The Mystery Underneath.

The sound of rolling carts echoed through the hallways.

Stretchers rattled across polished floors. Telephones rang in distant rooms. Nurses moved from ward to ward as sunlight filtered through the hospital windows, Kairo slowly opened his eyes, a sharp headache immediately greeted him.

"Tch..."

He groaned and instinctively reached for his head. Bandages wrapped around his forehead, and the moment his fingers brushed them, a dull pain pulsed through his skull, Slowly, he sat upright. For several seconds, he simply stared ahead, his eyes drifted lazily around the room, still heavy with exhaustion as his mind struggled to catch up with reality, Then the curtain around his hospital bed suddenly parted.

Fssht.

Kairo slowly turned toward the sound; Standing there was one of the missionary crew members who had traveled with them on the train, relief spread across his face as he scratched the back of his head with a smile. "Oh, hey. You're awake." In one hand he carried a small bag of apples and fruit. The man walked over and placed the fruit beside the bed

"So? How are you feeling? Any better?"

Kairo stared at him for a moment, then he spoke "What happened?",

The crew member's expression softened. "You collapsed after the train incident. Thankfully, we managed to get help in time." You're safe now. We're in Clay-Haven."

Kairo's eyes widened slightly "My sister... is she okay?" the man smiled confidently. "Yeah. She's fine." the tension in Kairo's chest eased.

"Thank goodness the injury wasn't any worse. She actually recovered faster than you did."

Kairo looked toward the window, bright sunlight poured into the room, "You've been unconscious for almost half a day." Kairo stared outside for a moment before asking again, "Where is she?" Kairo asked

"She went out to handle a few errands. She told me to come get you once you woke up and felt well enough to leave."

Kairo slowly swung his legs off the bed. "I'm fine." the room immediately spun, his vision blurred "Tch..." he grabbed his head and nearly lost his balance the missionary quickly stepped forward to support him "Whoa! Easy there." the crew member quickly stepped forward to support him.

"I'm okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." Kairo steadied himself "I just want to see my sister."

The man sighed, "At least let me get a nurse first."

"Fine." Kairo reluctantly sat back down.

"Good. Just rest for a minute." the man offered a reassuring smile.

Elsewhere in Clay-Haven....

"YEAHHHHH!"

The underground arena erupted, Cheers shook the walls, money exchanged hands, bets were settled, dozens of men roared from the stands as two fighters exchanged brutal blows inside a makeshift ring.

Then—

BAM!

A devastating punch connected directly with a boxer's face, the impact snapped his head backward, his body collapsed onto the canvas, the crowd exploded, the referee immediately rushed between them "That's enough!" the crowd erupted. The winner's hand was raised high, the boxer thrust both fists into the air.

"YEAHHHHHH!" the arena shook with cheers.

"FINN!"

"FINN!"

"FINN!"

"FINN!"

A triumphant grin spread across the victor's face; several minutes later, the crowd began clearing out, backstage, Finn sat on a crate while holding an ice pack against the side of his head "Tch... tch..." he winced every time the cold touched a bruise, nearby, the match promoter counted money.

Then his eyes shifted toward someone approaching from behind Finn, a grin immediately appeared; A woman, the promoter smirked, "Hey, Finn."

Finn looked up. "One of your fans." the promoter chuckled.

Finn turned, his expression immediately changed; Oh." a smile followed "Hey, Rina."

The promoter blinked. "Wait." he pointed. "She's not one of your fans?"

"You wish." Finn laughed.

Rina approached, "You don't look so good."

"I've never felt any good." he pressed the ice pack against his head again "Tch."

The promoter finally handed over a stack of cash. "Your cut." Finn took it. "Pleasure doing business." the promoter grinned "You should fight here more often. You're basically the champion of this place."

Finn shrugged "It's getting boring."

"See? That's why we should work together." the promoter smirked knowingly

"I already told you. No match fixing." Finn pocketed the money "Not my style."

The promoter rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say." he waved and walked off.

Few minutes later...

Finn and Rina walked through the streets of Clay-Haven.

The streets of Clay-Haven were lively, flower stalls lined the roads; children ran between merchants, the scent of fresh bread drifted through the air.

Rina and Finn walked side by side. "So," Rina asked, "how are you enjoying the city?"

"I wouldn't go that far." Then a grin appeared "Though I have to admit..." he folded his hands behind his head "The women here are cute enough to make a man stay."

Rina rolled her eyes. "Any actual news?" Immediately, Finn's smile disappeared.

"I haven't gotten very far." his voice became serious "The people are friendly... Too friendly but restrict at same time"

Rina looked at him "What does that mean?"

Finn's gaze drifted toward the street. "It feels like somebody bigger is running things behind the scenes."

Rina nodded "That's what our information suggests too." She lowered her voice "We're almost certain this is connected to the organization."

Eventually they arrived at a local bar, the two sat down and continued talking. The atmosphere was lively patrons laughed, glasses clinked, conversations filled the room.

