"My house…?"
Riven's voice trembled.
"…Where are my parents?"
Silence.
The entire colony stood still, like time itself had stopped. No voices. No footsteps. Not even the wind dared to move.
Empty.
Everything was empty.
A strange chill ran down Riven's spine.
Then—
He felt it.
A presence.
Far… very far away… yet overwhelming.
It pressed against his mind like something watching him from the shadows.
High above a distant city, on the balcony of a towering skyscraper—
A boy with white hair and crimson eyes stood quietly, gazing into the distance.
His eyes were locked onto Riven.
"So his house got destroyed…
huh."
His voice was calm, almost bored.
"That must be those loan sharks… that infamous organization working under Tartan Enterprise."
He tilted his head slightly, unimpressed.
"The one who attacked him… just a weak fear user."
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"Pathetic."
Then his expression changed.
"…But why do I feel something from that boy?"
His eyes narrowed.
"There's something inside him."
A pause.
Then—
A twisted smile.
"I want to traumatize him."
Back at the ruins—
Riven suddenly froze.
His thoughts…
…started fading.
Blurring.
He couldn't think.
He couldn't move.
A cold voice echoed inside his head—
"You are mine."
"No…"
Riven clutched his head.
"Go away…!"
His breathing became unstable
.
"GO AWAY…!"
"Please… go away…"
His voice broke as fear consumed him.
Then—
A hand appeared on his shoulder.
Cold.
Heavy.
Riven's eyes widened in pure terror.
His worst memories began flooding back.
His body moved on instinct—
He ran.
But—
The hand tightened its grip.
"Where are you running, brat?"Did you failed the test or something? "
A familiar voice.
Riven froze.
"…Huh?"
"Running from your own father?"
Riven slowly turned around
.
It was him.
His father.
"N-no… I didn't fail the test… I
didn't…!"
Riven shook his head violently, panic still lingering in his voice.
Far away, on the balcony—
The white-haired boy clicked his tongue.
"…How boring."
Footsteps echoed behind him.
"Valoer, what are you doing here?"
A girl's voice.
He didn't turn.
"Did you forget? Today is the meeting with the council elders."
She walked up beside him, slightly pouting.
This was Elara, his older sister.
Valoer sighed.
"I was just focusing on my new toy."
Elara frowned.
"Toy? You don't even play with the ones I buy you."
A small smile formed on his lips.
"…This one is different."
Moments later—
Inside a grand meeting hall filled
with powerful figures—
Valoer sat lazily in his chair.
Completely uninterested.
"…I hate these geezers," he muttered.
Elara glared at him.
"It's necessary. Don't forget—they're our uncle's allies."
Valoer didn't reply.
His mind was elsewhere.
"Riven was it? "..
"I wonder if I can play with him again…"
After some time —
"Valoer!"
Elara called out.
No response.
"Valoer!"
Still nothing.
Moments later—
Zzzz… Zzzz…
He fell asleep.
Right in front of everyone.
The entire room went silent.
Elara's eye twitched.
She tried to wake him—
But the elders quickly stopped her.
"Let him sleep," one of them said nervously.
"He's just a child…"
Elara clenched her fist.
"…I apologize for my brother."
The meeting continued—
With Valoer's soft snores echoing in the background.
"Yesterday, in Tokyo city—"
Elara began speaking.
"Zzzz…"
Her eyebrow twitched again.
"…As I was saying—"
"Zzzzz…"
That was it.
A terrifying aura rose from her.
"This damn idiot won't see tomorrow's sun."
She raised her hand—
But the elders panicked and rushed to stop her.
"Please, Elara! Don't disturb his sleep!"
"Yes, yes! Let's just move to another room!"
Even the president quickly agreed.
They all left.
Leaving Valoer alone.
Before leaving, Elara placed a blanket over him.
"You brat… when we get home, I'll teach you a lesson."
She lightly punched his arm.
"…Sleep well."
Then she walked away.
The room fell silent.
Valoer slowly opened his eyes.
Completely awake.
"…Elara…"
He stared at the ceiling.
"The whole world fears me…"
A faint smile appeared.
"…So why are you different?"
Meanwhile—
Back at the ruined house—
Riven hugged his father tightly.
"Dad… where is Mom?"
"And what happened to our house?"
His father checked him carefully.
"…Are you hurt?"
"No… I'm okay."
Riven looked at him seriously.
"Now tell me."
His father stayed silent for a moment.
Then sighed.
"…I have two pieces of news."
"One good."
"One bad."
"Pick one."
Riven clenched his fists.
"…I can't take any more bad news."
"Tell me the good one."
His father smiled and hugged him.
"…Congratulations."
"You're going to be an Elder
Brother."
Riven froze.
"…What?"
"Why are you reacting like that?"
his father snapped.
"A new member is joining our family!"
Riven scratched his head awkwardly.
"I mean… doesn't that mean I have to share the property…?"
A punch landed on his head.
"You selfish brat!"
Riven laughed nervously.
"…Alright, alright."
Then his expression softened.
"I'll protect them."
"I promise."
His father looked at him quietly.
"…You've grown."
Riven took a deep breath.
"…Now tell me."
"What's the bad news?"
The smile on his father's face slowly disappeared.
His expression turned serious.
Cold.
"…That is…"
He leaned closer—
And whispered:
"Riven… you know—"
To be continued..