Elian's footsteps echoed in the grand hallway as he made his way back through the mansion. His mind was still reeling from the truth he had just learned. Grandfather. The word repeated in his mind like a broken record, but the meaning of it was like poison coursing through his veins.
He had a grandfather—an influential, ruthless man who held the keys to unimaginable power. And now, Elian was bound to that legacy, whether he wanted to be or not.
The weight of his grandfather's words pressed down on him like a mountain. He couldn't fathom what it meant to be the heir to such an empire. He had spent his life fighting to be seen, to matter, and now he was thrust into a world of intrigue and power plays.
His thoughts were interrupted by a soft voice calling his name.
"Elian?"
He turned to find Mina standing in the doorway, her expression a mixture of concern and curiosity. She had been waiting for him outside, unsure of what had transpired in the room.
"Elian, what happened? Who was that man?" she asked, her eyes searching his face for answers.
Elian opened his mouth to speak but found the words stuck in his throat. How could he explain what he had just learned? How could he tell her that everything he thought he knew about himself had been a lie?
"I… he's my grandfather," Elian said finally, his voice heavy with disbelief.
Mina's eyebrows furrowed. "Your grandfather?"
He nodded slowly, still processing the enormity of the revelation. "Apparently, he's been watching me my whole life. I never knew. And now... now I'm supposed to take control of everything."
Mina stepped closer, her hand gently resting on his arm. "Elian, you don't have to do this. You don't have to become someone you're not."
Elian looked down at her hand, feeling a strange sense of comfort in her touch. Comfort, but also a sense of guilt. He had no idea what his future held now. It was like standing at the edge of a cliff, knowing that a leap could either lead to freedom or an irreversible fall.
"I don't know who I am anymore, Mina," Elian admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "All I know is that everything I've been through... it's been leading me to this."
Mina's grip tightened around his arm, but she didn't speak. She only looked at him with those wide, understanding eyes, as though she could feel the burden he was carrying.
"Elian, you don't have to carry it alone," she said softly. "We'll face whatever comes next together."
He looked at her, a mixture of relief and uncertainty flooding his chest. He wanted to believe her, to believe that he wasn't alone in this. But the world he was about to step into was far more dangerous than anything he had ever known. And Mina? She didn't belong in that world. She wasn't ready for it.
But Elian wasn't ready for it either.
---
Later that night, Elian sat alone in his room, the moonlight casting long shadows on the floor. His mind was a storm of conflicting emotions. His inheritance. His legacy. What did it all mean for him?
The answer came, unbidden, in a single, fleeting memory.
---
It was a memory from a time long before the mask had been placed on his life. He was a boy again, sitting with his mother in their cramped apartment, staring out the window at a world that seemed so far out of reach.
"Do you ever think about who we are, Elian?" his mother had asked, her voice soft, almost wistful.
He had shrugged, not fully understanding what she meant. But his mother had smiled, a sad, knowing smile that made his chest ache.
"There are things in this world that are beyond us, my dear," she had said, brushing a stray lock of hair from his face. "And sometimes, you have to be ready for them. There are things that will come for you, things that will demand your obedience, and you'll have to decide whether to fight or give in."
He had never understood what she meant. He had been a child, eager for something to hold on to, something to believe in. But now? Now it made sense. The truth about his inheritance was only the beginning. The world his grandfather had carved out was waiting for him. And it wouldn't be long before he had to make his choice—fight or give in.
---
A knock at the door broke him from his thoughts. He stood and opened it, finding Mina standing in the doorway, her face filled with worry.
"Elian, are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "You've been so quiet. I… I don't know what you're going through, but I want to help."
Elian looked at her, his heart pounding. He had never wanted anyone to see his weakness, especially not her. But right now, he couldn't hold it in. He was scared. He was terrified of what was coming next.
"I don't know what's happening to me," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "This isn't just about money. It's about power, Mina. About controlling everything. And I don't know if I'm strong enough to handle it."
Mina stepped forward, her arms wrapping around him in a warm embrace. "You're stronger than you think, Elian. You don't have to be alone in this. Whatever happens, we'll face it together."
For a moment, Elian allowed himself to believe her, to feel the warmth of her touch and the steadiness of her presence. But in the back of his mind, he knew that this world he was about to enter wasn't one where kindness and love would win. This was a world where loyalty was bought, where power was everything, and where the price of betrayal was death.
And soon, Elian would learn just how high that price could be.
---
As the night wore on, Elian found himself staring out the window, watching the stars twinkle in the sky, each one a distant reminder of the future that awaited him. The path was unclear, but one thing was certain—he could no longer hide from it. The power, the wealth, the darkness that lurked behind it all, it was his now. And it was up to him to decide how he would wield it.
---