The heavy rain fell steadily on the tarmac of Astral City Airport, its rhythmic pattern providing a somber soundtrack to the quiet night. The city was drenched in a curtain of gray, with distant lights flickering hazily through the downpour. As the airplane's wheels touched down with a soft screech, the passengers inside felt the familiar jolt of landing.

A boy with striking white hair stepped off the plane, his expression calm yet alert, contrasting with the restless energy of the airport. Beside him was a girl with long black hair and vivid green eyes, her gaze darting around with wide-eyed curiosity. Trailing behind them was a man in a sharp, tailored suit, their butler, whose stern demeanor and precise movements spoke of a life dedicated to service.

The trio moved through the terminal, their presence attracting the subtle stares of onlookers. There was something undeniably noble about them, an aura that set them apart from the casual travelers rushing to their destinations.

As they exited the airport, the boy took a deep breath, the cold, rain-scented air filling his lungs. In the parking area, a sleek black car waited under the dim glow of a streetlamp, the rain beading and rolling off its polished surface. The driver, a seasoned man with a stoic face, immediately stepped forward and opened the door, bowing slightly.

As Alex settled into the seat, his mind drifted to Cedric, who sat across from him, his gaze as intense as always. Cedric wasn’t just any butler; he was sharp, perceptive, and unwaveringly loyal—a man who could size up any situation in seconds. It was in his nature to scrutinize everything, a habit Alex had seen time and again. Cedric’s stoic expression, with eyes that seemed to drill into people, had become something of a fixture in Alex’s life.

And right now, those sharp eyes were fixed on their driver. "You know where to take us, correct?" Cedric asked, his voice calm but commanding.

The driver nodded, perhaps feeling the weight of that gaze. Alex couldn’t resist a smirk. "Relax, Cedric. The poor guy's just doing his job—you're gonna give him a heart attack."

Cedric didn't flinch. "My apologies, young master, but I was born with this face." His tone was flat, but there was a hint of dry humor beneath the surface. The boy rolled his eyes, the corners of his mouth twitching in a reluctant smile.

The car's engine hummed to life, and they pulled out onto the rain-slicked streets of Astral City. The city's transformation was evident in the glowing skyscrapers and bustling avenues, a blend of old and new that gave it a unique charm. Serena, the girl with green eyes, pressed her face against the window, captivated by the cityscape.

"Look, brother!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. "Everything's so different now. It's so... alive."

Alex glanced out, his eyes scanning the familiar yet changed skyline. "Yeah, it's like the whole city's been rebuilt since the last time we were here," he said thoughtfully. "What do you think, Cedric?"

Cedric nodded, his gaze fixed on the passing buildings. "It has grown, certainly. But with growth comes change—some of it welcome, some of it not."

Serena's attention drifted to a group of people huddled under an awning, trying to stay dry. It was a simple, everyday moment, but it reminded her of how life continued regardless of the weather, regardless of the passage of time.

The rain blurred the city's lights into streaks of red, blue, and yellow, creating a kaleidoscope of colors that danced on the wet pavement. It was a sight both beautiful and melancholic, as if the city itself was caught between past and present, just like them.

After a short drive, the car pulled into the gates of a large estate nestled away from the city's main streets. The mansion loomed ahead, its dark silhouette standing against the night sky, framed by towering trees that swayed in the wind. Serena's eyes sparkled at the sight.

"This place is huge!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing slightly in the enclosed space of the car. "Is this really our home?"

Alex nodded, though his expression was more reserved. "Yeah. It was our parents' house."

Cedric's brow furrowed slightly as he looked at Alex. "Are you certain you wish to stay here, young master? I could easily arrange for accommodations elsewhere—somewhere more secure."

Alex shook his head. "It's fine, Cedric. This is where we need to be."

The butler hesitated for a moment, then gave a short nod of acceptance. "Very well. Let's get you both settled in."

Suddenly, the butler's phone rang, interrupting their conversation. After a brief conversation, he turned to the boy. "Young master, it seems our members are facing some trouble at the airport. I need to go and guide them."

Understanding the urgency, the boy nodded. "Yeah, you should go and help them out." Concern creased the butler's brow as he asked, "But will you both be fine alone in the house?"

"Don't worry, we'll be fine," the boy reassured. With a sigh, the butler cautioned, "Fine, but lock the doors just in case. I'll try to return soon." With that, he departed, leaving the kids alone in the sprawling mansion.

