The Outcasts arrived back at their base, the atmosphere thick with shock and dismay. The assassination of Lilith had failed disastrously, and Jane's accidental explosion had injured, possibly even killed, dozens of people. Kento was visibly shaken, guilt gnawing at him. He felt responsible for Jane's breakdown and for forcing Constantine to abandon their objective because he hadn't prepared a contingency plan. Now, with Lilith surely seeking revenge, they had no choice but to flee.
Inside the base, they were met by a new figure. He was tall, strikingly handsome, with unusual white hair streaked with pink and equally unusual pink eyes. His presence was commanding, exuding an aura of strength and confidence. This was Damien Laurent, the strongest Outcast.
"Well, well, look at this mess," Damien said with a grin, leaning casually against the wall. "The old fogeys of the Assembly sent me to check on you lot and take you to Nyx. They also ordered me to secure Murasame. I wanted to tell them to go fuck themselves at first but changed my mind. I'm just here because I was curious, really...what happened, Ken?
Kento, still reeling from the night's events, took a deep breath and began to recount everything. "We had a plan to take out Lilith Darkwood and her associates. It was going smoothly until… until Jane snapped. She blew up the venue. We had to retreat. Constantine had to abandon the objective to save Jane."
Damien listened, his expression a mix of amusement and interest. When Kento finished, he nodded. "You losers went after Lilith? Do you have any idea how stupid that was? I've fought her three times - no let me rephrase that. She survived against me and escaped with her life three times. Kento's eyes widened in shock.
"You were lucky she was probably more concerned with finding her goons. Anyway, that sounds like quite the adventure. But no worries, we can fix this. Lilith will be coming after you, so we need to get out of here pronto."
Jane, still shaken, glanced up at Damien. "What do we do now?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"We stick to the new plan," Damien said with a carefree shrug. "I'll help you get to Nyx and secure Murasame. But first, we need to ensure our safety here. Gather your essentials and prepare to leave. We can't afford any more mistakes."
Constantine, still fuming from the failed mission, stepped forward. "And what about Jane? She's not ready for this. She almost got us all killed."
Damien's gaze softened as he looked at Jane. "Everyone makes mistakes, new guy. What matters is how we move forward from them. Jane, you're stronger than you think. Trust in your abilities, and in your team."
Kento interjected, "Damien, Murasame is bonded to Constantine. You can't just take it."
Damien raised an eyebrow. "Didn't know that. Makes things more interesting. And as for Jane's explosion, it was likely a delayed Element Distortion."
Kento nodded in agreement. "That makes sense."
Damien clapped his hands, trying to lighten the mood. "Come on, folks! This isn't a funeral. Pack up, and let's hit the road. We've got an adventure ahead of us, and it's going to be legendary." he said with a dramatic flourish.
The team began to pack their things, the weight of the night's events still heavy on their shoulders. As they prepared to leave, Kento couldn't shake the feeling of failure.
Marcus appeared suddenly, rushing towards Jane with concern etched on his face. He knelt beside her, offering comfort and murmuring reassurances. Jane clung to him, still visibly shaken by the night's events. "Constantine," Marcus said, looking up, "it's time to meet Vicky and say your goodbyes. "Constantine's expression hardened, but he nodded. Kento stepped forward, his tone measured and calm. "The technique I used sealed her memory until she sees you again. Once you meet, you have three hours until she forgets you completely. "Constantine's jaw clenched, but he didn't protest. He simply accepted it. Turning on his heel, he headed to his room to change into something more casual – a hoodie and jeans. As he dressed, the weight of what he was about to do pressed heavily on his mind. He left the room, the early morning light casting long shadows through the windows. He knew exactly where to find Vicky: The Black Cat Café. It was their spot, a place filled with memories of happier times.
---
Constantine entered the Black Cat Café and immediately spotted Vicky sitting at their usual table by the window. She looked up and her eyes widened in surprise, then filled with worry.
"Constantine!" she exclaimed, standing up. "Where have you been? I was worried sick! After that fight outside our apartment, you just disappeared."
He took a deep breath, knowing this moment would be painful. "Vicky, I need to tell you everything. It's going to be a lot, but you deserve to know."
She sat back down, her eyes never leaving his. "What happened?"
Constantine began to recount his abduction, how he had been thrust into a world of magic and danger, and how he had become something entirely different. He told her about the Outcasts, the missions, and the powers he now possessed. As he spoke, he saw the mix of fear, confusion, and sadness in her eyes.
"I have to go in a while, Vicky," he said finally. "You'll forget me and live a happy life. You deserve that. And...I'm sorry. For everything. I'm grateful. For everything. You gave me more than anyone could ever ask for. I wouldn't have survived without you; the death of my parents, high school, college, having a real, normal life. I love you with everything I got and I want you to be happy...and without me, you will." he said, clenching his fists, his voice breaking.
Tears streamed down Vicky's face as she shook her head. "No, I can't forget you. I don't want to."
He reached across the table, taking her hands in his. "Please, just chat with me like we used to. One last time."
