The car hummed softly as it drove through the city's streets. Khael sat in the passenger seat inside and told his story while leaning back and resting one arm on the window. Every now and then, Cade's mouth dropped open slightly in disbelief.
"So… your ID vanished?"
"Yeah," Khael said, his tone laced with frustration. "It's like I don't exist in this world anymore."
Cade glanced at him briefly before returning his eyes to the road. "That's insane. I mean, people vanish, sure, but their records? Someone's got to be behind this."
"Nope. Who's got the time to bother erasing my existence? I don't even know anyone."
"Still, for something like to happen…"
"Doesn't matter," Khael said with a shrug. "It's gone. Now I have to waste my time in this damn academy just to get a new ID."
"I think I can help with that,"
Khael glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "How?"
Cade hesitated for a moment before speaking. "It's supposed to be a secret, but… my sister runs a private organization. Maybe she can help you get a new ID."
"You have a sister?"
"Yes, Captain. But like I said, it's a secret. Please don't tell anyone, or she'll kill me." Cade gave him a quick, nervous glance.
"Why don't we go right now?"
"Uhh… sorry, Captain, but she's not in the country at the moment. I'll talk to her as soon as she gets back."
Leaning back in his seat, Khael waved it off. "Whatever…"
The car slowed as Cade turned onto a quieter road.
"Yo, Miguel, where are we going?"
Cade groaned, gripping the wheel a little tighter. "It's Cade, Captain. Cade Thorne. Miguel doesn't even make sense."
"Does to me," Khael replied casually, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Cade sighed. "Fine."
After a few minutes, the car came to a stop in a silent parking area. Tall trees tilted lightly in the surrounding wind, casting shadows on the pavement. Only the rare rustle of leaves and the faint sound of insects could be heard. In front of them was an empty road that faded into the forest.
Khael glanced around. "Where are we?"
Cade turned off the engine and leaned back. "This is a therapist's office. I have some work to handle here."
"A therapist? Was the war too much for you to handle?" Khael said mockingly.
"I'm not that soft. It's just some errands I need to take care of."
Cade opened the car door and stepped out. Khael followed, the gravel crunching under his boots as he stretched his arms. The building was small, with a plain brick façade and a modest sign hanging by the door that read Dr. Victor Bright, Therapist.
As soon as they stepped into the building, a man in a white apron with thick glasses rushed toward them. His face lit up upon seeing Cade.
"Oh, you're here!" the man exclaimed with obvious relief. "Stay inside and keep the clients busy—just chit-chat with them!"
Before either of them could respond, the man darted past them and out the door.
"Where are you going?" Cade shouted from the door.
"I'll be back in an hour!"
For a moment, Khael and Cade stood still, looking at each other in confusion.
"What just happened?" Khael asked.
"I don't know."
Khael gave him a side-eye before wandering further into the room. The place was surprisingly cozy, with shelves full of books and plants lining the corners. There was a large wardrobe on the wall with glass doors that held framed pictures, awards, and certificates. One photo caught Khael's attention; it showed the man outside, smiling while wearing a graduation cap and gown, with what looked like proud parents on either side of him.
He continued walking around in a circle in the small office until his eyes landed on the desk. In the middle was a nameplate, and over the back of the chair was a clean white apron.
Khael slid behind the desk, grabbed the nameplate, and tucked it into a drawer. He put on the apron with a laugh, making adjustments as if he had done it a thousand times.
"Uh, Captain?"
Khael didn't respond. Instead, he grabbed a pair of glasses from the table, put them on, and leaned back in the chair with a heavily professional attitude.
Cade sighed. "What are you doing?"
"Blending in," Khael replied coolly. "Someone's gotta keep the 'clients' busy, right?"
"I don't think that's a good idea, captain."
"Relax. Therapy is just talking with people. Everyone can do that."
Before Cade could say anything, the door behind them swung open. He turned to the sound, and Khael did too. A middle-aged woman with a handbag hanging over one shoulder entered, dressed in sleek, modern outfits. Her eyebrows went up a little in surprise as she looked between them.
"Am I… interrupting?" she asked.
Cade quickly stepped to the side and motioned toward the chair opposite Khael. "No, not at all. Please, have a seat."
After a few moments, the woman sat down across from Khael and looked at him closely. She tilted her head slightly. "You look… awfully young to be a therapist."
Khael adjusted the glasses on his nose. "That's your eyes playing tricks on you, ma'am. I'm actually 32."
"Thirty-two? Really? I suppose looks can be deceiving."
