Kion hadn't really slept.
Even as morning light filled the room, his mind was still stuck in the conversation from the night before.
"…An entire Watcher organization…"
He sat at the edge of his bed, fingers loosely clenched.
"They're all coming here… because of me."
Behind him, the Watcher—Toma—stood silently.
"They always followed you," Toma said."You were their center. Their standard."
Kion exhaled.
"…And now they're gathering again."
"Yes."
"…Not just loyalty, right?"
A pause.
"…Jealousy too," Toma admitted.
Kion let out a dry breath.
"…Of Aurelia."
"Yes."
Kion rubbed his eyes.
"…That's going to be a problem
Kion stood up suddenly.
"What's your name?"
Toma froze.
The question struck harder than any command.
A being like him… asked for his name?
"…Toma Mina Sukanai."
Kion nodded slightly.
"…Kunai Sect."
Toma's eyes widened in shock.
"You… remember that?"
There was a brief pause.
Then Toma frowned slightly, confusion replacing the shock.
"…But my Lord… I am not even high-ranking."
"Why would you remember someone like me?"
Kion's gaze didn't change.
"I remember everyone."
His voice was calm.
Certain.
"Every soldier. Every watcher. Every name under my command."
Toma's breath caught.
"…Even… the low ranks?"
Kion stepped closer.
"…Especially them."
Silence.
Heavy.
Real.
Kion's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Answer me."
"Are there any higher-ranking members here than you?"
Toma straightened instinctively.
"…No, my Lord."
"I was sent as the highest authority in this region."
A pause.
"…The Secret Sect Garden operates under your will alone."
"…No one above me has arrived."
Kion turned slightly, thinking.
"…Good."
Then—
"You're not just a messenger."
Toma lowered his head.
"…No."
Kion continued,
"You belong to the Secret Sect Garden."
"The one I created."
Silence.
"…Yes," Toma admitted quietly.
Kion turned away, his voice steady.
"…Then that settles it."
A small pause.
"…You're my right hand."
Toma's eyes widened.
"My Lord—!"
There was disbelief in his voice.
Not pride.
Not excitement.
Something deeper.
Responsibility.
"Not here," Kion said, cutting him off.
He walked toward the window.
"…Here, I'm just Kion."
A faint pause.
"…But don't forget who I was."
Toma dropped to one knee.
"…Never
until 16 year old and become older
"Wake up!"
The door slammed open.
"KION!"
His sister's voice shattered the moment.
"Get up already!"
Kion dropped back onto the bed.
"…I was having an identity crisis."
His brother leaned on the doorframe.
"You were sleeping."
"…Same thing."
At breakfast—
It started.
Small.
But inevitable.
"You're spending too much time with her."
Kion paused mid-bite.
"…With who?"
His sister didn't even hesitate.
"Aurelia."
Silence.
Kion leaned back slightly.
"…We train together."
"That's not what I said."
His brother added quietly,
"You trust her more."
Kion's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You're wrong."
"No," his sister said, voice tightening,"…we're noticing."
From across the room—
Aurelia heard everything.
She didn't move.
Didn't speak.
But she listened.
Kion exhaled slowly.
"…What do you want me to say?"
Silence.
Then—
"…Say you won't leave us behind," his sister said.
That landed deeper than expected.
Kion looked at her.
Really looked.
And saw it.
Not anger.
Not jealousy.
Fear.
"…I'm not going anywhere," he said.
"…Promise?"
"…Yeah."
His brother relaxed slightly.
"…Then prove it."
Kion frowned.
"…How?"
His sister stepped back.
"…Train with us today."
Kion blinked.
"…That's it?"
"…No holding back," she added.
Now it made sense.
This wasn't about training.
It was about reassurance.
"…Fine," Kion said.
His sister stepped back.
"…Train with us today."
Kion blinked.
"…That's it?"
"…No holding back," she added.
Now it made sense.
This wasn't about training.
It was about reassurance.
"…Fine," Kion said.
Outside—
Aurelia stood alone for a moment.
"…So that's how it is."
She looked down at her hand.
"…I can't compete with that."
Not in history.
Not in bonds.
She took a slow breath.
"…Then I won't."
Her eyes sharpened.
"…I'll stand beside him instead."
That decision mattered.
Because it changed how she stepped into training.
Not as competition.
But as support.
Vel and Serin stood ready.
"You're late," Vel said.
Kion shrugged.
"Family meeting."
Serin's eyes flicked between them.
"…I see."
"Today—Sword Aura," Vel announced.
"And aura replication."
Kion glanced at Aurelia.
She nodded slightly.
No tension.
Just alignment
"Three-on-one," Serin said.
Kion blinked.
"…What?"
"Your siblings versus you."
A pause.
"…And her," Vel added, nodding at Aurelia
It started fast.
