《Shadows of Severance》 Kai A young man with short black hair leaned against a table, one foot resting on its edge as he flipped through a book. His knee bent rhythmically, rocking him slightly as he tried to absorb every word on the page. ¡°So this is what the Zhull¡¯s world looks like¡­¡± he murmured, eyes scanning line after line. He made a conscious effort to memorize the key details, determined to retain all that he could. The room around him was a chaos of books and scattered notes. A single lantern hung from the ceiling, casting a faint orange glow that barely illuminated the worn pages in his hands. ¡°Kai!¡± A knock on the door interrupted his concentration. ¡°Yeah?¡± he called back. ¡°Come on out. It¡¯s time to go,¡± came the voice from the other side. ¡°Dad¡¯s waiting for you, so hurry.¡± Kai frowned. It¡¯s already time? he thought, letting out a quiet sigh. With reluctance, he placed his chair back in its normal position, slid a bookmark into the book, and stood. ¡°Coming,¡± he answered, heading for the door. Although he acted calm, his hands betrayed a slight tremor. When he opened it, he found a shorter girl smiling up at him. ¡°Ready?¡± she asked. He glanced down at his clothes and scoffed. ¡°Clearly not.¡± ¡°Well, hurry up and change,¡± she said with a teasing smile, turning to leave. Her long black hair bounced behind her. Kai sighed and stepped into a small washroom, where he used a basin of water to clean himself. ¡°Kai, wear these clothes when you¡¯re done,¡± said a more mature-sounding voice from outside¡ªone laced with excitement. ¡°Yes, yes, Mom,¡± he replied with another sigh. After washing, he emerged wearing only a cloth wrapped around his waist. Waiting for him was a green top that lent him a scholarly air and a pair of black pants. Quickly drying his short hair and trimming his stubble, he dressed and then headed downstairs. A small group of family members turned to look at him¡ªsome with smiles, others with neutral expressions. ¡°Wow, you look so handsome,¡± said the woman with the older voice, his mother. ¡°Almost like a real scholar.¡± ¡°I am a real scholar, Mom,¡± Kai retorted. Before she could reply, an older man waved his hand. ¡°Alright, enough chatter. We¡¯ll be late.¡± He walked over to Kai and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m glad you finally agreed.¡± Kai merely rolled his eyes. His parents sighed but led everyone outside into the streets. ¡°Kai, are you excited?¡± asked a younger boy, stepping up beside him as they walked. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not sure,¡± Kai admitted. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about her. And you already know I¡¯ll call it off if she¡¯s being coerced.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. The boy chuckled. ¡°Relax. Our family wouldn¡¯t force anyone into something like this.¡± Kai shrugged. ¡°Maybe not force, but peer pressure isn¡¯t much better in my opinion.¡± ¡°True,¡± the boy agreed. ¡°But what if she¡¯s perfectly fine with this? Then what?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. It¡¯s not like I know anything about her¡­ or like her,¡± Kai added, his uncertainty obvious. ¡°That¡¯s why you need to spend time with her after today,¡± said the girl who had knocked on his door earlier. Dressed in a scholarly outfit as well, she radiated excitement. Everyone in the family had that academic air¡ªexcept for the youngest boy, who gave off a sharper, colder vibe. ¡°Right! Bro, you gotta take her on plenty of dates,¡± the younger boy teased. Kai shot him a worried look. ¡°Maribel, forget dating for a second. How am I supposed even to start talking to her?¡± ¡°Just learn from Leon,¡± Maribel said, pointing to the younger boy. ¡°For some odd reason, he¡¯s great with girls.¡± Leon rolled his eyes. ¡°Look at me. Why wouldn¡¯t I be good with women? I¡¯m handsome, and I¡¯m training to be a Rulin!¡± He wore a broad grin as he spoke. ¡°Technically, we¡¯re all training to be Rulins because of Dad,¡± Kai pointed out. ¡°You just want to make it your future, whereas we don¡¯t.¡± Leon scoffed. ¡°Makes no sense. Why wouldn¡¯t you want to be a Rulin? Imagine facing a Zhull and getting famous! Think about the money.¡± Kai patted his brother¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I promise I¡¯ll make your funeral a famous one.¡± Maribel let out a laugh. ¡°Right. ¡®Here lies the great Rulin Leon¡ªdied from heart failure!¡¯¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± Leon muttered, annoyed by their jokes. He dropped the subject. A moment later, Kai turned serious. ¡°But really, Leon, I¡¯ve studied the Zhull. They¡¯re not something an ordinary Rulin can handle. You¡¯d need a Nafs at least at the Lawamma level. None of us has reached even Ammara.¡± Leon smiled. ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong.¡± He knelt to the ground, placing his palm beside a small flower. Closing his eyes, he breathed in a steady, deliberate pattern. ¡°N-no way,¡± Maribel gasped, covering her mouth in disbelief. Before their eyes, the flower began to disintegrate, crumbling into dust as though it had never been there. ¡°Ammara,¡± Leon declared, puffing out his chest proudly. Kai knelt, picking up the tiny grains of dust between his fingertips. ¡°Leon, this is¡­ unbelievable,¡± he murmured, leveling a serious gaze at his younger brother. ¡°Your Nafs isn¡¯t ordinary.¡± He pulled a small notebook from his robe and started scribbling notes. ¡°Hey! What are you three doing back there?¡± their father called, noticing they¡¯d fallen behind. Both parents walked over, looking slightly irritated. ¡°We¡¯re wasting time,¡± scolded their father. ¡°What¡¯s the holdup?¡± ¡°Dad, look.¡± Kai raised his palm, showing him the dust. ¡°This used to be a flower.¡± His father frowned. ¡°You¡¯re showing me dirt?¡± ¡°It used to be a flower,¡± Kai explained. ¡°Your younger son has reached Ammara.¡± Their father froze in shock. ¡°R-really?¡± Leon stood taller, pride evident in his grin¡ªright until Kai smacked him on the head. ¡°Don¡¯t get too cocky just yet.¡± Leon rubbed his head. ¡°Are you jealous or something?¡± Kai offered no answer. He simply kept jotting notes in his little book. ¡°What¡¯s the issue, Kai?¡± his mother asked. ¡°Ammara at his age is almost unheard of. None of us ever contained our Nafs. This is amazing!¡± Kai stayed silent, scribbling for another few moments before closing the notebook. ¡°Leon, you and I need to talk about how your Nafs works,¡± he finally said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± their father asked. ¡°Why so serious?¡± ¡°Dad, you know I¡¯m a scholar,¡± Kai said. When his father nodded, he continued, ¡°I¡¯m researching two major topics: the Zhull and Shumara.¡± His mother looked puzzled. ¡°So what does that have to do with Leon?¡± Kai turned to his brother. ¡°I believe his Nafs is linked to Shumara somehow. For now, don¡¯t mention your awakening to anyone else. I need to look into it more.¡± Leon nodded, though he still seemed unsure. Their parents exchanged concerned looks. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s drop this for now,¡± Kai told them. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious yet¡ªI¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°Kai, you totally killed the mood,¡± Maribel complained with a sigh. ¡°Not my job to set the mood,¡± Kai said with a shrug. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going.¡± Their father nodded, leading them onward. He was still thinking about what Kai had said, but he forced himself to focus on the reason they were out in the first place. Soon, they arrived at a smaller house, cozier than their own. Kai¡¯s mother paused at the door, turning to him with a smile. ¡°This is it.¡± His father gave the door a light knock. After a few moments, it swung open to reveal a man with a welcoming grin. ¡°Welcome,¡± the man greeted them warmly. Nahlia The Zharun family settled into the seats prepared for them, the mother holding a basket laden with gifts: jewelry, clothing, and an assortment of snacks. Leaning forward, she handed the basket to the man who had welcomed them in. ¡°We brought these for Nahlia.¡± The man took the basket with a gracious smile. ¡°Thank you, but you really shouldn¡¯t have.¡± ¡°Of course we should,¡± Kai¡¯s mother replied. ¡°She¡¯s soon to be our daughter-in-law.¡± The man merely smiled and set the basket on the table, then took a seat opposite the Zharuns. Glancing at Kai, he offered an approving nod. ¡°You¡¯ve grown quite handsome, Kai.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Kai replied, feeling a bit self-conscious. ¡°Tell me about yourself. You completed your studies a few years ago and are now a registered scholar, right?¡± the man asked, clearly curious about his future son-in-law. Before Kai could speak, his father jumped in to boast on his behalf. ¡°Indeed! He not only became a scholar at a young age, but he also studies to be a Rulin and writes literature. In fact, he¡¯s quite well-known in the larger cities for his poetry and research papers.¡± Kai cast his father a glare. ¡°Really now?¡± the man mused, turning back to Kai. Kai offered a modest smile. ¡°My dad exaggerates. I do write, but it¡¯s hardly fame-worthy¡ªjust a hobby. As for my research, I¡¯m mostly assisting my senior scholars.¡± Nodding, the man then glanced over his shoulder. ¡°Ulia, would you bring some snacks, please?¡± he called out to a woman in the next room. He turned back to the group, focusing on Leon next. ¡°You must be Leon?¡± Leon nodded. ¡°That¡¯s me, Mr. Daem.¡± ¡°My, how you¡¯ve grown.¡± Daem took him in with an appraising look. ¡°What are you studying?¡± ¡°Well, I plan to become a Rulin, so I might either join an academy or travel for training,¡± Leon replied. ¡°Ah, a Rulin. That¡¯s a challenging path,¡± Daem remarked, a flicker of concern in his voice. ¡°A friend of mine recently became one, and it hasn¡¯t been easy for him.¡± Leon just grinned. ¡°True, but that¡¯s no reason to give up. I like a challenge.¡± Despite the confidence in his smile, it lacked the arrogance one might expect. Daem nodded before turning to Maribel. ¡°And you must be Maribel?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she said, sounding a bit shy¡ªmuch like Kai. ¡°You¡¯ve grown quite beautifully.¡± His broad smile made her blush. ¡°Th-thank you,¡± Maribel murmured, dipping her gaze. Just then, two women entered the room: one older, one younger. The older woman, Ulia, wore a wide smile and balanced trays of snacks in her hands. The younger woman, closer to Maribel¡¯s age, immediately caught Kai¡¯s attention. Her long brown hair, fair skin, and bright eyes were mesmerizing, and her cheeks glowed with a soft red hue. She wore a purple dress adorned with black flowers, her curled hair framing her delicate silver earrings. The entire sight left Kai momentarily stunned. ¡°You¡¯ve already met my wife, Ulia,¡± Daem said as everyone stood to greet them. Kai¡¯s mother helped Ulia set down the snack trays, offering warm pleasantries. At the same time, she openly admired the younger girl, her eyes shining with delight. ¡°And this is Nahlia,¡± Daem introduced with pride. ¡°H-hello,¡± Nahlia greeted, her voice sweet and a bit timid. ¡°Oh my, aren¡¯t you the prettiest thing?¡± Kai¡¯s mother exclaimed, eyes scanning Nahlia from head to toe. ¡°To think such a beautiful girl will join our family¡ªwe must be blessed.¡± ¡°We feel the same,¡± Ulia replied, also giving Kai a once-over. ¡°Your son is quite impressive.¡± ¡°Kai, say something¡­¡± Maribel hissed as she nudged her brother, shooting him a sharp look.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Kai felt his cheeks heating up. ¡°Um¡­¡± Words failed him, and he could only sit there awkwardly. Leon let out a sudden laugh, breaking the tension. ¡°Haha, this is awkward.¡± His laughter, however, earned him a round of glares from the entire family, prompting him to stare out the window instead. ¡°Why don¡¯t they go for a walk and talk?¡± Kai¡¯s mother suggested. ¡°Agreed,¡± Ulia said with a nod. ¡°The two of you should get some fresh air. After all, you¡¯ll be officially engaged now.¡± ¡°Get up, idiot,¡± Maribel muttered under her breath, pinching Kai¡¯s arm. He jumped slightly but kept quiet, then stood and straightened his clothes, still trying to gather his composure. ¡°After y-you,¡± he stammered, growing even more flustered. Nahlia nodded and led him outside. Back in the house, the families began chatting about future arrangements. Kai trailed a step behind Nahlia, nerves on high alert. He couldn¡¯t help but be spellbound by her beauty. ¡°S-so, Kai?¡± Nahlia finally ventured, breaking the silence. ¡°Yes?¡± he replied, a bit too quickly. ¡°I have a question, if you don¡¯t mind,¡± she said with surprising conviction. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to answer, just say so.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Kai tilted his head, unsure what she was about to ask. ¡°What made you finally agree to this?¡± She lowered her voice almost to a whisper. ¡°Oh, that.¡± He rubbed the back of his neck, forcing a small smile. ¡°Honestly¡­ I got tired of my mom¡¯s constant letters. Maybe that¡¯s not the best reason, but it¡¯s true.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s not because you like me?¡± Her gaze was intense, searching his face. Unable to meet her eyes, Kai gave a dry chuckle. ¡°We hardly know each other. How could I like you already?¡± ¡°I like you,¡± she said suddenly. ¡°Huh?¡± He blinked in surprise. ¡°Yes,¡± she repeated. ¡°I like you.¡± Kai studied her closely, lifting a brow. ¡°So¡­ no one coerced you? No pressure from your parents?¡± ¡°What? No,¡± Nahlia said, wide-eyed. ¡°Why would you think that?¡± ¡°Well, things like that happen in this village. Sometimes girls are pushed into arranged marriages. And we hardly know each other, so I assumed¡­¡± He trailed off. Understanding dawned on her. She sighed, then offered him a sympathetic smile. ¡°Thank you for worrying about me, but my parents aren¡¯t like that. And if I¡¯d objected, my brother would¡¯ve made sure it never happened¡ªhe¡¯s very protective. Truth is, I¡¯ve liked you for years, probably since I was a kid. Your personality, the way you take charge, your looks¡­ all of it.¡± Her cheeks reddened further. ¡°I¡¯m attracted to every part of you.¡± Kai felt his face growing warm. He gave a nervous laugh and scratched his head again. ¡°W-well, I don¡¯t really know how to respond¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m pretty confident I can make you fall for me,¡± Nahlia teased, sounding flustered yet brimming with self-assurance. Kai only managed a nod. Beauty alone wasn¡¯t enough to guarantee love¡ªit was just attraction. Still, there was something undeniably captivating about her. ¡°I look forward to it,¡± he said softly. Before long, dusk arrived, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The Zharun family headed home, their spirits high. ¡°So, how was it?¡± Leon and Maribel asked, flanking Kai as they walked. ¡°She¡¯s really pretty, but that¡¯s about all I can say right now,¡± Kai admitted with a shrug. ¡°Oh, come on. Your face was red the entire time. I had secondhand embarrassment,¡± Maribel teased. ¡°You were such a¡­ girly man.¡± Kai rolled his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯ve forgotten all the cringe things you said after we got back.¡± ¡°I was just helping.¡± Maribel shrugged with a smirk. ¡°Yeah, sure.¡± ¡°Kai, be honest. Do you like her?¡± his mother asked gently. ¡°We won¡¯t force you. I just hope you two get along.¡± Yet she already seemed to have her answer, judging by his still-flushed cheeks. Kai scratched his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. ¡°She¡¯s beautiful, and if we spend more time together, maybe I¡¯ll grow to like her. This is all new to me.¡± His mother nodded. ¡°Of course. There¡¯s no rush. She¡¯s still finishing her own studies and plans to become a scholar too¡ªfocusing on the medical field, from what I heard.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Kai¡¯s eyebrows rose in interest. ¡°Yes, something about medicine being a dream she shared with her brother,¡± his mother explained. Kai mulled it over, thinking it was a good sign to have such a bright, dedicated partner. Once home, he grabbed Leon by the arm. ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°Huh? Why?¡± Leon asked. ¡°You really forgot? It¡¯s about your Nafs,¡± Kai replied with mild exasperation. ¡°I need to check something.¡± Leon chuckled. ¡°So, I¡¯m just your lab rat? I¡¯m tired, can¡¯t we do this tomorrow?¡± He yawned, covering his mouth. ¡°Nope. Now.¡± Without waiting for another response, Kai dragged him upstairs. They entered Kai¡¯s cluttered room, books and maps strewn everywhere. ¡°Take a seat,¡± Kai instructed. ¡°Where, exactly?¡± Leon muttered, stepping over scattered papers. ¡°Mom¡¯s going to have a fit when she sees this mess in the morning.¡± Ignoring him, Kai rummaged through a pile of notes.¡°Here it is,¡± he said, pulling out a thick book bristling with coloured tabs. Settling into his chair, he flipped to a specific page. Then, taking his smaller notebook from his pocket, he compared the two sources. ¡°I see¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Leon asked, unease creeping into his voice. Kai handed him a small pebble. ¡°Hold this in your palm.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You ask too many questions,¡± Kai grumbled, swatting Leon lightly on the head. ¡°Just focus your Nafs and try to disintegrate it.¡± Leon grimaced. ¡°I can barely affect a flower. A pebble is way tougher.¡± ¡°This pebble is special. Even if you can¡¯t destroy it, I just want to see what happens,¡± Kai insisted. Leon nodded, closing his eyes as his breathing settled into a steady rhythm. Kai watched him intently, the only sound in the room coming from the soft flicker of the lantern. For a brief moment, a faint black glow flickered over Leon¡¯s hand¡ªso quick, it was almost imperceptible. ¡°All right, stop,¡± Kai commanded. Leon exhaled, opening his eyes. He was breathing heavily, sweat beading on his forehead. ¡°That was exhausting.¡± Kai held out a small white tray. ¡°Drop what¡¯s left of the pebble in here.¡± Leon did as instructed, and Kai peered at the remains, inhaling sharply. ¡°No way¡­¡± he murmured, staring at the dark residue in the tray. ¡°It¡¯s Blackness.¡± The Research Kai stared at the blackened pebble, his expression grim. ¡°Blackness? What do you mean by that?¡± Leon asked, eyeing the pebble with confusion. Without answering directly, Kai reached over and spread a map across his bed. ¡°Look at this. It¡¯s a map of Shumara¡ªor at least the parts the Rulin have managed to chart.¡± Leon leaned in, frowning at the sparse details. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not much. There are so many empty spaces.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Kai said. ¡°Shumara is essentially uninhabitable for anything but a Zhull. Even most Rulin haven¡¯t seen detailed maps like this, so I¡¯m lucky to have access to one.¡± Leon raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why do you have it? I know you¡¯re a scholar, but aren¡¯t Rulin supposed to be more important than scholars?¡± Kai shook his head. ¡°Rulin may rank higher in terms of military might, but most of them don¡¯t do research. The few who do tend to hold much higher positions are both scholars as well as Rulin. I may not flaunt it, but I work with influential people on Zhull and Shumara studies. I¡¯m not just any scholar.¡± Leon stared at him with newfound respect. He¡¯d known Kai was accomplished, but never suspected it ran so deep. Kai tapped the map. ¡°Now, do you know why the Zhull are considered so dangerous?¡± Leon shrugged. ¡°Because they¡¯re bigger and stronger?¡± Kai let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°You want to become a Rulin, yet you don¡¯t even know what you¡¯d be fighting against? You¡¯re still clueless!¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m learning,¡± Leon protested. ¡°I¡¯m not a full-fledged Rulin yet.¡± Shaking his head, Kai began to explain. ¡°Zhulls are creatures born of what scholars call Blackness. It¡¯s entirely different from Nafs, which draws on your psyche and emotions for power.¡± He pointed to a red-lined region on the map. ¡°This border here is infused with Blackness, and anyone who touches it disintegrates instantly.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± Leon asked, more intrigued than frightened. ¡°Plenty of high-level Rulin have died at these borders, even a few Guardians,¡± Kai said. Then he gestured at the pebble in the white tray. ¡°Your Nafs seems to have a trace of that same power¡ªBlackness.¡± Leon¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°So¡­ I could destroy Guardians?¡± Kai frowned at his brother¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself. You probably can¡¯t even scratch a Disciple right now. But whether you¡¯re strong or not is beside the point. Listen carefully: you must hide this aspect of your Nafs. Train it in secret, and learn to mask it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Leon asked, perplexed. ¡°If I can use Blackness, wouldn¡¯t that help us fight the Zhull?¡± Kai took a moment to steady his temper. ¡°Idiot, if anyone finds out you¡¯re wielding something exclusive to the Zhull, you¡¯d be worse off than dead. Sentinels would capture you and experiment on you.¡± Leon blinked, trying to process it all. He still couldn¡¯t fully grasp the gravity of it, but he nodded. Kai continued, ¡°So no academy for you until you can conceal the Blackness. Understand?¡± ¡°What?!¡± Leon jumped to his feet, anger flaring in his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s not fair! I¡¯ve worked so hard to become a Rulin!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kai said with a dismissive shrug. ¡°You don¡¯t comprehend the risks, and who¡¯s paying your tuition, anyway?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pay for it myself,¡± Leon retorted, his face red. Kai¡¯s tone turned cold. ¡°Go ahead and try, but I promise that won¡¯t happen.¡± Tears gathered in Leon¡¯s eyes, a mixture of fury and disappointment. ¡°This is crap! I¡¯ve poured my life into this¡ªday after day!¡± Kai sighed. He knew Leon¡¯s obsession. His brother trained relentlessly, often skipping meals and pushing himself to the brink. ¡°Leon, I¡¯m not doing this to be cruel,¡± he said quietly, placing a hand on Leon¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve seen what happens when people exhibit powers that the Rulin cannot understand. I don¡¯t want that for you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± Leon shouted. ¡°You promised I could attend any academy I wanted!¡± Pinching the bridge of his nose, Kai relented. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s compromise. I¡¯ll ask a Weaver to help you awaken your Latifa. If your Latifa is unrelated to Shumara, you can enroll in an academy to train that instead.¡±The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The anger on Leon¡¯s face wavered. ¡°You know a Weaver?¡± Kai¡¯s lips twitched into a wry smile. ¡°I know several. Your brother isn¡¯t just some minor scholar, Leon.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Leon¡¯s mood shifted instantly. He wiped his eyes and looked at Kai expectantly. Kai handed him a book. ¡°Read this. It¡¯ll help you understand Latifa and what to expect. If you study it, you¡¯ll be better prepared when you meet the Weaver.¡± Leon glanced down at the cover before looking back at Kai, suddenly confused. ¡°Wait¡­ If you have so many connections, why haven¡¯t you awakened your own Latifa or achieved your Nafs?¡± Kai raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who said I haven¡¯t achieved my Nafs?¡± Leon¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°But you always said¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping it quiet. Dad knows, but that¡¯s about it.¡± Kai lifted his hand, and a purple spiral of light swirled in his palm. ¡°I¡¯m actually at the Lawamma level.¡± ¡°L-Lawamma?¡± Leon stammered, thoroughly stunned. Kai smirked. ¡°You think an average person could get their hands on all this information?¡± ¡°How did you reach that level?¡± Leon asked in awe.¡°Mastering your psyche and emotions that deeply isn¡¯t exactly easy.¡± Kai shrugged. ¡°I study a lot, so understanding myself came naturally. Besides, there are people far more gifted than I am¡ªsome have become Guardians at a younger age.¡± Leon shook his head, reeling. He had always assumed he¡¯d surpass Kai in Nafs training. Yet here his brother was, already on a higher level. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Kai said softly. ¡°My Nafs isn¡¯t special. Yours, on the other hand, is practically unheard of. Anyway, you can go now. I¡¯ll send letters to a few Weavers I know. If they respond, they¡¯ll come help you for a while.¡± Leon nodded, still somewhat dazed, and left the room. As soon as Leon was gone, Kai picked up the tray with the pebble again, studying it closely. Tiny black tendrils had begun to form on the pebble¡¯s surface. Though barely visible, Kai¡¯s trained eye caught the movement as they slowly devoured what remained of the stone. His eyes widened. Quickly, he grabbed a glass jar, poured the pebble and its eerie growth inside, and sealed it tight. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ creating a Zhull?¡± he whispered in shock. Sitting down at his desk, he grabbed a few sheets of paper and a quill. Dipping the quill into ink, he began writing a letter, his face grave. After several minutes of careful writing, he leaned back, pressing his fingers against the bridge of his nose as a headache formed. ¡°Things just got a lot more complicated,¡± he muttered under his breath. A few days later, Kai¡¯s experiment had not produced any drastic developments, but he spent that time watching the jar carefully and devouring research. His darkened room, even messier than before, was cluttered with scraps of paper scrawled with notes and theories. Suddenly, a loud knock jolted him from a half-doze. ¡°Kai! Come out! Someone¡¯s here to see you,¡± his mother called through the door. Kai opened his eyes blearily and realized he had fallen asleep at his desk, head resting on a mess of books and maps. ¡°Huh?¡± he mumbled, disoriented. ¡°I¡¯m coming in!¡± his mother warned. Light poured into the room as the door opened, nearly blinding him. I swear I heard something hiss¡­ his mother thought, squinting into the dim. ¡°Mom?¡± Kai draped an arm over his eyes, trying to block the sudden brightness. She scanned the clutter in disbelief. ¡°Look at this mess! Have you even changed clothes since you started this ¡®research¡¯?!¡± Kai yawned. ¡°I¡¯ve been busy¡­¡± Clearing her throat, his mother shifted in the doorway. ¡°This might be awkward, but¡­¡± She stepped aside, revealing a petite figure behind her. Kai blinked, gradually adjusting to the light, then widened his eyes. ¡°N-Nahlia?¡± A familiar voice responded shyly, ¡°H-hi¡­¡± She stood there in a delicate blue dress, a lovely necklace, and a pair of new earrings. Her hair was styled in an elegant bun, a few loose strands framing her face. His mother tapped her foot impatiently. ¡°Did you forget you¡¯re supposed to spend time with your fianc¨¦e? Nahlia came all this way, and here you are, buried in your books!