Beneath the dense shadow of the forest, the cave lay silent.
Only the faint crackling of the fire and the wailing wind outside broke the stillness.
Rion sat deeper within the cavern, while beside him, under a light cover, Noa was breathing faintly.
Slowly, Noa opened his eyes.
They fluttered, struggling to adjust to the darkness.
For a moment, it seemed he would lose consciousness again—
but this time he remained awake.
The cold droplets of water touching his lips pulled him back to himself.
"Drink," Rion said curtly, holding out a small flask.
Noa took it, swallowed a few sips, then closed his eyes to steady his breath.
His voice came out hoarse, trembling from exhaustion:
"Why… did you save me?"
Rion was silent.
His gaze fixed on the fire's burning light, hands resting upon his knees.
At last, in a grave tone, he answered:
"Because you are my friend. Nothing more."
Noa tried to smile, but his lips, cracked with blood and pain, would not move.
His eyes burned as he clenched the blanket in his fists and muttered:
"I'm worth nothing… I'm no prince. I'm useless…"
His voice shook, the words trailing off.
Rion turned his head away.
He did not wish to witness such a sight,
yet the torment in Noa's eyes spoke without words.
"Do you remember how it happened?" Rion asked carefully.
Noa shook his head.
Then, in a voice that echoed through the cold cavern like stone itself, he said:
"How could I forget… That day we swore to be friends,
and never to abandon each other until death."
Rion placed his hand gently upon Noa's shoulder.
It was silent comfort.
Then, drawing a deep breath, he spoke firmly:
"Remember this, Noa: had I not come, knowing you needed me,
I would be the one dead now."
Noa said nothing.
Blood-stained tears welled in his eyes and ran down his cheeks.
This time he did not resist them.
He wept—
not as weakness,
but as the weight of the past clung to him like darkness.
The quiet presence of his friend beside him was the only thread keeping him alive.
A heavy, yet sincere silence settled between them.
Only the fire crackled,
while outside, the wind stirred the leaves.
Suddenly, from beyond the cave, came a sharp sound.
The neighing of horses, the clang of steel armor,
and the march of soldiers cut through the night.
Rion's eyes flashed cold at once.
He pushed the flask aside, his hand reaching for his sword.
"They are here," he said in a low, steady voice.
Noa still lay staring at the ground.
Within himself, he thought:
So there is no such thing as peace for me…
The last sparks of the fire danced across the cavern walls
as their brief calm was shattered once again.
Rion lifted a torch low and listened into the dark passage.
From outside came footsteps—
not just men, but perhaps more.
The creaking of armored steel split the air, drawing ever closer.
"He is here," said a strange voice, low and dreadful.
"The scent ends in this place."
Rion's chest tightened.
Quickly, he extinguished the torch and returned to Noa's side.
"Noa, hold on," he said in a low but rough tone.
"If we stay here, we both die."
Noa's eyes opened halfway.
Raising his hand with effort, he felt each movement heavy,
yet the determination in Rion's gaze lent him a shred of strength.
"I… cannot walk," Noa whispered, lips dry and trembling.
"Then I'll drag you if I must—
but you must fight to move as well," Rion replied,
hoisting him over his shoulder.
Outside, torchlight neared the cave's mouth.
The air thickened with heat,
the clamor swelling louder.
Rion took a deep breath and pressed forward,
deeper into the narrow passage.
As the darkness thickened,
the sound of the outside world faded,
until only Noa's ragged breathing remained.
But soon the path ended in a fork.
One way sloped downward into the depths,
the other climbed steeply toward the cliffs above.
"Which way?" Rion muttered to himself.
Noa lifted his head weakly.
Though half-unconscious, guided perhaps by instinct,
he raised his hand toward the upward path.
Rion hesitated.
"He's barely conscious… but maybe he senses something."
With resolve, he chose the ascent.
Behind them, voices rang out:
"They're inside! Hurry!"
Footsteps pounded nearer, echoing through the tight passage.
Time was running thin.
Grinding his teeth, Rion pressed on faster.
Though his body strained under the weight,
he never once thought of leaving Noa behind.
With each step, a voice thundered within him:
"I will save him.
Even if the whole world stands against me,
I will keep him alive."
At last, light appeared ahead.
Through a narrow cleft, the night sky shone.
The stars glittered coldly, like their sole remaining hope.
But before they could emerge,
a soldier appeared behind them.
The flame of his torch lit the rift in a blaze.
Rion decided instantly.
He laid Noa outside, among the rocks,
then turned back to block the passage.
"I'll follow you after," he said firmly.
"You must fight to live, Noa.
I will hold them off."
Half-conscious, Noa heard his words.
His heart trembled—
not from fear,
but from his own helplessness.
Rion seized a heavy stone and hurled it into the tunnel.
The crash rang through the cave, halting the soldiers' steps.
For a moment—silence.
Then the battle began.
Steel clashing against stone,
cries echoing,
blows shattering against the cavern walls.
Noa lay outside, gazing at the stars.
His breath came in ragged gasps.
Only two sounds filled his ears—
the heavy beating of his heart,
and the whisper within.
"…your blood… your path…"
Noa shuddered.
He tried to cover his ears,
but the voice came from within—
from the depths of his own heart.
"Who are you?.." he whispered.
"…I am you…"
His vision blurred with images of blood,
screams,
and darkness.
From his eyes fell not tears,
but tears laced with blood.
From within the cave, Rion's cry rang out:
"Noa! Run! Escape!"
But Noa could not run.
His body refused to move.
Invisible chains bound him to the earth.
He turned his eyes upward.
The stars multiplied,
growing ever brighter.
Yet one star was different—
it burned red,
like a drop of blood.
Noa gasped.
The more he fixed upon the crimson star,
the stronger the whisper became.
"…awaken… if you do not awaken, they will die…"
At that moment, three more soldiers rushed upon Rion.
With his last strength, he struck back,
but in a brief lapse,
a blade cut into his shoulder.
Blood spilled onto the ground.
Noa saw it.
His heart clenched.
Something within him tore apart.
"Stop!.." he cried,
but his voice was barely a whisper.
"…you need only choose…"
Noa raised his trembling hands.
From within his body,
a burning heat spread,
and a strange force stirred in his veins.
It was neither fear nor hatred—
but something hidden,
something unfathomable.
His eyes blazed in the darkness.
At that instant, the cavern walls trembled.
Rocks cracked and tumbled.
The soldiers recoiled,
screaming in terror:
"What is happening?!"
Rion turned in astonishment.
His eyes widened.
Noa—
the broken, blood-soaked boy who had lain helpless beneath a tree—
was now rising to his feet.
His eyes burned like stars,
the very air around him quivered.
The voice spoke again.
This time, it was Noa's own lips that uttered it:
"…I am not finished…"
And suddenly, a crimson star blazed across the heavens,
its light piercing into the cavern.
Hello readers,
Are you enjoying the novella so far? If you are, don't forget to give a Power Stone, save it to your Library, and add it to your Collection!
I decided to let Noa awaken his power a little earlier than planned — otherwise, I felt the story might start to drag. But don't worry, the power he's shown so far is only Stage 3 of the beginner level. There are still many, many stages ahead.
In the next chapter, I'll reveal the full power system. Hehe, stay tuned!