Facing the house, Cael opened the gate with a simple gesture of his telekinesis. The ancient metal creaked softly as it yielded to the invisible force that pulled it in. He advanced to the front door, his imposing six-foot-tall figure shrouded in black, his demeanor and a slight air of habitual weariness marking his fair-skinned face. Behind him, almost like a shadow, came Nina. The little girl hesitated. His brown eyes, usually so lively, showed a hint of apprehension.
"Are you OK?" Cael's voice, surprisingly soft and devoid of his usual coldness, broke the silence. It was a rare shade, almost exclusive to her.
"Y-yes. It's just that I don't know how the girl who lives with you will react. Will everything be okay?" Nina asked, her voice almost a whisper, her natural shyness surfacing with the news. Her little fingers drummed on the skirt of her pet-patterned children's outfit.
"Don't worry. I'll talk to them after introducing you to the house." Cael replied, the calm in his voice was a balm.
"Them?" Nina tilted her head, the confusion in her big eyes.
"Yes. There is one more person living with me." Cael confirmed. Nina frowned slightly, a genuine concern on her face. Cael, noticing her insecurity, placed his hand delicately on the girl's head. His fingers brushed her hair, a gesture that contrasted with her aloof nature. "Don't worry." I'll solve that. Her voice was a safe haven, conveying a security that was rare and deeply felt by the girl, who felt the emotions around her.
Together, they headed to the main door, Nina, now holding Cael's hand, a small bond of trust already established between the palms. Cael turned the handle. The house was silent. No one there.
"They must have left. Less bad... There's time to think of an excuse..." Cael murmured, his usual cold and impassive tone. His serious expression didn't change an inch.
"What?!" Nina exclaimed, a genuine fright in her voice, her eyes wide.
"It's a joke." Cael replied, without the slightest change in his expression or tone. The lack of any hint of humor on his face only made the "joke" even more disconcerting and comical to anyone watching. Nina, however, already understood his peculiar way.
The girl accepted the explanation, and the two entered. Cael began to introduce the rooms, guiding her through the spacious living room, the inviting kitchen, and then Hana and Maya's bedrooms, whose doors remained closed. Nina's eyes scrutinized every detail with curiosity. Finally, he took her to his own room.
"This is my room. Or rather, yours." Cael announced, opening the door.
Nina's eyes widened.
"Mine? And where are you going to sleep, brother?" Nina asked, her voice full of innocence.
Cael pointed to the forest, which could be seen from the window, a faint and almost imperceptible smile playing at the corner of his lips.
"I spend more time there than here. I only come to the room to change my clothes. You don't mind if I walk in through the window, do you?"
"No! It's your fourth, brother! I'm not going to be bothered by that." Nina said, a little embarrassed, but with a sincere smile. The idea of having such a "different" brother amused her.
"Neither me, nor you. Let's close by saying that it is ours, and we will not talk about it anymore." Cael proposed. Although the tone remained cold, there was a lightness, a subtle quip in his words that Nina captured perfectly.
Nina let out a nice giggle, muffled by her small hands.
"Taking advantage of the fact that you're in a good mood, it's time for the shower." Cael changed the subject, handing her a towel. It was Nina's towel, with a print of cute animals, that he had gotten from somewhere. "Take it."
"When did you...?" Nina began to ask, picking up the towel curiously.
"It was just now. Now, go to the shower. And then, meet me in the kitchen. I'll prepare something for you to eat. Do you like omelets?"
"Yes!" Nina exclaimed, a shrill scream of excitement that echoed through the house.
"Great. After the shower, I'll make you an omelet."
Nina wasted no time and ran to the bathroom. The sound of his quick footsteps echoed down the hallway. Cael passed in front of the door and warned:
"Take a proper shower. I'll know if you don't."
"Okay!" Nina exclaimed, from inside the bathroom, her voice a little muffled by the sound of the water that was beginning to fall.
Cael went downstairs and headed to the kitchen. However, he stopped abruptly, his heightened senses detecting a change in the air. The front door was opening. They were Hana and Maya, who were returning. The two spotted Cael, the surprise painted on their faces.
"We need to talk." Cael said, his voice emotionless, but loaded with a weight that made them both look at each other, a foreboding of bad news hanging in the air.
Minutes later, the three of them were sitting at the kitchen table. Cael had already told everything. A thoughtful silence filled the room. Hana, observant, analyzed the situation with her usual rationality, while Maya bit her lip, controlling her impulsiveness.