¡± She turned to Nahlia with an apologetic smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about him. He gets like this when he¡¯s researching. You¡¯d better brace yourself for married life.¡± Nahlia blushed and glanced at the floor. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± she managed softly. ¡°Kai, get ready and take her out somewhere,¡± his mother ordered. ¡°Y-yes, of course.¡± Kai slid past them, heading for the washroom. ¡°Please wait downstairs. I¡¯ll be right out.¡± With that, he disappeared around the corner. His mother gave Nahlia a tight smile. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. He¡¯s hopeless in situations like these, but he means well.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind,¡± Nahlia said, offering a small smile. Then her gaze flicked to the disheveled room, where piles of papers and books were strewn everywhere. Seeing her stare, Kai¡¯s mother quickly tried to tidy up. ¡°He¡¯s normally cleaner, believe me. He¡¯s just been swamped with research lately. Why don¡¯t you wait downstairs? I¡¯ll make sure he changes and comes right down.¡± Nahlia shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll help you clean up.¡± Despite her lingering blush, she stepped into the room and began gathering the scattered pages. What a sweet girl, Kai¡¯s mother thought with a grateful smile. They spent several minutes straightening the mess. Just then, Kai appeared in the doorway, wearing only a towel around his waist. ¡°Mom, can you pick out some cloth¡ª¡± He stopped mid-sentence, finally noticing Nahlia. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Kai spun on his heel and darted out of sight, equally embarrassed. Kai¡¯s mother shook her head. ¡°Honestly, he walks around shirtless because it¡¯s usually just family here. But now that you¡¯re engaged, we need a bit more decorum.¡± She snatched some clothes from the closet and left the room. Nahlia stood there, cheeks burning. After a moment, she glanced at the half-cleared desk. She noticed a mix of research volumes and storybooks. He really does love reading¡­ She picked up one of the books and read the title: Detachment. The synopsis didn¡¯t hold her interest, and she placed it back on the desk. How do people enjoy reading so much? she mused. Her eyes drifted to Kai¡¯s meticulous notes. He¡¯s so thorough. If I studied like this, I¡¯d pass my exams with ease. A few moments later, Kai returned, now dressed and looking sheepish. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± he said, scratching the back of his neck. ¡°Shall we go on our date now?¡± The Date Kai and Nahlia stepped out of the house, both smiling, though Kai¡¯s appeared more self-conscious. He wasn¡¯t sure how to talk to such a strikingly beautiful girl¡ªshe felt almost unreal. ¡°So¡­ I heard you¡¯re studying to become a medical scholar?¡± he ventured after a moment. ¡°Yes,¡± she replied, ¡°it¡¯s something my brother wants me to do.¡± Kai gave her a questioning look. ¡°Do you want to do it, though?¡± Nahlia hesitated, then offered a slightly embarrassed smile. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. I love my brother, so if it makes him happy, I¡¯m willing.¡± ¡°But are you really okay with that?¡± Kai pressed. ¡°No offence¡ªif you want to do it, by all means, do it. But¡­ may I ask something?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± she said, tilting her head curiously. ¡°Why pursue his dream if it¡¯s not your own?¡± Nahlia answered without hesitation. ¡°Because he¡¯s sacrificed a lot for me. He¡¯s almost never home because he¡¯s always working, and I know he does it for my sake. He¡¯s the most important person in my life. Once you meet him, you¡¯ll understand. He¡¯s¡­ amazing.¡± Kai nodded. ¡°I can appreciate that.¡± She looked at him, puzzled. ¡°How so?¡± He exhaled a small laugh. ¡°Believe it or not, my family isn¡¯t super affectionate. We care about each other, but we¡¯re not the ¡®loving hugs and kisses¡¯ type.¡± ¡°But you seem close,¡± Nahlia said, clearly unconvinced. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, you take care of your siblings and basically your whole family.¡± Kai shrugged. ¡°Only because that¡¯s how our family dynamic works. We do care for each other, but in a less traditional way. My parents show it by reading my stories, my siblings ask me for help when they need it, and I¡ªwell, I just work hard for them. It¡¯s not that we don¡¯t love each other; we just aren¡¯t big on open displays of affection.¡± She nodded, though she still seemed a bit confused. ¡°I see. But how does that relate to my situation?¡± ¡°I mean, I understand doing things for family because you love them,¡± Kai explained. ¡°Even if it¡¯s not your personal dream, you¡¯re willing to pursue it if it helps someone you care about.¡± Nahlia laughed softly. ¡°I guess that¡¯s true.¡± Kai let the conversation pause for a beat. ¡°Anyway, tell me more about you. Simple stuff¡ªfavorite color?¡± Her brow creased in thought. ¡°I¡¯ve never really thought about it. So¡­ none in particular.¡± He nodded. ¡°Okay, how about food? Any favorite dish?¡± ¡°Chocolate,¡± she said immediately, her eyes lighting up. Kai chuckled. ¡°That was quick. You must really like chocolate.¡± ¡°I love chocolate,¡± she admitted with a grin. ¡°I could probably eat it all day.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fond of the kind with nuts in it,¡± Kai said. ¡°That extra crunch is nice.¡± Nahlia shook her head in mock seriousness. ¡°I¡¯m not picky. As long as it¡¯s chocolate, I¡¯ll eat it.¡± Kai smiled. ¡°Got it. Chocolate is your one true weakness. What about regular food?¡± She shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed. ¡°I don¡¯t eat much. I get distracted, and I also prefer to keep a certain weight.¡± He gave a brief, subtle glance at her figure. ¡°You look great. And honestly, I wouldn¡¯t care about a girl¡¯s weight. If you ever got a bit heavier, I¡¯d just convince you to work out with me.¡± He grinned to show he was joking. Nahlia laughed quietly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s a personal preference, not something I do for others.¡± They chatted casually until they arrived at a small restaurant. ¡°This place is my favourite,¡± Kai said, pushing open the door. Nahlia paused, recognizing the d¨¦cor. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve been here before.¡± He nodded. ¡°It¡¯s pretty popular.¡± As they approached the front, he asked for a table for two. Despite its popularity, the restaurant was nearly empty, largely because the village wasn¡¯t very big and most people ate at home. Once seated, Kai scanned the menu, then noticed Nahlia glancing around. ¡°Not going to order?¡± he asked. She gave him a small smile. ¡°Like I said¡ªI¡¯m not usually that hungry.¡± Kai hesitated. ¡°We can leave if you¡¯re not in the mood for a meal. I don¡¯t want you to feel forced.¡± She shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I just don¡¯t eat much, remember?¡± A waiter appeared, pen poised. ¡°What can I get for you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have the steak and fries, two bowls of chocolate ice cream, a chocolate milkshake, and a water,¡± Kai said. Nahlia¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Kai, that¡¯s too much¡ª¡± He shrugged. ¡°Can¡¯t back out now. We¡¯ll see how much we can eat.¡± He turned to the waiter. ¡°That¡¯ll be all, thank you.¡± The waiter headed off, leaving Nahlia looking apologetic. ¡°I really won¡¯t finish everything,¡± she warned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Kai reassured her. ¡°Just try some. Whatever¡¯s left, we can take home or toss.¡± She finally relented with a nod.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°So, do you have any hobbies?¡± he asked, hoping to learn more about her. Nahlia thought for a moment. ¡°Not really. Mostly I help my mom and study.¡± ¡°Nothing else?¡± Kai prompted. ¡°Well, I like hanging out with my friends,¡± she admitted. ¡°We have a lot of fun¡ªespecially at school.¡± Kai leaned forward, intrigued. ¡°What do you and your friends do?¡± She beamed. ¡°We usually just talk or try on clothes. Class is where we really have fun, though.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Nahlia giggled. ¡°Our teacher is super strict about boys and girls interacting, so whenever we laugh and some boys look at us, she freaks out. The guys like to tease her, so it becomes this whole thing.¡± Kai couldn¡¯t help but smile at her enthusiasm. ¡°Sounds entertaining.¡± She nodded, launching into a few amusing stories about pranks, punishments, and classroom antics. Kai barely noticed when the waiter brought their food; he pushed a few items her way, insisting she give them a taste. Although she protested, she eventually tried the dishes, and they spent nearly an hour talking and laughing until they finished the meal. After Kai paid, they headed back into the sunshine. Nahlia continued chatting about her school adventures. He listened, captivated by the way her eyes lit up when she was passionate about something. They soon arrived at a small hill crowned by a large, solitary tree, with a picturesque lake shimmering in the distance. Sitting down in the grass, Nahlia finally paused to breathe. ¡°Sorry if I talked your ear off,¡± she said, a bit self-conscious. Kai shook his head. ¡°I liked it. You should talk like that more often¡ªit¡¯s really cute.¡± She blushed, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. They sat quietly for a moment, just enjoying the view. Then Nahlia spoke again, her voice quieter. ¡°When my parents first mentioned you, I hated the idea,¡± she admitted. ¡°I always wanted to pick my own husband¡ªsomeone like my brother, someone handsome, caring, and responsible.¡± Kai stayed quiet, letting her continue. ¡°But the more I learned about you, the more I liked you. It reached a point where I couldn¡¯t imagine being with anyone else.¡± She turned to him, her cheeks warming. ¡°I know it sounds silly, but¡ª¡± He shook his head. ¡°Not silly at all. I¡¯m not anything special, honestly, but I¡¯m flattered.¡± She laughed softly. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have fallen for you if there were nothing special about you.¡± Kai felt his face heat up. ¡°Well, you don¡¯t have to worry about me backing out. You¡¯re beautiful, and I love how enthusiastic you are.¡± She smiled in return, and they both stood up, brushing grass from their clothes. ¡°Want me to walk you home?¡± Kai asked. ¡°Yes, please.¡± They ambled through the village, making idle conversation until they reached her house. Once there, she turned to him with a gentle smile. ¡°Thanks for today. It was a lot of fun.¡± Kai returned the smile. ¡°I had a great time, too.¡± He paused, remembering something. ¡°By the way, how do you feel about moving to the city someday? I¡¯ll probably have to return soon¡ªI don¡¯t actually live here.¡± She blinked in surprise, then shrugged lightly. ¡°I don¡¯t mind, as long as I can finish my studies first. If that¡¯s where you need to be, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Kai felt a wave of relief. ¡°Thank you.¡± They stood in an amiable silence for a moment before she opened the door. ¡°See you soon,¡± Kai said, stepping back and giving her a quick wave. She returned the gesture, and he watched her disappear inside. Turning away, he walked back toward his own home, a contented smile lingering on his face. ¡°That was¡­ new,¡± Kai thought as he walked back home. His gaze drifted toward the sky, its dull gray hue contrasting against the bright moon hanging in the distance. ¡°She really loves chocolate, huh?¡± he murmured to himself, shaking his head. His thoughts wandered as he continued down the quiet street. ¡°I can¡¯t be so desperate that I start liking someone after just one date.¡± As he passed by rows of modest buildings, a puff of smoke caught his eye from the right. Turning his head, he saw a man leaning against a wall, dressed in tattered rags.The man was smoking calmly, his posture slouched but oddly peaceful. What an unusual sight, Kai thought as he continued walking. ¡°Hey, wait,¡± the man called out, his voice hoarse. Kai stopped and turned, his smile from earlier replaced by a calm, neutral expression. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°You got any money for food? Haven¡¯t eaten in a while,¡± the man said, limping toward him. Kai nodded and dug into his pocket, pulling out a few silver coins. ¡°Here, this is all I¡¯ve got on me right now.¡± The man¡¯s dirt-covered hands eagerly grabbed the coins. ¡°Plenty. Thank you.¡± Kai caught the stench wafting from the man¡ªan acrid mix of smoke and filth¡ªbut kept his face composed out of respect. ¡°Take care.¡± ¡°You too,¡± the man replied before shoving the coins into his pocket. He returned to his spot against the wall, another cloud of smoke escaping from his chapped lips. Kai shook his head at the man¡¯s misfortune but kept walking, his hands now shoved into his own pockets. When he finally reached his home, the silence was broken only by faint footsteps from other parts of the house. He sighed, shook his head, and headed upstairs to his now slightly less cluttered room. As he began changing out of his clothes, something on his desk caught his eye¡ªa letter. Picking it up, he immediately recognized the handwriting. ¡°So it¡¯s Fren,¡± he muttered, cutting the envelope open. Dear Sir Kai, I received your letter regarding a Weaver to teach your brother about the Latifa and assist with his awakening. I¡¯ve been looking for a new Disciple to join me, so your timing is perfect. I am not far from your village and should arrive in the morning. ¡ªFren The letter was simple and to the point. Kai nodded as he folded the parchment and placed it on his desk. Pulling on a tunic, he stepped out of his room and made his way to Leon¡¯s door. ¡°Yeah?¡± came Leon¡¯s voice when Kai knocked. ¡°Listen,¡± Kai said through the door. ¡°A Weaver I know will be here tomorrow to help with your Latifa awakening. Be prepared.¡± There was a pause, then a burst of energy from within the room. A moment later, the door swung open to reveal Leon¡¯s excited face, his dark eyes practically sparkling. ¡°Really? A Weaver?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Kai replied casually. ¡°And he mentioned that he¡¯s considering taking you as a Disciple. So, stay focused and make a good impression.¡± Leon¡¯s grin widened, and he did a small, triumphant dance. ¡°This is amazing! Thank you so much!¡± At that moment, a familiar voice spoke from behind. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± Kai turned to see his mother standing in the hallway, beaming at him. ¡°Yeah,¡± he said with a nod. ¡°How was it?¡± she asked, her tone filled with curiosity. ¡°It was good. We ate and talked for a while,¡± Kai replied, keeping his summary short. His mother smiled warmly. ¡°I¡¯m glad. But please, Kai, try to make more time for her. She¡¯s your fianc¨¦e now, and it¡¯s important to build that relationship.¡± ¡°I will,¡± he assured her before turning back to Leon. ¡°By the way, don¡¯t show your Nafs to Fren. I¡¯ve already told him you¡¯ve achieved Ammara and that you¡¯re focusing on your Latifa. If he asks, just say it¡¯s not something you¡¯re ready to demonstrate.¡± Leon¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°What if he insists? How do I say no?¡± ¡°I included the necessary information in the letter he received,¡± Kai said. ¡°Just stick to that.¡± Leon nodded reluctantly, still looking unsure but trusting his brother. Kai smiled at his mother. ¡°I¡¯ve got some work to do, so I¡¯ll see you both in the morning.¡± With that, he turned and headed back to his room. Sitting at his desk, Kai¡¯s gaze landed on the glass jar containing the black tendrils. They were more active now, writhing and curling like living shadows. He lifted the jar, unscrewed the lid, and placed his palm over the opening. A faint purple streak emerged from his hand and flowed into the jar. The black tendrils reacted immediately, twisting and surging toward the purple essence. Kai watched with a frown as the tendrils overwhelmed his Nafs. ¡°They¡¯re destroying it,¡± he murmured. ¡°They¡¯re developing faster than I expected.¡± He released more of his purple energy, concentrating until it formed a small, dense cloud inside the jar. The tendrils continued to fight against it, but as the cloud expanded and thickened, the black threads began to slow. Minutes later, the purple dissipated, leaving the jar empty. Kai stared at it, his brows furrowed in thought. ¡°What exactly are you becoming?¡± he whispered. The next morning arrived quietly. A knock on the door jolted him awake from his light slumber at the desk. ¡°Kai! Someone¡¯s here to see you,¡± his mother called from the other side. He groaned, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. The faint glow of the jar, now empty, caught his attention. With a sigh, he pushed himself to his feet and prepared for the arrival of Fren, his thoughts lingering on the mysterious black tendrils. Fren Walking down the stairs, Kai appeared much more polished and tidy than earlier. In the living room, a middle-aged man sat on the sofa, rising with a smile when he saw Kai. ¡°Good morning, Sir Kai,¡± the man greeted warmly. ¡°Good morning, Weaver Fren.¡± Kai extended a hand, and they shook before Kai gestured for Fren to sit. ¡°How was the journey?¡± ¡°It was safe, thankfully,¡± Fren replied with a chuckle. Kai¡¯s smile faded slightly. ¡°Is it getting worse?¡± Fren¡¯s laughter stopped, replaced by a somber nod. ¡°Yes. The Rulin are doing their best, but we¡¯re losing more every day.¡± Kai sighed. ¡°Research hasn¡¯t been fruitful, either. There¡¯s so little to work with, and that damned tribe only makes things harder.¡± ¡°The Hanyue tribe truly is a thorn in our side,¡± Fren agreed, frowning. ¡°But that¡¯s for the Guardians and Sentinels to handle. It¡¯s far beyond us.¡± ¡°True,¡± Kai said, nodding. ¡°Oh, by the way, I heard you were being considered for the Vanguard title. How¡¯s that going?¡± Fren let out a tired sigh. ¡°It¡¯s proving difficult.¡± Kai raised an eyebrow. ¡°Really? If anyone could achieve it, I figured it would be you.¡± Fren shook his head, his expression weary. ¡°Unfortunately, my Latifa is still in the Tazkira stage. Nearly all the Vanguards have already manifested their Tajalli.¡± Kai frowned in understanding. ¡°The Latifa truly are mysterious.¡± ¡°Tell me about it.¡± Fren gave a frustrated laugh before shifting the conversation. ¡°Anyway, where¡¯s the Novice?¡± ¡°Leon!¡± Kai called out loudly. Moments later, a rush of footsteps echoed down the stairs. Leon appeared, his expression calm, though his trembling fingers and slightly flushed face betrayed his nerves. Despite his best effort to appear composed, his gaze darted repeatedly between Kai and the Weaver, clearly unsure where to look. ¡°Leon, meet Weaver Fren,¡± Kai said, gesturing toward the man. ¡°He¡¯s a renowned Weaver, second to none. He¡¯s trained countless Novices, Disciples, and even other Weavers.¡± ¡°You flatter me, Sir Kai,¡± Fren said humbly. He turned to Leon with a kind smile. ¡°You must be the Novice.¡± ¡°Y-yes, that¡¯s me,¡± Leon stammered, stepping forward to shake Fren¡¯s hand. His confidence faltered as he realized how clammy his palm was. Why now?! he cursed internally. Kai shook his head, amused by his brother¡¯s obvious awkwardness. Turning back to Fren, he said, ¡°As I mentioned in my letter, Leon cannot attend the Rulin academies for personal reasons. While he has achieved Ammara and officially stepped into the Novice realm, I¡¯d like you to help him awaken his Latifa.¡± ¡°That¡¯s no problem,¡± Fren said with a nod. ¡°And as you noted, I won¡¯t inquire about his Nafs¡ªit won¡¯t be necessary for Latifa training.¡± ¡°Thank you for understanding,¡± Kai said with a small smile. Fren reached into his pocket and pulled out a bronze badge etched with intricate symbols. He handed it to Leon. ¡°As a Novice under me, this badge is yours. Once you awaken your Latifa, I¡¯ll have the authority to promote you to Disciple.¡± Leon accepted the badge, his face lighting up. He turned it over in his hands, marvelling at its craftsmanship. ¡°Normally, you¡¯d pour your Nafs into the badge to claim it,¡± Fren continued. ¡°But you can do that later with your brother.¡± Leon nodded, still dazed by the honour. ¡°Good. I just wanted to introduce myself today,¡± Fren said as he stood. ¡°We¡¯ll start training tomorrow. Make sure you get plenty of rest.¡± ¡°I will, sir!¡± Leon said enthusiastically, nearly saluting. ¡°Take care, Sir Kai.¡± ¡°You as well,¡± Kai replied, shaking Fren¡¯s hand one last time before seeing him out the door. Once the Weaver was gone, Kai turned to Leon. ¡°Pass me the badge,¡± he said. ¡°Why?¡± Leon asked, though he handed it over. Kai pocketed the badge without explanation. ¡°From now until I leave, I¡¯ll be overseeing your Nafs training. Fren is a good man, but at the end of the day, he¡¯s a Rulin. His priorities will always lie with humanity as a whole.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to train me?¡± Leon asked, his voice laced with doubt. ¡°Yes.¡± Leon scratched his head, his expression turning sheepish. ¡°Can¡¯t someone else do it? It feels weird having you as my teacher.¡± Kai raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why? I told you I¡¯ve achieved Lawamma.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Leon said with a nervous laugh. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ we¡¯re brothers. How can we be serious? I¡¯ll probably end up laughing half the time.¡± Kai considered this and sighed. ¡°Fair point. It¡¯s hard to imagine either of us keeping a straight face.¡± He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°But no one else in the family has even reached Ammara, let alone Lawamma. I don¡¯t have a choice.¡± ¡°Then just give me some tips,¡± Leon suggested. ¡°I made it to Ammara on my own¡ªI can handle the rest if you guide me a bit.¡± Kai nodded reluctantly. ¡°Fine. But I¡¯ll need to be nearby when you practice.¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Leon groaned. ¡°That¡¯s going to make it even harder.¡± ¡°Too bad,¡± Kai said firmly. ¡°It¡¯s important I monitor you in case something goes wrong.¡± Leon sighed in defeat. ¡°Fine.¡± Kai smiled. ¡°Good. I¡¯ll give the badge back to you tonight.¡± ¡°Why are you even keeping it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want your Nafs accidentally activating it,¡± Kai explained. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to expect, so it¡¯s safer this way.¡± Leon frowned. ¡°I still don¡¯t get why my Nafs is such a big deal. I¡¯m not going to misuse it or anything.¡± Kai shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. People in power don¡¯t care about individuals¡ªthey only care about the greater picture. If someone like Fren finds out about your Nafs, it could bring you trouble.¡± ¡°Then explain it to me better!¡± Leon snapped. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you everything you need to know,¡± Kai said, brushing past his brother and giving him a gentle nudge. ¡°I won¡¯t risk your life because of ignorance.¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± Leon scoffed. ¡°By the way, I¡¯m heading out with some friends. Let Mom know if she asks.¡± Kai nodded and made his way upstairs. Entering his room, Kai placed the badge on the table before changing into more formal clothes. Standing in front of the mirror, he adjusted his collar and smirked slightly. ¡°At least I¡¯m not ugly,¡± he muttered under his breath. ¡°You going out?¡± The voice made him turn. His father stood at the doorway, arms crossed. ¡°Yeah, I was thinking of visiting Nahlia,¡± Kai replied, keeping his tone neutral. He avoided elaborating¡ªconversations like this always felt awkward with his more traditional father. His father gave a small nod. ¡°I see.¡± He paused before stepping further into the room. ¡°I wanted to ask about Leon.¡± Kai¡¯s posture stiffened slightly. ¡°About what I mentioned the other day?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± His father nodded again, his expression somber. ¡°I¡¯m worried about him. He¡¯s young, Kai. Inexperienced. That kind of combination can lead to¡­ mistakes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Kai said, his voice steady. ¡°I¡¯ve got it under control.¡± His father sighed, his gaze fixed on the floor. ¡°I¡¯m his father. I should know what¡¯s going on.¡± Kai hesitated, then gave a careful response. ¡°It¡¯s nothing drastic. His Nafs is¡­ unique. It¡¯s stronger than normal, but harder to manage. If he doesn¡¯t learn proper control, he could hurt himself.¡± He kept his explanation brief, omitting any unnecessary details. His father¡¯s brows furrowed deeply, and he shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s worrisome.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Kai said firmly. ¡°That¡¯s not the point,¡± his father replied, stepping into the room and sitting on the bed. ¡°Becoming a Rulin is dangerous, Kai. I¡¯ve told him countless times to choose a different path, but he won¡¯t listen.¡± Kai stayed silent, watching his father¡¯s weary expression. ¡°He¡¯s still just a boy,¡± his father said softly, as though talking to himself. ¡°My little boy. If something happens to him¡­ I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do.¡± ¡°Nothing will happen,¡± Kai said, his voice calm but resolute. ¡°Unless he becomes a Weaver, he won¡¯t even face Zhulls.¡± ¡°Zhulls aren¡¯t the only threat in this world, Kai,¡± his father said sharply, meeting his son¡¯s eyes. ¡°I may not be as educated as you, but I¡¯ve lived long enough to know the dangers out there.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Kai said, his tone clipped. His father sighed again, standing up slowly. ¡°You don¡¯t, not yet. One day, when you have children of your own, you¡¯ll understand how I feel.¡± Kai said nothing, watching as his father moved toward the door. As his father reached the threshold, he paused and turned back. ¡°Make sure you watch over him, Kai. I¡¯m not young anymore, and I¡¯m counting on you to protect your siblings.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Kai said simply. His father lingered a moment longer, his hand resting on the doorframe. ¡°One more thing. Spend more time with your mother. She misses you when you¡¯re away.¡± Kai¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°I will.¡± ¡°She¡¯s thrilled about your engagement, you know. Probably more than you realize. She worries about you being in the city, especially now.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Kai replied, sighing softly. His father nodded, finally stepping out of the room. ¡°That¡¯s all I had to say.