Skylar clenched his jaw, his fingers trembling as he summoned another surge of chi energy. An electrifying, golden bolt formed in his palm before he launched it at the star barrier once more. The energy collided with the shimmering iridescence, but the barrier absorbed it effortlessly, its rainbow hues rippling like water before settling back into place. It was maddening, infuriating. He spun, unleashing his frustration with a mighty strike of his staff against the barrier, but once again, it refused to yield.

"Dammit," Skylar growled.

He could feel exhaustion digging its claws into him, seeping into every muscle and tendon until even the act of standing felt like a battle. The pulse of his recent healing still tingled under his skin, mingling with the grating ache of overexertion. Every ounce of strength had drained from him, leaving him hollow and ragged from the repeated, futile attacks. His body finally gave out, and he slumped to the floor, panting heavily. The cold stone beneath him was a welcome contrast to the heat wafting from his sweat-drenched skin.

He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, cursing Jaden under his breath. "Stubborn brat," he uttered. "You're just as annoying as Adam."

He let his head fall back against the cool wall, eyes closing for a brief moment as he tried to catch his breath. The room was quiet, save for the weak chime of the star barrier that continued to trap him, illuminating gently, mocking him. Skylar wondered how long he'd be stuck here. He didn't have time for this—he had a mission, a purpose, and Jaden was standing in his way.

But before he could fall deeper into his thoughts, the lull was interrupted by the sound of shuffling footsteps outside. Skylar's eyes snapped open just in time to see the door swing open, revealing a thin figure with auburn waves framing his face. The newcomer paused, taking in the sight of the fist-shaped dent on the door.

"Teddy," Skylar mumbled, exhaling roughly. He wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or annoyed by the intrusion. "Great. Just what I needed," he added sarcastically.

Teddy McKnight blinked, his bright blue eyes moving from the dent to the barrier and finally to Skylar slumped on the floor. The pale, soft lines of his face lent him a boyish charm, but the raised eyebrow suggested something shrewder, more perceptive. His confusion morphed into genuine concern. "Uh, did I miss something? Why does it look like my door had a run-in with a sledgehammer, and why are you sitting in a rainbow forcefield?" He tilted his head, auburn locks falling slightly across his forehead as he moved closer. "Wait, is this... is this Jaden's handiwork?"

Skylar sighed, dragging his hands over his face in frustration. "Yeah, genius, you've got it. Your roommate went all Hogwarts on me," he stated. "And don't ask me how to get out because I have no idea. Been trying for over an hour now."

Teddy crouched down, examining the barrier more closely. "Jaden never mentioned he could create something this complex. Then again, he's always been full of surprises." He glanced back at Skylar, a hint of mirth dancing in his eyes. "You must have really pissed him off."

Skylar scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Oh, yeah, I'm the one who's the problem here. Never mind the fact that he's the one who's decided to trap me like some sort of circus animal!"

Teddy didn't respond immediately. Instead, he reached out a hand, hovering it just above the barrier's surface. He could feel the vibration of starlight energy radiating from it, balmy and oddly serene. "It's actually quite beautiful," he murmured. "Jaden's magic... it's like there's more than raw power behind it. It's deliberate, almost like he's weaving together a story with every spell."

"Spare me the poetry," Skylar exclaimed, thumping the back of his head against the wall. "Just get me out of here."

Teddy straightened up and folded his arms over his chest. "I shouldn't get involved. If Jaden cast this, it means he's serious about keeping you here." He paused, studying Skylar with a more earnest expression. "What's the story? Why did he feel the need to put you on magical lockdown?"

"Let's just say I have places to be and things to do that he doesn't agree with," Skylar grumbled. "You saved my life back there, but that'll mean nothing if I'm stuck in this cage. You have to get me out of here."

Teddy rubbed the back of his neck, his countenance mellowing with sympathy. "Even if I want to help, our magic types aren't exactly compatible. Jaden's heavenly body magic isn't something I can just unravel."

"What do you mean?" Skylar demanded. "Magic's just a bunch of fancy words, isn't it? Can't you chant some Latin or whatever to make this thing disappear?"

Teddy shook his head. "It's not that simple. My magic—holy healing—is nonverbal. I don't use incantations; I control mana through angelic glyphs that act as my language of command. It's like... I'm communicating with the mystic energy directly, without words." He gestured to the barrier. "Jaden's magic, on the other hand, is a mix of Eastern and Western traditions. He uses Latin incantations and these origami stars as talismans, embedding his energy into each one. His spells are structured with specific phrases and syntax that anchor the magic in place. It's like a locked door, and without the right key—or, in this case, the exact words—there's no way for me to break through."

Skylar's irritation flared, and he slammed his fist against the barrier in futility. "So, what you're saying is, I'm stuck here?"

"Unless you've got some kind of magic neutralizer lying around? Yeah, pretty much," Teddy replied with a shrug. "And even if I tried brute-forcing it, tampering with another thaumaturge's spell is like poking a sleeping dragon—you never know what might happen."

Skylar rubbed his temples. "Just fantastic."

Teddy tilted his head. "You don't happen to know the incantation, do you?"

Skylar paused, an idea sparking in his mind. "Actually, I do. I have an eidetic memory. I can recall the exact words Jaden used. He said: 'Stellae oriuntur, capturam figite. Arcus lucis, inimicum claudite.'"

