The city slept beneath a blanket of neon rain.
Thunder rolled across the skyline, deep and tired — the kind that felt less like weather and more like a warning. To the humans below, it was just another storm. To Boog, Jonk, and Donk, it was the first whisper of war.
☀️ Boog
Boog couldn't focus on anything but Nawin.
Since that morning at the café, his thoughts had refused to quiet. He told himself to stay distant, to remember his purpose — but every time Nawin smiled, every time he laughed, something ancient inside Boog stirred.
Tonight, the café was empty. The rain kept most people away. Boog sat by the window, watching the water trail down the glass like silver threads.
Nawin wiped the counter with a towel, humming softly. "You know, you don't talk much for someone who visits every day."
Boog's lips curved faintly. "You talk enough for both of us."
"True," Nawin grinned, leaning his elbows on the table across from him. "But I still wanna know more about you. You're… different."
Boog hesitated. "Different how?"
"You notice things other people don't. You look at the world like it's both strange and familiar at the same time."
Because it is, Boog thought.
But he couldn't say that. Not yet.
Instead, he asked, "What about you? What makes you stay here?"
Nawin shrugged. "Someone has to take care of my sister. My parents are gone. I guess I never had the luxury to dream too far."
There was sadness in his voice — soft, unassuming, but real.
Boog's chest tightened. "Dream anyway," he said quietly.
Nawin blinked. "What?"
"Even if you can't go far. Dream anyway."
Their eyes met. The silence between them felt alive — heavy with meaning neither could name.
Then, suddenly, the lights flickered.
The air shifted.
Boog straightened instantly, instincts kicking in. A pulse of energy rolled through the café — faint but dark. Not from this world.
Nawin frowned. "Power outage?"
Boog's hand was already at his side, palm glowing faintly gold. "Stay behind me," he said, voice low.
Before Nawin could respond, the front window cracked.
A shadow moved past it — quick, almost invisible.
Boog's veins lit up in response, gold threads winding down his arm. "Hunters," he whispered.
The Queen had warned him about them — rogue entities that fed on the link between magic and love, determined to keep the worlds apart.
The door burst open. A gust of wind swept through, scattering napkins and papers. A figure stepped inside — faceless, cloaked in dark mist, its form constantly shifting like smoke.
Nawin stumbled back. "What— what is that?!"
Boog stood tall, summoning a spell under his breath. "Something you shouldn't see."
Golden light flared around his hand, forming a barrier just as the shadow lunged. The impact sent a shockwave through the café, shattering glass and overturning chairs.
Boog gritted his teeth, forcing the shield outward. "Get out!"
Nawin didn't move — frozen, eyes wide.
Boog turned, shouting, "Run!"
That broke the trance. Nawin darted toward the back door. The creature slashed at him, but Boog intercepted, blasting a burst of light so bright it painted the rain outside gold.
The shadow shrieked and dissolved into smoke.
Boog dropped to one knee, breathing hard, light flickering out.
When he looked up, Nawin stood at the door — trembling, drenched in rain and disbelief.
"You… you're not human," he whispered.
Boog met his gaze — tired, sad, and unguarded. "No. I'm not."
The air between them burned with truth.
And then Nawin ran.
🔥 Jonk
The rain had followed Jonk too.
He walked the empty street, cigarette glowing dimly between his fingers. His mind was on Tawan — that smile, that voice. That spark.
He'd told himself he was in control. That love was a tool of destiny, not emotion. But it was getting harder to lie.
The bracelet around his wrist pulsed faintly.
He could still feel Tawan's touch from last night.
He didn't notice the sound behind him until it was too late — the soft crunch of wet gravel. Jonk turned, eyes narrowing.
A shape moved under the streetlight — a shadow darker than the night itself.
"Figures," Jonk muttered, tossing the cigarette aside. "Couldn't let us enjoy one peaceful day, huh?"
The Hunter lunged.
