The morning after the grave visit felt strangely quiet, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
A message pinged on everyone's phones at the same time.
Principal Wilson:
Please be ready to leave by 3:00 p.m. Our train departs at 4:35 p.m. Pack light. Thank you.
Rein read it twice, then slipped the phone back into his pocket. The Kirisawa living room still smelled faintly of last night's dinner, but the warmth from then had shifted into something more purposeful.
Stella stood beside him, close enough that their shoulders brushed. "Let's head home and pack," she said softly, reading the tiredness in his eyes.
Rein nodded, voice low. "Yeah."
He turned to Zen, who was leaning against the doorframe with his usual easy grin. "See you at the station, man."
Zen pulled him into a quick, firm hug. "You got it. And hey… take care of yourself, alright? Don't do anything stupid before we even start training."
Rein managed a small smile. "No promises."
Erza appeared from the kitchen, eyes already glassy. Before Rein could finish his polite thanks, she wrapped him in a tight, motherly hug that smelled of vanilla and home.
"Don't you dare thank us," she murmured into his hair. "We're family. Always. Train hard, come back stronger, and come back to us."
Rein's throat tightened. "Thank you, Mrs. Kirisawa… for everything."
Kuro cleared his throat from the hallway, keys in hand. "I'll drive you three home. Car's ready."
Stella blinked. "Are you sure, Mr. Kirisawa?"
Kuro waved her off with a gruff smile. "Of course. Hop in."
Neko bounded down the stairs at the last second, waving wildly from the porch. "Bye, lovely sisters! Bye, Rein! Don't forget me!"
Stella laughed softly and waved back. "Never, Neko."
Valkyrie gave the little girl a small, rare smile. "Goodbye, little one."
The drive was quiet at first, city streets giving way to familiar neighborhoods. Rein stared out the window, watching bare winter trees blur past.
After a few minutes, he spoke, voice barely above the engine hum. "Mr. Kirisawa… could you try digging into my dad again? Anything at all."
Kuro's grip tightened on the steering wheel. He glanced at Rein in the rear-view mirror. "I've never stopped looking, son. Nine years, and all we have are those hospital papers with his name. Nothing else. But… I'll keep trying. If anything turns up on Silas Seethoshi, you'll be the first to know. I swear it."
Rein nodded slowly. "Thank you."
The car pulled up outside the modest apartment building that Rein and Stella now shared. Valkyrie lived only a few blocks away, close enough for Kuro to drop her next.
Rein climbed out, bag slung over his shoulder. He paused at the driver's window.
"Mr. Kirisawa… can I hug you? If that's okay."
Kuro's tough exterior cracked. He stepped out without a word and pulled Rein into a strong, fatherly embrace, the kind Rein hadn't felt since he was small.
"You're a good kid," Kuro said quietly, voice thick. "Train well. Come home safe."
Rein held on a second longer than necessary. "I will."
As Kuro drove off to drop Valkyrie, Rein and Stella stood on the sidewalk, bags at their feet.
Stella slipped her hand into his. "Ready?"
Rein exhaled, watching his breath fog in the cold air. "As I'll ever be."
The train waited ahead, and with it, the path he'd sworn to walk.
No turning back now.
Rein's apartment was small and quiet, the kind of place that had never quite felt like home until Stella moved in a few months ago. Afternoon light filtered through half-closed blinds, casting long stripes across the wooden floor.
Rein stood in the middle of his bedroom, duffel bag open on the bed, staring at it like it was a puzzle he couldn't solve. A few hoodies were folded inside, but he hadn't moved in minutes.
Stella appeared in the doorway, her own small suitcase already packed and waiting by the front door. She watched him for a moment, then stepped in, closing the door softly behind her.
"You okay?" she asked, voice gentle.
Rein exhaled slowly. "Yeah. Just… thinking."
She walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, beside the open bag. "About your mom?"
He nodded, eyes on the floor. "The grave helped—a lot. But packing to leave again… it feels like I'm running away from her memory or something. Stupid, right?"
