Chapter 8: Zartaj Zaratool

  Sunday m at 6:00 AM.

  rad's eyes opened slowly, his body still bearing the burden of Anira's possession from the night before. She was nowhere in sight. After their return to the physical world, she hadn't immediately retreated to his shadows; instead, she had sat there on the bed, watg him with ed eyes.

  She's being more rebellious as time passes, he thought. I don't uarue motives. Her behavirows stranger by the day.

  He sighed and g the clock. "My first Sunday in this world. Everyone will be home today. That's fortunate—I'll be able to protect them from the Oddity, given that Anira's barrier has limited range."

  rad rose and made his way to the bathroom to begin his m routine. Sunlight crept through the windows, illuminating the er of his room where a notebook y open on his desk.

  While brushing his teeth, his mind wahrough past events and future possibilities.

  I have to face the Oddity tonight. Even with Anira's presence, I 't burden her with everything. This is the first time in my life I've felt so powerless. Usually, I lead the charge, but in this world, such recklessness meaaih. Last night, I lost trol of both body and mind before I could even prehend what was happening. This is far more terrifying than I anticipated.

  rad ractig sensing as part of his Brahman practice. After returning from Are Veil, he had developed a faint awareness of the energies around him—like a budding sixth sense, subtle but undeniable.

  The question remains: how I assist Anira in battle? She instructed me to foastering the first principle of tier 0, but I want to be more than just support. Being her 'lord' while standing idle doesn't sit well with me. Perhaps a on would help? But would ventional ons even affe Oddity? And if I leave to acquire ohe barrier would dissolve. This is beyond frustrating.

  Calm yourself, Dev.

  After pleting his m routine, rad headed to the kit to help.

  Isalde reparing breakfast for her siblings wheiced a young handsome man approag—her brother, whose deep blue eyes tely held a mature quality that made him seem different from before. Secretly, she preferred this new version of him. It warmed her heart to see her most trusted brradually being the man of the house.

  ", what brings you to the kit?"

  "Big sister, you know I 't let you handle everything alone. I want to help however I ."

  "Oh my, you're now pnning to take away my work from me." Isalde mused, a gentle smile pying on her lips.

  From her chair in the middle of the room, Cra watched rad with suspicious eyes. The odd enter with her elder brother outside the house still troubled her. Deep down, she feared he might be plotting something sinister. She po fide in Leona, whom she trusted above all others. Knowing Isalde wouldn't believe her, she remained silent.

  The doorbell's sudden ring shattered the kit's atmosphere. rad tensed, scious of Anira's absence.

  "I'll a," he told Isalde.

  As he approached the door, rad noticed the hidden distorted space fluctuating more intehan before—something he'd growive th his experien Are Veil.

  The spatial disturbances made him frown, though he tried not to dwell on them. Opening the door, his eyebrows lifted slightly.

  Who are you?

  Before him stood a man nearly six feet tall, wearing a warm smile. Despite his slightly reg hairline, he maintained a distinguished appearance. His light brown eyes and brown skin suggested southern ins.

  "May I enter, Mr. Valor?" the man asked in a deep voice.

  rad searched his memories for any recolle of this visitor but found none. As he prepared to request an introdu, a familiar voice spoke from behind the man.

  "rad, he's your future brother-in-w. Don't block the doorway," Leona said, her face impassive.

  Brother-in-w? What does she mean? I've never met this man. Who is he?

  "Please don't worry, Ms. Leona. The fault is mine for not properly introdug myself," the man tinued. "During my st visit, I missed the opportunity to meet you, Mr. Valor. Allow me to introduce myself."

  "I am Zartaj Zaratool, from Zenithia. I hope to join your family for breakfast, if it wouldn't disturb your peace."

  The name Zenithia stirred memories from st night in rad's mind. He stared at the man with sharp eyes. The old rad might have lowered his head, skipped breakfast, and hidden in his room, leaving his sisters to deal with this stranger. But this wasn't the timid rad—this was Dev in rad's body.

  With a smile, he addressed the imposing figure, "Please excuse my absence during your previous visit, Mr. Zaratool. You uand that with three beautiful sisters under my prote, one must exercise caution."

  Zaratool met the young man's deep blue eyes and smiled. Leona started to interject, but rad raised a hand to stop her—a andiure she'd never seen from her brother before.

  What is this fool doing? Has he lost his mind?

  "I uand pletely, Mr. Valor. The fault is mine for arriving unannounced. I offer my sincere apologies."

  "Your Excellency, please don't! We're unworthy of your presence, let alone your apology," Leona hurriedly interjected.

  "I accept your apology. Please, e i's enjoy breakfast together," rad said with a casual smirk, as if addressing royalty was an everyday occurrence.

  Leona's eyes wide her brother's apparent insolence before su important figure. Even she wouldn't dare show such familiarity.

  rad paused briefly before adding, "Ah, I fot my own introdu—better te than never. I am rad Valor, owner of the Valor residence."

