Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Lumine wished she hadn’t worn a skirt today.

The crisp air seemed to pass right through her, no matter how thick her tights were, and no matter how tightly she clutched the thick sweater she wore around herself. Her cheeks were wind-bitten, a rosy pink. The wind's chill was not merely unkind—it was downright cruel, for it carried the tantalizing aroma of roasted coffee beans and sweet pastries. The idea of ducking into one of the cozy cafes just off campus for a cup of hot tea, a plate of chocolate truffles, and a couple hours of studying was a tempting one.

Yet, it would be a distraction. One she couldn’t afford. Not now. Not with midterms coming up next week. They always seemed to creep up from behind, like a dark cloud. She shivered, pulling her sweater tighter as she quickened her pace. The weight of textbooks in her bag was a reminder of the work that lay ahead. The scent faded as she passed the entrances to the small shops.

After a few minutes of walking, a cluster of identical condominiums came into view. The street was quiet except for occasional passing car and group of students heading home after Friday classes.

Another gust of wind made her shiver as she hurried towards home. Approaching the gate, she rummaged in her bag for her keys, then pulled out her fob and held it to the scanner as the wind continued to rise.

The gate swung open with a click, and Lumine hurried through, shoulders hunched against the cold. She made her way up the path to her building, hurrying up the steps to her front door. She fumbled with her keys, frigid fingers struggling to find the right one. She managed to unlock the door and step inside, sighing in relief as a rush of warm air greeted her. She leaned against it for a moment to catch her breath.

Her heels stung from the back of her mary janes. She was all too happy to bend down and take them off, until her eye caught a pile of envelopes on the floor beneath her mail slot.

She snatched the pile and strode right into her cramped kitchen. She thumbed through the envelopes. Bills, advertisements, magazines containing the season's newest and hottest fashion trends, and... more bills.

Lumine sighed and set the bills aside while tossing the junk mail in the recycling bin. She reached for her electric kettle, filled it with water, and set it to boil. As she waited for the water to heat up, she got her phone out and checked her emails. Within the emails about sales and the University of the Sacred Flame's weekly events, was an email from her top choice university.

Her heart skipped a beat as she tapped the notification, eyes scanning the subject line: "Application Status Update— Euphrasie Dumas School of Journalism." With trembling fingers, she opened the email, and logged into the application portal by the link pasted in the email. Her heart thudded in anticipation of her result. Her breath stuck in her throat as she read the first few lines. One phrase stood out, stark amongst the rest:

We regret to inform you…

The rest blurred before her eyes.

Disappointment settled in her chest like a heavy weight. The deafening silence of her apartment was pierced by the nasally whistle of the kettle.

She set her phone down and poured the hot water into a mug, dropping in a tea bag without much thought. The steam carried the aroma of chamomile, but it did little to soothe her soul. She slumped against the counter with the mug clutched in her hands, letting the reality of rejection sink in.

This was the last school she was awaiting a response from. She had put so much effort into her applications; she’d spent countless hours seeking out her professors for recommendation letters, writing personal essays, and crafting statements of purpose. She’d spent even more time studying and taking entrance exams.

In the end, all five schools she’d applied to had rejected her.

The carefully laid plans she’d constructed over the past year now lay in ruin. Her dreams of getting into a journalism master's right out of undergrad were out of reach.

She knew she had to regroup, to find a new path forward. But for now, she should allow herself a bit of time to feel the weight of her disappointment, acknowledge the sting of rejection before she moved on.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she took a deep breath in an attempt to steady herself before sipping her tea.

Just then, her phone vibrated on the counter. She picked it up, to see a text from her friend Mualani.

M: Hey Lu! A bunch of us are going out to the bars tonight. You want to come with us?

Lumine stared at her phone. Mualani was offering her an opportunity to forget about her rejections and to go have fun with her friends. Part of her would’ve loved nothing more than to do that. After a moment's hesitation, she typed out a reply:

L: Thanks for the invite, but I think I'll have to pass tonight.

Mualani was quick to respond:

M: Got a lot of studying to do?

L: Yeah.

M: No worries! I’ll say hi to Xilonen and everyone else for you.

