The wind blew fast, carrying dust and leaves through the silent forest.
Aelira knelt beside the lake, scooping cool water in her hands and sipping quietly. The air felt heavier than usual.
"Hmph... Aelira."
A voice came from behind.
She stood slowly and turned.
There he was.
Joe.
He wore a black mask and a full black outfit, with two curved swords—one strapped to his back, the other at his lower waist. His cold blue eyes.
Joe's ability was terrifying: his eyes could track any movement, no matter how fast—no matter if it was hidden by smoke or light.
"It's been a long time," Joe said casually.
"Yes... a long time," Aelira replied, raising her hand.
A glowing sword materialized in the air, hovering in front of her palm. It floated for a second—then shot into her grip with a flash.
Aelira's weapon… summoned by thought.
"That sword... made from pure energy?" Joe asked, intrigued.
"It's enough to kill you," she replied sharply.
Joe tilted his head. "You think you know all my powers. But even my teammates don't know everything I can do."
He took a step forward.
"So... if you want to live, hand over Kian."
"Live?" she said with a bitter smile. "I died a long time ago. This is just a clone of who I once was."
"Then I'll destroy that clone completely," Joe muttered, unsheathing both his curved swords and crossing them in front of him.
Aelira sprinted toward him, her sword glowing bright. But before she could reach—
Joe vanished.
Too fast!
A deep slash appeared across her back before she even realized what happened.
He reappeared right in front of her.
His speed was overwhelming. But Aelira didn't panic.
She closed her eyes and began chanting softly.
Joe rushed forward again, his blade raised to strike—
But as she opened her eyes, her sword caught his perfectly mid-swing.
Her pupils had turned crimson red.
A spell...
She had activated a technique that slowed Joe's movements—not literally, but by enhancing her vision so intensely that everything appeared slower. It only lasted ten minutes... but it was enough.
Joe stepped back slightly.
"So... now you can see me," he said, eyes narrowing. "But that alone won't be enough to kill me."
Aelira didn't answer. Her gaze sharpened, full of fury.
Joe dashed forward, faster than ever—but Aelira blocked each strike. Sparks flew from their clashing swords, each hit louder than the last. The sound echoed like thunder through the forest.
But with every block, her blade was cracking.
Finally, with one crushing blow, she was knocked back.
Joe smirked.
And then—he used his next ability.
A clone of Joe appeared beside him. Then another behind her.
It not clone like aelira it only illusions and most useful in battles
Illusions...?
She swung her sword at the first—her blade passed right through it.
A projection…!
She spun, striking the second—but that too was fake.
Too late.
The real Joe appeared behind her.
Before she could react—
SLASH—!
His blade cut across her back. In a blur, four slashes landed in rapid succession, each faster than the last.
Aelira collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.
Her sword fell beside her. Joe stood over her, removing his mask.
He looked down at her, eyes cold, smile amused.
"Thanks for the entertainment," he said.
Aelira's vision blurred. She closed her eyes, whispering one last thought.
I hope... Kian is far away by now.
Then—
"Hey... don't kill her."
A voice rang out from the side. Joe turned sharply.
Standing at near of the trees—
It was me.
"I've come to surrender," I said, stepping forward.
Joe looked straight at me.
And in the very next second—he was right in front of me.
That speed…
He had moved without a sound.
"I surrender," I said. "But you have to leave Aelira alone."
He stared looking into my eyes.
"Okay. I'll leave her," Joe said flatly. "Now come with me."
But in that exact moment—
Noah burst from the ground beneath Joe's feet.
The rabbit's giant mouth opened wide and swallowed Joe whole, dragging him down like a surprise trap.
Joe's eyes could see behind him… and even detect hidden things.
But in that situation, his focus had been on me.
He never noticed the ground beneath.
Noah was a master of digging.
He didn't need to be beside me to help. He just needed the right position.
Joe had fallen for it.
But inside Noah's stomach, the rabbit was reacting strangely—his body shaking, eyes twitching.
Something was wrong.
Joe's doing something in there...!
I knew we didn't have much time. Joe could break out at any second.
So—I ran. Into the forest. Fast.
Plan B.
Behind me, Noah finally spat Joe out onto the ground. Joe wiped himself off and saw me escaping through the trees.
He took off after me—running at terrifying speed. Noah followed behind.
As I ran, I suddenly tripped and fell flat on the forest floor.
Joe was already on me.
He grabbed me by the neck and yanked me up.
"You're not bad," he said, smirking.
That's when I saw my moment.
I spit water straight into his eyes.
A special water—a toxic liquid I had prepared from a book I once read. A poison that temporarily stung and blinded the eyes.
"AGH—!"
Joe flinched, turning his head to the left. He was fast, incredibly so—but for once, not fast enough.
At that exact moment—
Noah slashed through the rope above us.
