Her name was Nysa Kael. She was the most beautiful and untouchable, goddess-like figure to everyone living in Lyren. Whether one lived in the Outer City or the grand and imposing Inner City, it was the same. And the reason was simple—she was the most talented and well-liked figure in the entire Kael clan.
She was a child prodigy, a person with transcendental powers, and the heir of the Kael family—one of the most influential clans in the city of Lyren. Because of this, she had always lived in the limelight.
When Ash returned to his rented room, he saw her.
She stood out among the crowd like an untouchable white swan, untainted by dust. He never imagined they would meet again like this—him wasting his life in pain, desperately trying to forget the past, while she stood there looking as radiant as ever.
She walked up to him and said, "Let's find a quiet place to talk."
Ash didn't say anything. He simply nodded.
Once they were alone, Nysa spoke calmly. "Let's break off the engagement and forget about each other. Here—this is for you."
She handed him a card.
"There's ten million inside it. I think we should never meet again."
Ash remained silent, staring at her for a long time. Then he turned and began to walk away.
She stopped him and said softly, "I'm sorry about your family… but life has to go on. They're going to marry me to the young master of the Vire clan."
Ash halted and turned back to look at her. "May I ask why?"
She didn't respond immediately.
After a long pause, she finally said, "Ever since your family was exiled from the Vire clan, there was no longer any possibility between us."
"Do you like him?" Ash asked.
She gave a bitter smile. "Whether I like him or not doesn't matter. You know how controlling the clans are."
Ash clenched his fists. "If I were talented… if I had the potential to become a Transcendent, would things be different?"
She didn't answer directly. Instead, she asked him in return, "Do you really think talent alone could change everything? That's just wishful thinking. Those people control everything. They would never allow anyone to defy their orders."
She took a breath and continued, "So it's better for us to end this once and for all. But I want to tell you something—so you don't keep living in self-blame and guilt for the rest of your life."
She looked him straight in the eyes. "Your family's death was not an accident. I have a hunch that the head of the Vire family—and your cousin—were behind it. I don't know their exact motive, but I couldn't stay silent anymore."
She handed him the card again. "Take it. It will help you. Goodbye… and take care of yourself."
She paused, then added quietly, "And one more thing—I don't like him."
Ash stood there, completely desolate, as rain began to fall. It felt as though even the heavens were aware of his pain and suffering.
After that day, he lost himself in alcohol, trying to escape and forget his misery. How could an ordinary person fight against a clan that ruled an entire mega-city? How could he stand against those extraordinary beings?
One night, as he staggered back to his rented room while drunk, he suddenly stopped.
It was too quiet.
Even at night, there should have been pedestrians or passing vehicles—but there was nothing. The silence was eerie, as if something terrible was about to happen.
A cold wind blew behind him.
Just as he was about to turn his head, something struck him, and he lost consciousness.
When he came to, he found himself tied up in a dark, deserted graveyard. Five men were standing nearby, talking among themselves. They soon noticed he had awakened.
The five ruffians approached him. One of them slapped his cheek and sneered, "You filthy bastard. How dare you think about Nysa Kael—the goddess everyone admires? People like you don't deserve someone like her."
Ash struggled violently and shouted, "Let me go!"
The men burst out laughing.
"Kid," one of them said mockingly, "you're not going to see the sun tomorrow. Someone paid for your life, so you're going to die—whether you like it or not."
They began punching and kicking him relentlessly.
After a while, they stopped. Ash raised his head with great difficulty and asked weakly, "Who… who asked you to do this?"
They sneered. "The young master of the Vire clan paid for your life."
"This isn't right," Ash muttered.
They laughed again. "Kid, in the city of Lyren, the Vire family is the sky—and the sky is the law."
After that, Ash remembered nothing.
He only felt excruciating pain all over his body. In his final moments, he saw the faces of his parents and sister flash before his eyes.
If there is a god in this cruel world, he thought, please give me a second chance. Give me enough power to protect my loved ones.
A blinding beam of light engulfed him.
And then, his consciousness fell into darkness.