¡± Kai watched him go, the familiar weight of his father¡¯s words settling on his shoulders. Once alone, he exhaled sharply and returned to buttoning his shirt. Straightening his collar, he gave himself one last glance in the mirror before heading out. Near his home was the bustling market, lined with various shops and stalls. Kai weaved through the crowd, quickly entering a large shop with a bright sign. The jingle of the bell echoed as he stepped inside. The shop was spacious and well-lit, with shelves lined with an assortment of sweets and other goods. A few customers browsed leisurely, and a single worker stood near the counter. ¡°Hello! Can I help you find anything?¡± she asked, her tone polite and cheerful. Kai nodded. ¡°Yes, can you show me the large chocolates you have?¡± ¡°Of course, follow me,¡± she replied, leading him to a table piled high with chocolates of various shapes and sizes. ¡°Are you looking for anything specific?¡± ¡°What¡¯s popular?¡± Kai asked, glancing over the options. Though he¡¯d claimed to like chocolate, he rarely ate it, finding it too sweet for his taste. The worker thought for a moment before picking up two options. ¡°These two are our best sellers.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take a few of each,¡± he said, pointing to the selections. His gaze shifted to a display of small, foil-wrapped chocolates. ¡°And toss in some of those as well.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± she said, gathering the items. As they headed to the counter, she paused. ¡°Would you like us to put it together in a gift basket? We can decorate it for you.¡± Kai hesitated, then nodded. ¡°Sure. Also, could you add that teddy bear over there?¡± He gestured to a pink bear sitting on a nearby shelf. Is this too much? he wondered briefly but dismissed the thought. The worker smiled. ¡°Of course! It¡¯ll take a few minutes to arrange. Feel free to look around in the meantime.¡± Kai nodded and wandered through the store, examining the various sweets and trinkets. As he browsed, the bell jingled again, signaling a new customer. Glancing over, he froze when he saw a familiar face. ¡°Maribel?¡± he said, raising an eyebrow. His sister, accompanied by a group of friends, looked just as surprised. ¡°Kai? What are you doing here?¡± Maribel left her friends and approached him, her expression suspicious. It wasn¡¯t every day she saw her brother in a candy shop, given his distaste for sweets. ¡°Nothing,¡± Kai said quickly, his tone awkward. It was his first time buying something for anyone outside of his siblings, and being caught only made it more uncomfortable. Maribel¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You¡¯re getting something for Nahlia, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Umm¡­¡± Kai stammered, his lack of response giving him away. ¡°What are you buying her? I hope it¡¯s not something weird,¡± she said, crossing her arms. ¡°It¡¯s just some chocolates¡­ and a teddy bear,¡± Kai mumbled. Maribel¡¯s eyes widened, and then she nearly shouted, ¡°A teddy bear?! Are you serious?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Kai asked, genuinely confused. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Maribel smacked her forehead, her voice dripping with exasperation. ¡°Kai, you¡¯ve been on one date! And that was only because she came over herself! You barely know her.¡± ¡°But we¡¯re engaged. Isn¡¯t it fine?¡± he asked, frowning slightly. Maribel let out a sharp laugh. ¡°Engaged or not, you¡¯re still practically strangers! You¡¯re going to scare her off like this.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Kai asked, his confusion deepening. ¡°Yes! Forget scaring her off¡ªyou¡¯ll look like a total loser,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°If some guy I barely knew gave me a teddy bear, I¡¯d run for the hills.¡± Kai frowned, deep in thought. He couldn¡¯t understand what was wrong with his plan. ¡°But she said she likes me¡­¡± Maribel rolled her eyes. ¡°And? Sure, she might like you, but that doesn¡¯t mean you start giving her overly intimate gifts right away.¡± ¡°Then what should I give her?¡± he asked, sounding genuinely lost. ¡°She said she likes chocolate, so I got her a basket of it.¡± Maribel groaned loudly, pressing her hand to her forehead. ¡°Oh my lord!¡± She pushed past him and marched to the counter. Turning to the worker, she gave an apologetic smile. ¡°Hi, can you cancel the teddy bear, please? And just pack the chocolates without the basket.¡± The worker glanced between the two siblings but nodded. ¡°Of course. That¡¯ll just be twenty copper coins, then.¡± Maribel turned to Kai, who sighed and fished the coins out of his pocket, handing it over. With the chocolates now in hand, Maribel handed the bag to Kai. ¡°Since you¡¯re so clueless, let me help you.¡± Kai nodded silently, following her lead. Maribel turned to her friends and waved. ¡°You guys go ahead. I¡¯ll catch up later.¡± Her friends nodded and left the store as she led Kai outside. Conversations Both siblings began wandering through the bustling market, exploring the various shops together. ¡°So, what are we getting her then?¡± Kai asked, glancing at his sister. Maribel ignored him, scanning the area intently. It took her a moment, but then she pointed toward a shop. ¡°There.¡± Kai followed her finger and frowned. ¡°Flowers?¡± ¡°Of course. They¡¯re classic, thoughtful, and they work for pretty much any occasion,¡± she said, matter-of-factly. ¡°Honestly, you should take notes from Leon¡ªhe¡¯s got a better sense of these things than you do.¡± She rolled her eyes, scoffing lightly. ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Kai muttered, shaking his head as he followed her to the flower shop. Once inside, Maribel turned to him. ¡°Do you know what flowers she likes?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Kai said flatly. Maribel blinked at him. ¡°Isn¡¯t that, like, one of the first things you ask?¡± ¡°I did ask, but she didn¡¯t have an answer. She doesn¡¯t have a favorite,¡± he explained. ¡°What about a favorite color? Maybe we could work with that,¡± she continued, determined. Kai shrugged. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have one. Said it wasn¡¯t something she ever thought about.¡± Maribel stopped mid-step and stared at him, arms crossed. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not lying? Be honest¡ªdid you forget to ask her these things?¡± Kai sighed, exasperated. ¡°I¡¯m not that dumb, Maribel. She really doesn¡¯t have a favorite. I asked.¡± ¡°Seriously? Most people have something they like,¡± Maribel muttered, narrowing her eyes. ¡°Did she drop any hints during your conversation? Like, even a tiny clue about a color she might prefer?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Kai replied, shaking his head. Maribel stared at him for a moment longer before letting out a frustrated huff. ¡°Okay, fine. Tell me everything you two talked about. No weird stuff¡ªjust anything that might help.¡± Kai thought back to his conversation with Nahlia. ¡°Well¡­ she likes chocolate, she enjoys hanging out with her friends, and she said she likes being with her classmates.¡± He scratched his head. ¡°That¡¯s about it.¡± Maribel raised an eyebrow, her expression equal parts amused and incredulous. ¡°That¡¯s it? That¡¯s all you got?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t really have much to say,¡± Kai defended. ¡°Some people just aren¡¯t into specifics.¡± Maribel frowned, a thoughtful look crossing her face. That¡¯s odd. Someone her age should have at least a few interests. ¡°Alright,¡± she said, snapping out of her thoughts. ¡°Just pick something you think is nice.¡± Kai shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re the expert. You pick.¡± Shaking her head, Maribel scanned the shop and finally settled on a bouquet. It was a mix of blue, white, and purple flowers, carefully arranged and elegant without being over the top. ¡°This is good,¡± she said, satisfied. ¡°Now, pair it with just one chocolate bar.¡± She reached into the bag he was carrying, pulled out a single chocolate bar, and handed it to him. ¡°Don¡¯t give her the whole bag. One is enough.¡± She took the bag of chocolates away from as well. Kai raised an eyebrow. ¡°Why not give her more? I don¡¯t mind if she gets used to receiving gifts.¡± ¡°Sure, that¡¯s fine¡ªafter you¡¯re married,¡± Maribel shot back. ¡°Right now, you¡¯re still in the ¡®getting to know her¡¯ phase. If you start giving her too much too soon, it¡¯ll either scare her off or set unrealistic expectations.¡± Kai looked skeptical. ¡°Unrealistic expectations?¡± ¡°Listen,¡± Maribel said, turning to face him fully. ¡°If you spoil her now, you¡¯ll have to keep topping yourself in the future. A big gesture now will make anything smaller later seem like a disappointment. You¡¯ll basically set yourself up for failure.¡± Kai frowned, clearly confused. ¡°That sounds¡­ weird. But okay, whatever.¡± Maribel sighed, giving him a light smack on the arm. ¡°Just trust me. I know what I¡¯m talking about.¡± ¡°So what now?¡± Kai asked. ¡°Now, you go to her house, give her the gift, and don¡¯t invite her out today,¡± Maribel instructed firmly. Kai blinked. ¡°But didn¡¯t everyone say I should spend more time with her?¡± ¡°Yes, but pace yourself. Honestly, giving her a gift the day after a date is already a bit much, but I¡¯ll let it slide since you¡¯re engaged. Just don¡¯t make it a habit.¡± Maribel turned away, waving dismissively. ¡°I¡¯m going to meet up with my friends. Good luck.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Kai said, but just as he was about to leave, Maribel spun back around and held out her hand. ¡°Wait. Money. Hand it over.¡± Kai sighed and dug into his pocket, pulling out a few silver coins. ¡°Didn¡¯t I already give you your allowance last week?¡± Maribel grinned as she grabbed the coins and darted off before he could protest further. Kai shook his head, muttering under his breath as he turned toward Nahlia¡¯s house. When he arrived, he stood at the door for a moment, then knocked firmly. A few seconds passed before the door opened. ¡°Hello, Miss Ulia,¡± Kai greeted his future mother-in-law with a polite smile. ¡°Oh, Kai! How wonderful to see you.¡± Her gaze fell on the flowers in his hand, and her face lit up. ¡°Such beautiful flowers, wow! Come in, come in.¡± She didn¡¯t wait for his response, practically pulling him inside and guiding him to the living room. ¡°How are you?¡± he asked, still smiling politely as he settled onto the couch. ¡°I¡¯m well. And seeing these flowers has made my day even better,¡± she said, her voice warm and cheerful. ¡°Would you like something to eat or drink?¡± ¡°Oh no, thank you. I ate before coming,¡± he said, though it wasn¡¯t true. It felt awkward to eat here unprompted. ¡°Nonsense! You can¡¯t come here and leave without eating at least a little something. Wait right here.¡± Without waiting for a reply, Ulia hurried off to the kitchen. Kai sighed softly, leaning back on the couch. His eyes wandered around the room, taking in the family photos on the walls. One caught his attention¡ªa younger Nahlia, maybe around ten years old, smiling shyly at the camera. Another showed her in her teenage years, standing confidently next to a boy who seemed slightly younger.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°That must be her brother,¡± Kai thought. He¡¯d met him once¡ªabout a year younger than Kai and working in a nearby town. Before his thoughts could wander further, Ulia returned, carrying a tray laden with snacks and drinks. She placed it on the table and took a seat across from him. ¡°Help yourself,¡± she said, her face beaming. ¡°Thank you.¡± It would¡¯ve been rude not to, so he picked up a biscuit and took a small bite. ¡°Is Nahlia around?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, no. She¡¯s at her friend¡¯s house.¡± Ulia shook her head, her tone regretful. ¡°Why don¡¯t I go and get her? It¡¯s just a five-minute walk.¡± She began to rise, but Kai quickly held up a hand to stop her. ¡°No, no, don¡¯t trouble yourself. Let her enjoy her time,¡± he said, offering a reassuring smile. He then extended the flowers toward her. ¡°I brought these for her. If you don¡¯t mind passing them along, I¡¯d really appreciate it.¡± Her face softened as she took the bouquet. ¡°Of course. Let me put these in a vase.¡± She bustled off again, returning moments later with the flowers arranged neatly in a vase, which she placed on the table. ¡°Mr. Daem isn¡¯t home?¡± Kai asked, looking around. ¡°No, he¡¯s at work. He¡¯ll be back later tonight,¡± Ulia explained. ¡°How are your parents doing?¡± ¡°They¡¯re doing well,¡± Kai replied with a polite smile, though he felt a bit awkward. Despite having spoken to people of varying ranks and positions in his life, talking to his soon-to-be mother-in-law felt uniquely daunting. Noticing his discomfort, Ulia smiled warmly and leaned forward slightly. ¡°Why don¡¯t we chat a bit? It¡¯s good to get to know each other better, don¡¯t you think?¡± Kai nodded, taking another bite of his biscuit. ¡°I¡¯ve heard you write poems and stories,¡± she began, her tone curious. ¡°I dabble in it, yes,¡± Kai said. ¡°Though I think my parents might¡¯ve exaggerated a bit.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so humble,¡± Ulia laughed lightly. ¡°I¡¯ve seen your stories at the local bookstore!¡± Kai chuckled, scratching the back of his head. ¡°What got you into writing?¡± she asked, leaning back as if settling in for a proper conversation. ¡°I¡¯ve always loved reading,¡± he explained. ¡°One day, I decided to try my hand at writing something myself. It¡¯s become a passion of mine over the years.¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful,¡± Ulia said, her voice warm. ¡°What about you? What do you like to do?¡± Kai inquired, he couldn¡¯t sit there and not ask questions himself. Ulia placed a finger on her chin and thought for a second before replying. ¡°I normally cook or clean. Though cooking would be considered a passion of mine?¡± ¡°I love to cook as well.¡± He said, with a smile. ¡°You cook?¡± Kai nodded. ¡°I do. I¡¯ve gotten pretty good at it over time. Maybe I could cook something for you one day.¡± Her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s incredible! Most young men these days barely know how to boil water.¡± Kai chuckled again. ¡°It¡¯s pretty common in the city. A lot of people live alone, so they have to pick up basic skills like cooking.¡± ¡°That¡¯s truly amazing,¡± Ulia said, shaking her head in admiration. ¡°My son and daughter can¡¯t cook at all. I¡¯ve tried to teach Nahlia, but she just doesn¡¯t seem interested. Don¡¯t worry, though¡ªI¡¯ll make sure she learns before the wedding.¡± Kai smiled awkwardly, his cheeks flushing slightly. ¡°Honestly, there¡¯s no need to worry about that. I enjoy cooking, and I¡¯d love to cook for her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s sweet,¡± Ulia said with a soft laugh. ¡°But a girl should know how to cook¡ªit¡¯s part of being a good wife, after all.¡± Kai hesitated, carefully considering his response. ¡°Well, it¡¯s definitely a useful skill. But personally, I¡¯d be happy to handle the cooking myself. Speaking of which, do you know what dishes Nahlia enjoys?¡± ¡°Oh, let¡¯s see¡­¡± Ulia leaned back, tapping her chin thoughtfully. ¡°She loves the rice I make with fish. Lentils, too. And there¡¯s this stew I make that she always asks for¡­¡± She went on, listing several dishes with enthusiasm. Kai nodded along, making mental notes. Maybe Maribel was right¡ªI still need to get Nahlia to open up more. The conversation flowed easily, drifting from food to daily life. Ulia spoke about her routine¡ªcleaning, cooking, and taking walks when her husband and daughter weren¡¯t home. She seemed genuinely pleased when Kai suggested she visit his family or let him stop by more often. Eventually, the topic shifted. ¡°When are you heading back to the city?¡± Ulia asked. ¡°In about a week,¡± Kai replied. ¡°That¡¯s so soon.¡± Her tone was tinged with disappointment. ¡°I have a lot of work piling up. Otherwise, I¡¯d stay longer,¡± Kai admitted with a sigh. Being home was always a welcome relief, far more relaxing than his life in the city. ¡°Well, I hope you¡¯ll write to Nahlia. She¡¯ll miss you terribly.¡± Ulia smiled warmly. ¡°After your date yesterday, she¡¯s been so jittery¡ªprobably went to her friend¡¯s house just to gush about it!¡± Kai smiled, warmth spreading in his chest. ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that.¡± Realizing how much time had passed, Kai stood. ¡°It¡¯s getting late. I should head back.¡± ¡°It is,¡± Ulia agreed, standing as well. ¡°Please, come by again before you leave. I¡¯d love to see you again.¡± ¡°I definitely will,¡± Kai promised. As he stepped toward the door, he remembered the chocolate in his pocket. Giving it to her now might seem odd¡ªand it could melt anyway. I¡¯ll save it for later. If Maribel had heard his thoughts, she¡¯d have given him a proud nod of approval. ¡°Thank you for the snacks, Miss Ulia,¡± Kai said as he stepped outside. ¡°No, thank you for coming. It was lovely to chat and pass the time.¡± She waved warmly as he left. Though they¡¯d said it was late, the sky still held the faint glow of daylight. Kai walked back toward his home, a small smile lingering on his face. ¡°She¡¯s a wonderful person,¡± he thought, feeling a newfound appreciation for the woman who would soon be family. As Kai walked, he noticed a familiar face. ¡°Young man!¡± called out the same man he had encountered the night before¡ªthe one smoking. ¡°Yes, sir?¡± Kai responded, maintaining a polite tone but keeping a slight distance for safety. ¡°Would you happen to have any money?¡± the man asked, his voice gravelly. Sighing internally, Kai reached into his pocket, pulling out two silver coins. He passed them over with a polite smile. ¡°Here you are.¡± ¡°Thank you so much. May you be blessed with a long life,¡± the man said, nodding before limping away. Kai raised an eyebrow, watching the man as he disappeared into the distance. Strange guy, he thought before continuing home. Upon entering, he found only his parents at home. His father sat at the table, sipping tea, while his mother was bustling about in the kitchen. ¡°Where were you today?¡± his mother asked, stepping out with a rag in hand as she wiped it across her fingers. ¡°I went to Nahlia¡¯s and spoke with Miss Ulia,¡± he said, taking a seat across from his father. ¡°Oh? How was it?¡± she asked, a smile playing on her lips. ¡°It was good. We ended up talking for over an hour,¡± he replied, unbuttoning the top of his shirt to breathe more comfortably. ¡°Was Nahlia not home?¡± she inquired, placing a small tray of snacks in front of him before sitting beside him. ¡°She was at a friend¡¯s house, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to get to know Miss Ulia in the meantime,¡± Kai explained, picking up a biscuit. ¡°That¡¯s wise. It¡¯s good to build a relationship with her. After all, you¡¯ll be family soon.¡± She nodded approvingly. ¡°Maybe I should spend some time with Ulia as well.¡± Kai smiled, grateful for her understanding. ¡°That sounds like a good idea.¡± ¡°Is Leon still not back?¡± he asked, glancing at his father. ¡°Not yet,¡± his father replied, his gaze not lifting from his teacup. ¡°Hopefully, he¡¯ll return soon,¡± Kai said with a sigh. ¡°Why? What¡¯s so urgent?¡± his father asked, his tone carrying faint curiosity. ¡°I promised to help him with something,¡± Kai said vaguely. He didn¡¯t want to mention his Lawamma status in front of his mother; her excitement would undoubtedly lead to her boasting about it to others. While his father also had a tendency to boast, there were certain matters he kept private. ¡°I see. And when are you heading back to the city?¡± his mother asked. ¡°Next week,¡± Kai replied. ¡°There¡¯s also a chance I might take Leon with me.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± his father interjected, frowning. ¡°He can¡¯t leave right now. He hasn¡¯t finished his studies.¡± ¡°I can handle that part,¡± Kai said calmly. ¡°The schools in the city are far better, and he¡¯s already training with a Weaver I know. Bringing him with me would be the best option for his growth.¡± His parents exchanged uneasy glances, their frowns deepening. ¡°Why don¡¯t you both come with me?¡± Kai suggested, a familiar note of persuasion in his voice. ¡°I¡¯ve asked you so many times before. You¡¯ve seen my place¡ªit¡¯s big enough for all of us.¡± ¡°I like it here,¡± his father replied firmly. ¡°The city would make me feel like a stranger.¡± Kai sighed. This wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d had this conversation. His parents were adamant about staying in the village, while his siblings were eager to leave. But without their parents¡¯ permission, his siblings couldn¡¯t make such a move. ¡°Dad, I understand that it might feel awkward at first, but it¡¯s not as bad as you think,¡± Kai pressed. ¡°I could even find a quieter area, with more open spaces. Something that feels less crowded.¡± ¡°Kai, I¡¯m too old to start over in a new place. I¡¯m happy here,¡± his father said, his voice firm yet calm. ¡°I feel the same,¡± his mother added. ¡°The thought of moving, meeting new people, and adjusting to a different life¡ªit¡¯s exhausting just thinking about it.¡± Kai rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling the onset of a headache. ¡°Leon¡¯s going to be very upset, you know. The Weaver I know isn¡¯t staying in the village for long. His home and base are in the city.¡± ¡°He can go next time,¡± his father said dismissively. ¡°He¡¯s too young, and he should finish his education first.¡± ¡°You realize this could push him into doing something rash, right?¡± Kai said, his tone sharp. ¡°If I¡¯m in the city and can keep an eye on him, it¡¯s one thing. But if you keep holding him back, he might decide to leave on his own.¡± ¡°Leon wouldn¡¯t do that,¡± his father said, sipping his tea without a hint of concern. ¡°Trust me, it¡¯s not uncommon,¡± Kai said, leaning forward. ¡°I know plenty of Novices and Disciples who left home for this exact reason. It happens more than you think.¡± His father¡¯s calm demeanor cracked slightly as he set his teacup down. ¡°So, you expect me to let my barely grown son leave for the city? He doesn¡¯t even clean his own room, let alone take responsibility for his life!¡± Kai shook his head, his patience wearing thin. ¡°Fine. You can break the news to him, then. I won¡¯t be the one dealing with the fallout.¡± Standing abruptly, he walked upstairs to his room, leaving his parents in silence. Nafs Training Commenced! Kai sat in his room for hours, surrounded by stacks of books and loose pages. ¡°Zhull come in various forms and types,¡± he muttered to himself, flipping through a heavily annotated textbook. As a researcher dedicated to understanding the Zhull, keeping his knowledge up-to-date was not just a necessity but a responsibility. He poured over theories, old and new, about their origins, habitats, and behaviors, trying to piece together answers that always seemed just out of reach. Unlike the creatures native to his world, Zhull were fundamentally alien¡ªshadowy monstrosities with grotesque and nightmarish forms. He stopped at an illustration depicting one mid-lunge, its jagged limbs reaching out as if to devour the page. ¡°In order to rank them, the Zhull are classified into three distinct tiers: Murkspawn, Tenebraith, and Obsidian Overlords,¡± he read aloud, his finger tracing the clean text under each illustration. The section on Murkspawn was extensive, detailing their physical traits, weaknesses, and the Rulin forces¡¯ strategies to combat them. ¡°Murkspawn alone are enough to challenge Vanguards, and some even threaten Guardians,¡± he murmured, shaking his head. Moving to the next tier, Tenebraith, the pages grew thinner, and the text more speculative. These creatures were rare, with sightings handled almost exclusively by Sentinels. Finally, he turned to the blank, almost mocking space dedicated to the Obsidian Overlords. A single sentence was scrawled at the top: Their existence has only been theorized. Few survive to confirm. ¡°How do we fight something we can¡¯t even begin to understand?¡± he sighed, leaning back in his chair and massaging his temples. The world seemed calm to most, but Kai knew the truth¡ªthe Rulin forces were barely holding the line. Shumara, the origin of the Zhull, was leaking its horrors into their world, and the war was far from the victory the public was led to believe. They weren¡¯t winning. They were surviving, and just barely at that. Kai¡¯s mind wandered to his brother. ¡°To think Leon is somehow linked to that forsaken world... How?¡± He tapped a pen against the desk, trying to connect the dots. The image of Leon as a young, carefree boy conflicted sharply with the unsettling implications of his connection to Shumara. Could he be a threat? Or, perhaps, humanity¡¯s greatest chance? But hope felt fleeting. The Rulin¡¯s ranks of Sentinels were dwindling, and the Zhull¡¯s strength only grew. The margin for error was slim, and someone like Leon¡ªunpredictable and potentially dangerous¡ªwas a gamble most would never take. The muffled sound of raised voices from downstairs snapped Kai from his grim thoughts. ¡°Leon¡¯s back,¡± he muttered, rubbing his temples again. The distinct cadence of an argument reached his ears, and he shook his head, deciding to stay put for now. He tried to redirect his thoughts to something more pleasant, something¡ªno, someone¡ªwho had recently brought him a rare sense of peace. Man, she¡¯s beautiful, he thought, smiling to himself as memories of his date with Nahlia filled his mind. The way she walked, the subtle inflection in her laugh, the way her eyes lit up at her own stories¡ªit was enchanting. The dreamlike quality of the date replayed in his head, each detail vivid. ¡°I must be desperate to fall this easily,¡± he said, chuckling quietly. Despite his self-deprecating tone, he couldn¡¯t deny the warmth the memories brought him. Suddenly, a loud, forceful knock at his door shattered his reverie. Kai frowned, the moment of peace slipping away. ¡°Who is it?¡± he called out, his voice tinged with annoyance. ¡°Bro, go and convince Mom and Dad!¡± Leon¡¯s voice, thick with frustration, echoed from the other side of the door. Sighing, Kai set his book down and opened the door. He found his younger brother pacing outside, his face flushed with anger and determination. ¡°Tell them I¡¯ll be coming with you!¡± Leon demanded, his fists clenched. ¡°I don¡¯t care about some damned education when my only goal is to become a Rulin!¡± ¡°Relax,¡± Kai said, raising a hand to calm him. ¡°I¡¯ll figure something out. For now, just focus on your training, and I¡¯ll handle them.¡± ¡°If they force me to stay, I¡¯ll just leave!¡± Leon declared, his eyes blazing with defiance. Kai frowned. ¡°Calm down, Leon. If you run away, where will you go?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come to you!¡± Leon snapped, his voice resolute but laced with desperation. ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± Kai sighed, rubbing his temples. ¡°Listen, go cool off and meet me outside. We¡¯ll start your training, and I¡¯ll tell you something important¡ªsomething you need to understand about your power. Maybe then you¡¯ll see why this isn¡¯t just about what you want.¡± Leon¡¯s anger flickered into curiosity, though his furrowed brows betrayed his lingering frustration. He took a deep breath and nodded before walking off, leaving Kai shaking his head. Descending the stairs, Kai found himself stepping into a storm of its own. ¡°That idiot!