The Treasure Hall's door slammed forcibly behind him as he leaned against it for support, sweat beading down his forehead in a steady panic. It was then he swore harshly, grinding his teeth.

How did it get this bad?

It was never this bad. It never had been. Was it because he had been away for so long? Would it only get worse? How had it-

"Oh! Hey Lukas!" Jesse's bright smile brought him immense relief. He got off the door and stepped up towards her, waving, the incident temporarily forgotten. "It's so great to see you."

"You too," she gave him a quick side hug before gesturing to the large piles of chests behind her.

"You came at just the right time, I was just taking a break from unpacking all these!" She laughed, shaking her head. "They're all our old treasures from our past adventures!"

That sparked his interest. He tilted his head, taking a peek at the items behind her.

"Join me for a snack, would you? We need to catch up." She seemed overly excited, eyes gleaming and smile still stretched wide across her face. Her hair was tied up in a now messy ponytail, clip moving the hair to the side. She gestured for him to follow her to the kitchen.

He took a seat in an oak chair as Jesse placed some chocolate chip cookies on the table, along with two cups of milk. He grinned.

"Fresh this morning," she beamed, before taking a seat across from him.

His teeth sunk into the dough, and immediately he sighed heavenly.

Soo good.

Jesse laughed, before taking a cookie herself and dipping it slightly into the milk. Lukas finished his in an instant.

"So, what's got you so excited?" He mused, reaching for the plate. She pointed her half dipped cookie at him.

"I am glad you asked. Today's my day off."

"Your day off?" He stopped, face straight. "That can't be the only thing. I haven't seen you this hyped up in a while."

She set her glass of milk on the table, revealing a light, crooked milk mustache, thinking for a moment.

"I guess I've just been working so much that days off are a miracle." Her smile didn't match up with the tone of her voice. Lightened, but embedded slightly with doubt. "It's just, I don't know. Everyone's gone their own separate paths. I wish things were like how it was before."

A silence, a pause. Lukas suddenly felt guilty. Was it for himself? For her? Maybe it was because he knew things would never be how they once were.

When all five of them would go on amazing adventures, laughing, racing, taking the risk. It didn't matter because all of them would be together. Or maybe even, before that? The portal hallway adventures? Maybe when they were just having fun at Endercon, goofing around and building to their best ability. Everything had changed.

"Oh, but I didn't want to dampen the mood!" She apologized, shaking her hands as a gesture. "Let's talk about something else."

The two finished the plate of cookies, roughly half a dozen or so. Lukas washed the dishes as Jesse fixed up the table, guiding the crumbs into the palm of her hand.

She gestured him to the treasure hall, where all the chests were, some open, some not. Some brand new and others lined with dust and scratches.

"Check this out!" Her voice came out muffled as she dug the first half of her body into a chest. Lukas chuckled, sitting on top of another. "You need help?"

She grunted, before taking out an item, getting out of the chest, and placing it on her head.

For a moment, time seemed to stop. The dirtied gold Eversource crown laid loosely atop her hair. He blinked, her image flickered. He pictured Isa in her place, eyes alert and fearful. It was only for a second before reality returned.

"This chest has all of our portal hall adventure loot!" She burst, Lukas still wrapped in surprise. "You've got to be just as excited as I am. We haven't seen this stuff in ages! It brings back so many memories..."

He was still deep in thought, panicking internally. He was doing it again. But this time, it was with his friends. If he thought the Order would stop him from hallucinating, he was dreadfully wrong. His hands shook slightly in his lap, foot tapping impatiently on the ground.

What should he do?

Dammit, he cursed. What have I become? Someone who fears things in their head-

"Hey," Jesse hesitated, eyeing him. She took the crown off slowly and placed it back in the chest, along with the glowing flint and steel she had taken out. "I'm sorry."

Lukas snapped himself out of it. What was she apologizing for?

"I know, your version of the adventures is different than mine. I shouldn't have brought it up. You've been through so much, and I just made you remember all of it." She faltered, smile wavering.

He barely processed what she was saying.

"No, no, no!" Lukas shook his head, he didn't want it to come to this. "Please, don't apologize. You were just excited about the memories, and I ruined it. I was just, surprised, that's all."

"Are you sure? You had this look on your face..." she bit her lip, "it was like you saw a ghost."

He was failing at letting her not worry about him.

"It's fine, really." He pressed, forcing a smile, as if nothing had ever happened in the first place. "See? All good."

"So, you'd tell me if this was bothering you, right?" She was serious now, putting him under this weighted pressure. He couldn't look her in the eye.

"Of course."

Liar.

He shook away the voice.

"Well, if you say so. I trust you." An unsettling feeling retained in his gut. "All that aside, I want you to take this before you go."

"Oh?"

She placed an item in his hand. Cold, heavy in his palms. The journal stared at him in the face.

Hello! The full story will begin with weekly updates starting October 11! I live on the west coast of the US so the timing may vary. Thanks for your support! <3