Meet Stein

Stein sat behind his desk, a sea of paperwork piled before him, but he barely noticed the stacks that threatened to spill over onto the floor. His mind was elsewhere, consumed by regrets and unanswered questions that haunted him. Amidst his musings, he was waiting—waiting for someone who'd become more than a duty, yet whom he had never given enough of his time to.

A soft voice broke through the silence.

"Father… could you play with me?"

It was Zion, standing there in the doorway with a hopeful smile, his voice laced with the innocence only a child could possess. He looked at Stein with wide eyes, expecting just a moment, a fragment of his father's time.

But Stein didn't even glance at him. "Sorry, Zion. I'm busy."

The words left his mouth like a dagger, sharp and cold. Zion's face fell, his gaze lowering as he whispered, "Alright, Father… I'll just play by myself, then."

As Zion walked away, his small frame seemed almost swallowed by the emptiness around him. Left to entertain himself, he drifted back into the shadows of the grand estate, a silent, lonely figure against the vastness of their home.

A wave of guilt washed over Stein, yet he shook it off, pushing away the ache in his chest. But the memories began to creep in, memories he had buried long ago. Zion's mother—his beloved wife—had left him the day Zion was born, taken from him far too soon. And with her departure, he had never quite managed to look at Zion without feeling that shadow of loss. It was as if a part of him held his son responsible, even though he knew, deep down, how wrong that was.

But then, something unexpected happened. The door creaked open, and Zion entered the room once more. Only this time, Stein felt his breath catch as he looked at his son. This was not the same boy he had grown used to seeing. Zion's eyes, once empty and lifeless, were now filled with a spark of life. The clothes he wore were new, refined, a departure from the worn-out garments he'd previously shuffled around in. In a flash, Stein remembered the rumors Zemel had brought him, rumors that had seemed almost impossible to believe.

'Could it be true? Has my son really changed?'

Stein rose from his seat, unable to tear his gaze away from Zion, who seemed like a different person.

"Zion… my son…" The words trembled from his lips, a strange mix of uncertainty and warmth.

"Yes, Father," Zion answered, his voice soft yet carrying a hint of strength. He gave his father a gentle smile, a gesture that seemed almost foreign yet so fitting on his face.

Before Zion knew what was happening, he felt a warmth enveloping him as his father wrapped him in a tight embrace. It was the first time he had felt such a touch, and for a moment, he froze, unsure how to react.

"I… I'm so sorry, Zion. I've been a terrible father. I was on the verge of… giving up on you."

Stein's words were almost a whisper, as though confessing to a secret too painful to acknowledge. Zion could hear the raw regret in his voice, the sorrow buried behind his father's stoic facade.

"It's alright, Father," Zion replied gently, his voice steady as he returned the embrace. "You're a good father."

The warmth of his father's arms, the quiet of the room—Zion couldn't recall a moment like this in his life. It was strange, unfamiliar, yet comforting in a way he hadn't anticipated. And for the first time, he felt that having a family wasn't such a distant dream.

'Maybe… maybe this isn't so bad after all,' he thought, allowing himself to relax in his father's arms. He'd never known this kind of affection before, but it was something he had always secretly yearned for.

As they pulled apart, Stein's eyes softened with a pride he hadn't shown before.

"Forgive me, Zion. I promise, from now on, I won't let you down. I'll be there for you." Stein's voice held a new conviction, a promise to make up for the years he'd lost with his son.

"Thank you, Father. I won't disappoint you either," Zion replied, his expression growing serious.

Stein's face broke into a smile, but then he cleared his throat and turned his gaze to the boy standing before him. "I heard from Zemel that you defeated a level 19 knight recently. Is that true? Has something… changed in you, Zion?"

Zion's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't prepared to explain the source of his newfound power. But something in his father's eyes made him feel he could trust him with the truth—or at least part of it.

"When I was ten, I had a… strange dream. In that dream, I met a being who called himself the 'strongest phantom.' He granted me a unique skill called the system and taught me how to use it. For six years, I trained with that skill in secret."

"The… system?" Stein repeated, clearly perplexed. "I've never heard of anything like that. Are you certain?"

"It's true. I've also learned a skill called Shadow Step, which lets me teleport short distances."

Stein nodded slowly, his face a mix of awe and curiosity. "That's an impressive skill, Zion. One that could serve you well… and even save your life. But tell me, what level are you at now?"

"Level 31," Zion replied without hesitation.

Stein's eyes widened in shock. "Level 31? At your age?" He shook his head, a laugh escaping him. "My son, I'm proud of you. You truly are remarkable."

There was a new light in Stein's eyes as he looked at his son, his mind racing with thoughts of what Zion's future could hold. The family's name could be raised to unimaginable heights. For a moment, he even dreamed of their house surpassing the emperor's own.

But then he paused, his brow furrowing as he remembered that there were powers far greater than their own.

'No, I mustn't be so reckless. I don't want to risk my family for ambition,' Stein reminded himself, burying the thought.

Zion took a breath and decided to share one more truth with his father. "Father, there's something else. The system has another ability… it lets me travel to a different world. That's where I've been all this time—a world called Earth. I wasn't really locked up in my room; I was training and exploring another world."

Stein stared at him, his expression a mix of disbelief and awe. "Earth? Another world?" He looked away for a moment, as if trying to process the implications.

"Yes, Father. That's why I've been so… distant."

After a pause, Stein nodded, his face growing serious. "Then keep this secret, Zion. Speak of it to no one. We don't know what dangers might follow if this gets out."

"Of course, Father," Zion replied, his voice equally resolute.

Later that evening, Zion returned to his room, his mind still reeling from the unexpected turn of events. He summoned his status window with a quiet murmur.

"Status window."

A translucent screen appeared before him, listing his stats.

Stats:

Name: Zion YuuLevel: 31EXP: 100,000/500,000STR: 20DEX: 89INT: 25AGI: 79LUK: ?Stat Points: 21

Inventory: [Kaze Katana, Unidentified Elixir]

Skills: [Shadow Step]

Quest: [Become a Duke in the World of Martis]

"Alright, nothing's changed… time to head back to Earth," he murmured, feeling a thrill as he prepared to shift worlds again.

"System, I'd like to return to Earth."

[Host will be teleported to Earth.]

[Yes/No]

Without hesitation, Zion pressed "Yes." His vision blurred, and moments later, he found himself back in his familiar apartment, the distant hum of Earth's world reaching his ears.

Lying in his bed, he sighed in relief, feeling the stark contrast between his small apartment and the grandeur of Martis. Twelve hours had passed in Martis, but only six on Earth. It was already midday, and he realized he had missed school.

Quickly, he dialed Audrey's number.

"Hello, Audrey? Where are you?"

"Zion! Why didn't you come to class today? Are you okay?" Audrey's voice was laced with worry.

Before he could answer, she continued, "I'm coming to your apartment right now!"

"No, don't—" But she had already hung up, cutting off his protest.

"Ah… I really shouldn't have called her," Zion muttered, shaking his head.

In her classroom, Audrey gathered her belongings hurriedly, not even bothering to explain as she bolted from her seat.

"Audrey, where are you going?" her teacher called after her.

"Sorry, Miss, I have an emergency. May I leave early?"

Her teacher looked at her with concern. "Alright, but have you informed your father? You don't want to worry him."

"Yes, I… I did," Audrey lied, giving a hasty nod before dashing out of the classroom.

"Zion, wait for me!" she whispered to herself as she ran toward his apartment, her heart