¡± his father growled, pacing the room with a fury that mirrored Leon¡¯s earlier anger. He spun around as Kai entered, his glare sharp. ¡°You need to tell your Weaver friend to screw off. He is filling Leon¡¯s head with nonsense!¡± ¡°Dad, why are you being so stubborn about this?¡± Kai shot back, his tone even but firm. ¡°If Leon wants this and I¡¯m there to look after him, where¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°And now you think you know better than me?¡± his father countered, his voice rising. Kai met his father¡¯s glare without flinching. ¡°Technically, I do. I¡¯ve spent years in the city. I¡¯ve been in the field. I know what I¡¯m talking about, and I know my brother. If you keep pushing him like this, he¡¯ll just run¡ªand I¡¯ll be the one to pick up the pieces.¡± ¡°What makes you think you get to step in?¡± his father barked, taking a step closer. ¡°I¡¯m his father, not you!¡± ¡°And I¡¯m his older brother,¡± Kai replied, his voice sharper now. ¡°That means I have a say in his path, too. If you try to force him to stay here, he¡¯s going to make a choice you won¡¯t like. Let me take him before it gets to that point.¡± ¡°You think you can just take him away?¡± his father growled. ¡°He¡¯s not ready for this¡ªhe¡¯s too immature!¡± Kai rolled his eyes, frustration leaking into his tone. ¡°Immature? When I was his age, I was working, studying, and training as a Rulin all at once! You didn¡¯t think I was too immature then, did you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s different!¡± his father snapped. ¡°You were more mature¡ª¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t more mature,¡± Kai interrupted, his voice rising. ¡°I just had more pressure! And I handled it because I had to. I¡¯ve done everything I could to give Leon and Maribel the chance to follow their own paths, and I¡¯m not letting you take that away from him now.¡± Kai turned to his mother, his tone softening slightly. ¡°Mom, you know this is true. I¡¯ve always upheld my responsibilities, and this isn¡¯t any different. I can take care of him better than anyone else right now.¡± His mother sighed deeply, her gaze shifting between her husband and Kai. ¡°We¡¯re not worried about your ability, Kai,¡± she said quietly. ¡°We¡¯re worried about him. He¡¯s still so young.¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°I know what you¡¯re worried about,¡± Kai said, his voice steady but firm. ¡°You¡¯re afraid of losing him. But keeping him here won¡¯t protect him¡ªit¡¯ll only make him resent you. He¡¯s not a child, and you¡¯re not his owners. You have to trust him to make his choices.¡± His mother sighed again, her shoulders slumping. ¡°Just let Kai handle it,¡± she said softly, turning to her husband. His father glared at Kai for a long moment before finally sitting on the sofa, his face stormy. ¡°If anything happens to him, I¡¯m holding you responsible,¡± he growled. Kai nodded curtly. ¡°I know.¡± Without another word, he turned and walked out of the house, leaving the tension behind as he stepped into the open air. Kai sat on the grass, staring at the setting sun as it painted the sky with hues of orange and purple. He sighed deeply. ¡°Man, I do the most and still get the short end.¡± Shaking off his frustration, he leaned back, letting the cool breeze settle his thoughts. Minutes later, Leon emerged from the house in his training clothes, his earlier fury replaced with a calmer expression. ¡°You need to learn to control your temper around Dad,¡± Kai said, his tone firm as he glanced over. ¡°He¡¯s not young anymore, you know.¡± Leon rolled his eyes. ¡°Pfft. I still speak more respectfully to him than you do.¡± Kai smirked. ¡°That¡¯s because Dad and I have a different relationship. We¡¯re more like partners than father and son.¡± ¡°Yeah, okay.¡± Leon didn¡¯t buy it, shrugging as he crossed his arms. ¡°Anyway, what¡¯s the plan?¡± ¡°First, follow me to the training field.¡± Kai pushed himself up and led the way. The village¡¯s training field wasn¡¯t far¡ªa large, fenced space with neatly trimmed grass and open surroundings. Most people trained early in the morning, so by evening, the place was deserted. For Kai, the emptiness was ideal. As they entered the field, Kai stopped and turned to his brother. ¡°Leon, remember how I said your power is related to Shumara?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Leon said, stepping into the field. ¡°You mentioned it¡¯s some dangerous place where Zhull come from, right?¡± Kai nodded. ¡°Exactly. But after some research, I realized your power isn¡¯t just connected to Shumara¡ªit¡¯s far more complicated.¡± Leon chuckled. ¡°More complicated than being linked to a hellish world? That¡¯s a stretch.¡± Kai¡¯s expression turned serious, catching Leon off guard. ¡°Whatever I tell you now, you can¡¯t share it with anyone. If the wrong people find out, it could mean death¡ªfor you and for our entire family.¡± Leon¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Come on, that¡¯s a bit dramatic¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m not exaggerating,¡± Kai cut him off. ¡°Your power¡­ it seems to have the ability to give birth to Zhull.¡± Leon froze, his eyes widening. ¡°W-what? No way.¡± Kai nodded grimly. ¡°That pebble I had you crush? I ran a few experiments on it. After a few days, it started to form the beginnings of a Zhull.¡± Leon swallowed hard, his excitement battling with unease. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ cool. Dangerous, but cool.¡± Kai raised an eyebrow. ¡°Cool? Leon, think about what the Rulin would do if they found out you could create Zhull. At best, they¡¯d kill you. At worst, they¡¯d drag you off for experiments.¡± Leon¡¯s smirk faded, replaced by a nervous frown. ¡°So what do I do?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re here,¡± Kai said. ¡°If your Ammara alone can create Zhull, imagine what happens when you reach Lawamma¡ªor Mulhimah.¡± Leon¡¯s face paled. ¡°I can¡¯t even imagine.¡± Kai gestured for him to sit. ¡°For now, we need to test your abilities and strengthen your Nafs. But there¡¯s more I want to try. When I reached Lawamma, I discovered something called the Sahalim.¡± Leon sat down, intrigued. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Kai leaned forward, his tone instructive. ¡°The Sahalim is an inner world¡ªa reflection of your emotions, goals, and personality. It¡¯s unique to every individual. It¡¯s also where your Latifa resides.¡± ¡°My Latifa?¡± Leon asked, his curiosity spiking. ¡°Yes,¡± Kai confirmed. ¡°The Sahalim houses it, and unlocking it can give you immense control over your Nafs. Typically, only those at Lawamma can access it through intense self-reflection, but I think we can try with your powers. If it works, it could accelerate your training.¡± Leon¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement. ¡°What do I do? How do I enter this place?¡± ¡°Calm down first,¡± Kai said, amused by his brother¡¯s energy. ¡°I¡¯ll guide your Nafs toward your mind. It¡¯s going to hurt, and you¡¯ll probably lose consciousness. Don¡¯t panic when that happens.¡± Leon grinned confidently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve trained my body like crazy. I can handle it.¡± Kai rolled his eyes. ¡°We¡¯ll see. Now, give me your hands.¡± Leon hesitated, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Bro¡­ I¡¯m not gay.¡± Kai¡¯s eye twitched as he shoved Leon¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Just hold my hands, idiot.¡± Laughing, Leon reached out, but as soon as their hands touched, his mischievous grin returned. He wiggled his fingers. ¡°What, this isn¡¯t romantic enough for you?¡± Kai sighed, barely resisting the urge to throttle his brother. ¡°Leon, be serious.¡± ¡°Fine, fine.¡± Leon straightened up, though his smirk lingered. ¡°Now, slowly release your Nafs toward me and¡ª¡± Kai paused as Leon¡¯s face contorted, holding back laughter. ¡°Ha!¡± Leon burst out, falling backward onto the grass. ¡°What?!¡± Kai demanded, though a smile tugged at his lips. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡ªit¡¯s just funny!¡± Leon cackled, holding his stomach. Kai pinched the bridge of his nose, suppressing his own laughter. ¡°Leon, please! Can you focus for once?¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying!¡± Leon laughed harder. Kai took a deep breath, his patience wearing thin. ¡°Okay, calm down. We¡¯ll wait until you¡¯re serious.¡± It took several minutes and a series of deep breaths before Leon finally composed himself, though his face was red from suppressed giggles. By then, the sun had dipped lower, casting long shadows across the empty field. ¡°Ready now?¡± Kai asked, his tone dry. ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Leon said, wiping his eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± Kai sighed and nodded. This better work, he thought as he closed his eyes and prepared to begin. ¡°Release your Nafs into your palms, slowly,¡± Kai instructed, his tone sharp and controlled. He locked eyes with Leon, ensuring his younger brother understood the gravity of what was about to happen. ¡°Too fast, and I won¡¯t be able to control it.¡± Leon nodded, his smirk fading as he felt the tension in the air. For once, he refrained from making a joke. He closed his eyes, focusing inward as he had done during countless training sessions. Yet, this time felt different¡ªheavier, like the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. Kai braced himself, his hands steady but his mind alert. The first jolt of energy hit him like a dagger, a searing pain that shot through his palms and up his arms. His face twisted as Leon¡¯s Nafs began to flow¡ªa wild, chaotic force unlike anything Kai had ever encountered. ¡°Ah, damn it!¡± Leon groaned, his hands trembling violently. Sweat beaded on his forehead as the black tendrils of his Nafs crawled out, writhing like living shadows. ¡°Don¡¯t let go!¡± Kai¡¯s voice was a sharp command, cutting through Leon¡¯s panic. The black tendrils lashed out, striking against Kai¡¯s own purple cloud-like Nafs, which strained to contain them. Each collision felt like an explosion inside his body, the dark energy burning through his defenses. ¡°This... this is insane!¡± Leon gasped, his voice cracking. His whole body felt like it was being torn apart from the inside. Kai ignored his brother¡¯s cries, his focus razor-sharp. ¡°I¡¯m redirecting it back to you now,¡± he said through clenched teeth, his tone cold and unyielding. ¡°It¡¯ll hurt like hell, and you¡¯ll lose consciousness. Don¡¯t fight it. Just endure.¡± ¡°Endure?!¡± Leon barely managed to speak as the pain surged. ¡°This feels like¡ªARGH!¡± Kai grunted as he forced his own Nafs to envelop the black tendrils, forming a barrier around the chaotic energy. Each tendril lashed against him, clawing at his essence. It felt like acid eating away at his soul, but he didn¡¯t falter. Slowly, he began funneling the energy back into Leon¡¯s body. The strain was visible on both brothers. Leon¡¯s face was contorted in agony, his teeth clenched so tightly it felt like they might crack. His hands trembled uncontrollably, the black tendrils slicing through his skin as they surged back into him. Kai wasn¡¯t faring much better. His jaw was set in determination, but his breathing was ragged, and his hands were trembling from the sheer force of holding back Leon¡¯s Nafs. ¡°Just a little more,¡± he muttered, his voice hoarse. ¡°Stay with me, Leon.¡± Suddenly, the black tendrils turned, surging toward Leon¡¯s mind. Kai¡¯s purple Nafs guided them with precision, wrapping around the chaotic energy like chains and forcing it inward. Leon let out a blood-curdling scream, his body convulsing as the energy pierced his consciousness. His vision blurred, his mind drowning in a sea of darkness and light. The pain reached an unbearable peak, and with one final cry, his body collapsed, limp and unconscious. Kai fell back onto the grass, his hands shaking violently. His palms were raw and scorched, faint black marks etching his skin like battle scars. His breath came in ragged gasps, the strain of the ordeal leaving him utterly drained. He stared at his unconscious brother, whose chest rose and fell steadily now, as if the chaos had subsided. ¡°Damn it, Leon,¡± Kai muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. He wiped the sweat from his brow with a trembling hand. ¡°You¡¯re more trouble than I thought.¡± He forced himself to sit upright, his body protesting with every movement. The faint glow of the setting sun cast long shadows over the training field, a stark reminder of how much time had passed. Kai glanced at Leon, his expression softening despite his exhaustion. He has no idea what this power could do... or what it could cost him. Kai reached over, placing a hand on Leon¡¯s shoulder. ¡°One step at a time,¡± he said to himself. ¡°We¡¯ll figure this out. Somehow.¡± The wind picked up, rustling the grass around them. The field, once silent, now seemed to hum with the residual energy of their training. Kai sat there for a while longer, gathering his strength before he would carry his brother back home. Sahalim Leon jerked his eyes open, but all he saw was darkness¡ªblack, dense, suffocating. ¡°Where¡­ am I?¡± he managed, though his voice seemed to vanish into the void. Panic rose as he tried to speak again, only to find he couldn¡¯t breathe, couldn¡¯t even form a scream. The sensation was like being plunged into deep water, his limbs impossibly heavy and slow. Outside, Kai knelt beside Leon¡¯s limp body, his heart pounding as he watched his brother¡¯s skin grow pale and clammy. Leon¡¯s muscles twitched and spasmed, and every few seconds, his entire frame shuddered, as though something inside was battling for control. He¡¯s not just unconscious¡ªsomething¡¯s going wrong, Kai thought in alarm. It wasn¡¯t supposed to be this intense. Desperate, Kai pressed a trembling palm to Leon¡¯s forehead, intending to channel his own Nafs to help. In an instant, a violent jolt blasted him backward. Pain shot through his body as he hit the ground with a heavy thud, stars dancing in his vision. ¡°What the¡ª?¡± Kai gasped, forcing his eyes to focus. A glance at his palms made his stomach twist. Black tendrils¡ªthick, oily, and alive¡ªwere creeping into his arm through his very skin. ¡°Zhull!¡± he realized, horrified. He gritted his teeth and summoned his purple Nafs, trying to stave off the invading darkness. Agony flared in his veins like molten metal, and he roared as he fought to keep the blackness from spreading further. Meanwhile, inside the black ocean of his mind, Leon thrashed about in slow motion. His lungs burned for air, but every movement felt smothered, as if the liquid darkness weighed a thousand pounds. Am I drowning? he thought, heart hammering. Help! He tried to scream, but no sound escaped. His vision blurred, and every instinct told him to swim up¡ªyet there was no ¡°up,¡± no sense of direction at all in this suffocating void. Worse, the water moved. He felt it shift, something massive stirring in the depths. A chilling realization hit him: I¡¯m not alone down here. He strained his eyes, searching for any hint of light. Suddenly, a shape emerged¡ªa mouth. It glowed a shade of black more vivid than the surrounding darkness, impossibly large, impossibly close. Leon¡¯s heart seized in terror. He tried to kick, to flail, to do anything, but his limbs refused to move. No¡­ no, no! His final thought before the jaws closed in was pure, primal panic. Outside, Kai roared in pain as he forced the black tendrils away from his bloodstream. Purple energy crackled around him, forming a cloud that battled the writhing darkness. His right arm throbbed with every heartbeat, the veins beneath his skin turning an eerie shade of gray. Leon, hang on¡­ Kai¡¯s own thoughts teetered between desperation and guilt. I pushed him too far, too soon. This is all my fault. Suddenly, Leon¡¯s eyes flew open. He jerked upright with a ragged scream, tears spilling as he choked on a mixture of spit and fear. ¡°W-where am I?¡± he gasped between hyperventilating breaths, sweat and tears mingling on his cheeks. ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± Kai managed, voice rough. He dropped to his knees beside Leon, gripping his shoulders tightly. His own body was shaking, and every breath he took felt like razor blades in his lungs. ¡°You¡¯re safe now.¡± Leon coughed violently, his entire torso lurching with the force of it. ¡°That¡ª¡± he wheezed, unable to form a coherent sentence. Terror still danced in his eyes, and he clutched Kai¡¯s forearm with white-knuckled desperation. ¡°Easy,¡± Kai said, struggling to keep his voice gentle. He rubbed Leon¡¯s back with a trembling hand, feeling the slickness of sweat soaking through his shirt. ¡°Just breathe. Slow. In¡­ out¡­¡± Leon nodded, but every inhale felt like shards of glass slicing his throat. Calm down¡­ calm down¡­ he repeated in his head, trying to drown out the memory of that giant mouth, that crushing darkness. After several moments, he finally caught enough air to speak. ¡°I-it was terrifying,¡± he whispered, his voice quaking. ¡°I¡­ couldn¡¯t breathe¡­ I was drowning¡­ and then this¡­ giant mouth¡­¡± Kai¡¯s eyes narrowed with concern. He glanced at his own arm¡ªriddled with bite-like marks, burned patches, and darkened veins. He quickly tugged his sleeve over the worst of it, hoping Leon wouldn¡¯t notice. A Sahalim shouldn¡¯t be lethal, he thought. So why did it try to kill him? ¡°We moved too fast,¡± Kai said aloud, forcing a steadiness he didn¡¯t feel. ¡°You weren¡¯t ready to enter the Sahalim. I¡¯m sorry¡­ I should¡¯ve waited.¡± Leon inhaled shakily. ¡°I¡­ I felt it,¡± he admitted, voice cracking. ¡°There¡¯s something inside me¡ªsomething big, something horrifying. If I use my Nafs again¡­ I¡¯m scared it¡¯ll kill me.¡± Tears fell from his eyes as his voice quivered. ¡°No more¡ª I can¡¯t be a Rulin. I can¡¯t!¡± Kai¡¯s heart twisted at the sight of his brother¡¯s tears. Leon had always been so brash, so eager. But now, he looked genuinely broken. ¡°We don¡¯t have to continue,¡± Kai said softly, placing a reassuring hand on Leon¡¯s back. ¡°I¡¯ll figure out a way to handle your powers so you can live normally.¡± Leon nodded, his entire body still shaking. He staggered to his feet, peeling off his drenched shirt and tossing it aside like it was contaminated. ¡°Let¡¯s just go home,¡± he whispered, voice hollow. Kai stood as well, grimacing at the lingering pain in his arm. He watched Leon¡¯s defeated posture¡ªhis shoulders slumped, his eyes haunted¡ªand felt an overwhelming pang of guilt. Maybe Dad was right, he thought. Leon¡¯s just too young for this. As Leon walked away unsteadily, Kai followed, the training field eerily silent around them. Overhead, the stars glittered coldly, and the moon shone down on two brothers who had just brushed against a darkness neither of them fully understood.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Weaver Fren arrived at the house early in the morning, stepping inside with a calm but inquisitive demeanor. Kai greeted him at the door, face drawn and serious. ¡°Is Leon ready?¡± Fren asked, glancing around as though expecting to see the young Novice. Kai sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°About that¡­¡± He gestured for Fren to sit, then joined him. ¡°There¡¯s been¡­ a complication.¡± Fren frowned, clearly concerned. His eyes landed on the bandaged wound on Kai¡¯s arm. ¡°What happened to you, Sir Kai? And what¡¯s this about Leon?¡± Kai¡¯s gaze dropped to the table, shame knotting his stomach. He produced the bronze badge from his pocket and held it out to Fren. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Leon can¡¯t pursue being a Rulin right now. This is yours.¡± Fren stared at the badge, his worry deepening. ¡°Why? He seemed so excited yesterday. Did something happen?¡± Kai felt a pang of guilt; Fren had respected his request for secrecy, and now Kai was forced to offer at least a partial explanation. ¡°It was my fault,¡± he admitted. Lifting his free hand, he conjured the faint glow of his purple Nafs. ¡°I recently reached Lawamma. Hardly anyone knows.¡± A flicker of surprise lit Fren¡¯s face. ¡°Congratulations. That¡¯s a major achievement.¡± Kai¡¯s expression remained grim. ¡°Thank you, but it led to a miscalculation. As you know, once you¡¯re in Lawamma, you can access your Sahalim.¡± He paused, noticing how Fren¡¯s features darkened with sudden understanding. ¡°I tried to guide Leon into his too soon. He wasn¡¯t ready. The backlash was¡­ severe.¡± Fren set the badge on the table and leaned forward, disappointment evident in the tight line of his mouth. ¡°You scholars and your experiments,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Why attempt something that risky before awakening his Latifa? He would¡¯ve had at least some measure of protection.¡± Kai swallowed hard. ¡°I know. It was reckless. I have no valid excuse.¡± His gaze flickered to the bandages on his arm, and shame twisted inside him. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ not hurt too badly physically, but his psyche took a hit. Every time he tries to sleep, his own Nafs drags him back into the Sahalim.¡± ¡°That¡¯s dangerous, Sir Kai,¡± Fren said, his voice dropping to a worried hush. ¡°You¡¯re aware his mind could be destroyed if this continues.¡± Kai nodded, numb with regret. He reached for a biscuit, as though the simple act might ground him, but the taste turned bitter in his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m keeping my Nafs running through him, hoping to stabilize things until I find a solution. For now, we have to pause his training entirely.¡± Fren rose from his seat with a sigh, sliding the badge into a pocket. ¡°What an unfortunate turn of events. I know you¡¯re a highly regarded researcher in the city¡­ but this time, you went too far.¡± A wave of guilt slammed into Kai, who rose to follow Fren to the door. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to fix this. I apologize for wasting your time. I¡¯ll repay you somehow.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about payment.¡± Fren shook his head. ¡°I was already passing through on patrol.¡± At Kai¡¯s curious look, he added, ¡°Weavers were dispatched for border duty¡ªthere¡¯s been Hanyue tribe activity nearby.¡± Kai¡¯s heart lurched. ¡°The Hanyue?¡± The name alone chilled him. ¡°Are you saying they¡¯re in this area?¡± Fren nodded, face turning grim. ¡°We¡¯re not sure if any Qashir are with them, but that¡¯s why we¡¯re here.¡± His hand reached for the door. ¡°In any case, since there¡¯s no need for me to stay, I¡¯ll be returning to file my report.¡± He paused with his hand on the handle, his voice cooling as he turned back. ¡°Sir Kai¡­ I understand you want to protect your brother. That¡¯s why you¡¯re keeping him away from the city. But know this¡ª¡± A sudden pale-blue light flickered in Fren¡¯s eyes, and a heavy aura radiated from him. ¡°I¡¯ve been a Weaver for many years Sir Kai, facing more Zhulls than I can count. Their stench is unmistakable, and I smell it here.¡± Kai¡¯s heart thundered in his chest. Without thinking, he summoned his own Nafs¡ªthick purple clouds enveloped him, heat coursing through his body. A single bead of sweat ran down his temple as the house itself seemed to quake under the pressure of their opposing energies. For a moment, the two men locked gazes, their auras colliding like thunderheads. Kai¡¯s arm throbbed painfully beneath its bandages, reminding him of just how unfit he was for a direct fight. I¡¯m no fighter¡ªI¡¯m a scholar, he thought, chest constricting with both fear and anger. But I can¡¯t back down. A voice from upstairs rang out, panicked. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Fren inhaled and let his energy recede, his eyes returning to normal. Kai followed suit, feeling an immediate wave of exhaustion. Fren¡¯s parting words were cold: ¡°Keep watch over your brother. If anything happens, I¡¯ll return¡ªand I won¡¯t be alone.¡± He pulled the door open and strode out, leaving Kai standing there, hands shaking, heart pounding. A flurry of footsteps came thundering down the stairs¡ªKai¡¯s parents, their faces damp with sweat. ¡°Kai, what in the world just happened?!¡± his mother demanded breathlessly. Kai slumped onto the sofa, pressing a hand to his forehead. His lungs felt squeezed, as though he¡¯d just sprinted a mile. ¡°Nothing,¡± he lied, drawing a labored breath. ¡°Just¡­ a misunderstanding.¡± His father studied him, concern etched into his lined face. ¡°You¡¯re pale as a sheet, son,¡± he murmured, but he didn¡¯t push. The tension in the room was stifling. Kai couldn¡¯t stop replaying Fren¡¯s warning in his mind: If anything happens, I¡¯ll return¡ªand I won¡¯t be alone. He swallowed against the knot in his throat, painfully aware of the bandaged arm he clutched protectively. He knows something¡¯s off. He knows Leon¡¯s tied to the Zhull. Another knock at the door startled them all. ¡°I¡¯ll get it,¡± his father said, hurrying over. Kai didn¡¯t move; he felt too drained to even stand. Moments later, he heard his father¡¯s voice, forced into a semblance of cheer. ¡°Oh, Nahlia, dear. Good to see you.¡± She entered hesitantly, taking in the disarray¡ªframes on the wall knocked askew, furniture shifted, and Kai himself drenched in sweat and slumped on the sofa. ¡°Kai?¡± she asked, eyes wide with concern. She stopped short, seeming unsure whether to approach with his parents still present. His mother caught on quickly. ¡°Honey, let¡¯s go upstairs and tidy,¡± she said to Kai¡¯s father, tugging him along. ¡°A few things fell; we¡¯ll be back.¡± The moment his parents left, Nahlia rushed over, her voice trembling. ¡°Kai, what¡ªwhat happened? You¡¯re hurt?¡± She motioned to the bandages on his arm, where a faint stain of red was visible. Kai forced a weak smile, using the last of his composure. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. Just scraped it.¡± He knew the lie was transparent, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to burden her with the truth. Her frown deepened. ¡°You¡¯re pale, sweating¡­ This is more than a scrape.¡± She reached out gently, but hesitated to touch him without permission. He exhaled, heat flooding his cheeks¡ªequal parts embarrassment and relief. The tension from Fren¡¯s visit and the guilt eating at him eased slightly just seeing her worry. ¡°I promise, I¡¯m fine,¡± he said, his voice a shade warmer. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°Well, my mom told me you dropped by yesterday,¡± Nahlia explained, still eyeing his injury. ¡°I just wanted to see if everything was okay. Is there anything I can do to help?¡± Kai shook his head, offering her a grateful smile. ¡°No, really. Did you like the flowers?¡± He tried to shift the subject, though he saw the worry that lingered in her eyes. She nodded, but her beautiful eyes clouded in worry, lingered on his arm. Seeing that same beautiful concern only made him want to reassure her, so¡ªon instinct¡ªhe reached out and patted her head gently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he whispered, his own breath unsteady. ¡°I¡¯m just worn out. You being here helps, honestly.