Xenon remained still, her gaze locked on the boy's mesmerizing blue eyes. She had never allowed anyone to see her vulnerable side—no one except that person in her dark history. A wave of shame coursed through her, but it was quickly eclipsed by something else: amazement. This boy, a stranger she had met today, was unlike anyone she had ever encountered.
He wasn't like her, not extraordinary in the same way, and yet… he was more special than any other human she had ever known.
She pulled her hands off his shoulders, striving to maintain her strong-headed façade. For the first time, she took a proper look around. The balcony was well-kept, with benches for sitting and a few potted plants scattered about, their leaves gently swaying in the cool breeze. The soft hum of the city in the distance mixed with the rustling of leaves, creating a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. Her gaze then shifted to Draven's bedroom through the side door, the dim light inside casting shadows on the floor.
"Is that your room?" she asked, her voice steady. "Can we sit inside? I'm gonna catch a cold out here while you interrogate me." She said with a light smile, keeping her expression steady.
Draven nodded silently, gesturing toward the door. Xenon could tell he wasn't one for many words, but if he kept up with that "less talk, more observe" routine, this was going to be more challenging than she expected. She wasn't the type to shy away from a challenge, but dealing with someone who barely said a thing wasn't going to make this easy.
The room wasn't anything glamorous or enormous, but it had a comfortable, lived-in feel. A wardrobe stood in one corner, next to a study table scattered with neatly organized items. A folding bed was mounted against the wall, leaving plenty of open space. The walls were painted a plain white with blue outlines, adding a subtle touch of personality to the otherwise simple decor.
Xenon glanced around the room, then walked over to the mounted bed. She unfolded it with ease and sat down, patting the spot beside her. "Sit here," she said, her tone firm but casual. "Let's talk."
Draven hesitated for a moment but complied, sitting down next to her. Xenon studied his face, surprised by how calm he seemed—especially for someone who had just seen a completely hidden side of his world. There was a quiet steadiness to him that intrigued her.
"What's your name?" she asked, leaning slightly closer to meet his gaze.
Draven chuckled, the sound low but genuine. "Now you're asking my name?" he said, a grin tugging at his lips. "It's Draven. Draven Lucius."
"Xenon Omisha," she replied, her voice softer this time, a faint smile crossing her face. After a brief pause, she tilted her head slightly. "So, what are you? A trainee agent, perhaps?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Draven asked, genuinely surprised. "I'm just a high schooler—nothing else. But seriously, what was that thing? And the shattered sky? And everything just… disappearing?" He fired off the questions in rapid succession, his brows furrowing as he searched for answers.
"So you're completely unaware of these things?" Xenon asked, her expression darkening. She let out a small sigh, leaning back slightly. Guess I'll have to start from the beginning, she thought.
"It's… complicated," Xenon began, her voice quieter now. She explained what Para-Beasts were and the concept of reality layers. Her tone remained steady as she moved on to the P.I.A. and the role of agents, carefully detailing each point.
"So this 'reality,' as you call it, is like a natural force, similar to space and time? And it works to separate things that don't belong to someone's known reality—like Para-Beasts—by creating different layers, keeping them apart, like water and oil not mixing?" Draven asked, his tone calm but probing.
Xenon blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. Finally, she nodded. "That's… a perfect way to summarize it."
Draven nodded thoughtfully. His calm exterior masked the whirlwind of questions she knew had to be racing inside his mind. It was understandable—if reality itself was layered, and creatures like Para-Beasts came from a place called Para-Earth, how could he not wonder what else might be lurking out there?
But what truly struck her was his composure. His furrowed brows betrayed his focus as he processed every word she said, but there was no panic, no denial. He had been told his world wasn't what he thought, experienced it firsthand in the most jarring way possible, and yet he'd already started adapting to it.
The thought sent a chill through her. Xenon had met plenty of people—agents, soldiers, and otherwise—but she had never encountered anyone like him. His mental resilience was unlike anything she'd seen before.
"And the P.I.A. and agents you mentioned? What are they?" Draven asked, snapping her from her thoughts.
"UNESCO discovered the Para-Earth phenomenon long before the war," Xenon explained, her tone steady. "They created a specialized force to combat it—the Paranormal Army. But back then, finding humans capable of generating soul energy from Natural Energy was incredibly rare, so their efforts were limited. They couldn't do much until—"
She stopped mid-sentence, her focus broken by the sudden buzz of a phone.