Lumine smiled at the response. She appreciated her friend’s support, even if she felt like she couldn't join in the fun. Right now, though, her energy needed to be channeled into something productive.

Guilt and relief swirled in her stomach as she set her phone down. Directing her attention to her backpack, she pulled out her laptop and brought it to the small table just outside her kitchen. She opened it and began to search for alternative paths in her field.

Safe to say, there were plenty of options. As she ate her leftover pasta for dinner, she researched different career paths. Entry-level positions at local newspapers, content writing for digital media companies, social media management roles, and even investigative journalism caught her attention. Some positions at PR firms specifically sought journalism graduates. While many starting salaries weren't impressive, they offered valuable experience and potential for growth. She also found several internship programs at respected publications that could lead to full-time positions.

The most promising opportunities seemed to be in digital media and content creation, where her journalism skills could transfer well. Though the pay might start modest, these roles offered clear advancement paths and the chance to build a strong portfolio. Marketing and communications departments at various companies also welcomed journalism graduates, offering more stable employment options.

By the time she finished her dinner, she had compiled a document of opportunities. It would have to do for now.

She still had midterms to study for.

She gathered her things and brought them into her bedroom, depositing her backpack on the floor and her laptop on her desk. Muffled sounds of laughter and music from the neighbor’s house filtered through her bedroom window. So much of her free time was sacrificed in the name of her academics. As she prepared her study materials, guilt twinged in her gut at the thought of Mualani and her friends having fun without her, but she knew this was necessary.

She’d spent so many weekends in her room, surrounded by textbooks, notes, and her laptop. She thought that her time spent studying more instead of going out would pay off. Yet here she was, having been dealt rejections. The bitter irony wasn't lost on her.

But she couldn't afford to dwell on that. 

She opened up her planner, briefing over the assignments she had to complete. It was a hefty list, especially when she factored in the time needed to review everything for her midterms.

She took a deep breath and picked up her pen, steeling herself for the long night ahead.

For the past few hours, Lumine had been studying. Her bedroom was illuminated by the blue-tinted glow of her computer screen and the warm, golden light from a lamp tucked in the corner of her desk.

After putting away her lecture notes and textbooks, she opened her computer and navigated to a movie in her web browser. It was an assigned film for her general education class. It was a romantic comedy where the main character was much too persistent with his love interest. The beautiful couple and lovely soundtrack of the movie weren’t enough for her to see past how much they argued. She despised it, yet had no choice but to endure.

She pulled out a notebook as she hit play on the browser. Just like in journalism, every detail mattered when it came to film, and she was ready to catch each one. She paused on occasion to jot down notes and observations. Her eyes flicked between the screen and her notebook, capturing every nuance and detail. She scrutinized the characters' expressions, the camera angles, and the symbolism woven into each scene. She even found herself rewinding a scene in the film a few times to pick it apart.

She sighed. All this work for an elective course, one that she had to slot into her schedule, or else she would lose her scholarship.

Lumine sighed, rubbing her tired eyes. The pressure to maintain her scholarship was the cherry on top of everything else. It pushed her to excel in every class, regardless of its relevance to her major, at the cost of her personal time. 

With a determined face, she resettled into her work, keeping the creeping fingers of exhaustion at bay. The film continued to play, its images flickering across her computer screen, but her mind wandered back to the thought of going out with her friends. She quickly shook off those thoughts.

She glanced at the clock. She had been so engrossed in her film analysis that she didn’t realize how late it was. The time on her phone screen read 2:45.

Then, her stomach rumbled.

Damn it…

At this time, nothing was open, except for those 24/7 delivery services that targeted university students who had late night needs.

She opened a new tab and went on their website. She picked out a couple food items, and threw a melatonin vape in there for good measure. Of course, it was the most expensive thing in her cart. Once she made sure she had everything she wanted, she input her card information and pressed ‘Order’. She patiently waited by unpausing the movie and continuing to watch it.

A few minutes later, a notification popped up on her screen. It was a message from the delivery service that said her delivery person failed to show up, so they were handing off her order to a third party.

