She was a beautiful woman, with long black hair and dark eyes overflowing with tears.
She held her two children so tightly it was as if she might suffocate them.
Her voice, filled with despair and madness, trembled as she said:
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
---
Darein woke slowly, his eyelids heavy. The dim light from the tall windows made his head spin, while the sharp smell of disinfectants and medicine filled his nose.
He was in a treatment hall; rows of metal beds, the irritating footsteps of nurses echoing around him.
He turned his head slightly and saw faces staring at him, but he ignored them with indifference.
That dream… it still burned clearly in his mind.
He knew why the woman had apologized, but something inside him refused to face the truth.
He forced his thoughts toward the present. "I was in the library, then I met—"
His thoughts were cut short when someone asked what had happened. But before he could answer, a nurse intervened, trying to drive the man away. Darein replied in a dreamy tone:
– "I was only looking for a book."
The nurse did not let the man continue his questioning and forced him out.
After making sure Darein was in good condition, they allowed an interrogation.
But out of consideration for his state, and because there seemed to be no benefit, they didn't dig too deeply. He appeared healthy, so they decided to release him quickly.
Inside, he mocked them for their incompetence and how easily they had been fooled.
He left the hall, the cold air brushing against his face like a palm. He headed toward the wide university garden. The leaves of the trees shook in the wind, the atmosphere carrying a ritual stillness, while students walked past with fleeting, empty expressions. He sat on a wooden bench.
"The creature of blood-worms… fascinating. Even more so, that what is known as the Aetherians are nothing but fragments of it. Which means Vlelagneo was never guarding an entire race, but a single being."
A smile appeared on his lips, as if he alone had uncovered a dangerous secret.
But soon the smile froze.
He felt the weight of eyes watching him from afar.
He tilted his head slightly, shame flickering in his chest as he realized:
He was the fool who had been deceived, not them.
---
Five hours passed.
A bald man with green eyes watched him tirelessly. He bit his lip and muttered:
– "Damn it… he's been sitting here for five hours… not moving, not doing anything."
He reported the suspicious behavior.
The university had already noticed the strange black blood, his unnatural awakening, and his swift recovery. When they contacted the authorities, they were told no ordinary person could handle the case. They had to wait—until someone capable arrived.
At last, one of the strongest humans in the world appeared: Arkanios.
He had shoulder-length black hair, a short beard, and bronzed skin. His steps were steady with authority, and his voice carried a weight that silenced those around him.
From afar, he sensed something strange. But when he approached the "Darein" sitting on the bench, a bitter laugh rose in his chest.
The Darein before him was nothing more than an illusion.
The real one… had escaped hours ago.
---
Outside the walls of Silavora, Darein stood on a small hill, watching a grand procession move along the main road.
Dozens of black carriages surrounded a single golden one at the center. The pounding of hooves struck the earth, leaving behind a storm of dust.
He smiled faintly as he studied the rare horses pulling the carriage.
"Even the horses alone cost a fortune… so who sits inside?"
He decided then to offer them a small gift—
a gesture of amusement, nothing more.