Alex and his mother froze. The words hung in the air, heavy and unexpected. Neither of them had imagined this was why they'd been summoned.
Alex's shock ran deeper. One part of him was confused… the other part was busy trying to guess the real reason the Wyndhams suddenly wanted him living under their roof.
"You dragged us here for this?" Anna finally said, breaking the thick silence. She turned sharply toward her brothers. Her eyes moved from Jack to Jim to Jake.
"Are you people actually in agreement with this?"
"Anna, there's a reason Alex should start living in the family house," Jack replied. His tone was calm, but he wasn't hiding the pressure behind it.
"We believe the members of our family are being targeted. You saw what happened the last time you visited. It would be safer for Alex here," Jack explained.
Anna stared at him for a moment, her jaw tightening.
"You people have to be kidding me," she said.
"Should I remind you that last time, all of you tried pinning the blame on him?" Her voice was harsh, the anger freshly stirred. "You're the reason I had to take him out of this place in the first place."
She stepped forward before they could speak again.
"And now what? You want him back so you can continue bullying him?" Anna snapped, her voice rising, the frustration she'd carried for years spilling through every word.
"Watch your voice, Anna," Jack snapped back. His tone was sharp, ready to bite, but John lifted a hand and stopped him.
"Let her speak," John said. "She might be right. We haven't exactly been nice to the kid." He released a slow breath. "But I can assure you—it won't be the same this time."
Anna kept her eyes on them, weighing every word. Alex still held his silence. He couldn't shake the feeling buzzing inside him… this wasn't just about safety. There was something else the Wyndhams weren't saying.
"No," Anna said firmly. "I'm not letting you take him and torture him like before. And don't think I don't know—you're planning to move the family house to some secret place I've never even heard of."
The three brothers exchanged quick looks.
"Who told you that?" John asked.
"I can see people carrying things out of the house," Anna answered.
"We're not moving out," Jack said. "We're renovating. Expanding the family house."
"Whatever," Anna shot back. "Alex isn't staying here. And you can't force him."
John's fist tightened at his side. He clearly had something to say—something he hadn't said yet.
"That's enough," Lucius said suddenly.
He rose from the mattress, the loose robe around his shoulders shifting and swaying as if a small wind followed him every step he took.
"I would like to speak with your son alone," Lucius said to Anna.
He didn't wait for her answer. He simply turned and walked away from the throne room, his single remaining arm folded neatly behind his back.
He moved past Anna and Alex without a glance.
Alex felt the tension wrap around his chest, sharp and cold. Even so, his legs moved on their own. He followed.
"He's going nowhere with you," Anna said, stepping in front of Alex, blocking him with her arm.
Lucius stopped in place. He didn't look back. He didn't say a word. He just… stood. Silent. Heavy. That alone was enough to make the air feel tighter.
Alex gently placed a hand on his mother's shoulder.
"I think I should speak with him," Alex said quietly.
Anna's eyes widened, but Alex forced a small, uneasy smile.
"What can possibly go wrong?" he added, even though both of them knew the answer was: a lot. He just didn't want her pulled into a fight she couldn't win—especially not against a stage seven warrior missing an arm but still dangerous.
Alex stepped past her and walked toward Lucius. Only then did Lucius start moving again, leading Alex out until the two of them disappeared down the corridor.
Anna turned sharply back to her father and uncles.
"What are you people up to now?" she demanded, anger burning straight through her voice.
---
Alex followed Lucius through the quiet corridor until they stepped into the house garden. The air was cooler here, brushed by the sound of running water.
They stopped at the edge of the pond, the waterfall above them pouring in a steady, thunderous sheet.
Lucius stood with his back straight, one arm behind him as always. He watched the water like he was staring at an old memory.
"There are so many secrets this world hides," Lucius said suddenly.
Alex blinked. The shift in tone caught him off guard.
"Humans made superhumans… and items with real magical effects," Lucius continued. His voice stayed calm, almost bored, but the words hit like stones. "All of this has been hidden. Known only to a handful. And it will remain that way."
Alex's stomach tightened. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. The Paragons. The hidden world. He'd been told before—but never this clearly.
"Your family is part of that handful," Lucius said. "Only recently, yes, but they've joined the climb. They're doing everything they can to rise among the ranks."
Lucius turned his head slightly, just enough for Alex to feel the weight of his gaze.
"And as you might have noticed… you are the only one they kept out of it. The only one who isn't like them yet."
Then Lucius moved.
He twisted sharply and threw his hand toward the pond.
A burst of invisible force exploded from his palm. It slammed into the water. A deep rumble followed, and the entire pond rose—lifting upward like an enormous bowl being scooped up by invisible hands.
The waterfall kept pouring in, feeding the floating mass.
Lucius held the shape effortlessly. Water hung in the air, trembling, stretching, defying every rule Alex had ever known. Then he released his hold.
The entire pond crashed down at once.
A wave exploded outward, spraying the whole garden. The sound echoed like thunder.
But Lucius stood untouched. A thin layer of qi shimmered over him, keeping him dry even as droplets burst across the stones around them.
Lucius turned, expecting to see Alex wide-eyed and shaking. Instead, the kid just stood there with a flat face, like he'd seen this whole thing on a Sunday afternoon before.
Lucius blinked.
"You don't seem surprised by this."
"Ah—" Alex jerked a little, snapping out of whatever fog he'd slipped into. "About that… I've seen something similar here while growing up."
He hesitated, eyes narrowing.
"But why me? The Wyndhams kept me out of all this. So why tell me now?"
Lucius watched him quietly for a moment. The air felt heavier.
"Because I see talent in you, Alex. Real talent. And I told them to add you into the family business."
He stepped past Alex, walking toward the exit of the garden as he spoke.
"If you use that talent well, you won't just gain power—you'll force the Wyndhams to respect you."
Alex swallowed and called after him.
"Can I decline?"
Lucius stopped. Not fully turning, just a small tilt of his head.
"I forgot to mention… once you've learned the secret of this world, there's no going back. You join it… or you die."
A cold weight settled in the space between them.
"Welcome to the Wyndhams Clan, Alex."
Lucius walked out of the garden, leaving Alex.
Alex stood there, frozen in place. His legs felt locked. His mind ran circles.
'How? I already joined a faction. I'm already a Paragon Warrior, stage two. If I join the clan, they'll find out. They'll ask questions. Too many questions.'
His chest tightened. Only one way out.
Run.
But to run, he needed to get out of the Wyndham house first.
Meanwhile, Lucius walked back into the throne room. Anna and the Triple Js were still waiting, tension thick around them.
"Where is my son? Where is Alex?!" Anna's voice cracked as she marched toward Lucius.
Before she could reach him, the hall doors swung open again.
Alex stepped inside.
"I will stay," he said.
Anna's face twisted in confusion.
"What? What are you talking about?" She rushed to him, eyes scanning his expression. "Did he force you to say this?"
"No, Mom… I want to stay," Alex said quietly.
He took a breath.
"But… before that, I need to pick up some personal things from my house."
"Sure. We can have one of the guards move all your stuff—" John began.
"Let him go," Lucius cut in.
John's jaw tightened at being interrupted, but he still gave Alex a small nod.
And just like that, Alex had his opening.
The first step out of this sudden trap was finally in motion.