Aurea carried on with its usual routine.
The artificial sun had already passed its highest point, and its golden light began to lose that blazing intensity of noon, fading into the start of afternoon.
It had been a few hours since Louie had vanished… or rather, since he had been kidnapped.
Kael sat in a soft white armchair in the waiting hall of the command base.
One arm rested on the armrest, his leg stretched out, fingers tapping repeatedly against the chair without him even noticing.
With every passing minute, his anxiety and nervousness only grew worse.
He had already sent word to arrange a direct meeting with the three commanders — including himself.
In the end, the ones who ruled and decided everything that happened or didn't happen in Aurea were them.
The "Trion."
Aurea had kept this old tradition of three commanders who, together, ruled the underground city.
Today, those three seats of the Trion were occupied by:
▲ Kael Dragan, the pillar of strength. The one who bore the weight of being Aurea's main protector.
▲ Aura Silvani, the pillar of experience. She once carried the title of strength but passed it on to Kael Dragan; now she held the title of experience.
And finally…
▲ Veltor Dragan, the pillar of strategy. A brilliant tactician, recognized as the greatest genius in strategy among all generations of the Trion.
And now… all that was left was waiting.
For Kael, this was always the worst part.
Bringing the three together like this, out of nowhere, was a complicated task.
Even without time to spare — he had to wait until the other two were available to join the meeting.
But finally, the hour had come…
The meeting of Aurea's commanders — the Trion — was about to begin.
Kael crossed the wide corridors, lit by cold, lifeless artificial lights.
His steps were quick, full of urgency and concern.
He headed straight for the Trion's main command chamber, his head overflowing with thoughts.
But he held himself firm…
He was determined to propose something considered extreme, to a level even he — one of Aurea's pillars — could not decide on his own:
to activate every member of the city's elite force.
A group that, according to him, had the potential to rival or even surpass the Decastellum — the legendary elite of the 10 strongest Kaelums in the OPKM (World Organization of Kaelum Powers).
A group formed by five young members, but with potential far above average.
Kael was referring to… the Vigilants.
He stopped in front of a metal door with bright blue lines running across it.
Placing his hand on a small panel, the door slid open immediately.
As he entered, he saw the other two commanders already waiting inside.
At the center of the room, a huge digital map of the city was projected into the air, displaying the seven zones and the latest reports — things like crime indexes, economy, and population shifts.
The atmosphere in the room was heavy.
Kael scanned the room with his eyes until they landed on the triangular table in front of the others.
Without wasting time, he spoke:
— Good morning, everyone. I'll get straight to the point — Kael said, impatient. — I don't have much time to explain everything, but Emi, Nina, and Louie have been kidnapped.
Aura, the pillar of experience, sat watching Kael closely.
She seemed to be piecing his words together like someone assembling a puzzle.
Her straight hair, blonde tinged with orange, fell to her shoulders.
Her fair skin contrasted with her brown eyes.
Her posture was flawless, as expected from someone who had seen much and learned how to face difficult decisions.
— Kael… When you say Louie, you mean who I think you do?
Kael nodded firmly, his voice heavy with conviction:
— Yes. I'm talking about that man's son… Louie Kaede.
Aura's eyes widened instantly. Without realizing it, she began tapping her fingertips against the table — a small gesture, but one that betrayed her nerves at hearing the name, even if her face tried to hide it.
— And how do you know Louie, Emi, and Nina were kidnapped? Where were they? — Aura pressed. — They left Aurea a long time ago…
— Emi contacted me not long ago. — Kael crossed his arms and continued. — She gave me details about Louie's current situation… apparently, he was the only direct survivor of the Peninsula High School massacre.
— Peninsula High? — Aura put a hand on her chin, searching her memory. — Ah, right… I remember hearing about that a few months ago…
Aura's gaze trembled instantly, her pupils narrowing, her breathing heavy.
— Wait… — Aura frowned. — Don't tell me the ones behind that incident were…
— Yes. — Kael cut her off without hesitation. — That's exactly it. I find it very hard to believe this is just coincidence.
