A warm breeze drifted through and brushed against the pavilion standing in the middle of the garden.
An orange glow illuminated part of the pavilion, where a small table with two chairs sat at its center. The aroma of tea lingered in the air, carried by the wind.
A woman's hand, slightly wrinkled, lifted a teacup and sipped it slowly.
Her hair flowed down to her waist, with a few strands of red already turning white.
Wrinkles had begun to form on her face.
The woman placed her teacup back down.
She looked around the garden. Her face turned slightly to the right, where an adult man in a gray robe approached and stood behind her.
The woman spoke.
"Did your son return with Rina?"
The man in the gray robe smiled.
"Yes… Your Highness. He told me that the princess invited him to return together."
The woman sighed.
"It seems they've grown close after that incident."
The man in the gray robe nodded.
"Yes… thanks to the princess, Alex was able to survive…."
The woman took another sip of her tea.
"But didn't you once complain that Alex refused to train his body, Captain Sander?"
Captain Sander smiled.
"Yes… he's very hard to get moving. He won't even do light exercise."
The woman tapped the table with her finger.
"Bring your son here, we can have dinner together…."
She remembered something.
"...ah, and bring your wife and Aisy too. It's been a long time since I've seen that cute child.."
Captain Sander chuckled slightly.
"That would trouble you, Your Highness…"
The woman shrugged.
"Just come… besides, I'm not the one preparing everything.."
One of her eyebrows lifted.
"Rina and Reva will also be here during the holiday, so come before the new semester begins."
Captain Sander was about to respond, but a gust of wind swept through him and the pavilion. When it stopped, a figure in a black robe appeared behind Captain Sander.
Captain Sander turned his head, while the woman simply continued drinking her tea.
"What is it?"
The black-robed figure hesitated slightly.
"Alex Sander got into a fight, sir. Reva is involved as well… and the princess asked that you be informed."
Captain Sander's eyes widened, his expression turning confused.
"A fight? Where?"
His heart began to race as he looked toward the woman, who was still calmly sipping her tea.
The woman simply raised her hand.
She chuckled.
"Go… it seems your son has caused his first mess."
Captain Sander swallowed hard and bowed slightly.
"My apologies, Your Highness. I will return as soon as possible."
The woman shook her head.
"No need… just have dinner with your family."
Captain Sander let out a breath.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
He quickly turned around and ran with all his strength.
The woman only smiled faintly as she watched Captain Sander hurry away.
Captain Sander running through the mansion drew everyone's attention.
His gray robe flowed behind him, his short gray hair swayed slightly, and his black eyes were filled with worry.
'A fight?... impossible. Especially in front of the princess.'
Captain Sander gritted his teeth. He immediately headed to his mana-powered car.
His white car sped through the streets, cutting across the city roads. In several places, traffic jams slowed him down, frustrating him as he honked repeatedly.
Captain Sander finally arrived. He quickly parked his car and rushed into the station.
His eyes scanned in every direction, sweat dampening his hands.
He pushed through the crowd until he reached the surveillance room.
His steps were stopped, but he quickly showed his identification card.
"I'm… Tommy Sander. My son is inside."
The security officer allowed him in.
His hurried steps made him the center of attention, but Captain Sander didn't care.
His eyes searched every corner of the room until he finally saw Alex.
Captain Sander's gaze froze as he saw Alex sitting there, his clothes covered in blood.
Captain Sander gritted his teeth and ran toward Alex.
He bent down slightly and grabbed Alex by both shoulders.
His eyes trembled as he looked at Alex, drenched in blood.
"Hey… are you okay? Alex?"
Alex remained silent.
Captain Sander shook him.
Growing impatient, he looked around and shouted.
"Hey! You need to treat my son first!"
One of the nearby officers responded.
"We've already given him a potion."
Veins bulged on Captain Sander's forehead.
"A potion?! How is that enough?! Look at all that bloo—"
Before he could finish, a hand touched his arm.
Captain Sander turned toward Alex.
Alex sighed.
"I'm fine… f-father?"
Captain Sander's expression turned confused as he checked Alex's head, which had previously been bleeding.
"What's wrong with you? Is your brain damaged or something? Why are you hesitating to call your own father?!"
Alex held back his father's hands that kept poking at his head.
"I'm fine… father."
Captain Sander continued inspecting Alex's head.
Annoyed, Alex raised his hand and waved it, signaling for help.
Footsteps approached, and Captain Sander turned his head.
Katarina stood there in her black robe.
Captain Sander's eyes widened, and he bowed slightly.
"Your Highness…"
Katarina smiled faintly.
"It's been a while, Captain Sander… and I apologize for interrupting your work."
Captain Sander shook his head.
