The room was filled with an unusual warmth, the clatter of plates and the laughter of friends echoing through the dining room. Axel sat quietly, watching the lively exchange between his sister Annie and his friends, while the fragrant aroma of his mother's cooking filled the air.
Mrs. Teras had prepared several dishes, despite everyone's insistence that she should rest. But her stubborn smile won out. "I missed cooking for my children," she said, her eyes twinkling. "And having guests makes it even better." She seemed almost rejuvenated by the activity, even if her body was still recovering.
"Hey! I told you he eats like a rat!" Annie's voice cut through the clamor, pointing at Axel, who had barely touched his food.
Loki nearly choked on his drink as he burst into laughter. "No wonder he still looks a bit skinny," Hera added, her eyes gleaming with mischief. The room erupted into a fit of giggles as Axel flushed red, trying to maintain his composure.
"Respect my private space, would you?" Axel muttered, pushing his plate slightly away. "I eat just the right amount to stay alive, thank you very much."
Loki, ever the joker, leaned in with mock admiration. "Spoken like a true rat."
"Don't listen to them, Axel," Trisha chimed in, offering him a supportive grin. "Even rats have big dreams. Let him dream, everyone."
Axel tried to maintain his embarrassment, but the infectious laughter around him soon had him cackling alongside them. For the first time in what felt like forever, everything seemed normal—no missions, no looming dangers, just a simple dinner with the people he cared about.
For a brief moment, Axel allowed himself to forget the weight of the world outside the walls of his home. He caught his mother's eye, noticing the soft smile that lingered on her face. Mrs. Teras let out a contented sigh, her hands folded neatly on her lap as she observed the scene before her.
"My boy has truly grown," she thought to herself, her heart swelling with pride. "From that timid boy, broken by the burden of being weak... he has finally found people who care about him. Friends who love him. I'm so glad."
Her words broke the lighthearted atmosphere, drawing everyone's attention as she stood up slowly from the table. "Thank you... all of you, for keeping my children safe," she said softly. Her voice trembled slightly, and the room went silent as her gratitude filled the air.
"Mum, you should rest," Annie said quickly, standing and rushing to her side. "I'll take you to Axel's room—he can sleep on the couch tonight."
Axel bit his lip, embarrassed by Annie's bluntness. But before he could protest, his mother and sister were already leaving the room, waving a gentle goodbye to the others. He watched them disappear down the hall, a lingering feeling of guilt gnawing at him. His mother had only just recovered from the brink of death, yet she still worried more about him than herself.
A surge of adrenaline shot through Axel as his gaze locked with Wukong's. The board member's eyes were filled with malice, a burning hatred barely contained beneath a calm exterior.
"You damned criminal!" Wukong hissed, raising his hand as if to summon something deadly. Before he could make a move, Trisha grabbed his wrist, her grip firm.
"Don't be an idiot, Lord Wukong. He's not your enemy," she said, her voice stern. "If I trust him, you should too."
Wukong glared at Axel for a moment longer before dropping his hand. A smirk spread across his face. "Fine. If you vouch for him, Trisha, I'll behave. For now."
Axel let out a slow breath, relieved that he wouldn't have to fight a board member—at least not today. But the tension between them hadn't disappeared. Wukong was dangerous, and Axel knew it.
The other man, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward, his voice calm and measured. "I am Roman, the greatest scientist in Kyota," he announced. "I've come to help you find the mole... and to stop the invasion."
"Invasion?" Axel echoed, his eyes narrowing.
Roman nodded, adjusting his glasses. "For years now, parasitic creatures called Metorion have been infiltrating human society. They're like bugs—infecting humans and using them as hosts. I believe they've managed to infiltrate some of the highest ranks in society."
Axel's heart raced as Roman's words sunk in. The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to come together. The mysterious attacks, the mind control, the perfect manipulation of events—it all pointed to something far more sinister than they had imagined.
"And," Roman added, his voice dropping to a whisper, "I believe Hendricks is one of them."
***Author's note***
Thanks for reading the chapter. Almost new month time, let's support as the new month really matters to me as an Author, the same goes for a new week.
Thanks for all your great support up till now. Next chapter dropped now.