WebNovels

Chapter 2 - Chapter Two:The Boy Who Followed

Endless murmur of engines, voices, and footsteps. Kael sat on the bench, half-eaten sandwich resting limply in his hand. His thoughts were heavy, his heart even heavier. The taste of bread barely lingered; his mind was elsewhere."What I'm I going to do?"

"Don't stress things out," the boy beside him said softly. "Everything will work out somehow."

Kael looked up, surprised by the casual calm in the kid's voice. "Why are you telling me that?"

The boy smiled faintly, that strange, almost celestial calm never leaving his face. "Because you look like someone who needs to hear it."

Kael exhaled, forcing a weak smile. "Yeah. Maybe I do."

He stood, brushing the crumbs from his clothes. "Thanks… for the sandwich."

"It's okay," the boy said, his tone light, almost playful.

Kael nodded once, then turned to walk away. His mind whispered to itself as his feet moved on their own.

I should go home, change these clothes… maybe start thinking about what to do next. I just hope Elara can understand.

He flagged down a taxi and climbed in. The ride home was quiet, sunlight cutting through the car windows and flickering across his face. When they stopped near his apartment, Kael rememberd he didn't have any money.

"Could you… wait a bit?" he said awkwardly. "I'll go get the money from inside."

The driver frowned, but nodded. "Make it quick, kid."

Kael jogged toward his building. "Good thing we still keep that spare key…"

He crouched beside an old flowerpot near the door — the same one Elara had insisted they use for emergencies. Beneath a thin layer of dust and soil, his fingers brushed cool metal.

"There you are," he muttered, lifting the key. "Still works."

He slipped inside. The apartment was quiet — too quiet. The curtains fluttered faintly from an open window, and the faint scent of Elara's lavender candles still lingered. It felt like a memory frozen in time.

"Guess she's not home yet."

He grabbed some money from the glass bowl on the counter — their emergency stash — then glanced around once more before locking the door behind him.

After paying the driver, Kael sighed and leaned against the door. "Finally home."

He kicked off his shoes, and stepped into the living room — and froze.

Sitting cross-legged on the couch, grinning like he owned the place… was the same boy.

Kael blinked. His voice cracked. "You— You followed me!?"

The boy tilted his head. "Yeah."

Kael's eyes widened. "Wait, what? Are you a stalker or something!?"

The boy chuckled. "I don't even know what that means. But no, I'm not."

Kael just stood there, speechless. Then his frustration burst out all at once. "You're in my house! What kind of kid just— breaks into people's homes!?"

"I didn't break in," the boy replied calmly, as if that made it better. "I just… arrived."

Kael rubbed his temples. "Unbelievable. First I die, then a weird kid feeds me, and now he's breaking into my apartment."

The boy stepped closer, his tone softening. "I came here because the mission you've been given is too much for a mortal like you."

Kael frowned. "Mission? What are you—"

He paused, then stared at the boy's eyes. They weren't normal. They shimmered faintly — like light reflected through water.

"Do you know what happened to me?" Kael asked quietly.

The boy blinked. "What do you mean?"

Kael's voice trembled. "I mean… do you know that I died?"

The air between them thickened. The boy's smile faded — replaced with a faint, knowing calm.

"Yes," he said at last. "Because I'm the one who sent you back."

Kael's heart nearly stopped. "You— what?"

The boy placed a hand on his chest, bowing slightly. "My name is Verse. I'm the one who brought you back to life. At your service."

Kael stood there in silence, his thoughts spinning like broken gears. Then, with a blank expression, he muttered, "Right. Sure. A god in my living room. Perfect."

He turned away and walked down the hall. "I need to change my clothes before I lose my mind."

Verse tilted his head, watching him leave. "Humans are so dramatic," he whispered.

From the other room, Kael mumbled, "I can't believe this. I have a divine toddler in my house."

Moments later, Kael returned, his hair damp from washing, wearing a clean black hoodie. He found Verse sitting cross-legged in front of the television, pressing buttons on the remote with fascination.

"You've seriously never seen a TV before?" Kael asked.

Verse smiled sheepishly. "I've watched humans for centuries, but never this close. This… glowing box is fascinating."

Kael sighed. "Great. A god who doesn't know what a TV is."

Before Verse could reply, the front door creaked open.

"Kael?" came a trembling voice.

It was Elara.

Her eyes were red and puffy, her hospital uniform still half on. The second she saw her brother, her whole body shook. She ran to him, hugging him tightly.