"Okay. I understand that it was very sudden. But I don't see a problem with Nina staying here. What I want to understand is..." Hana began, her voice always stable and therapeutic, but was abruptly interrupted by Maya.
"Why did you agree to do this?" Maya exclaimed, her voice noisy and full of incredulity, breaking the tranquility of the moment. She gestured with her hands. "That doesn't make sense! Out of nowhere, a guy who didn't leave the house or the forest in two days, comes back almost like a father of a child he doesn't know, at the request of an unknown woman he visited in a hospital!"
"It's strange for me too. But if that's any justification, she was an empath." Cael replied, his voice unchanged, revealing only the fact.
"What is an empath?" Maya asked, her brow furrowed in confusion, her curious side suppressing, for a moment, the teasing vein. Hana's astonishment was palpable next to her.
"What? Maya, this is taught in school! An empath has the ability to sense other people's feelings and emotions." Hana explained, casting a scolding look at her adopted daughter, but keeping her voice calm. "The point is, even if she is an empath with 100% capacity, which would make her have the level of Abigail Aurelicht, it makes no sense for her to entrust her daughter to a stranger. Even if the child has created a quick connection with the person."
"I know. In this case, I should visit her tomorrow, after dropping Nina off at school." Cael informed; his dark brown eyes fixed on the table. "The problem is that I don't know how much time she has. She seemed ready to leave at any moment." He added, a rare tinge of concern in his voice, which Hana and Maya noticed.
"I understand. But, changing the subject completely, are you okay?" Hana asked, her eyes gentle but full of fatigue fixed on Cael. There was genuine concern in his voice.
Cael was visibly surprised by the question. Maya, next to Hana, nodded in agreement, her intense gaze softening for a moment.
"Hana is right to ask. You were isolated for years. Having too many social interactions in such a short time can be harmful. Even more so without psychological support." Maya commented, her voice, once thunderous, now softer, revealing her empathy behind the façade.
"I'm fine. And I don't need a psychologist, or anything like that, I know how to solve my issues myself." Cael replied, his usual cold tone returning, like a barrier that rose again.
Hana and Maya looked at each other, a silent understanding passing between them. Although they did not fully agree, they seemed to accept Cael's answer for the time being. Suddenly, they heard small hurried footsteps coming down the stairs. And Nina appeared, with her wet hair flowing and the pet towel hanging from her right shoulder. Upon noticing Maya and Hana, she ran and hid behind Cael, timidly, her little body seeking refuge.
"Nina, you don't have to be shy." Despite the cold tone, Cael rested his hand on Nina's head, his fingers brushing her hair, a gesture of affection that surprised Hana and Maya. Hana's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the display of affection. "I'll introduce them. The one with the tired face is Hana." Cael said, with his usual dry sarcasm. Hana felt a slight pinprick, but a small smile played on her lips, disguised by fatigue. "And the one with the carrot-colored hair is Maya." Maya made an amused surprised face, before letting out a light laugh. Nina, seeing their reaction, laughed softly, breaking the ice and lightening the mood.
Hana bent down, her gentle features softened by a warm smile, and reached toward Nina.
"Nice to meet you, Nina!"
Nina looked at Cael, seeking approval. Cael nodded. Nina then took Hana's hand shyly, her small fingers wrapped around the doctor's hand.
"N-Nice to meet you..." Nina murmured, her voice barely audible, but with a hint of sweetness.
Cael noticed Nina's wet hair. He took the towel from her shoulder and began to dry her strands gently and precisely.
"It's bad to have wet hair. But you washed yourself well. You still have to wash better behind the ears." Cael said, as he combed Nina's wet hair, his long, strong fingers being surprisingly gentle.
"Oh! I knew I'd forgotten something! Mom always took baths with me. I guess I forgot!" Nina exclaimed, with a cute smile on her face, looking happy with Cael's affection and attention.
Maya pulled Hana aside and whispered in her ear, a glint of admiration and a hint of veiled jealousy in her green eyes:
"He's acting like a real father. It doesn't even seem like he met the little girl yesterday."
Hana nodded, shaking her head slowly, a soft smile on her face.
"Do you know how to comb hair, brother?" Nina asked, her eyes shining.
Maya looked at Cael with a teasing look, a mischievous smile.
"Do you know, brother?" Maya teased; her voice slurred in a tone of defiance.
"I turn around. It's not that different from styling my own hair." Cael replied, his voice emotionless, but with a tone that suggested "don't ask me anything else."
