"Hah… Hah… Hah…"
Rivan rubbed his face roughly.
He inhaled and exhaled over and over, trying to calm himself down. Then, he buried his face between his knees. Tears fell slowly, his muffled sobs echoing faintly through the quiet room, followed by a trembling whisper—
"Father… Mother… Elen…"
The ringing alarm snapped him out of his thoughts. He grabbed his phone, silenced the alarm, and noticed a message notification from Lunara.
I really did come back.
Rivan let out a long breath, collapsing onto his bed. He covered his eyes with his hand. After lying there for a moment, he sat up, grabbed a notebook and a pen, and began to write down everything that had happened.
"The similarity between both events… they happened in the afternoon, at the restaurant. But the second death occurred earlier," he muttered, scribbling notes rapidly.
He paused, confusion clear on his face.
"But how could the Echo breach the capital? Every city should have a protective barrier."
"Let's set that aside for now," he continued. "The most important thing is… what must I do to save my family?"
He murmured as he kept writing, mind racing. Right now, he was just an ordinary human, powerless. The best way was to seek help from the Aegis Division.
But… would they believe his story? He didn't know. The odds were fifty-fifty at best. And he couldn't wait too long — by the time Aegis Division, his family might already be devoured.
"The only way left is the simplest and roughest one," he sighed. "I'll just tell them… I want to celebrate my birthday at home."
Rivan lay back down, hugging his pillow. His eyelids grew heavy, finally closing. Exhaustion and stress from the two deaths crashed over him like waves.
---
"Rivan, wake up!"
The knocking and Elena's shout jolted him awake. Stumbling, he rushed to open the door.
"What? What is it? Is there an Echo here?" Rivan asked, panicking.
He grabbed Elena's hand, pulled her into the closet, and spoke firmly, "Stay here. Don't move. I'll save Mom and Dad!"
Elena stared at him, her face full of confusion. "Wait a second."
She grabbed Rivan's arm. "Are you out of your mind? There's no way an Echo could appear here."
"Go wash your face. Mom told me to wake you up for breakfast," she said, shaking her head as she walked away.
Rivan blinked once, twice, before finally realizing what was going on. His breath, which had been stuck in his throat, finally flowed again.
"Thank goodness…" he whispered.
After washing up, Rivan went downstairs and sat at the table, staring at a plate of familiar fried rice. This time, he swore he'd protect his family.
"What's wrong with you, Brother?" Elena squinted at him, noticing how he stared at his fried egg like it held the secrets of the universe.
"The egg stared at me first," Rivan replied flatly.
Elena slapped her forehead. "Oh my god, you ate too many mushrooms again last night, didn't you?"
Rivan didn't answer. He kept staring blankly at his plate. Elena glanced at their mother, her face serious. "Mom, I mean it. I think Rivan needs entertainment… or maybe an exorcism."
Their mother sighed. She was used to her children's antics. She handed Rivan a plate of fried mushrooms. "Your favorite. Eat."
"Maybe later, Mom. I don't feel like eating mushrooms today," Rivan replied, lost in thought. He needed an excuse to skip school today.
He was determined to stay home — to stay near his family and make sure they survived the day. Only then could he truly breathe again.
"Elena, wake your father up!" their mother called, worried.
Elena nodded quickly and ran to their father's room, shouting, "Dad! Wake up! Rivan's acting weird! He refused mushrooms!"
Rivan froze, startled. He rushed to his mother's side, eyes darting around the room.
"What's wrong, Mom? Is there an Echo? We have to run, quick!"
His mother took his hand gently, concern filling her eyes. "My dear…"
"Where's Rivan?" their father's voice called out from the other room, anxious.
"Here!" his mother replied. "Look at him! Something's wrong — he said he doesn't want mushrooms today!"
Their father approached, turning Rivan around as if inspecting him. Rivan, dizzy and confused, could only stand there in silence. At least it wasn't another Echo attack.
But mushrooms? Rivan frowned. Confusion deepened. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the fried mushrooms on the table — and realization dawned.
"I'm fine, Dad," Rivan said.
His father didn't immediately believe him. He checked Rivan carefully before finally exhaling in relief. "No injuries. Still, you should rest today. Better to stay home."
As a doctor, his father's words reassured his mother a little. "Yes, rest at home. I'll inform your teacher."
