Years passed quickly for Avyanna, and before she knew it, she was stepping into her first year of college. Though she had been through countless hardships over the past five years, this was an entirely different kind of challenge. The weight of expectations pressed down on her shoulders as she walked through the towering gates of the most prestigious university in the city.
She had chosen to pursue a pre-law degree—a decision she had been hesitant about from the start. The idea of sitting in lecture halls, surrounded by students who had lived normal, sheltered lives, felt almost foreign to her. She was used to the shadows, to the underworld where survival was the only priority. Here, things were different. Here, she wasn’t Avyanna, the hidden heiress of a fallen empire. She was just another student.
At first, she had no intention of ever setting foot in a college. What was the point? Her life had already been carved into something far from ordinary. But the boss had been insistent.
No matter how dangerous their world was, he believed education was a necessity, not a luxury. He had ensured that she and the other girls under his protection would receive proper schooling, even as they trained and carried out their missions. He wanted them to be more than just pawns in a game of power.
"I know that university will be tough," the boss had told her, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "But don’t forget your mission and training. You’re still working under me."
She had let out a deep sigh, knowing there was no room for argument.
She had no choice—she had to face it.
"Your accommodations, tuition, and everything you need—I’ll handle it," the boss added. His words were final, leaving no room for refusal.
Avyanna had only nodded in response, accepting the reality of her situation. After all, what other choice did she really have?
Her past was gone, buried beneath fire and betrayal. And now, her future was dictated by the man who had given her a second life. Whether she liked it or not, she had to keep moving forward.
It had been five years, and no matter how much time had passed, Avyanna still couldn’t return home. That life was gone—a distant memory buried beneath blood and fire. No matter how much she tried to suppress the past, the weight of it still lingered, like a shadow that refused to fade.
Now, she found herself in a completely different world, one she never imagined she would be part of. She was no longer the helpless girl hiding in the dark. She had trained, she had fought, and she had survived. But despite her strength, she still followed orders, still lived under the protection—and control—of the boss.
Alongside her were Huan-Yue and Monica, two of her closest colleagues in their line of work. The three of them had been assigned to the same university and, as a result, were also given shared accommodations. Right now, they were on their way to their new apartment, escorted by Rin, one of the boss’s most trusted men.
The walk had been mostly silent, each of them preoccupied with their own thoughts. But the moment they arrived in front of the apartment, the mood shifted.
"Here we are. This is where you girls will be staying," Rin announced as he unlocked the door, stepping aside to let them in.
Avyanna stepped inside first, her sharp eyes roaming around the space. It was modern and well-furnished, far from the rundown places she had once hidden in during her early years in the underworld. The interior had a calming aesthetic—muted colors, soft lighting, and just enough warmth to make it feel like a real home.
But to her, no place ever really felt like home anymore.
Before she could dwell on the thought, Huan-Yue’s voice broke through the silence.
"Yeah, yeah, we get it. It’s obvious this is our place. You’ve done your job, now you can leave. Shoo, shoo!" she said, waving her hand dismissively toward Rin.
Rin narrowed his eyes, his expression instantly shifting into a deadpan glare. Then, turning to Monica, he scoffed.
"You dead-ass bitch, is that how you talk to someone who just did you a favor?" he said, sarcasm lacing his words.
Monica chuckled, shaking her head as she leaned against the doorway, clearly entertained. She had always enjoyed watching Huan-Yue and Rin bicker like children—it was their dynamic, and neither of them ever truly took it to heart.
Huan-Yue only grinned, unfazed. "Shoo, shoo," she repeated, waving her hands again like she was trying to ward off a stray cat.
Rin exhaled sharply, shaking his head in exasperation. "I swear, one of these days—"
"Just rest for a while, Rin," Avyanna interjected before the banter could escalate further. Her voice was calm, yet firm. She knew if she let them continue, they could go on for hours. "And… thank you for escorting us here."
Her words seemed to soften Rin’s annoyance. With a small nod, he stepped aside, allowing them to enter the apartment fully.