Stella reached out and took his hand, lacing their fingers. "It's not stupid. You're not running away. You're doing what she'd want: getting stronger so you can protect the people you love. Including yourself."
Rein finally looked at her. His violet eyes were tired, but softer than they'd been in days. "How do you always know the right thing to say?"
"I don't," she admitted with a small smile. "I just know you."
She stood, tugging him up with her. "Come on. Let's finish this together."
They moved in quiet sync. Stella folded his favorite white hoodie, the one he wore when he wanted to disappear, and placed it carefully in the bag. Rein added a worn notebook, the one he scribbled power ideas in when he couldn't sleep.
Stella paused at his desk, picking up the small framed photo he kept there: seven-year-old Rein with white hair sticking up in every direction, face smeared with melting vanilla ice cream, grinning gap-toothed and carefree. Beside him stood Nora, her arms wrapped around his shoulders, silver hair catching the sunlight as she laughed with the biggest, brightest smile, the kind that made the whole world feel safe.
Rein stared at it for a long moment, thumb brushing over the glass. Then he slipped it into the side pocket of the bag, right where he could reach it easily.
"I'm bringing her with me," he said quietly.
Stella stepped close, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind, resting her cheek against his back. "She's always with you. And now you've got me too. We're in this together, Rein. Every step."
He turned in her arms, pulling her into a proper hug. For a minute, they just stood there, breathing in sync.
"I don't know what I'd do without you," he murmured into her hair.
"You won't have to find out," she whispered back.
When they finally pulled apart, the bag was packed. Rein zipped it shut with a decisive tug.
"Ready?" Stella asked.
Rein took her hand again. "Yeah. Let's go catch that train."
Outside, the winter sun was already dipping low. Inside, for the first time in a long time, the apartment didn't feel empty when they locked the door behind them.
The journey ahead was unknown, but they were walking it side by side.
The walk to the station was short, but the winter air bit at their cheeks. Rein carried his duffel over one shoulder, Stella's suitcase rolling behind her. Their breath fogged in small clouds as they moved in comfortable silence, hands brushing every few steps until Stella finally slipped her fingers between his.
Halfway there, a familiar tall figure appeared at the corner ahead, silver-pink hair catching the late afternoon light.
Valkyrie turned as they approached, a small travel bag slung over her shoulder. She fell into step beside Stella without a word, the three of them forming a quiet line on the sidewalk.
Rein glanced at her, then at Stella, who gave him a subtle, amused nudge with her elbow.
Out of nowhere, or maybe because the silence felt too heavy, Rein blurted, "Hey, Valkyrie… random question. Do you, uh… like Zen?"
Valkyrie stopped walking.
Stella's eyes widened. Rein immediately regretted opening his mouth.
Valkyrie stared at him for a long second, expression unreadable. Then the corner of her mouth twitched, the closest thing to a smile she ever gave anyone outside her sister.
"Yes," she said simply, voice calm and steady. "I do."
Rein blinked. Stella let out a tiny, delighted gasp.
Valkyrie started walking again as if she hadn't just dropped a bomb. "Don't make it weird."
"Too late," Stella whispered, grinning at Rein.
He rubbed the back of his neck, cheeks warm despite the cold. "Noted. My lips are sealed."
They reached the station just as the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the platform. Principal Wilson stood near the ticket gates in a dark coat, arms crossed, scanning the crowd. Zen was already there, leaning against a pillar with his bag at his feet, scrolling on his phone.
He looked up and waved dramatically. "Finally! I was starting to think you three got lost in a heartfelt moment or something."
Wilson stepped forward, nodding at each of them. "Good. Everyone's on time. Tickets are handled. Platform 7."
As they walked, Rein patted the small, coin-sized device in his pocket, the nano-coin storage unit Wilson had given them all the previous day. Inside were their compressed Astral Suits, ready to deploy at a thought. Zen had spent an entire evening bragging about how "cool" it felt to carry a full armor set in his pocket.
