Chapter 1: Lingering Shadows
United Capital, Lien Quoc Gia Federation
February 2nd, 2070
The early February sky cast a thin, gray veil over the city. The sun’s feeble rays couldn’t pierce the industrial smog that clung to the skyline. On the giant screen in the center square, a scrolling headline flashed across, taut as a thread stretched tight in the public’s mind:
“STRANGE CASE: NEARLY 20 STUDENTS SUFFER PERMANENT PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA – CAUSE UNKNOWN!”
The Central Police Department was packed. The air was thick with the scent of stale coffee and damp paper. In Interrogation Room 7, Inspector Ryker stood before a data board, eyes scanning each name—teenagers from the local high school, known for their violent behavior, each with a history of bullying. Now, they lay catatonic in a high-security psychiatric ward—minds broken, eyes vacant, lips whispering nonsense over and over.
“No one knows what happened?” Ryker murmured, tapping a pen rhythmically against the whiteboard.
“Just a few witnesses say… on January 30th, someone approached the group after school. Then one by one… it was like they were drawn into something indescribable.”
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Ryker frowned. “Revenge,” he said. “Someone they used to bully.”
The team began narrowing down suspects—cross-referencing records of bullied students over the past three years, analyzing surveillance footage, and piecing together fragmented testimonies. Eventually, all signs pointed to a quiet street in the western part of the city.
A small house stood there, built in a Northern European style, its moss-covered walls framed by a white wooden fence. It was home to a young couple: Victor, 22—taciturn, with no public employment record—and Elly, 20—gracefully beautiful, yet a known recluse. They lived so discreetly that even their neighbors weren’t sure if they had children.
“Suspicious,” Ryker muttered, lighting a cigarette.
“But if the suspect is about fifteen, how could it be their child? They’re too young. What—did they have a kid in elementary school?” his assistant scoffed.
“Ridiculous, of course,” Ryker sighed.
“Not necessarily,” Ryker narrowed his eyes. “Could be adopted. Or… something else.”
The next morning, a patrol car came to a quiet stop in front of the house. A knock echoed through the still air.
Victor opened the door—a tall young man with eyes cold and deep as ice. Elly stood just behind him, soft but composed, one hand resting lightly on his shoulder. The aura they gave off was strange—like beings who had stepped out of another world.
“We’d like to ask a few questions,” Ryker said gently but carefully. “Regarding the incident at United Sector High School No. 4.”
Victor didn’t answer right away. A flicker of something unreadable passed through his gaze. Then, as if he had been waiting for this moment a long time, he gave a slight nod.
“Please, come in,” he said.
The door closed softly behind them, like a quiet full stop… ushering in the first chapter of a mystery far beyond human comprehension.
