Cael walked through territory that was his, but which few feet had trod. The forest, this time, stretched far beyond the old cabin of memories, transforming into a wild and untouched sanctuary. The wind, once a breeze, was now a constant presence, a whisper that became a song as it crashed against the ocean of leaves above. With each step, the air grew denser, imbued with the unmistakable scent of damp earth, ozone, and the promise of running water. The sound guided him: a distant murmur that grew into a constant roar, the symphony of nature in its purest state. It was the water, crashing against the stones with primal force.
And then, he arrived. The heart of the forest, protected by the same telekinetic barrier that guarded its secrets from the world. Before him, a majestic waterfall plunged from a dark, moss-covered rock face, the water falling like a furious, liquid veil. The waterfall fed a vast lake, so perfectly crystalline that the pebble and sand bottom was visible to the naked eye. Fish with silver and gold scales danced in schools beneath the surface, indifferent to the commotion. In the exact center of that mirror of water, like a jewel on velvet, lay an island. It was a place of almost painful beauty, with a scent that was the very essence of life: the smell of wet leaves, wildflowers, and the clean, cool air that only a place like that could offer.
His sneakers touched the ground for the last time. With his right palm facing upward, Cael made them rise, floating inches from his skin in a lazy orbit. Then, with the softness of a shadow, he propelled himself into the air. His body glided across the surface of the lake, a silent ballet of contained power. The tip of his bare right foot grazed the water, tracing a solitary, perfectly straight wave that followed him like a silken trail. His left foot was tucked in, the sole pointed towards the sky, in a relaxed pose that belied the complexity of what he was doing. As he approached, the house on the island revealed itself: larger, newer, and immaculately cared for, a stark contrast to the abandoned cabin that held his sorrows. This vision was not of a refuge, it was of a home.
Upon reaching the shore, his right foot landed first, the wet touch sinking slightly into the grass and leaving a dark footprint. Then, his left. The island's grass was a spectacle in itself; short, dense, and such a vibrant green it resembled a natural carpet, a living work of art worthy of high-definition wallpaper. It was a painting, where every element was in perfect harmony. A path of smooth, gray stones cut through the grass, starting at the water's edge and winding gently to a small wooden staircase that led to the house's veranda. The building itself was a fusion of dark wood and reddish bricks, with two stories, a classic triangular roof, and a welcoming veranda that seemed to invite relaxation.
Cael followed the stone path, his silent steps on the cold surface, until he climbed the wooden steps. The veranda floor creaked familiarly under his weight. Everything there was clean, well-kept. But that house, and the island itself, held a secret of unimaginable power. They didn't belong there. They were a transplant, a piece of his past torn away and moved by the force of his will. The house was the one he had lived in with his mother; the island, a fragment of the original land. Two years after being adopted by Hana, in an act of power and longing, Cael had brought his true home to the heart of his sanctuary. No one else knew. It wasn't just a memory; it was the only place in the world where he felt completely safe.
He entered, and the scent embraced him: a clean perfume, of polished wood and a subtle hint of lavender that evoked memories of his mother. The interior was organized and bright, the opposite of the dimness of the cabin. Sunlight streamed in through large, spotless windows, making the wooden floors gleam. The electricity, powered by discreet solar panels on the roof and stored in a battery under the house, worked perfectly. It was a stark contrast not only to the cabin, but even to Hana's house.
— Liz... You can come out of hibernation mode. — Cael commanded, his voice echoing in the silence.
— Hibernation mode deactivated. Hello, Cael. Welcome back! What do you need me to do? — The calm, synthetic female voice filled the room. Liz, the house's artificial intelligence, a final gift from her mother.
"Could you prepare my bath? It's the same as always," he asked, sitting down on the soft sofa.
"Estimated shower time... five minutes," Liz informed, pausing. "By the way, the order you requested is already in transit."
Thanks, Liz. After my shower, I want you to give me the list of some architects.
Any particular reason?
"Hana's kitchen was destroyed. And the backyard too," he explained bluntly.
"That's not good... Maybe a good landscaper could also help with the backyard issue," suggested the AI.
Maybe. But I don't think she'll want to put in any more plants besides the regular lawn. She doesn't have much time to mow, and Maya isn't much of a chore person.
— Could you cut it, sir?
"Yes, and I do it. It doesn't turn out as well as I do it here, but it'll do. But that can wait until next week. I'm training Nina. By the way..." Cael removed a contact lens from his right eye. A compartment opened in the arm of the sofa, and he placed it there before it closed. "This is more urgent."
The television turned on, displaying images of Nina's training session.
Can you see anything strange?
— Apart from the child's abnormal intelligence, no. His bath is ready.
Cael got up, went upstairs, and entered the bathroom. He opened the door, undressed, and plunged into the hot bath. Suspended in front of him, a safe distance from the water, was a small monitor.
