He's mother

The streets of Azorith were always busy in the late afternoons, with merchants shouting out their best deals, children running through the alleyways, and the occasional street performer trying to make a few coins from tourists. But in the midst of the bustling city, one figure stood out like a lone shadow in the daylight.

Kael Ardyn.

Tall, with a lean but strong frame, Kael was the type of man people couldn't help but stare at. He was effortlessly attractive, his sharp jawline and high cheekbones giving him an air of nobility, while his deep blue eyes, the color of an ocean under a storm, held a coldness that sent shivers down the spine of anyone who dared look too long. His dark, slightly tousled hair only added to the mystery.

And yet, despite his striking appearance, he was completely unapproachable.

Kael had never been the type to seek attention. He walked alone, spoke only when necessary, and never smiled. People whispered about him, trying to understand why someone so mesmerizing carried such a heavy aura of indifference.

And today was no different.

As he walked through the streets, heading toward the small store at the corner of the market, he caught the voices of a few girls nearby.

"He's so handsome… but why is he always alone?"

"I know, right? He looks like a prince out of a storybook. But he never talks to anyone."

"It's such a waste… I bet he's cold-hearted."

Kael didn't react. He had heard these kinds of comments before. Praise mixed with disappointment. Admiration turned to frustration. It was always the same.

People liked beautiful things, but they hated when those beautiful things didn't care about them.

With a blank expression, Kael pushed open the door to the small shop. The scent of fresh herbs and dried goods filled the air as he stepped inside. The old wooden shelves were lined with all sorts of items—bags of flour, spices in small glass jars, and baskets filled with freshly baked bread.

The shopkeeper, a plump woman in her forties, smiled as he approached the counter.

"Ah, Kael! Here to pick up some things for your mother?" she asked warmly.

He gave a short nod. "Milk, bread, and some herbs."

The woman waved a hand. "Of course, dear. Give me a moment."

As she turned to gather the items, Kael's attention was caught by a hushed conversation nearby.

A group of older women stood by the shelf of dried meats, their voices low but filled with unease.

"Another body was found last night," one of them whispered.

"That's the third one this week," another added, shaking her head.

"Something unnatural is happening. The wounds… they're not normal. The bodies look like they were drained of blood."

Kael's brow furrowed slightly. He wasn't the type to be interested in rumors, but the way they spoke—fear laced in every word—made him pause.

"The elders say it could be an old curse coming back," the first woman continued. "Strange things have been happening ever since that storm last month… the one that shook the whole village."

The other woman nodded. "It's not just the murders. Animals have been restless, people have been having strange dreams, and the air feels… wrong."

Kael turned away, disinterested. It had nothing to do with him.

At that moment, the shopkeeper returned, setting the items on the counter. "Here you go, dear."

Kael handed her the money, took the bag, and left without another word.

As he stepped outside, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm golden hue over the buildings. The streets were still lively, but there was an undercurrent of tension in the air—as if the entire village was waiting for something to happen.

But Kael didn't care.

Let the world burn, let the heavens fall.

As long as it didn't affect him, it wasn't his problem.

Kael walked back home, and as soon as Kael stepped through the door of their modest home, the scent of herbal medicine lingering in the air. The moment his eyes landed on his mother, a rare warmth flickered across his face. His cold expression softened, and a handsome smile tugged at his lips.

His mother, Lyria Ardyn, sat on the small wooden couch by the window, wrapped in a faded blanket. Despite the paleness of her skin and the tiredness in her eyes, she still carried the elegance of the woman he had always known—strong, kind, and the only person who ever mattered to him.

She smiled as soon as she saw him. "My baby."

Kael rolled his eyes but didn't hide his amusement. "Mom, I'm not a kid anymore."

Lyria laughed lightly, but then her gaze fell to the bag in his hands. "Did you buy me something again?"

Kael nodded. "Milk, bread, and some herbs. I thought they might help you feel better."

His mother's smile wavered slightly. She had been sick for a long time now, and though she never openly said it, Kael knew how much she hated being a burden.

Kael had taken up part-time jobs since finishing high school, doing everything from working in a mechanic shop to delivering packages, just to pay for their bills. Money was always tight, but he never complained.

Lyria patted the seat next to her, and he sat down. "Kael, have you thought about college? You're brilliant, you could do anything you wanted."

Kael's expression darkened slightly. "I'm not going to college."

Lyria sighed. "Kael, you can't put your life on hold for me."

He turned to her, his blue eyes piercing yet gentle, a rare sight for anyone but her. "I'm not leaving you alone. Who would take care of you?"

She opened her mouth to protest, but he shook his head.

"You're not a burden, Mom." He reached for her frail hands and knelt before her. "And you never will be."

She looked down at him, her eyes filled with both love and sadness.

Kael knew the story well. His father had disappeared days after he was born because of his blue eyes—eyes that no one else in the village had.

Some people called him beautiful.

Others called him a monster.

He never cared. None of them mattered.

Only his mother did.

Lyria reached up and cupped his face. "You've always been a good boy, Kael."

He gently pulled away and stood up, heading toward the kitchen. "Enough of that. I'm going to cook the herbs. You need to eat."

From the kitchen, he teased her, "You already have the best son in the world, what else could you possibly ask for?"

His mother chuckled. "Oh, I don't know, maybe a son who listens to me?"

Kael smirked. "Keep talking like that, and I might run away from home and never come back."

Lyria laughed.

Their house wasn't much—small, old, but cozy. They had never been rich, just average people living in a world that never gave them much.

But Kael was okay with that.

He had chosen not to have friends. Not to let anyone in.

Because if his own father couldn't stay by his side, then who else would?

Only his mother had ever stayed.

And for her, he would do anything.

Even move mountains and rivers if she asked him to.