Chapter 14

Human Domain, Cadata.

Cadata was one of the three core regions of humanity and the central base of operations for its military. Hailed as humanity’s final line of defense, it possessed magical contraptions boasting fearsome destructive power, thousands of arrays with numerous functions, and countless fortresses that could defend against entire armies.

Cadata’s capital was similar to other human cities, with tall structures thirty to forty stories high, paved roads, and a dense population. Everyone living in the city knew they were in the safest place in the world and thus possessed a carefree spirit, more so than anywhere else. As a result, bars, pubs, battle arenas, and casinos took up business on every block.

Like any city, the capital housed unique landmarks, such as the clocktower, a structure that towered over the rest of the city. So high it was that few knew it was the favorite resting spot of one of humanity’s leaders: Markus.

At the very top, just below the clock itself, was a ledge large enough for someone to stand on. It was there Keith’s father sat with his legs crossed and his back against the wall. Like Keith, he had sharp eyebrows and a masculine jaw but with short black hair with the front half stuck up. Markus’s outfit was casual, wearing nothing but a t-shirt and shorts.

He frequently spent his time atop the clocktower observing the city, watching as people went about their daily lives. With his stats, he could make out their facial expressions as if they were standing in front of him. Their joy, laughter, surprise, and happiness as they frequented one establishment after another either alone or with friends, he saw it all.

Over the years, Markus found himself coming up here more and more. As an individual standing at the peak of the world, it was easy to grow arrogant and disdainful of anyone below level 400, which meant 99.9% of the world’s population. Up here, however, Markus grounded himself, finding solace and peace. Up here, his thoughts were clear.

Below him was the power source for his innate gift —human civilization itself. The diversity of its culture, the progression of science and technology, the people’s quality of life, and its total strength contributed to growing Markus’s innate gift.

With Markus’s position, it was easy to fall into a particular line of thinking: human civilization belonged to him and was his to use freely. At least, that was what his mother believed.

As Markus thought of Yara, his gaze grew sharp. For hundreds of years, she grew human civilization into what it was today. In her mind, since she grew it, she could harvest it. It was also due to her machinations that Markus gained his innate gift.

As he grew up, she drilled into his mind the glory of civilization, how millions of moving pieces worked together to create something beyond what any lone individual could achieve. How even a bricklayer held importance, for he built the house a teacher lived in as she taught the would-be adventurer who saved a scientist's life that ended up discovering something incredible.

It was a web so complicated and tangled it was impossible to unravel, yet that web, no matter which strand, made that web into the most deadly weapon in the world.

Even to this day, Markus was of the select few who knew what Yara’s grand plans were. Whether human civilization or the other races, they were all tools to achieve her ambition.

Realizing his thoughts were turning dark, Markus shook his head and pulled out a photograph of a young man with cyan hair and an eccentric outfit. Back then, Markus was willing to agree to Mariane’s requests. No extreme training, no wildlife survival, no killing. For Keith to live a normal life.

Like Mariane, Markus was just happy to be a father. There was no need for Keith to bear the responsibility of protecting a civilization, for Markus could take on that burden himself. He was willing, yet Yara had plans of her own, so Markus locked away his feelings for eighteen years and only observed from a distance.

But now, after all these years, he could finally meet his son.

Markus missed out on watching Keith grow from a baby into a young man, which frustrated him to no end, but he wouldn’t let that stop him from becoming an important person in Keith’s life. It might be awkward or uncomfortable at the beginning, but so what?

After thinking about his son, Markus became optimistic, a rare feeling nowadays. Alas, the feeling didn’t last long due to an unexpected guest. A woman in her prime flew over from afar, wearing an elegant black dress with a jeweled necklace draped around her neck. Her silky black hair, woven in intricate patterns, reached her waist. No blemishes or imperfections scarred her face, but the detached look in her eyes stained her beautiful image.

This woman was Yara, the Overseer of the four families, the hidden ruler of humanity, Markus’s mother, and Keith’s grandmother. A moment later, she landed on the ledge next to Markus and turned around to look over the city as he did.

For a time, the two said nothing, instead seemingly enjoying the view, but what they saw was entirely different. While Markus saw people going about their daily lives, Yara saw millions of intersecting lines. However, when Yara looked at her son, she saw nothing but his figure. With Markus’s level of strength and influence, the number of connections he had was too much for Yara to calculate, effectively making her ability useless.

Looking back over the city, Yara finally spoke, “You’ve been restless as of late.”

“I get to see my son in three months. How could I not be?” Markus responded with hidden feelings, wondering if she was genuinely worried about him or trying to make sure she still held control.

Yara’s expression flickered subtly, her detached gaze disappearing momentarily before returning. “I’m aware you resent me for letting that little girl take your son away, but know I did it in Keith’s interest.”

“I know,” Markus’s eyes grew red. “If I raised Keith, you could still see his future, but if I didn’t, his fate became uncalculable.”

It wasn’t as if Markus didn’t understand his mother’s reasoning, but what father wanted to hear they were the one responsible for holding their child back from greatness? That was the reason why Markus kept his distance from Keith, not because he feared his mother’s strength, but because he didn’t want to become the shackle holding his son back.

Markus understood everything, but the way Yara went about things disgusted him to no end. She might act justly and aboveboard, but due to being her son and interacting with her all these years, he knew there was something else lurking underneath.

Yara keenly sensed her son’s feelings towards her. She let out a sigh and sat down next to him, not caring about dirtying her dress. “You may not believe me, but I genuinely care about you. I told you the truth of this world and my origin, as well as what we will eventually come to face. I could have hidden these things from you, but I wanted you to understand why I do the things I do.”

Seeing Markus’s silence, Yara stood up, shook her head helplessly, then flew away after making one final comment. “What parent wants their child to hate them?”

As Markus watched his mother disappear into the distance, her last sentence resonated deeply with him, dissipating a portion of the negative emotions he held towards her. After all, what he feared most was Keith hating him.

A question entered his mind not long after, one he found having more and more. Was that final comment genuine, or was Yara using his fears to alleviate the negative feelings he held towards her?

What was her true nature?

A manipulator, a caring mother, a beacon of hope for humanity, or something else entirely?

To this day, he didn’t have an answer.