"It's nothing… my son is the one causing trouble."
Alex just stared blankly at his father.
Katarina spoke and pointed in a direction.
"I've already spoken with the head of security… but you should speak with him as well."
Captain Sander nodded and left.
Katarina looked at Alex and sat beside him.
She whispered to him.
"What's wrong with you? Why did you become so wild? Is that your true self?"
Alex didn't answer. Katarina looked at him.
Alex was licking his tongue.
A strange sound came from him.
'Damn… that's so weird. Calling someone else "father."'
Katarina looked at him with disgust.
"What are you doing?"
Alex replied.
"Nothing… I just feel like there's clotted blood."
Katarina looked confused, then suddenly pressed his cheek and looked into his mouth.
Alex's eyes widened, and he quickly pushed her away.
"Hey, hey… a princess shouldn't act like that! Maintain your dignity!"
Katarina chuckled and leaned her shoulder against the wall.
Alex sighed.
Katarina whispered again.
"What happened to you? You suddenly acted like a thug."
Alex took a deep breath and messed up his hair.
'I don't know either… damn it.'
'Krystal can't even be talked to right now….'
'After hearing that whisper… I couldn't control my body. Even the first soul core didn't respond…'
Alex kept talking to himself until suddenly his head was hit from the side.
Thud.
He rubbed his head and looked to the side.
"What the hell?!"
Katarina's face was puffed up in annoyance.
"I've been asking you, but you keep staying silent."
Alex gave a foolish smile while rubbing his head.
"I forgot. I was answering you in my head…"
Katarina scoffed.
"Idiot…"
The two of them talked for a while until Captain Sander approached.
His eyes widened seeing Alex and Katarina chatting like close friends.
"Are you two close friends?"
Alex shook his head and pointed at Katarina.
"With who? Her? No way…"
Katarina suppressed her anger while Captain Sander spoke.
"Hey! You should feel honored to be friends with Princess Katarina!"
Katarina chuckled.
"I'm not that noble, Captain Sander…"
Captain Sander and Katarina talked for a while.
Alex, who couldn't stand it anymore, stood up.
"Is everything done? Can I go home now?"
Captain Sander sighed, wrapping his arm around Alex's neck in a chokehold.
Alex struggled.
"You're such a quiet kid… but when you cause trouble, you really make a mess…"
Alex couldn't respond and just struggled.
Captain Sander looked at Katarina.
"Thank you, Your Highness… for helping Alex."
Katarina glanced at Alex briefly and turned to Captain Sander.
"It's nothing… the day after tomorrow, please bring Alex when the captain comes…"
Captain Sander's eyes widened.
"What is it? Are you going to play?"
Katarina shrugged.
"Maybe? Yes… there will be a short holiday with the others. Drag him along, I'm afraid he'll forget…"
Captain Sander smiled widely.
"Of course… once again, thank you, Your Highness…"
Still holding Alex, Captain Sander left the surveillance room and headed to his car.
He released his hold, allowing Alex to finally breathe.
The wind brushed against his skin, the orange glow fading, nearly replaced by the dark sky.
Captain Sander spoke.
"Get in…"
Alex sighed and entered the car. He opened the front door, sat down, and closed it.
Thud.
Captain Sander stared in surprise at Alex sitting beside him. He hadn't even closed his own door yet.
Alex looked confused.
"What's wrong?"
Captain Sander asked.
"You're sitting in the front?"
Alex nodded, confused.
"Yes…?"
Captain Sander closed his door and started the car.
"You're not like your usual self. You know that?"
Alex swallowed, his heart beating fast, forcing an awkward smile.
"Yeah… maybe because you haven't seen your son in a long time?"
Captain Sander nodded and smiled.
"Yes… it seems you've grown up…"
He drove through the streets toward their home.
Alex leaned his head against the car window.
Captain Sander glanced at him.
"What actually happened to you? Beating up eleven people? And four of them were girls?"
Alex sighed, his face grimacing.
'That's what I'm wondering too… Krystal… where are you?'
Alex replied.
"I didn't beat up the girls…"
Captain Sander's eyebrow twitched.
"So you did beat the others."
Alex breathed onto the glass, fogging it, and drew a circle.
"I don't know what happened… I just suddenly started beating them…"
Alex swallowed.
'Yeah… that's what happened after hearing that whisper…'
Captain Sander looked at him.
"Don't you recognize them? They're your middle school friends."
Alex's eyes widened, and he quickly turned to him. They stared at each other. Captain Sander's expression turned serious.
"My friends?..."
Alex leaned back into the soft seat.
'Damn… what kind of friends are those…'
He imagined the ones he had beaten at the station.
Captain Sander's voice broke his thoughts.
"You've been strange since the train incident…"
This time, his voice was filled with concern.