"And do you usually comb your hair?" Maya questioned, her eyes half-closed in doubt, ready for another provocation.
"No." Cael's dry answer was so abrupt that the silence that followed seemed almost like a mental "WHUMP!" Coldness was his trademark.
Nina put her hand to her mouth and let out a cute giggle, muffled by her small hands, the sound like bells.
"Let me do it. Besides, you're messing up her hair more than drying it." Hana intervened, with a gentle smile, taking the towel from Cael's hands.
"It was so relaxing! I almost fell asleep!" Nina defended Cael, a mischievous smile on her face, satisfaction evident in her voice.
"Seriously? In my view, it looks like he was almost ripping her head off." Maya comments.
A while later, Hana was sitting on the couch, combing Nina's hair, which was on her lap, while they watched TV. The scene was domestic and welcoming, the contrast with Cael and Maya's storm evident.
"Nina, how old are you?" Maya asked, suddenly, breaking the silence of the room, her voice filled with unexpected curiosity.
Everyone seemed surprised by the question, even Cael, who was further away, leaning against the wall, his dark brown eyes watching the scene in silence.
"I'm 6." Nina replied, raising her fingers to show.
"So, you're in elementary school? It must be hard for you, since your mother..." Maya's sentence was interrupted by a sudden blow to her head. A gentle, yet firm blow. It was none other than Cael, who, without moving from his spot, had used his telekinesis to strike her, a chilling reminder of her limits. The message was clear: it was obvious that Cael didn't want Maya to bring up that subject in front of Nina.
"Ouch!" Maya complained, scratching her head vigorously, her green eyes glistening with pain and indignation. "I just wanted to say that she's very mature! I barely knew how to bathe at her age!" She tried to justify herself, a pout forming on her lips.
Hana let out a small laugh, the sound soft and melodious.
"What's wrong?" Maya questioned, still massaging her head.
"Nothing! It's just that it's been so long since you two interacted like this! That was nostalgic!" Hana commented, a glint of affection and nostalgia in her eyes. "It's ready, Nina." Hana finished, putting the finishing touches on the girl's hair.
Nina stood up and went over to Cael, stopping in front of him. Her pigtails were perfectly styled by Hana, a hairstyle that made her even more adorable, matching her cute look.
"What do you think, brother?" Nina asked, full of anticipation in her eyes, waiting for his approval as if it were a verdict.
"You look... cute." The last word, "cute," came out in a lower tone, almost a whisper, an atypical sound for Cael, but Nina managed to hear it. A radiant smile spread across her face, lighting up the room.
She held his hand, her small fingers squeezing his, and pulled him lightly.
"Are you coming to play with me?"
Cael's gaze hesitated for a moment; an internal battle waged in his serious eyes. He sensed the girl's vulnerability and innocent invitation. Social phobia, traumas, the desire to hide... all of that weighed on him, but in the end, the instinctive tenderness he felt for Nina prevailed. He yielded; a sigh almost imperceptible.
Minutes later, the two were sitting on the living room floor. Nina challenged him to a card game she had taken from her backpack. She made dramatic faces when she lost, a burst of fake crying that quickly turned into genuine laughter, and celebrated with a "YAY!" as if she had won an epic battle when she won, raising her little arms high. Cael watched everything with a subtle smile hidden at the corner of his mouth, a rare display of warmth that he didn't show to anyone else.
Hana and Maya watched from a distance. Maya kept a soft, almost dreamy gaze on Cael and Nina. It wasn't envy that filled her vibrant green eyes, but rather a longing. A memory of a time when she occupied that space next to Cael, of an affection that she still longed to reconquer. His smile was bittersweet.
Cael looked at his watch. It was time to put Nina to bed. The night progressed, and the silence of the house was filled only by the low sounds of the TV and the breathing of those present.
In the bedroom, Nina lay down under the covers, the pigtails already undone, her small body relaxing on the soft mattress.
"Good evening, brother." She said, her eyes already heavy, almost closing.
Cael pulled the covers up to her chin, a protective gesture, his big, strong hand gently adjusting the blanket.
"Good evening." He replied, his voice almost a whisper, a rare moment of vulnerability.
He turned off the light, and the room sank into darkness. But before leaving, he heard a whisper, almost inaudible, but charged with all the affection and gratitude of a child.
"Thank you..."
He closed the door carefully, a slight soft "CLACK!"