Teddy blinked, impressed. "Well, that's convenient. But do you even know what it means?"

"Do I look like a Latin scholar to you? No, I don't have a clue."

"Figures," Teddy muttered. "Unfortunately, the only ancient language I'm fluent in is the one written in angelic glyphs—or Elder Futhark, if you prefer."

"This is hopeless," Skylar groaned, leaning his head back against the wall.

Teddy scratched the back of his head, an abrupt thought springing to mind. "Maybe not. You know Bauditech Industries just released this new AI chatbot. It's supposed to be able to translate anything, from ancient runes to Latin. It's called—"

"NeuraVox," Skylar interrupted, already reaching into his pocket to pull out his phone. "I downloaded it last month. Didn't think I'd actually need it for anything important." He quickly unlocked his phone and scrolled through his apps. "Alright, let's see if this thing can crack Jaden's little riddle."

Teddy's curiosity heightened as he peered at the screen from outside the barrier. "If this works, I'll definitely be getting that app. Jaden's spellwork gets more cryptic every time."

Skylar allowed himself a brief smirk before tapping the microphone icon. "NeuraVox," he said, holding the phone closer. "Translate this: 'Stellae oriuntur, capturam figite. Arcus lucis, inimicum claudite.'"

The app processed the incantation, a ping signaling it was working. Both of them waited with bated breath. Finally, the screen lit up, and a calm, feminine voice spoke: "The incantation translates to: 'Stars arise, capture the foe. Arc of light, bind the enemy.'"

"That sounds about right."

Teddy studied the iridescent barrier with a newfound determination. "Stand back. Now that I've got the exact words Jaden used for his spell, I'm going to see if I can overwrite his magical syntax and send a command straight to the mana in his heavenly body magic."

Skylar hesitated but did as instructed, pressing himself against the far wall. "You'd better know what you're doing."

Teddy gave a nonchalant shrug, his eyes now locked on the barrier. "Honestly? I don't. But hey, no one's ever tried outsmarting a magical barrier with an AI chatbot before, either, so there's a first time for everything." He extended his hand, and promptly, angelic glyphs materialized into sight, their light shimmering like divine fireflies. The runic symbols wove through the air, tracing delicate patterns as they circled around Teddy in a graceful, almost otherworldly rhythm:

ᛋᛏᚨᚱᛋ, ᛒᛖ ᛋᛏᛁᛚᛚ, ᚱᛖᚠᚢᛋᛖ ᛏᚺᛖᛁᚱ ᛒᛁᚾᛞ, ᛏᚢᚱᚾ ᚠᚱᛟᛗ ᚠᛟᛖ, ᚤᛟᚢᚱ ᛈᛟᚹᛖᚱ ᚢᚾᚹᛁᚾᛞ. ᛚᛁᚷᚺᛏ, ᚱᛖᛏᚱᛖᚨᛏ, ᚨᚾᛞ ᚺᛖᛖᛞ ᛗᚤ ᛈᛚᛖᚨ, ᚲᛟᛗᛖ ᛏᛟ ᛗᛖ ᚨᚾᛞ ᛋᛖᛏ ᛏᚺᛖᛗ ᚠᚱᛖᛖ.

The glyphs began to spin faster before shooting away from Teddy to form a halo above the five-pointed star barrier that imprisoned Skylar. Their light intensified, clashing against Jaden's celestial starlight like opposing forces in a cosmic dance. Jaden's magic sparkled with vibrant, kaleidoscopic colors, every hue glinting like fragments of galaxies, while Teddy's glyphs emanated a silvery brilliance, exuding a sense of purity and divine authority. The air thickened with power, throbbing with a charged tension that made Skylar's heart fluttered in his chest.

Teddy's eyes narrowed, his gaze focused. Sweat beaded along his brow as the glyphs seemed to press against the barrier, probing, pushing, and testing its strength. The stardust barrier wavered, shuddering under the pressure, its radiant colors momentarily dimming.

"It's working," Skylar remarked, his voice tinged with disbelief and hope.

But Teddy didn't acknowledge him. His attention was entirely absorbed, fingers quivering as they hovered just inches from the barrier's surface. He took a deep breath and pushed forward, his fingertips gliding against the iridescent wall. Right away, the barrier responded violently, rippling like disturbed water before a brilliant flash erupted, flooding the room with blinding rainbow light. Skylar staggered back, raising an arm to shield his eyes.

For a heartbeat, everything went still. Then, with a sound like a bursting bubble, the barrier exploded outward, dissolving into countless glimmering fragments that cascaded to the floor. The origami lucky stars, now lifeless, tumbled down in lightweight, dainty folds. The angelic glyphs flickered one last time before fading into nothingness, leaving the room in stunned tranquility.

Skylar stumbled forward, testing the air, astonishment etched across his face. "You... you actually did it," he murmured. Freedom washed over him like a wave, and for the first time in hours, he felt the weight of Jaden's magic lift from his shoulders.

Nonetheless, as if mocking their fleeting triumph, the fallen origami stars twitched back to life, their edges glowing faintly with multi-colored light. Skylar's eyes widened in shock as they rose from the floor, drifting upward in a spiral. Before either of them could react, the stars twirled around Teddy, assembling a five-pointed star formation. There was a piercing, crystalline chime, and in the blink of an eye, the iridescent forcefield reformed, encasing Teddy in the same rainbow prison that had held Skylar moments earlier.

