[Capital - Hero Association HQ]
Noah walked down the grand stone corridor of the Hero Association, his footsteps echoing softly behind him. But the weight pressing on his heart was anything but soft. It was heavy, bitter—shaped by every word, every tear, every verse from the harp that Nemesis had played.
He had come expecting war. Expecting to burn down corruption with righteous fire. To silence Nemesis with his sword.
But she didn't stop him. She didn't fight. She let him see her pain.
Now he wasn't sure anymore.
The lines between good and evil had blurred like ink in water.
Nemesis, the one whom he had believed to be the enemy, had not attacked, threatened, or even defended herself.
She had simply... let him in.
"So much sorrow... and yet she stood. Alone," Noah murmured, clenching his fists. "What kind of world turns kindness into a curse?"
The capital skyline stretched before him, bathed in twilight.
There was nothing more for him here.
Olivia would reach out when she found anything about the headmaster. Nemesis would do the same when that man reappeared.
There was no battle to fight today. Only wounds to carry.
His mind was exhausted from today's incident after watching and feeling extreme emotions from Nemesis song.
Her each word carry sorrow and grief.
Not wanting to bother himself anymore he opened a portal with a flick of his hand and enter it leaving the Capital.
---
[Noah's Room | Augustus Mansion]
A shimmering portal opened, and Noah stepped into the warm, cozy space of his room. Instantly, laughter filled his ears.
On the bed, Layla, Lyra, and Scarlett were sitting in a circle, chatting animatedly.
"And then he stammered so much, he called the professor 'Mom' instead of 'Ma'am'!" Layla giggled, rolling onto her back.
Lyra chuckled. "You should've seen his face. He turned so red I hold his hand in academy suddenly."
Scarlett added, smiling gently, "Even back then, he was so cool when he stand against Charlotte."
Layla snorted. "Oh, and he once tried to show off to me when he was a child while swinging a sword but ended up getting beaten by the instructor."
"He must have been cute," Scarlett whispered. "Even when he was not strong."
Lyra leaned back, eyes soft. "He still is."
"Oh, and when Noah first visited my house he was very shy, I even showed him my house, my room and even my bathro—huh?" Layla said with a teasing smirk.
And that's when the portal under her opened.
"Ahh!"
She yelped as she fell—directly into Noah's waiting arms.
He stood there, exhausted, expression unreadable.
Layla blinked, wide-eyed. "Uh-oh."
He glared. "You told them everything."
She laughed nervously. "Ah-thats..you see...ahem."
Noah was going to scold this little yandere but before he could say anything, she threw her arms around his neck, nuzzling close — (Happy Wife) mode on.
"Honey, you're back! You must be tired. Hungry? Want a bath? A massage? Or may be me?" Layla asked him shyly with a blush on her cheeks.
Scarlett who heard this felt her whole face heat and turned red and thought, "How can someone by so shameless and adorable at the same time?"
Lyra didn't react much but the blush on her cheeks said otherwise.
Noah just sighed, no longer had the energy to argue with her.
He just looked at those eyes filled love and care it was enough for Noah to forget today's incident just by seeing them once. This was the charm of Layla.
He carried her to the bed, lay her down gently and sat as well.
Lyra and Scarlett immediately moved in, each hugging him from the sides.
"Welcome back," Scarlett whispered gently melting into his embrace.
"You look like hell," Lyra said bluntly, concern in her eyes as she saw his eyes.
"Did something bad happened Noah?" Layla asked, still hugging him as she rested her head over his heart.
Noah looked at each of them as he started telling today's event.
"Girls... today was different," Noah murmured. "The woman I thought was a monster... she turn out to be just a mother. A broken widow. She didn't want vengeance. She wanted someone to remember who she used to be."
The room fell silent.
"She played her pain into a song," he continued. "And I....I saw it all. Her grief, her love, her fall. She is just a broken women who is still kind, when the world was never kind to her."
Layla placed her hand on his cheek, gently. "You don't need to carry it alone."
Scarlett tighten her embrace as she said, "Don't blame yourself Noah, you were just worried about others,"
Noah replied with a guilt, "But if not for her telling me her story I would have killed a innocent life."
Lyra stroked his head and said, "But you didn't, and that's what matters."
They all try to soothe him but it was not easy for Noah to forgive himself for acting on impulse.
While trying to do a good act he would have done an evil act as well.
Today, Noah has learnt a lesson on good and evil.
Sometimes what look evil to you is nothing just a perspective looking at it from a bigger picture it may even seem kind.
Noah lay flat on the bed, pulling them all close. "I will tell you the rest tomorrow. Tonight, just stay. I need you."
And without further questions, they held him. Whispered sweet nothings. Ran fingers through his hair until sleep claimed him.
---
Far away from where Augustus Mansion a place beyond real world—A divine Sanctuary. Where light particles flow like gentle breathing, and time itself folded like a gentleman.
At its heart sat a man.
White-haired, A handsome face that make anyone fool his age, with a calm wisdom etched into every line of his face. Dressed in pristine robes lined with blue runes, he meditated as mana waves pulsed in harmony.
Rein Shroud.
The old lion of the battlefield. The former Headmaster of Hero Academy before it closed for good.
He took a deep breath, and golden-white energy erupted from his body, cascading across dimensions like ripples in a timeless sea.
He opened his eyes, satisfied.
"Seclusion bore fruit. My temporal pathways are stable, my sixth harmonic is complete. Both phases are stable and more integrated.Good."
He stood, cracking his neck casually.
