#onichynus

[rafayelbiter]

evil gang 😈 yes i can finally tell them apart

[twilightshadow]

It's a hustle, sweetheart.

Sylus x f! undercover theif part 1

The night was bustling with lights and drinks and the laughter of people discussing people's lives over steak. The ballroom was dimly lit with warm and red lighting creating a mysterious ambience, a perfect ambience for people who finalise protocore deals over wine.

Sylus sat at one of the center tables surrounded by other men who boasted about their companies, offshore ventures, and protocore deals. Numbers slipped from their mouths like prayers they wish would be answered, each one hoping to be better than the last.

None were.

Amusing. So many men, so many proposals, and yet none catches my eye.

He almost thought that today's dinner was a waste of time. Almost.

That was before the lightning dimmed further and the fairy lights- that twinkled like stars- illuminated the stage. A sensuous melody began to flow in through the speakers. Slow. Sultry. A melody that curls deeper into the skin than it reaches the ears.

The stage was lifted with a low mechanical hum, and three women emerged. They wore layers of sheer black fabric that were clinging and floating in equal measures. Gold ornaments - long earrings, waist chains, chains adorned their bodies, catching light with each movement. Veils of fine netting covered the lower halves of their face, hiding smiles and intention, only leaving the sharp eyes to be seen. "A fine performance for all of you," the host bellowed from his seat, raising a glass of whiskey in the air with the authority of a man who knew the room was intrigued. "Hope you enjoy it gentlemen." How foolish. Sylus hated such acts. Someone using their money to put in a show of women's bodies. He despised it.

The dance began softly. A sway of hips, a roll of shoulders, arms lifting like smoke. They moved as one at first, mirroring each other with deliberate restraint, letting anticipation curl around everyone's skin before the music picked up its rhythm and so did their movements, the gold chains catching light as they danced around the stage. A beautifully crafted, sensuous choreography that captivated everyone's attention.

By now, Sylus would have left. That was what he normally did when there was nothing at a party that caught his attention, and that was what he was about to do. That was before his Aether core pulsed deep in his eyes, and he had to run a hand over his eye to calm the deep ache.

What was the core hinting at now? What was here that could grasp its attention?

And so he stayed.

And, soon enough, when the dancers started descending the stage, all three dispersing across the hall he could see what his core was intrigued with.

The shorter one moved to the right side, her hands and hips swaying with the beat. She leaned in close when one man grabbed her hand, flirtatiously running her hand on his shoulder over his chest.

When she moved away, his ID was missing.

The other one - the one with dusky skin and amber eyes - was on the left, dancing while circling around the table, Mr. Haftmen, a prior associate of Sylus, ran a hand across her waist while she leaned in mockly swatting away his hand.

His ruby cuff-links were gone when she moved on to the next chair.

Amusement curled somewhere deep in Sylus' chest along with the rhythmic pulse of Aether core, what competent ladies, they were.

And what risk takers, to do so without an apparent form of escape.

The soft clinking of anklets dragged his attention back to his own table, where the third woman - the one who was in the centre, the one who had blue eyes and was taller than the others, a small butterfly tattoo over her forearm - moved acorss his table.

He leaned back on his chair, his eyes on her form as she circled around the table, she was avoiding other's though, a careful twirl when the man across him tried to reach for her, a teasing wink when somebody else did.

Oh, so I am the target here, hmm?

Her eyes were on his ring. He could tell when she started running her hand across his left shoulder, trailing down his arm, her gaze on his crimson eyes to captivate while she did her work. Her finger brushed against his ring and he could see the faint twinkle in her eyes before he clasped her fingers, lifting her hand to brush a faint kiss on her knuckles. A crooked smirk on his lips, that one that seemed to be a mix of taunt and amusement.

Her eyes tightened just a bit before she gave him a smile beneath her veil, moving away with a twirl.

How much longer should I let this go, hmm?

It went on for some more time. Well, it was not like he minded this; it just gave more time for Luke and Kieran to complete their work.

The light went out with a snap, and Sylus leaned back on his chair satisfied; it looks like they were done.

There were murmurs around the hall of disappointment as someone barked orders to fix the light. Murmures... that were not coming from his earpiece.

On instinct, his hand rose up to touch the earpod; it was there, and yet there was silence on the other hand. "Luke?" he faintly whispered, only to hear nothing on the other side.

His hand brushed against it again, stilling at the faint sense of evol that his hands caught.

