Kalen lay on his bed, silently lost in thought. Everything felt like a dream—how, in a single day, everything had turned upside down. He had lost his mother, his family, his home, and his city.
But then again, wasn't this just a continuation of what he had faced since childhood? He had always seen cruelty—his father's hatred, the way his father treated his mother, the pain they both endured.Why did his father hate them so much? Why did he kill his mother?
Kalen burned with the desire for revenge, but how?Where was he now?This world seemed so unfamiliar.How would he even get back?Would he ever be strong enough to take revenge on the man who murdered his mother?
These thoughts consumed him until he drifted into a deep, restless sleep.
When morning came, Kalen woke up to find the two other boys who shared his room were gone. They had probably already left.He got up too, picking up the clothes Ms. Mary had left for him.
As he held them, he realized how different these clothes were—lighter, softer, and far more comfortable than anything he had worn in his own world. The bathing area also seemed strange, with a different water system, much more modern than what he knew.
Kalen washed up, changed into the clothes, and stepped outside the room.He knew he had a purpose to fulfill, a mission that he couldn't forget.
As he walked around, observing everything quietly, he eventually made his way to a park.There, he sat alone on a bench, lost in thought.
It had been over eight hours since he arrived in this strange place, yet he hadn't spoken a single word to anyone.Mr. Maeron tried once again to get Kalen to talk, to ask about his background, but it was in vain. Kalen remained silent, distant, and cold.
From a distance, Eirene was watching.She, too, hadn't been here for more than twelve or thirteen hours, yet she had already managed to make a few friends.
Eirene was a special kind of girl—curious, observant.As she watched Kalen, she felt a strange pull toward him. It was as if she could feel his pain—his sorrow felt familiar, like an echo of her own.Something told her they both carried the same kind of wound.
Quietly, Eirene walked over to Kalen and sat down beside him on the bench.She didn't say anything, just waited.
Kalen ignored her at first.But then, something caught his eye—the necklace Eirene wore.It was a green stone pendant, strikingly similar to the blue pendant his mother had once given him.
Staring at it, Kalen's mind snapped back to the present.He emerged from the storm of his thoughts, blinking as the memory of his mother and the pendant flooded his heart.
Eerine notices Kalen looking at her, his gaze distant yet heavy with an unspoken burden. She offers him a gentle smile, her voice soft and kind as she says,"I'm Eirene... What's your name?"
Kalen hesitates, his lips parting slightly, but no words come out at first. His eyes flicker with memories—shadows of loss and grief. After a long, tense pause, he finally whispers, his voice barely audible,"...I'm Kalen."
Eirene's heart tugs at the raw pain she sees in him. She gently asks, her voice laced with both curiosity and concern,"Kalen... how did you get here? Where are your parents?"
Kalen's eyes darken, his shoulders stiffen as if the weight of the world has just settled upon him again. A tear threatens to fall, but he blinks it back, his voice breaking as he whispers,"I have no one... no family... no home... I'm all alone in this world."
His words hang in the air like a silent cry, and Eirene feels a lump rise in her throat. She doesn't say anything right away—just sits there, her own heart aching, sharing the silence of his grief.
From a distance, Ms. Mary and Mr. Maeron stood quietly, watching the two children—Kalen and Eirene—sit together on the bench. As they listened to Kalen's story, a deep sorrow settled in their hearts. Ms. Mary felt a pang of maternal sadness, while Mr. Maeron's face hardened with a sense of regret and helplessness. They both exchanged a glance, their eyes silently acknowledging the pain this boy had endured.
Meanwhile, Kalen found his gaze drifting once again toward Eirene. He stared at her soft features, the way the sunlight danced in her hair, the small smile lingering on her lips. Confusion gnawed at him—why couldn't he look away from this little girl? Why, out of everyone here, was she the only one who seemed to break through his carefully built walls?
He clenched his fists silently, asking himself, What is this strange pull?Am I drawn to her... or is it that green pendant around her neck?
The pendant shimmered faintly in the light, a small, green stone that seemed oddly familiar—almost as if it whispered secrets from a past he couldn't fully grasp.
Kalen's heart pounded. Is this a clue?Is she somehow connected to the answers I'm searching for?He didn't know. But in that moment, a quiet thought echoed in his mind: Maybe... just maybe, I'm not as alone as I thought I was.
The quiet, unspoken connection between Kalen and Eirene was suddenly broken by Sophia, who approached them with a gentle smile."Eirene, come on, it's time for breakfast," she said softly, glancing at Kalen.
Eirene nodded, standing up from the bench. She turned toward Kalen, her eyes hopeful and bright."Come with us... please?" she urged, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kalen hesitated, his usual cold demeanor flickering for a moment—but eventually, with a sigh, he followed them toward the canteen.
As they entered, Eirene walked alongside Kalen and her three new friends, their small group a bright contrast to the buzzing, noisy atmosphere of the canteen. But as soon as they stepped inside, an unwelcome presence loomed over them.
Selena—the same girl who had bullied Eirene the previous night—spotted them immediately. Her eyes narrowed, a wicked smirk spreading across her face as she sauntered over, her gang of followers trailing behind her like shadows. This time, her group wasn't just her usual clique—four older boys, towering and broad-shouldered, stood with her, exuding a menacing energy.
Selena crossed her arms and sneered, her voice dripping with malice."Well, well... if it isn't the little princess and her friends. Thought you could walk in here like you own the place, huh?"
One of the boys—tall, with a smug expression and a swagger in his step—stepped forward, reaching out as if to shove Eirene aside.
But before his hand could even graze her, Kalen moved.
In a blur of motion, Kalen's fist connected with the boy's face—a sharp, powerful punch that sent him crashing to the floor. A stunned silence filled the canteen as the boy lay there, clutching his jaw in shock and pain.
The other three boys barely had time to react. They lunged toward Kalen, their movements fast but clumsy.
But Kalen—his eyes cold, his focus razor-sharp—was faster.
With swift, precise movements, he dodged their attacks effortlessly, his small frame weaving between their large bodies. Each punch and kick from Kalen landed with devastating force, sending the older boys sprawling across the canteen floor one by one.
Within a minute, the entire group lay groaning and defeated, their once-dominating presence shattered in an instant.
The canteen fell into stunned silence. Everyone stared in disbelief at the scene—at Kalen, the small, quiet boy, standing tall and unshaken amidst the chaos.
Selena, her confidence draining, stumbled back a step, her face pale.
Eirene, wide-eyed, stared at Kalen, her heart racing. A single thought echoed in her mind—Wow.....