Chapter 1 The Elderglen Orphanage

• The bustling city of Brightvale encircled the Elderglen Orphanage, where several worn courtyards faced a row of excavators parked before rusty iron gates. The orphanage's weather-beaten sign threatened to fall off at any moment.
• With his military rucksack slung over his shoulder, Aric Thornwood adjusted the sign upon arrival. A rush of memories instantly flooded him.
• A decade ago, tragedy struck the Thornwood Family, leaving Aric the sole survivor. Hunted by enemies and trapped in a sealed city, he sought refuge at Elderglen Orphanage under the care of owner Rowan Riverhart.
• During his five years there, Aric formed strong bonds with seven young girls. Still, the threat of his pursuers never waned. To protect Rowan and the girls, Aric slipped away one rainy night at fifteen.
• Now, ten years on, he returned as a changed man. No longer the vulnerable teenager, Aric commanded the Emberfall Front and held the esteemed title of Admiral Thornwood and Primarch of the Celestial Wardens of Aetheria.
• As Aric entered the orphanage, a commotion erupted—an old man shoved to the ground before him, pleading desperately, "Please don't tear this place down!"
• "Move aside! This orphanage has held up this major project for weeks. I'll tear it down today, even if I must use force!" Kael Lydon, the demolition leader, declared coldly.
• Tears flowing down, the old man rose and implored Kael, "Please, Mr. Lydon. It's not that I oppose the demolition, but over twenty kids have nowhere else to go if you tear this place down. Where will they end up?"
• However, Kael spat in contempt and cursed, "D*mn orphans! I don't care where they end up. It's none of my concern, even if they have to beg. Just get out of my way!"
• Undeterred, the old man knelt defiantly to block Kael's path. Inwardly, he vowed, I must stop this demolition at any cost!
• Enraged, Kael grabbed a shovel and raised it menacingly toward the old man. He exclaimed, "Asking for trouble, huh?! I'll teach you!"
• Before he could, a firm hand clamped down on his arm. Turning around, he found Aric glaring at him.
• "Mind your own business, brat," Kael snapped.
• Yet Aric scoffed and swiftly kicked Kael in the chest, sending him sprawling backward. Kael landed hard, coughing up blood. He clutched his chest in pain, realizing he had broken two ribs.
• "Mr. Riverhart," Aric addressed the old man, extending a helping hand.
• The old man looked up at Aric in disbelief, his eyes filled with emotion. With trembling hands, he reached out to touch Aric's weathered face and asked, "Are you... Are you Aric?"
• Aric nodded solemnly. "Yes, Mr. Riverhart. It's me, Aric. I've returned."
• After ten long years, Aric never imagined he would reunite with Rowan under such a dire situation. Meanwhile, Rowan was also overwhelmed with inexplicable emotions.
• When Aric had vanished on that rainy night a decade ago, Rowan had searched tirelessly throughout Brightvale, consumed with worry and despair. He had feared Aric was lost forever, perhaps even dead. Yet here stood Aric, alive and before him once more.
• "Hey, you! Did you forget something? After what you did to Mr. Lydon, you still have the guts to catch up here?" a guy taunted, eyeing Rowan with disdain.
• Suddenly, a bunch of guys emerged from the excavators, encircling Aric and Rowan. Still recovering from Aric's brutal kick, Kael was also assisted back into the fray.
• "D*mn it! How dare you kick me like that?! I thought I was just dealing with this old man today, but it looks like you want to join him! Both of you are going down!" Kael shouted, his fury palpable. He then gestured, and a bunch of guys armed with steel pipes instantly closed in on Aric and Rowan.
• Despite his fear, Rowan stood defiantly before Aric and urged, "Aric, run! Take care of the kids. I'll hold them off with everything I've got!"
• Aric smiled reassuringly and gently pulled Rowan back as he assured him, "Mr. Riverhart, save your strength for a peaceful retirement. Leave these guys to me."
• Setting down his military rucksack, Aric calmly assessed the situation. He took out his phone and quickly called. "Secure the streets around Elderglen Orphanage. No one is in or out until I say so. Got it?"
• With his command, nearby military units were mobilized to block all access to the orphanage.
• Kael glared mockingly at Aric and retorted, "You really think you can shut down the whole street? What's this, some action movie? Even if you lock down the Brightvale today, you still go down!"
• "Let's teach him a lesson!" Kael ordered, wincing from the pain in his broken ribs.
• Just as Aric prepared to retaliate, an OB van abruptly sped through the excavators and screeched to a halt at the entrance of Elderglen Orphanage.
• "Hold up!" a woman's voice rang out.
• Stepping out from the van, a woman with shoulder-length hair held a camera aimed at the demolition crew armed with steel pipes. She calmly stated, "I'm Elowen Starling, reporting live for Brightvale TV on the Valenwood Group's demolition controversy."
• The demolition crew froze, stunned by the sudden twist.
• Meanwhile, Kael drew a deep breath and gestured for someone to snatch the camera. "Stop recording!" he demanded urgently, his frustration mounting. The Valenwood Group's demolition controversy has been going around for ages. If this gets out, I'm finished!
• A demolition guy swung a steel pipe right at Elowen's camera. Just as it was about to hit, someone strong grabbed her waist from behind and yanked her back. The pipe barely missed her nose.
• "Thanks!" Elowen gasped, turning around to see a slightly weathered yet unmistakably familiar face.
• Taken aback, she almost dropped the camera. Aric swiftly caught it and leaned close to whisper in her ear, "Elowen, it's been ten years. No need to get so worked up just seeing me."
• Tears ran down Elowen's face as her emotions overflowed. She disregarded the chaos around them and lightly pounded Aric's chest with her hand. Then, feeling a pang of guilt, she eased up.
• "You disappear for a decade and now just show up like this? Do you know how long we have looked for you? Where have you been?" Elowen's voice quivered with a mixture of relief and reproach.
• Aric held her tightly, offering solace and reassurance in his embrace. At that moment, Elowen found a calm she hadn't realized she'd been missing.
• Reflecting on the past decade, Aric thought, I owe these girls so much. I left quietly, fearing for their safety and that of Elderglen Orphanage. Now, as the Primarch of the Celestial Wardens of Aetheria, I have no more doubts.
• Returning now is about seeking justice for the Thornwood Family massacre fifteen years ago. The memories of that night—fire and blood—still haunt my dreams, even after all these years.
• "Hand over the camera, brat! Don't start something you can't finish!" Kael's demand cut through Aric's thoughts.
• At that moment, one of the demolition crew aimed a steel pipe at Aric. The warmth in his eyes turned to ice, chilling the air around them.
• "Did I allow you to butt in? Can't you see I'm having a private chat here?" Aric's voice was cold.
• With swift precision, he wrested the steel pipe from the demolition guy and struck him on the head. Defeated, the haughty guy collapsed to the ground.
• Elowen tried to look away, but Aric had already shielded her eyes. He thought, These jerks don't deserve to be seen by Elowen!