Shattered mask

"Mr. Nobody. What do I owe the honor of meeting you?" Riven said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

The self-proclaimed 'Nobody' stared at him, unblinking. His pale golden hair shimmered under the cold, unnatural light, and for a second, he didn't say anything. Just watched.

"As I said," he finally replied, "I wanted to see what a Hollowborn looked like."

Riven's mouth twitched. He wasn't just annoyed—he was pissed.

"You're kidding, right?"

"Nope," the young man said easily. "Just curious. But... I have to admit—it's a little disappointing. You look so... ordinary."

Riven folded his arms, shifting his weight onto his good leg. "You're insane, you know that?"

The man didn't react. He just kept staring at Riven as if he were a puzzle missing all the wrong pieces.

"I'm not insane. Just intrigued," he said at last. "They say Hollowborn wear a different kind of mask. Something deeper. Something the rest of us mundane mask-users can't understand. I just wanted to see if that was true."

"And how exactly were you planning to do that?" Riven asked, eyes narrowing.

The stranger smiled faintly. "Simple. A duel, of course."

Riven sighed. "Who is this delusional idiot... and why won't he leave me alone?" he muttered under his breath.

"I'm wounded," he said aloud. "I can't fight you."

The blonde man tilted his head, tapping his temple as if he'd just remembered something important. "Ah. That's true. I forgot about that."

"You forgot?!" Riven snapped. "You followed me all the way from the infirmary, saw me limping like a half-dead animal, and you forgot?! You're—you're just weird! Can I go now?"

"Where would you even go?" the stranger asked calmly.

"Anywhere but here. Anywhere away from you."

The man raised a hand, palm open. "I can leave if you really want. But I'm actually in charge of escorting you to your quarters. Unless, of course, you want to freeze to death in these ruins."

Riven rolled his eyes. "Fine."

"That's more like it. Let's go. This place gives me the creeps."

They stepped out of the ruined town hall—if it could still be called that—and into the strange underground city once more. Mr. Nobody led the way, silent and graceful. Riven followed behind, limping slightly, wary but unwilling to show weakness.

A heavy silence hung between them, but Riven couldn't help the thought that slipped into his mind.

Why the hell is it so bright down here?

He glanced up, then turned to the man walking ahead.

"Hey... why is it so bright here? We're underground. Shouldn't it be dark?"

The young man looked over his shoulder and pointed upwards.

Suspended high above the city was a massive orb of light—blinding but soft, like the pale eye of a forgotten god.

"That? Oh, that's the artificial sun. Well... not exactly a sun. Think of it as a giant light bulb. It was already here when we arrived. No one knows how it works or where the power comes from. Not even the doctors understand it. We've tried to study it, but... best to leave it alone. Touching it might trigger something we can't undo."

They continued through the city in silence. The ruins were haunting—shadows clinging to broken buildings, quiet alleys stretching like skeletal fingers into darkness.

Then Riven stopped.

At the edge of his vision—just for a split second—he saw something move.

A figure. Human-shaped.

He turned to look, heart quickening. But the corner was empty. No one was there.

That didn't make sense.

No one else should be in this area. Not now.

He glanced at Mr. Nobody, who kept walking like nothing had happened.

But Riven knew what he saw. And it didn't feel right.

Something was watching them.