Across the city lies a restaurant that was quiet in the way only true luxury ever is. At a table set for three sat Evermend, or Talya Zentry, posture immaculate, hands folded loosely in her lap. Her black and gold dress caught the light every time she shifted, restrained elegance with a sharp edge beneath it.
She checked the time once, then looked up as the doors opened.
Lina Kalego and Franz Kalego, the mother and father of Justin Kalego, stepped inside together, both dressed well enough to blend in with the clientele while still carrying an unmistakable presence. Lina's dark dress was understated and refined. Franz wore a tailored suit that somehow still looked slightly rumpled on him, as if he'd never quite learned how to sit still.
Talya rose smoothly. "You're late."
Lina smiled apologetically as they approached. "Our fault. Traffic decided to become a battlefield."
"It's good to see you," Franz said, beaming as he reached Talya. "Really good. It's been what, years?"
"Too long," Talya replied, allowing a small smile as they sat.
They'd barely settled when Franz leaned forward, eyes bright. "So. How's my boy?"
Lina sighed, already reaching up to straighten Franz's tie. "We promised Justin we wouldn't interrogate people about him."
"I said not in front of him," Franz countered cheerfully. "This doesn't count. Lay it on me."
Talya huffed a quiet laugh. "He's made an impression," she said. "More than most rookies do in their first month."
Lina's gaze sharpened. "That sounds loaded."
"It is," Talya admitted. "He's already drawn the attention of Decay and his organization."
Franz's smile dimmed. Lina went still.
"But," Talya continued evenly, "the Sage Archive is backing him fully. Justin and Braxton both. As long as I'm breathing, nothing happens to your son."
Lina waved the thought away, though her eyes stayed alert. "You've always been too kind, Talya. And I'm not worried." She smiled faintly. "If something truly dangerous were happening, Justin would tell us. He always does."
Franz nodded, though his brow creased. "Things do have a way of working out for our kid. More than anyone I've ever met. Must've been born under some lucky star."
"Still," he added, quieter, "it's unsettling to hear that name again."
Talya didn't need him to say it.
"Decay," Franz said. "All the stories from your Sentinel Seven days." He glanced at Lina. "He always creeped me out. Even compared to monsters like Oblivion Maw."
Lina shrugged lightly. "Decay was one of the rougher ones, yeah. Not the loudest. Not the strongest. Just pure evil." She looked at Talya. "But I trust you. And I trust our son."
She leaned back, expression drifting as memory took hold. "There was a raid. Years ago. Me, Human Storm, Circuit Lord. One of their main headquarters."
Franz smiled faintly. "You came home smiling that night."
"I took on Boss Tango," Lina said. "Nasty piece of work. Poison everywhere. Thought he had me cornered." Her eyes flicked up. "He didn't."
Talya nodded. "I remember the fallout."
"They locked him up," Lina continued. "High security. And then Decay broke him out months later like it was nothing." She shook her head. "I still can't believe Decay slipped away during that raid. Honestly." A thin smile appeared. "I'm impressed. Annoyed. But impressed."
Silence settled between them, heavy but not fearful.
"He's still hiding," Talya said. "That won't last."
Lina lifted her glass. "It never does."
Franz followed suit, a softer determination in his eyes. "To faith," he said. "In good people. And stubborn kids."
Talya raised her glass last. "And to ending old ghosts."
The clink was quiet. Decisive.
A chair scraped softly behind them.
Talya sensed it before she saw it. The weight in the room shifted.
A man in a perfectly tailored suit dragged the chair back and sat down as if he belonged there. Brother Kaine smiled pleasantly, eyes flat, voice barely above a whisper.
"Let's not make any sudden movements," he said. "This place goes up in smoke if anyone gets dramatic."
The three of them froze, instincts screaming. Kaine leaned in just enough to be heard.
"I know the three of you could put me down," he continued calmly. "No question. But not fast enough to save all these nice people. So let's all relax."
With those words, they did not want to risk any innocent lives.
Kaine straightened slightly, folding his hands. "Name's Kaine. I work for Decay. One of the elite five." His smile sharpened. "And I'm going to kill your boy."
Franz surged forward an inch before Lina's hand snapped out, gripping his wrist hard.
Kaine's gaze flicked to her, amused. "Emerald Atlas killed my brother. Or rather, my brother failed to defeat him." His voice dipped. "Failure has consequences. I carried those out myself."
Talya's jaw tightened.
"I'm going to give him a slow, agonizing death," Kaine said softly. "That's my promise."
Franz snapped. "You're not shit," he hissed. "Not compared to my son. Not compared to half the people at Sage. If you think you're the one who ends him, you're delusional."
Kaine chuckled. "I heard your toast. Faith. Real touching." He tilted his head. "Funny how much you're betting on a barely grown kid."
Lina met his eyes, voice cold. "When you lose to my son, I'll visit you in prison. I'll enjoy it." She leaned forward. "I know he can take care of himself. But understand this. A mother's fury doesn't have limits. You're kicking a hornet's nest."
Kaine smiled wider. "I'm not scared of you. Or Evermend. Or her little agency."
Talya crossed her arms, her gaze hard as steel. "You don't need to be scared of us," she said evenly. "You should be scared of him. Emerald Atlas is going to kick your ass."
For the first time, Kaine didn't respond immediately. Then he shook his head.
"We'll see."
He stood and raised his voice suddenly, sharp and clear. "There's a bomb in the building."
Panic exploded. Screams. Chairs scraping. Kaine vanished into the chaos like smoke. Minutes later, the bomb was found. Real. Armed. The bomb squad moved fast, disarming it cleanly. As the restaurant emptied, Talya exhaled slowly.
"Your son," she said, grim. "He's deep in it now."
Franz snorted, tension breaking. "As is the way of a Kalego."