I'm greeted with a familiar warmth as I step inside the house. It's quiet, peaceful. The hallway is lit with the light of the living room as I enter.

Mom is in the kitchen, making preparations for dinner. Dad is sitting on the couch, attending a business meeting.

"That will be all, Mr. Ronan. I'm glad you liked our proposal. Let's do our best on this project!" says the client, happily. Dad smiles at him as they end their meeting. Leaning back, he mutters to himself, "That was quick."

He straightens up as he sees me enter. "Hello Heliar! I see that you haven't burnt the house," he says smilingly. I reach for a hug.

"Hi dad, welcome back. Missed you." He holds me for a while.

He chuckles, ruffling my hair as we pull back. "Missed you too, my boy. And trust me, we could use some time at home for a change. How was your day?"

"Good." I reply, managing a small smile. "Spent some time with friends."

He nods, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "That's good, that's good."

Mom walks in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel. "There's my boy," she says warmly, pulling me into a hug next. She holds me close. "Look at you," she murmurs as she studies my face. "Looks like you've been upto something again. Just remember to stay safe, okay?"

"Of course mom," I reply with a smile.

"Hey Heliar, where did you get that?" Dad asks, reaching for the hat I kept on the table.

"Ah. Aric gave it to me. Said it'd suit me. Honestly, he's just so random at times."

Dad eyes it for a moment. He chuckles, turning it over in his hands. "Well, he's certainly got a point. It does suit you," he says, handing it back to me with a smirk. "Adds a bit of mystery, doesn't it?"

"As if you'd need any more of that," she teases, a sense of playfulness about her.

"Exactly!" Dad replies, leaning back in his chair. "You should see the way the neighbors look at me when I come home late from meetings."

Mom laughs, shaking her head. "Mystery or whatever, I'd prefer if you weren't home late so often Ronan. Been a while since we've had a nice family dinner."

Dad's expression softens. "I know, Mara. And I'm sorry. It's just –" he hesitates for a moment, glancing at me. "You know what it's like."

"Yeah, I do," trying to keep my tone light.

Mom steps in, sensing the change in the mood. "Let's set aside our worries for now. Tonight all 3 of us are here, let's make the most out of this moment, right?"

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Of course," I say standing up. "Gods, I'm really hungry. Is the dinner ready yet, mom?"

"It is! You both wash your hands and get to the dining table."

"Perfect timing Mara," dad replies with a grin, rising from his chair. He ruffles my hair again, and I swat his hand away playfully.

As we move toward the sink, I catch a glimpse of Mom busying herself at the table, arranging the dishes carefully. It's one of those things that make her special, how she puts her heart into every meal.

"Did you help with this, or is it all her magic?" Dad teases me.

I chuckle as I turn on the tap. "Mom's the culinary wizard here. I just try not to set things on fire."

"I appreciate the honesty," Mom calls, and we both laugh.

After washing up, we settle at the table, the delicious smell of food drawing in the air. The conversation flows easily as we dig into dinner, and I relish the warmth of this moment.

"So, what's the plan for the weekend, Heliar?" Dad asks, passing me a plate.

I pause, thinking of all that has happened the last few days. Stella, Elara, The Shadow Thing.

"I might hang out with some friends, maybe go biking. Nothing too crazy though, I promise!"

"Good," Dad nods, a satisfied smile on his face. "Just be careful out there, yeah. You never know what you might encounter."

"Yeah, I'll keep my eyes peeled," I assure him, trying to sound cheerful. The memories of recent events linger in my mind, but I brush them aside for now.

Mom watches us with a smile, her eyes glimmering with warmth.

As we continue eating, I steal glances at my parents, noting the subtle lines of worry across Dad's face, the way Mom's smile doesn't quite reach her eyes. I wonder what weighs on them. What they've been upto the past few days.

I shift my focus on the food, appreciating mom's cooking. As we finish up, I momentarily think of telling them about everything. But I stop myself. I'd rather not have them dragged in my worries, especially when they already seem burdened by their own.

"Thanks for dinner, Mom," I say smiling as I push my plate away.

"Of course, sweetheart. I'm glad you enjoyed it," she replies, her eyes sparkling.

Dad leans back in his chair, a contented sigh escaping him. "Nothing like a home-cooked meal. We should do this more often."

"Absolutely," Mom agrees, though I can tell she's already thinking about how busy the following week is going to be.

After clearing the table together, I feel a sense of normalcy wash over me. Maybe I can keep everything at bay, at least for tonight.

"I will head to bed now," I say entering the living room. The soft glow of the lamp casts a warm light across the room.

"Alright Heliar. Sleep well!" they both call. I nod, passing them a smile, and exit the room.

As I make my way to my room, the familiar scent of home envelops me, providing a momentary refuge from the chaos brewing in my mind.

Once inside, I close the door, the soft click echoing in the silence. I let out a deep breath.

"Alright, let's do this."

Changing into my pajamas, I put on the hat. Hoping that I find some of the answers I'm looking for in a dream, I drift to sleep.

But I don't have any dreams.

Sometime past midnight, I'm woken by a loud, shimmering sound. It's coming from the living room. There's the voice of a man, and he is saying something. I can't make out the words, but one stands out clearly – Sun.

After a few minutes, I head downstairs.

I push open the door to the living room, and what I see stops me in my tracks.

My parents are sitting on the couch, and opposite them sits a man who looks like a knight. His presence is imposing. There's a wavy hologram, or something of the sort, hovering in their middle. It displays a scene I dread—a dark figure looming over Stella as she is taken by the Shadow Thing. My heart races as I strain to hear the man's voice.

"What the hell is happening?" I ask as I enter.

Startled, they all turn towards me. After a moment, the knight nods towards dad.

"Hello, Heliar. Take a seat, would you?"