¡± Nahlia blinked in surprise at the gesture, her cheeks colouring. Despite the anxiety gnawing at the edges of his mind, Kai felt a flicker of genuine comfort in her presence. Even if just for a moment, everything feels a little less suffocating. The Truth Kai stepped outside with Nahlia, eager to escape the stifling air in the house. Only after feeling the cool breeze on his clammy skin did he realize how much he was sweating. ¡°Ah, sorry,¡± he mumbled, suddenly self-conscious. ¡°I should probably go change.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine,¡± Nahlia said gently. ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± He wrinkled his nose at the dampness of his shirt and rubbed the stubble on his chin. ¡°Might not be the best smell, though.¡± ¡°You should really keep a clean face,¡± she suddenly teased, nodding at his faint beard. ¡°It suits you.¡± ¡°Not a fan of stubble or beards, huh?¡± Kai asked, arching an eyebrow. She shook her head with a smile. ¡°Not really.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Then his expression softened. ¡°So¡­ did you like the flowers?¡± ¡°They were beautiful.¡± Her eyes shone. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me. You¡¯re my fianc¨¦e¡ªthis is basically expected,¡± he joked with a grin. She responded with a small laugh, but Kai noticed a hint of curiosity in her eyes. ¡°Speaking of which, what brought you all the way here? Did something happen?¡± ¡°Does something need to happen?¡± she asked, tilting her head. ¡°No, no,¡± Kai said hastily, waving his hands. Nahlia giggled at his flustered response, prompting Kai¡¯s mind to wander again. She really was enchanting. ¡°Can I say something weird?¡± he asked, abruptly. ¡°Sure,¡± she replied, amused. He rubbed the back of his neck, face reddening. ¡°You¡¯re just¡­ really beautiful. Like, gosh.¡± She blushed, her smile widening. ¡°Thank you.¡± They walked in a comfortable silence for a few moments, slowly circling the house until they found themselves near the village streets. ¡°I heard you might be leaving within the week,¡± she said softly, a trace of sadness in her voice. ¡°That was the plan,¡± Kai admitted. ¡°But I¡¯m not so sure now¡ªLeon¡¯s not doing well, so I might stay longer or have to leave even earlier.¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°Earlier?¡± ¡°Leon¡¯s condition is complicated,¡± he explained. ¡°He needs me around for a while.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± she asked, concern coloring her voice. ¡°It¡¯s just some backlash from his training,¡± Kai said. Nahlia nodded thoughtfully. ¡°He¡¯s trying to become a Rulin, right?¡± ¡°Yes, but that¡¯s on pause for now,¡± Kai confirmed. She grew pensive for a moment, then glanced up at him. ¡°Do you want to be a Rulin?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Not really. It¡¯s too dangerous, and I¡¯m the only one providing for my family. If something happened to me, they¡¯d be in trouble.¡± ¡°I see,¡± she murmured, processing his words. ¡°What about you¡ªever thought of becoming a Rulin?¡± he asked with a small, playful smile. She chuckled. ¡°Never. I have no interest in risking my life like that.¡± He nodded and, feeling uncharacteristically bold, said, ¡°Well, you won¡¯t ever need to. I¡¯ll be here to protect you.¡± It sounded far smoother in his head, and he cringed internally, but she only giggled. ¡°Cute,¡± she teased, and Kai scratched the back of his neck again, looking sheepish. Suddenly, a gravelly voice interrupted them. ¡°Hey, young man.¡± Startled, Kai realized they¡¯d drifted toward the market district. He turned to see the same middle-aged man he¡¯d encountered before, clad in ragged clothes and smoking a thin cigar. The man¡¯s red-rimmed eyes suggested he hadn¡¯t slept much. Kai instinctively moved forward, placing himself between the stranger and Nahlia. ¡°Yes? Something you need?¡± ¡°Got any spare change?¡± the man asked, extending a trembling hand. Kai nodded and dug out a few silver coins, passing them over. ¡°Here you go.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± the man said, pocketing the coins. As Kai turned to leave, he felt a hand grip his shoulder. ¡°Wait,¡± the stranger said, his voice dropping. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Nahlia frowned, bristling at the contact. Kai held out an arm to keep her back. ¡°Yes, sir?¡± Kai asked politely, gently removing the man¡¯s hand. ¡°You smell¡­ odd today,¡± the man muttered, squinting at him. Kai flushed. ¡°Ha, yeah¡ªI¡¯ve been sweating a bit,¡± he said sheepishly, crying inside at how embarrassing this was in front of Nahlia. ¡°Not that,¡± the man growled. ¡°You smell like¡­ Zhull.¡± His gaze flicked to Kai¡¯s arm, and his eyes narrowed. ¡°You should be careful, kid. That stench is strong.¡± Then, without further explanation, he turned and limped away, leaving Kai stunned. ¡°What a weirdo,¡± Nahlia said, staring after him. Kai was too distracted to respond properly. ¡°Yeah,¡± he mumbled, lost in thought. He gently steered them both back toward his house, still unsettled by the man¡¯s words.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. When they arrived, Leon stood outside, looking pale and anxious. ¡°Leon?¡± Kai quickened his pace, Nahlia trailing just behind. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Leon locked eyes on Kai, ignoring Nahlia¡¯s presence. ¡°Where were you?¡± he demanded, breath coming in short bursts. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and fresh scratch marks lined his neck. ¡°Easy,¡± Kai said, scanning Leon¡¯s disheveled appearance. ¡°I was just out for a walk. What happened¡ªwhat are these scratches?¡± Leon¡¯s eyes shimmered with barely contained fear. ¡°I-I can¡¯t close my eyes, Kai,¡± he stammered. ¡°Every time I do, I see¡­ it. What do I do?¡± Kai¡¯s heart clenched in concern. He gave Leon¡¯s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll fix it.¡± He guided Leon into the house, with Nahlia trailing behind, her face a mix of confusion and worry. If only it were that simple, Kai thought grimly. He cast a quick glance at Nahlia, hoping she wouldn¡¯t pry into all the details he¡¯d rather keep hidden. One crisis at a time. As Kai stepped into the house, he noticed his parents pacing restlessly. Maribel sat on the sofa, looking just as worried. The moment they spotted Kai, they rushed over. ¡°Kai,¡± his father barked, ¡°what is going on with Leon?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll explain soon,¡± Kai said, exhaling. ¡°First, let me help him relax.¡± He led Leon upstairs, Nahlia following uncertainly behind, not wanting to remain with Kai¡¯s visibly agitated parents. ¡°Leon, from now on, you¡¯ll sleep in my room, alright?¡± Kai said as they entered. Leon gave a curt nod and peeled off his shirt, collapsing onto the bed with a weary sigh. Kai placed a palm on Leon¡¯s forehead, channeling his Nafs. Nahlia watched in stunned silence as a subtle purple glow enveloped Kai¡¯s hand. A noise like crumpling paper rippled through the air, and Kai winced intermittently, but soon the light dissipated. Leon appeared to have drifted off to sleep. Kai took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders to relieve tension. Turning to Nahlia, he offered a tired smile. ¡°Could you stay with him for a few minutes while I grab a quick shower?¡± She nodded, still processing what she¡¯d just witnessed. She sank into Kai¡¯s desk chair, watching Leon¡¯s peaceful but exhausted slumber. What¡¯s really going on here? she wondered. Nahlia paced around the room for a while until Kai returned. He wore only a pair of shorts, his hair damp from the shower. Ordinarily, she might have blushed, but her eyes immediately locked onto his right arm¡ªand her face paled. ¡°K-Kai,¡± she breathed, taking a step closer. ¡°What¡­ what happened to your arm?¡± It was riddled with injuries¡ªburn-like wounds, small lacerations, and veins tinged with black. The entire limb looked painfully abnormal. Kai sighed, shutting the door behind him. ¡°Nahlia¡­ since we¡¯re engaged, and we plan to marry, there are things about me you should know.¡± From a drawer, he pulled out some white bandages. Tearing them open with his teeth, he began clumsily wrapping his arm. ¡°Let me help¡ª¡± Nahlia offered, already standing. He shook his head gently. ¡°I¡¯ve got it.¡± She watched him finish the bandaging, the result uneven but serviceable. He let out a faint laugh under his breath. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± she asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°You.¡± ¡°Me? Why?¡± He exhaled, managing a small, genuine grin. ¡°You remember saying I¡¯d eventually fall for you? You were right. I think I¡¯m already there.¡± Her cheeks flushed, though she smiled back. ¡°Why are you telling me that now?¡± Kai¡¯s grin turned sheepish. ¡°I say what¡¯s on my mind. And lately, my mind¡¯s on you¡­ a lot.¡± Her blush deepened, but she seemed pleased. Kai took a seat on the edge of the bed while she settled back in the chair. ¡°Anyway,¡± he began, voice more serious, ¡°as my future wife, I feel I owe you honesty more than anyone else. Because in the end, it¡¯ll be you and me facing the world together, right?¡± She nodded, her expression softening at his words. Kai lifted his left hand, letting a gentle purple haze swirl around it. ¡°What is that?¡± Nahlia asked, curiosity and lingering concern mingling in her voice. ¡°I saw it when you were helping Leon.¡± ¡°This is my Nafs,¡± Kai explained. ¡°Nafs?¡± she repeated, eyes widening. ¡°But you said you aren¡¯t trying to be a Rulin.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± he said with a wry smile. ¡°But I did train to be one in the past, and I kept up occasional practice. I¡¯ve reached a certain level.¡± Nahlia took in a slow breath. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ amazing. I¡¯ve never seen anyone use Nafs before.¡± Kai offered a short laugh. ¡°Once you move in with me, you¡¯ll see plenty of odd things. My research involves the Zhull, so I work with a lot of high-level Rulin. Some are even higher-ranked than me.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± she breathed, genuinely impressed. Kai started to say more, but a knock on the door cut him off. He opened it to find his mother glaring at him, her gaze flicking to Leon, who was thankfully asleep. Then she turned that stern look back to Kai. ¡°Come downstairs,¡± she said, her tone brooking no argument. Kai sighed, nodding. He glanced at Nahlia, managing a small, reassuring smile. ¡°Would you mind staying here a bit longer?¡± She nodded, watching them leave. Once alone, she glanced at Leon¡ªstill slumbering, though his rest looked far from peaceful¡ªand then at the closed door. Her heart pounded with questions, but she resolved to trust Kai, at least for now. Kai followed his mother downstairs, where his father paced anxiously. At the sight of Kai, his father¡¯s eyes flashed with anger and worry. ¡°What happened to Leon?¡± he demanded, voice trembling with rage. ¡°He isn¡¯t sleeping¡ªhe¡¯s panicking, hurting himself! What the hell is going on?¡± ¡°Please, sit,¡± Kai said quietly. ¡°I¡¯ll explain everything.¡± ¡°Sit? Tell me now!¡± his father roared, clamping his large hands on Kai¡¯s bare shoulders. Kai felt nails digging into his skin. ¡°Honey, let him go!¡± Kai¡¯s mother intervened, pulling her husband back. Kai took a small breath, trying to stay calm. His gaze flickered to Maribel, who stood off to the side, looking just as worried. Once his mother managed to guide his father to the sofa, she handed him a glass of water. She settled next to him, her face drawn with concern. Kai pulled on a buttoned shirt, then took a seat across from his parents. Maribel sat beside him, fidgeting anxiously. ¡°Mom, you might not know all of this,¡± he began. ¡°Dad does, but I¡¯ve mastered my Nafs and reached Lawamma months ago. There¡¯s no pride in saying it¡ªit¡¯s just the truth.¡± ¡°Get to the point,¡± his father snarled. Kai tried to remain steady, directing most of his explanation toward his mother. ¡°When someone steps into the Lawamma realm, they gain access to their introspective world¡ªthe Sahalim.¡± His father shot to his feet, pointing an accusing finger. ¡°Stop wasting time! Leon¡¯s losing his mind, all because of your crazy Rulin plans! Did you see the scratches on his neck? If I hadn¡¯t stopped him, who knows what he¡¯d have done!¡± Outside their line of sight, Nahlia hovered on the stairs, unable to fight her curiosity. She peered in, her heart pounding. ¡°I understand, Dad,¡± Kai murmured. ¡°The hell you do!¡± his father roared again. Kai felt his own anger surge. He stood, meeting his father¡¯s glare. ¡°Will you let me finish? Don¡¯t demand an explanation and then refuse to hear it!¡± His father¡¯s fury peaked; he stepped forward and slapped Kai hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed. Nahlia clapped a hand over her mouth in shock; Maribel and her mother flinched as well. ¡°Feel better now?¡± Kai asked icily, one hand pressed to his stinging cheek. ¡°Watch your tone,¡± his father growled. ¡°Don¡¯t forget who you¡¯re speaking to.¡± Kai scoffed but sank back into his seat, his voice turning cold. ¡°Fine. Sit down, Dad.¡± With a shaky exhale, his mother tugged Kai¡¯s father back to the sofa. ¡°I¡¯ll keep this brief,¡± Kai said, words clipped. ¡°Leon¡¯s Nafs is somehow linked to the Zhull. He can literally create them¡ªand I have no idea why or how. I tried to help him gain more control, but it backfired. Now his own Nafs is trying to kill him.¡± His mother¡¯s eyes went wide with panic. ¡°W-what does that mean for Leon?¡± she asked, voice shaking. Kai¡¯s gaze softened. He shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Mom. I¡¯m as stunned as you.¡± ¡°Then get someone to help him!¡± his father cried, desperation cracking his voice. ¡°You¡¯re being stupid! He¡¯ll die otherwise!¡± Kai¡¯s frustration flared. ¡°I can¡¯t! If I tell any scholar or Rulin about Leon, they¡¯ll see him as a threat and kill him¡ªand probably all of us!¡± A tense silence fell over the room, as thick as the dread in everyone¡¯s hearts. Kai looked around, eyes still cold. He rose, walking toward the staircase. His parents sat weeping, fear etched into every line on their faces. ¡°I told you before,¡± he said quietly, turning back. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way, somehow.¡± Then he climbed the steps. Halfway up, he caught sight of Nahlia standing on the landing, eyes wide. He managed a bitter smile. He gently patted her head. ¡°You heard all of that, didn¡¯t you?¡± She nodded mutely. He sighed, feeling a weariness settle in his bones. ¡°It was only a matter of time before you found out. Listen¡­ if you want to call off our engagement, I won¡¯t hold it against you. I¡¯ll take all the blame.¡± With that, he ascended the rest of the way and slipped into his room, leaving her behind, stunned and torn between compassion and fear. The Move Days passed in a blur. Kai adhered to a strict schedule: he woke early to contain Leon¡¯s Nafs, spent long hours researching the phenomenon, and monitored the inner workings of Leon¡¯s energy throughout the day. Fortunately, he¡¯d found a way to extract small portions of Leon¡¯s Nafs using his own, which not only helped him protect Leon but also advanced his ongoing research into the Zhull. Although Leon was slowly improving¡ªsleeping again and no longer slipping into the Sahalim¡ªKai felt his own strength waning. He used his Nafs far more than usual, and his injured right arm refused to heal. The dark tint on his veins hadn¡¯t spread any further, but his flesh remained raw and painful, and the constant exertion left his mind throbbing with dull aches. Worse still was the silence from Nahlia. She hadn¡¯t visited, and Kai couldn¡¯t bring himself to go to her. Every day without word from her felt like another piece of solace slipping away. ¡°Well, there goes my one chance at peace,¡± he muttered bitterly, jotting more notes into a tattered notebook. ¡°Kai,¡± came Leon¡¯s voice from the doorway, ¡°we¡¯re leaving tomorrow?¡± Kai looked up, noticing how much healthier Leon already seemed. The younger brother¡¯s sleep was deeper, his eyes clearer, and though he no longer spoke of becoming a Rulin, at least he was no longer traumatized. ¡°Yes. But we¡¯re not returning to the city,¡± Kai answered, setting his pen down. ¡°I¡¯ve resigned from my position there. I¡¯ll conduct my own research in a smaller town instead.¡± Leon¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You resigned? Why would you do that?¡± ¡°What choice do I have?¡± Kai let out a dry laugh. ¡°Going back would bring too much attention to me. It turns out experienced Rulin can sense Zhull, and I apparently reek of it.¡± He glanced at his injured arm, flexing his fingers with obvious discomfort. ¡°I was lucky enough to craft a decent resignation letter, so the academy¡ªor what¡¯s left of my department¡ªaccepted my departure.¡± ¡°But¡­ the finances?¡± Leon asked hesitantly. They both knew Kai was the family¡¯s sole breadwinner. He paid for the house, food, and everyone¡¯s allowances. ¡°That won¡¯t be a problem,¡± Kai replied with a small smile. ¡°I won¡¯t earn as much as before, but I still collect royalties from my stories, research papers, and other publications.¡± He paused for a moment, his gaze distant. ¡°Besides¡­ I¡¯m thinking of switching career paths.¡± Leon¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Switch? To what?¡± Kai exhaled, a mix of resolve and uncertainty flitting across his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve decided¡­ I¡¯ll become a Rulin.¡± Early morning light fell on two large carriages parked outside the house, each harnessed to a pair of sturdy horses. Kai stood by them, exchanging final words with his parents. Leon hovered at his side, visibly eager yet subdued by the underlying tension. ¡°Mom, Dad¡­ are you absolutely sure you won¡¯t come?¡± Kai asked for the umpteenth time, letting out a sigh. He already suspected the answer. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Kai,¡± his mother replied gently, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. ¡°We¡¯ll stay here. Just take care of Leon.¡± Ever since Kai and Leon had laid out the situation, their parents had reluctantly agreed to let Leon leave. They now grasped the gravity of Leon¡¯s condition and Kai¡¯s reasons for relocating. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Kai assured them. ¡°I¡¯ll send our new address as soon as we settle in. We¡¯ll be in a more remote area, but it¡¯s not that far away.¡± His mother nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Just make sure you look after Leon. He¡¯s still young.¡± Kai exhaled, nodding. ¡°Yes, Mom. I promise.¡± He couldn¡¯t help scanning the surroundings, hoping a particular face might appear. She¡¯s not coming, he thought, feeling a pang of disappointment. Then, turning back to his mother, he mustered a half-smile. ¡°Mom¡­ if Nahlia decides to break the engagement, don¡¯t make it difficult for her, alright?¡± She frowned, sadness evident in her eyes. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t. But it¡¯s heartbreaking it¡¯s come to that.¡± Kai forced a small shrug. ¡°It is what it is.¡± ¡°Bye, Mom!¡± Leon called out, sounding more upbeat. He had always longed for a chance to explore beyond the village, and now he finally had it¡ªregardless of the circumstances. ¡°Bye, Leo,¡± she responded, patting his cheek. ¡°Try not to cause too much trouble, okay?¡± Leon grinned. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Kai,¡± his father¡¯s rough voice broke in, drawing Kai¡¯s attention. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Take care of Leon,¡± his father said, softer than usual. ¡°He¡¯s your responsibility.¡± Kai dipped his head, keeping his expression neutral. ¡°Got it.¡± Then he motioned to the driver. ¡°Alright¡ªlet¡¯s go.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. The driver urged the horses forward. As the carriages began rolling away from the village, a sudden shout echoed from behind. ¡°Wait!¡± Kai¡¯s head whipped around; he recognized that voice immediately. ¡°Stop!¡± he commanded, and the driver brought the carriage to a halt. In the distance, he spotted Nahlia running toward them, her hair swaying with each step. Relief flooded him¡ªlike a weight lifting off his chest. She¡¯s here. He hopped down from the carriage, walking toward her with an excited smile. ¡°You came.¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± she asked, catching her breath. Kai¡¯s smile faded slightly. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ you haven¡¯t reached out in a while. I assumed you¡¯d changed your mind about¡ªus.¡± She narrowed her eyes, clearly annoyed. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I like you?¡± He nodded, heart thudding. ¡°You did.¡± ¡°Then why would I leave? I¡¯m not that type of person,¡± she stated, arms folded stubbornly. Kai hesitated. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to force you into anything.¡± ¡°Force me?¡± She let out an exasperated huff. ¡°I already told you¡ªI want this. The least you could¡¯ve done was come see me.¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± He started, then shook his head sheepishly. ¡°I was worried I¡¯d make things harder for you.¡± Nahlia took a step closer, so close he could feel her warmth. ¡°Listen, Kai, one more time: I like you. Trust me.¡± A smile bloomed across his face. ¡°I¡ªI do.¡± Nahlia¡¯s gaze slipped to the carriages behind him. ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re leaving now?¡± He nodded, sadness creeping in. ¡°Yes. We¡¯re moving somewhere quieter for Leon¡¯s sake.¡± ¡°I see,¡± she said softly, her eyes clouded with disappointment. ¡°Then¡­ promise to write me lots of letters?¡± ¡°I will,¡± Kai vowed. She bit her lip. ¡°Make sure you take care of yourself, okay?¡± ¡°I will.¡± ¡°Eat well.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it. Ok?¡± He felt a slight warmth in his chest as she fussed over him. ¡°I promise.¡± Unable to help himself, he lifted a hand and gently patted her head. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, voice quiet. ¡°I¡¯m glad I fell for someone like you.¡± Though her cheeks turned pink, Nahlia managed a small, sweet smile. He lowered his hand, stepping back toward the waiting carriage. ¡°You look happy,¡± Leon observed from the carriage door, flashing a knowing grin. Kai let out a light laugh. ¡°I am.¡± He climbed aboard, and the driver eased the horses forward again. Kai watched as Nahlia¡¯s figure shrank into the distance, a hopeful ache in his heart. I¡¯ll be back, he vowed silently. Hours ticked by as the carriages rolled steadily along. Leon stared out the window, a hint of boredom in his eyes. Eventually, he turned to Kai, who was leafing through some notes. ¡°So¡­ what¡¯s the plan now?¡± Leon asked, recalling Kai¡¯s announcement that he intended to become a Rulin again. He knew it wouldn¡¯t be simple. Kai paused, collecting his thoughts. ¡°Well, the place we¡¯ll be living in is extremely remote. Actually, no one else is around for miles.¡± Leon frowned. ¡°I thought we¡¯d be in a town?¡± ¡°No,¡± Kai said, shaking his head. ¡°The nearest town is an hour away by carriage. We¡¯ll be even farther from that.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Kai ran a tired hand over his bandaged arm. ¡°Because I need to ensure nothing happens¡ªno one unexpectedly sensing the Zhull aura on us. After we ran into Weaver Fren and even that middle-aged man, it¡¯s clear some people can detect it. I have to figure out how to completely restrict your Nafs while also uncovering its source.¡± Leon swallowed and nodded. ¡°I get it. What about my studies, then?¡± ¡°For now, I¡¯ll handle your basic education,¡± Kai explained. ¡°And once things settle, we¡¯ll decide the next step for you.¡± Leon glanced away, silent for a moment. He knew things weren¡¯t great; he also knew he played a part in that. ¡°I understand,¡± he murmured. Kai shot him a wary look. ¡°I¡¯ll also need you to put up with a few¡­ experiments, all right?¡± Leon tensed and wrapped his arms protectively around himself. ¡°You¡¯re not gonna dissect me, right?¡± Kai rolled his eyes, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. ¡°I¡¯ll try not to,¡± he joked. ¡°But seriously, I can¡¯t hold your Nafs back forever. You need to learn to control it.¡± Leon gulped but said nothing further. He knew it was true. Kai sighed softly. I never imagined I¡¯d walk the Rulin path again. He remembered how, in his youth, their father had pushed him to become a Rulin. He¡¯d shown remarkable aptitude with Nafs¡ªhis emotional control was high¡ªand he had even managed to reach a few months prior Lawamma. Yet, he was never able to awaken his Latifa. Even upon accessing his Sahalim, he couldn¡¯t locate it, and so he gave up the idea entirely. But that was before everything changed, before he realized how dangerous Leon¡¯s powers could be¡­ and how powerful the forces pursuing them might become. He needed to prepare, especially if Weaver Fren decided to return. Fren was a skilled Weaver, after all, and there were far stronger ranks¡ªVanguards, Guardians, Sentinels¡ªbeyond him. ¡°Sir, we¡¯re here,¡± the driver called from up ahead. Kai peered through the window. An open field stretched before them, with a large house in the center, surrounded by vast, empty land. Leon leaned forward. ¡°Whoa¡­ this place is huge.¡± Kai offered a weary smile. ¡°I sold my place in the city¡ªplus a few other assets¡ªto buy it. It¡¯s sturdy and far away from everything.¡± Leon¡¯s eyes flicked across the rolling fields. ¡°But¡­ where¡¯s the town? We didn¡¯t pass one on the way.¡± ¡°It¡¯s down that hill and through the small forest,¡± one of the drivers explained. ¡°You can reach it by carriage in about an hour.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Kai said, nodding. ¡°Help us unload everything, then I¡¯d like one of you to drive us there to pick up the supplies we need.¡± Leon smirked. ¡°Look at you¡­ all big-shot now.¡± Kai ignored the tease, though a faint shadow of a grin crossed his face. Back home, Kai had usually been locked away in his room, either lost in research or relaxing with his parents. So, anyone rarely saw this side of him. Maybe this is why Mom and Dad let him do as he pleases, Leon thought, observing how calmly his brother handled things. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the driver replied, exchanging a few words with the second driver. Both carriages pulled up in front of the house. It was a two-story building, impressively large, with an empty stable and several outdoor storage sheds nearby. The vast field around it seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions. ¡°This place used to belong to the Tryan family,¡± one of the drivers noted, sounding awed. ¡°They used it as a vacation home. To think they¡¯d sell it to you¡­¡± Kai only shrugged. ¡°I happened to know someone from the Tryan family¡ªhe gave me a good deal.