"Bring the image here," he asked. The training recording instantly appeared on the screen.
"What did you notice?" Liz asked.
Look at the destroyed ground.
Yes... Any highlights?
It didn't burn. The energy blast passed through, it destroyed something, but it didn't burn.
— I understand your concern. A burst of energy like hers should burn things, according to physics. Instead, it seems to cause impact, but not combustion. She may have a Mystic-class power.
— A Mystic-class power undetected by the government. They miss a lot of details. This could also explain the repulsion the blast generates towards her.
Well, intensity could also explain that.
—Even at low intensity, it was still able to move her body. Perhaps the properties of this energy are purely repulsive.— Cael stood up, the water running down his defined physique, and walked to the shower a meter away.
He turned on the tap, letting the strong jet wash over his body while his mind worked, trying to decipher the enigma that was little Nina.
The steam from the shower dissipated slowly, clinging to the mirror and the bathroom walls. Cael, now dry, with a towel wrapped around his waist, stood in front of the monitor, his damp black hair plastered to his forehead. His eyes, focused and intense, analyzed the video of Nina's training, which played on a loop.
"Socially, she doesn't seem bright, she's a normal child. But when she goes into combat, it seems like her mind changes, like she's a veteran fighter. What do you think, Liz?" he commented, his deep voice echoing in the silent room.
"I agree with your statement. Perhaps she might have some kind of giftedness, like you. But it's just a theory," the AI replied.
Cael went downstairs, the towel still around his waist, and crossed the living room.
"Do you think you can give me a report the next time I come here? I need more precise data," he asked.
I can generate a report right now, if you'd like.
"No, I have to go back to Hana's house. Maybe I'll come back tonight," said Cael, already heading for the door.
"Are you still going to the cabin today?" Liz asked.
"No." The answer was curt and direct.
Cael went upstairs again, entering the room he kept there. Silently, he put on a clean set of dark clothes—a sweatshirt and pants, his unofficial uniform—that he always kept as a spare. He slipped on the sneakers that were patiently floating beside the door and only then did he go downstairs. Seconds later, the front door closed, and he was gone.
A few minutes later, Cael emerged from the tree line, the scent of the forest still clinging to his skin. He crossed the damaged yard and entered the house through the uneven hole in the kitchen wall. The scene that greeted him was one of frustrated stagnation. Hana and Maya were seated at the table, the food still in its packaging, but it was Nina who stood out most. The little girl was huddled in her chair, her body and clothes covered in patches of dry earth, visible reminders of training in the yard, her hair, once tied in perfect pigtails, now limp and dusty. Her face displayed a mixture of tiredness and the discomfort of someone who desperately needs a bath.
"What happened?" he asked, his tone neutral.
"There's no water..." Nina replied, her voice downcast, pointing to the tap as if it were to blame.
"What? How so?" Cael asked, genuinely surprised.
"Apparently, we're having a problem with the supply. The government has decreed that the service will be shut down in the outlying areas to save money," Hana informed them, a weary resignation on her face.
"The problem is that they warned us in the middle of the night. When nobody had the television on," Maya added, her tone heavy with anger.
Cael looked at the three of them, the silence stretching for a moment as he processed the situation.
"By the way, how did you take a shower, Cael?" Maya challenged him with a look.
He took a deep breath, an almost imperceptible sound of someone yielding to an inevitable fate.
"Come with me. But don't think this will happen every day," he said, turning around. "Bring the food too."
The three exchanged glances, confusion etched on their faces, but curiosity got the better of them. Without questioning, they stood up and followed Cael back into the forest. The path was long and the trail uneven. Before they even reached the halfway point, exhaustion began to weigh on Nina's legs. With a subtle gesture, Cael enveloped her in his telekinesis, making her float gently beside him for the rest of the journey.
"I know this path… It's the path to the waterfall," Hana commented, her voice tinged with nostalgia as her eyes swept across the dense forest. "This area is relatively new. Families like mine came here with the promise of better stability, education, and healthcare. When I first arrived in the city, I was very young, but I was already eighteen when the waterfall was discovered. Even so, they managed to destroy that place in two years. No one ever went back there. Only you."
They walked for a few more minutes, the sound of the water becoming a familiar roar, until they finally emerged into a clearing. What they saw took their breath away. The sight was breathtaking, a living painting that defied memory.
"How? This place was destroyed. Now there are even fish..." Hana murmured, her mouth agape, her eyes fixed on the crystal-clear water of the lake.
"What is that house in the middle of the lake?" Maya asked, pointing, her voice full of disbelief.
"That didn't exist..." Hana finished, confusion mixing with astonishment.
