Chapter 49 : Layla and Grace
Inside the Angel's Arm Orphanage
"Hey! Don't even think about running away!" a boy shouted, his anger clear in his voice.
"Today, we're going to teach you a lesson," another boy said, stepping forward.
"Enough pretending," a girl sneered. "We know what kind of person you really are."
"I... I didn't do anything," the girl pleaded. She had black eyes and long black hair, her body trembling as she slowly retreated, surrounded by the group of boys and girls.
"Don't think you can escape now. You're not getting away this time," the group echoed together, their voices filled with menace.
The girl continued backing away without looking behind her until—
THUD!
She bumped into someone.
Startled, she froze.
The group's expressions changed the moment they saw who she had bumped into. His presence was overwhelming, his gaze dangerous and cold. Without a second thought, they turned and ran.
"You're safe for now!" one of them shouted as they fled. "But tomorrow, we'll get our revenge!"
The girl took a moment to calm herself, then slowly turned around, intending to thank the person who had helped her. But as her eyes met the man behind her, the words died in her throat.
He stood tall, dressed in a pristine white suit. His long white hair framed a strikingly dangerous face. The aura surrounding him was intense—threatening, almost suffocating.
She couldn't speak. She couldn't move. Fear rooted her in place.
Grim stared at her, immediately recognizing the resemblance. Her features were unmistakably inherited from her father. His gaze was unreadable, and he slowly reached out his hand toward her.
But before he could touch her, another girl stepped between them, her stance protective.
"What do you think you're doing, mister? Who are you?" she demanded, clearly trying to defend the black-haired girl.
Grim blinked in surprise, momentarily caught off guard. The girl in front of him had crimson hair and golden eyes—exactly like Aurelia.
This is getting interesting, Grim thought as he slowly withdrew his hand.
He stood tall, looking down at them with an icy glare. "Do you know the director of this place?" he asked, his voice cold and heavy. "If so, lead the way."
The two girls exchanged a glance. They both knew instinctively that refusing him wasn't an option—it would only lead to trouble.
"All right," the crimson-haired girl said, her voice slightly trembling. She reached out and gently took the black-haired girl's hand. "Come this way."
---
Inside the Office of the Orphanage
Grim sat on the worn-out sofa, his presence thick and suffocating. The room, though modest and simple, felt like a cage to the two girls standing before him—Layla, with her soft black hair and black eyes, and Grace, whose crimson hair and golden eyes shimmered under the dim light. They stood side by side, trembling slightly, each no older than five or six.
Grim's cold gaze scanned both of them intently.
"You two, come here," he ordered.
The girls looked at one another, unsure and afraid. But after a brief pause, they nodded together and hesitantly approached him, their small feet shuffling across the floor. They stopped a few steps away, heads bowed, avoiding his piercing eyes.
"What are your names?" Grim asked.
The black-haired girl responded softly, "Layla… Layla is my name."
The crimson-haired girl followed, her voice barely a whisper, "Grace. My name is Grace."
"Who gave you these names?" Grim questioned, his tone unreadable.
Layla replied, "The teachers told me… my mother gave me this name."
Grace nodded, "Mine too. They said it was my mother's choice."
"I see," Grim muttered. Without another word, he leaned forward and effortlessly lifted both girls up, placing them beside him on the sofa. The two sat quietly, glancing at him with cautious curiosity, unsure of what he wanted.
Moments later, the door burst open and the orphanage director rushed in, panting. "I-I apologize for making you wait," he said, his voice catching between breaths.
Grim didn't even stand. His gaze remained fixed. "No problem."
The air in the room grew heavier, thick with tension, as Grim finally spoke again.
"I'm taking them with me. I'm adopting Layla and Grace."
The director froze, his instincts screaming against the decision, but Grim's presence left no room for argument. The weight of his authority was overwhelming, and even though the director felt uneasy, he merely nodded. "All right."
Grim turned to the girls. "Go get your things and come back here."
The two girls looked at each other, then at Grim, and nodded. They jumped down from the sofa and ran out to collect their belongings.
Now, only Grim and the director remained in the room.
"I need to know their stories," Grim said, voice low but commanding.
The director hesitated. "I'll bring the teacher who was responsible for them," he said quickly, then hurried out.