They boarded the train together, a sleek, private car Wilson had reserved at the rear. Plush seats, dim lighting, windows already fogging slightly from the warmth inside.
Wilson waited until everyone settled, Rein and Stella side by side, Valkyrie across the aisle, Zen sprawling across two seats, before speaking.
"The ride will take three to four hours," he said, voice low. "Mountain lines are slow this time of year. Use the time to rest. Once we arrive, there won't be much of it."
Zen leaned forward, grinning. "So… no Wi-Fi, no snacks, just brooding and secret training vibes?"
Wilson allowed himself half a smile. "Something like that."
The train lurched forward, pulling away from the platform. City lights blurred past the windows, then faded into darkness as they left the urban sprawl behind.
Rein leaned his head against the cool glass, Stella's hand still in his.
Somewhere ahead, in the heart of the mountains, waited answers, and the path he'd promised to walk.
The Riftwalker's oath had begun.
The private train car was quiet, the rhythmic clack of wheels on tracks the only steady sound. Outside, night had fallen completely, stars scattered across the black like distant warnings.
Valkyrie leaned forward slightly from her seat across the aisle, curiosity overriding her usual reserve. "Principal Wilson… could you tell us about your master? What was he like? And his name?"
Wilson, who had been gazing out the window with a faint smile, let out a low, nostalgic chuckle. "Oh, well… my master is the reason I reached Hex Vein, after all. Without him, I'd still be fumbling with Quad like most."
He paused, the warmth fading from his expression as if a switch had been flipped.
"His name," Wilson said, voice suddenly flat and serious, eyes fixed ahead, "is Azrael Voss."
The name landed in the car as a stone dropped into still water.
Rein froze in his seat, hand halfway to his water bottle.
Inner voice: I don't want to move. Why can't I move?
Zen, who had been mid-snack, felt the chip stop halfway to his mouth. His usual grin vanished.
Inner voice: What the hell… it feels like something's choking me. Air's thick. Too thick.
Stella's fingers tightened around Rein's until her knuckles went white. Her chest rose and fell in shallow, deliberate breaths.
Inner voice: Breathing just got so much harder. Like the air turned to glass.
Valkyrie, ever composed, felt her spine stiffen against her will. Even her disciplined lungs faltered for a beat.
Inner voice: I don't want to breathe. I don't want to make a sound.
The silence stretched, heavy and unnatural. No one spoke. No one dared.
Wilson finally blinked, as if only then noticing the effect. He cleared his throat, forcing lightness back into his tone. "He… has that effect on people, even in memory. You'll understand when you meet him."
Outside the window, the mountains loomed closer in the dark, their peaks invisible but undeniably there. Waiting.
Principal Wilson leaned back in his seat, eyes half-closed, before speaking again. "Oh, I forgot to mention. You'll meet a few others at the master's place. Probably one male and two females. I don't know their names yet, but they're around your age."
Zen perked up immediately. "Oh, okay! At least we'll have some company. Could be fun."
Valkyrie turned her head slowly, fixing him with a cool stare. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Zen's grin faltered. "Oh, uh… NOTHING. Yeah, nothing at all."
Rein and Stella exchanged a glance, and both chuckled, the sound lightening the air for a moment.
Stella nudged Zen with her foot. "Smooth, Zen. Real smooth."
Zen threw his hands up. "Hey, I just meant it won't be five of us brooding in silence the whole time! That's all!"
Valkyrie raised an eyebrow but let it drop, turning back to the window.
A soft chime sounded through the car, followed by the calm voice of the train announcer.
"We will be reaching Reiketsu Village in approximately thirty-five minutes."
Rein stiffened slightly. "Reiketsu Village… doesn't that mean—"
"Cold-Blood Village," Wilson finished, his tone matter-of-fact. "Yes, it does."
Zen's eyes widened dramatically. "Oh, great. Just when I thought the master wasn't scary enough, the flippin' village is literally called COLD-BLOOD. Cold. Blood. Are we training or auditioning for a horror movie?"