What the-

Oh, it was that woman wasn't she? Huh, she used his ring as a bait.

The lights flickered just faintly on and there was a muffled applause. Everybody looked up at the ceiling, which now had a ... hole in it where the chalendier once was, the women - the one who was at his table, who now stood floating in the air, a violet shimmer across her legs - who clapped from up.

Protests rose against the hall as men finally understood they had been robbed.

"You-" the host started before his body flinched and he sagged against his chair, blood dripping down his chin. Eyes flickering uselessly to the ceiling.

"Hush now, darling," her voice was sweet, a melodious hum. "It's not my fault, and you should really upgrade your security systems. After all, some-" her eyes briefly flickered to his with a two finger salute. "- may try to steal that special e-card of your's. After what you did last month, its only right I do this. It's called a hustle, sweetheart."

Sylus evol pulsed, red tendrils reaching for her but she glanced and snapped her fingers and... vanished.

Vanished.

Oh... Oh. Did someone just stole from him as well as meddle with his plans to get that E-card...

A chuckle escaped his lips as chaos ensued in the room. He ran a hand through his hair, his right eye glimmering bright in the darkness.

"Amusing. So amusing. You are on, dancer girl."

[writtenbyshama]

Memory Theatre (Sylus x Reader)

Synopsis: Y/n is a protocore researcher who is looking for answers about how an aether core got lodged into her heart and why is it messing with her brain. In the midst of this elaborate maze of dead ends and false answers, she encounters a man who seems to be very interested in her and is willing to find ways of providing her with the answers she's seeking.

Author's note: Y/n is not a hunter; she is a Master's student (not based on myself at all) and a part time protocore researcher at the Association. No changes to Sylus, although there may be situations in the story where he might be a little out of character. Mentions of the other LADS men, but they are not the love interests here.

Chapter 23: Another Attack, Again

“Relax, dove. It’s all part of the plan.”

I smacked his arm. “Why the fuck wasn’t I informed of this plan beforehand? You literally created a fucking explosion!”

“It was an improvisation. The aether core wasn’t there.”

“So you made the whole place explode?”

He glanced at me sideways, his hands full of my skirts to keep me from falling as we navigated the neon lit streets on foot. “No one who didn’t deserve it was hurt. Don’t worry about them, concentrate on the task ahead.”

No one who didn’t deserve it was hurt. That placated me a little and I stayed silent as he led me into an abandoned skyscraper. The elevator was still working and we took it to the rooftop. 

The wind was stronger here, I had to squint to see the dusty bits of tech and other equipment scattered around. 

“So, where is the aether core then?”

There was enough light to see by and Sylus raised my chin to the sky above us. 

I gasped. The whirling vortex of the deep space tunnel was right above our heads. I’d never been this close to it before, and it gave me vertigo.

He took my hand and we walked towards a cracked pillar. I had a vague recollection of seeing it somewhere else. “Resonate with it to get the core. Be warned, once you take the step, there’s no going back.”

I hadn’t come all the way here to hesitate. Taking another breath, I placed my hands on the engraved surface and closed my eyes. 

Logically, some minutes passed as I resonated with it and cracked the pillar open. However, I felt like it was only a second later that I opened my eyes to a thundering deep space tunnel, flinging out sparks of visible metaflux. Sylus stood next to me, his coat still somehow draped over his shoulders despite the wind. “Guardian wanderers alert. Ready?”

I stepped out of my heels and stood barefoot on the cement and tied up the skirts of my gown, grabbing the gun strapped to my thigh. “I was born ready.”

A large bird wanderer flew from the tunnel, spreading its wings and screaming at the top of its lungs. The only interesting thing about it was I couldn’t sense a protocore within it, it seemed to be fuelled by the aether core I just awakened. I started shooting it, dodging the stone feathers that dropped around me. Sylus didn’t need a weapon, he used his evol and did some kung-fu moves, fighting the bird with his bare hands.

Sexy.

I danced around the bird, bare feet kicking up dust as I shot it with my gun and dodged its attacks. A piece of flying shrapnel caught the side of my face. 

“Are you alright?”

“I just got sloppy.”

"Be alert, there's poison in those wings."

We kept up the fight until it stopped attacking us with its feathers and we could move more freely. Sylus was on the other side, flinging his evol at the bird and got hit by one of its wings. 

“You got sloppy.” I blasted away one of the wingtips with my gun. 

