Chapter 373: God?? I tried to become one!!
Eight Years AgoOslo, Norway
Winter had wrapped the old streets of Oslo beneath a quiet blanket of snow.
Soft white flakes drifted from the gray sky, settling on rooftops, benches, and empty flower pots that waited for spring.
The city was beautiful.
Tourists admired the old buildings.
Families hurried home carrying shopping bags.
Children laughed as they threw handfuls of snow at one another.
Life continued as if nothing in the world could ever go wrong.
Yet...
Not everyone walking those streets belonged to that peaceful picture.
A young girl carefully walked through the crowd.
She could not have been older than sixteen.
Her thin coat was several sizes too large and had been stitched together so many times that its original color was impossible to recognize.
Snow clung to her worn boots.
Her hands had turned red from the freezing air.
Despite everything...
She never let go of the tiny hand she was holding.
Beside her walked a little girl.
No older than seven.
Unlike her older sister, she struggled to keep walking through the snow.
Her cheeks were pale.
Her lips trembled from the cold.
Every few steps she stumbled before her sister gently steadied her again.
They had nowhere to go.
No destination.
Only the hope that somehow tomorrow would be kinder than today.
The older girl...
Thea...
Looked around quietly.
Every bakery they passed filled the air with the smell of fresh bread.
Every restaurant released warmth through its open doors.
People laughed.
Families ate together.
Children pointed excitedly at cakes displayed behind glass windows.
Thea instinctively tightened her grip around Ivy’s little hand.
She lowered her head before continuing forward.
A few minutes later...
She found a small public sitting area beside the old street.
Snow rested lightly upon the wooden bench.
Thea brushed it away with her sleeve before helping Ivy sit down.
"There."
"You’ll be more comfortable."
Ivy obediently sat down.
Her little legs dangled from the bench.
She looked around at the strangers passing by.
Hundreds of people.
Not one of them noticed the two sisters.
Or perhaps...
They simply chose not to.
After several moments of silence...
Ivy quietly spoke.
"Sister..."
"I want to go home."
Her innocent eyes searched the busy street.
"To Mama..."
"And Dad..."
The words pierced Thea’s heart.
She slowly looked away.
How could she explain something she herself had not yet accepted?
Home...
No longer existed.
The chaos.
The screaming.
The blood.
Everything had disappeared in a single night.
Their parents...
Were gone.
Their house...
Gone.
The family they once knew...
Gone.
All that remained...
Were two frightened sisters standing alone in a country that suddenly felt colder than the falling snow.
Thea forced herself to smile.
Even though tears already blurred her vision.
Ivy gently rubbed her stomach.
"I’m hungry, Sister."
"Let’s go home."
Thea reached forward and softly ruffled her little sister’s hair.
"Sit here for a while."
"I’ll bring something to eat."
Ivy immediately grabbed her sleeve.
"I’m scared."
Thea knelt before her.
She placed both hands on Ivy’s tiny shoulders.
"Don’t be scared."
She smiled despite the pain hidden behind it.
"God is watching us."
"He is protecting us."
"I’ll come back very soon."
"Okay?"
Ivy stared into her sister’s eyes for several long seconds.
Then she slowly nodded.
"Okay."
"I’ll be strong."
Thea smiled proudly.
"That’s my little sister."
She stood up.
Before leaving...
She looked around one final time.
Then quietly disappeared into a nearby alley.
...
Minutes passed.
To Ivy...
It felt much longer.
She swung her legs back and forth while looking toward the direction where her sister had vanished.
The snow continued falling.
People continued walking.
Nobody spoke to her.
Nobody asked why a little girl was sitting alone.
Suddenly...
Movement caught her attention.
Far down the alley...
She saw Thea.
Running.
Behind her...
Several rough looking men chased after her.
Thea’s frightened voice echoed through the narrow street.
"Ivy!"
"Run!"
Ivy immediately jumped off the bench.
"Sister!"
She ran with all the strength her little legs could gather towards Thea
Thea sprinted toward her.
But before she could reach Ivy...
Her weakened body finally gave out.
She stumbled.
Her foot slipped against the icy ground.
She fell hard onto the snow.
A small piece of bread rolled from beneath her coat.
Landing only a few feet away.
One of the men immediately stepped on it.
Crushing it beneath his boot.
Within seconds...
The group surrounded Thea.
She struggled to stand.
One of the men grabbed her arm.
"You little thief."
"You’re coming with us."
Thea immediately shook her head.
"I didn’t steal anything."
"I paid for it."
Another man laughed.
"You still haven’t paid us."
His greedy eyes slowly wandered across her frightened face.
"Aren’t you a pretty little beauty?"
"You’ll fetch a good price."
Thea’s expression instantly turned pale.
Before she could react...
A tiny voice cried out behind them.
"Stay away from my sister!"
The men slowly turned.
Little Ivy stood there.
