The next day at Ryan's office, Liora and Jace are present in his cabin. Ryan looks up from his desk and firmly says, "Jace, do as I say."
Jace nods silently in agreement.
Liora begins explaining the company documents, profits, and upcoming projects. Ryan seems completely immersed in work. Suddenly, Liora pauses, a confused expression on her face.
"Sir," she asks, "why do you want Ealina to work here? It doesn't seem like it's for the company's sake."
Ryan raises his head from the file, gives her a suspicious look, and replies, "Because she's important to me."
"How so?" Liora presses.
"When I first met her, I saw a spark in her eyes. When I yelled at her, she didn't flinch."
"That's normal," Liora says casually.
Jace interrupts and says, "No, it's not normal. It might be normal for humans, but Ryan sir isn't an ordinary human. He has power—immense power. If someone witnesses his anger, they can't handle the energy it releases; it affects everyone around him."
"But she didn't feel anything. In fact, she yelled back at him," Jace adds.
Hearing this, Ryan glares at Jace in a way that's more humorous than threatening—a rare moment of levity. Because this is the first time in centuries that someone hasn't been affected by his powers.
Then Ryan speaks up. "At that party, when she touched me, my power suddenly calmed. I felt balanced... in control again."
He pauses for a moment, "He remembers that something else happened that day… but he keeps it to himself, not wanting to worry about them."
Thinking Back:
Ryan reflects, "After absorbing the Seed's power, my body was overwhelmed with immense energy—energy that couldn't be controlled easily. Becoming the Guardian of the Seed changed everything. I began isolating myself, because centuries ago, when I first took in that power, it brought harm to those around me."
He pauses for a moment, lost in thought. "I remember the time when… he helped me, and—"
But before Ryan can finish, Jace quickly interrupts, "Sir, that was in the past."
Ryan's eyes become distant and numb, the pain of the memory flickering across his face.
Liora notices something isn't right—something more lies beneath Ryan's words—but she chooses not to press further.
---
That Night at Home:
Lyra asks, "Ealina, are you okay now?"
"Yes," she replies softly. "It happens randomly. I don't understand it, and I always end up putting you guys in trouble."
In a playful tone, Aren says, "No, you don't. You actually have power that helps people. Didn't you save that child?"
She smiles faintly.
Ealina doesn't know about Lyra and Aren's powers. When her own power activates, her blue eyes blind her to the world; all she hears are the cries of sorrow and pain.
Aren heads to the kitchen to make soup for Ealina. Lyra follows, helping him, but her curiosity grows. Why didn't he ask about her powers? And how does he have powers too?
As she turns toward him, she finally asks, "Why didn't you ask about my powers? And how do you have powers?"
Aren, calmly preparing ingredients, replies, "What are you talking about? Like nothing even happened."
Lyra asked again, " Did you know that I have powers?"
"I know about it…" Aren says calmly.
Lyra's eyes widen. "We've been friends since childhood, so why didn't you tell us about this before?"
Aren sighs. "Don't mention any of this to Ealina."
"Why not?" Lyra asks, confused. "She has powers too, just like us. Why keep it from her?"
Aren turns to her and asks, "Do you know how you got your powers?"
Lyra shakes her head slightly. "No… My parents always said I was a special child. That I had these powers to help people."
"I got my powers from my parents," Aren explains. "It runs in my bloodline—my lineage."
Lyra frowns, still puzzled. "Okay… So?"
"Don't you think it's strange?" Aren says, more seriously now. "I inherited my powers from my ancestors. But you don't even know where yours came from. Your parents were normal people. It's almost impossible for powers to skip an entire lineage."
Lyra's confusion deepens. "What are you trying to say?"
In a firm, quiet voice, Aren says, "Lyra… your parents weren't your biological parents."
Her world suddenly spins. "You're lying," she whispers, her voice trembling, tears welling in her eyes. "That can't be true. They raised me since the day I was born. How could you say that?"
Aren about to speak, but at that moment, Ealina walks into the kitchen.
