Chapter 166 An illusion maybe?

Chapter 166: Chapter 166 An illusion maybe?

Rowan facepalmed as he watched the situation unfold. He could already feel himself getting ready to step in. As usual, he was about to make the entire situation about himself while somehow presenting it as an act of perfect gentlemanly concern for Luna. At least, that was how some of the others saw it.

Before he could take a single step toward Luna and Ethan, however, Kai’s hands suddenly gripped his shoulders. Rowan stopped.

"Don’t do that."

Kai’s voice was calm, but there was something serious underneath it. "You aren’t the only companion she has. This is between Ethan and Luna, so let him handle it."

Rowan turned his head and looked at him.

"And the same goes for her. Luna isn’t a baby." Kai released his shoulders.

Rowan stared at him for a moment. The young man was looking back at him with an expression that didn’t seem quite right. There was something behind Kai’s eyes. Something troubled. Something that looked like he was constantly fighting a battle inside himself and desperately didn’t want anyone else to discover it.

Rowan frowned. "Is this what you guys always think about me?"

Kai remained silent.

"That I always make everything about myself?" Rowan’s voice became more defensive. "I can’t remember who said it first, but you guys have said that to me before. And I still don’t understand it." He gestured toward Luna. "Everything I do is because I want to make sure she’s alright. That’s all I’m trying to do."

Kai slowly shook his head. "That’s what you think you’re doing."

Rowan’s brows furrowed.

"But that’s not actually what’s happening." Kai sighed. "I don’t blame you. I know how you feel about her." His gaze briefly moved toward Luna. "But do you really think you’re the only one who feels that way?"

Rowan didn’t answer.

Kai nodded toward the others. "Look at Adrian."

Rowan followed his gaze. Adrian was leaning against the counter, casually picking something off his fingers while listening to the conversation. He looked completely relaxed. Almost too relaxed.

Kai continued. "Adrian loves Luna too, you know."

Adrian’s fingers paused. He looked up.

Kai didn’t stop. "And even Ethan, who used to be absolutely insufferable, has feelings for her."

Ethan, who was still talking quietly with Luna, glanced over his shoulder.

Kai smiled faintly. "But none of them are constantly trying to prove that Luna belongs to them." Rowan’s expression tightened. "You make it seem like she’s yours alone sometimes." Kai’s tone remained gentle. "And that’s not healthy."

Rowan looked away.

"We’re a group, not a guy and a girl." Kai’s voice softened further. "You have to remember that."

He wasn’t attacking Rowan. That was what made his words hit harder.

"With the way you act sometimes, it can come across as selfish. Like you don’t want anyone else getting too close to Luna because you think you have some special claim over her."

Rowan remained quiet.

Kai continued. "She isn’t something any of us can claim."

There was a brief silence.

Then Adrian suddenly smiled. "That’s sweet."

Kai glanced at him.

Adrian chuckled. "I know you just mentioned me and Ethan, but don’t remove yourself from the equation."

Kai blinked. "What?"

"You shouldn’t talk as if you’re different from us." Adrian pushed himself away from the counter. "I know you love Luna too."

Kai’s mouth opened slightly.

Adrian smiled. "It’s obvious."

Kai looked away.

"You care about her differently. You’re always watching her, always trying to make her laugh, always checking whether she’s alright." His smile became more genuine. "Maybe all of us love her in our own way." Adrian paused. "But Kai, you’re one of a kind."

Something unexpectedly emotional flashed across his face. "And I’m glad we all met."

Kai stared at him.

Adrian looked down for a moment. He had never really had friends before. Not real ones. Most of the people he had known in the past had only stayed around because they wanted something from him. Some had pretended to be his friends while secretly using him. Others had done terrible things simply because that was what their circle expected. And Adrian had played along. Sometimes he had done things he hated just to belong.

But this group was different. Luna had somehow gathered them together without even trying. They argued. They annoyed each other. They competed for her attention. They sometimes acted like idiots. But none of them had to pretend around one another.

For the first time, Adrian felt like he was actually himself. Not some powerful guy with portals. Not someone people feared because of his abilities. Just Adrian. A man with people he could call friends. Maybe even family.

"I’m glad too," Adrian said quietly.

Kai smiled. Then he looked toward Rowan. "See? Luna has been calmed down by Ethan."

Rowan turned toward the kitchen. Luna and Ethan were still speaking quietly, too far away for the others to hear what they were saying. Ethan appeared to be explaining himself while Luna listened with her arms folded. Eventually, Luna’s expression softened.

