One week after the storm in the city center.
The morning sunlight streamed through the large windows of the penthouse apartment, sweeping across the clean wooden floor and illuminating the dust particles that danced lazily in the air. The faint aroma of toast and coffee wafted from the kitchen. For most people in Stellara, this was a normal morning. For Kaelen Vance, this was his strange and extraordinary new normal.
He sat at the dining table, trying to focus on his textbook, but his attention kept drifting. Across the table, his sister, Elara, was engrossed in a game on her portable console, occasionally shoveling cereal into her mouth. And next to him, sitting with perfect posture and a straight back, was Lyra.
The silver-haired girl was doing nothing, just staring at a piece of toast on her plate with an expression of intense concentration, as if it were a mysterious artifact from another dimension. After a moment, she carefully picked it up, mimicked the way Kael had spread strawberry jam on his, and then took a very slow bite. Her eyes widened slightly, a small spark of wonder appearing in them.
"...Sweet," she whispered softly, more to herself, before looking back at Kael, as if seeking approval.
Kael smiled and nodded. "That's strawberry jam. It's good, right?"
Lyra nodded once, a small, stiff movement, then went back to eating her toast with solemn dedication.
Watching this scene, Kael felt his heart warm. The past week had been a whirlwind of adaptation. Teaching Lyra how to use the shower, explaining the concept of television ("A magic box that shows stories?"), and, most difficult of all, convincing her that Kael would be perfectly fine going to the bathroom by himself. Lyra was his loyal shadow, her quiet presence providing a strange sense of security for Kael, just as Kael's presence served as an anchor for Lyra.
"Big Bro Kael, you're still taking me to the game store this afternoon, right?" Elara asked, breaking Kael's reverie. "There's a new release!"
"Sure, sure," Kael replied.
"Is Sis Lyra coming too?" Elara turned to Lyra.
Lyra didn't answer, only looked at Kael, waiting for his response.
Kael chuckled. "Of course she's coming. She's my 'bodyguard', after all."
Lyra seemed satisfied with that answer and returned her focus to her toast.
This new life, though complicated and under the constant surveillance of the Order (Kael knew Rina was probably watching them from the building across the street right now), felt… right. It felt like a family.
Elsewhere, deep in the shadows of Stellara City, in an underground base hidden far from the reach of the Chronosentinel Order.
A man with a thin scar on his eyebrow stared at a series of holographic screens. He was the leader of the Crimson Hunt unit that had attacked the city center. On the main screen was a profile of Kaelen Vance, complete with a photo taken covertly as he walked to school.
"The report is in, Boss."
A subordinate entered the dimly lit room. "The analysis from the battle is complete. The kid, Kaelen Vance, is no mere Resonator. His ability to pacify a Nova Phantasm without force… it's unprecedented."
The man smirked, a cold smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I know. I felt it on the ground. He's not an obstacle. He's the key."
He switched to another screen, displaying energy data from Lyra and the Echo Phantasm.
"A Lunanima Core is valuable, yes. But the ability to control the very source of the Cores… that's priceless," he continued. "Forget about random Phantasm hunts for a while. Our focus has now shifted."
He touched the screen displaying Kael's photo.
"Find out everything about him. His routines, his friends, his family… his sister." A cruel glint appeared in his eyes. "We won't try to fight him directly again. We'll lure him out. We'll give him something he can't refuse, or take something he can't afford to lose."
He turned to face his subordinate. "Prepare an infiltration team. And contact our 'clients'. Tell them we've found something far more promising than just raw materials. We've found 'the tamer'."
The man looked back at Kael's photo, his smirk widening. "Enjoy your peace while you can, Kaelen Vance. Because the shadows are coming for you."
[END OF VOLUME 1]