POV: Kael Lanpar
I had no idea how much time had passed. Buried in the darkness of my own mind, I could barely feel how, little by little, consciousness began to return.
A sharp, almost unbearable pain pierced through my chest, shaking the walls of my mind like an inner thunderclap.
Slowly, with my body so stiff it felt as if it had turned to stone, I managed to open my eyes. I found myself surrounded by a silent void — a place without life or color.
I could still feel the burn of the sword that bastard had driven into his chest. The fire was still there, searing, as if the wound refused to close. I tried to move, rolling over the frozen ground until I lay face down.
I couldn't stop thinking about how deeply bound I must be to him, to feel the same pain his body suffered.
A sigh escaped me at the thought that I might end up being defeated by myself.
I gathered what little strength I had to try and rise, but my arms wouldn't respond. The mere attempt to hold my own weight made my limbs tremble.
I was shattered. My body, my mind, and my spirit all refused to go on.
Damn it, move, I growled in my mind.
The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth as I bit down on my lower lip. The palms of my hands, pressed against the rough surface beneath me, began to burn from the strain.
Get up, a voice whispered. Didn't you say you wanted to live?
The echo of those words shook me. I felt a spark run through me — an energy that forced me to move. With difficulty, I managed to get to my knees.
My eyes searched for the face of the bastard standing before me. He showed no emotion, only a faint shadow of disappointment in his gaze.
"You… what are you doing here?" I shouted, my voice echoing across the void. "I was supposed to be back in my world!"
His brow lifted slightly. He crossed his arms before answering.
"Your world…? This isn't your world, fragment." His voice cracked through the silence like a whip. "Don't forget that I had to sacrifice a life to send you here."
My fists clenched tight. Rage coursed through me like a torrent. I lunged at him without thinking.
The air sliced across my face as I moved forward, but before I could reach him, something dragged me back down to the ground.
My cheek slammed against the rocky surface. I tried to move, but chains stopped me with a metallic rattle that vibrated through the void.
That constant metallic echo, ringing every time I tried to move, told me I was bound.
Like a chained beast, I felt the fire in my veins — a fury threatening to consume everything.
I couldn't stand looking at his motionless face, devoid of even a hint of guilt.
"Hahahahaha… You think this is your body?" I laughed bitterly, my voice cracked with hate.
"I'm the reincarnated one!" I went on, my jaw tightening. "You're no one to tell me who I am."
He crouched down to meet my eyes. His hand gripped my hair, forcing me to look directly at him.
His breath brushed against my skin. We were just inches apart, and yet I couldn't move. A cold I couldn't name froze me in place — something I could only call fear.
"I thought you wanted to kill me," he whispered with a smile before letting go.
As he stepped back, control returned to my body… only for a visceral pain to tear through my stomach.
I collapsed to my knees, retching, unable to understand what was happening to me. It was an inner void — something devouring me from within.
Wiping my mouth, I staggered to my feet, one hand pressed against my knee for balance. I looked at him again, straight into his eyes.
"Before you do anything…" he said, his voice cutting off abruptly. A deathly silence fell over that dark plane.
He shut his eyes tightly. When he opened them again, the brown of his irises was gone — replaced by a radiant emerald green: the glow of Calur.
Helpless before the scene, I was forced to watch as reality twisted before my very eyes.
The space fractured into rifts suspended in the air, cracks that reflected ever-shifting images.
It was like staring at living portraits—fragments of stories I didn't recognize as my own.
In one of them, a near-perfect future unfolded. I could hear the cheers of the people, even feel the warmth of the sun brushing against my skin.
A solitary tear slid down my cheek as I watched my parents, now elderly, walking beside me toward a balcony where millions awaited our arrival.
The banners of every race in Mayora waved proudly, the air trembling with the thunder of shields striking in unison. It was the sound of victory.
"Don't you think it's a worthy future?" he said, raising his hand toward the air as if he could touch the vision. "It's what we both longed for… yet what we'll never have."
My lips trembled, on the verge of breaking. When I looked at him, I saw that he too was crying. His hand pressed tightly against his chest—right over his heart.
Time seemed to stop. I saw his lips move slowly, shaping words I could barely understand.
"Show me there's another path," he whispered, so faint it was barely an echo.
When he finished speaking, the light in his eyes grew brighter. The darkness surrounding us began to fade, replaced by a blinding radiance.
I shielded my eyes, unable to endure its intensity. I felt my body dissolve, carried away to another place.
(In Reality)
I couldn't see anything—only feel every fiber of my being being torn apart and rebuilt. That sensation… it was the sign that I was returning.
