Kael stood in the middle of the guild's hallway, staring at the back of his hand.
The word was still there.
AWAKEN.
It was written inside a small black circle beneath the strange blue mark. The letters looked different from ordinary writing, almost as if they had been carved into his skin, yet there was no wound and no pain.
Kael rubbed his hand with his thumb.
Nothing happened.
He tried washing it with water from a nearby basin.
The mark remained.
"Of course," he muttered. "Why would anything about my life be simple?"
"Are you talking to yourself?"
Kael nearly dropped the cup.
Serena stood at the end of the hallway, holding two cups of water. She had changed out of her armor and looked ready for bed, but her eyes immediately went to his hand.
"You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Looking at your hand like it's about to bite you."
Kael held it up.
"Something appeared."
Serena walked closer.
"What kind of something?"
He showed her the mark.
Her relaxed expression disappeared.
"That wasn't there before."
"No."
She took his wrist and examined it carefully.
"Does it hurt?"
"Not really. It gets warm sometimes."
"Sometimes?"
"Mostly when something strange happens."
Serena stared at him.
"Listen to yourself."
"I know how it sounds."
"You've got a mysterious symbol appearing on your hand, a hooded man following you, and something dangerous sealed beneath an abandoned tower. Now you're telling me the mark reacts whenever something strange happens?"
"When you put it that way, it sounds bad."
"It is bad!"
Kael laughed despite himself.
Serena released his wrist and handed him one of the cups.
"Drink. You look exhausted."
"Thanks."
They sat at a table near the stairs.
For a while, neither spoke. The guild was unusually quiet at this hour. Most of the adventurers had gone to their rooms, while a few workers were still cleaning up after the attack.
Kael drank his water and looked at the mark again.
"Serena?"
"Hm?"
"What do you think I should do?"
She considered the question.
"About the mark?"
"About everything."
Serena rested her elbows on the table.
"Honestly? I'd stop trying to solve everything in one night."
Kael gave her a tired smile.
"That's your advice?"
"Yes."
"It doesn't sound very impressive."
"Would you prefer that I tell you to run into another mysterious ruin?"
"No."
"Then stop complaining."
Kael chuckled.
Serena's expression softened.
"Kael, you've been looking for answers about your parents for a long time. I understand why you want them now, especially after everything that's happened. But you don't even know whether Arden is telling you the truth."
"I know."
"He could be lying about your parents. He could be lying about the Voidborn. He could even be the person responsible for the attack."
Kael became quiet.
Serena continued.
"You don't have to abandon your search. Just don't let him control how you do it."
Kael looked at her.
After a moment, he nodded.
"You're right."
Serena blinked.
"Wait. What?"
"What?"
"You agreed with me immediately."
"Should I disagree?"
"Usually, you argue a little first."
Kael laughed.
"I'll try to make it more difficult next time."
"Please don't."
They both smiled.
For the first time that night, Kael felt some of the tension leave his shoulders.
He wasn't alone in this.
Whatever happened next, at least he had someone he could trust.
For now, that was enough.
The following morning, Kael woke up earlier than usual.
He had barely slept, but lying in bed thinking about the same questions wasn't helping.
He dressed, strapped on his new sword, and went downstairs.
The guild's training yard was already occupied by several adventurers.
Some were practicing with swords, while others worked with wooden shields. A pair of beastfolk were sparring near the fence, their movements quick enough to make Kael watch them for a moment.
He found an empty corner and drew his sword.
The new blade felt different from the one he had used for most of his life.
It was better balanced, and its edge was clean. Still, he wasn't completely comfortable with it yet.
He began with simple movements.
A horizontal slash.
A downward strike.
A step forward, followed by a thrust.
He repeated the sequence several times before changing his footwork.
His thoughts kept returning to the underground chamber.
Your parents weren't ordinary people.
They were protecting the world from something.
Kael frowned and swung too hard.
His sword passed through the air, throwing his balance off slightly.
He stopped.
"Again."
He started over.
This time, he paid attention to his feet and kept his movements controlled.
After several minutes, someone spoke behind him.
"Your left shoulder is too tense."
Kael turned.
Serena stood beside the fence, holding a wooden sword.
"Good morning."
"Good morning. Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all."
She walked into the yard and tossed him the wooden sword.
Kael caught it.
"What's this for?"
"Your new sword is nice, but I want to see whether you've learned anything since our last spar."
Kael looked at the wooden weapon.
"Couldn't you just ask?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because watching you struggle is more entertaining."
Kael sighed.
"You're a terrible teacher."
"And yet, you're still learning."
She raised her sword.
"Come on."
Kael took his stance.
The sparring began.
Serena attacked first, aiming a controlled strike at his shoulder. Kael blocked, stepped aside, and tried to counter.