Lumine sighed, feeling both frustration and resignation. She had hoped her order would arrive quickly, but now it seemed she'd have to wait even longer. As she turned back to her computer screen, she couldn't help but wonder if this delay was just another small setback in a night filled with disappointments.

A half hour passed, and a notification popped up on her screen, saying that her items were there, right by the gate in front of her condo.

Lumine got up from her desk to poke her head into her bathroom and check her appearance before she left.

She hoped it wasn’t too cold out. She was only wearing a pajama top and shorts.

The dark yet alluring night sky cloaked the other buildings around her. As she stepped outside of her condo and the gate, she could see the silhouette of a man and the motorcycle he sat on, holding a bag. He looked around before spotting her. She walked toward him. Despite the dimness of the night, the nearby streetlight illuminated the blue-tinted face shield of his helmet.

“You’re Lumine, right?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“I’ve delivered for you a few times before.”

“Have you? I'm usually not up around this time.”

“Are you a journalism major by chance?”

“Uh… why do you ask?”

“I think you were in my calculus class.”

“Wait—”

The man took off his helmet. Pieces of luscious black hair fell into his face, while others stuck to the back of his neck. He pushed back some of his bangs, revealing an eyebrow piercing and striking greenish-gold eyes. He wore a leather jacket and matching gloves, as well as tight pants and dark boots. Lumine noticed the lip piercing that decorated the corner of a soft smile.

It was the same face she used to gaze at during lecture a few years ago, with a little more metal.

“Oh my god, Kinich?”

“Remember when we had that class together? We sat at the same table.”

“Yeah! I do.”

“You saved our asses on those group exams. I owe you my passing grade.”

She chuckled. “Gosh, that was so long ago.” Lumine took a moment to study his features. “You look different.”

“Yeah?”

“N-not in a bad way! I just…” Her cheeks flared up, and he gave her a smug grin.

“What?”

Bashful, she twirled a strand of her hair. “I like your piercings. They suit you.”

“Thank you.”

She glanced down at her feet. “Honestly, I’m surprised that it was you who was delivering my food all those times. It’s good to see you.”

“Good to see you, too.”

She smiled at him, before reaching into her pocket for her wallet. Her hand came back empty.

“Shoot, I don’t have my wallet… do I need to tip you?”

“You don’t have to, but it's always appreciated. Especially from a pretty girl like you." He winked at her, causing Lumine’s blush to worsen.

She fumbled with her words. "I–I can go and get it if you want. Sorry, I've been so worked up about midterms, I've been a bit all over the place."

She mentally kicked herself. Why was she overexplaining her life to him? It was supposed to be a simple exchange with an old classmate, one she hadn’t seen in years. Here he was now; standing in front of her, impossibly attractive, with an effortless smile and eyes that only seemed to pull her in.

And as if that weren't enough, he had a motorcycle.

Kinich chuckled, his eyes twinkling in amusement. "Don't worry about the tip. How about we catch up sometime? I'd love to hear what you've been up to since I last saw you."

Her heart skipped a beat. Was he asking her out?

She nodded, trying to keep her composure. "Yeah, that sounds great."

"How about I get your number? We can set something up when we're both free."

She nodded as he pulled out his phone. As he put her number in, excitement fluttered in her chest.

Just then, his phone vibrated with a new notification from the delivery service.

“Ah shit, they want me to do another delivery.” He handed her the bag. “You know, you really shouldn’t vape. It’s not great for you.”

She took it. “You know, you really shouldn’t ride a motorcycle. They’re not great for you.”

He let out a low chuckle. “Touché. I suppose we all have our vices.”

Lumine played with the hem of her shirt as she held her bag. “It’s really nice to see you, Kinich. I mean it.”

"I feel the same." For a second, their conversation fell into silence. "I won’t leave here until I see you go back inside."

"Thank you. I’ll see you soon, then?"

He nodded. “Yeah. See you soon, Lumine.”

With a final wave, she turned and walked past the gate. Once it closed behind her, she heard the muffled rev of his motorcycle as he set off.

When she sat back down at her desk, her phone vibrated. She glanced at the screen and saw a new message. It was from Kinich. Her heart fluttered as she opened it.

