Morning light shone through the velvet curtains of the Veyne mansion, coloring the room in pale gold. Kael lay awake long before the sun rose, his body still but his mind analyzing the events of yesterday.
The Fentons' voices echoed in memory—Jack's booming laugh, Maddie's measured analysis, the quiet look in Jazz's eyes, Danny's easy invitation. He had smiled at them, played the part. But after he was alone, he could finally weigh the truths hidden in their words. He summarized his own knowledge and the information provided by the Fentons. He concluded that:
Ghosts have hierarchies. The Ghost Zone wasn't just chaotic; it was layered dominions, each ruled by beings stronger than most could imagine. If he wanted to survive, even thrive in this chaotic world, he needed more than raw strength—he needed allies. Friends, soldiers, pawns. Not all battles were fought with fists.
Technology is needed to bridge the gap. Vlad may have relied on cunning, Danny on instinct—but the Fentons had something else: innovation. Ghost weapons, shields, detectors… tech could narrow gaps when powers faltered. If he learned to experiment with their tools, he could adapt beyond anything the Zone expected. His knowledge and curiosity about this world made his thirst for technology and innovations even further. He wanted to master the unknown relics told in the series and also wanted to find out if there's anything more that is unknown. Technology combined with his foresight could make his future actions easier and his ambitions more achievable.
Humans were vulnerable to emotion. He had watched how Vlad's charm and manipulation turned enemies into servants. Innocents were easily guided if one struck the right chord—sympathy, fear, admiration. Kael hated the thought, but he couldn't deny it: this, too, was a weapon.
He sat at his desk, fingers brushing over half-burnt schematics of the portal. His parents had left him more than grief—they had left him blueprints. He intended to finish what they began, but not in their image. In his own. Kael remembered that in the canon, ghosts could come if the portal was opened. He wanted to change that—if only he permitted, then the ghost could come through his portal. This would strengthen his security and make his base more protected compared to Danny's future home. He intended to share this with Danny in the future when he gained ghost powers—but not now.
He needed to fix the portal as soon as possible and study relevant information about it so as to better maintain it himself. He could not always seek help from the Fentons. He wasn't staying with them, and frequent maintenance might make them suspicious. He could not gamble his future on the hope that the Fenton couple might be clumsy like in the original series. That's why mastering knowledge from his parents' notes and the Fentons was his first priority.
Another thought came through his mind. He couldn't afford to act too mature. His sudden composure, his knowledge—it would draw suspicion. His behavior after traveling was anything but that of a teenager. People might not notice this in the short term, as they might think he was just trying to cope with the trauma. Radical changes were bound to attract unwanted attention.
"To them, I must remain the grieving boy who's slowly learning to live again. Anything else will raise questions."
So he decided: he would shift schools or homes, framing it as part of moving on. "Fresh air. A change of scenery. Healing from grief." No one would question such a narrative. This would help his preparation for the future. He could train in secret, study the ghost field, and gather relevant information. He could come to the mansion in secret or after some time on the grounds of visiting his parents' lab. All of this was rational and logical and would not garner attention.
Kael also needed his own time to figure out himself and his disposition. At this moment, further interactions with Danny, Jazz, or other key characters might expose his secret—especially since Jazz and Kael were childhood friends. That's why, after hesitating and weighing the pros and cons, Kael decided to move to another city. He concluded that fixing the portal might take one to two weeks. He could learn the relevant knowledge during that period and also complete the procedure of changing schools.
His rebirth had granted him power, yes, but not skill. He needed something grounding, something human: combat and martial arts training. He also needed to figure out his abilities related to fire and time. What he lacked most was fighting experience.
"If ghosts like Vlad, Skulker, or Walker fight with decades of experience, I can't meet them empty-handed. My body must match my hybrid stamina. Every strike must count. Every breath must last."
The decision was firm. Training would begin soon. Discipline combined with resourceful actions was bound to bear fruit. Kael believed in his potential. He would become a powerhouse in this world.
Kael stood across from the window. Outside, Amity Park looked deceptively peaceful—children laughing, neighbors mowing lawns, the illusion of safety. He whispered to the world beyond glass:
"Pariah Dark. Your power is unreal, but your dominion isn't untouchable. I will give you a big surprise when you return like in the original."
Silver-blue light flickered in his eyes. His ghost name he selected as Tempest. Tempest meant a violent storm, symbolizing his cold firestorm aura of electric blue and silver storm-like energy. It also represented time; that's why he decided on this name.
Kael was both excited and nervous about the future. That's why he needed absolute strategy. Tomorrow he could join Danny's games, humor Jazz's advice, play the role of the ordinary boy. But today? Today was for secrets and sharpening.
For Kael Veyne was no longer simply surviving. He was planning. Building. Preparing. He would protect the people around him from the inevitable chaos. He would become the guardian of this city.
And the Ghost Zone—whether it welcomed him or not—would one day become his chess field, and he would become its player.