"Lucas" Ryker greeted him with a calm smile, "It has been a while. How have you been?"

Lucas stopped in front of him, his eyes were serious and his shoulders were stiff, "I have been… thinking," he said honestly, "Trying to get my head around something"

He took a slow breath, the kind you take before saying something heavy.

"I need to talk to you, Ryker. Alone."

Ryker looked at him for a second, then nodded with ease. "Alright," he said, "Let's head to my dorm"

He turned and began walking down the path without another word.

Lucas followed behind quietly.

He watched Ryker's back as they moved through the Academy grounds. Each step made his thoughts louder. More twisted m

"He has changed," Lucas thought, "No…not changed. He is not the Ryker from the novel at all"

This Ryker walked with confidence. Not with shyness but with calm control. He smiled at people in passing by, made a joke now and then but he always seemed to carry something deeper in his eyes. Like he knew more than he should. Like he had already been through everything that was about to happen.

Lucas kept watching him silently.

"He is always in the center of everything. During the simulation incident... the way he reacted, the way he fought. And then during the midterm exam... even the chancellor looked at him differently."

"The more I think about it. The more I feel like I should have talked to him sooner."

By the time Lucas got out his own thoughts. They were standing in front of Ryker's dorm room and Ryker had already opened the door.

"Lucas"

Lucas blinked.

"Huh?"

Ryker smiled at him while holding the door open, "We are here. Come on in"

Lucas gave a small nod and stepped inside.

The room was cozy. Not messy, not overly neat. It was just alright to live in.

"Have a seat," Ryker said, pointing to the couch.

Lucas sat down slowly.

Ryker walked over to a small kitchen space and looked over his shoulder and asked, "Coffee or tea?"

"Coffee," Lucas replied, he was still unsure of what he wanted to say. Or how to say it.

Ryker nodded,"Good choice."

As Ryker prepared the drinks while Lucas stared at him.

He wasn't tense. He wasn't guarded. He moved like someone who belonged here. Like someone who had all the time in the world.

"How can he act so normal?" Lucas wondered, "How can someone be so... unreadable?"

Ryker was supposed to be a healer. Quiet. A somewhat shy character. Support. That's how the Ryker from the novel behaved. But this one?

He led people. He laughed. He even took center stage when no one asked him to. And people followed him willingly….

"Why?" Lucas thought, "What changed him? Or... was he always like this?"

Ryker poured the coffee into two cups and walked towards him.

"You know," he said as he handed one cup to Lucas, "I like women. Especially older ones"

Lucas blinked hearing it..

"Huh???"

"So even if you always look at me with those eyes," Ryker continued, sitting down across from him, "I won't give you my heart"

Lucas choked on air hearing it. He blinked rapidly, "W-What?"

Ryker laughed lightly and waved a hand, "Relax. I am joking."

Lucas gave a weak chuckle. He was unsure how to respond to it.

"Now," Ryker said, sipping his coffee, "What did you want to talk about?"

Lucas looked down at the warm cup in his hands. His fingers curled around it tightly. He stayed silent for a moment.

Then he sighed.

"I want to ask you something important," he said.

He raised his head.

"Who are you, really, Ryker?"

Ryker paused. Then he gave a small, knowing smile.

"What do you mean?" he asked casually.

Lucas leaned forward a little, his eyes locked on his eyes, "The simulation incident. The midterm. You were always there. Always in the middle of everything. Always ahead."

He hesitated.

"You are... different. Somehow."

Ryker's smile widened slightly. He leaned back into the couch. His left arm rested on the armrest while his hand supported his chin. His head tilted slightly just a little as his mismatched eyes, one purple, one yellow locked with Lucas's crystal blue eyes.

"Different," Ryker repeated, "As if I know something others don't?"

Lucas swallowed. "Yeah... something like that."

Ryker tilted his head the other way, watching him with the same expression. Calm. Curious. Almost playful.

Lucas's heart was beating faster now. He didn't know why but there was something about that look that made his instincts scream.

Ryker chuckled softly.

"Let's say I do know things," he said, "Would it really matter?"

Lucas frowned hearing it, "Of course it would. Because if you do... then everything makes sense. And if you don't, then none of it does."

Ryker leaned forward, setting his cup down.

"Tell me, Lucas," he said, "Are you asking for the truth? Or are you looking for permission to believe something impossible?"

Lucas didn't answer right away.

The room felt colder somehow.

'Why is he speaking in riddles?' Lucas thought. 'Why won't he just say it?'

"You are dodging," Lucas said, his voice was firm now.

Ryker didn't deny it.

Instead, he smiled again but this time with the kind of smile that belonged to someone who had read a book about someone's entire life like a book and closed the book just before reaching ending.

Lucas gritted his teeth and asked again,

"Who are you, Ryker?"

Ryker took another sip from his cup. Then, slowly, he set it down again and looked Lucas straight in the eyes.

"I am the same as you," Ryker said, his tone was quieter now.

Lucas blinked.

"I want the same thing you do," Ryker continued, "To stop what's coming. To save the people that are worth saving"

He leaned in slightly.

"I am not your enemy, Lucas. I am your greatest ally"

Lucas didn't move.

"I am," Ryker said softly, "a seer."

The words hit like a hammer.

Lucas's hands tightened around his cup. His eyes widened but his mouth stayed shut.

A seer. Someone who could see beyond the present. Someone who knew things. Who saw things before they happened.

Ryker looked calm. Still smiling. Still composed.

But Lucas couldn't shake the feeling that something massive had just been placed in front of him. It was like a blade was hanging just above his head.

The silence stretched.

And Lucas could only stare at the person across from him, someone he thought he knew.

But now?

Now, he wasn't sure if Ryker Case was his friend, his guide...

Or something much, much worse….

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