Somewhere, in a hidden villa, an old man in his sixties stands with his assassins. They hold a twenty-year-old girl hostage in front of her grandfather.
Old Man:
"Give me the research on Element L37."
Grandfather:
"No. It's too important to us."
Old Man:
"Then your only family member will die."
Without warning, the grandfather injects himself with something hidden in his pocket. Instantly, he gains superhuman strength and speed, taking down several assassins.
In the chaos, the girl breaks free and runs.
Earlier that day, in a quiet room of the same villa, the grandfather and granddaughter talk. He looks at a small box in his drawer, then turns to her and says:
Grandfather:
"If anyone comes for L37, you must protect our research. Go, no matter what."
But the girl refuses.
Girl:
"We're going together. I'm not leaving without you. I'll protect you too."
Now she sits silently, lost in the memory of that final conversation. She opens the window of the car as it speeds toward the airport, wind brushing against her face.
Meanwhile, back at the villa, the assassins and the old man overwhelm her grandfather. They inject themselves with a similar serum and, after a brutal fight, finally defeat him.
At the last moment, Grandfather Lincon whispers with his final breath:
"My daughter... be happy. Never let life disappoint you. Don't regret my death. In your life, you must carry the weight of this world. God bless you, dear... This is the end of a beautiful era."
The old man snarls and orders his men:
"Find the girl. Bring her back!"
But too much time has passed. By the time they mobilize and give chase in their cars, she is already far ahead.
After a long, tense pursuit, they nearly catch up, but it is too late. She has already entered the airport.
She boards her private jet and speaks to her pilot:
"Set course for the Northern Continent. Be ready... Grandpa sacrificed himself for the world."
The old man, filled with fury, slams his fist on the dashboard.
"No! We were so close! And you fools couldn't capture a single girl!"
Up above, the plane soars through clouds and wind, cutting across the sky.
Tears well up in the girl's eyes as sorrow fills her heart.
"I couldn't save him," she thinks. "I'm too weak..."
She breaks down, crying quietly into her seat.
Some time later, the jet lands in Vegas City, on the Northern Continent—a place of endless entertainment, gambling, and shadows of the underworld.
She exits the airport and hails a cab. The driver, an older man, looks at her through the mirror.
"Where to, ma'am?"
"Please take me to Hellson Casino."
"Alright, ma'am."
The car rolls through neon-lit streets and between luxurious buildings where countless secret lives play out.
"Ma'am, we've arrived."
She steps out, hands over the fare, and says:
"Thanks. Here's your payment."
Inside the casino, she walks straight to the bar and speaks quietly to the bartender:
"Al-basto-D."
The young man behind the counter pauses, then nods. All eyes in the room shift toward her.
"Alright, ma'am."
He slides a beer bottle aside, revealing a secret mechanism. Red smoke hisses out as a hidden passage opens. He leads her through it, into a hidden room.
There, sitting in the shadows, is a tall man with sharp eyes: Karlos.
Karlos:
"Ah, my little friend comes to visit. Where's your grandfather?"
She stands silent, unmoving.
Karlos understands.
"Don't be afraid. Your uncle is here for you. Jacob has already begun his plans. Remember, great things always require great sacrifice. That's the only way to protect something... or to achieve it."
Tears roll down her face. She says nothing.
A long silence follows.
Finally, Karlos speaks again:
"You need to go to Sky City. A trusted friend of mine lives there. He'll protect you. No one knows him. You're safe with him."
They spend the next few hours talking, sharing memories of her grandfather, recalling old stories, and finding strength in the past.
Later, Karlos sends her off toward Sky City in one of his private cars, driven by his most loyal butler.
The road ahead passes through forests, rivers, and scattered towns and cities—places like Ember City and Rog City.
As they drive, Karlos pulls out his phone, dials a number, and says only:
"Take care of her."
On the other end, a voice replies calmly:
"Okay…"
The black car comes to a slow stop on a quiet road just outside Sky City.
Standing alone on the roadside is a man around fifty, tall, weathered, with calm eyes that have seen too much. The car door opens, and a tall, muscular figure steps out to greet him.
"Old man Luo, how have you been?"
"I'm fine. And how are you and Karlos?"
"We're all doing well."
The man then walks around the car, gently opens the passenger door, and helps the girl step out.
Luo looks at her carefully, his expression softening.
"You look just like your grandmother."
The girl feels something stir inside her, something warm and aching.
"Thank you... It's nice to meet you."
The butler remains silent, closing his eyes with quiet respect. Luo sees this and immediately understands. Lincon is gone.
He places a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"From now on, you are like my daughter. I have one son. He's a good person."
They get into Luo's taxi—he is a driver by profession—and begin the journey into the city. As the car pulls away, he and the butler exchange a glance. It is a silent look, one that speaks of an old rivalry and a deeper friendship.
Eventually, they arrive at a modest apartment complex. It is not luxurious, but it is neat and well-kept.
They ring the doorbell.
A young man opens the door. He has long black hair, bright blue eyes, pale skin, and a lean but toned build.
"Welcome home, Dad."
"Tian Zhen, meet Jiya. She's the daughter of an old friend. She'll be living with us for her studies."
Kell:
"Nice to meet you."
Jiya:
"Nice to meet you too."
Kell's mother soon comes out, warmly greeting Jiya. They all sit together in the living room, asking her about her life and background.
Jiya:
"My parents died a long time ago. I was still a child."
Kell's mom gently reaches for her hand.
"I'm so sorry, dear."
They share a quiet dinner together. That night, Jiya settles into a room near the living area, directly across from Tian Zhen's.
But sleep does not come easily.
She sits by the window, under the silver gaze of the full moon. Her mind wanders back to her memories with her grandfather. Her eyes, green and deep like the forest, shimmer with pain. Her long black hair frames her angelic face, but tears—tiny pearls of sorrow—slip down her cheeks.
A soft knock comes at the door.
"Aunty Ru? Is something wrong? It's so late..."
Ru steps inside and wraps her arms around Jiya. She gently places a hand on her forehead.
"I knew your grandfather had passed. We may not feel your pain exactly, but we can share in it. When pain is shared, it becomes lighter."
Jiya clings to her, crying in her arms. It feels like she is being held by her mother. The two speak for a long time, like old friends reunited after years apart.
---
The next morning, Kell wakes up early to prepare for his science camp. His father hands him some money.
Ru:
"If you're free today, take Jiya out and show her Sky City."
Kell:
"Alright."
Sky City is a beautiful, modern city, filled with towering skyscrapers, spotless streets, and cars of all kinds rushing toward their destinations.
Later, they walk together through the vibrant streets of Sky City. The two look so natural together that passersby mistake them for a couple.
Sky City sits beside the great Eris River, its waters glimmering under the morning sun. They stop at a local shop to buy some clothes, laughing and talking, slowly learning about each other's lives.
The sky is blue, scattered with white clouds, and the sun shines brightly, blessing the city with a holy light.
Kell walks along a path in Sky City with Jiya. Nothing feels wrong. Nothing weighs on him.
Kell's family lives below the poverty line. They came to the city with one hope: to give him a chance at a better education.
Thanks to Ru, Jiya feels comfortable around Kell. Their connection deepens with every conversation.
That afternoon, they take a taxi back home.
Days pass peacefully. Kell and Jiya begin to understand each other on a deeper level. Their bond grows stronger, but behind Kell's quiet eyes, something still lingers.
A shadow from his past.
A trauma he never speaks of.
And never shares with anyone.