rlin stirred his drink absentmindedly, watching the light reflect off the surface. The café was quiet, at least compared to the crowded streets.
The hum of conversation from nearby tables, the occasional clinking of glasses, the distant sounds of vehicles passing by—it all blended into a dull background noise.
It wasn't terrible, but he still wished he were sowhere else.
Nathan and Seraphina were casually discussing their training schedules, while Elara was preoccupied with her holopad, scrolling through so list of materials she still needed to buy.
rlin didn't bother joining the conversation.
He exhaled, leaning back in his chair.
'This really isn't my thing..'
His gaze drifted across the street. Pedestrians moved in waves, their figures blending together under the artificial lights of the city.
Most were ordinary—students, workers, the occasional adventurer with a weapon strapped to their back.
Then his eyes landed on soone different.
A man, standing perfectly still amidst the moving crowd.
White coat. White hair. Pale skin. And dark eyes.
Glasses that reflected the city lights.
rlin's fingers tensed around his cup.
The man's expression was unreadable, his face almost devoid of emotion. But his eyes—rlin could feel them, sharp and unwavering, locked onto him with a level of intent that set off alarms in his mind.
'Who…the hell?'
The mont stretched. The crowd moved around him, yet the man remained as if he were detached from the world around him.
Then—
He turned.
And disappeared.
Not in a sudden burst of speed. Not in a flash of magic.
He simply stepped into the crowd, and within seconds, he was gone.
He rembered the villains of the novel, the antagonists, but none of them looked like the guy he had just seen.
rlin shot up from his seat, eyes scanning the streets. His heart wasn't racing, but there was a deep, gnawing instinct telling him to move.
'What the hell was that?'
Sothing wasn't right.
"…rlin?"
He barely registered Elara's voice. His focus remained on the spot where the man had stood.
Nothing.
"rlin!"
A hand touched his arm.
His body tensed before he recognized the voice of Elara.
He turned slightly, catching her narrowed silver eyes. She had noticed.
"You saw sothing?" she stated rather than asked.
rlin let out a slow breath and sat back down. "…It's nothing."
Elara didn't look convinced. But she didn't push.
Seraph frowned. "You're acting weird. What happened?"
"Nothing," rlin repeated. "Just thought I saw soone I knew."
Nathan, who had been mid-sip of his drink, raised an eyebrow. "You have friends outside of us?"
'Is he serious?'
rlin shot him a deadpan look.
Nathan grinned. "Kidding. Mostly."
Elara waved a hand. "Alright, alright, if it's nothing, let's just enjoy the rest of our food."
rlin gave one last glance toward the street.
But whoever that man was—he was long gone.
—
They left the café after another half hour of wandering conversation.
The city night was alive with artificial neon lights, transports, and the steady hum of mana-infused technology powering everything around them.
The streets were still full, people moving in and out of shops, bars, and entertainnt hubs.
It felt normal.
And yet, rlin kept glancing over his shoulder.
Just in case.
Elara, walking beside him, nudged his arm. "You're acting weird again."
"I always act weird."
"Yeah, but now it's extra weird."
rlin sighed. "I told you, it's nothing."
Elara narrowed her eyes, then suddenly smirked. "Ohhh, I get it now."
"…Get what?"
"You were staring off into the crowd earlier." She leaned in with a grin. "Did you see soone interesting? Perhaps a girl you fancy?"
rlin gave her a blank look. "If by 'interesting' you an 'probably a threat,' then sure."
Elara scoffed. "Okay, mister paranoia."
He didn't bother arguing.
Seraphina, walking just ahead of them, glanced back. "You don't seem like the type to react like that over nothing. Who did you see?"
'I have no fucking idea. That's the problem..'
rlin hesitated.
He didn't know who the man was. That was the problem. He had read the novel before, knew every major character, every key event. But the man in the white coat wasn't in the story.
Which ant he was either a minor nobody—unlikely, given the way he acted—or sothing else entirely.