The next morning, Cael advanced along the sidewalk, the imposing figure of his six feet. He walked with the gravity and concentration of a lion in neutral territory, each step firm and intentional. Her fair-skinned face, framed by her long, straight black hair, displayed her ordinary expression: serious, introspective, slightly tired. Beside him, Nina jumped, a small whirlwind of joy. Her straight black hair swayed to the rhythm of her inseparable "pigtail", and she hummed a cheerful melody, one of those that stick in the mind, taken from some cartoon she loved. The contrast between the gloomy giant and the effervescent child was, indeed, hilarious and heart-wrenching.
"You're very happy for someone who's going into exam week, don't you think?" Cael's voice, deep and monotonous, cut through Nina's melody like a cold blade.
The girl's joy withered like a flower without water. His face, once radiant, took on an expression of almost comical dismay, his large, brown eyes widening in shock.
"What? Don't tell me you'd forgotten?" Cael asked, a slight hint of irony, almost a whisper, in his voice.
Nina shook her head, her eyes fixed on her brother, guilt stamped on every stroke.
"Yes. I was so happy to be spending more time with you that I completely forgot about the exams!"
A heavy, barely audible sigh escaped Cael's lips, a sound of weary patience.
"Don't worry. The first-grade assessments aren't difficult at all. They just want to see how 'controllable' your powers are. This helps them assign you to the right classes." Cael explained, but looking at Nina, he realized he had overloaded her little brain with too much information. Her eyes were vacant, trying to process so many new terms. "This weekend, I'll help you train. Since you still can't control your optic blasts…" Cael paused, noticing Nina's confused expression. "…I mean, your laser beams."
Nina's eyes lit up again, a spark of hope flickering. His lips curled into a mischievous smile.
"Are you really going to train me, brother?" She made that hopeful face that could melt anyone's heart.
"Yes." Cael's answer was direct, with no room for doubt.
A thunderous "Yay!" escaped Nina as she skipped back into her tracks. The sound echoed down the sidewalk. The two continued on their way, the contrast between them still evident, until finally they caught sight of the school gates. At the entrance, the same gatekeeper, Lilia, a woman with a warm smile and attentive eyes, greeted the children.
"Good morning, Nina! Nina's brother!" Lilia greeted, her voice cheerful and welcoming.
"Hi Lilia! Bye, brother!" Nina replied, hurriedly, as she said goodbye to Cael with a quick wave and ran into the building, eager to start the day.
Cael was about to walk away, when Lilia's voice stopped him.
"Nina's brother! I'm sorry to call you that. It's just that I don't know your name."
"It's Cael. Do you have anything you want from me?" Cael's usual coldness marked his words, almost a shield. His dark brown eyes were fixed on Lilia, with no apparent emotion.
"I wanted to let you know that some kids from rich schools have been hanging around the school grounds. I'd even think it was normal if this weren't so far from their school. So, I think they're up to something. And they have a history of picking on the kids here and their relatives too. But I thought the principal had taken care of it." Lilia explained, her voice heavy with worry and a slight hint of indignation.
"The principal?" Cael asked, his eyebrow slightly raised, an almost imperceptible hint of curiosity.
"Yes. She's also from the elite and used her status to ask them to stop bothering the school. It worked for a while, but it seems they want to come back. Those damn elitists..." Lilia muttered, visibly frustrated, pressing her thin lips together.
"What are they like? Are they just kids or are they grown men already?" Cael's question caught Lilia off guard. She blinked, unsure what to answer.
"Oh? I thought you were going to ignore me like last time." Lilia frowned, but quickly added. "What do you intend to do?"
"It depends on how they behave." Cael's answer was short, but laden with a quiet determination, as if he were ready for anything.
"It depends?" Lilia asked, her eyes wide. "Wait a moment. My shift is ending."
"Your shift?" Cael asked, without changing his expression.
"Yes. I'm only responsible for the children's entry, not their exit. There are three of us doormen: me, Simon, and Andrey. Since we're paid by the hour, the principal only pays half the salary to me and Andrey, who are responsible for both entry and exit, so we receive less than Simon, who's here almost all day in the guardhouse," Lilia explained, while arranging her things inside the guardhouse. A metallic "clack" from a cabinet door echoed.
Cael simply hummed, crossing his arms over his chest and waiting. His patience was a bottomless well when it came to Nina's safety.
"You're not much of a talker, are you?" Lilia commented, a faint smile playing on her lips, observing Cael's motionless posture.
