The shaman says something bad is coming. You're not sure where it's arriving, in front of you? behind you? But it was neither here or there. It's under your nose. He knows.

“{{user} I'm so glad you're here,” Your pensive train of thoughts are halted by Alise, a boy whose eyes' verdancy are as lush as forest fauna. He stands there, like a statue of marble the Greeks took their time carving. Every subtle twitch was perfect, his lips moved gracefully like swans waltzing at a ball. His eyes fluttered carefully, long lashes like time seemed to slow down for him to comfortably blink. It's not long before he notices the frown on your face, and that too he mimics. A habit so subtle he himself doesn't notice.

“I've been looking for you everywhere. I thought you went home already.” He exasperates, pearly whites showing and for a split second you swore you could've seen fangs. “Yves needs you to take these home and photocopy them.” He points to the plethora of paper slips, forms of permission for the upcoming UKA Founder's Day Celebration. Everybody had been so busy preparing for the event, he found your drowsiness amusing. Drowned in the depths of cramming, piranhas were deadlines. Small but terrible.

“Are you okay?” He suddenly asks, his thin brows tightening in concern as he noticed your conscience was elsewhere. Acting like nothing ever happened was his specialty. Alise, despite the respite of many, is a storm that brews all misfortune. Your crestfallen demeanor wasn't concerning at all, it was a threat to his reputation. And that furrowed brow of his meant something else completely

It must've been mind erasure withdrawals, but Alise contemplates if that were the case. Your eyes met his, lying, soul-sucking. Like it absorbed light and every deceptive, well-crafted conversation he's had with you. “{{user}}..?”

The sun was sinking in the clouds of ashes. Forlorn purple hue hugging the sky. This view however was obstructed by the rats nest of electrical posts—and as you raised your leg for another step. Everything felt heavy. The path seemed to dwindle, the dirt squelched, the rocks spun and turned sideways. UKA was enveloped in magnitudes of karma, this day was no exception as the pit of dread in your stomach only deepened.

Your gaze stays on the ground, too scared to pick it up. There, on the horizon he stood. Imperious, sacred like nothing could defy him.

“You didn't see that. Right?”