Kael returned to his room, letting the door close behind him with a soft thud. The quiet was almost oppressive after the conversation with Alenia. Her words echoed in his mind—uncertainties wrapped in gentle encouragement, questions about trust, destiny, and what kind of man he wanted to become. His thoughts churned as he sat on the edge of the bed, eyes fixed on the floor.
It was evening in this world now. That meant it was morning back on Earth.
Kael stood and took a deep breath.
He reached out, mentally activating the portal. With a low hum and a shimmering ripple in the air, the doorway between worlds opened before him. He stepped through.
Kael emerged into the familiar gloom of his grandfather's basement on Earth.
It was still early. Kael glanced at his phone. 7:12 a.m.
He made his way up the stairs, quietly stepping into the empty house.
He had sold almost everything in the other world. He needed to buy new supplies.
He grabbed a quick breakfast—just toast and coffee—before getting dressed in a simple hoodie and jeans.
He came out and rode his bicycle to Martha's shop, although he had no intention of buying anything from there.
He had bought a lot of goods from Martha's shop before. So if he bought a lot of goods again now, it might raise suspicion. He couldn't tell them about the other world. So he thought about going to the city and buying the goods instead.
He had already told Eli about this.
Within minutes, he reached the main road, where he saw Eli standing there, leaning casually against his small, battered mini-truck. Eli spotted him and waved.
"So, boy, you're here now," Eli called.
Kael slowed to a stop and offered a small smile. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
"No problem. Get in the car. We've got a long drive ahead."
Kael parked his bike along the side wall of Martha's shop. The door creaked open and the old woman herself stepped out, wiping her hands on an apron.
"Be safe, boys!" she called with a warm smile.
"Thanks, Grandma!" Kael called back.
Kael climbed into the truck's passenger seat, adjusting his backpack.
They rolled out of the neighborhood, engine humming as they took the narrow road leading to the main highway. Eli drove in silence for a few minutes, his eyes fixed on the road. Then he spoke.
"You haven't checked your phone today, have you?"
Kael blinked. "No. Why?"
Eli chuckled, tapping the steering wheel. "Your family's in the news, kid. All over it."
Kael sat up straighter. "What?"
"Your uncle Damian and aunt Eleanor filed a formal lawsuit against your grandfather's lawyer—Daniel Saito. They're claiming the will was a forgery. Say the 91% donation was part of a conspiracy."
Kael's chest tightened. "What kind of conspiracy?"
"According to the news report," Eli said, "they're accusing Saito of professional misconduct, fraud, and asset misappropriation. Damian says the will was doctored—swapped out after your grandfather died. Eleanor claims the signature doesn't match. They're demanding a forensic analysis and want to freeze the estate assets pending trial."
Kael stared out the window. "Where did all this come from?"
Eli shrugged. "Well, Damian's legal team gave an official press statement this morning. It's trending now—#LancasterLegacy. Apparently, the bulk of the inheritance went to two places: a research foundation no one's heard of, and a private orphanage registered in another country. Damian's lawyers are calling them 'shell organizations' with no verifiable operations."
Kael's thoughts raced.
Orphanage and research center…
Could it be? That orphanage?
He didn't say it out loud.
Eli gave him a long look. "They're saying the lawyer—Saito—might've created the entire thing. That he funneled the money to himself through fake charities."
Kael shook his head. "That's not true. As far as I know, Saito was a very trusted person to my grandfather."
Ah, they've gone crazy for money. When Grandpa was sick, none of them were there for him. Now they've all gone crazy for his money. If anyone has the right to receive this money, it should be me. But my grandfather has already given me the most valuable thing.
Eli exhaled, flicking his cigarette out the window. "Just be careful. Money makes people crazy. Losing money? That makes them dangerous. When rich people lose money, they don't grieve—they dig. They hire the best to dig for them."
Kael nodded silently.
"My grandfather gave everything he had to causes he believed in," Kael muttered. "They weren't there when he needed them. Not once. But now they're acting like they deserve a share."
Eli shrugged. "That's the game, kid. Doesn't matter what's right—it matters what you can prove."
They drove on in silence, the suburban sprawl slowly giving way to city outskirts. Traffic picked up. Kael spotted the familiar skyline looming ahead.
They finally reached a commercial zone on the edge of the city. Eli pulled into a small parking lot near a wide, well-stocked supermarket.
"Okay," Eli said. "Buy whatever you need from here. I'll finish my errands and be back in two hours. Just stay around here, alright?"
"Got it," Kael replied.
Eli hesitated for a moment, then added, "Be careful. Things are gonna get messy."
With that, he drove off, the mini-truck rumbling away into traffic.
Kael stood there for a moment, taking in the noise of the city. It was jarring after the stillness of the other world. The honks, the chatter, the distant sirens—it all felt... loud.
He adjusted the straps on his backpack and checked his phone.
News headlines filled the screen:
LANCASTER LEGACY LAWSUIT SHOCKS NATION91% of Billionaire's Estate Missing – Where Did It Go?Experts Question the Legitimacy of the TrustIs the "Aetherian Institute" Even Real?Suspicious Donations: Research Lab Receives Massive Estate GiftLegal Experts Weigh In: Was the Will Altered?
Kael turned off the screen and shoved the phone deep into his pocket.
He didn't want attention here. He didn't want to be dragged into this world's spotlight.
He had enough problems in the other one.
Then, he heard it.
A voice calling from behind.
He turned.