The estate was quiet.
Not the peaceful kind of quiet, but it was controlled and deliberate. The kind that made it feel like every sound was being listened to, measured, recorded.
Kai sat on the edge of his bed, elbows resting on his knees, staring down at the floor. His room was spotless, perfectly arranged, just like everything else in the Asterian estate.
It didn't feel like his.
It never had.
Cale's voice lingered in his mind, calm and precise. 'You adapt' he said. Kai couldn't get those two words out of his mind.
Kai exhaled sharply through his nose, running a hand through his hair.
"Yeah, right," he muttered under his breath.
Adapt. Think. Be careful.
It all sounded the same to him, just different ways of telling him to stay put, stay quiet, stay under control.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"No thanks."
He stood abruptly, the movement sudden enough to break the stillness of the room. For a moment, he just stood there, breathing, as if something inside him had already made the decision before he could think it through.
Then he turned toward the window.
Pulling the curtain aside just enough, Kai looked out over the vast grounds of the estate. The gardens stretched endlessly, neat and untouched, with guards stationed at precise intervals. He could see them moving, patrolling and rotating, always in sync, like robots.
All of it felt suffocating.
All of it was because of him.
"…So this is it?" he murmured quietly. "More guards and rules."
His eyes narrowed as he watched two guards pass each other below, their movements almost mechanical and they were predictable too.
That was the first thing he noticed.
Everything here was predictable.
Which meant it could be broken.
A slow, defiant spark lit in his chest.
"…Then I'll just break it." Kai murmured under his breath.
This time, there was no hesitation. He couldn't fail because if he did, there would be grave consequences.
Kai stepped away from the window and moved quickly, grabbing a dark hoodie from the chair and pulling it over his head. His movements were quieter now, more deliberate. Not something he consciously chose, but something instinctive.
Even in defiance, he was learning.
He moved to the door and opened it just slightly, peering out into the hallway. It was empty, the lights dim, the silence stretching endlessly in both directions.
Good.
Kai slipped out, closing the door behind him with careful precision.
The moment he stepped into the corridor, something shifted in him. His frustration didn't disappear—but it sharpened, turning into focus.
He wasn't just acting on impulse anymore.
Not entirely.
His footsteps were light as he moved down the hall, avoiding the main routes and instead turning into a side corridor used mostly by staff. The lighting there was softer, the atmosphere quieter.
This corridor was always empty. Only a couple servants passed through from time to time.
Or at least, that's what it seemed like.
Kai slowed slightly as he approached a corner, pressing himself against the wall before leaning just enough to glance around it. His eyes scanned the space quickly. It was vacant and silent.
A small smirk tugged at Kai's lips.
"…Too easy."
He moved again, quicker now, confidence building with each step. He reached a narrow service door at the end of the corridor and stopped, testing the handle.
Of course it was locked.
Kai rolled his eyes, but there was no real frustration this time. Instead, he lifted his hand, placing his fingers lightly against the lock.
A faint flicker of energy sparked at his fingertips.
His power wasn't impressive—not compared to Leon, or Cale, or even Edgar. But it didn't need to be.
A soft click echoed.
The lock disengaged.
Kai's grin widened just slightly.
" I'm not useless." he whispered to himself. He wanted to prove Leon and Cale wrong.
He pushed the door open just enough to slip through and stepped outside.
The cool air hit him immediately, fresh and open in a way the estate never was. Kai exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing for the first time since he'd returned home.
"…Much better."
He stayed close to the walls as he moved, sticking to the shadows, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings. The estate was heavily guarded, but now that he was out here, he could see the patterns more clearly.
Voices drifted faintly from around the corner.
Kai froze instantly, pressing himself flat against the wall as two guards walked past, their conversation quiet but clear enough.
"…extra patrols tonight." one of the guards, Tom, said. The other gaurd was called Dylan and he replied,
"It was orders from above. The boss thinks his little brother will try to run again"
Kai's heart beat faster. He counted under his breath, his heartbeat steady despite the situation.
