"Sometimes, fate brings together two broken people, just so they can heal each other."
Morning sunlight pierced through the forest foliage. Dew still clung to the grass. I slowly opened my eyes. Elvira was asleep, leaning against a large rock. Her face was calm—so different from the night before, filled with tears and wounds.
I remained silent.
Yesterday, I was alone. Today, someone was beside me.
I'm still not sure if this is the right decision... but for the first time, I don't want to push someone away.
As I moved, Elvira opened her eyes. "You're awake?" she asked softly.
I nodded. "We need to get ready. If we want to stay alive."
She nodded firmly. And just like that, our journey began—silent, yet filled with meaning.
We sat under a tree, spreading out a rough map I had taken from the last town. A red line I marked pointed toward the Ilithen Plains, known as a wild land full of monster nests and ancient ruins.
"Our destination?" Elvira asked.
I pointed to the most secluded part of the map.
"Here. There's an ancient cave… said to be the resting place of monsters from the early age. If we want to become stronger, we have to endure trials no normal human could survive."
Elvira stared at me for a long moment, then nodded. "I'm in."
And so, the journey began.
We passed days filled with hardship. Thick forests, poisonous swamps, and relentless low-tier monsters chasing us. But with Elvira, the battles felt lighter.
She could wield basic elemental magic—wind and water. While I still relied on physical strength and fire magic I'd trained in over time.
"Behind you, Minato!"
I ducked just in time, dodging the claws of a Fenfang, a horned wolf monster. In a flash, Elvira raised her staff.
"Aqua Shot!"
A burst of water struck the Fenfang's head, knocking it away, motionless.
I turned to her. "Not bad."
She smiled proudly. "Not bad? I just saved your life!"
I didn't reply, just kept walking with a faint smile.
This journey... no longer felt lonely.
Three days later, after crossing a raging river and steep cliffs, we arrived.
The mouth of the cave yawned wide like the jaws of an ancient beast. The air around it was cold and filled with an unseen pressure. Magical markings lined the stone walls, faint and moss-covered.
Elvira stared. "This... isn't just any cave."
I nodded. "Because within it lies a relic of the old world."
She gripped her staff tightly. I drew my sword.
Our steps merged in silence as we entered the untouched darkness.
The cave was a labyrinth. Its walls were covered in ancient symbols. Not just small monsters, but traps and illusions blocked our path.
"Look at this," Elvira whispered. "Ancient writing... probably from the Mage War era."
I leaned closer. "What does it say?"
"Hidden library... and sealed power..."
A chill ran down my spine.
We ventured deeper, through narrow passageways, until we reached a massive room lined with stone bookshelves. In the center, a single book glowed faintly atop a stone altar, as if waiting for me.
I stepped forward. Elvira grabbed my hand. "That's ancient magic. Are you sure... you can handle it?"
I stared at the altar. It was as if the book... was calling to me.
"I have no choice but to try."
I reached out, and as my fingers touched the cover, the world around me shifted. My vision was flooded with light. Ethereal voices whispered in my ears.
"Oh, you who are wounded… you who are angry… remember the name of this ancient spell… Archa Tempest…"
My body trembled. A new power etched itself into my chest.
When I opened my eyes, Elvira looked at me anxiously.
"Minato...? What happened?"
I looked at my hand, now glowing with a faint red light.
"I... found something. And I think... our journey has only just begun."
In the darkness of the ancient cave, two wounded souls discovered a spark of power.
And that power... could become a light.
Or a curse that burns everything.