Night in the Esoteric Society was an absolute thing. There was no light pollution, no stars dotting the celestial mantle — only a deep, oppressive darkness, broken solely and exclusively by the icy light of a pale blue moon. Indra looked up at it, as he always did, feeling the peculiar cold of that luminescence. Inside it, like an eternal stain, the fetus-like silhouette seemed to rest, motionless for now. It was a constant reminder that he was no longer on the Mortal Plane.
A week ago, he had left the safety of Sophie's house, plunging into a secret, intensive training session with the veteran Aleksei Ivanov. Now, back again, standing before the familiar gate, he felt the weariness weighing on his bones from Aleksei's brutal discipline. His black eyes, which once reflected the confusion of an ordinary boy, now held a sharper focus. He was still a low-level Graduate, but he felt the threshold to the mid-level was closer than ever. The energy in his Inner Core responded more readily, a stream yearning to become a river.
With a sigh that slightly fogged the cold air, Indra pushed the gate. The metal didn't creak, but gave a soft whisper, recognizing his energy signature.
The scene in the living room was a violent contrast to the exterior darkness. The warm lighting from the candelabras cast dancing shadows over the books and rugs. And there, seated at the black marble table, was Sophie. Several platters covered the table, but the aroma dominating the air was unmistakable: the rich, herbal scent of Stone Bird Stew.
She turned as she felt him enter. Her ink-black hair was loose, and her heterochromatic eyes — one blue-gray, the other emerald green — captured his immediately. A charged silence hung in the air as she rose and closed the distance with her feline grace, stopping inches from his face.
Her scent — nocturnal flowers and metal smoke — invaded his senses. Their faces were dangerously close. Those unique eyes scrutinized him with an intensity that made his heart race, searching for the changes, measuring the distance the week had created. It was a look hard to define, laden with an intimate familiarity that needed no words.
Just as it appeared, the tension dissipated. The corners of Sophie's mouth curved into a genuine smile, and her eyes shone with happiness. Before he could react, she took his right hand — the hand that now carried the memory of new blows and effort — with both of hers.
"Welcome back." — she said, her voice a softer tone, pulling him towards the table.
"The training didn't break you, it seems. Just made you quieter."
Indra felt a sense of déjà vu. This reception ritual — the mix of intense scrutiny and possessive warmth — had been a constant since they started sharing the same house and... well, everything. It wasn't entirely bad. It was, in fact, one of the few fixed points in his life.
They sat down. Sophie began eating animatedly, but an unusual silence accompanied her. Indra watched her, suspicious. Normally, she would already be bombarding him with questions. Her silence was planned. He knew how to read the signs. 'She's plotting something for after dinner,' he thought, internalizing the alert.
It was as he was about to take his first spoonful that the truth hit him. The dish. It wasn't just any meal. It was the exact same Stone Bird Stew he had tasted on his first day on the Other Side, after Sophie had rescued him. That dish represented the beginning of everything.
A wave of bittersweet nostalgia washed over him. It was ironic to feel that an eternity had passed since then. That boy from a month ago — scared, ignorant, and completely unprepared — was a relic of a distant past. He had learned so much, his strength had grown, his emotional skin had thickened. But the most disconcerting change was the nature of his bond with Sophie. They were intimate, they shared a home and a bed, but what were they to each other? "Relationship" was a big, scary word that neither of them uttered. They had agreed to let things flow, but the current was carrying them into ever deeper and more unknown waters. Their closeness was comfortable, but the next step seemed like an abyss. Perhaps, he thought, it was wiser not to take any step. Perhaps what they had now — this strange, warm, complicated partnership — was already enough, and any attempt to define it would only break it.
Before his thoughts could plunge deeper, Sophie's voice brought him back.
"Now that we're finished" — she announced, pushing the empty plate away and resting her chin on her hands, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"There's a place I want to go with you. Or, to be more precise, it's you who will take me there."
Indra blinked, confusion clearing the haze of his reflections.
"Take you? Where? The Paranormal Exam is tomorrow, Sophie. We should be resting."
Her smile widened.
"Exactly why. You're tense. And the culture here and in your world is so different... I realized that in your free time, you seem a bit lost, not knowing how to have fun in our strange world." — She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"And then I remembered. It's been exactly one month since you stepped onto the Mortal Plane. One month since your life was turned upside down. I think it's time for a visit, don't you?"