One… two… three…
The guards disappeared from view.
He moved again, trying to blend in with the shadows. Kai felt tired, his limbs aching from the tension. He felt a shiver down his spine, although he doesn't know why.
The outer boundary came into view—a tall, reinforced wall lined with security systems and patrol routes. It wasn't meant to be crossed.
But that didn't mean it couldn't be.
Kai crouched slightly behind a low structure, watching carefully. His eyes followed each guard, each shift, each gap in movement.
Thats when he saw a small opening. Tt wasn't obvious, but Kai remembered it from a few other times he attempted to escape. He never used that route, but he was desperate now.
"…Got it," he whispered.
He waited, timing it perfectly.
And then—
He moved.
Fast and silent, he crossed the open space, adrenaline surging as he reached the wall. Without stopping, he jumped, grabbing onto a narrow ledge and pulling himself up.
For a moment, it felt like it might actually work.
"…Almost—"
"Kai."
The voice cut through everything. It was calm and cold.
Right behind him.
Kai froze.
Slowly, his grip tightening on the ledge, he turned his head.
Leon stood a few steps away, hands in his pockets, completely composed. His expression was calm—almost relaxed—but the faint smirk on his lips gave everything away.
He had been watching the entire time.
Kai dropped back down to the ground, landing lightly, frustration hitting him all at once.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Leon tilted his head slightly, that same quiet amusement still present in his eyes.
"Going somewhere?"
Kai exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "How long were you there?"
"Long enough."
Of course.
Kai let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "You didn't stop me earlier." he said bitterly
"No," Leon replied calmly.
"Why?" Kai shot back
There was a brief pause before Leon answered.
"Because I was curious."
Kai stared at him, disbelief written all over his face. "Curious.." Kai muttered. "Why? Is my desire to be free something to be curious about?" Kai asked, annoyed.
Leon's gaze flicked briefly toward the wall before returning to him. "I wanted to see how far you would get."
Kai clenched his fists at his sides. "You're unbelievable."
"And you're predictable." Leon said coldly
The words hit harder than he expected.
"I almost made it," Kai shot back.
Leon raised an eyebrow slightly. "Did you?"
Kai looked away, jaw tightening. "…Tch."
Leon stepped closer, and instantly, that familiar pressure returned—heavy, controlled, impossible to ignore.
"You observed the patrols," Leon said, his tone calm but precise. "Used the structure for cover. Avoided direct routes."
Kai blinked, caught off guard by the analysis.
"…So?"
Leon's gaze remained steady.
"For someone who refuses to think, that was acceptable."
Kai frowned slightly. "Was that supposed to be a compliment?"
Leon didn't answer directly.
"You still failed."
There it was.
Kai exhaled, shoulders dropping slightly. "…Yeah."
A brief silence passed between them.
Then Leon spoke again.
"…But you improved."
Kai looked up, surprised.
Leon's expression hadn't softened—but something about his tone had shifted, just enough to notice.
"Next time," he said, "you won't make the same mistakes."
Kai blinked again, confusion flickering across his face.
"…Next time?"
Leon turned slightly, as if the conversation was already over.
"As long as you insist on doing this," he said, "you might as well learn. I won't have my brother becoming dumb and useless." Leon said, his voice low.
Kai just stood there, staring at him, unsure how to respond.
"You're not leaving the estate tonight," Leon added calmly. Kai grit his teeth slightly. "Why not?"
Leon ignored him and began walking away.
"Go back to your room." he ordered, not waiting for a response. Leon knew Kai would obey, and if he didnt, Leon could easily stop him with one phone call.
Kai hesitated for a moment before following, his frustration still there—but now mixed with something unfamiliar.
"…This is so unfair," he muttered, a tad bit loud because he wanted Leon to hear his annoyance.
"I'm aware." Leon responded evenly.
Kai frowned slightly, watching him.
"…You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
Leon paused briefly.
Then, without turning—
"…A little."
Kai's eye twitched.
"…Unbelievable." he muttered.
But this time—
He didn't try to run again.