his sword sheathed and strapped to his side. Sofia, in contrast, looked the same as when she had left.
Their presence immediately shifted the mood. A heavy silence settled over the room.
Riko, ever the mood-lifter, quickly spoke up. "Good evening, Kai-san! Sofia-san!"
Sofia smiled and nodded. "Good evening."
Kai gave a strained smile. "Good evening, Riko."
His attention shifted to Hannah, still lying silently on Sofia's bed.
He took a few steps forward—only to be stopped by Marcus.
"You're in my way," Kai said, trying to keep calm.
Marcus scoffed. "Really? Last I checked, your bed's over there." He pointed to the bunk next to his.
Kai clenched his fists and looked ready to argue, but Hustin stepped in.
"Dude. Just go to your bed," he said with no effort to hide his disappointment.
Kai turned and walked to his bed without another word. Sofia said nothing either, simply climbing up to the top bunk above Kai without a word. She knew if she told Hannah to move, it would only make things worse.
As the awkward silence began to creep in again, Marcus decided to shift gears to more pressing matters.
Marcus Hale "Before we were so rudely interrupted," Marcus said, clearing his throat, "Damian, you were just about to talk about your experience in the dungeon. Riko, Amy—I think it's best if you both sit down. I've got a feeling this might take a while."
He turned to Damian with the eager eyes of a child waiting to hear historic tales from their grandparent.
Amy and Riko exchanged a look and silently made their way to the beds, sitting down in anticipation, Riko sat next to Lana and kept her bow and quiver under the bed.
Damian, however, simply glanced at Marcus.
But this wasn't just any glance.
No. This was a bombastic side-eye.
A criminally offensive side-eye.
'I hate my life,' Damian thought, for the second time that day.
But once again, fate decided that peace wasn't part of his contract.
*hissss*
Marcus Hale "What is it this time?" he groaned, immediately glancing around the room, searching for the source of the noise.
They didn't have to wait long.
*hissss*
Their attention snapped to Damian.
More specifically, to his left arm.
His wrapped arm… was moving.
From a small gap in the cloth, something slithered out—
No—emerged, like it had been part of him all along.
A snake.
It slid smoothly around his wrist, coiling itself like a bracelet, and lifted its tiny head to glance around with eerie calm.
The fact that it had just crawled out from under his skin?
Yeah. No one seemed to care anymore because—
Hanabira Riko "Kyaaaa!! It's so cute!!" she squealed with delight, nearly vibrating with joy.
She practically teleported in front of Damian, her eyes sparkling as if she'd just discovered the rarest creature in the world. Her face hovered dangerously close to the small snake, hands twitching with excitement as though she were physically restraining herself from petting it.
Damian didn't even flinch. He simply leaned his head back against the wall in pure emotional resignation.
'I hate my life' he thought bleakly, for the third time that day.
..
Everyone in the room had frozen in stunned surprise.
Marcus, sitting beside Damian, leaned in slightly, wide-eyed with awe. Amy and Hustin had already abandoned their beds, walking up behind Riko to get a better look.
Lana, though still lying on her bed, was clearly affected—her hands trembled slightly as she fought to maintain her composure.
Kai and Sofia leaned forward at the edge of their beds, curiosity overtaking caution, while up on the top bunk, Hannah—who had previously been withdrawn and silent—now peered down with sudden interest, eyes locked on the snake.
They all observed the creature in silence.
Its chubby body coiled neatly, its scales glittering faintly under the bedroom's lone bulb, casting tiny reflections across the walls. It was beautiful in an eerie, unnatural way—both mesmerizing and unsettling.
Damian shifted uncomfortably, instinctively trying to back away from the growing crowd, only to remember he was already backed up against the wall. He was effectively trapped.
Riko, eyes still sparkling, slowly reached out a finger to poke the creature—
But in a flash, the snake dodged her touch and hissed, its fangs bared in what was clearly a warning. A low, threatening sound echoed from deep in her throat.
Though… to everyone else, the hiss only amplified its cuteness.
Hanabira Riko "Kyaaaa!!!" she squealed again, completely ignoring the threat display.
And was her tongue… heart-shaped?
Amy Williams "Is this… real?" she muttered in disbelief, utterly fascinated.
The moment dragged on—until Nyxi, clearly having enough, responded.
From her coiled position around Damian's wrist, she flicked her tail. The room's shadows trembled.
Then—like snakes of their own—multiple tendrils of living darkness erupted from beneath the furniture and corners of the room, snapping into long, jagged forms aimed toward the group.
The crowd immediately recoiled. Even Hannah jumped down from her bunk with sudden urgency. Kai instinctively pulled Sofia into his arms protectively, his sword already drawn. Lana stood up slowly from her bed, her face unreadable. A golden shimmer bloomed in her irises, and sparks of light gathered in her palm, though she kept the motion subtle—discreet, but ready.
Marcus Hale "What the hell!?" he shouted, jumping behind Hustin in a display of panic.
Damian Derulo "Nyxi… you're not helping," he muttered under his breath, a headache forming behind his eyes—not from the danger, but from the sheer chaos, although he took the space to breath.
Nyxi turned toward him at the sound of his voice. Her eyes narrowed in confusion, and after a small pause… the shadow tendrils slowly retracted, melting back into the corners as if nothing had happened.
"Sorry about that," he said with a strained smile. "She… doesn't like being crowded." He continued before a situation caught his attention.
Everyone followed his gaze—and saw Kai still clutching Sofia tightly, his blade drawn.
Awkward silence.
They both quickly separated, stepping away from each other like guilty kids caught sneaking snacks before dinner. Kai turned his head—and locked eyes with Hannah, who was watching him with a betrayed expression.
He opened his mouth to speak, but Marcus beat him to it.
Marcus Hale "Dude! Did your snake just do that?!"
Damian "Yeah," he sighed. "She can manipulate shadows."
He glanced down at Nyxi, now coiled once again and flicking her tongue in satisfaction.
'Well… cat's out of the bag,' he thought bitterly.
Hanabira Riko "Sugoi! What's her name? Where did she come from? Does she have a title? Did she really slither out of your arm?!" she rattled off, practically bouncing in place with excitement. With each question, she crept closer again—apparently forgetting the snake had just threatened them with shadow spikes.
Damian blinked.
'Jesus Christ, what is wrong with this girl?'
Just as Riko inched within touching distance, Amy reached out and grabbed her by the collar, yanking her back.
Amy Williams "Didn't you hear him? She doesn't like being crowded."
Riko spun around dramatically, planting her hands on her hips.
Riko "Exactly! She only reacted like that because you all were crowding her. She was totally fine when it was just me!"
She pointed to herself with an air of smug self-assurance.
Damian's face blanked out.
'What the hell? This girl's logic defies all natural law.'
Amy's eye twitched.
Amy "You were literally poking her."
Riko "This and that are different things. Humph."
She folded her arms defiantly, chin raised.
Hustin, who'd been quietly watching the chaos unfold, slowly turned toward Damian.
Hustin Bright "She's… not gonna attack us again, right?"
He gave Nyxi a sidelong glance, clearly still a little spooked.
Damian "No, it's fine. You can relax."
He scratched his head, the headache finally settling in like an old friend.
'This is going to be a long night.'
.
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.
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To Be Continued......