POV: Kael Lanpar
The stench of alcohol and sweat made the air suffocating—almost impossible to breathe. The echo of shouting, laughter, and murmurs mixed with the clinking of glasses, filling every corner of the place.
Covering my nose with my sleeve, I pushed forward through the crowd of bodies consumed by drunkenness.
I had to stop when I saw one of them—more intoxicated than the rest—collapse to the floor with a dull thud.
"Hahaha… pathetic coward," someone slurred. "Can't even handle a drop of this fine elixir."
I stepped around the unconscious man as laughter erupted all around me. The comment had fired up the crowd, who raised their glasses high into the air.
The crash of glass rang in my ears, and without thinking, I grabbed Airis's hand as she walked behind me.
"We should hurry," I whispered, tugging her gently forward.
"I didn't need your help," she murmured, looking away. "But… thanks anyway."
With every step, the creaking of the wooden floor beneath my feet reminded me just how old this place really was—older than it looked.
Luis had said we needed to find an acquaintance here, but with so many people lost in their drinks, I couldn't spot anyone who seemed worth our time.
I let go of Airis's hand and moved closer to my grandfather, tugging lightly on his cloak to get his attention.
"Everything alright, Kael?" he asked without looking back. "I know this place isn't pleasant, but there's someone I need to see."
Resigned to silence, I followed alongside Airis, weaving between tables and heavy stares.
A few steps later, my grandfather stopped and motioned for us to sit beside a strange-looking man.
I took a seat across from him. His elbows rested on the table, his eyes dull—like the weight of the world had drained the life out of them.
My grandfather dragged his chair with a screech and sat next to him. The man, realizing we were all present, removed his hat and placed it on the table. Then he lifted a hand slowly, signaling to a waitress.
"What can I get you, sir?" she asked with a friendly smile. "We've got a bit of everything today."
The man sighed.
"The same thing everyone else is drinking," he said in a monotone voice. "Two beers… and two glasses of water."
The girl nodded and walked away, whispering something to the bartender. Moments later, she returned with the order, moving with the practiced grace of someone who'd spent years among drunkards.
As she set the glasses down, I couldn't help but study her face. There was something in her eyes… something unsettling.
"So, Luis," the man said, never taking his eyes off my grandfather, "why are you here? And why bring your grandson to a place like this?"
I nearly choked on my water, coughing hard. How did he know who I was? My hood was low—my face barely visible. There was no way he could have recognized me.
"I had nowhere else to leave them," my grandfather replied with a weary sigh. "Do you have the information I asked for?"
The man nodded and dropped a scroll onto the table. The dry thump echoed between us.
My grandfather picked it up casually and slipped it into his bag. Then, with his free hand, he began to gather energy. I saw particles in the air condense, forming into a crystalline stake.
Before I could say anything, he rose abruptly and hurled the spell straight toward the bartender.
The impact was instant. The crack of breaking bones froze my blood. Within seconds, the entire tavern erupted into chaos.
Those who had been laughing and drinking now drew their weapons, surrounding us with hardened expressions.
The glint of their blades reflected the flickering light of the chandelier above our heads. Then, a sharp whistle cut through the air.
The man put his hat back on, moving his hands with precision. The glasses on the table began to twist and deform—shifting into transparent arrows.
The shattering of glass snapped the chandelier's chain, sending it crashing down onto our attackers. Screams blended with the roar of the flames.
The fire spread quickly, devouring the spilled alcohol. Smoke filled the air, drowning out the last sounds inside the tavern.
The heat clung to my skin, as if trying to erase what I had just witnessed.
Before I could react, I felt my grandfather's arm wrap around my waist. In an instant, he lifted me up, carrying me through the flames toward a makeshift exit.
The air burned my lungs, but all I could feel was the pounding rhythm of my grandfather's heartbeat as he held me close.
Behind us, the man in the hat manipulated the fire with a single motion of his hand. A blazing sphere formed before him and struck the wall, opening a gap that revealed the morning light.
Feeling the sway of my grandfather's arms, I glanced back—seeing only the echo of shattered glasses and the scent of fire.
Not from the tavern… but from us.
With swift movements, my grandfather pressed forward through the flames, tightening his grip as we escaped.
