Back in the city streets, Star and his friends found a small café where they could sit and think. The atmosphere was warm and lively, but Star barely noticed. His mind was stuck back at Aliana's house.
Kade finally leaned forward, breaking the silence. "Okay, Star — what now? We saw her, we talked to her, but clearly something's off."
"She doesn't want to talk to me," Star muttered, still staring blankly at the table.
"Or maybe," Eric said, "she can't talk to you."
Star's gaze snapped up. "What do you mean?"
Eric adjusted his glasses thoughtfully. "Her reaction wasn't just cold — it was forced. Like she was saying what someone else wanted her to say."
Henry nodded. "I agree. Her father seemed... too calm. Too controlling."
Jake crossed his arms. "He's a classic businessman. He doesn't care about anything but reputation. I bet he's pulling all the strings."
Star clenched his jaw. "So... she's a prisoner in her own home?"
Luna rested a hand on his shoulder. "Not in chains like you once were, Star — but yes, maybe in a different way."
The words hit him hard.
For so long, Star thought he was the only one who had ever lived under someone else's control — his master's chains, both magical and emotional, had kept him locked away for years. But now, Aliana was trapped too — not by dark magic but by her family's expectations, by a future they had crafted for her without asking what she wanted.
"Her father said she's going to marry someone," Star muttered, his voice hoarse.
Silence.
The word marry tasted bitter in his mouth. He didn't even understand why.
Eric broke the silence gently. "Star... we can't fix this overnight. But if you really want to help her — if you really want answers — we have to be smart about this."
Star took a deep breath. His heart still hurt, but a new feeling was growing alongside the pain — determination.
"I'm not giving up on her," he said firmly. "Not until I know the truth."
His friends all nodded in determination.
_ _ _
The café was filled with the soft clinking of cups and the quiet murmur of conversations — until the entrance bell chimed and the atmosphere shifted.
A young man, dressed in high-end designer clothes and dripping with arrogance, strode into the café like he owned the place. He was in his early 20s, with slicked-back hair, an expensive watch gleaming on his wrist, and an expression that screamed entitlement.
From the moment he stepped inside, his voice was loud enough to turn heads.
"Ugh, what is this place?" he sneered, his lip curling as he scanned the menu. "Do they only serve food for peasants here?"
The staff tried their best to remain professional, but Star noticed the unease in their eyes. The young man's presence was suffocating.
When his order arrived, the rudeness only escalated.
The boy poked at the plate in front of him with a disgusted frown. "This? This is what you call food? It's low-class garbage. How do you people even eat here?"
A waitress politely tried to address him. "Sir, we can prepare something else if you—"
"Don't bother," he snapped, throwing his napkin down. "My time's too valuable to be wasted on some back-alley café."
Star's jaw tightened. He felt a familiar heat rise in his chest not the dark, chaotic fury of his past, but something more controlled, more human.
These were ordinary people working hard, just like Star had learned to do. He couldn't stand seeing them disrespected like this.
He pushed his chair back and stood up, his friends' eyes widening at the sudden movement.
"Hey," Star said, his voice calm but firm. "You don't have to like the food, but you don't have to insult the people working here either."
The young man slowly turned his head, eyes narrowing at Star — as if sizing him up and instantly dismissing him.
"And who do you think you are?" the boy sneered. "Another nobody from this miserable town?"
Star didn't flinch. "I'm someone who respects hard work."
The boy let out a mocking laugh, loud enough for the entire café to hear.
"Respect?" he smirked. "Respect doesn't get you power. Respect doesn't get you money." He leaned against the counter like he owned the place. "You know what gets you those things? Connections. And once my family's company finalizes our collaboration with his company, we'll be untouchable."
Star's brow furrowed. "His company?"
The boy grinned wider. "My fiancée, what was her name again, yeah Aliana. I am taking about her father who has power. Once the marriage is finalized, our families will be so powerful that pathetic places like this will be begging for scraps."
Star's heart dropped. His world tilted.
Aliana.
His mind struggled to catch up with what he'd just heard. This was the man Aliana's father had chosen for her?
The boy kept going, his voice a disgusting blend of pride and greed. "She's just a tool for the deal, anyway. I don't care what she wants — she's marrying me whether she likes it or not. That's how this works."
Star's blood boiled. His fists clenched at his sides, and for a brief moment, the room felt heavier — a flicker of his black magic reacting to his emotions.
