The two got ready quickly and stepped out of the house, leaving its safety to Michael’s undead.
The morning air was crisp, sunlight glinting off the sleek buildings of Brightgate City. Compared to Woodstone, the difference was like night and day.
They had only taken a few steps down the sidewalk when Lily looked up at a passing hovercar and nudged Michael with her elbow.
"So... you planning on getting a car anyti soon?"
Michael glanced at her, then up at the floating vehicle gliding soundlessly between buildings.
Brightgate was alive with technology—holographic ads hovered midair, their neon glow shifting in sync with pedestrian traffic. The glass of skyscrapers changed colors like moods, shimring from blue to gold as the sun shifted.
Even the sidewalks had motion sensors built in, adjusting lighting and direction depending on traffic.
It was like walking through the future.
Michael smiled faintly.
"Eventually," he said. "We’ll need one."
Lily grinned.
They moved through the streets with ease.
People passed them by, so with casual glances, others giving Michael second looks.
He ignored them.
His mind was still lingering on what had happened earlier—the mont he realized his consciousness no longer needed to fully switch. That he was now anchored in both bodies. Two places. Two versions of himself.
Simultaneously.
It had always been one of his greatest weaknesses—having to leave his body defenseless when traveling between worlds. But now?
Now, he could maintain awareness in both.
He didn’t fully understand how it worked yet, but he felt the change constantly—like a second heartbeat.
Michael exhaled quietly as they crossed a street.
He didn’t need to say it aloud, but Lily glanced at him, sensing sothing was off.
"You okay?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Just thinking."
She shrugged. "You do that a lot lately."
Michael chuckled. "Better than not thinking at all."
"Hmph."
As they approached the school gates, a floating drone flew past them. A few students stared openly at Michael—whether it was his height, hair, or just the aura he gave off now, he didn’t know.
And he didn’t really care.
They passed through the school gates without much fuss.
Bright College was as clean and well-organized as ever. Automated gates scanned them as they walked in.
Michael turned to Lily as they stepped onto the main campus.
"You should go et up with your classmates," he said. "I’ll go look for the other examinees. They dropped the hall na in the group chat, so I just need to find it."
Lily raised a brow. "You don’t know where it is?"
Michael coughed. "Never actually ca much to campus before."
She stared at him for a second, then snorted.
"I had things to do," he said simply.
She rolled her eyes and held out her hand. "Give your phone."
Michael handed it over.
A few taps later, Lily glanced up. "It’s not far. It’s that long glass building behind the gym. Co on—I’ll take you there."
Michael could have refused.
He could’ve just spread his awareness, swept the entire campus in seconds, and pinpointed the hall’s location easily. But he didn’t.
There was no point showing off. Especially not today.
If soone noticed his probing and thought he was doing sothing suspicious, it could lead to unnecessary problems. There were always eyes watching during these exam periods, and Michael had no interest in attracting attention before the exam even began.
"Lead the way then," he said instead.
They walked together, Lily humming quietly as she led him through a side path.
As they reached the glass building, Michael slowed his steps.
A small crowd had already gathered outside the hall.
Groups of students stood around chatting nervously, others checking their devices or pacing. The atmosphere was a mix of tension and anticipation.
Michael ca to a stop a distance away.
"Looks like it’s getting busy," he said, turning to Lily. "You should head back. I’ll figure it out from here. Thanks for the help."
Lily, who had just spotted a cluster of her classmates a short distance away, gave a quick wave.
"Yeah, yeah—go in already," she said, half-smiling, half-annoyed as she shooed him away with both hands.
Michael snorted softly and shook his head. "Brat."
But he was smiling as he turned away.
Their bond had remained solid, even if distant at tis, probably due to the ti he allocated to her a few evenings.
Michael exhaled and turned his attention back to the hall.
Lily watched Michael walk away toward the exam hall, his long black hair catching in the wind like a character out of so high-budget drama. Her lips twitched. Honestly, if she didn’t know him, she’d be staring too.
"Was that your brother?"
The question ca almost imdiately from behind her.
Lily turned to find three classmates watching her with wide eyes, their uniforms slightly rumpled, bags slung over their shoulders. They weren’t from her class but were definitely from her year group.
"Cousin," Lily corrected instinctively.
The tallest girl let out a low whistle. "Cousin, huh? Damn. Lucky you. Is he single?"
Lily blinked. "He’s almost nineteen."
"Age is just a number," one of the other girls muttered, clearly only half-joking.
Soon, more classmates began gathering around, a few recognizing Lily from shared classes and whispered friend group gossip.
"That’s the cousin you live with?"
"I thought he was older. He looks like a model or sothing."
Lily gave a strained smile.
Truthfully, Lily didn’t talk about Michael much in school. She wasn’t the type to brag, and even if she wanted to, half the ti she didn’t know what he was up to. She hadn’t even posted a picture of him on social dia since middle school.
The most her classmates knew was that she lived in a nice part of Brightgate, her mom owned a booming restaurant, and her cousin—Michael—was so sort of powerful awakener who helped support them.
They’d asked before. She’d always played it down. Said he was busy a lot.
This was the first ti they were seeing him up close.
And wow. Michael had pulled on that subtle thread of presence and snapped necks with it.
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