Chapter 0

    The night had descended, draped in a marvelous cape of moonlight. Its pale glow slipped through the window, casting a quiet greeting upon an old friend. How many nights had passed since Elnord last felt its glow? Yet, without fail, it returned—perhaps his only constant, his only companion.

Another night, another season—ordinary, yet unsettling. The cracked windowpane, the creaking doors, the air of neglect that clung to the walls—all signs of disrepair, yet something about this ruin held his gaze.

"Will he come again, I wonder?" Elnord mused. Then, with a frown, he dismissed the thought. "Doesn’t matter anyway."

"That frown tells me you missed me," Triston’s voice rang out, smugness stretched across his face.

"Insolence! How could I? Don’t get cocky, kid," Elnord shot back, crossing his arms.

"Well, if I’m such a nuisance, maybe I should just head back." Triston feigned indifference but fixed his gaze on Elnord, waiting.

Elnord barely glanced at him. "Do as you wish. I won’t stop you."

Caught off guard, Triston hesitated. "Ahh—I was just kidding! No need to get all worked up, man. Jeez." He scratched the back of his head.

Tonight, the moon shone with an eerie brilliance, as if heralding the end of the world. Triston tilted his head, a grin creeping onto his lips. "The moon's putting on quite a show tonight, huh?"

Elnord remained silent, staring through the window, his gaze lost in the night sky.

"Why don’t we step outside for a bit?" Triston suggested.

Beyond the walls, the sky stretched wide, adorned with a cloak of glittering stars. The moon cast stolen light upon the earth, its glow pure and unyielding. Crickets formed a rhythmic chorus, accompanied by the soft flickers of fireflies—a sonnet of the night.

"You seem out of it today. What’s wrong?" Triston asked.

Elnord pressed his lips together, refusing to answer.

"Well, that’s to be expected from the great hermit crab of the suburbs," Triston teased. "If you must know, I had a great day today. She—"

"I’m not interested," Elnord interrupted, his tone flat.

"O-okay…" Triston pouted, turning his gaze to the sky. He stared at the full moon, rocking back and forth on his heels. "If you’re just going to stay silent, this is gonna be really boring, you know."

Elnord’s voice cut through the stillness. "If the devil were to make you an offer, would you take it?"

Triston blinked. "Depends."

Elnord smirked. "And what exactly do you desire?"

Triston chuckled, crossing his arms. "Materialistic things seem overrated."

"Is that so?" Elnord leaned against the wall, eyes glinting with curiosity. "Then tell me—what is it that you truly want?"

The moon watched from above, its silver glow unblinking.