Elin gracefully slipped her backpack off her shoulders, effortlessly selecting a seat opposite Liara. A fleeting glance at Liara accompanied her reach for the cup on the table, capturing Liara's attention before she took a sip.'Did everyone just fancy drinking people's coffee around here?' Liara mused, a subtle frown dancing on her face.After a hearty swig of the coffee, Elin released a deep breath, placing the cup back on the table with a gentle thud.Her gaze lifted to Liara, an inquisitive expression in her eyes, a subtle motion for Liara to take a seat.Liara swallowed nervously, cautiously settling into the chair before Elin, earning a smile that sent an unexpected shiver down her spine.Elin's intentions remained an enigma to Liara. Why was she here?"Hey... um... you don't have to worry; I won't tell any...""Worried?" Elin interrupted with a chuckle, cutting Liara off.Liara squinted, her curiosity escalating, the situation growing more bewildering with each passing moment.

Nothing ever made perfect sense with Elin. One moment it could feel like a smooth ride, where you get to relax, feel safe. Nothing could possibly go wrong, right? Well… The next thing you know, you're scared for your life, everything is scary, and the ride's getting rough and bumpy.At some point, she thought she knew exactly what Elin wanted. It was harmless, and she seemed like a sweet person. So she thought.Elin had always looked out for her; she became the only friend she ever made in camp. Well, due to circumstances anyway. Plus, how they met was never coincidental; it was mostly planned.Maybe stumbling upon her in her vulnerable moment, where she was having it steamy with that guy, wasn't planned after all. But Elin found her."I believe the video wasn't enough to quell your curiosity," Elin said with a stern expression, maintaining a distance as she stared at Liara."I'm sorry, what?" Liara's confusion deepened, prompting her to take a step further towards Elin.Elin sighed.

He adjusted in his throne, his jaw cradled in his fist, elbow resting on the throne's arm rest—a skeletal structure with protruding arms, palms outstretched. His eyes glowed with a fierce intensity, orbs of yellow radiance, while an azure crystal embedded deep into his chest, softly illuminated his form in a rhythmic, ethereal glow. "Hmm, he struck the mark," Arcanis murmured to himself, fixated ahead, his pupils resembling molten lava on the verge of eruption. "Even if unintended, I'm oddly impressed," he remarked, easing into his throne of bones, chin stroked in contemplation. "But I wonder, how far will he exploit this vulnerability?" he pondered, tilting his head in curiosity. ____"How did my life spiral into this… horror?" he reflected in the midst of the eerie silence."Oh... right; a promise," the thought emerged, dissipating into the recesses of his mind. Images of his parents, smiles fading like wisps in the wind, briefly swept through his consciousness."Maybe death is

He paused, gasping for breath as exhaustion weighed heavily upon him. Sweat trickled down his face, each breath coming in heavy gasps, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His gaze lingered on the burly man standing atop the hill, arms folded over his chest. Rays from the sun glinted off the man's shiny bald head, his stern, scrutinizing gaze bearing down on him.Alex stood shirtless, his chiseled physique glistening with sweat as it dripped down his body. His muscles rippled and tensed.Adorned around his chest and over his shoulder was a sturdy black leather belt, fastened securely, its chain trailing down his back. Anchored to a massive sledge, hauling a colossal boulder the size of a car.Alex drew in a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly. Gripping the belt tightly with both hands, he slid his thumbs underneath each side, his knuckles paling from the pressure.His muscles tightened further, veins rippling across his forearm like intricate webs. With a contorted grimace, he star

The night before the recruitment test, Jaden stood at his apartment window, watching the city lights flicker like fallen stars. Each pulse of light seemed to echo the nervous energy thrumming through his veins. He pressed his palm against the cool glass, focusing on the sensation, trying to ground himself in the present moment.Behind him, Alex sprawled on the couch, tossing a stress ball from hand to hand. The soft thump of rubber against skin provided a steady counterpoint to the chaotic swirl of Jaden's thoughts."You know," Alex said, his voice cutting through the silence, "most people would be excited about tomorrow. It's not every day you get to show off your abilities to the bigwigs."Jaden snorted, not turning from the window. "Most people don't have to worry about accidentally unleashing shadow monsters if they sneeze wrong."The stress ball's rhythm faltered for a moment before resuming. "Fair point. But come on, man. You've got to admit, it's a little bit cool. I mean, how m