As Bellatrix passed Krist, her gaze lingered on him, a silent plea in her eyes that he coldly ignored. His attention shifted to Adams, who stopped directly in front of him, smirking despite his bound wrists.
"Many powerful men have tried and failed," Adams sneered, his voice low and menacing. "I never thought a kid would be the one to put me behind bars. But I'm not that easy to defeat. You'll end up like your father."
Krist's expression hardened, but he didn't reply. His silence seemed to infuriate Adams, who spat on the ground before turning to follow Bellatrix to the waiting police car. As she climbed into the back seat, her face pale with defeat, she whispered just loud enough for Krist to hear, "You will pay for this."
The door slammed shut, and the car drove off, leaving the schoolyard eerily quiet.
Krist's father's voice echoed in his mind: "Not everyone is worth helping. Some humans have such high ambition and greed that they bite the hand that feeds them. Be careful, so you don't end up empowering your enemies."
Lost in thought, he didn't notice Maya approach until she tapped him on the shoulder.
"Krist?" she said softly.
He turned to her, his mind still elsewhere. "What?"
Maya frowned. "Are you waiting for someone?"
Krist looked confused. "Waiting? For who?"
"If you're not waiting for someone, what are you waiting for then?"
He blinked, his confusion deepening. "Were we supposed to go somewhere?"
Maya sighed. "You know, if you're planning to sleep here, you should at least let the janitor know."
Realization dawned on Krist as he looked around and saw the empty schoolyard. "Where is everyone?"
"Some went home. Others went back inside to get their stuff," she replied, giving him a knowing look. "You weren't paying attention, were you?"
He shrugged. "I guess not."
Maya shook her head and facepalmed. "The police said to go home. They need to investigate. No school until further notice."
Krist nodded, finally snapping back to the present. "Alright. Let's go, then."
They exited the compound, and Krist hailed a cab, giving the driver the address of his family's mansion. Maya followed without a word, her curiosity piqued as they settled into the backseat.
The rhythmic hum of the car engine seemed to lull Krist into his thoughts, pulling him back to a memory from when he was twelve.
He and his father had been returning from a father-son outing when they came across a commotion. A small crowd had gathered around a crying woman, her luggage scattered on the ground.
Krist had leaned forward in his seat, curious. "Dad, what do you think happened there?"
His father glanced at the scene, his face thoughtful. "Looks like she was thrown out."
"Why?" Krist asked, his eyes wide with fascination.
"Maybe she did something wrong," his father replied vaguely, preparing to drive on.
But Krist was persistent. "Can we ask? Please?"
His father hesitated but eventually sighed and pulled the car over. After a quick inquiry with a bystander, they learned that the woman had been living with her brother but had mistreated his child, refusing to feed the kid for two days while he was away. Enraged upon returning, the brother had thrown her out.
Krist had turned to his father, his young face filled with compassion. "Can't we help her?"
His father's expression was stern but kind. "I'll give her some money to find a place. But no job."
"Why not?" Krist asked, confused. "She could change if we're nice to her."
"Sometimes, kindness enables the wrong people," his father replied, ruffling Krist's hair. "Be careful who you help, son. Not everyone deserves it."
The cab's abrupt halt jarred Krist back to reality. They had arrived. He paid the driver and stepped out, the mansion looming ahead like a sentinel of his past. Maya followed silently as they entered, her eyes scanning the luxurious interior.
Without a word, Krist made his way to his father's study, leaving Maya in the living room. After a moment, she wandered into the kitchen, deciding to prepare something for them to eat.
In the study, Krist began searching frantically. He pulled open drawers, sifted through papers, and checked every corner for his father's will or any documentation regarding the family's assets. The minutes ticked by, but his search turned up nothing. Frustrated but determined, he moved to his father's bedroom, tearing through hidden compartments and folders, only to meet the same result.
Disheartened, he returned to the living room, his shoulders slumped. Maya, now at the dining table, had prepared a simple meal and was halfway through eating. Krist sat down silently and took a bite.
The taste surprised him—it was far better than he had expected. Yet, lost in his thoughts, he didn't comment. Maya, noticing his silence, frowned. "Not good?"
Krist looked up, confused. "Huh?"
"The food," she pressed. "Is it bad?"
Krist smirked, his expression softening. "Terrible."
Maya's face turned red with indignation. "You—" She stopped mid-sentence, realizing he was teasing.
Krist chuckled, shaking his head. "It's good. Better than I expected."
Her lips twitched into a smile, and she returned to her meal.
After lunch, they cleaned up together. As Krist headed toward the gym to burn off his restlessness, Maya unexpectedly followed.
"You're joining?" he asked, surprised.
Maya hesitated before nodding. "Teach me," she said. "I want to train."
Krist raised an eyebrow but saw no reason to refuse. "Alright. Let's see what you've got."
As they began sparring, Krist quickly realized that Maya had potential but lacked discipline. Her movements were wild, driven by emotion rather than strategy. He couldn't help but smirk at her determination.
"Focus, Maya," he said, dodging a punch. "Anger will only get you so far."
"I'm not angry!" she retorted, throwing another punch that he easily deflected.
Krist stepped back, his expression serious. "Good. Then let's see if you can keep up."
The session stretched on, their movements filling the gym with echoes of effort and determination. For the first time in a long while, Krist felt a flicker of something new—an ally who might just understand the weight he carried