"Therefore." — Sophie continued, standing up and extending her hand.
"Here is the plan. You will take me to your home, on the Mortal Plane. And you, Indra Shuemesch, will teach me how to have fun… the way mundane humans do. Consider it a pre-exam decompression mission."
Indra was speechless, processing.
---
The path to the Royal Borough's Teleportation Center was paved with irregular stones that glowed softly under the icy light of the blue moon. The architecture around them was a mix of somber Gothic and structures that seemed to pulse with a life of their own, carved from materials that didn't exist on the Mortal Plane. Indra walked beside Sophie, his body still conscious of the residual aches from his brutal training with Aleksei. Every muscle throbbed, but it was a sweet pain, the pain of growth.
It was then that he really noticed Sophie. She wasn't wearing her usual Legionnaire attire — those functional, imposing uniforms that made her look like an architect of war. Instead, she wore a long-sleeved black top that clung to her torso like a second skin, accentuating every curve in a way that was both discreet and profoundly disruptive to Indra's concentration. Around her neck, an ankh pendant rested on the fabric. The short plaid skirt in gray and black was interrupted by metallic details — rings, zippers, and decorative straps that jingled softly with each step. The black thigh-high stockings and velvet shoes completed the look, a balanced fusion of gothic aesthetic and modern boldness.
Indra's eyes widened for a split second. He had never imagined Sophie had taste like this. But, considering they were heading to the Mortal Plane, it was perfect. She would fit right in, a rising rock star or an alternative fashion influencer, rather than a half-demon Pseudo-Sovereign Captain of a legion of supernatural warriors.
"What is it?" — Sophie asked, catching his gaze. Her heterochromatic eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Nothing." — he replied quickly, looking away.
"Just... the look is new."
"Everyone has a mundane side, Indra. Even me." — She smiled, a gesture laden with subtext.
They reached the Teleportation Center, a circular structure where complex runes were inlaid in the floor, pulsing with a soft light. Two guards in light armor and stern expressions blocked their path.
"The Center is closed for non-essential crossings. It's too late." — one of them said, his voice echoing inside his helm.
Sophie didn't even blink. With a fluid motion, she pulled a small silver plaque from inside her top, showing the engraved insignias denoting her rank.
"Captain Sophie Ledger, Tenth Legion. This is a matter of security and territorial reconnaissance. We need to inspect a point on the Mortal Plane."
The change in the guards was instantaneous. They straightened up, raising their fists to their chests in a respectful salute.
"Captain! Of course, proceed. The portal to the designated Mortal Plane sector is calibrated and stable."
Sophie nodded, putting the credential away.
"Thank you, soldiers."
They positioned themselves in the center of the rune circle. The sensation of crossing the Veil was always disorienting. For Indra, it was like stretching a thin, transparent piece of plastic to its absolute limit, feeling the tension build in every fiber of his being. There was a moment of unbearable pressure, a silence that wasn't silence, and then — crack. A sensation of breaking, like shattering glass, but without sound. And suddenly, the world changed.
The heavy, energy-charged air of the Other Side was replaced by the familiar smell of asphalt, night humidity, and the distant odor of garbage. They were in a dark alley behind a commercial building, in Indra's quiet hometown. The yellow streetlights bathed everything in a sickly glow, and the sound of crickets filled the silence.
"Wow." — Sophie whispered, her eyes widening. She turned slowly, absorbing every detail — the cracked sidewalks, the hanging power lines, a rusty bike chained to a pole.
"It's so... flat. So quiet."
"Welcome to the boondocks of the Mortal Plane." — Indra said with a wry smile.
"The world capital of excitement."
Before she could run off exploring, Sophie closed her eyes for a moment, murmuring whispered words in a language that made the air tremble. A faint mist of dark blue energy briefly enveloped her lower back. When the mist dissipated, her tail had vanished, completely hidden by the illusion. Now, she looked like an incredibly beautiful and stylish girl, but entirely human.
"Ready." — she announced, satisfied. Then, without ceremony, she linked her arm with his, holding on tight.
"So, Mr. Tour Guide, where are we going first?"
Indra felt a chill run down his spine. The question he most feared. What in this sleepy town could impress someone who traveled between dimensions and commanded legions? The city park? The snack bar that closed at nine? The viewpoint overlooking the wholesale market's parking lot?
