The Boy Next DOOR.

When he scanned the fridge, his eyes landed on a plate with a half-eaten slice of cake. It was the same cake Valerian had served himself earlier but couldn't finish, so he had stashed it back in the fridge.

He took it out, grabbed a fork, and scooped a piece into his mouth. As the sweetness hit his taste buds, he closed his eyes, savoring the flavor.

"Wow, he's really good at this," he murmured, taking another bite, and before he knew it, the plate was empty.

Chuckling to himself, he pulled out another plate. He hadn't realized the food in his house would actually come in handy someday. Normally, his only tasks in the kitchen involved making coffee and discarding expired items.

He served himself a portion of the meal Valerian had prepared earlier, popped it into the microwave, and set the timer before heading upstairs.

Once in his room, he took a quick shower and slipped into something comfortable. Feeling refreshed, he made his way back downstairs.

Returning to the kitchen, he retrieved the food from the microwave, grabbed a drink from the fridge, and made his way to the couch where Valerian was fast asleep.

Carefully, he removed the remote from Valerian's hand, switching the channel from the animation valerian was watching to news.

After few minutes

When Sebastian was done eating, he looked around, and then at valerian who was sleeping.

Valerian, now lying vulnerably on the couch. His body, though covered by the shirt, still bore the marks of last night. Sebastian tilted his head as he studied the sleeping figure. For a moment, a flicker of something close to tenderness crossed his eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it came. He leaned down, gently brushing Valerian's hair away from his face.

"Sleeping like an innocent lamb, are we?" he whispered with a wicked grin. "We'll see how long that lasts."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, three precise taps, firm but unhurried.

Sebastian's eyes flicked towards the entrance, his expression hardening immediately. He wasn't expecting anyone, and no one dared come to his house uninvited. Standing up from where Valerian lay, he moved toward the door cautiously, his senses alert.

Another knock, this time louder. The air around the house seemed to shift subtly, and Sebastian felt a faint ripple of magic in the atmosphere.

*Someone with power,* Sebastian thought. He opened the door, revealing a man cloaked in dark robes, his eyes sharp and unreadable. The man's presence was imposing, not from physical strength, but from an aura that radiated a controlled, dangerous energy.

"Sebastian, isn't it?" the stranger said, his voice smooth but edged with something cold. He didn't wait for a response. "I'm Aric Varian. I believe you've taken something—or rather, someone—that doesn't belong to you."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, his usual smirk fading into a more neutral expression as he regarded the newcomer. "And why would that be your concern?"

Aric stepped forward slightly, his eyes gleaming with a quiet, almost chilling confidence. "Let's just say that I don't like when powerful people start toying with their playthings, especially when those playthings happen to be valuable to me."

Sebastian's lips curled upward again, but this time it was a smirk laced with menace. "Valerian belongs to me now. I suggest you leave before I make this... unpleasant."

Aric's expression didn't change, though his fingers twitched ever so slightly. The air hummed, a subtle indication that he was ready to cast at a moment's notice. "Unpleasant is something I'm quite familiar with, Sebastian. But I didn't come here for a fight. At least, not unless you make it one."

Sebastian's eyes narrowed. "Why are you here, then?"

Aric glanced past Sebastian, his eyes flicking toward the living room, where Valerian still lay asleep on the couch. "I'm here for the boy. Release him, and I'll leave quietly. Keep him, and things might get... complicated for you."

Sebastian chuckled lowly. "You think you can threaten me, sorcerer?"

"I don't threaten," Aric said calmly, "I act." His voice held a chilling promise, and for the first time, Sebastian's smile faltered.

---

**Inside the house, Valerian stirred.**

His dreams were troubled, filled with flashes of last night's horrors and the overwhelming sense of helplessness. He woke abruptly, eyes blinking open as he instinctively scanned his surroundings. The sound of voices at the door caught his attention. He sat up slowly, wincing at the dull ache in his body.

Through the slight crack in the door, he saw Sebastian standing with a man—a man Valerian had never seen before, cloaked and imposing. Despite his pain and exhaustion, something inside Valerian stirred. *Who is that?* His heart beat faster as he heard their conversation, catching only fragments of what was said.

He glanced around, searching for anything he could use as a weapon or tool. He wasn't sure if this new man was a friend or foe, but his instincts screamed that this might be his only chance. Grabbing a knife from the kitchen, Valerian crept quietly toward the door, his heart pounding in his chest.

---

Back at the entrance, the tension between Sebastian and Aric was palpable.

"Make your choice," Aric said softly, his hand now visibly glowing with a faint aura of magic. "I don't have all night."

Sebastian's eyes darkened as he prepared to respond, but before he could speak, Valerian appeared behind him, clutching the knife tightly in his trembling hand. His body was weak, but his eyes burned with determination.

"Let me go," Valerian said, his voice surprisingly steady despite the fear coursing through him. He positioned the knife as if he were ready to strike. "Or I swear, I'll—"

Sebastian's smirk returned, crueler than ever. "What? Stab me?"

But Aric's eyes flicked to Valerian, recognition flashing in them. "Valerian," he said softly, his voice almost gentle. "Put the knife down. I'll get you out of here. The leader send me to get you."

Valerian hesitated, his grip on the knife faltering. He didn't know if he could trust this stranger, but at this point, anyone offering help was better than the monster who had taken him.

Sebastian's voice turned low and dangerous. "Valerian, if you even think about—"

In that instant, Aric made his move, casting a spell that sent a shockwave through the room. Sebastian stumbled back, momentarily disoriented, it caught him off gaurd, giving Valerian the window of opportunity he desperately needed.

"Now!" Aric yelled.

Without thinking, Valerian dropped the knife and bolted toward Aric, his body screaming in pain but his will stronger. Sebastian roared in fury as he regained his balance, but it was too late. Aric had already created a shimmering portal, and with one final glance at Sebastian, Valerian leaped through it, disappearing into the night.

The portal snapped shut, leaving Sebastian standing alone in the house, his chest heaving with rage.

"Aric Varian," he growled to himself, dark energy crackling around him. "You've made a grave mistake."