Area: Plain of Blossoms
Characters: Tristan Smite and Kira Johnson
Tristan slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the soft sunlight breaking through the treetops above. The warm breeze carried the sweet scent of blossoms, and petals drifted lazily through the air. Lying beneath a tall, pink-leaved tree, he turned his head to see her.
Kira sat beside him, legs crossed, leaning slightly forward. Her long, straight black hair shimmered in the light, catching hints of violet as it moved with the wind. Her warm tan skin glowed in the sunlight, and her eyes—green like polished emeralds—locked onto his with a loving smile.
"Why is it that we've been friends for what feels like forever, yet you turned out so much better than me?" Tristan asked, voice low. "You're beautiful… and you have one of the strongest powers humanity's ever seen. Kira…"
She tilted her head slightly and gave a soft laugh, her fingers reaching out to gently run through his soft afro. The breeze caught a few strands of her hair, sweeping them across her face as she looked down at him beneath the shade of the pink tree.
"You said it again," she murmured. "We're not friends, remember? I literally took you out yesterday."
She raised an eyebrow, then leaned back with a playful smirk.
"And stop acting like I'm some big-shot S-rank Patroller just because of my power. Being able to create from imagination—yeah, it sounds cool, but it's terrifying if you really think about it. A power like this could mess with your entire mindset."
Her gaze softened as she looked back at him.
"The only thing that keeps me sane is you, Tristan."
He looked away, eyes drifting up to the sky as a petal landed gently on his chest. His voice was quieter now.
"When we were eleven—me—and twelve—you, your power awakened out of nowhere. And my dad vanished, along with the rest of the crew exploring the outer planets…"
His brow furrowed. "And Daran's…"
"Where's Daran been lately?" he asked suddenly, turning his head back to her.
Kira's playful tone vanished. Her smile faded as she lowered her gaze, plucking a blossom from the grass between her fingers.
"It's his father's death anniversary," she said softly. "November 2nd… year 2081. He's probably at Planet Graveyard right now."
She glanced back up at him, her voice laced with empathy.
"I was going to check on his mom later. You're usually the one who looks after him…"
{—}{—}{—}{—}
Area: Planet Graveyard
Characters: Daran and Tristan
Daran stood alone at the edge of the burial plains, his voice quiet, carried by the wind across the pale gray soil.
"Hey, Dad… I'm seventeen now. Eighteen in three months."
He knelt before a tall, polished headstone etched with fading names and planetary insignias. His hand hovered above the surface, fingers twitching before curling into a fist.
"I wish I could see things from your perspective. I wish I understood what caused all of this—your death, Tristan's mom's sickness… and that thing that came out of nowhere."
As the words slipped from his lips, his mind summoned a vision from memory: a crystal-like beast, monstrous in size and unnatural in shape. Its roars shattered the sky, each one laced with destruction. A-rank Patrollers couldn't stop it. Twenty S-ranks died trying. Whatever it was, it disappeared just as quickly as it arrived.
But Daran could still feel it—deep in his gut. It would return.
He let out a hollow laugh and stood, brushing the dust from his pants.
"And you're still making that same damn face," he muttered toward the grave. "Come on, man… grow out of it already, or you're just gonna be a plain dude forever."
A voice echoed behind him—familiar and teasing.
"Says the one who forgets almost everything. I'm surprised you even remember your own name."
Daran turned and smiled despite himself. "Hey, Tristan…"
The two of them walked side by side down the worn sidewalk that ran along the outskirts of Planet Graveyard, the heavy silence of the resting world hanging thick around them. Ahead, a glowing warp portal shimmered in the distance—their gateway back to what passed as normal life.
To Haven.
The walk to Daran's house was quiet. Too quiet. His boots crunched softly against gravel as he finally broke the silence.
"So, are you just gonna walk next to me like a ghost, or say something that'll help me forget about my dad?"
He looked over, expecting a grin or a smart comment. Instead, Tristan met his gaze with a flat expression.
"How the hell am I supposed to do that," Tristan asked, "when it's your dad who died?"
The words struck hard—not cruel, just honest. Daran blinked, then gave a slow nod. It was a good point.
Some things, you don't just forget. Not family.
But now that he thought about it… Tristan never talked about his dad either. Not once. Every time Daran asked, he'd dodge the question, change the subject, or go silent. It was like his father didn't exist.
But there wasn't time to dwell on it.
They were almost to Daran's house—until—
{—}{—}{—}{—}
Area: Daran's House
Characters: Kira and Emma Miller (Daran's Mother)
"So… how is it?" Emma asked gently, her hands resting in her lap. "Joining the Patrollers, I mean… Kira?"
Kira blinked, realizing she'd drifted off in thought. The spark in Emma's soft eyes brought her back to reality.
"Sorry, Mrs. Miller," she said, adjusting her posture on the couch. "I zoned out. What were we talking about?"
Emma smiled with a warm chuckle. "I was just asking about you becoming a Patroller. Tristan's already got four football scholarships lined up, and Daran… well, you know how he is. Always off at science fairs or hunting for answers about space and time."
She leaned in just slightly, her curiosity gentle but clear.
"But you… Have you become a Patroller yet?"
Kira hesitated, her expression tightening. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her pants, and for a moment, it looked like she couldn't find the words.
Emma noticed. She gave a kind, understanding look.
"It's okay," she said softly. "You don't have to answer if it's something you don't want to talk about. That's your business—not mine."
Kira exhaled slowly, almost in relief. "Thank you… It's just… the situation with the Patrollers is a little too overwhelming for me to explain."
More than overwhelming, she thought. It's guilt.
She could still see it clearly—the moment her powers spiraled out of control. The moment her imagination became reality, and that reality cost someone dearly. Don KC, the strongest Patroller in their region, lost his arm because of her. No one blamed her out loud… but they didn't have to.
Everyone knew.
He had a new artificial arm now, but it wasn't the same. It never would be. Watching him on the news—still fighting, still smiling—only made the weight on her chest heavier.
And the only reason it hadn't crushed her completely… was Tristan.
If he hadn't been there, if he hadn't pulled her out of her darkest moment…
"Kira?" Emma's voice brought her back again. "Look."
The TV flickered with a breaking news banner. An anchor spoke urgently as images of chaos filled the screen.
Reports of a strange light—blinding, unexplainable—causing people to vanish. Emergency alerts flared along the bottom of the screen. Every available Patroller had already been deployed.
Kira's eyes widened. Her body tensed as a chill ran down her spine.
"Wait… Daran and Tristan…" Her breath caught.
"They're still on their way here."
She didn't wait.
Her heart thundered in her chest as she leapt to her feet and sprinted for the door. The sky outside had shifted—a low hum buzzing in her ears as a flicker of light warped across the horizon.
Then she saw them.
Two figures. Two boys. Walking up the path.
"Tri—!"