Long ago, there were two friends, Apeiro and Renato. They used to hang out everyday as children, but life got over them. The two grew up and needed a job. Apeiro didn't have trouble finding one, but his poor best friend was rejected every time. The boy couldn't see his childhood friend struggle, so he put a good word in his boss's mind im his colleague at the Agency of Supernatural Activity or ASA. They had a lot of fun inventing magical objects and investigating supernatural activity while traveling around the world.
After around thirty years of research, Apeiro, a tall man with short black hair that had a few white strands, and emerald eyes that could hypnotize someone with their beauty, together with Renato, a medium height figure with chestnut hair that scratched the back of his neck and ocean blue eyes, were suddenly sent to the office. The boss considered them the best employees, and so, they were put on a project together.
One day, while Apeiro and Renato were working on the dangerous mission that the boss gave them, the two made a bizarre crystal from the materials provided for them. It had unimaginable powers, and they named it: the Anemone prism. A charming stone with eight sides, shaped like a rhombus, with a shine from another world that had the color of blood. They always wished to know where these powers were coming from, and after tens of years of research, they finally found out.
Renato was about to go and tell the boss about the huge discovery they made, but Apeiro wasn't on the same page.
"WAIT!" He shouted at Renato, his voice shaking, but with an excited look. Renato stopped and turned back to face his colleague. "Don't you understand? This crystal has powers no one has ever seen. We could become famous leaders of an entire world!" He had a creepy quivering smile on his face.
"Pei, you know we can't do that. I don't want us to be considered evil. Besides, I'm sure the Overseer wouldn't let us leave so easily." Renato began to panic internally. While it was true that his dear friend had been acting different for the past 7 years, he'd never reacted aggressively towards him. It felt like the end of the world for the poor man.
"Ren! We're not going to be considered evil. What kind of ridiculous reason is that? And anyways, just think about it for a moment! We've been in this stupid facility for so long that I can't even remember how it feels to live a normal life! This is our chance to prove everyone how dumb this agency really is!" He looked somewhat desperate in that moment. It was the first time Renato has seen his best friend so lost. It was as if he had already gone insane a long time ago, but was only showing it now. This was a difficult moment for both of them. While some fights did happen between them sometimes, the two of them always made up afterwards, but this felt different.
Renato decided to just ignore the feeling that was poking his mind, wanting to wake him up to reality. "What's wrong with you today? You've never even thought of betraying the Overseer or the agency. I understand that it's hard to just stay here doing research all day, but you can always take a break! This is work, everybody does it!" He said annoyed at the audicity of the idea.
"NO! You don't understand! Don't worry though, I'll guide you through the right path!"pei answered as calmly as he could master. Apeiro took the Anemone prism and tried using it. Little particles of different dark colors started flying around, blinding both men. His emerald eyes were now empty white, his irises dilated. Ren knew he was entirely gone now, but he didn't want to believe.
"PEI! PLEASE STOP! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" Poor Ren was on the verge of crying. He may be a man, but the one who was destroying himself in front of Renato's eyes was his best friend, his one and only. But Apeiro didn't stop. He just gave the man a glance then went back to the crystal. "JUST STOP THIS BULLS**T!" Renato had no choice but to forcefully stop him. He took one of their creations at random and attacked Apeiro.
"What the heck are you doing?!" Renato was then sent flying straight into a wall. The little particles then started moving, soon forming a line that was connecting Apeiro's hand with the crystal. The power was now being transported into the man's body.
"No! This can't go on anymore. There has to be something to just make this dumb thing stop!" Ren could barely talk after the hit he experienced. He could only mutter those words out. Someone could hear him only if standing close. To think that his friend that was always there for him would end up throwing him away and hurting him was really hard. After struggling for a moment, he got up and had to sneak to the cabinets on the walls near him. There wasn't anything that useful, besides a knife.
In that moment of despair, Renato found something more interesting in a cabinet hidden behind some boxes. He remembered it after some careful analysis. It was one of the things the higher ups made, wanting to steal magical power from possibly powerfull objects. He took it and ran towards Apeiro.
Some particles started going a bit out from control after consuming a lot of power. Pei knew that his friend had a trick up his sleeve, so he turned around only to see nothing. Renato wasn't there, but he already knew about this old move. Apeiro blocked an attack from behind with only one hand.
"You really think that you can stop me that easily? We've been friends since we were five. You should know I'm not falling for something like that. Now, now. I'll give you another chance. JOIN ME!" He wasn't the real Apeiro anymore, Ren just knew that. He was just too crazy to be someone who loves cats.
"Of course I know you! And no, I'll never join you." Renato was already one step ahead. He used the invention he got on Pei, and Ren wasn't expecting the reaction that this invention actually caused.