Somewhere, in a hidden villa, we see an old man—around 60—standing with his assassins. They are holding a 20-year-old girl hostage in front of her grandfather.
Old Man:
"Give me the research on Element L37."
Grandfather:
"No. It's too important to us."
Old Man:
"Then your only family member will die."
Without warning, the grandfather injects himself with something hidden in his pocket. Instantly, he gains superhuman strength and speed, taking down several assassins.
In the chaos, the girl manages to break free and runs.
Earlier that day, in a quiet room of the same villa, the grandfather and granddaughter had been talking. He had looked at a small box in his drawer, then turned to her and said:
Grandfather:
"If anyone comes for L37, you must protect our research. Go, no matter what."
But the girl had refused.
Girl:
"We're going together. I'm not leaving without you. I'll protect you, too."
The girl sat silently, lost in the memory of that final conversation.
She opened the window of the car as it sped toward the airport, wind brushing against her face.
Meanwhile, back at the villa, the assassins and the old man overwhelmed her grandfather.
They injected themselves with a similar serum and, after a brutal fight, finally managed to defeat him.
At the last moment, Grandfather Lincon whispered with his final breath:
"My daughter... be happy. Never let life disappoint you. Don't regret my death. In your life, you must carry the weight of this world. God bless you, dear... This is the end of a beautiful era."
The old man snarled and ordered his men:
"Find the girl. Bring her back!"
But too much time had passed. By the time they mobilized and gave chase in their cars, she was already far ahead.
After a long, tense pursuit, they nearly caught up—
But it was too late. She had already entered the airport.
She boarded her private jet and spoke to her pilot:
"Set course for the Northern Continent. Be ready... Grandpa sacrificed himself for the world."
The old man, filled with fury, slammed his fist on the dashboard.
"No! We were so close! And you fools couldn't capture a single girl!"
Up above, the plane soared through clouds and wind, cutting across the sky.
Tears welled up in the girl's eyes as sorrow filled her heart.
"I couldn't save him," she thought. "I'm too weak..."
She broke down, crying quietly into her seat.
Some time later, the jet landed in Vegas City, on the Northern Continent—a place of endless entertainment, gambling, and shadows of the underworld.
She exited the airport and hailed a cab. The driver, an older man, looked at her through the mirror.
"Where to, ma'am?"
"Please take me to Hellson Casino."
"Alright, ma'am."
The car rolled through neon-lit streets and between luxurious buildings where countless secret lives played out.
"Ma'am, we've arrived."
She stepped out, handed over the fare, and said:
"Thanks. Here's your payment."
Inside the casino, she walked straight to the bar and spoke quietly to the bartender:
"Al-basto-D."
A young man behind the counter paused, then nodded. All eyes in the room shifted toward her.
"Alright, ma'am."
He slid a beer bottle aside, revealing a secret mechanism. Red smoke hissed out as a hidden passage opened.
He led her through it, into a hidden room.
There, sitting in the shadows, was a tall man with sharp eyes: Karlos.
Karlos:
"Ah, my little friend comes to visit. Where's your grandfather?"
She stood silent, unmoving.
Karlos understood.
"Don't be afraid. Your uncle is here for you. Jacob has already begun his plans. Remember—great things always require great sacrifice. That's the only way to protect something... or to achieve it."
Tears rolled down her face. She said nothing.
A long silence followed.
Finally, Karlos spoke again:
"You need to go to Sky City. A trusted friend of mine lives there. He'll protect you. No one knows him—you're safe with him."
They spent the next few hours talking—sharing memories of her grandfather, recalling old stories, and finding strength in the past.
Later, Karlos sent her off toward Sky City in one of his private cars, driven by his most loyal butler.
The road ahead passed through forests, rivers, and scattered towns and cities—places like Ember City and Rog City.
As they drove, Karlos pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and said only:
"Take care of her."
On the other end, a voice replied calmly:
"Okay…"
The black car came to a slow stop on a quiet road just outside Sky City.
Standing alone on the roadside was a man around fifty—tall, weathered, with calm eyes that had seen too much. The car door opened, and a tall, muscular figure stepped out to greet him.
"Old man Luo, how have you been?"
"I'm fine. And how are you and Karlos?"
"We're all doing well."
The man then walked around the car, gently opened the passenger door, and helped the girl step out.
Luo looked at her carefully, his expression softening.
"You look just like your grandmother."
The girl felt something stir inside her—something warm and aching.
"Thank you... It's nice to meet you."
The butler remained silent, closing his eyes with quiet respect. Luo saw this and immediately understood—Lincon was gone.
He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"From now on, you are like my daughter. I have one son. He's a good person."
They got into Luo's taxi—he was a driver by profession—and began the journey into the city. As the car pulled away, he and the butler exchanged a glance. It was a silent look, one that spoke of an old rivalry... and a deeper friendship.
Eventually, they arrived at a modest apartment complex. It wasn't luxurious, but it was neat and well-kept.
They rang the doorbell.
A young man opened the door. He had long black hair, bright blue eyes, pale skin, and a lean but toned build.
"Welcome home, Dad."
"Tian Zhen, meet Jiya. She's the daughter of an old friend. She'll be living with us for her studies."
Kell:
"Nice to meet you."
Jiya:
"Nice to meet you too."
Kell's mother soon came out, warmly greeting Jiya. They all sat together in the living room, asking her about her life and background.
Jiya:
"My parents died a long time ago. I was still a child."
Kell's mom gently reached for her hand.
"I'm so sorry, dear."
They shared a quiet dinner together. That night, Jiya settled into a room near the living area, directly across from Tian Zhen's.
But sleep didn't come easily.
She sat by the window, under the silver gaze of the full moon. Her mind wandered back to all her memories with her grandfather. Her eyes, green and deep like the forest, shimmered with pain. Her long black hair framed her angelic face, but tears—tiny pearls of sorrow—slipped down her cheeks.
A soft knock came at the door.
"Aunty Ru? Is something wrong? It's so late..."
Ru stepped inside and wrapped her arms around Jiya. She gently placed a hand on her forehead.
"I knew your grandfather had passed. We may not feel your pain exactly, but we can share in it. When pain is shared... it becomes lighter."
Jiya clung to her, crying in her arms. It felt like she was being held by her mother. The two spoke for a long time—like old friends reunited after years apart.
---
The next morning, Kell woke up early to prepare for his science camp. His father handed him some money.
Ru:
"If you're free today, take Jiya out and show her Sky City."
Kell:
"Alright."
Sky City is a beautiful, modern city—filled with towering skyscrapers, spotless streets, and cars of all kinds rushing toward their destinations.
Later, they walked together through the vibrant streets of Sky City. The two looked so natural together that passersby mistook them for a couple.
Sky City sat beside the great Eris River, its waters glimmering under the morning sun. They stopped at a local shop to buy some clothes, laughing and talking, slowly learning about each other's lives.
The sky is blue, scattered with white clouds, and the sun shines brightly, blessing the sky with a holy light.
Kell is walking along a path in the sky city with Jiya. Nothing feels wrong—nothing weighs on him.
Kell's family lives below the poverty line. They came to the city with one hope: to give him a chance at a better education.
Thanks to Ru, Jiya felt comfortable around Kell. Their connection deepened with every conversation.
That afternoon, they took a taxi back home.
Days passed peacefully. Kell and Jiya began to understand each other on a deeper level. Their bond grew stronger—but behind Kell's quiet eyes, something still lingered.
A shadow from his past.
A trauma he never spoke of...
And never shared with anyone...