May 2011 — Warm afternoon in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois
Months later, sunlight filtered through the kitchen blinds, painting golden lines on the floor. Debbie wore an apron, slicing strawberries for a pie, when Mark walked in — backpack slung over one shoulder and the look of someone carrying the weight of the world... or at least a bad grade.
"Hey, Mom."
"Hey, sweetie." Debbie smiled without pausing her slicing. "How was school?"
"Fine."
She stopped. Peered over her glasses with that look that shattered any attempt at pretending.
"Mark..."
He let out a defeated sigh and dropped into a chair.
"Mrs. Danvers found out I didn't do the science paper... But Kai kinda covered for me. He talked to her before class, said I forgot my materials at home, and she gave me another day."
Debbie raised an eyebrow, put down the knife, and sat across from him.
"Mark..."
"I know, I know. It was wrong. But... it was just this once."
"And if Kai hadn't been there?"
Mark looked down, fidgeting with his backpack zipper, trying to come up with a less awful excuse.
Debbie tugged gently on a lock of his hair, playful.
"Sweetie, I love how you two look out for each other. Really. But there's a difference between helping and keeping someone from growing. Kai is amazing, but you can't use him as a shield."
Mark bit his lower lip and nodded.
"It's just that... everything feels easier when he's around."
"That's because he's practical. Smart. But he needs his own space too. And you — yours."
Silence lingered for a few seconds. Mark looked out the window where the sky settled into a shy blue of late afternoon.
"He says he doesn't mind... but I know he notices everything. Even when I'm too quiet."
"It's his way of showing he cares."
"He's like a... ninja robot pretending not to care, but he actually cares more than anyone."
Debbie laughed.
"That's pretty close to the truth, honestly."
Mark stood and grabbed a glass of water.
"He acts distant, but last month when a kid shoved me in PE, Kai grabbed the ball and 'accidentally' hit him right in the face. It didn't feel like a 12-year-old's throw."
Debbie crossed her arms, amused, watching her son fondly.
"Even when trying to stay distant, he always looks out for you."
Mark drank and leaned against the counter.
"Sometimes, it feels like his mind is somewhere else. Not here. Not school. Not us."
Debbie hesitated, thoughtful.
"Maybe it is. Sometimes when I look at him... I get the feeling he's carrying something heavy. But he holds it in like he doesn't want to burden anyone."
Mark went quiet. Then smiled softly.
"But he's my brother. And I'm here too."
Debbie touched his cheek with care.
"I know, sweetie. And that helps more than you think."
At that moment, Kai entered the kitchen — hood up despite being indoors, the tied-up hair barely hidden beneath. Debbie noticed.
"Kai, want a slice of pie?"
"Later. I'm... monitoring some things." — he said, avoiding her gaze.
Mark pointed at him.
"You're hiding your hair again."
Debbie frowned slightly, suspicious.
"That's true... Kai, what is it? You use bleach instead of shampoo again?" she said with a teasing smile.
Kai shrugged.
"Genetic modesty. Early gray hair. Maybe Viltrumites age faster."
Mark laughed, but Debbie kept watching him closely.
"If it's stress, you better tell me, okay?"
Kai turned to leave but murmured on his way out:
"It's the kitchen light, Mom... If it's anything serious... you'll be the first to know."
And just like that, he vanished up the stairs — light-footed like a shadow.
Mark and Debbie were silent.
She picked up the bowl of strawberries and sighed.
"He always says what needs to be said... but never what he feels."
"It's his way," Mark replied. "But he does feel. I know he does."
And in that mild late afternoon, between strawberries and unspoken truths, mother and son understood — without needing words — that Kai might never be like the others...
But he was still theirs. Despite the changes he tried to hide, despite the quiet shadows he carried, he was part of something — something bigger than his own worries. And no matter how far he drifted, his bond with Mark and Debbie remained unbreakable.
Later that day...
Debbie walked to the twins' room, determined to bring up something that had been weighing on her: the thin line between right and wrong — something she always tried to teach, but now felt like the right moment, with the growing bond of protection between the boys.
She knocked.
"Can I come in?" Debbie asked.
Mark shouted from inside.
"Sure, Mom!"
Debbie approached and sat at the edge of Mark's bed.
"I know you boys are growing up... fast. But always remember: right and wrong aren't always obvious, and some choices have consequences you might not even imagine." — she looked at Mark, then at Kai, as if her words were meant for both.
Mark, ever laid-back, replied playfully:
"I think right is when you win, and wrong is when you lose. Simple as that."