"It's been a while since I step outside. Time to go see how things are outside. Let's see if Association causes any more trouble. I wouldn't be surprised if Hero Association got attacked."
He chuckled, suddenly his thoughts wondered for a certain white haired boy a sigh escaped his mouth.
"That brat must have improved a lot as well. I better beat him before he became arrogant and call me Old man hahaha.
He laughed quietly and vanished in a blink outside the space.
---
In the middle of the Royal forest outside the capital. The forest was dark and errie sounding due to some wild beast who hunt at night.
Suddenly a light simmered outside a cave and from it emerge Rein Shroud.
The cave was the secret entrance to the sanctuary who available to him.
He thought of going back to his mansion first. As he didn't even told his servants before leaving last time.
But sound of footsteps were heard, someone was already waiting for him.
A black robed figure. Face wrapped in swirling darkness. Power radiated from him like a sickness. He was almost invisible in the dark if not for Rein heightened senses through which he could see in complete dark.
Rein looked at him, raised a brow. "You lost, shadow boy?"
"It's an honor, Rein Shroud."
Rein's gaze sharpened. "You know me?"
"Everyone knows you."
"I guess I am famous after all. Well then are you here for autographs?" Rein asked him with a smirk.
"No." The man replied bluntly.
"Then why are you here for?" Rein asked him slightly amused by his reply.
"I am here...to kill you," he replied as if it was the most noble act.
Silence(swoo....sound of wind blew past them)
Then Rein laughed. "Pfft....kill me and Alone? You should have brought your mom and dad as well as a priest."
"For your funeral," Rein replied to him in a mocking tone.
"I won't need help." The man replied irritated.
"Then die with dignity." Rein said as he raised his hands, pointed one finger towards the man a concentrated beam of light mana shot from it towards the man.
Who created a dark barrier that devoured the light.
The shadow flicked his finger.
Rein created hundreads of light missiles
Send all of them at him from different angles.
The man struggled to keep the barrier and his barrier cracked.
Furious, in rage he he summoned 20 dark balls pulsing violently and send them at Rein.
Rein dodged them effortlessly and taunted him, "Even a kid can aim better than you."
He vanished from his place and reappeared infront of him as his punch hit the man's face sending him flying back metres away, and hitting on a tree.
"You are weak," After Rein punched him, he lost interest in fighting with him anymore. No longer wanting to play with him he turned to leave.
But then...
The robed man lying down flat whispered.
[Domain Expansion: Eternal Sorrow]
BOOM.
The world twisted. The trees rotted. The stars dimmed.
Black flames rose like serpents. Shadows screamed. The entire dimension warped into a twisted realm of sorrow and pain.
Rein felt him emotions swirling like a hurricane trying to take control of him.
But he stood firm.
With a sigh, he flicked his own finger.
Light exploded in the other half of the realm. Divine golden waves split the darkness. Reality cracked as two worlds clashed.
A battlefield of two extremes.
One half—a realm of sorrow and flame.
The other—a timeless sanctuary of pure light and harmony.
"Did you feel it, this is power of Sorr-," before the man could finish his word Rein vanished again from his place. He reappeared behind the man mid-sentence and punched him through ten trees.
"You talk too much."
The shadow man rose again. His eyes shone red for a sec then turned black. His aura now doubled.
"Let's begin."
He snapped his hand. Dozens of black orbs—each screaming with cursed souls—shot at Rein.
Rein spun. Time slowed. He sidestepped each orb, slicing a few with Chrono-Lumina, his legendary blade of compressed timelines with light particles.
The shadow snarled. He summoned (Chains of Sorrow), binding the space Rein stood in.
Rein raised one hand.
(Temporal Shift)
The chains dissolved into dust before reaching him.
The battle escalated.
The enemy slammed his palms together. A monstrous wail erupted—Wail of the Damned, tearing through sound and mind. Rein staggered, blood trickling from his ear.
"A soul-frequency attack... clever."
Rein retaliated. He drew a Time Glyph in the air. It expanded, glowing with temporal laws.
"Rewind Pulse."
The shadow's last ten seconds reversed—forcing him to relive Rein's earlier strike.
He was sent flying again.
But he rose, angrier, stronger.
Dirge of Despair echoed as shadow daggers rained.
Rein's robe flared. He danced through them, cutting each with blinding arcs.
Luminous Tempest. A storm of light blades cascaded from above.
The man formed a black barrier—Womb of Grief. It absorbed light, then exploded outward.
Rein was flung back, crashing into a mountainside.
He stood, brushing dust off. "Not bad."
He gripped his sword tighter and muttered.
"Chrono Dive."
Suddenly multiple cracks appeared on the space fibre and Seven Rein Shrouds appeared from them, each from a separate timeline. They struck in perfect harmony.
The shadow's defenses cracked. Wounds tore across him. He fell down bloodied and broken.
Then—
the domain responded.
Dark flames pulsed violently flowed onto him, darkness pooled under him. His wounds closed. Power returned. His aura stabilised.
"You're not alone," Rein muttered. "The domain... it's feeding you."
He raised his blade.
"Chrono Severance.''
A golden arc split reality—cutting through space and time. It severed the bond between the man and the domain for a heartbeat.
Rein strucked a fatal blow.
But the domain reconnected instantly.
The shadow laughed, whole again.
Rein's eyes narrowed.
"I see,"
"...I'm not fighting you. I'm fighting your home."
He exhaled.
"Interesting,"
"This... might be worth testing my new skills."
---
To Be Continued...