The hallway stretched long and empty, its walls faded from white to a pale gray. Dust clung to the corners, and floor tiles were cracked and uneven. Old signs hung loosely on the walls, their words worn and barely legible. The air was still, carrying the quiet weight of a place long forgotten.
At the front of the group walked a tall man with long, golden-blonde hair and sapphire-blue eyes. Standing at 175 cm, he moved with calm purpose.
Behind him, two children followed closely. The boy to the left had dark brown hair and emerald-green eyes; the girl to the right had brown hair tied into playful pigtails, sparkling emerald eyes, and a fair complexion.
Their resemblance was striking.
"So, Rex, can I ask you something?" Sera said, breaking the silence.
Rex glanced back, nodding, "Of course. What's on your mind?"
"What was that power Alex used back in the room?"
Rex gave a small, knowing smile, "That? That was Ice Magic."
"Ice Magic?" Amy raised an eyebrow, "I thought all magic had an element."
"Not necessarily," Rex said. "Magic is… well, it's a supernatural force that appears in many forms in everyday life. It can be shaped, used as a tool, and even sold. It's also the main way mages fight and express themselves."
"All kinds of magic exist in Earth Land," he continued. "They have countless uses." He paused, searching for the simplest words. "But I suppose it's easier to show than explain."
Stopping before a blank wall, Rex turned to face them. "Ice Magic is straightforward. You either create ice, or take what's already there and freeze it solid. It's not like Ice-Make, where you sculpt chairs, spears, or statues. With regular Ice Magic, you mostly freeze surfaces or trap enemies."
He raised a hand, gesturing as he spoke. "For example, freeze a puddle to create solid ground or lock someone's legs in place with blocks of ice. Simple, but effective."
"Oooh…" Amy whispered, eyes sparkling. She didn't understand everything, but her curiosity was evident.
Here's a refined version of that part to better fit Sera's personality and voice:
Sera's eyes narrowed slightly, his thoughts turning inward. 'There are two main branches of Magic… Caster and Holder.'
'Caster Magic is drawn directly from the body, expelled and shaped through the mage's own power. Holder Magic, on the other hand, needs a tool or medium—a staff, a card, a weapon.'
'Which means… Ice Magic falls under Caster. A direct element channeled straight from the mage.'
He gave a small nod to himself, quietly satisfied with the deduction.
"And you, Rex? What magic can you use?" Amy asked eagerly.
Rex didn't answer immediately, walking a few steps to another wall. "I use Take Over Magic," he finally said.
A bright green magic circle appeared at his feet. "Take Over is a transformation magic. The concept is simple: you steal the abilities or strengths of a being—beast, demon, whatever—and make it your own. You can shape your body like theirs, fight like them, even think like them, if skilled enough."
He continued,"Magic isn't just shouting words or waving your hands. It's your life-force, focused and shaped. You can pour it directly into a spell, or into a circle, or a weapon. That's how raw power becomes something useful."
Slowly, his forearm thickened, coarse dark fur sprouting along the skin. His hand elongated, transforming into a massive claw tipped with razor-sharp talons.
"Beast Arm: Lupine Claw," he said, inspecting his arm. "Partial transformation. I don't need to become a full monster to get work done. Claws give me grip, strength, and devastating cutting power."
Rex demonstrated, swiping horizontally across the wall. A deep claw mark appeared, the stone hissing faintly as frost spread along the gouge.
"My style is called Beast Soul. I take pieces of a beast—claws, fangs, hide—and use them. Partial forms are faster and cleaner. Full transformations are possible, but partial lets me stay in control."
"....."Amy and Sera's eyes were wide, their fascination evident.
"See?" Rex said, lowering his arm. "Partial form is enough to handle most situations. Grip, strength, and power—without losing control."
He flexed his claws once more, the green glow fading from the magic circle beneath him. "That's the essence of Beast Soul Magic."
Rex turned and began walking once more.
"We should continue," he said simply.
"Right," Sera answered, falling in step without hesitation.
Amy nodded as well, though her attention shifted almost immediately. Amon's body, still draped across her back, had begun to slip.
The boy remained sound asleep, unmoved even by Rex's earlier display of power.
Carefully, Amy pulled him higher by the arms, adjusting his weight. He was shockingly light, so light it was almost unsettling.