Debbie shook her head but smiled, knowing that was just Mark being Mark.
"Life's not that simple, sweetie. Even the smallest decisions can shape what comes after. And Kai..." — she paused for a second, knowing how he often hid behind silence — "You've been responsible all this time, always quiet. But know that I'm always here for you. No matter what."
Kai looked at her for a moment and, without much fanfare, replied in his usual calm, detached voice:
"I know, Mom." — That was all he said, before adding, as he placed a hand on her shoulder — "I'll drill some sense into Mark so he won't forget his assignments again."
"Hey! That's not fair," Mark complained, laughing.
"Alright, Kai. And you, Mark, make sure you start looking after Kai too," said Debbie, smiling warmly.
She hugged them both, then stood and headed for the door.
Before leaving, Debbie looked back — letting her eyes linger briefly on Kai, filled with a mix of worry and understanding. She knew her son was carrying something heavy, something he wasn't ready to share.
New Heroes
May 2011 — Global Defense Agency
A new generation of heroes was being trained — the foundation of a coming era. They were different — younger, more impulsive, but already bearing the weight of the responsibilities all heroes eventually face.
Inside GDA headquarters, a new training session was underway. Viktor Ramsay — known as Vortex — was sweating through a drill with a group of new recruits. Young, cocky, and reckless, Viktor didn't seem to care much for the rules the GDA tried to instill. His power allowed him to manipulate wind — to bend air currents at will. He was still learning how to wield it properly.
"If I'm faster than the wind, nothing can hit me, right?" — Viktor asked, raising a gust toward a target, only to be caught by a controlled turbulence that disrupted his aim.
His trainer, a GDA veteran called Mirage, observed the session with a sharp eye. She didn't look impressed.
"That's not how you control the wind, Viktor. You need to understand — your power isn't just brute force. You have to use it with precision. Instead of destroying everything, think about how you can protect the innocent."
Viktor rolled his eyes, but deep down, he knew she was right. Even if he always joked around, he held a certain respect for the older heroes — and for the discipline required to master his abilities.
Nearby, Jenny Hart — Reflex, the girl who could transform into a series of reflective duplicates — watched quietly. She was calmer, more composed than Viktor. She already knew her ability would be crucial in future missions.
"You're too impatient, Viktor. Let time do its job," she said, her voice steady, as she created copies of herself floating in formation, testing evasive patterns and misdirection.
Viktor chuckled but didn't answer. He knew she was right.
Unlike him, Jenny had already started to understand how to control her clones and use them strategically — something he had yet to figure out.
The GDA was preparing these young recruits to face what was coming. But as always, their internal struggles echoed into every mission, every training session — a reminder that power meant nothing without purpose.
First Appearance
May 22, 2011 — 5:00 a.m., Chicago, Illinois
It was 5 a.m. The city of Chicago was quiet, as always during the early hours. The dim light of dawn reflected off the sidewalks still wet from the previous night's rain.
Kai, his hair completely white due to excessive use of his powers during training with Cosmic, hurried down the street toward a 24-hour pharmacy. The all-night training had turned his hair whiter than snow, and he needed a quick solution to avoid any suspicion.
He entered the pharmacy without drawing attention, bought a box of hair dye to cover up the damage, and with it in hand, made his way back, already planning how to hide what had happened. He was trying to keep life as normal as possible — something increasingly difficult with his powers and the growing weight of his secret.
But before he could return home, something shattered the monotony of the cold morning.
Just as the night was ending, an explosion echoed down the street. Kai froze. It was loud enough to shake the city's calm. Strong — more than enough to draw his attention — but there was no time to hesitate.
He looked toward the source of the sound, that familiar urge pushing at him again. Even knowing he should stay on the sidelines... he ran. Activating his Six Eyes mid-sprint, they shimmered subtly as he scanned everything around him. When he got close, he saw the local bank partially destroyed, the front door blown open, and three armed men rushing out with bags of cash. They were laughing, celebrating the heist.
Kai quickly hid in the shadows near a wall, observing. The men were too distracted to notice him. The bank seemed empty, no witnesses. The street was still deserted, the explosion's echoes lingering.
The first man held a plasma gun, grinning as he pointed it to the sky, bragging like a child.
"This might just be the best day ever, huh?" — he laughed.
The second man, more nervous, clutched a bag of money, glancing around anxiously.
"Let's move! We don't have time, this city still has too many heroes."
The third, clearly the most panicked, stood at the entrance, already watching the street to make sure no one was coming.