  Leona stood baffled by such a bold decration but held her tongue in the presence of their distinguished guest.

  "Who is it, ?" A sweet voice called from the kit.

  Isalde had finished her preparations wheiced the tall man walking toward their dining area. His anding presence carried the air of nobility, like some fn prince. Her eyes widened slightly before narrowing into a frown.

  "Mr. Zaratool, I don't recall receiving any notice of your visit?"

  "Not every visit requires pnning or a permit. Don't you think, Isalde?"

  Isalde? What's going on? rad g his big sister.

  "Mr. Zaratool, I believe I told you I don't appreciate people who bee too informal too quickly."

  "Excuse me for fetting such details, Ms. Isalde. I'm reag an age where these details slip past me."

  "You are very young, Your Excellency," Leona interjected from the side, trying to ease the tension. Among the Valor family, only she truly uood Zaratool's status and the dangers of offending him.

  rad remained quiet, everything carefully. As they took their seats, Zaratool chose the chair directly opposite Isalde. rad positioned himself near his sister, who as always occupied the head of the table.

  Zaratool's lips curled slightly as he turo Isalde. "I thought the owner of the Valor residence was somebody else?"

  Damn this fug bastard. You really want to fight with me, huh?

  rad thought to himself.

  "Yes, the owner of the Valor residence is my younger brother, but as he's still learning, I serve as a temporary rept," Isalde replied without meeting Zaratool's gaze, her eyes fixed on rad instead.

  "A woman as a temporary owner? I think it should be a man, as you know women have their own duties. These matters should be left to men."

  Leona and Cra both froze at his statement. Cra, already fearful of me an inexplicable dread toward this particur visitor.

  Isalde's sharp eyes locked onto Zaratool. Her eleganever wavered—she was every bit like a queen regarding someoh her notice. Yet beh her posure, she carefully measured her words to avoid truly offending this man. It was the only reason she hadn't refused his request to join their breakfast.

  “We..” before Isalde said anything a sharp voice cut her off.

  "Not every try lives in an old era, Mr. Zaratool," rad replied, his eyes warm as he looked at his sisters. "I don't know about others, but in this try, women may very well be more suitable to rule than men because we measure merit, not gender."

  "Hahaha, you're right, Mr. Valor. It was rude of me to say such things. This food is excellent—I envy you, getting to eat like this every day." Zaratool paused before tinuing, "But Mr. Valor, I truly am sorry to take such a capable woman for myself."

  "I believe you're mistaken, Mr. Zaratool. I haven't replied to your proposal yet. While I appreciate all you've done—aiding Cra's education and advang Leona's career—matters ing my life require careful sideration," Isalde cut him off.

  "Of course, Isalde. I'm willing to wait as long as you need."

  rad felt rage burning in his stomach, threatening to explode, when he felt a soft, trembling hand grasp his owh the table. Isalde's hands were resting on his, seeking fort while her face maintais dignified expression.

  Looking at his elegant sister, rad saw past her queenly demeanor to the young womah—one who needed her brother's suppht now.

  Sigh! Being a brother really is hard.

  rad turo Zaratool, his expression carefully ral. "I have decided, as the head of the house, that we are not worthy of your status. Please five my direess, but Your Excellency would find a far more suitable dy to apany you than my elder sister."

  "Are you rejeg me, Mr. Valor?" Zaratool's expression turned serious. The atmosphere in the room instantly darkened, like a storm cloud passing over the sun.

  rad began eling his Brahman, creating a subtle but anding presence. "Rejeg you is not something we do, Your Excellency. As I said, we are simply uo bear the burdens that would follow such a marriage. I believe Your Excellency is kind enough tive us Valors for norand unworthiness."

  Cra looked at her brother with fusion; she couldn't prehend what her usually useless brother was talking about. Leona, stunned sihe beginning, could only observe this unfamiliar version of the brother she'd rarely paid attention to.

  Zaratool rose from his chair and approached rad, who now stood at his full height. Leaning close, he whispered in a voice meant only for rad's ears, "You Essentarii are always a pain in the ass, you know. But don't worry—I'm not petty enough to kill a newly born kitten."

  The statement shook rad to his core. He immediately ected the distorted space with this man's presence. Anira's words echoed in his mind: '...he may be on the same level as me...' That siatement pnted a seed of fear in his heart. While rad maintained his posed exterior, inside his mind ed like a storm-tossed sea.

  This guy is very powerful. We've involved ourselves with something far beyond our prehension, rad thought to himself.

  The tension in the room grew thiough to cut with a knife, until a chuckle broke through the silence. Zaratool's ugh dispelled some of the darkness as he spoke, "I uand—I was being impatient. I simply couldn't pass up the ce to court a capable woman like Ms. Isalde, but f anyone is not my style. The offer stands if the Valor family ever residers. I've had my fill for today. I should take my leave."

  "Your Excellency, I will apany you—" Before Leona could finish, Zaratool cut her off.

