[You're gone.]
Lune smiled the moment his elder sister's voice appeared in his head, and he gladly received her message. Finally, after a whole twelve hours in the mortal world, his siblings in the upper realms have found him missing from his daily activities.
'Yes, I've come to the mortal world,' he answered.
[The mortal world, huh?] Quest marveled. [I didn't expect the Jade Emperor to assign you this task, forgive me for being careless.]
'No need, I wasn't aware either...you can tell Solstice to stop overreacting.'
He could hear the amusement in Quest's voice as she answered. [Hmm...impossible, how did you know?]
'I can sense it...from the eyes.'
[Ah, right...of course.]
There was a pause before Quest spoke up again, this time, with the list of reminders and precautions Lune had expected to hear in the first place. Quest wasn't the type to nag, but since her younger brother was away in another realm, she wasn't going to let him go without a few words.
[Beware of the humans,] she began sternly. [Monsters, demons, ghosts...you must remember that some humans are monsters in the heart. Some...not all. I'm only saying this as a warning.]
'Yeah, yeah, I know.'
[You don't. I have seen more than you have, Lune. Humans trust, they betray their own kin, kill their own kind. They may be few, but these types of humans are out for blood. Never let your guard down. You are immortal, but you are not invincible.]
'I know-'
[YOU...you, especially.] Quest cut him off with a sturdy tone. [You're different than the rest of us, you need rest...and your eyes-]
'My eyes are fine,' Lune quickly interrupted. 'They are fine.'
[...]
'...'
[...I suppose so,] she mumbled. [But if they are hurting, you must tell me, so I can have Solstice stop whatever she's doing. Do you understand?]
'...fine.' Lune was reluctant to answer. He trusted his younger sister, Solstice. The sound of having Quest order her what to and not to look at didn't settle well with him. Besides...the flames of a star can't affect an immortal's eyes that easily.
[Well then, it seems that you are good to go. I cannot chat any longer, the Jade Emperor will be calling for me soon. I'll be available whenever you need me.]
'Alright.'
[Hm.]
And with that, the connection between them was severed, bringing him back to the current world.
It didn't take more than a second for him to sense the man standing right in front of him. Who is this?
Lune had sensed a greater density of qi gathering together in this building while he was walking about the city in the morning, so he decided to enter the building in case something were to happen to such a big group of people. He chose this area specifically, since it was quiet and lacking human presence, while the majority were clustered in the space some meters behind him.
He did not expect to be confronted so soon.
"...can I help you?" he asked.
.
.
About two minutes passed, and Channing couldn't bring himself to even utter a word. It was awkward, really. What was he supposed to say?
He couldn't tell if the man was asleep or not, or if he simply just didn't notice him standing right in front of him because he was...visually impaired.
Shoot, he didn't even know his name. All that happened between them yesterday was just a simple bump on the street, yet Channing couldn't get that off his mind. And strangely enough, all that was going through his mind was:
'Ask for his name...ask for his name...ask for his name-'
"Can I help you?"
Channing stiffened in surprise, eyes wide with shock. He felt the tips of his ears burn with embarrassment for being caught staring, though, from the man's voice, he didn't sound annoyed or bothered by his presence. Still, he had to ask.
"Ah, no, sorry...was I bothering you?" he asked cautiously.
"You are fine, I was only aware of your presence just now," he answered.
In such a peaceful environment, his clear voice only seemed more enticing than the last time Channing had heard. The way he talked seemed a little strange too, formal and royal as if he were a crowned prince of a faraway country yet was kind and welcoming at the same time.
Maybe he really was a country's royal...?
Before he could continue, however, the man uncrossed his legs and stood up so that they were both standing at an even level. Their height was just about the same, and Channing found himself staring at the black silk cloth that covered his eyes, mesmerized.
Again, he didn't seem to notice and continued with what he originally stood up for. "I think your acquaintance is looking for you," he remarked.
And as if on cue, Jae's voice rang through the silence, piercing through Channing's ears. "Chan!" he called out, his voice echoing in the vacant halls. "Channing! Where are you, you brat!"
Channing cringed, a murderous rage beginning to build inside him. He swore he was going to end that bastard for humiliating him like that in front of other people, but when he darted his eyes back to the man, he saw something unexpected.
Another smile, except this time, was clear with amusement. "Channing," he repeated smoothly. "A delightful name. I suppose you are the...'Channing Yue' that I keep hearing of upon entering the building?"
He sucked in a sharp breath when he heard Jae screaming his name in the halls, and he cocked his head to the side, trying his best not to cuss his friend out on the spot. "Yea, I am," he said, voice strained.
Jae appeared at the entrance to the lobby and a huge grin spread across his mouth now that he knew his friend didn't bail on him. "So you didn't leave!" he exclaimed, running a hand through his slightly damp, silver hair. He pushed his tinted red glasses up to the top of his head, the drooping chains clinking at his belt as he continued forward with his arms spread wide open as if he wanted a hug.
