Kristen took off her hood and adjusted the collar of her inner shirt, suddenly feeling the heat at the back of her neck. Nobody has seen a Darkeel before, just the stories and mysteries. Those creatures were things that had kept the world at bay. After the war that had lasted for hundred years, the Darkeel had returned to hell, but some books have it that they were meant to return, to break the world a second time to take away everything that has breath. There were no documented files to these claims, if not, the tower would have been making preparations. The authenticity of this claim was rather difficult to manage and rumors were something the tower despises  dearly.

The cold went through Kristen's skin, making her hug herself. Situations like this always leave her ruing the day she was born. Had she had the powers, she would have gathered some of the Firstborns and created an army of her own. An army that would fight the darkness when it comes. Too bad she was just her, like the rest of the Firstborns, she was just here, doing the paperwork or anything else that requires her attention.

"May the light guard our path in these dark days," Ruth muttered and took the other way. Kristen watched her leave. Ruth was the closest thing Kristen has ever had. They were not friends, neither were they enemies. Seeing too often within a confined space had made them fond of each other. Yet they were not friends. They had grown up in the same motherless baby home and have known each other forever. While Ruth was older than her, Kristen was a shoulder tall. She was also light skinned, a contrast to Ruth who was darker. 

Kristen walked towards her table. If she was going to leave work early enough, then she needed to start working, or else she would spend the last hours of midnight trying to tidy up.

"Do you have a minute?"

The sound of his voice made Kristen smile. She didn't look up from her shoulders; instead, she dragged the empty seat, pretending not to have heard him. It was not going to scare him away, but she wanted to try. Too many things require her attention and chit-chat was the least of them.

"Good morning to you too. But do you have a minute? This is really important."

"What do you want, Caz? Are you going to tell me how badly I smell this morning?"

"As stubborn as ever. The holiday hasn't changed you in a bit. And yes, I miss you too. After two months of staying in whatever hole Rodian designed? You should show some sympathy for this guy whose heart you are messing with" Cazlin smiled and took the empty seat beside her, "And your fragrance is just as perfect. Did you wear them to impress me?"

"It is too early Caz," Kristen rolled her eyes, "Don't you have somewhere else to be? A file to arrange or something? Make do of the little time you have, instead of pestering."

Cazlin only laughed but looked the other way. Kristen swallowed at the way his blond hair bounced on his head. His skin was smooth, contrasting his bright eyes. He had also arranged his hood like Rodian, making Kristen wonder what he would look like with shirts on. Does he have muscles like one of those ancient sculptures in the gallery?

Kristen looked away. She tried typing her password but realized then that her fingers were shaking. Her heart was also running a marathon and the heat on her face was getting intense. Why does she always feel this way whenever the boy is around?

"You heard the news right?" 

Kristen nodded and pushed the power button, hoping to clear her mind before rebooting. That way she would work without thinking about Caz's smile or the way his muscles were arranged on his arms. It would also prevent Caz from noticing her shaking fingers. She will watch the recap of the news afterward. It seems to be making waves in the city. Whoever that thief was must be really powerful for his news to have taken the tower by storm. Perhaps, Ruth was right in saying that the boy could stand a chance against the dark one. Speaking of which…

"Where is the boy, the thief I mean?" Kristen asked.

"That's the same question I asked myself, the first time I heard the news. An Airno with such power should not be allowed to roam freely in the streets. The tower has to do something about it."

"Wait, you mean the tower does not know his way about?"

"Yes, Kris." Cazlin leans in. They were alone for three or four strides away, and even though nobody was paying attention, Kristen could not see the reasons why Caz was whispering. "The tower doesn't even know who this nobody is"

"I heard he is from Allen's street, and why are you whispering? Is this some secret?"

"I am sorry," Caz leaned away, still whispering, "But my fearful faculty always leave my brain in disarray whenever we are not sure of the future."

"Always dramatic" Kristen shook her head, "Well, let's hope the tower has people already in the field, looking, you know" She shrugged, "sniffing as usual. There is no way Rodian would leave this one, not if the boy is as powerful as causing a tornado. Is that even a fact?"

"The news said it is, so it must be," Caz picked a pen from the table and started to fiddle with it. 

"You didn't come here to gossip about the news, did you." Kristen studied him thoughtfully. As much as she enjoys his company, she wanted to have the morning to herself. She had a lot of work to do and was consuming precious time already.

"Something is wrong," Caz said. He was whispering again and the eagerness in his eyes made Kristen shift in her chair. She could not see a big deal in the whole Allen street thing, but it's as if everyone was taking it seriously.

"I must find out who that boy is, and bring him back to the tower."

Kristen laughs, despite her attempt to hold it. Cazlin was all muscles, but the man was still undergoing training. He barely passed his first training class without breaking his jaw.

"It will take more than courage to go outside these walls."

The smile on Cazlin's face dropped. He was not happy that Kristen had laughed at his idea and the fact that she had not apologized made him stand from his seat.

"Just wanted you to know, Kris. I would have asked you to join me, but it seems you are too busy with paperwork to care."

Kristen stood and took a deep breath in. Her heart was still racing and looking into Cazlin's eyes, almost took her breath away. He had fine eyes, and standing there, she could have melted in his arms and told him how deeply she cared about him. But that would be foolishness. Cazlin might mock her. He might even criticize her in front of his friends.

"I didn't mean that in a bad way," Kristen finally said and broke her gaze. "I just don't want you to end up being expelled from the tower or worse dead." Taking a deep breath in, she gently placed a hand on his chest, "I care about you, Cazlin Lakewood, I really don't want to lose you."

That seemed to bring back the light in his eyes as his lips broadened with a quick smile.

"Do you really care?"

"I do," Kristen smiled weakly. 

"So all these while you have been pretending?"

"That's it," Kristen waved her hands and returned to her seat, "Just be careful Caz. The world outside is nothing like the torrent of the tower. It has harsh winds, ready to blow you in any direction."

"Thank you for the advice, Kris. And try not to miss me too much" 

Until his voice echoed, Kristen noticed he had made his way to the exit. She hissed and pushed the power button of the computer. Caz could do anything he wanted. It was his life after all. What pained her was that she was beginning to have a thing for him, and he seemed not to care. Any other man in Bel Haven would have forgotten their mission to please their woman. At least that is what the stories have made them believe.

Biting her lower lips, she pushed the power button on the computer again. The screen did not come on and until the third trial did the computer started to hum. 

Strange, Kristen muttered as her brow furrowed. She didn't press the power button again, instead, she waited for the blue and white screen to show up. It didn't and when she was about to press the button again, a red skull appeared, and beneath it was the word.

"WELCOME TO PHANTOM"