Little buddy chapter (29)

The crowd remained frozen, the revelation of Ray's key—an Archangellarva—hanging over them like a storm cloud.

Murmurs filled the air, some voices trembling with jealousy and fear.

The sheer magnitude of what had just happened was sinking in. Luna's ten-sharded Angelarva had already shaken the crowd to its core, but this? Fourteen shards? It was beyond comprehension.

Ray looked at the glowing form of his key, still hovering before him, its brilliant light dimming as it prepared to merge. The four golden eyes of the being stared into Ray's, as though assessing his worth. Then, in a motion that felt both deliberate and inevitable, it floated closer, its presence like a whisper of thunder.

The moment the key touched Ray's chest, a surge of energy erupted, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The crowd stumbled back, shielding their faces from the brilliant glow. A blinding white light consumed Ray, making it impossible to see him clearly. The ground trembled as a deep hum resonated through the space, the sound of the Archangellarva fully integrating with its chosen bearer.

Ray's figure emerged from the light, standing tall, his keys four golden eyes now mirrored faintly in his own irises. His skin glimmered faintly under the sun, as if kissed by divinity as the time flew the crowd became silent as the A mixture of admiration and fear settled over the crowd.

But the ceremony wasn't over yet.

The gateway pulsed again, releasing more keys. Boys across the grounds watched as their destinies drifted toward them—some with excitement, others with dread. Each key varied in power—some had ten shards, others six or five. The more shards a key held, the stronger its potential.

Then, something unexpected happened.

As the ceremony neared its end, the unclaimed keys began retreating, flowing back into the gateway. The heart-shaped structure started sealing itself, golden cracks knitting back together.

But in that final moment, one key broke away.

Suddenly, a key broke free from the retreating tide, shooting toward Rudra without hesitation.

It moved with purpose, as if it had been waiting for him all along.

The glow intensified as it neared, and then—finally—it revealed itself.

Three shards.

Inlarva.

The revelation barely stirred anything within Rudra. Three shards… that was all?

His expression remained flat, his mind quiet, but deep down, he knew.

He wasn't strong enough.

Not yet.

His first key wasn't even complete, meaning he couldn't use its abilities properly. His physical enhancements were minor—nowhere near enough to survive what was coming.

Even so, he didn't hesitate.

He couldn't.

Because no one could reject a key once it had shown it shards to them. That was the law of the world of keys. A person who defied this law would be forever banished, never allowed to re-enter the world of keys.

And so, without resistance, Rudra let the key merge into him.

The moment it touched him, a subtle shift coursed through his body.

This time, the changes were minor—nothing like the overwhelming transformation others had experienced. His strength rose slightly, his senses sharpened, but it was barely noticeable.

Then—the whispers returned.

The crowd was watching.

Muttering. Judging.

"Three shards? That's it?"

"What a joke compared to Ray."

"An adopted child could only get that much, huh?"

Rudra heard them all, but his face remained unreadable. He had expected this.

Luna—the girl known for her silence—found herself confused for the first time in a long while.

She watched as the three-shard key merged with Rudra, the whispers growing around them. Her gaze lingered on him, unmoving, as if she were trying to solve a puzzle she hadn't even realized existed.

Unable to ignore her curiosity, she took a step closer to Vidar.

"Hey, Vidar," she said, her voice as steady as ever. "Do you know that kid?"

Vidar blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

Luna was talking.

She never talked.

For a brief second, he just stared at her, as if trying to confirm he wasn't imagining things.

Then, shaking off his surprise, he followed her gaze.

"That's Rudra," he said finally. "Ray's younger brother."

Luna's lips parted slightly, her brows furrowing.

Ray had a younger brother?

That didn't make sense. She wasn't the most observant person, but even she would have noticed something like that.

She glanced back at Vidar, her voice uncharacteristically hesitant.

"Ray had a younger brother?"

Vidar's lips twitched into a small smile. He could hear the subtle disbelief in her voice.

"No, he didn't," he said. "Rudra is adopted."

Luna didn't respond immediately.

Her gaze drifted back to Rudra, watching as he stood there—unbothered by the whispers around him.

A second key.

That wasn't normal.

She lowered her voice, almost to a whisper. "Isn't that the kid who got chosen earlier? And now he's received a second key?"

Vidar exhaled. "Yeah."

Luna's expression hardened slightly. "How is that possible?"

