Chapter 136: Superhero!!
Pearl Villa – After Dinner, Living Room
The house was quiet except for the faint tick of the clock and the rustle of puzzle pieces sliding across the low table. Miles sat cross-legged on the floor, carefully fitting pieces together while Hope and Asher hovered beside him. Their little faces glowed with curiosity, half-watching him, half-lost in their own chatter.
"Big bro," Asher piped up suddenly, swinging his legs as he sat on the couch. "Teacher said a superhero saved the world."
Hope shook her head with mock authority. "No, Asher. She was a girl. Not a boy."
Miles smiled faintly, not looking up from the puzzle. "You both heard it right."
Asher leaned forward, his eyes wide. "I want to be a superhero too! Big bro, how can I get super powers?"
Hope scrunched her nose. "Super powers aren’t real, Asher."
Miles chuckled at the back-and-forth, sliding a piece into place. "If you really want superpowers," he said, his tone half-playful, half-serious, "you need to learn to be responsible. You have to be intelligent, strong... and most importantly, eat healthy vegetables."
Asher groaned dramatically, flopping back against the couch. "But I don’t like carrots!"
Hope quickly chimed in, crossing her arms. "And I don’t like cabbage."
Miles shook his head, pretending to be disappointed. "Then you’ll stay normal people, not superheroes."
Both twins gasped in mock horror.
"Wait, wait!" Asher sat up straight, thinking hard. "Is there any other way? Like... maybe a spider can bite me? Or I can drink a potion, like in the cartoons!"
Miles pretended to think, tapping his chin. "Hmm... maybe. But I’m pretty sure those potions are made from vegetables."
"Boring!" Hope said with a dramatic sigh, shaking her head. "Forget superpowers. I’ll just do a job instead. Big broo, will you hire me?"
Miles laughed softly, finally looking up at her. "Of course I will. But only if you study hard."
Hope puffed her cheeks and nodded firmly. "I will, big broo."
Before Asher could argue back, the distant sound of a car drifted through the window. The twins’ ears perked up.
Miles set down another puzzle piece and leaned back. "Looks like Mom and Dad are back."
"I’ll open the door!" Asher shouted, already hopping off the couch. His little feet pattered quickly across the floor as he ran to the entrance.
He yanked open the door with both hands. Daniel and Elena stood there, coats still on, a little weary from the day at the Atelier but smiling as soon as they saw him.
"Mama!" Asher exclaimed, tugging at her hand. "Will you make me a vegetable potion? I want to be a superhero!"
Elena blinked, caught off guard. "A what?"
"Vegetable potion!" Asher repeated earnestly.
Hope ran up, giggling. "Yes, Mama! He says he wants powers."
Elena’s eyes flicked toward Miles still sitting in the living room, and the pieces clicked together. She hid her smile and nodded. "Ohh, of course. I’ll make some."
Asher’s eyes lit up. "Please add carrots in it!"
Elena bent down, smoothing his hair with her hand. "Of course, dear. I’ll make it tomorrow."
"Thank you, Mama!" Asher wrapped his little arms around her waist, content with his future as a superhero.
Elena stepped inside, her eyes falling on Miles. He was still seated on the floor, hunched over the puzzle, carefully fitting the last few pieces. She tilted her head, amused.
"Should I buy toys for you too, son?" she teased.
Miles looked up with the faintest smile. "Really? Get me more puzzles. They keep me engaged."
Daniel chuckled as he hung up his coat. "I like puzzles too."
Elena rolled her eyes, laughing softly. "You too? Since when did you both turn into kids?"
Asher ran back into the room just as Miles pressed the final piece into place. The jigsaw lay completed on the table—a bright superhero, cape flaring, standing tall against a painted skyline.
"Finally!" Asher threw his arms up. "A superhero!"
Everyone’s eyes drifted to the puzzle.
Years Ago — Graveyard Forest Base
The night carried the smoky scent of campfire and spilled booze. Around the flames, mercenaries sang in rough voices, mugs clinking, laughter bouncing off the trees.
"To Sky!" one man shouted, raising his cup high. "For the success of her undercover mission!"
"Three years, huh?" Sky laughed, shaking her head. "Three years since I saw you like this, you old man. I missed this."
"Old?" the mercenary barked back, chest puffing. "I’m still young!"
The group erupted in drunken cheers. The warmth of the base, the faces she knew, made Sky feel like she had finally stepped back home.
Through the crowd came Ray, steady and tall, the firelight painting sharp shadows across his face. "Hey, Sky. Long time no see. Congratulations on your mission. The commander told me everything about your bravery."
"You never change, Ray." Sky smirked. "I heard the Commander made you second in command."
Ray shrugged, almost embarrassed. "Not exactly. The real second is... busy. I’m just filling in until then."
The men laughed again, music and clinking cups carrying into the night.