Alex watched as Cedric disappeared into the rain, the car's taillights fading into the distance. Serena clung to his side, her earlier excitement dimming slightly in the shadow of the grand, empty mansion.

"Don't worry," Alex said softly, squeezing her hand. "We're home now."

They stood there for a moment, just the two of them, surrounded by the quiet whispers of the rain and the looming presence of the house that once belonged to their parents. It was a return, not just to a place, but to memories they had both cherished and tried to forget.

The old mansion's eerie silence was occasionally interrupted by Serena's restless sighs as they explored room after room. She trailed behind Alex, her curiosity gradually fading into irritation.

"I'm hungry," Serena announced, her voice laced with impatience.

Alex rummaged through his bag, pulling out a small package of snacks. Handing it to her, he tried to appease her hunger. "Here, eat this."

Serena took the food but wrinkled her nose in displeasure. "We've had this for three days. I don't want to eat this," she complained, her tone sharp with frustration.

Alex sighed, his patience wearing thin. "We can't go out right now, Serena. It's too risky."

"But I'm tired of this!" she pleaded, her voice trembling as tears welled in her eyes. Serena's tearful persistence tugged at Alex's heartstrings, each word a reminder of how much he hated seeing her upset.

Finally, he sighed, conceding to her demands. "Fine, you win. What do you want to eat?"

Serena's face lit up with joy at her small victory. She threw her arms around Alex, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, Alex! You're the best!"

As he hugged her back, Alex's mind drifted, pulled unwillingly into a flashback. The warm embrace of his sister was replaced by the cold, blood-soaked grip of a man who haunted his memories.

He was in a dark alley, the rain pounding harder than ever. The sound of his own heartbeat echoed in his ears, drowning out the distant city noise. In front of him stood a man—a tall figure in a sharp, blood-soaked suit and a derby hat adorned with a small feather. His face was obscured by shadow, but the blood splatters and the empty gun clutched in his hand told a grim story.

The man knelt before Alex, pulling him into an embrace that felt both desperate and final. Blood seeped into Alex's clothes, the iron scent and smoke filling his senses, mingling with the rain. The man's voice was faint, a mere whisper against the downpour. "It's going to be okay."

The words felt hollow, a reassurance that neither of them could believe. Alex stood motionless, trapped in the man's trembling grip, feeling the weight of his promise, a vow made in blood and rain.

"Alex?" Serena's voice cut through the memory, pulling him back to the present.

Blinking, Alex refocused on his sister, still wrapped in her joyful hug. He tightened his hold, the warmth of her presence grounding him. "Serena, I will always protect you. You can always rely on your big brother."

Serena pulled back slightly, her expression shifting from gratitude to confusion. "What are you blabbing about, Alex? You sound weird."

Alex laughed softly, the heaviness of his past momentarily lifted by her innocence. "Nothing. Just... remember that."

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Though puzzled, Serena nodded, accepting his promise with a smile. She knew she could always count on Alex, even when his words seemed strange and out of place. Together, they continued down the hall.

The evening was cloaked in a somber haze as heavy rain poured from the darkened sky, drumming against the umbrellas of the boy and Serena. The streets shimmered with the relentless downpour, a fitting backdrop for the troubled thoughts that occupied the boy's mind. "I need to find more trustworthy members for the familia. But where do I even begin?"

Serena's scream, raw and urgent, sliced through the night. "BIG BROTHER!!"

The boy's heart raced as he spun around, his face already reflecting his rising panic. "What happened!?!?"

Serena's voice trembled as she pointed toward the bridge up ahead. "Look! Over there!"

The bridge loomed ahead, its wooden planks slick with rain, the railings worn and groaning under the relentless downpour. At the edge of the bridge, a boy stood precariously close to falling into the swollen, turbulent river below.

"Is he going to fall?!" Serena's voice was nearly a sob, her eyes wide with terror.

Without a second thought, the boy sprinted toward the bridge, each step slipping slightly on the rain-slicked path. "No, no, no..."

"Hold on!" he shouted desperately as he reached the bridge. But the boy leaned forward, his body tilting dangerously over the edge. Time seemed to freeze, every second stretching out as the boy began to fall,

In a frantic lunge, he reached out and grabbed the boy's leg, his fingers slipping and struggling to maintain a grip. "I've got you!" he grunted, his voice strained with the effort of pulling the boy back.