"What the—?!" Teddy yelped, thumping his palms against the barrier, his eyes darting wildly. "Oh, come on! Are you kidding me?"

Skylar gaped at him, caught between incredulity and amusement. "Looks like you pissed off Jaden's spell too," he chortled, a crooked grin curving on his lips.

Teddy shot him a withering look, his shoulders drooping in exasperation. "Next time, remind me not to play magical locksmith."

Skylar let out a low laugh, the first real one he'd felt in a while. "Guess that's a lesson learned, right?" He walked to the door, savoring the sweet taste of freedom. But before he left, he paused, turning back to face Teddy. "Listen... I know you didn't have to do this. You saved my life yesterday, and now you're stuck in this thing because of me. I'm sorry."

Teddy shook his head, a tired but genuine smile playing on his lips. "Don't get all mushy on me now. Just get out of here before Jaden comes back and decides to turn us both into glitter confetti."

"I owe you one, Teddy. Big time. And I promise... if I ever get the chance, I'll return the favor."

"Yeah, yeah," Teddy grumbled, waving him off. "You can repay me by not dying, okay? Now go."

With a final nod, Skylar strode out the door, each tread carrying him further from the chaos he'd left behind. For the first time in a long while, he felt something close to hope.

----------

The French author, André Maurois, once said, "We owe to the Middle Ages the two worst inventions of humanity – romantic love and gunpowder."

But Jaden disagreed. There was much to be fascinated about the Middle Ages: chivalry, knights, the Norman Conquest, Chaucer, and Gutenberg's printing press, which had enabled the rapid and widespread dissemination of ideas that challenged the Catholic Church's authority and catalyzed the Protestant Reformation.

Perhaps the most exquisite invention of all was the medieval concept of romantic love. It was the idea that made his heart quicken, his pulse dance beneath his skin. Maybe it was the half-French in his DNA from his father that made him a hopeless romantic and drew him to medieval literature, where gallant knights fought for honor and love, where every moment felt like an epic waiting to be written. It was how he saw Adam now—noble, enigmatic, and untouchable.

And yesterday... Adam kissed him.

More than that, Jaden had kissed him back. He could still feel the imprint of Adam's lips, a ghost of warmth clinging to his own. It was a touch that left him dazed, instigating emotions he'd only ever read about in books. Jaden had always imagined waiting for the right guy, for a love that would consume him. And now, as he stood there in front of Adam's townhouse, nerves coiled tight in his stomach, he couldn't help but wonder: Was Adam the one he'd been waiting for?

The time was 10:20 AM. His morning class had just finished, and yet the day felt like it had barely begun. Every step closer to Adam's front door seemed to stretch the seconds, prolonging this moment of uncertainty.

Just knock, he told himself, but his hand trembled as it hovered in the air. He gulped, channeling strength from some distant place, and finally let his knuckles rap against the door.

It swung open faster than he anticipated, revealing Chase's tall frame. His blonde hair was styled in a slick backflow, a look that somehow managed to be both laid-back and refined, with a few stray locks falling effortlessly over his forehead. He wore Lightcrest's royal blue and gold T-shirt, the fabric hugging his athletic build.

"Troublefield," Chase greeted, the wisp of a smirk playing on his lips. "What are you doing here?"

Jaden shifted from foot to foot, momentarily thrown off by the abruptness of Chase's greeting. "I... I need to talk to Adam. It's about Skylar."

Chase's expression tightened, the casualness vanishing straightaway. "Now's not a good time," he said quickly, blocking the doorway with his broad frame. "He's busy."

Jaden's brows furrowed beneath his silver bangs, sensing something off in Chase's tone. "Busy with what?"

"Just... stuff." Chase's eyes darted to the side, and for a second, the younger boy could have sworn he saw a twinge of unease. "You should come back later."

Jaden's suspicion mounted. "It is important," he insisted, trying to peer past Chase into the dimly lit interior of the townhouse. "I really need to talk to him. Please."

"Trust me, this isn't a good time," Chase repeated, his voice strained now, as if he were struggling to keep something under control. "You need to leave."

The urgency in Chase's voice only made Jaden more determined. He advanced closer, trying to assert himself. "What are you not telling me? Is Adam okay?"

"Adam's fine," Chase snarled, his tone sharper than before. "It's just—"

But before Chase could finish, a noise echoed from inside the townhouse, faint but unmistakable—a muffled voice, distinctly feminine.

"Who is that?" Jaden asked, his eyes narrowing.

"It's none of your business," Chase retorted, but the fissure in his façade was becoming more evident. "You should go, Troublefield. Now."

Another sound emerged, this time clearer, a low, breathy giggle that sent a jolt of dread through Jaden's veins. Chase attempted to stop him, but the silver-haired boy slipped by, barging into the townhouse.

"Adam!" Jaden called out, ignoring Chase's protests as he stormed through the living room, following the sound of voices. "Adam, where are you?"

"Jaden, stop!" Chase demanded, grabbing his arm, but Jaden wrenched free, his heart pounding furiously in his ears.

And then he saw them.