His brother rushed first.
His sister followed.
Aurelia moved last—
But she synced with Kion instantly.
Not competing.
Supporting.
Kion noticed.
Just for a second.
"…You changed your approach."
"…So did you," she replied.
Their aura merged.
Cleaner than before.
More stable.
Because now—
There was no tension between them
The fight ended.
Breathing heavy.
Energy low.
But something had shifted.
Kion's father stepped forward.
"Your original tutors won't come."
"…Why?"
"They're getting married."
"…Good for them."
Vel and Serin stepped closer.
The air changed.
Kion's eyes narrowed.
"…No."
Something clicked.
A sphere of space formed instantly.
Kion didn't think.
He reacted.
Because of everything before.,,,
"…You two," Kion said quietly.
The world blurred outside the barrier.
"…Who are you?..
heir forms shifted.
Older.
Sharper.
Real.
"My Lord—!"
They dropped to their knees.
"…We were sent ahead."
Kion's gaze hardened.
"…Without telling me."
"…We were testing the situation—"
"You failed," Kion said calmly.
Aurelia stepped closer—
Then froze.
Her body shifted slightly.
The barrier reacting to her aura.
"…What's happening?"
"…It's pulling our higher states," Kion replied.
"…Why are you a girl?" Kion asked suddenly.
The two exchanged a glance.
"…Disguise," one of them said.
Kion tilted his head.
"…Bad one."
The illusion shimmered.
Then broke.
Two figures stood before them now—
One with long dark hair, calm but tense eyes.
The other slightly shorter, sharper, more expressive.
Both immediately dropped to one knee.
"My Lord."
Aurelia blinked.
"…Wait."
Her gaze moved between them.
"…You're not the tutors."
Kion didn't look surprised.
"…Ino. Suka."
The two froze.
"…He knew," Suka whispered.
Ino lowered her head further.
"…Of course he did."
Kion folded his arms.
"…You've grown."
"…Not enough," Ino replied quietly.
Aurelia stepped closer, eyes narrowing slightly.
"…Who are they?"
Kion didn't answer immediately.
So she looked at them instead.
"…Explain."
Suka hesitated.
Then spoke.
"…We are part of the Secret Sect Garden."
Aurelia frowned.
"…That sect again…"
Ino continued calmly.
"…It was created by him."
She lifted her head slightly—
Looking at Kion not just with respect…
But something deeper.
"…He took us in."
Aurelia's expression shifted.
"…Took you in?"
Suka nodded.
"We were orphans."
"Broken… useless… discarded."
Her voice tightened slightly.
"…He found us."
Ino added quietly,
"He didn't just train us."
"He raised us."
Silence.
Aurelia slowly looked back at Kion.
"…So they're not just disciples."
Kion finally spoke.
"…They're mine."
Simple.
But heavy.
Both Ino and Suka straightened slightly.
Not pride.
Not arrogance.
Just… belonging.
"…Then I outrank them."
Aurelia said it casually—
But her eyes didn't move from Kion.
"…You don't—"
"Closest wins."
Kion blinked.
"…That's not a system."
"It is now."
Suka leaned slightly toward Ino.
"…She's bold."
Ino nodded faintly.
"…I understand why Master keeps her close."
Aurelia heard that.
"…Keeps me close?"
Her tone sharpened slightly.
"…Kion."
Now she turned fully toward him.
"…Explain."
Kion sighed.
"…It's not complicated."
"They're part of an organization I led."
"In another life."
Aurelia crossed her arms.
"…And you adopted them?"
"…Yes."
"…And didn't think to mention that?"
"…It didn't come up."
She stared at him.
"…You have children and it didn't come up?"
Suka immediately shook her head.
"Not like that!"
Ino added calmly,
"…We are disciples."
But after a pause—
"…And something close to family."
Aurelia went quiet.
Not angry.
Not upset.
Just… thinking.
"…So," she said slowly,
"You trained them."
"Yes."
"They follow you."
"Yes."
"They'd do anything for you."
"…Yes."
A small pause.
Then—
"…Good."
Kion blinked.
"…That's your conclusion?"
Aurelia turned slightly.
"…That means I have competition."
Suka smiled faintly.
"…We don't lose easily."
Aurelia met her gaze.
"…Neither do I."
For a moment—
Tension filled the space.
Not hostile.
Not dangerous.
But sharp.
Alive.
Kion sighed.
"…This is going to be annoying....
The barrier cracked.
Because of the power spike.
Because of the reveal.
Because of the gathering energy.
Darkness slipped through.
Devils appeared.
One stepped forward.
"…So this is where it all leads."
Kion's eyes softened slightly.
Recognition.
"…You."
For a moment—
No hostility.
Only history.
Then—
Another devil attacked.
And the real battle began,,,,,,,,,,,,,