Stella tried to keep a straight face but failed. "Come on, Zen. It can't be that bad… right?"
Wilson gave a small, knowing chuckle that did nothing to ease the tension.
Rein leaned forward. "It's a beautiful place, though. Mountains, waterfalls… right, Principal?"
Wilson nodded. "Very beautiful. Crisp air, clear streams, the roar of the falls echoing through the valley. Peaceful, in its way."
Zen crossed his arms, mock-sulking. "Oh sure, buddy. Peaceful. I hope no one just jinxed us."
Stella rolled her eyes. "You literally just did."
Rein laughed softly, shaking his head. "We'll be fine. Probably."
Valkyrie finally spoke again, voice dry. "If the village name is the scariest thing we encounter, I'll consider us lucky."
Wilson's chuckle returned, deeper this time. "Don't worry. The name is old. Tradition. The place itself… well, you'll see."
The train rattled on, the mountains growing larger in the windows, their peaks swallowed by night.
Thirty-five minutes.
Not long now.
The conversation lulled after that, the group settling into their own thoughts as the train wound deeper into the mountains. City lights had vanished long ago, replaced by an endless wall of dark forest pressing against the windows. The only illumination came from the faint blue glow of the carriage lights and the occasional flicker of passing stars.
Rein stared out at the blackness, his reflection superimposed over the trees. Stella's hand rested in his under the table, her thumb tracing slow, soothing circles on his skin, a quiet anchor in the growing silence.
Zen, never comfortable with quiet for long, shifted in his seat until the restlessness won. "Okay, seriously. What's the deal with this place? Is it haunted or something? Or does the master just really hate heating bills?"
Wilson chuckled, the sound low and warm in the confined space. "Not haunted. But old. The estate has stood for centuries, passed down through generations of masters. It's more… steeped in history than most places."
Valkyrie leaned forward slightly, her silver-blonde hair catching the dim light. "And Azrael Voss himself. What is he like?"
Wilson's smile faded, his gaze turning distant, as if seeing memories no one else could. "Strict. Brilliant beyond measure. He sees the potential in people long before they see it in themselves. But he doesn't waste words. Or time. If you're not ready to be broken down and rebuilt… he'll do it anyway."
Zen swallowed audibly. "Super comforting. Really."
Stella tilted her head, voice soft but curious. "Has he trained many?"
"A few," Wilson replied. "I was one of them. The ones who survive his methods… they become something more."
The train began to slow, brakes hissing softly as a small, dimly lit platform slid into view. Frost glittered on the wooden planks under the station lamps.
"Reiketsu Village Station," the announcer's calm voice echoed through the car.
Wilson rose smoothly. "We're here."
They gathered their bags and stepped out into the biting mountain air. No snow yet, but the cold cut straight through their coats, sharp and clean. Frost crusted the edges of the benches, and their breath bloomed in white clouds.
In the distance, the steady roar of a waterfall carried through the pines, constant, powerful, almost alive.
A single lantern bobbed in the fog ahead, approaching slowly.
Wilson nodded toward it. "Our ride to the estate."
The figure emerged from the mist: an older man in simple gray robes, face weathered but kind, white hair tied back neatly. He bowed deeply as they neared.
"Master Voss sent me," he said, voice steady despite the cold. "Welcome to Reiketsu Village."
Zen leaned close to Rein, whispering, "Okay, that waterfall actually sounds kinda peaceful. Maybe this won't be so bad after all."
Rein didn't answer. His eyes stayed on the lantern's glow, the name Voss echoing in his mind like a distant thunder.
It felt less like a promise…
…and more like a warning.
The old servant turned, lantern raised, and led them into the fog-shrouded path.
Behind them, the train pulled away, its lights fading into the dark.
There was no going back now.
The carriage, an old but well-maintained wooden cart pulled by two sturdy horses, waited just beyond the platform. Frost glimmered on the wheels, and the horses' breath steamed in the cold night air.