After that, they went back to their room, still worried. Rivan frowned. "Why are they so panicked?"
"Are you seriously asking that?" Elena huffed. "You, the guy who refuses to eat without mushrooms!"
Rivan chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. Then he shrugged as Elena grabbed her bag and headed out.
"I'm off!"
"Be careful!" he shouted after her.
Despite the morning chaos, Rivan was secretly relieved — he could stay home today. He picked up the plate of fried mushrooms.
"Mushrooms really are the best," he said, taking a bite.
---
"I'm home!" Elena called out, kicking off her shoes.
Her black-haired brother peeked from behind the wall. "You're home early, Len."
"I asked for early leave," she said, tossing her bag onto the sofa before following him into the kitchen. "Ugh, it's so hot outside."
She gulped down some milk from the fridge. Then, noticing the brownish soup in the pot, she frowned. "What are you cooking, Brother?"
"Special soup," Rivan replied plainly.
"Special how?" she asked suspiciously.
Rivan stirred the pot with a spatula. "I added chili, milk, and chocolate. That's special, right?"
"Your brain is special!" Elena yelled, horrified. "That's not soup — that's biological warfare!"
Rivan stirred calmly. "Relax. If it works, this could be a culinary revolution."
"And if it fails?" she asked automatically.
Rivan turned to her, dead serious. "Then we'll become legends… in the neighborhood chat group."
"I'm home!" their mother's voice interrupted the brewing argument.
Elena rushed to her. "Mom! He's cooking weird stuff again!"
"Let him be, Elen. He's the one who has to eat it," their mother replied, unfazed. "Go wake your father. I brought your favorite cake."
As Elena went to fetch their father, Rivan muttered under his breath that no one appreciated the art of culinary innovation. He kept stirring the soup, humming softly.
Then he froze. The house trembled — just slightly. A terrible feeling washed over him. Memories of the two previous deaths flashed vividly in his mind.
He immediately turned off the stove and ran to the living room. "Mom! Are you okay?"
"What's wrong with you today? Enough already!" his mother waved dismissively. "If you have nothing to do, help me tidy up!"
Rivan didn't respond right away. His eyes scanned the room carefully. Once he confirmed nothing was wrong, his shoulders relaxed.
"Maybe it's just my imagination…" he muttered.
BOOM!
The explosion froze him in place. A second later, Elena's terrified scream tore through the air.
"DAD!!!"
Rivan ran, stumbling toward the room. But he stopped short when he saw the collapsed ceiling — and the pool of blood beneath the debris.
He lunged forward, his knees scraping wood splinters, breath ragged. His trembling hands clawed at the rubble, still hot from friction and dust. The air smelled of cement, blood, and ash — a suffocating mix.
Rivan dug frantically, ignoring the cuts on his hands. His voice cracked.
"Dad… please answer me… Dad!"
No response.
Only faint cracking sounds — and Elena's sobs. Through the haze of dust, Rivan stared at the ruin before him, his face twisted between shock, terror, and despair.
RAAAAH!!!
He looked up — a swarm of Echoes circled above, screeching. Some dove toward his mother and Elena. Others sniffed around the fallen ceiling where his father was buried.
"Run!" Rivan shouted — but too late.
In a single bite, the monster devoured his mother and sister. Once again, Rivan could only watch as his family died before his eyes.
Why? Why?! WHY?!
Why was he so useless?
Why could he only watch them die?
Why!
…Why? Why was he so powerless?
His head rang with the monsters' roars. One of them licked its claws, snarling in satisfaction — then its glowing red eyes turned to Rivan.
"Grrrhhh…"
It growled, stepping closer.
The creature's dark, scaled body shimmered. Its breath was heavy — each exhale rumbling like thunder.
If I die here… will I go back again?
That thought echoed in Rivan's mind. He stood motionless, eyes already lifeless.
The monster lunged. The air itself felt crushed by its presence. Rivan's heartbeat thundered in his ears, the world around him slowing, freezing, darkening.
Then — everything turned black.
Not because his eyes closed… but because the world itself vanished, swallowed by something darker than fear.
---
"I… came back? Hahaha… I came back!"
"I came back!"
"…I came back."
From the dimly lit room came the cries and laughter of a young man — his voice trembling between despair and madness.