"Only when I think it's necessary. Cael's answer was as cold and dry as the desert, without any inflection.
Lilia left the guardhouse with her backpack in hand. It was then that Cael felt a strange movement, a disturbance in the air, like a tingle before a storm. His dark brown eyes narrowed. He paralyzed Lilia with an imperceptible movement of his hand, an invisible force holding her in place. Her eyes widened in confusion; her body frozen in the middle of a step.
"What?" Why can't I walk? Lilia asked, astonished, her voice squeaky.
"I was the one who did it. Are they the ones with the Zenith uniform? Cael questioned, his voice low, but charged with a dangerous intensity. His eyes were fixed on a distant spot, his muscles slightly tense.
"Zenith?" So, is that the name of the spoiled school? Lilia asked, with a tone of derision.
"Yes. The Zenith Private Institute is an elitist institute that spans from preschool to higher education. It is very normal for these spoiled people to come from there. Cael explained, without looking away from the approaching group.
"I knew Zenith because it was the rival of the University of Breyden. I didn't know there was a preschool there. What a shame to be so elitist. Lilia lamented, her voice tinged with disgust, watching the figures become clearer.
The people in the Zenith uniform approached, and Cael recognized one of them: the same boy with spiky blond hair and a cocked nose who had bothered Nina, now accompanied by an older, tall, athletic fellow who seemed to be his brother, and two others who were undoubtedly his "henchmen," with smug expressions.
The boy's brother was Daniel Goldstain, a young man of approximately 1.75m, with a muscular but slender body, focused on agility, not volume. Her light blond hair, cut in a modern and slightly messy way, framed an angular face that, although young, already carried an expression of arrogance and coldness. The blue eyes, identical to those of the younger brother in color, possessed a glow of superiority and calculated cruelty. Daniel's hands were remarkably scarred, with calluses and inconspicuous scars on his knuckles, a silent testament to his experience in hand-to-hand fighting.
Next to him, one of the henchmen was a tall, thin young man with spiky red hair and a freckled face. Her small, cunning eyes seemed always on the lookout for trouble, and a sly smile played on her thin lips. The other henchman was a more robust young man, with black hair shaved on the sides and a wide, expressionless face. His dark eyes were dull, and he seemed to follow Daniel's orders with an almost mechanical obedience, like a silent watchdog.
"That's him there, brother!" The boy pointed to Cael, his voice squeaky and full of spite, vibrating at the chance of revenge.
Lilia looked at Cael, the understanding clearing in her eyes.
"So that's why you said you would solve it. She murmured, now understanding the depth of his promise.
"He and his "friends" were bullying Nina. I just pushed them away; I didn't do what I wanted because they were children and because they weren't superhuman. But his brother is very different. Cael's voice remained unchanged, but there was a palpable tension in his posture, like a violin string about to be played.
They finally approached Cael and Lilia. His expressions were of superiority, arrogance stamped on every feature. They believed they were in front of inferior beings. Lilia, when she realized, felt the anger bubble up in her chest, her fists clenching. Cael, on the other hand, remained impassive, like a statue.
"So, it was you who used your powers against this worm of my 'brother'. Daniel's voice, sharp and full of contempt, hit the child like a blow, even if he tried to disguise the impact. It was Daniel, his eyes as blue as ice, fixed on Cael.
"You call your brother a 'worm' and still come to defend him?" Cael questioned him, his voice dangerously calm, like the surface of a lake before a storm.
"I'm not defending this worm!" I am defending the honor of the Goldstain family! This worm is nothing but a disappointment! He dared to be born as a human, and still with weak psychic powers! Our family has a tradition of generating powerful superhumans, and he is born as this complete disappointment. He is only alive because his mother defends him, if not, I would have killed him myself. "Daniel's words were cruel and sharp as knives. The boy, when he heard it, could hardly contain himself. His shoulders trembled slightly, and he lowered his head, his hands clenched, trying to suppress the pain.
"I wonder why this boy turned to his brother, even though he was like that. Maybe the father is worse than the brother. Elitism is not just a distorted ideology, it's a disease." Cael pondered, a shadow of disdain crossing his thoughts, a glimpse of humanity in his coldness.
Lilia seemed horrified by Daniel's words, her eyes fixed on the child, realizing how much it affected him.
