The sky hung low and dark, the moon caught between glass buildings, its reflection breaking across windows .
The streets were alive.
Neon signs flickered above shops, headlights swept past in steady streams, and voices blended into a constant hum along the pavement.
People moved without stopping—some laughing, some arguing, others just trying to get home.
Albert walked through it all without slowing.
Beside him, an officer in a blue uniform kept pace, his presence cutting slightly through the crowd as a few people instinctively stepped aside.
"Thanks for the meal... Mr Conrad," Albert said.
"Don't mention it," Conrad replied.
They kept walking.
Then Conrad glanced over."Don't you have family, Albert?"
Albert looked ahead."No. They abandoned me."
Conrad stopped."That's cruel."
He frowned." Does that mean you live alone?"
"Yes."
"How do you manage? You're still a kid."
Albert spoke quietly."I work at a restaurant. I use the money for food and medicine."
Conrad froze."Medicine?"
He looked at Albert more closely."Are you sick?"
Albert's voice slowed."I was born weak and I kept getting sick. My parents had to buy expensive medications just to keep me standing."
The street felt quieter.
Conrad stared at him."…Albert."
"But thanks to you," Albert continued."I saved money today."
He bowed."And I am grateful."
Conrad blinked."Hey, you don't have to bow. It's fine."
Albert lifted his head.
Conrad sighed."You really had it rough. I understand now, why you keep everything inside."
Albert said nothing.
"Do you have goals?" Conrad asked.
"Goals…" Albert repeated.
He thought, then shook his head."I never really considered it."
Conrad looked surprised.
Albert tilted his head." Do you have goals?"
"Yes," Conrad said softly."And I'm close."
He walked with his hands behind his head."Being an officer is part of it."
"What is your goal?" Albert asked.
Conrad looked at the sky."I want to change the world," he said."The system. Politics."
His voice carried quiet conviction."The world I dream of… is one where everyone is treated as equals... where the weak aren't preyed upon."
He laughed softly. "Albert… I was once like you."
Albert's eyes widened.
"When I was young, I was an orphan." Conrad's smile turned faint."People treated me badly."
He looked ahead."Then I met someone who changed me… and gave me an identity."
His voice lowered."The goal I have now… is thanks to that person."
He glanced at Albert."So you see… I understand your pain."
Albert's eyes lit up slightly. "Just like me…"
Conrad snapped his fingers."How about this?"
Albert blinked.
"Do you want to become an officer?"
Arthur fell silent.
The idea hung between them.
Conrad grinned."Officers are heroes. Don't you like heroes?"
Albert shook his head."If officers are heroes… I can't become one."
"Why?"
"Heroes are strong," Albert said."And I am weak."
Conrad shook his head and placed a hand on his shoulder."Being a hero isn't about strength."
Albert looked up.
"Doing the right thing when others would look away—that's what matters."
Albert stared at him quietly.
"Even if people misunderstand you," Conrad continued softly."Don't let them decide who you are."
He squeezed lightly."And if you become stronger someday… use it to help people."
His voice turned firm. "Use that power to do good no matter what... Power is meant to protect the weak. Not rule over them."
Albert nodded.
"That's good."
They continued walking.
Then Albert spoke."I realized something."
Conrad raised an eyebrow."Oh? And what's that?"
"If heroes protect the weak…" he said."you saved me today."
He looked at Conrad."Then I guess that makes you… my hero."
Conrad stopped.
For a moment he just stared at Albert.
Then he laughed quietly. "It's nice hearing that from you… Albert."
He scratched his cheek."Thanks."
Albert smiled faintly."I look forward to seeing how you can change this world… Mr. Conrad."
Conrad looked ahead confidently."It'll take time."
He glanced at Albert again."But you'll just have to wait and see."
Albert nodded.
Conrad suddenly blinked."Wait."
Albert tilted his head.
"I don't know if you did it subconsciously…"
Conrad pointed at his face. "But you smiled seconds ago."
Albert froze.
Conrad grinned widely. "That's good."
He ruffled Albert's hair. "Keep smiling. It suits you."
His voice softened. "And I promise… I'll make the world better... and protect that smile of yours."
——————
Rain fell hard. Heavy drops hitting the ground.
A large crowd gathered along the street. Umbrellas everywhere.
Murmurs spreading through the air.
Arthur stood in the middle of it.
Rain soaked through his clothes. Water dripped from his hair.
He didn't move. He just stared.
On the ground… lay a body.
Blood washed slowly into the rainwater.
It was Conrad's.
Someone in the crowd whispered—
"I heard he was stabbed by one of the robbers he was chasing after."
Another voice followed." And died on the spot."
"He seemed like a good cop too…"
Arthur's fingers trembled. His face had gone pale."…Why?"
His voice cracked. "Why did Conrad have to die?"
Rain mixed with tears running down his face.
"He had a goal…" His shoulders shook. "He wanted to make the world better…"
His voice broke completely. "So why?"
His knees almost gave out. "If only I was strong enough…"
He tightened his fist."Maybe I could have been there..."
His breathing trembled."Then this wouldn't have happened.
Albert's voice turned into a whisper."I could have protected you…"
More tears fell." Just like you protected me."
His eyes shut tightly. " I'm just so useless."
——————
Arthur was sinking slowly . Endlessly inside an ocean.
Memories floated around him like scattered pictures drifting through water.
Conrad. Evelyn. His mother. His father. Felix.
Each memory passed him quietly… like ghosts watching him fall.
The deeper he sank… the colder the water became.
Arthur's eyes opened slowly beneath the surface.
"Felix has thesame dream as Conrad."
"I won't let it happen again." His voice echoed through the water.
"I have to protect the people close to me."
The water around him began to freeze.
Thin layers of ice spread outward.
One by one…. His memories froze with it.
——————
Back to Reality
The boss walked forward."I'll go on ahead."
The goons nodded.
Three followed him. One stayed behind, walking toward the earth cage trapping Felix.
Then—
BOOM.
A violent aura exploded behind them.
They all turned.
Arthur stood there.
A blue aura burned around him. Cold wind spiraled through the area.
"I will protect you… Felix." His voice was low.
He raised his hand.
An immense wave of cold swept across the battlefield.
"No one messes with my friend."
The men raised their arms instinctively as frost began creeping across their clothes.
The man beside Felix's cage stared in shock."How… how is he still standing…?"
Behind Arthur—The ground cracked open.
Ice surged upward violently. It twisted and roared like a massive serpent dragon rising into the sky.
The frozen creature let out a silent roar, then its massive body condensed compressing into a blade.
A gleaming metal sword glowing blue.
The men panicked.
They drew their blades and dashed at Arthur.
Arthur grabbed his blade.
Boom.
Ice exploded outward.
——————
Elsewhere—
Four figures dressed in black suddenly stopped. Each had a sword by their side.
A cold gust swept past them.
The girl at the front narrowed her eyes.
She pointed ahead."It came from that direction."
Without another word— All four of them rushed forward.
When they arrived… They froze.
The battlefield was empty. No bodies. No enemies.
Nothing. Only frozen ground.
Snowflakes drifting slowly through the air.
They spread out, searching. Leaving only the leader behind.
She stared at the frozen earth in front of her.
Her voice was barely a whisper."…What happened here?"