Sareth's firm voice echoed through the large training hall, carrying both authority and gravity. "Tomorrow, you'll officially join your respective Corps. For now, go get some rest. You'll need it." The candidates began to disperse, their bodies and minds exhausted from the trials they had already endured. But Kael didn't feel tired at all. His mind was restless, emotions stirred, and too many questions remained unanswered.
Footsteps still echoed in the hallways, along with murmurs and nervous laughter, but Kael didn't follow the others. Instead, he stepped outside into the open courtyard, the cool night breeze brushing against his skin. Above him stretched the vast night sky, sprinkled with stars that shimmered like tiny flames in the dark. Something about the sight soothed him—it was a faint reminder of what had been and what still could be.
Sitting on a cold stone bench, Kael let his gaze drift among the constellations, hoping to find answers in the silence of the universe. But his thoughts kept circling back to Naelys, to the blurry past, and the uncertain future. The weight of the lost years pressed heavily on his shoulders.
Then, a familiar voice broke the stillness of the night.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" said a soft, calm voice. Kael turned his head and saw Naelys sitting beside him, her eyes also fixed on the stars. She, too, seemed to be seeking comfort in the endless sky.
A quiet moment passed between them, filled with anticipation and a silent bond. Then Naelys spoke again, her voice laced with curiosity and a hint of concern. "What were you doing all those years you disappeared?"
Kael lowered his eyes, unsure. "I... I don't really remember. Everything's so fuzzy. The only clear memory I have is you and me, running. I was trying to protect you, being a proper gentleman… then everything went blank."
Naelys nodded slowly, her eyes reflecting the stars above. "I remember… I was so scared. People were dying everywhere—screaming, babies, children being devoured. You held my hand and kept me moving forward. We ran together, dodging debris and bodies."
She clenched her fists. "We hid under a pile of corpses, hoping not to be seen. Then something unexpected happened. Something massive appeared in the sky."
Kael leaned closer, captivated. "What was it?"
"A huge entity," she answered. "A natural force lifted us into the air and carried us away—to a place like no other. A continent floating in the sky, protected by a defense system that the Vorms couldn't penetrate."
Kael's breath caught. "You lived there?"
"For five years," Naelys confirmed, "safely above the world. But then… those strange creatures found a way to break through the barrier. We were prepared for it, we had trained for the worst—but still, no one expected them to actually succeed."
Kael felt his chest tighten. "What happened?"
"We fought back," she said with quiet pride. "Barely. That's when we founded the Corps. Each one had a specific purpose—to protect, to strike, to clean, to seal, to scout. Everything was reorganized under these five special forces."
She turned to him. "During those years, I trained harder than ever. I knew I had to pass the tests and join the Dreads Corps. I saw Declan around sometimes, but I never saw you again… until now."
A heavy silence fell, filled with emotion. Then Naelys continued, her voice dropping with sorrow. "I contacted my mother and father to tell them about you. My father's a general in the Dreads Corps. My mother… she stayed home."
Her voice trembled. "She's sick. A disease that's draining her life slowly. She's blind now, can't even walk. The doctors say she probably has two or three years left."
Kael's heart ached. "How did she get sick?"
"That's the thing," Naelys whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "No one knows. She was strong, a general just like my father. But when she returned from that battle… she wasn't the same. She wasn't the only one, either. All the survivors who came back caught the same illness."
She wiped a tear from her cheek. "Ten thousand survivors out of thirty thousand. That day was a catastrophe. We still don't know what caused the sickness. It remains a terrifying mystery."
Kael gently took her hand, offering her strength. "That's why you joined the Dreads Corps… to find the truth, right?"
She nodded, her grip tightening around his fingers. "Yes."
They sat together under the stars, sharing their pain, their dreams, and their determination. Then slowly, they stood up, as if the weight on their shoulders had grown lighter just by being together.
"Tomorrow," Naelys said, her voice firm. "We meet our team."
Kael smiled and nodded. "Together."
The night embraced them in silence, carrying their hopes and fears into the endless sky.