Hello, dear readers!
This story was originally written in French, but I've decided to translate it into English to reach a wider audience and share Isaac's journey with even more people around the world.
If you notice small language mistakes or have suggestions to improve the translation, feel free to leave a comment — I'm always looking to grow and make this novel even better!
Thank you for reading,— The Author 🔥
Age: 5
Location: Flavia, Slum District
The rain poured endlessly over the filthy alleys of Flavia. A warm, dirty rain — grey, like memories no one wanted to keep. The soaked cobblestones shimmered with puddles reflecting the flickering flames of the guards' torches.
In a corner, under a collapsed porch, a five-year-old child lay curled up. His thin body was covered in poorly healed wounds. He did not cry. He did not scream. He watched.His eyes — dark as soot — had been staring into nothingness for hours.
His name… he couldn't remember. Maybe someone had given him one. Maybe not. He didn't want it anyway. He had nothing. No family. No home. No words worth speaking.
A merchant had come earlier. He had shouted, cursed, beaten him. Accused the boy of stealing an apple — which he hadn't. And he'd beaten him for a long time. No guard had stepped in.
Now, the boy remained. Bloody, with a swollen eye and a split lip. But still standing. Almost.
Footsteps approached. Two figures. A girl and a boy. Elegant clothes, golden capes, royal emblems hidden under fine fabric.
— He's still here... the girl whispered.
— You saw him too? the boy asked.
— Yes. I had trouble sleeping. He was in my head.
The boy stepped forward and knelt before the child.
— What's your name? he asked gently.
The child didn't answer. His vacant gaze met the prince's — without hate, without fear. Just… cold.
— You're bleeding, the boy said. Can you move?
No answer.
Then the prince placed both hands on the child's chest, closed his eyes... and inhaled slowly.
A soft warmth flowed from his palms. A faint orange glow. The air shimmered slightly around them. The worst wounds slowly began to close, as if the flesh remembered a purer state.
The child frowned. It was strange. It wasn't just the pain leaving. It was something else. An invisible presence. A force.
The princess stood nearby, arms crossed. Her gaze was worried, but she said nothing. She had recognized the boy — she was sure of it. But didn't know why.
— Did you just use… Spiritual Energy? she asked.
The prince nodded.
— A little. Just enough to stabilize him.
The child trembled. Not from fear, but from an unfamiliar sensation. He had felt something. Like a silent flame. A current hidden in the world… and inside him.
— What… was that? he finally whispered. His voice was hoarse, broken.
The prince smiled.
— That's Spiritual Energy. You've never heard of it?
The child slowly shook his head.
— Well… you just received a drop of it. And you have some too. Everyone does. But not everyone knows it.
Silence.
The princess stepped forward and knelt beside him, looking straight into his eyes.
— You don't remember me… do you?
He stared back. A flash, an image — a garden… a hand… a voice.
But it vanished.
— No, he answered.
She nodded, sadly.
— It's okay.
They stayed there, the three of them, under the still-falling rain. The prince stood up.
— Come. We'll take you to the garrison. You'll be able to eat, sleep...
But the child shook his head.
— No. I have to stay here.
— Why?
— I don't know. But I have to understand. What that was. That energy. That fire...
The prince hesitated. Then nodded.
— Very well. But if you change your mind…
— I won't, the child cut in.
The princess smiled. He already had that voice. Unyielding. Proud. Sad.
— You'll come back, she simply said. I know it.
They turned and left. The child remained alone.But this time, he wasn't cold.Because for the first time… he felt something burning inside.
Author's Note
Hi everyone!
This is my very first time writing a story, and I'm jumping into this project with a lot of passion — it's been in my head for a long time.
If you have any comments, ideas, or suggestions (about the plot, pacing, characters...), feel free to share them in the comments. I'm truly open to all feedback and want to improve this novel chapter by chapter thanks to your help.
Thanks a lot to everyone who takes the time to read — and even more to those who help me grow! 🙏🔥
— The Author