In the center of the living room, Adam stood shirtless, his back turned to the doorway. The girl pressed up against him looked like she'd strutted out of a gothic club—dark eyeliner smudged around her eyes, black lipstick smeared, and messy raven hair that looked like it hadn't seen a brush or a shower since the night before. Her clothes were disheveled, barely hanging on her frame, and she reeked of sex, the smell permeating the air with a heady, unfiltered intensity.

Jaden felt his stomach twist painfully as he watched her lips sloppily move against Adam's, her kisses messy, wet, and unrestrained. She murmured something, giggling again, but Adam's face remained dispassionate, his eyes half-lidded and unfocused, like he was somewhere else entirely. He wasn't really reciprocating, just allowing it to happen, and the lack of emotion on his face was unmistakable.

"I had a good time last night," the girl purred as she leaned in for another kiss, her tongue caressing against Adam's lips.

Jaden felt like a supernova had erupted within him, the shockwaves coursing through his very core. His heart contorted in agony, each beat sending slivers of pain spiraling through the vast expanse of his soul. The starlit hope that had carried him to Adam's doorstep vanished, collapsing into a black hole of emptiness that threatened to devour him from within. Why did it hurt so much? It shouldn't have mattered—Adam wasn't his. But seeing Adam like this, with someone else, when he had just kissed him the day before... it felt like the cruelest kind of betrayal. As if the connection they shared was nothing but a figment of his imagination.

Jaden's breath caught in his throat, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails bit into his palms. "Adam," he whispered, the single word tumbling from him like a desperate plea. It wasn't loud, but it was enough to shatter the moment.

Adam turned, eyes locking onto Jaden's, and for a fleeting second, an emotion flashed across his face—guilt, maybe, or regret—but it was gone just as quickly, replaced by that same indifferent disguise.

Chase's blood simmered, like sap bubbling beneath the bark of a scorched tree. "Didn't I tell you?" he huffed. "He's a selfish, cold-hearted bastard." The bitterness in his tone was razor-sharp, each word laced with the resentment that had been festering inside him for so long. He couldn't stand to look at Adam—couldn't stand to see that familiar, careless demeanor, the one that said none of this mattered to him. Not Jaden's feelings, not his own, and certainly not Izzy's.

Izzy, who stood there so casually, acted like none of this meant anything at all. She adjusted her messy hair, her smudged lipstick curling into a smirk. "Well, this was fun," she drawled.

She didn't even spare Jaden a glance, as though he were nothing more than an invisible shadow, insignificant. She leaned into Adam one last time, pressing her lips against his jaw, lingering just long enough to make her point. "Text me later, okay?"

Jaden watched her saunter out, each step reverberating like a hammer driving nails into his heart. He felt every single moment of her departure, the way she swung her hips, the lack of concern in her exit, and the way she didn't look back. The room seemed to shrink, as though the air had been vacuumed from it.

It was only then that Chase snapped. "You know what? Screw this!" He took two long strides forward, his body tense with barely contained indignation, and before anyone could react, his fist collided with Adam's face in a sickening thud. "You're a damn fool, Howl!" Chase's voice was raw, his anguish and fury spilling out in every syllable, quivering with years of acrimony, animus, and heartbreak. He stood over Adam, his chest heaving, eyes blazing. "Do you even realize what you're doing? To her? To him?"

For a second, the mask Adam wore fractured, just enough for a glimpse of pain to show, but it was gone as quickly as it had come, replaced by that familiar, infuriating aloofness. It only made Chase more incensed.

"You seriously think you can just trample over everything, don't you? That nothing and no one matters to you?" Chase snarled, shaking his head in disgust. "I was there, you know! I'm the one who had to watch her fall apart 'cause of you. I'm the one who had to pick up every damn piece after you wrecked her!" His voice quavered as he stumbled back, running an unsteady hand through his caramel-blonde hair. "And here you are, doing it all over again."

"Whatever, man," Adam uttered, shrugging like Chase's punch had been a mere gust stirring the petals of a flower. Blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth, a crimson trail against his skin, but he simply wiped it away with the back of his hand, smearing it across his cheek. With an almost eerie calmness, he straightened, dusting off the loose grime from his sweatpants before plopping onto the couch.

Chase shot him a glare. His shoulders sagged, the adrenaline draining out of him, leaving only the hollow ache behind. "You'll never change," he rasped. "You never deserved them, Adam. You never deserved any of it."

Without waiting for a response, Chase spun around and walked away, the door clicking shut behind him, its sound splintering the stillness of the townhouse. Jaden remained rooted in place as the silence between him and Adam grew more oppressive. His eyes stung, but he blinked back the tears, unwilling to let them break free.

"Congratulations, Adam," the silver-haired boy managed to speak. "You have finally convinced me. You really are just a callous, despicable jerk with no redeeming qualities."

Adam stayed quiet. He just sat there, shirtless and exposed, but somehow still unreachable, like he'd wrapped himself in layers of ice so solid that nothing could penetrate through. The cut on his lip started to seal itself, the bluish-white glow of his cryokinesis stitching the torn skin back together with an almost mechanical precision. The blood stopped, congealing into tiny, glittering crystals that melted away into nothingness, leaving not even a scar behind. But it was the sting of Jaden's remark that persisted, burrowing into him more than he dared to acknowledge.