Sylus turned and gave me a grin. “My eyes were locked on you.”

This man, I swear. The bird was weakened, but it gave no signs of giving up. Our individual strengths was not enough to defeat it, and I was beginning to grow tired. For one last time, I concentrated like I had never before, focusing on Sylus’s evol and willing it to flow through me. 

There. Our evols finally responded, and the resulting resonance knocked me off my feet. 

“Finally.” Sylus’s voice came from somewhere to my left. “Get up, sweetie. Let’s finish this in one fell swoop.”

He was there beside me the next moment, helping me up to my feet and wiping the dust off my face. Reddish black mist surrounded us, and the bird was suddenly wary. Sylus took my hand.

With the other, he created a giant mass of energy mist, ready to throw it at the bird. I used my evol to strengthen it multifold, and he took aim to attack. The bird got hoisted into the air once before crashing to the cement, unable to get up. It made a horrific noise as it realised it was about to die. 

We watched as it started disappearing, and maybe it was more sentient than the regular wanderers, because it used the last of its diminishing power to throw a parting attack at us, specifically at Sylus. 

“No!” I didn’t think, immediately shielding him with my own body. Just as the wanderer disappeared and the deep space tunnel went silent, a sharp shard of the remains of its wing pierced me right in the abdomen.

Well, fuck.

🗡️🐦‍⬛🗡️

Likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated. <3

Part 1:

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11

Part 2:

Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 |Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22 | Chapter 23 | Chapter 24

[rafayelbiter]

i cant believe a bunch of losers in this fandom r crying, throwing tantrums nd making such a huge deal ab MC's gothic type dress in the newest sylus myth. like stfu it's litrly so cute. these r the same ppl who were making fun of and shitting on others for raising awareness on how problematic zayne's god of annihilation myth design was btw they're so pathetic

[writtenbyshama]

Memory Theatre (Sylus x Reader)

Synopsis: Y/n is a protocore researcher who is looking for answers about how an aether core got lodged into her heart and why is it messing with her brain. In the midst of this elaborate maze of dead ends and false answers, she encounters a man who seems to be very interested in her and is willing to find ways of providing her with the answers she's seeking.

Author's note: Y/n is not a hunter; she is a Master's student (not based on myself at all) and a part time protocore researcher at the Association. No changes to Sylus, although there may be situations in the story where he might be a little out of character. Mentions of the other LADS men, but they are not the love interests here.

Chapter 20: His Bed, My Home

Sylus grasped my wrist, his gaze intense as he stared at me. 

“Sneaking into my bed after midnight, kitten? Looking for a bedtime story or…” a finger slid across my skin suggestively, “…something more scandalous?” 

My face flamed in heat, but I didn’t give up. “I’m just completing the task you’ve assigned me with. Also—“ I pointed to his cuffed hand, “—you cannot use your evol on me.”

Unfortunately for me, he didn’t even blink. “Really?” He drawled. “And what will you do now, since I’ve become your prey?”

“Where’s the brooch, Sylus?”

His mouth curved in a sinister smile. Letting go off my hand, he gestured at himself. “Help yourself.”

I glanced at his chest and the top of his abs peeking through the robe. My first thought was, as always, something wicked. I wanted to unravel the sash that held the robe together and have my way with him. A second later, I shook those thoughts off and ran a hand over his shoulder, bringing it down to his waist. I might have done it a tad slower than usual, but could you blame me? He let go of a breath as I did so, eyes burning into me. 

I moved my palm across his stomach, feeling the muscles beneath and inwardly fanning myself. 

“You know,” I said, to distract myself from my filthy mind, “I thought we had a thing going on. We have aeons of history between us. You literally came to my villa to…” his eyes were watching me so intensely that I stuttered to a stop. 

“Go on.”

“Um…” I resumed my search. “As I was saying, you helped me out of a harsh panic attack. I ran all the way here to check whether you were alright. And yet, after all this, you put me to this menial task. 

“What’re you doing, Sylus? Do you, for some reason, harbour any hate towards me?”

That earned me a chuckle. “Astonishing misunderstanding.”

I raised an eyebrow, languidly feeling his other shoulder. There. Near his neck, my fingertips found metal. My expression melted into a grin when I finally had it in my palm. “Got it.”

He leaned forward, not interested in the pin. “Does it matter to you, what I think?”

I decided to be honest. “Yes, it does.”

