Riva was asleep when the restlessness found her.
It did not come as fear, nor as a dream.
It arrived quietly—like a hand brushing against her thoughts—until her body felt too awake for night.
She opened her eyes.
The room was dark, but something inside her refused to settle. Her chest felt tight, her thoughts scattered, as if an invisible force had stirred emotions she didn't recognize.
"I can't stay here," she whispered.
Riva got up, slipped on her shoes, and stepped into the hallway. The hotel was silent, the lights dim and soft. Her footsteps echoed faintly as she walked toward the lobby.
As she passed near the stairs, someone walked past her.
A boy.
She felt it instantly.
The heaviness she carried—her constant awareness of what might happen—faded. Her breathing steadied. Her mind cleared.
She slowed and turned slightly.
She could only see his back.
There was nothing familiar about his face—she hadn't seen it—but something about his presence grounded her, like standing near solid earth after a storm.
Safe.
The word slipped from her lips before she could stop herself.
"Family…"
The boy did not hear her.
He continued walking, disappearing into the shadows of the hotel.
Riva stood still for a moment, confused by her own reaction.
Why did that feel… right?
She shook her head and stepped outside.
The streets of Lako City were quiet.
Streetlights lined the road, casting long shadows. The night air was cool, brushing against her skin as she walked without direction. Her thoughts drifted, her emotions tangled—excitement, sadness, fear, and something strangely calm.
She turned a corner.
And collided with someone.
The impact was sudden.
"Ouch—"
They both lost balance and fell to the ground. Riva gasped, catching herself on her hands.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly, lifting her head. "I wasn't looking—"
The boy in front of her was about her age.
His eyes met hers.
Time slowed.
Riva felt a sharp sensation run through her chest—not a vision, not a warning, but a pull she had never experienced before.
Something had changed.
The boy stared at her for a second longer than necessary, as if he felt it too.
"It's okay," he said slowly. "I wasn't paying attention either."
The streetlight above them flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then steadied.
Riva stood, brushing dust from her clothes, her gaze never fully leaving him.
She didn't know why—but she knew this moment mattered.
Some meetings were accidents.
Others were not.
And Lako City had just arranged one.