Sydrala was happily eating delicious food with her small, lovely white teeth when suddenly Sadako's voice reached her ears, making even the taste of her food seem bland.
In a calm tone, Sadako spoke to Sydrala, balancing her words without raising or lowering her voice,
"Sydrala, where did you meet this man? This question keeps running in my mind, and I want to know the truth from you."
Sydrala knew that if she told the truth, it would not be any better for her, and even if she lied, her uncle would find out the truth somehow. So, she decided it was best to speak honestly, but she wasn't so innocent as to tell the whole impartial truth; thus, she thought she should add a pinch of black tea leaves to the milk-like truth.
"Umm... Uncle, that man... I found him on the road where going is forbidden, but I didn't bring him from that road . There were two men who brought him... I just took him to the hospital for you."
(Now who will tell uncle that it was actually me — a delicate and sweet girl — who carried that heavy man on her shoulder with that crazy Cam...)
Sadako looked at her face. Like always, Sydrala's little mind could never read his uncle mind — no one could understand what was going on inside it , and today was no different.
I'm a little scared... but also happy, because I feel like Uncle believed me. Yesss!
Sadako looked at her and calmly asked,
"So, Freya... who took Cam for help... on that road?"
"So, Freya... who brought Cam along to help on that road?"
Hearing those words, the flutter of joy that had just begun to rise in Sydrala's heart fell silent—now replaced by the flutter of fear.
"Oh no, I didn't even think of that!" she panicked inside.
How will I explain how Cam got there? I'll have to say something... Uncle's looking right at me. Of course he is. He asked me the question, didn't he? Obviously, he's expecting the answer from me...
"Umm… Cam was just passing by that way too," she began.
"And you know how kind Cam is, right? When he saw me and those two men helping that injured man, his heart just melted, and he came forward to help us too."
(Hmph! Cam is the most irritating and foolish boy I've ever seen! His heart melts? Seriously? What nonsense.)
Sadako thought to himself,
"That place is forbidden… and these people are strolling around there like it's some kind of carnival."
"So… it took four people to lift one man?" Sadako asked Sydrala, without a trace of emotion on his face.
Now what should I say?
Uncle, if you had just shown a little anger on your face, maybe I wouldn't be this scared. But this calm expression… this is what's frightening me the most.
"Uncle… umm… one of the men was kind of short and a bit bulky, and his arms were small, so he couldn't hold the injured man properly… that's why Cam stepped in to help us."
Sadako kept looking at her.
Her strange, silly answers made him want to smile, but he knew one thing—going to that road was dangerous for anyone.
He had already lost everything else. But he couldn't afford to lose Sydrala.
So, Sadako said again, gently but firmly:
"Sydrala… you know Cam already told me the truth.
But if you still want to lie to me… you can go ahead."
Hearing this, Sydrala froze on the spot.
What?! Cam told him?
She suddenly felt the strong urge to play WWE with Cam right now.
That idiot! I only took his help for one small thing and he couldn't even stay loyal to that? He's going to get it. Seriously, such a fool… he'll get beaten up.
But right now, she had to focus on saving herself.
She was so lost in her emotions that she didn't even realize she was mumbling these thoughts out loud—loud enough for Sadako to hear.
Sadako spoke calmly:
"Sydrala, you don't need to play WWE with him.
Because Cam didn't come to me himself. I was the one who asked him.
And even then, he told me the truth… only after a lot of hesitation."
Sydrala mumbled under her breath,
"But Uncle… I had told him not to say anything…"
Sadako looked at her and said calmly,
"Sydrala, Cam did the right thing by telling me.
There's no need for you to blame him.
Now tell me—why did you go to that road all alone, in such heavy rain?
I had told you clearly to stay away from that path… and that place."
"Uncle… I wasn't going to that road," Sydrala replied quickly,
"I was just passing by… and then I heard someone groaning in pain.
You're the one who taught me that we should help anyone in need."
Sadako was slightly taken aback by her words—but didn't show it on his face.
Instead, he asked gently,
"Sydrala… but why were you passing through there at all?