He smiled. I returned it. Then he used his evol to break the handcuffs.

🗡️🐦‍⬛🗡️

The one thing about running away from someone is you should never try to outrun a fucking beast. 

I gasped as Sylus dragged me by my waist and slammed me down on the mattress, straddling my hips and pinning my hands above my head. I was going to kill Luke and Kieran for tricking me with those handcuffs. I held onto the brooch, but Sylus was trying to pry it from my grasp. “No! I won it.”

He didn’t listen, so I struggled and tried to point the tranquilliser with my other hand, finger pressing the trigger. Sylus ducked, but the gun was useless. It exploded in burst of pink cloud and heart shaped confetti. My heart immediately sank down my chest, and I didn’t struggle as much and Sylus grabbed the crow brooch. 

He sighed, flicking away some confetti that landed on his silver hair. “You’re so gullible, kitten.”

Tears sprung up in my eyes. I should never have come here. I should have stayed and never even thought about this man. 

But of course, he was frustrating because he noticed everything, even the tears in my eyes. He eased up and let go of my hands, reaching up to brush away a stray tear from my face. “I didn’t mean to be condescending, forgive me.”

I turned away. “Fuck you.”

He didn’t reply, and I felt his fingers at my neckline. Turning back, I saw him pinning the brooch to my collar. He looked at me. “Don’t lose it, alright?” He moved away from me, standing up and brushing away stray confetti. I sat up, feeling the cold metal at my throat, letting the useless gun clatter to the floor. 

“There’s a suite prepared for you,” he informed me. “You can use that, or if you are more familiar you can sleep here. I don’t mind.”  

I looked up at him from my position. “Would you have given me the pin and taken me to the auction if I had failed this little game?”

“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “It’s not ideal, but I know you are capable enough to take care of yourself. I’d never leave you behind if you’re that adamant about going somewhere. I won't imprison you, Y/n.”

“Where are you going to sleep if I stay here?”

He took a step back and rolled his shoulders. “My schedule isn’t like most people. I sleep in the morning and afternoon. My ‘day’ begins at dusk.”

“I see.” My anger was deflated. The reassurance he’d given me had done wonders to my mood, and his bed was very comfortable. I shifted until I was underneath the covers and pulled them upto my chin, breathing in his scent. Sylus watched me wriggle around with a small smile on his lips. 

“Since you’re settled, I’ll leave you to sleep. I’ll be in my study if you need me. Good night.”

“…Good night.”

🗡️🐦‍⬛🗡️

Support me on Instagram and Wattpad at _writtenbyshama. Happy reading!

Part 1:

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11

Part 2:

Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 |Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21

[writtenbyshama]

Memory Theatre (Sylus x Reader)

Synopsis: Y/n is a protocore researcher who is looking for answers about how an aether core got lodged into her heart and why is it messing with her brain. In the midst of this elaborate maze of dead ends and false answers, she encounters a man who seems to be very interested in her and is willing to find ways of providing her with the answers she's seeking.

Author's note: Y/n is not a hunter; she is a Master's student (not based on myself at all) and a part time protocore researcher at the Association. No changes to Sylus, although there may be situations in the story where he might be a little out of character. Mentions of the other LADS men, but they are not the love interests here.

Chapter 19: Midnight Heist

“I’m not playing your games, Sylus.”

His mouth curved into a smile. “Is that so? Then you won’t be attending that auction with me?”

I took a deep breath to keep myself from screaming in frustration. “That’s unfair. I came all the way here, in the middle of the night I might add, to see if you were all right and this is what you give me in return?”

He wasn’t moved. “I never said I play fair. I make use of every advantage I have. Besides, you don’t get a medal for being fair.”

I crossed my arms and stewed in my anger. A minute later, Sylus continued: “It’s a necessary test, Y/n. I need evidence that you can pull it off. Swiping an aether core in the midst of a crowd isn’t an easy thing to do.”

Sighing, I leaned back against the plush chair I was sitting on. Sylus had ordered a late dinner for himself, still in the same clothes from before. We were in one of the numerous living rooms, the empty plates and utensils on the table between us. A fire was lit in the fireplace nearby, and Sylus was glowing in the light. I watched with a frown as he twirled a crow-shaped brooch in one hand and sipped from a cup of herbal tea in the other. The ruby encased in the brooch glinted in the firelight. 

The task was simple: I had to steal the brooch from him before dawn arrived, thus proving myself to him. 

