Chapter 23: Train, Pain and Gain (Part 7) : Regarding my resolve
Kael Fainted…
Nibsken and Grak'Mar fell into silence.
Then panic crept into Nibsken's chest.
"W–What do we do, Ogre?" he stammered, his voice trembling.
Grak'Mar did not answer.
Calm and decisive, he stepped forward and lifted Kael from the ground with ease, resting the unconscious human over his shoulder.
"We go back to the human's house, Goblin."
"Y–Yeah… sure," Nibsken replied, still shaking.
"Goblin," Grak'Mar added, "pack up his armor."
"Alright, Ogre," Nibsken said, quickly obeying.
As Nibsken gathered Kael's armor, Grak'Mar began the journey home, carrying Kael on his shoulder. Together, they moved swiftly, retracing the long distance from the shore to Kael's house.
They walked in silence.
Along the way, whispers followed them, murmurs from different races they passed, eyes watching as the ogre carried the fallen human through the land.
"Is that Kael?"
"Is he okay?"
Questions followed them wherever they passed. Even some of the Realm Protectors stopped Grak'Mar, demanding to know what had happened. He told them the truth, nothing more, nothing less. After that, they stepped aside and let him pass.
Nearly an hour later, they reached Kael's backyard.
Grak'Mar entered from the side of the house. Liraen and Nylum were already there.
The moment they saw Kael lying unconscious on Grak'Mar's shoulder, both of them rushed forward.
"Kael!" Liraen cried, panic flooding his voice.
Nylum surged ahead, his watery body sliding across the ground like flowing river water, while Liraen ran close behind.
"Grak'Mar, what happened?" Liraen asked desperately.
"Whyyyy is Kael likeeee this?" Nylum asked, his voice rippling with worry.
"Alright, Elf, Water, calm down," Nibsken said, trying to steady the situation.
"Yah… Calm down, we should call the elf lady first," Grak'Mar suggested.
"Yes, he's right!" Nylum replied, already moving.
His body flowed like a river across the backyard, sliding swiftly toward the back door of Kael's house. When he reached it, he stopped and called out.
"Lady Elvarethhhh~!"
His watery voice echoed, trembling with fear.
"…Lady Elvarethhh!"
A moment later, a voice answered from inside the house.
"Yes?" Elvareth replied.
"K–Kael…" Nylum hesitated, afraid to say the words.
"He fainted…"
"Huh?!" Elvareth gasped, shock flooding her voice.
She rushed open the back door and headed straight for Kael, who lay beneath the backyard roof.
"What happened?!" she cried in panic.
Grak'Mar's voice trembled as he tried to answer.
"I'm sorry, Lady Elf… He fainted after the training. I—"
A sharp sigh escaped her lips.
"Thank the stars… he's still breathing…"
She hadn't even heard the rest of Grak'Mar's words. Elvareth was already kneeling beside Kael, checking his breath, her hands steady despite the fear in her eyes.
Without looking back at Kael's friends, she lifted him into her arms and carried him inside.
"It's not your fault," she said quietly, her voice heavy as she disappeared into the house with Kael.
Liraen, Nylum, Nibsken, and Grak'Mar stood in silence, exchanging uncertain glances. None of them knew what to do next as they watched Elvareth enter the house, Kael cradled in her arms.
Elvareth moved quickly, heading straight upstairs to Kael's room.
Inside, she gently laid him on the bed. With a soft motion of her hand, she released her wind Might, creating a steady circulation of cool air around him. It washed over his overheated body, easing the strain.
She knew the truth, the shore's heat was far too harsh for a human body. It was no wonder he had collapsed.
"Sigh… Kael…" she murmured, holding his hand as the wind continued to flow.
"If you push yourself like this, I won't allow you to train again," she whispered, unaware that Kael could hear her.
Suddenly, her fingers felt a change.
His grip tightened.
"Kael?" Elvareth noticed immediately. Her breath caught as she felt his hand respond.
