Return to the City
The forest had always been Kairo's home. He knew every tree, every winding stream, and every hidden cave. But now, as he stepped onto the crumbling path that led out of the woods, the city stretched before him, a massive maze of steel and light, humming like a living organism.
"This… this is where I was born?" Kairo asked, his voice trembling slightly.
The old man beside him adjusted his worn satchel. "Yes. This is where you were born… and where your past waits. But be careful. It's not like the forest. This place moves, breathes, and it watches."
Kairo swallowed. The pulse under his chest throbbed faintly, reminding him of what he didn't yet understand. The crimson mark had never spoken to him directly, but its presence was always there, whispering in his veins.
"We need to move," the old man said. "Stay close, and don't draw attention."
The path from the forest had been long and exhausting. They had walked for days along broken roads, shallow rivers, and overgrown fields. Nights were spent by small streams, where the old man instructed Kairo in subtle control of the power he didn't yet fully understand.
"You're strong, Kairo," the old man said one night, poking the fire. "But strength alone isn't enough. Control is everything. One misstep and you'll hurt yourself—or worse, someone else."
"I… I just want to know why I feel… different," Kairo murmured. "Why everyone else feels ordinary, and I don't."
"You will," the old man said softly. "Soon enough. But now, survive and learn. Focus on being ordinary. Ordinary is safer."
Even during the day, Kairo noticed faint traces of other powered humans—glimmers in the grass, flickers of energy, shadows moving unnaturally. Each time, the old man reminded him to stay calm.
"Not every one of them is dangerous. Not yet. But eyes are everywhere."
By the fifth day, the trees thinned, replaced by open fields and abandoned roads.
Occasionally, they noticed traces of civilization: broken fences, charred remnants of buildings, faint footprints in mud. The city was close.
Kairo felt his pulse quicken. "It's… huge," he said.
"It is," the old man replied. "And dangerous. This is not a place for mistakes."
The first alley they walked down was full of life and chaos. Street vendors shouted prices, kids displayed minor powers, and gangs lounged on corners, testing strength and luck alike.
A boy with messy black hair and bright green eyes leapt across crates like they weighed nothing. He shouted at someone behind him.
"Watch it! Don't trip, newbie!"
Kairo froze, unsure if he should intervene or hide.
"That's Ryo," the old man whispered. "He's your first city companion. Trouble tends to follow him."
The boy noticed them. "You talking about me?" he said with a playful smirk. "Name's Ryo. You look like you just walked out of a forest or something. Who even are you?"
"I… I'm Kairo," he replied, unsure of what to say. "I… just got back."
Ryo's grin widened. "Back? From where? Did you live under a rock? Or did you fight monsters with a stick?"
Kairo opened his mouth, but the old man gave him a sharp look. "Just… say hello politely," he muttered.
Kairo tried again. "Hi. I'm… Kairo."
Ryo raised an eyebrow. "Kairo, huh? Cool name. You got powers too, right? I can feel it."
Kairo's chest burned faintly. "Uh… yeah, maybe."
Ryo grinned, revealing slightly crooked teeth. "Perfect. Stick with me. You'll survive… maybe even have fun."
Before Kairo could respond, a blur of blue streaked past. A girl on a floating bike landed with grace, hands on her knees, eyes shining.
"I'm Sora," she said. "You're new, huh? Don't die before learning how to survive here. Rules aren't what you think."
Kairo blinked. "Survive… rules?"
"You'll see," Ryo said. "Just follow me, and don't embarrass yourself."
Across the city, in a tall glass building, a man in a black suit stared down at the streets. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd, focusing on faint pulses that only he could sense.
"Has he entered the city?" he asked coldly.
"Yes, sir," a subordinate replied. "The boy is alive. Crimson mark is faint, but detectable."
"Good," the man said, lips curling slightly.
"Let him walk freely. The city will test him. Every step he takes, we will watch… until the time is right."
Kairo, unaware, wandered further into the city, the pulse in his chest faintly warning him, but only as instinct, not understanding.
Ryo led Kairo through alleys, pointing out safe paths, dangerous streets, and zones where the gangs ruled.
"Never go down that road," Ryo warned.
"Gangs, powered humans… you'll get hurt."
Sora zipped past, floating above the street. "Keep up, newbie. Or you'll get squashed."
Kairo tripped over a crate, landing face-first in a pile of garbage.
"Seriously?" he muttered.
Ryo laughed so hard he doubled over. "Lesson one: always watch your feet."
Sora rolled her eyes. "You'll either love it or hate it. Mostly hate at first, but it grows on you."
The old man muttered, "At least the forest didn't smell like this."
As they moved, Kairo noticed other powered humans: A silver-haired girl skated on glowing rails, streaking past and calling, "Next time I'm beating you to the corner!"
A boy lifted crates effortlessly, glaring at smaller gangs. "Back off," he warned. A hooded figure watched from a rooftop, eyes glowing faint red, then disappeared.
Kairo whispered, "Who are they?"
"Future friends… future rivals," Ryo said casually. "Or maybe both. You'll meet them when the city decides."
None of them suspected Kairo's true identity. To them, he was just another new kid, a little stronger than average.
They turned a corner and saw a gang harassing a merchant.
"Not on my watch!" Kairo shouted. The crimson mark pulsed faintly, guiding his instincts.
Ryo jumped, flipping a crate at a thug, sending him sprawling. Sora created a small spark tornado, scattering the rest. Kairo instinctively disarmed the last one, feeling exhilaration at his own speed and strength.
"Wow…" he panted. "That was… fun?"
"Fun?" Sora laughed. "That was survival. You'll see the difference soon."