Draven glanced down at his phone, the name "Leo" lighting up the display. "Sorry, I gotta take this," Draven said, already stepping out onto the balcony, phone pressed to his ear.
Left alone, Xenon glanced around his room, her curiosity getting the better of her. Her gaze landed on the study table, neatly arranged with notes for various subjects. She picked up one of the papers, her eyes scanning over complex math and science formulas.
"He must be a decent student. Intelligent," she murmured to herself, impressed by the meticulous handwriting and thoroughness of his work.
The holographic displays caught her attention next. They cycled through reports of projects about the changes caused by the last war. One screen displayed a detailed theory about the so-called "Nightmare Incident" from last year—a mysterious event that occurred in a city called Quintage, near Wingrow City.
"Seems like he's into mysterious stuff too," Xenon said under her breath, leaning closer to read the notes. A small smile played on her lips. "This theory's impressive… for a normal teenager."
She turned at the sound of Draven's approaching steps. Her ultra-sensitive hearing picked up even the faintest sounds within 20 meters—the steady hum of electronics, the distant rustle of leaves outside, and, notably, the subtle increase in Draven's heartbeat compared to before.
With a quick, fluid motion, she darted back to the bed, sitting down in a casual pose. Her supernatural speed ensured she was seated a split second before Draven entered the room, none the wiser to her brief exploration.
"It's my best friend," Draven said as he stepped through the door. His brows furrowed slightly. "He just got my calls from ten minutes ago. Took him long enough."
Xenon tilted her head, her expression calm. "It happens sometimes when we're in another layer of reality," she explained matter-of-factly.
Draven nodded thoughtfully. "Well, either way, he's already on his way here," he said, his tone shifting as his thoughts seemed to deepen. "And I still need to know about vampires… and those energies you mentioned."
Xenon stood, brushing off her pants. "I'll stay hidden, then," she said simply. "We'll talk more once your friend leaves."
Draven looked at her, his gaze steady but with a hint of something unreadable. "I had a different idea, though," he said.
"What, you're gonna introduce me to him?" Xenon asked, laughing softly. "Don't make it harder for the poor boy."
"Well, that's exactly what I meant," Draven replied, scratching the back of his head with a small smile. "He's naturally over-energized and curious. Honestly, he'll probably be more excited about this than overwhelmed. He's the kind of guy who'd help me process all of this better."
Xenon scratched her chin thoughtfully. "I don't have any objections, but…" Her words trailed off as her ears perked up. She tilted her head slightly, her expression sharpening. "Someone is coming from outside."
Draven raised a brow, then sighed, already guessing who it might be. "This better not be what I think it is."
Xenon straightened, her gaze fixed over the balcony. "Whoever it is, they're getting closer."
"Let me guess—they jumped over the front gate?" he asked, his tone dry as if this wasn't the first time something like this had happened.
"No, they're coming from all sides!" Xenon said sharply, her posture stiffening as she tilted her head concentrating on the faint sounds. "I don't think they're friends."
Draven's brows furrowed as he thought quickly. "Let's go upstairs and observe first," he said, grabbing his jacket from the hanger and heading for the door. He paused, glancing back at her. "You're fully recovered, right?"
Xenon nodded, following him, her footsteps almost silent on the floor. The third floor wasn't much—just a narrow hallway with a bathroom and two small rooms.
The muted hum of the house's systems added to the eerie silence. Draven opened the door to the first room and pulled Xenon in behind him. Once inside, he shut the door quietly, locked it, and slipped the key card into his pocket. The dim light from the hallway seeped through the edges of the doorframe, casting faint shadows.
Taking her arm gently, he signed her to stay close. "Slowly follow me. Don't hit anything or make noise," he said in a low, calm voice. "We'll wait for them to come inside. You listen to what they do, and if they seem dangerous, we'll use the wall's pipe system to get down."
Xenon's eyes widened slightly, her gaze shifting to the walls. "You just made that plan now?" she whispered, her voice carrying a note of disbelief.
Draven nodded, his expression calm but focused, as though calculating every possible outcome. Xenon studied him for a moment, the tension in her stance easing slightly. The boy's composure was almost unsettling. Most people would panic in this situation, but Draven acted as if he'd prepared for this his entire life.
