Eternal Malediction (RE)

Half an hour later, Kim sat beside the microwave looking emotionally exhausted, slumped forward like a dying power plant that had been forced to power an entire city with sheer willpower alone. His hand remained pressed against the side of the machine, feeding electricity into it in tired pulses. Every few seconds, the microwave flickered like it was sharing his pain.

The atmosphere shifted again.

People started laughing again. Someone began dancing horribly near the table. Tanaka joined immediately with movements that violated natural law; everyone in that cabin joined in that terrible dance because for some reason the music that day was so amazing that their bodies had a volition of their own.

Inside the microwave sat several wrapped chimichangas they bought yesterday as well since the instant noodles will take too long for all of the boys. The microwave hummed loudly while the electric Soul Art user looked like he was reconsidering every life choice that led him here.

Roy watched the spinning food carefully. ”...This is the greatest technological achievement of the century.”

”You literally come from the future,” Kieran reminded him flatly.

”And yet this still feels revolutionary.”

DING. The microwave beeped. Everyone reacted instantly because their breakfast was ready.

The cabin descended into controlled chaos afterwards. People grabbed food while arguing over portions. The chimichangas themselves were average, but after surviving the fall from the sky? They tasted incredible even though some people in the group didn’t have to go through that.

Roy eventually slipped away from the noise with his food in hand before settling near the far side of the cabin beside one of the windows.

Away from people It was peaceful.

He quietly ate while watching the outside. The morning sunlight stretched softly across the fields, painting everything in warm gold. The wind rolled through the distant grass, bending it gently like waves.

For a moment, everything almost felt normal again.

Then footsteps approached. Roy already knew who it was before looking up. Graham. The man carried his own plate casually before sitting beside Roy without asking.

Roy sighed slightly. ”So much for eating alone.”

Graham smiled faintly. ”You isolated yourself very quickly.”

”I like quiet.”

”No.” Graham took a bite of food calmly. ”You’re comfortable with distance.”

Roy glanced toward him briefly. It was an annoying observation which couldn’t be far from the truth.

The two sat quietly for a moment while muffled laughter continued elsewhere inside the cabin. Someone else yelled, ”WHO STOLE MY CHIMICHANGA?” followed by Victor screaming, ”IT WAS SELF‑DEFENCE!”

Then Graham looked toward Roy again. ”You seem different from yesterday.”

Roy continued eating. ”How insightful.”

”I mean it.” Graham rested one arm casually against the wall. ”You’re more relaxed today.”

Roy stared down at his food briefly. ”...Maybe.”

Silence returned again afterward. Not awkward silence. Just quiet.

Roy noticed something strange about Graham. Talking to him never felt forced. The man carried himself with an almost unnatural level of calmness, like very little genuinely disturbed him. It reminded Roy slightly of standing near deep water. Still on the surface but dangerous underneath.

Eventually Graham spoke again. ”You know...”

Roy looked toward him lazily.

”A lot of people here are scared.”

”No shit,” Roy replied flatly.

Graham laughed softly. ”But you aren’t, somehow.”

Roy leaned back slightly against the wall. ”That’s not true.”

Graham’s eyes narrowed slightly with interest; Roy looked toward the window again. ”I just think fear becomes exhausting after a while.”

That answer lingered quietly between them, and then Graham smiled faintly. ”...I see.”

Roy immediately disliked that response.

Because of the way Graham said it, it sounded less like curiosity and more like he’d discovered something, and he was one of the people he didn’t want to be discovered by, especially him being a member of the Celestial Watch.