"About four years ago, Selaphine once confided in me a little—about how stubborn you were, refusing to go to school," Lina began softly, her eyes fixed on the dining table.
"That was three years before she disappeared."
Kael, seated across from her, leaned forward slightly, attentive.
Across the table, Ruby didn't seem to care—his focus was entirely on his plate, spoon clinking, mouth never resting.
Lina continued, her tone calm and nostalgic.
"It was an ordinary day. Nothing special about it. We talked about the usual things—how you kept asking questions about everything, how your father was obsessed with training, even silly things like gardening or trying to make vegetables taste better."
Her voice softened further. "But I could always tell when your mother's smile changed—just a little—whenever our talk drifted to Ruby's progress at school. Because sooner or later, it always led back to what she feared most: your schooling."
---
Lina's mind drifted back to that day—
a memory frozen in the scent of warm air and the chatter of a crowded market café.
"Are you all right, Mrs. Selaphine?" Lina had asked, resting a gentle hand on her shoulder.
They were waiting in line, plastic bags filled with groceries in their hands, their laughter blending with the noise of customers.
"I'm fine, Mrs. Lin."
"Is it about Kael? Tell me, maybe I can help."
Selaphine smiled, but said nothing.
"I'm sorry if I overstepped," Lina murmured, bowing her head.
"Oh—no, no, please. Don't bow like that, it'll draw attention," Selaphine said hurriedly, placing a hand on Lina's shoulder, her words stuttering slightly.
"Just… speak when you're comfortable. I'll help however I can."
Selaphine hesitated, then nodded. "You're right. It is about Kael—about his schooling."
"Oh? It's not about the tuition, is it? If that's the problem, I can talk to my father. He runs the foundation, and with Kael's intelligence, it'd be easy to arrange a scholarship."
Selaphine shook her head. "No, it's not that."
"Then… is the school too far from your house? Ruby has a spare bike—Kael could use it."
"No, that's not it either."
"Then what is it, Mrs. Selaphine? You look so troubled."
"Let's talk while we walk."
Selaphine smiled faintly, picking up the parcel the vendor handed her. Lina followed, nodding.
As they stepped outside, Selaphine's voice grew quiet.
"Kael's brilliant. So much so that sometimes… I wonder if he's even normal. His father and I—we're proud, of course—but we're also afraid."
"Afraid?" Lina asked gently. "Wouldn't that make you proud to have such a gifted son?"
"Yes," Selaphine said softly. "But it's… frightening too."
She spoke about Kael's early years—how he spoke before most children could form words, how he walked before his first birthday, how he read fluently by the age of four.
At an age when most children were still learning to hold a pencil, Kael was reading theories about the structure of the world.
"But the most worrying thing," Selaphine said, her tone somber, "is how he understands things. Not just memorizes them. His mind works differently. He refuses to go to school because he thinks it's pointless."
"And your husband?" Lina asked. "Can't he persuade him?"
Selaphine sighed. "That idiot only encourages him! Always defending Kael with his own twisted logic."
Lina chuckled softly, hiding a smile. "Forgive me, but you always look adorable when you talk about your husband like that."
Selaphine frowned playfully. "Mrs. Lin, are you laughing at me?"
"Not at all. I just… admire how full of life you are, even when you complain."
---
"...And that's when your mother first opened up to me about you, Kael," Lina said, bringing the story back to the present.
Kael looked down at his open hands, slowly closing them into fists.
[ "Am I really… not normal?" ]
"Don't overthink it, Kael," Lina said softly, smiling. "You're just… very gifted. That's all."
She continued. "A few months before she vanished, she started acting strange. I asked her several times, but she always said everything was fine."
"Your mother was cheerful by nature—but she started looking anxious, wary. I followed her once, secretly, all the way home. But what I found was just a happy mother—someone who smiled brighter when she looked at her son."
"She was different outside, yes. But in that house—she was peace itself. Maybe she was only truly herself around you." Lina paused for a moment.
Then she reached for something beside her chair—a box wrapped in worn cardboard. She placed it on the table.
"Then, the day before she disappeared, I found this outside my window."
Kael's eyes widened slightly. He took the box carefully with both hands.
"What is it, Mrs. Lin? Is this connected to my mother?"
Ruby, now curious, stopped eating and leaned closer.
"Open it," Lina said. "I don't fully understand what's inside. When I first did, all I found was a note with brief instructions."
"May I read it?"