Yet in that moment, her hand brushed against his wrist… and she felt it. The skin there was rough, uneven, marked by something she couldn't place.
Her eyes lingered for a moment, curiosity flickering, but she said nothing. Instead, she simply followed her brother down the dim corridor.
Minutes passed. At last, they reached a heavy wooden door, the entrance to the laboratory. Rex paused before it, his broad frame standing tall against the silence.
Turning back, he saw the expressions on Sera and Amy's faces. Their sadness was plain, written clearly in their young eyes.
So he forced a smile, a poor disguise for the weight he carried.
"I'll go on ahead," he said gently. "It seems the two of you need some time to talk."
"...."Neither child spoke. Instead, both simply nodded, their silence speaking louder than words.
And so Rex turned again. The moment his face was hidden from them, the smile vanished. In its place came something far heavier—an expression twisted with regret, resolve, and exhaustion.
"This is it," he thought, the words echoing like a confession.
"I'm just a man. Not a hero, not a warrior… not even strong. Just a man. And this will be the last time. After this… I walk away from this cursed job."
With those final thoughts, Rex pushed the door open. It closed behind him with a quiet thud marking his entry into the laboratory, and into whatever fate awaited him within.
Without a word, Amy crouched down and gently laid Amon onto the cold floor.
The boy did not stir.
She rose slowly, then joined her brother. Together, the two sat side by side against the wall, their small figures swallowed by the silence of the corridor.
For minutes, neither spoke. The quiet was heavy, almost suffocating—until Amy finally broke it.
"...Hey, brother," she whispered, "Do you remember what I said back in the dining room?"
"...."Sera turned his head slightly but said nothing, giving her the space to speak.
"For whoever survives... I said I wanted them to live their life to the fullest. To live without regrets." She repeated her earlier words, but this time her voice trembled.
She let out a soft sigh, "I know I said that, but... I don't think I could ever live my life to the fullest knowing you two died."
To Amy, "living life to the fullest" meant laughter, new places, and shared memories. It meant family, friends, and pushing past fear.
But she was still only eight years old—an age when trust came too easily, and the warmth of childhood had not yet been extinguished.
Unlike Amon, whose life had been nothing but cruelty, Amy had known gentler days. Yes, she was abandoned... but she had Sera.
Whenever she stumbled, whenever she fought—he was there. That bond alone had made her bold, childish, unafraid.
Sera knew this. He always knew. And so he stayed silent, listening.
"I want to create a world where nobody goes hungry. Where no one is abandoned or hurt by the people who should love them most." Her voice wavered, sad yet firm.
"That's why I agreed to come here with Rex. I wanted to grow strong. Not just to protect you... but to protect everything I care about."
But then, her body began to shake. She clutched her arms tightly.
"But seeing that door... knowing that one of us might not make it through—" her voice cracked, tears welling in her eyes, "—it scares me."
She turned to him, trembling. "What if you die? What if Amon dies? Or worse... what if we all—" Her voice broke completely.
She couldn't even finish the thought.
Because Amy was not strong like her brother. Or had a strong will like Amon.
She was still just a little girl.
A frightened, crying little girl.
Suddenly, a pair of warm hands warped around Amy's body, hugging her in a conformable embrace.
Sera's arms wrapped around her small frame, pulling her into a firm embrace.
"I know," he whispered, his voice steady but soft. "I know you're scared, Amy. Believe it or not... I'm scared too."
He pulled back, meeting her tearful eyes.
"It's all right to be afraid. But don't ever let fear decide who you are."
His voice dropped lower, but his words cut sharper than steel. "The world is cruel. The weak die, and the strong survive. That is the law of this world."
"If that's the way things are... then I'll change it!" he declared. "I'll make a world where we can both live happily. That's my promise to you."
He drew her into an even tighter embrace. Amy whimpered softly, the sound barely audible, her tears soaking into her brother's chest.
At that moment, Sera's conviction was absolute. His promise is unshakable.
But fate is cruel.
And though Sera's words burned with truth in that instant—
—he would never live long enough to keep them.
Perfect—this scene has a lot of heart and curiosity, but it needs trimming and sharpening so it flows more naturally like a sibling conversation, while still carrying that One Piece–style narrator weight in the background. I'll refine it so Sera and Amy's voices feel distinct, the pacing is tighter, and the narration highlights the mystery around Amon.