Her tiny fists were clenched despite her trembling body.
Thea’s eyes widened.
"No!"
"Run, Ivy!"
"Please!"
But Ivy refused to move.
Tears filled her eyes.
Yet she forced herself to remain standing.
She remembered exactly what her sister had said only minutes earlier.
"Big Sister..."
"God is watching us."
"He will protect us."
One of the men burst into cruel laughter.
"We’re the gods around here."
He slowly approached the little girl.
"Come with us."
"We’ll protect both of you."
Thea desperately crawled across the snow.
"Stay away from us!"
A heavy boot suddenly pressed against her shoulder.
Forcing her back onto the frozen ground.
"Shut the hell up."
Thea cried out.
"Ivy!"
"Run away!"
For the first time...
Ivy finally took a frightened step backward.
Hope appeared in Thea’s eyes.
But before the little girl could turn...
Another man suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Ivy cried in pain.
"Leave me!"
"It hurts!"
"Sister!"
Something inside Thea snapped.
She ignored the pain.
Ignored the hunger.
Ignored the freezing cold.
She suddenly leaned forward.
And bit the leg pressing her down.
"Aaagh!"
The man instinctively lifted his foot.
Thea immediately scrambled to her feet.
Without hesitation...
She threw herself forward.
Using every ounce of strength left inside her body.
She shoved the man away.
Then kicked another who was holding Ivy.
The grip loosened for just a moment.
Enough.
Thea grabbed Ivy’s hand.
"Run!"
The sisters sprinted through the snow.
But they had not eaten properly for days.
Thea’s breathing became heavier.
Her vision blurred.
Every step became slower.
Within moments...
The men caught up once again.
They surrounded the sisters from every direction.
There was nowhere left to escape.
Thea instinctively pulled Ivy behind her.
Even though her own legs could barely remain standing.
One of the men smiled.
"This girl’s got spirit."
Another nodded.
"We’ll need to teach her some manners."
He reached toward her.
"Come with us."
Thea clenched her fists.
She wanted to fight.
She wanted to protect Ivy.
But her empty stomach screamed louder than her courage.
Her body had already reached its limit.
Just as despair threatened to consume the sisters...
A calm voice echoed from behind the men.
"This country..."
"...has sold its law and order to those traitors?"
The street suddenly became silent.
The men slowly turned around.
Standing several meters away...
A lone figure watched them.
He wore a dark winter coat.
A white mask concealed his face.
Snowflakes quietly settled across his shoulders.
His posture was relaxed.
Almost lazy.
Yet somehow...
His mere presence made the entire alley feel colder than the winter itself.
One of the men spat onto the snowy ground before glaring at the newcomer.
"Who the hell are you, old man?"
"Mind your own business."
The masked man stood quietly beneath the falling snow.
His coat fluttered gently in the cold wind.
He looked at the frightened sisters for a brief moment before returning his gaze to the three men.
"Lost everything or not..."
"This will always be my business."
The men frowned.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Before another word could be spoken...
The masked man disappeared.
His movement was so sudden that all three men instinctively widened their eyes.
Bang!
His leg shot forward.
The kick landed squarely against one man’s chest.
The man’s entire body was lifted into the air before crashing several meters away across the snow.
He rolled four or five times before finally stopping.
"Aaagh!"
The other two froze.
The masked man calmly lowered his leg.
One of them forced out a nervous grin.
"You got some skills, huh?"
The masked man tilted his head.
"Try me."
The two criminals exchanged glances.
One of them immediately rushed behind the sisters.
He grabbed both girls roughly and pulled them toward him.
"Don’t move!"
The other charged straight toward the masked man with a fist raised.
"You bastard!"
The punch never landed.
The masked man casually caught his wrist.
The attacker suddenly felt as though his arm had been trapped inside a steel vise.
"What..."
Before he could finish...
The masked man twisted slightly.
Using the man’s own momentum...
He threw him over his shoulder.
The body slammed heavily against the frozen street.
The impact forced all the air from his lungs.
"Cough!"
The masked man looked down at him.
"I suggest you scram."
"I don’t want to break your bones in front of kids."
The man lying on the ground looked into those calm eyes.
For the first time...
Fear appeared on his face.
His companion quickly released both sisters.
"He... he’s very strong!"
"Run!"
The injured man immediately scrambled to his feet.
The three men ran as fast as they could without daring to look back.
Within seconds...
The alley became quiet once again.
Only the gentle snowfall remained.
The masked man slowly walked toward the two trembling sisters.
Neither of them moved.
Thea instinctively stood in front of Ivy despite barely being able to remain upright.
Her entire body trembled.
Not only from the cold.
But from fear.
The stranger stopped several steps away.
He purposely kept his distance.
A gentle smile appeared beneath his mask.
"You two..."
"Were very brave."
Thea tightened her hold around Ivy.
Her breathing remained uneven.
