Chapter 6 – A Night of Light
A Moment of Silence
It had been several days since the attack at Lucian's home.
The police had provided security—plainclothes officers patrolled the area, surveillance drones monitored his surroundings, and an AI-protected perimeter was discreetly set up. But even with all these precautions, Lucian couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming.
The last time he had spoken to Detective Wolfe, the man had been deep in investigation. Then—silence.
Lucian leaned against his office window, gazing at the towering skyline of the city. Why had Wolfe disappeared?
A soft notification blinked on his wristband. Officer Marlowe had left a message.
Detective Wolfe is currently assigned to an ongoing investigation in the outskirts. Details are classified. Will update you if necessary.
Lucian frowned. The outskirts?
Nothing good ever happened there.
He dismissed the message and sighed. For now, he had a different priority.
Today was February 29th—Noah's birthday.
"Figures," Lucian muttered to himself. "Kid only gets a real birthday every four years."
The Birthday Celebration
The sky-garden venue shimmered with golden lights, suspended between two skyscrapers, offering a breathtaking view of the city below. The celebration was lively, packed with Noah's friends, classmates, and family.
Lucian leaned against the balcony railing, watching Noah bounce between guests. He had always been the kind of person who made friends effortlessly.
"February 29th," Ronan mused beside him. "So, technically, how old is he now?"
Lucian smirked. "Five."
Eleanor, who overheard, rolled her eyes. "Lucian, I swear, if you tell Noah he's still in kindergarten, I'm going to throw you off this building."
Ronan grinned. "You know, being born on a leap day already makes him rare, but add in the fact that he's a Pisces? That explains a lot."
Lucian arched a brow. "Explain what?"
"Emotional. Creative. Too nice for his own good," Ronan listed.
Lucian looked over at Noah, who was currently handing his extra cake to a kid who hadn't gotten a slice.
Eleanor laughed. "Yeah, that tracks."
Noah, overhearing them, narrowed his eyes. "Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"
Ronan ruffled Noah's hair. "Means you're basically a saint, kid."
Noah crossed his arms. "If I'm so nice, why doesn't my older brother get me gifts more often?"
Lucian smirked. "Excuse me? I'm literally about to give you a birthday present."
Noah grinned. "Alright, fine. Carry on."
Ronan shook his head. "A true Pisces move—guilt-tripping his way into better gifts."
Lucian chuckled. "He's learning from the best."
Eleanor groaned. "He's learning from you, that's the problem."
Noah grinned. "And I'm proud of it."
A Girl's Shy Glances
The celebration continued, with Noah's classmates enjoying themselves. Among them, a particular girl lingered near the dessert table, stealing glances at him.
Eleanor nudged Lucian. "Look at that."
Lucian followed her gaze. "What am I looking at?"
Eleanor sighed. "That girl. She has a crush on Noah."
Lucian arched a brow. "Noah? Huh."
Eleanor shot him a look. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Lucian smirked. "I thought I was the only heartbreaker in the family."
Eleanor groaned. "You're impossible."
Meanwhile, Noah had finally noticed the girl staring at him. He blinked. Then awkwardly waved.
The girl turned bright red and immediately looked away.
Ronan, watching the whole thing, muttered, "Poor kid. He has no idea."
The Gifts
As the party reached its peak, it was time for gifts.
Eleanor handed Noah a sleek, silver case.
"Happy birthday, little brother," she said, smirking. "I figured you'd want something practical."
Noah's eyes widened as he opened it—inside was a state-of-the-art flying car.
"It transforms into a suitcase?" Noah gasped, running his fingers over the smooth metal. "And—wait, it has a built-in VR interface?"
Eleanor winked. "Top-of-the-line. Custom modifications. Only the best for you."
Their mother smiled warmly as she handed Noah a small, compact box.
"This is from me," she said. "Something to keep you safe."
Noah opened it—inside was a new-generation personal defense system, a sleek wristband that emitted an energy shield upon activation.
Lucian, who had been watching, finally stepped forward.
He handed Noah a small, polished case. Inside was a pendant—deep black, metallic, unlike anything found on Earth.
Noah held it up, studying the texture. "What is this?"
Lucian smirked. "Martian metal."
Noah's mouth dropped open. "Wait—what? From actual Mars?"
Lucian nodded. "One of the rarest materials we've retrieved from our deep-space mining projects. Nearly indestructible."
Noah was speechless for a moment, then immediately put it around his neck. "This is—this is insane." He grinned. "Best. Brother. Ever."
Lucian chuckled. "Don't lose it."
Doubt in the Air
Ronan stood with his wife, watching the festivities. His gaze subtly flicked to Vera, who stood by Lucian, smiling softly.
His wife nudged him. "What's with that look?"
Ronan exhaled. "I don't know. I just can't bring myself to like her."
His wife raised an eyebrow. "Vera? What's wrong with her? She's beautiful."
"That's not the problem," Ronan muttered. "Something about her feels… off."
His wife smirked. "Are you worried you'll have to share Lucian after he gets married?"
Ronan shot her a deadpan look. "You're hilarious."
She laughed, shaking her head. "You're overthinking it."
"Maybe," Ronan said. But his fingers tapped lightly against his arm.
He couldn't explain it. But something about Vera Kain wasn't right.
A Conversation in the Night
Later that night, as the celebration wound down and the guests began leaving, Vera found Lucian standing alone on the balcony, gazing at the city.
She approached quietly. "Everything went well."
Lucian glanced at her, nodding. "Yeah."
Vera leaned on the railing beside him. "Noah looked so happy."
Lucian exhaled slowly. "I want things to stay this way."
She studied him for a moment. "They will."
Lucian said nothing, his gaze distant.
Vera reached out, placing a gentle hand over his. "Lucian."
He turned slightly, meeting her eyes.
Her voice was soft. "No matter what happens, you won't face it alone."
Lucian forced a small smile. "…I hope so."
For now, he ignored the unease settling in his chest.
Ronan's voice suddenly cut through the moment. "Am I interrupting something?"
Lucian turned slightly, arching a brow. "Do you need something?"
Ronan smirked. "Nah. Just making sure Vera isn't secretly proposing or something."
Vera chuckled. "Not yet."
Lucian rolled his eyes. "You two should start a comedy act."
Ronan grinned. "We'll discuss it after your wedding."
Vera smiled, giving Lucian's hand one last squeeze before stepping away.
Lucian let out a quiet sigh. Why did something still feel… off?
A New Arrival
A few days later, Lucian was deep in his research. His latest project aimed to uncover hidden cosmic phenomena—something beyond current astronomical knowledge.
A soft chime echoed through his office. His assistant's voice came through the intercom.
"Dr. Graves, the delegation from NexaTech has arrived."
Lucian straightened. "Send them in."
The door slid open, and a young woman walked in.
She had sharp eyes, a confident presence, and a quiet intensity that set her apart from the others.
"I'm Alina Faye," she said.
Lucian observed her, feeling something strange.
A sense of recognition.
The same feeling he had with Ronan.
And that made him uneasy.
[End of Chapter 6]