A blade, hidden high in the trees, dropped silently.
Joe, disoriented, couldn't react in time. The blade sliced through the air—just a centimeter from his hand. But Joe sensed something. With one quick move, he caught me again and threw me back.
He chuckled. "Not bad. I like that move. Got any more?"
I gritted my teeth. Plan C is still too far. I need to buy time.
Joe smiled again, adjusting his stance. He closed his eyes and clenched his hand.
And then—
A shadow flashed past.
I didn't even see it.
SLASH.
A deep cut across Joe's neck.
SLASH. SLASH.
Two more across his chest.
Twelve strikes in less than a second.
Blood exploded from his body—splattering across my clothes and my face. I stood frozen.
The shadow figure disappeared into the trees.
Joe stumbled… then collapsed beside me.
"W-What… was that?" I whispered, heart pounding.
Only silence.
And Joe… was down.
Noah—the rabbit—approached Joe's collapsed body, sniffing him carefully. The tension still crackled in the air. My eyes never left Joe. But something shifted. My vision... blurred.
What's going on?
Then it hit me.
The poison.
I had forgotten. That poison I kept in my mouth, used to blind Joe just minutes ago, was still inside me.
My legs gave out. I collapsed to the ground, breath catching in my throat.
No… no…
I tried to speak, to warn Noah, to call for help—but my voice failed me. I opened my mouth—nothing. My throat tightened. My body was shutting down.
Noah noticed. He rushed to my side, eyes wide, and quickly dropped something at my lips—a glowing, bitter liquid. The antidote.
I swallowed it.
But…
It was too late.
My voice returned slowly, but my vision…
Went black.
Total darkness swallowed the world. I couldn't see. Nothing. Not shadows. Not shapes. Just... black.
"Noah?" I whispered. "Aelira?! Anyone?!"
I could feel my heartbeat pounding in my ears, thumping against my skull. My breathing was uneven, panicked. I reached out blindly. No response. I reached farther—desperate, trembling fingers clawing at the emptiness.
Then
Someone caught my hand. A warmth. Gentle. Familiar. And just like that, everything faded. And I slept.
In a dream,
I opened my eyes. I was no longer in the forest.
I stood barefoot inside a room, large and echoing with silence. The walls shimmered. Velvet curtains swayed gently in the breeze. Polished marble reflected moonlight from the tall balcony windows.
It looked like... a king's chamber.
Across the room, a man stood by the balcony, looking out over some distant land. He radiated power—regal, silent power. A golden crown rested gently on his head.
A knock.
The door opened. A soldier stepped in, then knelt, placing a chess piece on the floor and bowing deeply.
"My lord… The Mark wishes to speak with you."
The king turned slowly. I saw his face. My breath caught. He looked exactly like King Korel, the one I had been researching for five years.
And then darkness again.
"Kian… wake up."
A voice. Soft. Distant. I stirred. Slowly opened my eyes. Light returned. I blinked hard. Everything came back into focus. Aelira was standing over me, relief written on her face.
"You're awake," she whispered.
"I… I can see," I said, sitting up quickly. "How? What happened?"
"I transferred Joe's eyes into you," she replied.
I froze.
"You… what?"
"Joe's eyes. His vision. They're yours now."
I stood on shaky legs and walked to a mirror nearby.
What I saw made my heart skip.
My eyes were blue. I looked... different. Stronger. Taller. More. I pulled off my shirt. My body had transformed. Toned muscles. Perfect symmetry. My frame had grown, tightened, and shaped itself into something new.
I looked down at my hands. I picked up my old glasses. Snapped them in two with one hand without effort. Everything about me had changed.
"What… what is this?" I asked, still staring at my reflection. "How is this possible?"
Aelira looked tired but calm.
"I used a ritual. It took four hours. During that time, I used a gem… the Pink Diamond."
"The Pink Diamond?"
She nodded. "It's an ancient artifact that transfers power from one being to another. It's rare. It only works once. After that, it destroys itself."
By transferring power, my body also got developed. I sat down slowly. His power… is now me. It is so helpful to fight against them. The thing is, now I have to do training. Aelira looked at me with a gentle smile.
"Kian… Thank you. For helping me."
I returned the smile, brushing dirt from my hands.
"We're friends," I said quietly. "It's my responsibility to protect you."
The morning sunlight filtered through the trees, scattering gold across the dewy grass. Everything shimmered like the forest itself had taken a deep breath and finally exhaled. For a moment, everything felt peaceful. I looked around at the glowing meadow, the soft wind brushing against my skin.
It's beautiful.
Then it hit me.
My parents…
I hadn't gone home last night. And the parents' bedroom was destroyed. What must they be thinking right now? No matter what, I have to leave a note for them. Something, anything, so they know I'm safe.
But the question is, who is that black shadow who killed Joe, and I have to know more about magic