"Why are you here?" he asked flatly, the words absent of emotion, like the scene in front of him was nothing more than an inconvenience.

"I came to tell you that Skylar is awake," Jaden replied. "Remember him? Your friend. The one you beat up and almost killed? I thought maybe—just maybe—I could get you to listen to his side of things. That there was still a part of you that cared about him, that might want to help him take back his hometown."

Adam stared straight ahead, his gaze a void. That emptiness, that unmoved demeanor—it fanned the flames of Jaden's anger, turning it into a swirling nebula of rage.

"But you don't care, do you? You are so trapped in your own frozen, lifeless world, too busy drowning in self-pity to see anything beyond yourself." Jaden stepped back, the desire to run almost overpowering, to escape this frigid, suffocating presence. "I am done trying to convince you that you're better than this, because clearly, you're not."

Adam flinched. "Jaden..." His lips parted, but nothing else followed, and that unspoken hesitation only seemed to enrage the boy more.

"Were you that freaked out about your bi-curiosity after kissing me yesterday that you had to go and screw your ex to reassure yourself you are straight?" Jaden grunted. "You know what? Forget it. You're not worth my time."

The boy's voice, jagged and frayed, slipped through the layers of numbness Adam had fought to preserve. He could sense the boy's pain but admitting that would mean recognizing his own turmoil, something he wasn't ready to confront.

Why did Jaden make him feel this way? Why, in a world of so much noise and chaos, was Jaden the one person who made him feel anything at all? That kiss yesterday—it had been a moment of tenderness that thawed the edges of his frozen soul. And it terrified him.

So, he had run to the one person who had never stirred any real emotion in him—Izzy. He thought that hooking up with her again would prove he was still the same person, the same vacant, unfeeling Adam—the one who didn't need affection, who didn't crave anyone, especially not the silver-haired boy standing before him now.

Yet even when he was with Izzy, his mind drifted back to Jaden: his laughter, his cheeky and brash attitude, the way his eyes brightened when he talked about medieval romance. It made Adam furious—the fact that this boy, Jaden Troublefield, could melt and disarm him without even trying. He didn't want to be warm. Warmth meant vulnerability, and Adam didn't know how to be vulnerable anymore.

Jaden spun on his heel, ready to bolt from the living room, but Adam was quicker. Without a second thought, Adam sprang from the couch and reached the doorway, his hand slamming against the frame to block Jaden's exit. The impact reverberated through the room, and tiny flecks of frost blossomed along the wood. Suddenly, they were standing close again, just like yesterday. Too close. The proximity made Jaden shudder—and it wasn't because of the dropping temperature but because of the man standing before him.

Adam's eyes bore down on the silver-haired boy, their callous, dominating blue depths devoid of any warmth, almost glowing with a smoldering fervor. He towered over Jaden, the difference in their height prompting Jaden to crane his neck to meet that unyielding gaze. Adam's expression remained impassive, like a fortress of ice, fortifying his heart against the luminous tendrils of Jaden's starlight that dared to draw him out of the cold.

Nevertheless, beneath that frigid exterior, there was a flicker, a subdued hint of something more profound—passion, hunger, restrained but undeniable. His bare chest rose and fell with each steady inhale and exhale, the well-defined lines of his muscles so near that Jaden could feel the breezes of cryokinetic energy emitting from his skin.

"What do you want, Adam?" Jaden demanded. Every instinct urged him to back away, to put distance between them, but he stood his ground, chin lifted defiantly. "Get out of my way!" he shouted, trying to shove past Adam.

But Adam didn't budge. His larger frame eclipsed Jaden's, and with a swift, steadfast grip, he seized the younger boy's wrists, pinning them against the wall. The cryokinetic chill from the Winter Wolf's body seeped into Jaden's flesh.

Adam leaned in, his breath grazing the boy's ear, carrying the lingering scent of citrus, rose, violet, and oak moss between them. "You're not going anywhere."

A rush of heat flooded Jaden's body, colliding with the cold energy coming out of Adam's skin. His gaze darted to Adam's lips before he quickly averted his eyes, swallowing against the knot forming in his throat. "Why are you doing this?"

"You want me to say it, don't you? That you want me?" Adam's voice was a velvet taunt, each word dripping with arrogance. "Why fight it, Jaden?"

Jaden's cheeks reddened, the accusation striking a little too close to the truth. "What is wrong with you?" he protested, trying to yank his wrists free.

"For once, I'd like to know that myself." Adam heaved, as though the effort of maintaining his indifference was becoming too much. He glanced away for a second before ultimately meeting Jaden's brown eyes again. "But... for fuck's sake," he said, a half-hearted smirk playing at the corner of his lips, "why do you have to be so damn cute when you're angry?"

Jaden found himself immobilized, his chest constricting, trapped between the need to escape and the longing to stay in that excruciatingly close intimacy. In the meantime, Adam's fingers gradually loosened. For a minute, they simply stood there, staring at each other, their hands still entwined. Neither expected this—neither expected the way their fingers fit so seamlessly together, like pieces of a puzzle slotting into place. Adam's rough, cold palms enveloped Jaden's smaller, warmer ones, and Jaden couldn't help but notice the scars etched across Adam's skin—each one a testament to battles fought and won, a lifetime spent surviving the wilds and fighting for the Iron Phalanx.

