The group sat inside the hidden base, the low hum of machinery filling the silence.
Juliet broke it first, leaning back with an annoyed sigh.
"Ah, come on… he's taking way too long."
Nahru swung his legs from the chair, pouting dramatically.
"Yeah! Call him again. I'm feeling lonely," he said in a childish tone.
Ryan glanced at him, a mix of amusement and irritation flashing briefly across his face.
Just then—
Footsteps echoed.
The door slid open.
Nahru's eyes lit up instantly. He jumped to his feet and pointed dramatically.
"Hey, hey—Damian! Look! They kidnapped me! Now hand over the money and save me!"
Damian stepped inside, his expression unreadable.
"Stop acting, Nahru," he said flatly. "I know everything."
The room stiffened.
"I'm the one who sent Isobel after you."
Nahru froze.
His face fell as he slowly turned toward Isobel, betrayal written all over his expression. But before he could think too deeply—
He bolted toward Damian.
"I'M SOOOOO SORRY!" Nahru cried, grabbing Damian's sleeve.
"I didn't want to study, that's why I ran away! Ahhhh! Please forgive me!"
Ryan rubbed his temple.
"Excuse me," he interrupted coldly. "We don't have time for this."
Damian nodded, his eyes still fixed on Nahru.
"Yeah. I know. I'll deal with you later."
Nahru visibly shivered.
Isobel stepped forward, taking control of the situation.
"Alright. Then let's get to the point. Why is he with you?" She glanced at Nahru.
"He's not from this planet… right?"
Damian gestured toward Nahru.
"Well? Explain."
Nahru scratched his head sheepishly.
"I just… really admire humans. I wanted to live like them. That's why I left my home and came here. When I met Damian, he helped me."
Damian crossed his arms.
"He's an idiot. Leaving him alone would've been dangerous. So I took responsibility. Whatever he did—it's on me."
Juliet blinked.
"Wait… your family didn't have a problem with this?"
Damian shrugged casually.
"I told them the truth. That he's not human and has powers. I told my grandmother he's an orphan alien."
He smiled slightly.
"She found him innocent. Boom. Problem solved."
He said it like it was nothing.
Ryan, Isobel, and Juliet exchanged stunned looks.
Then Ryan's gaze locked onto Nahru.
His expression was unreadable.
Damian noticed.
"Now it's your turn," he said slowly. "You're not from here either, right? Like Nahru?"
He glanced between them.
"And how did you get powers? And Juliet too? What exactly are you all doing?"
Nahru leaned forward excitedly.
"And you're all power users, right? Did you train them?"
Ryan exhaled softly.
"Oh… so you two know everything already."
Nahru grinned.
"That's because Damian's really smart."
Isobel stepped in.
"Okay. I'll answer everything."
She took a breath.
"Yes, I'm not from this planet. I'm from a world called Triforce."
She paused.
"And about the powers—no, they aren't mine. I didn't train them."
She turned toward Ryan.
"They were originally his."
"Ryan's… powers?" Damian and Nahru said in unison, shocked.
Ryan nodded.
"Yes. I was born with them."
Damian stared at him.
"But you're human—just like us. I've known you since junior school…"
His voice trailed off.
Because he saw Ryan's eyes.
Empty. Silent. Carrying something too heavy.
Ryan glanced down at his wrist.
Damian understood.
He didn't want to talk about it.
And that's when Damian realized—
Even Juliet and Isobel didn't know the full truth.
Isobel continued quietly,
"As I said… Juliet and I got his powers by accident."
"By accident?" Nahru echoed.
Juliet closed her eyes.
"I'm still confused about what happened that day…"
Lightning. Light. Pain.
Ryan broke the silence.
"So… who's going to explain first?"
He looked around, then continued,
"The ice on your hands, Juliet—that's part of my power."
Juliet's eyes widened.
"Wait—what? Superpowers? That's impossible! I've known you forever!"
"Believe it or not," Ryan said quietly, "the truth is right in front of you."
Juliet swallowed.
She could see it—the pain he was hiding.
Isobel nodded.
"He's telling the truth."
She continued,
"That explosion caused a resonance. We don't yet know how, but his powers split—and manifested within us."
Back to the present
Juliet added,
"Since then, Ryan's been helping us control it… until Isobel gets a response from her planet."
Nahru's eyes sparkled.
"So… you're training to fight Shadow, right?"
Isobel stiffened.
"How do you know that name?"
Nahru smiled.
"I've sensed him for a long time. When he came to Earth, I felt it."
Isobel nodded grimly.
"Yes. Shadow was sealed by the one who sent me here. But he escaped."
She clenched her fist.
"His power split during the escape—into seven scrolls scattered across Earth."
"And you collect them before he does," Damian said slowly.
"Then defeat him."
Ryan nodded.
"Yes."
Damian frowned.
"Then why didn't the one who sealed him come himself?"
Isobel shook her head.
"I don't know. He only told me—there's someone on this planet who can do what he can't."
Ryan's eyes sharpened.
"Well… I don't mind fighting him."
He clenched his fist.
"If it makes me stronger, I'll do it."
Nahru shot up.
"Then let me join too!"
Juliet and Isobel looked to Ryan.
Ryan smirked faintly.
"Sure. I don't mind."
Plus… I want to see how strong you really are.
Juliet smiled.
"Same."
Isobel nodded.
"It's safer if you're with us."
Nahru cheered.
"YEAHHH!"
"Wait," Damian said firmly.
"Nahru."
The room fell silent.
"Being a hero isn't about power. It's about sacrifice. Putting others before yourself—even your life."
Nahru thought for a moment.
Then smiled.
"I can sacrifice my life for you without hesitation. If I become their friend… I can do the same for them."
Silence.
Damian's eyes softened.
"…Alright. You're allowed."
Isobel turned to him sharply.
"And you're coming too."
Damian blinked.
"Me? I'm powerless."
Juliet rolled her eyes.
"Don't start."
Ryan crossed his arms.
"You're joining. That kid's your responsibility, right? Fulfill it."
Nahru made puppy eyes.
"Pleaseeeee."
Damian sighed… then nodded.
"Alright. Let's do this."
Nahru exploded with joy.
"YEAHHHH!"
---
Elsewhere…
In a dark, silent room—
Someone waited.
A voice whispered, filled with malice.
"I'm waiting for you… Shun."
The air grew colder.
And somewhere far away—
Something awakened.