After finishing his conversation with Hiruzen, Reito stepped out of Shibuku Hospital, the automatic doors sliding shut behind him with a soft hiss.

  The night air was cold. Too cold.

  Reito raised his hand.

  Reito: TAXI! HEY—TAXI!

  A bright blue taxi rolled to the curb, its engine humming softly. The A&M logo was emblazoned on the side. The driver leaned out the window.

  Taxi Driver: Where to?

  Reito pulled out his phone and turned the screen toward the driver—a photo of a small, weathered house.

  Reito: Hivernia. This address.

  The driver glanced at it, nodded once.

  Taxi Driver: Got it.

  The taxi pulled away.

  An hour later, the car slowed to a stop.

  Taxi Driver: That’ll be five dollars.

  Reito handed him a ten.

  Reito: Keep the change.

  He stepped out onto cracked pavement and looked up at the house.

  Blue-gray siding. Boarded windows. Overgrown grass swallowing the yard. The mailbox was gone entirely, leaving only a rusted pole behind.

  Reito: …This place has definitely seen better days.

  He climbed the porch steps and knocked.

  No answer.

  He knocked again.

  Still nothing.

  Reito: Come on. I know you’re in there.

  He raised his hand for a third knock—

  The door creaked open just enough for a single bloodshot eye to peer out. A tall man stood behind it, shoulders slumped, dark circles carved deep beneath his eyes.

  Tyler: Who are you? And what do you want?

  Reito: My name is Reito Aukusti. I’m an instructor—co-founder of Chikara Academy and—

  Tyler: I don’t care. Leave.

  The door started to close.

  Reito planted his foot against it.

  Reito: Please, sir—

  Tyler: I said LEAVE!

  They strained against the door, wood groaning under pressure.

  Tyler: What the hell is wrong with you!? Get away from my house before I call the police!

  Reito: I’m Hiruzen’s mentor!

  The struggle stopped instantly.

  The door swung open.

  Tyler: …You know my son?

  His voice cracked.

  Tyler: Do you know where he is? He’s been missing for months.

  Reito: Just—just let me come in. I’ll explain everything.

  A long pause.

  Then Tyler stepped aside.

  The inside of the house was worse.

  Dust coated every surface. The air was stale. The AC unit was dead. Family photos on the walls were turned face-down. On the table sat eviction notices and unpaid bills stacked like accusations.

  Tyler closed the door behind them.

  Tyler: My name is Tyler Brown.

  He swallowed.

  Tyler: Hiruzen is my son.

  Reito: Brown? I thought his last name was Yuki.

  Tyler: It was my wife’s name. Akira’s.

  His jaw tightened.

  Tyler: After she and my daughter died… I changed it back.

  He looked away.

  Tyler: But enough of that. Where is Hiruzen? He vanished six months ago. Quincy and I searched everywhere.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Reito: He’s safe. He’s no longer a student at Dawn Academy. He’s enrolled at Chikara Academy now—a school for children born with abilities like his.

  Tyler’s hands trembled.

  Tyler: So that’s where he’s been.

  Tyler: Why wasn’t I told!?

  Reito: The academy floats far above the city. Information about it is restricted to partners and—

  Tyler: HE’S MY SON!

  His voice echoed through the house.

  Tyler: I had a right to know!

  Reito: And you’re right.

  He bowed his head slightly.

  Reito: On behalf of the academy, I’m sorry. We failed to contact you.

  Tyler exhaled shakily.

  Tyler: Six months… a phone call would’ve been enough.

  Reito: …You’re right.

  Silence filled the room.

  Then Reito straightened.

  Reito: But that’s not why I’m here.

  Tyler: Then why are you here?

  Reito met his gaze.

  Reito: Your son’s body is unrestricted.

  The color drained from Tyler’s face.

  Tyler: …And how did you come to that conclusion?

  Reito: Classified information. But judging by your reaction… It's true.

  Tyler slumped back into his chair.

  Tyler: Fine. Yes. His body is unrestricted.

  He rubbed his face with trembling hands.

  Tyler: Because of a contemporary vow my wife made.

  Reito: Tell me everything.

  Tyler leaned back, staring at nothing.

  Tyler: Akira and I were born with powers too.

  Tyler: When we were young, our families were captured. Executed.

  His voice was hollow.

  Tyler: We only had each other.

  Reito: …I’m sorry. Trust me you're not alone I…have experienced something similar to that

  Tyler: Akira was pregnant and the government was hunting our kind. We were desperate.

  He took a breath

  Tyler: That’s when a man with white hair found us. He was wearing a lab coat and had a scar across his face

  Reito stiffened.

  Tyler: He called himself Skyzen.

  Reito’s posture sharpened instantly.

  Reito: Continue.

  Tyler: He offered us shelter. Protection. In exchange for tests.

  Tyler: We didn’t have a choice.

  The world blurred—

  17 Years Ago

  A pristine laboratory hidden inside a decaying shell.

  Machines hummed.

  Tyler and Akira were sitting on a small bed while waiting for Skyzen to report on a test he had recently conducted

  Skyzen entered the room holding a tablet that displayed an x-ray of Akira’s body

  Skyzen: Tyler. Akira. I have unfortunate news.

  Akira: What is it?

  Skyzen: Your genes are… weak.