Rina and Finn took a table near the window, moments later, the door opened, Kairo entered alongside the crew member from the hospital, Rina immediately stood "Kairo!" relief filled her face "How are you feeling?" Kairo nodded his eyes wandered around the room "This is a bar."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"Yeah." Rina nodded.

Kairo immediately turned toward the crew member "You said we were going somewhere to eat." The man awkwardly scratched the back of his head "Your sister said we'd meet here."

Rina laughed "Relax they serve food too." Meanwhile, Finn stared at the pair, his expression slowly turned confused "Uhhh..." he pointed at Kairo.

"Rina...I'm not sure, but I don't remember you having a kid."

Rina burst into laughter "No." she shook her head "It's more like a guardian situation."

Kairo sat down, the crew member stood "Well, my job is done." He glanced toward Rina "I should head back and check on the others."

"Alright." Rina nodded.

After saying goodbye, he left, a brief silence followed, Then Finn spoke "I heard about the train attack." immediately, Kairo's expression immediately darkened; the memory of the bandit boss surfaced, that smile, that voice, that overwhelming pressure.

Rina gently placed a hand on his shoulder "I heard about the train attack." the memories resurfaced "I'm sorry." Kairo looked at her "I shouldn't have brought you into that mission." His eyes lowered the image of the knife descending toward Rina flashed through his mind.

Then—

"Mind if I sit here?"

A familiar voice interrupted the moment, Kairo froze, his expression softened instantly, he turned around a man wearing a broad hat slowly pulled out a chair, Finn smiled "there you are." the newcomer sat down.

"Hey, kid."

Kairo flinched, the shock on his face quickly turned into recognition "Hey... it's you."

"Looks like you've recovered well." a small smile appeared on Kairo's face.

Rina folded her arms "Glad you showed up when you did, Zai."

Kairo looked between them "Wait." his brows furrowed "Back there, those bandits called you something else."

Finn laughed. "Yeah, it's probably that name." He pointed toward Kurozai "That's just what they know him as."

"His real name is Zai."

Kurozai ordered a cup of coffee then his expression became serious "It was coincidence that I boarded the same train."

His gaze shifted toward the table "But that attack wasn't random." Silence followed "their objective was the train itself."

Kairo frowned "You sound like you know them."

Finn leaned back "I wouldn't put it that way... But those people belong to something bigger."

"What do you mean?" Kairo asked

"They're connected to an underground organization."

"Organization?" he hesitated "What organization?"

This time, Zai answered "The Zentō Organization." The name hung in the air, Finn immediately looked at him "Should we really be telling him this?"

"This operation is confidential."

Zai folded his arms "He deserves to know..."

"He was one of their victims Afterall" No one argued.

And for the first time, Kairo began hearing about the hidden world that existed beyond everything he knew

Finn leaned back in his chair "The people who attacked your train aren't ordinary bandits." his playful expression had disappeared..."They belong to a group called the Zentō Organization and We've been investigating them for years now."

He looked confused, Finn reached for the glass sitting on the table "Kid, let me ask you something." he lifted the glass "What lets me do this?"

"My hand?" Finn laughed "Besides that... my strength?" He nodded. "Exactly."

"Your body has the strength." Then he tapped Kairo lightly on the chest "But that's not the only thing that defines one." Kairo blinked "What do you mean?"

Finn raised one finger "There are two forces that define our existence...the first is physical energy." he clenched his fist "The power of your muscles. Your movement. The things you can see." then he raised a second finger "The second is spiritual energy." Kairo tilted his head. "Spiritual energy?"

"We call it Seikon." Finn replied nodding his head, the word hung in the air "as long as a person lives, Seikon exists." Finn's voice became more serious. "It connects and defines your existence itself... your emotions...your will... our soul."

Kairo listened quietly, it sounded impossible, yet after everything he had witnessed on the mountainside, impossible didn't feel so impossible anymore.

Rina folded her arms "Whatever that man used on you back there wasn't ordinary." Kairo glanced toward Rina

"The illusion?" Kairo asked, she nodded "Our investigation team suggests the organization uses a different kind of power... a power called Kuonryoku."

"Kuon..." Kairo repeated, the word sounded unfamiliar "Kuon in short" Zai jumps in.

"But Kuon is different." Finn said... "How?" Kairo listened carefully.

"Seikon is spiritual energy." Finn's expression grew serious "Kuon is anti-spiritual energy."

Kairo stared "What?"

"Exactly." Finn folded his arms "Kuon is born from what Seikon rejects." Silence followed "that's all we know right now."

"The Zentō Organization seems to know far more than we do."

Kairo's brow furrowed "What does that mean?"

Rina nodded. "Our investigation has lasted years... We still don't know Kuon's true origin or its full capabilities."

"If we knew the answer to that," Finn said with a small laugh.

"Our investigation would've ended years ago." Rina sighed "All we know is that Seikon and Kuon aren't the same thing." Kairo sat quietly, the information was difficult to process. The world suddenly felt much larger than he had imagined, Zai closed his eyes and took a slow breath, "It's a big world out there, kid."

