My body was exhausted; every fiber of my being felt the weight of the battle I had just fought. Scratches covered my skin, and the pain in my broken bones was almost unbearable. Blood slowly trickled down my face and hands, but what worried me most was the energy draining away so quickly. Still, my mind stayed focused on reaching the temple, on getting to a safe place where I could rest.
With what little strength I had left, I tried to activate the teleportation, but my body didn't respond the way I wanted. It was as if a heavy curtain of darkness fell over me. The next few seconds were a blur of sensations: everything around me spun, and the ground seemed to rise up to meet me with every step I tried to take. Finally, I collapsed, landing right in front of the temple's main gate.
Before losing consciousness, something caught my attention. I saw Kaori and the girls running toward me, their faces filled with worry. Their voices overlapped, but my body was too weak to move, and the fog of exhaustion quickly wrapped around me. My vision blurred, and no words came out of my mouth.
—"Leo…"— Kaori's voice was the last thing I heard before I closed my eyes.
Darkness consumed everything.
I opened my eyes slowly, feeling the softness of the sheets against my skin. The pain was still there, but it was more bearable now. Night had fallen, bringing with it the lingering fatigue of that fierce battle. Next to me, Kaori was fast asleep, resting, her face serene as always. But there was something about her presence that made me smile, even after everything that had happened. I noticed I had been bandaged, the fabric covering wounds that still burned beneath it. I felt clean, as if someone had taken the time to bathe me while I regained my strength.
I decided not to wake her. I didn't want to interrupt her rest after everything that had happened. Her closeness gave me a sense of peace that I desperately needed. As I settled back into bed, I let sleep take me again, seeking refuge in the darkness of my thoughts and the calm of the moment.
But it wasn't long before a new light began to filter through the cracks in the window. The rays of the sun woke my senses, and I could feel the warm glow on my skin. I opened my eyes slowly, and the world around me started to come into focus. There, beside me, was Kaori, still holding my hand, a faint look of concern on her face.
As I sat up slightly, I realized I wasn't alone. The girls, the boy, and the old man were all sitting near my bed. They seemed to have been waiting for me, their eyes filled with an emotion I couldn't quite identify—maybe worry, maybe relief.
What surprised me most was the change I saw in their faces. Even though everything seemed normal, their expressions revealed something deeper, as if what had happened had already left its mark on them too. Kaori, closest to me, looked at me with that tenderness only she could express. She still held my hand tightly, as if shielding me from something bigger than myself.
—"Leo… how are you feeling?" —Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, but it was enough to break the silence. It wasn't just her speaking. The boy, the old man, and the girls all seemed to have something to say too, but it was their gazes that struck me most. They all seemed to know something I didn't yet understand. And what hurt the most was the sense that something had changed for all of us, something we couldn't undo.
I stayed there, watching them, as my mind began to process what had happened and what might come next. But one thing was clear: the shadows of the past wouldn't catch up to me as long as I was surrounded by these friends—by Kaori.
I took a deep breath, feeling the air fill my lungs, and let out a heavy sigh. My body still ached, but at least I was conscious and surrounded by people who cared. I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my torso, making me grit my teeth.
—"Easy. You're not in any shape to move too much yet."— Kaori's voice was sweet but firm as she gently pressed my shoulder back down.
I turned my head and saw the others looking at me with a mix of relief and concern. The old man was the first to speak.
—"Hello, young Leo. You've been resting for almost a full day. Your wounds healed faster than we expected, but that doesn't mean you're ready for another fight."
I nodded, knowing he was right, but something inside me refused to stay still. I remembered the last image of the Ziz, disintegrating, and the power I had to use to defeat it. The vision of that being in the white cloak flashed through my mind. Those creatures had awakened… and I had to face them.
Kaori seemed to notice my expression and squeezed my hand tighter.
—"Don't think about that now, Leo. You're not alone in this, remember?"
There was warmth in her voice that calmed me a bit. I looked at the others and saw they all had serious expressions. Something was happening.
"What's going on?" I asked, a slight sense of dread rising in me.
