I sighed, eyes grim and heavy. It was directly behind the castle; a beautiful, lush dark wall that was covered in flowers with the gate always locked. Most people would wonder what was hiding behind those enormous walls; was an army base, a secret house? Of course, I've never wondered, I've always been visiting it ever since I was young. It's the last piece of memory I had.

So, I strolled behind the castle walls as quietly as I could, not wanting to be spotted by any of the guards that came by every once and a while. I unlocked the door with my key, then pushed the gate back. Stepping in and being greeted by the smell of cherry blossoms and orchids, I smiled to myself as I began to walk towards the middle of the field. The whole area was just scattered flowers, the occasional tree or some squirrel rushing past me as I walked. It was pleasant—some sort of way out of society and into the venture of loneliness. Only two other people has access to this place, but they dropped by rather occasionally.

I paused at the middle of the field, thoughts clearing and a simple mindset within my head. I hummed, getting down on my knees and putting down the cleaning supplies for the grave. I stared at the bold faced letters again, the ones that I always despised but couldn't help but come back to.

JASON PROBST UNIVERSE
06/07/70R - 06/05/84R

There was no goodbyes to him; no dedication to anyone, it was just simplicity. It was just a singular grave surrounded by flowers that had always been replenished and smelled glorious. I had always taken care of this place within my free time, but lately I've been feeling sidetracked. That Kaji seems to be so surreal to me, almost as if everything about him was just some sort of illusion. My approach towards the situation wasn't the best, either.

I began cleaning the grave from the dust and pollen it seemed to had attract. I replaced the dead flowers that had rotten ever since my last month of visiting and put new orchids down, the ones that I had freshly picked from the garden. It was a sweet, pleasant feeling that I would be doing this. Yet, it twisted my stomach that I had asked to make a large dedication area just for some Sorcerer—especially the one who had killed my own mother. But, I threw that aside and looked as it as if he was just some Hybrids trying to fit in.

I put the rag back in my bag, along with the cleaning supplies and checked my watch. It wasn't too late, it was only past breakfast. I still had time before anyone would really notice that I had wandered off again, but Zek would always know where I am. So, I tapped on the grave, lost for words and humming to myself. I did like to talk to "it," almost as if I was talking to another person. In reality, I was always just talking to myself or the wind, but it was a pleasant feeling.

I opened up with my usual greeting, "Hello, it's Brice again—y'know, the one who doesn't stop bothering you. Lately, I've only visited once or twice a month, I'll try to fix that. My math seemed messed up, but I figured you wouldn't want to speak to me in the first place. I wonder if you're happy with mother in heaven, you never really had a mother—"

I cut myself off and was greeted with an eerie silence. The wind blew against my face, almost as if it was some kind of response. I shrugged it off, then continued to speak, "Everything's pretty normal I guess. At school there was this new student named Seto Kaji who beat me in a battle—yet I think I have a crush on him."

I sighed, only being replied with that chilling silence that I've always knew of this place, "Sometimes I wonder why I even come here. You killed my mother after all, but for what reason? Mother loved you although being oblivious to the fact that you were a Sorcerer. I visit you more than I do with them, which is sad. You've always made me draw my attention to you."

"Sometimes I wonder how you would actually look like in real life. I'm about sixteen and you would be nineteen by now, would you have that same weird way of talking like you did as a child? Sometimes I remember you hanging out at the castle a lot, that grim frown on your face almost as if you enjoyed the presence of Hybrids but didn't want to be there. Maybe that was a façade or something."

"Anyway, I really want to know what I could give to Seto. I mean, he doesn't seem like the type to accept gifts as easy as others do, but it would be worth a short. Maybe I'll get him a bouquet of orchids and roses, he seems to like the color of purple, but red I'm not sure of. Of course I'll get Zek some sunflowers as well, he always loves when I do that."

I felt something tap on my shoulder, then muttered, "Speak of the devil, is it not?"

Zek's small frown had curved into a smile as I turned around to face him. The raven haired male spoke, voice quiet, "You aren't falling for that Kaji, are you?"

I laughed, "Impossible! He's just a peasant, but you do know I like helping people."

"So—you're basically okay with getting married off to some pissy nobel?"

I paused, silent, "if it makes my father happy, I guess."

"Are you still planning to grab at Seto's throat more often?"

"Kinda. I still do look at him as a powerful rival, but friendly wise."

Zek sneered, his eyes scanning me up and down. My jeans were soiled with mud, and my shirt was still partially ripped because of leaning against the castle citadel too much. "Whatever makes you happy, Prince."

"You'll always be at my side, right Zek?" I asked. He reached his hand out as I took it. Helping me stand up, his expression went back to a grim, solemn frown.

