The crowd's murmurs followed them like a shadow, their voices a mix of awe and unease as Ariel, Zane, and Celine moved through the street. "He broke her bones without a flinch—a real monster," one man whispered, his voice tight, still haunted by the woman's screams. His friend nodded, clutching his phone, the video of Zane's brutality already racking up views online. "That Primordial's got power, but her bodyguard? He's something else. Terrifying."
Ariel stopped in front of Zane, her golden hair catching the sunlight, her blue eyes sharp as she faced him. The stone chains had crumbled to dust, their purpose served, but the crowd still watched, phones raised, hungry for more. "What do you have to say for yourself, Void?" she asked, her voice steady but edged with frustration, loud enough for the onlookers to hear.
Zane lowered his head, his blindfold hiding his eyes but not the calm in his posture. "I'm sorry, Miss Ariel. I'll accept any punishment you give me," he said, his tone soft but deliberate, playing the role of a chastised guardian. The crowd leaned in, some nodding in approval, others skeptical, their whispers growing louder.
"Relieve him of his duty!" a bold voice shouted from the crowd, a wiry man with a shaky hand pointing at Zane. But his words choked off into a squeak as Zane tilted his head toward him, the motion slow and deliberate, like a predator sizing up prey. The man shrank back, swallowed by the crowd's murmurs.
Ariel sighed, her hands glowing faintly as she released the last traces of her spell. The ground stilled, the air settling around them. "You're a real handful, you know that?" she said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Zane stood, flicking dust from his sleeve, his faint smirk betraying his calm. "Let's go. We have somewhere to be. I'll decide your punishment later," Ariel said, her tone firm but tinged with warmth, like a sister scolding a brother. Celine, finished healing the thugs, stood and followed, her hazel eyes still flicking to Zane, trying to unravel his actions.
As they walked away, the crowd parted, their phones still recording, their voices trailing after them. "A Primordial's so cool—she spared them even after they tried to kidnap her," a woman said, her tone admiring. Her friend scoffed, shaking his head. "Yeah, but she needs to ditch that psychopathic bodyguard. He's a loose cannon."
***
Minutes later, the three sat around a worn wooden table in a quiet diner, the clatter of plates and the hum of conversation filling the air. The smell of grilled meat and fresh bread drifted from the kitchen as they waited for their food. Celine leaned forward, her hands clasped, her hazel eyes sharp with curiosity. "Ariel, what happened back there?" she asked, her voice low but urgent, needing the full picture.
Zane spoke before Ariel could, his voice calm, like he was explaining the weather. "It's simple. People see Ariel, a teenage Primordial, and think she's weak, no matter her power. I showed them she's not. I showed them what happens when you cross her."
Celine frowned, unsatisfied, her fingers tapping the table. "But how did she know that's what you were doing? You didn't say anything."
Ariel smiled as she leaned back in her chair. "Big brother gave me three clues. First, he announced he was my bodyguard. That's not just a title—it means I'm protected, not defenseless. Second, he broke that axe instead of dodging it. He was showing the crowd that even my bodyguard is stronger than their weapons, stronger than their best." She glanced at Zane, her smile softening. "The third clue was when he refused to stop, even when I told him to. Big brother always listens to me, so refusing meant he was building an image—a terrifying bodyguard who'd do anything to protect me. He was waiting for me to step in, to show I'm in control. That's why he let my spell hold him."
Zane's lips curved into a rare, genuine smile. "As expected of my little sister. You're sharp."
Celine's jaw dropped, her eyes wide. "Wait, you got all that from a glance and a few actions?"
Ariel laughed, a light sound that cut through the diner's noise. "I know big brother well enough to understand this much."
Zane's smile faded, his thoughts turning inward. Ariel had read his plan perfectly, but she'd left out one piece—the hidden message he'd carved into the street's memory. He wanted the world to know Void, the bodyguard who'd break bones and defy his own master to protect Ariel. A warning to anyone who'd dare harm her: they'd face a monster who'd tear them apart without hesitation. He knew Ariel understood, but she'd kept it unspoken, letting the message ripple out on its own.