"It's... better if we just walk." — he said, his voice a bit higher than intended.
"The town isn't big. Eventually, we'll reach... interesting places."
Sophie agreed with an animated nod, her confidence touching.
"Perfect! I love exploring."
She clearly had no idea she was about to embark on the most tedious tour in human history.
They walked through quiet streets, Sophie pointing at common things as if they were exotic artifacts: a traffic light, a dog barking behind a fence, a pizza parlor advertisement. Indra tried to explain, feeling increasingly absurd.
It was then that they passed by "Bar do Bira". It was a simple brick building, with plastic tables on the sidewalk and the unmistakable soundtrack of a pool game from inside — the dry clack of balls colliding. A group of three older men was sitting at an outside table, playing cards under the weak light of a bulb.
"Look who disappeared off the map!" — shouted one of them, Mr. Almir, recognizing Indra.
"You vanished, kid! Thought the boogeyman got you!"
Indra's heart sank. This was the moment he most feared — the explanation. He felt Sophie's grip tighten on his arm, a silent reminder that he wasn't alone in this.
They approached.
"Good evening, gentlemen." — Indra greeted, trying to sound casual.
"Damn, kid!" — exclaimed Mr. Almir, looking Indra up and down.
"What have you been doing? Looks like you swallowed a bull! You're huge!"
Before Indra could formulate a lie, the second man, Mr. Valdir — a retired bodybuilder whose physique was still impressive for his age — slapped Indra's shoulder, appraising.
"No need to even say, Almir! Look at that deltoid development, that trapezius... The kid finally gave in and started using some 'juice' right, Indra? I told you you had the genetics! Even with a cycle, to evolve like this in a month... You're pure breed!"
Indra almost sighed with relief. The perfect excuse had been handed to him on a silver platter. He simply shrugged, trying to seem modest.
"Yeah, Mr. Valdir. I decided to... experiment."
The three old men nodded, impressed. It was then that the third, Mr. Oscar, the group's troublemaker, jerked his chin towards Sophie.
"And this Greek goddess here, Indra? You dating? That's why you disappeared, huh, you rascal!"
Indra opened his mouth, a "no" about to come out, but Sophie squeezed his arm with a strength that would make the colossal bear of the Vallencourt Forest cry. She took a step forward, her smile the most beautiful and terrifying thing Indra had ever seen.
"Yes, sir!" — she said, her voice sweet as honey, but with an edge of possessiveness that made the men's eyes gleam.
"Sophie Ledger. Pleasure to meet you. Indra was spending some time at my house, in the capital. That's why he disappeared. I hope you don't mind."
The gazes of Mr. Almir, Mr. Valdir, and Mr. Oscar turned to Indra, a mixture of pure masculine pride and green envy. Indra knew, with absolute certainty, that at that moment he had reached the peak of his existence in those men's perception.
They chatted for a few more minutes, until Indra realized Sophie was no longer by his side. He turned and saw her standing at the bar's entrance, watching the pool table with an expression of intense, adorable curiosity, like an archaeologist finding a lost hieroglyph.
Indra said goodbye to the men and approached her.
"Interested?"
"What is this?" — she asked, pointing at the cues.
"It looks like a strange battle ritual."
"It's a game. Pool."
He picked up two cues and explained the basic rules, the concept of shots, of pocketing the balls.
The "game" that followed was anything but exciting. Two Paranormals, even a Graduate and a Pseudo-Sovereign, playing pool was like putting two gods to assemble a baby's puzzle. Neither of them missed a single shot. The balls collided with mathematical precision, ricocheting off the rails and dropping into the pockets in a hypnotic, unnatural sequence. In less than five minutes, only the black ball and the cue ball remained on the table. Indra, perfectly aware of the absurdity of the situation, positioned the black ball so Sophie could pocket it with a simple shot.
"And... that's it?" — she asked, after the black ball disappeared into the pocket.
"You won." — Indra said with a smile.
Sophie's eyes lit up.
"I won!" — She gave a little jump and, to Indra's total surprise, threw herself against him, wrapping him in a quick, euphoric hug.
"It's so much fun! Let's play again!"
"Another time." — he laughed, feeling the warmth of her body against his.
"We still have more things to see."
