It was already late, around 10 PM, and everyone had gathered at the dinner table except for Zephy. There was a feeling of worry as they wondered about his whereabouts. Headmaster Ryan's face showed disappointment, but also concern. "We should just start eating already, I'm really hungry. For all we know, he might be enjoying a fancy dinner at some restaurant," said William, a 12-year-old boy who came to the orphanage 6 months ago when his parents suddenly disappeared and were never found again. "Shut up, William. I won't eat without Zephy." Sarah said. "Alright, kids, stop arguing and start eating. We can't have our dinner at midnight just because of one person. Come on, dig in," said Headmaster Ryan. Gradually, everyone began to eat. Sarah hesitated for a moment, but she too started eating. During dinner, Ken told the entire incident that happened today at Greenwood station. Everyone was taken aback by Zephy's actions. However, they were not surprised for long, as such radical behavior was expected from him.
After dinner, everyone got up from the dining table and took their plates to the kitchen. All the residents of Maen Orphanage had chores assigned to them. So, everyone did their after-dinner chores, prepared their beds, and went to sleep. Except for Sarah and Ken. Sarah gazed out of her room's window. There was a gentle knock before Ken entered. He approached her and said, "Get some rest, Sarah. You have school tomorrow. And don't worry, he'll return before you know it. I'll stand guard."
Sarah, who was 11, had been at the orphanage for more than six years. Ken and Zephy, who had grown up there, were as close as brothers. Their bond was strong, even though they weren't related by blood. Ken considered Zephy his sworn brother. He waited the whole night, but Zephy never returned.
As dawn broke, Ken approached Master Ryan's office and knocked. Hearing "Come in," he entered and greeted, "Good morning, Master Ryan. Zephy hasn't returned. We should search for him; he might be in trouble. He's never been gone this long." Master Ryan, looking concerned, asked, "Kenny, where were you all night? You should've alerted me if he wasn't back by midnight. I can tell you didn't sleep. Come on, take me to the cake shop he visited." With a sense of urgency, Master Ryan grabbed his coat, and together with Ken, they set out to find Zephy.
They quickly reached Cafe Dellure. Ryan, moving past Ken, approached the receptionist who was assisting a customer. "Excuse me, but did you see this boy here last evening around 7 PM?". The receptionist looked at Zephy's photo and replied, "Yes, he was here yesterday. He picked up a cheesecake and left in a rush through the left alley". Grateful, Ken and Ryan both thanked her and headed to the left street to continue their search.
After following the path from the cafe's left street to Maen Orphanage, they discovered a spot where cake was scattered on the ground, the Cafe Dellure packaging unmistakable. Seeing this, Ken and Ryan felt a surge of worry, realizing something had gone awry. Without hesitation, they rushed to the police station to report Zephy as missing.
After they reached the police station, they filed a missing person's report for Zephy. Ken and Ryan, accompanied by a lead inspector and two assistants, returned to the street where Zephy was last seen. The officers questioned several drunkards known to frequent the area. They spoke with four or five individuals but didn't learn anything significant. However, when they talked to Sam, who had witnessed Zephy's fall and his abduction by otherworlder, the case took a new turn. Sam's testimony was crucial, but the regular police had limited authority in matters involving the Rangers.
Rangers, or Otherworlders, are powerful beings who live on Earth and Elysium, a world full of Rangers. They have extraordinary abilities and can move between the human world and the Ranger realm. Most people on Earth know very little about the Rangers and their world. Now, one of them had abducted Zephy.
The police inspector declared, "A government-appointed Ranger will now lead the investigation." The weight of those words hung in the air, signaling a shift in the case. Ken and Ryan exchanged glances, wondering what secrets this Otherworlder might uncover. "But why kidnap Zephy? He's just an orphan. He doesn't have anything a Ranger would want" Ken whispered to himself. Ryan gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and they returned to the orphanage.
Ryan told the children a different story about Zephy's disappearance to avoid frightening them. In the dead of night, Master Ryan entered Ken's room. His expression was grave, and Ken knew this conversation would be difficult.
Ryan's voice broke the silence in Ken's room. "Kenny, you there?"
Ken's eyes were red from lack of sleep. "Sorry," he whispered, "I shouldn't have let him go alone yesterday. I know it's not my fault, but I still feel responsible for what happened to Zeph."
Master Ryan sat on the edge of Ken's bed. "Child, calm down," he said gently. "It's nobody's fault. Something like this was bound to happen sooner or later."
Ken clenched his fists. "Why? You know something, Master Ryan? Correct? Tell me. He was my sworn brother, the only friend I had. I deserve to know why it happened."
Ryan's gaze held a mix of sadness and determination. "Ken," he began, "there are secrets beyond our understanding. Zephy's disappearance isn't ordinary. It involves forces we can't control—forces that move between realms. The Rangers, the Otherworlders—they're part of a hidden world. And sometimes, even sworn brothers can't protect each other from what lies beyond."
Ken's eyes bore into Master Ryan's, desperate for answers. "Just tell me," he pleaded, "even if I can't protect him, at least I want to know the truth."
Ryan's voice was low, laden with secrets. "Zephyr," he said, "he belongs to them."
"The Fallen Great Clan Zephyr?" Ken's mind raced. "Is that why he's called Zephy? But it doesn't matter now—all of them are dead. There's no one left in that damn clan."
Ryan hesitated. "There is one," he admitted, "but it's too early for him to act. This abduction might be the work of other clans. I don't know."
Ken pressed further. "Who's still alive in Clan Zephyr other than Zeph himself?"
Ryan's gaze held a weight of knowledge. "There is someone," he replied cryptically, "but it's better you don't know about him now. When you awaken someday, by God's grace, you'll discover the truth."
Ken's question was filled with a mix of confusion and betrayal. "Since when did you know all this, Master Ryan?"
Master Ryan looked at Ken, his eyes reflecting the weight of years of secrecy. "Since the very beginning," he confessed. "He brought the last child of Zephyr to our doorstep. He entrusted me with the boy, asking me to care for him and to name him Zephy, the name his mother gave him at birth."
Ken was overwhelmed by the revelations about Zephy. Although he now knew Zephy belonged to the Zephyr clan, it changed nothing for him. Zephy was still his brother in spirit. Ken decided to wait for news from the police, understanding that interfering with Ranger matters could risk the safety of the whole orphanage.
In a distant world, the beautiful moonlight shimmered on the ethereal lake's surface. Near its shore lay a boy, unconscious, with short black hair, dressed in black pants and a white t-shirt. The Ranger who had brought Zephy there was gone. Zephy had been lying there, unconscious, for an unknown period of time. The place was unfamiliar, certainly not Earth. The lake's waters gently lapped around Zephy's still form. As dawn approached, someone on the mountains above the lake caught sight of the unconscious boy.