EQUINOX REQUIEM
CHAPTER SEVEN: A BREATHER
Apparently, Mr. Summer is the big boss of a huge pharmaceutical company. The people who tried to kidnap his daughter were probably hired by his competitors — desperate fools trying to "negotiate" a recipe from him. I rescued his daughter, and they sought revenge.
Then he showed up.
Since that last encounter in the Fractured Void, I haven't seen him. Every day, I appear there anyway — training, sweating, trying to get stronger. The emptiness stretches out like a canvas waiting to be torn. Sometimes I swear I hear whispers in that place. My own doubts, probably.
Still, I keep pushing. Just in case.
And now summer's already over.
And damn—Mr. Summer's villa is booooring AF!
Everything's too quiet here. The hallways are spotless, the food's perfect, the beds are softer than clouds… and yet, I feel like I'm rotting away. I can't contact my friends. I can't go outside. I can't do anything.
The only good thing that happened is that I somehow got smooth entry into the University of the Pacific. Funny thing is, I never even applied. I haven't seen my CET results either, yet I'm somehow on the year's admission list. I should probably be worried about how that happened… but honestly? I'm just relieved. A breath of fresh air in my lungs — even if it's temporary.
Oh, and yeah. I'll be going to school with Hyacinth. She's in her sophomore year, studying Geology.
Well, that's my life now. You're all caught up.
I better get back to training.
I need to be prepared for anything that threatens my family again.
---
Hale wakes up drenched in sweat. He bolts upright, chest heaving, heart hammering against his ribs. The nightmare fades too quickly for him to grasp it — flashes of fire, a tiger's eyes, a whisper like steel scraping glass.
"Great," he mutters, dragging himself to the bathroom.
Cold water hits his face, and he stares into the mirror. His reflection blurs behind the mist, the faint scar on his temple catching the morning light. He runs a hand through his damp hair, sighs, and walks back into the room.
The wardrobe's packed full of expensive clothes. He grabs the first thing his hand touches — a plain black shirt and dark gray joggers.
"Mr. Summer's got good taste," he mumbles. "Wonder if he even picks his own clothes."
He slings a towel over his neck and opens the door — only to freeze as a soft voice greets him.
"Oh, hi Hale!"
Hyacinth stands there, her long chestnut hair tied in a messy bun, casual shorts, and a bright smile that feels too alive for this place.
"Yo," Hale replies, blinking. "This place has a gym, right?"
"Yeah. My dad converted one of the spare rooms into a fitness center." She tilts her head. "But you don't really look like the gym type."
"I'm not," Hale admits. "Just… super bored. Needed something to do before I lose my mind."
Hyacinth gasps theatrically. "What?! How can you be bored in my house?"
"It's your dad's house."
She grabs his wrist before he can escape. "Semantics. Come with me!"
Before Hale can protest, she's already dragging him down the hallway. Her energy's exhausting just to watch — she practically glides through the corridors like she grew up in them.
They stop in front of a heavy double door. She grins, pushes it open, and light floods the hallway.
"Behold!" she announces dramatically. "The Summer family's leisure hall!"
Inside the massive room are rows of gaming rigs, neon lights, a VR setup, a movie projector, and consoles lined like trophies.
Hale's jaw drops. "No way… PS6?!" He runs to the nearest console and presses his face against it. "Ah… it feels so new…"
Hyacinth crosses her arms. "Really? That's all you see in here?"
"Well, it's the only one I play."
"Whatever," she says, tossing him a controller. "Let's play."
"I'd rather play against bots," he mutters.
"What do you mean?" she challenges. "I'm a really good player. Even pros find it hard to beat me."
"Sure," Hale smirks. "What do you play? Barbie Princess Dress-Up?"
Hyacinth narrows her eyes. "Pick any game you want. I'll beat you."
"I'll go easy on you," Hale teases.
---
Two Hours Later
"I can't believe you beat me at every game!!!" Hale groans, slumping back on the couch.
Hyacinth grins like a conqueror. "You'd go easy on me, huh? Hahahahaha! You're too weak! I'm the gaming champ of my entire campus! You're just an insignificant ant before me!"
"I went easy on you so I wouldn't break your spirit," Hale mutters. "Don't think you actually beat me. I let you win because you're a girl."
"Oh yeah?" she says, leaning forward with a sly grin. "Then let's play again."
"Nah…" Hale says, covering his face with a pillow. "I've had enough humiliation for one day."
"Y'know," Hyacinth smirks, "if you beg profusely, I might just teach you some of my techniques."
"And lose my honor? Never."
"What honor?" she snorts. "You lost to a girl playing FC26. Shame!"
Hale freezes. Shit. Did I say that out loud?
Hyacinth laughs. "All this winning's making me hungry. I'm gonna grab a snack."
She leaves with a skip in her step. Hale groans, dragging himself up. "Guess I'll go to the gym after all…"
From the hallway, Hyacinth shouts, "That's right! You'll have better luck lifting thousand-pound weights than beating me!"
Hale smiles faintly. "You have no idea."
---
The gym's cold and silent. Mirrors line the walls, and the scent of steel fills the air. Hale stretches, cracks his knuckles, and begins training. His reflection stares back at him — distant, tired, but determined.
Sweat pours down his temples as he punches the air, repeating combos he learned in the Fractured Void. His fists blur, his breathing steadies, his focus sharpens.
For a fleeting moment, the air ripples — a faint shimmer, like heat distortion.
He pauses.
"Xaros?"
Nothing. Only silence.
He shakes his head, picks up a dumbbell, and continues. But in the mirror, for the briefest second, a silhouette flickers — a pair of glowing eyes watching him from the void behind the glass.
When he blinks, it's gone.
Hale exhales and mutters to himself, "I can't let my guard down again."
He drops the weight, wipes his face, and stares out the wide window. Beyond the gardens and marble walkways, the world looks peaceful — but that calm feels like the silence before a storm.
He clenches his fists. "I'll get stronger. No matter what it takes."
---
Chapter Seven End.