"Now then, how can I help you today?"
The woman adjusted her posture in the chair "I've been feeling… unmotivated lately. Like, nothing I do feels meaningful."
Khael leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "It means your life probably _isn't_ meaningful."
Her mouth fell open slightly. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," Khael said bluntly. "You're probably stuck in some dead-end routine and keep expecting it to magically get better. It won't. Do something different or stop complaining about it."
"What kind of therapist says that?"
"One with functioning brain cells. You don't need a therapist, you need common sense."
Cade, standing in one corner, covered his face with his hand, clearly regretting every decision that led him here.
"Let's move on. Do you have any other problems?" Khael asked.
The woman's voice raised a notch. "I came here for help, not to be insulted!"
"And I'm giving you help," Khael said flatly.
Her breath hitched, and she let out a sharp exhale. "Fine. What about this, then? Do you think I should join a gym? I've been considering it."
"Absolutely. Yesterday, if possible."
Her hands flew to her hips. "How dare you!"
"I mean, look at you, you're asking me if you should go to the gym? I'm shocked you made it up those two stairs outside to get here."
Cade waved his hands behind her back in a silent plea for Khael to stop.
"You're the one who walked in here looking like you've never seen a salad and asked if you should go to the gym. What did you think I'd say? 'No, keep sitting on your couch eating chips and wondering why you feel like garbage?'"
"YOU'RE A MONSTER!" she yelled, standing up, so abruptly her chair screeched against the floor. "I can't believe you just said that! I'm never coming back here!"
Cade's eyes widened as he waved his arms frantically behind her, mouthing Captain, stop!
"You're wasting your money anyway. Go use it on a treadmill or something."
She walked out, slamming the door behind her. Cade, wide-eyed and horrified, turned to Khael.
"What have you done?"
"Therapy, of course."
"That was not therapy!"
"Whatever, Who's the next client?"
"Captain… Please don't do this anymore."
Khael tilted his head, amused. "Why not? It's pretty fun, honestly."
"I'm begging you!"
With an exaggerated sigh, Khael stood, peeling off the apron and glasses and putting them back in their places. Cade's shoulders relaxed.
But just as Khael moved toward him, he paused and turned back to the desk. "Then again, maybe I should give it one more shot–"
"NO!" Cade grabbed Khael and dragged him toward the door. Then shoved Khael into the passenger seat of the car and climbed into the driver's side.
"What happened to your work?" Khael asked, leaning back in the seat.
"I'll do it later." Cade started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.
"Where are we going now?"
"There's a fair in town," Cade replied. "Want to check it out?"
"A fair? Why not?"
The car came to a stop at the edge of the town square, the faint hum of chatter and laughter spilling through the open windows. Cade parked in a small gravel lot under the shade of a tree. Khael went outside and looked around. There was nothing special, just a random arrangement of rows of tiny, colorful stalls. Families passed, children dragged balloons, and groups of friends gathered around makeshift tables to laugh and eat.
"Packed with people," Khael muttered, his keen eyes waving over the crowd.
"It's a fair, captain." Cade closed his door and moved near to him. "What were you expecting?"
"I've never been to a fair before. And honestly, I don't like being in crowds. They're annoying."
"Then we can leave and go somewhere else—"
"Wait, who said I wouldn't go?" Khael cut him off. He was already moving toward the lively square. "Might as well check it out. And besides, you're here."
"Uhhh… this is my first time at a fair too," Cade admitted, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Huh? Don't you live in this city?"
"Yeah, but I don't exactly have much free time when my sister's around,"
"Sounds like a pain," Khael glanced around, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the scene. "So, what's the deal with these stalls?"
"They're just games and shops. You try your luck, win a prize, or grab a snack. Easy."
"Hmm." Khael approached the nearest stall, where a series of bottles were stacked in a pyramid. The goal was to knock them down with a single ball. He picked up the ball, aimed and tossed it forward.
The ball smashed into the stack, sending bottles flying in all directions.
"Winner!" the stall owner called out, holding up a plush toy.
"What do I look like? A kid?"
"…" The stall owner blinked at him.
Khael turned around and gaze fell onto a small child standing behind him in line. The child's innocent face lit up with hope as his wide eyes were fixed on the plush toy.
"You want this?" Khael asked, in a strangely calm tone.
With his tiny hands clasped together in hope and his eyes sparkling with excitement, the child nodded eagerly. Khael's lips twisted into a wicked grin. He leaned down slightly and let out a maniacal laugh.
"Wah! Wah! Get your own!"