"But I don't have to explain anything to you, inferior!" Daniel approached, determined to punch Cael. He raised his arm, his fist clenched and tense, his forearm muscles bulging. As the blow began, a few inches before it hit Cael's face, the fist stopped abruptly in mid-air, as if it had hit an invisible barrier. "What?!" Daniel exclaimed, confused, his eyes fixed on the paralyzed hand.
"My turn." Cael's voice reverberated in the air, and his dark brown eyes shone with a vivid, almost ethereal blue intensity, a sign of his optic blast. A "BZZZZT!" erupted from his eyes. An electric-blue optical blast poured out, hitting Daniel's chest with brutal force. Daniel's body was thrown away with a "WHUMP!", crashing violently against a nearby wall, leaving a crack in the masonry and a trail of dust.
"Daniel!" One of the henchmen shouted, his eyes wide, running to help him up.
Daniel refused the help with an angry slap on the henchman's hand.
"Take your hand off me!" Daniel growled, his face contorted with anger and humiliation. "As a lesser worm, how dare you use your powers against a Goldstain?!" Get him! The order was given with a furious scream, his voice echoing with wounded arrogance.
The three of them — the two henchmen and Daniel himself, limping but furious — advanced against Cael. With a subtle and quick movement of telekinesis, Cael pushed Lilia back, protecting her.
"Stay out and don't get involved." This is going to be quick. Cael said, his voice as cold and collected as ever, without a shred of emotion, but with an implacable certainty.
The three attacked Cael, but he moved with a lethal grace, a silent and deadly ballet. He dodged each blow with an ease bordering on mockery, using his telekinesis to create tiny drafts or subtle jerks that threw opponents off balance. A "SWISH!" here, a "WOOSH!" there, his movements were fluid, a symphony of agility and precision. While he dodged the attacks with absurd ease, his eyes continued to fire blue optic blasts, focused blows that hit the attackers with controlled force. A "THWACK!" on one henchman's chest would make him stagger, a "ZAP!" on the other's shoulder would knock him down. Daniel, despite the pain, advanced with blind fury, his fists delivering blows that cut through the air. Cael, however, seemed untouchable, his slender and powerful figure a blur of speed and strength. Each blast was a brush stroke of light that painted the wall with its enemies, without a single blow from them connecting. It was evident that he wasn't even trying hard, the fight was a game, a light training for something much bigger, a dance that he mastered with mastery. He dodged a punch that grazed his nose ("WHOOSH!"), spun around, and delivered a blast that hit one of the henchmen's stomachs ("CRACK!"), causing him to bend. Daniel, in a fit of rage, tried to sweep, but Cael simply jumped over it, firing another volley that made him retreat ("VWOOOSH!"). There was no sweating, no panting; only the mechanical perfection of his movements, a reflection of his devastating self-control.
"Okay, I'm tired of playing. Cael's voice echoed, cutting through the tense air. There was no anger, only boredom. He lifted the three into the air with a simple gesture of his telekinesis, their bodies suspended like rag dolls.
"Put me down, you inferior worm!" Daniel shouted, anger distorting his features into a mask of hatred.
"All right. Cael replied, his voice almost a whisper, a touch of sadistic humor. He lifted them a few feet higher, in the air, hovering for an instant, the silhouette of the three of them standing out against the sky. Then, with a determined gesture, he hurled them to the ground with extreme violence. The impact was a thunderous "CRACK-THUMP!" that caused the concrete to crack into a spider's web under their bodies. The three were knocked out instantly, their bodies motionless and misaligned. "I don't like to do what others tell me to do, but that order was a lot of fun to execute. A subtle, barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of Cael's lips, a rare display of satisfaction that lasted only an instant before his serious expression returned.
Lilia watched Cael, incredulous, his eyes wide, his mouth slightly open.
"I never imagined that Nina's brother would be so strong," she thought, her mind still processing the scene she had just witnessed. Cael's strength and coldness were frightening and fascinating at the same time.
Suddenly, screams and applause erupted, a wave of noise that broke the post-confrontation silence. Lilia and Cael looked up at the school, and saw the three-story windows filled with children, staff, and teachers, all applauding Cael's performance. A real spectacle. Nina stood among them, her eyes shining in awe, her face lit up, as if she were witnessing a superhero in action. But a round of applause stood out, not coming from any of the windows, but from the ground floor. From the building, a distinguished-looking lady in her 60s, elegantly dressed in formal and expensive clothes, walked slowly toward Cael. His presence exuded authority and refinement.
