Renn stood frozen in place, his heart racing wildly against his ribcage, each beat echoing the panic that flooded his senses. An overwhelming fear coursed through him like liquid ice, paralysing him with an intense dread. His legs felt heavy, as if encased in lead, making it impossible to take even a single step away from the shadowy figure that loomed before him.
Desperation clawed at him as he tried to call out for help, but the words caught in his throat, stifled by the crushing weight of his terror. With a deep, shuddering breath, he forced his eyes closed, bracing himself for what he was certain would be his imminent demise. The air around him grew cold, thick with a palpable darkness, as the shadow man leaned in closer, a twisted smile creeping across his features, as if he were relishing Renn's fear.
Just as Renn felt the chilling presence of the shadow man's hand reaching toward him, a sudden and swift motion sliced through the air, and with a jolt, he opened his eyes in shock and disbelief. Time seemed to freeze as he witnessed the impossible: the shadow man's hand was severed cleanly in mid-air, plummeting to the ground like a forgotten thought, thwarting the dark figure's intentions. The shadow man stumbled backwards, a look of confusion and rage flickering across his face. Renn's heart raced even faster, uncertainty swirling within him as he grasped for what might happen next. The atmosphere crackled with tension, and for the first time, he felt a flicker of hope amidst the fear. Blood dripping from his right hand, which was cut down in half, the shadow man screams in pain while holding his half-hand.
Standing beside Renn was an imposing figure—a tall, muscular man who exuded an intense and powerful energy. A vibrant blue aura flickered around his hand, coalescing into the shape of an elegant sword-like weapon that shimmered with an otherworldly brilliance, casting soft glimmers of light in the dim surroundings. The man had striking white hair that contrasted sharply with his dark office attire, and his glasses perched slightly on the bridge of his nose, giving him an air of both authority and mystery. He appeared to be in his mid-forties, roughly the same age as Renn's father.
As he surveyed the area, the mysterious man remarked, "Once again, these numbers are increasing rapidly in Riving City." His voice was deep and steady, but Renn could hear an underlying urgency in his tone. When the man turned to Renn, he noticed the boy's confusion and the slight tremor in his hands, unmistakably rooted in fear.
"So, kid," the man continued, leaning slightly closer, "it looks like this is the first time you've seen something like this, right?" His expression softened with understanding, as if he recognised the weight of what Renn was experiencing for the first time. Renn nodded in response, his wide eyes filled with trepidation. The man quickly picked up on his unease and spoke again, his tone turning reassuring. "Don't worry, kid; he won't be able to harm you. Just let me handle this situation, and please, keep your distance. I don't want you to get hurt." His eyes held a steady gaze that promised protection, reminding Renn that he wasn't alone in the face of the strange and frightening events unfolding around them.
Renn took a cautious step back, his heart racing as he followed the instructions of the mysterious man. He watched intently, curiosity and apprehension swirling within him, as the shadowy figure unleashed a loud, furious cry and charged forward with lethal intent. The shadow man moved with an incredible speed that seemed beyond human capability, determined to eliminate the man who stood in his way. Just as the looming danger reached its peak, the man with white hair vanished in the blink of an eye, only to reappear behind the shadow in an instant. Both Renn and the shadow man stood frozen in shock, their eyes wide, trying to comprehend the rapid turn of events. Before the shadow man could even process what had happened, the mysterious man struck with impeccable precision, dismembering the shadowy figure in a flurry of swift movements that left countless fragments scattering to the ground. Renn could hardly believe the scene unfolding before him; it felt surreal, like something from a fantastical story, and yet it was happening right before his eyes.
As the tension faded from the air and the echoes of the confrontation began to subside, the mysterious man approached Renn, his once-bright blue weapon now fading into nothingness. He glanced at Renn's school uniform and noted, "So, kid, are you returning home from school?"
"Yes, sir," Renn replied, his voice a mix of awe and uncertainty. He opened his mouth to ask about the battle he had just witnessed, but the mysterious man gently cut him off, "Kid, I can see you have many questions about what just happened, but this isn't the time for that. Why don't you tell me about yourself? I notice your dress is from Riverview Public School, right?"