Her curiosity deepened, mingling with a trace of suspicion. "Who are you, really?" she thought, her mind flickering between admiration and wariness. Whatever he was, one thing was clear—Draven Lucius was anything but ordinary.
Draven motioned for Xenon to follow, his movements deliberate and silent. They crept toward a window at the far end of the room. Carefully, he unlocked it and slid it open, the faint creak of the frame making both of them freeze for a split second. Without hesitation, Draven climbed through and dropped onto a narrow concrete platform just outside.
Xenon followed swiftly, her movements fluid as she landed beside him. The platform was cramped, barely wide enough for the two of them to stand side by side.
"We can see what's happening outside from here," Draven whispered, gesturing toward the street below. "And you can focus on listening inside. Once we understand the situation, we make our move."
Xenon gave a curt nod, her eyes already scanning their surroundings. Just as Draven mentioned earlier, a cluster of pipes ran along the building's exterior, offering a potential escape route. Below them, she spotted a military-grade armored vehicle stationed near the front gate.
Several figures moved around it, clad in black armor that glinted faintly under the streetlights. The material looked like some advanced alloy—sleek, lightweight, but undoubtedly durable. Their movements were precise, disciplined, and unsettlingly quiet.
Xenon narrowed her eyes, her instincts sharpening. "These guys aren't amateurs," she murmured, just loud enough for Draven to hear.
Draven's gaze didn't waver from the figures below, his mind working through possibilities. "No," he replied, his voice steady. "And they're definitely not here for a friendly visit."
As they watched, the armored team that had surrounded the house earlier split into two groups. One unit moved cautiously toward the house, while the other continued patrolling the perimeter.
The first group reached the front door. A soldier took out a sleek, handheld laser tool, its beam cutting through the lock with a faint hiss. Moments later, the team slipped inside, their movements precise and practiced.
Xenon glanced at Draven, noticing his fist clench tightly at his side. Though his jaw was set, he didn't move, keeping his focus on the unfolding situation below. The faint glow of a streetlamp illuminated his determined expression, his composure almost unnerving.
Suddenly, Xenon's sharp eyes caught a shadow darting across the corner of the wall. Another figure—smaller and quicker than the armored team—vaulted silently over the wall and ducked behind a bush near the side of the house.
"Someone else is here," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Before Draven could respond, Xenon's enhanced hearing picked up the faint, deliberate steps of the intruders as they reached the third-floor corridor. The sound sent a chill through her as the danger get closer. She focused on the sounds inside, picking up the faint murmurs of the intruders.
"Do it quickly! We can't waste time here," one of them barked, their deep voice sharp with impatience.
"Can't help it," another replied, their tone laced with frustration. "The scanner's out of charge. Without it, we can't confirm if there's anyone alive in here."
Xenon's brow furrowed as she relayed this information silently to herself. Her instincts sharpened—these men weren't here for something trivial.
A third voice echoed from downstairs, interrupting their exchange. "Team one, regroup at the front!".
The soldiers' footsteps shifted, their boots clanking against the wooden floor as they descended. Xenon's muscles tensed, her gaze darting to Draven, who remained eerily composed beside her.
"They're looking for someone," Xenon said, her sharp gaze fixed on the gathering soldiers below. "Did you have any conflicts recently?" Her voice was calm, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of unease, as the pieces of the puzzle refuse to fall into place. "Thankfully, they've already used up their scanners on the first two floors. If they hadn't, we'd be busted by now."
Draven glanced at the scene below, his brow furrowed as confusion clouded his face. "I don't go around causing problems," he replied, his voice steady but thoughtful. "If anything, my days have never been as eventful as today."
Xenon studied him for a moment, sensing the honesty in his words, before they both turned their focus back to the soldiers. The silence between them was heavy, broken only by the faint murmur of the soldiers' leader issuing commands.
Then, almost in unison, the soldiers began moving toward the bush Xenon had noticed earlier. Their guns were raised, their postures tense, as they closed in on the shadowy bush.
"They've found that one from before!" Xenon said, her voice low but tinged with nervous energy.
Draven's head snapped toward her, his confusion deepening. "Who? What are you talking about?" he asked, his tone sharper now.
"I was about to tell you earlier but didn't get the chance," Xenon said, her voice steady but urgent. "There's someone hiding behind those bushes."