The boy's head got smashed against the wooden railing with a harsh thud, making him unconscious in the cold air, the sound muffled but still startling. The rain lashed down harder as the boy's body dangled dangerously, his leg the only thing preventing him from plunging into the churning water.

"He's unconscious! What do we do?" Serena's voice was panicked, her face etched with fear.

"Help me!" the boy barked, his own hands trembling as he attempted to lift the unconscious figure, Serena rushed to help his brother. The rain mixed with the sweat on his face, making every movement a struggle. "Serena, he's not waking up. We need to get him home."

Serena's eyes filled with tears, her voice a mere whisper. "But what if he doesn't make it?"

"He will make it," the boy said with a forced confidence, though his own fears threatened to overwhelm him. "We have to believe that."

Determinedly, the siblings draped the boy's limp arms over their shoulders. "Support him from your side," the boy instructed, his tone taut with urgency.

They began the slow, laborious journey back to their house. The rain continued to pelt down, drenching them through and making every step feel like a battle against the storm. Serena's breaths were shallow, her gaze flickering nervously from their burden to the dimly lit, rain-soaked street ahead.

"He is gonna be okay, right? brother. " she asked, her voice fraught with concern.

"Yeah" the boy replied, his tone resolute despite the growing tension. "All we can do is Focus on getting him inside. We'll deal with everything else later."

The weight of their responsibility felt heavier with each step, the rain hammering relentlessly as they moved through the murky gloom. Each moment was charged with the desperate hope that their efforts weren't in vain, that they weren't too late to save the boy whose fate now rested in their hands.

After a few minutes, the boy stirred and slowly opened his eyes. and found himself in an unknown house

"Where am I?" the boy asked himself.

"Oh, you woke up, huh?" Serena's brother said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"You are lucky that the bridge's railings were wooden. If they had been concrete, then you might have died, you know?" said Serena's brother.

The boy asked, confused, "Who are you?"

"My name is Alex. I was the one who saved you. By the way, why were you attempting suicide anyway?" asked Alex.

"Why did you save me?" the boy questioned Alex.

"Hmm, what do you mean?" Alex countered,

"You should have abandoned me there. Why go through the hassle to save an unknown person?" the boy said with an emotionless tone.

Alex scoffed, "You really think people would just walk by after seeing a kid attempting suicide? Society's not that broken yet, kid."

Alex noticed that the boy's eyes lacked any spark of life, as if the light within them had been extinguished. They held no flicker of will or interest in living anymore. Instead, they seemed empty, devoid of emotion or purpose. The boy sat there like a robot, his posture rigid and his expression blank, as if he were merely going through the motions of existence without truly being present. It was a haunting sight, one that left Alex with a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, realizing the depth of the boy's despair.

"Then who should I live for?" the boy suddenly questioned Alex, his voice tinged with desperation and uncertainty.

Alex was confused and caught off guard by the suddenness and depth of the boy's question.

"Of course, for your fam—"

Before Alex could finish, the boy interrupted him. "They're dead." His voice was heavy with quiet sorrow.

Alex was shocked by the boy's answer, and he couldn't bring himself to continue the conversation.

Alex sat with his book in hand, lost in thought as he contemplated how to navigate the delicate situation before him.

'Now what should I do? Well, I asked him to stay over until the rain calms down, but it seems like the rain has gotten even stronger. Serena seems sleeping soundly in her room, Cedric is taking longer than i expected and I've got important books related to the familia to read, so I can kill my time, but what's he going to do? Won't he get bored? Should I talk to him? But the way he talks doesn't match his appearance. He does look around my age. Wait, are we the same age?' Alex pondered, his thoughts racing as he considering how to spend the time with the boy during the storm.

Then suddenly, Alex asked, "Hey, what's your age?" His curiosity piqued by the thought that they might be the same age.

"Um, I am 13 years old," the boy replied, his voice soft and hesitant.

'What! He's just one year younger than me,' Alex exclaimed inwardly, surprised by the revelation. After a few seconds, he chuckled to himself. 'Well, looks like I've got the company of someone with the same level of mindset. I guess I can kill more time,' he thought, feeling a sense of camaraderie with the boy.

"Hey, what's your name?" Alex asked, his face breaking into a smile.

"Tyson," the boy replied, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of curiosity.

"Tyson, huh," Alex repeated, his tone acknowledging the introduction.

Then, Alex set his book down, assuming a relaxed posture, and initiated the conversation.