Vidar glanced at her. "You don't know?"

She shook her head.

He folded his arms, looking thoughtful. "There are rare cases… a few people have been chosen by three keys before they turn nine."

Then, after a pause, he added:

"But I never thought I'd see someone receive two keys in one day."

His eyes flickered with interest as he studied Rudra again.

"What an interesting kid, don't you think?" he mused, glancing at Luna.

But when he turned to her, she was giving him a distant look.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

The silence stretched between them, filled only by the fading whispers of the crowd.

Rudra sighed, his mind drifting.

A three-shard key.

He stared at his hand, fingers curling slightly as if expecting something more—some sign that his new key held anything special.

He had hoped for more, even if just a little.

But in the end, it didn't really matter.

It had been a long day—one that was still sinking into him.

He was about to lose himself in thought again when a voice cut through his daze.

"Rudra!"

He turned slightly, pulled back into reality by Ray's voice.

His older brother stood a short distance away, his golden irises still faintly glowing from the ceremony. Unlike Rudra, Ray had received a fourteen-shard key—a fate far different from his own.

Before Rudra could reply, a booming voice echoed across the ceremony grounds.

A royal guard stepped forward, his silver armor reflecting the fading light. At first glance, it appeared light and flexible, but a closer look revealed the strength beneath its design.

He raised a scroll, unrolling it with a sense of finality.

Then, his voice thundered over the gathering.

"The accepted bearers of the keys are…"

The crowd fell into silence, hanging onto every word.

"From across the world, 11,000 boys have gathered here today for the Ceremony of Keys."

A ripple of anticipation swept through the crowd.

The guard continued, his tone unwavering.

"But only 3,700 have been chosen."

A hush fell over the ceremony grounds.

The weight of those words settled over them. Thousands had come in hope, yet more than half had been denied.

Some boys cheered, elated at their acceptance. Others stood frozen, their faces a mix of disbelief and quiet devastation.

Rudra remained still.

It didn't change anything for him.

The guard lowered the scroll, signaling the end of the announcement.

And just like that—

The ceremony was over.

The tension dissolved into scattered voices as the crowd began to disperse, some lingering to talk, others walking away without looking back.

The ceremony had drawn to a close, the last echoes of applause fading into the evening air. The crowd was slowly dispersing, some groups lingering to chat, while others hurried to their next destinations. Ray and Rudra made their way toward their family, who stood a short distance away, their voices rising above the growing murmur of the departing crowd.

The family stood together in a chaotic but proud cluster, their excitement barely contained. The queen's smile spread across her face, a mix of pride and mischief

"Well, look who decided to join the celestial fashion show! Ray, glowing like he swallowed a sun, and Rudra… well, you're glowing a little. Maybe like a flickering lamp?"

The king chuckled, his warm eyes crinkling at the edges. "Don't listen to her, boys. You both look great."

Selene rolled her eyes dramatically, her teasing tone sharp. "Three shards, huh? That's like… entry-level. Don't worry, Rudra, I'm sure it's adorable compared to Ray's god-tier fourteen."

Riven gasped mockingly, eyes wide as he pointed at Ray. "Fourteen shards? Ray, does this mean you're finally going to stop hogging the bathroom mirror? Or are you planning to admire your Archangellarva glow for the rest of your life?"

Ray grinned, playing along with ease. "Mirror? No need. With this glow, I'm practically my own light source now. You'll see my reflection everywhere."

Rudra, still feeling the weight of his newfound wings and the residual pain from the battle, crossed his arms tightly. "Can we skip the comedy show and focus? I'm tired, my wings hurt, and my day started with a blade in my chest."

His newly sprouted wings, delicate yet surprisingly strong, flickered with a faint glow as if responding to his irritation. He thought, It's going to be a hassle to maintain these things now, but… it's kind of cool too.

"Aww, don't be so grumpy, Rudra." His mother's voice softened, though her teasing still lingered. "Look on the bright side! You're officially part of the 'Chosen Few.' You even got a second key! That's got to count for something."

His newly found sister nudged him playfully. "Yeah, you're practically a legend now. A legend with three shards. Ooh, so intimidating!"

The king laughed, slapping Rudra lightly on the back. "Hey, don't let them get to you, son. Three shards or fourteen, you're still my kid—and that means you're destined to be amazing. Or at least... decent."

Riven raised an eyebrow and laughed. "Oof! Roasted by the three-shard wonder. Watch out, Ray, or he might 'flicker' at you."

