"Demon King Aklys has been overthrown..."

"...has since been missing..."

"No word has been heard..."

Axel released a breath as he peered out the classroom window. The words of the news reporter echoed through his mind and overtook the sound of the teacher's lecture on Earth's ancient history before the integration of angels and demons and prior to the revolutionary space ventures that brought various beings to Earth. Axel had spaced out for the majority of the day, the name "Aklys" weighing heavy on his mind.

The name brought pain and sadness to Axel even though he had heard it for the first time earlier that day. Axel had always felt that a major part of him was missing from a young age. A feeling of emptiness and longing was ever present in the eighteen-year-old's soul. So, when the Demon King's name extracted such a response from Axel, he began to wonder if this Aklys held a clue to what, or who, was the missing piece to his soul.

Aklys himself did not seem to be the missing piece, but Axel knew for certain that the Demon King held a clue. He might even know who the silhouette in Axel's dream may be...

"This concludes the lecture for today." The teacher's voice finally broke through the racing thoughts in Axel's mind as he deactivated the holograph that projected the content for that day's class. "Now, on to more present matters," the teacher added as he came to stand in front of his desk and folded his arms across his chest.

"I assume you all heard the news this morning about matters with Hades?" Mr. Brent paused for a moment to allow his group of students to ask questions should they have them. When no one raised their hand, the teacher continued, "As of this morning, the Demon King Aklys, who fostered peace between the Heavens and Hades as well as all other planets, has gone missing. An uprising has happened, and a new Demon King is in power. Sources say his name is Nethun."

A hand being raised caused the teacher to pause and gesture to the student. "Mr. Brent, why are we learning about what happened in Hades? My mom said it doesn't concern us, and that it's something for the Heavens to handle."

Mr. Brent looked at the student for a moment before uncrossing his arms and setting them on the desk which he leaned against. "You're probably right, Hyuk. Probably."

The classroom fell quiet as the students waited for their teacher to explain, "But think back on all you've learned during your final year of high school. When the Roldrans invaded the Myths, did the Golothians say the same thing? That it didn't concern them and that it was something the Myths needed to handle? Probably."

"And what happened to the Golothians as a result?" The teacher inquired. "Anybody?"

"They were overthrown by Roldrom..." A student answered quietly.

"Very good, Hyuk. Exactly, the Roldrans invaded the Golothians and took over their planet. So, do you still think what happened this morning should not concern us?"

Several students lowered their heads as they began rethinking their views on the recent events. "Then..." A girl spoke up. "What's going to happen to us?"

Mr. Brent lowered his head at the girl's question before releasing a quiet breath and looking at the class once again. "I am talking about this not to scare you but to help you realize that we live in a connected universe. Heaven and Hades are the two most powerful entities in existence. I know many of your parents, grandparents, and ancestors are from either one or both. However, I want you to remember that no matter what happens, Earth is your home. And I implore you never to forget that."

Silence filled the room as the young men and women soaked in their teacher's words. Axel had turned his head to resume peering out the window when it seemed that the conversation had concluded when the bell signaling the end of class sounded throughout the school.

"Class is dismissed. I will see you all tomorrow," Mr. Brent said as the students deactivated their tablets and returned their devices to their school bags. "Remember that your exam is around the corner! Have a great day," Mr. Brent called out as his students began filtering out of the classroom.

Axel was one of the last few students to leave the classroom. He had remained in a daze and was silent throughout the entirety of the school day, causing his one close acquaintance to place Axel in a headlock the moment they entered the hallway.

"What's up with you? Hm?" Jay, a fellow senior who had decided to make the quiet, sweet boy his friend upon meeting Axel on the first day of their senior year, asked as he playfully rubbed his knuckles on Axel's blond head. "You're quieter today. What's up? Something happen?"

Axel shrugged off Jay's comment about his silence with a quiet, "Nothing, really."

"Mmmm," Jay hummed as he slanted his eyes and turned to be in front of Axel, inadvertently walking backward down the bustling hallway. "I don't buy it."

Axel kept his head lowered and continued walking in response. However, running footsteps caused him to lift his head and see a girl frantically racing down the hallway as fast as she could. Placing his hand on Jay's shoulder, Axel steered the raven-haired out of the girl's way, saving him from being the casualty of a careless bump.

"Come on, spill the beans. Is it because of the news this morning?" Jay prodded further, unfazed by the fact that he nearly got run into.

Axel released a quiet huff as he gazed at the boy standing in front of him. The two were now stationary amid the busyness surrounding them. When are you going to get the hint, Jay? You're a nice guy, but you'll be ostracized too if you hang around me for too long.

Axel could not wrap his head around why a pure-blood human would insist on being his friend. Others had been drawn to Axel's sweet, quiet nature and tried to be his friend, but in the end, they all left him when the scorn that was thrown at "halfies" spilled onto them as well. Jay had certainly lasted the longest, but Axel still refused to open up to him for fear of Jay inevitably leaving just like the others.

