In Caden's bedroom, the two girls were sitting by his bedside. Aera was placing warm compresses on his still-burning forehead, seated next to Nova, who was telling her everything that had happened.
After listening to every word, Aera said,
"I need to tell you the truth. It's hard to keep it hidden, especially now that you might become an ally. I'm going to tell you about my origins… and Caden's."
Nova replied,
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"No," Aera said firmly. "You need to know, for the future. So listen to me carefully, please."
Nova, a bit tense, nodded silently.
Aera began:
"First of all, as you already know, my name is Aera. I'm the youngest of four siblings. I come from the Kingdom of Arlan… or rather, what used to be a kingdom. It's now an empire. A lot has changed over the years.
When I was born, my powers were taken from me—they said they were too dangerous. I'm sure you've noticed that I don't really use my potential."
"My father was very sick when I was born. His illness had started so suddenly that no one understood it. I was blamed… me, a newborn. From that day, people started calling me cursed and many other cruel names.
Still, my mother loved me unconditionally. My siblings, however, didn't feel the same way. They hated me because I had something they didn't—a destructive power."
"When I turned two, strangers came to the kingdom—a man, a woman, and their son, who was older than me. Rumors said they were dangerous outsiders who might harm the kingdom. And just as they arrived, an attack happened… as if their coming had brought those monsters with them."
Nova, completely absorbed in the story, asked:
"What happened next?"
Aera continued,
"Many people died that day… including one of my brothers, Loid."
Nova, shocked, said softly,
"I'm really sorry…"
"You don't need to be," Aera replied. "Actually, he disappeared. He was one of the kingdom's most heroic and popular knights—the White Knights. After a long search, they concluded he was dead.
We won that war against the monsters… thanks to that mysterious man and woman. They became heroes. But they also lost their lives, like so many others. They left behind a child. Their heir.
His name was Caden Dark."
"After the death of his parents, he became famous. Everyone called him the Third Generation. But what struck people was his coldness, his lifeless gaze, and his almost unnatural beauty for a child.
He quickly joined a camp—I think his mother was a mage, or maybe his father, I don't remember. He rapidly learned combat techniques and began to use his strength. My father, the king, had started to recover his health and heard about everything that had happened—including Caden, and my brother.
The supposed death of my brother affected him deeply, as it did my mother and the rest of my siblings.
Wanting to reward Caden… my father made a decision.
But that reward… would ultimately condemn the kingdom forever."
Aera (continuing her story, her voice trembling):
"The king, my father, decided to reward Caden for his bravery. He personally invited him to the palace and, in front of the entire court, declared that Caden would now be part of the royal family. Caden became our adopted brother. Some were shocked, others jealous. But no one dared to publicly challenge the king's decision.
At first, everyone admired him. He was quiet, respectful, and incredibly talented. He surpassed even the noblemen's sons in every field. But soon, things changed. One event turned everything upside down."
Nova (wide-eyed):
"What kind of event?"
Aera (hesitating, lowering her eyes):
"One night, an explosion shook the palace. It was total chaos. Flames, screams... An uncontrollable power had been unleashed. And at the center of it all... was Caden. His eyes were glowing blood-red, and his body was surrounded by an energy no one had ever seen before. He destroyed an entire wing of the palace. Luckily, no one died that night. But from that moment on, everything changed. The king grew distant from him. My brothers started watching him more closely. And Caden... he became even colder, even more distant."
Nova (whispering):
"You think he didn't do it on purpose?"
Aera:
"I don't know. Part of me wants to believe he lost control. That he was overwhelmed by a force too great for him. But another part… is afraid of what he really is."
Nova:
"And now? He doesn't have that power anymore?"
Aera:
"No one knows. He never talks about it. But sometimes, I feel that dark aura around him. As if he's constantly fighting something. I believe that… I believe Caden is dangerous. But I also believe he's suffering deeply."
Nova (looking at the sleeping Caden with sadness):
"He never had a real family. Maybe that's why he acts like this."
Aera (softly):
"Maybe..."
Aera thought, "Should I tell her the whole truth? No! I need to stop right there before I mess things up."
Nova continued, "You know, Aera, there's something I don't quite get. If Caden came to this kingdom, then how and why did he end up at Vendal City? I know his mistake may have put a lot of people in danger, but honestly, there are a lot of things I don't understand. I'd really like more explanations."
Aera, deep in thought, "Oh no, I wanted to be honest with her. But if I say too much, Caden is going to kill me. No, Aera, I have to say something… but if I do, Caden and Nova… I need to find a way out."
Aera, a bit nervous, added, "Well… let's just say I don't really know. That's all I can share with you for now. Um… aren't you tired? Let's get some sleep, okay?"
Nova, slightly confused and suspicious, nodded. "Alright, let's go."
The two girls walked away from Caden's room and headed to their own.
Nova, not feeling very comfortable, stayed on the couch, thinking, "What's going to happen now? Did I make the right decision? There are still so many unanswered questions… I'm afraid of finding out more about Caden… or the others. No, that's not it. I don't want distractions — I want revenge."
Slowly, her eyes began to close, and she mumbled, "My aunt… my uncle… mom…"
Before falling asleep, she whispered, "Da…d."
Meanwhile, in Aera's room, she too couldn't stop thinking.
"If Nova knew everything about what Caden has done… oh no, she'd never want to hear about him again. I feel so overwhelmed by all these emotions. Since I left the Empire… what I did… and especially that man at the supermarket… it's really strange. It's like I've seen him before… but where?"
In Caden's room, he wasn't just sleeping — flashbacks kept swirling in his mind.
Flashback: everything was burning. Two people were injured — one of them was Caden, the other was Ared. They were both badly hurt.
Ared said: "You know, if you had just been grateful… none of this would've ever happened."
Fragments of the Past
The next morning, a soft light filtered through the curtains of the silent house. Nova woke up on the sofa, feeling a little stiff. She stretched gently with a sigh. Her dream was blurry, but a feeling of sadness lingered. Her mother's name still echoed in her mind.
She glanced at Caden's bedroom door. Still closed. A heavy silence hung in the air. Nova stood up and walked slowly toward the kitchen to make some tea. Her mind was restless. She couldn't stop thinking about the photo of the little girl, Caden's burning forehead, and Aera's strange behavior.
Meanwhile, Aera was already awake in her room. Eyes fixed on the ceiling, she hesitated. Should she tell Nova the truth? What if Caden woke up today? What would he say? Aera knew the moment was coming when secrets could no longer be hidden.
Suddenly, a scream rang out.
— "AERA! QUICK!"
Nova was calling from Caden's room. Aera jumped out of bed and rushed in. Caden was trembling, his body drenched in sweat, his eyes still closed, but his face was tense with pain.
— "Caden?!" Aera whispered, panicked.
He was mumbling something...
— "Ared… I told you not to… trust…"
Nova frowned.
— "Who's Ared?"
Aera froze. That name... She had hoped never to hear it again.