Jonk's body moved on instinct. His aura flared crimson, eyes glowing as fire sparked from his fingertips. He dodged the first attack, countered with a flame burst that illuminated the entire street.
But this one was faster. Smarter.
It twisted behind him, clawing through his jacket. Pain seared across his shoulder.
Jonk hissed, spinning, launching a fireball that sent the creature crashing into a lamp post. The light exploded, raining sparks.
But when the smoke cleared, the Hunter was gone.
Jonk spat blood, wiping his mouth. "Coward."
Then he heard footsteps — soft, hesitant.
"Jonk?"
He froze.
Tawan stood at the corner, umbrella in hand, looking horrified. "What happened? Are you— are you bleeding?"
Jonk stared at him, heart hammering. The glow in his hand hadn't faded yet.
Tawan's eyes widened as he saw the ember light crawl up Jonk's arm. "What… what is that?"
Jonk stepped back. "You shouldn't be here."
"Tell me what's going on!"
"Tawan—"
"Tell me!"
Jonk's voice dropped, raw. "You wouldn't believe me."
"Try me."
They stared at each other through the rain — human and not, heart and fire.
Jonk sighed, the glow dimming as exhaustion crept in. "I'm not like you. I come from another world. One that's falling apart."
Tawan blinked, breath catching. "You're serious."
"Yeah."
The silence that followed was unbearable.
Tawan swallowed. "Then why are you here?"
Jonk met his gaze — eyes softer than fire should allow. "Because of you."
🌙 Donk
The flower shop smelled like lilies and stormwater.
Phum was locking up when Donk appeared outside, rain dripping from his hair.
"Donk! You'll get soaked— come inside!"
He stepped in, shaking the water from his jacket. "You shouldn't be out late."
"Neither should you," Phum said with a smile.
But before either could say more, the air grew heavy.
Donk felt it instantly — the ripple of dark energy, thick and suffocating. The petals in the shop trembled as if in fear.
He turned sharply toward the window. "Stay behind me."
"What—?"
"Do it, Phum."
The wall shattered inward as a Hunter crashed through the glass. Phum screamed.
Donk's hand moved faster than thought. Silver light erupted from his palm, forming a protective barrier that rippled through the room.
Phum fell to the floor, eyes wide. "Donk… what— what are you doing?"
Donk didn't answer. He raised his other hand, summoning a burst of moonlight that struck the creature mid-lunge. It screeched, dissolving into mist.
Silence followed. Only the sound of shattered glass and Phum's ragged breathing filled the room.
Donk lowered his hand slowly. The glow faded.
Phum whispered, "You're one of them, aren't you?"
Donk looked at him — sorrow in his eyes. "One of who?"
"Whatever that thing was chasing."
He hesitated, then nodded once. "Yes."
Phum swallowed, trying to find words. "And you… protected me."
Donk smiled faintly. "I told you. Flowers aren't the only beautiful things in this world worth saving."
Phum's gaze softened. "Then who are you really, Donk?"
He looked at the glowing bracelet, then back at Phum. "Someone who wasn't supposed to fall in love."
🌌
By midnight, all three wizards met again at their rooftop sanctuary — battered, bruised, and quiet.
Jonk's arm was bandaged. Boog's eyes were dim. Donk's hands trembled faintly from the energy he'd used.
"They've found us," Jonk said.
Boog nodded grimly. "They're hunting the bonds."
Donk stared at the city below — the lights, the lives, the people who would never understand the war happening above them. "Then we fight back. But not just for us."
Boog looked at him. "For them."
"For love," Donk corrected softly.
A gust of wind swept past, carrying the faint echo of laughter — their lovers' laughter, distant yet alive.
The Queen's voice whispered faintly in Boog's mind:
Three hearts bound by destiny. Three lights defying darkness. The war begins when love takes root.
Boog clenched his hand, light glowing faintly gold once more.
"It's already begun."