The friends immediately noticed the shift.
Kade subtly placed a hand on Star's arm, his voice low. "Star... don't."
But Star's glare remained locked on the boy. "She's not a tool," he said, his voice dangerously calm. "She's a person."
The boy scoffed. "A person? She's a business deal. And after the wedding, she'll do what I say — just like everyone else."
Star's magic buzzed beneath his skin, but he fought to keep it under control. He wasn't the same person he was years ago.
Eric spoke up, his tone clipped. "You should leave. Now."
The boy chuckled but finally grabbed his coat. "You all talk big, but people like you will never matter."
Jake suddenly reacted. "WHAT do you mean? As if yo..."
Eric and Henry immediately shut him off not wanting to elevate the situation.
The boy grinned. "Good. As long as you understand your level."
With one last sneer, he strutted out of the café.
The tension hung in the air long after the door swung shut.
Star remained standing, his mind a storm of emotions — fury, concern, helplessness. His heart hurt not just for himself, but for Aliana.
She was in more trouble than he could've imagined.
Star stood frozen for a long moment after the boy left, his mind racing. The words echoed in his head — Aliana is just a tool for the deal... She'll do what I say.
It hit him like a tidal wave. Aliana wasn't just cold to him out of choice she was trapped. The strong, brave girl who once defied his master and embraced him at death's door was now a pawn in someone else's game.
His hands trembled, but this time, not from magic but from a storm of emotions he couldn't name.
Kade's voice broke the silence. "Star... breathe."
Star blinked, realizing he had been holding his breath.
The waitress, still shaken, gave a small nod of thanks to Star and the others before returning to work.
The atmosphere in the café slowly settled, but Star's heart didn't.
They sat back down, but no one touched their drinks.
Eric leaned forward, his voice quiet but firm. "We need to talk about this."
"What's there to talk about?" Star muttered, his voice hoarse. "She's being forced into a marriage for power. She acted like she didn't know me because she thought it would protect me."
Nia frowned. "It makes sense now... her coldness, the way she shut the door in your face, it wasn't her choice."
Henry sighed, tapping a finger against the table. "That guy wasn't just arrogant, he was dangerous. He's the type who sees people as property. And Aliana..."
"She's stuck," May finished softly.
Luna, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke. "Star... what are you thinking?"
He didn't answer right away. His thoughts were tangled, but one thing burned brighter than the rest — the memory of Aliana's voice five years ago, whispering, Even in your moments of death, I'm not leaving you.
Now she was the one in chains, and he couldn't just walk away.
"I'm going to see her again," Star finally said. "I have to."
Eric raised an eyebrow. "We don't even know how closely her family is watching her. It won't be easy."
"I don't care," Star replied, his voice steady. "I'm not leaving her like this."
The friends exchanged glances. They saw something fierce in Star's eyes — not the boy who once feared everything, but a man who was willing to face the unknown for someone he cared about.
Kade smirked, breaking the tension. "Well, we can't let you charge in there alone like some tragic hero."
May grinned softly. "Yeah. We're with you."
Star blinked. "But this... this isn't your fight."
Henry shook his head. "You're wrong. If it matters to you, it matters to us."
Luna, her voice soft but firm, added, "You're not alone, Star. Not now. Not ever."
A lump formed in Star's throat. They were here — still here — even after everything.
"Alright," Eric said, his usual analytical tone kicking in. "We need a plan. We can't just storm her house. We have to find a way to speak to her without alerting her family."
Star nodded. "Let's figure it out."
As the café slowly returned to normal, the group leaned in — not just as friends, but as a team — ready to face whatever came next.
_ _ _
The group left the restaurant, the weight of the situation heavy in the air.
Star's mind buzzed with questions, his heart still aching from Aliana's cold dismissal, a mask she wore to protect him, he now realized.
As they walked through the city streets, Eric spoke up. "First, we need to figure out Aliana's schedule. She's not just locked in her house, her family uses her for public events. If we can catch her somewhere without her parents breathing down her neck, we might be able to talk to her."
Kade nodded. "Yeah, but that fiancé of hers might be a bigger problem. He's the type to hover around like a guard dog."
Star clenched his fists at the thought of that arrogant boy, treating Aliana like a business asset — like property.
Nia's voice was calm but firm. "We have to be careful, Star. If we push too hard, her family might tighten their control over her."