The waiter arrived, setting plates of steaming food on the table—grilled meat, roasted vegetables, and fresh bread. The smell grounded them, pulling them back from the morning's chaos. Celine picked at her food, still processing, while Ariel ate calmly, her eyes occasionally flicking to Zane. He sat still, his blindfold hiding his gaze, but his presence filled the room.
Outside, the city buzzed with the aftermath of the street brawl. Videos of Zane's strength and Ariel's power spread across phones, whispers of "Void" grew louder. The message was clear, and the world was listening.
Ariel pushed her chair back, the legs scraping against the diner's scratched wooden floor, cutting through the clink of plates and the hum of voices. "I'm going to the restroom. Be back in a minute," she said, her tone casual but firm, her golden hair catching the dim light as she stood. Her boots clicked toward the back, where a flickering neon sign buzzed above the restroom door. The air grew heavy at the table, leaving Celine and Zane alone. Celine shifted, her fingers twisting her napkin, her hazel eyes darting nervously. Zane leaned back, his blindfolded face blank, unbothered, as if he sat with a stranger he didn't care to know.
Silence stretched, thick and uneasy, the diner's noise—sizzling grills, clattering dishes, murmured chatter—doing little to fill it. Celine's heart thudded, her mind racing with the memory of Zane's earlier brutality. Finally, Zane's voice cut through, low and sharp, like a blade drawn slowly from its sheath. "The blindfold," he said, tilting his head slightly toward her. "Why'd you give it to me?"
Celine's breath hitched, her eyes flicking to the red cloth tied across his face.
When Zane had tied it on, his system had reacted, identifying it as one of Merlin's failed magic experiments—a relic that could stabilize injuries, knitting flesh just enough to stave off death.
"Seeing how weak you are," Zane continued before she could answer, his voice cold, almost mocking, "it'd be more useful to you when your mana runs dry." He reached for his plate, grabbing a slice of garlic instead of the meat he wanted, and popped it into his mouth. His jaw tightened as the sharp taste hit, a faint grimace crossing his face.
Celine swallowed, her hands clenching under the table. "I feel like you're still avoiding me," she said, her voice soft but steady, pushing past her nerves. "You haven't forgiven me, I can tell, and that's fine. I gave you the blindfold because… I didn't know how else to make amends." Her words hung there, raw and honest, her hazel eyes searching the red cloth for a reaction.
Zane sighed from the frustration of chewing so much garlic and no meat. He reached for his plate again, grabbing another piece of garlic. He chewed it, his expression souring. 'Who the hell puts this much garlic in one dish?' he thought, his irritation spiking as the bitter taste lingered. "To be honest, Celine, I don't like you," he said, his voice flat, cutting through the diner's noise. "You're here because Ariel and that idiot priest insisted. You're a bystander. Always have been. I wouldn't be surprised if you stood there, doing nothing, when Ariel's in trouble." He grabbed another piece of food—another damn slice of garlic—and chewed it, his jaw working harder than necessary, his frustration clear.
Celine's face flushed, her heart pounding, but she leaned forward, pointing to his plate. "That's not meat," she said, her voice trembling but firm. "Here." She guided his hand to the pile of grilled beef, her fingers brushing the table as she pulled back.
Zane's fingers closed around the meat, and he tore into it with a savage bite, his face easing into something close to satisfaction. 'Finally found you, you sly pieces of meat. Now suffer the wrath of my jaws,' he thought, a flicker of humor cutting through his irritation as he chewed, the rich, savory taste grounding him. He swallowed, then leaned forward, his voice dropping to a cold whisper. "I don't trust anyone, Celine. Never have, never will. But if you say you're Ariel's friend, prove it. If you're lying, if you hesitate when she needs you, I'll kill you before she ever finds out." His words were calm, delivered like he was noting the time, but they carried a weight that made Celine's stomach twist. His blindfold hid his eyes, but she felt his stare, sharp and unyielding.
"I won't leave Ariel alone," Celine said, her voice shaking but resolute, her hands balling into fists. "She's… the only friend I have."
Zane leaned back, grabbing another piece of meat—this time without her help—and chewed slowly, deliberately. Before he could respond, he reached for his plate again and snagged another slice of garlic. "Damn it," he muttered, spitting it into his napkin, his frustration breaking the tension like a snapped string. Celine bit her lip, stifling a nervous laugh, her hands still trembling from his threat.