Two months had passed since the fall of the elemental giant.
The city had not forgotten.
If anything, it remembered too well.
What began as scattered rumors had turned into stories, and those stories into something greater. People needed hope—something to hold onto in a world that constantly threatened to collapse.
So they created it.
And at the center of it stood one man.
Poul.
A soldier who had done the impossible.
A man who had faced a creature far beyond human limits—and lived.
To the people, he was no longer just a soldier.
He was a symbol.
To Jay… he was still just his father.
And that made everything complicated.
Fame was loud.
Too loud.
Jay learned that quickly.
It wasn't just the looks—it was the whispers, the curiosity, the expectations placed on him without his consent. Every time he stepped outside, it felt like the world was watching him, measuring him, waiting for something.
He didn't like it.
Not even a little.
"Is that him?"
"The hero's son?"
"He doesn't look like much…"
Jay kept walking.
Head down. Eyes forward.
Ignoring them.
It was easier that way.
He stopped going out as much.
Stopped interacting.
Stopped trying.
Books became his escape.
Inside them, things made sense.
Stories had structure. Purpose. Logic.
Reality didn't.
Now, they all lived together—him, Poul, Luis, Mary, and Kyrai.
Not because they had to.
Because they chose to.
After everything that happened, being alone didn't feel like an option anymore.
Morning came quietly.
Soft light slipped through the curtains, brushing against the walls without fully waking the room.
Jay opened his eyes slowly.
For a moment, he didn't move.
He simply stared at the ceiling.
Empty.
His thoughts drifting without direction.
Then he turned his head.
Kyrai was still asleep beside him, wrapped tightly in the blanket like it was protecting her from the world.
Jay sighed.
"Wake up."
No response.
He reached over and shook her shoulder lightly.
"Kyrai."
She groaned, turning her face away.
"Five more minutes…"
Jay frowned.
"You said that yesterday."
"And it worked…"
He stared at her for a few seconds.
Then sighed again, longer this time.
"…You're impossible."
After a few more failed attempts, he lifted part of the blanket and grabbed her foot.
Then—
He started tickling.
Kyrai twitched.
Then kicked.
Hard.
"WHAT THE HELL, KYRAI?!"
Jay stumbled back, holding his chin.
She opened one eye, clearly irritated.
"I told you I hate that…"
"And I told you to wake up!"
She slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"You're the worst."
"And you're lazy."
A pause.
Then she made a face.
"Idiot."
Jay smirked slightly.
"At least you're awake."
Downstairs, the house felt warm.
Not physically.
Something quieter.
Something… steady.
Mary was already in the kitchen.
Luis sat at the table, stretching his arms.
Poul stood near the door, adjusting his uniform.
Everything felt normal.
Almost too normal.
Jay sat down and opened his book before even touching the food.
He ate without looking.
Reading.
As always.
Luis watched him for a moment.
"…You do that every day."
Jay didn't look up.
"Do what?"
"Eat while reading."
Jay shrugged.
"It saves time."
Poul snorted.
"That's not saving time. That's addiction."
Jay ignored him.
Mary placed a plate in front of him.
"Eat properly, Jay."
"I am."
"You're not even looking."
"I don't need to."
Luis chuckled quietly.
"This kid…"
For a moment… it felt like a real family.
Jay paused.
Just for a second.
Then went back to reading.
Because moments like that never lasted.
After breakfast, Jay stepped outside.
Kyrai followed behind him, still complaining under her breath.
The streets were already alive.
Voices.
Movement.
Noise.
Jay's shoulders tensed slightly.
He didn't like crowds.
Didn't like attention.
And yet, it found him anyway.
"That's him…"
"Hey! Isn't that—"
Jay walked faster.
Ignoring them.
Eventually, they reached the usual spot.
Noa was already there.
And as expected—
He was looking at Kyrai.
Jay noticed immediately.
A small smirk formed on his lips.
"…You're obvious."
Noa flinched.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Sure you don't."
Kyrai blinked, confused.
"What are you two talking about?"
"Nothing," they both said at the same time.
Jay laughed quietly.
The tension disappeared.
For a while, everything felt normal.
They talked.
Walked through the streets.
Sat by the park.
Jay even found himself enjoying it.
Maybe this isn't so bad…
He glanced at Noa.
Then at Kyrai.
I could help him…
A small idea formed in his mind.
Something simple.
Something harmless.
For a moment—
He felt like a normal kid.
And that's why he didn't notice it at first.
The shift.
The silence.
Night came.
Slowly.
Quietly.
And Jay walked home alone.
The streets were different now.
Quieter.
Darker.
Shadows stretched unnaturally across the ground.
The air felt colder.
That's when he felt it.
A presence.
Behind him.
A step.
Soft.
Careful.
Jay didn't turn.
Another step.
Closer.
His body stiffened slightly.
Don't panic.
He kept walking.
Steady.
Controlled.
The footsteps continued.
Matching him.
Jay's breathing slowed.
Forced.
Think.
He turned a corner.
The sound followed.
Another turn.
Still there.
His heartbeat began to rise.
Not again…
Memories surfaced.
That day.
The invasion.
The fear.
The helplessness.
Jay clenched his teeth.
Then—
He sped up.
The footsteps did the same.
Faster.
Closer.
Jay's control broke.
He ran.
The sound behind him exploded into motion.
Fast.
Too fast.
His lungs burned.
His legs screamed.
I won't—
A hand grabbed him.
Strong.
Unavoidable.
Before he could react—
A cloth was pressed against his face.
A sharp smell filled his lungs.
His vision blurred instantly.
"No—!"
His voice failed.
The world tilted.
Spun.
His body weakened.
Darkness closed in.
And then—
Nothing.
…
When Jay opened his eyes again…
There was nothing.
No light.
No sound.
No warmth.
Only cold.
"…Am I dead?"
A voice answered.
"No."
It was calm.
Almost gentle.
A figure stepped forward.
A woman.
Blue hair.
Pale skin.
Eyes that felt… wrong.
"You're in my home," she said softly.
Jay's throat tightened.
"What do you want?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"What do I want?"
A faint smile appeared.
"To sell you."
Silence filled the room.
"You're valuable," she continued.
"A hero's son… and possibly something more."
She stepped closer.
"People would pay a lot for you."
Jay clenched his fists.
Fear crept into his chest—
But he forced it down.
Then—
She spoke again.
"You're not from this world… are you?"
Everything stopped.
Jay's mind went blank.
The woman smiled.
"I've been watching you."
Her voice was calm.
Certain.
"The way you think… the way you act…"
She leaned closer.
"You were never really a child."
Jay said nothing.
But inside—
Something cracked.
She turned away.
"Break him."
The door closed.
And Jay was left alone…
In the dark.