The next morning, Aria walked into the school courtyard with a calm face, but inside her mind was racing. She had spent the whole night thinking about Aiden—her third brother. He was no longer the sweet, gentle boy she remembered. Eleven years had turned him into a storm. A storm created by bullying, betrayal… and Rayana.
But Aria was not the kind of person to back away from a storm.She would face it head-on.
Today, she had only one target: Mia, the girl Aiden liked.
Helping Mia meant weakening Rayana's influence. Once Rayana lost her pawn, her plans would crumble.
As Aria entered the classroom, she immediately spotted Mia sitting by the window, quietly reading a book. A soft, pure energy surrounded the girl—very different from the poisonous aura Rayana carried.
Aria walked over and sat beside her casually.
"Hi," Aria greeted, giving her a friendly smile. "I'm Aria. New student."
Mia blinked, surprised, then smiled shyly. "I-I know. Everyone's been talking about you."
"Good or bad?" Aria joked.
Mia's lips twitched. "Mostly terrified. They said you shouted at Aiden."
Aria rolled her eyes. "He was sleeping loudly. Disturbing my grades."
Mia laughed, a soft bell-like sound that made Aria smile. Good—getting close to her wasn't difficult at all.
They talked for a few minutes about classes, the teachers, and school gossip. Mia had the gentle nature of someone who didn't know how to hurt others. That made her the perfect target for Rayana.
Aria could see why Aiden liked her.
But their moment didn't last long.
Because the moment Aiden walked into the hallway and saw Aria beside Mia—his expression twisted.
His eyes darkened. The energy around him turned sharp, heavy, dangerous.
Before Aria could greet him, Aiden marched toward her, grabbed her by the collar , and took her to another class and shoved her hard against the wall.
Gasps filled the corridor.
Aria winced as her back hit the wall, her breath knocked out of her. Aiden's fingers tightened around her collar, lifting her slightly off the ground.
His eyes were glowing faintly—his power was activating.
A terrifying pressure pressed down on her chest. She felt her lungs constrict, her vision blur.
"Didn't I tell you," Aiden growled, voice low and dangerous,"not to go near her?"
Aria tried to breathe but air barely entered her lungs.
Aiden's power wasn't normal.It was something given by him—the mysterious master she has seen in that screen.It was darker, stronger, unstable.
Her head spun as he tightened his grip.
"Aiden…" she gasped. "You're… hurting me."
His eyes flickered. For a moment, he saw her expression clearly—saw the resemblance to his sister—saw the pain.
His hand trembled.
Then suddenly, he released her.
Aria collapsed to the ground, coughing as she tried to breathe.
Aiden took two steps back, clenching his fists, face twisted in conflict.
"I'll spare you," he said hoarsely. "But only because you look like my sister.His voice softened—just a little. "Just because… you look like my sister."
Then he glared at her fiercely again."But stay away from Mia. Don't go near her ever again."
Aria wiped the blood from her lip."Your anger is pointed at the wrong person," she shouted.
Aiden flinched but quickly masked it with coldness."Stay away," he repeated, then turned and stormed off.
Mia looked torn, glancing between the two of them before running after Aiden.
The corridor exploded in whispers.
"Did you see that?! Aiden almost killed her!""She's crazy for talking back!""But why did he stop? He NEVER stops…"
Before the crowd could gather around her, Leon came rushing in with fire in his eyes.
"ARIA!" he shouted.
He grabbed Aiden's direction and then Aria's shoulders.
"Did he hurt you?!" Leon's voice cracked with fury.
Aria sighed, still catching her breath. "It was nothing—"
Leon didn't let her finish.He stormed toward Aiden's direction like a wild beast.
Aria grabbed his wrist."Leon. Stop."
"Sis, he almost choked you!" Leon shouted. "He's out of control!"
"That's why we need to be calm," Aria said.But Leon was trembling. It wasn't anger—it was fear.
Fear of losing her again.
"Aiden is our brother," she reminded him gently.
Leon bit his lip, tears gathering at the edges. "He didn't even recognize you… and he hurt you. I failed to protect you again."
Aria lifted her hand and flicked his forehead lightly."Idiot. I'm alive, aren't I?"
Leon sniffed, trying to look tough. "Still… he crossed the line."
Aria looked in the direction Aiden had gone.
"I know," she whispered. "But he's not the same child we left behind. He's been poisoned by Rayana, bullied, isolated, manipulated."
She clenched her fists.
"And now he has power he shouldn't have."
Leon frowned. "He said something… about being dead. How can he believe that?!"
"Because," Aria said softly, "Rayana made him believe it. For eleven years, he thought I was gone."
Leon lowered his head.
"It will take time," Aria continued. "He needs to unlearn the lies he lived with. He needs to remember who he was before all this darkness."
"Will he?" Leon asked quietly.
Aria looked toward the window.
Aiden was standing outside , his back turned to them.
The faint dark energy around him made her uneasy.
"I'm not sure," Aria whispered."But I must stop him before he hurts someone… or before he hurts himself."
Leon stared at her, eyes wide. "Sis… do you mean…?"
"Yes." Aria's expression hardened."If Aiden keeps using that power recklessly, it won't be long until someone gets seriously hurt."
She closed her eyes.
"He could end up in jail. Or worse—"
Her hands clenched tightly.
"I won't let that happen."
Leon nodded firmly. "Then we'll save him together."
"No," Aria shook her head. "For now, let me handle him. He's more dangerous than you think. If he loses control again, I might be the only one who can calm him."
Leon didn't like it, but he understood.
Aria stood up straight and dusted off her uniform.
"Aiden has already been blackened by Rayana," she said softly."Before he falls any deeper… I have to bring him back."
She turned to Leon with determined eyes.
"Before he becomes a real monster."