"Yes. I always will—I am your future protector after all." Zek murmured, patting my back roughly. It seemed like he was unhappy, or possibly jealous of something. I shrugged it off.

"Well, then we should get going. We do have a Sorcerer to capture."

"Right."

***

Kyle and Tyler's loud, coherent blabbering made Seto's head pound. It was quite the annoying task to sit on someone's back whilst they ignore your presence; almost as if you were the third wheel to the relationship. What's worse is that Seto did have to technically had to hold onto Kyle, so he couldn't fiddle with his thumbs or just play with his Elemental abilities. He tried to focus on his main task, tracking a Sorcerer, but their side conversations seemed to be the only things his mind would focus on. He had enough.

"Kyle." Seto sternly said, "Put me down."

He paused in walking, "Why? You can't walk."

"I could if I tried, now put me down." Seto replied back. Kyle and Tyler had exchanged glances, before Kyle squatted down. Seto hoped off his back, his head still pounding and his surroundings blurring and seeming to have mesh into one.

"Are you sure you can walk, you look kinda dizzy." Kyle said, supporting Seto.

The brunet frowned, quietly chanting a spell to himself. The wind picked up around them as it slowly surrounded Seto before turning into a cloud. Tyler touched it, a bright, amused smile planted on his face. Seto sat down on it as it slowly began to levitate off the concrete ground. He replied, "Yes. Now keep walking."

Kyle and Tyler had exchanged glances once more before beginning to walk again. The cloud was slow paced, it mainly stayed behind the two boys that were ahead of him. It gave Seto the peace he needed to think about what would be their next move. He held his head, the pounding never seemed to subside.

'Make the headache go away.' Seto frowned, scolding the power in his mind.

"Sorry to break it to you Princess, but I can't. I'm using up some of my—"

'Mine.'

"Fine. I'm using up some of your energy to find what else is located in your mind. If you have any questions feel free to ask."

'Do you possibly have a human form that can protect me physically? I have all the power I need, you're just an extra.'

"I mean—I've never thought of it like that. I am to your disposal after all, since you amuse me."

'Your first impression that you had given me was interesting. I never expected an informal power within my mind.'

"Whatever. So, you want a physical protector? Don't you already have one?"

'Kyle is useless to me. He's already broken Father's many rules, he's probably being hunted as we speak for revealing too much to me. I wouldn't be surprised if the Sorcerer that had attacked was originally after Kyle.'

"Well, I can come out right now."

'Will others be able to see you?'

"Yes and no."

'Elaborate on that.'

"I'll naturally blend in to everything. I look very bland and boring, only those who truly pay attention to their surroundings will see me. I am nothing more than a piece of background scenery."

'A stage set? Interesting.'

"It's like I was always there, but never was there."

'Appear, now.'

It was dead silent. The wind began to pick up, Seto felt himself going numb. The cloud continued to make its slow patrol behind the two blabbering others. He didn't feel as if he was weakening, he felt normal—it was almost like the same strength he had received when conversing to "it." Sighing, the headache was lifted, and so was the weight on his shoulders. He stared at his black nails, knowing it marked the power that was still inside of him. He turned to the side and was met with a boy with emerald green eyes.

"Hello." The boy signed, a pale smile stretching from ear to ear.

Seto noted that he had the appearance that was more fragile than himself. He was skinny, a bit pale, and wasn't much taller than him either. He had shaggy brown hair, along with a fringe that covered mostly both of his emerald eyes. It looked like he didn't have a mouth, due to how pale his lips were. He wore a green button-up shirt, navy blue baggy jeans, and green converse shoes. On his right wrist was, what Seto could assume, a green blindfold with the Greek letter "Ω." Seto could sense that he was a Sorcerer and had hoped Kyle would not notice.

"I see that you are amused by my appearance. Don't worry, I'm very strong like you. I've lived ever since the Sorcerers and Hybrids began fighting. You, by far, have been one of my most interesting subjects to follow or give my power to." He continued to sign, but then sigh as he strolled next to the brunet. "Those two are very annoying, they really don't stop talking, do they."

"No." Seto sighed, chuckling.

"I'm also surprised you understand sign language." The boy had commented, throwing out a small smile.

"I took interest in it when I was younger." Seto replied, voice quiet and hands shoved into his pockets. "I still have your power, correct?"

"Yes. I'm just a guard who uses my own power, but you can use it as well. It's hard to explain, but it's almost duplicated I guess." The boy stretched, looking up the sky. "It feels nice to be back on Earth. I could just sign forever with my hands, it feels so nice."

"Right." Seto had sighed once more.

"I can come back into your mind whenever I please as well, keep that in mind." The boy said, snapping his fingers, "But for now—hello, my name is Sub Zero Exabyte, and I'll be your formal protector from this point onwards."