The boy was the one who answered.
—"While you were unconscious, something else appeared… A pillar of light rose from the place where you were fighting. We don't know what it means, but its energy is incredibly strong. The old man says it might be connected to another one of those beings."
So it wasn't over yet. I tried to get up again, and though the pain was still there, I managed to sit up on the bed.
—"We have to check it out," —I said firmly.
Kaori sighed, as if she had expected that answer.
—"Then we'll all go together. You're not doing this alone, Leo."
The determination in her eyes made me smile. Yes, I wasn't alone. And if a new threat had appeared, we would face it together.
The old man stood up and nodded.
—"Then get ready. We don't know what we'll find this time."
I took another moment to gather my strength. Something inside me told me this new challenge would be even tougher. But this time, I wouldn't fight alone.
We got ready quickly to head out. Even though my body still felt the aftershocks of the battle with the Ziz, I couldn't just sit back and do nothing. The old man led us to the temple entrance, where a cold breeze greeted us. The sky was clear, but on the horizon, right in the direction of the lake, that mysterious pillar of light towered.
—'This energy is different from the Ziz's,"— the old man murmured as he watched the glow. —"It's more... stable, but just as dangerous."
Kaori looked at me with concern, but I simply nodded. There was no turning back. We set off, descending a stone path that led into the forest. Though I had walked that path many times, this time everything felt different. There was a tension in the air, as if nature itself was holding its breath.
As we got closer to the lake, a strange sensation ran through my body. The energy coming from the pillar of light felt familiar, yet completely unknown at the same time.
When we finally reached the shore, the sight before us left me speechless.
The water was calm, reflecting the light's glow. And right in the center, floating above the surface, was a humanoid figure draped in a silver cloak. Its face was hidden beneath a hood, and around it, the water rose in small whirlpools, as if responding to its presence.
—"Who are you?" — l asked firmly, trying to hide the unease I felt.
The figure slowly lifted its head, revealing golden eyes that shone intensely. Its voice echoed through the air, deep and calm.
—"I am the Herald of Judgment. And I have come to test whether you are worthy of the power you've been given."
A Herald of Judgment? In that instant, the water beneath him began to rise in spirals, and an indescribable pressure fell over us.
I knew this wouldn't be a simple conversation. The real trial was just beginning.
The air felt heavy, charged with tension. My wounds still hurt, but that didn't matter now. I looked at everyone seriously and spoke firmly.
—"Leave this place. This one came for me, and I won't let you get involved."
Kaori reacted immediately, furious.
—"Are you out of your mind?! Look at you! You can barely stand, and you think you can fight like this?"
The girls and the boy surrounded me, trying to talk me out of it. But at that moment, I snapped.
—"I told you not to interfere in this fight! If I die here, so be it! But you're not staying. Get out now! If you don't listen, I swear I'll knock you all out myself!"
The impact of my words was immediate. Kaori looked at me, shocked and hurt. It was the first time she'd seen me act like that.
She took a step toward me, but my gaze hardened.
—"Kaori… I told you to leave! Obey! I don't want you to die here!"
Her eyes began to fill with tears. She clenched her fists and, with a broken voice, shouted at me:
—"Idiot!"
Then she turned around and walked away.
It hurt to see her like that, but at least she was safe. I watched as the old man gathered the others and led them back to the temple. Before they disappeared into the forest, I called out one last time.
—"Old man… if I don't make it out alive, please take care of Kaori and the others."
The old man turned to me, his expression a mix of understanding and pride.
—"You always achieve the impossible… I trust you'll survive this too."
I gave a faint smile and added:
—"By the way… all this time I've been with you, none of you ever told me your names."
The old man chuckled softly.
—"That's because you never asked."
With that final answer, they left. I was alone now.
I took a deep breath and got ready. In front of me, the Herald of Judgment stood still, watching me with those intense golden eyes.
—"You've said your goodbyes. Do you think you can face me in your current state?"
I raised my fist, wrapped in energy, and smiled with determination.
"Let's find out."
The wind around us stirred, and in the blink of an eye, the battle began.