A car pulled up to an automated gate. A house with chiseled pillars occupied the other side. Fish swam in the lake beside it, encircled by professionally clipped shrubbery.

  After the man unlocked the gate with the keypad, he took a sip of his diet soda before driving through, still reflecting on the conversation he had half an hour ago.

  "You sure are interesting, Hezekiah. But how do you plan to move now? Sell out the organization or fall with them?"

  As he was driving down the driveway, he saw a few children playing on the porch, along with a woman who held a small baby in her arms. Her dress was white and simple, and yet she was still a sight to behold.

  Two of the little girls were hopping on numbered squares, while a boy was drawing something on his notepad, completely lost in his own world.

  After he parked his car outside the garage, he exited with the groceries. The woman was already approaching him with a warming smile.

  "You look happy today," she said.

  He walked past her after giving a kiss on the cheek.

  "I am home after all." He glanced over to his two daughters who were playing hopscotch, arguing about whether one has to start over if they touch the line.

  "Hehe, they didn't give you too much trouble, did they?" he asked.

  "Of course not. I'm their mother after all darling. Maybe you should learn how to calm them down when I'm not around," she playfully responded, following right beside him.

  "We don't share the same talents, but even more the reason why you're perfect for me."

  She shoved him on the shoulder. "Stop trying to flirt me up." She laughed, her chest mushy.

  Fyinn's attention was drawn to the little baby in her arms—already asleep. His lips slightly curved, remembering how cute he was when he entered their lives.

  "I believe you two have spent enough time with each other."

  "Huh?"

  Before she could respond, he was already reaching over. Although she was almost caught off guard by his sneak attack, she couldn't bring herself to erase that affectionate gaze of his.

  "Aren't you forgetting something?" she questioned, giving a glance at his hands.

  "I'm not holding that many bags Kura. See, I can hold them all in one hand."

  "Mommy and Daddy! It's a deer!" one of the daughters shouted, already running toward it.

  "A deer!? Wait, Piana, don't get close to it!" Kura warned, hastily chasing after her.

  Fyinn noticed a rustle in the bushes. A deer spurred from behind, running into the open field. His daughter continued to give chase, like a wolf chasing a rabbit.

  Our property is completely fenced off. Did it squeeze in before the gate closed? But I didn't see anything in the rearview mirror.

  He was always careful if anyone was following him, especially if someone tried to follow him through their gate. So he wasn't sure how he could've missed such a large animal.

  "Alright, you troublemakers, go inside and wash up. Dinner is golden glazed steak tonight!" Fyinn declared, swaying the bags.

  "Heh? Glaze!? Papa is awesome!!" one of the daughters cheered. She hopped down the tiles like a rabbit before skipping to the house with a bright smile.

  "Juey! You touched the line again! Stop cheating!" Ohara followed after her older sister, upset that she wasn't even listening.

  Fyinn chuckled.

  A notebook closing caught his attention.

  "Isn't Mom vegan? She's going to be mad again," a boy commented, taking off his shoes before he stepped inside.

  Fyinn waved him off, smirking like he had a plan.

  "Exactly why I got it."

  Besar's brows heightened before shaking his head in disbelief.

  "You're weird." He entered inside and closed the door behind him.

  "Hehehe, that makes four of us."

  He saw his wife running down the field, trying to catch up to Piana. The deer ran in zigzag motions as if it was playing tag.

  She needs to be careful when she goes out to run errands. I'll let her know after dinner.

  After taking off his shoes and setting them on the rack, he entered the house.

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  Kura lagged behind her daughter, slowing her pace until she reached a certain spot in the field. Traces of a red substance tipped the grass, forming a trail back to where the deer stood previously.

  The copper scent drifted through the air, but her expression didn't change. She hugged the baby closer to her chest, following the source.

  "It obviously wanted me to come here. This better not be a waste of time," she whispered, bristling through her son's hair.

  The second she saw the deer, she noticed the blood prints immediately. If they were more pronounced, her husband would've noticed right away. Fortunately, her eyes were keener than his.

  "At least it was smart enough to draw the little one away so I can investigate. So what is it that you want me to see?"

  The stench of blood grew sharper as she drew closer to the bush, until her foot stepped on something soft.

  "An arm?"

  Peering over the bush, the body of a man came into view. His stomach was burrowed through, the fear still etched in his face as he lay lifeless.

  Intruder?

  A dim cold gnawed in her stomach.

  How long has he been watching? Why did he break in? How did I not notice?

  It's been years since she involved herself with these vain matters. Have my senses gotten dull?

  She touched the corpse. It flickered rapidly before transitioning to a translucent-like state.

  Her eyebrows raised.

