While Kira continued to master her core, Clied's eagerness grew. He wanted to learn too — to awaken his hidden power. So, he approached Vael, eyes gleaming with curiosity and quiet determination, and asked if he could be taught.
It wasn't difficult for Vael to decide. He had once trained Kira when she was new to her abilities. Now, it was Clied's turn. And so, the lesson began.
Clied sat down eagerly on the floor, crossing his legs just like Kira, mimicking her meditative stance. He closed his eyes, trying to copy her exactly. Vael approached him silently and gently placed his palm on the boy's back.
He was trying to feel for the energy that resided deep within — the core.
Clied suddenly flinched. A strange warmth spread through his body, almost like a burn, though it wasn't painful. His face tightened, but then the heat faded, replaced by a sense of calm. A soft flow of something unseen coursed through him.
Vael concentrated harder, trying to sense the flow of mana within Clied — the invisible energy that connected all awakeners. He poured some of his own energy into Clied, trying to help him align and awaken the core within. But…
Nothing.
No energy. No mana. Not even a flicker.
Sweat started to form on Vael's brow. His breath became heavier. Still, he pushed on — searching, feeling, connecting. Clied, too, began to tremble. His body stiffened, and he looked like he was in pain.
Then, in that moment of strained connection, Vael found himself somewhere else.
An endless void.
Dark, vast, and empty — like he was standing on water in a pitch-black sea that had no end. He was glowing faintly, his mana keeping him afloat. All around him, there was nothing but darkness.
Then — a voice echoed.
A boy's voice. Small. Fragile.
"Who am I?"
The voice echoed again and again, coming from everywhere and nowhere.
Vael began to walk — then run — trying to chase the sound. The voice moved further away. He ran harder, sweat dripping, his chest rising with panic.
"Who am I?" the voice repeated — louder, sadder, angrier.
Outside this spiritual realm, Kira opened her eyes.
She noticed something was wrong.
Vael had stopped moving. He was frozen in place, his hand still pressed to Clied's back. His eyes were open — but lifeless.
Clied was trembling. Tears rolled down his cheeks. Something was hurting him — deeply.
Kira panicked.
"Pat! Pat!" she cried, rushing to them.
She tried to pull Vael's hand away from Clied's back, but it wouldn't budge. She pulled again. Nothing. She gritted her teeth, desperate. With one last effort, she tore Vael's hand away.
And that's when everything snapped.
Vael collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
"Vael! Wake up!" Kira sobbed, shaking him.
Clied stood frozen in place, sobbing, thinking he was the reason everything had gone wrong — that somehow, he had broken Vael.
Inside the void, Vael stood still, the voice still haunting him.
"Who am I? Who am I?"
He called back.
"Clied? Is that you?"
But there was no answer. Only silence… and the echo of pain.
Then — a flash.
He blinked and saw two children beside him — Kira and Clied, crying, panicked, scared. Kira clung to him tightly, as if afraid to lose him forever. Clied stood trembling, tears in his wide eyes, looking like a child lost in his own fear.
Vael finally woke.
His body rose slowly, and as soon as he did, Kira wrapped her arms around him in a tight, tearful embrace. She clung to him like a daughter afraid of being left alone again.
Then Clied looked at Vael's face.
There was no anger. No pain. Just a gentle, warm smile.
And with that silent permission — Clied, too, jumped into Vael's arms, hugging him tightly. Tears streamed down both children's faces.
And in that moment, as they cried and held onto each other, something unspoken passed between them