I was seriously considering abandoning it all and returning to my villa, but the possibility of a real aether core being dealt in an upcoming auction had me hooked. 

Sylus raised an eyebrow, smirking over the rim of his teacup. “Have you decided, kitten?”

I rubbed a hand over my forehead. “Fine. I accept the challenge.”

🗡️🐦‍⬛🗡️

Even though we couldn’t resonate, we could sense each other from kilometres away. 

How the hell was I going to get that brooch without his knowledge? 

Sylus had excused himself to retire for the night (not really), and I was sitting in one of the lounge rooms right outside his wing and staring holes at the double doors. I was thinking about making a plan but then decided to fuck it and dive in. Standing up, I looked around to see if anyone was there before inching towards the doors. I pressed an ear to the wood and could only hear a faint classical music. 

Quietly, I turned the brass handle and opened one of the doors just an inch. The sitting room within was lit with old fashioned stained glass lamps. The vintage record player in the corner was playing a sweet melody. I turned to the left, where an archway led to his bedroom. Carefully, I tiptoed inside and closed the door behind me and crept up to the archway. 

The sheer size of his bedroom astounded me even though I’d been here before. It was almost as big as my villa. The bathroom was through another archway on the far side, and I could hear the sound of running water. 

Hoping that he left the brooch in the room somewhere and didn’t take it to the shower with him, I tiptoed inside, immediately freezing when I locked eyes with Mashi. He was perched on his metal frame by the window, eyes fixed on me. He didn’t move a centimetre and I unfroze after the bird didn’t make a racket and alert Sylus. 

I noted a bathrobe spread on the bed as I went to the nightstand first. Meticulously searching through the drawers, I closed them and skipped to the vanity next, running my fingers through Mashi’s feathers just in case. Next were the freestanding lamps around the room, then the planters on the windowsills. The brooch wasn’t anywhere here. Just as I was about to head back to the sitting room, the shower stopped. Even the record scratching at the music player ended. 

The sudden silence caught me standing right in the middle of Sylus’s bedroom. 

🗡️🐦‍⬛🗡️

Mashi’s eyes were staring at me hiding behind a freestanding dresser, but he stayed at his perch, not uttering a sound. 

I was frozen into a crouch, shallowly breathing as Sylus entered the room with a towel around his waist, another one drying his hair. The telephone, which was sitting on a small table right next to the dresser I was behind, rang at that moment. I stopped breathing altogether as he stood right in front of my hiding place to answer the call. 

“Mr. Sylus, the prince has been airlifted to his private hospital. Reports suggest that he’s going to live.”

I could only see Sylus from his chest above. He stayed silent for a while and finished the drying of his hair before throwing the towel into a basket.

“Mr. Sylus, sir?”

“I heard you the first time. Anyway, him dying wasn’t my intention.”

“Yes, sir, noted.”

They might have held a longer conversation, but I slipped, creating a small creak sound. It was just a tiny, tiny move, but it was enough for Sylus to turn around and directly lock eyes with me. Fucking hell.

The smirk on his face when he noticed me hiding sent a shiver down my spine. I tried to take a step back but his evol was faster, blackish red mist looping around my body and hoisting me in the air.

“Ahh!”

The man on the other side of the line stuttered at my voice. “Uh, Mr. Sylus?”

“It’s nothing. A little kitten entered my room. Keep an eye on the prince and notify me in case of any further updates.” Ending the call with a click, Sylus turned all of his attention on me.

“I did not agree to get hoisted into the air if I got caught!”

He smirked again, but let me down with a thump on the bed. “You make a terrible thief. I hope you’re good at what you do at the Association.” Taking my hand, he pushed me out of the archway. “Leave. I’m going to bed.”

The auction be damed. I was leaving this place and never coming back. 

🗡️🐦‍⬛🗡️

The twins stuck to me as I traversed the hallways and corridors to reach the elevator.

“Are you seriously leaving?” One of them asked. “The game hasn’t even started yet and you’re already giving up?”

We reached the elevator and I dashed inside and tried to shut the doors, but they pushed in and pressed the stop button. I sighed, annoyed. “I’m done playing games with your boss. With that attitude, he can fuck himself with the brooch.”

“Aw, you took it to heart. Don’t be mad, miss. Besides, you came all the way here to check if he was alright! Don’t give up so soon, we’ll help you obtain that brooch this time!”