"Gotta admit, this feels pretty spot on," Adam murmured, his tone turning playful. The tension dissipated from his brow, replaced by a subtle spark of amusement. "Like we're living out some Disney fairy tale."

Jaden couldn't help himself; he scoffed. "If this is a fairy tale, then you are definitely the beast."

Adam's lips quirked up. "And what does that make you, my beauty?"

"Ew, cringe! If anything, I'd be Gaston, your hunter," Jaden retorted. But his voice lacked conviction, and they both knew it.

Adam snorted. "Gaston doesn't even come close to you." He paused, his expression growing serious. "You're so darn adorable. I can't get you out of my mind."

"That is rich, given you were swapping spit with someone else a few minutes ago," Jaden sneered, but the hurt bled through, betraying him.

Adam gritted his teeth. "You think I don't know how badly I've fucked up?"

"Just let me go, Adam! Skylar's back in my suite, and I—"

But before he could finish, Adam surged forward, capturing Jaden's lips with his own. It wasn't gentle, wasn't tender—no, it was fierce and consuming like a man starving. Jaden gasped, the shock of it sending a current of icy electricity through his veins.

It took him a couple of seconds to process, but then reality hit him. He pushed Adam back with all his strength, and before he could stop himself, his hand swung up. The slap resounded through the room, Jaden's palm stinging as it met Adam's cheek.

Adam staggered slightly. "Ow! The hell, Puffball!" he growled. "You've really got to stop slapping me."

"Have you completely lost it?" Jaden shouted.

Adam touched his reddened cheek, a slow, humorless smile spreading across his lips. "Maybe I have," he stated. "Maybe you make me that way."

"Do not ever kiss me again, especially not after you made out with that woman," Jaden warned. His emotions were a chaotic mess. "I have no interest in being part of whatever sick thing you've got going on with her."

Adam's eyes darkened, and in one motion, he shoved Jaden back against the wall, his hands gripping the boy's shoulders, firm but not rough. "So, what? You want me all to yourself now?" Adam's voice dropped low. "That's what this is about, isn't it? Go on, admit it."

Jaden's mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening. Did Adam even know what he was doing to him? How much power he had in these moments? Jaden compelled himself to stay still, not willing to let Adam see how much he affected him.

This wasn't how a love story was meant to begin—chivalrous knights didn't kiss and then betray, didn't hide behind a shield of indifference after laying siege to a heart. Was this Adam's malignant quest, to shatter him piece by piece?

Adam's voice invaded Jaden's spiraling thoughts. "You think those prep-school boys you used to hang out with back in D.C. could ever kiss you like I did yesterday? Messy, passionate... the kind that makes your knees buckle?"

Jaden rolled his eyes. "You think way too highly of yourself," he hissed back, his defiance waning, drowned in the ferocity of Adam's presence.

"No," Adam countered, leaning closer. "I can just read you, Puffball—the way your face is heating up, the goosebumps on your neck, how fast your heart's beating. You can pretend all you want, but I know you want me to kiss you again."

Kiss me, Jaden's mind screamed, but he refused to give in. Silence hung between them, thick and heavy. Adam's hand moved to brush a strand of silver hair from Jaden's face, his fingers grazing the boy's flushed skin as he cupped his cheek.

"Tell me you don't want it, and I'll back off."

Jaden's being prickled with anticipation, every nerve ending zinging with a magnetic pull. Adam's lips hovered mere inches away. The world around them faded into oblivion, and an involuntary shiver danced down his spine. Jaden's fingers tingled with latent energy, glimmering like tiny embers caught in a breeze. As the coolness of Adam's breath caressed the boy's face, the fear and longing that had been entwined finally unraveled.

"Luce stellarum!" Jaden's voice broke as he forced the incantation from his lips. A violent burst of rainbow starlight gushed from his hands, cascading forward with a vigor that propagated vibrations through the room.

Adam was propelled backward, as if caught in a tidal wave, crashing against the wooden floor. The air quivered, still charged with the spell's residual energy, as incandescent fragments hung suspended—glittering specks descending like the last sigh of a dying constellation.

Adam groaned, his body aching from the impact, but somehow, he could still summon a lopsided grin. "Okay, okay," he winced. "I guess I deserved that."

"I told you not to kiss me again!" Jaden's eyes glistened with unshed tears, blinking rapidly as he struggled to keep them at bay. "You think this is a game? You might be emotionless, Adam. You might be numb to all of this, but I'm not. I feel every bit of it!"

The smirk on Adam's face faltered, replaced by something softer—regret, maybe. He slowly got to his feet, his usual bravado wavering. "Puffball, I didn't mean—"

"Don't call me that!" Jaden shouted, tears streaming down his face as he bit his lower lip, trying to control his sobs. "Don't you dare call me that!" His voice fell to a whisper, heavy with hurt. He rubbed his eyes vigorously, but the tears continued to flow, tracing paths down his cheeks. "You are the only guy who's ever kissed me, and this is not the experience I imagined! What am I to you? Some experiment for your bi-curiosity? Some phase you are trying to figure out? I will not be that for you. I refuse to be that pathetic."

With a sharp turn, Jaden prepared to flee from the disarray that Adam had unleashed inside him. But before he could take even a single step, Adam's hand lashed out like a striking serpent, clamping around his wrist and yanking him back.

