“Which brings us back to the anomaly, Your Majesty,” Nikai said. “The energy transfer between those two teenagers proves itispossible to separate a being’s spiritual energy from them and deposit it elsewhere. Four gave up his throne—what if he gave up his power, his spiritual essence, too? You said it yourself, Your Majesty, Four’s power binds him to the underworld. If he found a way to separate it from himself, then he would no longer be tied to it. He could’ve displaced his power, hiding it somewhere in the human world by masking its presence. That’s why none of the Kings have found his trace in the underworld.”
“And what became of his being? His soul?” Ten countered.
“I believe the answer might also lie in the anomaly,” Nikai said, excitement thrumming in his voice. “A vast amount of spiritual energy was placed in the normie boy, energy he is not meant to have. Does it mean he was born able to hold power, but that power wastaken awayfrom him?”
Ten leaned back against his chair, trembling slightly. Nikai could not tell if it was from anger or shock. The gold in Ten’s eyes glinted. “Theboy... You are implying that he could somehow be a form of my brother.”
Nikai nodded. “As impossible as it sounds, yes. But there is one flaw in my theory, one question that keeps coming up. Why did Four want to leave in the first place? Why would he do something so drastic? Why would he choose to be human? There must be something pushing him away from the underworld or something he’s running from.” Nikai’s shoulders slumped. “But I can’t figure out what it might be.”
“Something pushing him away... something he’s running from...” Ten repeated, staring into space. He looked like he was reliving a moment from the past, a moment that had brought him great sadness. Slipping a hand under his crossed collar, he took out a dried-up willow branch. He always kept the branch with him, tucked under layers of fabric right by where his heart would be, if Ten actually had a beating heart.
Nikai stared longingly at the artifact, wishing it’d been left in his custody instead. He’d been the one to discover it in Four’s empty chambers. Brown and rotting, its power sucked dry. It was all that was left. But Nikai did not mourn. Mourning would mean he had accepted his friend would never return.
“Foolish, foolish brother, what have you done?” Ten murmured to himself. “All this because of a broken heart?”
Nikai sat up. “A broken heart? What do you mean?”
Ten startled, as if he’d forgotten Nikai was there. He smoothed his ponytail. “You must have misheard me. Do you not know? A King is born without a heart. We do not feel emotions in the same wretched way that mortals do.”
But Nikai was certain he had heard Ten correctly.
“I understand what you are saying, Reaper,” Ten said, tucking the willow branch back under his crossed collar. “I do not know if what you suggested is possible or true, but I will confer with the other Kings.”
“Will you let me know what happens, Your Majesty?”
Ten gave him a look. “Do not forget the message my brother left us:Those who seek me shall never see me. He is devious and clever. He might have placed obstacles and safeguards along the way to thwart his discovery. We must be careful in our approach.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Nikai shifted uncomfortably. “And my request?”
“We will visit the Darkroomtogether. Find out whatever tedious paperwork approvals the Librarian needs, and it will be done.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I will do so right away.” Nikai inclined his head. Hehadn’t expected Ten to want to accompany him to the Archives. If Nikai had his way, he’d be conducting this investigation by himself. But it was good to have a King’s backing, he supposed.
Plastic screeched suddenly against tile.
Ten had sprung from his seat. He pressed a hand to his temple, wincing. “My Court is calling me. I must return to my kingdom immediately; there is a village in danger.” His face was paler than usual. “Let us hope your lead goes somewhere, because I am running out of time.”
There was no wind inside the café, but the hem of Ten’s robes fluttered with a life of their own.
As Nikai looked on, the edges of red fabric faded into a dull gray, the color leaching from them.The Nothing, he thought, shuddering.
“Return with me, Reaper,” Ten commanded. He raised a hand.
Nikai squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the stomach-churning tug that was coming.
The lights in the café flickered.
“Your order is ready, sir,” the orange-haired boy called out as he emerged from the kitchen. “Sir?” He glanced around the empty café, surprised to find himself suddenly alone in the place, and that his most regular customer—the beautiful blond cosplayer with the ponytail—had left without his favorite drink.
15
Yiran
Yiran stood in the kitchen, a box of cereal in one hand and a carton of milk in the other. He’d been too excited to sleep. The first day of school always brought about its own kind of anxiety, and he was feeling it tenfold today. Xingshan Academy wasn’t just any school; it was his gateway to the world of magic, his key to belonging.
You’re going to fail. This magic doesn’t belong to you.
Yiran chased the mocking voice away. He couldn’t think like that. Opportunity lay in front of him; he had to grab it and make something of it.
