Ryn's peaceful slumber within the mind realm was abruptly shattered by the sudden appearance of the shadow entity.

As he fluttered his eyes open, he was met with the chilling presence of the entity, which swiftly vanished into the depths of the Shadow mirror before he could even utter a word.

Caught off guard by its peculiar behavior, Ryn contemplated returning to his slumber.

However, a faint whisper calling his name reached his ears, as though it traveled across vast distances only to fade away upon reaching him.

"Ryn...," the voice whispered, its tone carrying a sense of urgency.

Perplexed, Ryn scanned his surroundings, trying to discern the source of the strangely familiar whisper that resonated within him.

"Ryn, don't stay here. Go to your room, or Elly won't stop toying with your hair" Enara's soft voice reached out to him, attempting to rouse him from his mental slumber.

'M-Mom's voice?' Ryn finally recognized the voice in the depths of the mind realm.

Opening his eyes, he found himself surprised by the unfamiliar environment surrounding him.

He had expected that even if the shadow entity had taken control, it would confine its influence to the backyard, allowing minimum interactions with others and preserving the illusion of normalcy.

Unbeknownst to Ryn, his eyes underwent a transformation when ever the entity assumed control.

While he had been cautious of the changes in his demeanor and speech patterns when yielding control, he remained oblivious to the physical alterations.

"Mom, you're here," Ryn exclaimed, awakening from his slumber within the mind realm.

As he surveyed his surroundings, he noticed the half-opened cradle where he had rested his head and his gaze fell upon a knife resting in the corner, which startled him.

"Yes, I'm back, my son. But what brings you here? Did something happen with Elly?" Enara inquired, her motherly instincts prompting her to return earlier than expected, a sense of unease compelling her.

"No, nothing like that. It's just..." Ryn needed to come up with a plausible explanation quickly.

He didn't even know why he was in Elly's room, and the presence of the knife only complicated matters.

'Phew, it seems Mom hasn't noticed the knife yet,' Ryn thought. relieved that his mother hadn't seen the knife on the bedside table.

However, if she were to discover it and inquire, it would undoubtedly lead to unwanted suspicions, regardless of the excuse he concocted.

Yet, for the moment, he had a chance to divert her attention.

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"It's just...!?" Enara interjected, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Ryn rose from his position and made his way toward the knife, picking it up with a natural nonchalance.

Observing that it was a kitchen knife, he explained,

"I was setting the table for lunch later when I heard strange noises coming from this room. So, I came to check if Sia was awake..."

"And that's how you ended up falling asleep while playing with your sister?" Enara finished Ryn's sentence and queried, her expression questioning.

"Yes, that's what happened," Ryn responded, attempting to appear slightly embarrassed.

"But, Ryn..." Enara's voice held a hint of concern as she tried to capture his attention.

"Yes, Mother?" Ryn felt a surge of unease, fearing that his mother had sensed something amiss and had seen him wielding a knife near his baby sister.

"You shouldn't do that," Enara stated, her displeasure evident.

Ryn's thoughts raced, wondering if his mother had indeed deduced the truth behind his actions and the potential danger he posed.

If he were like any other boy his age, being caught in such a situation would likely result in reprimands and punishments to dissuade any future misbehavior.

However, Ryn was different. Since his birth, he had never been like the other children in the village.

He was the "miracle child," a moniker given to him for surviving a perilous ordeal, but one that also carried an underlying fear among the villagers a fear that labeled him as different and potentially dangerous, even if they never openly acknowledged it.

His rapid development, advanced intellect, and his ability to communicate with adults at an early age only deepened the sense of trepidation that quietly pervaded the village, extending even to his own parents.

Adapting to the challenges of raising a child so remarkably different and advanced for his age proved to be a daunting task for Dastern and Enara.

They feared the implications of his uniqueness and how it might shape his future or attract external dangers.

If Enara were to witness the scene of Ryn holding a knife above Elly's cradle, she would not dismiss it as a child's innocent play with a sharp object.

She would see it as an action taken by a boy who knew precisely what he was doing. And that thought alone terrified Ryn.

"You shouldn't bring knives or anything dangerous here," Enara emphasized, drawing Ryn's attention to her genuine concern, devoid of any suspicion that her beloved son would bring harm to his baby sister.

Witnessing his mother's trust, a warm feeling enveloped Ryn's heart.

"You're right, Mom. I'll put this back where it belongs," Ryn replied, smiling at his mother.

"Good boy, there you go," Enara praised, ruffling his hair before he stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.

However, as soon as he turned away from his mother, the smile on his face vanished, replaced by cold and furious eyes, filled with determination.

"So, this was your plan, huh!" he muttered, his voice laced with resolve.

Ryn, a young and inexperienced child, possessed a keen intellect that belied his age.

While he may have lacked worldly experience, he was far from oblivious to the situation he found himself in.

The sight of him standing in the room, clutching a knife above the innocent baby in the cradle, left no room for misinterpretation.

The truth was crystal clear it was the work of the Shadow Entity.

The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on Ryn's mind.

He couldn't fathom the potential consequences if his mother hadn't returned in time or, worse yet, if she had walked in on the scene without any prior warning, just as she had done before when she called out his name. The thought sent chills down his spine.

Previously torn between trusting the entity and guarding against its influence, Ryn now had a resolute stance.

He was furious with himself for almost succumbing to irreversible actions that could have torn his family apart. But his anger burned even hotter towards the entity, which had dared to threaten the life of his baby sister.

"If that's the game you want to play, then so be it," Ryn muttered, his voice filled with determination.

He realized that the next time he faced off against the entity, he couldn't predict the outcomes or who might suffer.

Perhaps it could be his mother. He had to ensure that such a situation never repeated itself.

Even if he were to lose control to the entity again, he needed to be prepared and keep a safe distance from his loved ones, considering the entity's limited control over his body.

"I can't afford to lose again. No, I won't lose again," Ryn vowed silently, unaware of the subtle change that overcame his eyes in that moment.

The fading golden circle around his irises resurfaced, its shape and color growing more distinct.

His silver irises gleamed with unwavering determination, akin to the moon shining brightly through a cloudy night sky.