"Kael, are you awake?" she asked softly, leaning closer. His eyes were still closed, only faintly open, as if struggling to stay conscious.
"O–Old elf…" Kael's voice trembled.
"Yes, Kael?" she answered at once, relief flooding her voice.
"Are you okay? I'm here, Kael. I'm here."
"Please… I want to train…" Kael whispered, his voice trembling, eyes only half open.
"Please let me train, Old Elf…"
"Kael…" Elvareth replied softly. "It's not that I don't want you to train, but if this happens again…"
Her words faltered. "I don't want to—"
"I'm okay, Old Elf," Kael said weakly. "I'm just tired… I can still… train…"
Elvareth tightened her grip on his hand.
"Kael… I'm worried," she confessed, her voice shaking. "You're the only one I have. I'm afraid something might happen to you…"
Her breath hitched. "What if you—"
"Don't think too much, Old Elf," Kael said gently. "I'm fine. It's just… I need to train harder."
He swallowed, gathering what little strength he had left.
"Please, Elvareth… please, Mom," he said at last.
"Give me one more chance. I want to become a Realm Protector…"
She fell silent, unsure of what to say.
"I won't give up, Elvareth…" Kael said quietly.
"I'm going to become a Realm Protector…"
…
"Alright…" she finally replied, her voice soft. "If that is truly what you wish, I'll allow it."
"Thanks…"
"But!" she added quickly, worried about returning to her tone. "Don't push yourself too hard. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Yeah… yeah, Old Elf," Kael murmured with a faint smile. "No need to worry about me…"
"Now then…" he continued, his voice growing weaker. "Let me rest. I still have a headache… I think it's because it was too hot outside, and I didn't bring any water."
She let out a long breath of relief.
"Haaah… I'm glad you're alright, Kael."
"Your friends are still waiting downstairs. Do you want me to call them up?"
"No, Elvareth," Kael replied softly. "I just want to rest…"
"And tell Liraen… I'll continue training in the evening. For my Bilah aspect…"
With that, Kael settled back against the bed, his eyes finally closing.
"Alright…" Elvareth whispered.
She stayed beside him, watching until his breathing became steady once more.
Elvareth went downstairs and informed everyone of Kael's condition, telling them he would continue his training in the evening.
Knowing he still needed time to recover, the others quietly took their leave.
Kael lay on his bed, an electronic fan-like machine swinging gently from the wall, pushing cool air across the room.
As he rested, his thoughts drifted.
To become a Realm Protector… it's this hard…
His body ached.
His head spun.
Yet his heart, his mind, still burned. Still screamed with hope, refusing to let go of that dream.
Eventually, sleep claimed him.
When evening came, Kael rose slowly and made his way down the back stairs from his room to the backyard.
There, he saw three familiar figures already waiting, Grak'Mar, Nylum, and Liraen.
They rushed toward him at once, Grak'Mar especially.
The ogre's massive frame stiffened, his voice rough and trembling as he tried to speak.
"H–Human… I…"
Kael stepped forward and gently tapped Grak'Mar's huge forearm.
"I'm alright, Ogre," Kael said firmly. "I'm okay."
He looked up at him, eyes steady.
"It's not your fault. And… you made me realize something."
A faint, determined smile crossed his face.
"I'm still weak."
Kael pulled out his sword—Tesseract—its short black blade already attached.
But this time… I will do my best.
Grak'Mar said nothing. From behind Kael, the ogre could see it clearly—the blue fire burning in Kael's eyes once more. Yet this time, it was different. More prominent. More controlled.
In Grak'Mar's mind, an image formed.
Kael's shadow loomed far larger than his body, shaped by unshakable determination.
"Ren!" Kael called.
With a soft click, he activated a new switch he had added to Tesseract's handle. The black blade detached, floating freely in the air as he gained full control over its attached and unattached states.
"Train me, Ren," Kael said, his voice steady and sure as he faced Liraen.
End of the chapter...Sorry guys for the late chapter hehehe