In a place where time had no meaning, where even light dared not wander, something moved.
Space rippled.
Cracks laced the endless void, spilling colors that no mortal eyes could name. Stars trembled. Entire galaxies wavered like reflections in disturbed water.
And then—
Eyes opened.
They were not bound by form, nor by distance. In their depths burned the birth and death of countless worlds, the endless turning of ages. With a single glance, they pierced the fabric of creation, gazing past realms, past stars, past the limits of existence itself… to something.
"…So…" The voice was neither loud nor soft—yet every star heard it.
"He has returned."
The cracks in the void shuddered, reality struggling to hold itself together beneath that gaze.
A pause.
"Not yet… It is not the time."
The eyes closed, and the fractures in space began to mend. Silence reclaimed the void. But the echo of those words lingered, whispering through galaxies, slipping into dreams.
Far below, on a small world, a boy stirred in his sleep—unaware that his existence had just been noticed by something far, far beyond.
Warmth.
That was the first thing I felt.
Not pain.
Not the crushing weight of darkness I remembered… only a quiet, steady warmth.
My eyes cracked open to a blur of white ceiling beams, the faint scent of herbs drifting in the air.
Turning my head, I saw her—Liana—slumped over the side of the bed, her fingers still loosely clasped around mine.
"…Liana?" I murmured, my voice hoarse.
She didn't stir.
For a moment, I simply lay there, watching her breathe, wondering what had happened.
And then the memories returned—sharp and unyielding.
The forest.
The Noctharion hounds.
The tearing pain, the cold seeping into my bones.
The certainty… that I was going to die.
"How… am I here?" I muttered, not really expecting an answer from anyone.
"They found you after you lost consciousness."
The voice cut through my thoughts like a blade.
My gaze shifted to the side—and there he was. Noctharion, lounging in a chair like he owned the world. In his smaller form, he looked almost harmless… almost. His crimson eyes regarded me lazily, yet in their depths swirled something ancient and unfathomable.
His dark, shimmering tail swayed slowly through the air, hypnotic under the dim light.
"Who found me?" I asked.
"Some weak mortals. They brought you here," he replied with casual indifference. "But your body was already too damaged. And with the burden of awakening…" He paused, his gaze sharp as a blade. "…it pushed your body beyond recovery. Even with all their efforts, they couldn't save you. You were seconds from death. They even lost hope."
His tone shifted—quieter, almost thoughtful. "Even I thought you were finished."
He glanced toward Liana, and a glimmer of curiosity flickered in his eyes. "But… she saved you."
"Liana saved me? Even when other awakened healers couldn't?" I asked, disbelief and curiosity fighting in my voice.
"You'll know when the time comes," he said, his tone heavy with mystery—like this was all nothing more than a performance for his amusement, and we were merely actors on his stage.
Just as I was speaking with Noctharion, Liana stirred. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she blinked blearily at the world. There was a faint trail of dried saliva on her cheek, with a few strands of hair stubbornly stuck to it.
It was such an unexpectedly comical sight that a quiet chuckle escaped me before I could help it.
She blinked at me in confusion for a moment—then her eyes went wide.
"Kael!" she cried.
In an instant, she was off her chair and on the bed, throwing her arms around my head. Her hold was desperate, trembling, almost crushing, as if afraid I'd vanish if she let go.
And then, she started crying again.
It took at least ten minutes to calm Liana down. This time, I had really done a number on her.
I'd made her worry—again.
"Liana, I'm okay now," I told her for what felt like the hundredth time.
She sat in the chair in front of me, her eyes red from crying, her cheeks slightly hollow from exhaustion. Seeing her like that made a pang of guilt stab at me. But… I had no regrets. Going into that forest had been dangerous, yes—but it gave me the power I needed to protect her. I smiled faintly to myself.
"Are you really okay now?" she asked again.
"Yes, yes," I said, spreading my arms wide. "See? Perfectly fine."
She studied me for a moment, then suddenly stood and took both my hands in her smaller ones. Without a word, she closed her eyes.
I tilted my head, confused. "Liana…?" I began.
And then it happened—golden light flowed from her hands into me, spreading through my body in gentle waves. A soothing warmth filled me, and I could feel the last traces of fatigue melting away.
At first, I was bewildered. Then my eyes widened in shock.
I knew this light.
How…? Only two people in the entire world were supposed to possess this power, both of them among the most important figures alive.
As I struggled to process it, Liana opened her eyes and met my stunned gaze. She chuckled softly, clearly enjoying my reaction.
"Liana, how—" I started, but the words were cut short as the door swung open and the old healer stepped into the room.
He looked at me with his usual calm expression.
"You're awake," he said simply.
Stepping closer, he placed his hand over my chest. I felt his mana flow through me—searching, probing—checking every nook and cranny of my body.
After a moment, he withdrew his hand and smiled.
"As expected, you've completely recovered. It is thanks to this lady, Liana, here."
There was something in his voice when he said her name—deep respect, almost reverence.
"Your condition was so dire that even I had lost hope for your recovery… but Lady Liana saved you. She is truly a miracle."
I blinked. Lady Liana? He had never called her that before. In fact, I couldn't remember him ever speaking her name outright until now. And yet here he was, speaking as though she stood above him.
Well… I had a guess why.
"You're good to go, young lad," he said, turning toward the door. Then he stopped, as if remembering something.
"Oh yes—before I forget. Commander Arvel requests that you and Lady Liana meet him in his office."