Kashi froze when he spotted the bird. Its sharp, red eyes watched him from a low branch, its feathers gleaming like oil in the pale light. It was never a good sign to see that bird near the woods. Unease prickled at the back of his neck as it took off, wings slicing through the air with a deliberate grace. Without hesitation, he followed, glancing back to make sure Felix stayed close.

  The bird circled above, its cries echoing faintly as Kashi pushed through the dense undergrowth. His boots crunched against the dead leaves, the woods growing eerily silent. The moment he stumbled into the clearing, the sight before him stole the air from his lungs.

  The Chaoshold stood there in all its grim glory, unchanged by time. Shadows twisted and danced as if it were alive holding back creatures of the unknown. It was more than shadows; it was a scar, a wound carved into the land that would never heal. Felix shifted nervously beside him, hopping from leg to the other as his gaze darted between the swirling darkness and Kashi. The barrier surrounding it still pulsed faintly with an otherworldly energy, the last remaining work of a long-dead mage.

  “Stay close,” Kashi murmured, his voice tight. He didn’t trust the stillness, nor the way the smoke seemed to whisper just beyond the barrier.

  He looked for any reason why the bird would lead him here and noticed the broken glass scattered around and found burn stains near the edge with small patches of dead grass. It had rippled and flexed when he touched it. The magical barrier was weakening and Kashi suspected that it was someone else's doing. Felix’s neck feathers were puffed up in fear as he surveyed it and he let out a small growl.

  Mytherion was a legend in Amshire, something whispered about but never seen. It was said the last mage left magic for a new one but yet there hadn’t been any signs. Magical weapons, potions, and spells, on the other hand, did exist but were rare and elusive treasures coveted by many. The black market held an assortment of such items, but for hybrids, it was a dangerous gamble. The unwritten rule was simple: hybrids weren’t welcome. If they did go in and get caught, they would be killed or sold. Another problem of Amshire.

  If the Chaoshold fell, nothing would be able to stop what lay beyond it. Kashi would have to keep an eye on it and set up a camera among the rubble. The small camera his eyes, monitoring the barrier’s stability and anything, or anyone, that dared to approach it. Kashi quickly grabbed Felix after hearing snarls from the otherside. Without looking back, he slipped into the shadows of the woods, his pulse hammering in his ears.

  Kashi now stood in Vixen’s room, relayed his discovery as it was a concern and could lead to panic in the city. “We should figure out why it's happening.” Vixen said, her expression serious as she processed everything he’d told her. She grabbed her computer and began typing. “I’m gonna contact Jade and see if she can help. Also I got the vials you and Ryan found, I'll look over that too and see if that can give us some answers.”

  Kashi shifted his focus to Sam, who sat nearby, deep in thought. “Do you think this could be connected to why the anti-heroes are suddenly more active?” Sam asked, breaking the silence. “It feels like the same thing is happening with the Phantoms and villain groups in general. This is their third attack this week.”

  Kashi ran a hand through his hair, the idea had crossed his mind, but he hadn’t landed on a firm conclusion. “It could be a coincidence,” he admitted after a moment. “But…” His voice trailed off. If there was one thing he’d learned, it was to never ignore the signs Fate seemed to lay in front of him. The problem was he did everytime and now it seemed it was her way of showing how infuriated she was at him.

  Vixen glanced up briefly from her laptop. “Coincidence or not, we don’t have the luxury of assuming it’s nothing.”

  “We need to be on more patrols I think and keep tabs on the Phantom's activity.” Kashi said.

  It would be a start but Kashi wasn’t sure if it would help at all. His watch pinged and he looked down to see and bit back a groan because of the name. Andreas. He ignored it. “I’m gonna patrol tonight.” Sam jumped up from where he had been sitting on Vixen's bed.

  “No, you weren’t even supposed to be moving around that much, Vixen please back me up on this.” Sam said, turning to her. She glanced at the both of them and shrugged. “I don’t see a problem with it.”

