Vandel rose at dawn, quietly watching Amari still fast asleep.
"I'll let him rest for another hour," he muttered.
While the boy slept, Vandel put himself through a grueling workout—pushups, squats, and strikes sharp enough to cut the air. Afterward, he cooked a simple breakfast before finally shaking Amari awake.
"Get up, kid. Time to eat before we head out."
Amari rubbed his eyes, then immediately dove into the food, stuffing it into his mouth. Vandel chuckled and ate as well.
When they finished, they packed their bags, returned the room key, and headed south. Vandel pulled out a folded map he had taken from the motel desk.
"According to Amanda, Maximus is three days from here. The map agrees," Vandel said.
Amari nodded. "Alright, then we'll be there in no time. Let's just hope we don't run into any trouble."
But as the sun dipped below the horizon, they made camp near a lake. Together they gathered wood, built a fire, and constructed a crude tent. Then they waded into the lake, catching several fish for dinner.
As the fire crackled and the scent of roasting fish filled the air, Amari broke the silence.
"Vandel… how did you become so fast and strong?"
Vandel stared into the flames. "Years of training. I started when I was eighteen. I'm forty now. That's over two decades of pushing my body beyond its limits."
Amari's eyes widened. "So… I'll have to train for that long just to master my powers and eyes?"
"Maybe. Maybe not," Vandel said with a smirk. "You're different. Special. If you push yourself hard enough, you might learn much faster than I did. But… I can't teach you everything. I don't have what you have. I'm a different kind of fighter."
Amari nodded quietly. "I understand… oh, the fish is done."
They ate their meal in peace, then laid down under the stars. By dawn, they resumed their journey.
But before long, a figure stepped onto the road, blocking their path.
"Well, well, well," the man sneered. "I finally found you—the special kid sealed away in that village."
Amari froze. "How do you know about that?" he demanded, looking at Vandel.
The man only smirked. "Don't worry about it."
In a flash, he lunged at Amari.
But Vandel moved faster, slamming his fist into the man's face. The attacker staggered back, but came again, dodging Vandel's counter and landing a punch squarely against his chest.
It didn't even faze him.
With a growl, Vandel unleashed a barrage of strikes, each one cracking like thunder until the man collapsed, unconscious, in the dirt.
"Let's go," Vandel said coldly. "We can't stay here. More will come."
Amari followed, fists trembling. "I hate this… all these people after me. I'm just a regular person. Why won't they leave me alone?"
Vandel placed a hand on his shoulder. "Because you're not regular, kid. What you carry is something no one else has. That makes you special… and dangerous to the wrong people."
Amari's gaze dropped. "I know… but it's still so annoying."
"I get it," Vandel replied. "But that's why we need to hurry and reach Maximus. Maybe the Light family will have the answers you're looking for."
"…Right."
They pushed forward until a small town appeared on the horizon. Checking the map, they found it marked and decided to stay the night. After resting, they set out again at dawn.
By late evening, the road widened and the landscape changed. Gleaming metal spires rose into the sky. Lights flickered from towering buildings. Strange machines hummed along paved streets.
A massive sign stretched above the gate:
WELCOME TO MAXIMUS
Amari's eyes lit up. "We… we finally made it!"
Side by side, the two travelers entered the great city, hope and uncertainty burning in their chests. Somewhere within this vast place, the truth about the Light family—and Amari's destiny—awaited.