Veronica stepped out of the simple yet serene house, surrounded by nature's untouched beauty. The crisp air carried the gentle rustling of leaves, the soft murmuring of a distant stream, and the faint laughter from inside the home.
It made her smile, but there was a quiet bitterness behind it—a yearning she buried deep in her heart. This joy and warmth of a child that Lyra had, she wanted one too.
She quickly pushed the feeling aside.
Settling near the entrance, she crouched beside a fire pit and struck a flame to life. Though the house had a fully stocked kitchen, Lyra preferred cooking and dining outdoors, embracing the open sky and fresh air.
Before long, Lyra emerged with Kallen trailing close behind. The moment she stepped outside, she inhaled deeply, savoring the crisp morning air as if it were the purest elixir.
Her eyes glowed with contentment, her posture unconsciously straightening, as if the open air rejuvenated her more than any remedy ever could.
Kallen, standing beside her, caught the shift in her demeanor and smiled slightly.
Though labeled "bedridden," Lyra had not lost control over her body—only over her dynamis. Her once-impressive dynamis potential, had been rendered useless, her core permanently damaged after giving birth to Kallen.
In a way, she was no better than a mere mortal.
Yet, despite her fragile appearance, her physical stats were still leagues beyond ordinary humans. The only reason she did not exert her strength was because doing so would worsen her condition. Her lifespan still reflected that of someone who had completed the 4th Ascension, the passive flow of dynamis through her body sustaining her.
If she pushed too hard, her already weakened dynamis roots (the delicate channels through which energy flowed in the body) could rupture entirely. And if that happened, there would be no saving her. Even a single moment of carelessness could agitate her damaged core, sending agonizing waves through her body.
So, it was far better for her to remain in check, limiting her movements and exertion. This was precisely why she had been given this secluded haven, the Sacred Grove, a place untouched by chaos, where she could exist in peace.
She still carried herself with grace, masking her frailty beneath a warm, quiet strength.
They gathered around the fire, the flames crackling gently as the rich aroma of spiced meat, herbs, and sweet syrups filled the air. The earthy scent of burning wood mixed with the calming floral and medicinal fragrance of the Sacred Grove, creating a peaceful yet lively atmosphere.
As Lyra turned the skewers, watching the meat sizzle over the fire, she glanced at Kallen with her perpetual, radiant smile.
The way the blue rays of sunlight seemed to bend toward her, wrapping around her form, and caressing her figure, made her presence feel almost ethereal.
"So, how's your training coming along?" she asked casually, her tone light.
Kallen, who had been absentmindedly watching the fire, shrugged. "I'm doing well, I guess."
Her eyes softened. "You're still not ready to awaken your core?"
"Not really," he answered, his voice steady. "I still need to see where this ends."
"And if it fails?"
Kallen barely hesitated. "Then I'll be left behind—but not by much. And even if I am, I don't really care."
Lyra's fingers paused briefly as she flipped a skewer. "And all of this is just based on some rumor from your so called Earth?"
"Leaving things up to chance doesn't sit well with me," Kallen admitted. "But I've already made my decision."
Lyra exhaled softly, her smile still in place, but there was a trace of helplessness hidden in her expression. This son of hers… he could be so insufferable.
---
Veronica sat silently by the fire, listening to their conversation with quiet attentiveness. Her relationship with Lyra had always been strong, built on mutual trust and years of companionship. But when it came to Kallen… things were different.
It wasn't that they had a bad relationship; there was no hostility. But she, like everyone else, was met with the same cold indifference that he showed the world.
The fact that she could even sit here, listening to him speak, occasionally catching a glimpse of his rare, genuine smiles and laughter, was already more than most could ever hope for.
In truth, aside from Lyra, no one else had ever made him truly smile. At least, not in a way that wasn't sharp-edged, calculated, or laced with an unsettling chill.
She shook her head internally.
'What an enigmatic child.'
Among all the people in his life, she probably understood him best—after Lyra, of course. She knew what most others didn't. Knew that Kallen had knowledge of what he called his past life.
But the details of that life? That was a secret only Lyra was privy to.
Veronica might only know fragments, small glimpses into whatever experiences had shaped him into the person he was today. And from those alone, she could say with certainty...
Kallen was as tragic as he was cold… and as enigmatic as the abyss itself.
"The echoes of the past shape the future. But dwelling on the past imprisons the present," Veronica muttered to herself, lost in thought.
Lyra stole a quick glance at her from the corner of her eye. Those words were soft yet weighty, carrying the burden of unspoken understanding.
Whether Kallen had heard them too was uncertain. He gave no reaction. But even if he had heard, it was unknown if he would have shown any reaction.
Soon, they finished with the cooking, the warm aroma of grilled meat lingering in the air. They ate mostly in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, though faint smiles tugged at their lips... except for Kallen.
Even so, his usual cold demeanor had softened, replaced by a laid-back, almost lazy expression.
Lyra broke the silence, her voice gentle but probing. "Have you seen your father recently?"
Veronica's ears perked up slightly, though she kept her gaze on her food.
Kallen didn't answer immediately, chewing slowly, as if weighing his words. "He didn't summon me," he finally replied, his tone indifferent, almost dismissive.
Veronica sighed internally. 'Was I really expecting a different answer?'
Lyra exhaled deeply, her voice laced with motherly warmth. "You shouldn't hate your father, Kal. He loves you, and you know that, don't you? Even if he doesn't always know how to show it."
For a moment, Kallen didn't speak. Then, with the same detached tone, he said, "I don't hate him. He has a lot on his shoulders. A Great family to manage. Businesses to run. I don't need to distract him with my presence."
Veronica glanced at him, something unreadable flickering in her eyes.
Lyra parted her lips, as if about to say something, then hesitated. Instead, she simply shook her head, a quiet acceptance settling over her.
Then she smiled again—and just like that, the cool glow of the blue sun seemed to shine brighter.
****
Dynamis — universal energy found in every awakened world.
Dynisis — capability of using dynamis. It decides the potency of how effective dynamis can be in spells or skills.