He took a deep breath and went on:
— Louie was attacked last night… and this morning he was kidnapped. To me, that's more than enough to prove he's the target. No… maybe the entire Kaede family is in their sights, since Louie wasn't the only one taken.
He paused, trying to contain his anger and keep his voice steady.
— So yes… I believe that same organization from ten years ago is back in action. And everything points to the Peninsula massacre being linked to them. What I don't understand is why focus so much on Louie? And why didn't they capture him the day of the massacre, three months ago? That still doesn't make sense to me.
Aura frowned, her face serious, her eyes locked on Kael.
— Alright… I think I get the situation. But tell me, how do you propose we respond? Assemble a search team? Because if it was just that, you wouldn't have wasted time calling this meeting…
Kael didn't hesitate. His voice was firm, filled with conviction:
— I want to mobilize all five Vigilants for the rescue mission.
The silence that followed was heavy.
Until Aura broke it, her brow slightly furrowed, concern in her expression.
— If this is true… and it's the same organization that was involved in the Aurora Orphanage case… and that man's disappearance… — she paused for a moment. — Don't you think it's too risky to send our main internal team, with you included, on this mission? Aurea could be left vulnerable to external or even internal threats…
Before Kael could answer, Veltor — the pillar of strategy — stepped forward into the conversation.
Dark-skinned, with sharp eyes and a completely shaved head, his presence was imposing, his voice rigid.
— I agree with Aura. Besides, we don't even know where they are. If we expose ourselves without knowing who we're dealing with, we put all of Aurea at risk for the sake of one family. We can't charge blindly at enemies we barely understand, but already know to be powerful.
Kael kept his posture, meeting Veltor's eyes directly. His gaze was cold, tinged with disappointment. He replied with steadiness:
— Louie may just be the beginning… Just like back then, we don't know their true goals behind these attacks. If we don't act now to stop a greater threat from rising, we'll become nothing but pawns in a game we don't even understand yet. And when they strike again — because they will — it may already be too late to react. The city… everyone here… could be the next targets, especially knowing they had infiltrators here ten years ago.
He drew a deep breath, running his hand over his face as if trying to calm his racing heart. Then he continued, his voice softer, more heartfelt:
— And beyond all that… are we really going to let something this important to that man, to whom Aurea owes so much, be lost without even trying to fight back? Without showing resistance? We can't ignore this boy's potential. The blood in his veins… it's Kaede blood, after all.
— That's exactly why we shouldn't interfere in this rescue! If we bring this boy here, we'll paint a target on our backs too.
He slammed his hands on the table, breathing deeply before continuing.
— Things are already bad enough with the East Zone… that place has been drowning in crisis for generations. To make matters worse, part of Porto Alegre's sewage runs right above it. People are getting sick, more and more each day.
He paused, making sure they were listening.
— Not to mention that new group causing chaos there, "Fracture." They've been more active lately. And you still want to waste resources chasing after a single kid who, frankly, we don't even know if he's still in Porto Alegre?
Kael went silent. Those words hit like a truck, carrying the weight of truths hard to swallow.
— I know it's risky… I know Aurea is just starting to recover from the inefficiency of the previous Trion seats… but how can we simply pretend this isn't our problem? Just ignore a boy with the potential to surpass any of us here?
He inhaled sharply, his voice unwavering.
— They're not some random gang… Do you realize what could happen if they succeed in whatever they're plotting? If we sit on our hands now… their next strike could be Aurea's last.
He paused, eyes locked firmly on them.
— No… it could be a threat on a global scale. We have to act while there's still time.
His gaze moved from Aura to Veltor, steady and resolute. It wasn't just a request — it was the weight of an old promise, a vow that could not be broken.
Aura and Veltor exchanged a look in silence.
The intensity of their stare carried memories, risks, obligations… all within a fleeting instant.
Aura exhaled deeply, then spoke, breaking the silence.
— Alright… Kael, you have my support.
She paused, facing them both.
— Let's deploy the Vigilants… and prepare a search team to bring them back.
As Aura said this, Veltor looked like he was about to explode with rage.
