Confusion

As he rushed to the office, late again, Leegna tried to compose himself, preparing for yet another long day. Grabbing his first cup of coffee, he headed into the building, his mind racing.

He needed peace—but that was the last thing he could expect.

The harsh hum of the fluorescent office lights assaulted his senses as he stumbled through the revolving door. It was the first morning after the pact with Yuj, and everything seemed to blur with an eerie clarity. His mind replayed fragments from the previous night—Yuj's chilling presence, the cold weight of the ring on his finger, and the hollow silence left by his parents' absence.

Leegna gripped the edge of his desk, knuckles white, as he struggled to focus on the towering pile of paperwork in front of him. But the numbers and lines shifted and swirled, mocking his disorientation. The usual office chatter felt like echoes from a distant world—one he no longer felt a part of. A colleague greeted him, forcing a weak smile from him, though his words came out in a murmur, lost amidst the fog of his thoughts.

"I guess you had some fun last night, huh? Well, you're young and healthy—strike while the iron's hot."

Leegna barely registered the words, his mind spinning as dizziness washed over him. A random thought struck him—a strange sense of déjà vu, as if he already knew what was about to happen.

"I should head home early today... I think I'm losing my mind."

He muttered this as he stood up from his desk, leaving a note for early leave and heading out of the office.

On his way home, Leegna's thoughts crowded his mind, suffocating him. Overwhelmed, he quickened his pace and put on his headphones, hoping to drown out the noise in his head. But just as he turned the corner, he saw a familiar figure and felt a strange, eerie presence.

"Human, are you daydreaming? You seem lost. Maybe I can help ease that."

Leegna cursed under his breath. "Am I being haunted? What's up with my luck lately?"

"Have you tried it yet? I suppose it's too early, but remember this—you're going to use what you have. Master it. Force it through sheer willpower to bring it back."

The shadowy creature spoke as if they had had this conversation before, toying with Leegna's mind. Yuj knew exactly what to say, regardless of the consequences.

"Alright then! I'll play along this time. Let's make my life even more interesting—though it's already dull as hell."

With a wry smile, Leegna approached Yuj, confidence and a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Cool guy right here, huh? Nice meeting you again."

"You've been waiting for this moment longer than you realize," Yuj whispered, his voice heavy with ancient knowledge. Leegna tried to recall the cryptic dreams and fleeting signs that had haunted him in the days leading up to this encounter. A part of him felt a strange echo of recognition, as if a long-buried fragment of himself was stirring awake. The ring on his finger grew colder, its hidden power slowly awakening.

As Yuj stepped closer, his shadow stretched and entwined with the lengthening shadows of the evening, foretelling a journey that would unravel the very fabric of Leegna's reality. Little did he know, this encounter was merely the beginning of a path he had unknowingly been walking for years.

As the conversation continued, an unsettling sensation crept over Leegna. The air grew heavier, thick with unspoken tension. He felt a prickle along the back of his neck, as if invisible eyes were watching him.

Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the presence vanished, leaving Leegna alone in the alley. The street's ordinary noise returned, a stark contrast to the moment just before. Yuj remained standing, his gaze fixed on Leegna, unreadable and enigmatic.

"Be vigilant. The shadows hold many secrets—not all of them are meant to be uncovered. Not yet."

The alleyway grew quiet again, the strange encounter leaving behind an echo of unease. As Leegna walked away, the darkness pulsed with hidden intent, a promise that his path was still shrouded in shadows, waiting to be revealed.

A fair exchange was about to happen—but not for both sides.