The beachside view looked like something out. Of a dream. The endless blue ocean stretched far into the distance, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore brought a deep sense of calm to the mind.
Nearby stood a large and elegant restaurant where people were enjoying their meals under countless glowing lights.
Cool gusts of wind were blowing, making the atmosphere even more beautiful. As soon as Alisha, Younshu, Kaelen, Sheyaan, and Zavian stepped out of the car, the breeze seemed to welcome them.
Their hair and clothes gently swayed in the wind. Younshu closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said,
"Wow… what amazing weather! It feels so refreshing."
Sheyaan smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Yes… the weather really feels very peaceful."
There was an innocent glow on her face, which looked even more beautiful under the soft moonlight.
Just then, Alisha turned back and was surprised. Zavian was still standing beside the car. He hadn't moved at all. He was simply staring at Sheyaan continuously.
There was a strange pull in his gaze, as if he could sense something deep within her.
"Zayan! Come on, hurry up, Zayan! Why are you still standing there?" Alisha called out loudly.
But Zavian's condition was getting worse. All the energy in his body had already been drained. It felt as if his feet were sinking into the ground.
Gathering all his strength, he slowly began walking toward them. Every step felt heavy, yet his eyes never moved away from Sheyaan.
Soon they reached a long table placed outside the restaurant. One by one, everyone started sitting down on their chairs. Kalene cleverly arranged a seat between Zavian and Sheyaan.
As soon as Zavian sat down, Kalene quickly turned to Sheyaan with a smile and said,
"Sheyaan, sit here. From this seat you'll be able to see the ocean clearly, and you'll like the view."
Sheyaan listened to him and walked toward the chair. She glanced once at Zavian,
who looked completely absorbed in his phone like a careless person, as if he had no concern for anyone around him.
Sheyaan quietly sat on the chair beside Zavian. But the moment she sat down, the small corner of her hand brushed against his hand.
That touch was no less than an electric shock for Sheyaan.
At that moment, Zavian looked at her with his serious eyes, and the way he stared made Sheyaan a little nervous.
Sheyaan quickly pulled her hand back.
And the demon inside Zavian was now losing control… he knew that if he didn't touch Sheyaan, he might not survive this night.
Everyone had already taken their seats at the restaurant table.
"Alisha... can I sit next to you?" Sheyaan asked nervously. Sitting there felt quite strange to her.
Alisha opened her mouth to reply.
"Of course, why not? Come here."
But before Sheyaan could even get up from her chair, Zavian suddenly grabbed Sheyaan's pinky finger tightly from under the table. Sheyaan froze in place. She looked at Zavian in surprise.
In his usual cool and deep voice, without showing any emotion, Zavian said,
"Sit here."
Sheyaan's heart began beating rapidly. Feeling slightly scared, she quietly sat back down properly.
Just then, Younshu, as always, tried to lighten the mood. Rubbing his hands together excitedly, he said,
"Alright! Now let's order some food."
A waiter walked up to their table and politely asked,
"Sir, what would you like to order? Everything is available here."
Younshu looked at the waiter and calmly said,
"Bring us the best of whatever is on the menu."
The waiter respectfully bowed his head and walked away. Alisha looked at Younshu in surprise and asked in a slightly teasing tone,
"Younshu… what kind of strange order was that?"
Younshu replied excitedly,
"Come on, Alisha! Today is a day to enjoy, so let's enjoy freely… why worry about the order?"
Hearing this, Sheyaan burst into laughter.
Zavian, who had been trying to conserve his energy until now, looked at Sheyaan's cheerful face.
Her laughter was so innocent that even Zavian's cold expression softened into a faint smile.
After a short while, two waiters arrived carrying a large amount of food and began placing it on the table. The delicious aroma of the dishes quickly filled the entire atmosphere.
Younshu and Kaelen looked at the food with excitement.
"Wow! What an amazing smell… hot pasta, noodles, chicken, and wine… tonight is going to be great!"
Alisha smiled and said,
"Alright, stop talking now and let's start eating."
As soon as everyone began eating, Sheyaan hesitated slightly and softly whispered into Alisha's ear,
"Alisha… I need to go to the washroom. Will you come with me?"
Sheyaan quietly asked if Alisha could go to the washroom with her. Alisha smiled and nodded.
"Yes, alright. Let's go."
But just as Sheyaan stood up from her chair, Zavian's cold voice stopped her right there.
"Where are you going?" Zavian asked without even lifting his head.
Alisha looked at him and replied with a light laugh,
"We're just going to the washroom. We'll be back in a moment."
Zavian suddenly raised his head and looked straight into Sheyaan's eyes. His face was expressionless.
"You stay… I'll go," he said, gesturing toward Alisha.
Hearing this, Sheyaan felt a little scared. Her heart began beating rapidly. But Zavian stood up from his seat and said without any expression,
"Come, Sheyaan."
Nervously, Sheyaan started walking ahead while Zavian followed right behind her. He walked with both hands in the pockets of his pants.
Again and again, Sheyaan felt as if a shadow was following her. Out of fear, she kept turning back to look, and every time she did, she found Zavian's deep and cold gaze fixed on her.
