In the fighting pit, Aiden stood almost motionless, his body battered and bloodied from the intense match.
His electric-blue eyes darted toward the Phenomenal who had opened the cage door, then shifted toward Silas, who was standing just beyond the railing.
His fists clenched tightly at his sides, electricity sparking faintly between his fingers as he took a tentative step forward.
Silas, unfazed, raised a hand in a gesture of calm. "Relax," he said evenly, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere. "I’m not here to control you. I’m here to help."
Aiden didn’t respond immediately, his eyes narrowing as he studied Silas. "Help?" he echoed, his voice rough from exertion.
"That’s a funny word coming from someone who just bought me like a piece of meat."
Silas nodded slightly, acknowledging the bitterness in Aiden’s tone. "You’re right. The circumstances aren’t exactly ideal. But I didn’t buy you to own you. I bought you to free you."
Aiden’s shoulders tensed, his body still coiled with suspicion. "Why? What’s in it for you?"
"Because I see potential in you," Silas replied. "And because people like us don’t belong in cages."
Aiden looked at Silas for a brief moment, with filling up his head. He didn’t know what to make of ge situation. Why does this young man want him? And what for?
Aiden was feeling very complicated emotions right now. He was happy and relieved that this young man bought him as he would had died in the cage fight today.
But he was also worried as he has no idea as to the reason why the young man bought him.
Aiden hesitated for a long moment as he thought of all these. It was after a while before he finally came to term with his reality and stepped out of the cage.
The crowd, now mostly dispersed, paid little attention to his exit. Silas watched him carefully, noting the wariness in his movements and the way his gaze flicked toward the Phenomenals stationed around the arena.
As Aiden approached, Silas extended a hand. "I’m Silas."
Aiden stared at the offered hand but didn’t take it. "I know who you are," he said flatly. "The question is, why do you care?"
Silas lowered his hand, unfazed by the rejection. "Because I know what it’s like to be used.
And I know how dangerous you can be to the people who think they own you."
Aiden’s jaw tightened, his eyes flickering with a mixture of anger and something resembling hope.
After a moment, he nodded curtly. "Fine. I’ll come with you. But if you’re lying—"
"I’m not," Silas interjected, his tone firm. "And you’ll see that soon enough."
{Understood. Shall I also prepare the profile briefing on Mr. Aiden?}
Silas glanced at Aiden, who was now looking at him with renewed suspicion.
"No need," he said after a moment. "I already know enough."
Aiden’s jaw tightened. "Do you always talk about people like they’re not sitting right next to you?"
Silas raised an eyebrow, unfazed by the edge in Aiden’s tone. "Only when they’ve just stepped out of a death match and haven’t asked a single meaningful question about their situation."
Aiden flinched at the accuracy of the remark but quickly masked it with a scowl. "Fine. Then let me ask. Why did you buy me? What do you want?"
Silas leaned back in his seat, his gaze steady. "I need someone like you—someone strong, skilled, and experienced. And someone who understands what it means to fight for survival."
Aiden’s scowl deepened. "Sounds like you’re putting a lot of faith in someone you don’t know."
"I know enough," Silas said evenly. "I know you’re not a killer. I know you’ve been forced into a life you didn’t choose. And I know you want out."
The car fell silent again as Aiden processed Silas’s words. He hated how accurate they were and how this stranger seemed to see through him with such ease.
But there was something else in Silas’s tone—something genuine. It wasn’t pity. It was understanding.
The car pulled up to a discreet building on the outskirts of the city. From the outside, it looked like a typical apartment complex, but Aiden quickly realized it was anything but ordinary.
Security cameras tracked their every move, and the locks on the doors were far more advanced than anything he’d seen before.
Inside, Luna greeted them—or rather, her voice did. {Welcome back, master. Medical suite is prepped and ready.}
Silas guided Aiden to a sterile, state-of-the-art room that resembled a high-tech clinic. "Sit," he instructed, motioning to an exam chair.
Aiden complied, too exhausted to argue. As Silas began tending to his injuries with surprising skill, Aiden finally broke the silence.
"You didn’t answer my question earlier. Why me? There are plenty of fighters out there—better ones, probably."
Silas didn’t look up as he worked. "Better fighters, maybe. But not better people. You’re not just strong—you’re principled. You have a line you won’t cross, even when it costs you. That’s rare."
Aiden scoffed, wincing as Silas cleaned a particularly deep cut. "You make it sound like I’m some kind of hero. Newsflash—I’m not."
"I’m not looking for a hero," Silas said simply. "I’m looking for someone I can trust."
Aiden fell silent, his thoughts a whirlwind of doubt and curiosity. For the first time in years, someone had seen him as more than just a weapon. It was unsettling—but also strangely comforting.