From the moment Archer was born, he was extraordinary, a beacon of mystery and power. The government wanted him from the start, their eyes locked on a child who radiated something beyond comprehension.
Archer's father, David, was a V.I.P.E.R. officer, a member of an elite unit shrouded in secrecy. Five years before Archer's birth, David met Rachael, Archer's mother, on a distant island during a covert mission. Their love was a quiet rebellion against the dangers of David's world. When they married, David took Rachael's surname, Saiten, a shield to protect their family from the shadows of his past.
Rachael knew nothing of soul energy, even after meeting David, until the day Archer entered the world. His birth took place in a modest hospital in their hometown, Rain City. The delivery was smooth, unmarred by complications, a moment of pure hope.
"Mr. Saiten, your wife has successfully delivered a healthy, bouncing baby boy," the doctor announced, his voice warm with pride as he led David to the labor room.
David stepped inside, his heart swelling with anticipation.
Rachael cradled their newborn son, Archer, who wailed softly in her arms. Joy flooded David's chest as he approached, eager to meet his child.
Then, something extraordinary happened.
Archer fell silent, his tiny eyes fluttering open. In that instant, it was as if the world itself held its breath, sensing the weight of his existence. No one in the room could pinpoint the source of the awe, but David felt it—a primal, unshakable certainty. Archer's corneas glowed with an ethereal green light, mesmerizing and otherworldly, captivating everyone in the room.
David's face hardened. Without a word, he drew a pistol from his jacket and aimed it at his newborn son, who gazed back, calm and unyielding.
"David, what are you doing?!" Rachael's scream shattered the silence as she instinctively moved to shield Archer with her body.
She was too late. With chilling precision, David pulled the trigger.
The room erupted in chaos. The doctor and nurses fled, their screams echoing at the gunshot's deafening crack. But Rachael and David froze, stunned by what they saw.
The bullet hung suspended in midair, inches from Archer's serene face, as if time itself had bowed to the infant's will.
David's shock morphed into desperation. Dropping the gun, he drew a dagger, lunging toward Archer. But the bullet, still hovering, shot back with uncanny force, piercing David's leg. He collapsed, groaning in pain, the dagger clattering to the floor.
Rachael's heart pounded, her mind reeling at the impossible scene. Instinct screamed one truth: she had to protect her son. Grabbing a metal tray from the doctor's tools, she swung it with all her strength, striking David's head.
Clutching Archer tightly, she fled the hospital, her legs trembling but fueled by a mother's fierce resolve.
Exhaustion soon overwhelmed her. The strain of childbirth sapped her strength, leaving her stranded on a quiet road in Rain City. Penniless and desperate, she crawled into a dark alley, seeking refuge for the night. With her last ounce of energy, she breastfed Archer, her heart aching with love and fear as she drifted into an uneasy sleep, her son nestled against her chest.
At 4 a.m., the sound of heavy boots jolted her awake.
V.I.P.E.R. officers, armed and relentless, scoured the area, their flashlights slicing through the darkness. Panic surged through Rachael. With a silent burst of energy she didn't know she possessed, she scooped up Archer and ran, her bare feet pounding against the cold pavement.
After three grueling hours, she stumbled upon a gas station. Archer's hungry whimpers tore at her heart. Desperate, she approached the cashier, her voice trembling as she begged for a bag of baby food, explaining her plight.
The cashier's cold refusal cut like a knife. "I'd be fired if I gave you anything," he snapped, turning away.
Tears streamed down Rachael's face as she pleaded, her voice breaking with desperation. Just then, a man in the station noticed her distress. He approached with the confidence of a lion, his tall frame clad in a black shirt, a silver watch glinting on his wrist. His handsome features softened with concern.
"What's wrong?" he asked gently.
Through sobs, Rachael explained her need to feed her newborn. Without hesitation, the man offered to buy everything she needed—and more. His kindness didn't stop there; he insisted she and Archer come with him, promising a safe place to stay.
Rachael's tears of despair turned to tears of gratitude. Overwhelmed by his generosity, she accepted, and he led them to a new beginning.
Four years passed. The man, now Rachael's husband, had given her and Archer a quiet, hidden life. Their marriage was a secret, known only to them, a fragile shield against the past. David and V.I.P.E.R. faded into a distant nightmare, and Rachael dared to hope for a normal life.
Archer, now four, was a prodigy. Homeschooled by Rachael, a linguist with master's degrees in English, Spanish, and Japanese, he spoke English and Japanese fluently and was learning Spanish. The strange power he displayed at birth—the glowing eyes, the suspended bullet—never resurfaced, and Rachael, though still cautious, began to relax. She introduced Archer to their neighbors, whose son, Chris, was the same age.
Archer and Chris became inseparable, like brothers bound by laughter and adventure. Chris introduced Archer to soccer, and the two spent countless afternoons playing at their backyard.
But a year later, when Archer was five, an incident shattered their fragile peace—an event that would change the course of his life forever.