Draven's eyes widened slightly, his mind racing. "That's bad," he murmured, mostly to himself. Then, more decisively, he added, "We should go down now while they're distracted."
"You mean back into the house?" Xenon asked, raising a brow. "That might actually work—they're convinced no one's inside."
Draven turned to her, his expression grimly serious. "We're not going back inside. We're taking the pipes."
That caught Xenon completely off-guard. Her face shifted to open frustration. "Why in the world would we do that? We'll get caught immediately with all of them down there, armed to the teeth!"
Draven met her incredulous gaze, his tone calm but firm. "Two reasons. First, look at the guys in the vehicle—they're keeping watch over the house. If we go back in, we risk being cornered when they decide to check again. And second…" He hesitated for just a moment. "That person behind the bush could be Leo, for all I know."
Xenon didn't respond immediately. If anything, she couldn't—Draven had a point, and both reasons were hard to argue with.
"So, earlier," she said after a moment, narrowing her eyes slightly. "When I told you someone jumped over the wall… that's why you didn't freak out?"
Draven's lips curved into a faint smile. "He has this annoying habit of doing that—jumping over the wall and sneaking into the house like he's on some secret mission."
Xenon raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
"Says it makes him feel adventurous," Draven added, his tone a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"So, what's your plan?" Xenon asked, her tone steady but curious. "How are we gonna—"
"Going down wouldn't be a good idea," an unfamiliar voice interrupted from behind them, sharp and unexpected.
Xenon's body tensed, and she nearly lost her balance on the narrow platform. Draven reacted instantly, grabbing her wrist to steady her. She shot him a quick glance, grateful but startled.
Both of them turned to see the source of the voice. Inside the room, partially illuminated by the dim light streaming through the slightly open window, stood a boy. His black hair was messy, and his tanned skin contrasted with the faint glow of his piercing green eyes.
"Who the hell—" Xenon started, her voice low and edged with suspicion.
"Leo," Draven said, cutting her off. His expression was a mix of relief and exasperation as he turned fully to face the intruder. "How in the world did you slip past them?!" Draven asked, his voice low but sharp with disbelief.
Leo grinned, crouching down as if to emphasize his stealth. "Come on, dude. I know this place even better than you. All I needed was a minute to slip through. They're good, but they're not that good."
Xenon raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "So you're Leo. It seems like you have a brilliant plan…?"
Leo motioned toward the bathroom. "There's another set of pipelines behind it. We can sneak out through the bathroom window and climb down. It'll be tight, but it's our best shot."
Draven exchanged a glance with Xenon, her expression silently assessing Leo's suggestion. He turned back to Leo, his face serious. "You're sure they won't notice?"
Leo's grin widened. "Trust me. We just have to move fast. They don't look easy to deal with, so sticking around isn't exactly an option."
"We should move while their attention's still on that bush," Draven said, his voice firm but quiet. Without hesitation, he opened the window and climbed through, dropping back to the inside of the room.
Xenon followed, her movements quick but deliberate. Despite her fluidity, her mind churned with unease. She didn't fully trust Leo—not yet. He was shrouded in too many mysteries: how he had slipped past the soldiers so easily, how he knew exactly where to find them, and how he adapted so effortlessly to such an unusual situation without hesitation or disbelief.
Her sharp gaze flicked to Leo as he crouched by the window, gesturing for them to follow his lead. He seemed at ease, almost as though he'd done this kind of thing before.
Still, Draven trusted him—completely, it seemed. And for now, that was enough.
Xenon exhaled softly, resolving to stick with them for the time being, even as her instincts urged her to stay wary.
They quickly opened the door to the corridor and sprinted toward the bathroom. Once inside, Xenon's sharp eyes immediately spotted the window Leo had mentioned. It was small, just enough for one person to squeeze through at a time.
"Think I should lead the way?" Leo asked, crouching near the window and glancing back at them.
"I think Draven should go first," Xenon suggested without hesitation, her tone firm. "In case something unexpected happens, you'll be able to handle it immediately."
Leo smirked, leaning against the wall. "Whoa! She really knows you best, huh? You never mentioned you had a girlfriend, Draven."
Xenon's cheeks flushed crimson. "We are—" she began to protest, her voice flustered.
"I met her an hour ago," Draven interrupted coolly, completely unfazed by Leo's teasing or Xenon's embarrassment.
Without another word, he climbed through the small window, gripping the pipes firmly as he began his descent.
