Ash walked out of the grand hall with his head low. The hall had been too bright, too full of powerful presences and stern faces. Now, outside in the corridor lined with white walls and golden railings, it felt quieter but not less tense. He didn't lift his eyes to look around. He couldn't. He could feel it — the weight of stares dragging behind him like anchors. They didn't even have to say it out loud. The message was there in every sideways glance, in every averted gaze, in every second of too-long silence.
The traitor's brother.
That's what they saw when they looked at him. Not a hero. Not even a person. Just the younger sibling of someone who had betrayed the very ideals this place stood for.
The Assembly of Heroes. It was supposed to be a place where the greatest came together, where unity bloomed in the face of chaos. But for Ash, it felt like a garden that had long since grown weeds, and he was just one more unwanted root sticking out of the ground.
Ken walked beside him, but even his presence couldn't make Ash shake the feeling of being smaller than everyone else. He hadn't said anything for a while, just let his boots thud softly on the marble floor, hands tucked in the pockets of his coat. But then, as if sensing the spiral his friend was falling into, Ken spoke.
"You know, for someone who looks like he wants to disappear, you sure walk loudly."
Ash blinked. He looked over. Ken had that familiar smirk playing on his lips, trying to break the heaviness that hung around them like a fog. "I mean it," Ken continued, "You're like a thunderstorm pretending to be a breeze."
Ash couldn't help it, he cracked the faintest of smiles. "That doesn't even make sense."
Ken shrugged. "Didn't say it had to. Just trying to remind you that you're still here. Still standing."
Before Ash could reply, a voice called out from behind them.
"Ken!"
They both turned, and there she was, Luna. Pale lavender hair was tucked neatly into a braid that swung as she jogged toward them. She stopped in front of them, breathing just a little heavier than usual.
"Ken, I need a favor," she said, glancing at Ash for a second before focusing back on Ken. "There's a mission I've been assigned to, but I really can't go. I've been… reassigned to another location at the last minute, and I can't be in two places at once."
Ken raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound like the whole story."
Luna hesitated. "Maybe it's not. But I trust you'll handle it."
Ken didn't say anything at first. He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly thinking it over. "You sure it's not some suicide gig you're just trying to pass on to me?"
Luna chuckled softly. "No. I just trust you more than the others they'd send."
Ash, who had been quiet, finally spoke. "You're really gonna go, huh?"
Ken glanced at him. "Yeah. Why not? I've been sitting around too long, anyway. Might as well stretch my legs."
Ash gave him a look. "You were in the hospital two weeks ago."
Ken clapped a hand on Ash's shoulder. "Which means I'm overdue for a vacation, right? Besides, you need the apartment to yourself. Time to bond with your mysterious guitar roommate."
Ash sighed.
Luna handed Ken a small card with the mission coordinates embedded in its chip. "Take care out there," she said quietly.
Ken gave her a mock salute. "I'll bring you back a souvenir."
They continued walking, but Ash's mind had already drifted elsewhere. Back to Gabriel's speech. Back to that photo. That face, Karn. That haunting familiarity. He tried to push the thought away, but it wouldn't leave. How had he not realized it then? That the very person who had saved him — or appeared to save him from the Dreamcrawlers wasn't some wandering ghost or hallucination… but the leader of the Asura.
The same Asura who were now tearing through the universe with deadly efficiency. And for what purpose? To take over? To rebuild? Ash didn't know. He wasn't sure anyone did.
And yet… that memory haunted him. It didn't feel like mercy. But it didn't feel like malice either.
And then when they were at a quiet corner, Ken's hands clasped together in front of him like he was about to break into prayer. The shift in tone was so sudden that it caught Ash off guard. Just a minute ago, Ken had been walking with him like everything was casual and lighthearted. Now, he stood in front of Ash with a pleading expression.
"Look, dude," Ken began, his voice dramatic and filled with over-the-top sincerity. "You gotta help me out. Please. I need you to go on this mission for me."
Ash blinked at him, still adjusting to the sudden desperation in his voice. "Wait, what? You literally just accepted the mission in front of everyone, not five minutes ago."
"I know," Ken said quickly, waving his hand as if to brush off the logical part of the argument. "I know. But listen, tomorrow's my dad's birthday."
Ash tilted his head. "So why'd you say yes in the first place?"
Ken leaned in closer, whispering as if this was some state secret. "Nero was watching."
Ash stared.
Ken gestured wildly with both hands, as if that explained everything. "She was standing like, ten meters away! Imagine how heroic I must've looked, accepting a mission right there, no hesitation. I had to do it. She's probably thinking I'm fearless right now."
Ash pressed his palm against his forehead, sighing deeply. He should've known. "You're unbelievable."
"Come on, man," Ken said, lightly punching Ash's arm. "Help your best friend. Please. I'll owe you. Big time."
Ash stared at him for a long moment, thinking. He wasn't in the mood. He had too many things on his mind. But he also knew Ken. He knew Ken wouldn't have asked if it wasn't important. Or at least, not important to him.
"Fine," Ash said finally, exhaling. "But you're paying for my next five meals."
Ken grinned like a kid who'd just been told school was canceled. "Done. I'll even cook one."
"Please don't," Ash muttered.
Together, they walked through the gates at the Bay, the wind picking up just slightly as the sun dipped lower into the sky. A transport ship waited, hovering a few inches off the ground like it was impatient to leave. A small line of crew moved around it, doing last-minute checks.
Ash walked up the ramp, while Ken followed beside him, still talking about what he was going to gift his dad. Something about a "handmade leather jacket" which Ash absolutely knew Ken was going to buy last minute from a roadside stall.
When they entered the cabin, Ash chose a seat near the back, next to the window. He looked out as the crew sealed the doors and the vehicle began to hum with life. As the engines warmed, Ash rested his head against the window.
"Wake me up when we get there," he muttered.
"Of course, Your Highness," Ken joked, flopping down into the seat beside him.
Ash let his eyes drift closed, the vibration of the ship slowly lulling him into something close to rest. But rest was a stretch these days. Something always crawled beneath his skin. Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was guilt. Or maybe it was just exhaustion.
The ship took off with a soft thud, and Ash let his thoughts fall into the noise.
When he awoke, it was to the sound of the vehicle landing. The lights above flickered gently as the ship powered down, and Ken was already up, stretching his arms and neck as he yawned like he'd done all the hard work.
Ash rubbed his eyes again and stood up.
They stepped outside into the night sky. Ken lived on this planet, 'Satarius 44', and so did Ash.
"Well," Ken said, awkwardly scratching the back of his head. "I guess this is goodbye for now. Don't die."
Ash raised an eyebrow. "I'll try not to."
Ken gave him a thumbs-up and then, after a pause, added, "Thanks, man. Really."
Ash didn't respond with words. He just gave him a nod, then started walking away because, the best part about his apartment was that it was near the station.
He looked once over his shoulder, saw Ken watching him from the platform, and then turned away.