The moment they were inside, the atmosphere shifted. The three girls fell into silence, each processing the fact that this place was now their new home—at least for the foreseeable future.
For Avyanna, this was just another temporary stop in her long, winding journey—another chapter in a life dictated by forces beyond her control. No matter how much time had passed or how far she had come, the truth remained the same. She was never truly free.
She had come this far. There was no turning back now.
Rin leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching her with his usual unreadable expression. “The boss said you’ll be having a good deal later.”
Avyanna didn’t need any further explanation. She knew exactly what a "good deal" meant in their world. Another mission. Another task that blurred the line between right and wrong. She let out a slow sigh, already preparing herself for what was to come. By now, these things had become second nature to her.
Rin handed her a thick folder, the weight of it heavier than it should have been. As soon as she took it, the atmosphere in the room shifted. The lighthearted mood from earlier vanished, replaced by the cold seriousness of reality.
Monica, who had been sitting quietly at the edge of the bed, sighed and looked at her with concern. “Are you really—”
Avyanna cut her off before she could finish. “You don’t need to worry about me.”
She turned back to Rin, gripping the folder tightly. “I’ll handle it later.”
Her voice was steady, but deep inside, she felt the weight of her words pressing down on her like an invisible chain. No matter how much she reassured Monica—or even herself—there was no escaping the reality of what she had to do.
Rin gave her one last glance, his expression unreadable as always. “Then I’ll be going now.” His tone was casual, but there was something final about it.
Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and left the room, the door clicking shut behind him.
Silence settled between Avyanna and Monica, heavy and unspoken.
Monica stared at the door for a moment before shifting her gaze back to Avyanna. “You know, one day, you might not come back from one of these jobs.”
Avyanna didn’t respond right away. Instead, she exhaled slowly, letting her fingers tighten around the folder in her hands.
"I always come back," she finally said, though whether she was convincing Monica or herself was another question entirely.
It was a dull day for Avyanna. She was sitting in a coffee shop across from the university with Huan-Yue and Monica, sipping coffee and chatting about random things. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, blending with the soft laughter of other customers and the rhythmic hum of the espresso machine.While her two friends were engrossed in conversation, Avyanna suddenly paused. Her gaze drifted towards the counter, where a young man wearing a coffee shop apron caught her attention. There was something about his presence—sharp eyes, an upright posture, and a sense of ease in the way he moved.Monica noticed Avyanna zoning out and smirked. “Hey, Avyanna, don’t be too obvious,” she whispered teasingly, snapping Avyanna back to reality. Quickly, she turned her gaze down to her coffee cup, taking a sip to play it cool.Huan-Yue grinned. “Hmm… You’re up to something, aren’t you?” she asked before taking a sip of her drink.Avyanna shrugged. “Uhmm, Huan-Yue… This is a Chinese
“Good morning, students,” the professor greeted as he stepped in front of the class. His voice was calm yet authoritative, instantly capturing everyone’s attention.The new semester had just begun, and it was already January—a time for fresh starts. A new year, a new beginning, new classmates, and new challenges. But for Avyanna, it was just another phase in life, a cycle that repeated itself every few months. Things would change, whether she liked it or not, and she had long accepted that.“Good morning, sir,” the students chorused in response, their voices blending into a collective greeting.The professor took a moment to introduce himself, stating his name and background. However, he didn’t ask the students to introduce themselves one by one. Instead, he immediately transitioned into discussing the course syllabus and outlining his expectations for the semester.Avyanna sat quietly at the back of the classroom, listening but not particularly excited. A new semester meant new subjec
