CHAPTER 3: TWO MOONS
Lisa stared at Arman with her eyes wide open.
For a few seconds, she couldn't process what she had just heard.
Lisa: "W-WHAT?! You are the Dragon Berserker?!"
Arman looked at her and calmly nodded.
Arman: "Yes, I am."
He lowered his gaze slightly.
For the first time since they had arrived in Neuron, guilt appeared on his face.
Arman: "And... I'm sorry for hiding it from you. I know you have many questions in your mind."
He looked directly into her eyes.
Arman: "I promise I'll answer all of them."
Lisa remained silent.
She wanted to believe him.
She really did.
But her mind was filled with doubt.
Is he really my brother?
Or... is someone pretending to be my brother?
The man standing in front of her looked exactly like Arman. He knew her name, protected her, and even spoke to her the same way.
But...
How could her brother possess such terrifying powers?
How could he know about another world?
And how could he possibly have lived there?
Lisa slowly raised her head and looked into his eyes.
Lisa: "Are you... really my brother?"
Arman didn't answer immediately.
Instead, his expression changed.
His eyes became distant, as if he had suddenly remembered something precious.
Something painful.
Then he spoke.
Arman: "Mom really loved space."
Lisa's eyes widened slightly.
Arman continued.
Arman: "She always used to say..."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Arman: "I am your Mars, and you two are my moons."
The moment Lisa heard those words...
Her body froze.
A memory she had almost forgotten suddenly returned to her.
15 YEARS AGO
It was late at night.
The Alan family was sitting on the rooftop of their house, watching the stars shining brightly in the sky.
Arman was ten years old at the time, while Lisa was only five.
And as usual...
The two siblings were fighting.
Lisa: "Mom loves me more! I'm going with her to Grandma's house!"
Arman immediately turned toward her.
Arman: "No way! Mom loves me more than she loves you!"
He proudly pointed at himself.
Arman: "I was born before you, so she's obviously taking me to Grandma's house!"
Lisa puffed up her cheeks.
Lisa: "That's not how it works, idiot!"
Their father, Martin Alan, sighed as he watched the two argue.
Martin Alan: "Both of you, stop fighting."
He looked toward Arman.
Martin: "Arman, you're older than her. You should understand."
Arman crossed his arms.
Arman: "Why does being older always mean it's my fault?"
Lisa stuck out her tongue.
Lisa: "Because you're the big brother!"
Arman glared at her.
Before another argument could begin, their mother spoke.
Luna Alan: "No one is going to Grandma's house."
The children immediately turned toward her.
Luna: "She said she's feeling fine now."
Martin looked at his wife.
Martin: "Are you sure, darling? Maybe you should still go and check on her. I'll take care of the kids."
Luna thought for a moment.
Luna: "I was thinking about it too, but what about these two?"
Martin smiled.
Martin: "Don't worry. Arman is more mature than most kids his age."
He glanced at Lisa, who was still making faces at her brother.
Martin: "And Lisa is just a kid. I can take care of her."
Luna looked at her children with a worried expression.
Then she called them closer and gently grabbed both of their hands.
She looked up at the night sky.
Luna: "You two... don't forget something."
Arman and Lisa looked at her.
Luna smiled.
Luna: "I am your Mars..."
She gently squeezed their hands.
Luna: "And you two are my moons."
Lisa immediately smiled.
Lisa: "Yes, Mommy!"
Luna then turned toward Arman.
Her expression became slightly more serious.
Luna: "Promise me something, Arman."
Arman: "What?"
Luna: "Until I come back, you won't fight with Lisa."
Arman looked at his sister.
Lisa stared back at him.
Luna: "And you will always protect her."
Arman looked into his mother's eyes.
Then he grinned.
Arman: "If she doesn't eat my chocolate ice cream, then I promise."
Lisa's face immediately turned red.
Lisa: "HEY! That's cheating!"
Martin laughed.
Martin: "Okay, okay! That's enough fighting for today."
He stood up.
Martin: "Let's go buy some ice cream."
Luna smiled at the children.
Luna: "Your father and I are going to buy some ice cream, so don't fight until we come back."
Lisa: "Okay!"
Arman: "Fine."
The two children went downstairs and began watching television.
Minutes passed.
Then...
An hour passed.
Their parents still hadn't returned.
Lisa had fallen asleep while watching TV.
But Arman was still awake.
He sat silently on the sofa, staring toward the front door.
Why haven't they come back yet?
The ice cream shop is only ten minutes away from our house.
His expression slowly became worried.
Where are they?
Suddenly...
Arman heard something outside.
Pant... Pant... Pant...
His body froze.
Someone was breathing heavily.
Right outside the door.
Arman slowly stood up.
Then—
BANG!
The door suddenly opened.
Arman's heart began pounding.
The sound of footsteps rapidly approached.
Fear overwhelmed him.
He immediately grabbed his sleeping sister and hid behind the sofa.
He held her tightly.
Who's there...?
Arman slowly peeked over the sofa.
Then he saw someone running toward them.
The person suddenly stopped.
And grabbed both children.
Arman froze.
Then he realized who it was.
Arman: "Mom...?"
Luna was crying.
She tightly held both of her children in her arms.
Arman immediately became worried.
Arman: "Mom, are you okay?"
Luna looked at him.
Forcing a weak smile, she whispered,
Luna: "Yes..."
Then—
COUGH!
Blood spilled from her mouth.
Arman's eyes widened in horror.
More blood began flowing down her clothes.
