I should have known something was wrong the moment we reached the front gate.

Mother stiffened.

My monkey tensed on my shoulder.

And Lina—

Lina scowled.

Then, before we could process the situation —

“MOMMY!” she bellowed, pointing a tiny, accusatory finger.

“That’s the Betty-faced thief who tried to steal Brother’s monkey!”

I blinked. “...Betty-faced?”

But it was too late.

Lina stormed forward, all five years of rage packed into her tiny frame.

And standing there, looking far too smug for my liking, was him.

Rohen Valtar.

Standing in our yard.

Talking to my father.

Like he belonged here.

I saw red.

“You again?” I snapped.

Rohen turned, the same mocking politeness smeared across his face.

“Ah, young Akul. Back from your outing, I see.”

He adjusted his sleeves, completely unfazed.

“Perfect timing. I was just speaking with your father about an offer.”

Lina stomped right up to him, placed her hands on her hips—

And kicked him in the shin.

Hard.

“OW!”

Rohen stumbled back, grabbing his leg. “What in the—”

“That’s for trying to steal Bobo!”

I choked as my brain short-circuited.

“Bobo?”

“His name is Bobo!” she declared, arms crossed.

My monkey tilted his head. He didn’t look opposed.

Mother sighed. “Lina…”

Rohen straightened, glaring down at her. “What kind of—”

“Excuse me?” Mother cut in, voice sharp. “You were just saying?”

Rohen took a slow breath, forcing another fake smile.

“Yes,” he said tightly. “I was simply offering a mutually beneficial exchange—”

“No,” my father said flatly.

Rohen blinked.

Father hadn’t even looked at him.

Just stood there, arms crossed, gaze unreadable.

“I haven’t even—”

“No.”

Mother exhaled through her nose. “Rohen, I believe we’ve already had this discussion.”

Stolen novel; please report.

“Ah, but you see—”

“No.”

Rohen’s jaw twitched.

“…I don’t think you understand the gravity of—”

“No.”

Lina grinned. “That’s a lot of nos, mister.”

I smirked.

Then Rohen’s smile dropped.

“Enough of this nonsense.” He adjusted his robe, annoyance finally cracking through.

“I am a researcher from the Beast Research Institute. I have spent my entire life studying and nurturing creatures with potential. Do you truly believe that this beast—”

He gestured toward my monkey with thinly veiled disdain.

“—will reach its full potential under a child?”

I clenched my fists.

“Yes.”

Rohen scoffed.

“Listen to yourself,” he sneered. “A physical-type beast with no magical ability? No grand bloodline? You’re wasting a valuable—”

“Step away from my son.”

The air froze.

The words hadn’t come from my father.

They hadn’t come from my mother.

They had come from someone else.

A voice that cut through the conversation like a blade.

And then, for the first time, I saw something new on Rohen face.

A flicker of… hesitation.

No.

Not just hesitation.

Respect.

Slowly, he turned.

And when Rohen turned, his face went pale.

“Sir...Rhyzar?”

Rhyzar leaned casually against the gate.

But his eyes—

His eyes weren’t casual at all.

They were sharp.

Cutting.

Watching.

And smiling—

But in the way a predator smiles before it strikes.

“Valtar,” he drawled, pushing off the gate. “You just can’t help yourself, can you?”

Rohen swallowed.

“I—”

Rohen adjusted his robes, straightening immediately.

“Sir Rhyzar,” he greeted stiffly, bowing slightly.

So that was his name.

I filed it away for later.

“I thought the Institute had rules about harassment?” Rhyzar continued smoothly, stepping forward. “Or do you get special privileges?”

Rohen tensed.

“I was simply negotiating a—”

“A deal that was already rejected.”

Rhyzar stopped a mere foot away, staring him down.

“So tell me,” he said, voice lowering,

“Why. Are. You. Still. Here?”

Silence.

Rohen’s hands twitched.

Then, finally, he exhaled.

“I see my presence is unwelcome,” he said stiffly.

“Noooo,” Rhyzar said, dragging out the word.

Then he smirked.

“It’s just you that’s unwelcome.”

Rohen’s eye twitched.

Then, with one last glance at my father, he adjusted his robe and turned.

“This conversation isn’t over,” he muttered.

And just like that—

He left.

I exhaled.

The tension was still thick, but as I turned back to Rhyzar—

He was already looking at me.

And in that moment—

I don’t know how, I don’t know why, but—

We had reached a silent understanding.

Rhyzar’s smirk barely changed.

But his eyes said something else.

We needed to talk.

And judging by the flicker in his eyes—

He thought the exact same thing.

After dinner, after everything settled down, Rhyzar found me.

"Akul," he said, his voice lighter now, less intense than earlier. "Walk with me."

I didn’t argue.

We walked a little outside, where the stars hung heavy in the sky.

“…So,” I said finally. “You’re kind of a big deal, huh?”

Rhyzar laughed. "A big deal? No. But I know how to make certain people listen."

I didn’t press.

Instead, I asked what had been sitting at the back of my mind all day.

“…Why do you care so much?"

For the first time since I met him—

His expression softened.

And then, quietly, he said:

"Because your father saved my life."

I blinked.

He wasn’t smirking anymore.

"This was years ago," Rhyzar continued, crossing his arms. "I was reckless, too ambitious, and made the mistake of thinking I could take on something far above my level."

He chuckled, but there was no humor in it.

"I should have died that day. But your father? He stepped in. No hesitation. Threw away everything just to drag my sorry ass out alive."

I swallowed.

"He lost so much, Akul. He gave up everything." Rhyzar exhaled, shaking his head. "And I’ve spent years trying to repay that debt. Trying to find a way to help him. But I’ve hit a wall."

His eyes met mine.

"And the only person who might be able to change things… is you."

My breath hitched.

"You mean—?"

"I mean," Rhyzar said, "that your father’s beasts are being held hostage."

I clenched my fists.

"But there’s no way to find them."

"Not from outside the family, no," he admitted. "But if someone got in… someone with the right leverage…"

I stiffened.

"You want me to go back to them?"

Rhyzar sighed.

"Not now," he said. "Not while you're weak. Not while they could crush you the moment they recognize what you are."

He crossed his arms.

"But if you grow strong enough to stand your ground, strong enough to be useful to them—but not a threat—"

He let the thought hang.

The realization sank in.

"...Then they’ll let me in."

Rhyzar nodded.

"You could get close. Find out where they keep your father’s beasts. Find out if there’s a way to free them."

I bit my lip.

"But if I’m too strong, they’ll see me as a threat and try to get rid of me."

"Exactly," Rhyzar said. "And that’s why I suggested the Abyssal Tower."

I frowned.

"What does that have to do with—?"

"Because the Abyssal Tower is the perfect place to grow powerful without being noticed."

Then he looked at me, those eyes that bored deeper, as I felt his intensity bore into my soul.

"And because the only way to survive there... is to become a monster yourself."

The weight of his words settled over me.

I understood now.

This wasn’t about revenge.

It wasn’t about hatred.

This was about freeing my father.

And to do that—

I would have to play the long game.

I exhaled.

“…I need time to think.”

Rhyzar grinned.

"Take all the time you need, kid."

"But," he added, smirking as he walked away,

"Just don't take too long."