“Kairus!”A loud voice echoed through his apartment, sharp and demanding. He heard it loud and clear. Letting out a sigh, he ran a hand through his hair, already feeling exhausted before even turning around.He had just finished studying with Avyanna—or rather, they had barely covered two cases before she abruptly stood up and bid him goodbye, claiming there was an urgent emergency. He didn't ask for details, nor did she offer any. Just like that, she was gone, leaving the rest of the readings unfinished.And now, instead of getting a moment of peace, he was greeted by the sight of his mother standing in the middle of his living room, her arms crossed, eyes burning with irritation.“You visited without notice—” he started, but his words were cut off.“I’m your mother! And you call this an ill-mannered thing?” she snapped, her expression growing even more frustrated.Kairus let out another sigh, already knowing that this conversation wasn’t going to end anytime soon. His mother’s persis
While studying with Kairus in the warm, inviting ambiance of the coffee shop, the quiet atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the sharp ringing of Avyanna’s phone. The sound cut through their focused silence, making her jolt slightly. Without hesitation, she reached for her phone and answered it swiftly."Avyanna, come here immediately," Rin’s urgent voice came through the other end of the line, his tone carrying an undeniable weight of urgency.She let out a quiet sigh, already sensing that something serious was happening. Adjusting her grip on the phone, she responded in a calm but firm voice. "What is it?"“Naoki requested you to be here. Same address. It’s an emergency,” Rin added, his voice tense, making Avyanna immediately straighten up in concern.Her eyes flickered toward her study partner, Kairus, who remained completely absorbed in his book, seemingly unaware of the call. The dim glow of the coffee shop lights cast soft shadows on his face, accentuating his sharp, stoic feat
“Kairus,” she said, her voice neutral as she watched him take the seat across from her.He sat down without a word, his expression unreadable. “I’ll eat with you, and I’ll go to class with you too…” he stated, placing his food on the table with a soft clatter.Avyanna remained silent as they ate, the quiet atmosphere settling between them like an unspoken agreement. Kairus, too, refrained from speaking, focusing on his meal. The only sounds were the occasional clink of utensils against their plates.Once she had finished, Avyanna stood up, pushing her chair back with a faint scrape. She was about to walk away when, out of nowhere, her foot caught on something. Before she could even process what was happening, she lost her balance, stumbling forward.Everything happened in a split second. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she braced for impact—but instead of hitting the ground, she felt a strong grip catch her.Kairus had acted on reflex, his arms instinctively reaching out to steady her
As the days went by, Kairus and Avyanna grew closer, their connection deepening through shared moments of study and quiet companionship. The library became their sanctuary, a place where they spent hours poring over books, exchanging notes, and occasionally stealing glances at each other when they thought the other wasn’t looking.The warm scent of aged paper and ink filled the air as they sat side by side, the soft glow of the desk lamps casting a golden hue over their focused expressions. Sometimes, when Avyanna struggled with a passage, Kairus would lean in just a little too close, his voice low as he explained, his breath warm against her cheek. She would hold her breath for a second before looking up, their eyes meeting in a brief yet intense moment before she hurriedly looked away, her heart pounding.Even outside the library, their routine intertwined effortlessly. Avyanna often stayed late at the café, where the hum of quiet conversations and the occasional clink of coffee cups
“I’ll walk you to your apartment,” Kairus said casually, standing up and adjusting his jacket.Avyanna looked at him, her brows furrowed in mild confusion.“You… walk with me?” she repeated, unsure if she heard him right.He nodded without hesitation. “It’s getting late. I just want you to be safe, that’s all.”There was a beat of silence before Avyanna gave him a small nod, her expression unreadable. “Alright.”She gathered her things—her bag, the leftover bandages, and the wipes—and tucked them away neatly. As they exited the café together, she noticed the lights still glowing warmly inside. The place remained open, a few customers chatting in the far corner, and another employee had just taken over the shift behind the counter.The night air wrapped around them the moment they stepped outside. It was calm, with a faint breeze brushing past, carrying the scent of damp pavement and blooming flowers from somewhere nearby.As they walked side by side, Avyanna found herself unusually at