Then he noticed something even worse.
Blood was coming from her back.
Lisa woke up.
The moment she saw her mother covered in blood, she began crying loudly.
Lisa: "MOMMY!!"
Arman began trembling.
Panic completely took over him.
Arman: "Mom! There's blood coming out of your mouth!"
His voice shook.
Arman: "And your back! Mom... Mom!"
Luna looked at her son.
Her face had become pale.
She looked like she was at the end of her life.
She slowly grabbed Arman's hand.
Her voice was weak.
Barely audible.
Luna: "Arman..."
Arman immediately held her hand tightly.
Arman: "Don't talk! I'll call an ambulance!"
Luna stopped him.
She knew it was already too late.
She pulled both of her children closer.
Her trembling hands held them for what felt like the last time.
Then she looked directly at Arman.
Luna: "Protect your sister."
Arman's tears began falling.
But he nodded.
Again.
And again.
Arman: "Yes, Mom... I will."
His voice broke.
Arman: "So please... don't talk anymore. The ambulance will come. You'll be okay."
But Luna simply looked at him.
She knew she wouldn't survive.
She slowly lay down on the floor, still holding her children close.
With the last of her strength, she looked at them.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Luna: "Always remember..."
Her voice became weaker.
Luna: "I am your Mars..."
Arman and Lisa cried beside her.
Luna: "And you two..."
She took one final breath.
Luna: "...are my moons."
Silence.
Luna Alan closed her eyes.
And never opened them again.
Lisa: "MOMMY!!!"
Arman couldn't say anything.
He simply stared at his mother.
His body completely froze.
He was only ten years old.
He didn't understand what had happened.
All he knew was that his mother had promised to come back with ice cream.
But now...
She would never come back again.
Later, Martin Alan's body was found on the road.
After that tragic incident, Arman and Lisa were taken in by their grandmother.
PRESENT
Lisa stood silently.
Tears filled her eyes.
She remembered everything.
The rooftop.
The stars.
Her parents.
Her mother.
And those words.
I am your Mars, and you two are my moons.
She looked at Arman.
There was no longer any doubt in her eyes.
Her voice trembled as she spoke.
Lisa: "Yes..."
Arman looked at her.
Lisa: "You really are my brother."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Lisa: "I'm sorry for doubting you."
Arman gave her a small smile.
Arman: "It's okay."
He gently placed his hand on her head.
Arman: "You had every reason to doubt me."
His expression became serious again.
Arman: "And... I still have many things to tell you."
Suddenly—
"Hoo..."
A familiar voice interrupted them.
"Quite a touching sibling reunion, isn't it?"
Arman's body immediately froze.
His eyes widened.
He turned around.
Standing behind them was Kim Agnus.
Arman's expression became serious.
How did he get here?
And why couldn't I sense his presence?
Arman: "Kim... how did you get here?"
His eyes narrowed.
Arman: "And why couldn't I sense your presence?"
Kim smirked.
Kim: "I knew that if you were here, you'd eventually come looking for her."
Arman stared at him.
Kim continued.
Kim: "So I hid my presence..."
A playful smile appeared on his face.
Kim: "Just like you hid yours in the inn."
Arman's eyes moved downward.
Then he noticed something around Kim's waist.
A belt.
His expression immediately changed.
Arman: "Ah..."
He pointed toward it.
Arman: "So you're wearing a Tamarin Belt."
A Tamarin was a species from the Skotian race.
Its leather possessed a special ability—it could efficiently hide a Berserker's presence.
Kim nodded.
Kim: "Yes."
Then his expression became more serious.
Kim: "And I'll tell you one more thing."
Arman raised an eyebrow.
Kim: "Don't bother going to her house."
Arman froze.
Kim smiled.
Kim: "She's living with us in the Main Pavilion."
Arman's eyes widened.
Arman: "What?!"
He stared at Kim in disbelief.
Arman: "Since when did that happen?"
Kim sighed.
Kim: "Many things have happened while you were gone."
He turned toward the distance.
Kim: "I'll tell you everything."
Then he looked back at Arman.
Kim: "But first, let's go to the Main Pavilion."
Arman's expression became cautious.
Kim smiled.
Kim: "The Grand Master wishes to see you."
Arman immediately looked uncomfortable.
Arman: "Yeah... I don't think he'll be too angry at me."
He forced a smile.
Arman: "After all, she returned to the Main Pavilion."
Kim stared at him.
Kim: "I don't think so."
Arman's face immediately changed.
Arman: "Oi, don't fuck with me."
He looked genuinely worried.
Arman: "I don't want to face that old man."
Kim laughed.
Then he reached into his pocket and took out a strange stone.
He crushed it in his hand.
CRACK!
The stone shattered.
Suddenly—
WHOOSH!
A portal appeared before them.
Lisa and her friends stared at it in confusion.
They still had absolutely no idea what was happening.
Kim gestured toward the portal.
Kim: "Let's go."
One by one, they entered the portal.
Lisa hesitated for a moment before looking at Arman.
Arman simply nodded.
She took a deep breath and followed the others.
Arman was the last to enter.
Before stepping through the portal, he looked back at Neuron's unfamiliar landscape.
He had returned to this world after so long.
But something felt wrong.
The wormhole.
The Skotians.
Lisa suddenly being transported to Neuron.
None of it made sense.
Why now?
Arman's eyes narrowed.
Then he stepped into the portal.
Not knowing...
What awaited them at the Main Pavilion.