Yamato sat beside Lumei in the quiet dorm room. The evening was peaceful, the sun slowly setting behind the curtains, casting a golden light across the walls.
"I stayed with my mom after everything," Yamato said calmly. "She's doing well."
Lumei nodded, sitting up straighter. "I'm glad. You seem... calmer."
Yamato looked at the ceiling and suddenly said, "I now know who my dad is."
Lumei furrowed his brows, surprised. "What kind of joke is that?"
Yamato dropped his gaze and sighed. "It's not a joke. My mom finally told me about him... but honestly, it doesn't matter anymore. He left."
Lumei adjusted his position, more attentive now. "Tell me what you can."
Yamato paused, then nodded. "Well... I found a book at home. A weird one. I could read it—even though it wasn't written in any language I knew. Let's just skip that part. When I asked my mom about it, she said it belonged to my dad. We talked about it, and she eventually told me his name."
Lumei leaned in, voice low. "And?"
Yamato replied simply: "His name is Rory."
Before Lumei could respond, the door burst open.
"Have you seen Yamato? I haven't seen h…—" Sora stopped as she stepped inside and saw the two sitting together.
She smiled and walked up to them. "Yamato, why didn't you tell me you were going somewhere? I've been looking for you. I have questions."
Then she noticed how quiet Lumei was. "Did I interrupt something?"
"Yes, you did," Lumei replied dryly.
Sora blinked, a little guilty. "Can I join in?"
Yamato shrugged. "Just don't tell anyone."
Sora quickly sat near them. "So, what's this about?"
Yamato continued. "You know I'm not really a book person. But I kept reading that book, trying to understand what it was saying."
Sora cut in, curious. "So you found a book? Where?"
"At home," Yamato replied. "It was my dad's."
"Ooh," Sora murmured, eyes wide.
Yamato smiled faintly. "He wrote things inside... about why he left. That he ran—not because he was afraid, but to protect us. He said he did something he shouldn't have, and if he stayed, we'd all be in danger."
Sora frowned. "Don't say he ran away. I'm sure no real father would just run from a fight. Especially a new dad. He would have died for you if he had to."
She leaned in, eyes gentle. "If he ran, then whatever he did must have been serious. So serious that even if he died, they still would've come after you and your mom."
Lumei spoke calmly. "The way she said it might sound harsh, but it makes sense. If he stayed, he might've been killed, and so would both of you."
Yamato's eyes narrowed. "That doesn't make it right. My mom said he was strong enough to face them. But he still ran. And worse—he left her there. With those villagers. I'll never agree with that."
Then Yamato's eyes lit up as something came to his mind. His voice rose slightly in excitement.
"Oh—and the god's name. The one you guys tried to hide from me... I found it."
Lumei and Sora both froze. Their eyes darkened.
"You did what?" Sora asked, voice quiet and sharp.
Yamato nodded. "The name was in one of the books from my dad's collection. It was right there on the first page. And the writing... it even hints at where he's sealed."
Lumei went still, thoughts spinning.
His dad's books… he knows the location? But how? I'm a vessel, and I don't know where the God of the Unknown is. Was his dad involved? Rory... Rory... why does that name sound so familiar?
Sora waved a hand in front of Lumei's face. "Lumei? Hello? You there?"
Yamato waved too. "Hey?"
But Lumei didn't move.
Rory… Rory who left… Rory who wrote about the god… Rory who knows where the sealed location is...
Suddenly, Lumei snapped out of it.
He looked straight at Yamato. "Your dad is Rory... the head of The Seven."
Yamato didn't blink. "Maybe. But I didn't tell you that."
Sora's mouth dropped open. "Wait—wait—The Seven?! The Seven?! Like... the Seven Gods of Creation?!"
Yamato gave a small nod.
"And your dad is the leader of them?!"
The room fell silent.
Sora sat back slowly, overwhelmed. Lumei looked away, deep in thought.
Yamato looked at both of them. "So now you understand why I'm being careful. Keep this secret."
Lumei nodded without hesitation. "Of course."
Sora placed a hand on Yamato's shoulder. "We won't tell anyone."
Yamato stared out the window, a thoughtful look on his face. "I still don't know everything. But if my father is who I think he is… then there's more I have to uncover. More than just names and places. I need to know why he really left… and what he left behind for me."
Lumei and Sora both sat quietly. The world they thought they knew was starting to look much bigger—and far more dangerous.