His lips were moving near her ear, as if every word was weaving a hidden melody of pain and oblivion. He whispered in a voice like a mournful symphony: "I am... your fortress, Sera."
At first, his eyes didn't meet hers. She only noticed his blue-black hair fluttering with a gentle breeze that swept through the room, dancing around him. He took a step back, and she moved forward, reaching out to touch him. Suddenly, he vanished as if the shadows had swallowed him whole.
Her fingers trembled in the empty air. "Who are you?..." she asked in a choked voice.
In a heartbeat, the scene twisted like a vortex of time. She saw him again, but this time, he was holding a gun, aiming it directly at her. His eyes—a lethal mix of sky blue and night black—were as cold as ice, piercing through her without mercy.
"Who are you?!" she demanded again, her voice sharper this time.
As she fought, drowning in her shattered dreams, the scene shifted to the city of Ezora.
In a luxurious mansion, Aiden's adoptive father sat behind a massive desk. Property transfer papers lay before him. He wore a deadly smirk, then placed his revolver on the table.
Aiden stepped forward, his piercing eyes never leaving the man who raised him. He spoke calmly, each word heavy as stone:
"The price is my life... unless you want me to start playing with the records of your corruption."
The air was thick with danger; every movement, every breath, every heartbeat was calculated. The mansion seemed still, yet it pulsed with a tension so raw that the very walls seemed to fear what was coming next.
But… this wasn't the first scene of our story.
Before everything turned into a nightmare… there was a different morning.
A morning where a new tale began.
In that dawn, before her world collapsed, they faced the truth as the sun's laughter faded. They decided to leave the small town that had sheltered them. Now, as the hour of departure neared, they bid farewell to their small world to embrace "Ezora"—or as the locals called it: "The Night Sky"—the city of glowing jewels and endless promises.
The taxi pulled up to the wet curb, its tires emitting a faint screech.
Eileen looked up in awe, her gaze traveling up the glass facade of a tower that seemed to pierce the clouds. The sunlight reflected off its blue windows, sparkling like scattered stars.
"Wow... are we really going to live here?!" Eileen exclaimed, her voice vibrating with life.
She rushed forward like a child freed from boredom, her heels clicking on the pavement like a fast-paced piano melody. She stopped before the main gate and opened her arms theatrically.
"Welcome, ladies, to Arcadia Vault, where luxury touches the imagination!"
She turned to Rina, waving her phone. "Rina! Take a picture of me here. This moment will set social media on fire… I'll make all my old friends regret leaving me!"
"Eileen, stop screaming… you've exhausted me. Let's go up," their mother said with a weary smile.
Sera approached with quiet steps, her eyes scanning the place as if trying to believe it was real. The black marble floor shimmered under golden lights, and classical music drifted through the air. She felt as if she had stepped into another world.
Inside the elevator...
"Why did we move here?" Sera whispered. "And... do we each get our own room?"
"Of course," her mother replied. "This is only temporary. Eileen will finish her exams soon, and I can't leave her alone in a dorm. You know that girl—she flies more than she walks."
Rina laughed softly. "So, protection from university disasters… a wise decision."
Sera gave a side smile. "Amazing... I'll start looking for a new job tomorrow."
"A new pharmacy?" Rina nudged her. "I thought you wanted a change?"
"I do," Sera chuckled. "But the salary is irresistible. I'll stay in the field temporarily to save money first. There's something new I want to study."
"Something new? Like what?"
Sera looked at her reflection in the elevator mirror. "When the time comes, I'll tell you. For now, focus on your fiancé and train your fingers... phone sports might lead to carpal tunnel syndrome!"
"You're so mean!" Rina laughed.
The elevator chimed softly, and the doors slid open. Eileen rushed out first, her eyes darting across the brightly lit hallway. Their mother pulled out an electronic keycard and swiped it at the door marked: 8706.
They entered a glass foyer overlooking the glowing city. The suite looked like a masterpiece: polished wood floors, a spacious lounge with grey sofas, and a marble kitchen gleaming under the lights.
"Oh my god! Are we in a drama?" Eileen collapsed onto the sofa. "I want to stay here forever!"
Rina began darting between rooms. "Four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom! But wait... there's one room with a circular balcony!"
She opened the door to that room, and sunlight flooded in. The sheer curtains swayed gently. "Of course... the room itself is bigger than the others—"
"Wait!" their mother interrupted firmly. "I know those looks. No screaming, no hair-pulling. We'll settle it by drawing lots."
The mother wrote their names on pieces of paper. Rina drew first, then reshuffled. Three times, the result was the same.
"Sera," the mother said, smiling. "Your luck is high today."
"Ugh... lucky her!" Rina winked.
After a long day, everyone retired to their rooms. Sera stood alone on her semi-circular balcony. The city sparkled before her like a necklace of stars. She put on her headphones, a calm melody flowing with the night breeze. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
When she opened them… the silence was broken by a faint sound from the neighboring balcony.
A man stood there, leaning against the glass. He wore a white shirt, and his blue-black hair fell over his forehead in a messy, effortless way. His eyes were haunting: a mix of blue and black that glowed like silent embers.
Sera froze. She didn't move. There was something about him... something captivating. The city behind them stood as a silent witness to a mysterious beginning.
The magical moment was cut short by the ringing of his phone. He glanced at the screen, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. He put the headset to his ear, his voice deep and steady, making Sera's heart race:
"I am... coming."
Sera whispered into the early summer breeze, her voice barely audible:
"I... I've seen you before... but... where?"