I felt a bit trapped, even though the elevator was the size of a lobby. Crossing my arms across my chest, I focused on one beaked mask at a time. “Listen here, you little shit. Just because I care for him a tiny bit doesn’t mean I will dance to his tune. Either he gives me the brooch himself, or I leave. I don’t have the patience to play cops and thieves.” 

They both took a step back from my onslaught, but they didn’t appear to be fazed (who was I kidding, I couldn’t even see their faces). “Alright, alright,” one of them placated me. “Please, calm down a little bit. Now tell us, miss. In all of your meetings with bossman, have you ever felt that he’s going to deny you anything?”

I paused, they caught onto that and pressed on. “Treat this like a game. If you win, you win, If you lose, it’s not the end of the world. You’re getting frustrated because you’re taking it literally. Just give into it and loosen up. We’ll help you this time.”

And that’s how I ended up in front of Sylus’s wing again. 

This time, the twins (their names were Luke and Kieran), had supplied me with evol-nullifying handcuffs and a mini tranquilliser just in case the cuffs didn’t work. No music could be heard from within, so I was extra careful while entering and made sure the door hinges didn’t squeal. It was mostly dark, all the lamps were switched off, and it took me a few minutes to get adjusted to the dull light streaming from the windows.

I squinted at the bed from the archway. Sylus was wearing a robe, but he wasn’t lying down. He was sitting propped against the headboard, eyes closed and head partially turned the other way. Hesitation seeped into me for a second. What if he was still awake? And even if he was asleep, who the fuck slept like that?

The twins’s voices came back to me. Their words of encouragement spurred me to walk across the carpeted floor towards his sleeping form. From his perch, Mashi’s eyes were dimmed: maybe he was in power-saving mode. 

I carefully nudged Sylus’s hand but there was no response. Alright, this was my chance. Climbing onto the bed, I took one of his hands and cuffed it to the bedpost. He didn’t stir, his breathing even. There was literally nowhere else for the brooch to be, it had to be present on his person. I was about to touch the lapel of his silk robe when he suddenly opened his eyes and caught my wrist midway. 

🗡️🐦‍⬛🗡️

I turn 22 tomorrow. Yayyyy! Also, today was the first day of my masters' degree, and I'm shocked that the challenging degree I chose for myself has already started being challenging.

Happy reading! You know where to find me(on instagram) if you want to support.

Part 1:

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11

Part 2:

Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 |Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20

[writtenbyshama]

Memory Theatre (Sylus x Reader)

Synopsis: Y/n is a protocore researcher who is looking for answers about how an aether core got lodged into her heart and why is it messing with her brain. In the midst of this elaborate maze of dead ends and false answers, she encounters a man who seems to be very interested in her and is willing to find ways of providing her with the answers she's seeking.

Author's note: Y/n is not a hunter; she is a Master's student (not based on myself at all) and a part time protocore researcher at the Association. No changes to Sylus, although there may be situations in the story where he might be a little out of character. Mentions of the other LADS men, but they are not the love interests here.

Chapter 18: The Throne Room

The road changed as I left the cityscape of Linkon behind and entered the N109 Zone’s outskirts.

The neon lights became sharper, the wind more aggressive as I traversed the empty tarmac, trying to remember the way to the base. I first found the warehouse where my aether core’s energy had been stabilised. From there, I retraced my path, losing my way a couple of times until I reached the skyscraper. 

I climbed off my bike and removed my helmet. Not a single soul was in sight. Keeping a palm on my gun, I looked around once and headed to the entrance, my coat flapping in the wind. 

There were guards inside, thank fuck. It was eerie to be alone here. They recognised my face and let me in, pointing the way without a word. I nodded gratefully, since I didn’t have the time or the patience to start exploring now. I headed down the hallway and through the open archway in the direction I was shown. The core fragment in my heart pulsed as I paused in front of a closed set of double doors. My hands shook a little as I placed them on the mahogany wood and gave it a push.

It was a grand throne room. 

Standing at the threshold, I took in the high arched ceiling, the polished obsidian floor and the crimson marble bordered windows at the sides. Long, billowy curtains flowed like damsels in the wind. No furniture except a high backed chair at the opposite end where the silver-haired emperor held his court. A roaring fireplace was on one side of the hall, flinging enough heat to warm the entire space. No carpets, the hall’s only ornamentation being a huge crystal chandelier that was resting on the floor instead of being hung up.