Sky let herself soak in the scene, until her eyes caught on someone out of place—a small boy, no older than ten, sitting apart on a rock, staring up at the stars.
Her voice softened. "Who’s that kid?"
Ray followed her gaze. "Him? We pulled him from a human trafficking ring. He lost his memories. We tried to find his parents, but... nothing. He’s been here since."
"Why’s he sitting there like that?"
Another mercenary shrugged. "Who knows? He does it every night. Just sits there, looking at the sky like he’s searching for something. But he’s a good kid."
Sky tilted her head. "What’s his name?"
Ray exhaled. "He doesn’t remember. We just call him ’little bud.’"
Sky chuckled. "You people... you should at least give him a name."
She excused herself from the fire and walked toward the boy. His small frame seemed swallowed by the vast night around him.
"Hello, little bud," she greeted gently.
The boy turned his head. His eyes were dark but sharp, old in a way that unsettled her. "Hello."
"What are you looking at?" Sky asked.
"The Hydra."
Sky blinked. "The what?"
He lifted a hand, pointing at the sky. "That constellation. Hydra. It looks like a serpent. Did you know it covers three percent of the sky?"
Sky leaned closer, following his finger. She squinted, then gasped softly. "Woah. You’re right. That part—it looks like a serpent’s head."
"Yes." His voice softened, but he didn’t look away. "It’s most visible in April."
Sky smiled faintly. "Then we’re lucky. Thank you for showing me."
For the first time, the boy’s lips twitched into the smallest smile.
Sky reached into her pocket, pulling out a tiny gem she kept as a charm. She held it out. "Here. You can have this."
He cupped it carefully. "Is this... a diamond?"
"I don’t know," she said honestly.
"Thank you," he whispered. He lifted his gaze to her again. "What’s your name, miss?"
Sky chuckled. "Miss? No one’s called me that before. I’m Sky."
The boy tilted his head back, eyes drifting to the stars above. "Sky..."
"They said you don’t have a name," she continued softly. "How about I give you one?"
"You can call me anything. I don’t really have an identity."
Sky studied him, this fragile child who looked like he carried a weight far too heavy. Her voice was gentle but firm. "Kai. I’ll call you Kai. It rhymes with mine—Sky and Kai."
The boy looked at her for a long moment, then nodded. "Thank you."
Miles jolted awake, breath short, eyes flicking to the morning light spilling through the curtains.
"Again," he muttered, rubbing his forehead. The dream lingered—the campfire, Sky’s smile, the stars.
But morning didn’t wait for dreams. He rose, stripped off his nightshirt, and stretched. Muscles tensed, scars shifted with the movement. It was time, like always, for exercise.
And so the past faded into sweat and breath, though its echo never truly left.
Three Days Later — Star Harbor
It had been three days since the Atropos incident. The panic that once strangled the globe was already slipping into memory. Markets ticked back into rhythm, traders shouted like they always did, and life flowed on as if the world hadn’t been seconds from disaster.
Miles sat in his office, leaning back in his chair with the phone pressed to his ear.
"Boss," Monica’s voice came through, crisp but edged with amusement, "Kyle’s gone underground. In the past three days, he hasn’t contacted a single soul. No calls, no visits. It’s like he doesn’t trust anyone anymore."
Miles’s lips curved faintly. "It was a big blow to him. Where’s he hiding?"
"At his private beach house, far from the Citadel. We still have eyes on the area."
"Good." Miles let out a quiet hum, tapping his desk once with his finger. "I hope he shows up at the family meeting next month. It won’t be fun otherwise."
There was a pause, then Monica chuckled. "You’re evil, boss."
"I can be evil to enemies," Miles replied evenly. His voice cooled. "This is personal. Payback’s still pending."
Monica’s tone sharpened with loyalty. "We’ll give him the payback he deserves, boss."
Miles nodded to himself. "Alright. Prepare a stay for Ray. He’s coming to Star Harbor."
"I’ll handle it. I’ll send the details to June."
"Thanks," Miles said, ending the call.
Star Harbor International Airport
The terminal was alive with its usual chaos—tourists dragging heavy bags, flight crews marching in formation, business travelers rushing with phones glued to their ears.
Through the crowd walked Commander Ray. His presence carried weight even in civilian clothes. Lines on his face, silver at his temples, but his posture was unshakable—each step measured, deliberate.
He wasn’t just the Graveyard’s commander. He was one of the most influential men straddling both the shadows of the underworld and the hidden chambers of governments. Whispers always followed him, but his name was rarely spoken in public.
Ray pulled out his phone and dialed.
"I’ve reached," he said simply.
On the other end, Miles’s voice was calm. "I’ve sent a pickup."
"Alright," Ray replied, ending the call. He slid the phone back into his coat pocket, eyes scanning the bustling crowd around him. Even here, even now, he stood like a man who’d walked through wars and expected another at any moment.