The heat scorched the air, and the smoke made my eyes sting.
The sunlight met us with a brightness that clashed against the darkness of the fire. Outside, the murmurs of the townsfolk turned into a chaos of fear and confusion.
Some stared in shock, unable to comprehend what had happened. Others ran with buckets of water, while a few mages conjured spells to quell the flames.
"Don't pity them," my grandfather's voice rumbled amid the crackling fire. "The people inside that tavern were killers. They didn't deserve forgiveness."
His words chilled me more than the wind. When he finally let go, I stood frozen, uncertain whether what we had done was right.
The cry of a woman kneeling beside one of the victims pierced through my chest like a blade.
I could still feel the heat of the flames behind me. My feet began to move on their own, drawn toward the desperate shouts of those trying to rescue their loved ones from the burning wreckage.
"Mount up—quickly!" the man in the hat commanded, his tone sharp and unshakable. "Samtist isn't far. We'll reach it before sundown."
Still dazed, I felt a gentle push from Airis. She took my hand with a quiet sigh and led me to the horses.
She mounted beside the man in the hat, while I, trembling, clung to my grandfather's waist. The horse neighed—the sound of a whip sliced through the air—and in one powerful motion, we galloped away from the chaos.
I rested my head against my grandfather's back, feeling the horse's steady rhythm and the wind striking my face.
I couldn't help but think of all the questionable choices I'd made in the past.
Back then, I hadn't understood the magnitude of my actions. I knew they were wrong, and yet I followed orders—like a blind man guided by voices that weren't his own.
It's painful to realize that everything you once did was a mistake. Now, seeing things more clearly, all I could do was live with the weight of my regret.
The trees rushed past us, blurring together as we rode deeper into the forest. The songs of birds mixed with the whisper of the wind.
Slowly, I closed my eyes, letting the darkness within my mind swallow me whole.
My breathing slowed. Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep. My mind kept thinking… but my body had ceased to exist.
(Unknown Place)
I floated in a colorless void. Everything was ethereal—without form or substance—as if the world itself had vanished.
The echo of my thoughts reverberated through that space, releasing my voice beyond the confines of my mind. Each word that emerged carried sorrow, like waves crashing from the depths of a restless sea—disturbing the stillness and warping the calm.
I exhaled a mental sigh, trying to let go of everything. All I wanted was silence. But even that was denied to me.
A blinding light broke through suddenly. Within seconds, the void filled with a soft radiance that began to take shape.
I opened my eyes with effort. The light was unbearable, yet little by little I felt my body materialize again.
My limbs trembled, regaining motion one by one.
Even with my vision blurred, I could make out a shadow before me. When my eyes finally focused, what I saw froze me in place—an enormous floating eye staring directly at me.
I pressed my palms against the ethereal ground, a piercing cold crawling up my skin. Dragging myself backward, I was consumed by a fear so deep it felt alive.
"I know you," a deep voice rumbled through the void. "You know me."
The sound reverberated inside my head. I fell to my knees, clutching my ears as the echo sliced through my mind like invisible blades.
"You are me," the voice continued, tinged with something that almost sounded like surprise.
The pain intensified. A warm liquid trickled from my ears, falling to the ground. When I saw the red stains spreading beneath me, I realized—it was blood.
I clenched my teeth, struggling to endure as the gigantic eye blinked slowly, its pupil narrowing into a vertical slit.
"We will meet again… soon," the voice whispered, fading into the distance.
My body couldn't bear the pain any longer. Everything collapsed. I felt gravity seize me—and in an instant, my head struck the ground. The impact extinguished my sight.
What came next is impossible to describe. It was as if I had ceased to exist. My soul hovered above my body, watching it with terror. Seeing myself empty—an abandoned shell—froze me to the core.
When I could no longer stand it, I released a silent scream… and that scream brought me back.
A blinding light consumed everything. My soul was dragged into my body, tearing and merging with every fiber of my being.
(Reality)
The radiance faded. I gasped as my eyes opened, feeling the cool grass wrap around my body.
I pushed myself up sharply, panting. Sweat ran down my skin as though I had just escaped a nightmare too real to forget.