Despite her tears, she nodded, and they talked. They reminisced about old times, laughed about shared memories, and for a moment, it felt like nothing had changed. But then, without warning, Vicky looked at him, her expression confused.
"Who...who are you?"
Constantine's heart broke, but he forced a sad smile. "No one. Sorry to bother you, ma'am. Goodbye.".
He left the café, stepping out into the rain. The world felt colder, emptier, his last tether to it now gone. As he walked, nobody noticed him. People instinctively avoided him, giving him a wide berth. It was then he realized what it truly meant to be an Outcast.
He found a bench and sat down, the rain becoming one with his tears. He screamed into the storm, his cries swallowed by the downpour. The storm intensified, almost as if answering his call. He was broken.
After a while, he sensed a presence beside him. He looked up to see Kento standing there, his usual calm demeanor softened with sympathy.
"You did the right thing," Kento said quietly.
Constantine didn't respond, his gaze returning to the rain-soaked street. He felt a hand on his shoulder, a silent offer of comfort and solidarity. Despite the turmoil inside him, he knew he wasn't alone. They were all Outcasts, and they had each other.
---
Back at the Outcast base, Marcus paced around the room, his worry etched into every line of his face. Damien leaned against the wall, his usual carefree demeanor slightly subdued as he listened.
"Jane's still out of it," Marcus began, running a hand through his hair. "She hasn't said a word since the explosion. We barely managed to get her to a bed."
Damien nodded, crossing his arms. "They've always said Twinning and Element Distortion are unpredictable. Most mages awaken their powers around 15.
Marcus looked at him, confused. "But Jane's powers just went haywire. Why now?"
"Her twin must have turned 15 today," Damien replied. "That's usually when these things stabilize, but Jane's case seems unique."
---
Earlier in Nyx:
Elijah Barnett was jolted awake by a loud explosion. He quickly threw on a robe and rushed downstairs. The mansion was in chaos; furniture was upended, and the walls were scorched. He found several injured maids and quickly used his healing potions on them.
"What happened?" he demanded.
One of the maids, still shaken, managed to respond. "The explosion came from young master Eric's bedroom."
Elijah's eyes widened. Today was Eric's 15th birthday. His worst fears were confirmed as he ran to his brother's room.
The door was barely hanging on its hinges. Inside, the room was a disaster zone, everything ablaze except for Eric, who stood in the middle, completely unharmed.
"Elijah!" Eric called out, his voice trembling. "I don't know what happened—"
Elijah's face hardened. Without a word, he aimed his hand and sent a fireball straight at Eric. The fireball stopped just short of hitting him and dispersed harmlessly. Eric stood there, eyes wide with shock.
"So, you've awakened too," Elijah muttered, lowering his hand. "A pyromancer, just like me."
Eric looked at his brother, fear and confusion etched on his face. "What does this mean?"
"It means," Elijah replied, his voice softer now, "that you and I are more alike than I ever thought. We'll figure this out together."
---
Back at the Outcast base:
Marcus sighed, absorbing Damien's explanation. "So, Jane's twin must have just awakened. That's why her powers went out of control."
Damien nodded. "We need to find a way to stabilize her. But first, we need to get out of here before Lilith comes looking for revenge."
At that moment, Constantine entered the room, soaked from the rain but with a determined look on his face. "We don't have much time. Let's get Jane and get out of here."
Marcus nodded, his expression resolute. "Agreed. Let's move."
As they hurried to gather their things, the weight of their mission hung heavy in the air. They were up against powerful enemies, but together, they were stronger. And with Jane's powers, once stabilized, they would be an even more formidable force. They stepped into the teleportation circle and vanished.
Epilogue:
At Brady's Inn in Nyx, the atmosphere was filled with the hum of quiet conversations and the clinking of glasses. Lucius, now disguised as Ian Brady, the unassuming innkeeper, leaned over the bar. He exchanged hushed words with Myra, who was currently transformed into Jonathan Guthrie. Their plans remained a secret, but the three pictures spread out on the counter told a tale of their own: Constantine St. John, Kento Salvatore, and Jane Winchester.
Lucius glanced at the pictures, his eyes narrowing with determination. "Everything is in place?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Myra, still in her Jonathan guise, nodded. "We have eyes on all of them. It won't be long now."
---
Meanwhile, in an imposing tower at the city center, Michaelius made his way through the grand, echoing corridors. His footsteps were the only sound until he reached a massive, ornate door. Pushing it open, he entered a room bathed in shadows.
At the far end, shrouded in darkness except for his glowing golden eyes, sat their master. Michaelius knelt immediately upon entering, his head bowed in deep respect. "I greet the Morning Star," he said reverently.
The master's eyes seemed to pierce through the darkness, focused intently on Michaelius. "Report," he commanded, his voice smooth and authoritative.
Michaelius kept his head bowed. "Everything is ready, my lord. Our plans are proceeding as expected."
A smile crept across the master's face, his golden eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Excellent," he murmured, the word dripping with anticipation. "Soon, everything will fall into place. The plans were set, and the pieces were in motion. The next move would determine everything.
End of Volume 1.