  Camouflage? Why... why is he wearing this?

  Years of memories flashed by upon seeing the device active. This wasn’t the work of ordinary technology—but from a world she severed ties with.

  Although she had no clue why he was here, an ordinary person shouldn't be running around with a Huska Tool.

  At least Hyuzz neutralized this stain. Which reminds me, how is that crazy boy doing? It's been too long.

  She smiled softly. A memory of a little creature flashed through her mind, its tendrils draping over her arms when she first gave birth to him.

  BANG! BANG!

  "What!?" Gunshots came from within the house. Windows shattered as more shots were fired. The baby sprang open its delicate eyes, which began to water, before the field was filled with its cries.

  Kura didn't waste any time and bolted with inhuman speed, shielding her child from the cutting wind. Its cries grew louder. Kura's chest stiffened. She reached the house in a moment, noticing the other two children weren't in sight.

  She checked her baby without delay. A relieved sigh followed after seeing no harm done.

  "I apologize for waking you, my little angel."

  She then muttered something in his ear. A deep drowsiness swept through him, ceasing his cries immediately, swiftly taking him to slumber.

  "That's better." She firmed her gaze on the door.

  There are more of them? Have my adversaries finally found me?

  She struck her fist against the door, shattering it into pieces.

  Blood was on the floor.

  "Kura?" Fyinn muttered, his tone uncertain. He lay wounded on the wooden boards, grasping his stomach as he stared at the wood fragments.

  "How did you—"

  "Who did this to you?" she cut him off. A purple aura enveloped her hand like a blade. She scanned the surroundings, searching for any ripples through the air.

  Fyinn's eyes widened, perplexed by what he was seeing. He tried to formulate his thoughts, but nothing made sense.

  He saw something, but it was hard to describe. It was as if space itself was distorting. And before he knew it, he was wounded.

  He noticed a bullet hole in the wall. Fortunately, one of them was a missed shot, but he could tell where the shot was probably fired from.

  "Forget that! Get the kids and run!" Fyinn shouted. He placed his hand on a low table, hastily lifting himself up.

  Kura's expression didn't change. She saw him draw his gun from his holster, looking back toward the kitchen.

  "Where are they?" she replied.

  Something grasped deep inside him after he heard her response. Someone broke into the house, and now his kids were missing. It all happened before he had a chance to do anything. He couldn't understand how he missed all of it.

  "I don't know! Maybe they went to the bathroom upstairs this time!"

  Kura let the silence sit, watching his micromovements in curious focus. He blinked rapidly, sweat covered his face while miniature pulses beat throughout his arms and chest. He waited, giving her a look like she lacked common sense.

  But it wasn't worth taking it to heart. She would act like this too if it was her child that was missing.

  "I know one of them is secure, but... the threat must be erased first. Wait here."

  "Why are you talking like—"

  Vibrations coursed throughout his skin until a purple glassy dome immediately surrounded him.

  "Damn!" he stumbled back in surprise, bumping against it. "Ho-how are you able to do all this?"

  She didn't answer and made her way to the kitchen while still holding her baby.

  "Hey! Are you insane? What are you doing!?"

  She continued ahead, stepping through the kitchen's entryway.

  There are at least two more intruders alive. One of them obviously shot Fyinn, and the other is responsible for the other children.

  Even before Kura entered the house, she found it strange how she didn't hear screaming at all when the gun was fired. She also believed Fyinn noticed this as well, despite his state.

  It suggests they were either killed and hidden, or stealthily taken somewhere before he entered the house.

  No, that's too extreme. But I should prepare for the worst. Of course, best case scenario—they were too frightened to make a sound.

  "They're quick and organized..." she whispered.

  She calmly continued through the kitchen, her steps casual like it was any other day. At a glance, everything seemed normal, but that only confirmed what she was already thinking.

  No Abna Energy? Her lips curved.

  Another ordinary human wearing a half-baked invisibility cloak? And here I was hoping to be a little surprised.

  Her sight locked to a corner by the table counter. A near-invisible mirage shifted, like it knew it had been discovered.

  She held up her aura-shielded hand. The mirage bolted, but Kura was quicker and immediately cut through its leg.

  "Aughh!!" The camouflage dissipated, revealing a woman with white clothing and black floral decorations. Her face contorted with agony, the gash reaching deep into the bone.

  "Silence."

  Thin threads of purple sprayed from the girl's mouth, sewing her lips. Her screams were muffled, eyes jittery as she viewed the woman before her in terror.

  Kura softly poked the baby's cheek. "It's still his nap time. Don't give me another headache. Hmmm? Where's your gun?"

  A gun clicked behind her. Before she realized what was going on, a loud bang sent her into darkness.