Rowan released a quiet sigh. Kai was right.

He couldn’t help it. Whenever Luna looked hurt, something inside him twisted painfully. It wasn’t something he could easily control. Seeing her upset made him want to immediately fix whatever had caused it. But perhaps that didn’t mean he always had to be the one who stepped forward. She had other people. People who loved her. People who could protect her. And maybe trusting them was part of loving her too.

Rowan finally nodded. "I’ll try."

Kai smiled. "That’s all I’m asking."

A few moments later, Luna’s voice cut through the room. "So, boys, should we go eat and start our day like we planned?"

Everyone looked toward her. Luna was carrying a plate in one hand and another in the other. Ethan had picked up several dishes as well. Together, they carried everything toward the dining area. The long dining table had already been arranged neatly, despite the mess throughout the rest of the base.

Soon, plates filled the table. Luna looked around at everyone. "We’re finally eating together." She smiled. "So maybe while we’re eating, we can talk about everything that’s worrying us. I’ll listen."

Everyone took their places. Ethan sat at one end of the table. Adrian took the opposite end. Rowan and Kai sat closer to Luna.

For the first time since returning, the atmosphere almost felt normal.

Almost.

Kai reached for his spoon. Then froze. His eyes moved toward the floor.

There it was again. That vine. But this time, it was different. It wasn’t merely crawling along the wall. It had spread. Thin green tendrils curled around the legs of the chairs. They disappeared beneath the table.

Kai’s breathing stopped. He slowly looked down. Something brushed against his ankle. His eyes widened. The vine was moving. It was curling around his leg.

"Kai?"

He jerked upright so quickly that his chair scraped violently against the floor. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

Everyone immediately jumped. "What happened?" "What’s wrong?" "Kai!"

They all looked under the table. Kai pointed downward. The vines were wrapping around his legs. They moved like living things.

"They’re here!" He stumbled backward. "The vines!"

Everyone stared at him.

Kai ran a hand through his hair and breathed heavily. "The vines from the island!" His voice rose. "The ones with those skeletal leaves and those horrible roots! It’s the same thing!" He pointed toward the floor. "Those damn roots are trying to wrap around me!"

Everyone looked again. Nothing.

Kai’s face twisted with disbelief. "How are none of you seeing this?" He looked from one person to another. "Look at this!" He pointed frantically. "You all need to look!"

Luna stood from her chair. "Kai, what are you talking about?"

"The roots!"

"What roots?"

"The fucking roots!" Kai stumbled away from the table. "It’s everywhere!" His breathing became faster. "It’s like it’s trying to spread through this place. Like it’s trying to swallow us." He looked toward the walls. "It’s trapping us." His voice dropped. "I don’t know what this thing is, but I’m telling you, we’re in danger."

Luna stared at him. Then she looked toward the others. Rowan couldn’t see anything. Neither could Adrian. Ethan shook his head.

Luna slowly approached Kai. "I’m sorry, Kai." She sounded concerned rather than dismissive. "But I can’t see anything either."

Kai stared at her. "You’re sure?"

"Yes."

"Not even a little?"

"No." Luna glanced at the floor. "There isn’t anything there."

Kai’s expression slowly changed. He looked at the others again. Nobody could see it. Nobody.

His gaze returned to Luna. She was standing there calmly. Too calmly.

That was when something inside Kai clicked. Luna never dismissed things this easily. Never. Not when the base had been attacked. Not when the system disappeared. Not when they encountered the strange island. Not when the world itself began changing. Luna questioned everything. She investigated everything. She trusted instincts over assumptions.

But now? She was simply telling him that there was nothing there.

Kai’s eyes narrowed. Something wasn’t right.

He slowly looked at the vines again. The others couldn’t see them. But he could. He could feel them. He could feel the strange pressure in the air.

And then he remembered something. The island. The strange vegetation. The living plants. The way the roots had moved. The way the island itself had seemed almost alive.

Kai’s heart began pounding. What if it wasn’t just the island? What if the thing they had encountered there hadn’t stayed behind? What if it had followed them? Or worse... What if it is not inside their base, just the fact that they didn’t reach the supposed destination and are still trapped inside an illusion which was the island itself.

Kai’s breathing became shallow. He looked at Luna again. For a moment, her face seemed completely normal. Then Kai noticed something. A tiny green thread was wrapped around the edge of her sleeve.

His eyes widened. He blinked. It disappeared.

Kai’s mouth slowly fell open. "No..."