Chapter 2 - Helios by Day

[Knock, Knock, Knock]

"Young Master Cevar, it is well past breakfast. It is time to wake up."

A groan from inside the room was all the confirmation the butler needed. With practiced ease, he opened the door, stepping into the lavish yet slightly disheveled quarters of his young master.

Cevar lay sprawled across his obnoxiously oversized bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes with slow, reluctant motions. His blonde hair was a mess, strands sticking out in every direction like a lion's mane.

"Adam," he muttered, voice thick with grogginess, "how many times do I have to tell you? I hate waking up in the morning."

The butler, a refined older man with sharp features and an even sharper suit—slightly oversized for comfort—did not flinch. He merely adjusted his cuffs and responded in his usual calm tone.

"Young Master, you also instructed me to wake you immediately whenever your mother attempts to visit."

Cevar blinked. Then—

"WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT FIRST?!"

In an instant, he was out of bed, landing on his feet with the reflexes of a trained warrior. Standing at 170 cm, Cevar had a slightly stocky but well-toned build, his blue-gray eyes flashing with urgency. He grabbed a hair tie, quickly throwing his spiky blonde hair into a messy bun, leaving his bangs and a few strands loose on the sides.

He dressed in record time—white button-down with navy blue stripes, fitted black pants ending just above his ankles, and, most importantly, the harness for his swords. In one fluid motion, he grabbed his twin blades—both sleek, black with gold accents—and secured them at his waist.

"All right, Adam, you know the drill," Cevar said, fastening the last buckle on his harness. "Zanas led me to a different forest yesterday. I came back late last night and left early this morning. Got it?"

Adam exhaled, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Yes, Young Master. This isn't my first time handling the Countess."

Cevar grinned. "I knew I could count on you."

With that, he turned on his heel, sprinted toward the window, and leaped—

"STOP RIGHT THERE, MISTER!"

The door slammed open just as he cleared the frame.

"YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY THIS TIME!"

I hit the ground, rolling with the force before landing on my feet. No time to dwell on it. I bolted, laughter bubbling from my chest as I sprinted toward the forest, the voice fading behind me. I didn't even need to look back—I knew she wouldn't follow me in.

The Forest of Lost Souls.

Most people wouldn't even step foot in this place, let alone run around like it was their backyard. But for the past year, Zanas had sent me here daily. Never told me why. Just said it was important.

So here I was again, wandering the ancient woodland, listening to the whispers of unseen voices. The trees stretched endlessly, their roots twisting like fingers trying to grab hold of something unseen. A normal person might have been unsettled. Me? I whistled as I walked, black-and-gold-accented swords resting comfortably at my waist.

Then—the sky cracked.

It sounded like someone was ripping through reality itself—fabric tearing, glass shattering, the world groaning in protest. I stopped dead in my tracks, staring upward. Darkness spilled from the rupture, pouring into the world below like ink drowning a canvas. Half the forest was swallowed in its wake, its shape warping into something unrecognizable.

I tightened my grip on my swords. I wasn't the type to get scared easily, but this? This was something else.

The world had been wounded.

And then—I saw movement.

Something clawed at the edges of the rift. Writhing shadows, desperate figures pressing against the veil of existence as if trying to break free.

I exhaled sharply, then chuckled.

Most people would have run. But staring into that abyss, I could only laugh.

And the abyss? It stared back.

Before I could react, something was hurled from the sky.

A black figure shot down like a meteor, slamming into the earth with a force that sent tremors through the forest. The impact kicked up dust and debris, carving a deep crater into the ground.

I glanced back up. The gate to hell—or whatever it was—was gone.

I approached the crater cautiously, expecting to find some kind of monster. Instead, I found… a kid.

He was small—maybe my age—with strange, flowing black hair that almost looked like liquid. The air around him felt wrong—heavier, thicker like reality itself wasn't sure he belonged.

I crouched beside him, studying his unconscious form. No blood. No injuries. Just there, like he had always been part of this world.

I sighed, rubbing the back of my head.

"Well," I muttered, "guess I can't just leave you here." 

I sighed, staring down at the kid sprawled in the dirt. His hair was black—really black. Not like normal hair, but the kind of black that seemed to swallow light, like ink or the night sky without stars. He looked… off. Not just in the way he appeared, but in the way the air around him felt heavier, and thicker, like the forest itself didn't know what to do with him.

I nudged his arm with my foot. No reaction. His chest rose and fell, so he was breathing fine, but something about him made my instincts scream that he wasn't just some unconscious kid.

"Great," I muttered, rubbing the back of my head. "Just what I needed today—a mystery kid falling from the sky like some kind of omen."

I knelt beside him, tapping his face lightly. "Hey, wake up. You dead or just dramatic?"

Nothing.

I exhaled sharply. If I left him here, chances were something would kill him. Not my problem, technically, but something told me Zanas would be pissed if I ignored whatever this was.

