Darkness.
That was all he could see. No sound, no light, only an endless void pressing in from every side.
"Am I… dead?" Sina whispered into the emptiness. His own voice sounded distant, like it wasn't even his. "Is this the end for me? I… I tried. I did my best to become strong, but in the end, I couldn't do anything. I've lost everything…"
The silence didn't answer. For a moment, he felt truly alone—until two faint silhouettes appeared before him. His heart stopped.
"Mom…? Dad…?"
The figures stepped closer, faces clear now. His mother's eyes were soft, but filled with urgency. His father stood silently beside her, his gaze firm and steady.
"Sina," his mother's voice was gentle, almost trembling, "listen to me carefully. You don't have much time. A storm is coming… darker and fiercer than anything you've faced. You have one—maybe two years at most—to prepare. After that… there will be no second chances."
Her words pierced his chest like a blade. He wanted to reach out, to hold onto them, but the darkness pulled their figures away, fading like mist.
"Wait! Don't leave me again!" he shouted, but it was useless. The void swallowed everything.
And then—
He gasped, bolting upright. Sweat clung to his skin, his chest rising and falling in quick bursts. His eyes darted around. The familiar walls of his room surrounded him. The soft glow of morning light slipped through the curtains.
"I… I'm alive?" He touched his chest, still shaken. "Did they… put some kind of protection barrier on me? Is that why I survived? If that's true… then next time—if I die again… there won't be a way back."
His thoughts were interrupted by a small knock. The door creaked open, and his little brother peeked in, eyes wide.
"Big bro? You came back all of a sudden. What happened?"
Sina forced a small smile, hiding the storm inside him. "It's nothing. I just… wasn't feeling well, so I came back early. Don't worry."
His brother tilted his head, clearly not convinced, but nodded and left.
As the door shut, fragments of memory stirred in Sina's mind—something hidden, something important. His pulse quickened. The underground base…
Without wasting another second, he left his room and made his way down, deeper and deeper, until he reached the sealed door of the base his father once spoke of. Dust covered the handles, and the lock resisted his every effort.
"Tch… damn it… open!" He struggled, his arms trembling, but he refused to give up. Minutes dragged on, sweat dripping down his face—until at last, with a heavy crack, the door gave way.
The stale air of forgotten years rushed out. Sina stepped inside, eyes widening at what lay before him. Rows of weapons, crates of supplies, blades gleaming even in the dim light. Armors, scrolls, tools of survival—an arsenal built for war.
His lips curved into a rare, determined smile. "Yeah… this is it. With this… I can continue my training. I'll be ready when the time comes."
In the silent underground chamber, the promise of preparation echoed louder than any fear.
The fight wasn't over. It was only beginning.