Chapter 3 - Chapter 3 – The Weight of Silence

Dawn broke over Aerion, painting the sky with reflections of gold and amber. The cobblestone streets of Valdros were slowly waking, the scents of warm bread and smoked wood mingling with the smell of damp grass and flowers thrown by the inhabitants. The villagers' shouts of joy and songs echoed through the alleys, but to Kael, it all seemed like a distant echo, as if reality had lost its substance. For six months, every day had been marked by the vision of the ruined city. His friends lying in dust and blood, he alone standing, their pain etched in his eyes. The weight of this approaching future was felt with every step, with every smile he encountered. "Kael... are you okay?" Erya asked, gentle but worried. Her fingers brushed against the sleeve of his coat, searching for some sign of normalcy. He forced a smile. "Yes... just... a little tired." Lyric, his gaze sharp and mischievous, frowned, more serious than usual. "Tired? That's not your style! You're as silent as the grave. Even I know when you're hiding something… and that's scary." Thane, always calm, followed him with his piercing eyes. His face was impassive, but Kael could read his concern: he weighed every move, every breath of his silent friend. "The silence weighs on you… and it could weigh on all of us," Thane murmured. Kael looked down, feeling the cool wind on his face, heavy with the scent of damp grass and still-smoldering torches. How could I explain to them that the future he had seen was inexorably approaching? That in six months, everything would be reduced to ashes? He shook his head. Not now. I must first prepare myself… prepare for anything. Hill Training Every morning, Kael retreated to the hills, where the grass was damp with dew and the wind hit his face with the force of the clear air. He trained relentlessly, his body a mixture of tense muscles and burning fatigue. The early hours were punctuated by precision: perfectly calculated sword swings, swift dodges, intricate feints. But as the days passed, he pushed his limits: powerful strikes, rolling across rocks, projecting magic, endurance on the verge of exhaustion. Pain seared into every joint, every muscle screamed, but Kael did not stop. Each blow was directed not at an enemy, but at his own helplessness. Sweat trickled into his eyes, and he tasted the acidity of blood mingled with dust. Every time he fell, he got back up, gasping, short of breath, his body trembling... but with an ever-increasing determination. Lyric, sitting under a tree, watched silently. He is... different. Colder. More... inaccessible. He doesn't laugh, doesn't speak... But I see the fire in his eyes. He wants to change something. But what? I can't even keep up with him... Erya, walking at a careful distance, clasped her hands around her cloak. Kael... talk to me... you're hiding something from me. And it scares me. But I can't do anything... except watch him. And hope he lets me help. Thane, stationed on a rocky outcrop, analyzed every movement with an almost military calm. He pushes his body to its limits... he tests his strengths and weaknesses... but he doesn't speak. I must remain vigilant. Always. Kael's Thoughts With every blow, Kael felt the weight of the future. If I don't become strong enough... if I weaken... they will die. And it will be my fault... I can't let this happen. I can't... He felt the fatigue settling in his legs, the burning in his arms, the cramp in his back... and yet, he kept going. Every breath was a challenge, every drop of sweat a reminder of his mission. The fresh air stung his lungs, but he swallowed it with rage, as if to breathe in the strength needed to save those he loved. The Mock Battles One morning, he found himself facing a training golem. Its stone skin glittered in the sunlight, each blow echoing like thunder in the valley. Kael dodged, countered, slashed with his sword, then another. Each movement was precise but exhausting. Dust and stone shards flew around him, each impact a reminder of his own fragility. Lyric stared at him, mouth agape, her eyes shining with worry. He's crazy... he's going to kill himself at this rate... and there's nothing I can do to stop him... Erya, closer, felt her heart pounding in her chest. I should tell him... but I can't. He'd pretend not to hear anything... he has to protect himself... Thane, watching the fight, noted every movement, every weakness. I don't understand everything... but I'm watching him. Always. I have to be ready to intervene if things go wrong. Night and the Oath Night fell on the hills, and Kael, exhausted but vigilant, sat on a stone, feeling the cool wind