CHAPTER 22: SHADOWS AND SPARK

[Continuation —]

The night air was thick with silence. Valkyrie’s heart pounded so hard it drowned out everything else — even the whisper of the river nearby. She blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of the shape before her.

And then, as the figure stepped into the pale wash of moonlight, her breath caught.

"...B— Ball?"

The angel froze mid-step, her expression flickering between surprise and guilt. Her red braided hair shimmered faintly beneath the light, strands falling across her flushed face. For a long moment, neither of them spoke — the tension between them almost surreal after what had just happened by the riverbank.

Valkyrie’s brows furrowed. "What—what are you doing here?"

Ball let out a weak laugh, rubbing the back of her neck with her hand. "Uh... I, um—was just—" She crouched slightly and offered Valkyrie her hand. "Here, let me help you up."

Valkyrie hesitated, still catching her breath, before finally accepting the hand. Ball’s grip was warm and steady— and for a brief second, it grounded her.

But once she was upright, the question returned sharper than before.

"Ball," Valkyrie said, narrowing her eyes, "are you... stalking me?"

Ball’s mouth dropped open. "Wha—No! No, of course not!" She waved her hands frantically, her wings twitching behind her in panic. "I was just... you know... out for a walk! Night air helps me think. It clears my mind. Recharges the...uh...lightning circuits."

"The lightning circuits," Valkyrie repeated dryly, crossing her arms. "What does that even mean...?"

Ball grinned awkwardly. "Uhm.., it’s scientifically proven! Angels of electricity need... fresh... voltage?" Her voice trailed off, her confidence collapsing under Valkyrie’s unimpressed stare.

Valkyrie tilted her head. "So the best place to recharge your voltage is the same riverside I happened to be at, right after midnight?"

Ball’s wings drooped a little. "Okay, fine. That sounds bad when you say it out loud."

The wind carried a faint ripple of laughter through the trees. Valkyrie, She tried to hold it back but failed miserably. The corners of her lips curved as she shook her head. "You’re terrible at lying, Ball."

"I’m fantastic at lying!" Ball protested, then paused. "Okay, maybe... occasionally... not great. But in my defense, you just startled me!"

"I startled you?" Valkyrie raised a brow. "You’re the one creeping around in the dark."

"I wasn’t creeping! I was... gracefully existing." Ball puffed her chest, pretending to look proud, though her cheeks were still pink.

For a moment, the tension between them dissolved into an odd sort of calm. The moon shimmered over the water, painting soft light on their faces. Valkyrie studied Ball quietly— how her aura flickered faintly like static, her wings almost glowing against the shadows. There was something otherworldly about her, something she couldn’t quite place.

"You really shouldn’t be out here alone," Valkyrie said after a pause. "It’s late. You could’ve run into... something worse."

Ball smiled faintly. "Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you."

That caught Valkyrie off guard. "Me?"

"Yeah," Ball said softly, her expression shifting from playful to serious. "You’ve got this habit of wandering off when your thoughts get too heavy. I noticed it in class too. Like you’re trying to outrun something that won’t stop following you."

Valkyrie blinked, unsure how to respond. She wasn’t used to people seeing through her so easily— especially not someone as bright and airy as Ball.

Before she could reply, Ball continued with a nervous laugh. "But, you know, it’s not a bad thing. Just... makes me worry sometimes. You’re different, Val. You give off this energy that’s..." She trailed off, looking away. "Hard to describe."

Valkyrie’s heart skipped. There it was again— that strange pull she couldn’t explain. Why did Ball always seem to appear when her mind was in chaos? Why did her words sound like they carried weight beyond what she said?

"Ball," Valkyrie said softly, "you’re... strange."

Ball grinned. "Strange is just another word for unique. You’ll get used to it."

Valkyrie rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. "If you say so."

They stood there a moment longer, the river’s gentle hum filling the quiet space between them. Then Ball stretched her arms and said, "Alright girl, let’s get you back before you trip into another surprise encounter."

"Very funny," Valkyrie muttered, but her tone was lighter now.

As they began to walk back toward the dorms, Ball sneaked a glance at her— the way her hair caught the light, the slight sadness still in her eyes. Something told Ball that whatever Valkyrie was running from tonight wasn’t just Sky. It was something deeper... something waiting to wake up.

