Riding a crowded train early in the morning wasn’t part of his plan, but here he was.
Since it was the weekend, Kyle had hoped to avoid the usual rush of salarymen. That was the only reason he had opted for public transport in the first place, but now, he was deeply regretting it.
It wasn’t that he was fragile or fond of luxury. He had traveled by train and bus enough to be thoroughly used to the discomfort. Today was different, though. Just for today, he wanted to look proper and neat. He was presenting himself to his potential in-laws, after all.
Crammed tightly between passengers, he could only pray that no one would ruin his shirt before the journey ended.
"Haah... this is annoying," he muttered, shaking his head as he looked around.
Being taller than average allowed him to easily survey the crowded carriage. There were families excited for a day at an amusement park, professionals looking for a quiet remote working space, and someone who appeared to be in the mood for something far more sinister.
*Wait... am I seeing this right?*
A teenage girl stood by the doors, facing outward with her earphones in. What disturbed Kyle was the older man positioned directly behind her. The man wore a plain black suit, and his right arm was creeping steadily toward the girl’s lower back.
Kyle frowned and moved instantly. Just before the man’s hand could make contact, Kyle grabbed him.
*Dhak!*
Locking his grip around the old man’s wrist, Kyle yanked it upward. "What the hell do you think you’re doing, old man?"
The man jolted, utterly startled at being caught. Several nearby passengers glanced over, and the girl turned around to see what was happening.
"Y-You... ah, I was..." the old man stuttered, trying to find an excuse and failing miserably.
Just then, a woman nearby pointed an accusing finger. "That man was behaving creepily just now. He was about to grope her!" It appeared she had noticed the behavior as well.
Kyle huffed. "Shame on you."
Murmurs and curses instantly rippled through the carriage. The old man grew increasingly flustered, panicking as the crowd turned on him. Kyle shook his head before looking down at the girl.
"Are you okay?" he asked gently.
The girl looked pale, her breathing shallow and hurried. The sudden realization of what could have happened had clearly left her shaken. After a brief moment, she managed a nod.
When the train finally ground to a halt at the next station, Kyle personally escorted the man off the carriage. Another passenger stepped forward to assist. "I’ll make sure the station police hear about his criminal behavior," the man volunteered, noting that he was getting off at the same stop.
Kyle nodded in appreciation, gave the old geezer one final warning look, and stepped back inside the train.
"Well done, young man."
"That was brave of you."
"You did a good job."
Many praised him for his deed.
Kyle just nodded in response before taking a seat.
He finally got one.
Once seated, he took out his phone and started reading some news.
His stop was half an hour away. Till then, he decided to focus on calming his nerves.
He can do this.
.....
The eternal darkness was disturbed by the sudden expansion of a silver domain.
From that shimmering expanse, a figure stepped forward. He was tall and broad, holding a trident in his hand, with one eye covered by a patch. The man radiated a golden halo that threatened to shatter the tranquility of the void.
Yet, the figure sitting amidst the darkness remained unmoved by the sudden intrusion. She stayed perfectly still.
The man huffed. "Artemis, running away will not help you now."
The Moon Goddess looked up, her expression calm. "I don’t plan on running away. And why should I?"
"Because you have broken a fundamental law by forming a bond with a mortal," the man replied.
Artemis growled, her voice laced with defiance. "It was my decision to make. My bond to share. Who is anyone to question me?"
Her wrath rippled through the void. The surrounding darkness began to tremble and grow heavy, thick with a pressure so raw and consuming that any mortal would have suffocated instantly.
Yet, the man remained utterly indifferent, simply watching her.
"You realize who has been seeking your bond for a millennium, correct? Now that you have given it to Kyle, that being will surely target him."
"He dares?!" Artemis demanded. Her voice trembled with rage as she rose to her feet, a spear materializing in her hand.
"He would, Artemis," the man responded. "You know his obsession with the things he wishes to possess."
Artemis growled, her teeth gritted in frustration. "If he touches even a single strand of Kyle’s hair, the waters of the River Styx will run red with his blood."
The trident holder shook his head. "You know him as well as I do. And if I am guessing correctly, he has likely already begun plotting against Kyle as we speak."
Artemis’s grip tightened around her weapon, unable to deny the truth in his words.
Looking out into the distance, the man added, "Now, we can only hope Kyle overcomes the danger waiting ahead of him."
---
"Haah, here I am," Kyle sighed, standing outside the familiar gates of a mansion he had visited several times before.
Except for that time during the celeberation, he had never actually entered through the front gates. His usual routine involved sneaking around back and climbing over the perimeter wall. Today, however, he was an official guest. He was here to meet the patriarch of the clan and introduce himself as his daughter’s partner.
Taking a deep breath, Kyle muttered, "Okay, let’s do this."
He had no idea what kind of surprise awaited him inside, or how completely it was about to turn his life upside down.
°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Writing short Chapter pains me but I don’t want to add unnecessary details so here we are.