Kael was in one of the training rooms at the Central Enforcement Bureau. He wore standard combat gear, eyes locked on the targets in front of him. As opponents approached one after another in the simulation, his focus disappeared. His old speed was gone; his reflexes were slow and his strikes lacked power. 

There was no malfunction in his synthetic limbs. In fact, they had been upgraded since the first installation. Stronger, yes. But not as fast, not as agile. When one of the simulated enemies suddenly sidestepped and attacked, Kael turned just a few milliseconds too late. The hit wasn’t physical, but it knocked the breath from his focus. He backed away, burning with silent rage at how easily he’d slipped. He looked at his hands. Flesh and metal, both shivering. Too human to be a machine. Too broken to be a man. 

A question echoed in his mind:

“How much of your body is synthetic?”

It was Arin’s voice. Calm, casual, but curious.

Kael raised his hands and slowly opened them. His fingers ended in metal covered by synthetic skin that seemed almost real, but he knew better.

For a brief moment, he couldn’t remember what he had said. Probably something vague. Again.

He muttered under his breath, “You’re pathetic.” 

He stood there for a while. Then, as always, he locked all those feelings in a mental room. He clenched his jaw, got back into position and restarted the simulation. New enemies appeared.

This time he fought harder. He punched and kicked. But eventually, fatigue caught up with him.

Sweat poured down his face. His chest heaved as he collapsed onto his back. He closed his eyes. 

A face appeared in his mind. Soft, smirking. Arin, tilting his head with that playful grin...

Arin.

Kael’s eyes snapped open. He jumped to his feet, furious.

“Idiot. Idiot. Idiot,” he repeated.

He slammed the simulation interface and shut down the system. The lights went out. He stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

***

Arin had just dropped off a letter to his grandfather at the post office. Now, he was walking through the market. The air was warm and gentle, like the last days of summer. It was the weekend, so the streets were busy with people shopping. Children ran around, happily licking colorful ice creams. Arin thought that if his grandfather were here, he’d be just as happy as those kids.

This time, Arin had chosen to write about the lighter, brighter moments. He told of the streets he’d walked and the new foods he’d tasted. The letter carried more warmth and hope than before. Although, he’d written about the cases they’d solved, about Kael. He had also written about Talen’s jinn. 

He suddenly pictured Talen’s fiery red hair, his stubborn expression, the way he fought like his life depended on it. Of course, he hadn’t let him die, but he had let his fight alone. Thinking about Talen filled him with something warm, but that warmth turned into curiosity as he remembered the old man from the guild. Especially when he’d said our kind. His words, his gaze... it was like he knew Arin.

Somewhere in the back of Arin’s mind, the knowledge lingered. Someone in the city was secretly collecting jinn. There was no proof yet, but Kael was right. Arin could be a target too. Maybe he should go to the guild and ask the old man. What did he have to lose?

As he turned the corner, he saw a shop window filled with jelly candies. They sparkled in bright colors. Kids nearby laughed quietly. Arin smiled with them. What better way to spend your first paycheck than on sweets? 

He left the shop holding the box. Suddenly, someone bumped into him. Arin stumbled but caught himself. The candy box fell from his hand. When he stood steady again, the sweets lay scattered on the ground. But something else was missing.

His wallet.

“Hey!” he shouted, spinning around. He spotted the man who had bumped into him slipping through the crowd.

Without hesitation, Arin gave chase.

If Kael were here, he thought, he’d have caught him already. Probably would’ve stopped him before he even reached into a pocket.

And the candy... he hadn’t even tasted one yet.

***

As Arin followed the thief from the main street into a narrow alley, he noticed the crowd thinning out. The bronze-toned buildings were giving way to older Imperial structures. With each turn, it felt like he was diving deeper into a grey dream. But none of it mattered now. All that mattered was the man who stole his wallet.

No matter how fast Arin ran, he couldn’t quite catch up. Yet somehow, the thief didn’t escape either. Eventually, he ducked into a building and disappeared from sight. Arin didn’t hesitate. He followed.

The rusted hinges creaked as the door slammed shut behind him. Arin paused. Footsteps echoed. Before his eyes adjusted to the dark, he knew it was a trap.

He turned to leave, but the door was already locked. He tensed. Something was wrong.

Then footsteps from above. From the sides. A flickering ceiling light buzzed on. At the end of the long hallway, Arin saw the man who took his wallet and three more people with him.

Arin reached for his sword. It wasn’t there.

Shit.

“Let me out, master,” Azimushan growled from within. “Let me feast.”

He couldn’t. Not without Kael. And even if he did, the aftermath would be a nightmare.

“Come on then!” one of them taunted.

Arin didn’t answer. He scanned for escape routes. The men advanced.

He leapt back and felt the door behind him. Locked. No matter how hard he pushed.

His heart pounded. He searched fast. There was a stairway leading to a window above, and another door behind the men.

One lunged at him with unexpected speed. Arin dodged. But another kicked his legs from the side. He tumbled, recovered, but now his back was to the wall.

They moved like wolves. Coordinated. Each second, the path to the door slipped further away.

“Please, master! I promise I won’t eat all of them!” Azimushan begged.

Arin ignored him. Instead, he charged. Slammed his elbow into one’s face, cleared a path for a moment, but two more blocked him immediately. One grabbed his wrists. Arin dropped to his knees, struggling. The thief raised his fist.

The punches blurred his vision.

“Master!” Azimushan screamed.

But then a crash. The door behind the attackers flew open. They froze.

Arin couldn’t see who had entered, but a voice said, “Had enough fun yet?”

He knew that voice. But... how?

The men flinched. They didn’t let go, but none of them looked at Arin anymore. All eyes were on Talen.

“Who the hell are you?” the biggest one asked.

Talen grinned. “Doesn’t matter. You won’t remember much when I’m done.”

Before they could react, Talen’s wristbands lit up. Twin beams of light shot out, dropping the first attackers instantly.

Only one remained, still holding Arin.

Panicked, he ducked behind Arin. “Stay back!”

Talen raised both hands slowly. “Let him go, and I’ll let you walk.”

The man hesitated. “Promise?”

“Promise,” Talen said.

Arin thought he saw a faint smirk.

The man loosened his grip. Arin stumbled forward. Another flash, and the last thug dropped.

“Lied,” Talen said, grinning.

As Arin lay there, dazed, Talen stepped up and offered a hand.

“Not even a thank-you kiss for your rescuer?”

Arin was still staring blankly at Talen as his laughter echoed through the building.