¡± He recalled that one of the Tryan Vanguards was part of his former research team. A short letter explaining his need for solitude had sealed the arrangement. ¡°That¡¯s amazing,¡± the driver breathed. ¡°The Tryan family are major players among the Rulin. People rarely even see them, let alone get close.¡± Kai just smiled politely. ¡°If you¡¯d like,¡± the driver went on, ¡°I could bring a few folks from the town to help clean the place up?¡± Kai considered, then nodded. ¡°Yes, please. Have some people come organize everything. Meanwhile, one of you can take me and my brother into town so we can buy necessities.¡± ¡°Understood, sir.¡± With that, the rest of the day was devoted to unloading luggage, settling in, and arranging for a crew to tidy up the large estate. As evening approached, the house began to feel a little more like a potential home¡ªeven if a lonely one in the middle of nowhere. New Beginnings It took the brothers two full days to settle into their new home. During that time, Kai drew up a rigid schedule for both of them. He was used to working off a strict timetable¡ªhe found it made life easier. ¡°Bro, this is too much,¡± Leon grumbled, scanning the packed schedule. ¡°Since you¡¯re not attending a formal school, I have to be responsible for your education,¡± Kai explained. ¡°Once we can better manage your Nafs, I¡¯ll consider letting you attend classes in town.¡± Leon¡¯s eyes flicked across the page. ¡°But you included physical training, too? I¡¯ve told you¡ªI don¡¯t want to be a Rulin anymore, so what¡¯s the point?¡± Kai shrugged. ¡°When I was a scholar, I still kept up my physical regimen. Why shouldn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Because I know how to say no,¡± Leon retorted. ¡°You just do whatever Mom and Dad say.¡± Kai rolled his eyes. ¡°Well, that¡¯s too bad. This schedule is happening.¡± Leon sighed. ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°All right,¡± Kai continued, ¡°later, we¡¯re going into town to buy you and I a horse.¡± ¡°A horse? Why?¡± Leon asked, suspicious. ¡°You really want to walk all the way between here and town every time?¡± Kai smirked. ¡°Besides, horses are the main mode of transport, and you should learn how to ride.¡± Leon grimaced. ¡°They¡¯re uncomfortable,¡± he grumbled. Kai shot him an exasperated look. ¡°You complain a lot, you know. Whether we like it or not, we have work to do.¡± Leon relented with another sigh. ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s start your lessons for today,¡± Kai said, guiding Leon into a small library he¡¯d set up. The session lasted roughly three hours, with short breaks in between. They covered basic arithmetic, sciences, and history¡ªplus an extra lesson on the Zhull. Kai wanted Leon to understand the creatures thoroughly: what they were, where they came from, and how they operated. ¡°Any questions?¡± Kai asked, closing the final book. ¡°Yes,¡± Leon said, setting down his notes. ¡°You mentioned Rulin ranks are Novice, Disciple, Weaver, Guardian, and then Sentinel. What about the Zhull?¡± ¡°There are three known ranks,¡± Kai began, sketching on a small board. ¡°Murkspawn, Tenebraith, and the Obsidian Overlords. Murkspawn are the most common, Tenebraith rarely appear outside Shumara, and Obsidian Overlords¡ªwell, they¡¯re more like speculation. No one¡¯s encountered one and lived to tell the tale.¡± Leon¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Does that mean the Zhull outclass the Rulin?¡± Kai nodded solemnly. ¡°Right now, yes. Even a single Murkspawn typically requires Weavers and Vanguards working together. A Tenebraith can only be handled by Sentinels.¡± Leon¡¯s gaze flickered with concern. ¡°How many Sentinels do we have?¡± ¡°The Rulin are split into ten divisions, each led by a Sentinel,¡± Kai said. ¡°Then we have the Supreme, who¡¯s also a Sentinel.¡± ¡°So, eleven in total?¡± ¡°Technically,¡± Kai replied. ¡°But the rank of Sentinel is based on achievements and mastery of the Latifa and Nafs. Some Guardians might match a Sentinel in strength but lack the required achievements.¡± Leon jotted down a note. ¡°How many Guardians are at Sentinel-level, then?¡± ¡°Two,¡± Kai answered. ¡°They head two major families. They retired early, so they never formally reached Sentinel rank.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Leon mulled this over. ¡°What about the Zhull? How many of their top ranks are active?¡± Kai¡¯s shoulders slumped slightly. ¡°We don¡¯t know. Their world is largely unexplored, and even the parts we¡¯ve infiltrated make up a fraction of Shumara.¡± Leon frowned. ¡°But if we have so many high-ranked Rulin¡­ how are we losing?¡± Kai paused. ¡°Because the Zhull are stronger. A single Tenebraith can rival the Supreme. We often need two Sentinels at once to handle one Tenebraith.¡± He hesitated, then added, ¡°So far, the Supreme¡¯s personally killed two Tenebraith, and the other divisions have collectively brought down three more.¡± ¡°That sounds good,¡± Leon said, brightening. ¡°Not exactly.¡± Kai exhaled heavily. ¡°Even taking out five Tenebraith hasn¡¯t made a dent. The last meeting I attended, they said at least ten more Tenebraith are still active.¡± Leon tapped his pen nervously. ¡°But we have eleven Sentinels. Isn¡¯t that¡­ enough?¡± ¡°Only in theory.¡± Kai rubbed his neck. ¡°Not all Sentinels are on the Supreme¡¯s level. We¡¯re effectively outgunned.¡± He spent a few more minutes clarifying details before concluding the lesson. ¡°All right, let¡¯s wrap up. Go relax for a bit.¡± ¡°Finally,¡± Leon groaned, leaping up and dashing out of the room. Kai shook his head and made his way to his own study. Sitting down at a desk, he spread out a piece of parchment, dipping his quill into a nearby inkwell. ¡°I need to write to Nahlia,¡± he murmured, tapping the pen against his chin. ¡°Why is this so hard?¡± Minutes passed, and he still hadn¡¯t penned a word. He closed his eyes, took a calming breath, and began. Nahlia, I promised to write, so here¡¯s my first letter. I¡¯m not the best at this, but I¡¯ll do my best for you. How have you been? What¡¯s new in your studies? I¡¯ve moved to a large house a few miles outside a small town¡ªfar enough to give me space for research and to teach Leon. He¡¯s doing better, thankfully, especially with my constant monitoring. We plan to buy horses soon; traveling between the house and town will be easier that way. Once Leon is stable, I¡¯ll be able to visit more often. Until then, I likely won¡¯t have the chance to come by. I¡¯ve enclosed my new address below, so if you decide to write back, I¡¯ll arrange a reliable porter to bring your letters quickly¡ªany time, day or night. Take care of yourself. ¡ªKai Zharun Satisfied with the letter, he rolled it up and secured it with gray thread. Next, he wrote a second letter for his parents and another for Maribel, sealing them with green thread. With the letters done, he stepped into the hall, looking for Leon. ¡°Hey,¡± Kai called, spotting Leon down the corridor, also holding a few letters. ¡°Let¡¯s go to town.¡± ¡°What, already?¡± Leon asked, stifling a yawn. ¡°I haven¡¯t even had a nap.¡± ¡°You can nap when we get back,¡± Kai said dismissively. ¡°We¡¯ll have to walk since the drivers aren¡¯t here.¡± Leon groaned. ¡°That¡¯s a two-hour walk.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯d better start soon,¡± Kai replied with a grin. After changing into more practical clothes, they set off. By the time they reached the outskirts of the nearby town, Leon was already complaining about his sore feet. Nonetheless, their mood lifted somewhat as they walked. They reminisced about home¡ªat one point bursting into laughter. In a distant location, a gathering took place in a grand hall. A large, circular table occupied the center, and at one end stood a small throne. Thirty-three individuals were present¡ªten seated around the table, each with two attendants behind them, plus the one on the throne with his two attendants. ¡°All Sentinels accounted for?¡± asked the man on the throne, his voice gruff and authoritative. ¡°Yes, Supreme,¡± answered a figure standing behind him. ¡°Good,¡± the Supreme said, a scarred face and long black hair marking him as a seasoned warrior. He wore a gilded robe over white garments. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Kai and Leon finally reached the bustling street. Leon wiped sweat from his brow, still chuckling. ¡°Dad was insane. That time he threw you and Maribel in the water¡­ he barely gave you guys a chance.¡± Kai snorted. ¡°Tell me about it. His methods were extreme, but I guess we survived.¡± Pausing at a crossroads, Leon pointed to a local stable. ¡°How about I check out some horses while you deliver the letters?¡± Kai nodded. ¡°Sure. Just don¡¯t buy anything yet. I want to see if they¡¯re any good first.¡± ¡°Fine, fine,¡± Leon said, rolling his eyes before jogging off. Kai smiled wearily and made for the local courier shop. Delivering letters was usually simple, though inter-city postage could be pricey. Luckily, Kai had the resources to send letters daily if he chose. ¡°Excuse me,¡± he said upon entering the shop. ¡°I need to have these letters delivered.¡± ¡°Certainly,¡± the courier replied. ¡°Where to?¡± Kai handed him a slip of paper with addresses and names. The courier spread out a small map and began calculating routes. ¡°If any replies come back, will you pay in advance for those as well?¡± the courier asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Kai confirmed. ¡°I might receive some return letters. I¡¯ll cover that cost now.¡± Nodding, the courier tallied the total. ¡°All told, that¡¯ll be twenty-three silver.¡± Kai handed over the coins without complaint. ¡°Sounds fair.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll spend one day in this village,¡± the courier explained. ¡°After that, I¡¯ll move on, with or without responses.¡± Kai gave a short nod. ¡°Understood.¡± With that settled, he stepped outside, letting the late-afternoon sun warm his tired shoulders. Despite everything, he felt a small sense of accomplishment¡ªhe was moving forward, day by day. Now, he just had to find Leon and pick out some horses. The Horse; The Meeting Leon and Kai met outside the stable soon after. ¡°I like this one,¡± Leon announced, pointing to a massive brown steed. It was noticeably larger than the other horses, reminiscent of a warhorse. ¡°Are you sure you can handle something that big?¡± Kai asked, eyeing the stallion warily. Both brothers were over six feet tall, but the horse still looked imposing, even for them. Leon¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. It looks so cool.¡± Kai turned to the stable¡¯s caretaker. ¡°Tell me about this horse.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a mountain horse,¡± the man explained. ¡°We find them wild in the mountains. They¡¯re big, strong, and have incredible stamina. I¡¯d dare say they rank just below the Rulin warhorses.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Kai narrowed his gaze. ¡°Then why aren¡¯t they used by the Rulin? They¡¯re bigger, and by the sound of it, they could be stronger.¡± The man gave an awkward laugh. ¡°They¡¯re difficult to tame since they¡¯re wild. They¡¯re aggressive and territorial, which causes problems in battle situations.¡± Kai let out a quiet chuckle, understanding immediately. Not every horse could handle¡ªor be handled by¡ªevery rider. ¡°Leon, pick something else,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to tame a temperamental horse that could kill you with a single kick.¡± Leon pouted but relented. ¡°Fine. But you should at least check out a mountain horse for yourself. You¡¯re the one aiming to be a Rulin, right?¡± ¡°Sir, if you truly plan on becoming a Rulin, I¡¯ll give you a discount,¡± the caretaker added eagerly. Kai¡¯s brows drew together. ¡°You¡¯re pushing these mountain horses pretty hard. Why is that? Having trouble selling them? Something you¡¯re not telling me?¡± The caretaker grimaced. ¡°Well, not exactly. But¡­ this one is extremely territorial. It scares the other horses away, and it refuses to leave.¡± ¡°Why not put it down?¡± Kai asked bluntly. ¡°Easier said than done,¡± the man said with a sigh. ¡°A bow and arrow barely pierced its hide, and if you fail to kill it outright, you might as well flee. It¡¯s strong and stubborn¡ªonly someone with Rulin-level skills could manage it.¡± Kai noticed a deep cut on the horse¡¯s flank, yet it seemed unbothered. ¡°So, you¡¯re hoping I¡¯ll take it off your hands,¡± he said dryly. ¡°I can¡¯t force you,¡± the caretaker said, voice subdued. ¡°Let me at least show you the other horses.¡± With that, he turned, beckoning Leon to follow. Kai lingered by the fence, studying the giant brown stallion. Lonely, huh? Fighting everyone and living in solitude¡­ He gave a small sigh. Slowly raising a hand, he waved. The horse, still chewing grass, lifted its head and stared at him. Its size was even more impressive close-up¡ªit could almost double Kai¡¯s height if it reared. Muscles rippled under its coat, and faint scars marked its body. ¡°Come here, boy,¡± Kai coaxed, extending his arm. The horse hesitated a moment, then ambled over. Kai¡¯s smile softened. ¡°You¡¯re covered in wounds,¡± he murmured. ¡°Guess you¡¯ve had some battles.¡± The stallion simply stood there, eyes alert but calm. Kai lifted his bandaged right arm. ¡°I¡¯m hurt too,¡± he said with a small laugh. ¡°Got these scars protecting my brother. They still hurt.¡± The horse tilted its head, seemingly curious. ¡°May I pet you?¡± Kai asked, inching forward. The animal didn¡¯t resist as he gently rubbed its muzzle. A wave of warmth flickered through Kai¡¯s chest. Maybe I should take you¡­ He spoke quietly, voice low and thoughtful. ¡°If I¡¯m really going to be a Rulin, it¡¯ll be tough. Lots of enemies out there. A strong partner like you would help.¡± The horse neighed, a deep, resonant sound closer to a roar than a whinny. Kai chuckled. ¡°That settles it. You¡¯re coming with me.¡± Without further hesitation, he hopped the fence and cautiously laid a hand on the stallion¡¯s flank. ¡°Mind if I get on?¡± he asked softly, though he doubted the horse could really understand. When the stallion didn¡¯t shy away, Kai climbed up using the fence for balance. The horse neighed, stepping away at a slow walk, allowing Kai to settle without any real tack or bridle. We¡¯ll need proper gear, though, Kai thought, gripping the coarse mane lightly. ¡°Kai, where are you?¡± Leon¡¯s voice echoed from the stable¡¯s entrance. He emerged with the caretaker, both scanning the area. ¡°Over here!¡± Kai called. Leon spotted him atop the large horse and gaped. The caretaker stared in disbelief. ¡°Sir, that¡¯s dangerous!¡± he cried. ¡°It could throw you off and trample you!¡± ¡°He¡¯s pretty docile to me,¡± Kai replied, patting the stallion¡¯s muscular neck. Docile? That monster? The caretaker could hardly believe his eyes. He¡¯d barely managed to feed it for a month without getting attacked, yet now Kai was riding it. Leon folded his arms, feigning irritation. ¡°You stole him from me. I wanted a mountain horse.¡± Kai gave a mischievous grin. ¡°He liked me better, I guess.¡± Then his expression turned curious. ¡°So, did you find one for yourself?¡± Leon brightened immediately. ¡°Yeah! Not as huge as yours, but it¡¯s pretty awesome¡ªcompletely black with streaks of white in its mane. Seems quick, too. It¡¯s another wild horse, but we hit it off right away.¡± Kai dismounted, landing lightly on his feet. The stallion followed, snorting softly. Kai turned to the caretaker, smiling. ¡°All right, we¡¯ll take them both. Prepare saddles. I¡¯ll give you specifics about what I need.¡± The man¡¯s shock lingered on his face. ¡°Y-yes, of course. I¡¯ll have them made right away.¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Kai handed him a slip of paper. ¡°Also, please arrange a monthly shipment of feed to this address.¡± The caretaker blinked. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ the Tryan Estate? So you¡¯re the folks who moved in out there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Zharun Estate now,¡± Kai said calmly. ¡°We bought it from them. Since you know where it is, send enough feed once a month for both horses.¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± The caretaker nodded. ¡°For now, I can provide temporary saddles so you can ride them home. We can deliver Leon¡¯s horse, but I¡¯m not sure about yours, sir. It might attack us if we tried.¡± Kai chuckled, glancing back at the towering brown stallion. ¡°That¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll ride home ourselves¡ªit¡¯s a long walk otherwise.¡± Leon grinned. ¡°So, we have the horses. What¡¯s next, Bro?¡± ¡°Come here for a moment,¡± Kai said, motioning Leon over. Once Leon stood before him, Kai placed a hand on his brother¡¯s head and closed his eyes. Purple wisps of Nafs energy began to swirl, seeping directly into Leon¡¯s head. Through his Nafs, Kai could sense the internal condition. Amid the usual warmth of Leon¡¯s psyche lay a faint black stain in his brain¡ªthe source of Leon¡¯s constant visits to the Sahalim. No matter how hard Kai tried, he couldn¡¯t remove it. All he could do was use his own Nafs to keep the black spot from sprouting tendrils; yet those tendrils always grew back, each time stronger than before. His attempt to contain it was tiring¡ªand only partially effective. ¡°It¡¯s bigger than before,¡± Kai thought grimly, noticing the subtle spread. ¡°And it¡¯s sinking in deeper, too. This is¡­ not good.¡± A jolt of panic coursed through him at the realization that the dark spot was expanding. ¡°You finished?¡± Leon asked abruptly, snapping Kai from his thoughts. Leon frowned at Kai¡¯s sweat-soaked brow. ¡°Why¡¯re you sweating so much?¡± Kai shook his head with a rueful chuckle. ¡°This is more exhausting than it looks,¡± he admitted, wiping a bead of perspiration from his temple. ¡°I¡¯ll try one more time before bed, okay?¡± Leon nodded. ¡°Got it. How¡¯s your arm doing?¡± he asked, glancing at the bandages wrapped around Kai¡¯s right arm. ¡°Better,¡± Kai answered, keeping his tone neutral. Inwardly, his mind raced: I have to get stronger, and fast. At this rate, my Nafs won¡¯t keep up with the black spot¡¯s growth. Even if a Sentinel could help, it¡¯s not guaranteed. A Sentinel¡¯s only one rank above me in Nafs, and mine¡¯s already considered powerful. I need to unlock my Latifa, become a full-fledged Rulin, and protect everyone. Then maybe¡­ I could even go to Shumara to figure out what¡¯s really going on. His gaze hardened as he thought of Shumara, the domain of the Zhull. That cursed land might hold the key to saving Leon. If there was a solution, it most likely lay beyond the borders of everything they knew. Back where the Rulins were, the meeting stretched on, yet the Supreme maintained a calm, inscrutable expression from atop his throne. One by one, Sentinels rose to deliver their reports. ¡°Division Four Sentinel, what is your report?¡± the Supreme asked, his voice resonating through the chamber. A man with deep scars marring his face stood, wearing a gray robe with a bold number 4 on its back. ¡°Supreme,¡± he began, ¡°the Tenebraith called ¡®Krag the Spider¡¯ has amassed a considerable force of Murkspawn. We¡¯ve established a border, but some still slip through. For now, Division Four remains on standby, with two of my Guardians on rotation in case another breach occurs.¡± He sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. ¡°We lost a Guardian and two Vanguards during that initial breach. We did kill five Murkspawn, but it hardly dented their numbers.¡± The Supreme nodded in acknowledgment, showing no overt reaction to the heavy losses. His gaze shifted toward a woman seated closer to him. ¡°Division Two Sentinel, your report?¡± he prompted. She rose gracefully. Her robe, though primarily gray, was accentuated with pink ribbons matching the pink streaks in her hair. Despite her bright appearance, her face was solemn. ¡°We located the Hanyue tribe in Lanyue but haven¡¯t made contact,¡± she explained, handing a stack of papers to an attendant, who hurried them over to the Supreme. ¡°We split into three teams for the mission¡ªeach led by a Guardian, with three Vanguards and about a dozen Weavers. Teams One and Three are currently unaccounted for. We suspect they encountered a Qashir.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The Supreme¡¯s tone remained measured, revealing none of the concern that might be expected from such grim news. Sensing his neutrality, the Second Sentinel¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Supreme, we¡¯re already stretched thin handling Shumara. Shouldn¡¯t we refocus our efforts there rather than on Lanyue?¡± The Supreme handed her documents to his own attendants without so much as a glance. ¡°Continue the mission,¡± he said simply. ¡°Make contact with the Hanyue as soon as possible.¡± ¡°But Supreme¡ª¡± she tried again, only to be cut off by his raised hand. ¡°Enough,¡± he intoned, his voice calm yet suffused with authority. ¡°Follow my orders.¡± ¡°Yes, Supreme.¡± She lowered her gaze, taking her seat with a resigned sigh. Each Sentinel rose in turn to give similarly grim updates. There was little in the way of good news. Like most recent meetings, an undercurrent of desperation weighed on the room, reflecting the Rulin¡¯s dire predicament. After hours of tense discussion, the meeting adjourned. The Supreme stood and descended the steps, disappearing into thin air the instant his foot touched the last stair. The Sentinels let out a collective sigh of relief once the oppressive aura of their leader vanished. As the Sentinels began to leave the chamber, murmurs of discontent and uncertainty filled the air. ¡°What is the Supreme thinking, splitting our forces like this?¡± demanded a small-framed woman in a standard gray robe, the number eight on her back. A towering man, his dark skin patterned with tattoos, rumbled a reply. ¡°Careful, Yuri,¡± he warned, spotting the eight etched on her robe. ¡°The Supreme doesn¡¯t tolerate open dissent.¡± The numeral six on his own garment marked him as the Sixth Sentinel. Yuri scoffed, pushing a lock of hair away from her face. ¡°You know everyone¡¯s thinking it, Lest. We¡¯re losing this war. Why spread ourselves thinner?¡± A delicate hand tugged Yuri¡¯s ponytail from behind. ¡°He¡¯s under more pressure than we can imagine,¡± said a pink-ribboned woman¡ªDivision Two Sentinel, known as Ray. ¡°He has his reasons.¡± Yuri crossed her arms but didn¡¯t press further. ¡°Fine. But let¡¯s be honest: aside from the Supreme, only Jin and Erin can handle a Tenebraith one-on-one.¡± Ray nodded, lips pursing thoughtfully. ¡°Isn¡¯t that why we¡¯re trying to make contact with the Hanyue tribe? If they join us, this conflict might finally tip in our favour.¡± ¡°Or get worse,¡± a low voice interjected. Division Four Sentinel Jin stepped into view. ¡°What do you mean, Jin?¡± Yuri asked, brow creasing. ¡°The Qashir¡­ they¡¯re more dangerous than the Tenebraith,¡± he stated grimly. Ray¡¯s pink eyebrows lifted. ¡°How so? The Qashir are so rarely seen. Even in Lanyue, there¡¯s limited information.¡± Jin¡¯s gaze wandered, distant. ¡°Do you remember the Lanyue mission five years ago? Division One led that expedition.¡± ¡°I recall the report,¡± Ray replied. ¡°They mentioned encountering a young Qashir¡ªslain in the end, but the data from it helped Division Seven¡¯s research.¡± Jin shook his head slowly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t as the reports claimed. I was a Guardian in Division One back then, in charge of that mission. The official statement was sanitized.¡± He pulled aside the hem of his robe, revealing a ghastly butterfly-shaped scar across his abdomen. ¡°A newborn Qashir¡ªbarely a few hours old¡ªnearly wiped us out. We lost half our forces: two Guardians, six Vanguards, and at least ten Weavers. The survivors only escaped because I held the front line long enough for them to flee. Even so, that was barely enough.¡± The Sixth Sentinel, Lest, let out a low whistle. ¡°Someone like you struggled? You, who was famously strong, even picking fights with the Sentinels.¡± Though shocked, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh loudly. ¡°I heard you challenged the Supreme once¡ªand got flattened.¡± Jin gave a hollow snort. ¡°I wasn¡¯t weaker than any of you back then. But yes, I still lost against the Supreme, as anyone would. The point is, the Qashir wasn¡¯t fully formed. It hadn¡¯t even reached its human shape yet, and still, we were nearly annihilated.¡± A heavy silence followed. Slowly, Jin turned to Ray, his gaze intense. ¡°Listen carefully. The Supreme may want you to contact the Hanyue, but be very cautious. If you encounter a Qashir¡ªor worse, if it escapes into our territory¡ªseveral Divisions might not be enough to stop it. The lives lost would be unimaginable.¡± Ray set her jaw, swallowing. ¡°Understood. Sealing the entrance is probably our best move, but¡­¡± ¡°Small teams, infiltration, do not let a Qashir roam free,¡± Jin stressed. ¡°We¡¯ll lose more than this war. We¡¯ll face extinction.