When my vision cleared, I found myself surrounded by a forest. From the treetops, birds sang a calm melody that contrasted with the chaos I had just escaped.
The sweet scent of flowers filled the air. For the first time in a long while, my body felt at peace. I was back—in reality.
"I see you're awake, kid," said a deep voice.
I turned my head. A few meters away, the man in the hat rested against a tree trunk, chewing a stalk of wheat between his teeth.
"Where's my grandfather?" I asked, rubbing my aching head. "And what are we doing here?"
For a moment, he didn't answer. He simply exhaled, adjusting his position as the wind swept through his dark hair.
Silence settled over the place before his voice finally broke through, quiet and rough, almost carried by the breeze.
"Your grandfather went to inspect the area," he said, pointing toward the horizon. "As for what we're doing here… this place is Samtist—or what's left of it."
I followed the direction of his finger, and what I saw stole the breath from my lungs.
Before us stretched a ruined village. Ash danced through the air like gray mist, and the scent of burnt wood clung to everything.
The houses were nothing but charred skeletons. Among the smoldering remains, crows pecked at the blackened corpses of those who had once lived there.
Words failed me. I tried to stand, but my arms trembled. I pressed my hands against the damp grass, feeling an unfamiliar weight across my legs.
Looking down, I saw Airis sleeping, her head resting gently on me. Her breathing was soft, almost imperceptible. The contrast between her serenity and the devastation around us shattered something inside me.
I leaned my head back against the rock behind me and, with a faint, tired smile, brushed a strand of hair from her face, letting her sleep.
"Who are you?" I asked quietly. "Why are you helping my grandfather?"
"I'm from your clan, boy," the man in the hat replied firmly. "I come from the second branch of the Astrales. My name is Murai Astrales."
Before I could respond, a sharp sound echoed through the forest.
The wind shifted. The leaves began to tremble just before a figure descended from above.
It was my grandfather.
He landed with a grace that only years of experience could grant. The air swirled around him, softening his fall, while the dry leaves rose in a small whirlwind as his feet touched the ground.
The impact startled Airis awake. She opened her eyes wide, disoriented, rubbing her eyelids as she tried to sit up, still unsure of where she was.
"Up, kids," my grandfather ordered firmly. "We need to keep moving."
We obeyed without protest. Airis and I stood slowly, shaking off the dust and the remnants of sleep as we prepared to continue our journey.
I walked beside her toward my grandfather, but when I looked back, I noticed Murai wasn't following us.
"Aren't you coming with us?" I asked, my voice tinged with fatigue.
Murai answered with a faint smile. Resting one hand on his knee, he rose to his feet with some effort, then stepped closer to us.
Without saying a word, he shook my grandfather's hand. The look they shared needed no explanation—respect, understanding… and farewell.
Then Murai knelt down until his eyes were level with mine.
"I think this is where my path ends," he said calmly. "What awaits you will be a harsh journey. Very harsh."
His arms wrapped around me in a warm, unexpected embrace. I could feel the weight of his experience in that gesture, as if he were passing on something deeper than comfort.
He leaned close to my ear, his whisper trembling with emotion.
"You're not the only one who had a corrupted awakening…" His voice quivered, heavy with sorrow. "Our souls are easily tainted… because of what we feel."
He paused for a moment before adding, more firmly this time:
"It's up to us to choose the right path."
He pulled away from the hug and gently ruffled Airis's hair, drawing a nervous laugh from her. Then, with one smooth motion, he mounted his horse.
He looked at us one last time. The smile he gave carried a melancholy glow—almost one of resignation.
The whip cracked through the air. The horse neighed and began to gallop. Its hooves struck the earth, stirring up a blend of dust and ash that faded behind him as he rode away.
His figure vanished among the trees, dissolving into the horizon.
I watched until I could no longer see him. And then, I understood his words. I had felt his aura—the same dark energy that had been flowing within me since that "corrupted awakening."
If that was the fate awaiting me—to become an empty shell, devoured by my own darkness—then I would do everything in my power to defy it.
I bit my lower lip hard, tasting the metallic tang of blood. Without saying another word, I walked beside my grandfather.
Together, we stepped into the ruins of Samtist. Whatever was happening to me… I would find a way to stop it. And I would.