Everyone climbed in: Wilson and Vince up front on the driver's bench, Rein and Stella sharing one cushioned seat, Zen and Valkyrie opposite them. The interior was surprisingly warm, lined with thick blankets and heated stones tucked beneath the seats.
Vince flicked the reins gently, and the horses started forward with a soft snort. The cart rolled smoothly onto a narrow gravel path that wound upward through tall pines.
After a moment of quiet, Vince glanced back with a kind smile. "Master Azrael has been waiting for you, Principal Wilson. He's been… well, excited is perhaps too strong a word, but eager ever since you mentioned bringing your students."
Wilson raised an eyebrow, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Excited? That's not a word I've ever associated with him."
Vince chuckled softly, eyes on the path ahead. "Forgive me. My name is Vince Ryusei, by the way. I've served the estate for forty years. The master doesn't often show it, but when he heard a hybrid was coming… let's just say the library has seen more use these past weeks than in the last decade."
Zen leaned forward. "A hybrid? Wait, he already knows about Rein?"
Vince nodded without turning. "Word travels in certain circles. And the master has ways of knowing things before most people do."
Stella's hand tightened slightly around Rein's. "Is the estate far?"
"About twenty-five minutes," Vince replied. "The path climbs steadily. You'll hear the falls long before you see them."
Rein stared out at the passing trees, their branches heavy with frost. "Reiketsu Village… It's beautiful here. Quiet."
Vince's voice warmed. "It is. The cold keeps the curious away. Only those who truly seek the path find their way here."
Zen shivered dramatically. "Yeah, the cold is definitely doing its job. My toes are already plotting a rebellion."
Valkyrie shot him a sidelong glance. "You'll survive."
"Easy for you to say," Zen muttered. "You're basically made of ice."
Stella hid a smile behind her hand. Rein let out a quiet huff of laughter, the first in hours.
Wilson spoke up from the front. "Vince, how many others are at the estate right now?"
"Three young ones, same age as your students," Vince answered. "One boy, two girls. They arrived a few weeks ago. Quiet types, but determined. The master has already begun their training."
Zen perked up. "Wait, really? So we're not the only newbies?"
"You'll meet them soon enough," Vince said with a knowing smile. "Though I should warn you, they're… competitive."
The cart creaked as it climbed a gentle rise. The roar of the waterfall grew louder, a constant thunder beneath the rustle of pine needles in the wind.
Stella leaned closer to Rein, voice low. "You okay?"
He nodded slowly. "Yeah. Just… ready to get there."
The path curved, and the first lanterns of Reiketsu Village came into view, soft golden glows lining the way to the estate.
Vince guided the horses onward. "Almost there."
The waterfall's roar filled the night, steady and ancient.
Twenty-five minutes had never felt so long… or so short.
The carriage rolled to a gentle stop before the wide wooden gate of the main estate. Lanterns flickered along the veranda, casting warm pools of light on the frost-dusted stone path. The roar of the nearby waterfall filled the night, steady and ancient.
They stepped down one by one, bags in hand. The air was sharper here, biting at exposed skin.
A tall figure waited on the engawa, silhouetted against the soft glow from within the house. As they approached, he stepped forward into the light.
Azrael Voss was taller than Rein had imagined, broad-shouldered, imposing without effort. His hair was a deep brownish-black, tied low at the nape of his neck, streaked with subtle silver that caught the lantern flames. His eyes were pale gray, almost colorless, like winter steel, calm, unreadable, and piercing.
Principal Wilson bowed deeply. "Master. It's been a long time."
Azrael's stern expression softened, just slightly. A faint, genuine smile touched his lips. "Wilson. My dear child. It is good to see you again."
He clasped Wilson's forearm in a firm, brief grip, the greeting of an old master and his prized student.
Wilson straightened, gesturing to the group. "These are my students, Master."
He introduced them one by one. "Zen Kirisawa. Stella Yukishiro. Valkyrie Yukishiro. And—"
"Rein Seethoshi," Azrael finished quietly, his gaze already locked on Rein.
The name hung in the cold air.
Rein felt everyone's eyes turn to him. His heart pounded.