Cael said nothing. He enveloped the three in a telekinetic field and lifted them into the air, floating with them over the shimmering water to the island. As he gently set them down on the verdant grass, he commanded:
Take off your shoes.
Hana couldn't take her eyes off the house. There was something about it, a familiarity that stirred her memory.
"Wait... This house... It looks like the one you lived in with your mother. How did she end up here?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"I brought her. Along with the land," Cael replied, as if it were the most obvious explanation in the world.
"You mean you... brought the whole house and land, formed an island in a lake, and cleaned the waterfall's water without anyone noticing?" The skepticism in Hana's voice was palpable; the scale of what he was suggesting was simply impossible to believe.
"Not necessarily in that order, but yes," he confirmed, impassively.
The three women exchanged glances, their minds racing, trying to process the magnitude of that feat.
"Why did you bring us here?" Maya finally managed to ask.
— So you can take a bath.
"You revealed a big secret of yours... just so we could take a shower?" Maya insisted, incredulous.
"It's not a 'big secret.' I just didn't think it was necessary to announce it. It's none of your business, after all," Cael said, and although the words were cold, they contained a logic that the three of them, in a way, understood.
He turned and walked into the house, and they followed him. The interior surprised them even more. The place was impeccably tidy, clean, and a soft, pleasant aroma hung in the air. It was a stark contrast to Hana's house, which, while not neglected, carried the natural disorder of everyday life. Here, it was clear that Cael meticulously attended to every detail, perfuming the place to make it cozy. There wasn't a speck of dust, a footprint, or a stain in sight.
— Liz. Prepare the bath in the guest bathroom. — Cael ordered, speaking into the air.
"Who are you talking to?" Maya frowned.
"What are the bathing guidelines?" the calm female voice replied, making the three of them jump.
"Huh? Where is she?" Maya looked around, confused.
"It's an AI, dear. It's all over the house," Hana explained, fascinated.
"I forgot that you've never had any contact with AI, other than research AI," Cael commented.
"I'd heard about AIs that manage homes, but this is the first time I've seen one. Or rather, heard one," Maya said, marveling, touching the walls as if searching for a speaker.
"I thought only rich people had AI like this," Hana commented.
"I am an inheritance left by Mrs. Reacher to Mr. Reacher," Liz replied, then corrected herself. "I mean, Cael."
"Leave the water at a comfortable temperature for a six-year-old. Is the child screening protocol still in place?" Cael asked.
"What is the child screening protocol?" Maya asked, curiosity shining in her eyes.
"The child check protocol was created by Mrs. Reacher to ensure that Cael bathed properly during his childhood. I check the areas that children usually forget to wash and remind them," Liz explained.
"Well, I'm going to shower with Nina, so there's no need for that protocol," Maya said confidently.
"In this case, the protocol is for you, not for Nina," Cael retorted.
Hana and Nina couldn't contain themselves and burst into laughter.
"Hey! I'm not a child anymore! I know how to take a bath!" Maya protested, her face flushing with irritation.
"The bath is ready," Liz announced punctually.
Maya grabbed Nina by the arm, determined.
"Come on, Nina. I'll show him I know how to take a bath, and you'll be my witness!" She left, pulling the girl towards a door.
"The bathroom is through the other door..." Cael warned, too late.
THUMP!
Maya bumped her face against the closed door. Nina and Hana desperately tried to stifle their laughter. With her hand on her face and her dignity in tatters, Maya turned, marched to the correct door, and entered the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her.
After the commotion of the bath, the house sank into an expectant calm. Hana and Cael sat on the sofa, he on her right. The silence that settled in was comfortable for Cael, a natural state. For Hana, however, it weighed heavily, filled with unspoken words.
"I appreciate you thinking of us... but you could have mentioned you had a second home," she said, breaking the quiet with a soft voice.
"I don't see it that way. There was no secret. I just thought it wasn't any of your business. It's my inheritance, my responsibility." Cael's voice was firm, devoid of aggression, but with the weight of irrefutable logic.
Hana tilted her head slightly to the side. She understood his logic, but couldn't help but feel a pang of hurt at the harshness of his words.
"Sir, I managed to get the contact information for the architects you requested," Liz announced, her voice breaking the tension.
"Filter out the highest-rated candidates and those who aren't prejudiced against people from the outskirts of the city," Cael ordered.
I've already done that.
"Wait. What do you mean, architects?" Hana asked, confused.
"Cael made a green zone request, asking me to find contacts for architects to repair his house," Liz explained.
"What is a 'green zone request'?" Hana asked again, curiosity overriding her hurt feelings.
— Mrs. Reacher created the priority system, in which the user determines the urgency level of each request. White zone is low priority. Yellow zone, medium. Green zone, high. And the red zone is very high priority. Cael determined that every request for repairs to his house is a green zone request and must be carried out as quickly as possible.