Kairus looks at Avyanna with a tense gaze, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions that are hard to read. Avyanna doesn't know how to respond to what he just said—her mind spins with uncertainty, and confusion clouds her thoughts. The moment feels heavy, suspended in silence, as if time itself is holding its breath. Then suddenly, she becomes aware of something else—Kairus’s warm breath brushing softly against her skin. It sends a shiver down her spine, grounding her in the moment. Her eyes widen slightly as she realizes just how close their faces have become, the distance between them barely more than a whisper. The air grows thick with anticipation, unspoken feelings lingering between them like a fragile thread on the verge of snapping.Involuntarily, Avyanna's eyes flutter shut, her breath hitching slightly as a soft and unfamiliar warmth brushes against her lips. For a heartbeat, time stops. She feels something smooth, tender, and warm—it takes her only a second to realize it's Kai
A call from his mother makes Kairus stand up. He quickly grabs his phone, glancing over his shoulder to make sure Avyanna is still asleep. Her steady breathing calms him for just a moment before the familiar tone of his mother's ringtone coils around his nerves. He silently steps closer to the window, cradling the phone to his ear.“Mom…” he answers quietly, trying to keep his voice low.“Zhen is waiting. She’s outside your apartment,” his mother says without preamble. Her voice is stern, expectant — the same way she used to sound when he was late for piano lessons as a child.Kairus closes his eyes for a brief moment and runs a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling under his skin. “I have my own business to deal with right now. I’ll call you later.”“No, Kairus,” she snaps, a sharpness to her tone that slices through the phone. “Pick Zhen up now. She came all this way. Do not embarrass us.”He exhales, a bitter chuckle escaping before he can stop it. “Embarrass us? You mean emb
At Avyanna’s apartment, the quiet was almost unsettling.Kairus stood frozen in the middle of her small living space, unsure of what to do next. The faint sound of the ticking clock was the only thing that kept him grounded as he glanced over his shoulder at the bed, where Avyanna lay unconscious but breathing steadily. She looked so different like this—so vulnerable, stripped of the guarded demeanor she always carried like armor.Ruth had gone out a few minutes earlier to buy medicine, telling him to keep an eye on Avyanna until she returned. He had agreed with a nod, but now that he was alone in her space, a strange wave of unease washed over him. He wasn’t used to this kind of stillness. Especially not when someone he cared about was lying pale and unresponsive just a few feet away.With a soft exhale, Kairus slowly sat down on the floor beside her bed, leaning back against the wall. His eyes scanned the room—small, modest, and filled with little things that made it unmistakably he
After sealing the deal, Ruth led Avyanna to a nearby café nestled along a quiet street corner. The warm scent of roasted coffee beans and freshly baked pastries wafted through the air as the door chimed softly behind them. It was a cozy little place, filled with soft lighting and scattered wooden tables that gave it a homey atmosphere. The kind of place you could settle into and forget the world outside.As she stepped inside, Avyanna’s eyes instinctively scanned the room, her gaze flicking from table to table, carefully searching for a familiar face among the patrons. There was a flicker of hope in her expression—subtle, yet visible. But as seconds passed and she found no sign of the certain someone she had hoped to see, a small sigh escaped her lips. Disappointment settled into her features, though she tried to mask it behind a neutral expression.Ruth noticed immediately. She could always tell when something was off with Avyanna, even when her friend tried to hide it.“Who are you
Monica lingers in the hallway instead of leaving, her gaze fixed on Avyanna with a weight that suggests there’s more she wants to say. She crosses her arms, her jaw tight.“Look, I’m not trying to be cold about it,” she begins, her voice lower now, more serious. “But you need to think this through. Kairus seems like a good guy, sure. He’s kind, stable, grounded. But that’s exactly the kind of person who doesn’t understand the kind of fire we’re walking through.”Avyanna looks up at her, already feeling the tension growing in her chest.Monica steps a bit closer, voice firm but not unkind. “Lord Mendez isn’t just some distant threat. His reach is wide, and his interest in you hasn’t exactly disappeared. You’ve kept a low profile lately, but if he finds out you’re close to someone new—especially someone outside the circle—it’s not just your life at risk. It’s his too.”Avyanna’s lips part slightly, but she doesn’t speak. There’s too much truth in Monica’s words.“He could use Kairus,” M
