Inside the Night Flame Café, the soft amber light from the hanging lamps reflected across the cracked glass and dust-covered tables. Loroth, Artina, and Maria sat around the long wooden table, exchanging uneasy glances after the chaos of the previous night.
The scent of cold coffee mingled with faint smoke from a small fire that hadn't been fully extinguished. In the corner sat Kasper, staring blankly into space while spinning a half-empty cup between his fingers—his thoughts clearly far beyond the broken walls around him.
Artina: "So that's your origin story? I expected a little more drama behind your so-called beginnings."
She spoke with a teasing smirk, brushing dust from her black coat.
Kasper (coldly): "I didn't go into details since Loroth asked me not to. We should focus on fixing the café before everyone else arrives."
But before he could continue, the squeal of wheels stopping outside the shattered door interrupted them.
Everyone turned toward the entrance, exchanging wary looks.
Kasper (with a heavy sigh): "We didn't even fix the door yet…"
The sound of familiar footsteps echoed—William walked in through the broken wall, wearing a faint smile that balanced between exhaustion and satisfaction.
William: "Hey, Kasper! I didn't expect even the wall to be gone, haha."
He tossed his torn coat onto a chair.
Kasper: "We dealt with the doll and—"
But William waved dismissively, cutting him off as if he already knew how the story ended.
William: "No need to explain. I know what happened. He's back, but I think he's calm now."
At that moment, Liner walked past them, his footsteps heavy and expression unreadable. His half-closed eyes barely acknowledged the others. He climbed the creaky wooden stairs without saying a word.
Casey, who had been quietly watching him, called out hesitantly:
Casey: "Wait…?"
He stopped for just a second, turned slightly with dull eyes that carried no emotion, then kept walking.
Casey (nervously): "Are you okay?"
Liner (coldly, without turning back): "Doesn't matter."
Casey exchanged uneasy looks with William.
William (light sarcasm): "Don't worry about him. He's always like that."
Casey (softly): "Alright…"
After a moment, everyone got to work—rearranging broken tables, sweeping ash and shards of glass from the floor.
Kasper (firmly): "Since we're all here, let's fix this place. I don't want it looking like the aftermath of a lost battle."
Nila (grumbling while sweeping): "Ugh, can't we just make Arnold do this for us?"
William (smirking): "He'd bury you alive if he heard that."
Nila: "What about Henry then?... Henry?"
William: "Ah, right. He went after Phantom. Said he had something to tell him."
Nila (rolling her eyes): "Great. He could've at least helped us first."
The tension lifted for a moment when Maria let out a small laugh—soft, but enough to bring a bit of life back into the ruined café.
In one of the narrow alleys of the old city, dim lights flickered against puddles of stagnant water beneath the cracked gas lamps.
Phantom and Hunter walked slowly through the shadows, the faint drizzle tapping the ground around them.
Suddenly, Phantom stopped.
Hunter: "He's close."
His voice was low as he rested his hand on his weapon.
Phantom's eyes shifted upward, scanning the rooftops.
Then, with a sudden thud, Henry dropped from above, landing hard enough to scatter dust around him.
Henry (groaning): "Did you have to make me fall like that?!"
Phantom (smirking, offering a hand): "I didn't force you to jump, haha."
Henry: "Since when do you make jokes?"
Phantom: "Since you escaped the Seneca, maybe?"
Henry (grimacing): "Don't remind me…"
Phantom: "Anyway, why are you following us?"
Henry: "You know exactly why. Lithiv's been here for a while, and considering our past… partnership in taking him down, I thought I'd lend a hand."
Phantom (flatly): "I don't need you."
Henry: "Oh? And why's that?"
Phantom: "Your experience is with the sea, not the streets."
Henry (grinning): "Fair point. Still, at least let me help."
Phantom paused, then turned away.
Phantom: "Fine. You're working with those café folks, right? If you get anything on Lithiv, come tell me. You know where to find me."
He walked off with Hunter, vanishing into the shadows.
Henry (calling after him, sarcastically): "Yes, sir—Boss Phantom!"
Phantom's voice, echoing from afar: "Drop the title. I've been tired of it for years."
Henry chuckled to himself before disappearing into the alley's darkness.
Back in Night Flame Café, the smell of burnt wood had faded, and the air felt warmer after the cleanup.
Artina sat by the cracked window, watching the streetlights reflect across the broken glass.
William (leaning against the wall): "So, what's one of the Hunter Princesses doing here?"
Artina (smirking): "No appreciation for help? I'm technically on probation, you know."
William (lightly apologetic): "Ah, my mistake, Your Highness."
Artina (laughing softly): "Hehe, relax. I'm just teasing. I came here for the same reason you all did—to bring down Lithiv."
William extended a friendly hand.
William: "Glad to have you with us."
Artina took it with confidence.
Artina: "Let's make this alliance worth it."
For a brief moment, the two shared a silent understanding, while the others watched with quiet curiosity.
Meanwhile, deep beneath the city…
Pipes hissed faintly, dripping water in rhythmic intervals.
Amid the shadows walked Fake Elise and Lithiv, following the Clown. Both were weary, scarred from an earlier battle.
Lithiv (grumbling): "How much farther?"
Clown (without turning): "Not much. Stop whining before you regret it."
Lithiv (mocking): "You say that like you're stronger than me. If that fool with the atom blades hadn't interfered, my power wouldn't have been sealed!"
The clown stopped, slowly tilting his head halfway to reveal only half his painted face under the flickering light.
Clown (cold amusement): "And what makes you think I'm mocking you?"
They walked until the tunnel opened into a massive underground chamber filled with glass tubes glowing with eerie blue liquid.
Inside floated distorted beings—half human, half monster—moving slowly as if trapped in eternal sleep.
The clown stepped forward, arms spread wide like a showman on stage.
Clown (cheerfully insane): "Welcome to my circus!"
Fake Elise (disgusted): "Looks more like trash."
Clown (bowing theatrically): "Not always—but I respect your opinion, dear lady."
Lithiv (scanning the room): "I'll admit, it's not the worst place I've seen."
Clown (grinning): "And you're not the worst person I've met."
Lithiv (mock offense): "Oh? So you are prejudiced against me?"
Clown (arms wide, laughing): "Prejudiced? Me? Never... never!"
He burst into sharp, manic laughter that echoed across the chamber.
Lithiv's eyes flickered faintly—half anger, half curiosity.
Then, silence fell.
The city above seemed to hold its breath.
Something was coming.
A night that none of them would sleep through.