"Did you guys make the food? I'm starving—" she stops mid-sentence when she sees tears streaming down Lyra's face.
"Lyra? What happened?" she asks, walking over. When Lyra doesn't respond, Ealina turns to Aren and narrows her eyes. "You made her cry again, didn't you?"
She wipes Lyra's tears gently and adds, "Why do you always tease her like this?"
Lyra clutches Ealina in a hug, unable to explain. Ealina senses something more than a simple argument—Lyra isn't someone who cries so easily.
"She… had a boyfriend," Aren blurts out quickly. "He broke up with her. That's why she's upset."
Ealina's eyes widen. "She had a boyfriend?! Lyra, why didn't you tell me?"
Lyra says nothing, and Ealina huffs. "Tell me his name. I swear, I'll go talk to him myself. Break my best friend's heart? I'll break his bones!"
Aren laughs. "Calm down, warrior princess. Let me handle him. Can you go buy her favorite ice cream? I think it'll help, let me talk to her in the meantime."
Ealina narrows her eyes, still suspicious, but nods. "Fine. I'll be back soon."
She walks out, muttering about "mystery boyfriends and heartbreak."
As the door closes behind her, Aren gently leads Lyra to the sofa. "Now listen carefully to everything I'm about to say."
He looked into her teary eyes and continued, "They may not be your biological parents, but they loved you like their own. As for your real parents—they didn't abandon you, Lyra. They gave you up to save your life."
Lyra's eyes widened. "Save me? From who?"
"You inherited your powers from them," Aren explained. "Your father—your real one—was close friends with the man who raised you. They both knew about the powers your real father carried."
He took a breath before continuing, "One day, demons began chasing your parents. You were still in your mother's womb when they were discovered. Your father hid your mother in a safe place and went to fight them. But the demons found out. Your mother, though weak, summoned her strength, used her powers to throw things at them, and ran to protect you."
"You got your powers from her. But your father's power is still inside you. It hasn't awakened yet… but it will. You'll have to awaken it when the time is right."
Lyra listened, stunned, as Aren went on. "After the fight, your father was injured but managed to find your mother, who had taken refuge in an abandoned factory. She gave birth to you there. Your father took you into his arms, kissed your forehead, and both your parents were overwhelmed with joy at your birth."
"But fate had other plans," Aren's voice softened.
"The demons tracked the scent of blood and found them. Surrounded, your mother handed you to your father, begging him to save you and take you to his friend—your adoptive father. She told him to say that you were now their daughter. She kissed your little face with tears streaming down her cheeks and used her powers one last time to hold off the demons."
"Your father reached his friend and gave you to him. Seeing him in that state, your adoptive parents were deeply worried. They asked about your mother, but your father didn't speak—he just turned back."
"Your adoptive mother, who had always been close to your real mother, followed him. Back when you were still in the womb, your real mother would always joke that your adoptive mother would end up spoiling you."
Aren smiled faintly, then continued, "Both your father and your mother reached the factory. They saw that your real parents had fought off the demons—but your mother was gravely injured."
"Your adoptive mother rushed to her, held her close, and both cried. Before dying, your biological mother said, 'She's yours now,' and closed her eyes peacefully. Your father wept holding her body."
"But then… more demons appeared. Again, your parents tried to escape with you. Your father used his powers to hide you and shield the others. He fought valiantly, but he, too, died that night."
---
Back to the Present:
Lyra feels a mix of pain and relief, she sat in silence, tears still brimming but her heart finally piecing things together. "You knew about me from the start, didn't you?"
Aren nodded. "Yes."
"Then why didn't you tell me before?" she asked.
"Because everything happens when it's meant to," he replied gently.
Lyra hesitated, then asked, "Do you know about Ealina and Ryan too?"
Again, Aren nodded slowly.
"Then… who are you really?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Aren gave a faint smile. "It's not the right time to tell you. But when the moment comes, I promise, I'll explain everything."
He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Just believe in me, Lyra. Trust me."
She holds his gaze, silent but trusting.