"Yah!" He wrinkled his nose in jealousy as he found Channing had run off to talk with someone else besides him, but the moment his eyes fell on this long-haired man, his jaw dropped, and Channing could literally see the stars in his shocked, wide eyes.
Jae ran forward his excitement, no doubt picturing this man as a new addition to his industry. "YAAAAH! NUGUSEYO?! WHAT'S YOUR NAME? YOU GOT EXPERIENCE IN ACTING?!"
In an agitated frenzy, Channing quickly jumped in his way before Jae could get carried away with his neediness and held him back by the shoulders, dodging Jae's desperate, flailing limbs. "What. Are. You. Doing?" he hissed, earning himself a whack across the head.
"JUGEULLAE? HUH?!" Jae yelled, struggling to fight away from Channing's strong grip. "WANNA DIE? Let me go, you asshole! Can't you see I'm trying to get a contract signed? I mean, just look at him! He's perfect! Even make up is not needed! Imagine the fans, the producers, the press...everyone will want him! I need him in my industry!"
"Shut up!" Channing said through his teeth. He flashed Jae a dark glare and shoved him back, trying to get his point across. "You're not getting any contract signed today, do you understand?" he snapped. "Find someone else to join your company..."
Jae reluctantly backed off under Channing's threatening glower, putting his hands up in surrender. Honestly, he did not want to mess with Channing's bad side, so he took the wise decision to let it off...for now. "Fine," he sighed, disappointed. "I won't chase..."
He glanced over Channing's shoulder at the man he shielded behind him. If there was something that he was more passionate about than forcing Channing out of his office, it was finding actor and idol trainees for his company. He wasn't going to give up so soon. And as for why Channing seemed so attached to this person...he's going to ask him about that later.
"But can you at least tell me your name?" he asked, snatching the question off of Channing's mouth.
Channing turned around as well, anticipating his answer. Shoot, how could Jae ask that question so easily, when he couldn't even shamefully bring himself to?
"My name is Lune," he politely replied. "And what is yours?"
Jae flashed Channing a sneaky grin of victory and he brushed past him, reaching for Lune's hand. "Yes! My name is Jae Young, I am the founder and director of YMedia Entertainment. Nice you meet you-"
He paused as Lune's hand flinched away from his touch, and he quickly played it off with awkward laugh and ran his hand through his silver locks once more, a habit of his. And then he looked up, and was confused by the black cloth covering his eyes.
Jae squinted at the light fabric and tried to make out its purpose with a few random gestures. "What...why are you, uh, wearing the-"
Channing silenced him with a warning look, and Jae understood, his mouth forming an 'O'. He gave his friend an 'okay' sign, a thanks for the save.
"Well...nice to meet you too, Mister Young," Lune responded. He wasn't completely oblivious to the silent interaction that took place before him, but he didn't mind. Then he said something quite unexpected.
"As for your...'contract'...I am sorry to say that I have no intentions of doing such things, or joining an...entertainment. I'll have to decline your offer," he said.
Though he said it as politely as possible, it was very clear to Channing and Jae that Lune had no idea what the heck a contract or what the entertainment industry was by just listening to him speak.
Dang...he really was a foreigner then, huh, Channing thought to himself. The name 'Lune' wasn't a name he heard anywhere he's been to, either.
Meanwhile, Jae's shoulder sagged with disappointment. "Aw, man...dang it," he sighed. He pursed his lips, and tried to stay enthusiastic. "I guess that's okay...there are more people out there, after all."
Channing, on the other hand, was relieved that he spoke up. For some strange reason, he felt obligated to keep Lune from going public. A foreigner that lacked physical sight all alone in one of the country's biggest cities, especially with that aura of high class going about him, something was telling him to help Lune keep a low profile.
Otherwise he'd be mobbed, just like that time when Jenna, one of the most big-named actresses in the country, left the airport without security with only a disguise to barely hide herself. Later then, she ended up with a sprained ankle from running and slipping on the airport grounds, and she had to cancel every appointment for three weeks.
Channing opened his mouth to speak, but once again failed to do so when he saw the crease in Lune's brow, filled with concern. "What...what's wrong?"
Lune tilted his head ever-so-slightly, his movements gaining bits of distress. His lips parted, and there was a moment's worth of hesitation before he said, "Get out of here." His tone remained calm, but did not lack the authority in his voice. "Leave. Get out of the building. Get everyone out of here."
He slipped past them and hurried towards the halls in such a speed that Channing and Jae could barely keep up.
"Wait, what's going on?" Jae asked, jogging after Channing's long strides. "What's happening? How is he going so fast? I thought he was blind?" But it was pointless to ask Channing these question's, for he had no idea whatsoever, either.
Lune stopped in his tracks once he entered the halls, the glass panels showing the outdoors to their left. "Earthquake," was all he said.
"Earth...earthquake?" Channing echoed, confused. What the hell was he talking about? Everything's perfectly fine. "But nothing's-"
He froze as a slight tremor ran under his feet, and he had barely enough time to react before a violent drop shook his vision and knocked him off his feet, deafening rumbles thundering in his ears.