¡± With that, he vanished in a manner much like the Supreme, leaving the others standing in uneasy silence. One by one, they exited the chamber, the weight of Jin¡¯s warning pressing heavily on their minds. Krag, The Spider A hundred men in gray robes marched along the rain-slicked cobblestones, the dull sheen of their uniforms blending with the pallor of the skies overhead. Their faces were masks of grief and exhaustion, shoulders bowed beneath the relentless downpour. In the center of the procession, borne on heavy wooden platforms, lay the caskets¡ªeach solemn tribute to the latest casualties of a brutal conflict. Three of them stood out in front, larger than the others, followed by dozens more forming a line of silent final farewells. No chatter broke the eerie quiet. Now and then, someone let out a ragged breath or murmured a short prayer. But mostly, there was silence¡ªbroken only by the rhythmic thud of boots hitting soaked stone and the steady drip of rain streaming off the brims of their hoods. Clouds churned overhead, a storm-hued ceiling pressing down on the mourners as if the sky itself mourned alongside them. ¡°Three Guardians, just like that,¡± one man muttered under his breath, raindrops mingling with the tears on his cheeks. Another simply shook his head, jaw tight, as though words could no longer do justice to the scale of the tragedy. Near the front of the formation stood Jin, his robe torn at the hem, bearing the insignia of Division Four. Deep scars etched across his face suggested countless battles survived¡ªyet now, a deeper wound seethed within. His gaze never strayed from the caskets, and in that unwavering stare, sorrow mingled with a rising fury. The atmosphere grew heavier around him, and those closest felt it like an unseen hand tightening on their chests. A female Guardian, walking just behind Jin, struggled to maintain her composure. The very air seemed to pulse with an undercurrent of power¡ªJin¡¯s Nafs leaking out as he wrestled with his rage. Droplets of water drummed on their robes, but to the ranks of Division Four, it felt almost like hail: a tangible manifestation of Jin¡¯s grief and anger. ¡°We lost so many,¡± the Guardian whispered, her voice quivering. She cast a worried glance at Jin, who was silent except for his labored breathing. Jin¡¯s nostrils flared, gaze locked onto the caskets. The rain around him intensified, beating the cobblestones louder and harder, as if drawn by the storm inside his heart. ¡°Krag¡­¡± Jin growled under his breath, barely audible over the pouring rain. His attendant tensed at the raw menace in his tone. She glimpsed the faint trembling of his hands¡ªan outward sign of the fury roiling within him. A sudden spark of energy rippled through the air, and the Guardian staggered back, her chest constricting. The world around them seemed to dim as Jin¡¯s power crescendoed. ¡°I will murder you,¡± he hissed, voice rumbling with a promise of violence. Thunder boomed overhead, echoing his vow. The rainfall twisted in the wind, lashing sideways as if responding to his seething hatred. To Division Four, it felt like every drop of water carried a fraction of Jin¡¯s wrath. Then, in one smooth, impossible motion, Jin vanished¡ªleaving only displaced rain swirling in his wake. The Guardian fell to her knees, clutching her chest and gasping for air, now freed from the suffocating aura. Around her, the others of Division Four paused, uncertain, the grim parade forced to a halt by their leader¡¯s sudden departure. In the ensuing hush, only the steady rain remained¡ªthe same relentless downpour that had borne witness to both heartbreak and unbridled rage. The caskets lay still, silent tributes to the fallen, while Jin¡¯s fury echoed like a half-forgotten roar across the storm-darkened street. Far from the turmoil that ravaged Division Four, Kai sat cross-legged on the grass just outside the estate. He had only recently helped Leon slip into a fitful sleep, ensuring his brother¡¯s Nafs stayed contained for another night. Now, in the quiet of the late hour, Kai let his gaze drift across the darkened sky, brow creased in mild confusion. It¡¯s going to rain so suddenly? A handful of drops splattered against his skin, cool and sharp in the still air. Within moments, that small drizzle turned into a pelting shower, like an invisible dam had burst overhead. What¡¯s this? he wondered, lifting a hand to catch the droplets. Each bead of water felt heavier than normal, somehow charged. The rain¡­ it¡¯s so strong? Rising to his feet, he made his way to the nearby stall, where Muz, the imposing mountain horse, slumbered. Sensing Kai¡¯s approach, the animal stirred, its ears twitching at the intensifying downpour. ¡°Muz,¡± Kai said in a low voice, keeping calm despite the tingling sense of unease creeping up his spine, ¡°do you feel it too? Something¡¯s¡­ off.¡± The horse stood, shaking its mane, and snorted at the downpour. Its eyes flicked skyward, as though wary of the rain¡¯s odd weight. With a disgruntled neigh, Muz edged away from the open doorway, hooves scraping on the stall¡¯s floor. Kai frowned; mountain horses, known for their resilience, rarely showed any dislike for the elements. Yet here was Muz, backing away from the rain like it carried a hidden threat. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Kai murmured, reaching a hand out to pat Muz¡¯s neck. Another torrential wave of droplets rattled the roof overhead, and the horse jerked, stamping a hoof against the ground. A low rumble, almost reminiscent of distant thunder, rolled through the sky. Kai¡¯s thoughts wandered: Could this be an omen? A surge of Nafs from somewhere far away? He inhaled deeply, senses attuned to any faint disturbances in the air¡ªbut all he tasted was the electric tang of the rain. Shaking his head, he gently led Muz deeper into the stall, letting the animal stay clear of the downpour. Why does it feel like something out there just erupted? Kai stood still, listening to the roar of the rain, vaguely aware that the strange storm might be a symptom of a greater chaos yet to unfold. He pressed a palm over the bandaged arm that never truly healed, a gnawing worry flickering in his chest. In the distance, lightning flickered across the skyline, and Kai¡¯s eyes narrowed. Whatever this is¡­ I need to be ready. Away from Kai, stood a barren land, its dull horizon swallowed by brooding storm clouds. Everything appeared lifeless and ominous. In that desolate plain, a massive figure trembled¡ªgnawing, chewing, devouring. Its silhouette, half-hidden by shadows, was a grotesque creature known as Krag. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.A spider at first glance¡ªbut no. This monstrosity was far more disturbing. Its round, bloated body was coated in coarse black fur, yet five of its nine legs were made of pale, loose human-like skin, each ending in a face with closed eyes. The top four legs resembled the rest of its hairy hide. Its head, if one could call it that, bore a terrifying parody of a woman¡¯s face¡ªhuman skin, closed eyes, a twisted smile. The dissonance between the humanoid visage and the bloated spider-like body evoked revulsion more than fear. Its mouth chomped methodically, swallowing arms and legs it had collected like one might snack on scraps. A calm yet resonant voice carried across the dead air: ¡°There you are, you monster.¡± The sky answered that voice with a sudden onslaught of rain¡ªheavy drops that lashed the ground. Krag slowly turned, its eyes still closed, continuing to munch on what remained of its latest victims. Limbs were scattered about in gruesome piles. Robes marked with the number four littered the barren soil. Jin stood a short distance away, his Division Four robe soaked, the tattered edges clinging to his battle-scarred body. His gaze grew colder at the sight of the lifeless remains. ¡°Krag, you filth,¡± he seethed, voice trembling with rancor. ¡°You¡¯ve slaughtered so many of my people.¡± Krag¡¯s distorted face angled toward Jin, a fragment of leg dangling from its mouth. Its lips peeled back into a nightmarish grin, as if acknowledging Jin¡¯s fury. The sight blanked Jin¡¯s mind in a single, sickening wave of rage. At once, the deluge above seemed to freeze midair, droplets suspended in a moment of impossibility. Jin lifted a trembling hand and, with grim resolve, grasped his own tongue¡ªyanking it out in a single violent motion. Blood spattered across the ground as he dropped the severed flesh at his feet. Though his limbs shook, Jin never looked away from Krag. Through his bloody mouth came a deafening voice that shattered the silence: Awaken, Zulmara! Krag¡¯s body lurched. Its closed eyes fluttered with a shudder, as though some primal terror stirred within it. Where Jin¡¯s tongue had landed, a hissing sound erupted, pulsating across the frozen rain. Droplets shot upward, recoiling from the force of his power. Jin collapsed to his knees, rivulets of blood flowing from his mouth, never letting Krag escape his murderous gaze. The hissing intensified, and Krag began skittering forward on its nine legs. Slowly at first, then faster, the Tenebraith charged. ¡°Haha.¡± Jin¡¯s voice broke into a bitter laugh as something slithered out of the blood pooled beside him¡ªa snake, small at first glance, but with an ominous aura. It slid over to the severed tongue and swallowed it whole, its unblinking eyes locking onto Jin soon after. Without hesitation, it latched its fangs onto Jin¡¯s neck, burying them deep. ¡°KRAAAAA!¡± Krag screeched, lunging closer, but the second the snake¡¯s bite took hold, a shockwave burst outward with Jin at its center. The monstrous spider flew backward, smashing into the ground in a sprawl of twisted limbs. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Jin¡¯s laughter rang out through the swirling dust. As it cleared, he emerged with the snake coiled around him, its fangs now unnaturally large¡ªbigger than Jin himself. Blood no longer poured from his mouth; his tongue seemed restored, though fresh crimson streamed from the corners of his lips. With a savage yank, Jin tore one of the snake¡¯s fangs free, drawing a furious hiss from the creature. Hiss! Zulmara! he shrieked, vibrating the air like a thunderclap. ¡°KRAAAAA!¡± Krag howled, its humanlike eyes weeping black fluid under the shock of the snake¡¯s power. The anguished cry hammered at the reanimated storm clouds above. ¡°Die, bitch.¡± Jin¡¯s voice came low and steady, the fang clutched like a spear in his fist. With the snake slithering close behind, he broke into a run toward the toppled Tenebraith. His eyes shone with a malevolent green light. The heavy rain returned in full force¡ªbut this time, each drop slashed like a blade, carving through the heaps of dismembered limbs and battering Krag¡¯s bulbous form. A flicker of lightning illuminated the battlefield for an instant: Jin with the fang in hand, the snake coiled around him, and the monstrous spider reeling under the razor-sharp deluge. The stage was set for a clash of unbridled savagery¡ªone that would further scar an already ruined land. ¡°So that¡¯s Zulmara?¡± muttered one of them, a Sentinel wearing a robe with the numeral three emblazoned on the back. His eyes glinted with a mix of disgust and awe. ¡°What a vile Latifa,¡± he added, voice low. ¡°It¡¯s also a formidable one,¡± replied the leader of the group¡ªthe Supreme. Rain pelted their floating forms, but the Supreme seemed unbothered, his attention fixed on the conflict playing out beneath the swirling clouds. The Third Sentinel, Geor, inhaled sharply. ¡°Supreme, do you think Jin can kill it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Supreme inclined his head, his tone measured. ¡°Zulmara is too powerful for an ordinary Tenebraith to withstand.¡± Geor¡¯s gaze returned to the chaotic fray in the distance. ¡°But that Tenebraith isn¡¯t ordinary. It¡¯s abnormally strong.¡±Concern etched lines across his face. ¡°Jin will win, Geor,¡± the Supreme said, narrowing his eyes on the distant flashes of power. ¡°Even if he has to die trying.¡± The group fell silent, the roar of distant thunder underscoring their unspoken anxiety. Each was acutely aware that battles of such magnitude often ended in tragedy¡ªeven for the strongest. Yet they remained, suspended in midair, grimly watching the ongoing struggle. Kai felt an unsettling prickling across his skin. After soothing Muz, he returned inside, rainwater dripping from his hair and clothes. The sudden downpour continued hammering the estate¡¯s rooftops, its eerie force still sending a warning tingle through his senses. Once indoors, he toweled himself off, then moved into a small side room to change. Every step left small puddles on the hardwood floor, faint echoes of the storm outside. ¡°Ugh.¡± He winced slightly as he unwrapped the bandages from his injured right arm. The black-tinged flesh remained as stubborn as ever, refusing to heal¡ªbut something else caught his eye. The dark veins along the wound moved, pulsing beneath his skin in a subtle, wriggling motion. ¡°What the¡ª?¡± he murmured, alarm roiling in his chest. Until now, the wound had been static, just a persistent ache. But seeing it writhing on its own was wholly new. Gritting his teeth, Kai summoned a thick swirl of his purple Nafs into his left palm, pressing it against the bandaged area. A sharp jolt of pain sliced through him, forcing a ragged growl from his throat. ¡°Why is this suddenly reacting?¡± he hissed under his breath. Could the storm be triggering this? Or something else¡­? His mind raced, and he decided a deeper look was needed. Keeping his chest bared, he eased to the floor and drew a long breath. Closing his eyes, he guided his Nafs inward, slipping into the depths of his psyche. Almost at once, the surrounding reality shifted¡ªreplaced by a midnight-blue sky and swirling purple clouds. There was no ground, no horizon. Only boundless space in every direction, leaving him suspended as though gravity held no sway. ¡°My Sahalim¡­¡± he whispered, acknowledging the realm within him. The gloom felt familiar, a canvas painted in the somber hues of his inner world. But something was off. Far away, hovering just beyond reach, was a black star¡ªa dark radiance that stood out against the deep violet skies. Frowning, Kai willed a cushiony purple cloud to form beneath his feet. It carried him smoothly forward, chasing the distant star. Yet no matter how quickly he flew, the glimmering black point stayed exactly as far away as before, as if he was running on a cosmic treadmill. Suddenly, a white flash flickered at the corner of his vision¡ªbrief but blindingly bright. Kai¡¯s heart jerked in alarm, and a shock of pain detonated in his chest. ¡°Ugh!¡± Kai¡¯s eyes snapped open, the Sahalim vanishing in an instant. He was back in the manor, crouched on the wooden floor and soaked in cold sweat. Each breath came ragged, his palms pressed over his heart. What was that white flash? His teeth clenched against the lingering agony in his chest. Though he hadn¡¯t reached the black star, and the flash had appeared for only a moment, he felt certain neither was tied to the Zhull. Whatever it was, it carried a different sort of menace¡ªone that made his insides twist. ¡°Something dangerous,¡± he muttered under his breath, wiping sweat from his brow. Outside, the storm raged on, wind rattling the shutters. Within, Kai stared at the writhing wound on his arm and the lingering pain in his chest, weighed down by a growing sense of urgency. I have to figure this out¡ªbefore it¡¯s too late. Zulmara; White Prison A guttural roar split the leaden sky: ¡°AH!¡± It was answered by a monstrous, shuddering shriek:¡°KRAA!¡± The landscape was in ruins. Deep craters gouged the earth, and ragged holes tore through cloud layers that bled inky darkness. One tattered scrap of gray cloth¡ªemblazoned with the number four¡ªdrifted aimlessly, stained a dark crimson by someone¡¯s blood. ¡°Krag! Fall, you monster!¡± hissed Jin, swinging an enormous fang-like blade toward the twisted arachnid known as Krag. The blade struck one of the disturbing faces at the end of the monster¡¯s limb, piercing through with a sickening crunch. Krag the Spider¡ªan abomination among the Tenebraith¡ªwas in a dire state. Three of its five loose-skinned legs lay severed on the ground, leaking thick rivers of red. The human-like faces at their ends bore twitching tongues and contorted expressions. But Jin was scarcely better off. Blood streamed from his mouth, and his left arm dangled by ragged sinew, bone, and shredded muscle. His entire form shook from the pain and effort. ¡°Zulmara!¡± Jin snarled, glaring at the serpent coiled beside him. ¡°Devour!¡± A manic hiss escaped the snake as it grew even larger. Its scales reflected the flickering destruction all around. High above, the Supreme and a small group of Sentinels floated in the air, the raging conflict happening far below them. Rain battered their robes as they surveyed the carnage. ¡°It¡¯s over now,¡± the Supreme said softly, taking his eyes off the battle. He turned his back on the scene, gazing instead at the wounded sky. His face a picture of contained sorrow. ¡°He will fall.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked the Third Sentinel, Geor, his face drawn with exhaustion. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we help Jin?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± the Supreme said, his tone weighed down by resignation. ¡°If we join, the Tenebraith beyond the border will flood in. That would trigger a full-scale war here¡ªand we would not emerge victorious.¡± Geor¡¯s breath caught. ¡°But we can¡¯t just abandon Jin!¡± Spinning toward him, the Supreme fixed Geor with a piercing stare. ¡°When you became a Sentinel, you accepted the possibility of dying in battle. That¡¯s the reality of our responsibility.¡± Below them, the snake Zulmara opened its gaping maw and¡ªwithout warning¡ªbit off Jin¡¯s head. Geor¡¯s eyes widened in horror. ¡°This is the final stage of a Latifa,¡± the Supreme murmured, his back still turned. ¡°No one has ever truly reached it, but a forced usage is possible. When a Rulin becomes one with their Latifa¡­ Fanaa.¡± Zulmara¡¯s serpentine body swallowed Jin¡¯s remains whole. Explosions erupted from within the serpent¡¯s belly, causing Zulmara to convulse with each internal blast. Minutes stretched on, and Krag remained paralyzed, pinned by the crushing pressure emanating from the imploding snake. The Supreme suddenly narrowed his eyes. ¡°Geor, with me. The rest of you¡ªgather all nearby Sentinels here. Now.¡± The old man stepped forward, as though walking on solid air, heading directly for the nearby fracture in the sky. Geor followed, his expression grim as the Supreme¡¯s two attendants hurried off to relay orders. Geor noticed the dark expression the Supremes face, his heart beginning to beat rapidly. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Geor panted, struggling to keep pace. ¡°I sense more Tenebraith watching from within the fracture.¡± The Supreme¡¯s gaze locked onto a looming rift. Cold winds buffeted them, whistling through broken fence-like structures that floated around the fracture in a desperate attempt at containment. ¡°They¡¯re going to rescue Krag?¡± Geor asked, apprehension tightening his voice. ¡°Likely,¡± the Supreme confirmed. ¡°We must prevent that.¡± Back below, Zulmara continued its violent transformations. Each explosion within it released smoke from its jaws, while Krag lay broken, trying in vain to move. The Tenebraith¡¯s shrieks reverberated, fracturing the very earth beneath it. Suddenly, an echoing cry rippled through the sky: Kul! Zulmara froze, its serpentine form going rigid. Mara!This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. A second echo followed, and the snake¡¯s head exploded in a gruesome spray of flesh and blood. Bits of gore splattered across the ruined ground. ¡°So¡­ this is Fanaa.¡± A clawed hand¡ªscaled and glinting¡ªgripped the side of the snake¡¯s torn neck. Pulling itself free from the serpent¡¯s remains was Jin¡ªor something that resembled him. His face was unnaturally handsome yet radiated malevolence. Scales dotted his pale body, and two lifeless green snakes draped over his shoulders, their heads slumped. ¡°You forced me to this point,¡± he hissed, stepping onto the air as though it were solid ground. ¡°So be it. You¡¯ll die here.¡± Slowly, he walked with light steps towards the fallen Krag. Stepping higher into the sky each time. Krag still couldn¡¯t stir. Rain began anew, each droplet pounding the devastated field. Jin lifted his face to the sky, letting the water soak him. His hand clenched, crushing two massive fangs which crumbled into crimson-streaked shards that hung in midair instead of falling. Green light flared from Jin¡¯s open palm. Instantly, every scrap of blood and flesh nearby flew toward the disintegrated fangs, merging into them. The shards grew into a colossal lance¡ªa fang far taller than Krag¡¯s monstrous form. Damdant. A single whispered word escaped Jin¡¯s lips, halting the rain, wind, and even time itself for a heartbeat. With a flick of his wrist, the colossal fang descended. ¡°KRAAAAAAA!¡± Krag¡¯s shriek resounded, its human face contorting in abject terror. High above the battlefield, the Supreme and three Sentinels¡ªGeor among them¡ªhovered in tense vigil. Rain battered their robes as lightning flickered across wounded clouds. Their eyes were locked on a towering rift in the sky, outlined by broken, fence-like barriers that tried¡ªand failed¡ªto contain its edges. Suddenly, an unearthly roar echoed from the fracture, making the storm¡¯s thunder seem tame by comparison. ¡°Something¡¯s coming!¡± Geor shouted, voice taut with dread. The Supreme felt it first: a bone-deep tremor, like a premonition of an unstoppable force. ¡°Prepare yourselves!¡± he commanded, his baritone carrying a steeled urgency. In the next instant, a colossal hand emerged from the fracture¡ªeerie in its half-human shape, yet too large and warped to be natural. Its pallid skin had a sickly sheen, veins bulging like blackened vines beneath the surface. Long, razor-like nails glimmered at the tips of each finger, dripping with an oily fluid that hissed against the storm-chilled air. The flesh quivered as it gripped the surrounding fence-like structures, shattering them with a hideous crackling of wood and metal. ¡°It¡¯s trying to save Krag,¡± one Sentinel murmured, beads of sweat mixing with rain on his brow. Indeed, the hand clawed desperately, as though reaching for the massive Tenebraith below¡ªeager to pull it back through the rift to safety. But the Supreme¡¯s eyes glowed with fierce resolve. ¡°We cannot allow it,¡± he hissed. ¡°Nafskara¡­¡± he began, leveling his palms at the tearing sky. The other three Sentinels followed suit, forming a tight crescent around him. ¡°¡­White Prison!¡± they all cried in unison. A dazzling surge of Nafs erupted around them, arcs of dark-hued light twisting into a brilliant white radiance. Their combined energies converged into a coruscating sphere that expanded and morphed into intricate, lattice-like walls. Within these walls, skulls danced¡ªspectral entities that cackled with otherworldly laughter, their empty eye sockets glowing with mocking glee. As the Sentinels poured their souls into sustaining the formation, blood began seeping from their noses, mouths, and eyes, a grim testament to the power they were unleashing. Despite the agony, none of them faltered. With each passing heartbeat, the White Prison took form: Within the swirling tempest of energy, the giant hand flailed in defiance¡ªits nails scraping across the newly forged enclosure, sending sparks and shards of ghostly whiteness flying into the churning sky. Yet it could not break free; the combined might of four Sentinels refused to yield. ¡°Hold it!¡± the Supreme roared, sweat and blood streaming down his face. He clenched his fists, and the cage tightened, forcing the monstrous limb back inch by inch. A guttural bellow thundered from beyond the rift. The hand tried one last time to force itself through¡ªfingers bending and contorting, nails peeling against the cage¡¯s shimmering walls¡ªbefore giving in to the crushing pressure. With a final surge, the White Prison slammed shut around the bleeding fracture, shearing off part of the wrist in a splatter of viscous black fluid. The severed portion fell away, dissolving in the tumultuous space between worlds. Then the giant skull-gate clamped down, stifling the echo of any further roars on the other side. Far away, in his bedroom at the estate, Kai couldn¡¯t sleep. The wind howled, the rain roared ceaselessly. A restless energy gnawed at him. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± he muttered, rubbing his arms for warmth. He glimpsed a flash of white over the distant mountains, an eerie light that seared itself against the stormy sky. His pulse quickened. ¡°What is that?¡± Forgetting any coat or proper gear, he sprinted outside and made for the stables. There, Muz, his mountain horse, dozed fitfully. The animal pricked its ears at Kai¡¯s urgent approach. ¡°Come on, Muz!¡± Kai shouted, voice filled with adrenaline. The horse shied away, unsettled by the rain and strange atmosphere, but soon complied. Kai vaulted onto Muz¡¯s bare back¡ªno saddle, no reins. ¡°Go!¡± he commanded, lightly kicking Muz¡¯s sides. With a fierce neigh, the steed broke into a full gallop, plunging into the forest. Rivulets of rain whipped against Kai¡¯s face as branches clawed at them both. He kept his gaze locked on the distant glow. ¡°Faster!¡± Muz tore through the undergrowth, an unstoppable force on the rugged terrain. In under a minute, they reached the base of a steep mountain. Kai¡¯s heart thundered in his chest. ¡°Climb,¡± he urged. The horse obeyed, hooves surefooted on the wet rock. Kai steadied himself with his Nafs, gripping Muz¡¯s mane. Up they went, faster and faster, until they crested the peak. A silver moon loomed overhead, fuller than Kai had ever seen, lighting up the soaked landscape. Finally, they reached the summit, where Kai drew a sharp breath. His eyes locked on the blinding white glow in the distance¡ªa colossal, cage-like formation lit under the moonlight. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ the White Prison,¡± he whispered, shock stealing the warmth from his voice. Three Years ¡°Kai, so what¡¯s the plan?¡± Leon asked, guiding his horse through the forest¡¯s dim canopy. Both young men were tall, features defined by hard-earned maturity, devoid of any remaining boyish softness. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the cave for a mock battle,¡± Kai answered, his tone measured as he stared straight ahead. ¡°I want to see how far you¡¯ve come.¡± Leon grumbled, ¡°It¡¯s really unfair you can use Nafs while I¡¯ve only got my body to rely on.¡± ¡°Unfair?¡± Kai¡¯s brow creased in mock disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re already as strong as most Weavers¡ªyour speed and power rival theirs. Yet my body is of a regular man!¡± Leon sighed, tapping the side of his horse. ¡°Yet you still beat me because of your Nafs. Not fair.¡± A faint grin tugged at Kai¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯ll take what advantage I can.¡± They emerged into a stark clearing before a cavern mouth carved into the mountainside. Its yawning entrance exuded a hollow chill. The two dismounted without tethering the horses. ¡°Both of you can roam,¡± Kai murmured to the animals, patting his towering steed¡¯s muzzle, ¡°but be back soon.¡± Leon lifted a spear taller than himself, while Kai slid a long sabre from his hip. With few words, they stepped into the cave¡¯s depths. Darkness swallowed them, torchlight replaced by the faint glimmer of Kai¡¯s violet Nafs. It had been three years since that harrowing night¡ªthree years of training, research, and unanswered questions. Kai found no clue about the mysterious events beyond the mountains or the creeping corruption in his own body. Despite constant effort, he still couldn¡¯t awaken his Latifa. His Sahalim, meanwhile, felt tainted. The dark affliction now spread from his right hand up past his shoulder, an insidious rot devouring flesh and veins. The sole bright spot was his mastery of Nafs. His diligence under relentless attacks from Leon¡¯s twisted powers led Kai to the Mulhimah realm¡ªan accomplishment typically reserved for Guardians. Leon halted about twenty paces away, twirling his spear with a grim determination. A hush settled in the cave, broken only by the dripping of unseen water. ¡°Same rules as before? First hit wins?¡± Kai nodded, gripping his sabre. An eerie, purple aura fanned out from his frame like wisps of ghostly smoke. His eyes gleamed with unnatural light. ¡°Right. And remember¡ª¡± His voice dropped to a murmur. ¡°If you hesitate, I won¡¯t hold back.¡± Leon inhaled sharply. Though his own Nafs remained locked, his physical abilities had skyrocketed. Unnatural black veins, clearly visible through his fair skin, twitched with pent-up energy. He set his jaw. ¡°I¡¯ve got it.¡± A flicker of movement¡ªand Kai vanished from sight, reappearing in front of Leon with a dull clang of steel on spear. Sparks danced in the gloom. Leon retaliated with a fierce punch, free hand glowing faintly in the darkness, but Kai spun backward, shoving off the spear to avoid the blow. ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± Kai mocked, hovering a foot above the ground as if weightless. ¡°Not fair!