Xenon waited until Draven was a safe distance down before turning to Leo, her tone shifting to something sharper. "How did you open that room door?"
Leo straightened, blinking in confusion at the sudden question. "What?" he asked, his grin faltering.
"The bedroom door," Xenon clarified, her tone sharp and unwavering. "Draven locked it right in front of me. How did you open it?"
Leo blinked at her, the grin momentarily slipping from his face. Then, as if realizing something amusing, his smirk returned. "I've got an extra key card," he said nonchalantly, pulling a card from his pocket. It looked almost identical to the one Draven had used earlier. He held it up briefly before slipping it back into his pocket.
"Is that so?" Xenon replied, her expression carefully neutral. "Sorry, I was just curious."
"Nah, no problem," Leo said with a dismissive wave, his tone light as ever.
Before she could respond, he stepped aside with an exaggerated bow, mimicking a 19th-century British doorman. "Ladies first!" he announced with a flourish, the playful grin still plastered on his face.
Xenon arched an eyebrow at him, clearly amused, though she made a point not to show it. Instead, she crouched by the window, inspecting the pipes briefly before slipping through and climbing down with practiced ease.
By the time she reached the ground, Draven was already there, crouched near the corner of the house. His eyes were fixed on the soldiers patrolling the opposite side, his expression tense but composed.
Xenon brushed off her hands and approached quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "What's the situation?"
Draven didn't look away, his focus unwavering. "They're still distracted by the bush. We've got a window, but it's closing fast."
Xenon glanced up to check if Leo was following. He was already halfway down the pipes but suddenly paused, then leapt the rest of the way, landing lightly beside them.
Draven gestured toward a small garage a few meters away, keeping his voice low. "We'll run behind the garage and jump over the wall," he said, his tone calm but urgent. "We only have a few seconds before they—"
A deafening hiss cut through Draven's words, emanating from the soldiers' position. The air sizzled and steamed as a wave of heat and orange light spread across the area, casting flickering shadows on the walls around them.
Draven didn't hesitate. "Now!" he commanded, already darting toward the garage as the fiery glow from the blast intensified behind them.
Xenon followed closely, her instincts sharp, while Leo moved with his usual agility, sticking close to Draven's side.
Behind them, the soldiers had ignited the bushes with a flamethrower roughly the size of an arm. The flames crackled, consuming the shrubbery and illuminating the soldiers' path.
"Targets are behind that garage!" barked the leader, his voice cutting through the chaos. "All units, keep them in sight, but remember—we need them alive!"
The soldiers kept a cautious distance from the garage, their movements methodical as they took up defensive positions. Their leader's voice cut through the crackling of flames, commanding and cold.
"This is your final warning, kids! Surrender now, and this will end far less painfully."
"Yeah, like we're gonna fall for that," Leo muttered, a sharp grin masking the frustration simmering beneath. His green eyes flickered with defiance. "Destroying someone else's property? Real classy, scumbags."
"Leo, stay focused," Draven said, his tone low but firm. He crouched near the wall, motioning for the others to follow. "We proceed as planned."
Xenon stepped closer, placing a steadying hand on Leo's shoulder. "I get it—you don't like this, none of us do," she said softly, her voice calm but serious. "But I have a pretty good guess about who these guys are. And if I'm right, the last thing we want is to get caught."
Leo glanced at her, the sharpness in his gaze softening slightly. He gave a short nod, clenching his fists as he focused back on Draven.
Xenon turned to Draven, catching a glimpse of the restrained anger flickering in his usually composed blue eyes. It wasn't surprising—his house was being destroyed, and they were being hunted—but what struck her was how well he kept his emotions in check.
Without a word, Draven leapt over the wall in one fluid motion, his acrobatics so precise it felt almost unreal. Xenon couldn't help but be impressed. His movements were too solid, too practiced to be accidental, yet too natural to seem trained.
She followed without hesitation, vaulting over the wall with ease, her supernatural speed making the jump effortless. Leo was right behind, his athletic energy driving him forward as he cleared the wall with less finesse but no less determination.
The three of them hit the ground on the other side and immediately broke into a sprint. The cool night air rushed past them, the adrenaline coursing through their veins pushing them faster.
Xenon glanced over at Draven as they ran, her mind racing as much as her legs. There's more to him than he lets on. No ordinary high school kid moves like that.
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