  Kashi smirked as Sam just gaped at her. “Vixen, are you serious?” She sighed and looked at Kashi and then back at Sam. “I just don’t feel like arguing with him and he's in one of those moods.”

  “Hey.” Kashi said. He wasn't in a mood or at least he didn’t think so. What mood? Sam just threw his hands up in defeat. “Fine whatever, don’t come crying to me when you get injured.” Sam said as he left.

  Vixen just shook her head. “That boy is something else.” Kashi knew she was right, there was a reason he had been drawn to Sam, saving him from death. A reason for them all. He made his way to the window searching for the black Harrier but saw nothing. “You wanna take over watching the team tonight?” Kashi asked, walking back over to her desk.

  Vixen nodded. “Of course, whatever you need.”

  His watch pinged again and he knew it was Andreas. “I’ll let you know when I’m leaving,” Kashi said, walking away.

  Vixen cleared her throat. “You should really talk to Ryan again, maybe take him with you and change your bandages, your bleeding through on your leg.” Kashi nodded and headed out. He paused as he heard laughter from their lounge room. Maybe Vixen is right, Kashi thought. He needed to know if Ryan could still follow simple orders. He supposed Ryan deserved another chance because he did see potential but it appeared Ryan’s past was affecting him more than he will admit.

  His door slid open and he noticed the small black wooden box he kept under his bed was now on his desk. He glanced around but sensed no one was near. He approached cautiously, seeing no tricks he opened it to make sure it was the same one. The moment he touched it he heard his teammates scream and blood dripped down his hand but managed to shake off his past. The folded paper was still there and Kashi covered it again and shoved the box back under his bed. He took a shaky breath. He wasn’t sure how long he could avoid the prophecy. Fate would do whatever she needed to move it forward and it's been years he’s done nothing with it.

  He grabbed some bandages and sat down at his desk to change them. Unfortunately, his monitor box lit up and the screen popped up showing an incoming call from Andreas. He groaned, annoyed that he was still pestering him. He unwound the bandages and did a sloppy job of rewrapping it. He took a deep breath and hit answer as his heart sped up. He shoved his hands into his lap so Andras couldn’t see how nervous he was.

  The video call connected and Andreas popped up on screen lounging in his chair, spinning around. His midnight blue eyes widened and he grinned pleased to see Kashi but there was an underlying truth to the smile. He opened his mouth to greet him but Kashi cut him off. “What do you want?” Kashi said flatly. He was not happy to see him in the slightest and hoped to end the conversation rather quickly.

  “What? No hello? No ‘I’m so happy to see you Andreas,’ nothing?” He said leaning back in the chair drumming his finger on the armrest. Kashi made a show of rolling his eyes. “Okay, I see how it is.” Andres said. “Always want it straight to the point but what's the fun in that?” He twirled a pen in his hand before slicking back his brown hair. Kashi set his tablet up, showing the monitors disregarding Andreas.

  “I have much more important things to attend to, so I can hang up or you can tell me whatever it is,” Kashi said, pulling up the reports of the attack last night and the reports the Elementals sent in from their patrols. He glanced at Andreas, maybe he could be useful…for once. “You're no fun,” Andreas said, crossing his arms.

  “If I answer your question will you answer mine?” Kashi said. Andreas raised a brow before thinking it over. “Sure, why not.”

  “What is it you need?” Kashi asked. He jotted down notes for any substance villains could get their hands on and the other trucks that got attacked that had supplies. He put a question mark on the blue vial he found with an unknown substance. He needed to ask Vixen if she started on it. “I want to spar with you, your team against mine,” Andreas said, breaking Kashi’s concentration.

  He set down his pen because he knew what Andreas was getting at. He wasn’t sure if wanted it at the moment but he knew Andreas wouldn’t stop till he said yes. “Very well but there will be conditions.”

  “Oh sure, that's fine. I was thinking this week considering how your last mission went.” Andreas said, picking at his fingers. Kashi clenched the pen in his hand. Clearly Andreas just wanted to show off and now this had a whole new meaning. “Did you tell Oliver?” He was also concerned about how he found out, there wasn’t any security around and the camera in the truck had been destroyed by the Phantoms.

