The doorbell rang, its chime echoing through the quiet house. Lily, hearing it, sprang up from her seat and rushed to the door. As she opened it and saw Kain standing there, her face lit up with pure joy.
"Uncle Kain! I was waiting for you! It's so boring all alone!" she said, practically leaping into his arms.
"Is that so? How about we watch a new movie from your favorite series?" Kain said with a warm smile.
"You're the best uncle ever!" Lily squealed, her excitement contagious.
Kain walked inside, setting her down before heading to the living room. He put on a movie that Lily loved, and the two settled in to watch. The cozy atmosphere quickly enveloped them as they shared laughs and occasional gasps at the action on screen. Time passed unnoticed, and an hour later, the door opened.
Elara walked in, her hair returned back to black, her presence commanding but soft, as she noticed her brother and daughter engrossed in the movie.
"It's getting late, Lily. Time for bed," she said gently.
Lily pouted, reluctantly turning to her mother. "But, Mom, I'm hungry," she complained, rubbing her stomach.
Kain's face froze. He instinctively glanced at the clock: 9:30 p.m. A sinking feeling settled in his gut as Elara's piercing gaze fell on him.
"Mr. Nightshade, do you seriously lack the common sense to feed your niece?" Elara's voice was sharp, her arms crossed.
"I-I'm sorry, Ms. Moonshard. I… I forgot," Kain stammered, feeling a rare flicker of fear under his sister's reprimanding tone.
Elara sighed, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. "Forgot, did you? Well then, your punishment is to make dinner. Properly."
Left with no choice, Kain trudged to the kitchen under Elara's watchful eye. After a short but intense culinary battle, dinner was finally ready. They ate together, the tension easing as laughter returned to the table. Lily, now full and sleepy, was tucked into bed soon after.
As Elara emerged from Lily's room, her gaze found Kain, who was lounging on the couch, trying to avoid her piercing eyes.
"So," Elara began, her tone calm but carrying a weight that immediately put Kain on edge, "you've progressed to Stage 3. But your attribute… it seems to have mutated."
Kain froze. 'What? She can already tell?' His mind raced. "Just how powerful are Archons, anyway?" he muttered, half to himself.
"Not all Archons are the same, Kain," Elara said smoothly, leaning against the wall. "You'll get your answers once you reach Sovereign rank, but for now, focus on understanding your own power."
Kain hesitated before replying, "I need mastery arts."
Mastery arts were essential techniques for Stage 3 Ascenders. They allowed users to harness the full potential of their elements and were highly sought after. While weaker ones could be bought and sold, the most powerful mastery arts were often hidden deep within ancient ruins.
"Tell me how your attribute has mutated, and I'll find something suitable for you," Elara offered, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied her brother.
Kain sighed. He'd hoped to keep this part under wraps for a little longer, but there was no escaping his sister's sharp instincts. "My aerokinesis crystal… it's mutated. Or maybe it gained shadow properties."
Elara's expression shifted slightly, her curiosity piqued. "Demonstrate it," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Reluctantly, Kain complied. He closed his eyes, letting his attribute energy flow outward. As it spread through the room, the air seemed to darken, filled with a thick, black-blue smoke that carried an oppressive power. The light from the room seemed to dim, unable to pierce the swirling haze.
Elara observed silently, her sharp eyes taking in every detail. After a moment, she nodded. "Alright. I've got the gist of it."
Kain let out a small sigh of relief. 'Good, that wasn't too bad—'
"I'll start looking into suitable mastery arts for you," Elara continued, her tone calm. Then, her gaze locked onto Kain, sharp as a blade. "But you're not off the hook yet. Tell me how you managed to mutate your attribute."
Kain's relief vanished in an instant. His mind scrambled for an answer, but nothing came. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he realized he was cornered.
'Oh no… I'm dead,' he thought, plastering on a nervous smile as his sister's expectant gaze bore into him.
Seeing no way out, Kain finally spilled everything, recounting the details of how his aerokinesis crystal had mutated and the events that led to it. He braced himself for a harsh lecture but was surprised when Elara simply crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful.
"Kain," she began, her tone carrying both authority and concern, "your second attribute seems far more powerful than we initially discussed. However, your aerokinesis attribute mutating isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it might be for the best."
Kain blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
Elara gave him a small, knowing smile. "Since your aerokinesis has gained shadow properties, it no longer aligns with the profile that the government identified as the Reaper's signature. That means, as far as they're concerned, the Reaper no longer exists. From today onward, the Reaper is dead."
Her words hit Kain like a ton of bricks. The weight of his past, the burden of that role—it was all lifted in an instant. His shoulders relaxed, and for the first time in years, he felt like he could breathe.
"But," Elara added sharply, snapping him out of his thoughts, "don't even think about doing something this reckless again."
Kain grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck. "Alright, I won't do anything reckless… unless it's absolutely necessary."
Elara let out a long sigh, her exasperation evident. "Your stubbornness will be the death of me, Kain. Just promise me you'll think things through before acting."
"I promise," Kain replied, though the mischievous glint in his eyes made Elara suspect he wasn't entirely serious.
Shaking her head, she moved on. "Tomorrow is the entrance exam for the academy. But since you've already received permission from Principal Zander to skip the exams, you'll be allowed to watch them instead."
Kain nodded. "Got it. I'll be there to observe."
Satisfied, Elara turned toward her room. "Good. Now go get some rest, and try not to cause any trouble."
Kain chuckled softly as he headed for the door. "Alright, I'm leaving now. Goodnight, Sis."
As he stepped out into the cool night air, Kain couldn't help but feel a sense of freedom. The Reaper was dead, and a new chapter in his life was about to begin.