Pain, betrayal...

"You know, Kieran, I think we should do you a favor. How about we help you get rid of your pathetic life?"

Frank's voice slithered through the cold air of the night like poison, each word a dagger meant to cut Kieran down where he stood.

Before him stood Frank and his lackeys—Ben and Jacob—their sneering faces radiating menace.

Kieran clenched his fists, the sting of humiliation still fresh from the awakening ceremony.

His glare met Frank's, unyielding despite the mocking tone.

"You really talk too much," Kieran spat, his voice low but trembling with restrained fury.

"Even when no one asks for your opinion."

Frank's smirk faltered, a flicker of irritation crossing his face before he quickly masked it.

Kieran's defiance always struck a nerve in him.

No matter how dire Kieran's circumstances were, he never bowed, never begged for mercy.

And that enraged Frank, who thrived on dominance and submission.

'Why won't he just crumble like the others?' Frank thought, his face darkening with anger.

'Why does he always act like he's better than me?'

But then, an idea popped into Frank's mind, and the corner of his lips curled into a sinister grin.

Kieran was vulnerable now more than ever.

The awakening ceremony had stripped him of any protection—his talent locked behind an impossible condition, an SSS rank that was nothing more than an empty promise.

"Guys, let's teach him a lesson," Frank ordered, his voice brimming with disdain and malice.

Without hesitation, Ben and Jacob lunged at Kieran.

Despite the odds, Kieran stood his ground.

He sidestepped Ben's wild punch with practiced ease and hooked his foot around Ben's ankle before sending the fellow sprawling to the ground.

Jacob charged next, his movements reckless in his haste.

Kieran caught his incoming kick midair and twisted it sharply.

Jacob shrieked in pain as he crashed to the ground, clutching his ankle while still groaning.

Frank watched the exchange, his anger simmering beneath the surface.

Such an easy defeat of his lackeys only fueled his resentment.

Kieran turned to Frank, a smug grin tugging his lips.

The sight made Frank's blood boil.

"So," Kieran said, his voice laced with mockery, "is that all your lapdogs have got? Pathetic."

Frank's fists clenched, his knuckles turning white.

He wouldn't allow this humiliation to stand.

"Ben, Jacob," Frank growled, "stop holding back. Use your talents."

Ben staggered to his feet, his eyes blazing with newfound determination.

Jacob followed suit, wiping the dirt from his face.

Frank then raised his hand.

A flicker of fire ignited in his palm; the flames danced and crackled, casting ominous shadows across his face.

"Let's see how cocky you are now," Frank sneered, hurling the fireball toward Kieran.

Kieran barely had time to react.

He moved to dodge, but just then, a wall of stone erupted in front of him, cutting off his escape.

His eyes darted to Ben, who stood with his hand outstretched and a smug look plastered across his face.

The fireball struck Kieran's arm, searing his flesh.

"ARGH!"

Kieran screamed, clutching his burned arm as the scent of charred skin filled the air.

His vision blurred from the tears welling in his eyes from the pain, but he refused to give Frank the satisfaction of seeing him fall.

Frank and his lackeys erupted into laughter.

"What's the matter, Kieran?" Frank taunted.

"Where's that bravado now?"

Kieran's mind raced, a haze of agony and fury clouding his thoughts.

He glared at his tormentors, his vision tinged with red.

"I'll make you pay for this," he growled through his gritted teeth.

Frank stepped closer, his face just inches from Kieran's.

"Oh, really?" he sneered, gripping Kieran by the collar and hoisting him off the ground with ease.

"And how exactly are you going to do that, huh? With your nonexistent talent?"

Kieran spat, the glob of saliva landing squarely on Frank's cheek.

"You'll see," Kieran hissed, his voice low and venomous.

For a moment, Frank just stared.

Then, slowly, he wiped his cheek, his expression twisting into one of pure rage.

"You little—"

Before Frank could finish, a cold voice cut through the air.

"Enough."

The group froze.

The authoritative tone sent an instinctive chill down their spines.

Turning, they saw her—Miss Jane, her figure framed by the dim glow of the hall's entrance.

A cigarette hung loosely from her lips, and her piercing gaze swept over them, unreadable but heavy with disdain.

Frank's arrogance evaporated instantly, and he dropped Kieran, who crumpled to the ground with a dull thud, clutching his arm.

He smiled, almost grinning, his saviour had come!

"M-Miss Jane," Frank stammered, stepping back.

"This isn't what it looks like—"

Jane's expression remained unreadable as she exhaled a plume of smoke, clearly unimpressed.

She walked toward them, her heels clicking ominously against the pavement.

Stopping a few steps away, she tilted her head slightly, her eyes locking onto Frank's.

"You're right," she said, her voice dripping with cold indifference.

"This isn't what it looks like. It's worse."

Frank swallowed hard, his bravado completely shattered.

Behind him, Ben and Jacob stood frozen, their faces drained of color.

Jane's gaze shifted to Kieran, who lay curled on the ground—bloodied and battered.

For a fleeting moment, something unreadable flickered in her eyes.

Then, just as quickly, it was gone.

Then, she turned away, her voice colder than ever.

"Dispose of him if you want...he was of no use at the end" she said muttering the kast part of her words.

"Throw his body into a realm gate. Just make sure the authorities don't trace it back to me."

Kieran's heart sank.

Her words hit harder than any physical blow.

He stared at her, his vision blurred by tears.

"Miss… Jane…" he choked out, his voice barely audible.

She was everything to him.... She was the one who had given him a life to hope for... He couldn't understand why?

Why would she say such words?

'Did I disappoint her too... I thought she never cared about the talent I awakened'

Kieran felt his heart shatter like a fragile piece of glass.

Was all her promises empty?

He didn't even have any answer to all his questions, no explanation.. Nothing... Nothing at all.

Jane didn't look back.

She continued to walk up the stairs, pausing only to take another drag from her cigarette.

"This world isn't for the weak," she muttered, her words hanging in the air like a death sentence.

Frank, emboldened by her indifference, grinned wickedly.

"You heard her," he said, turning back to Kieran.

"Time to finish this."

Before Kieran could react, Jacob's foot slammed down on his ankle with a sickening crunch.

Agony shot through his body, and he screamed, his voice raw and filled with desperation.

Jane's word had broken his will... He felt not only the physical pain.

Frank leaned down, his palm burning with fire, flames hovering dangerously close to Kieran's face.

"Goodbye, Kieran," he said, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Don't worry—this world won't miss you."

As the flames crept closer, Kieran's vision darkened.

The last thing he saw was Jane disappearing into the hall, her back turned to him.

As if he were already dead.

Then, everything went black.