Kairo lowered his head "Yeah I know." his voice was soft, for a moment, Zai simply looked at him, then he smiled faintly "Let's hope you never run into something like that again. "Yeah, I hope so" Kairo thought to himself.

" The mood lightened, "Anyway." Finn suddenly grinned "I'm just glad everyone's alive."

He raised his drink "Clay-Haven is too beautiful a city to spend all your time looking depressed." Rina laughed "We should order something." Then she looked at Kairo "What do you want to eat?" Finn immediately jumped in "What about a beer?"

Kairo stared at him. "I'm fourteen." then he frowned his eyes "And my name is Kairo." Finn burst out laughing "Relax... I'm kidding."

Rina opened a menu "So?" "What do you want?"

"Omelette." Everyone paused.

"Mmm?" Finn smirked.

Kairo straightened "rice omelette." his answer came with complete seriousness, Finn chuckled at the seriousness of his answer. "This kid." he pointed at Kairo "Rina, you really do have interesting people." Kairo stared at him, he genuinely didn't understand the humor. The alcohol is definitely getting to his head, he thought.

Just as they're feeling the positive energy again, a strange sense like an ugly taste for blood walked past the group, Zai instinctively react to where this feeling came from, but he couldn't see anything as there were too many people in the bar. "You sense anything?" Finn asked in whisper as though he noticed Zai's reaction "Yeah, but can't tell where it came from...

Don't let your guild down," he added. "Yeah understood" Finn respond.

Few hours later

The afternoon sun filtered through the canopy overhead.

Tall trees lined both sides of the quiet road, their leaves swaying gently beneath the breeze. The chaos of the past day felt distant now. For the first time since the train attack, things were calm.

Kairo walked alongside Rina and Zai.

Their journey through Clay-Haven had finally come to an end. Earlier that morning, Rina had assigned the remaining missionaries several tasks to complete within the region. Once those responsibilities were finished, she would return and rendezvous with them again. For now, however, she and Kairo were heading back to Star Sand City.

Coincidentally, Zai was traveling in the same direction, the trains station was only a short distance away, the three of them walked peacefully beneath the shade of the trees, "You sure you're feeling alright?" Rina asked.

"I'm fine, that's like the hundred times you've asked me that." Kairo answered without thinking.

"Hahaha and that's like same hundred times you've gave same answer" she teased.

Kairo frowned, Rina laughed softly, Even Zai's expression seemed slightly amused. The wind passed through the trees once more.

Then—

"Kairooooo..."

The voice drifted through the air.

Soft, Distant, almost carried by the wind itself, Kairo froze, his eyes widened. That voice... The sound was unfamiliar, yet something about it felt strangely personal as though it had called his name countless times before.

"Kairooooo..."

Instinctively, he turned toward the source, the moment he did—The world changed; Silence, the breeze vanished, the rustling leaves vanished, the sunlight vanished, Kairo's breath caught in his throat, the road remained, the trees remained, everything remained exactly where it should have been.

And yet...everything was wrong, above him stretched a sky painted entirely crimson, the clouds had become rivers of red, the sunlight had disappeared. It looked as though someone had taken reality itself and painted over it,

Kairo's pulse quickened "W-What...?"

he turned sharply, "Big Sis?" no answer, Rina was gone,

His gaze shifted again "Zai?" nothing, the road was empty, the trees stood motionless, no birds no insects no wind no life only silence.

A chill crawled down Kairo's spine "Rina!" his voice echoed across the empty road.

No response, fear tightened around his chest, for the first time since the train attack, genuine panic began to rise within him.

Meanwhile in the real world—Kairo's body suddenly stopped moving, without warning, his eyes rolled upward, then he collapsed.

THUD.

"Kairo!" Rina immediately rushed forward, the boy lay motionless on the dirt road.

No wounds, no visible injuries no struggle, one second, he had been walking, the next he was unconscious, "What happened?" Rina dropped to her knees beside him "Kairo!" she grabbed his shoulders.

Nothing, no response Zai's eyes narrowed, immediately just as the menacing smell he felt at the bar, no mistaking it, a presence, a sensation he recognized all too well, his expression darkened

Of all things... It had to be this, a slow breath escaped him "...Dreamhell."

Rina looked up. "What?"

But Zai wasn't looking at Kairo anymore, his gaze had shifted toward the forest, toward something hidden among the trees.

Several meters away—A lone figure rested upon a thick tree branch, tattered clothing hung loosely from his body, his face remained hidden beneath layers of cloth and shadow, one leg dangled lazily from the branch as though he had all the time in the world.

The man yawned, then adjusted himself comfortably against the trunk, almost as if he were preparing to take a nap, a faint smile appeared beneath the cloth covering his face.

His eyes remained closed, yet his awareness stretched far beyond the physical world; far beyond the forest, far beyond the road, deep within Dreamhell itself.

"Interesting..." his voice was barely above a whisper, the smile widened. "See you in dreamhell, I'll be waiting Kurozai" as his voice fad into sleep.