They left the Bar do Bira and headed towards Indra's house, cutting through the city's public park. As he predicted, it was desolately empty at that hour, only the swings creaking slightly in the wind. Their fun came from trying to decipher the bizarre, rusty gym equipment, creating absurd stories for their original purpose. It was in the public restroom — a graffiti-covered concrete cubicle — that Sophie, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, pulled him inside.
"What is it?" — Indra asked, confused.
"I saw it in a movie." — she whispered, moving closer.
"Kissing in hiding in a public place... it's a teenage act of rebellion. I want to try it."
He couldn't argue with that logic. And for a few minutes, in the cold and the smell of cheap disinfectant, they lost themselves in the taste of each other, a delicious small transgression against the laws of boredom.
Finally, they arrived. Indra's house was a mid-1940s construction with a modest, welcoming pre-modernist facade, the white paint slightly peeling at the edges. "It looks like my grandparents' house" anyone would say, and they'd be right. To Sophie, accustomed to the ancient and often gloomy structures of the Esoteric Society, the house felt strangely cozy.
Inside, the atmosphere was different. The basic architecture was still there, but it was overshadowed by Indra's personality. Action figures, Funko Pops, RPG books, and manga occupied every shelf. A gaming computer with colorful blinking LEDs sat on a desk, surrounded by consoles and controllers. The single bed was unmade, a monument to a single man's pragmatism.
"Wow." — Sophie said, entering the room. Her expression was a study in contradictions. She examined a poster of Iron Maiden, her face showing amused perplexity at the macabre art.
"These images are... intense."
But then her eyes landed on a row of Funko Pops from a magical girl anime.
"Oh, how cute!" — she exclaimed, picking one up.
Indra laughed and guided her to the computer, giving a basic lesson on how to browse the internet. He prudently avoided any mention of the browser history — some secrets were necessary for self-preservation. Next, they dove into video games. He introduced her to the Odyssey Station and the Magnavox Switch. They played everything: from relaxing farming games to epic battles in open worlds and frenetic competitions in PVP games. Sophie, with her supernatural reflexes, did absurdly well at everything, but she laughed genuinely every time she lost, discovering the pure, uncomplicated fun of that mundane culture.
The night wore on. They turned off the lights and, by mutual agreement, decided to stay. The single bed was tight territory. They lay on their sides, facing each other, their bodies touching from head to toe in that confined space. Indra could feel Sophie's warm breath against his face, and he was sure she could feel the uncontrolled acceleration of his heart. The silence was thick, charged with an intimacy that went beyond the physical.
"Are you nervous?" — Sophie's voice cut through the silence, a whisper in the dark.
Indra swallowed dryly.
"No. I'm used to being close to you by now. And... it feels too good to waste time being nervous."
"Silly." — she said softly.
"I was talking about the Paranormal Exam. It's normal to be afraid, you know. Everyone feels it."
He was silent for a moment, pondering.
"Strangely... I'm confident. I've spent so much time around people like you, Aleksei, Reid... I feel ready to face whatever comes."
Sophie gave a low chuckle.
"Confidence is good. Just don't let it turn into arrogance, or you'll end up dead."
"Yes, ma'am." — he replied, with an ironic tone.
They laughed together, a soft sound lost in the shared pillow. The silence returned, but this time it was warmer, more intentional. Then, moved by an impulse from that new confidence, Indra slid his hands to Sophie's waist, pulling her even closer. Their bodies fit together perfectly, and the heat between them seemed to increase ten degrees. It was as if an invisible line had been crossed. They instinctively drew nearer, their foreheads touching, noses nuzzling, the outside world disappearing.
But, when their lips were a hair's breadth from meeting, Sophie stopped.
"You'd better get some good rest." — she whispered, her voice husky.
"Tomorrow is a big day."
Indra smiled, a slow, confident smile she could barely see in the dark.
"This is the best rest I could have."
She returned the smile.
"Since when are you the one pursuing me? Normally, I'm the one who makes the first move."
"Like I said." — he whispered, his warm breath against her lips.
"I'm feeling strangely confident."
Sophie said nothing more. She simply closed the final distance.
And in that small bed, in his modest house on the Mortal Plane, with the taste of Sophie on his lips and the weight of the future on his shoulders, Indra wasn't sure of anything — not about the Exam, not about their relationship, not about his place in the Nine Realms. But for that night, he knew that all he needed to do was cherish the fleeting perfection of the present.