If one were to see Kaiden at this moment, they might mistake him for a man mourning the loss of a beloved family member or a lover. His hollow eyes, clenched fists, and the tremble in his breath spoke volumes of grief. Yet, anyone who learned he had only known Elira for barely a day would have been perplexed.
But if they could peer into Kaiden's soul, they'd see the cracks etched by years of unrelenting torment. He was 13 when he first tasted true horror, a boy thrown into a pit of survival where kindness was a weakness and hope was a distant memory. One year of suffering, clawing his way through relentless pain, had shaped him into the hardened fighter he was now. Yet, in Elira's brief presence, she had done something he couldn't articulate—treated him like the 14-year-old boy he still was beneath the scars.
As Kaiden dropped to his knees before the smoldering ruins of the inn, his mind whirled. The acrid scent of charred wood and ash filled his lungs, but all he could hear was a deafening silence. No Elira. No laughter. No warmth.
"She's alive," he whispered, his voice hoarse. He didn't know how he knew, but he knew. That woman wouldn't die so easily. Not here. Not like this.
Clenching his teeth, Kaiden rose. His body protested the motion, the wounds from his last fight still raw, but he forced himself forward. Kasir. That name burned in his mind like a brand. The nobleman with the rose tattoo was the key to finding Elira. Whether it was revenge or salvation he sought, Kaiden didn't yet know. But one thing was certain—he would find her.
Kaiden stood in the bustling square, a faint drizzle soaking through his clothes as he stared at the carriages lining the main road. Each ornate vehicle bore the insignias of various noble families, some flaunting wealth with gilded designs, others muted but no less imposing. Somewhere in the distance, Kasir's estate awaited him.
He approached one of the drivers, an older man with a gruff demeanor, and asked, "How far to the Kasir estate?"
The man raised an eyebrow, giving him a wary look. "Kasir, eh? What business does a kid like you have with him?"
Kaiden's eyes darkened, and his voice came out cold. "I didn't ask for your opinion. Just tell me how far."
The driver huffed but relented. "Three days' ride, give or take. And it ain't cheap."
Kaiden turned away without another word. No money, no plan, but three days to figure it out. He began walking toward the edge of town, his sharp senses tingling. Someone was watching him.
Kaiden didn't stop moving, though he let his gaze flicker to the shadows behind him. Whoever it was wasn't subtle. The faint scuff of boots on cobblestones echoed his every step, their rhythm matching his.
Let them follow. I don't have time for games, Kaiden thought, focusing on his mission.
As he reached a secluded alley, the watcher finally made their move. A man stepped into the faint moonlight, his face obscured by a hood. "Kaiden," he said, his tone even.
Kaiden turned, his fists clenching instinctively. "Who are you?"
"That doesn't matter," the man replied. "What matters is that you're walking into a lion's den. Kasir isn't someone you can just confront."
"I don't care," Kaiden snapped. "Move aside."
The man chuckled, shaking his head. "Your determination is impressive, but reckless. Do you even know what Kasir is capable of? The people he controls? You'll need more than fists to get what you want."
Kaiden's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. He had no reason to trust this stranger, but his words stung with truth. Kasir wasn't an ordinary noble, and Kaiden was far from prepared.
"I'll manage," Kaiden said, brushing past the man.
"Will you?" the man called after him. "Or will you just become another of Kasir's pawns?"
Kaiden didn't stop, but the words lingered in his mind like poison.
The road stretched endlessly before him, and with no money for a carriage, Kaiden resigned himself to walking. The journey gave him too much time to think. Memories of Elira's warmth and laughter haunted him, clashing with the cold reality of her absence.
I'm not a hero, he told himself. I'm not doing this because it's right. I'm doing this because no one should suffer because of me. If I'd been stronger… if I'd been smarter…
The thoughts gnawed at him, but he used them to fuel his resolve. Each step brought him closer to Kasir, to answers, to Elira.
The chapter ends with Kaiden resting by a campfire under the vast night sky, the flames reflecting in his tired eyes. He clenches his fists, staring into the fire.
"Elira," he murmurs. "Wait for me."
And in the distance, unseen by Kaiden, a figure watches him from the shadows. A rose tattoo gleams faintly in the moonlight.