The balcony overlooked Tranquil City, lights spreading below like stars brought to earth.
The moment the door closed, Sebastian’s smile dropped.
Lines seemed to appear around his eyes that hadn’t been there before as his shoulders sagged.
He sighed, the sound long and heavy.
Damian looked at his uncle’s profile, watching the way Sebastian’s hands gripped the railing, until his knuckles became white.
"What is it, uncle?"
Sebastian didn’t answer immediately. His eyes stayed fixed on the city below, tracking lights moving through streets.
"I’m afraid I’ve come with bad news." His voice came out flat. "I didn’t want Luna to hear it. Haven’t seen her that happy in a long time... Couldn’t bring myself to ruin it immediately."
Damian’s hands found the railing beside his uncle’s.
"Is it about–"
Sebastian nodded before he could finish.
"Yes... Your parents."
The city lights blurred in Damian’s vision, before he blinked, forcing them back into focus.
"Although the military’s keeping everything classified and suppressing information to prevent panic." Sebastian’s jaw worked. "I have friends in the medical corps... People who owe me favors and trust me enough to share what’s really happening."
He turned to face Damian directly.
"There’s a major portal that’s become unstable and the entrance has been blocked for two months."
His voice dropped lower.
"Alaric and Lyandra were inside when the blockage occurred."
The city sounds below faded, becoming distant and unimportant.
Damian’s voice came out after some time.
"...Has anyone gotten out?"
Sebastian shook his head.
"No one... Not a single awakener who entered before the blockage has emerged." His hands clenched on the railing as metal creaked. "Based on current speculations, the higher-ups are preparing for the worst."
"..."
Both of them remained silent for a long time, the weight of it pressed down.
Then Damian spoke, his voice carefully controlled.
"What race were we fighting inside?"
"Giants." Sebastian’s answer came immediately. "And from what I know, from what my contacts told me..." He looked away. "All giant portals are bloodbaths right now... Especially the A rank ones. Military’s suppressing the news of the casualties, keeping numbers classified to prevent mass hysteria."
His voice became quieter.
"But the losses are catastrophic... Entire battalions wiped out with multiple awakeners missing. The giants are fighting with coordination and ferocity we’ve never seen before."
Damian’s hand moved to his uncle’s shoulder, gripping it firmly.
A smile touched his lips despite the news.
"Don’t worry... They’ll be fine... Both of them are strong."
Sebastian looked at him for a long moment. Then his mouth curved upward slightly.
"I know."
Damian changed the subject, his tone shifting.
"What’s your plan now? Staying in the central region?"
Sebastian seemed grateful for the redirect. His posture relaxed fractionally.
"I plan on joining the academy as a professor. Multiple reasons, really." He counted on his fingers. "On one hand, I’ll be able to look after both you and Luna. Keep an eye on you, make sure you’re not getting into situations that’ll kill you."
A wry smile touched his lips.
"On the other hand, I’ll get access to the academy’s knowledge base. Research archives that would take years to access through normal channels. Medical studies, biological enhancement theories, skill development documentation..."
His expression became distant.
"It’s a good position for someone like me... Teaching, research, and protection all wrapped into one role."
Damian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"You just want to spend more time with Professor Seraphina, don’t you?" He paused. "And of all the people in the Federation, you just have to date my professor?"
Sebastian’s expression didn’t change, his smile remained steady.
"Hehe... Can’t help who you click with, Damy. You of all the people should understand that."
His eyes flicked meaningfully toward the terrace door, toward where Luna had been standing earlier.
’I don’t understand this shit!’
Damian’s face went blank.
Sebastian’s smile widened slightly before he gestured back toward the door.
"We should go back inside... Luna will start worrying if we’re gone too long."
He moved toward the entrance, but paused with his hand on the handle as his eyes found Damian’s reflection in the glass door.
’He’s grown so much, trying to comfort me... Alaric would have been proud. Now that I’m planning to stay here, at least I can watch over him...’
He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
****
When they returned, the atmosphere had lightened considerably.
Luna and Seraphina were deep in conversation, laughing about something Damian had missed.
He settled back into his seat as he watched the three of them talk and joke.
Eventually, Seraphina stood up.
"We should head back to the academy and get settled before classes resume tomorrow." Her eyes found Damian. "Will you be returning soon?"
Luna turned toward him, her eyes carrying a question she didn’t voice.
"When are you coming back? You’ve been away from the academy for so long."
Damian waved his hand dismissively.
"I’m busy breaking through to A- rank... Can’t waste the momentum I’ve built."
It wasn’t entirely a lie, but it wasn’t the full truth either.
Luna’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t push.
Sebastian and Seraphina’s eyes met for a brief moment.
’A- rank already?’
Then they moved toward the door, Luna followed after giving Damian one last searching look.
Click
The door closed behind them.
Damian stood alone in the room, the silence pressing in from all sides.
His hands came up to his face, covering his eyes as he let out a long breath.
’So the giants have already started.’
The thought settled cold and certain.
’Even before the beast tides... The timeline is completely different from what the old beggar showed me.’
His mind flashed back to a memory of the Old beggar:
"Giants are a warring species. They love to fight, respect the strong above all else, and view combat as the highest form of expression."
The old beggar’s voice echoed in his mind.
"They have fourteen major tribes. For generations, there were constant disputes about leadership. Who deserved to rule, who was strongest and who could unite them all under one banner."
"The old generation never produced a leader capable of defeating everyone. Too many rivalries, too much pride and too much history of blood feuds that could never be forgiven."
"But that changed with the new generation. A warrior arose who defeated everyone in his age group, crushed every challenger, broke every opponent and proved himself superior in ways that couldn’t be denied."
"He was named the Unification Leader... The first in giant history to hold that title legitimately. The first nightmare humanity would face after decades of peace."
The old beggar had paused then.
"His name is Khra’gath the Unyielding. And when he came, he brought an army unified in ways giants have never been before."
Damian’s hands dropped from his face.
’I wanted to kill him after the beast tides and after I reached Peak A rank strength... When the giants started the war in the original timeline.’
His eyes tracked across the empty room, seeing strategies that weren’t there yet.
’The plan was to eliminate Khra’gath before he could ascend to S rank... And before he truly became the First Nightmare that would lead the unified giant army.’
His jaw clenched.
’But now...’
His thoughts shifted to Alaric and Lyandra, trapped in a portal with giants.
And his eyes flashed with something cold.
’I don’t know why the timeline changed or what caused this acceleration...’
’But it looks like I have to kill Khra’gath sooner than planned... Only then will the giants fall into chaos... And only then will they stop focusing on humanity and go back to killing each other.’
He moved to the window, staring at city lights.
A long sigh escaped him.
’A month of peace is good enough, I guess.’
The thought came with bitter acceptance.
’My growth in the past few days has been stagnant as well...’
His eyes tracked across the headquarters building.
’And it’s better if I don’t stay here... I don’t want Castor and the others forced by that old bastard to save my life again...’
’The Mafia needs time to grow properly and establish itself before everything becomes chaotic again... Elizabeth will be safe with her grandfather... Luna will be safe here as well... Uncle can look after her.’
His reflection stared back from the window.
’But before I leave, there are some things that need to be done.’
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