She withdrew before he could reach her.
"Too slow."
Kael tried again.
This time, he feinted toward her shoulder and aimed for her side.
Serena caught the movement with her wooden sword.
"Better."
She swept at his legs.
Kael jumped back, but he landed awkwardly and had to take an extra step to recover.
Serena tapped his chest.
"Dead."
Kael looked down at the point of her sword.
"That was fast."
"You were watching my weapon again."
"I was watching your sword."
"Exactly. You need to watch the rest of me, too."
Kael lowered his weapon.
"I thought I'd improved."
"You have. That doesn't mean your bad habits have disappeared."
She demonstrated the movement again, slowly this time.
"Look at my hips. When I shift my weight, I have to move before I can attack properly. My shoulders might deceive you, but my balance is harder to hide."
Kael watched closely.
They tried again.
This time, he noticed her weight shift before she attacked. He stepped aside and managed to touch her shoulder with his wooden sword.
Serena stopped.
Kael stared at her.
"I got you."
"You did."
"That counts, right?"
"One point."
Kael smiled.
"I'll take it."
"Don't get excited. You're still losing."
They continued for another twenty minutes.
Kael lost most of the exchanges, but he began noticing small details he had previously overlooked. The way Serena planted her feet before a strong strike. The slight shift in her hips before a change of direction. The difference between a genuine attack and a feint.
When they finally stopped, Kael was sweating heavily.
Serena wiped her forehead.
"You're improving."
"You're saying that because I finally managed to hit you."
"I'm saying it because you didn't repeat the same mistake every time."
Kael leaned on his wooden sword.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"You should."
For a moment, he forgot about the strange mark and the things beneath the tower.
He was simply an adventurer learning how to fight better.
And that was something he understood.
After breakfast, they visited the guild master.
He was in his office with several reports spread across his desk.
When Kael entered, he looked up.
"Good. I wanted to speak with both of you."
Serena closed the door.
"About the attack?"
"Partly."
The guild master motioned for them to sit.
"We've finished examining the eastern gate. Most of the monsters were ordinary creatures, but several had those black markings you described."
Kael leaned forward.
"Did you find the source?"
"No. The markings disappeared after the creatures died."
"Just like the ogre."
"Yes."
The guild master rubbed his chin.
"We also found evidence that someone had been watching the city from the rooftops before the attack."
Kael and Serena exchanged glances.
"Arden," Kael said.
"Possibly. We couldn't identify the person."
The guild master opened a report.
"There's something else. The attacks haven't been limited to Ironbrook. Similar incidents have been reported in three other settlements over the past year."
Kael frowned.
"How far apart are they?"
"Quite far. Two are north of here, while the third is near the central trade road."
"Did they find the symbol?"
"In two cases."
Serena crossed her arms.
"So this is organized."
"That's what I'm beginning to suspect."
Kael thought about the old chamber.
"Could they be looking for something?"
The guild master looked at him.
"That's possible."
"Or someone?"
The guild master didn't answer immediately.
Then his eyes moved toward Kael's hand.
"Have you experienced anything unusual since last night?"
Kael hesitated.
He had planned to mention the mark, but something about the guild master's expression made him cautious.
"Nothing beyond what happened in the chamber."
It wasn't entirely true.
But he wasn't ready to tell everyone about the word that had appeared on his skin.
The guild master nodded.
"All right. For now, I want you to stay in Ironbrook."
Kael frowned.
"Are we being restricted from taking quests?"
"No. You can continue ordinary work. But don't investigate the symbol or approach any abandoned ruins without informing me first."
Serena nodded.
"That sounds reasonable."
Kael wasn't entirely satisfied, but he understood.
He had already made enough reckless decisions.
"Fine."
The guild master relaxed slightly.
"Good. There's a gathering quest available near the southern fields. The roads are safe, and the work should be straightforward."
Kael looked at Serena.
She shrugged.
"Sounds like a quiet day."
"Which is exactly what we need," Kael said.
The guild master handed him the request.
"Take it. Earn some money, get some rest, and give us time to investigate."
Kael accepted the paper.
For once, he had no reason to argue.
The southern fields were peaceful.
Farmers were repairing fences damaged during the monster attack, and a few merchants had returned to the road.
Kael and Serena spent the morning collecting medicinal plants from a hillside outside the city.
It wasn't exciting work, but Kael didn't mind.
He needed the money.
Besides, after the previous night's events, he welcomed a little peace.
Serena knelt beside a patch of green leaves.
"These are the ones we're looking for."
Kael crouched beside her.
"How do you tell them apart from the others?"
"The edges are slightly different. See?"
She pointed at the leaves.
Kael examined them.
"I see it."
"Good. Don't pull out the roots. We only need the leaves."
