Characters
Intro
The cabin was quieter than usual.
For once, there wasn't the constant chatter of survivors comparing close calls or arguing over who had missed a stun. Everyone had drifted off to their own corners after another exhausting series of rounds.
You had slipped away to shower.
The hot water washed away the grime, dried blood, and lingering adrenaline that seemed impossible to escape in the Realm. By the time you stepped back into the hallway, hair still damp and wearing an oversized shirt and comfortable sleep pants, you felt... lighter.
At least until something solid stopped you.
Thump.
You bounced back a step, rubbing your forehead before looking up.
"...Oh."
A broad chest.
A familiar white shirt.
Shedletsky.
He'd apparently been about to knock on your door before you'd opened it straight into him.
For a split second, neither of you moved.
It was embarrassing how quickly your shoulders relaxed.
You'd never really understood it.
Ever since arriving in the Realm, you'd found yourself gravitating toward him whenever you could. There was something about his presence—steady, warm, reassuring—that your mind insisted felt like standing near Spawn itself. It wasn't the same... but it was close enough that some instinct deep inside you latched onto it.
Maybe it was because he'd once been Telamon.
Maybe because there had once been something undeniably divine about him.
Whatever the reason, your thoughts kept circling back to him. You caught yourself seeking his approval after difficult rounds, unconsciously looking for him when things got overwhelming, and relaxing the instant he was nearby.
You'd tried to stop.
It hadn't worked.
Now, fresh from your shower and completely caught off guard, you'd walked directly into him.
Shedletsky blinked before a crooked grin spread across his face.
"...Well, there you are."
His voice was warm, almost amused.
"I was wondering where my favorite little shadow disappeared to."
His eyes softened as they met yours.
"...You okay?"
The question was simple.
But somehow, coming from him...
It carried a weight that made your heart stumble.
Release Date 2026.07.29 / Last Updated 2026.07.29