Here's the refined version:
---
Amy's sobs slowly faded, replaced by the quiet comfort of her brother's embrace. For a while, neither spoke. The silence stretched, calm yet heavy, until Sera finally broke it.
"Amy," he said softly, "what do you think of Amon?"
Amy blinked, puzzled. "Amon? Where did that come from?"
"Just answer," Sera pressed, his tone firm but patient.
Though confused, Amy nodded. She closed her eyes for a moment, thinking, then opened them with a small smile.
"I think… even though he comes off blunt, almost rude, he's actually a nice person. And… he's good at reading people. Like, he just knows what someone's feeling, even if they don't say it."
Sera listened carefully, nodding. "Maybe that's because of what he went through. After being abused by his father, he probably learned to shut down his own feelings—and notice everyone else's instead."
He hesitated before adding, "And… I think he's kind of awkward. Not that it's his fault."
Amy tilted her head. "I also think he's really smart."
"Agreed," Sera said quickly. "Smarter than any kid his age I've seen."
But Amy wasn't finished. "...But I also think he's weird."
Sera frowned. "Weird? How so?"
Amy shrugged, searching for the words. "He looks scary sometimes, too serious for a kid our age. But… I don't think he's actually scary. I think he's just… lonely. Like, deep down he doesn't want to be alone, he just doesn't know how to say it."
In Amy's eyes, Amon wasn't broken. He wasn't dangerous. He was just a boy—quiet, misunderstood, waiting for someone to sit beside him. She noticed the little things: how he listened more than he spoke, how behind the blunt words there was a warmth he couldn't show yet.
"...But still," Amy muttered, "his personality doesn't make sense."
Sera raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't make sense?"
"Yeah. He's super smart, but then he doesn't know really basic stuff. Like he didn't even know what candy was! What kid doesn't know candy?"
She puffed her cheeks, frustrated. "It's like sometimes he's way older than us, and sometimes… he's like a baby."
Sera stayed quiet for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I get it. But I don't think it's on purpose. It's… subconscious."
"Huh? What do you mean, bro?" Amy tilted her head.
Sera took a breath. "Let's piece together what we do know about him."
He held up a finger. "First, we know he was born to a mother. But by the time he turned five, she abandoned him. No one knows why but it left a scar."
Sera's hand clenched slightly. "Just from the way he reacted to Rex's words… it's obvious he cared about her. A lot."
A second finger. "Then, after that, he lived with his father. For about six months. He was abused—starved, beaten, treated like nothing."
And then a third. "Finally… sometime during all that, something happened. Something big. Big enough that Amon sealed away part of his own memories."
The two fell silent again. The facts they had were few. But the questions? Endless.
Why did his mother leave? What happened when he turned five? How did he even meet his father?
And the biggest mystery of all—
How does a child seal away his own memories?
It was less like understanding a friend… and more like unraveling a puzzle.
A puzzle named Amon.
"Well, leaving Amon's strange past aside, I think we should get going now…" Amy said softly, rising from the floor.
Sera stood as well. "You're right. I should wake Amon," he replied, already moving toward the sleeping boy.
Kneeling beside him, Sera reached out to nudge Amon's arm but as his fingers brushed the bodysuit covering the boy, something felt… off.
He hesitated for a moment, then carefully lifted the sleeve just past the forearm.
His eyes widened.
'I am a weak and pathetic person… I am so pathetic that, despite my father hitting me, despite hating him, I was too scared to even retaliate.'
Amon's words from earlier rushed through Sera's mind. Their meaning, hidden in plain sight, hit him now.
"You weren't scared of your father because you feared being hit… You were scared because you already had been hit," Sera muttered under his breath.
"Hm? Sera, what took you so long…?" Amy's voice called out as she walked toward them.
Sera's heart skipped. Quickly, he pulled the bodysuit down, covering Amon's arm completely. He turned and lifted the boy onto his back, moving with practiced ease.
"It's nothing, Amy. Come on, let's get going," he said, forcing a firm smile. Before she could respond, Sera was already striding toward the laboratory door.
Amy silently followed, unaware of the storm behind his calm exterior. She couldn't see the expression twisting across her brother's face.
How could anyone do that to their own child…? Sera thought, clenching his fists. Rage burned in his chest at the memory of Amon's arm and the cruel truth it carried.
...
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Sera character cover is in the comments below