Days had passed, yet those pages still haunted my mind — every line, every symbol about the power levels, the Six Eyes, the awaited ruler, and the war that shattered Nazaria.
I never imagined that Nazaria wasn't just a name… but an entire island. How foolish of me!
Who was this "awaited ruler"? And why were my parents hiding such things from me?
I sighed deeply, murmuring to myself:
"Father's books don't tell much… I'll never know unless he decides to speak."
Just then, I felt Nora's eyes pierce through me. She stared for a few seconds before quickly sitting beside me, whispering in a trembling voice:
"Nareman… what did Father do that day? He looked like he could move the earth itself! Do you know anything? I couldn't stay silent—he warned me not to talk about it."
I looked at her in silence for a moment, then said coldly,
"We're not talking about that."
But Nora grabbed my arm tightly, shaking me in agitation.
"I know you saw it too. And I know you know something! Please—tell me. I swear I won't tell anyone."
I exhaled slowly and whispered,
"I'll tell you… but if you breathe a word to anyone, I'll hit you, and I won't ever speak to you again."
Nora nodded eagerly, and I leaned closer, whispering:
"Father has the power to control stone—to shape it and harden it at will."
Her eyes widened in awe.
"That's amazing! I wish I had a power like his!"
I smiled faintly.
"You probably will, once you come of age."
She frowned.
"What makes you say that?"
I answered softly,
"Because Mother and I have powers too."
Her eyes widened again.
"You're joking!"
I smiled, whispering:
"Mother commands lightning. I possess two abilities: Reflection and Nullification."
Nora interrupted me excitedly,
"Show me!"
"What?" I blinked.
"Show me how you use them!" she demanded stubbornly.
I gave a sarcastic smile.
"Do you want Father to kill me?"
She laughed lightly and teased,
"Coward."
"Stop it!" I shouted angrily.
But she repeated the word again—coward—and that was enough to ignite the spark. I lunged at her, grabbing her hair as she clawed for mine, our shouts tangled with the sounds of struggle and crashing objects.
Suddenly, Father's voice thundered from upstairs:
"Stop. Right. Now!"
We froze instantly, not daring to look at each other. Silence swallowed the room, and we didn't speak again for a long while.
That night, I couldn't sleep. I lay on my bed, pressing the pillow over my head, muttering bitterly:
"Oh God… what have I done? How stupid of me…"
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The next morning, Father sent us—Nareman and Nora—to return some tools he had forgotten at the farm. It was far away, almost a half-hour walk, and no one lived nearby.
I said nothing, walking in silence. I stopped a little distance away to pick some fruit while Nora went ahead. Then, suddenly, she noticed two men approaching the farm—one dressed in a formal suit, the other ragged and weary-looking.
At that moment, I felt it—a powerful energy nearby, the presence of a power-user. My heart lurched. I ran as fast as I could, praying that Nora would be safe, my pulse pounding wildly, eyes scanning every shadow.
When I reached her, Nora was already speaking to the man in the suit. She looked at me quickly, then pointed and said,
"She has powers too—just like you!"
Terror froze my blood. My heart hammered violently as the suited man turned toward me, smiling—a cruel, venomous smile. I couldn't move.
He approached slowly, his voice deep and commanding:
"By authority granted to me… I order you to obey!"
I trembled, answering with a shaky voice,
"Authority? You have none over me!"
I thrust my hand forward, drawing upon my power—reversing gravity itself. Instantly, the man and his companion crashed to the ground, unable to move. Nora gasped in shock and fear.
I seized her hand, and we bolted—running as fast as our legs could carry us, desperate to reach home, praying that Father would sense the man's presence. Our breathing turned ragged, our tears stung our faces as fear tightened its grip on our hearts.
Neither of us had ever faced anything like this. We stumbled, cried, and ran through the trembling air.
Back at the house, Father—feeling the surge of hostile energy—rushed out at full speed, adrenaline coursing through his veins.
Meanwhile, the enemy rose again, unnaturally fast. He drew a massive sword, leaping to strike before Father could reach us.
But Father arrived just in time, raising a mighty barrier of stone between us and the blade. The clash echoed through the fields.
The man charged again, his sword slicing the air, each step shaking the ground. Dust spiraled around them; even the wind seemed to recoil. Nora and I stood frozen, our hearts pounding, unable to believe our eyes.
Father's hand moved with precision. The earth answered his will—stones surged upward, slamming into the man's attacks, shattering and reforming in an endless storm of force.
The ground quaked. Sparks danced in the air.
For a heartbeat, even the sky seemed to hold its breath.
Then, with a fierce swing, the man's sword struck the barrier directly. The impact roared. Heat began to radiate from the stones—melting, softening, glowing red like wax under a burning sun.
Father's expression twisted—rage and dread entwined—as realization dawned:
The man's true power wasn't in his sword…
but in his ability to dissolve anything he touched.
A single thought screamed through his mind:
"Damn it… a first-rank power-user!"
Fear washed over me and Nora. Even Father's might might not be enough this time.