Chapter Text
A low hum throbbed in the back of Yasu’s skull, pulsing as he stood behind the stage curtains. His fingers trembled from the cold air swirling faintly around him, summoned unconsciously from the nerves coiled tight in his chest. The cheers of the crowd beyond the curtain felt distant– muffled. And then…
Child of frost and silence... can you hear us now?
The voice wasn't loud. It didn’t echo in his ears, but deeper– in his bones, in the blood running through his veins. It wasn't one voice, either. It was many, layered and inconsistent– a divine cacophony. Yasu flinched and grabbed the corner of the wall for balance, heart pounding and head aching.
The magic winds shift, the barriers fray. The Veins whisper your name through the cracks in the veil.
His breath hitched. The familiar chill danced over his shoulders– not from fear, but recognition. He’d heard this presence before in dreams he could never fully remember. A weight pressed on his chest, both comforting and crushing.
You were shaped not by chance, but by echo and purpose. The chill that clings to your soul is no curse– is the prelude of your becoming.
His stomach twisted, anxiety clashing with awe. Were they… gods? Spirits? He didn’t know. But their voices brought with them a strange stillness, like snow blanketing a chaotic world. He thought of all the nights he'd spent wondering if something was wrong with him. But this… this felt right.
When the sky shatters and the void sings, you must be still as ice, sharp as truth. The threshold draws near. Do not falter. You were not born… you were chosen.
Yasu’s eyes widened. For a moment, everything– his fear, his identity, even the stage waiting on the other side of the curtain– melted into the background. The noise of the world dimmed, and all that remained was the quiet promise of something far greater than himself.
“Yasu?”
A human voice finally dragged the lost boy out of his own head. Looking to where the voice came from, Yasu saw Layne, his group mate, peeking from around the corner with a concerned look on his face.
“The live is starting in twenty minutes. Crew wants everyone to come over for a final mics check. Are you alright? You look pale…” Layne's gentle voice eased the throbbing in Yasu's head, his mind now clear. Taking a deep breath, he let go of the wall and walked towards Layne.
“I'm fine, just nervous. After all, this is our first live performance. I'll be right with you guys, just give me a second.”
Layne nodded, returning to join the rest of the group and leaving Yasu be.
“What was that voice?” Yasu thought to himself. Was he hallucinating? “I knew I shouldn't have drank an extra energy drink today…”
After a quick drink of water, the boy fixed his outfit, and after one last look in the mirror, he left the room along with the strange encounter.