His fists clenched, teeth grinding, his whole body seethed with disgust.
He glared at Kael with pure hatred, but his voice came out calm, mocking:
— Kael, Kael… looks like you've really changed, huh… "Little brother." If only back then you hadn't been such a useless coward, if only you had made a decision like this… Maybe Li—
— Enough, Veltor! — Aura cut in, her eyes sharp as blades.
Veltor scoffed, teeth gritted, looking at Kael with disdain.
— Tsk… If anything goes wrong now… it'll be your fault.
Veltor turned his back and stormed out the door without another word.
Kael stood silent, staring at his hands as if trying to hold onto something that had already slipped away.
— Kael… — Aura said hesitantly, placing a hand on his shoulder. — He doesn't understand what you were going through…
— No. — Kael cut her off firmly. — He's not wrong… But now isn't the time to dwell on regrets. We can't stay chained to a past not even time can change. What matters now is focusing on a future worth fighting for.
In his mind, a brief flash: the image of Louie and Nina overtook him in that instant.
He drew in a breath, his chest pounding. He was ready.
Ready to fight for them.
Ready to bring them back… even if blood had to be spilled to make it happen.
Aura smiled, proud of her former pupil.
And so, the Trion meeting… finally came to an end.
Shortly after, the search teams were deployed, under the command of Lila, one of the Vigilants.
They spread across the entire city, every corner, every street of Porto Alegre.
Everyone knew time was the enemy.
And perhaps… Louie was already far too gone.
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Louie woke up in a cold, dark room.
The air was heavy… every breath he took felt like it drained his energy. The metallic taste in his mouth only made it worse.
His head throbbed, as if someone had slammed a brick into it.
He tried to move. Nothing.
His hands and feet were chained. And there was a soaked cloth tied tightly around his mouth.
— "M-mess… what the hell…?" — he tried to speak, but it came out muffled.
He looked around, trying to understand where he was. The darkness only answered with silence.
— "Where the hell am I? Why… why is this happening to me?"
His heart pounded faster. Every sound grew louder, every shadow darker.
— "D-damn it… my head… it feels like it's going to explode!" — he thought, squeezing his eyes shut. — "How did I end up here…? I only remember… a girl… and that strange guy… What was his name again…?"
Forcing his memory only made the pain worse, as if someone was punching his mind from the inside out.
And so, alone and without answers, Louie felt the crushing weight of being completely at the mercy of something he couldn't even understand.
The door creaked.
Sethros walked in.
Purple hair with a faint white sheen, a heavy cloak… his presence filled the room. Every step was slow, deliberate, almost on purpose. And that cynical smile.
— Well, well, look who decided to wake up… Do you know how long I've been waiting? — he crouched down beside Louie. — Keeping people waiting like that is a hell of a rude thing, you know?
Louie tried to struggle, but it was useless. His strength was being drained.
— You're very imperative in… Louie — Sethros said in a calm, almost whisper-like tone. Yet somehow it was strange, intimidating. — Hahaha… my mistake… You're not the real Louie. Just a fragment of what he used to be.
Sethros smirked mockingly.
— I know more about you than you know yourself… — he said, resting his cheek on his hand. — I know you put on a mask of what you think your old self was… just to be accepted. But how long do you think that'll last? Do you really think you matter to anyone at all?? The only Louie they wanted back was the one from before the accident. Not you.
He let out a dry, almost unhinged laugh, and continued:
— Haven't you ever wondered why you were the only one to survive the Peninsula Academy massacre? Never considered you might not have been just a simple victim?
Louie tried to answer, but he couldn't. Not only because of the cloth, but because deep down, a part of him feared it might be true.
His headache worsened. As if something was trying to force his mind to open doors that were meant to stay shut.
Sethros leaned in even closer. His cold gaze seemed to analyze every detail of the boy.
— But don't worry… the hero here, myself, the great Sethros, I'll solve your little problem. — he raised his hand as if delivering a sermon, looking down on Louie. — If I kill everyone you love, then you won't have to pretend to be anyone anymore. Simple as that.