Fifteen minutes passed.
A young woman entered the room. She looked to be in her early thirties, and though she maintained her composure, the moment she met Grim's gaze, her posture stiffened with unease. His presence, even in silence, was oppressive.
Grim looked at her. "Tell me about the girls. Layla and Grace."
The woman took a moment to collect her thoughts, then spoke.
"I don't know much about Layla," she began quietly. "She was brought here after her father passed away. Her mother left her at the gate… and she didn't come back. We later received word that she had passed away too. Layla has been with us since then… quiet, kind, always hoping someone would come for her."
She paused, swallowing hard before continuing.
"As for Grace… she's the daughter of someone I once worked for—Elysia Ashfall."
Grim's eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing.
The teacher went on. "I worked for Lady Elysia at the beginning of my career. She was strong, elegant, and kind… but her family was cruel. They wanted a son—only a son. When she gave birth to a daughter, they turned their backs on her… they would've killed Grace if they knew she was born. So Lady Elysia gave her to me. She begged me to protect her child… to bring her somewhere safe. And not long after that… she died too."
Her voice cracked slightly at the memory.
Grim's expression didn't change. "Did you tell the girl about her mother?"
The teacher shook her head. "No. I thought it was better if she never knew. I didn't want her to carry that pain."
Grim let out a soft, dry laugh. "Fate has a cruel sense of humor," he muttered. "All right. You may go."
She nodded and left, visibly relieved to be out of the room.
The director returned shortly after, and the adoption paperwork was completed quickly, without any further delays.
Soon, Layla and Grace came back, carrying their small bags. They looked hesitant, but their eyes held a glimmer of hope.
Earlier, in their room, the girls had talked it over. Neither of them had ever been adopted. They'd promised that if someone ever came for them, they would only leave if they could stay together. Even if the man seemed cold… even if he looked strict… he felt like family. And that's all they ever truly wanted.
"All right," Grim said, taking their bags without hesitation. "Let's go."
The three stepped out of the orphanage building. A sleek, black luxury car was waiting by the gate, gleaming in the afternoon light. Standing beside it was a tall woman in a black suit—Rhea, Kade's girlfriend and a trusted ally. Her posture was composed, professional, and watchful.
She had come with Grim to escort them.
The girls stared at the elegant car with wide eyes.
Rhea opened the door, and Grim helped Layla and Grace climb in. He got in after them, and they all settled in the back seat while Rhea took the wheel.
As the car pulled away from Angel's Arm Orphanage, the two little girls looked out the window. A new chapter of their lives had just begun.
And for Grim… it was a chapter he hadn't expected—but one he would face with the same unshakable resolve he gave everything else.
___
In the bustling market, the air was filled with noise and energy. Crowds gathered from all directions. It was the second day after the return of the first generation of Rankers—young people between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five who had gained extraordinary abilities in the other world.
Many had returned to their families, met with cheers and tears of joy. But others never came back, leaving their loved ones in grief. The streets were alive with both celebration and mourning.
Among the crowd moved the Cross family—Lyra, Seraphine, Raven, and their mother—quietly weaving through the market stalls, shopping for essentials and clothes.
Lyra, Seraphine, and their mother were animated, carefully picking through fabrics and comparing items. But Raven trailed behind them, his face devoid of expression. He moved like a ghost, eyes dull, lips still, his entire presence hollow.
Seraphine noticed immediately.
She stepped in front of him, blocking his path, her expression shifting into concern.
"Can you tell me what's wrong?" she asked gently. "You don't look well."
Raven forced a smile, one that barely touched his eyes.
"Nothing's wrong," he replied.
But Seraphine could see right through it. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and her voice turned cold and sharp.
"I'm your girlfriend. And you don't trust me?"
Raven's eyes widened slightly. That wasn't supposed to happen.
He had already seen this day using his ability—Time's Eye. In the vision, Seraphine had never gotten angry. But now, she stood before him, visibly upset. Something had changed.
He quickly realized that if he gave her another excuse or brushed it off, things could spiral.
Looks like I have to be more careful, he thought.
"I don't know," he admitted. "But... I'm not feeling anything today. It's like all my emotions have been stripped away."
