The first rays of dawn crept through the cracks of the wooden shutters, casting a dim glow over Kael's small room. The warmth of his blanket was comforting, but his body refused to stay still. His mind stirred with strange dreams—visions of glowing lights, rushing energy, and a lingering presence inside him.
With a sharp inhale, Kael opened his eyes. He felt… different. Stronger. More alert. His senses stretched beyond the walls, catching the distant sound of birds chirping and the faint crackle of burning firewood downstairs.
He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His body moved effortlessly, as if the fatigue of the previous days had melted away. It was an odd sensation—like he had been reborn into something new.
Shaking off the thoughts, he followed his morning routine: a quick wash, dressing in his usual tunic, and tying his boots. But even as he moved through the motions, a nagging feeling pressed against his chest.
Something was… off.
Descending the wooden stairs, Kael entered the main room, where the smell of warm bread and roasted meat filled the air. His mother, Lira, was already seated at the dining table, her hands folded neatly, but her face was tense. Her fingers drummed absently against the wood, her expression unreadable.
Kael frowned. "Morning, Mom."
Lira barely reacted, only offering him a nod. That alone sent a ripple of unease through him. She always greeted him with warmth, even when she was tired.
He slowly sat across from her, feeling the weight of the silence between them.
"What's wrong?" he asked cautiously.
Lira exhaled and placed both hands on the table. "Kael… what did you do?"
His stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"
"You've been acting strange lately. Your energy feels… different." Her piercing gaze locked onto him. "I know something happened, and I need you to tell me the truth. You can trust me."
Kael hesitated. He had hoped to keep this secret a little longer, but after everything that had happened, maybe he couldn't. Maybe he shouldn't.
Taking a deep breath, he started, "Do you remember three days ago when the town was declared under emergency?"
Lira nodded.
"I… I got involved with the reason for the announcement."
Her brow furrowed. "What?"
Kael swallowed hard and told her everything—how he had encountered the mysterious girl, Lyra, the glowing cube she carried, and how she had pressed it to his chest. How the artifact—the Arcana Core—had fused with him, changing him in ways he didn't fully understand.
Lira remained silent, absorbing every word. When he finished, she let out a slow breath. "That must have been the surge of energy I felt…" she murmured.
Kael's head snapped up. "Wait, you felt it?"
She nodded. "The night after you brought that thing home, I tried sensing your energy while you were asleep. What I felt was… overwhelming. I've never encountered anything like it."
Kael lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry. I never meant to bring trouble to you."
Lira's expression softened slightly, but before she could respond, her tone grew serious again. "There must be someone watching you," she said. "Last night… I confronted unexpected guests in our yard."
Kael's breath hitched. "What?!" His heart pounded. "But no one saw me! I was careful!"
Lira crossed her arms. "Have you been using your energy in any way? Anything unusual?"
He hesitated, but then admitted, "I have heightened senses. Strength. Speed. Way beyond normal."
Lira sighed. "That's normal for a newly awakened Deviant."
Kael blinked. "How do you know that?" His mother's words echoed in his head.
Her lips curled into a faint smile. "Because I'm one too."
Before Kael could react, Lira raised her hand. A cup of water from the sink lifted into the air, floating toward them. Kael's eyes widened as the water twisted and shimmered, freezing mid-air before turning into a small ice crystal.
Then, with her other hand, she gestured lightly—and suddenly, Kael felt himself being lifted along with his chair, hovering slightly above the ground. A breeze swirled around them, carrying him effortlessly before gently lowering him back down.
Kael stared at her, his shock quickly turning into excitement. "You're… amazing!"
Lira chuckled at his expression. "There's no need to be so surprised."
Kael's excitement faded into frustration. "Then why didn't you tell me?"
Lira's face turned serious again. "Because it was a secret. Your father and I agreed to keep it from you as long as we could."
"But I'm your son! You should've at least told me!"
"You were just a child, Kael," she replied calmly. "We planned to tell you when your father came back for his break. But given the situation now… keeping it from you is no longer an option."
Kael exhaled sharply. He wanted to be angry, but deep down, he understood. He looked at her again, his curiosity burning.
"Mom… your mood this morning was intense. What really happened?"
Lira didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stood up. "Follow me."
Kael obeyed as she led him outside.
The moment they stepped into the yard, his blood ran cold.
A frozen hill of ice spears stood in the middle of the compound. The towering structure glistened under the morning sun, a chilling sight that sent a shiver down his spine.
"What is this…?" Kael's voice was barely a whisper.
Lira walked ahead, her gaze unfazed. "Come with me."
She led him toward the frozen corpses of the assassins. Their lifeless bodies were trapped in jagged ice, their faces twisted in agony.
Kael felt bile rise in his throat. His legs trembled. "Dead bodies…"
Lira kicked one of the frozen figures. "We'll dispose of them tonight. They won't stink since they're frozen."
Kael was too stunned to respond. His entire body felt numb, and for the first time, he truly understood the danger they were in.
Lira turned to him. "Do you recognize any of them?"
Kael hesitated before stepping closer. The first two assassins were unfamiliar, but when he reached the third, his stomach twisted.
"I know this guy…" He swallowed. "He's one of the Zaren family's guards."
Lira's expression darkened. "The Zaren family? The merchant household?"
Kael nodded, dread sinking in. "Their third son, Ryn, is one of my... bullies."
Lira clenched her fists. "What did you do, Kael?"
He took a step back. "I… I might have fought them yesterday. And… maybe Ryn got injured…"
A cold silence filled the air.
Lira's eyes burned with fury. "The first thing you did with your absurd new powers was harm another person?!"
Kael opened his mouth to explain, but no words came. His mother's anger was fierce, her disappointment evident.
"You've put us in danger, Kael," she scolded. "Do you realize what could have happened if I wasn't here?"
His head hung low. "I'm sorry…"
Lira exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "We'll talk about this later. Right now, we need to clean up."
With a wave of her hand, the ice around the corpses began to melt. She guided the water toward a patch of soil, where it seeped harmlessly into the ground.
Kael helped as best as he could, though his mind was still spinning.
After disposing of the bodies, they finally headed back inside. Lira sat at the table, her expression unreadable.
Kael hesitated before sitting down across from her.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then, Lira finally said, "Eat your breakfast."
Kael nodded and picked up his fork, but as he took his first bite, one thought lingered in his mind.
Things were about to get much worse.