***********************************************

[Music Theater —]

The piano keys shimmered through the air like ripples over calm water.

Soda stood before the mic, her eyes were closed, waiting for the cue.

Across the room, Bryan adjusted his stand, his voice ready to meet hers.

The first note rose— and suddenly, it was just the two of them.

(Soda – soft, hopeful)

♪♪There’s a place I dreamed, where the skies never fade,

Where hearts find rhythm in the songs they’ve made.

I’ve walked alone through the sound of the rain,

But your voice, it calls my name again...♪♪

(Bryan – gentle harmony)

♪♪ I’ve been lost between the echoes of time,

Chasing shadows that once were mine.

But then your light broke through the tide,

And I knew... I was home.....♪♪.

(Both – building together)

♪♪ So here we stand.... two notes aligned....

Different hearts but the same design.

When our worlds collide.....the stars ignite,

And the music takes its flight tonight! ♪♪

(Soda – with a stronger and higher pitch now)

♪♪ Every beat, every breath, feels like fate...

Every word you sing, I can’t escape.

I never knew a sound could feel this real,...

Until this melody taught me how to heal.♪♪

(Bryan – echoing with melody as Soda joins in)

♪♪ I never thought a voice could find my own,

In a crowded world, I wasn’t alone.

So if you’ll sing, I’ll follow through....

Every song will lead me back to you.....!♪♪

**********

The final note lingered in the air like a sigh that refused to fade.

For a moment, the room was silent— not out of emptiness, but awe. Of the way Bryan’s voice blended perfectly well with Soda’s, leaving everybody’s jaw opened in the theater— as they all stared in satisfaction.

Miss Darla leaned back with a smile that reached her eyes. "Beautiful, Soda. You’re improving every single week. The emotion, the control... it’s all there."

Soda’s lips curved into a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, ma’am." Her voice was still soft from singing, almost a whisper carried by the leftover melody.

Before she could move from the mic, Bryan stepped forward, his tone was light but honest.

"You have a really sweet voice," he said, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. "Like... the kind that makes you want to stop and keep listening till you can’t no more."

Soda blinked, caught between laughter and surprise. "That’s... unexpectedly poetic," she teased, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "And your voice isn’t bad either. You’ve got this calm tone that makes the whole song feel balanced."

He chuckled. "Yeah....we make a good team then."

"Maybe," she replied, half-smiling. "I’m Soda."

"Bryan," he said, shaking her hand lightly. His touch was brief but warm.

"I’ve actually heard about you before," Soda added, tilting her head slightly. "Sky..."

Bryan raised a brow, amused. "Ah, Sky. So....what did he say about me?"

Soda laughed. "Nothing much, I heard him saying you’re a stubborn but the talented type. I guess he was half right."

Bryan grinned. "I’ll take it. That’s probably the nicest thing he’s ever said about me. Aha!" he laughed.

The moment stretched— A quiet rhythm of exchanged glances and smiles neither tried too hard to hide.

Miss Darla’s voice suddenly cut through their bubble. "Alright, people let’s keep the music flowing! From the bridge again, both of you... lovebirds."

Soda blinked, with her face warming. "W—What?...She didn’t just...?"

Bryan chuckled under his breath. "Lovebirds? Yeah I heard that" Bryan laughed hard, then paused for a while. "... But I don’t have a problem with it though. Infact it sounds cute."

Soda was caught mid air— ’is he flirting with me right now or is he joking?’ she taught to herself but couldn’t help it. Bryan is so cute and she has "this thing" for cute guys. But before she could reply him back, Miss Darla interrupted...

"...Focus, Bryan. Soda" darla hissed, Soda turned biting back a grin as she faced the mic again.

The piano began from the bridge. This time, their voices intertwined smoother than before— her soft tone wrapping around his deeper melody, every harmony a gentle spark waiting to become something more.

As the song built toward its second chorus, Soda caught herself glancing at him— not just hearing his voice, but feeling it.

And Bryan, between lyrics, looked her way like he already knew she’d be there.

By the time the final note fell, neither could tell where the music ended and the connection began. What could this possibly mean for Soda? Who is this all a set up?