He carefully gathered several.
After a while, Serena glanced at him.
"You're quiet today."
"I'm thinking."
"About your parents?"
Kael nodded.
"I keep wondering what kind of people they were."
Serena continued sorting the plants.
"Do you remember anything about them?"
"Nothing."
"Not even their faces?"
Kael shook his head.
"I was too young. Sister Maren told me I was brought to the orphanage as a baby."
Serena was silent for a moment.
"Have you ever asked her whether anyone left you there?"
"Yes. She said a traveler brought me to the orphanage and left before she could ask many questions."
"Did she describe the traveler?"
Kael looked up.
"She said the person wore a cloak."
Serena stopped sorting.
"A black cloak?"
Kael considered it.
"She didn't say. I never thought to ask."
Serena looked toward the city.
"Maybe you should ask her again when you have the chance."
"I will."
He carefully placed the plants into his bag.
"There's something else I've been thinking about."
"What?"
"The aptitude test."
Serena raised an eyebrow.
"The one where the ball didn't react?"
"Yes."
Kael stared at his hands.
"For twelve years, I believed I had no talent for magic or aura. I accepted it because there was nothing I could do about it."
"And now?"
"Now I don't know what to believe."
He looked at her.
"What if the test didn't measure what was actually inside me?"
Serena thought about that.
"It's possible."
"You don't think I'm imagining things?"
"I think something strange is happening to you. That's different from knowing what it means."
Kael smiled faintly.
"You're surprisingly good at giving advice."
"Don't sound so surprised."
They finished gathering the plants and started back toward Ironbrook.
On the way, they passed a small group of children playing near a farmhouse.
One of them was holding a wooden sword.
He swung it wildly at an imaginary opponent.
Kael watched him for a moment.
The boy stumbled, fell, and immediately got back up.
His friends laughed.
But the boy simply raised his sword and tried again.
Kael smiled.
Serena noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
He looked away.
For a moment, he had remembered himself at five years old.
A small boy with no talent, no special ability, and no idea what his future would look like.
Back then, he had decided that if he couldn't rely on magic or aura, he would train until he became good enough with a sword to stand on his own.
He still believed in that decision.
Whatever the mark meant, he wouldn't let it become the only thing that defined him.
He would keep training.
He would keep taking quests.
And he would find his parents.
Not because a mysterious man wanted him to.
Because he wanted the truth.
That night, Kael returned to his room and placed the gathered plants and his earnings where they belonged.
He sat on the bed and looked at his hand.
The mark was gone.
He waited a moment, then frowned.
"All right. If you're going to appear, just do it."
Nothing happened.
Kael sighed.
"Didn't think so."
He was about to put out the lamp when a faint sensation spread through his palm.
He immediately held up his hand.
A blue line appeared across the skin.
Then another.
The lines joined together, forming the same incomplete symbol he had seen before.
Kael stared.
The word AWAKEN appeared beneath it.
This time, something else happened.
The word changed.
For a brief moment, the letters disappeared and were replaced by a short sentence.
FIRST SEAL: RESPONSE DETECTED.
Kael stopped breathing for a moment.
"First seal?"
The sentence faded.
The blue lines vanished.
He waited for it to return, but nothing happened.
Kael slowly lowered his hand.
He didn't know what the first seal was.
He didn't know whether it referred to the chamber beneath the watchtower or something inside himself.
But he remembered the voice behind the stone door.
He remembered the way the blue symbols had reacted when he approached.
And he remembered Arden's expression when the door began to break.
For the first time, Kael wondered whether the seal beneath the tower had been connected to him all along.
He lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Tomorrow, he would speak with the guild master again.
He would also send a letter to Sister Maren, asking her to tell him everything she remembered about the day he arrived at the orphanage.
Perhaps she knew more than she had told him.
Perhaps she knew nothing.
Either way, he needed to ask.
Kael closed his eyes.
He didn't know when his strange power would awaken, or whether the word on his hand was a warning or a promise.
But he wasn't going to sit around waiting for it.
He had spent twelve years building himself into a swordsman without magic or aura.
He could keep going a little longer.
And when the time came to face whatever waited behind that sealed door, he intended to be ready.
Far beneath the abandoned watchtower, in the darkness beyond the broken stone door, a pair of eyes opened once more.
The creature did not move.
It simply listened.
After a long silence, a voice spoke from the darkness.
"The first seal has noticed him."
Another voice answered.
"Then the boy's awakening is only a matter of time."
A pause followed.
"And when the second seal responds?"
The first voice gave a quiet, humorless laugh.
"Then the people who buried the truth will have nowhere left to hide."
---
100 ps = 1 extra chapter
200 ps = 2 Extra chapter
1 Golden ticket = 3 Extra Chapter