Chapter 10
Strange Man
Shiro stared down at Luis, a flicker of fear sparking in the other boy's eyes. Shiro could've walked away, but something strange stirred within him. A powerful urge. He felt like a ruler, standing over someone who could be… useful.
A devilish grin tugged at his lips, but just as quickly, it faded.
He extended a hand to Luis, who looked stunned.
"Good fight," Shiro said, offering a friendly smile.
Luis blinked, confused. But slowly, the hate in his expression began to melt away.
Later, in the hallway, two figures walked side by side, laughter echoing between them. One was tall, with dark brown curls tipped red, and steady brown eyes that hinted at quiet strength. The other had wild dark blue hair and eyes greener than a forest after rain.
Shiro and Luis couldn't stop laughing. Whatever tension had existed between them earlier was gone, replaced with something unexpected, camaraderie.
They made their way toward the cafeteria, a grand two-story room with polished, coffee-colored floors and pristine white walls. Dark brown tables and chairs were scattered across the space. On the right, a massive window stretched nearly floor to ceiling, and just below it, sliding glass doors led out to a balcony overlooking the landscape. The view was breathtaking.
In the center, a towering screen displayed rotating menus and food options. To the left, a sleek, silver-toned kitchen buzzed with chefs moving in perfect sync.
As they walked in, heads turned.
No one had ever seen Luis with a commoner before especially that commoner. Yet he didn't seem to care. Neither did Shiro. In fact, they clicked like they'd been friends for years.
At the kitchen, Shiro ordered a pricey sandwich. Tears welled in his eyes just seeing the total. Luis, in contrast, got the richest dish on the menu: a whole lobster. The aroma alone made the room tilt slightly in Shiro's hungry vision.
He blinked in disbelief. He'd never seen food like that in person before. Growing up, he barely scraped together enough for cereal or bargain-bin meals some days, he went without eating at all.
The moment his sandwich hit the tray, Shiro's excitement crumbled. It was... depressing. The meat was bitter and ice cold, the bread steaming hot an awful contrast. When he looked up, he caught one of the kitchen staff grinning at him.
Right... I'm still a commoner, he thought grimly.
Luis took a bite of his lobster, leaned back, and patted his stomach. "I'm full. You want some?"
Shiro's eyes widened. He didn't even hesitate. The plate vanished in seconds, the lobster demolished with desperate enthusiasm. Licking the plate clean, he looked up at Luis, beaming.
"Obviously I'm broke. I never get to eat stuff like this."
Luis laughed so hard he nearly choked.
Shiro leaned back, finally full. Then Kaela approached, her usual eerie charm in place. She sat beside him and made small talk, but soon, both she and Luis had to leave.
Alone again, Shiro stood, stretching. He began walking back to his dorm, minding his own business until a voice echoed in his ear.
"Useless."
Shiro froze.
The voice was deep. Commanding. And completely unfamiliar.
He spun around no one was there.
Then, a sharp pain stabbed through his head. He winced, grabbing his temple. That wasn't my god, he thought, panic setting in. He shoved past students, running blindly.
Aurelia caught a glimpse of him, sprinting through the hall like a madman.
His vision blurred. Signs and gold-plated nameplates on doors warped, unreadable. His heart thundered in his chest.
At last, he reached his dorm. Slamming the door open, he stumbled into the bathroom and dropped to his knees. His stomach turned violently.
He vomited. Again and again. Tears streamed down his face. Each heave felt like razorwire clawing up his throat.
But the pain didn't stop when it was over.
It got worse.
The red tips of his hair began glowing, growing, spreading. When he touched them, they burned his fingers. Sweat poured from his body, and his skin turned ghostly pale. He looked sick. Hollow.
Dark bags had formed under his eyes, his breath ragged and broken. He collapsed onto the floor, trembling.
A storm of emotion tore through him, confusion, fear, rage, despair, all crashing at once. His thoughts frayed, slipping through his fingers like water.
Then... slowly... the pain dulled. He could breathe again.
He dragged himself up, swaying like a dying tree. In the mirror, he looked like a corpse. His hair was longer now, the red more vivid than ever. His skin was clammy. His eyes sunken.
He turned to leave, only for fire to flare in his wrist.
He screamed, grabbing it.
It felt like it was on fire, like the bones were cracking open. Tears welled up again as he collapsed, clutching the wrist.
Everything faded.
BANG. BANG.
"Shiro!"
He stirred, groggy. His body was sore. Dizzy. Somehow, he'd passed out on the floor.
"Hold on," he croaked.
He looked in the mirror. His curly hair was a mess. Drool stained his chin. The red tips in his hair had grown even longer.
He splashed cold water on his face, and then noticed his wrist.
There, around it, was a pitch-black line.
Perfectly even.
Like a tattoo. Or a band.
He scrubbed at it. Nothing happened. It was as dark and solid as obsidian.
The banging came again.
Shiro opened the door. Aeris stood outside, her eyes wide with concern.
"What happened? You've been in there for hours!"
Shiro forced a weak smile. "I think I got food poisoning."
But Aeris's gaze fell to his wrist, and all the color drained from her face.
Her voice shook. "W-why do you have t-t-that? Please tell me it's marker."
Shiro glanced down. "Oh! That? Yeah, it just appeared out of nowhere. Hurt like hell, though."
Aeris didn't hesitate. She grabbed his arm and stared at the mark, her face turning pale.
"HOW DID YOU GET CURSED?"
"Cursed?" Shiro repeated, eyes wide.
"Yes!" she shouted. "A god cursed you!"
Shiro's mind spun. Cursed? Why? When? What did I do?
He remembered the voice.
Aeris was pacing now, hands trembling. Then, forcing herself to calm down, she sat him on her bed.
"Tomorrow," she said, firmly, "we're taking you to Myrrh. He'll know more than I do."
Shiro nodded slowly, still reeling.
In a brilliant blue realm, two figures stood.
The room's reflective floor shimmered like water. Thousands of translucent bubbles floated through the air.
One of the figures was a child, blue hair, blue eyes, green overalls. He sat atop one of the bubbles, legs dangling, watching with a cautious stare.
The other was a man.
Or what was left of one.
His body was torn, deep holes riddled his chest and arms, one arm barely clinging on. His jaw was half missing, the exposed bone leaking blood. Long black hair writhed like it was alive. Ruined chains snaked around his body. One eye was pure darkness; the other, burning red.
He smiled.
A terrible, twisted smile.
"So this is an Inner Realm," the strange man said, voice laced with malice.