Caleb's POV

  A long sigh escaped my lips. A week had passed since Rosa's departure from Skyhaven, yet it felt like only yesterday.

  I recalled the moments Rosa spent at my house. What showed on her face was not happiness or joy, but a mixture of shock, sadness, and fear.

  Those expressions cut my heart into pieces. I did all of it to protect her from the threats in Skyhaven. Why didn't she understand?

  Being a hunter meant she had to be alert and capable of facing dangers on her own. I knew that. But in Skyhaven, a territory unknown to Rosa, I can't let her do whatever she wants.

  There are numerous watchful eyes in this pce that are always ready to catch Rosa, anytime and anywhere. All of them want something pnted in her heart.

  Aether core.

  I won't let those human-skinned monsters to y their hands on Rosa. A girl I loved deeply, not in a familial way. To me, she was never my sister.

  Not wanting to stay in mencholy, I divert myself by picking up the tablet that id on the side table next to sofa. I opened the calendar application on my device and reviewed upcoming dates to see my free days. Turns out I got a whole week off at the end of the month.

  A smile stretched across my face. I'll use this time to go to Linkon to visit Rosa.

  The long-awaited day finally arrived. As soon as I exited Coelum Express, I headed straight to Rosa's pce in the apartment complex. How do I know that quickly? The day prior, I obtained Rosa's information by hacking into the Hunter's Association website.

  On the way, my mind raced with things of what we would do together. I also prepared her favorite dish, Braised Chicken Wings.

  However, something unexpected happened. Suddenly, everything I had imagined vanished, even a smile on my face.

  Outside the apartment complex, I saw Rosa holding hands with a tall, silver-haired man dressed all in bck, like a biker.

  As they walked along, Rosa changed how she held the man's hand, from holding hands to wrapping both of her hands around his arm. I unknowingly balled my hands into tight fists.

  Someone other than me was with Rosa?

  With no hesitation, I promptly followed them as they entered the apartment building. I waited for fifteen minutes until they went into Rosa's apartment. Ignoring the events that had just transpired, I then knocked on the door.

  Rosa's surprise was noticeable upon seeing me at the door.

  "Caleb?!"

  "Hello, Rosa."

  "Why didn't you tell me before you were coming?" A look of panic crossed her face.

  "Am I not allowed to surprise you?"

  "That's not what I meant—"

  "Rosa, who's outside?"

  Rosa gasped, then turned to see the man behind her.

  "Sy—Skye, my brother's here."

  The man called Skye observed me from head to toe. I fought the urge to punch him.

  "Let's continue the conversation inside, Caleb," Rosa suggested.

  "Sure." I attempted a smile, but it didn't quite reach my eyes.

  "I brought your favorite food, Rosa," I said when we got inside.

  "Thanks, Caleb. Just put it on the dining table."

  I pced the package as she told me to. Then I took a sit on the sofa opposite Rosa and the silver-haired man.

  Rosa clearing her throat then said, "Caleb. This is Skye, my boyfriend. We've been together for a year."

  My eyes went wide. Boyfriend? Been together for a year? I must be dreaming right now.

  "When exactly did you two get into a retionship?" I asked.

  "A few months after the incident that took Gran and you. I met Skye while celebrating the Hunter's Association anniversary at a five-star restaurant. He is a fruit seller. "

  Really? Based on Skye's appearance, I'm not sure this guy is a fruit seller. He reminds me of a mafia boss from various movies I've seen.

  I looked closely. Just for a second, Skye's right eye shone brightly compared to the left. Clearly, this guy was no ordinary person.

  "Why, Rosa?" I said in a low voice.

  "Pardon? I can't hear you, Caleb."

  "I wasn't with you for a year, and now you've repced me with him. Why is it so easy for you?"

  "Caleb, before I went to Skyhaven, you were decred dead. I had a really hard time coping with the loss of both you and Gran. Then Skye entered my life. Once we became a couple, I felt a deep connection with him, like we were destined to be together."

  "W-What?" Those were the only words I blurted.

  Never could have imagined that Rosa would utter such words. Destined to be together? Rosa, to what extent has this scoundrel maniputed you with his honeyed words?

  My gaze fell upon Skye. He remained silent the whole time. His lip curled upward slightly, an obvious expression of mockery aimed directly at me.

  Quickly, my evol found its way to the neck of that jerk. But a second ter, I pulled it back. Doing it here would only cause additional problems and hurt Rosa's feelings.

  "I'm serious, Caleb. I don't know how to expin it to you," Rosa said.

  Okay.

  I stood up from the couch. "I'm leaving. I hope you two are happy forever." Those st words tasted like bitter ash in my mouth. "Rosa, Skye."

  "Wait, Caleb!" shouted Rosa.

  I turned a deaf ear to her pleas. I hurried out from Rosa's residence and left the apartment complex.

  Two hours ter....

  SCRASH!

  The mirror in my bedroom shattered into pieces when I hit it. My knuckle was bleeding, but I didn't care. That pain was nothing compared to my heartache.

  Unbelievable. Rosa, the girl I've known since I was 7 years old, is dating another man.

  A surge of intense emotion swept over me. I sensed a force suppressing my rising emotions, coming from the foreign object pced inside my brain.

  I did my best to resist that signal. I really hate this damned thing inside my head. No matter how impressive the technology created by EVER is, I will not submit to being their weapon.

  I am not something they can manipute at will. I am a human being. Nobody can take away my right to feel this pain.

  The signal stopped. My head was down, eyes closed. The events of this afternoon still lingered in my mind, and the pain remained.

  I managed to fight off that pesky Toring Chip.

  Opening my eyes, I saw the broken mirror, a silent reminder of my recent, furious outburst. As the events that had transpired earlier on Linkon continued to repy vividly in my mind, I stood up and left the room.

  Let that event serve as a proof that Caleb, a highly respected Colonel in the Farspace Fleet, was a loser.

  Reiyaa47