What Lurks Beneath Shadows
Across the universe, religion and ideologies dominate over traditional ideologies, factions like “Pete Infirmos”, is what leads important people to who they are—It’s part of their identity, and what principles they stand on.
The Planet of Entertainment, a planet in the center of the cosmos, a city built for happiness—for immense joy, where everyone could laugh and be themselves, merging ambition and joy with one, where only the burning stars could shine.
Sitting in his stool, the tavern had gone quite silent, his posture indifferent as he maintained a cool mood. Burner looked… disinterested—almost apathetic, his grey eyes examined the place thoroughly, seeing how other tables laughed at their own jokes, how the barista served wine and liquor as bubbles rose to the top of the drink. He gripped his wolf-headed cane with one hand, holding a cheap champagne with the other.
As he gulped down the last remnants of his drink, he felt that presence—that familiar and bittersweet presence, his fingers tightened around the glass of wine. He turns back, recognizing that sweet and familiar face.
“Out of all the cases I’ve done as a detective… You still remain as my cold one.”
Asher huffed, sitting next to the man he once knew so well, he could feel his detached yet confused gaze all over him—after all, Burner had no idea why his once past lover was here, looking so mortified.
“Burner.”
The detective tensed, sensing the fear and danger that edged in that tone, but he kept acting uninterested, a master of an act he knew to commit to. Asher looked to his side, noting how his past lover has changed so much over the time of years.
“I know it’s been 3 years since the last night we talked. But—I really need help.”
Burner, as the defiant man he was, of course didn’t miss the chance to provoke Asher on the subject.
“And you come to me? What about all your other connections back in The Triple Alliance of Defense, your connections in literally half the cosmos?”
Asher sighed, he didn’t like having to give so much information with someone who had betrayed him once already. He had no other alternative, so after a long moment of silence—he finally decided to speak.
“They all couldn’t find this entity who’s been following me.”
Burner eyes widened. Entity? Following? Who the hell wanted to hunt Asher down? He thought. Even after all these years, his worry and protectiveness over the other guy remained the same. His gaze flicked between Asher and the table.
“...And who is this ‘entity’ who’s been following you, huh?” Burner spoke a little bit softer than he intended, but his gaze decided to remain on the table instead.
Asher continued to speak, his own gaze still on Burner.
“I don’t know much about her. The only thing she has revealed to me is her name—Vesperess.”
Burner’s brows furrowed, his legs crossed as he turned to face Asher fully again.
“And what do I get in exchange?”
Asher rolled his eyes, of course Burner would say that. He hadn’t changed one bit compared to when he once talked to him daily.
“Anything you want.”
“Dollars? I’ll give you as much as you want. Heck—I’ll even contact my connections to clear your criminal records.”
Burner interrupted the other man, not before ordering himself another glass of champagne and sipping on it. He was not satisfied with the response that Asher gave him.
”
“Dollars are overrated, what matters is to survive. And my reputation? That’s why my best clients hire me instead of any other detective from the United Civilizations of the Cosmos
The tavern felt too quiet, the huffs of laughter from other tables and the soft jazz music didn’t feel relaxing, especially under the situation the broken couple were in.
After a long pause, Burner sighed, before looking back at Asher.
“I’ll do it.”
Asher’s eyes widened, not expecting to convince the other man so easily, before he could speak, Burner continued. His tone is firm and confident.
“Not because I want credits or anything else.”
…Asher tilted his head, unsure of what Burner meant with that.
“Then what do you want?”
Burner smirked, taking a long sip of his champagne again.
“I won’t disclose that matter yet. You just need to know that I’ll do it.”
“Tell me everything about Vesperess, how she looks, what she does, and why she is following you. Any hint will work.”
The jazz music seemed to distort, but the two of them were too busy to find out the flaws that stirred deep beneath the shadows of their past.
Asher started to describe Vesperess whatsoever, starting first with her appearance.
“She has a sleeved black chiton, with some grey flowery texture… A closed umbrella, dark purple hair and deep red pupils, and a creepy gaze that feels unsettling… yet reverent at the same time.”
Burner took notes in his head, nodding softly at each trait of this individual. Letting Asher continue describing what Vesperess is.
“I firstly met her in The Garden of Beauty and the Past, when I had my vacation back in the Eternal District, it all happened when I was crossing a dark alley, until a soft, breathy voice said ‘As night falls, everyone, close your eyes’. With the blink of an eye, I was already trapped in an ice cage… but inside the ice, I could see the memories that haunted me the most.”
Burner’s grip on his drink tightened, not wanting to ask about the memories because he damn knew which ones would be.
“After the ice melted in a matter of seconds, I ran until I was in a dead end… then there she was, looking down at the floor, then she looked up to me and just made a soft ‘shush’ gesture, and disappeared.”
“This kind of cycle has been repeated on every planet I step on, but last time, she just gave me her name, like I told you so.”
The lights flickered for a second… Burner reflexes told him to run, but he stayed still for the sake of Asher. He grabbed his cane, as an attempt to stay grounded.
“UCC file 16B-A-333.”
The detective spoke softly, almost too soft so no one but Asher could hear
“It was a file that I wasn’t supposed to see, it was about a dark cult praising the Fove Memoriam, exactly what The Garden of Beauty and the Past is—the planet of Fove Memoriam.”
“They twisted their ideology of keeping the past safe to something dark and cruel. Thinking about the past is information that could be used as a weapon.”
“Familiar, right?”
“But… that cult was terminated from existence by the United Civilizations of the Cosmos 21 years ago. There’s no way there was a survivor, especially not this powerful.”
Asher’s head tilted, now deeply curious into the topic, almost like if this didn’t concern him one single bit. The detective continued.
“Especially not this powerful…” He repeated.
“She definitely isn’t from that cult… maybe it’s just a mere coincidence.”
“And if she used ice to show you memories… the same way a Vanguard of Fove Memoriam shows memories to someone else… then that means—she isn’t just a normal being.”
Time stopped around everyone but them… the tip of an umbrella being dragged across the wooden floor broke the deafening silence. There it was, a woman figure with a translucent blue moth behind her, showing... A feeling of something mysterious, forbidden, even.
The woman approached Asher until she was behind him. Burner’s eyes widened as he saw the quick scene unwrap around him.
“Oh dear…”
The woman spoke gently, as she cradled Asher’s neck with a soft reverence. Asher’s breath hitched as he froze in place, already knowing what was behind him.
“It saddens me to hear you whisper about me this late at night.”
[END OF CHAPTER]