You know that place is forbidden.
Only a few, very important people are allowed to go there.
You did a brave thing by helping that man…
But you could've gotten hurt too.
And I promised your mother… that I would never let anything happen to you."
At the mention of her mother, the light in Sydrala's eyes dimmed.
There was a sudden quiet sadness on her face.
"Uncle," she said softly,
"You're the one who always told me that I should grow up to be like my mother…
And I am trying. I'm becoming like her… and like you too.
But if my actions upset you, then I'm sorry, Uncle."
Seeing her like that, Sadako's tone softened even more.
He said,
"Sydrala, there's no need to say sorry.
Just… from now on—
never go to that place alone again."
"Now finish your meal," Sadako said.
Sydrala began eating again.
His words had calmed her a little.
As she ate, she glanced toward her uncle.
Her uncle… he was truly very handsome.
But even now, he had never married.
He didn't even have a girlfriend.
There were so many girls who were crazy about him—
after all, he was not only beautiful,
but also wise, well-known,
and yes… a little rich too.
Still, who he wanted… no one knew.
But Sydrala had a feeling—
her uncle liked Dr. Kagi.
And just by looking at Dr. Kagi,
anyone could tell—
she liked Dr. Sadako very much.
Well… how could she not?
Her uncle was great.
But… my mother…
I've never seen her.
Just a few flickering images in my memory—nothing more.
My family… is only one person—Dr. Sadako.
And I can't bear to see him hurt.
After finishing the meal,
Sydrala cleaned the table,
while Sadako washed the dishes.
Sydrala gave her uncle a soft goodnight,
then quietly went to her room and fell asleep.
Sadako, too, went to his own room—
but not a trace of sleep touched his eyes.
The man was badly wounded, and his condition was grave.
Was this work also of the same country?
This city was one of the largest in our land,
but this part of it felt no less than a cursed place.
Once the man regained some strength,
it would be necessary to ask him some questions.
No trace was found of his home or anything else.
Beyond this, many worries churned inside him.
He rose slowly from the bed
and, with light footsteps, moved toward the roof.
The sky was clear,
and the pale moon had spread its silver light,
wrapping the entire dark sky in a white glow.
A quiet peace prevailed—
a silence terrifying to the faint-hearted,
but for Sadako, it was solace, a balm to his soul.
He rested his hands against the ceiling
and gazed toward the moon.
A gentle cool breeze began to stir.
Only the rustling of leaves
and the sound of his breath filled the stillness,
which Sadako listened to quietly.
Sydrala is growing up fast.
This is her final year at school.
She's wiser than many her age,
yet, like me, she often feels lonely inside.
I want her to live her childhood and those blossoming youth days fully—
to have a youthful sparkle in her life.
So that when she looks back on these days someday,
they remain bright memories she cherishes.
I don't want her to ever feel alone or hurt.
I know she cares for me deeply,
and that care might hold her back from going far next year.
But I want Sydrala to become a strong person,
to stand on her own feet,
and to fulfill the dreams she holds in her heart.
For that, I will always stand by her side.
Yet...
I have never been able to give her the happiness she truly deserved.
Neither have I been a good uncle to her, nor a true friend.
Sadako felt a deep weariness,
a heaviness pressing down on his shoulders and his head—
like sleep was pulling at him.
But when he lay down on his bed,
sleep eluded him completely.
He gazed at the moon.
Then took out his phone
and noticed a notification flashing.
It said that from country "Remne", the youngest son of the country's richest and most influential family,
had just been appointed as the warden of the most powerful and secretive special army force—OBSIDIAN.
This was the biggest trending news right now.
Sadako played a video in which a tall, muscular young man was being awarded a title.
More than half of the people standing there were applauding.
When Sadako looked closely,
he noticed the young man wore a black mask over his face,
marked with an X,
completely hiding his identity.
Why did he wear that mask over his face?
Why was no one saying anything?
Isn't this an insult to the post?
Sadako also noticed a name flashing on the screen—
the young man's name:
Kryos Ven Darion.