Fernando found himself in his office, reviewing the preparations for his trip. It had been more than seven years since he had last fully assumed his responsibilities in the capital. As he reviewed the last document, I felt something approaching at high speed.
The instinct that was natural to him awakened—his spiritual sonar expanded into a powerful ray.
A flying ark. It was Felicia.
Fernando frowned. Why would she use the ark to travel such a short distance?
Concentrate. He felt the occupants.
His face stiffened. A frown creased his forehead. There were seven people on board, but two in particular stood out for their emotional intensity—one was his son, John. The other was a woman he didn't know. Both were extremely shaken.
Without hesitation, with a mere thought, Ferdinand disappeared from the office. His figure flickered and, in the next instant, he appeared in front of Venhorst Castle . A second later, Catherine materialized beside him, silently like a loyal shadow.
The flying ark descended, hovering a meter above the ground. Felicia jumped in a hurry, carrying John in her arms as if he were her own life.
Alex, Isa and the other family members disembarked on their own. Isa helped her sick mother, supporting her with the help of her aunt. Right behind her came the captain, still in custody. With a simple gesture from Felícia, the man's body was thrown from the ark, crashing violently against the ground.
The vision was a direct blow to the hearts of Fernando and Catarina.
Shock.
Pain.
Catarina ran to take John in her arms. A single tear escaped silently down her face.
- What happened?
Fernando's voice was low, but charged with tension. An ancient fury was awakening in his core. The intention to kill escaped before he could contain it, as if his entire soul screamed for revenge. An invisible pressure made itself visible like a storm blanket.
Alex, Isa, the commander, the entire family—fell unconscious. None of them were the direct target of Fernando's fury, but still... they were faced with a superior being. Even Felícia, who grew up by his side, took a step back, frightened.
— Who was it?
It was just a question.
But when Felicia looked into her brother's eyes, she felt as if she was being judged by a greater force. The sentence seemed seemingly certain.
— Keto.
Fernando called.
But Ceto was already there.
He had felt the call in his own blood, as if his master's anger vibrated in the air. Never in all his years of service to the Venhorst family —not even in the heat of war—had he witnessed such bloodlust from Ferdinand.
The veteran shuddered.
And he answered without hesitation.
— My lord?
— Bring the healers to John's room.
Ceto nodded with a restrained bow. Before leaving, he cast his sonar over Alex, checking his condition. The young man was unconscious, but without serious injuries. Relieved, Ceto carried out the order without further ado.
Catarina, oblivious to everything around her, walked with John in her arms as if the world had disappeared. She entered the castle with hurried steps and went straight to her son's chambers.
Fernando stood motionless in the courtyard, his fists clenched. His bloodlust had receded slightly, but the anger still roared in his eyes. He glared at Felicia as if she had betrayed him. He nearly attacked her. If it had been anyone else, the blow would have been struck already, and the questions would come later, when the floor was stained.
— Felicia, what happened? Who did this? How could you... not protect him?
Felicia pointed with a trembling finger at the commander lying on the ground. Her voice was choked, almost inaudible:
— It was him... he who did this to John.
Fernando replied with a single word:
— Graviton .
The commander's body was ripped from the ground by the force of gravity and lifted until it hovered in front of Fernando. The earthen prison that Felicia had created shattered into shards. Fernando's gaze narrowed—he intended to slowly crush him, bone by bone, while extracting the information. And then… erase his existence until there was not even a corpse left to bury.
But then he realized something.
The aura. The power level. The commander was only a Level 2 Primary .
How was this possible?
The shock made him recoil. Could such an insignificant being have hurt his son, John? It didn't make sense.
Changing his mind, Fernando coldly flicked his wrist. The commander's body flew like a puppet, crashing into the flying ark with a loud crack before collapsing to the ground.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand towards Felicia.
— Graviton .
The gravitational field enveloped her. Felicia was pulled with irresistible force until she was floating in front of him. The invisible weight pressed against her bones, compressing her body with every word that came out of her brother's mouth. But she did not resist. There was no fear in her eyes—only hurt and indignation.