  Tyler: Weak?

  Skyzen: Yes. Because of this your child may be born without powers due to the chance his body might not be born with the properties to handle a power

  Akira hesitated—then smiled faintly.

  Akira: That might be a blessing. The government hunts our kind relentlessly, if our child is born without powers he won’t be targeted…right?

  Skyzen tilted his head.

  Skyzen: But what about when he grows up? The world is evolving and trust me when I say this, but our kind will be the dominating species. People born with powers and unique abilities will be running amok and the powerless will be exactly that powerless. How is he supposed to protect himself? What will he do when one of our kind decides on a whim to just kill him?

  Tyler: What exactly are you getting at Skyzen?

  Skyzen reaches out his hand, and a weird energy begins swirling around it

  Skyzen: It’s simple really. Make a contemporary vow with me and all your problems will be solved

  Tyler: What?

  Skyzen: A contemporary vow. It’s a binding promise made in the present that rewrites the future behavior of power—not through rules imposed by the world, but through self-enforced limitations. Unlike contracts, curses, or external seals, a contemporary vow is instantaneous and volitional. The moment it is declared and accepted by the user’s own will, reality recalibrates around that decision.

  Akira: And what will making this vow with you do?

  Skyzen: It will do three things simultaneously: First it identifies something you could do,Forbids or limits it,and redistributes the denied potential elsewhere. The vow does not add power.It condenses it.

  Tyler: Okay okay okay, let me think about this for a second

  Skyzen: Why even bother thinking when I have already done the thinking for you. It’s simple, make this vow with me and your child's future will be guaranteed.

  Tyler and Akira look at each other and then look down at Akira’s pregnant belly

  Akira: Okay we accept. So, what do we have to do

  Skyzen: Simple. The vow must apply right now. You cannot vow for a hypothetical future benefit. So, something like I won’t ever be able to walk again would work but something like I’ll pay the price later wouldn’t.

  Tyler: So, what do I need to give up?

  Skyzen: No. Not you Tyler, Akira must be the one to make the vow because she is the one who is pregnant

  Tyler: WHAT! No way I won’t–

  Akira: It’s okay darling, it's for our child, remember. What do I need to give up?

  Skyzen: In this Instance in order to give him power you must give up yours because the value of what is given up must match or exceed the benefit gained.

  Akira: Okay but what will our child be gaining?

  Skyzen: An unrestricted body. One that has no limits be it physical or mental he will operate far beyond what humans are capable of.

  Akira: Okay if that’s it then let’s do this

  Skyzen(Smirking): Excellent now all you have to do is take my hand and one more thing you must believe—without reservation—that the vow is irreversible.

  Akira takes Skyzen’s hand and the swirling energy erupts around them, and lab equipment is flying everywhere as Akira begins to feel weak and her belly begins to swell. As the energy died down Akira falls to her knees and Tyler rushes to catch her

  Tyler: Akira are you alright?

  Akira: Tyler, I think…I think my water just broke

  Tyler: WHAT!? Skyzen can you deliver the baby

  Skyzen: Among other things, yes. Take her to the other room and I will be there shortly

  Tyler: Alright, c’mon honey lets go

  Tyler carries Akira to the other room while Skyzen opens up a monitor and a figure concealed by static appears

  Static figure: Well did you find a suitable vessel for him?

  Skyzen: Yes, and I assure the child will be more than capable of being his vessel. Now were you able to capture Iskath's soul?

  Static figure: Yes, it’s all been taken care of so proceed with the plan

  Skyzen: Yes, and remember our deal will you Franklin

  Franklin: Yes yes,me and Sera have already received our blessings so rest assured we will hold up our end of the deal.

  Back to the present

  Tyler: Later that night Skyzen helped deliver Hiruzen and Akira was powerless. A few days after that Skyzen offered us a house that was safe from the eyes of the government, and we took the chance without hesitation. A few years later Our daughter Yuzu was born and a few years after that the incidents happened and Akira and Yuzu were killed. Hiruzen and I grew apart and one thing led to another and now we're here.

  Reito puts his head down as he tries to process everything he heard. Minutes later he gets up and goes to shake Tyler’s hand

  Reito: Thank you Tyler, but now I need to leave I have a few calls I need to make

  Tyler: Wait, what about Hiruzen? Where is he? Can I speak to him?

  Reito: I’m sorry Tyler but he has a lot of stuff coming up and there just isn’t time for a reunion, but rest assured when this all over you will be able to see him again

  Tyler: I…alright he probably wouldn’t want to see me anyway but please promise me one thing

  Reito: Yeah?

  Tyler: Promise me you’ll keep him safe. I already lost my wife and daughter on the same day, and he is all I have left and if I lost him I…

  Reito: It’s okay, I understand. You have my word

  Tyler: Thank you.

  Reito begins to take his leave and as he is walking down the steps Tyler comes running out with necklace in his hand

  Tyler: Wait a second please

  Reito: Huh?

  Tyler: Please give this. It was his mother’s heirloom, and she was going to pass it down to him when he turned 17 so, please

  Reito takes the necklace and pats him on the shoulder

  Reito: Don’t worry it’s safe with me

  Reito orders a taxi and when it arrives, he gets in and heads back to Shibuku.

  Tyler: Hiruzen… please be okay

  End chapter