  “No, I should though and by the way you're the only other vigilante group left.” Andreas said casually.

  Kashi put down his pen. What happened to the Crimson Warriors?

  His stomach felt squeamish as he spoke. “I’m not part of the organization anymore, what good would it do? I’m simply helping out Amshire.” He glanced down at his right arm, which was a reminder of the past. The matt black metal glowing with light green lines that ran through it all the way up to his shoulder. He flexed his fingers before looking back at Andreas.

  His lip curled in disgust as he stared at Kashi. “We'll see how well your group of hybrids does. Then I’ll decide if I tell Oliver.” Kashi’s body shook but he kept his voice steady. “Do you know what the trucks were bringing in? Or where they were supposed to be heading?”

  Andreas tilted his head, a hint of curiosity in his tone. “Oh? It was government-based. The truck we failed to protect was carrying chemical supplies, but they were hidden under a cover of food products. Supposedly for some new project funded by the mayor. My guess? One of the warehouses.” He shrugged, as if it wasn’t anything unusual.

  Kashi quickly jotted it down, his mind already racing. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. The cover of food products struck him as odd, why the secrecy? This was the first he’d heard about a new project, and it left him with more questions than answers. Before he could ask, faint voices carried over from Andreas’ side. Andreas turned his head sharply, his expression shifting to one of surprise.

  “I gotta go.” The call clicked off. Kashi sighed but pulled up the city map looking for any government buildings. He would scout the areas during his patrol. He plugged in a USB downloading the data and turned his attention to the obsidian pendant that hung from his neck. He hoped what he was doing was right but it still felt like he was running, going in an endless circle. Hiding. Amshire didn’t need another war happening.

  He looked out the window looking for the bird again but saw nothing. “Why won’t you come back to me.” He muttered. What did he do to deserve this life? “Felix” Kashi called to him through his mind. He took a deep breath knowing there was no going back and looked at the inked marking of Fate on his wrist, a celtic knot that wrapped around his left wrist.

  A few moments later Felix poked his head in tilting his head. Kashi beckoned him in as he stood up from the chair. “I want to talk to her. If she will allow it.” Felix nodded before signing “Why the change?”

  Kashi had never wanted to talk to her, especially when most feared the Gods, Kashi included. He had discovered Felix's connection to Fate when he didn’t want to sleep alone in the beginning. “I want to see if she has any advice for me.” Fate was never helpful and very ominous but he knew she couldn’t directly tell him how his life was supposed to go. He had time to kill before he would take off. Kashi knelt before Felix who also kneeled down.

  Felix closed his eyes and Kashi waited. It’s been awhile since he reached out to her. The last time it was strange. She acted like he was an old friend but in the end there was disappointment in her eyes. She ended up giving him short advice that was cryptic. “Your past may be your downfall but only you may choose where it leads you.” The words echoing in his head because he didn’t feel ready. Would he ever be? Felix held out his hand and Kashi took it, feeling the cold wash over him.

  Opening his eyes he was met with Fate looming over him. “Hello little demigod.” Kashi’s mouth went dry as he stared up at her. Right somehow he managed to forget he wasn’t a hybrid considering his father was Kyrant. Her purple and black dress merging with the black void while her purple veil was swept back on her hat. Felix’s head hung limply, the host for her to meet with him. Kashi needed to make it worth it. “Fate, I come seeking advice.”

  Fate’s laughter echoed, sharp and unsettling, cutting through the tension like a blade. “You already know what needs to be done. So tell me, Kashi, what makes you think my answer would be any different?”

  Kashi clenched his fists, the weight of her words pressing down on him. He did know, but that didn’t make it any easier. She made it sound so simple, so inevitable, but for him, it was anything but. His voice wavered as he finally asked, “How do I even begin?”

  He couldn’t shake the feeling that his past would catch up with him eventually. The prophecy loomed over him like a shadow he couldn’t outrun. He’d rejected it for years, telling himself it wasn’t his burden to bear. But deep down, he knew the truth: if he failed, the responsibility would fall to someone else. And that was a weight he couldn’t place on anyone else’s shoulders. His team's deaths wouldn’t be in vain.