"It's not like that," Adam insisted. "You're not some... passing curiosity."

Jaden whipped around, anguish scorching in his eyes. He didn't hesitate. With a sudden move, he twisted his hand and seized Adam's arm, pulling him in until their foreheads nearly touched. "I don't believe you," Jaden seethed. "Luce stellarum!"

The words crackled in the space between them, and a sphere of rainbow starlight exploded from Jaden's free hand, blasting into Adam's chest. The power behind the magic was ferocious, untamed—far more potent than before. The Winter Wolf's body rocketed backward, thudding against the opposite wall of the living room. The impact generated tremors through the townhouse, splintering the drywall into a spiderweb of cracks like the very bones of the structure groaned in protest. Adam tumbled to the floor, eyes wide with disbelief.

Jaden didn't wait to see the aftermath. He pivoted, legs driving him forward, heart hammering against his ribcage as he sprinted out of the townhouse. The door slammed shut behind him with a deafening bang, an ultimate punctuation mark to everything that had transpired.

The morning wind stung his cheeks, mixing with the heat of the tears. He didn't stop until he reached the edge of Lightcrest University's football field, his legs finally giving way as he collapsed onto the grass. The silver-haired boy stared ahead, his vision blurred by the tears he tried so hard to suppress. Through the haze, he could make out a few students practicing football, their figures moving back and forth like shadows. They shouted to one another, their laughter and banter carried on the breeze, but to Jaden, the sound was muffled, as if it were coming from a great distance.

"Get it together," Jaden scolded himself, scrubbing his eyes with the back of his sleeve. "There is nothing to be sad about. Nothing."

Adam was nobody. Adam wasn't even his boyfriend. He was just someone Jaden had met back in D.C., someone he had spent a lot of time with since coming to Veridian City. They became close friends—too close, perhaps. But that didn't mean anything.

"Friends," the boy said. "That's all it was supposed to be. That's all I ever wanted..." The lie tasted bitter in his mouth, and he could feel his resolve crumbling, piece by piece.

He balled his fists as he tried to stifle the sobs threatening to break free. But it was no use—the memory of Adam's lips, the sensation of his touch, the way his voice grew husky when he called him "Puffball"—it was all still there, seared into his brain like a brand that wouldn't dull.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, pulling him from the whirlwind of his thoughts. With shaky hands, he fished it out, his breath hitching when he saw the caller ID: Mama. For a brief second, he considered letting it ring out, but then he swallowed hard and answered, pressing the phone to his ear.

"Hi, Mama."

Jaden clutched his phone tighter, bracing himself as his mother's voice snapped. "Jaden Baek Troublefield, you explain to me right now why there was a wire transfer from my account to Lightcrest University! I told you that you could go to Harvard! Not some... some supernatural school in Western Massachusetts! What were you thinking?!" Her remarks, coated with anger and disappointment, felt like a series of rapid punches to his stomach.

He wanted to rebut, to defend himself, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, his throat tightened unbearably, and all he could manage were ragged gasps. He was still reeling from Adam's betrayal, still trying to piece together the shattered shards of his heart, and this... this was just too much. The weight of his mother's expectations, the guilt of lying to her, the heartbreak—it was all choking him.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" Evelyn continued, her frustration escalating. "I trusted you! I believed you when you said Georgetown wasn't where you wanted to be, that you wanted to challenge yourself! But this... secretly going to some school in Veridian City without telling us? How could you?"

Jaden squeezed his eyes shut, tears spilling over and trailing down his cheeks. He felt so small, so defeated. All the energy, the resolve he'd tried to muster, had been stripped away, leaving him exposed and raw. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He was paralyzed, like a comet frozen in the depths of space, his voice entombed in the icy void of pain that stretched on forever.

On the other end of the line, his mother's tone shifted. "Jaden? Are you... are you crying?" The anger ebbed, replaced by a thread of concern. "What's wrong? Talk to me."

But Jaden couldn't. He couldn't find the strength to put his sadness into words, to disentangle the knot of emotions strangling him. All he could do was sob.

"Sweetheart," Evelyn's voice softened, her maternal instincts taking over. "Whatever's going on, you can tell me. I'm here, okay?"

Jaden drew in a shaky inhale, willing himself to speak through the sobs. "I'm... I'm fine, Mama. It's nothing. I just got into a fight with Adam, that's all."

Evelyn sighed, the sound tinged with both exasperation and worry. "I warned you about that boy, Jaden. I told you not to follow him. He looked like one of those bad news bikers." Her tone mellowed as she added, "What did he do?"

"He was just being a jerk."

There was a pause on the other end, and then Evelyn's voice took on a playful edge. "Want me to castrate him?"

The unexpected joke caught Jaden off guard, and despite everything, a laugh bubbled up, breaking through the torrent of emotion. It was small, tremulous, but genuine. "I don't think that is necessary."

"Well, you say the word, and I'll sharpen the scissors," Evelyn teased, a warmth in her voice that wrapped around Jaden like a comforting blanket. "No one messes with my son and gets away with it."

Jaden shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips even as he wiped away the last of his tears. "Thanks, Mama."

"Always, sweetheart," she murmured. "Now, do you want to talk about it?"