"Let's get out of here before someone shows up. We've done our part."
That's when the sound of rapid footsteps echoed nearby. Vortex, Reflex, and their trainer Mirage suddenly appeared, rushing toward the bank. They had been in the middle of a training run, but the chaos had pulled them in — and, as usual, they lacked coordination.
Vortex, reckless as ever, stepped forward, eager to act — too eager.
"Let's show these punks how it's done!" — Vortex shouted, sprinting toward them.
Mirage tried to stop him.
"Vortex, wait! Don't act without thinking!" — she called, but he was already moving.
Vortex launched a gust of wind, raw and uncontrolled. He had the ability to fire blasts of wind, but his control was still poor.
The gust struck a nearby wall, shattering windows but missing the enemies entirely. The noise was deafening — and everyone turned.
"Shit!" — yelled the first thief, raising his weapon and pointing at Vortex.
Reflex, quick to assess the mess, deployed five mirror clones of herself, each approaching from a different angle to disorient the attackers.
"You've got speed but no coordination!" — she shouted calmly as her duplicates confused one of the men, who fired blindly into nothing.
The second thief steadied his plasma weapon, waiting for the real Reflex.
He fired — but missed. The blast struck a copy, which reflected the energy in another direction like it had hit a mirror. The clone vanished the instant it absorbed the impact.
From the shadows, Kai watched. With his Six Eyes still active, he saw it.
A fourth man — unseen until now — slipped out the bank's back exit. His eyes locked on Vortex. Calm. Steady. Weapon raised.
That feeling again — the instinct to act.
Kai didn't hesitate.
In one swift move, he activated Blue along with Mugen, propelling himself forward just inches above the ground. The fourth man didn't see it coming.
As he prepared to fire...
Kai unleashed a precise Blue pull, yanking both the gun and the man toward him. The thief slammed into the pavement. Kai landed beside him and knocked him out instantly with a clean punch to the gut.
Meanwhile, Reflex and her duplicates finished off the remaining criminals, using redirected plasma to disable them. But it was Kai who stopped the real threat — the one they never saw coming.
From the street, Reflex glanced toward the alley.
"I didn't even see what happened... That was way too fast," she said, confused.
Vortex, panting, approached as well.
"There was a blue flash... Who the hell did that?" — he asked, bewildered.
Mirage stepped forward, expression now serious.
"Someone with far more control... and experience than you two. That technique... was flawless. Be grateful. Things could've gone very badly today," she said, calmly scanning the scene.
Kai, still silent, watched the fallen criminals. He didn't care to be seen. He hadn't acted to impress anyone. As soon as the scene was secure, he backed away, unnoticed by the heroes.
But not by the cameras.
They hadn't captured him flying, but they did catch a boy with glowing blue eyes and snow-white hair disabling a grown man twice his size with one precise strike.
And so, Kai saved what could've been a disaster caused by Vortex's carelessness — in his first unofficial appearance.
Global Defense Agency — 5:32 a.m.
At GDA headquarters, Cecil was watching the security footage, reviewing the recording of the young hero team's operation. When the camera showed Kai taking down the last thief in a single flawless move, a slight smirk formed on Cecil's face.
On the table before him: two open dossiers.
Jenny Hart — Reflex — Age 13
Abilities: Can create reflective clones of herself. They mimic her perfectly but have no physical mass. Clones can reflect attacks under certain light conditions and function as temporary decoys or shields.
Weaknesses: The clones are not tangible and vanish upon significant impact. Controlling many clones simultaneously causes mental strain.
Viktor Ramsay — Vortex — Age 14
Abilities: Controls air currents. Can create wind blasts strong enough to form blades or small tornadoes. His body exhibits rare endocytosis traits that let him absorb microorganisms and convert them into energy.
Weaknesses: Large-scale use rapidly drains energy. Powerful attacks exhaust him quickly.
Cecil placed the folders aside and leaned toward the screen.
"He was already there... but only acted when he saw Vortex was about to be shot," he muttered.
Lighting a cigar, he glanced toward Donald.
"What do you think, Donald?"
Donald stood, arms behind his back.
"Sir... I believe he was observing and only intervened when necessary. If not for him, Vortex would have been shot before Mirage could react."
"Exactly... If that had happened, I would've shut the program down."
Cecil pulled out his communicator and called Cosmic.
"Cosmic? You awake?"
After a few seconds, the calm voice responded:
"Yes, Cecil."
"It's the blue-eyed boy again. He acted today — and did well. Saved our rookie squad. Showed control, precision... and left no trace."