  Fate tilted her head, her tone colder now, laced with quiet menace. “How do you begin?” she repeated, almost mocking. “You’ve avoided this for years, Kashi. But the wheels are already in motion. My plan doesn’t stop. It never stops.” She raised a hand, and the shadows around her stirred, swirling to life. They reached for him, curling around his neck like smoke, whispering against his skin as they slid down to the remnant marking on his back. The inky black traced the lines of wings, pulsing faintly at her touch.

  “Then what about my remnant markings? What about my wings?” Kashi finally said and glared at Fate. “How do I access them?”

  She paused before looking over at him. “Hmm I suppose it is strange. Considering what you are….I think you need to accept who you are.” She said, her voice low and commanding, each word laced with finality. The shadows coiled tighter, a physical reminder of her hold over him.

  “How?” Kashi finally said.

  She smiled, but it wasn’t warm or reassuring. It was cold, predatory, a grin that spoke of secrets only she understood. “Oh, Kashi,” she said softly, her tone almost mocking. “That’s the beauty of it. You already know how. You’ve known all along.”

  The shadows around her grew darker, thickening as the room seemed to dim, her presence swallowing the light. “The question isn’t how,” she continued. “It’s whether you’re ready to stop running. Because once you do, there’s no turning back.” Her words hung in the air, heavy with implication, as Kashi stood frozen. The makings of wings on his back seared faintly, as if they, too, awaited his answer.

  He hated being controlled and not having a life or a choice. Kashi didn’t know what waited for him at the end but the fear had an iron grip on him as he struggled to answer her. His leader's voice echoed in his head. “First thing about being a hybrid is that your life will never be normal. Always expect the worst.” Kashi still had spirit in him and she wouldn’t scare him and he would try to fight for his freedom because life is never fair.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Kashi’s jaw tightened, and he shook his head, stepping back instinctively as the shadows continued to coil around him. “No,” he said, his voice firm despite the knot of fear twisting in his chest. “I won’t. You can’t control me.”

  Fate’s smile faded, replaced by a cold, unreadable expression. The air in the room seemed to freeze, her presence growing heavier, suffocating. The shadows that had once tickled his skin now constricted, their touch no longer cool but searing, as though they burned with her anger.

  “Oh, Kashi,” she said softly, almost pitying. “You really think you have a choice in this, don’t you?” The shadows surged, wrapping tighter around him and forcing him to his knees.

  “You can say no as many times as you like,” she continued, her voice now laced with venom. “You can run, you can fight, you can cling to the illusion of control. But in the end, I decide how this story unfolds.” She stepped closer, her figure towering over him as the purple streaks in the shadows flared to life, illuminating her sharp, unforgiving gaze. “It needs to go this way for us, for you, the world.”

  The remnant marking on Kashi’s back ignited, burning with a fierce heat that made him gasp. The mark pulsed, its lines glowing faintly, as though responding to her anger.

  “Do you feel that?” she hissed, leaning down so her voice was all he could hear. “That’s the truth, Kashi. You were chosen for this, whether you like it or not. And no amount of defiance will change the fact that this burden is yours. Refuse me again, and I will ensure you wish you hadn’t so don’t ignore my signs.”

  It grew cold once more as the shadows shot towards him, covering his body. They latched onto his neck making their way up to his face. “Open your eyes, demigod.” Fate sneered as the shadows shoved their way into his mouth. He coughed, choking as the feeling of suffocation closed in on him when the shadows surged deeper in his body.

  Kashi gasped for air when he came back to himself sprawled on the floor. He curled in on himself as he continued to cough. He continued to gasp for breath trying to ignore the pain on his back. His throat burned like hot fire was poured down it. He pushed himself upright and spat out black blood, frowning at the sight. He ran his hand through his hair as he wiped his mouth finally getting his breath back.