Jaden hesitated, glancing around at the football field, watching as the players continued their practice, oblivious to his turmoil. He took a breath. "Maybe... maybe later. For now, I just needed to hear your voice."

"And you can hear it anytime you need," Evelyn replied. "I'm here, Jaden. I always will be."

Jaden closed his eyes, savoring the comfort in her tone. "I love you, Mama."

"I love you more, sweetheart. And listen," she gathered herself, her voice taking on a firmer edge, "don't you ever let anyone—especially some boy—make you feel like you're anything less than extraordinary. You hear me?"

"I hear you," Jaden mumbled. "I promise."

They stayed on the line a bit longer, his mother's words washing over him like a balm to his wounds. After a few minutes, Evelyn's tone shifted, something more practical creeping in.

"Your father and I will be in Boston later next week for work," she stated. "We'll drive your car up then, and we need to have a serious conversation about the $50K being paid to Lightcrest—and the fact that you lied to me."

"Mama..." Jaden groaned, reverting to the pleading tone he always used as a kid. "Lightcrest is where I am meant to be. There is so much about myself that I still need to figure out, especially when it comes to my powers."

"That doesn't excuse you hiding this from us," Evelyn chided. "You might be an adult now, but lying isn't something I raised you to do. And don't think I've forgotten about the years you kept this magic business hidden from us, either. The fact that you spent all that time training with that awful Ling Fen without saying a word? You're lucky I'm not driving up there right now to drag you home myself."

"Mama, please. Lightcrest has so much to offer—it is the best place for me to learn about my abilities. I have made friends, met people who understand what I am going through. Besides, I even bumped into Weston, one of your old clients. This city is not just some random place; it is an 'Academic Oasis.' It's where I belong."

There was a brief silence on the other end, as if Evelyn was considering his words. "We'll discuss it when we get there," she finally said. "Maybe you can show me around and explain why this place is so important to you."

"I'd love that," Jaden responded, relief washing over him.

"Good," she affirmed, her tone tender but resolute. "It shouldn't take your father and me long to wrap up that case. Just some political mess involving the media."

"Political mess?" Jaden echoed. "What kind of mess?"

Evelyn sighed, as though the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. "Oh, the usual—power, money, control. There's a candidate running for office who's been caught up in a scandal. Some dirty dealings with a pharmaceutical company, bribes, things he thought he could bury. Now it's my job to spin it, to make sure his side of the story is the one people hear, not the one that would ruin him."

Jaden felt a twinge of unease. "Isn't that just... lying? Didn't you just lecture me about being honest?"

"Watch the sass, mister. I'm your mother, and I didn't raise you just to have you outwit me," Evelyn quipped, making Jaden giggle. "I want you to be a good person... to be honest, even though out here in the real world, I'm the one shaping the truth. And for the record, it's not lying—it's reframing, redirecting. In politics, perception is reality, and what people see is what they believe."

Jaden fell silent. This was the world he had grown up in, the world he had tried so hard to distance himself from. He knew that if he had stayed in D.C., gone to Georgetown, followed in his parents' footsteps, this would have been his life too: stuck in some high-rise office, playing puppet master with people's perceptions.

As Evelyn continued, her voice receding into the background, Jaden's thoughts wandered to Johannes Gutenberg's printing press during the Middle Ages—how it had revolutionized the world. The press had taken the Bible, once held exclusively in the hands of the Church, and made it accessible to the masses. It challenged the Catholic Church's monopoly on knowledge, their stranglehold on power, and paved the way for the Protestant Reformation. Back then, the press was about putting the truth into people's hands, giving them the power to question authority.

But now? The press seemed to do the opposite. It wasn't about exposing the truth but about controlling it, filtering it, reshaping it—just as his mother was doing. It wasn't about giving people power but keeping them in line, keeping them distracted.

"Perception is reality," Jaden repeated his mother's words.

If that was the rule of the game, if that was how today's printing press worked, then maybe he could use it to his advantage.

An idea took root, small and fragile but growing with every heartbeat. He thought about Van Boxtel Technologies and their dealings with warlords, about the weapons they supplied to Xiong Jianpei, the suffering they enabled. He thought about Skylar, about the people of Heng Qi Island who were being oppressed, and the Cataclysm Federation's refusal to intervene because it was easier to look the other way.

Maybe Jaden could change that.

Armed with a medieval insight that history's greatest reformation started by enlightening the masses, he knew that if he could unearth the right evidence—if he could expose the ugly reality of how Van Boxtel Technologies thrived on war and misery—he could bypass the Federation's willful indifference. His mother had mastered the art of manipulating perceptions, turning scandals into whispers. If she could sway the narrative to protect her clients, then Jaden could just as easily ignite public outrage and rally the masses against this injustice. Gutenberg's press had brought down the Catholic Church's monopoly on truth; maybe he could use the modern media to challenge the Cataclysm Federation's complacency.

It wasn't a simple plan, nor was it without risk. But this was it—Jaden's third way, a path that offered the chance for everyone to get what they needed. A way for Skylar to reclaim his home without burning everything down, for Wilton Van Boxtel to be held accountable without resorting to bloodshed.

"Mama," Jaden announced suddenly, his voice steadier than it had been all morning. "I think I've figured out what I need to do."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Evelyn asked, puzzled.

"Nothing," Jaden responded with a small, secretive smile. "Just something I remembered from medieval history."