Azrael studied him for a long moment, expression unchanging. "You have his eyes."
Rein's voice came out smaller than he intended. "Whose…?"
"Silas," Azrael said, calm and certain.
Rein's breath caught. "W-what? My… dad?"
"Yes, my child," Azrael replied, voice steady, almost gentle.
Wilson stepped forward, surprise clear on his face. "Master… you're saying Mr. Seethoshi was here?"
Azrael nodded once. "He came to me many years ago. Seeking power, I could not, would not, give him. He left for the Void instead."
The words landed like stones in still water.
Rein's legs felt unsteady. He was shaking, not from the cold, but from the sudden weight of confirmation. His father hadn't just disappeared. He had chosen something darker.
Stella moved closer, her hand finding his arm, grounding him.
Azrael's gray eyes never left Rein's face. "My child… embrace the truth. It will make you stronger."
Zen, because he was Zen, broke the heavy silence. "Um… you're not as bad as I thought you'd be. Like, zero death-glare so far."
Azrael's lips curved into a faint, unexpected chuckle, low and warm, almost human. "Do not worry, young Kirisawa. I will put you all through hell soon enough. Tonight, you rest."
Zen exhaled dramatically. "Oh, really comforting. Thanks for the heads-up."
Azrael turned toward the open doors of the estate, gesturing with one hand. "Please, come in. We shouldn't stand out here in the cold all night."
The group exchanged glances, relief, nerves, and curiosity, then followed him inside.
Warmth enveloped them immediately, along with the faint scent of cedar and incense. Sliding shoji doors lined the wide hallway, tatami mats soft underfoot.
The waterfall's roar faded behind them as the doors closed.
Training hadn't started yet.
But something inside Rein had already begun to shift.
After the chilling introduction on the engawa, Azrael led them inside the estate. The sliding doors opened with a whisper, revealing a spacious genkan where they removed their shoes and stepped onto warm tatami mats. The air carried the faint scent of cedar and green tea, a comforting contrast to the biting cold outside.
Vince, the kindly servant, guided them to their rooms — simple but elegant guest quarters with futons already laid out, low tables, and shoji screens overlooking a small inner garden dusted with frost. "Freshen up," he said with a bow. "Hot water for bathing is ready in the ofuro. Dinner will be served soon, and the master wishes to speak with you afterward."
The group split up briefly. Rein and Stella shared a room (Wilson had arranged it discreetly, understanding their relationship), while Zen bunked with Valkyrie in adjacent quarters — though Zen joked about "not surviving the night" under her watchful eye.
In the steaming ofuro, the hot spring bath fed by the nearby waterfall, Rein soaked in silence at first. The water eased the tension from the journey, but his mind raced. Stella sat across from him, the steam curling around her silver hair.
"You're quiet," she said softly, reaching out to touch his knee under the water.
Rein leaned his head back against the wooden edge. "He knew my dad. Actually met him. And Dad… left for the Void."
Stella's expression softened with empathy. "It's a lot. But we'll face it together. Whatever Azrael says tonight, I'm right here."
He managed a small nod. "Thanks. I just… keep wondering what kind of person chooses the Void over everything else."
They dressed in yukata provided by the estate — simple cotton robes in deep blue — and rejoined the others for a quiet dinner in the main hall. Steaming bowls of miso soup, grilled fish, rice, and pickled vegetables. Simple, nourishing food that warmed them from the inside.
Zen, true to form, tried to lighten the mood. "This fish is amazing. If training involves eating like this every day, sign me up forever."
Valkyrie rolled her eyes. "You'll burn it off by noon tomorrow."
Wilson smiled faintly but said little, watching Azrael at the head of the low table. The master ate slowly, observing them all with those pale gray eyes.
After dinner, Vince cleared the dishes, and Azrael stood. "Come. To the center hall."
They followed him through sliding doors into a large, open room at the heart of the estate. Tatami floors, a low central hearth with a gentle fire crackling, and walls lined with ancient scrolls and weapons — katana on racks, old Astral artifacts glowing faintly in glass cases. The roar of the waterfall was muffled here, replaced by the soft pop of burning wood.