Even as Kairo caught his breath, he felt the faint pulse in his chest. Someone was watching him. He didn't know who—but the city had eyes everywhere.
By nightfall, they reached a hideout—an abandoned warehouse filled with crates, cushions, and faintly glowing devices. Neon light filtered through broken windows.
"You live here?" Kairo asked.
"Welcome to the urban jungle," Sora said.
"We survive, train, and avoid trouble… mostly. Some trouble finds us anyway."
Ryo grinned. "And sometimes, we make our own fun. Tomorrow, you'll see."
Kairo lay on the cushions, staring at the ceiling. He thought about the forest, the old man's teachings, his pulse, and the danger awaiting him.
He didn't know the Iron Order's eyes were on him, or how powerful he truly was. For now, he was just another boy trying to survive. But for the first time, he felt… alive.
He had allies. Friends. A team.
And maybe, just maybe, he could survive the city—and everything it would throw at him.
Kairo did not realize how loud silence could be until he lived in the city.
It wasn't the silence of the forest, where wind and leaves filled the air with calm. This silence was different. It existed between sounds—between footsteps, distant engines, and quiet whispers that seemed to carry meaning he didn't understand.
He sat at the edge of the warehouse roof, his legs hanging over the side.
Below him, the city moved endlessly.
Lights flickered. People walked. Powers flashed and disappeared.
Everything here was alive.
And yet, he felt like an outsider watching from the edge.
Behind him, the old man slowly climbed up the metal ladder. His movements were slower than before. His breathing heavier.
"You shouldn't sit there," the old man said.
Kairo didn't look back.
"Why?"
The old man stopped beside him.
"Because the higher you sit, the more visible you become."
Kairo frowned.
"I don't understand."
The old man looked at the horizon.
"You will."
They stayed there for a while.
Neither spoke. But Kairo could feel it. Something had changed.
Inside him.
Later that day, Kairo walked alone through the streets.
Ryo and Sora had gone somewhere else, arguing about something stupid. He didn't follow. He needed space.
The city was overwhelming.
Too many people. Too many unknown things.
He stopped near a pedestrian bridge and leaned on the rail, watching traffic below.
Cars moved like flowing water.
Fast. Unstoppable.
He wondered where they were all going.
If they had purpose.
If he had purpose.
Suddenly, he felt it.
That same faint sensation.
The feeling of being watched.
He turned quickly.
No one.
Just people walking normally.
Talking.
Laughing.
Living.
He exhaled slowly.
"Just my imagination…"
But deep inside, something disagreed.
Inside a quiet underground chamber, dim lights flickered above polished floors.
Ren stood in front of Commander Vale.
"You observed him?" Vale asked.
"Yes."
"And?"
Ren hesitated.
"He behaves like an ordinary boy."
Vale's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Behaves," he repeated.
Ren understood the meaning behind the word.
Behavior could lie.
Power could hide.
But truth always revealed itself eventually.
"Continue observing," Vale said. "Do not engage. Do not interfere."
Ren nodded.
"Yes, Commander."
As Ren left, Vale turned toward the large window overlooking the city.
"The crimson mark…" he whispered.
His voice held no fear.
Only anticipation.
Kairo returned to the warehouse before sunset.
He found Sora lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling.
"You look bored," she said without looking at him.
"I am."
She sat up. "That's good."
Kairo blinked.
"How is that good?"
She smiled faintly.
"Boredom means nothing is trying to kill you."
He didn't know if she was joking.
Ryo suddenly burst through the door.
"You two! Come outside!"
"What?" Sora groaned.
"Just come!"
They followed him.
Outside, a small crowd had gathered. Two teenagers stood in the center.
Facing each other.
A duel.
"City rule," Ryo whispered. "When two powered people have a problem, they settle it."
Kairo watched closely.
One of them raised his hand. The air around him distorted. The other disappeared. Then reappeared behind him.
Fast. Too fast.
The fight lasted seconds.
It ended with one of them on the ground.
Breathing hard.
Alive.
But defeated.
The crowd slowly dispersed.
No cheering.
No celebration.
Just acceptance.
Kairo stared.
"That's normal?"
Sora nodded. "Yes."
He felt uneasy.
Power decided everything here.
Strength.
Speed.
Control.
He touched his chest unconsciously.
Later, they sat outside eating cheap street food.
Ryo talked endlessly.
"So I told him, 'You're an idiot,' and he said—"
Sora threw something at his head.
"Shut up."
Kairo laughed. It surprised him. He hadn't laughed like that in a long time.
It felt good.
Normal.
For a moment, he forgot the weight he carried.
Forgot the unknown future waiting for him. Forgot the invisible eyes watching him.
He was just Kairo.
Just a boy.
From inside her stall, Lina watched them.
She noticed Kairo.
The way he moved.
The way he observed everything.
He wasn't like Ryo.
Or Sora.
He was quieter.
More careful.
More aware.
"Strange boy…" she whispered.
She didn't know why she noticed him.
But something about him felt important.
Not dangerous.
Just…
Important.
She shook her head.
Maybe she was imagining things.
Back at the warehouse, everyone slept.
Except Kairo.
He sat alone again.
Thinking.
Feeling.
Listening.
The city was never truly quiet.
But in this moment, he could hear his own heartbeat.
Steady.
Strong.
He didn't know what awaited him.
Didn't know why they returned here.
Didn't know why he felt different.
But he knew one thing.
His life was changing.
Slowly.
Unavoidably.
Behind him, the old man watched silently.
He knew.
The city would awaken things inside Kairo.
Things that could not be stopped.
Things that could not be hidden forever.
But for now…
The boy was still just a boy.
Still human.
Still unaware.
And that ignorance…
Was the only peace he had left.