  He looked over to where Felix was curled up on the ground, watching him with tired, glossy eyes “Sorry kid.” Kashi muttered as he pulled himself over and Felix trilled at the contact. He cradled Felix to his chest knowing it wasn’t fair that he was used like a puppet for Fate and being drained of any energy.

  Felix yawned, settling back down. “Do you want to go back to your room or stay here?” Kashi asked, keeping his voice low. He knew from experience that Felix was sensitive to noise and light after being a host. Felix shook his head. “Stay.”

  Kashi got up and carefully set Felix on his bed where he could recover and made sure he was comfortable. “I’ll be back tonight, I'm on patrol.” Felix nodded before rolling over to curl up under the blankets. Kashi lingered for a moment, watching him. He wished he could rest too but he had important matters to attend to.

  As he turned to leave, Kashi stopped in front of the mirror by the door. He stared at his reflection, adjusting his cropped jacket and checking to make sure he looked presentable. But his hands wouldn’t stop shaking. His fingers trembled against the fabric, betraying the weight of his worries He really hoped he hadn’t fucked everything up. He took a few deep breaths, trying to steady himself. He couldn’t afford to let his unease show. Slipping his mask of composure back into place, he let out a slow exhale.

  He took his holographic tablet with him before quietly leaving. He stopped at Vixen's room and gave her the flash drive before making his way to their lounge area. Aaron and Ryan were sitting on the couch while Azara was stretching on the floor. “Hey Kashi.” She said, nodding at him.

  “Hey,” Kashi said, drumming his finger on the couch. “Vixen’s in charge tonight while I’m on patrol.” He got a chorus of okays. “I’m also taking Ryan with me.”

  “What!?” Ryan whipped his head to stare at him, a flash of bright green in his eyes before they dimmed down to his usual dull green. Aaron jabbed him harshly in the side. “Er, I mean that's cool….” Kashi didn’t dwell on it, leaving.

  He walked down to Sam’s room and knocked. The door opened and Kashi felt the cool breeze. Sam was sitting at his desk working on his lessons. “Hey, you still got homework?” Sam sighed, pushing it away. “Yes, but it's almost done, just one more page.”

  Kashi nodded, stretching his arms. “You wanna monitor tonight?” Sam nodded, twirling his pen. Sam glanced at his watch.

  “When are you leaving?” He asked, turning back to his work. Kashi knew the sunset wouldn’t be till another hour or so. “ When the sun begins to set. There are some places I want to look at but I'll let you know.” Kashi said leaving.

  He made his way out to the garden where some flowers bloomed. He picked up a water can and filled it, giving everything a good soak. He sighed as he watered the flower bed that harbored eight beautiful spirit flowers. Emotions clawed at his chest as his throat tightened because he understood why he had planted them with his leader. It made the guilt worse because of how they had all given their lives up for him and he couldn’t even accept Fate.

  “I promise I'm trying,” Kashi said out loud to the flowers, wincing at how his voice cracked. He set down the can, turning his attention to the shrine he kept clean. He never used it, knowing the Divine would never answer his prayers any time he did pray when he was younger. He brushed off a few stray leaves, letting them drift to the ground, before stepping onto the winding stone path. As he moved forward, the air grew lighter, tinged with the faint scent of blooming wildflowers and damp earth. The path widened, and ahead, a grove unfolded.

  Wildflowers bloomed, with trees parting enough that sunlight could make it through. He plucked up a cluster of lilies before coming closer to where the stones lay. Kashi swallowed before kneeling before the eight graves. He set a lily on each one. He bowed his head and sat in silence listening to the bird calls. The sound of nature filled his head blocking out the loud silence that threatened to shatter his sanity. He stayed there till the sun started to set, feeling numb before returning to being a leader.

  He rose, leaving his emotions of the past behind as he made his way to the base leading Ryan to the weapons room. “Take your helmet.” He said to Ryan. In case they were caught and shook off his jacket, placing it on a hook.

  Kashi adjusted his bodysuit, ensuring every seam fit snugly before clipping on his chest piece. The faint metallic click echoed in the quiet preparation room. Ryan trailed behind him, moving swiftly to gear up as well, but Kashi’s focus remained locked on the weapons wall.

