After the attack, the mysterious boy quickly left without saying a word.
Kael, holding his painful right rib, gripped the edge of the cot and decided to stand up.
Everything that had just happened was confusing—it all happened so fast.
First, a fight in the tournament, where he ended up humiliated and knocked out. Then he woke up on a cot in a stone hut he had never seen before, and to top it off, someone tried to kill him. What kind of event was this?
Standing, limping towards the door, he opened it—and the sunlight hit his eyes, making him quickly shield them with his hand.
When he could finally see clearly, he saw a beautiful field with lush grass, colorful flowers, and a fresh breeze that made the vegetation sway gently, reminding him of the garden of his former mansion.
In the distance, far beyond the field, Edrion rose, with its white walls and tall towers cutting into the sky, standing proud and firm. Flags waved in the wind, reflecting the glory of a kingdom still in its prime.
Kael stared silently, feeling how distant that world was from his own reality.
The pain was still there, but bearable enough to walk—if he did it slowly and carefully.
In Edrion, there were many healers, but one belonged only to the mini-tournament. There, fighters could ask for potions or medicine kits to recover.
That was his destination. Of course, it was far, so he decided to rest a little.
When he woke up, the pain was still there, but not as unbearable as before—perfect for going to the healer.
He stood up, limping to the door, and once outside, left the hut where he had been resting for a few hours.
He set off on the short journey, and after walking nonstop, finally arrived at Edrion. There was a long line of humans—adventurers, fighters, warriors, guards, and more.
Kael didn't want to wait—not out of rudeness, but because he couldn't stand the pain any longer. So he stepped forward and showed the gatekeeper his tournament insignia from the "Lance Festival"—the greatest tournament in the city, organized by all of Edrion's noble families.
It was a direct pass, which made things easier for Kael. Once inside, he went straight to the healer. He knew the paths like the back of his hand, so reaching it was no trouble.
When he arrived, he saw other fighters and the kind old man, who greeted him warmly.
—Hello, sir.
—Ah, young man! —the man replied happily. —I heard your last match was brutal. Are you alright?
—Well... not good, but better than when I got knocked out —Kael replied.
The man gave him some bandages to cover his wounds and calm the pain with a potion he had prepared seconds before. After applying them, Kael returned to him.
At the counter, he noticed a girl who effortlessly drew attention—about his age. Her hair was long, pale golden, reflecting the light—it shimmered strangely, as if the sun itself accompanied her.
Her posture was firm, confident, and something about her made it hard to look away. It wasn't just her appearance, but the sensation of warmth and energy that seemed to surround her, as if the entire place grew brighter in her presence.
She had golden eyes, deep and serene, but with an intensity that made Kael glance at her without meaning to.
Without realizing it, she had also started looking at him—but her gaze was serious, strangely tense.
She stirred slightly, and her spirit "Helion"—the solar spirit, a being of pure light shaped like a celestial lion wrapped in golden flames—warned her of an anomaly.
She locked eyes with Kael and opened her mouth to speak.
—You... you're not like the others. What you carry... does not belong to this world.
Kael tensed. He didn't understand what she meant.
—What...? What are you talking about?
Suddenly, a subtle solar aura from the girl began to radiate, clashing against the "distortion" Kael unconsciously emanated.
Then he felt a burning under his bandages. It was the dragon tattoo, responding to the heat of the girl's solar aura.
—That's what I mean —the girl said.
Right after, she received a message from her spirit—Helion—whispering into her mind:
—The fracture grows... Light and abyss will meet sooner than expected.
The girl froze, unsure of what to do. Then she looked at Kael, debating whether to warn him... but she remained silent.
Kael, confused, opened his mouth to speak—but closed it again, staying silent.
A strange, tense atmosphere hung between them. Neither knew what to say.
The girl quickly made up her mind, grabbed her medicine, politely said goodbye to the old man, and looked at Kael with a mix of pity and distrust:
—Be careful what you let awaken. Some marks should never bloom.
And with that, she left.
Kael remained silent, frowning, confused and burdened with doubt. He touched his bandage, feeling the pulse of the dragon.
—If I am a flaw of the universe... why does each heartbeat make me feel more alive?