¡± Leon hissed, aiming his spear upward. ¡°You know I can¡¯t step on thin air without Nafs!¡± Kai snorted. ¡°And I don¡¯t have a monster¡¯s physique¡ªlife¡¯s never fair.¡± Raising his free hand, he murmured, Nafskara¡­ Shrill Arms. The cave dimmed abruptly. A sickly cacophony of squirming, whispering sounds echoed along the walls. Leon¡¯s heart pounded. An acrid tang of dread seeped into the air, and the ground felt unsteady. ¡°B-Bro?¡± Leon mumbled, blinking as his vision blurred. An uncanny weeping noise filled his ears. Something damp and rope-like slithered around his legs. Chills raced across Leon¡¯s spine. He gripped his spear, swallowing hard. Stay calm. Closing his eyes, he forced himself to rely on hearing. A voice sighed in his ear: ¡°Over here.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Leon, refusing to turn, stabbed downward, yelping as his spear struck something fleshy. A shriek tore through the gloom. ¡°That was rather bold,¡± came Kai¡¯s whisper. A fraction of a second later, cold steel pressed against Leon¡¯s neck from behind. ¡°But I win.¡± The illusory darkness lifted in an instant, revealing Kai¡¯s blade poised to slice. Leon scowled, swatting the sword away. ¡°That¡¯s cheap,¡± he spat, chest heaving. ¡°I couldn¡¯t see or hear properly¡ªit was like my senses were all messed up.¡± ¡°It¡¯s training,¡± Kai said evenly, letting the last remnants of the Nafskara fade. ¡°Shrill Arms is just one of the more basic techniques I use.¡± ¡°Basic, my ass,¡± Leon muttered, grinding his teeth. ¡°It felt like I was going insane.¡± Kai shrugged, wiping a faint trickle of sweat from his brow. ¡°If I used its advanced version, you wouldn¡¯t just have distorted senses¡ªyou¡¯d lose them entirely. Look, we¡¯re heading to Shumara soon. I need you to be ready for anything, including foes closer than the Zhull.¡± Leon tensed at the name Shumara. He¡¯d learned enough to grasp how deadly that realm was. Over these three years, both brothers had discovered one truth: everyone was an enemy. ¡°Again,¡± Leon said, voice rough. ¡°Let¡¯s do it again¡ªI can handle it.¡± Kai offered a slight nod. ¡°Fine.¡± For the next hour, they clashed repeatedly in the cave¡¯s oppressive darkness. Kai¡¯s mastery of Nafs overshadowed Leon¡¯s brute force, yet Leon¡¯s startling physical power made each exchange perilously close. By the time they emerged, both were drenched in sweat, lungs aching for fresh air. Outside, twilight crept in, painting the forest in uneasy shadows. The air felt thick with tension, and the silence lingered until Leon broke it. ¡°Kai, why must we go to Shumara?¡± he asked abruptly, clutching his spear at his side as though it might anchor him. Kai paused, eyes flicking to his younger brother. ¡°What do you mean?¡± he returned, voice gravelly from exertion. ¡°We need answers about your condition. If there¡¯s anything out there that might help, it¡¯s bound to be in Shumara.¡± ¡°But Shumara is¡­¡± Leon trailed off, grimacing. ¡°Even Sentinels don¡¯t go there unless they¡¯re forced to. It¡¯s deadly.¡± Kai expelled a heavy sigh, the weight of his unspoken fears etched in every line of his face. ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice. Believe me, if I could go alone and leave you safe here, I would. But without my daily containment, you know what would happen.¡± Leon flinched, recalling the nights Kai had spent painstakingly holding back his chaotic Nafs. ¡°Why not just¡­ forget all this?¡± he asked, a flicker of pleading in his gaze. ¡°As long as you contain it once a day, can¡¯t we keep living a normal life?¡± At that, Kai shook his head. His eyes clouded with a mix of frustration and sorrow. ¡°When was the last time you really looked at my right arm?¡± Leon hesitated, brow furrowing. ¡°Two years, maybe,¡± he ventured. His older brother gave him a tired nod, then peeled off his shirt. Leon¡¯s heart seized at the sight beneath: from Kai¡¯s right hand up to his shoulder¡ªand even creeping across his ribs¡ªthe flesh looked ravaged, veins inky black and seemingly moving beneath the skin. It was as though something alive lurked there, gnawing at him from within. ¡°Gods¡­¡± Leon breathed, face blanching. ¡°W-what is that? Why didn¡¯t you show me?¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have changed anything,¡± Kai murmured, slipping his shirt back on with a grimace. ¡°Every time I contain your Nafs, it attacks my body. This corruption grows bit by bit. Eventually, it¡¯ll devour me.¡± Leon¡¯s mouth opened, but no words escaped. Finally, his voice cracked in alarm. ¡°Kai, this is serious! We have to¡ª¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯ve spent these past three years doing nothing?¡± Kai snapped, anger briefly flashing in his eyes before he sighed and averted his gaze. ¡°Your Nafs isn¡¯t like anyone else¡¯s. It doesn¡¯t obey normal rules¡ªit¡¯s practically Zhull. Even your Sahalim¡­ it¡¯s not like any Rulin¡¯s I¡¯ve read or heard about.¡± He moved to lean against a tree, staring into the forest¡¯s shadows as though seeking answers. ¡°I reek of a Zhull now,¡± he added in a low murmur. ¡°But you somehow don¡¯t carry that stench at all.¡± Leon struggled to absorb this, confusion and guilt clashing on his features. ¡°How do you mean?¡± Kai¡¯s voice took on a weary, haunted note. ¡°Last year, I had you test your Nafs on a small animal, remember?¡± Leon nodded slowly. ¡°Yeah. It¡­ died. That day¡¯s still a blur.¡± ¡°It looked dead,¡± Kai corrected with a bitter laugh. ¡°After we buried it, I dug it up. In my research, I needed to observe your Nafs up close. Turns out it reanimated¡ªtwisted into a sort of mock Zhull. A Murkspawn, essentially.¡± Leon paled. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ impossible.¡± Kai shook his head. ¡°I wish it were. The more I learn, the more I realize your power eclipses even a Tenebraith¡¯s. And it¡¯s slowly killing me. That is why we have to risk Shumara.¡± He gave a half-hearted smile¡ªhollow around the edges. ¡°If there¡¯s any slim chance to save us both, that¡¯s where we¡¯ll find it.¡± They stood in uneasy silence, the forest around them strangely subdued. After a moment, two familiar silhouettes emerged among the trees¡ªMuz and Leon¡¯s own horse, returning on a lazy trot. Leon looked down at his spear, then back at Kai. ¡°I hate this,¡± he whispered. ¡°But if you say there¡¯s no other way¡­ I¡¯ll follow you into Shumara.¡± Kai¡¯s chest tightened with a mix of relief and dread. He gently patted his steed¡¯s muzzle. ¡°Then let¡¯s go home for now. We¡¯ll prepare ourselves, gather what we need¡­¡± His voice wavered for a moment, but he steadied it. ¡°I promise, I¡¯ll figure this out¡ªno matter the cost.¡± With that unspoken oath hanging between them, they mounted their horses. The forest¡¯s shadows deepened as dusk settled in, wrapping the two brothers in a hush of foreboding. Neither spoke as they rode on, each wrestling with the terror of the unknown future¡ªand the grim hope that Shumara might hold their salvation. Home The two brothers emerged from the dense forest and arrived at their family home by late afternoon. The sun hung low in the sky, painting everything in soft amber light. As soon as they reached the yard, they dismounted their horses¡ªMuz and Wolf¡ªand secured them near a water trough. ¡°Alright,¡± Kai said, dusting some dirt off his clothes. ¡°We¡¯ll pack a few supplies, then head back home before making our journey to Shumara.¡± Leon slid off his saddle, hesitating slightly. Despite his earlier resolve, the thought of venturing into Shumara still weighed heavily. ¡°Sure¡­¡± he managed, nodding. They stepped into the house¡ªan old, sturdy structure built of weathered wood, the walls decorated with family trinkets and childhood memories. The inside felt comfortably familiar: the faint smell of spiced cooking, the warm glow of evening light through windows. Collecting a handful of items¡ªprimarily their weapons¡ªtook only a short while. Their weapons were simple and unadorned, capable of defending against common threats but hardly the best for the dangers they¡¯d soon face. Still, it was all they had. ¡°Are you excited to see her?¡± Leon asked at length. They had just finished stuffing a few essentials into their packs. He gave Kai a knowing smirk. ¡°Who?¡± Kai replied, feigning confusion but letting a smile slip. ¡°You know. Nahlia?¡± Leon laughed. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen her in three years.¡± Kai chuckled softly, shaking his head. ¡°We write letters,¡± he pointed out, though his expression hinted at a deeper longing. ¡°Meeting in person¡¯s totally different,¡± Leon teased. They carried their packs outside, where the late-day sun bathed the yard in warm gold. Muz and Wolf waited patiently, ears perked as the brothers approached to mount them again. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Leon,¡± Kai said firmly, swinging onto Muz¡¯s broad back. ¡°You¡¯re not to tell Mom or Dad about our true plans. Just say we¡¯re going traveling¡ªkeep it simple.¡± Leon gave an obedient nod. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Also,¡± Kai added, ¡°make sure Nahlia and Maribel don¡¯t find out. Don¡¯t tell your friends, either.¡± Leon rolled his eyes, reining in Wolf. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± ¡°And don¡¯t mention anything about my wounds.¡± Kai leaned forward in the saddle, voice low. ¡°Relax, I know.¡± Kai exhaled, a relieved smile tugging at his lips. With that settled, both brothers urged their horses to a brisk pace. Unlike their old carriage journeys, traveling by these swift animals cut the trip time drastically. The miles melted away, the horses galloping easily across rolling hills and dusty roads. ¡°Great to be back,¡± Leon said as their hometown¡¯s silhouette finally came into view. His eyes brightened with anticipation. ¡°Think everyone¡¯ll be surprised?¡± Kai shrugged, guiding Muz along a familiar lane. ¡°Who knows.¡± He motioned toward the cluster of wooden houses. ¡°Let¡¯s get home first.¡± ¡°So you can rush off to your fianc¨¦e?¡± Leon teased, grinning. Kai scoffed, rolling his eyes as he spurred Muz to move ahead. Soon enough, they found themselves in front of a modest but welcoming house. The place hadn¡¯t changed much¡ªits walls showed more age, but the familiar warmth remained. They dismounted, tethering Muz and Wolf near a shady tree. Leon hurried to the front door, rapping loudly against the frame. ¡°Calm down,¡± Kai said with a small smile, amused by Leon¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°You¡¯re acting like a kid.¡± ¡°Hey, unlike you, I¡¯m not used to being away from Mom and Dad,¡± Leon retorted. He rapped again with a flourish. A moment later, the door creaked open. Their mother stood there, her face initially puzzled until her eyes fell on Leon. ¡°Ye¡ªLeon?!¡± she gasped, her expression instantly lighting up.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Hey, Mom,¡± Leon greeted, an irrepressible smile stretching across his face. In a heartbeat, she lunged forward, wrapping him in a fierce hug. ¡°My baby!¡± she exclaimed, voice trembling with emotion. Leon hugged her back, though a slight blush tinged his cheeks. Meanwhile, Kai stepped in, chuckling at the scene. ¡°Hi, Mom,¡± he said softly, giving her a side embrace once she¡¯d released Leon. ¡°Where¡¯s Dad?¡± She pulled away, beaming. ¡°I¡¯ll go get him.¡± She caught Leon by the arm and hurried him inside, still fussing over him. ¡°Leon, just look at you¡­ you¡¯re so grown!¡± Leon practically glowed under her attention. ¡°Check out these muscles!¡± he said, shrugging out of his shirt with an almost childlike excitement. He flexed, showing off a series of lean muscles¡ªand a scattering of white scars. Kai settled at a small wooden table and rolled his eyes. ¡°Idiot.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± his mother mused, nodding approvingly even as she frowned at the marks. ¡°But what are these wounds? They look serious.¡± ¡°Oh, those,¡± Leon answered sheepishly. ¡°Kai and I train a lot¡­ I might¡¯ve gotten a little banged up here and there.¡± She turned, eyes narrowing at Kai. ¡°You hurt him like this during training?¡± Kai, in the midst of sipping water, nearly choked. ¡°What? He¡¯s lying!¡± he sputtered, coughing. ¡°These are from riding accidents, I swear. If I did hit him, you¡¯d see worse!¡± Leon gave a shrug, no real malice in his grin. ¡°Anyways, Mom, can you make some food? I¡¯m starving.¡± She smirked, shaking her head. ¡°Of course. Let me whip something up.¡± She walked to the stairs and looked up, before heading to the kitchen. ¡°Honey, come down!¡± Footsteps thumped down the stairs, heralding their father¡¯s arrival. Rubbing his eyes as if fresh from a nap, he peeked around the corner. ¡°What¡¯s all the racket?¡± he muttered. Then he spotted Leon and froze in place, eyes widening. ¡°Leon?¡± he said, voice trembling with disbelief. Leon jogged over, pulling him into a tight hug. ¡°How are you Dad?¡± Their father¡¯s expression softened into a huge grin. ¡°Better now that you¡¯re here. But why¡¯re you shirtless?¡± he added with a chuckle. ¡°Showing off?¡± Laughing, Leon flexed again. ¡°Look at my muscles!¡± His father whistled approvingly, patting Leon¡¯s shoulder. Then he turned to Kai, greeting him with a brief, hearty hug. ¡°You too, son¡ªhow are you doing?¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Kai replied, giving him a respectful nod before settling back into his chair. Just then, their mother returned from the kitchen carrying a tray laden with steaming snacks. Leon pounced on the food with undisguised hunger, eliciting a soft laugh from her. ¡°So,¡± she said, eyes flicking between them, ¡°why the sudden visit? You didn¡¯t send any word.¡± Leon answered mid-bite, ¡°I missed you guys.¡± She seemed touched, her face crinkling into a warm smile. ¡°We missed you both, too.¡± ¡°Kai,¡± their father chimed in, turning a more serious gaze on his eldest son, ¡°is everything sorted with Leon¡¯s condition?¡± A shadow crossed Kai¡¯s eyes. He toyed with the spoon in front of him. ¡°Yes and no,¡± he replied slowly. ¡°He¡¯s stable whenever I¡¯m around, no real problems for three years now, which is good.¡± Their dad¡¯s brow crinkled in relief. ¡°That means he¡¯s cured?¡± ¡°Not exactly.¡± Kai sighed, then straightened up, as though bracing himself for unwelcome news. ¡°We came back because I need to head out again soon¡­ for research. Leon¡¯s coming with me.¡± Their mother¡¯s hand paused mid-motion. ¡°For how long?¡± she asked in a subdued voice. Kai glanced away, feigning a casual shrug. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Until I find something to fix this. But for now, we¡¯ll stay a week or two so Leon can see you guys.¡± His father pressed, ¡°Couldn¡¯t Leon stay here instead?¡± ¡°He can¡¯t,¡± Kai said gently, shaking his head. ¡°He still needs my containment every day.¡± The mention of containment brought a pensive hush over the room. Their mother nodded slowly, forcing a supportive smile. ¡°We¡¯ll make the most of your visit, then.¡± Kai slipped to his feet, stretching. ¡°I need to pop out. There¡¯s someone I want to see.¡± A glimmer of understanding flickered in Leon¡¯s eyes. ¡°Nahlia?¡± he teased lightly, failing to hide his grin. ¡°Something like that.¡± Kai offered a small smile. ¡°Mom, has she been busy lately?¡± Their mother paused in thought. ¡°Not that I know of. I stop by her house from time to time, and she¡¯s usually around or with friends.¡± Kai ran a hand through his hair, perplexed. ¡°I see. She hasn¡¯t answered many letters, is all.¡± For a moment, his carefully guarded expression slipped, revealing a trace of anxiousness. ¡°Well,¡± he continued, forcing a more optimistic grin, ¡°I¡¯ll check in with her and be back.¡± With that, he walked toward the door. After Kai left, their parents directed their attention to Leon, who was still devouring the snacks. ¡°So,¡± his mother began, smiling gently, ¡°tell us what you¡¯ve been up to these last few years. Your brother¡¯s letters were always so short.¡± Leon swallowed a mouthful. ¡°Mostly training, studying¡­ you know, nothing too crazy. I even tried the Rulin path again, but realized it¡¯s not for me. I guess I¡¯m still figuring out what I want.¡± His father nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fine. No rush. We¡¯re doing okay financially, so you can take your time.¡± His mother set a hand on Leon¡¯s arm. ¡°Just find something safe, please. I¡¯d love for you to stay in the village if possible.¡± Leon shook his head, letting out a casual laugh. ¡°No way. I want to see the city¡ªdo something out there.¡± She sighed softly. ¡°Alright, but promise to be careful.¡± Then her brow knit with curiosity. ¡°Leon, does something seem¡­ different about Kai? His expressions seem tense, almost restrained¡ªlike he¡¯s carrying a heavier burden than before.¡± Leon paused, taken aback. ¡°Different? I don¡¯t think so. We¡¯re together all the time¡ªtraining, studying, and eating. He seems the same to me.¡± Their father exchanged a glance with his wife. ¡°He looks more stressed, somehow,¡± he remarked. ¡°It¡¯s subtle, but it¡¯s there.¡± Leon gazed at them uncertainly, recalling how Kai¡¯s face had tightened whenever talk of his injuries or Shumara arose. ¡°I dunno,¡± he finally said. ¡°He never shows anything to me, at least. Maybe I¡¯m missing it.¡± His mother gave a faint nod. ¡°I might be overthinking it. He¡¯s always been good at hiding worries¡ªlike he doesn''t want us to fret.¡± Leon chewed on the idea in silence. A heaviness settled over them, as though they collectively sensed the weight of what lay ahead, even if unspoken. For now, they let it lie, focusing on the relief of reunion. Announcement Kai walked through the familiar streets, heart pounding with an eager anticipation he hadn¡¯t felt in years. It had been far too long since he¡¯d last seen Nahlia, and the thought of meeting her again spurred him onward. He¡¯d chosen not to ride Muz this time, preferring to soak in the village¡¯s sights on foot, letting the walk stir old memories. Though the village had changed little¡ªmarkets still bustling, familiar faces passing by¡ªKai felt strangely at ease. At the estate, he was constantly burdened by worry: When would his abilities fail to restrain Leon¡¯s condition? When would his own body give out completely? Were it not for Leon, and for the promise he felt to shoulder his family¡¯s welfare, perhaps he might have surrendered to despair. But now, with Nahlia¡¯s presence looming in his thoughts, he found a renewed will to press on. I wonder how she looks now? he mused, a quiet excitement bubbling within him. Before long, Kai stood before a modest house, nearly identical to how he remembered it. He knocked softly, then froze, noticing his empty hands. You idiot¡ªshowing up empty-handed after three years? A wave of sheepishness made him consider fleeing, but before he could move, the door creaked open. ¡°Yes?¡± A young man stepped into the doorway. He had light brown hair, stood slightly shorter than Kai, and studied him curiously. Kai offered a quick smile, extending a hand. ¡°You must be Kamil, Nahlia¡¯s brother.¡± The man¡¯s eyebrows lifted. ¡°Yes? And you are¡­?¡± He accepted Kai¡¯s handshake, seeming puzzled. Having been away for a long time, he hadn¡¯t met Kai in person. ¡°I¡¯m Kai¡ªNahlia¡¯s fianc¨¦,¡± Kai said, grinning. Recognition dawned on Kamil¡¯s face. ¡°Oh! Yes, of course.¡± He straightened, returning a friendlier smile. ¡°Pardon me¡ªI¡¯ve been gone a while, so we never had the chance to meet. Come in, please.¡± Kai slipped inside, recalling the last time he¡¯d been in this house years ago, chatting with Ulia. Warm memories and an unfamiliar tension curled around him. After settling in, Kamil guided Kai to a modest sitting area. ¡°What brings you back?¡± Kamil asked, pulling out a small platter of snacks and placing it on the table. Kai took a seat, glancing around at the same comfortable furnishings. ¡°I¡¯ve been away for three years, dealing with¡­ responsibilities. I came home so my younger brother, Leon, can spend time with our parents before we leave again. I was hoping to see Nahlia before that.¡± Kamil frowned slightly. ¡°You¡¯re leaving again? Any idea how long this time?¡± A sigh escaped Kai. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not sure. I have duties I can¡¯t ignore, but I wanted to stop by first.¡± Kamil studied him for a moment, pushing the plate of snacks closer. ¡°I see. If I¡¯m being honest, I don¡¯t know much about you and Nahlia¡¯s situation¡ªjust that you¡¯ve been engaged for three years. Now you¡¯re leaving again, without a clear return date?¡± Kai offered a wry smile. ¡°You know how it is with obligations¡­¡± Kamil¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°So, if you¡¯re uncertain when you¡¯ll return, have you considered, well¡­ when you¡¯ll actually marry my sister? You two haven¡¯t even spent much time together, to be frank.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Kai admitted softly, expecting such a question. ¡°I¡¯d planned to discuss that with your family.¡± Kamil folded his arms. ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯m in a position to make decisions too¡ªour parents trust me a lot.¡± Kai¡¯s gaze drifted, his tone hopeful. ¡°I was thinking we could¡­ get married while I¡¯m here. Then perhaps I could bring her with me?¡± He spoke carefully, leaving out the more dangerous aspects of his journey. Over the past three years, he had grown to adore Nahlia in a way that felt urgent, as though she was the only bright thread in his uncertain future.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Kamil blinked. ¡°Now? That soon?¡± Kai nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll be around for a few weeks, so we could arrange it if you all agree. I¡ªI really want to marry her.¡± A broad smile broke across Kamil¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s great news! My family has been waiting to hear this for a while. They will be thrilled!¡± Kai¡¯s chest flooded with relief. ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it. By the way, is Nahlia around?¡± He glanced around, as though half-expecting her to appear. ¡°She¡¯s out with friends right now,¡± Kamil explained. ¡°Should be back soon. If you like, I can track her down for you.¡± Kai¡¯s eyes brightened, though a small flicker of disappointment welled inside. ¡°No, it¡¯s alright. Let her enjoy herself.¡± Kamil waved a hand, looking slightly incredulous. ¡°She¡¯d want to see you. Why not let me bring her to your home? If you go now, ill bring her in two hours. I promise, she won¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Kai asked, still slightly awkward. ¡°I don¡¯t want to disturb her.¡± ¡°Nonsense. Leave it to me,¡± Kamil replied, and Kai rose to depart. ¡°Alright, thanks. I¡¯ll see you in about two hours, then.¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± Kamil said with a grin, walking him to the door. By the time Kai returned to his parents¡¯ house, he found the entire family gathered in the living area¡ªMaribel included, eating steaming pastries. ¡°Back so soon?¡± his mother asked, noticing Kai enter. He shrugged and made his way to the table, snagging a piece of bread from a platter. ¡°Nahlia wasn¡¯t home, but her brother, Kamil, said he¡¯d bring her here soon. Also, I have an announcement.¡± The room stilled. ¡°What is it?¡± his mother prompted. Kai calmly took a bite, then grinned. ¡°I plan to get married while I¡¯m here. I¡¯ll ask Nahlia to join me on my trip.¡± Leon nearly choked on air. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re taking her to¡ªour trip?¡± Both parents exchanged wide-eyed looks. ¡°Marriage?¡± his father echoed. ¡°Yes, and yes,¡± Kai repeated, excitement twinkling in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s been three long years without her. I¡¯m sick of being apart.¡± Maribel arched an eyebrow. ¡°You two barely knew each other before you left. That was, what, a handful of dates?¡± Kai shrugged, though his cheeks warmed faintly. ¡°Maybe I fell too hard too fast. But these past years were rough. Her letters were everything.¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful news,¡± his mother exclaimed, eyes shining. ¡°We need to start planning!¡± She motioned to Maribel, her face lighting with enthusiasm. ¡°Maribel, get the book¡ªwe¡¯ll look at clothes and themes.¡± Maribel leaped from her seat, practically saluting. ¡°On it!¡± she called, dashing upstairs. Kai¡¯s father beamed. ¡°So maybe I¡¯ll see a grandchild in my lifetime?¡± He chuckled, slapping his knee. ¡°Maybe,¡± Kai replied softly, trying to contain his own grin. But before he could bask in the family¡¯s excitement, Leon tugged at his sleeve. ¡°Bro, can we talk?¡± Leon murmured, worry etched into his eyes. They stepped aside. ¡°You plan on taking her to Shumara?¡± Leon hissed, disbelief mingling with concern. ¡°I know you missed her, but that¡¯s¡­ unbelievably risky.¡± Kai exhaled. ¡°I¡¯m not marching her into Shumara. I just want her close by while we travel. I¡¯ll keep her safe. I can¡¯t stand getting letters every few months, not anymore.¡± Leon frowned, still uneasy. ¡°Are you absolutely sure?¡± Kai mustered a confident nod. ¡°I protect you, don¡¯t I? I can protect her, too.¡± A gentle smile touched his lips. ¡°She¡¯s going to be my wife, Leon. It¡¯s only right she knows at least part of what¡¯s going on.¡± Leon pursed his lips. ¡°I still think you¡¯re jumping in headfirst. You¡¯ve been basically obsessed with her letters.¡± Kai smirked. ¡°That¡¯s what love¡¯s for, right? If I can¡¯t think about her all the time, what¡¯s the point?¡± Leon rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°Fine, it¡¯s your call.¡± They rejoined the group at the table just as Maribel reappeared, lugging a hefty binder of wedding ideas. She and their mother flipped through pictures, discussing color schemes and decorations. ¡°We can do a blue theme,¡± Maribel suggested. ¡°But Kai loves purple,¡± their mother insisted. ¡°We¡¯ll ask Nahlia, see which mix suits them.¡± She glanced expectantly at Kai. Kai swallowed a piece of bread and shrugged playfully. ¡°She¡¯ll be here soon. Better to hear it from her.¡± Maribel sighed. ¡°You still don¡¯t know her favorite color, do you?¡± Their mother tsked in mock disapproval. ¡°Really? That¡¯s basic knowledge. Honey¡ªwhat¡¯s my favorite color?¡± she teased her husband. He hesitated, clearing his throat. ¡°Uh¡­ red?¡± She shook her head with exaggerated dismay. ¡°It¡¯s blue¡ªlike father, like son.¡± Kai¡¯s father chuckled, unaffected. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to some friends about the venue. I want everyone to see this wedding.¡± His mother snapped her fingers. ¡°Oh right¡ªinvitations. Maribel, you mentioned a friend who does that professionally. Invite her tomorrow, so we can get started.¡± Maribel nodded firmly. ¡°Will do.¡± Watching them all plan so enthusiastically filled Kai with an unexpected glow. He rarely saw his family this animated, and their genuine involvement in his life warmed him. Suddenly, a brisk knock echoed from the door. Kai¡¯s mother sprang to her feet, practically beaming. ¡°That must be her!¡± she cried, rushing to answer it. Throwing it open, she smiled radiantly at the visitor. ¡°Nahlia!¡±