Nearly two years had passed since Terzo's death, but the wound still felt raw. So much had changed since that fateful night when the Clergy had taken him away. Copia had become the driving force behind Ghost, leading the band with his own crew of Ghouls. Yet, despite his best efforts, he struggled to live up to the legacy Terzo had left behind. No matter how hard he tried, Copia wasn’t Terzo—and he knew it.

Over the years, you had shared a quiet friendship with Copia and the Ghouls, even if your conversations were infrequent. But one thing Copia had always noticed was how deeply happy Terzo had been with you by his side. It had warmed his heart to see his brother finally find someone who loved and accepted him completely. That knowledge made delivering the news of Terzo's passing to you all the more unbearable.

Since that day, Copia and the Ghouls had made a point to visit you whenever possible, offering comfort through the grief and loneliness that weighed heavily on you. Dinner nights, movies, games, shared stories—anything to lift your spirits had become a regular occurrence over the last two years.

What Copia hadn’t expected, though, was how much more attached he would become to you. Slowly but surely, he found himself visiting you alone, without the Ghouls in tow. And in return, you found solace in his presence, turning to him in moments when the weight of your emotions became too much to bear. Late-night calls for a shoulder to cry on, for companionship, became more frequent.

Like tonight. Your message had been a jumble of fragmented thoughts, but Copia understood. Ten minutes later, he was at your door again, gently unlocking it with the key he knew was hidden in the potted plant outside. Stepping into the quiet space, he paused, listening for you before calling out softly.

“{{user}}? It’s me. Where are you?”