It was Elizabeth Morgan, the director. At 1.70m tall, she moved with the noble and haughty posture of a baroness, each step a declaration of her unquestionable dignity. His gray hair, meticulously well cared for, framed a face of fine and well-preserved features, which, although mature, maintained a remarkable vitality. His violet eyes, lively and perceptive, shone with sharp intelligence and unassailable authority, watching Cael with calculated curiosity. Her clothing, a set of blazer and skirt of impeccable cut in noble fabric, with discreet but valuable jewelry, reinforced her social position and her role.
"Why are you so surprised, young Lilia?" The director's voice, mature, calm and collected, with perfect diction, echoed through the courtyard, loaded with a fun and almost theatrical tone. "You wouldn't have imagined that I would be sitting in my office while such a remarkable performance as this one unfolds, would you?" She gave an appraisal look to Daniel's brother, who was still in shock, and to Daniel, who lay fainting. His eyes then fixed on Cael, with a gleam of intelligence. "Your mercy knocked out one of the strongest students at the Zenith Private Institute and his henchmen. Please tell me that you will be entering the University of Breyden.
"Yes, I will. Cael's answer was short, cold and blunt, as always, but with a trace of resignation.
"So, we still have hope. However, don't you fear the Goldstain? They are truly influential. Principal Morgan threw a little tease, a fun twinkle in his eye, testing him.
"He's not going to say anything. His father can do much worse to him if he knows that he lost to an "inferior". Cael replied, looking at Daniel, who, confused, had just woken up, his eyes blinking without understanding what had happened.
Daniel heard what Cael said. His eyes widened in terror and humiliation. He stood up abruptly, and, like his henchmen, who had also awakened, ran away, their footsteps resounding on the ground as shame propelled them. They abandoned the boy, who, when he realized he was alone, also ran, his footsteps echoing in the silence that followed.
"Your perspicacity is remarkable, young man. I will be keen to praise you at the next council meeting of the University of Breyden. By the way, my name is Elizabeth Morgan, and it was an inestimable pleasure to meet you, Cael. The headmistress greeted him formally and elegantly, with a slight tilt of her head, before turning and walking away, her presence diminishing in the courtyard.
"When did I say my name to her?" Cael wondered, a rare wrinkle of bewilderment appearing on his forehead, watching the principal walk away.
The principal enters the school, and, as if by an invisible signal, the children retreat from the windows, allowing classes to return to normal. Outside, Lilia takes a deep breath, watching Cael.
"Damn. You put on quite a show. You are very strong! Lilia comments, with an almost reverent smile.
"Now that it's all over, I'm going. Cael says, already turning to leave, his usual tone of disinterest.
"Wait a minute!" Was what Director Morgan said true? Are you going to the University of Breyden? Lilia questions him, her voice full of curiosity and a twinge of hope.
"Yes. Cael replies, non-stop.
Lilia follows him, her hurried footsteps echoing on the asphalt.
"I'm going there too.
Cael does not answer, as if the information did not affect him in the slightest.
"Hey. Since you don't want to talk, how about fighting me? Lilia defies, with a twinkle in her eye, the adrenaline of the fight still in her veins.
"No. Cael replies, in his usual cold tone.
"That's it, man. Won't you even ask "why"? Lilia questions, her voice showing a clear disappointment with the refusal.
"It's not my problem. And I don't want to fight. Cael replies, indifferent.
"Go, please!" Just a little bit! Lilia begs, trying an adorably cute face, which in other circumstances might work.
"No. "Cael is inflexible.
"Where are you going?" Lilia insists.
"Hospital." Cael replies.
Lilia stops abruptly, frozen in place, but Cael keeps walking, like a shadow that doesn't wait.
"Damn, Lilia! How clueless you are! He's going to visit his mother, and you're heckling him." Lilia scolds herself in thought, the embarrassment rising to her face.
She watches Cael Walk away, a lonely figure on the sidewalk, feeling a little silly for his intrusion.
"Hey, Lilia! A thick, excited voice calls to her, breaking her reverie.
When Lilia turns back, a familiar and welcome face emerges. He approaches, his curly hair neat and somewhat voluminous, framing a friendly and expressive face. His beard, dark and well-groomed, highlighted a charismatic and open smile, which illuminated his dark brown eyes, full of vivacity and a playful glow. Jamal was an athletic man with broad shoulders and a confident posture, wearing casual but well-groomed clothes.
"Jamal!" Lilia greets him, a relief in her voice.
"What's wrong?" You're making that face of someone who dropped the ball. Jamal comments, in his playful and observant way.