Luna, walking close to Star, added softly, "We need to let her know we're on her side without putting her in danger."
Henry glanced at Star. "You okay, man?"
Star didn't answer right away. His thoughts swirled, fear for Aliana, frustration at her situation, and a burning resolve to help her.
"I'm fine," he finally said. "I just... I need to see her. To hear the truth from her."
May offered a reassuring smile. "We'll make it happen. She's not alone and neither are you."
Jake listened silently still controlling his temper from that incident.
After a long discussion, Eric suggested they start by watching Aliana's house from a distance. "If we figure out her routine, we'll know when she leaves the house and where she goes. We can find the safest place to approach her."
The plan was set.
That night, they took turns observing Aliana's home. It was a large, elegant mansion, guarded by security, a clear sign of her family's wealth. They noted every time a car arrived or left, carefully jotting down patterns.
On the second day, they noticed something.
Around noon, a sleek black car pulled up. Aliana stepped out, dressed in a graceful but modest outfit — likely for a public event. Her expression was blank, her posture stiff, like a doll moving according to someone else's strings.
Behind her, the spoiled boy from the restaurant sauntered out of the car, adjusting his expensive watch with a smug grin.
"That's him," Star muttered through gritted teeth.
"Yeah," Kade whispered. "And I already don't like him."
Aliana's father greeted them at the door, speaking briefly with the boy, who laughed about something before leading Aliana inside.
Eric noted the time. "She left at noon for what seems like an event. That means there's a schedule her family is following."
Nia thought for a moment. "We need to figure out her next public appearance. It's the only way we can speak to her without putting her at risk."
Star's gaze never left the door she vanished behind. "Then let's find out."
The group moved quickly, splitting up to gather information.
By the end of the day, Eric had what they needed. "There's a charity event tomorrow evening — Aliana's family is attending, and from what I heard, her fiancé will be there too."
Star's heart pounded. "That's our chance."
Henry crossed his arms. "We'll have to be careful — a charity event means security, press, and a lot of eyes watching."
Kade smirked. "Good thing we like a challenge."
Star's jaw tightened, but his voice was steady. "We'll talk to her — no matter what."
_ _ _
The next evening arrived faster than Star expected.
The charity event was hosted at a grand hall in the heart of the city, tall glass windows, a red carpet entrance, and a line of luxury cars pulling up one after another. The building gleamed under golden lights, a symbol of wealth and status.
Star and his friends stood a short distance away, blending into the crowd of curious onlookers. While the event was exclusive, people still gathered outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the rich and famous.
Eric adjusted his glasses. "Security's tight. They're only letting in VIP guests."
Henry nodded. "We can't just walk in — we need a plan."
Jake smirked. "Or we can crash the party."
Nia shook her head. "That'll just put Aliana in more danger."
Star, his heart pounding in his chest, spoke firmly. "We're not causing a scene. We need to talk to her, not create more problems for her."
Just then, a sleek car rolled up to the entrance. The spoiled boy from the restaurant stepped out first, adjusting his cufflinks and flashing a fake smile for the cameras.
Then, Aliana emerged.
She looked stunning, but there was no light in her eyes, only a cold, polite expression, like she was playing a role someone else wrote for her.
She walked beside the boy, who placed a possessive hand on her back, guiding her forward as if she were an accessory rather than a person.
Star clenched his fists. He hated seeing her like this — a shadow of the girl who once hugged him when he was dying, the girl who had given him the will to live.
May noticed his reaction. "We'll get to her, Star. Don't lose control."
The group needed a way inside — fast.
That's when Eric spotted an opportunity. "The catering staff — they're going through a side entrance. If we can slip in with them..."
Kade grinned. "Say no more."
With some quick thinking, the friends managed to blend in with the staff, grabbing trays and aprons from a supply area.
Star kept his head down, his heart racing, this was risky, but it was the only way.
Once inside, the grand hall was even more overwhelming — glittering chandeliers, tables with lavish food, and important guests sipping expensive drinks.
Aliana sat at a table near the stage, beside her so-called fiancé and her father. She didn't smile, barely spoke, and kept her gaze fixed downward.
Star's chest tightened. She looked so alone.
Eric whispered, "We have to wait for the right moment....when she's alone, even for a second."
As the event progressed, Star noticed something.
Aliana kept sneaking small glances toward the entrance, her fingers nervously tapping against the tablecloth. It was as if... she was hoping someone would come.