The revelation hung in the air. Hana blinked, processing it. A puzzle years in the making began to piece together in her mind.
"So, every time something broke in the house... it was always you who asked for the repair? I remember one time Maya said the kitchen plumbing had broken, but when I went to check, it was already fixed. Was it you, Cael?"
Back then, you always came home from your shift extremely tired. I thought you didn't need to worry about something so...
Cael's speech was interrupted. In a swift, fluid movement, Hana leaned in, enveloping him in a tight embrace. He stiffened, surprised, and before he could react, she placed a kiss on his cheek, dangerously close to the corner of his lips.
"I don't know how to thank you for everything you've done for me in secret. I'm sorry for questioning your decision not to tell me about the house. It's your right," she whispered, her face inches from his, her amber eyes shining with overwhelming emotion.
"I did what I thought was logical," Cael replied, his voice a little tense, not understanding the intensity of that gesture.
The air between them grew thick, charged with a strange electricity. Hana remained close, her gaze fixed on his, while Cael simply stared at her, confused. That's when the bathroom door clicked open, and the bubble burst. Hana jumped back, regaining her composure the instant Nina emerged, already dressed and with damp hair. Maya, however, was not with her.
"What happened?" Cael asked.
"Maya doesn't know how to take a bath," Nina replied, with the brutal honesty of a child.
Some time later, Maya finally emerged from the bathroom, and Hana didn't miss the opportunity.
Seriously, how did you manage that? The child safety check protocol should have caught Nina's attention, not yours. Nina is only six years old and she already bathes better than you. Aren't you ashamed?
"A little... But, in my defense, I always shower this way. I think this AI doesn't understand my hygiene routine," she tried to justify herself, stubbornly.
Hana simply brought her hand to her face, massaging her temples.
Unbelievable. Twenty years old and still doesn't know how to take a bath.
"Hey, let's eat! I'm hungry!" exclaimed Nina, and the debate about hygiene was ended by a universal need.
They had lunch there, in that secret home, and then, as promised, returned to Hana's house. In the late afternoon, after a nap, Nina found Cael in the kitchen. He was standing there, his back to her, looking out at the forest through the hole in the wall.
"Brother! We can start training now!" she announced, full of energy.
That's not how it works. Your body needs rest; the workout was too intense.
"But there won't be enough time! Today is Saturday and tomorrow is Sunday. Monday is the day after Sunday. I'll never be able to touch you until Monday!" she said, her voice fading with discouragement.
Cael turned around and placed his hand on his head, stroking his hair.
"Trust me. When you wake up early tomorrow, you'll realize you're stronger than you are today. There's no need to rush." Her voice was calm, like a mentor's. "Rest a little and believe in yourself, because you are strong."
Nina hugged him, clinging tightly to his leg. His words comforted her. A while later, while she was playing in the living room, Maya approached Cael, who had returned to observing the forest.
"What are you looking at?" she asked.
"Nothing. I'm just waiting for you guys to fall asleep so we can go home." The joke came out with his usual serious tone, making it almost believable.
Maya put her hands behind her back, her fingers nervously intertwining. She looked at the floor, then to the sides, searching for the right words.
"So... do you think Nina will be able to do it tomorrow?" he asked, his voice a little uncertain.
"Yes, you will," Cael replied bluntly.
Will you make it easier in any way?
No. I think she's capable of doing it without my help. But there's one thing I think...
Maya stared at him, curious.
- What?
I think you want to tell me something, but you don't know how.
She sighed, surrendering.
— You're right... You know, that night... after the incident with my former friends... I didn't feel anything when I woke up.
"Perhaps you've numbed yourself somehow," he theorized.
"No." She shook her head, her gaze lost. "They didn't get what they wanted. That person... the one who fought with you... she saved me. She prevented the tragedy."
The revelation hung in the air, heavier than any blow from the previous night. Cael stared at her, his gaze fixed on her face.
"So, they didn't succeed? Well, that's good news, at least," he said logically. "It means you're still a virgin. But if you knew that, why did you offer your body to me, even knowing you were a virgin?"
Maya glanced around the room, making sure Nina was distracted.
"I wanted us to lose our virginity together... to become a couple, forever," she confessed, her voice low, heavy with deep shame. "That's what the culture says. If you and your partner give your virginity to each other, you'll be together forever."
Cael's expression changed. The cold analysis gave way to something darker, a profound unease. The almost childlike naiveté of that belief, mixed with the suggestion of a relationship he would never consider, struck him in a way that no punch from Maya could.
"That's just a legend. That doesn't exist," he said, his voice sharp.
He turned and began walking toward the forest, his shoulders tense. Maya stayed behind, watching him disappear among the trees, her heart heavy, unable to understand his sudden and violent repulsion.