Seraphine's eyes narrowed. Without a word, she activated her ability—Queen's Eye—and focused on Raven.
___
STATS
Name: Raven Cross
Level: 260
Strength: 90
Speed: 80
Endurance: 100
IQ: 89
Abilities: ??, Time's Eye (S)
She frowned when she saw the mysterious ??, still hidden from her. But her eyes settled on Time's Eye, and with focus, the ability's details unfolded before her.
[Time's Eye (S-Rank)
ABILITY: Time's Eye grants the power to perceive the past or future of an object or entity. This ability allows the user to gain insights into events that have occurred or will occur, providing a unique temporal perspective.
WEAKNESS: The use of Time's Eye comes with significant emotional risks. It can either deplete the user's emotions, leaving them feeling empty and drained, or overwhelm them with an excess of emotions, making it difficult to maintain emotional balance.]
___
Seraphine finally understood. The lifeless look in Raven's eyes... the numbness he felt... it was all caused by Time's Eye.
"So, Raven... I didn't tell you about my ability, did I?" she said calmly now. "It's called Queen's Eye. It lets me see a person's stats... and their weaknesses."
She paused.
"And after seeing your ability... now I understand why you're feeling this way."
She explained everything she had read—about the emotional cost of using Time's Eye—and how it was likely the cause of his emptiness.
Raven nodded slightly. It made sense. The fatigue, the void inside—it wasn't random. It was the price of power.
But Seraphine wasn't done yet.
"I think it's time you tell me about your other ability," she said, crossing her arms. "You said you would, but you never did. So that means... you don't trust me."
Her words stung with more emotion than reason. She was twisting the truth in her frustration.
"No, it's not like that," Raven said quickly, trying to soothe her. "I just didn't get the chance."
He took a breath.
"My other ability is Instant Healing. That's why I never had to worry about wounds. I recover instantly."
Seraphine's eyes widened slightly in realization.
"Oh... that's why I couldn't see it through my ability. It's of a higher rank than mine... SSS-level."
But even with that revelation, her mood hadn't softened. She turned without another word and walked off toward the others—Lyra and Raven's mother—leaving him standing there alone.
Raven stood still, thoughts racing.
So the future I saw can be changed... My actions affect what happens. I have to be more careful...
He ran a hand through his white hair, and a small smirk crept onto his face.
Maybe I should buy something for my two new sisters...
Turning toward the shopping stalls, he walked up to his mother and said calmly, "Mother, there's something I need to buy. You three stay here. I'll be quick and come right back."
And with that, he vanished into the market crowd, mind clearer than before—aware of the power he held and the consequences of using it.
___
Inside the black luxurious car
Grim sat at one end of the long leather seat, his tall frame relaxed but commanding. The window beside him was slightly open, letting in the rushing wind that made his white hair flutter gently.
Across from him, Layla and Grace sat close to each other, whispering quietly—soft enough that they thought he wouldn't hear. Their wide eyes flicked from the passing cityscape to Grim, filled with curiosity and a trace of nervousness.
Grim reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette. He placed it between his lips, then took out a sleek silver lighter, flicked it open, and lit it. The flame briefly illuminated his sharp features, casting a faint orange glow across his stoic face.
He took a slow drag, exhaling smoke with a calmness that suggested nothing could disturb him. Then he leaned back into the plush seat, resting his head, and closed his eyes, completely at ease.
The two little girls continued staring at him, their gazes full of questions they hadn't yet dared to ask.
After a moment of silence, Grace finally spoke, her voice quiet but bold.
"Are you our father?" she asked. "And where are we going?"
Grim's eyes opened slowly, one brow slightly raised. He looked at them with a calm, unreadable expression, then smirked.
"Whether I'm going to be your father or not… that's something you'll have to ask my wife," he said, his voice deep and smooth. "We're going to meet her now. And you better pray that she likes you two."
The weight of his words settled over them like a heavy fog.
Layla and Grace glanced at each other, the innocent curiosity on their faces replaced by worry. They had imagined his wife might be someone like Grim—cold, strong, and hard to please.
Now, fear crept into their young hearts. What if she didn't like them?
They grew quiet, their small hands clutching each other tightly as the car continued on through the streets, time ticking slowly as they drew closer to their unknown destination.
___