K: Hey Lumine. It was good to see you again. Let me know when you want to catch up. 

She smiled down at her phone, eager to see him once more.

Chapter Text

Lumine let out a heavy sigh as she shoved her testing materials into her backpack. The weight of recent midterms had lifted off her shoulders upon finishing her last exam, but it had been grueling. Her mind felt like a dishrag that had been wrung dry.

A crisp gust hit her face as she exited the lecture hall, and she pulled her jacket tighter around herself.

Her phone buzzed twice in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw an email notifying her of the first midterm’s test scores being posted, as well as a text message.

She checked the email first, with trembling fingers. Her heart skipped a beat as she learned of her score: 87%. It wasn’t perfect, but considering how challenging that exam had been, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. Her late nights of studying and endless revisions hadn’t gone to waste after all.

She smiled at her phone as she switched over to check the message.

X: I’m over at the student union if you want to get lunch with me.

Lumine typed out a quick reply.

L: I’d love to! Just got out of a midterm. Heading over now.

The cold air nipped at her cheeks as she headed to the student union. The students around her were walking to and from classes, their shoes crunching on patches of Natlan’s first and only frost of the year. Scattered conversations and laughter filled the air, mixed with the harsh noise of skateboard wheels on concrete and whooshes from bicycles passing by. Though she was exhausted from concentrating for hours, the promise of a meal and catching up with a friend energized her steps and made the tension from the test melt away.

She approached the student union, its tall glass windows glowing amber against the gray toned sky. When she got inside, the scent of coffee and fresh-baked pastries wafted from the café, mingling with the buzz of socializing students. She scanned the busy tables, looking for her friend. She was sitting at a table by one of the large windows, an acai bowl in front of her while she sipped on a hot drink.

Her friend noticed her and waved, gesturing to an empty chair across from her. The rich aroma of hot chocolate drifted from her friend's mug, making Lumine's stomach rumble with anticipation as she made her way over.

"How was your midterm?" Xilonen asked as Lumine sat down.

"Exhausting," she replied, slumping into the chair. "But I just got my score back from the first one—I got an 87!"

"That's great!" Xilonen's eyes lit up. She reached across the table to squeeze Lumine's hand. “I know you’ve been stressed lately.”

Lumine nodded. “Yeah, I have.”

“Any plans for the rest of the week?”

She thought for a moment. "Not much. I was thinking of getting ahead on schoolwork since I’ll have extra time…”

She trailed off as she noticed Xilonen’s expression fall. It shifted into a knowing smile. "Oh no. As your friend, I’m telling you, you are not spending this weekend buried in those textbooks."

“But I—"

“Nope. You deserve a break, Lumine. I’m serious. You remember what happened last time you didn’t give yourself a proper amount of time off?”

“Xilonen–”

“Just one day. No homework. No studying. Come on, what's the worst that could happen? You might actually have fun for once," The woman teased, stirring her drink with a playful smile.

A sigh of resignation. "Fine. I suppose one day off won't hurt."

"Exactly!" Xilonen's face brightened. "And I have the perfect idea for how to spend it.”

“Going out to the clubs?”

She chuckled. “Of course. You’re coming with me this Friday.”

Lumine hesitated, gripping her phone and chewing her bottom lip. "I don't know. I just finished midterms, and I'm already behind on my reading for Professor Euphrasie’s class."

"Which is precisely why you need a break," Xilonen insisted, setting down her cup. "You've been running on empty for weeks now. One night of fun won't kill your GPA."

Lumine glanced out the window, watching students trudge through the cold, their faces buried in sweaters and textbooks. Part of her wanted to join in on the fun—to forget about deadlines and scholarship requirements for just one evening.

"What club are you thinking?" she finally asked.

"Embercore. They just reopened after renovations. I heard they have this amazing new light show that makes it feel like you're dancing inside the Sacred Flame."

"Sounds... intense."

"It's supposed to be incredible."

Lumine groaned, knowing she was about to cave. "What if I'm behind on a lot more than just reading? I still have that feature article due for my journalism class next week."

Xilonen raised an eyebrow. "The one about local businesses? Didn't you already interview that coffee shop owner?"