He licked his lips, excited and euphoric.
— Think about it, kid… if you keep playing this little act of being someone you're not, sooner or later that mask will fall. And when it does, they'll see you for what you are: a cheap, bland, tasteless copy. And you know what'll happen? They'll get tired of you.
— Now… if I step in and kill everyone you love, then boom. Not only will you have no one left to pretend for, but all your goals will vanish too. No direction, nothing left… you won't even have a reason to breathe… Not that I think you have one now, hahaha!
— And then, guess what? You can simply abandon that body… and leave it for someone far more… graceful than anyone who ever existed! And the best part is, he's already inside you. A being above all, greater than divine!
Sethros grinned wide, almost sarcastically.
— Isn't it perfect? If I were you, I'd feel honored to hand my body over to the very owner of the Light of Ruin!
His twisted smile grew even wider.
— See? Two birds with one stone. You lose the burden of lies… and an absolute being gets a brand-new body. All you have to do is let go, Louie. That's it.
Louie shut his eyes, rage burning inside him even with his weakened body.
— "Let go of my body…? Kill everyone I love? What the hell is this psycho talking about…?!"
Sethros removed the cloth from his mouth.
— So, Louie… what do you say to my deal? Isn't it incredible?
Louie slowly raised his head. His eyes narrowed. His breathing heavy.
And without a second thought, he spat right in Sethros's face. The spit slid down his cheek like tears.
— Go to hell! — Louie snapped with a painful, crooked smile.
— Stop talking all this crap, you bastard! — Louie shouted through clenched teeth, his words dripping with fury. — When I woke up in that sea of blood, not even knowing my name… not knowing anything… there were people who didn't care about that. Emi and Nina only said that me being alive was what mattered. They didn't care if I was the same Louie from before… or a complete stranger. They just… they just accepted me with love!
He glared straight into Sethros's eyes, filled with determination.
— So I decided to be this Louie, even if it was just a mask. I don't give a damn about your so-called ruin, or what you think I am. But don't you dare lay a single finger on those who accepted me!
Sethros stayed silent for a few seconds. Then smiled. A smile that looked more like it came from a demon.
— Hahahaha… amazing! Spitting in my face and a motivational speech. Classic cliché! So that's your answer? Fine. It'll be so much more fun watching you break piece by piece, once you learn what truly loving someone means!
He shoved the cloth back into Louie's mouth.
— You'll have plenty of time to think about it.
Turning his back, he walked toward the door. Before leaving, he glanced over his shoulder.
His eyes glowed a deep purple for less than a second. And he spoke:
— Sweet dreams, Louie.
The door slammed shut. The muffled sound of voices echoed outside:
— Once he's out… take off the chains.
And there Louie remained, alone. Trapped on the outside. Trapped on the inside.
His head still burned, filled with unanswered questions.
Who was he, really?
What did Sethros mean by "he will take control"?
Was any of what he said true? Or was Louie just lying again? Not only to Sethros… but to himself.
The forgotten memories still ached.
But at that moment… something began to stir inside him.
Fragments.
Shards of glass.
Pieces of a shattered mirror scattered into millions.
Brief, chaotic images of the massacre burst into Louie's mind.
Bodies on the floor.
Explosions shaking the air.
Blood splattering, painting the floors and walls of the old Peninsula Academy.
Screams shattering the silence with sheer terror and fear.
His body trembled uncontrollably.
He panted like he had just run a marathon.
His eyes burned as if someone had thrown pepper into them.
The left one, blue, wept endlessly. Like a sky in a rain that would never end.
The right one, though…
The right one, red, glowed bright in a strange rhythm.
No tears.
No anger.
No… emotion.
The pressure in his head was unbearable, as if his brain was shaking violently inside his skull.
Louie tried to resist.
He strained his body, biting hard against the cloth gagging him.
But it was useless.
The weight of that small memory already crushed him.
And then… in an instant… he fell into a deep sleep.
Alone.
Drowning in the waters left behind by his own memories.
Like a calm sea.
Silent.
Vast and… unknown.
Where even hope felt too deep to be reached.