Aren spent a while talking to June. They ate, and he explained how he became Shadow, but he made sure not to tell her about the grueling details of what he had been through. He didn't want her to see the murderer behind the smile.

After they were done, he covered the bill. They left and took a taxi, but not to his house. They went to his parents' house.

"Do we really have to go?" June asked, looking a bit worried.

"They basically kicked you out and starved you. They've done some shitty things, but this goes way too far," Aren said, a resolute look in his eyes.

She took a deep breath and agreed. There was no need fighting it. Aren would go either way.

The drive took ten minutes, and they arrived in the neighborhood. Their parents' house was in a middle-class area, with pretty standard, clean houses and old men obsessed with their lawns.

The cab pulled up to the house. June sat stiff in her seat, glancing at the building as her breathing grew slightly shaky.

Aren paid the taxi fare and got out. She stared at the house for a moment, then stepped forward with reluctance.

Knock. Knock.

She knocked twice and waited. A few seconds later, the door opened, and their mother stepped out, a middle-aged woman who looked like an older version of June. The moment she saw June, her face filled with shock. She opened her mouth to say something, but then she noticed Aren standing behind her, and her expression froze.

She stepped back a few steps, then turned around and rushed inside.

"Honey! Honey!" she called out.

She found her husband and pulled him outside. He was also middle-aged, tall, and fairly good-looking. When he saw Aren, his face darkened.

"What are you doing here?" he asked in a demanding tone, anger already showing in his eyes.

Aren took a deep breath and walked forward. He gently pushed June to the side and stood before his father, eye to eye.

"You hurt June," he said, his tone heavy.

"She chose to follow your footsteps, making rash choices. I already had that issue with you. Do you think I'll tolerate it with her as well?" his father barked.

The next moment, Aren grabbed his father by the collar, shocking everyone. He lifted him off the ground by a foot and stared straight into his eyes.

"What sort of father allows his own daughter to live alone and struggle to feed herself just because she doesn't fit into the bubble you created for her?" Aren asked.

"Aren, please let go of your father," his mother cried, grabbing his arm and trying to pull him back. June joined in as well.

"Aren, stop it. Let go," she begged.

Aren let out a sigh and released his father. "I'm sorry," he said, stepping back.

His father staggered slightly, looking genuinely shaken and a little scared.

"I'll be taking care of June from now on, since it seems her parents don't care about what she wants," Aren stated.

"You're the one encouraging this," his father snapped. "You've been in there. You've seen what it's like, and you still agree with her decision to enter the Domain and face those trials?"

"Of course I don't," Aren replied.

"Bro, what are you" June tried to speak, but he cut her off.

"Her obsession and desire to enter the trials genuinely worry me. I've been in there, and I've seen things that make me want to run away and cry.

"Of course I don't want her to enter. But what choice do we have other than to support her? If she chooses to enter, there's nothing you can do to sway her. You can try to stop her, try to convince her otherwise, but if that voice in her head remains, she'll go anyway.

"You can stop her now, but what about when she becomes an adult? What can you do then? I'd rather train her now and get her ready instead of stopping her. Because at the end of the day, she won't stop, and if she goes in unprepared, she might die."

His father and mother froze. What he said made sense. They could stop her dreams for now, but a time would come when there would be nothing they could do.

"I just don't want my daughter rushing toward death," his father said, head bowed. "It already hurts enough that my two sons are out there facing death."

Aren looked at his father and felt a pang of sadness. He stepped forward.

"Dad, I may not be the best son for you, but I'll promise you and Mom something today. I'll never die in those trials. No matter what happens, I'll come back and see you all, just to remind you I'm alive.

"I'll come back to show you that this prodigal son is still out there, still rebellious, and still alive."

"Oh, my son," his mother said, tears streaming down her face as she rushed forward and hugged him tightly.

"No matter how things turn out, or how far you go, you're still my first child. I love you, even if I don't accept what you do."

"I know, Mom. I know you and Dad want what's best for all of us in your own way. But you have to understand, we're all finding our own paths now," Aren said.

She released him. "Come in. Let's have dinner today at least. Your brother will be back soon."

"Sorry, Mom. I can't," Aren said gently. "I'm grateful for the invitation, but I have to return to the Domain soon. Send my greetings to Lewis for me."

He turned to leave, and June followed.

"Aren," his father called out.

Aren turned around.

"Stay alive," his father said.

Aren nodded once and walked away. This would probably be the last time he saw them in a pretty long while, but at least, they didn't have any bad blood between them for now.

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