Kael couldn't remember how long he had been standing there.
The night had gone silent.
Too silent.
The broken remains of his home still smoldered, smoke rising into the cracked sky as if nothing had happened.
But everything had.
His legs gave out.
He dropped to his knees beside his mother's body.
"…Get up…"
His voice was weak.
Shaking.
"Mom… this isn't funny…"
No response.
His hands trembled as he reached out again, touching her shoulder.
Cold.
Too cold.
"…Please…"
Nothing.
The reality finally hit him.
She was gone.
Forever.
Kael lowered his head slowly, his body shaking as tears fell uncontrollably onto the ground.
"I… couldn't do anything…"
His fists clenched.
"I couldn't even protect you…"
Silence answered him.
Heavy.
Crushing.
---
"Enough."
A voice cut through the darkness.
Kael froze.
Not the god.
This voice was different.
Calm.
Sharp.
Controlled.
Kael slowly lifted his head.
A man stood a few meters away.
Tall.
Dressed in a long dark coat.
His presence was… strange.
Not overwhelming like the god.
But far more dangerous.
"…Who… are you…?" Kael asked, his voice hoarse.
The man didn't answer immediately.
His eyes scanned the surroundings—the destroyed house, the lingering energy in the air.
Then—
They landed on Kael.
"…So it's true," he murmured.
Kael frowned weakly.
"What…?"
The man stepped closer.
Each step steady.
Measured.
"You survived."
Kael's expression hardened slightly.
"…What does that mean?"
The man stopped in front of him.
"…That thing should have killed you instantly."
Kael's fists tightened.
"…That 'thing' killed my mother."
For a moment—
The man said nothing.
Then—
"…I know."
Kael's breath hitched.
"You know…?"
The man's gaze shifted briefly toward Elara's body.
"…Elara Veyron."
"You were hiding him well."
Kael's eyes widened.
"How do you know her?!"
The man looked back at him.
"…Because I've been watching you."
Silence.
Kael's heart pounded.
"Who are you…?"
The man finally spoke:
"…Orion."
---
Kael stared at him.
"…Why are you here?"
Orion didn't hesitate.
"To take you away from this place."
Kael's expression darkened instantly.
"…I'm not leaving her."
Orion's voice remained calm.
"You don't have a choice."
Kael stood up abruptly.
"I'm not going anywhere!"
A sudden pressure filled the air.
Kael froze.
Orion hadn't moved.
But something about him had changed.
"…Listen carefully," Orion said.
"That god will return."
Kael's breath caught.
"And next time…"
"You will die."
Silence.
Kael's body trembled.
"…Why…?"
Orion looked directly into his eyes.
"Because you exist."
Those words hit harder than anything.
"What… does that even mean…?"
Orion sighed softly.
"…This world you know…"
"It's only half of reality."
Kael frowned.
"What…?"
"There are things beyond humans," Orion continued.
"Gods. Demons. Spirits."
Kael's mind went blank.
"…That's not possible…"
"You saw one tonight."
Kael couldn't argue.
His hands clenched again.
"…Why me?"
Orion's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Because you are connected to them."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
"…Your mother hid you for a reason."
Kael's heart skipped.
"…What reason?"
Orion paused.
Then said quietly—
"You're a threat to them."
Kael's eyes widened.
"…A threat…?"
"To gods."
The words echoed in his mind.
His mother's last words—
You were born to kill gods.
Kael staggered slightly.
"…No…"
Orion stepped closer.
"You felt it, didn't you?"
"That power."
Kael froze.
The memory flashed—
The glow.
The surge.
The feeling of something awakening inside him.
"…What is it…?" he whispered.
Orion looked at him carefully.
"…That…"
"…is something even I don't fully understand."
Silence.
Then—
"We're leaving."
---
Kael didn't move.
"…What about her…?"
His voice broke slightly.
Orion glanced at Elara.
"…We'll take care of it."
Kael shook his head.
"I'm not leaving her alone…"
For the first time—
Orion's expression softened slightly.
"…You won't."
He raised his hand.
A faint glow appeared.
The air shifted.
Gently.
Respectfully.
Elara's body was surrounded by soft light.
Kael watched in silence.
"…This is…?"
"A burial technique," Orion said quietly.
"For those who deserve peace."
The light slowly faded.
And with it—
Her body.
Gone.
Kael stood there.
Frozen.
"…Goodbye…"
His voice was barely a whisper.
---
"Kael."
He didn't respond.
"You don't have time to stay weak."
That made him look up.
Orion's gaze was sharp again.
"If you want answers…"
"If you want revenge…"
"If you want power…"
A pause.
"Come with me."
Kael's fists clenched.
Tighter.
Stronger.
His tears hadn't stopped.
But something else had appeared in his eyes now.
Determination.
"…Where…?"
Orion turned.
"A place where people like you are trained."
Kael took a step forward.
"…People like me…?"
Orion glanced back.
"…Monsters."
---
They walked in silence.
Away from the ruins.
Away from his past.
Toward something unknown.
Dangerous.
Unavoidable.
After a few minutes—
They stopped.
In front of nothing.
Kael frowned.
"…Why are we—"
Before he could finish—
A circle of light appeared.
Runes.
Symbols.
Energy.
A Teleportation Gate.
Kael stepped back slightly.
"What… is that…?"
Orion stepped forward.
"Your new world."
Kael stared at it.
His reflection shimmered in the light.
The boy who entered…
Would not be the same as the one leaving.
"…Will I get stronger?" he asked quietly.
Orion didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Kael looked down at his hands.
Then clenched them.
"…Good."
He stepped forward.
Into the light.
---
Far away—
In the heavens—
A golden figure stood still.
Watching.
"…He lives."
Another voice responded.
"For now."
The first voice darkened.
"Prepare."
"This time…"
"We will not fail."
---
As Kael disappeared into the gate—
The world he knew vanished behind him.
And a new one began.
A world of power.
Of danger.
Of gods.
And of something far worse—
Himself. ⚡