"Yeah, sir. I'm in eighth grade," Renn answered, feeling a bit more at ease as they shifted the conversation away from the chaos.
The mysterious man's eyes sparkled with a hint of excitement. "Oh, I see! My daughter also attends Riverview Public School; she's in tenth grade. It's a small world, isn't it?"
Renn's curiosity piqued, and he asked, "Oh, sir, by the way, what's your name?"
The mysterious man smiled warmly, his demeanour softening. "It's Leo Oarra. And what about you, kid?"
With a newfound sense of confidence, Renn replied, "My name is Renn Ashmer." Leo's expression brightened "Hmmm, Ashmer. Interesting", he thinks for a while, then says, "Well, it's nice to meet you, Renn" leo continues "renn so about what happened now" renn expression become little curious and serious as he listen carefully " well its very complicated to explain tell me when u get that sun mark on ur hand" leo says while pointing towards Renn hand"
Renn says, "It's always here from my birth. I tried many times to remove it, but it never faded"
Leo listened carefully and then said, "Well, Renn, don't think much about it, but just remember that the sun mark on your palm is very important, okay?"
"Yes, sir, but I just don't know what to do. What are those shadow men? Will they attack me again?" Renn replied with fear in his eyes and voice.
Leo get close to Renn and put the hand gently on his shoulder and says "Renn if I have to be completely honest with then yeah they may attack u again and there many things that u should know but for now I can only say that I will protect you just trust me okay and its getting pretty late your parents will get worry if u don't go home now you should go now and don't worry for now you are safe you can go and we will talk tomorrow about what happened okay I will come to u"
Renn nodded and said, "Okay, sir, we can talk tomorrow. I will go home now". Renn started moving slowly towards his house, trying to calm his fear a little. Leo smiles, and after Renn is gone, Leo also goes toward his home.
As Leo arrived home, he noticed the two-story building with a small, garden-like space in front. The garden was filled with a diverse array of flowers and trees. He stepped inside and saw his daughter—a beautiful girl with long black hair tied in a ponytail, a strong, tall physique, and dressed in athletic clothes—sitting on the sofa, waiting for him with an angry expression. Leo thought, "Oh no, she looks furious; I'm in trouble now." He carefully entered the house without making a sound, hoping his daughter wouldn't notice him.
As he moved further inside, his daughter said, looking straight at him, "So, Dad, you're late again." Leo stopped and replied, adjusting his glasses, "So you noticed! Your eyes are sharp. How's school going?"
His daughter turned her gaze to him, smiling but with a hint of concern. "Dad, don't change the subject. I'm not going to fall for that. Where were you? Did anything happen?"
Leo approached her with a reassuring smile. "No, nothing serious happened. I just met an interesting boy. Don't worry too much."
His daughter nodded in understanding, knowing her dad would keep the details to himself. She stood up and said, "Okay, let's go prepare dinner." Leo smiled and followed her to the kitchen to help with the meal.
Meanwhile, Renn arrived home and stepped inside, reflecting on everything that had happened that day. As he opened the door, his sister Amber stood in front of him, looking excited. Amber ran toward Renn, hugged him tightly with her little hands, and said softly, "Big bro, you're so late! I missed you so much!"
Renn hugged her back, then pulled away slightly and responded, "Sorry, Amber. I just got a little tied up. I promise I won't be late again." Amber nodded, and the two of them made their way to the hall.
Once in the hall, their mother, Mrs. Ashmer, looked at Renn with concern. "Renn, why were you late today? Did anything happen at school? We were so worried about you."
Renn replied, "No, Mom, nothing happened. I just got busy talking to Jack."
Mrs. Ashmer regarded him with slight suspicion. "Are you hiding something from me, Renn?"
Renn was caught off guard by her assumption and quickly said, "No, Mom, nothing happened. I'm telling the truth." Mrs. Ashmer continued to observe him, looking at the sun symbol he wore for a moment, then walked toward the kitchen.
For the rest of the day, Renn could think only about what Leo had said to him. He had so many questions to ask Leo and couldn't wait to talk to him tomorrow. After dinner, he went upstairs and fell asleep, still a little scared of the shadow man and wondering what would happen the next day.