Fernando approached, fury vibrating between each syllable.
— Now you tell me... how ? How did someone of your level — you, who could kill a primal being with a look — allow this? How can you come and tell me that an insect like that was able to leave my son in this state? How do you expect me to accept this?!
Felicia remained silent.
The gravitational field intensified.
The air seemed to tremble.
But then, in a flash of lucidity, Fernando took a step back — and understood.
He was no fool. When the anger subsided for a moment, the truth revealed itself with unforgiving clarity. There was only one possible scenario that could justify Felicia's failure . A scenario in which not even she, an elite warrior, could prevent it.
It was something bigger.
More dangerous.
More cruel.
And just as a breath of wind rekindles embers beneath ashes, the anger that had begun to fade exploded again , like a fire fueled by oil.
Fernando clenched his fists. His eyes turned to blades.
Hell had just woken up.
— Weren't you protecting them?
Fernando narrowed his eyes. His sister's silence was a clearer confirmation than any words.
" Fuck !" he growled. "What the hell were you doing that was more important than protecting your nephew?"
Fernando's sonar had never left John's body. He was only causing such a commotion because, despite his poor condition, none of his internal organs seemed compromised. The wounds were superficial, and he knew it. In fact, the baby inside the egg still attached to John was doing a remarkable job—healing him from the inside out with silent, astonishing efficiency.
— Fuck ... Fuck ... FUCK !
Fernando cursed repeatedly, spitting out each word as if trying to force his frustration out of his throat. Then, with a sudden gesture, he broke the gravitational field around Felicia. The oppressive force dissipated. The tension in the air finally broke. The bloodlust that had previously made the ground tremble disappeared.
For thirty long minutes, Fernando cursed all of Felicia's ancestors—who, ironically, were also his own. Only then did he manage to calm down. He was still furious, and worry burned in his chest, but now he had regained control .
Only then did he notice the other presences around him. Unconscious bodies scattered across the courtyard. Most of them were strangers. Only one face was familiar to him—Alex's.
Fernando reached out his hand, and a gentle spiritual energy flowed from his fingers. Like a golden mist, it penetrated the unconscious bodies. One by one, everyone—except the commander—began to regain consciousness.
He turned to Felicia and spoke in a dry tone:
— Who are these people?
Felicia shook her head, without the strength to sustain her voice:
— I don't know who they are... but John asked me to bring them.
The Lobo family—Isa, her aunt, her sick mother, and the others—were terrified. They huddled in a corner like trapped rats. To them, Fernando was the storm itself—a crazed, unpredictable titan. They had felt his bloodlust before they fainted... and now, with their eyes open, fear was once again taking over their bodies. Isa and her aunt hugged the sick woman, who was shaking intensely. She was pale—perhaps from illness, perhaps from terror.
Fernando and Felicia's eyes met. Then, they both looked at Alex. Four piercing, inquisitive eyes, burning like torches.
Alex swallowed hard. A chill ran down his spine. He had indeed been very lucky that day.
Despite his torn clothes and a few bruises, he was in one piece. He had simply been defeated by silver-level mercenaries—which was understandable. When the commander arrived, he didn't even have time to react—he was paralyzed by a dark element spell.
He was about to be tortured and killed when Felicia fell from the sky like an avenging goddess. For Alex, she had arrived at the last second. John, on the other hand... was not so lucky. He had been on the brink of death.
— Who are they? — Felicia repeated , looking directly at Alex.
Alex spilled the beans.
He recounted every detail from the moment he set foot in the city of Novo Redondo—he spoke of the fair, how they had met little Isa at the market, and how things had gone downhill until that moment. His voice wavered between tension and relief, and he didn't hold anything back. Each word was heavy, a reflection of the guilt he carried.
Fernando and Felícia listened to everything in silence. They didn't interrupt him even once.
