“Agh, I’m beat. Teacher had us training until none of us could even lift a leg.”

  "It’s the weekend, man… we too worn out to even move, never mind playin’. Coach really need to ease up a bit."

  “Hmph! You think becoming a martial artist is easy? This is just the bare minimum! Just wait and see how this big sister becomes the 'biggest' martial artist of all time!”

  “Uh… big sister, I think you mean 'greatest' martial artist, not 'biggest'.”

  “Shut up! Like you know more than me. Let’s ask someone else—we’ll see who’s right!”

  They were the eccentric trio who proudly called themselves 'The Three Shadows'. Leading them was Su Yan, the self-proclaimed “big sister,” followed by her loyal companions, Jaylen and Theo.

  Meanwhile, Evan sat off to the side, lost in his own thoughts.

  “My whole body aches. What I need is proper nutrition—this body’s still growing. But after tasting the food here, I can’t really blame Evan for being picky. It’s all healthy and well-balanced… but why is salt the only seasoning they know?”

  "Yo, red-eyed kid—our big sis got a couple questions for you." Shouted Jaylen as he spots Evan.

  “Is it ‘biggest’ or ‘greatest’ martial artist? Answer right, and we might even let you play with us,” Theo said, seeing the lone Evan sitting quietly in the corner.

  “It’s the greatest martial artist. ‘Biggest’ is usually for physical size or something that’s just, well, big.” Evan said, barely looking up as he kept thinking about his own plans.

  “See? Told you it was 'the greatest'.”

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  “Alright, alright, I get it now—can you chill for a second?”

  Su Yan grinned and nudged Evan. “Come on, play hide and seek with us. What’s your name anyway? You leave little impression to me."

  What is it with these troublemakers? Why do they have to pick me out of everyone?

  “Uh... I’m kind of busy right now. Maybe ask someone else,” he muttered quietly not wanting to get involved with these goblins.

  “Busy staring into space, maybe,” Su Yan teased with a grin, as Jaylen and Theo gently tugged him along. “Come on, just play with us.”

  I don’t really have a good excuse, and I can’t keep turning them down. Besides, I want to make some friends, they might be helpful when they grow up—and as troublesome as these kids are, they’re thoughtful enough to ask me to play.

  “You leave me no choice, then. I’m Albert—ah, I mean, Evan Wilhelm. Nice to meet you three.”

  “I’m Su Yan, and these two are Theo and Jaylen. Together, we’re known as The Three Shadows.”

  Man, these kids are gonna cringe so hard when they grow up.

  Su Yan clapped her hands excitedly. “Alright, Evan, you’re it first!”

  Evan’s heart skipped a beat. After days of feeling like an outsider, this simple invitation felt like a lifeline. “Okay, okay… I’ll count.”

  He closed his eyes tightly and began to count aloud, “One… two… three…”

  Theo and Jaylen exchanged quick glances and darted off, giggling as they scrambled to find the perfect hiding spots. Su Yan grinned before slipping behind a nearby stack of crates.

  “Eight… nine… ten! Ready or not, here I come!”

  Evan peered down the dim hallway, his senses sharpened, his eyes oddly glowing crimson by the thrill of the chase. Somehow, he caught the faint sound of Theo’s breathing behind an old wooden door just outside the room, and the soft shuffle of Jaylen hiding beneath a table from far away—something that shouldn’t have been possible, but he didn’t question it in his excitement.

  “Found you, Theo!” Evan whispered with a grin, lightly tapping the door.

  Theo popped out, laughing. “Man, you’re good at this!”

  “And Jaylen, I see you hiding under the table.”

  “Aw, man, that’s no fun.”

  Now only Su Yan remained.

  Evan crept quietly through the hallway when he suddenly sebsed a shadow by the window. Su Yan, ever bold, leapt out and tagged him.

  “Gotcha!” she teased.

  Evan laughed—a small spark of belonging warming him for the first time.

  Unnoticed in the excitement, the dandelion-like pattern in his eyes briefly sharpened—faint, fleeting—before settling once more into stillness, like a whisper of something waiting to awaken.