The next day, after hours of training with the squad, Devin and I decided to take a break. My muscles ached, my shirt was still damp with sweat, and I could barely feel my arms after the energy drills. Devin, of course, was as annoyingly chatty as ever, tossing an empty water bottle in the air like he was some kind of street performer.
"Did you see Daniels' face when I nailed that energy blast today?" Devin said, grinning like a fool. "Poor guy looked like he was about to faint. Admit it—I was the MVP."
I raised an eyebrow at him, sipping from my water bottle. "You tripped during warm-ups, Devin. Pretty sure that disqualifies you from 'most valuable' anything."
He gasped, clutching his chest like I'd mortally wounded him. "First of all, warm-ups don't count. Second, it's about the finish, Bea. The flair. You wouldn't get it—you're all business, no fun."
"Maybe that's because I'm focused on not embarrassing myself," I shot back, though I couldn't help the small smile creeping onto my lips.
Devin winked, twirling the bottle in his hand. "You're just jealous of my style. Don't worry, I'll teach you—free of charge, even. That's how generous I am."
I rolled my eyes but didn't respond. For all his obnoxiousness, Devin had a way of keeping things light. I wasn't sure I'd ever admit it to him, but I appreciated it. Especially now, when the weight of everything—the horn, the Esper, and my stupid glowing eye—felt like too much to carry alone.
We turned onto a quieter street, the bustling noise of the city base behind us. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement, and the air felt… strange. Heavy, like something unseen was pressing down on my chest.
"Does it feel weird out here to you?" I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.
Devin stopped tossing the bottle, glancing at me with a raised eyebrow. "Weird how? Like the weird where you secretly think I'm actually the MVP, or the weird where we're being stalked by some shadowy creep?"
"Definitely the second one," I said, my eyes scanning the street. The knot in my stomach tightened. Something wasn't right.
Devin straightened up, his usual smirk fading. "Yeah… now that you mention it, the air does feel off. Like, heavier or something. You think—"
I spotted it before he finished. A cloaked figure stood at the entrance of a dark alley a few yards ahead, their body unnaturally still. The shadows clung to them like they didn't want to let go. My breath caught in my throat.
"There," I said, nodding toward the alley. Devin followed my gaze, his expression hardening in a way I wasn't used to seeing.
"Alright," he muttered, cracking his knuckles. "Creepy cloaked figures are bad news. Do we ignore it and hope it goes away, or are we doing the whole 'mysterious encounter' thing?"
"Do you ever take anything seriously?" I snapped, stepping forward before he could make another dumb comment. "Let's see what they want."
Devin groaned, jogging to catch up. "Right, because walking straight toward the ominous figure isn't a terrible idea. Love your judgment, Bea."
The figure didn't move as we approached, and the closer we got, the stranger they seemed. Their movements didn't align with the natural flow of walking—it was like they were gliding, or maybe the shadows were playing tricks on my eyes. Either way, every instinct I had was screaming at me to turn around and leave.
"Hey!" Devin called out, his tone a mix of cocky and cautious. "Nice cloak. Halloween's a few months away, though."
The figure paused but didn't turn around. My heart pounded in my chest as I stepped closer, ignoring Devin's muttered, "Bea, maybe don't—"
"Who are you?" I demanded, keeping my voice steady despite the unease twisting in my gut. "What do you want?"
Slowly, the figure turned to face us. Their hood obscured most of their face, but I could see two glowing red eyes peering out from the darkness. They were piercing, unnatural, and they sent a chill down my spine.
"You don't understand what you are," the figure said, their voice distorted and low. It reverberated in the air, like it wasn't entirely human. "But they will come for you."
I froze, my mind racing. "What are you talking about? Who's coming for me?"
The figure didn't answer. Instead, they raised a hand, and a flicker of dark energy crackled around it, hissing like fire and ice colliding. The air grew colder, and I instinctively stepped back, my pulse hammering in my ears.
Devin, ever the reckless one, stepped forward, his fists clenched. "Alright, pal, that's enough of the cryptic nonsense. Start talking, or—"
"Devin, stop," I said sharply, grabbing his arm. Something about the figure didn't feel entirely hostile. Dangerous, yes, but not outright malicious. Not yet.
The figure tilted their head, as if studying us. Then, without warning, they raised their hand higher, and a symbol burned itself into the pavement at their feet. It glowed faintly, its shape sharp and unfamiliar, but something about it felt… connected to me. Like I'd seen it before.
"The Eye of the Esper sees all," the figure said, their voice softer now, almost regretful. "You are not ready for what's coming."
And just like that, they disappeared, the shadows swallowing them whole.
I stared at the symbol, my breath shaky. The strange pull I felt toward it was undeniable, like it was tethered to my very existence.
Devin, for once, was silent. When he finally spoke, his voice was uncharacteristically soft. "Bea… what the hell was that?"
I shook my head, my hands trembling. "I don't know. But I think we need answers. Fast."
High above the scene, a figure stood on the edge of a rooftop, watching the encounter unfold below. Their silhouette was barely noticeable against the darkening sky, blending into the shadows of the tall buildings. They observed, unmoving, their cold, red eyes focused on Beatrix and Devin as they stood in the aftermath.
A smile tugged at the edges of their lips, cruel and satisfied.
"You're developing quickly, my students," the figure murmured, their voice barely a whisper in the wind. "All shall fall in place soon."