Evening fell, and the familiar murmur of the family dinner warmed the house.Angel was in his room when his mother called him to the table. Startled, he pulled off his headphones and leapt out of bed, racing toward the dining room.
But when he arrived, the room fell silent.All eyes turned toward him like invisible arrows.
— Whaat! Angel, it looks like… stammered Gems, his little sister.Her fork slipped from her fingers and clattered onto the plate.
His mother, frozen, still held the serving dish.— I thought you had cut your hair? she finally asked, voice trembling.
Angel hesitated.— No, Mom… I was just… wearing a mask.
His father, usually so calm, furrowed his brows.— A mask? Why hide yourself, son?
Angel drew a deep breath.— I used to worry about what others thought of me. I didn't want to cut my hair, so Yabal helped me create a technological wig. It made it look like my hair was short.
His mother sighed.— You should have told us, Angel… We can't bear to see you shut yourself away.
A heavy silence fell. Then she added more softly:— What made you change your mind?
Angel gave a faint smile.— I decided to accept myself. I don't want to see my appearance as a problem anymore.
Gems clapped her hands.— But you're so handsome like this! Look, Mom, he's adorable! — she said, circling him, fascinated.— Gems, stop, muttered Angel.— Chiii, he doesn't even laugh? I say he should stay like this!— You're crazy, little sister, he laughed despite himself.
Their laughter brought warmth back to the room. Their older brother was at university, absent from the scene, but for a moment, the house felt alive again.
Angel sat down. His parents seemed to accept his explanation. The mask was gone. Yet behind the smiles, the air remained fragile.
— This is the moment, he thought. I have to tell them.— Tomorrow, I leave.
Silence fell. Angel explained he had to travel to the United States for urgent administrative matters, planning to be away for a month.
— A month away? After all this? Are you sure, Angel? asked his mother, hands clasped.— Yes. It's necessary. I have a project to finish. It's only a month.
His parents nodded reluctantly. But their eyes betrayed an unease they couldn't put into words.
Later that night, Angel stared at the stars through his window. A familiar song played in his headphones.He thought of Yabal and their meeting in a few hours… until a male voice shattered the calm.
— Heyyyy, Angel! Come down the window, I need to see you!
Angel pulled off his headphones, heart tightening.Under the moonlight, a massive man stood there, muscles taut, gaze piercing.
— Who are you?— Come down. I have something to show you. Don't worry.— At this hour? Do you take me for a fool? What if you're a murderer?— Come quickly, it's urgent! I can't stay long, the man insisted.— I won't move until I know who you are.— Do you know Rhéa?
The name froze Angel in place.Rhéa? He needed no further explanation.— I'm coming.
He leapt from the window. The man, standing near a car, looked exhausted and out of breath.
— Angel, how are you?— I'm fine, but… why did you mention Rhéa?
Without warning, Aldebaran struck.A blinding, nearly invisible blow. Angel saw only a flash of light before pain tore through him. His body was hurled into the street.
Gravel dug into his skin. He spat blood.The man advanced slowly.— Too slow, grunted Aldebaran, striking again.
Angel dodged instinctively, a silver aura briefly flickering from him.The ground exploded under the blow, sending dust into the air.
Angel rolled to the side, gasping.— He's monstrous!
He rose and charged, striking low then feinting high.
The attack caught Aldebaran off guard. The colossus bent a knee.— Not bad, he breathed. That's not a street technique.
— Who are you? Why attack me? Angel shouted.— I'm testing you, Aldebaran replied. You're strong, but you waste your energy.
He pointed toward the parked car.— THAT'S ENOUGH! Rhéa is in the car. Take her and get her home! Men are coming. This fight… was a lure. I'll draw them away. Only you can protect her.
Without another word, he took off, leaping into the sky, disappearing into the night.
Angel stayed still, catching his breath.He ran to the car. Rhéa lay unconscious.He picked her up and carried her to his room. Trembling, he closed the window, then called Yabal to postpone their departure. The trip would wait until tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Aldebaran landed in a wind-swept desert, his steps heavy, strength almost gone.He fell to his knees.A figure emerged from the mist a man in a jacket, face cold, gaze empty.
— My poor Aldebaran, he said calmly. You betrayed us to protect a girl. Your sacrifice is useless. Where she's going… is to us. The spider's web will catch her.
He raised his hand.
A thin red line of light shot out, almost invisible.Aldebaran collapsed. His head rolled across the cold sand. The desert remained silent, swept by the wind, as if he had never existed.
The next morning, a scream shattered the peace.— OH LORD!!! his mother cried.
Angel leapt up and raced down the stairs.— Mom, what happened?She trembled before the television.— Look! The police found a decapitated body near the desert…
The image froze Angel.It was him.Aldebaran.
He ran back and shook Rhéa.— Rhéa! Wake up!She opened her eyes slowly, face hardening, anger replacing fear.— Aldebaran of Shakram… I swear I'll avenge you!
— Who was that man? Angel asked, distraught.— I'll tell you later. But it was expected, she replied, voice icy.
A familiar voice then echoed near the window.— Oh, Rhéa, it's you? Yabal said, a little surprised.Rhéa turned, arms crossed, black sunglasses still on.— Yeah, Yabal. It's been a while. We'll celebrate later. For now, we need to leave. Let's go to the END.
— The END? How do you know this place? Yabal asked, astonished.— It's all tied to the story I'll tell there, Rhéa replied impatiently. Angel, get ready.
— Give me twenty minutes, he said calmly. Time to alert my parents.
He returned shortly after, determined.His pendant glowed silver, then blue.A sound of shattering glass echoed in the room.The portal opened, drawing all three of them in.They landed on the cold ground of the Plain of Time and Space. Angel looked up.
Before them, in the void, stood a perfectly still figure.A man… with his face.His double.
— I knew you would come here, Angel Aiger… and Ada Rhéa.