"Yes, I did... I kept pushing Cael to fight me, not realizing that he was going to the hospital to visit his mother. Lilia explains, a sigh of guilt escaping.
"Cael?" Jamal frowns, his name unknown.
"Ah! It's true! I forgot you don't know him. He is the older brother of a student at the school I work at. Lilia explains, gesturing.
"I see." Is he that strong, for you to want to fight him? Jamal questions, his interest now piqued.
"A lot!" He defeated Daniel Goldstain, effortlessly. Lilia says, her eyes shining with the memory.
Jamal is incredulous. His playful smile breaks down.
"Really?" That Daniel Goldstain? Arthur Goldstain's firstborn? And runner-up in the World Tournament? Jamal's tone is one of pure incredulity.
"Yes!" If someone told me, I wouldn't believe it either. But I saw it with my own eyes. Even Director Morgan saw it. He made it look easy, he looked like a professional fighting an amateur. Lilia explains, her tone of enthusiasm contagious.
"This guy can only be a monster, to be able to deal with a Goldstain with the ease you said. So why do you want to fight him? Isn't the result obvious? Jamal comments, the surprise still evident in his voice.
"I know the result is obvious. But fighting him can be a great way to test what level I'm at. You and I are practically at the same level. We trained together every day, since we were little. We know who is the best between the two of us. But at the entrance ceremony of the University of Breyden, we will face different people, of different levels. Facing someone, who is clearly above average, can be a great way to test if we are at a competitive level. Lilia explains, her voice becoming more serious and strategic.
"Speaking like that, even I want to fight him." Jamal jokes, a competitive sparkle appearing in his expressive eyes.
"Don't even come, I'm the first in line!" Lilia also jokes, and they both laugh, the previous tension dissipated by the camaraderie.
A while later, in another location, Cael is facing the hospital. He sees that Isobel is not in the garden, so he decides to go inside. He passes through the front desk, where the attendant recognizes him and lets him in with a respectful wave. He goes to room 106, knocks on the door, and enters.
Isobel is sitting on the bed, but her appearance is much worse than before. Her black hair, which seems to have grown even longer, spreads over the pillow, but her face is much thinner, almost without cheeks, and her lips are dry. Her light brown eyes, once marked by fatigue, now reflect a deep weakness, a glow that fades. She looks at Cael, her gaze tired, but still manages to force a smile.
"You came here to question why I left Nina with you, right?" Isobel says, her voice hoarse and with difficulty, but with the certainty of an empath.
"Are you a telepath?" Cael questions, his impassive expression breaking by a trace of genuine curiosity.
Isobel laughs, a faint sound, almost a whisper.
"That was obvious... At least you didn't bring Nina with you... I don't want her to see me in that state. But, answering you, she has no one else, as I have already said. My "empathy", my power, with 100%, allows me to see the connection between people and their "aura".
"So it's 100% really... That means..." Cael connects the dots, his nimble mind processing the information.
"Yes... I let go of my feelings. For an empath, the less he feels his own feelings, the more he feels those of others. And 100%, grants you a unique ability, which, in my case, is the ability to see people's aura and know if they are good or not, as well as being able to see the connection between two or more people. Isobel explains, her voice still hoarse, but with painful clarity.
"So, you were pretending to smile, in front of Nina... It must not be easy, to let go of one's feelings. Cael says, and there's even a twinge of envy in his tone, he who seeks emotional control so much.
"No... But, I don't want to die scared, anxious or sad. Also..." Isobel hesitates, a deep pain in her eyes.
"Also..."? Cael notices what Isobel meant, her keen perception capturing the weight of the unspoken words. "You don't want to leave your daughter alone...
Isobel nods in agreement, a tear streaming down her temple.
"I wanted to at least spend one last day with my daughter. But... I'm tied to this bed..." Isobel says, turning her face to the wall in front of her. Another tear falls from one of his eyes; Even though she has abandoned her feelings, they are too strong, at this point in the championship, to be stuck. It's a mother's pain.
Cael notices what is happening, an unexpected empathy surging on his face.
"My mother had this disease... She would have done anything to be able to stand up and spend a day with me... No matter how powerful a person is, this disease always brings them down..." Cael says, in a mournful tone, the memory of his own loss evident. "Nina will... have an evaluation, on Monday. Then she will be on vacation...
Isobel, confused, looks at Cael, a glimmer of hope, even if fragile, beginning to shine in her eyes.
"What do you...?"