  His hand hovered over his helmet for a moment before picking it up. The smooth black visor reflected faintly in the low light, streaked with glowing purple lines that seamlessly connected to his bodysuit. His thumb traced the lines absently, a habit born of countless missions just to see his former teammate. With a deep breath, he slipped the helmet on. The HUD display flickered to life, text scrolling across the screen: Welcome back, Enigma.

  Kashi pulled his cape from its hook, the fabric heavy yet comforting in its familiarity. He snapped it into place, the dark folds falling cleanly behind him. He preferred operating as Enigma on patrols. Out there, among the chaos, he wasn’t Kashi. He was a shadow, a presence, an anti-hero walking a thin line between order and destruction.

  He glanced at Ryan, who was fastening the last of his gear. “Ready?” Kashi asked, his voice distorted through the helmet, giving it a low, almost mechanical edge.

  We’re leaving Sam, Kashi texted on his watch. He didn’t wait for a response as he dug out two hoverboards leading them outside. The sleek machine was designed for easy transportation and bore the same purple lines as their bodysuits. It also was easier since it was just the two of them and he had yet to get enough for the team. He stepped on, his boots connecting with the metal and it hummed to life. Metal that reached for his boots to keep him connected. He checked its power seeing it fully charged. Ryan followed suit, seeming a bit unbalanced before he got the hang of it.

  He took off through the woods glancing over his shoulder to check that Ryan was keeping up fairly well. He needed to check out the mayor's warehouses to see if he could find any substance that might pose a threat to the chaosholds barrier and potentially figure out the secret project. He could see how the mayor would have anything like that but the vials from the mission still concerned him and he wondered briefly if it had to do with hybrids. It was a high possibility.

  They navigated the busy streets of Amshire, weaving carefully through the flow of two-wheeled vehicles that dominated the narrow main roads. Amshire’s strict infrastructure policy banned larger vehicles from the heart of the city, forcing trucks and haulers to offload goods at designated ports outside the city or near Abestos. It made the streets quieter, but also more crowded with people and bikes, creating such a tense, almost claustrophobic atmosphere.

  As they passed, Kashi felt the weight of the civilians’ gazes pressing down on them, shooting sharp, judgmental glares in their direction. Some passersby moved to the edge of the sidewalk, their eyes wary, as if just being near hybrids might invite trouble. Hybrids weren't fully trusted in Amshire, no matter their intentions.

  Heroes or not, they were still different, straddling the line between human and something else. To many civilians, they represented instability, unpredictability, and a potential threat. For every villain who caused chaos, there was always a murmured question in the crowd: What if the heroes are no better?

  The distrust wasn’t new to Kashi. He’d lived with it his entire life considering himself one and not a demigod. He watched the way parents pulled their children closer as he walked by, in the hurried whispers exchanged between shopkeepers, and in the nervous side-eyes from strangers. Ryan’s shoulders stiffened as they passed a woman who openly scowled at them, muttering something under her breath. Kashi said nothing, his helmet masking any reaction he might have as they continued on. They were walking reminders of everything the city feared but couldn’t fully control.

  As they approached the port Kashi got off his board and let it attach to his back, they needed to walk and be unseen. He scanned the area looking at the warehouses, searching for the government label before spotting only one between all the metal containers. “Let's move.” He pulled out one of his translocators and threw it hoping it would land on the roof and was whipped away reappearing in front of the building. He saw Ryan’s translocator hit the side with a small clank of metal and a second later he appeared falling down. “Ow.” He muttered.

  Kashi’s gaze landed on a ladder leading up to the roof. Without hesitation, he began climbing, not bothering to check if Ryan was following. At the top, he found a locked access door. Of course it’s locked, he thought, mentally chastising himself for not expecting the obvious. He sighed, unhooking his hoverboard and leaning it carefully against the side of the structure before turning his attention back to the door.

