There was something in his voice.
Something gentle… warm… unfamiliar in its affection.
Ron froze. That voice It shocked him.
He hadn't heard it in over a year. As the darkness of night faded, it was replaced by the bright rays of morning sunlight dissolving whatever unknown shadow had haunted the night.
Ron blinked at the window, rubbing his eyes. They were red, with faint dark circles beneath them.
He hadn't slept well.
As Ron stood by the window, soaking in the morning sunlight, the sudden ring of the doorbell broke the silence.
He turned to look at the clock — just past 7 a.m.
That's too early for anyone to be visiting, he thought.
With the cold creeping in more each day and the mornings growing shorter, it didn't feel like the right time for someone to visit.
After a moment of hesitation, he stepped out of his room and walked toward the front door.
His footsteps echoed in the silence — the whole house felt unnaturally still.
He stopped in front of the door and leaned toward the camera screen near the gate, peering at whoever was outside.
Outside the gate stood a tall man wearing a long black coat.
He had a strong, well-built frame and carried an air of something… unknown something that made Ron's skin prickle.
Beside him stood a girl, noticeably shorter.
She looked to be around Ron's age, with soft blonde hair and striking sapphire-blue eyes that almost seemed to glow in the cold morning light.
Suddenly, the man stirred — as if sensing Ron watching from behind the door.
He looked directly at the camera and called out,
"Ron."
Yet he could never forget it.
Ron hastily opened the door, and before he could react, the man standing there pulled him into a tight hug.
Ron froze for a second — then hugged him back just as tightly.
"I missed you guys so much," his father said, his voice rough with emotion. "Where are your mom and sister?"
"They're still sleeping," Ron replied. "Should I wake them up?"
"Hey, Ron — wait." His dad placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling. "Let them sleep a bit more. I was planning to surprise them."
"Um, what kind of surprise are you planning?"
"You'll see," his dad said with a small smile. "Now, let's go inside."
"Hmm." Ron stepped aside to let him in, his eyes drifting to the girl standing beside his father. She had blonde hair and a calm, unreadable expression.
Ron looked back at his dad. "Who is she?"
"She's the daughter of a friend," his dad explained. "Her mom's working on a major project and couldn't leave, so she asked me to take her daughter out to see the world for a bit."
Ron blinked. "But isn't the Stellar Institute huge? I heard it's ten times the size of a normal A-tier city. Why would she want to leave?"
"Why wouldn't she want to leave? Her mom has to work most of the time — she'd be alone otherwise."
"Oh," Ron said quietly, glancing at the girl again.
She looked up at him with a cute, innocent face — her eyes shimmering like sapphires.
For a moment, Ron met her gaze… And then it hit him.
That same cold feeling from the night before.
It crept up his spine, his body tensed, and a shiver ran through him.
He froze — just for a second — as if time had paused around him.
"Ron? Ron!"
"Huh?" Ron blinked, realizing his father was calling him.
"What happened just now?" his dad asked, concern in his voice.
"I… I don't know," Ron replied quietly. "I just blank out… like my body freeze for a second."
"Hmm… it's happening again. When did it start?" his dad asked.
"Just a few weeks ago," Ron replied. "I've started blanking out again… like before. But I didn't tell Mom — she'd only worry."
His dad went quiet for a second. Then, without another word, he stepped inside, brushing past Ron as if deep in thought.
The blonde girl followed silently, giving Ron a quick side glance before stepping in after him.
Their eyes met.
And in that moment, something slipped.
Ron felt everything drain from him — thought, strength, even awareness. His knees gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.
Darkness swallowed him whole.