"I did, but I need to flesh it out more. Professor Euphrasie wants at least three sources."

"Perfect!" Xilonen clapped her hands together. "Embercore is owned by that famous DJ—what's his name?—Either way, you could totally interview him for your article. Two birds, one stone."

Lumine considered this. It wasn't a terrible idea. The club had been making waves in the local entertainment scene recently…

"And," Xilonen continued, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "I heard that there’s some cuties that frequently go there."

Lumine rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed slightly. "I'm going for the article, not to spy on anyone’s social life."

“Fine, fine. At least we’re agreeing to get you out for a night.”

Lumine returned her attention to the email notification. She had a few more midterm scores to wait for, but this first one gave her hope that her hard work was paying off. As Xilonen went on about the DJ's latest set, Lumine allowed herself a small smile at the thought of actually going out this weekend—maybe a night at Embercore wouldn't be so bad after all.

The next day, Lumine was walking back to her apartment after class, scrolling through her phone to switch her music over to something more upbeat. As she waited at a crosswalk, a news notification caught her eye.

"Third Unexplained Disappearance This Month: Local Business Owner Vanishes Without A Trace"

She frowned, tapping on the notification. The article detailed how a bakery owner had failed to open his shop that morning, with worried employees finding the back door ajar and no sign of their boss.

The crosswalk light changed, and she continued walking, still reading. Something about the pattern seemed off. All three disappearances had occurred at night, all victims had been alone, and in each case, witnesses reported seeing unusual shadows in the area beforehand.

"Unusual shadows?" Lumine muttered to herself. "What does that even mean?"

As she approached her apartment building, a chill ran down her spine that had nothing to do with the weather. She glanced over her shoulder, feeling suddenly watched. The street behind her was empty, but for a moment, she could have sworn she saw something move against the wall of a nearby building—a shadow that seemed darker and more substantial than it should be.

Lumine quickened her pace, fumbling with her keys as she reached her door. Once inside, she leaned against the closed door, heart racing.

"You're being ridiculous," she told herself. "It's just the stress of school making you jumpy."

Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. She opened her laptop and began searching for more information about the disappearances. If there was a story here, her journalistic instincts wouldn't let her ignore it.

Then, her phone buzzed with a message. It was from Kinich.

K: Hey Lumine, how are you doing?

L: Doing better, my midterms are over for now. Just got an 87% on my first one.

K: That's awesome! I had a feeling you'd crush it. How do you feel?

L: Relief mixed with total exhaustion. But happy it's over, at least for now. Still planning on getting some work done this weekend though.

She started responding to Kinich's message when another text from Xilonen lit up her screen.

X: Don't forget about Friday! We’re meeting at Embercore at 9pm. I'm not taking no for an answer!

Lumine smiled and shook her head before turning back to her conversation with Kinich.

L: Well, some of my plans might change actually. Xilonen is dragging me to this club called Embercore on Friday. Says I need a night off.

K: Sounds like a good idea to me. You deserve to have some fun after all that hard work. Embercore is supposed to have an amazing atmosphere.

L: Have you been there before?

K: Once. It's got this whole flame theme with the lighting. I actually think you'd like it— not nearly as chaotic as other clubs can be around here.

L: I'll be looking forward to it.

K: I was wondering if we could grab coffee soon? I’d love to catch up with you, as we discussed earlier.

L: What time were you thinking? I just need to make sure I don't double-book myself with any more 'mandatory fun' from Xilonen.

K: How’s tomorrow at 2? I know this great place near campus.

Lumine smiled, momentarily forgetting her unease.

L: Works for me.

K: Let me know where to meet you. I’ll pick you up.

L: Will do. See you tomorrow at 2?

K: See you then. Looking forward to it.

Lumine set her phone down and turned back to her laptop. On impulse, she opened a new document and began typing notes about the disappearances, the shadows, and the strange feeling of being watched.

Outside her window, the streetlights flickered briefly. Lumine glanced up, watching as what should have been normal shadows seemed to writhe and shift for just a moment before settling back into stillness.

"It’s probably just my imagination," she whispered, but saved the document anyway, titling it "Shadows in the City of Light."