Cosmic listened. Not surprised. He had just been with Kai moments ago.
"I've told you — he has potential. Don't underestimate what he carries. He's learning to manage it, and he's doing it discreetly... But he needs space to grow."
Cecil exhaled.
"Yeah, I figured you'd say that. I was hoping you'd finally tell me who he is. I won't lie — I'm impressed. Today just proved he's exactly the kind of asset we need... or at least, someone worth watching."
Cosmic was quiet for a moment.
"He'll decide that on his own. He's learning. Adapting. You can't force this."
Cecil nodded in thought.
"You've trained him well, Cosmic. I'll keep GDA eyes off him — for now."
After ending the call, Donald turned to him.
"Sir, shouldn't we try to track the boy? We could ask Mirage."
"Not yet, Donald. Cosmic trusts him... and I trust Cosmic."
Cecil's answer echoed in the silent monitoring room for several long seconds...
Grayson Household — 5:42 a.m.
The sky was still dark, tinged with early shades of pink. Kai walked briskly through the quiet streets, the box of hair dye tucked in his pocket. The night's training — and that sudden intervention — had exhausted him more than he wanted to admit. But he had gained a little more control.
His hair, glaringly white, was a liability.
Slipping through the garage unnoticed, he entered the house. Mark was still asleep, and Debbie wouldn't be up for a while. Perfect.
He locked himself in the bathroom, pulled off his shirt, and stared into the mirror.
His reflection stopped him cold. The white hair — stark and surreal — looked less like a power side effect and more like a cruel cosmic joke.
"I asked for his powers as a joke... and now, every time I use them, I end up looking like him. What kind of twisted wish is this?"
He chuckled, tired.
"Honestly, with the dark eyebrows and brown eyes... I look more like that ninja guy who hid his left eye."
Kai opened the box, preparing the dye. It was temporary — but effective enough to keep suspicion at bay.
He applied it carefully, massaging it through his hair. Eyes closed, thoughts spinning.
He didn't regret acting. That man was about to shoot a kid. He couldn't let another person die — not again.
The conflict grew louder every day. He didn't want to interfere. He wanted to let Mark shine. But the image of that child at the car crash... haunted him.
If things demanded it, he would act again.
Still... hiding his powers was becoming harder. One mistake could expose everything.
And then there was Nolan.
He hadn't confirmed if either of the boys had Viltrumite powers yet. That was critical for his mission.
If Nolan found out Kai had powers... and decided to act...
Kai wouldn't be able to stop him.
Had Nolan changed? Kai wanted to believe that. But then — Rock Cliff. The way Nolan stood back.
That memory wouldn't fade.
He rinsed the dye and stared at his now-normal hair. Relief.
"I'll wait until Mark gets his powers... then I'll reveal mine. If the prophecy said he would save this world... then he must be stronger than me."
He cleaned his hands, wiped dye from his face, and thought:
"If I act again, it has to be cleaner. Safer. No mistakes. Nolan's mission... isn't just about me."
His future — Mark's, and even Nolan's — was tangled in uncertainty.
Now more than ever...
Kai knew he couldn't afford to fail.
Grayson Residence — 9:05 a.m., May 22, 2011
The soft clinking of a spoon against a coffee cup filled the kitchen, breaking the morning silence. The smell of fresh coffee drifted through the air as timid rays of sunlight began to peek through the blinds, casting a golden hue across the floor. The house was still quiet, but the morning's movement was about to take over.
Kai walked into the kitchen, his eyes still tired, a bit groggy from lack of sleep. His steps were slower than usual—effects of training and a sleepless night still weighing heavily on him. His eyes were half-open, but he tried to hide any signs of exhaustion.
"Good morning, sweetheart!" Debbie said with a smile as she stirred Mark's coffee.
Mark, seated at the table with a towel draped over his shoulders, looked at his brother and smiled.
"Hey, Kai! Did you sleep well?" he asked in his usual cheerful morning tone—even though it was far too early for that kind of energy.
Kai let out a weak chuckle, clearly forced, still trying to fully wake up.
"Sleep... well, not really." He sat down in the chair next to Mark and leaned his elbows on the table, trying to focus.
Mark turned to him with a look of disapproval.
"Hey, were you up doing homework all night again?" Mark asked. "I think I'm gonna start using you as my tutor if this keeps up."
Kai gave a low-energy smile, not wanting to dwell on the topic. He was more concerned with appearing normal and not raising any suspicion.
"Homework... yeah, someone has to do it, right?" Kai answered vaguely, still not quite alert. "Had everything ready before I went to bed."
