The room was quiet, too quiet. Only the faint hum of the evening wind brushing against the paper windows broke the silence. On the far wall, lit by the pale glow of a lantern, hung a framed photograph—Master Kim, smiling in his graduation robes, his eyes full of youthful pride.
Kaito stood before it, rigid, his fists clenched at his sides. His eyes were locked onto the photo, and though they burned with anger, a sheen of tears glimmered stubbornly across them. He would not let them fall. Not now. Not ever.
For the first time in days, his mask of cold indifference cracked. His chest rose and fell unevenly as he stared at his father's face. That smile… that smile felt like a blade twisting in his chest.
Behind him, Su-cheol entered quietly, his footsteps deliberate so as not to startle him. He saw Kaito's trembling shoulders, the way his jaw clenched and unclenched, and without hesitation, placed a steady hand on his shoulder.
"You know," Su-cheol said softly, offering a faint but genuine smile, "if your father could see you right now, he'd be proud. Proud of how far you've come."
The words struck something deep within Kaito. His throat tightened, and for a brief moment, he nearly allowed the tears to escape. But anger surged in like a tide, drowning out his grief. He turned slightly, his voice low but sharp.
"It was his dream… his dream to see me graduate." His knuckles whitened as he clenched his fists tighter. "And now that dream is complete. But dreams don't end here. Nothing—nothing will stop me now. That bastard orphan…" His lips curled into a snarl. "He won't escape me."
The lantern flickered, shadows dancing across his face, highlighting the storm raging in his eyes.
Su-cheol did not flinch. He had known Kaito long enough to recognize this mix of grief and fury—the dangerous fire that fueled him. Still, he kept his tone calm, soothing, as though he were steadying a raging beast.
"I know," Su-cheol replied, "but anger alone won't guide you. Your father's strength wasn't just in his fists or his achievements. It was in his will to rise, to keep moving forward even when the world tried to crush him. That's what he left you, Kaito. Not vengeance. Resilience."
Kaito's head dropped for a moment, his bangs casting a shadow over his eyes. "Resilience won't bring him back."
"No," Su-cheol said, his voice firm now. "But it can carry you toward the future he wanted for you." He hesitated, then leaned closer, lowering his voice. "And maybe… just maybe, he's already helping you from above."
Kaito's eyes flickered, and he turned sharply to look at his friend. "What do you mean?"
Su-cheol paused, as though weighing whether to reveal what he had heard. Then he spoke. "Someone in Velaria saw her… that girl. She was collecting money for children like her. They said she looked determined, like she carried the weight of more than just herself."
Kaito stiffened. The image flashed in his mind: a girl, fragile yet fierce, clutching a box of coins, her eyes lit with a stubborn flame. He knew who Su-cheol was speaking of.
"You think that's a coincidence?" Su-cheol asked, his tone careful. "Maybe your father's spirit… maybe fate itself… is showing you the way."
For a long moment, silence swallowed the room. The only sound was the distant chirping of cicadas outside the window.
Kaito's jaw tightened. His father's smile from the photo seemed to bore into him, almost mocking, almost urging.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low but steady. "Velaria."
Su-cheol nodded, watching him. "Yes. Velaria."
Kaito lifted his head, and for the first time that evening, his tears no longer fought to escape. They had dried into something sharper—resolve. He turned back to the photo, bowing his head slightly, a gesture of both respect and farewell.
"Father," he whispered under his breath, so soft Su-cheol could barely hear, "I'll finish what you started. I'll make sure your dream lives through me. And I'll crush anyone who stands in the way."
The lantern flame wavered again, as though stirred by an unseen breath.
Su-cheol let out a slow exhale. He knew what this meant. Their path was clear now, even if it was dark and filled with blood. Kaito had chosen his next step.
Loc: Our Home ( Orphanage)
The morning sunlight streamed through the streets of Velaria, golden and warm, yet it felt heavy on Sita's shoulders. Her mind was anything but light. Every step toward her office dragged beneath the weight of what Monk Vallayi had told her—the portal, the ancient shield, the gathering malice. She tried to push away the fear, but the words circled like a curse.
How can I handle something this big? What if I fail? What if people die because of me?
Her hands clenched at her sides, her heart racing. For a moment, she almost forgot where she was walking—until a sudden spray of cold water snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Ahh!" Sita gasped, looking down. Muddy water clung to her skirt, splashing across her shoes. She turned sharply, glaring at the car speeding away without the faintest care. Her anger sparked, cheeks flushed.
"What a reckless jerk!" she muttered, biting her lip in frustration as she tried patting the stain with her scarf. The world already felt overwhelming, and now this.
She sighed, ducked into the orphanage washroom nearby to clean herself, muttering complaints under her breath.
TO BE CONNECTED...