The forest still trembled.
Smoke drifted from the scorched clearing where Kai had unleashed the impossible blast. The air smelled of burned earth and ozone, still vibrating with the aftershock of forbidden power.
Kai stood frozen, staring at his hands as the last arcs of white-blue lightning faded into trembling sparks.
His pulse hammered in his ears.
What did I just do…?
The villagers kept their distance, forming a loose semicircle around him—like he was a wild beast they weren't sure how to approach.
Elder Seran stepped forward slowly, cane shaking.
"Boy…" His voice wavered. "What you displayed—those markings, that light—no Path in this world behaves like that."
Kai flinched. The glow in his eyes finally dimmed, but the fear in the air didn't.
Lira forced her way through the circle, dropping to her knees beside him.
"He protected me. He protected all of us."
But her voice couldn't calm the panic.
One man pointed a shaking finger at Kai. "That wasn't a Path. That was a curse!"
Another backed away. "He summoned a storm out of thin air. That… that's not natur—"
"That thing called him the vessel!"
Kai's blood ran cold.
He remembered. Every word. Every whisper.
Vessel… awaken…
The villagers erupted into frantic murmurs. Some scanned the trees for another attack. Others stared at him with horror.
Seran raised his voice sharply. "Enough!"
The crowd fell silent—but their fear did not.
The Elder turned to Kai, his expression heavy with something between dread and pity.
"Kai… I must ask you a question. A grave one."
Kai swallowed. "What… what question?"
Seran lowered his head.
"Are you the child from the prophecy?"
The clearing went still.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Kai blinked. "What prophecy?"
Lira's eyes widened. "Elder—don't."
But Seran continued.
"Seventeen years ago, the mountains roared. A temple was erased. A Path was 'forgotten.' On that same night… your mother appeared at our gate carrying you."
Kai's breath hitched.
"My mother…?"
"She was badly wounded. Barely conscious. She begged us to protect you. To hide you. To never let the world know who you truly were."
Seran's voice cracked.
"Because something ancient had chosen you."
Kai felt the ground tilt beneath him. "You're saying… she knew?"
"She knew you were marked." Seran pointed at the ground—at the glowing cracks still faintly pulsing in the soil, mirroring the power inside Kai.
"The Seventh Path… didn't die that night. It chose a vessel."
Kai shook his head violently. "No. No, that's wrong. I'm normal. I've always been normal."
But even he didn't believe the words as they left his mouth.
The remnants of lightning still tingled in his fingertips, like a second heartbeat under his skin.
Seran opened his mouth to speak—
CRACK.
Something slammed onto the forest floor.
Everyone turned.
A massive raven made of black smoke landed on a broken tree stump. Its wings stretched wider than a man, its eyes glowing a deep, unnatural violet.
Lira stepped back. "What in the—?"
Seran's face drained of color.
"A Void Messenger…"
The raven opened its beak, and an icy, distorted voice spilled out—not spoken, but transmitted.
"To the village of Grayfall.A Forbidden Surge has been detected.The Seventh Signature is confirmed active.By decree of the Path Council—Surrender the Vessel immediately."
Kai felt the blood leave his face.
Lira grabbed his arm. "They're coming for you."
Seran gripped his cane tightly, jaw clenched. "No… not the Council. Not now."
The raven's voice deepened.
"Comply within two days.Resistance will be purged."
With a flap of wings, the phantom bird dissolved into smoke and vanished.
The clearing was silent.
The message lingered like a noose tightening around Kai's throat.
Lira whispered, horrified:
"Kai… they're going to take you."
Elder Seran turned to him with grim resolve.
"No. They're going to hunt him."
Kai's heart pounded.
His hands shook.
Lightning buzzed faintly under his skin.
Two days until the world comes for me.
And for the first time…
He wondered if he would survive long enough to find the truth about what he really was.