"So, tell me, Tyson. Do you have any goals in life? Like things you must do?" Alex asked, his tone curious and expecting an interesting answer.

"Goals?" Tyson repeated, a thoughtful expression crossing his face as he pondered Alex's question.

"Yeah, everyone has goals they chase and roles they have to fulfill, which gives them purpose in life and a reason to keep on living. For example, I've been given the role to always protect my sister, and my goal is to find the Tempest book, which was written by my father," Alex explained, his voice carrying a sense of determination.

"Well, you see, both of my parents died three years ago, so I can understand how you're feeling right now. But I didn't attempt suicide like you—" Alex was explaining when Tyson suddenly interrupted, saying, "That's because you have your sister! I have nobody like that!"

"No, that's not the only reason. The real reason was my father," Alex replied, his words causing Tyson to look at him with confusion.

"My father used to say that dying without accomplishing anything great in life is not a worthy death. Everyone is born with a purpose in life. Sometimes, they just fail to find that purpose. But if they succeed in discovering their purpose and achieving great things they can be proud of, then even in death, they can find satisfaction because there will be no regrets left. Try to lead a meaningful life." Alex paused, his voice filled with emotion.

"So, I promised my father that I would live my life until I achieved my goals and fulfilled my role. Then my father smiled and said, 'Good job, Alex. You understood what I said. I will be looking forward to what you're going to achieve. Even if I die, I will be watching from heaven.'" Alex explained.

Maybe this would motivate him a bit, I thought as I opened my eyes, feeling a flicker of hope. But when I glanced over, I found Tyson staring out the window, completely lost in thought. His expression was as blank as the gray sky outside, emotionless like the rain pattering against the glass. This little... I couldn't help but feel a twinge of frustration.

"Hey, were you listening?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though I could feel irritation creeping in.

He turned his head slowly, tilting it like a confused puppy. "Huh? Were you saying something?" The blank look on his face was infuriating.

Seriously? I couldn't hold back my frustration any longer. "You didn't listen at all!" I shouted, feeling a mix of disbelief and anger.

"Leave me alone. I'm staying just because of the rain. Why are you even telling me all this?" he shot back, dismissively.

True, What was I thinking? I'm trying to motivate this kid, and he's not even paying attention. Yet, for some bizarre reason, I felt like I had to tell him. There was something about him—maybe it was the way he looked out the window, like he was searching for answers in the rain.

"Is that how you treat someone who saved your life?" I said, attempting to lighten the mood.

"I never asked for your help! Now leave me alone, weird hair," he mocked, still not bothering to turn away from the window.

Weird hair? Really? He's mocking my white hair color right now, of all times? On second thought, maybe I shouldn't have saved him after all.

Suddenly, the rotary phone began to ring, slicing through the awkward silence. Finally, something to distract me, I thought, relief flooding over me.

"Seems like a phone call from Cedric. Honestly, how late can he be?" I mumbled to myself, rolling my eyes.

"Sorry, I have to take this call," I said, excusing myself as I moved toward the ringing phone. Tyson didn't even acknowledge me, his gaze still fixed on the rain-soaked world outside. I sighed, trying to lighten the mood. "If you're feeling bored, why don't you read this book? It was written by my father."

But once again, Tyson didn't respond. Whatever, I thought, before heading out to answer the call.

"Do whatever you want," Alex said before walking out of the room. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Tyson alone in the quiet space. He stared at the book on the table for a moment, then muttered, "Weird guy."

----

Alex picked up the call by lifting the handset gear of the phone, his curiosity piqued as he waited to hear the voice on the other end.

"Hello?" asked Alex, his voice steady as he awaited a response.

"Young master, it's me!" Cedric's voice burst through the phone, laced with urgency.

"Cedric, stop shouting like that. What's the matter? I thought you said you would try to return soon. How many hours is that going to take?" Alex replied, his frustration evident.

"Please, you have to listen to me very carefully! The other familia members are coming to kill you both! You need to hide yourself and Serena somewhere safe until I arrive!" Cedric's tone wavered with fear, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.

The gravity of Cedric's warning struck Alex like a cold wave. Panic surged through him. "What? Are you serious?" he asked, gripping the phone tighter.

"There's no time to waste! Just trust me!" Cedric urged.

"Understood," Alex said, forcing a calmness he didn't feel. He looked around the room, plotting his next move.

"Do not let them find you!'' were Cedric's last words before the line went dead.

To be continued....