Kevin walked through the village alone.
The morning sun should've felt warm… but it didn't.
Not today.
Not when every eye followed him like he didn't belong.
They didn't shout.They didn't stop him.But their stares were louder than any scream.
"That's him…""The Devil's son.""That traitor's blood runs in him."
He didn't raise his head.He didn't look back.He couldn't.
His feet felt heavier with each step.The world felt too quiet… too watchful.Even the wind avoided him.
Then the whispers turned to growls.Then—shouts.Then—rage.
"He shouldn't be here!""Kill that cursed child!""He'll bring death just like his father did!"
Kevin panicked.He ran.
Sticks struck the ground. Stones rolled past his feet.Somebody threw something—it missed his back by inches.
He cried out—
"Rina! Mother! Someone—please—!"
No one came.
The village blurred through his tears.His lungs burned. His legs screamed.The world felt like it wanted to swallow him.
Then—he saw it.
A castle.Massive. Broken. Hidden among twisted trees.
Its iron gates stood open, like a monster's jaw waiting to devour.Kevin didn't think. He didn't care.He ran straight in.
And the moment he crossed the gate—
Silence.
The crowd vanished.No footsteps. No shouting. No wind.Just him… and the castle.
He bent over, gasping, hands on his knees.His heart pounded like a war drum in his chest.Then he looked up.
The castle was wrong.
Dark. Decayed. The walls twisted like they had once screamed.Dust floated like ghosts in the stale air.Cobwebs reached like claws from every corner.
The air wasn't cold in the way winter is cold.It was deeper. Older.The kind of cold that settles into your bones and stays there.
Kevin walked forward—drawn by something he didn't understand.
He stepped into a grand hall.Along the sides were ancient, crumbling thrones.At the center stood one massive black throne, cracked and covered in shadows.
Suddenly—BAM!
The castle doors slammed shut behind him.
Kevin jumped.He ran back, pushed, pounded, cried—
Nothing.
He was trapped.
Then came the sound.
Laughter.
Low. Broken. Echoing from every wall.
"Ah… son of the Devil."
The voice curled around him like smoke.
"You wear his name… but not his fire."
Kevin looked around, his breath shaking.
"Who's there?!"
A violent gust of wind tore through the hall, throwing dust and ash into his eyes.When it passed—
Shadows.
Six of them. Seated on the tall thrones along the walls.
And then the seventh—The biggest. Darkest. Cruelest.Seated on the massive throne in the center.
Their eyes glowed like dying stars.
"We are the ones who killed him."
Kevin's knees buckled.
"We ended the Devil of Shinkai.""And now… look at his child.""So small. So afraid."
Kevin stumbled backward.
"No… no…"
They rose—Their shadows twisted and danced around him like smoke.
Kevin ran.
But the hall didn't end.The laughter followed him.The shadows closed in.
Then—hands.
Cold, dead hands around his neck.
Lifting him.
"Time to meet your father, boy."
"IN HELL."
Kevin gasped—choked—kicked.
The shadows crushed in around him—His chest burned—his lungs screamed—
—
He woke up.
Gasping. Drenched in sweat. Eyes wide.
He was in his room.
Sayura rushed in, voice sharp with fear.
"Kevin?!"
Yuna, Mira, and Rina followed, all wide-eyed and panicked.
Kevin clutched his blanket, still seeing those glowing eyes.
"They'll kill me… they'll kill me…"His voice cracked, broken.
Sayura dropped to her knees beside him, hugging him tightly.
"No one's here. You're safe. I'm here."
"Who?" Mira asked gently. "Who wants to hurt you?"
Kevin's voice trembled.
"The Seven… the ones who killed Father…"
Sayura froze.Rina looked up, her heart sinking.Yuna moved quickly, handing him water.
Kevin drank with shaking hands.Then he told them—everything.The castle. The shadows. The laughter.
"They said I don't deserve his name…"
Sayura brushed back his damp hair.
"You're okay, my son. It was a nightmare. Nothing more…"
Kevin shook his head.
"No… it felt real. It wasn't just a dream. They know who I am."
Sayura closed her eyes, fighting her fear.Then softly—sternly—
"Kevin… remember your promise. No one can know. No one outside this room."
Kevin looked down… and nodded.
Rina slid beside him, wrapping her arm around his back.
"We're with you. Always."
Mira sat at the foot of the bed.
"Well… guess I'll sleep with a bat tonight. In case ghost-dudes come back."
Kevin cracked a small smile, his breath still shaky.
Sayura stood, watching her children closely.
She didn't speak aloud…
But something inside her whispered:
It's starting.
The next morning, Kevin walked to the academy.
Rina, Mira, Kael, and Finn walked beside him, laughing softly.
But Kevin kept glancing over his shoulder…
Because some shadows…don't vanish in the sunlight.