"Heyyy, I know that look." Jay's comment snapped Axel from his inner thoughts and fears, bringing Axel's attention back to the boy in front of him. "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."

Axel's breath hitched at Jay's words, and his silver eyes locked with Jay's dark orbs as the boy smiled at him faintly. "Jay..."

The sincerity in Jay's words struck Axel. Maybe he really meant it. Maybe he was different. Maybe Jay wouldn't leave him like all the others. Maybe, they could be friends...

Jay's eyes lit up at Axel voicing his name, and he leaned in toward Axel, stopping just a breath away. "There it is," he said quietly. "You believe me now."

Axel's cheeks heated at Jay's proximity, and he blinked rapidly while averting his gaze. Seeing Axel becoming flustered, Jay came back to stand beside Axel and threw his arm over his shoulders once again before leading the blond down the hallway.

"Ahhhh, what a day," Jay sighed as he and Axel joined the students in making their way toward the school's entrance. "Tensions with Hades, the Demon King going missing, you and I becoming friends...it's been quite the day!"

Axel's heart had remained warm from Jay's promise, and a new light entered his lonesome world. He had made a friend. Finally, he was not going to be alone anymore. The hateful, disgusted looks that were shot toward Axel and Jay no longer affected him quite as deeply. He had someone who understood that halfies were not so bad after all.

The loud murmurs of students gathering their supplies as they made their way to either cram school or sports practice as the school day came to a close filled the building. The sun had already sunk beneath the tips of the skyreachers, leaving the city in a grey haze. Lifting his arms, Jay released a yawn and stretched as he and Axel exited the skyreacher that housed the high school.

"Wanna grab some onigiri (お握り: stuffed rice balls) before heading to cram school?" Jay proposed as the two began their walk to the skyreacher a few blocks down. Seeing Axel remain silent, Jay knew that the blond was not in the mood for onigiri.

"How about stuffed bao?" Jay furrowed his brows when there was still no response. "Cong you bing? (葱油饼 / 蔥油餅: scallion pancake) Pizza? Dumplings?"

"Tteokbokki (떡볶이: spicy rice cakes). Let's get tteokbokki."

Axel's answer caused Jay to smile. It was rare to get Axel to state his preference for their snacks before cram school.

"Rightio! Tteokbokki it is!" Jay declared happily as the two crossed the street and made their way to a food stand stationed one block from Dexys High School.

"Two orders of tteokbokki, please," Jay said to the food vendor as he extended his wrist and let the man scan the chip beneath his skin. After receiving payment, the vendor prepared two large portions of his best tteokbokki for the hungry students.

"My treat," Jay told Axel as he handed his friend the first serving of tteokbokki.

"Thanks," Axel returned politely before accepting the disposable container that held the delicious rice cakes. The heat from the fresh tteokbokki soaked through the container and warmed his hands. It was a chilly evening, perfect for spicy rice cakes. Axel could not wait to fill himself up with the delicious tteokbokki, but he was thankful to Jay for treating him, so he refrained.

While waiting for Jay to receive his serving, Axel observed the boy standing slightly in front of him. Jay was roughly three inches (7.6 cm) taller than him and had a slim-fit physique, quite like himself. His raven-dark hair came to the tips of his eyelashes, and his smile was bright. Right...his smile...

Axel had never really paid attention to Jay's attributes. He did not want to get too close should Jay decide to leave. But now that he knew Jay meant what he said, Axel finally allowed himself to soak in every detail about his new friend. He was so engrossed in watching Jay's every expression, the way the cool breeze tousled his dark hair, the sparkle that never left his eyes, that he did not react when Jay turned to face him with his serving of tteokbokki in his hands.

"Why aren't you eating? Dig in!"

"Mm?" Axel sounded as his vision focused and he snapped out of his trance. Seeing Jay smiling at him caused blush to race to Axel's cheeks, and he could not tell if it was the heat from the tteokbokki that caused his whole body to heat or...something else.

"Say...when we are done with cram school-"

A sharp whiz cut Jay off, and a bright flash of orangish-red light glared in Axel's eyes. Jay still wore a smile as the glowing bullet pierced his chest, but Axel's soft expression had turned to one of horror. Stumbling, Jay clutched the wound in his chest as he keeled forward. Catching Jay, Axel quickly brought his friend to the ground as Jay coughed up a clot of blood.

As if the shot that hit Jay was the switch of chaos, gunfire and explosions filled the space around the two immediately following Jay's wound. The tteokbokki vendor fled his food stand as Axel shielded Jay with his body. Axel's eyes widened in shock when he lifted his head and quickly looked around. Spacecrafts hovered above the city dropping bombs and soldiers onto the streets.

Screams rang out as people began fleeing for their lives. One shout in particular, though, hit Axel in the gut: "Hades is here!"