The moment they stepped out of the gate—
The world felt… heavier.
Not physically.
But mentally.
As if something from the other side had followed them back.
---
No one spoke at first.
The training ground was silent.
Too silent.
Even the other students watching from a distance didn't dare say anything.
All eyes were on one person.
Kael.
---
His hand was still trembling.
Not from fear.
From memory.
From the feeling of that blade.
"…I held it…" he muttered under his breath.
Rex stepped closer.
"…That wasn't normal."
Kael let out a weak breath.
"…Yeah. I figured."
Lyra grabbed his arm.
"Are you okay?"
Kael nodded.
"I'm fine."
But she didn't let go.
Her grip tightened slightly.
"…You didn't look fine in there."
Kael glanced at her.
For a moment—
He didn't answer.
Then softly—
"I'm still here, aren't I?"
Lyra frowned.
"…That's not enough."
---
Aurora stood a few steps away, watching him carefully.
Her gaze wasn't cold this time.
It was sharp.
Focused.
Analyzing.
"…It responded faster," she said quietly.
Rex looked at her.
"Huh?"
Aurora's eyes didn't leave Kael.
"The weapon."
"It's getting closer to manifestation."
Silence fell again.
---
"Exactly."
Orion's voice echoed behind them.
Everyone turned.
He stepped forward slowly.
Calm as always.
But his eyes—
Were serious.
---
"You crossed a line today."
His gaze locked onto Kael.
"A dangerous one."
Kael didn't look away.
"…I needed to."
Orion stopped in front of him.
"And you almost lost control."
Kael clenched his fists.
"…But I didn't."
Silence.
A long one.
---
Then—
Orion nodded.
"…True."
---
"But next time…"
His voice lowered.
"You might not be so lucky."
---
Kael took a slow breath.
"…Then I'll get stronger before that happens."
---
For a moment—
Orion studied him.
Then turned.
"Training ends here for today."
Murmurs spread across the field.
"That's it?" Rex complained.
Orion didn't respond.
"Rest."
"You'll need it."
---
Everyone slowly began to leave.
But Kael stayed.
Standing still.
Thinking.
---
"You're pushing yourself too hard."
Lyra's voice came from behind him.
He didn't turn.
"…I don't have a choice."
"You do," she replied.
Kael shook his head slightly.
"No."
He turned to face her.
"You saw them."
"The gods."
"That thing inside the gate."
His voice hardened.
"They're not waiting for me to be ready."
---
Lyra stepped closer.
"And dying early helps?"
Kael didn't respond.
Because he knew—
She wasn't wrong.
---
"…Just don't do it alone," she said quietly.
Her eyes met his.
And for once—
Kael didn't look away.
"…I won't."
---
That evening—
The academy felt calmer.
But it was a false calm.
Everyone knew it.
Something had started.
And it wouldn't stop.
---
Kael stood in his room.
Looking at his hand again.
Slowly—
He raised it.
"…Come out."
Silence.
Nothing happened.
He exhaled.
"…Of course."
---
Then—
"…You call…"
Kael froze.
That voice.
Again.
Clearer this time.
---
"…And yet…"
"…You hesitate."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…Show yourself."
---
The room darkened slightly.
Not physically.
But in his perception.
---
Suddenly—
He wasn't in his room anymore.
---
He stood in that same endless space.
Dark.
Cold.
Silent.
---
"…You again," Kael muttered.
---
The glow appeared.
Stronger.
Closer.
---
This time—
It didn't stay far.
It moved.
Toward him.
---
Kael didn't step back.
He stood his ground.
"…What are you?"
---
The glow shifted.
The shape of the blade appeared again.
Clearer than before.
More defined.
---
"…I am you."
The voice echoed.
---
Kael's eyes widened.
"…That's not possible."
---
"Your power."
"Your weapon."
"Your end."
---
Kael clenched his fists.
"…I'm not ending anything."
---
The blade pulsed.
"…You will."
---
Kael stepped forward.
"…Then I'll decide how."
---
Silence.
---
For the first time—
The presence didn't feel hostile.
But it wasn't friendly either.
---
"…Prove it."
---
Kael blinked.
"…What?"
---
The next moment—
The space shifted violently.
---
Figures appeared.
Multiple.
All of them—
Him.
---
Different versions.
Stronger.
Colder.
More dangerous.
---
"…What is this…?"
---
"Possibilities."
---
The first one attacked.
Fast.
Brutal.
---
Kael barely blocked.
The impact pushed him back.
---
"Fight."
---
The second one joined.
Then the third.
---
Kael was overwhelmed instantly.
---
He dodged—
Countered—
Fought back—
---
But they were stronger.
Each one.
Better.
---
"Is this… my future…?"
---
"Or your failure."
---
Kael gritted his teeth.
"…I'm not losing to myself…"
---
The glow appeared again.
Faint.
But there.
---
Kael focused.
Not forcing.
Not rushing.
Just—
Reaching.
---
"…Come on…"
---
The blade flickered.
Once.
Twice.
---
Then—
For a brief moment—
It appeared in his hand again.
---
Kael swung.
---
One version of him shattered instantly.
---
His eyes widened.
"…I did it—"
---
But the blade vanished again.
---
The remaining figures attacked together.
---
Kael was hit.
Hard.
---
Everything went white.
---
He opened his eyes—
Back in his room.
Breathing heavily.
Sweat dripping down his face.
---
"…Damn it…"
---
But then—
He smiled.
Just slightly.
---
"…I'm getting closer."
---
Far away—
Beyond the realms—
The same unknown being from the gate opened its eyes.
"…He is evolving…"
---
And in the depths of the ruined land—
Xerathion stirred once more.
"…Soon…"
---
Back at the academy—
Kael clenched his fist.
The faint glow appeared again.
More stable.
More real.
---
And this time—
It didn't disappear immediately.