"Go ahead." Lina smiled.
Kael unfolded the note, eyes scanning the faded ink.
Inside the box lay a thick black envelope—sealed shut with a faint circular indentation pressed into its flap, like a metallic lock.
He tried opening it—cutting, tearing, even pressing it—but it didn't budge.
"A strange seal," Ruby muttered, his curiosity taking over. "Here, let me try!"
"What are you doing?" Kael frowned.
"Just testing! Maybe I can do it. If I open it, that means I'm smarter than you, right?" Ruby grinned mischievously.
"That's not polite, Ruby," Lina said gently, her voice calm but firm.
Ruby pouted and handed it back.
Kael took it again. "I'll figure it out later. For now—thank you. Is there anything else I should know, Mrs. Lin?"
"That's everything. All this time, I've been sending food and checking in on you in secret. That too—was part of what your mother left behind."
"What do you mean?"
"As you read in the letter, there was another box before this—filled with gold. I exchanged it for a Nodus bracelet and converted it into Republic credits. But you can't use it until you can channel Arkanum."
Nodus—a digital transaction bracelet used throughout the Republic.
Its internal mechanisms were complex and highly secure, but its operation was simple:
Touch one Nodus to another or to a shop's terminal, inject a bit of Arkanum while visualizing your intent—payment, transfer, withdrawal—and it responds instantly.
Each Nodus is bound to one user only, registered through the Republic Bank.
Not even the government could interfere with the bank's systems.
If stolen, a Nodus becomes useless—forever locked.
"So I have to go to the bank to register it under my name?" Kael asked, sliding the bracelet onto his wrist.
Lina shook her head. "No need. It's already registered to your DNA. I used a strand of your hair from the box for that. Your mother didn't write detailed instructions, but somehow… she knew exactly what I should do."
A faint blue thread of light emerged from Kael's fingertip, piercing the bracelet.
Instantly, numbers flared before his eyes—floating, alive.
Ruby gasped. Lina's eyes widened.
Even Kael looked startled.
"Wait—why do you look surprised too?" Ruby blurted out.
"You can see the numbers?" Kael asked, confused. "Only the user should be able to see them."
Lina shook her head. "No, Kael. We can't see them. That's not what surprised us."
"Then what did?"
Ruby snorted. "Are you seriously asking that? Don't play dumb, haha!"
Kael tilted his head, genuinely lost.
"You really don't know?" Ruby said, squinting.
Kael shook his head.
"It's your Arkanum, Kael," Lina said quietly, her tone grave now.
He blinked, realization dawning slowly.
"How old are you?" she asked.
"Ten," Kael answered plainly.
Then it clicked. He looked down at his glowing hand.
[ "Ah… the use of Arkanum." ]
"You're not supposed to be able to use it at this age," Lina said, her voice trembling slightly. "How long have you been able to do that?"
"Maybe… four or five years?" Kael said. "The first time was when Father got angry—really angry—after he found out I could control it."
"But you already knew that, didn't you, Mrs. Lin?" he added innocently.
Lina's eyes widened. "No, Kael. Your mother never told me that. She spoke about your intelligence, yes—but never that you could wield Arkanum."
Kael fell silent, awkward and uncertain. He lowered his head, avoiding their eyes.
Ruby burst out laughing. "You're unbelievable, Kael—genius and idiot at the same time!"
Kael's face flushed faintly.
Lina chuckled too, though softly. "It's all right, Kael. I'll keep your secret. Your mother trusted me with hers too."
Kael looked up slowly, a faint, almost fragile smile touching his lips.
For a brief second, Lina froze—then smiled back.
[ "He can still smile… after all this time." ]
She hadn't seen that expression on him since the day Selaphine vanished.
"Do you have any questions?" she asked gently.
"No, ma'am. Not right now."
"Right now?"
"Yes. I'll trust what my mother did—just as she trusted me. I'll study these things myself later. I know she didn't leave them just as inheritance."
His eyes glimmered faintly as he looked at the box again.
Lina stood, gathering the dishes, tidying the table.
Kael and Ruby followed her to the kitchen, helping clean up while arguing playfully about whose parents were better cooks.
Lina could only shake her head and smile—a quiet, content smile that warmed the air.
---
When everything was clean, Lina finally prepared to leave.
Ruby followed her out.
Kael remained by the doorway, alone again—
his eyes drawn back to the box resting on the table,
its mysteries still unopened,
its silence heavier than ever.
—To be continued—