Jadens's parents aren't home. Like, ever.
I think the last time they were here was—what?—spring? Maybe not even that. I don't remember. Not like it's important. They have "business" in Brass, the capital of the Wagon Empire. That's what people say, anyway. Which... yeah. Maybe. Or maybe it's just a nice excuse. Either way, they're not here. They're never here.
Collins—his older brother—isn't around either. He's at the Church of the Saltmother. Lives there full-time. Which leaves Jaden. Alone in that massive house. Which you'd think would make a person lonely or maybe a little odd but Jaden? Jaden likes it. Probably more than he should.
This morning, I sat at their dining table, swallowing half a mug of hot milk like it owed me something. That warmth spreading through my chest felt… safe. Like maybe the day wouldn't be total garbage. I sighed. Out loud. Which I didn't mean to do. But it slipped out.
I caught myself glancing at the puppies. There were two of them. Fluffy things lying flat on the wooden floor. Eating like tiny monsters. I think they're named Benny and Tay. Probably. I always mix them up.
Jaden was stuffing his face. White bread. Barely chewing. He looked like a kid who'd never heard of manners. Not what you'd expect from a noble's kid, right?
Except, Jaden didn't act like one. He never did.
"Still waking up early and reading, huh?" I asked him, after he tore through another piece of bread like it wronged him.
He shook his head, mouth full, voice muffled. "No. Doing something else."
"Oh?"
He swallowed, barely, then shoved the last chunk in and stood. "Come with me. I wanna show you something."
I finished the milk—one big gulp—and stood up. Didn't really think twice. With Jaden, you never really had to. He was weird. But like, an inviting kind of weird.
He led me upstairs. Way up. To the attic. His secret attic. Private space. A place even Collins wasn't allowed in.
He opened the creaky door and we stepped inside. Dust. Clutter. Same as always. Like a hoarder's daydream—tools, books, junk, scraps. Models. Bits of food. Honestly, it smelled. Not in a terrible way, but… like books and rats and something stale.
Jaden dug through a corner. Found a box. Wooden. Covered with this crusty, off-white cloth. Looked like it hadn't been moved in weeks.
He looked at me. His eyes—sharp, too blue—didn't blink. "Don't freak out," he said, lifting the fabric gently.
I leaned in.
Saw a... mouse?
I blinked. "That's a mouse?"
It was. A dark little thing. Scuttling nervously, its body twitching. The sudden light made it freeze, eyes wide.
Jaden was grinning now. Like he expected a bigger reaction.
"That's... cute?" I offered. I don't know. What do you say to a mouse reveal?
He didn't answer. Instead, he handed me something. A white crystal. Flat. Transparent.
"Look through this," he said. He was whispering now. Like he didn't want to spook the mouse.
I took it. Held it up.
What I saw made my stomach twitch.
The mouse's body—blue. Blue. Like glowing, shifting azure mist under its skin. Like its veins were filled with starlight. Not natural. Not right. But not... wrong, either?
I lowered the crystal. Blinked again. "No way," I whispered.
He nodded, cradling the box protectively. "Bayman Mouse. I call him Kefka."
Kefka.
"Where'd you find him?" I asked. Still staring. Still... processing.
Jaden's hand lowered gently, stroking the little creature's back. The mouse nuzzled his palm like a cat. Like it knew him. Like it loved him.
"By the sewer," he said, voice soft. "When I went out to buy herbs. He wasn't afraid of me. So I brought him back. Found out he was a Enigma."
He said it like that. "A Enigma." Not meaning he was an enigma to be there. Not referring to weird or out of place. A proper noun. A creature category. An Actual Enigma.
I shouldn't have been surprised. Jaden's always been into that kind of thing. The occult. The hidden. The not-quite-natural.
Not like the weird people who chase Enigma to use them, though. Jaden liked them. Genuinely. Like you'd like animals. Pets. Friends.
He calls them "he" and "she." Never "it." Always with respect.
