Whisper of the Mark

chapter 4

Iris explained everything to me, from the mark symbols, their abilities, to the awareness of these phantoms. He spoke patiently with a smile, making everything sound less frightening. I was starting to understand the complexities of this new world.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, catching both of our attention. Standing at the doorway was Izumi, his expression as stoic as ever.

"Ah, Izumi... Are you here for a check-up? Finally decided to let me look at those wounds?" Iris teased with a playful smile.

Izumi sighed, clearly uninterested in banter. "I'm fine. Just checking on the kid."

Iris chuckled lightly and glanced at me. "He has a name, you know. This is Khai," Iris said while giving me a knowing smile, as if there's more to the story.

Izumi's cold gaze met mine briefly before he gave a small nod. "Thanks," I muttered, feeling awkward under his intense stare.

The silence was thick, almost uncomfortable, until Iris decided to break it. "Khai, could you let us leave for a while? I need to have a private word with Izumi."

I nodded, though my curiosity was piqued. As they exited, I couldn't help but notice a strange look in Iris's eyes—like he knew something I didn’t.

---

Iris shut the door softly, turning to Izumi with a more serious expression. He crossed his arms, looking her up and down with a smirk. "You know, if only they knew the truth," he remarked, a playful tone lacing his words.

Izumi shot him a glare, clearly unamused. "Drop it, Iris. It's none of their business."

Iris raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Just saying... you still pull off the act pretty well. No one suspects a thing," he commented with a chuckle.

Izumi rolled her eyes but stayed silent, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation.

"Anyway," Iris moved on, his expression turning serious again, "you saw that mark, right? It's not something you see every day."

Izumi nodded, crossing her arms. "I've never seen one like it before. That kid’s aura... it’s different."

"Exactly," Iris agreed. "Based on what Khai told me, we can’t just leave him alone. The phantoms are after his mark, and if they get to him, they won't just take his life—they’ll take his soul."

Izumi pondered for a moment, her eyes narrowing. Finally, she spoke, "We could send him to our school. The barriers there are strong enough to keep the phantoms out. Plus, he needs to learn about his mark."

Iris tapped his chin, considering it. "Good idea, but what about his family? We can't just pull him out of his old school without a reason. They'll definitely start asking questions."

A small smirk appeared on Izumi’s lips. "Leave that to me. I’m sure he’ll get kicked out of his old school soon enough," she said cryptically.

Iris raised an eyebrow, intrigued. He knew how unpredictable Izumi could be. "Alright, but I hope you know what you're doing," Iris relented, sighing. "I’ll go inform Khai now."

Izumi gave a nod, watching as Iris headed back into the room.

__________

Time skip

Midnight had already fallen when Izumi silently carried me back to the hospital. His movements were so smooth and light that he didn’t leave any trace behind. It felt surreal to be in his arms, the cold air brushing against my face.

When we arrived, I noticed something strange. The hospital looked pristine, with no sign of the earlier destruction—the shattered glass, the broken walls, everything was perfectly intact. It was as if nothing had happened. My head throbbed as I tried to make sense of it.

Izumi placed me gently on the patient bed. I glanced around, still bewildered. "Why does everything look... normal? The phantoms wrecked this place earlier," I muttered, mostly to myself.

He paused at the door and looked over his shoulder. "You were in their realm. That red sky you saw wasn't part of this world—it was theirs. When you're there, it’s like you vanish from this reality."

I stared at him, stunned. "What? How did I even get there?"

Izumi shrugged nonchalantly. "You were pulled in, probably because of your mark. It happens sometimes, especially when your aura is weak or untrained." He reached for the doorknob. "And for the record, that place is not meant for humans. Stay out of it if you value your life. You’ll just make it harder for me to track you down next time."

"But how did you get in there?" I asked quickly before he could leave, not wanting to be left in the dark.

A small smirk appeared on his face, almost teasing. "Me? I have my ways," he said dismissively, leaving me with more questions than answers.

As the door clicked shut behind him, I let out a frustrated sigh. Izumi was a puzzle I couldn’t figure out. He had saved my life, but he was as cold as ice, giving away nothing.

I tried to rest, but my mind raced with everything Iris and Izumi had told me. It felt like a whirlwind of information. One moment, I was fascinated by this new world, and the next, I was terrified of it.

My eyes drifted to the side table, where a small container caught my attention. Curious, I opened it and was surprised to find a slice of red velvet cake inside. My eyes lit up. Mom must have visited while I was out. The familiar taste soothed my nerves, a small comfort amidst all the chaos.

For a brief moment, as I took a bite of the cake, the fear ebbed away. But deep down, I knew this was just the beginning. The world I thought I knew was changing, and I had a feeling my life would never be the same again.