When the story finally ended, Fernando sighed deeply. Several turbulent thoughts crossed his mind. He looked away from Felicia and murmured in a deep voice:
— We're not done yet.
Felicia remained silent. Until that moment, she had also said nothing about what had happened to her. The silence between them was as thick as the early morning fog.
Fernando noticed that some employees and sentries were observing the scene from a distance. Ceto had also returned, and the warrior's expression revealed how worried he was. Ceto was a father, after all. Even before he left the first time, he had already used his sonar to probe Alex's condition — this calmed him... but it did not satisfy him. Being a father never allowed for complete rest.
— Sure — Fernando said, in a firm voice —, you take care of everything here.
He pointed to the Lobo family and added:
— They are our guests. Find a good spot inside the castle. When the healers are done with John, have them take care of our visitors. I don't want anyone hurt or in need. And—
He paused, taking one last look at his weakened mother and her two companions.
— Prepare some clothes for them too.
Without saying a word, Ceto bowed respectfully and went to help. He extended his hand to Alex and began to guide the family. A few more servants approached, as if drawn by a silent order.
Ceto noticed the fear in the newcomers' eyes. Tension still hung in the air, as if every gesture could be a fatal mistake. So he lowered his tone of voice, making it more welcoming, as he would do with his own son.
"You need not worry," he said gently as he led them into the castle. "You will be well looked after here at Castle Venhorst . My lord and lady are fair people."
The Wolf family followed with hesitant steps. There was too much exhaustion in their bodies, and too much fear in their eyes.
Felicia put away her flying ark and silently followed Fernando. But before leaving, he gave a cold command to the nearest guards:
— Take the commander to prison. I want him alive. We'll talk later.
He didn't ask his sister anything else. Not now. He wanted to see John. He wanted to see with his own eyes how the boy was doing. He wanted to hold Catarina. The rest... he would deal with later.
Fernando and Felicia climbed the steps that led to the highest floor. When they reached the hallway, they came across two guards posted in front of the bedroom door. As soon as they saw their master, they immediately made way.
They entered.
And what they saw was not what they expected.
Two healers were kneeling on the ground, their faces pale and their breathing ragged. They had no power left—their elemental cores were completely drained.
Fernando stopped. The silence was oppressive. His gaze swept the room... and then he saw.
Once the two healers arrived, with Catarina's careful assistance, they began bathing John and changing his bloody clothes. They cast high-level healing spells, focusing on restoring the boy's vitality.
But something strange happened.
No matter how hard they channeled their energies, all of the life force seemed to be diverted to some hidden point within John's body. The healers felt as if they were pouring water into a leaky bucket—no matter how hard they tried, the bucket would never fill up.
Gradually, they exhausted all their elemental power. Exhausted, they fell to their knees, without the energy to continue.
It was then that the baby inside the egg glowed brightly. Sensing the flow of energy pouring out, it reached out a tiny hand and absorbed it all—every drop of that spell. Before everyone's eyes, the baby transformed into a vibrant, pure crimson energy, which then enveloped John's body like a protective cloak.
Effortlessly, the crimson glow began to heal every wound—cuts, bruises, even imperceptible scratches disappeared before the watchful eyes of those present.
When the light faded, John had completely recovered. His body exuded a faint, crimson glow, as if he had just awakened from a deep sleep.
— How is he? — Fernando asked anxiously.
Catarina simply glanced at John, who seemed to be resting peacefully, like a child simply sleeping. When Catarina's gaze met Felicia's, it was clear that they both shared something unspoken—a silent understanding of what this recovery meant.
Felicia was in shock. She remembered John's precarious state, almost dead. And now he was... normal , healthy. And yet, he didn't seem like someone evolved, no sign of growing power.
How could someone so ordinary recover so quickly?
She wanted to question everything, but the guilt weighed heavily on her. Somehow, she felt responsible for John's misfortune. So she remained silent.
