Oluwashindara Johnsonの小説

Eli’s phone vibrated in his hand.He stared at it for a second.Still not used to it.“…Right,” he muttered. “I actually have one again.”The screen lit up faintly under the shade of the trees. No new messages. No missed calls.Just the quiet reminder that things outside the forest still existed.Normal things.Eli exhaled slowly and leaned back against a tree, taking a break from training.Kieran stood a few steps away, watching him like always.Silent.Observing.Eli ignored him—for now.Instead, his mind drifted back.(Flashback) ---- A Few Days Ago“Eli, I tried calling you.”Charlotte’s voice had been soft—but there was a hint of worry in it.They had been standing near the edge of the village road, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow around them.Eli blinked.“…Calling me?”Charlotte nodded.“And I sent messages too. You didn’t reply.”Eli froze for a split second.Then forced a small laugh.“…Yeah, about that…”He scratched the back of his neck.“I kind of lost my phone.

Eli didn’t like the way Seraphina looked at him.It wasn’t just curiosity.It wasn’t even dislike.It was something sharper.Like she was trying to figure out where to press to make him break.And the worst part?She wasn’t even hiding it.“…You’re still here?” Eli muttered, wiping sweat from his neck as he stepped back from Kieran.Training had gone on longer than usual.Harder, too.Like Kieran was pushing him more than before.Or maybe—Eli glanced briefly at Seraphina.Maybe it was because of her.Seraphina smiled, completely unbothered.“I told you, I’m observing.”Eli scoffed lightly.“You’ve been ‘observing’ for over an hour.”“And you’ve been struggling for over an hour,” she replied smoothly.Eli clicked his tongue.“…You’re really annoying.”Her smile widened slightly.“And yet, you’re still here.”Eli rolled his eyes.“…I’m starting to see a pattern with people around him.”Kieran stepped in before it could escalate.“Again.”Eli groaned.“…Can I breathe first?”“No.”“…You

Eli knew something was off the moment he arrived.Not danger.Not like the attacks.This was… different.The air felt heavier—but not threatening.More like—Occupied.“…You’ve got visitors?” Eli muttered as he stepped deeper into the forest.Kieran was already there.But he wasn’t alone.A woman stood beside him.Tall.Elegant.Sharp eyes that immediately landed on Eli the second he appeared.And the way she was standing—Close to Kieran.Too close.Eli slowed slightly.“…Oh.”Kieran noticed him first.“You’re late.”Eli raised a brow.“…I didn’t know I was on a schedule.”But his attention shifted back to the woman.“…And who is this?”The woman smiled.But it wasn’t warm.It was… assessing.“So this is him.”Eli frowned.“…That doesn’t answer my question.”Kieran didn’t respond immediately.The woman stepped forward instead.“I’m Seraphina.”Eli blinked.“…Okay.”Her smile widened just a little.“I’ve heard a lot about you.”Eli crossed his arms.“…That’s funny, because I’ve heard

Eli couldn’t stop thinking about Charlotte.Not in a confused way.Not in a “maybe” way.But in a way that felt… certain.Natural.Like something that had always been there.The way she smiled.The way she understood him without asking too many questions.The way everything felt normal when he was with her.“…Yeah,” Eli muttered to himself as he walked toward the forest. “That’s what normal feels like.”Not whatever this thing with Kieran was.Not the bond.Not the tension.Not the constant feeling of being watched.Just—Simple.Real.Eli exhaled slowly.“…I should tell her.”The thought came suddenly.But it felt right.He stopped walking for a second.“…Yeah. I should.”Before things got worse.Before whatever was happening with Kieran complicated things even more.Eli shook his head and continued walking.“…After today.”“You’re thinking too much again.”Eli didn’t even react.“…You always say that.”Kieran stepped out from the trees, but this time—There was something different i

Eli didn’t feel at ease after Kieran left.Even though the pressure in the air had disappeared—Something else remained.Something heavier.“…You didn’t tell me things were this serious,” Charlotte said softly.They were walking again, but slower this time.Eli rubbed the back of his neck.“…I didn’t think it would reach you.”Charlotte looked at him.“That’s not an answer.”Eli sighed.“…I don’t even understand it myself.”That was the truth.Everything about Kieran.The bond.The danger.It all felt like something forced into his life without permission.Charlotte studied him for a moment.“…Do you trust him?”Eli paused.That question—He didn’t answer immediately.“…I don’t know,” he admitted.Charlotte nodded slightly.“That means no.”Eli let out a small breath.“…He’s not a bad person.”“But?” she asked gently.Eli looked away.“…But he doesn’t feel normal.”Charlotte smiled faintly.“That’s one way to put it.”Eli huffed a quiet laugh.“…You have no idea.”They walked in silen

Eli knew something was wrong.He just didn’t expect it to happen this fast.The moment the pressure in his chest tightened again, sharper than before, he stopped walking.“…Not again,” he muttered under his breath.Charlotte noticed immediately.“Eli?”He forced a small smile.“I’m fine, I just—”The air shifted.Not like before.This time, it was heavier.Colder.Charlotte frowned slightly. “Did you feel that?”Eli’s heart skipped.“…You felt that too?”Before she could answer—A voice cut through the space behind them.“Eli.”Eli froze.He knew that voice.Slowly—He turned.Kieran stood a few steps away.Silent.Still.But something about him was different.His gaze wasn’t calm this time.It was locked.Sharp.And fixed on one person.Charlotte.The air between them turned tense instantly.“…Kieran,” Eli said, trying to sound normal. “What are you doing here?”Kieran didn’t answer.His eyes were still on Charlotte.Studying.Measuring.Charlotte glanced between them.“…Eli?” she as