Sylus was sitting on the throne, and the relief I felt on seeing him unharmed (mostly) was so intense it brought tears into my eyes. He wasn’t alone, the masked twins were standing on either side of him. They all looked up to see me when the doors cracked open. 

Sylus’s eyes widened in shock and surprise. For the first time, I’d truly caught him off-guard. He seemed to have arrived just a few minutes before me: his suit was smoking and scratches decorated his face and hands. Before he could utter a word, I ran, sidestepped the chandelier and tackled him on the throne. 

He didn’t flinch or wince as I threw my arms around his neck and my knees folded on either side of his hips. “Idiot,” I whispered. “Do you know how worried I was for you? I saw the news of the explosion and thought something happened to you!”

I couldn’t control my tears, so I buried my face into his shoulder, inhaling his comforting scent mixed with a hint of smoke and the fabric dampened. There was the distant sound of retreating footsteps and the closing of the doors. We were alone now, with crackling fire as our only company. 

Slowly, as if he were afraid that I would break or vanish, Sylus brought his arms around me and pressed me to himself. His breaths were shaky at my hair and our heartbeats synced with each other. We stayed like that for a long, long time. One of his hands rubbed my back in a soothing manner. 

I pulled back after my eyes were dry to look at his face. His eyes were filled with so much emotion I almost started tearing up again. The clothes he was wearing had stopped smoking and the fabric had mended. The cuts and scrapes on his skin were still being healed. He looked completely exhausted as if he’d used the last of his energy reserves to come here and slump down. 

“Y/n.” He uttered my name as if it was a prayer, his knuckles gently brushing my face. 

The cuts on his face were still present. Shifting back a little, I placed my palms on his chest and closed my eyes, trying to resonate with him once again and give him the energy to heal faster. My evol surged through me—and halted. I couldn’t sense Sylus’s power at all. Then I remembered what the warehouse keeper had said about my own evol: my mind had to be free from blockages to do so. 

“Sylus doesn’t scare me. I find him completely attractive. He’s hot. He’s handsome. I can resonate with him easily.” I chanted these sentences under my breath repeatedly but it still didn’t work.

When I finally gave up and opened my eyes, Sylus was watching me with amusement. “I can hear you, you know.”

I rolled my eyes playfully, but I was relieved that the last of his scratches were just about healed. “Enjoy it while you can. I’m not saying that again.”

I was still on his lap, but I wasn’t that mortified anymore. And anyway, when I did try to get up, his hands slid down to my hips and kept me in place. He leaned back and settled comfortably against the back of the throne, watching me with a soft smile. “You dropped everything and ran to me when you found out about the explosion. Should I think that you’ve started to care about my well-being?”

I rested my hands on his chest and looked at my fingertips, unable to meet his gaze. “I was worried, yes. But it seems like your smug self is alright.”

“Have you forgotten that we are alike? I cannot die that easily.”

“I know. But being a near immortal doesn’t mean you should run into danger head first.”

The amused glint in his eye turned sharper. “I know a person who should take her own advice.”

Instead of continuing the banter, I cupped his face with my hands and looked into his eyes to know that I was serious. “You are okay, right? Completely?”

Sylus closed his eyes, leaning into my palms. “I am.”

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Posting this from a new city. If you want to support me, I'm here on Instagram/Substack at _writtenbyshama.

Part 1:

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11

Part 2:

Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 |Chapter 18 | Chapter 19

[writtenbyshama]

Memory Theatre (Sylus x Reader)

Synopsis: Y/n is a protocore researcher who is looking for answers about how an aether core got lodged into her heart and why is it messing with her brain. In the midst of this elaborate maze of dead ends and false answers, she encounters a man who seems to be very interested in her and is willing to find ways of providing her with the answers she's seeking.

Author's note: Y/n is not a hunter; she is a Master's student (not based on myself at all) and a part time protocore researcher at the Association. No changes to Sylus, although there may be situations in the story where he might be a little out of character. Mentions of the other LADS men, but they are not the love interests here.

Chapter 17: Returning To The N109 Zone

Sylus walked me to the front doors of my villa. 

“Take care, and try to stay away from any further workplace explosions.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll keep that in mind. But you have to promise me that you’ll return from Tulla island in one piece, with your head and limbs still attached.”

He made a small show of rolling his wrist. “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll get a robotic arm instead.”

“Sylus!”

“…Fine. I promise, kitten.”