  "It's quite alright. You've been on night duty, so enjoy your time with your family. My guards are already waiting outside."

  rad sensed a terrifying presence beyond their walls.

  After walking some distance from the house, Zaratool addressed a bearded man following behind him. "Kadin, what do you think of the barrier around the house?"

  "Sir, it's extremely powerful. I don't know anyone who could block even my abilities without being physically present."

  "The Valor family might not be just a normal family," Zaratool said with a smile. "That kitten is hiding something."

  The Valor family was not finished with their breakfast, but an awkward silence hung in the room. Isalde, Leona, and Cra were looking at their brother with an odd gaze. Notig their eyes on him, rad broke the silence.

  "Ahem, let's tih our breakfast."

  Leona looked at rad and wao say something but chose not to. Isalde took a deep breath and addressed her brother.

  "I'm sorry, . I didn't tell you about Mr. Zaratool. You were too busy with your studies, so I thought it would be best not to disturb you."

  Well, that's a lie. It's more like you just didn't want to see your brother's pathetic state in front of this man. You are very kind, my dear sister.

  "Anyway, how is Xie?" Isalde ged the topic.

  rad was caught off guard. He nearly choked on his food. After drinking some water, he looked at his elegant sister.

  Seriously, what's with your suddeion?

  Leona and Cra were unaware of their brother's new girlfriend. They frowned in fusion.

  "Xie? Who is she?" Leona asked.

  Cra remained silent, however her eyes betrayed her curiosity.

  Isalde chuckled and replied, "She will be the future head woman of the Valor family."

  "That's way further down the line. We don't have mutera. Let's take these steps o a time," rad said without expression while sipping his tea.

  rad has a girlfriend? Both Leona and Cra thought to themselves.

  Is that the reason he's been ag weird retly? rad's sisters came to the same clusion. Seeing their fused looks, he sighed.

  ging the topic again, rad said, "Today the weather is very cold. I'll be in my room all day as I have some assigs to do. If you need anything, let me know."

  All of them were shocked again.

  Assig? Our brother is doing an assig? Isn't that too much of a ge in a man?

  This Xie girl is indeed very powerful, even Isalde thought to herself.

  After finishing his breakfast and helping his sisters, rad returo his room to tinue his training.

  That was the most exhausting breakfast ever. Anyway, I o get stronger, or people like Zaratool will push me around in this world.

  rad sat on his bed, legs folded in a meditative positioried to recall the teags aions from the previous night.

  "Sensing, eling, and Manipution together make the first core principles—Iion of a Tier 0."

  "Before doing anything plex, I o uand that everything is some form of these principles. Before creating something unique, everyone o gh the on lessons of Tier 0."

  "I only ma my brahman and use it to sehings around me, but I'm uo manipute it to give it shape or split it apart." rad felt impatient seeing such little progress; deep inside, he thought he ecial and could master things in just ory.

  Why am I getting so impatient? It's only my first day. I should learn to do things slowly. rad recalled a line from one of his favorite novels: "Journey before destination."

  He practiced all day without breaks. Isalde and Leona were not home. Cra studied in her room.

  They said they'd return before dinner. I wonder where they went? rad chuckled. "Am I already starting to act like an overprotective brother?"

  Cold wind passed through the Valor residehe gss windows, with their old Victorian-style architecture mixed with modern colors, shook slightly uhe stant pressure. The sun began to set as evening desded. rad tinued practig religiously without breaks. Cra studied diligently in her room. Silence grew with each passing minute; only the steady tig of clocks could be heard throughout the house.

  At 7:09 PM, Cra felt thirsty. She reached for the bottle beside her, but it was empty. She desded the stairs toward the kit. The hallway leading there was dim, slightly illuminated by small wall lights. Her brother's room was unusually quiet. Though she tried not to care, she gnced briefly at his door while passing.

  "I don't know what that idiot is doing, probably sleeping, I guess."

  As she approached the empty kit, she noticed from the er of her eye that the refrigerator door stood open.

  "It's unusual for my big sister to leave it open. It must be that useless brother of mine."

  She sighed and started walking toward the fridge to close it.

  Creak!

  A small sound emerged from the kit. Cra tensed instantly. Why do I feel so horrified? I don't know what it is, but something's givihe creeps.

  "It's all my imagination," she thought, looking at the distant er. A dark fur of some animal blended with the isoted er of the room. Cra's forehead began to sweat, and her feet grew cold. Her heart raced.

  She turned from the kit and hurried to rad's room. "..." she hesitated for a moment before calling out, "Brother, are you there?"

  There was no reply from the other side. Cra's legs trembled slightly. She felt utterly alone in the world, as if her fate had been sealed by some unknown hidden truths she couldn't prehend.

  Creak!

  The door to rad's room opened. Seeing her brother, Cra couldn't hide her relief. Her eyes, on the verge of tears, found renewed hope.

  "Cra? What's the matter?”