Back in Sumdem City
The Bello Mansion — Safeera Bello's POV
Safeera sat on the edge of her bed, her hands resting limply in her lap, her mind anything but calm.
Alex…
What kind of mother was she?
She couldn't even protect her adopted child properly. Something about him had changed—his eyes especially. They weren't the same anymore. There was something cold in them now. Something frightening.
I hope Humaira didn't cross the line this time, she thought uneasily.
Alex had mentioned his birth mother before. The name still echoed faintly in her head.
What was it again? Moda? No… Mavka?
Her breath caught.
Mauja.
Her heart began to race.
Please don't let this Mauja be the same one from Orahime's Palace.
If it was… Alex would never spare them. He would kill them all.
Safeera stood abruptly, panic rising.
The enmity between Alex and Humaira… it mirrors that of Zebrew and Mauja.
Her hands trembled.
No. No, no, no… could it be? Did I adopt my sworn enemy's son?
She shook her head violently.
No. It can't be.
But if it was true…
Then she would be forced to choose.
Alex—Mauja's son.
Or Humaira—Zebrew's daughter.
If she chose wrong… the people of Orahime would be doomed.
I would have killed the chosen one.
"No," she whispered. "No, no, no…"
She pressed her palms to her temples.
I think too much. None of this is real.
But if it was…
Then this meant only one thing.
War.
The Next Day
Prinna City
Far from Sumdem lay Prinna City—a place frozen in time.
Once lively and thriving, it had been reduced to a shadow of itself after the bombing incident. Many residents had fled. Others stayed, clinging stubbornly to what remained. Empty buildings lined the streets, cracked walls and broken windows whispering stories of loss.
The streetlights flickered weakly as Alex and Damien walked side by side through the deserted streets.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Alex asked, his voice echoing unnaturally in the silence. "We've been walking for hours."
Damien frowned at his phone. "There's no network here at all." He squinted at the screen. "Ah—this should be it. Not many people live here anymore. They even call it Ghost Town."
He stopped in front of an old, worn-down house.
"Or… maybe I should check again," Damien added nervously.
Alex shot him a sharp look.
"Fine," Damien muttered, rolling his eyes. "This is the place. But are we really going to enter?"
"No," Alex replied dryly. "We'll just stand outside and shout Akira's name until she comes out."
Damien groaned. "That driver didn't trick us, right? I'm feeling sick just being here."
"You can stay outside if you want," Alex said calmly. "The ghosts would enjoy feasting on your soul—and your handsome face."
Damien shrieked. "Inside it is!"
He chuckled nervously as Alex stepped forward and knocked on the door.
A moment later, the door creaked open.
An elderly woman stood there, her back slightly bent, her eyes sharp behind thick glasses.
"I want an audience with Akira," Alex said.
"I am Akira," the woman replied. She adjusted her glasses—and then froze.
Her eyes widened.
"Mauja…" she whispered. "You have her eyes."
She stared at him in disbelief. "You're Mauja's son, aren't you? I thought I'd die without ever seeing even a glimpse of your face."
Her gaze shifted to Damien. "And who is this boy?"
"I'm Damien," he said quickly. "I grew up with Alex."
"Come inside," Akira said, stepping aside. "The house is a bit of a mess."
They entered as she closed the door behind them.
She gestured toward a young girl sitting quietly nearby.
"This is my granddaughter," Akira said softly. "Chloe."
The air inside the house felt heavy—like a dam about to break.
Alex had finally reached the past.
And the truth was waiting.