His nonchalance was unnerving. Obviously he’d be fine, but I couldn’t let the thought go after he’d filled it in my head. Finally, I unbuttoned the holster at my waist and handed my Association licensed gun. All members were given two identical weapons, and I had both of mine altered by Sonia, a weaponry tech expert. “Please take this as a token of good luck and to put my mind at ease.”

He glared at my outstretched palm as if I had offered a dead mouse. “Tch. Don’t insult me. My fists are better than that.”

I sighed. “I know. But please accept it for my sake. I have had its ammunition enhanced so that a wanderer with a low metaflux will be dead with a single bullet. And the prince..is just human.”

The glare disappeared and his mouth curved into a smile. “A government worker handing a weapon to a criminal to help kill her own prince. Interesting."

“Just take it, please.”

He finally deigned to accept my demands, his large hand closing over mine. “Alright, then. Thank you. I’ll make sure its returned to you, irrespective of whether I do or not.”

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“How’s it going between you and Skye?” Tara asked between bites of her chocolate donut. 

I wiped the crumbs off my lips with my napkin. “It’s going well, I suppose.”

Our department’s work had finally resumed, and I was sorting out the paperwork at my desk when the bag of donuts appeared in my vision.

Tara was a hunter working in Captain Jenna’s Alpha team, but we were friends from the time we’d attended the basic training together. She stopped by my desk whenever she didn’t have any missions to catch up on gossip and what not. She had ranted about her crush on her captain for half-an-hour while I listened, and now we had moved to my (non-existent) love life. All of my colleagues considered Sylus as my boyfriend and I didn’t have the heart to tell them otherwise. 

Speaking of Sylus, it had been a week since he’d left for Tulla island. I had sent a tentative text and it had gone unanswered. The prince’s party was going to be two weeks long, so I had to wait a whole another week to hear from him. I desperately wanted to know what he was doing and whether he was alive. 

“I saw the way he looked at you when he had visited to pick you up,” Tara’s voice brought me back to reality. “He’s utterly smitten with you, Y/n.”

Heat rose up to my cheeks. The intense way he watched me had not gone unnoticed by me, but I didn’t want to discuss him now. I steered the topic to generic banalities and Tara left after we finished eating and I returned to work. 

In the evening, I unlocked my front doors to see Mashi greeting me with a peck to my shoulder. I held the mechanical bird in my arms, breathing him in, trying and failing to detect any scent of its owner. Mashi smelled like cold metal and loneliness. 

I went about my days like I had before, my body going through the motions of muscle memory throughout my classes and at work. But my mind was occupied with was Sylus, Sylus and Sylus. No other person had consumed my thoughts this much. There were upcoming exams and I was trying to study but all I could think of was whether the silver haired man was doing okay. Had he used my gun on anybody? Did he gift the prince that dagger? Had he gone alone all the way to Tulla island?

The next week passed in meetings, assignments and conferences. On the day Sylus was supposed to return, I kept checking and rechecking my phone to see if he had called or texted. He hadn’t. And the blasted bird was nowhere to be found. I had woken up that morning to see Mashi’s nest empty. 

I floated through the day and ended up on my couch in the evening, curled up with a forgotten mug of tea and blearily watching the news channel. My phone was on the coffee table. I had swallowed my pride and triple texted him which had gone unread. 

It was late, but it was my day off the next day, so I didn’t get up from my place. Each thought swirled around my mind and blew away like smoke, to be replaced by another thought. I didn’t give much attention to anything. 

An explosive noise from the TV startled me awake. The normal newscast was interrupted by a breaking news. I sat up, my horror growing inside me as the newscaster read from a report that there had been a bomb blast in Tulla island and it had caused injuries and casualties. 

I grabbed my phone and dialled Sylus, but he didn’t answer. I tried again and again, my eyes glued to the screen where they were showing the prince who was severely injured in the blast. There was no official casualty count as of now. After the fifth time of empty ringing, I threw on a coat over my night pants and t-shirt and grabbed my motorcycle keys and gun, switching off everything and locking the main door as I ran out to my driveway. 

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Author's note: This is my last update for this month. I'm moving to a new city and starting my master's degree soon. And September 2nd is my birthday, which I'll be celebrating far from home, lol. I'm a bundle of excitement and nerves at the same time. See ya soon!

Support me on Instagram: _writtenbyshama

Part 1:

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11

Part 2:

Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 |Chapter 18