Alex sighed.
"I'm fine… father."
Captain Sander kept talking the whole way.
The sun had already disappeared.
Alex held his throbbing head, dizzy from listening to his father's rambling.
His stomach churned, and his vision blurred.
He swallowed hard.
'I could hold it in at first… but because he keeps talking, I can't anymore…'
'...this damn citrus smell…'
Something in his stomach slowly surged upward.
Alex's eyes widened, cold sweat pouring down his forehead. He tapped the dashboard repeatedly while covering his mouth.
Captain Sander looked at him, eyes widening.
"Hey, hey… don't throw up here."
He sharply turned the wheel and stopped by the roadside.
Alex rushed out and vomited everything in his stomach.
"Blegh…."
People stared at him strangely.
Captain Sander quickly got out and patted his back.
Alex stood up, still sweating, his face pale.
"Don't… don't use that citrus scent again…"
Captain Sander looked confused.
"But that's your favorite."
Alex sighed.
'This body's preferences really don't match mine.'
His body weakened, and with his remaining strength, he and Captain Sander continued their journey home, leaving behind the stares of others.
They were almost there, passing rows of identical houses.
Not too large, each had a small front garden and a glass door leading to it. The houses had two floors and walls surrounding them.
Captain Sander stopped in front of one house. The number 360 was written on the wall.
They prepared to get out. Alex looked at his father.
"Wait… let me change clothes first."
His father nodded.
"Good idea…"
Alex spoke while changing.
"Does mother know?"
His father scoffed.
"If she knew, Ashton City Station would already be flattened…"
Alex swallowed.
'What kind of person could flatten a station that big…'
Alex sprayed some fresh-scented perfume.
They got out of the car, Alex wearing a white shirt.
As they reached the door and were about to open it, it suddenly opened from inside.
A grown woman came out—her straight black hair swaying as she leapt forward and hugged Alex tightly.
Alex was confused, his neck almost choked.
The woman cried.
"Why did you come home so late?... Are you okay? I wanted to visit you after that incident.."
Alex's eyes widened, his heart pounding as he felt a warmth he hadn't felt in a long time.
He swallowed and gently patted his mother's back.
"Yes, yes… I'm home…"
His voice was slightly choked.
"…mom.."
She released the hug, and Alex could finally see her face clearly.
Her black eyes were filled with tears as she wiped them away.
Her straight black hair reached her waist.
Alex thought to himself.
'I really do look like my mother…'
Captain Sander calmed his wife, and they entered.
As soon as Alex stepped into the house, his eyes grew heavy.
Something hugged his right leg. Alex looked down.
A small child was clinging to his leg.
Alex's eyes widened.
The child had gray hair tied into two ponytails and black eyes, her hands reaching up toward him.
His mother exclaimed happily.
"It seems Aisy wants you to carry her, she missed her big brother."
Alex lifted Aisy and carried her.
Aisy wiggled in his arms.
"Bu… buubuu… bu"
One of Alex's eyebrows raised.
'So this is my little sister? She looks smaller than in the photo.'
Aisy's small hands held Alex's cheeks, her touch bringing warmth.
It made Alex's eyes grow heavier.
He looked at her.
"Sorry… we'll play later."
He handed Aisy back to his mother.
"Sorry, mom… I'm really tired… I'm sleepy."
His parents looked at him strangely.
His vision blurred.
Alex swallowed.
"I'm going to sleep first…"
He walked toward the stairs as if he knew where his room was, leaving his parents calling after him.
"You need to eat first, Alex!"
Alex reached the dimly lit second floor and opened his room door.
Creak.
Cold air brushed his skin.
He didn't pay attention to the room and went straight to the bed.
He lay down.
His back felt comfort, his eyes grew heavier, coldness wrapping around him.
Alex swallowed.
"Damn… what is this now?"
He slowly fell asleep, darkness enveloping him.
Alex couldn't see anything.
But slowly, a point of light appeared, growing larger and pushing away the darkness.
A glimmer caught his eyes, and he shielded it with his hand.
Gradually, the light dimmed.
Alex opened his eyes.
Before him stretched a dark sky, the ground covered in shallow water.
He looked down. Even though his feet touched the water, they weren't wet.
He swallowed and looked ahead.
His eyes narrowed.
'What is that?'
There stood a tree with white leaves slowly falling. Its petals dropped into the water, and beside it was a giant rock where the back of someone could be seen.
They were dressed entirely in white.
Goosebumps rose on Alex's skin as he slowly approached the rock.
When he stopped, he looked at the person's back, about to speak—but the person turned around.
Alex's eyes widened, his legs lost strength, and he fell to the ground.
He pointed at the person.
"You… you…"