The morning was quiet and calm, as the hard intensity of two consecutive night with Beta and Gamma.

    ~Hehehe

    I slipped outside, leaving for my college. I locked the door and was feeling very relaxed and light, almost feeling like I could blend into the calm. My mind wandered back to the chaos of the sorority house, to the haunting gaze but was an empty shell of Afro in his final moments.

    ~Poor him. I thought.

    As I turned the corner of my building, I saw her standing there, as if she''d been waiting since the break of dawn. Lily, eyes wide, hair a little tousled, and an unmistakable look of worry in her eyes.

    Her lips parted, but she hesitated, catching her breath before she finally ran to me and wrapped her arms around me in a tight embrace.

    "Lily..." I murmured, a little surprised.

    She pulled back, her hands still on my shoulders, her face upturned as if to study every inch of me. A faint relief softened her eyes, even though she tried to hide it behind her usual confidence. "I knew it," she said, half-whispering. "I knew you''d be okay."

    A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips. I reached up and lightly brushed her hair back, letting my hand rest on her head in an almost possessive way.

    "You are worried too much, Lily," I said, my voice low but reassuring.

    There was an unspoken softness in me that I kept buried, but with her, it stirred—a rare vulnerability.

    She let out a shaky breath and tried to brush it off with a laugh. "Worried? Me? Nah, I just...you''re always getting yourself into these dangerous situations, Zero. I just thought maybe..."

    "Thought maybe what?" I said, teasing slightly as I brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. I kept my tone light, but inwardly, her concern affected me more than I''d let on.

    She straightened, trying to regain her composure. "Nothing! Just... next time, let me in on the mission as well," she muttered, her cheeks turning pink.@@@@

    "Oh? So you do care." I smirked, keeping my hand on her shoulder as we began walking towards the college. She rolled her eyes but didn''t shrug my hand away, letting it rest there as if it was meant to be.

    The city was quiet, the streets seemed normal and as we reached the college gates, Lily broke away, glancing at me one last time with a small, playful smile before joining her friends.

    "I should go now. Don''t want to catch attention." Said Lily, walking away.

    The rest of the day passed in a blur, the air still thick with tension as the students traded hushed stories. By the time the class ended, I could feel an almost tangible sense of unease lingering in the corridors. People were already wary, whispering that they wouldn''t go near the sorority house anytime soon.

    As evening settled, I headed home, noticing the increased presence of knights walking the streets.

    They were searching for us—me, Gamma, and Beta. They wouldn''t find a trace, though; we moved like shadows, leaving no evidence behind. Still, it was a reminder of the price of our power, of the vigilance required to stay hidden.

    I reached my building, I noticed Mrs. Althea. my neighbor, standing by the elevators, phone pressed to her ear as she chatted animatedly.

    She wore her usual attire—a light, skin-colored V-neck wrap dress that hugged her body and boobs tight, with a slit down one side that revealed a tantalizing glimpse of her thigh. The neckline dipped low, hinting at her smooth skin and elegant collarbone.

    She was the picture of mature beauty, and I found my gaze lingering on her, taking in the way the dress fitted her figure.

    As I walked past, she looked up and smiled, giving a small wave. "Good evening, Austin," she said, her voice warm and inviting.

    I nodded, allowing a faint smile to touch my lips. "Good evening, Mrs...." ohh shit, I don''t know her name.

    "Althea. Thank you remembering it." She answered laughingly.

    "Hehe Sorry..Good Evening Mrs. Althea." I said, giving a faint sorry smile.

    "It''s okay no worries." She said, walking forward, continuing her chat with her husband.

    As I turned to leave, I caught a snippet of her conversation. "Yes, he''s my neighbor," she said, her voice light and teasing. "Handsome, he is."

    I paused, glancing back, a smirk playing at my lips as I heard her next words. "Oh, are you jealous?" she laughed softly. "Then you should hurry up and come home, darling."

    I couldn''t help the amusement that sparked in me. She was something else, this Mrs. Althea. I resumed my walk, glancing back one last time as she disappeared into the elevator.

    There was something about her—a confident sensuality that caught the eye and held it.

    As I entered my flat, the day''s events replayed in my mind, a mix of satisfaction and caution. My identity was still hidden, Afro was gone, and the sorority house was free. But the knights were still out there, watching, searching. I would have to tread carefully.

    The world was changing, and I had no intention of getting caught in its shifting tides.