The courtyard still buzzed with excitement. Children pressed around Kairo, some tugging at his sleeves, others bombarding him with questions he didn't answer.
Igron pushed his way through the crowd, grinning like a fool. "You?" he laughed, pointing at Kairo. "A healer? The crimson-eyed ghost who barely speaks?"
The kids chuckled nervously, but Igron's laughter was genuine. He clapped Kairo's shoulder. "Imagine it! The great Kairo, savior of the sick! Maybe they'll build a statue of you with a halo."
For a heartbeat, Kairo almost looked annoyed. Almost. His faint smile vanished, but the redness in his eyes softened, betraying something he couldn't quite hide.
The man only chuckled at the banter. "Don't mock him too much, boy. Power like that is rare, no matter how small it begins."
Igron crossed his arms, still grinning. "Fine, fine. But tell me this, old man—if this legendary healer lived in the Upper Middle Realm, how does someone like us ever get there?"
The courtyard quieted. Even the younger children looked up at the man with wide eyes. The Upper Realms were the stuff of bedtime stories and distant dreams.
The man rubbed his chin, gaze drifting toward the horizon. "The way upward is not easy. The borders between realms are closed by barriers—some natural, some divine. To reach them, you must pass trials, prove your worth, and sometimes… shed more than you're willing to lose."
"Trials?" one of the children whispered.
The man's smile turned faint, almost sad. "Yes. Trials that test more than strength. But for now…" He clapped his hands. "Enough talk of realms and legends. Back to training! Even healers need strong arms and sharp minds."
Groans rose, but the children obeyed, scattering back into the yard.
Igron lingered by Kairo, smirking. "Upper Middle Realm, huh? Maybe one day we'll climb up there ourselves. You can heal people, and I'll keep the monsters off you. Sounds like a fair deal, doesn't it?"
Kairo didn't answer. He only turned his crimson gaze skyward, as though he could already see the higher realms through the clouds.