The queen raised her hands to calm the group, her voice turning slightly more serious, though the warmth in her tone was unmistakable. "Alright, alright, let's not turn this into a sibling roast session. We're supposed to be celebrating here! Ray, Rudra—both of you, we're proud of you."

The king nodded, his smile warm and reassuring. "Absolutely. Chosen by the keys, standing tall, surviving this madness—you've earned this moment. Now, how about we head home and celebrate with something sweet? I'm thinking cake."

Ray raised an eyebrow, a hint of skepticism in his voice. "Cake? Really? After all this, you think cake's going to be enough to celebrate fourteen shards?"

Selene grinned. "Oh, don't worry, Ray. We'll get two cakes—one for you, and one for Rudra and his three mighty shards."

Rudra stood motionless, his thoughts swirling like a dark storm inside his mind.

It's too soon to call them my family. The words echoed, but they felt hollow, like the remnants of a distant memory that never really belonged to him. He observed them—their smiles, their calls of "my child," their laughter—but he knew it wasn't real. They were acting. Just playing a part in a show that they all knew wasn't true. They played along with him, and he with them. I should do the same. Why bother pretending? He didn't need them to see him as family. He had never needed that. They didn't care for him, not in the way they claimed. He was just a tool for their desires, a means to an end. And he needed them too, but for something simpler—shelter, food, a place to breathe without the suffocating weight of nothingness. That was all.

As long as it doesn't bother me, I'll play my part. The mask he wore was seamless, cold, and perfect. He had perfected it long ago. If they needed him to smile, he would. If they needed him to act like a son, he would. What difference did it make? It was just another role. It's not real, and neither am I to them. We're all just playing games here. But at least, for now, it was a game he could tolerate.

As the laughter of his family echoed around him, Rudra felt a subtle shift. now-emptying ceremony grounds, but Rudra's thoughts remained distant.

As they made their way into the castle, the sounds of the celebration slowly faded behind them, replaced by the quiet hum of the grand hall. After the meal, as the noise of the feast died down, Rudra slipped away from the table. He made his way to his room, the weight of the evening's events hanging heavily on him.

He stripped away the ceremonial attire, his wings still a bit too stiff for comfort, and made his way to the window. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale light over the courtyard below. Rudra stared at its cold, distant glow, his thoughts consumed by the stillness of the night.

"Am I destined for this?" he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. "

Whenever I look at the moon, a familiar thoughts that always lingered at the edge of his mind, unspoken but ever-present.

What am I?

Am I even human?

And now a new one

Why do these threads cling to me?

The stillness of the night was broken by a soft voice, almost a whisper, as if it had come from the depths of his own mind.

"That's what I want to ask you."

Rudra froze, his heart skipping a beat. His eyes darted around the room, but there was no one to be seen.

"What are you? Are you even human?"

The voice, barely a murmur at first, now seemed to swirl around him, its source elusive. He spun around, searching the empty space, but the voice didn't come from anywhere near him—it came again, distant yet closer.

"What are you looking for? I'm right here. Look on your head."

Rudra's eyes widened as he turned slowly, almost instinctively toward the mirror. There, perched atop his head, was something he could scarcely comprehend.

A smaller version of himself—no taller than the palm of his hand—sat there, looking exactly like him, down to every tiny detail. The same cold, calculating eyes stared back at him, unblinking, unfeeling. Rudra's breath caught in his throat, but he said nothing, his expression impassive.

Without moving his gaze, he spoke in a low, flat tone.

"Who are you?"

The little figure blinked, clearly surprised at Rudra's lack of reaction.

"Are you for real? Why aren't you shocked?"

Rudra didn't flinch, didn't shift his gaze. His voice remained as steady as ever.

"I don't feel like getting shocked."

The small figure huffed in mock exasperation.

"You're a weirdo."

Rudra's patience thinned, his eyes narrowing slightly. His voice grew colder, more serious, as he asked again, his words crisp and deliberate.

"Who are you?"

The tiny version of him paused for a moment, then spoke again, this time with an air of cryptic certainty.

"The creature that accepted you. Don't you recognize me?"

Rudra's eyes flickered with confusion, but his face remained impassive.

"Who?"

The little figure's grin widened, and in a voice thick with a strange, otherworldly authority, it declared:

"I am Jaipa. From the world of 48H. I greet my master."