"All right, mystery boy," I muttered, hooking my arms under him and hoisting him onto my back. "You better not wake up and try to stab me or something."

He was weirdly light. Not in an unhealthy way, just… unnatural. Like he weighed less than he should. I shook the thought away and started walking, making my way through the trees. The forest was quieter than before like the whole place was still recovering from that sky-tearing event.

I barely made it ten steps before I felt him stir. His fingers twitched against my shoulder. Then, before I could react, he moved.

Faster than he should've been able to.

I barely had time to shift my stance before he pushed off me, landing smoothly on his feet like he hadn't just crash-landed into the world moments ago.

I turned to face him, already gripping the hilt of my sword just in case.

His eyes locked onto mine. Black, deep, like staring into something bottomless. He didn't look scared, just… confused.

Then, he finally spoke.

"…Where am I?"

His voice was quiet, but it carried weight like it wasn't used to being ignored.

I crossed my arms, tilting my head. "You tell me. You're the one who fell out of a hole in the sky."

His gaze flickered upward as if he expected to still see it there. But the sky was normal again—normal enough, anyway.

"It's gone," he murmured.

"No kidding," I said, exasperated. "Mind explaining what that was? Or at least telling me your name?"

He hesitated. For a second, I thought he wasn't going to answer at all. Then, finally—

"Varian."

I raised a brow. "Just Varian?"

A slow nod. "I think so."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Alright, Varian. You got a home, family, anyone who's gonna come looking for you?"

Silence.

His fingers curled slightly like he was trying to hold onto something that wasn't there. Then, finally—

"I do not know."

Of course. Because why would this not be complicated?

I let out a long breath, staring at him for a moment before glancing at the darkened forest around us. I could already feel it in my gut—this kid wasn't normal, and whatever just happened wasn't random.

Still, I wasn't heartless. I couldn't just leave him here.

I shrugged. "Well, guess you're stuck with me for now."

Varian blinked at me, unreadable as ever. "...Why?"

I grinned, tossing an arm around his shoulder. "Because I love making my life harder obviously."

And with that, I dragged him along, already regretting whatever mess I was about to get myself into.

We walked in silence for a while, the only sound being the crunch of leaves under our feet. The air still felt thick, like the forest hadn't quite recovered from whatever had happened. I kept sneaking glances at Varian, but he didn't say much. Varian was about 150 cm a few inches shorter than me a black T-shirt and pants with black boots to complete the set they weren't in the best condition. He just followed, his movements unnaturally smooth, like he wasn't used to walking but had figured it out instantly.

Creepy.

"So," I started, breaking the silence, "you seriously don't remember anything? No family, no home, no tragic backstory?"

Varian looked at me, his expression unreadable. "I remember… fragments."

I waited, but he didn't continue.

"Right. Super helpful," I muttered, adjusting the sword at my waist. "You're really making me work for this, huh?" 

He didn't react; he just kept walking beside me like a shadow.

We reached the cave not long after, a small opening tucked away behind some thick vines. I'd used it a few times when I needed to get away from the noble life and just be alone, so I knew it was safe—at least, safer than being out in the open. I pulled the vines aside and gestured inside.

"Not exactly a castle, but it'll do for now."

Varian stepped in without hesitation, his eyes scanning the walls like he was mapping the place in his head. He moved like someone who had done this a hundred times before, despite claiming not to remember anything.

Suspicious.

I sat down against the cave wall, stretching my legs out in front of me. "So, what do you remember? Anything useful?"

Varian hesitated, then slowly sat down across from me. His black hair shifted like ink in water, and for a second, I swore it was moving on its own.

"There was… a voice," he finally said. "Calling me. Then falling."

I frowned. "A voice?"

He nodded, his fingers pressing lightly against his temple. "I do not remember what it said. Only that it was… familiar."

"That's not ominous at all," I muttered.

Varian didn't react, just kept staring at the ground like he was trying to put shattered pieces of something back together.

I sighed. "Well, looks like you're a lost cause."

His gaze flicked up to me. "I do not understand."

"It means you're hopeless," I said with a grin. "And since I don't have anything better to do, I guess I'll help you figure out where you came from."

Varian studied me for a long moment. Then, to my surprise, he nodded.

"Understood."

I blinked. "Wait, really? No argument?"

"You know more about this world than I do, so then it is logical to follow you."

I paused, raising a brow. "Huh. You're weird, you know that?"

Varian tilted his head slightly like he was considering it. Then, after a moment—

"Yes."

I laughed. "Well, at least you're self-aware."

He said nothing, just continued watching me with those bottomless black eyes.

I leaned my head back against the cave wall, exhaling. "Alright, mystery boy. Get some rest. We'll figure things out tomorrow."

Varian hesitated, then nodded. He didn't lie down, though—just sat perfectly still, eyes half-lidded but alert, like he was waiting for something.

I shook my head and closed my own eyes.

Whatever I'd just gotten myself into, I had a feeling it was only the beginning.