It's probably why they don't run from him.
"Kind of a wild coincidence," I said, feeling stupid as soon as the words left.
"Yeah. Coincidence." Jaden didn't look at me. He was teasing Kefka, watching its tiny claws dig into the bedding.
Then he added, casual, but pointed: "I know Collins told you to become a Enigma hunter. But I hate that job."
I shrugged. "I don't think I'll keep doing it."
Jaden whipped his head around. "Wait, no, Feron, don't say that because of me. I'm just—"
"It's not that," I said, and lifted my right hand.
Mist poured out.
Black mist.
It slid across my fingers. Coiled around my wrist. A soft, writhing fog.
Johnny recoiled slightly. His shoulders stiffened. Eyes wide. "You—you made a contract with a Enigma?!"
"Apparently."
I dropped my arm. The mist followed, like it had a mind of its own.
"I didn't mean to. I don't even know how it happened."
So I told him everything. The whole weird blur. The dream that wasn't a dream. The ritual that didn't feel like a ritual.
When I finished, he was frowning. Deep. Thoughtful.
"You... didn't prepare any materials," he muttered. "You didn't even intend it. And it still happened?"
"Yeah."
He stared at the mist. Like it might whisper something.
"I don't recognize this one," he admitted. "I know a lot of Enigmas. I keep track. But this one... doesn't match."
I tried to smile. "Guess I'm special."
"You're not," he said automatically. Then paused. "I mean—not like that."
He leaned closer. "Can I see him?"
I nodded. Fully let the mist out.
It poured around me like smoke. Heavy. Protective.
Jaden blinked. "Your face…"
"I know," I muttered. "It's weird."
"No. It's ugly."
...
I didn't respond. What could I even say to that?
He grabbed a feather pen and ink. Started scribbling notes like a mad scientist. His handwriting was terrible. Tiny symbols. Squiggly lines. He didn't even ask. Just observed.
After a while, he looked up, practically glowing. "Name it."
"Huh?"
"Your Enigma. Give it a name."
"I... already did," I said. "Golden Black Rebis."
"Golden Black Rebis…" he repeated, tasting the syllables like soup. "It's okay."
I sighed and sat down. The mist retracted. Like it was shy.
I glanced at Kefka, still nibbling wood. "So what're you gonna do with him? Keep him forever?"
Jaden shrugged. "No. I'll release him. Eventually."
He scooped the mouse into his hand and sat beside me, cross-legged on the dusty floor.
"You wanna touch him?" he asked, tilting the tiny body toward me.
"Is it safe?"
"As long as you're calm."
I reached out. Brushed one finger against Kefka's fur.
It was... coarse. Not soft like I expected.
Then it hit me.
Emotion.
Not mine. Not entirely.
Fear. Curiosity. Nostalgia.
Weird nostalgia. Like... longing for something you've never had.
My chest clenched. My hand froze.
Was this his emotion? Kefka's?
"Feron?" Jaden asked. (Yes, that's my name. Weird, right? You forgot, didn't you?)
I blinked.
"Sorry," I said. "I think he likes me."
Jaden smiled. "I think so, too."
We sat in silence for a moment. Then he said, "I'm thinking about bonding with him. Maybe."
"Really?"
"Yeah. My family's got his formula from Rank 0 to Rank 3. I think we'd match."
I didn't know what that meant, but I nodded.
Noble families. Always hoarding knowledge like it's jam.
If I didn't have whatever weird cheat code I had—my "golden finger" or whatever—I'd probably be jealous.
Actually, I am jealous.
"Jaden," I said suddenly, "can I borrow your family's mystery books?"
He blinked. "Yeah! Sure! I'll even give you my notes. They're a mess, but helpful."
"I'll pay."
"No. We're friends. You don't have to."
"Exactly. Because we're friends. I should."
He exhaled, frustrated. "You're impossible."
I know. I really am.
But at least now I wasn't alone in this.
Not really.
Not anymore.