Apart from the broken floor boards and dusty look, Jerry's apartment looked a million times better than kai's R V.
The apartment was two floors above the Citadel building where he lived.
Kai was greeted by a strange, almost mystical scent he couldn't quite place.
The interior of the apartment looked like a dump: it was painted gray matching Jerry's uncanny attitude. Cans of soda and beers seemed to pop up anywhere Kai had stepped his feet.
Old shelves hung awkwardly in the walls making agonizing creaks everytime they swayed slightly.
His black couch, stained beyond recognition, slumped at the far end of the living room. Broken floorboards lined the corners, adding to the apartment's decayed look. And broken floor boards at the far edges of the living room.
Kai wondered how the floor boards broke, they weren't there when last visited Jerry's apartment. That was about three months ago.
Suddenly, a sharp boom echoed from the other room, like a small explosion or something heavy crashing into metal. Kai almost jumped out of his skin.
He wanted to enter the room, but he remembered Jerry's number one rule when he entered his house.
Do not under any circumstances enter my bedroom
Kai decided it was best to stay put till someone came out. And eventually someone did
It was Kevin
He looked even skinnier than last time, if that was even possible. His long hair was static and rough, spreading across different parts of his head like wild weeds. He wore the same clothes as last time. Kai wondered if Kevin lived with Jerry.
Kevin gave him a cold sly smile, like he was about to do something devious. Then he screamed
"The kids here!"
Then three more people came out of the room: Jerry, Jake and a woman.
The woman looked beautiful. Her eyes gleamed into Kai soul, she didn't where any make up and yet she looked dazzling. She had long hair which touched her nape. She wore a white shirt and yoga pants. Even with the shabby outfit, her looks would make any man's jaw drop.
"Good afternoon Kai, nice to see you made it" Jerry greeted.
Kai turned to look at Jerry. He was covered in a white powdery substance that had an addictive scent.
Gunpowder?
Kai wondered what they where using gunpowder for. But he was too afraid to ask
"Come, let's sit. We're practically done here. Right guys?"Jerry smiled.
This side of Jerry was something Kai rarely saw. It was unsettling, too nice to be Jerry. Kai knew something was up.
"I thought we were meeting at noon" Kai asked.
"We were" Jerry answered "there was an impromptu decision to make it a little earlier. I would have called but you didn't have a phone. Remind me to get you one after all this"
Kai looked confused, scared even. He always asked Jerry for a cellphone so he could call him if there was an emergency. But Jerry never got him one. Now he was all nice saying he'll get him one now? Something was definitely off
"Mr. Logan" Kai never called Jerry by his last name. He used it to make sure Jerry knew he was serious
"You've done a lot for me, from the RV to the monthly shopping. But I can't keep going along unless you tell me exactly what's going on."
The room went silent after that. Jerry's eerie smile had faded completely .leaving only a cold look of disappointment with a hint of fear
"JJ" Jake broke the silence. He still seemed to be infuriated with the fact that a eight year old kid was helping them in whatever they were doing
"What is it Jake" Jerry said coldly.
"You have two two options: it's either you tell the kid what's going on or you let him go. Which is it"
No one said a word. The silence was maddening to Kai. He need answers. What is Jerry planning? And why did it concern him.
"Kai" Jerry said breaking kai's thoughts "come with me I'll like to tell you something. In my room private".
Kai's eyes lit up with awe. "I thought you said I shouldn't go into your bedroom ever?"
"Well this is an exception. Are you coming or not.
Kai followed Jerry down the dim hallway toward the bedroom door, the same door he had been told never to enter. It felt like stepping across some invisible line, one he hadn't even realized marked the edge of childhood.
Jerry didn't say anything as he opened the door. The hinges groaned. The air inside smelled faintly of chalk, smoke, and something older… something burnt and bitter.
The room wasn't impressive; bare walls, cracked floorboards, and a mattress on the floor but it was clean compared to the rest of the apartment. What drew Kai's attention was the desk at the far corner: covered in books, old scrolls, and strange glass bottles with glowing liquid. Symbols had been carved into the wood in circular patterns.
Magic symbols.
Jerry sat down on the edge of the bed and motioned for Kai to join him. The boy hesitated, then crossed the room and sat. His heartbeat thudded in his ears.
"I'm going to tell you something," Jerry began. "Something you won't find in any school, or book, or speech at the Summit."
Kai nodded slowly. He was listening with everything he had.
Jerry looked at him, eyes tired but focused. "You know about the three races, right? Nobles, the Forgiven, and the Forsaken."