"…I don't know," rlin admitted.
Seraphina's expression didn't change, but she didn't press further.
Nathan stretched his arms behind his head as he walked. "Well, if it's soone who looked at you funny, that's their problem. You probably just scared them off with your charming personality."
rlin ignored him.
Nathan grinned. "Besides, what's the worst that could happen?"
'Do not ever say that again..'
rlin didn't answer as his gaze flicked to Nathan who looked away.
—
rlin wasn't entirely sure how it happened.
One mont, they were walking through the streets, the conversation drifting from idle chatter to vague discussions about their next assignnts.
The next, Elara had latched onto his arm with a determined grip.
"Co on," she whined. "We've been walking for a while. Let's do sothing fun before we head back!"
rlin cast her a wary glance. "Define fun."
Nathan, standing beside them with his hands in his pockets, smirked. "That's never a good question."
Seraphina, walking slightly ahead, didn't even turn around. "If this is about drinking—"
"We can't drink," Elara huffed. "And it's way better than that."
rlin already had a bad feeling.
Then, with a far-too-excited look, Elara turned to Nathan. "Karaoke?"
Nathan chuckled. "Yeah, alright. Sounds fun."
Seraphina, to no one's surprise, sighed. "I'm not singing."
rlin crossed his arms. "Neither am I."
Elara pouted. "Oh, co on, don't be boring!"
"Not being boring and actively humiliating myself are two different things," rlin replied.
Nathan nudged him. "What, scared you'll be bad at it?"
rlin gave him a blank look. "I know I'll be bad at it."
Elara was already dragging him forward. "Great! Let's go."
'What's the point of even trying.'
rlin sighed in defeat.
—
The karaoke lounge was a private room—dim neon lighting, a plush couch, and a holo-screen displaying the song choices.
Drinks and snacks were already on the table, which ant Elara had sohow arranged everything before rlin could even think about escaping.
Nathan grabbed the song selection tablet and leaned back on the couch. "Alright, who's first?"
Elara already had a mic in her hands. "Obviously ."
rlin sank into the seat, sipping his drink as the inevitable chaos unfolded.
—
Elara, to no one's surprise, was actually good at singing.
She picked an upbeat pop song, and by the ti she hit the chorus, Nathan had jumped in, turning it into an off-key but enthusiastic duet.
Seraphina, true to her word, remained seated with her arms crossed, looking as unimpressed as ever.
rlin?
He sat there, quietly sipping his drink, pretending this wasn't happening.
At least, until Nathan turned to him with a wide grin.
"Alright, rlin. Your turn."
rlin didn't even look up. "Pass."
"Nope," Nathan said, handing him the mic. "Not how it works. Everyone sings at least one song."
"That was never a rule."
"It is now."
Elara leaned in, smirking. "Are you scared?"
rlin t her gaze, deadpan. "No."
"Then pick a song," she said sweetly, shoving the mic closer.
rlin exhaled sharply. "This is pointless."
Nathan grinned. "That's what makes it fun."
Seraphina finally glanced at him. "Just get it over with."
rlin sighed, reached for the song tablet, and scrolled through the options. If they were going to force him into this, he might as well pick sothing easy.
The mont he selected a song, Nathan burst out laughing.
"A ballad? Seriously?"
rlin ignored him, took the mic, and started singing.
And—to the visible shock of everyone in the room—he was actually good.
Elara's mouth fell open. Nathan looked like he'd been personally betrayed. Even Seraphina, who had barely reacted to anything all night, looked slightly surprised.
rlin finished the last note, set the mic down, and took another sip of his drink as if nothing happened.
Nathan blinked. "What the hell?"
Elara stared. "Why didn't you say you could sing?"
"I didn't know," rlin replied simply.
Seraphina shook her head. "You didn't know? Unbelievable."
rlin shrugged. "Can we leave now?"
"Nope, it's my turn!" Nathan got up and grabbed the tablet.
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