Debbie looked at them with a soft smile, still stirring Mark's coffee.
"That's the good part about having a twin brother, huh?" she said in a playful tone. "You'll never have to do your homework alone, Mark."
Mark laughed but soon turned his attention to his coffee mug.
"I try to handle things on my own, mom. But it's nice knowing I've got a ninja brother to back me up," he joked, striking a superhero pose as if preparing for a big battle.
Kai rolled his eyes with a smile, relieved by the light mood.
"Someone's gotta keep this house in order," Kai replied, steering the conversation away from anything too deep.
That was when the sound from the TV, playing in the living room, caught their attention. The news anchor was delivering a general report.
"And one last update before we sign off—an update on the recent criminal activity in Millford Heights. Over the weekend, the Global Guardians team, including Immortal and Warwoman, helped stop several armed robberies in local stores, protecting civilians and patrolling the area. The action was swift and effective, but the presence of further threats remains a concern. More details on the heroes' operations will be released soon."
Debbie, still stirring Mark's coffee, sighed.
"We should turn off the TV while we eat... It's disaster after disaster," she said with a hint of complaint. "Sometimes I wonder what our lives would be like without superheroes involved every day."
Mark, excited by the news report, leaned forward.
"Immortal always handles everything on his own! I wish I were as fast as him… Actually, as fast as Dad," Mark said, smiling with eyes full of admiration.
At that moment, Nolan entered the kitchen, his hair still messy and a wrinkled white shirt on. He dropped into the empty chair at the table.
"Morning," he said, clearly in a good mood.
Debbie glanced at him as she handed over a cup of coffee.
"So you finally got some sleep, huh?" she said.
"Seems like it," Nolan replied with a playful tone, stretching. "Today, I'll try to make it through without any disasters. Maybe one day I'll actually enjoy a quiet cup of coffee."
As he settled in, Kai looked around, relieved. The hair dye had worked—no one suspected anything. Nolan acted so naturally it almost seemed like he really had changed.
Kai let out a long sigh of relief, but just as he relaxed, the lack of sleep caught up to him and made things take a more comedic turn. He bumped his coffee cup, spilling part of it on his clothes and the table.
"Ah, crap! Hot, hot, hot…" Kai exclaimed, quickly jumping up and patting his legs, trying to clean the mess while everyone laughed.
"There we go. Now you really fit in with the rest of us!" Mark said, glancing at his brother.
Kai smiled sheepishly, cleaning up faster.
"I just wanted to have some coffee… and now I'm the only one here who needs a shower," Kai said, shrugging with a half-defeated tone.
Debbie let out a small sigh, laughing at the scene and shaking her head as she stood to help Kai clean up the mess.
"Looks like we don't get quiet mornings in this house, do we?" she said.
Mark moved away from the table, still laughing at Kai.
"Careful—you're starting to be clumsier than me," Mark teased.
Nolan just watched as he sipped his coffee with a soft smile.
"Looks like the competition between you two is pretty fierce," he said.
And everyone laughed—light, joyful laughter filling the house and momentarily overshadowing the tension Kai carried. In the background, the news continued covering the Global Guardians' operations, but here, in this simple morning scene, it was serenity that took over.
"Maybe the war I'll face is still far from starting. One day he'll discover my powers… but at least for now, I can rest easy."
In the midst of that peace, the months continued to slip by.
Interlude — Fragments of the Void
Milford — Cosmic's Apartment — 6:42 p.m.
Cosmic's new apartment was simple but neatly arranged. It was little more than a studio with basic furniture, yet there was a touch of serenity in the decor. A shelf with a few books, a comfortable chair beside a coffee table, and a window overlooking the horizon, where the sun was beginning to set behind the hills. The golden light filtered through the window, giving the space a tranquil, almost ethereal glow.
Cecil entered after a soft knock on the door, as usual, unhurried.
"You could at least use the doorbell next time, Cecil," Cosmic said with a gentle smile, watching the man walk in. He was sitting on the couch with a cup of tea in hand, as if he'd been expecting the visit.
Cecil closed the door behind him and, without ceremony, sat in the opposite chair.
"Ah, you know I'm not big on formalities. I just came to ask how you're doing," Cecil said in a calm tone.
"I'm fine. You're always welcome here, my friend," Cosmic replied, taking a sip of his tea.
They exchanged a few words until the real subject surfaced in the conversation…
"There's something that's been bothering me, Cosmic… That fragment we recovered years ago—the more we analyze it, the more confusing it becomes. What's its origin?" Cecil asked calmly.
