Within the dark forests surrounding the Shadow Sect, two men sat beside a quiet fire .. a faint source of light beneath the vast wing of night.
The land around them was utterly devastated, as though it had witnessed a brutal war involving thousands.
In truth, it was the aftermath of combat between a father and his son—
a strange family whose members were genuine monsters, capable of unleashing unimaginable destruction.
It seemed that after long hours—many exhausting hours—of relentless training, Frey and Abraham had reached a dead end, forcing them to take a prolonged rest.
Of the two, Frey sat with a deep scowl etched across his face.
"I feel stupid..." he muttered, exhaling a heated breath.
In contrast, Abraham let out a light chuckle.
"And why would you feel that way?"
"Despite all the hours we spent training, I don’t feel like I’ve made any real progress," Frey complained, clenching a powerful fist wrapped in shadowy aura.
"I still don’t understand how it’s even possible to turn an entire body into pure aura."
Even without Absolute Manipulation, Frey already possessed overwhelming power thanks to his numerous abilities.
Yet he desired Absolute Manipulation at any cost .. because even the smallest increase in power could make all the difference later.
Still... it wasn’t easy. Not at all.
Unlike Frey, Abraham showed no concern.
"You’ll get there eventually," he said calmly. "A few more sessions of severe beatings should do the trick."
Frey’s face darkened immediately.
"I didn’t know you were this cruel, Father. You never hit me like this before. Where are children’s rights?" Frey said, waving a hand dramatically.
Abraham lifted his head and shot him a mocking glance.
"If you’re going to complain that much, you’d better master Absolute Manipulation quickly. Because we’re not leaving this place until you do."
"I know that already," Frey replied.
He stretched once more, trying to ignore the exhaustion weighing heavily on his body.
Abraham’s punches were brutal—solid, devastating. Enduring them without regeneration was incredibly taxing.
Even now, some bruises still lingered despite Frey allowing his regeneration to activate.
Abraham Starlight’s strength was truly terrifying.
Though classified as a Duelist, he could fight like an indomitable tank with frightening efficiency .. unlike Frey, who could barely keep up without his boundary-breaking abilities.
For a moment, silence fell between them.
Then Frey smiled faintly.
"It’s a strange life we’re living... Who would’ve thought that after all these years, I’d be sitting with you by a warm fire like this?"
Abraham nodded, the same expression of nostalgia and longing reflected in his eyes.
"Fate’s current plays with us as it pleases," he said quietly.
"At times it makes us cry and suffer... and at other times, it grants us laughter and fleeting happiness."
He lifted his gaze toward the stars.
"I spent over thirty years chasing the ghost of my old family... only to find it through my new one."
Hearing this, Frey stared at his father briefly before lowering his eyes.
"In your opinion... what happened to the rest of our family?"
It was a question Frey had long avoided thinking about.
Abraham had asked himself that question countless times.
"I don’t know," he admitted.
"All I can do is hope and pray that they’re in a better place than the one we’re standing in now."
Silence followed his words, father and son sinking into their own thoughts.
After several more seconds, Frey broke the silence once again.
"My mother in this world... Anna Starlight."
The moment Frey spoke her name, Abraham turned his gaze toward his son, meeting his eyes.
"What kind of person was she?" Frey asked.
"And how did she manage to win your heart, Father?"
Abraham hesitated.
It was clearly a sensitive topic—especially since Frey still struggled to accept the idea of this new mother, remaining deeply attached to his former family.
After taking his time, Abraham finally spoke.
"Anna Starlight... was a mystery in human form."
A flicker of memories passed through his mind.
"I won’t say much, since you’ve already seen everything through the memories I once left to you," he continued.
"But you could say she was the safe haven I fled to ... after despair and pain consumed me, after failing to find you for all those years."
"She was fragile... unable to walk or even move freely.
It felt as though she was suffering far more than I ever had. Her life ended before it truly began, due to her illness."
"She knew nothing of the outside world.
Her entire existence was confined within the walls of the garden her overly protective father had built for her."
With every word, Abraham’s eyes shimmered—proof of how deeply he cared for Anna Starlight.
"Despite everything she endured, her smile never faded," he said softly.
"She never gave up on life ... even after life itself had abandoned her.
When I saw her... I realized that I, too, could smile again."
Beneath the cloak of night, Abraham spoke further of the second love of his life.
"She was the one who saved me from the darkness," he said in a low voice.
"She gave me hope again."
Then he stopped, turning his attention back to Frey, realizing he’d spoken at length.
"Ah .. sorry, my son. I know this topic is sensitive for you. I talked too much," Abraham said sincerely.
Frey shook his head, a gentle smile forming on his face.
"You don’t need to apologize, Father. I don’t blame you.
I was the one who asked."
He spoke with clear maturity.
"Each of us chooses how to live.
Some cling to the past and never manage to move on, even until their final days.
Others move forward and live their lives to the fullest.
And some remain trapped in between."
"In all cases... no one has the right to judge or condemn another.
We’re all free to live the way we choose."
Frey smiled at Abraham.
"I truly respect you, Father. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known—the greatest role model in my life.
The proof is simple: across two lifetimes, I’ve never had another father but you."
"You were—and still are—the beacon that lights the darkness within me.
You and Ada are my family... and I’m grateful that you’re still by my side."
It was a rare moment .. one in which Frey laid bare his true feelings .. and it caught his father completely off guard.
"Frey..."
Without realizing it, Abraham clenched his fist as his eyes reddened, as though he were on the verge of breaking down in tears.
Yet he quickly pulled himself together, lowering his head toward the ground beneath him—
He nearly collapsed.
But Frey caught his hand instantly, holding it gently.
Abraham’s hand trembled as he bit down hard on his lip, a flood of emotions burning fiercely in his chest.
"My son... thank you. Truly... truly, thank you."
Abraham thanked him again and again.
Frey’s words had finally brought him peace—release—from the guilt he had been carrying in silence for so long.
Frey had noticed his father’s quiet suffering long ago, and had waited patiently for the right moment to ease it.
"Lift your head, Father," Frey said softly as he helped him stand.
"You are a true hero."