Kairus looks at Avyanna with a tense gaze, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions that are hard to read. Avyanna doesn't know how to respond to what he just said—her mind spins with uncertainty, and confusion clouds her thoughts. The moment feels heavy, suspended in silence, as if time itself is holding its breath. Then suddenly, she becomes aware of something else—Kairus’s warm breath brushing softly against her skin. It sends a shiver down her spine, grounding her in the moment. Her eyes widen slightly as she realizes just how close their faces have become, the distance between them barely more than a whisper. The air grows thick with anticipation, unspoken feelings lingering between them like a fragile thread on the verge of snapping.Involuntarily, Avyanna's eyes flutter shut, her breath hitching slightly as a soft and unfamiliar warmth brushes against her lips. For a heartbeat, time stops. She feels something smooth, tender, and warm—it takes her only a second to realize it's Kai
“I’ll walk you to your apartment,” Kairus said casually, standing up and adjusting his jacket.Avyanna looked at him, her brows furrowed in mild confusion.“You… walk with me?” she repeated, unsure if she heard him right.He nodded without hesitation. “It’s getting late. I just want you to be safe, that’s all.”There was a beat of silence before Avyanna gave him a small nod, her expression unreadable. “Alright.”She gathered her things—her bag, the leftover bandages, and the wipes—and tucked them away neatly. As they exited the café together, she noticed the lights still glowing warmly inside. The place remained open, a few customers chatting in the far corner, and another employee had just taken over the shift behind the counter.The night air wrapped around them the moment they stepped outside. It was calm, with a faint breeze brushing past, carrying the scent of damp pavement and blooming flowers from somewhere nearby.As they walked side by side, Avyanna found herself unusually at
As the days went by, Kairus and Avyanna grew closer, their connection deepening through shared moments of study and quiet companionship. The library became their sanctuary, a place where they spent hours poring over books, exchanging notes, and occasionally stealing glances at each other when they thought the other wasn’t looking.The warm scent of aged paper and ink filled the air as they sat side by side, the soft glow of the desk lamps casting a golden hue over their focused expressions. Sometimes, when Avyanna struggled with a passage, Kairus would lean in just a little too close, his voice low as he explained, his breath warm against her cheek. She would hold her breath for a second before looking up, their eyes meeting in a brief yet intense moment before she hurriedly looked away, her heart pounding.Even outside the library, their routine intertwined effortlessly. Avyanna often stayed late at the café, where the hum of quiet conversations and the occasional clink of coffee cups
“Kairus,” she said, her voice neutral as she watched him take the seat across from her.He sat down without a word, his expression unreadable. “I’ll eat with you, and I’ll go to class with you too…” he stated, placing his food on the table with a soft clatter.Avyanna remained silent as they ate, the quiet atmosphere settling between them like an unspoken agreement. Kairus, too, refrained from speaking, focusing on his meal. The only sounds were the occasional clink of utensils against their plates.Once she had finished, Avyanna stood up, pushing her chair back with a faint scrape. She was about to walk away when, out of nowhere, her foot caught on something. Before she could even process what was happening, she lost her balance, stumbling forward.Everything happened in a split second. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she braced for impact—but instead of hitting the ground, she felt a strong grip catch her.Kairus had acted on reflex, his arms instinctively reaching out to steady her
While studying with Kairus in the warm, inviting ambiance of the coffee shop, the quiet atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by the sharp ringing of Avyanna’s phone. The sound cut through their focused silence, making her jolt slightly. Without hesitation, she reached for her phone and answered it swiftly."Avyanna, come here immediately," Rin’s urgent voice came through the other end of the line, his tone carrying an undeniable weight of urgency.She let out a quiet sigh, already sensing that something serious was happening. Adjusting her grip on the phone, she responded in a calm but firm voice. "What is it?"“Naoki requested you to be here. Same address. It’s an emergency,” Rin added, his voice tense, making Avyanna immediately straighten up in concern.Her eyes flickered toward her study partner, Kairus, who remained completely absorbed in his book, seemingly unaware of the call. The dim glow of the coffee shop lights cast soft shadows on his face, accentuating his sharp, stoic feat