ASHER P.O.V
"Unusual activity in the Cloud Forest."
Allen didn't bother knocking before walking into my office, as usual.
"A trio," he continued casually. "They've been taking down illegal operations. Efficient. Quiet. Almost professional."
I didn't look up from my work.
"I've heard," I said flatly. "Not my concern."
"Also…" he added, his tone shifting slightly, "we found Clara."
That—
Got my attention.
My pen stilled.
For a full year, my sister had been missing.
No trace.
No contact.
Nothing.
And now—
"She's been found?" I asked, finally looking up.
Allen smirked slightly.
"Took long enough, right?"
I leaned back in my chair, my mind already working.
Clara wasn't careless.
If she had stayed hidden for this long, it meant she wasn't alone.
Someone had helped her.
Protected her.
Hidden her.
And now—
I wanted to know who.
"Prepare the helicopter," I said coldly. "We leave in two days."
Felix, who had been standing quietly nearby, nodded immediately.
"Yes, sir."
"Why not go now?" Allen asked. "It's not like I have anything important to do."
"I do," I replied simply. "And you're not coming."
"What?" he frowned. "You're leaving me behind?"
"If word gets out that I'm gone," I said, my voice turning colder, "everything we've built becomes vulnerable."
He groaned.
"That's boring."
"Then consider it your first day being useful."
He muttered something under his breath but didn't argue further.
Eventually, he left.
"Sir," Felix spoke carefully, "aren't you going to rest?"
"No."
Hours passed before I finally stood.
Even then, I didn't leave.
I moved toward the private room connected to my office—a space prepared for nights like this.
Sleep came briefly.
Light.
Controlled.
—
The next morning…
"Prepare the helicopter," I ordered.
"Yes, sir," Felix replied before hesitating. "Shouldn't you take backup?"
I scoffed.
"Against my sister?"
He immediately went silent.
—
Now—
I stood in the middle of a broken doorway.
My jaw ached.
That girl had hit me.
Hard.
My gaze shifted toward her.
Small.
Sharp.
Completely unafraid.
Interesting.
Dangerous.
"She just made a mistake…" I said quietly.
One she wouldn't survive repeating.
Before I could act further—
"ALEXIA!"
Clara rushed down, panic in her voice.
"What are you doing?!"
"Showing him his place," the girl—Alexia—replied without hesitation.
Clara helped me up.
"He's my brother."
The change in Alexia was immediate.
Subtle.
But there.
"…Your brother?" she repeated.
I watched her closely.
She wasn't weak.
That much was obvious.
But she had no idea who she had just struck.
"Take Clara home," I ordered coldly, turning away.
This was a waste of time.
But then—
I stopped.
Something shifted.
The air.
Barely noticeable.
But wrong.
I turned back toward the house.
My eyes scanned the surroundings carefully.
Silence.
Stillness.
Nothing.
Yet—
The feeling remained.
Like something unseen was watching.
Observing.
Waiting.
My instincts sharpened instantly.
Because I knew one thing—
I was never wrong about this.
And whatever it was—
It wasn't normal.