"Yeah," Kai said. "Nobles are born with magic. Forgiven are given second chances. And we… the Forsaken… we don't have anything."
Jerry gave a short laugh. "That's the story they tell you. Let me tell you the real one. The one you only know when you read the history texts."
Kai leaned forward.
"Long ago, before magic, before kingdoms everyone was the same. Human. Powerless. Equal. We hunted with sticks. Lit fires with stones. And we survived." His voice grew quieter, almost reverent. "Then the demons came."
Kai tensed. "Aren't demons just stories?"
Jerry shook his head. "No. They're real. They weren't monsters, not like the ones the MWO fight now. They were intelligent. Powerful. And they didn't come to destroy us. No, they came to help."
Kai blinked. "Help?"
"They shared their magic with us. Gave us man, though us how to use it. How to shape it into tools that could greatly help out civilization. They gave us a future." Jerry's jaw tightened. "And what did we do? We betrayed them."
Kai's mouth opened, but no words came.
"A group of humans, our ancestors wanted more," Jerry continued. "More power, more control. The demons had magic that humans couldn't match. So a plan was made. A ritual. One that would steal the demons' power and transfer it to man."
Kai's heart dropped. "They tried to steal it?"
"They didn't just try." Jerry's voice was ice now. "They almost succeeded. The ritual required many casters. It drew on black magic and deception. But before it was complete, the demons discovered the truth. And in their fury, they brought war."
Kai swallowed hard.
"They slaughtered the betrayers. And then they kept going. Cities fell. Families were wiped out. The demons used our dead and transformed them into beasts, what we now call monsters. The world was burning."
"And then…?"
"The Children of Nobility rose up," Jerry said, bitterness creeping into his tone. "They performed a counter-ritual. One so powerful it could banish the demons forever from our realm."
Kai's brows pulled together. "But rituals need a price."
Jerry nodded. "Exactly. A pact ritual. And what they offered… was us."
Kai froze.
"They sacrificed the magic of thousands, entire bloodlines of people who had nothing to do with the original betrayal. The powerless were stripped of even the potential to ever use mana. That's where the Forsaken came from."
Silence fell like a curtain.
"They used our ancestors as payment to save the world?" Kai whispered.
Jerry looked away. "And after the demons were gone, the nobles declared themselves heroes. Built cities. Castles. Formed the World Order. And made sure we, the ones who paid the price were always kept at the bottom."
Kai's mind raced. "But… why don't we know this? Why is this never taught?"
"Because they buried it," Jerry said. "only those who have the money to fund books and recourses have the knowledge. Anyone who spoke out was silenced accused of treason, executed, erased. Even today, you can't question the nobility without being branded a threat. Though it has been lightened by the so called 'summit of redemption"
"But…" Kai was shaking slightly. "If the demons were so powerful, why didn't they wipe us out?"
Jerry's eyes narrowed. "No one knows. Maybe they didn't want to destroy us. Maybe they wanted us to remember. Or maybe they left something behind. The truth is, there are too many gaps in the official story. And the nobles want it to stay that way."
He stood and walked to the desk, running a finger across a line of runes etched into the surface.
"They took my wife from me, Kai. She was Forsaken too. And now—now they want to throw a celebration in honor of the ritual that made all this possible. A celebration of betrayal."
Kai's throat went dry. "The Summit of Redemption…"
Jerry turned. "They don't deserve to wear that crown. They don't deserve to rule. Which is why, in three days, I'm going to steal the Mural Crown of the High Chief. Right out from under their noses."
Kai's heart slammed in his chest.
"You can't," he blurted. "That place is guarded like a fortress. They'll catch you, they'll—"
"That's why I'm building a team," Jerry interrupted, calm but firm. "And that's why I need you."
Kai stood up. "Why me?"
Jerry's expression softened. "Because you're smart. You ask questions. You want to learn. You want to change things. And when this is over, I'll make sure you have what you need to start over. A new life. Far away. In a district that values knowledge. Where you can go to school. Learn real magic. Live free."
Kai looked down at his hands. "You really think we can pull it off?"
Jerry stepped closer and placed a hand over Kai's. His voice cracked slightly.
"I don't just think. I have to believe it. I've lost too much to do nothing. But I can't do it alone. Please, Kai."
They stood like that for a long moment.
Finally, Kai nodded. Just once.
Back in the living room, Jerry stepped out first, a small but genuine smile breaking across his face. Kevin blinked. Brook raised an eyebrow. The woman tilted her head curiously.
"We're in business, guys," Jerry said.
And just like that, the countdown began.