Helios leaned back against the rough rooftop surface, gazing at the twilight sky as a soft breeze swept across his face. The golden light of the setting sun cast a warm glow over the city of Nightfall, painting the clouds in hues e and pink. This was his favorite time of day. For a brief moment, the chaos below seemed to quiet, him a rare sense of calm.

  He closed his eyes, letting the stillake over. His thoughts wao simpler days, a time before everything had ged.

  Growing up, Helios had always been the id-back kid who never had to try too hard. Born and raised in the bustling streets of Nightfall, he knew every er, every shortcut. The rougher parts of town didn’t intimidate him—they shaped him. Street smarts came naturally, and luck had a habit of fav him. No matter how much trouble he found himself in, he always mao slip out unscathed.

  Memories fshed through his mind: carefree days running through the streets with his friends, pying warriors and sparring for fun. Over time, those pyful fights sharpened his reflexes, making him a natural fighter without even realizing it. Dodging a punch became as instinctive as dodging traffic.

  Then came memories of his parents, w tirelessly to keep their heads above water. They lived in a tiny, run-doartment, but it was home, and Helios had been happy there. When he wasn’t helping out, he was either reading—dev every book he could find—or out on adventures with his friends.

  Now, perched on the rooftop of that same apartment building, Helios opened his eyes, blinking at the fading sun as it dipped lower in the sky, casting a final glow e and gold before melting into the deep blue of night. He gazed at the skyline—an eclectic mix of t skyscrapers and flickering neon signs. The city had always been his home, but tely, it felt... different. Colder. Distant.

  Tall and lean, with dark blue hair and striking blue eyes, Helios wore a bck leather jacket over a simple white t-shirt. His jeans, frayed at the hems from years of wear, pleted the image of someone who had lived through it all. His quiet fidence gave him an air of mystery to those who didn’t know him well.

  Beh that exterior, however, was a ki. Helios had always been loyal to a fault, standing by his friends evehey didn’t necessarily deserve it. He would go to great lengths to protect the people he cared about.

  As he sat in thought, something uled him. There had been moments retly—brief but vivid—where memories surfaced that didn’t feel like his. Dark memories. He shook his head, pushing them aside. He wasn’t in the mood to dwell on those tonight.

  Looking down at the street below, his attention was drawn to a group of teenagers gathering on the er, their voices carrying all the to the rooftop. They were arguing. At the ter of it, a tall kid held a baseball bat, his stance aggressive.

  For a moment, Helios just watched, weighing his options. He could step in or walk away. His mother had always told him that violence solved nothing, but Helios khat wasn’t always the case. Sometimes, standing up meant taking a, even if it meant things got messy.

  With a sigh, he stood and jumped down from the rooftop, nding effortlessly in the side alley. As he approached the group, his hands remained in his pockets, his demeanor rexed.

  “Hey, what’s going on here?” he asked, his voice casual.

  The teeurned, sizing him up. The oh the bat stepped forward, scowling. “Who the hell are you?”

  “Just someone passing by,” Helios shrugged. “Doesn’t look like this o get violent. Why don’t we all chill?”

  The bat-wielding kid sneered and stepped closer. “We don’t need your help. Get lost.”

  Helios felt the tension in the air, that familiar tihat came just before a fight. The kid swung the bat, but Helios was faster. He sidestepped easily, grabbed the bat mid-swing, and twisted it out of the teen’s hands, pinning his arm behind his ba one swift motion.

  “Look,” Helios said calmly, “this isn’t worth it.”

  The rest of the group stared, unsure of what to do. Slowly, they backed off, leaving their friend behind. Helios released the teen, who gred at him before st off into the shadows, his pride bruised but unharmed.

  As the group dispersed, Helios felt the adrenaline drain, leaving him with a familiar sense of satisfa. He didn’t o go overboard, and no o hurt. He made his way back to the rooftop, breathing in the cool night air as he settled bato his spot.

  Sitting there, a small smile crept onto his face. He roud of how he’d hahe situation. Once again, he looked out at the city—a sprawliropolis that never slept, always alive with its own rhythm. Despite its size and stant motion, Nightfall was still home to him, filled with secrets and memories he knew better than anyone.

  Helios’s thoughts drifted back to his childhood. The neighborhood had been rough, filled with gangs and violence. His parents had struggled to make ends meet, and Helios had learo fend for himself early on. But despite it all, he’d never lost his sense of wonder. He’d always been curious, eager to explore, and willing to learn.

  Books had been his escape. They introduced him to the cepts of ce and heroism, tales of ordinary people doiraordinary things. Those stories had shaped him, and inspired him to find his own moment of greatness.

  Now, as he sat on the rooftop, watg the city breathe, Helios had the feeling that something was ing. Something big. But he wasn’t afraid. Whatever it was, he knew he was ready—strong, resourceful, and brave. That would be enough.