(Next Morning, Rodova Military Academy, Su Yang's Dorm Room)
Su Yang stared at the school newspaper in front of him, the looping headline pulsing like a wound he couldn't close.
LEO SKYSHARD: CONFIRMED CULT OPERATIVE
700 MILLION MP BOUNTY ISSUED : KILL ON SIGHT
He had read it a dozen times. But no matter how many times the words appeared, his mind refused to accept them.
"No… no, that's not right," he whispered, pacing the length of his room, hands clenched so tightly that his nails bit into his palms.
"He wouldn't. He couldn't."
He stopped before the mirror, staring at his reflection—red-eyed, breath ragged, veins throbbing on his neck.
Leo, his brother in all but blood.
Leo, the boy who was his partner in crime during their worst days at the Academy.
Leo, the betrayer who had now sided with the Evil Cult.
