2.

Yao scrolled through the daily bulletin as usual.

He tried to ignore the big human figure squatted on the floor in front of him.

After three days of high fever, they finally looked alive again, while he felt half dead.

That night, behind the mask he saw a face that he never thought he'd see again.

"Governor of Border City #211 Assassinated"

Suddenly a headline caught his attention.

"Three days ago"

"...suspect has been identified by officials as an unnatural power holder code named GYR."

"The New World has not seen him before...the central government has listed him on the A+ wanted list of criminals."

Yao looked down at the person on the floor. Without the mask their comely face was completely visible. Surprisingly delicate features blended charmingly with their sharp facial lines and thick eyebrows. A pair of amber eyes looked at him with an innocent smile.

"Little mage."

Fain stretched his back with a loud crack and stood up.

"You did this?" He rolled his sleeve up to show a line of black incantation marks which ran down his left bicep. The area of skin appeared slightly greyish under the sinister characters and symbols.

"I remember you used to always fail your spells back in the academy. Didn't you bomb my desk one time? Oh and the goldfish in the teacher's office, they were poisoned by you right?"

"That was an accident and I cured them afterwards!" Yao stood up and looked straight towards...his chest. Just like in the past, he still barely touched his chin.

"And this on your arm is a healing spell to help you recover quicker. Now sit down and shut up before I make you explode." He shoved him onto the couch.

"Ha it's been so many years and you still can't take jokes, just like your brother."

Then Fain fell silent.

Only the even purrs of Pearl sounded from somewhere in the room.

"I'm sorry." Fain said,

"I could've saved him."

He looked up at Yao, his expression tainted with helplessness.

Lightly, Yao touched his cheek, "It's not your fault. It was never our fault."

Warm tears drowned on Yao's fingertips.

Still such a crybaby, he thought.

Suddenly, he felt Fain's face turn to face the window.

"What's the matter?" He asked.

Fain tilted his head to the left, as if trying to capture a sound. Under the sun his eyes appeared much lighter than usual, a washed-out hue.

Yao had always envied those pretty amber eyes. His own were a dull, thick shade of black.

Suddenly, he heard a loud explosion, and Fain's distorted voice came through, "Hold me."

Then before he could react he was in Fain's embrace.

The wind brushed by in strong gushes. Yao tightened his grip around Fain's neck.

Behind, the apartment went up in flames.