Just as they parted ways, Rey's phone vibrated.
He pulled it out mid-step.
The sender made his chest tighten.
Mom.
The moment his eyes skimmed the message, his expression froze, then slowly cracked.
Rey, come home quickly. Something big happened right now.
His mind went blank.
No logic. No alternatives. No calm thoughts.
Only fear.
He broke into a sprint.
His heart pounded like it was trying to tear free from his ribs as his legs pushed past their limits. The city blurred around him. His breath burned.
[Dash] activated.
Cooldown ended.
[Dash] again.
Over and over.
His thoughts spiralled.
No… it can't be that, right?
If it is… then maybe dying could let me go back. Just like Aiden's world. Maybe I could save them.
The idea was insane.
But panic didn't care.
In less than five minutes, he was standing before his house, chest heaving, face flushed red. His clothes were twisted and creased, his hair a mess, sweat dripping like rain.
He burst inside.
"Mom! Emmy!"
No reply.
The silence hit harder than any answer.
His legs trembled as he stepped forward. Every light in the house was on.
Except the kitchen.
His throat tightened.
Slowly, he moved toward it.
Please… don't let it be what I think.
He reached the switch.
Took a breath.
And flipped it.
Light flooded the room.
Rey froze.
A large cake sat on the dining table, candles neatly arranged. Colored paper decorations covered the walls. Balloons floated everywhere.
A banner stretched proudly across the room.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY REY
He lifted a hand to his face.
Warm drops slid between his fingers.
Why were his eyes wet?
It had to be the wind. The speed. The strain.
That was it.
Before he could process anything else, footsteps sounded behind him.
He spun, instinctively ready to summon Zero.
Instead, he saw Jasmine and Emmy standing there, each holding a popping stick.
"Huh?" Emmy blinked. "Brother, why are you back already? Weren't you outside?"
"Oh," Rey said, voice rough. "I was nearby… so I rushed home."
Jasmine stared at him, concern creasing her face.
"Son, did you run all the way here? You look like you just finished a marathon."
"Ahhh!" Emmy stomped her foot. "You ruined the surprise!"
Rey laughed weakly.
"Sorry. I panicked."
Jasmine shook her head, smiling softly, and motioned him forward.
"Come. Cut the cake."
Emmy lit the candles and stepped back.
Rey leaned in, blew them out, and cut the cake as both popping sticks went off with a sharp crack.
The tension in his chest finally eased.
Minutes passed in quiet laughter and shared bites.
Then Rey suddenly stood up.
"Oh, wait."
He stepped outside and returned moments later, pulling a box from his inventory.
"I bought this today. It's really good. Thought you might like it."
Jasmine opened it.
Inside were small, round, white and yellow sweets, neatly arranged. The wrapper read KZC.
Emmy tried one.
Her eyes lit up.
She grabbed the box and immediately started eating, ignoring Rey's protests.
"Hey! Leave some for me!"
Their bickering filled the room.
Jasmine watched them, smiling.
Then her smile slowly faded.
She looked at Rey with a complicated gaze.
Now is the right time…
Should I really tell him? Or let him live normally?
Please… don't let my son get dragged into that world.
Her fingers tightened.
"Rey," she said softly. "Before you go to bed, come see me. I need to talk to you. It's important."
Rey nodded without asking questions.
Dinner preparations began. Rey and Emmy moved to the living room, flipping on the TV.
A martial arts university match was playing.
Two Apprentice-rank physical warriors clashed on screen.
One wielded a sword.
The other used a long pole arm with a curved blade tip.
Rey leaned forward, eyes sharp.
The swordsman was refined, but not yet a master.
The pole user controlled the distance perfectly, dominating the flow.
Then one mistake.
One missed strike.
The swordsman seized the opening and ended the match in seconds.
"That was clean," Rey muttered.
Only then did he notice the time.
An hour had passed.
Emmy stood to grab water.
Rey switched to the news.
The screen displayed a familiar map.
Blue Planet.
Five kingdoms.
And above them all, the Neptarion Empire.
The anchor spoke of history.
Once, there were six kingdoms on this continent.
War, for rule, shattered the balance.
Neptarion's sixth king, being the weakest, entered seclusion, attempting a breakthrough.
Fearing his rise, the other five kingdoms united.
Their armies reached the capital.
But they were late.
The king broke through.
Master realm, the realm no one reached except him.
What followed became known as The Bloody Day.
An event that forced peace through absolute terror.
As the broadcast shifted tone, Rey felt a strange chill crawl up his spine.
Something was changing.
And he was standing right at the edge of it; it happened each time when he heard this story.