The light gradually dimmed, leaving behind a warm darkness. My eyelids grew heavy, and a fatigue unlike anything I'd ever known wrapped around me.
"Good morning, Kael." Vastiar's distorted voice echoed in my ears. "I see you're finally awake."
My mind was still trying to reorganize the sounds. For some reason, it felt strange to sense another presence again.
I blinked several times. Everything around me looked blurry, as if the color had been drained from the world.
"How long was I asleep?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.
"I'd be lying if I told you," he replied calmly. "Here, there are no hours or minutes. Time… has no meaning."
I sighed in resignation before continuing, "Then tell me… what happened while I was asleep?"
Vastiar fell silent. His gaze drifted off for a moment before he finally answered.
"It's better if you see it for yourself." His voice dropped to a murmur. "Try entering your mental space."
(Mental Space)
I closed my eyes, letting my breathing steady. My body relaxed, and my senses expanded beyond the physical.
A chill ran down my spine as I began to perceive sounds I had never noticed before—the beating of my heart, the flow of blood rushing through my veins. It was terrifying… and fascinating.
A faint smile curved my lips when I saw, before me, a crystal-clear waterfall cascading peacefully. Beside it, my father's grave rested in silence.
"What is this supposed to be?" I asked the air. "How did it appear here?"
The lonely echo of my voice resonated through that infinite space—until another voice broke the silence.
"This is your mana waterfall," said Vastiar in awe. "It's… immense."
I turned quickly, searching for the source. I saw him standing near the waterfall, watching the water with a mix of curiosity and reverence.
He extended a hand toward the stream. The moisture rose as mist and seemed to merge with his skin.
"This feels… strange," I said, noticing a faint tingling spread through my body.
Vastiar let out a short laugh before looking at me with a paternal expression—one that reminded me painfully of my father.
"Of course it feels strange," he replied, a bead of sweat rolling down his forehead. "I was draining a little of your mana."
I froze for a second, trying to process what he had just said, before frowning with visible irritation. He noticed immediately… and smiled.
"What's so funny?" I muttered, a hint of anger in my voice. "You're a thief of—"
Before I could finish, I felt a light tap on my head that forced me to fall silent.
I brought my hand to the spot, rubbing it while watching Vastiar's amused face; he couldn't contain his laughter.
"Have you forgotten that I had to use all my mana to break that seal?" he said, pointing to my chest. "Thanks to me, you're free."
My voice faltered for a moment. I raised an eyebrow, still not fully understanding what he meant.
"Free?" I repeated, still rubbing my head. "What do you mean by that?"
Vastiar stepped closer until he was standing directly in front of me. His hand rested firmly on my chest, right over my heart.
He inhaled deeply before speaking.
"You're already a mage," he said solemnly. "You've gone from being latent… to a being that can feel."
His words resonated within me. For a moment, the image of Matías' face crossed my mind, his voice echoing: "Make me change my mind. Show me another path."
I didn't fully understand the meaning, but just remembering it made my hands tremble. Something inside me refused to accept this new reality.
I gently grabbed Vastiar's wrist, moving his hand away from my chest as I took a step back.
I tried to control my breathing, but it was useless. Fear was devouring me from within.
Fear of being defenseless.
Fear of being nobody.
"Your creator left you broken," Vastiar said, breaking my thoughts. "But I believe… you are more real than you imagine."
His eyes softened.
"You are not just a fragment," he added. "You are a living being. You can feel… and that is what makes you exist."
I didn't know why, but his words struck me deeply. I felt tears streaming down my cheeks, unstoppable.
Pure, sincere drops, born from something beyond pain.
Before I knew it, I was crying. My lips trembled, my sobs filling the air.
"I just want to be happy… I want to live," I whispered, my voice breaking.
Through the veil of my tears, I saw Vastiar's body begin to glow. A strange light radiated from his skin, intensifying with every passing second.
"I see my time has come," he said, a grimace of acceptance and sadness crossing his face as the light climbed along his arms.
I gathered the last of my strength and ran toward him.
"What's happening to you?" I asked, confused, my heart pounding in my chest.
Vastiar looked at me calmly.
"Not everything lasts forever, boy," he replied, a faint, tired smile on his lips. "By destroying the seal you carried within, I shortened my time in the mortal plane."
The pieces fell into place all at once. A wave of guilt surged through me. I had taken advantage of him, though it was never my intention.
"Can I do anything for you?" I whispered, barely holding back the tremor in my voice.
He remained silent. The atmosphere grew heavy, almost sacred. Only after a few seconds did he respond, crossing his arms.
"Do you know what a blood pact is?" he asked seriously.
His words awakened old memories.
