"So, you're saying the room just… exploded?" Erik asked, arms crossed.
"Yeah," Yosul replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was like lightning struck the room—but instead of coming down from the sky, it came out from inside."
Erik raised a brow. "And that's when I came running in?"
"Pretty much."
"So… what the hell happened?" Yosul asked again, more serious this time.
Erik hesitated. He thought about the dream—the woman, the voice, the white void. He glanced toward Kaizer, who stood nearby, silent and watchful.
Yeah… no way I'm bringing that up right now.
"I don't actually remember," Erik said. "I just woke up and… my hand was like this."
"Is that what I think it is?" Leena asked, pointing toward Erik's left arm.
Yellow lightning crackled softly along his skin, dancing across his forearm in twitching arcs. The light pulsed gently, alive with energy—but strangely cold.
"I think you've unlocked your second element," Leena said, her tone flat but with a glint of curiosity in her eyes.
Yosul grinned. "Wow, that's great news!"
Before anyone could say more, a shout came from across the courtyard.
"You lot better pay for this!" an Oldman's gruff voice rang out. He stood near the door holding a cane.
Yosul sighed. "Oh no… I better go deal with that." He jogged away toward the angry old man stomping through the debris.
Leena turned to Erik, carrying his belongings.
"Come on. Let's go to my room," she said.
Erik followed without protest, though a pit had settled in his stomach. The lightning running through his veins should've felt like power. Like progress. But instead… something felt wrong.
"What are you thinking about?" Leena asked as they walked.
"Nothing," Erik replied. "Just a headache."
"You finally did it, huh."
"Did what?"
"Unlocked your second element," she said. "Guess your core's matured enough now."
"Yeah," he said. "I guess so."
"You don't seem thrilled."
"It's all just… too sudden. I didn't do anything to cause it. It just happened."
Leena didn't push. They walked a little further in silence until they reached a small house tucked near the edge of the village. She stopped in front of the door.
"This is it," she said. "Let's go in."
Inside, the space was modest—bare floors, a few crates stacked along the walls. Then she walked into a room on the right side of her.
Inside there was a single bed with an old wool blanket. Leena walked straight to the corner and set Erik's things down beside the bed.
"You can sleep here," she said simply.
Erik stepped forward, but paused when she added, "This was supposed to be my room."
He glanced back. "So where are you going to sleep?"
Leena shrugged. "Vice-Captain asked me to get this ready for you. I assume he's got somewhere else lined up for me."
"Oh… alright then."
She turned to the door. "Good night"
"Yeah. You too."
She shut the door behind her, leaving Erik alone.
He exhaled and began unbuckling his armor, laying each piece carefully beside the bed. Boots came off next. Then he sat down and leaned back, his body sinking into the mattress with a sigh.
His left arm crackled faintly with residual lightning.
His head was pounding.
The woman's face from the dream lingered in his thoughts—pale, impossible, otherworldly. Her voice still echoed faintly in his mind, like a whisper behind glass.
I wonder who she is.
Why now? Why did my second element awaken like this? I didn't even do anything…
What did she mean by "time's running out"?
And what does "your core has matured" even mean?
Erik closed his eyes.
The thoughts circled endlessly, refusing to leave him alone.
But the exhaustion weighing down his limbs finally won out.
And despite the storm in his head…
He drifted into sleep.
---
Erik opened his eyes to the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
The scent of salt clung faintly to the air, carried in from the sea.
His head was pressed awkwardly close to the wall, so he tried to scoot back—only to bump into something behind him.
He turned.
A tangle of blankets and limbs. Someone's back and head with blond hair.
Yosul.
Curled up beside him, fast asleep, snoring softly like a peaceful little cat.
Erik sat up slowly, staring at Yosul's sleeping face for a long, confused moment.
What the fuck am I doing?
Careful not to wake him, Erik slid out of bed. He grabbed his boots and dagger, tiptoed to the door, and crouched to slip the boots on before heading out.
As he opened the door, he spotted Heisen nearby, carrying a stack of wooden planks.
Heisen paused mid-step.
"Oh—good morning, Erik."
"What are you doing?" Erik asked, still groggy.
"You made quite the mess yesterday," Heisen said with a half-smile. "The owner of this place wasn't too happy. Said we either pay up or help repair the damage. Since we've only got enough coin to get to Velhein, we're fixing it instead."
"Let me help," Erik offered.
"No, no—we're almost done," Heisen waved him off. "You just take a look around. It's a nice town, especially in the morning."
"Alright… thanks, Heisen."
"Argh, no need for that."
"Heisen!" Rud's voice rang out from the side of the house, where a few others were patching the wall.
"I'm coming!" Heisen called back.
He took a few steps, then Erik called out again.
"Heisen."
Heisen looked back. "Yeah?"
"Are we leaving today?"
Heisen scratched the side of his head. "Hmm… don't think so. Vice cap said he's got something to handle in town. So probably not."
"Got it."
Heisen nodded once and headed off.
From the other side of the street, Rud gave Erik a wave. Erik waved back absently, then turned and began walking down the narrow road that curved deeper into town.