Finally, Sheyaan couldn't hold it in anymore. Stuttering slightly, she said,
"yo...you… can stay here… I will go from here."
Zavian simply replied,
"Hmm… ok."
There was a large washroom built a little away from the restaurant, near the ocean.
Sheyaan quickly went inside the washroom.
Standing alone outside, Zavian looked at his hand. On it was a tattoo shaped like a Black Rose. The tattoo looked completely dim at the moment.
There was no glow or shine in it because his powers had not fully returned yet.
Zavian took a deep breath. Near the ocean there was a railing, and he stood there resting both his hands on it. Lowering his head slightly, he closed his eyes.
The calm breeze from the sea touched his face, but looking at him, it felt as if he was becoming weaker with every passing moment.
And then…
After a while, Sheyaan came out. She looked toward Zavian, who was still standing in the same position. Walking up to him, Sheyaan spoke in a soft voice,
"Let's go back now."
Just as Sheyaan turned to leave a cold. Yet firm hand suddenly held her finger for a moment her heart seemed to stop. She turned back and was surprised.
there was no longer the same harshness in Zavian's eyes; instead, there was a strange restlessness.
" yo...you… what happened to you?"
Sheyaan asked nervously. She could feel that Zavian's body was turning cold and his breathing had become uneven.
In a tired voice that had now turned into nothing more than a whisper, Zavian said,
"Sheyaan… don't misunderstand me. I just… need to restore my energy."
He took a deep breath and looked into Sheyaan's eyes before continuing,
"I… I'm becoming very weak… my powers have been gone for the last six years. wi...will you help me get them back?"
Hearing this, Sheyaan was left numb. She didn't know what to say.
"But… how can I help you? I don't know anything,"
she asked innocently.
Zavian slowly nodded and replies.
"You just need to stay calm… I will handle the rest."
Zavian's words sounded strange and mysterious to Sheyaan, but seeing his condition made her heart soften.
And she said, "Alright."
Zavian stepped a little closer to Sheyaan and intertwined his fingers with hers. But by now, even standing had become difficult for him.
The very next moment, Zavian slowly rested his head on Sheyaan's shoulder. Sheyaan could feel his heavy breathing against her shoulder.
Standing near the ocean, their clothes and hair moved gently in the breeze. The waves of the sea crashed loudly against each other.
Under the blue glow of the moonlight, their moment together looked like a silent promise.
As soon as Zavian held Sheyaan's hand, the atmosphere suddenly changed. A bright red light began to flow out from Sheyaan's hand, and it started getting absorbed directly into Zavian's hands.
Sheyaan was trembling with shock and fear, yet she couldn't even move. As Zavian's powers slowly began returning, the color of his eyes started changing.
they had turned a deep red. The faint "Black Rose" tattoo on his hand also began to glow now, as if blood had started flowing through it again.
Sheyaan could now feel that Zavian's grip had become very strong and heavy. Out of fear she staggered slightly, but before she could fall,
Zavian quickly wrapped one arm around Sheyaan's waist and pulled her close against his chest. At that moment, Sheyaan's hands accidentally grabbed onto his shoulders.
Sheyaan's heart was beating wildly like an injured bird. Nervously she whispered,
"no...now… we should go back… everyone must be waiting for us."
But instead of letting her go, Zavian held her even tighter. Sheyaan could feel Zavian's warm breaths brushing against her neck. The feeling was so intense that her heartbeat grew even faster.
In a low and trembling voice, Zavian whispered near Sheyaan's ear,
"Just… a little more time… then we'll go."
Some more time passed. The two of them remained standing in the same position for quite a while, as if time itself had stopped. Sheyaan could now feel tiredness and pain in her legs.
Stuttering slightly, she said softly,
"my...my… legs are starting to hurt… can we… sit for a while?"
As soon as Zavian heard this, he looked around. But there was nothing nearby to sit on.
Just then, his eyes fell on a small stone lying nearby. He then looked back at Sheyaan.
Still holding her, Zavian slowly guided Sheyaan toward that small stone without letting go of her and gently helped her sit on it.
Now Sheyaan and Zavian were sitting facing each other. Once again, Zavian rested his head on Sheyaan's shoulder and closed his eyes, as if he was sensing his returning energy and powers.
After gathering some courage, Sheyaan asked nervously,
"Aa… ca...can I ask you something?"
In the same position, Zavian softly replied,
"Hmm…"
Sheyaan asked slowly,
"wh...why did you draw an umbrella on that paper? And... why did you write those strange words under it… like enemy, shadow, priority… what do they mean?"
As Sheyaan asked this with pure innocence, Zavian slowly looked at her deeply.
Sheyaan continued,
"And why did you just say that you need my help? And what were you doing just now? How did that red light come out of my hand?
I was already very confused after seeing the things written on that paper, and now you have confused me even more. All of this feels like a puzzle… and I can't solve any of it."
Sheyaan kept speaking innocently without stopping, while Zavian watched her very carefully with his deep gaze.
A strange silence fell over Zavian's face as if her questions had dragged him back into an old and dark memory.