During my days in the castle, when I was still training with Alfin, I used to sneak into my father's office. I would read every book I could find about magic and its nature.
In one of those secret ventures, I had discovered a book that spoke of blood pacts.
It said they were not mere agreements between people, but eternal bonds between souls: promises sealed beyond life itself.
"Yes, I've read about that," I replied cautiously. "But… what does it have to do with me?"
Vastiar watched me with a mixture of sadness and hope.
"I won't force you to accept it," he said in a grave voice. "But if you do… I swear you won't regret it."
He paused, took a deep breath, and continued:
"Airis, the girl you travel with… she is my descendant. She carries the Iceheart lineage in her veins. Besides your grandfather, she has no one else. That's why I ask you… to become her protector. And that you…"
"I accept your request," I interrupted firmly.
His face froze. Surprise hit him immediately, genuine and unguarded. He hadn't expected such a swift answer.
"R-really?" he stammered, as if he couldn't believe his ears.
"I have no reason to refuse," I said with a smile. "She deserves a family."
As I smiled, I closed my eyes for a brief moment. Then, without warning, I felt a light tap on my shoulder.
"And what was that for?" I asked, wincing.
"What kind of suggestion is that?" Vastiar replied, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
It took me a few seconds to realize what he had just implied. Heat rushed to my face; my sincere words had been so easily misinterpreted.
Before I could clarify, Vastiar enveloped me in a strong, almost desperate hug, as if he had just found a hope lost for centuries.
"Thank you, Kael… truly, thank you," he whispered, his voice trembling on the verge of tears. "Promise me you'll protect her. That you'll always be by her side."
After pain comes revelation. And sooner or later, one learns—by good fortune or harsh lesson—to live with it.
Two paths lay before me: to stay there, shriveled, lamenting having been manipulated…
Or to rise and use this opportunity to prove that another path was possible. Not the one that destroyed an entire world, but the one willing to rebuild it.
I didn't know what the future held, but something inside me burned with clarity. I wouldn't let any of this go to waste.
I had the power… and the will to change.
(In the Present)
I gripped the handle of the weapon I held. The dagger gleamed in the sunlight filtering through the trees; its edge seemed alive, burning with a fierce, protective fire.
Etched on its blade was an inscription that would always remind me why I chose this path:
Armonius — translated into Racing: The One Who Chose to Exist.
After several minutes with Vastiar, the ritual concluded. My blood sealed the promise, binding my purpose to his destiny.
Upon leaving the sanctuary, I found Airis and my grandfather. Their faces reflected a mixture of worry and curiosity.
I had no time to explain what had happened. Something was happening. We had to move quickly through the trees, pushing through roots and leaves that seemed to whisper warnings.
I watched as Airis and my grandfather advanced through the undergrowth. I glanced one last time at the dagger in my hand; the soul trapped inside it glowed with a somber crimson.
It was the witness to my first promise in this world.
"Kael, hurry! We don't have all day!" my grandfather shouted from ahead.
I sighed. I activated my astral magic, blending wind and electricity. In the blink of an eye, I was by his side, ready to face whatever came.
As we made our way to the chamber, we passed through every corner of the elven forest. Branches swayed above us as if watching, and the earth vibrated beneath our steps.
"Attention, everyone!" my grandfather shouted. "We're almost there!"
The echo of his voice spread through the forest, awakening both the crystal animals and the dark quartz golems. Both reacted to our presence with a deep roar that resonated through the roots.
From above, I could see ancient colossi emerging from the ground, lifting the earth around them.
Their bodies, covered in vines and cracks, radiated power. They were the guardians of the Astrals' home… and they had awakened.
"Why is security so active?" I whispered, more to myself than to anyone else.
"For the same reason we had to return so suddenly," my grandfather replied in a grave tone. "The day has come. And we must be ready for anything."
Airis and my grandfather descended from the branches, landing in front of the entrance to the chamber. Waiting there were my parents… and my sisters.
I followed them down.
The air was thick, charged with energy. The grass beneath my feet vibrated with life, as if the forest itself was breathing with us.
The first thing that greeted me was the hardened gaze of my father. There was no hatred in his eyes, but a desperation carefully masked as firmness.
"Did you find the information I asked for?" he asked with severity.
"Don't you think it would be better to discuss this in private?" my grandfather replied, visibly irritated. "It's confidential information, and you know it."
"In less than fifteen hours, the Summit of the Realms will begin," my father insisted. "We don't have time for formalities, Luis."
My grandfather exhaled a long sigh. He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was grave, almost trembling.
"The bodies that were buried in Samtist…" he paused, taking a deep breath, "no longer rest beneath the earth."