Time passed, day gave way to night, and Fernando and Felícia ate dinner in silence. Felícia told him everything about the three priests—the news only increased Fernando's pent-up anger. But in the end, he knew there was no point in dwelling on the past: John was alive, Felícia was his sister, and he needed to take care of his family.
Catarina, always firm in her own way, did not say a single word to Felícia. Her looks, however, said it all — a mixture of disapproval, concern and resignation. Sometimes, the silence was more cutting than any reprimand.
All the while, Catarina remained in John's room, not even being late for dinner.
The next morning, John slowly opened his eyes.
He looked around and saw Catarina sleeping beside him. Her face was peaceful, but the orders she had left—her wrinkled clothes, her slight dishevelment—gave her that she had not slept all night.
For Catarina, this was not physical fatigue; it was a storm of emotions reflected in the body.
John felt something tug at his heart—a faint memory from his past life. As a child , he had been between five and six years old when he had lost his parents in a tragic accident. His little sister was barely a year old. In that lifetime, he had been left to grow up alone, without the protection of his family.
But now it was different. In this life, he had parents who cared for him, who protected him. The only knot in his chest was the worry for his sister on Earth, distant and unknown.
In just over half a month, it would be eight years since he had arrived in this strange world. According to the local calendar, he had been born on October 8, 2017 — now, it was September 17, 2024.
John knew his time in Venhorst was short.
Fernando, his father, had already warned him: as soon as he reached level 1 of primary school, he would have to go to college. He had at most two years left to enjoy this territory.
Watching his mother sleep so peacefully, John decided not to disturb her. He left the room with light steps, avoiding any noise.
In the dining room, he found Fernando and the woman who had somehow saved his life.
— Good morning, father — he greeted firmly.
When he tried to greet the woman, confusion took over: he knew absolutely nothing about her. He had tried to ask her before, but all he had heard was that if she introduced herself, Fernando probably wouldn't kill her.
Felicia, calmly biting into a gingerbread, noticed John's disconcertment. She smiled, a sweet, almost charming smile. She was a beautiful, attractive woman, but her beauty was no ordinary beauty: it was wild, scorching, dominating.
— Come here and give your aunt a hug — he invited, approaching with a warm gesture.
John, short, almost got lost in that embrace: the top of his head hit Felicia's full chest. Unfortunately for him, he didn't feel the warmth of affection; the armor she wore protected her body, and he felt only the cold hardness of the metal.
In his mind, one word hammered:
"Aunt? Since when do I have an aunt? Why has no one ever told me this?"
— Aunt? — he repeated, hesitating.
Fernando sent, with that mixture of pride and formality that only a father can have, and presented:
— Junior, this is Felícia, your aunt. She is my older sister.
When Fernando said the last word, Felicia almost choked on her bread, and if she wasn't a powerful cultivator, she might have even spat out blood right there.
"Your father is joking," she said quickly, clearing her throat and correcting the mistake with a forced smile. "I am his younger sister ."
Fernando, who knew his sister's temperament well, knew that calling her "older" was practically compatible with a social death certificate. Faking a cough, he gave John a knowing wink and corrected himself:
— This is Felicia, my younger sister .
João didn't see much point in this dispute, nor did he care who was born first. For him, the point was different: he had an aunt . That, yes, was new.
Whether she was younger, older, or a warrior from hell... it made no difference. The world around John continued to expand, revealing new people, stories, and bonds he never imagined he had.
Thank you very much to those who read this far!
This chapter was lighter, but essential to develop the family relationships — especially between John, Felícia and their parents, Catarina and Fernando. I know that the dynamics between them can seem confusing at times, and I admit: I'm still finding the right tone for each character. Catarina and Fernando's part was a little hazy, but I promise to make it clearer in the next chapters.
In the next installment, I'll start exploring the world itself—its rules, the structure of magic, and what makes this reality so unique. Get ready for some more technical and fantastical exploration and discovery.
If you've read this far, leave a comment! I'd love to hear what you think, even if it's just a "continue". That gives me the energy to keep going.
See you in the next chapter!