Cosmic raised his eyebrows, but he didn't look surprised.
"You know Void fragments are… difficult to understand. They're more than mere ruptures. They're pieces of a space that shouldn't exist here, that shouldn't be connected to this world."
Cecil crossed his arms, thoughtful, but kept his eyes locked on Cosmic. He knew there was something bigger behind it.
"And you... What do you think about it? Do these fragments… have a greater effect you're waiting for?" Cecil asked, more direct now—as usual—trying to extract something from Cosmic.
Cosmic remained silent for a moment, gazing at the tea in his hands before speaking calmly:
"These fragments… They don't belong in this universe. They should remain separate, in a lost layer of the Void, where the original Void used to be. What's left here are pieces of something that was never meant to be broken apart. They carry immense energy, Cecil. Energy stronger than a nuclear bomb."
Cecil furrowed his brow, now more alert. Cosmic's tone had shifted, and he knew there was more behind it.
"So what do these fragments represent? What's the danger in them being here, in our world?" Cecil asked, his voice subtly urgent, keeping his gaze fixed on Cosmic.
Cosmic took a deep breath and looked out the window, his eyes distant for a moment.
"They were the cause of my people's destruction…"
Cecil leaned forward, his tone sorrowful but curious, trying to understand what Cosmic was saying.
"I'm sorry… So you're saying these fragments have more power than anything we've ever seen. But how does that tie in with what we're seeing now? The energy surges, the anomalies—how are they connected?"
Cosmic sighed and set the tea aside, staring at Cecil with a serious look.
"I can't say for certain, Cecil. The Void isn't simple to grasp. It's… elusive. But the fragments are rare—difficult to locate. And when one manifests here, the impact can be immense. The energy they carry is unstable and will only grow stronger, harder to contain over time. But what truly matters is that these fragments, like me… were never meant to be here. They're breaking the barriers between worlds…"
Cosmic took another breath before continuing…
"If I, who am not from this world, am here—then other beings could've entered this universe as well. In the Void… there are things that should never escape."
Cecil leaned back in the chair, deep in thought. The information he was hearing wasn't good.
"And the fragment you recovered with the Global Guardians—in that lab—what should we do with it?" Cecil asked, his voice more hesitant now.
Cosmic looked down, considering for a moment.
"It's still in the lab, in secure containment. I suggest it stays there… If an irreversible catastrophe ever occurs, I could use the fragment to restore the world again."
"Restore the world—what does that mean?" Cecil asked, curiosity rising.
"To bring back lost life forms, Cecil… I could bring people back. It wouldn't be instant—their return might take years—but it would be possible."
Silence fell over the room for a few seconds…
"Reverse time for them… at the cost of your life," Cecil said quietly, bowing his head slightly.
"If it comes to that… yes."
"Is that how your people destroyed themselves?" Cecil asked, his voice filled with sincere empathy and sorrow.
"The power of the fragments… is immense. If just one of them can do this, imagine several… That was my people's downfall."
"Are there more fragments on Earth… or nearby?" Cecil asked, still cautious and curious.
"No… I would've sensed them. But it's likely others exist elsewhere in the universe. We'll have to wait and see."
Cecil shook his head, clearly unsatisfied with the situation.
"I don't like waiting. And the GDA doesn't either. How can we be sure no creature from the Void will show up on Earth…"
"Cecil." — Cosmic interrupted him, in a softer but firm tone. "For now, all we have are speculations. As far as we know, the energy is contained. The rest… time will tell what it becomes."
Cecil sat in silence for a moment, absorbing Cosmic's words. He knew there was much more behind that conversation than met the eye, but he wasn't willing to press further.
"You're right. Time will tell. But if something happens—if that energy ever breaks loose…"
Cosmic stood slowly, walking to the window.
"I'll be ready for it. Just like you, Cecil. What truly matters is what we do with what we have. And with what we don't," Cosmic said, gazing out at the horizon, his expression distant.
Cecil stayed silent, deep in thought. He knew Cosmic's words were filled with meanings he didn't yet fully understand. But for now, he accepted what he had.
"Well, I'll keep watch. But there's still a lot to be done."
Cosmic nodded without saying a word. He knew the conversation had reached its end.
Cecil stood up, grabbed his coat, and gave Cosmic one last look.
"Take care, Cosmic. I'll see you soon."
And with that, he left the apartment—leaving Cosmic alone, with his thoughts… and the weight of a secret even deeper than the Void itself.