Under the Veil of Night

Hospital

Taro was staring at the window with a complicated expression. His eyes were red, marking the fact that he cried not long ago. The news regarding James's death arrived not long ago. It caused him to feel extremely sad. He only has two family members left and one of them left at such a young age.

"Even after everything, there's nothing that I can do to help, is it?" Taro whispered to himself.

He tried his best to keep the boy stayed alive. Even though the others were aiming to take the boy's life very much, he wanted to keep his nephew alive. The path itself took him a large toll in his life. However, there was nothing else he could do.

Because of James, he had to sacrifice the freedom he always experienced in his life. It was all because he wanted to keep his nephew alive.

'I'm truly a good for nothing.'

In his entire life, he created trouble here and there. There has never been even one single thing that he did right. His existence has always been a great shame to their family.

Taro lowered his gaze. It was not his fault that James died, but he couldn't help but feeling responsible. He truly wished that the brat could stay alive.

Beep, beep, beep.

The sounds of the machine accompanied him as he lamented to himself. He gazed at his sleeping older brother, the only family member he had left. There has been no progress with Charlie's condition. Every single day, this man lay there like a dead person. Even the doctors were not sure when he could wake up.

Taro moved his gaze to the window.

'It's snowing. This year snow comes really late.'

He closed his eyes slowly. This year winter felt extremely cold to him. It was only one year ago that he was still together with his family. They all spent the winter together happily, laughing as if there was nothing else that mattered to them. It was warm and enjoyable, but it could no longer repeat itself.

He is alone.

They have left him.

Taro sighed to himself. He promised himself that he would change his way and become a better person. However, he kept on feeling that he was at his limit. He missed his family very much.

'We can't change the past, but we can learn from the past.'

He looked at his brother as he let time trickle. There would be a large battle soon, but he was not in the mood to watch the news. All he wanted was to feel the presence of his brother, the only family he had in this world, near him.

…

Lima School

"Professor Taren asked to fetch the girl in the dungeon," one of the doctors said. "Anyone want to go there?"

The doctors in front of him shook their heads rapidly. Their eyes were glued to the next doctor who was being carried away from the dungeon. There was no apparent wound outside, but the fact that the doctor was unable to move was already enough to tell them that the girl was not ordinary.

They were not stupid enough to walk into their own grave by volunteering.

The head doctor was also frustrated. Every single time he sent someone inside, that person would be pulled out riddled in wounds. Even though Kanae was supposed to be in great pain because of the medicine, she was still able to move around and fought against them.

"Head doctor, can't we ask for help?"

"Yeah, there might be some others who can help us?"

The doctors were asking hesitatingly. They agreed to come here because of the money, but they didn't want to end up in hospital because of a single mission. After all, the pain was not a joke.

The Head Doctor's face was already extremely dark. He gritted his teeth. "Let's just move together! I can't believe she could fight all of us!"

The others looked at one another. They wanted to cry.

'If you want to court death, please don't involve us!'

However, their status in this place was not enough for them to deny the instruction from their leader. While feeling dejected, they made their way to the dungeon.

Inside one of the rooms, Kanae was sitting down. Her head was still hurting like crazy because of the medicine that Professor Taren force-fed her. However, she restrained the pain because she knew nothing good would come with her coming with them.

Several doctors tried to capture her. Her hands were still tied together, but it didn't mean that she couldn't move at all. Forcing herself to move, she slammed her forehead to the closest person to her.

Buk!

"Woah!"

"Ouch!"

The force was big enough to send the poor doctor back.

The Head Doctor felt a headache seeing his doctors were knocked out one by one. If this continued, there wouldn't be anyone to work!

"Catch her, idiot!"

"We're trying!" one of the doctors replied as he moved forward to capture Kanae. Seeing him coming closer, Kanae's eyes grew cold and she forced herself to move to the side and tripped the doctor.

Bam!

He fell to the ground with a loud voice.

"You won't be able to move around so much!"

'Try it,' Kanae's eyes were cold as she tried to stand up. The pain was still there, giving her headache because she was unable to think properly. However, she would not give up that easily.

"I got you!" a doctor dived into her.

Kanae switched her body position and raised her knee, hitting the doctor's stomach.

"Urghh" the doctor groaned as he stumbled to the side, unable to stand up properly anymore. He didn't understand how come someone who was in the middle of pain could exert this much power? She shouldn't have been able to move around, let alone exerting this large power.

Bam!

Another doctor fell down as Kanae pushed him back using her legs. With her head still dizzy, she could feel her stability decreased. Her leg also started to feel weak.

'I have to hold on…'

Several people tried to hold her down, which she kicked or pushed back violently. Suddenly, she felt something stab her.

Her expression changed considerably. She felt drowsy and weak. Internally, Kanae cursed out loudly as she watched the relief's expression on the doctor. She knew that she would have to face that insane professor again without knowing what he had in store for her.

'Damn it!'