"Why did you run away?" she cried. "You didn't answer me when I called you,I thought— I thought something happened to you!"

Kael froze for a second before wrapping his arms around her, his voice gentle. "I'm sorry, Elara. I didn't mean to scare you."

She buried her face into his shoulder. "You idiot…"

When she finally pulled away, her eyes flickered toward Verse. "Um… who's that?"

Before Kael could answer, Verse raised his hand cheerfully. "Ooooh, so this is your sister! She's beautiful. Honestly, how does someone like you have such a nice sibling?"

Kael groaned. "VERSE! You seriously suck at introductions!"

Verse chuckled, unbothered. "My bad."

Elara blinked, staring between the two of them. "Wait… don't tell me…" Her expression turned serious. "You had a child!? And didn't tell me!?"

Kael's jaw dropped. "WHAT!? Are you crazy!? He's not my kid!"

Elara squinted at him. "Hmm… yeah, you're too awkward to have a girlfriend anyway."

Kael glared. "Wow. Thanks for the ego boost, sis."

She smirked, but her gaze lingered on Verse. "Then who is he?"

Kael sighed. "Okay, but promise me you won't freak out."

Elara crossed her arms. "Try me."

So Kael told her everything — the scientist's experiment, the near-death, the voice, the "mission." Verse, meanwhile, wandered around the room, examining furniture like a curious child.

When Kael finished, Elara just stared blankly. "So let me get this straight. Scientists are trying to open some dimensional gate that might destroy the world… and this boy is a god?"

"Pretty much," Kael said.

Verse waved from the couch. "Technically a cosmic entity, but yes. Close enough."

Elara blinked again, then sighed. "Wow. Okay. That's a lot."

Kael frowned. "That's it? You're not freaking out?"

She smiled faintly. "You're my brother, Kael. Even if the world's ending, I'll still help you."

Kael's expression softened. "...Thank you."

For the first time that day, he smiled — a real one.

Verse clapped his hands. "You two are adorable! Humans really are emotional creatures. So fascinating."

The sun was setting by then, painting their apartment gold. Elara made tea while Kael sat quietly, staring at the orange light creeping through the curtains.

For a while, there was silence. Then Elara sat beside him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"You scared me," she whispered. "I thought I'd lost you."

Kael's throat tightened. "I know. I'm sorry."

They stayed like that for a long moment — brother and sister, the world outside forgotten.

Elara gave a small laugh. "You've always been the one to protect me, you know? Even when you couldn't protect yourself."

Kael smiled weakly. "Guess I didn't do a great job this time."

"You came back," she said softly. "That's what matters."

In the kitchen, Verse sipped tea awkwardly, grimacing. "Why do humans drink hot leaf water? It tastes like sadness."

Both siblings laughed, and for a moment — just a moment — it felt normal again.

Evening come along.After dinner, they sat together planning. Elara jotted notes on a pad while Kael explained what little he knew. Verse leaned back, listening lazily.

"So," Elara said, "do you even know where the experiment is being held?"

Kael shook his head. "Not really."

Elara sighed and picked up her phone. "Then I'll find out."

Kael and Verse exchanged looks.

"She's calling someone," Verse whispered. "Is she summoning another god?"

"...No, just being smart," Kael muttered.

A few minutes later, Elara hung up. "It's in Tokyo. But it's about a ten-hour drive from here."

"Ten hours?" Verse groaned. "That's absurd."

Kael shrugged. "Welcome to mortal life."

Verse raised a brow. "You should've given the mission to your sister. She clearly has more brain cells."

Kael shot him a glare. "Oh, you think so?"

"Absolutely."

Elara giggled. "You two are hopeless."

But as they laughed, the weight of what lay ahead crept back in. Elara glanced at the clock, yawning. "We'll start planning properly tomorrow. Let's rest for now."

Kael nodded. "Yeah."

That night, as Elara turned off the lights, she paused at the hallway. "Hey, Kael?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't disappear again or run of like you did," she said softly. "Promise me."

Kael's heart ached. "I promise."

Elara smiled faintly and went to her room.

Kael leaned against the wall, letting out a long breath. Verse floated a cushion over and sat beside him, cross-legged, eyes glowing faintly in the dark.

"She loves you deeply," Verse said.

"She's all I've got," Kael replied quietly.

Verse looked thoughtful. "Then don't fail her."

Kael smirked faintly. "Didn't plan to."

The two sat in silence — mortal and god — as the hum of the city faded into the night.

End of Chapter Two

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