  Bracing himself, Kashi shouldered the door open with a grunt. It gave way with more force than he anticipated, and before he could steady himself, he stumbled forward, his footing lost. Gravity pulled him down the stairs, and he landed hard on his side with a muted hiss of pain. He stayed there for a moment, listening, hoping no one had heard the commotion or worse, was working nearby.

  Pushing himself up, he brushed off the dust and began to scan the space around him. The room was vast, dimly lit, and cluttered with stacks of metal beams and construction materials. Industrial tarps covered piles of scrap, and the faint scent of rust hung in the air. His visor displayed a quick scan of the area, but nothing unusual registered. Kashi frowned, frustration creeping in. This place was a dead end, and he couldn’t afford to waste time.

  Footsteps clattered down the stairs behind him as Ryan joined him. Kashi glanced over his shoulder, watching as Ryan began poking around the piles of metal. Kashi pulled back a tarp, revealing only more scraps of iron and steel. Kashi was about to say something when the piece of metal Ryan was holding slipped from his grasp. The scrap hit the floor with a resounding clang, the sound echoing through the space like an alarm. Kashi winced, the noise grating against his already frayed nerves.

  “Oops,” Ryan said flatly, staring down at the offending piece of metal as if it had betrayed him.

  Kash sighed. Great. “Subtle as always,” he muttered, his voice tinged with exasperation. He cast one last glance around the room, deciding there was nothing of value to be found here.

  “Let’s go,” he said, grabbing Ryan by the arm and dragging him back up the stairs before any more noise could attract unwanted attention. Kashi jumped from the building rolling into a tuck till and then his hoverboard zipped down to him. He stepped back on. Ryan just jumped with his circling Kashi before moving to his side.

  “What are we even looking for?” Ryan said as they began moving away to their next destination.

  “Vials or anything similar to that. Andreas told me it could be part of a government based project. They had been talking about it in the news recently.” Kashi said, turning left. He saw a few Elementals watching them but they didn’t follow. Some people stopped and stared before continuing on. “Why?” Ryan said, breaking his thoughts.

  Kashi said, “It has some concerns dealing with the Chaoshold.”

  The road before him was a long stretch that went into the Outskirts of Amshire before reaching Abestos. As the paved street gave way to dirt, Kashi could see the signs of neglect all around him. The buildings here were old, their walls cracked and sagging, roofs caving in under years of abandonment. Some homes had been boarded up, their windows sealed like tombs, while others stood open to the elements, their skeletal frames a reminder of what once was.

  Kashi’s gaze swept over the ruins. This part of the city had been forgotten, left to rot while the rest of Amshire moved on, or pretended to. He knew the mayor could have rebuilt these neighborhoods if he’d wanted to, but he hadn’t. For Wilford, the slums were out of sight and out of mind, a problem he could ignore so long as they stayed quiet.

  As Kashi moved deeper into the area, he noticed movement in the shadows. A few people lingered near the edges of the street, peeking out from behind broken windows or the crumbling remnants of walls. Their eyes, vividly colored and unnatural, showing what they were; hybrids. He caught glimpses of greens that glowed faintly, deep blues like stormy seas, and yellows that flickered like firelight. So many, Kashi thought, his chest tightening. This was where they ended up, forgotten, abandoned, and left to fend for themselves in the ruins.

  The silence was oppressive, broken only by the faint hum of a crackling speaker mounted on one of the leaning streetlights. Kashi had tuned out the mayor’s words a thousand times before on patrols, but this time, something about the tone caught his attention.

  “Amshire is anew!” Mayor Wilford’s recorded voice rang out, cheerful yet hollow. “No need to hide in fear. We have everything under control. Hybrids can’t hurt you anymore. They are welcome here! Just a few requirements, and then, everyone can live in peace again!”

  The words felt like poison laced with honey. Kashi knew better and had a sinking feeling the vials were the secret project. He could see it in the way the people in the slums shrank back, their bodies tense and their gazes wary. The promise of peace came with unspoken conditions, veiled threats that hung in the air like a storm cloud. The mayor’s words weren’t meant to reassure, they were meant to control, to remind hybrids that they were tolerated but never truly accepted.