She still could not trust anyone.
Not anymore.
Ivy carefully peeked from behind her sister.
Her innocent eyes stared at the mysterious white mask.
Then she quietly asked...
"Are you God?"
The masked man remained silent for a moment.
Then...
He laughed softly.
"God?"
"I tried becoming one once."
"But my own followers threw me away."
The answer completely confused the little girl.
She blinked twice.
Unable to understand what he meant.
Thea, however, remained alert.
"Don’t come close."
The masked man nodded slowly.
"As you wish."
He gently reached toward his face.
Then removed the white mask.
The sisters finally saw him.
A man with calm eyes.
Silver strands of hair rested against his forehead.
His expression carried neither pity nor arrogance.
Only warmth.
The moment Thea realized there was no danger anymore...
Everything she had been holding together finally collapsed.
Her vision blurred.
Her knees gave way.
She fell unconscious into the snow.
"Big Sister!"
Ivy immediately knelt beside her.
"Sister!"
"Wake up!"
The little girl’s voice echoed through the empty street.
The masked man immediately walked over.
He knelt beside Thea and gently checked her pulse.
A faint smile appeared.
"She’s exhausted."
"And starving."
He carefully lifted the unconscious girl into his arms as though she weighed nothing.
Then he looked toward Ivy.
"My name is Lucian."
He extended his free hand.
"Let’s take your sister to the hospital."
Ivy hesitated only for a second.
Then she tightly grabbed his hand.
The fear inside her heart became a little smaller.
Present DayPearl Villa
Miles sat at one of the lawn tables beneath the shade.
Fresh tea had just been served.
Silvey sat across from him, happily enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
A staff member poured tea into their cups before quietly excusing herself.
Miles lifted his cup.
"Everything good at home?"
Silvey nodded with a smile.
"Everything is great."
She stirred her tea slowly.
"Grandpa talks about you and Grandpa Tim almost every day."
"He keeps telling everyone stories."
Miles smiled helplessly.
"I hope he doesn’t exaggerate too much."
Silvey laughed.
"He definitely does."
Miles rubbed his forehead.
"I should have expected that."
Silvey rested both hands around her warm cup.
"You should visit everyone someday."
"You are still a stranger to most of the Sterling family."
"Only if you want to, of course."
She shrugged lightly.
"Honestly..."
"I don’t even meet all of them very often."
Miles quietly looked toward the distant garden.
After several moments...
He answered.
"To be honest..."
"I want to remain strangers."
Silvey looked at him quietly.
"The Sterling family is already doing well."
"They don’t need some young man suddenly interfering in their lives."
"They are happy where they are."
"I am happy where I am."
He smiled softly.
"With my family."
Silvey understood immediately.
There was no rejection in his words.
Only contentment.
She smiled back.
"I understand."
Miles looked at her.
"Thank you."
"That means a lot."
He took another sip of tea.
"It doesn’t mean I hate them."
"Not at all."
"I simply don’t want my existence to disturb their peaceful lives."
Silvey nodded.
"I know."
She leaned back comfortably.
"Mom, Dad and Grandpa are all attending the wedding."
"Grandpa is actually in a hurry these days."
Miles raised an eyebrow.
"A hurry?"
Silvey giggled.
"He keeps saying your birthday gift completely defeated him."
"So now he wants the wedding present to match your level."
Miles almost laughed.
"That’s impossible."
Silvey shook her head.
"Tell him that."
"He has been meeting martial artists lately."
"I think he is trying to find something useful for you."
"Maybe a weapon."
"Or some martial arts treasure."
Miles immediately looked around before lowering his voice.
"Shh."
"We don’t talk about fighting at home."
Silvey instantly covered her mouth.
"Sorry."
Before Miles could answer...
A familiar voice came from behind them.
"Son."
Both Miles and Silvey turned.
Elena slowly walked toward them carrying a gentle smile.
Sunlight reflected softly across her face.
Miles immediately stood up.
"Mom."
"We were just..."
Elena smiled knowingly.
"I heard enough."
She looked at Silvey and smiled.
"I prepared some snacks dear."
"Go inside before all the kids finish everything."
Silvey’s eyes widened dramatically.
"Then I really should run."
She quickly stood up.
"See you later, Brother."
Miles chuckled.
"Go."
Silvey hurried toward the villa.
Elena watched her disappear before taking the now empty seat across from Miles.
For a few moments...
Neither of them spoke.
Miles immediately noticed something unusual.
His mother’s smile remained.
But there was hesitation behind her eyes.
He gently asked,
"What’s wrong, Mom?"
"What is bothering you?"
Elena slowly folded her hands together on the table.
"I want to talk to you about Father."
Miles blinked.
"You mean Grandpa Tim?"
She slowly shook her head.
"No."
Miles immediately understood.
"...Old Man Carter?"
Elena quietly nodded.
"Yes."