Azrael sat cross-legged on a cushion at the head of the room, gesturing for them to do the same in a circle around the hearth. Wilson joined without hesitation, the others following more slowly.
The firelight danced on Azrael's face, highlighting the sharp lines and silver streaks in his brownish-black hair.
"You have questions," Azrael began, voice calm and deep. "About this place. About me. And especially about Silas Seethoshi."
Rein's heart skipped. He hadn't expected it to come so soon.
Azrael's gaze settled on him. "I will tell you what I know. But truth is rarely gentle. Are you prepared?"
Rein swallowed, nodding. "Yes."
Stella reached over and took his hand again. Zen shifted closer on his other side. Valkyrie watched intently.
Azrael leaned forward slightly, the fire reflecting in his gray eyes. "Silas came to me nineteen years ago. Young, determined, much like you, Rein. He had already awakened to Chaotic Energy — rare even then. But it was uncontrolled. Wild. He sought a way to master it fully, to become something more than human."
Wilson frowned. "You never told me this."
Azrael glanced at his former student. "Some stories are not mine to tell until the time is right. Silas believed the Void held the key to unlimited power. He spoke of a 'balance' — Astral and Chaotic fused perfectly. But he was impatient. Reckless."
Rein's voice was barely a whisper. "What did he want from you?"
"To teach him forbidden techniques," Azrael replied. "Ones that merge the energies without corruption. I refused. Such power comes at a cost most cannot pay. The Void does not give — it takes."
Zen leaned in. "So he just… left?"
Azrael nodded. "He argued. Pleaded. Then grew angry. One night, he opened a small rift in the training grounds — right beside the waterfall. He stepped through, seeking the source himself. I tried to stop him, but the rift closed too quickly."
Stella's grip tightened on Rein's hand. "Did you… See what was on the other side?"
"Darkness," Azrael said simply. "Endless. Hungry. And something watching back."
Rein felt his stomach churn. The room spun slightly. He pressed a hand to his mouth, fighting the nausea.
Azrael's voice softened — just a fraction. "Silas was not evil, child. He was ambitious. Afraid of weakness. He had a son on the way — you — and wanted to protect you from a world that feared Chaos. But he chose the wrong path."
Wilson spoke up, voice quiet. "Did he ever return?"
"No," Azrael said. "The rifts he opened lingered for months. Strange things came through — shadows that whispered. I sealed them, but the damage was done. Nora… your mother… she searched for him until the end."
Rein's vision blurred with tears. The nausea rose again, sharp and bitter. He stood abruptly, bowing shakily. "Excuse me…"
He hurried out to the veranda, the cold air hitting him like a slap. He gripped the railing, breathing deep, fighting the urge to vomit. The waterfall roared below, mist rising in the moonlight.
Stella was right behind him, rubbing his back gently. "Breathe. It's okay."
Zen appeared on his other side. "Dude… that was heavy. Your dad was basically trying to become a god or something?"
Rein managed a weak laugh that turned into a sob. "Yeah. And failed."
Valkyrie and Wilson joined them outside, giving space but staying close.
Azrael remained inside, but his voice carried softly through the open door. "Rest now. Tomorrow, we begin. The truth is a burden, but it is also armor."
Rein wiped his eyes, leaning on the railing. The cold air cleared his head slowly.
Stella hugged him from the side. "We'll carry it together."
Zen clapped him on the shoulder. "Yeah, man. Family, right? Even if it's messed up."
Valkyrie nodded. "He chose wrong. You can choose differently."
Wilson smiled faintly. "And you have us to make sure you do."
Back inside, Vince showed them to their futons. The estate was quiet, the waterfall a constant lullaby.
Rein lay down beside Stella, her hand in his, as sleep finally came.
The truth hurt.
But for the first time, it didn't feel like he carried it alone.
Tomorrow, training begins.
And with it, perhaps, a way to make things right.