The city always felt different at night—quieter, but never truly calm. Streetlights hummed, neon signs flickered, and the cold air carried the distant scent of rain. Up on a rooftop, blue flame flared for a moment before shrinking back into a soft glow around him.

Touya landed silently on the edge of the building, one knee bent, cloak fluttering behind him. His visor dimmed as it adjusted to the darkness.

“Another quiet night,” he muttered, tapping the side of his cooling bracer to reset its temperature. “Which means trouble’s late.”

He rose to his feet, scanning the streets below. A couple walked home; a stray cat darted into an alley. Everything looked normal—until the sound of metal scraping reached him from somewhere beneath.

Touya’s eyes narrowed.

He hopped off the rooftop, catching himself mid-air with a controlled burst of blue fire. The flames illuminated the alley’s walls as he dropped down, boots hitting the ground with a soft thud.

The scraping came again, deeper this time… like something—or someone—dragging weight across concrete.

“Alright,” he said under his breath, shoulders rolling as he stepped forward. “If you’re a villain, I’d appreciate you making this easy. Haven’t had coffee.”

He advanced slowly, one hand lifting, blue fire curling around his fingers as he looked into the darkness of the alley.

“Hey. Whoever’s there—step out where I can see you.”

The shadows shifted.