  Kashi clenched his fists as he passed under the broken streetlight, the recording fading behind him. Something wasn’t right here, and it wasn’t just the neglect of the slums. It was the way the city treated its hybrids, like problems to be managed, not people to be helped. The colored eyes watching him from the shadows told him more than words ever could.

  “Kashi!” Ryan's voice cut through his thoughts. Kashi snapped back to reality feeling unsettled before noticed he had stopped. Ryan had pulled his hoverboard up next to him. “You ok?” Weird, Ryan seemed worried.

  Kashi shifted uneasily, his gaze flickering to the surroundings. For a moment, he didn’t respond, his eyes lingering on the crumbling remnants of the Outskirts. It was worse than the first time he had visited. He’d never spent much time here because he never needed to.

  “I’ve never really been out here,” he admitted, his voice low, more to himself than to Ryan. It was a quiet confession, one that made him feel uncomfortably exposed. Seeing the way these hybrids lived, struggling to survive, stirred something conflicted in him. He wanted to help, wanted to fix this. But his own problems loomed larger, and he couldn’t ignore them. The vials. The Chaoshold. The prophecy he’d tried so hard to outrun.

  If he could figure out how to stop the vials, maybe it would ease some of the weight pressing on him. Maybe.

  “I’m fine,” Kashi finally said, shaking off the unease. He forced his voice to sound steady. “Let’s get going.”

  Ryan seemed to give him a lingering look, as if he didn’t quite believe him, but nodded and kicked off, his hoverboard humming softly as he glided forward. Kashi watched him go for a moment before turning his attention back to the quiet road.

  The air felt heavier out here, thick with an unspoken despair that hung like a fog. He looked around, scanning the empty alleys and shadowed corners, seeing no one. But he knew better, eyes were watching. People were always watching in the Outskirts, waiting to see if a stranger brought help or trouble.

  Kashi pulled on his tether, reaching for the little magic he somehow possessed from his shared bond to another. With a flick of his wrist, Kashi summoned a care kit. The box materialized in his hands, its weight grounding him for a moment. It wasn’t much, but it was something. He crouched by the edge of the road and tucked it into a hollow between two jagged stones. Someone would find it.

  Straightening up, he took one last look around before stepping back onto his hoverboard. The familiar hum vibrated beneath his feet as he pushed forward, catching up to Ryan. He didn’t say anything as he passed him, but his mind was racing. He wished could do more.

  “How can you help them if you won’t accept your true self?” The voice whispered in his mind, soft but insistent, like a shadow curling around his thoughts. Kashi shuddered trying to tune it out. The voice usually came after he was done talking with Fate and was surprised it waited that long to make an appearance.

  Not now, he thought, willing his focus to stay on the path ahead.

  But something tugged at him, an unease that prickled at the back of his neck. Kashi glanced over his shoulder, his sharp eyes scanning the empty street. There, in the distance, a figure stood motionless, watching.

  The stranger’s black cape billowed in the wind, stark against the muted grays of the Outskirts. But it wasn’t the cape that caught Kashi’s attention, it was the mask. The pale white and black rabbit mask, expressionless and haunting, marked them unmistakably.

  The Illusion Rebel.

  They were an anti-hero and their work was whispered among the hybrids who lived on the fringes. Protector to some, menace to others, their motives were as shrouded as their identity. He wondered if The Demon was here as well.

  “It appears these hybrids have a protector after all,” the voice mused, its tone dripping with dark amusement.

  Kashi clenched his jaw, the words gnawing at him.

  “Can’t you see?” the voice continued, its laughter curling through his mind like smoke. “Hybrid drawn to hybrid. You’ll never outrun it, Kashi. It’s in your nature.”

  The voice’s laughter grew fainter but lingered, echoing in the corners of his mind. Kashi’s gaze remained fixed on the anti-hero for a moment longer, his thoughts a storm of questions. With a shake of his head, he turned away, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand.

  The figure didn’t follow. But Kashi couldn’t shake the feeling that he hadn’t seen the last of them and wondered if they were involved in Fate’s plan.