《Enchanter》 Chapter 1: Not my bed Lusei walked home with his hands stuffed in his pockets, head down, the hum of the city fading into background noise. Seventeen. Average height. Lean but not athletic ¡ª the kind of kid people glanced over without a second thought. His black school uniform hung a little loose on his frame, collar always slightly off-center. His dark hair was unkempt, not out of style but out of neglect, and his eyes ¡ª a deep, worn-out gray ¡ª scanned everything while focusing on nothing. Always watching. Always quiet. He passed the usual vending machine, still blinking ¡°out of service.¡± The corner store with its sun-bleached posters. A group of classmates up ahead, laughing about something he didn¡¯t hear. He didn¡¯t try to catch up. He never did. It wasn¡¯t that Lusei hated people. He just didn¡¯t see the point of pretending to fit in. School was a routine: show up, stay invisible, leave. He could ace any test if he wanted, but standing out felt like asking for attention he didn¡¯t need. What¡¯s the point of climbing, when there¡¯s nothing at the top? The walk to his apartment took fifteen minutes. He knew every crack in the sidewalk by heart. His neighborhood wasn¡¯t dangerous, just tired ¡ª a place worn down at the edges, like everything inside it. He reached his building and didn¡¯t pause. Just moved on autopilot ¡ª key, stairs, door, sigh. The studio greeted him with silence. No ¡°I¡¯m home,¡± no response. No one waiting. Just still air and the faint hum of his computer screen, left glowing from the night before. He didn¡¯t mind. He¡¯d gotten used to it. A twin bed. A scuffed-up desk. His old monitor surrounded by tangled cables. A sink, a tiny stove, a bathroom barely big enough to turn around in. Cramped, yes. But it was his. He dropped his bag beside the desk, didn¡¯t bother taking off his shoes. He thought about finishing the game he left paused. Maybe watching a movie. Something dumb, something distracting. But the weight hit him before he could even sit down ¡ª sudden, heavy exhaustion, like gravity just tripled. His limbs felt heavy, his brain fuzzed at the edges. Too tired. Still in his uniform, he dropped onto the bed face-first. And the world vanished. Warmth. Wind. Grass? Something was wrong. Lusei stirred. His back didn¡¯t ache like it usually did after crashing in his room. Instead, something cool pressed against him. Uneven. Not fabric ¡ª something natural. Earth. His brow twitched. He cracked an eye open and blinked into brightness. No ceiling. Just sky ¡ª vast and impossibly blue ¡ª framed by tree branches swaying gently in the breeze. Birds chirped in the distance. The air smelled sharp and alive: fresh grass, damp soil, clean wind. He sat up too fast. Light pierced his vision. He winced, shielding his eyes. As his sight adjusted, the full scene came into view: a wide, open grassland rolling across low hills, dotted with distant trees. No cars. No buildings. No sounds of traffic or voices. Just wind. Sun. Green. He pinched his arm. Hard. ¡°...Ow.¡± Still here. He slapped his cheek. It stung. Still here. ¡°Nope,¡± he muttered, voice flat but edged with disbelief. ¡°Not a dream.¡± His heart thudded, steady but fast. Years of pushing everything down had taught him how to stay calm on the surface ¡ª but inside, his mind was spiraling. What is this? A hallucination? Am I dead? Unconscious? In a coma? Panic pressed in slowly, cold and tight. He clenched his fists. Tried to breathe. Tried to think. And then¡­ curiosity. He looked at his hand. Dirt under his nails. A blade of grass caught in his sleeve. The wind tugged lightly at his hair. Too real. Too sharp to be fake. ¡°This isn¡¯t a dream,¡± he whispered. Lusei stood still, scanning the landscape around him. To his right, the grasslands stretched endlessly into the horizon ¡ª a rolling sea of green, interrupted only by scattered trees swaying gently in the wind. No roads. No rooftops. No signs of life beyond the occasional bird overhead. To his left, a dense forest loomed ¡ª tall, ancient trees packed tightly together, their shadows pooling like ink between the trunks. He took it all in, weighing his options. ¡°Grassland looks peaceful,¡± he muttered, ¡°but if I head out that way, I¡¯ll probably starve.¡± He turned toward the forest. ¡°In there, maybe I can find berries¡­ fruit¡­ water.¡± As if on cue, his stomach let out a faint grumble. Decision made, he adjusted his bag and stepped toward the trees. The air shifted as soon as he crossed the threshold. The temperature dipped, and sunlight filtered through the canopy in shafts, spotlighting the forest floor. Dust motes swirled in the golden light. Birds chirped and fluttered above, their calls echoing through the quiet. It felt¡­ normal. Like any forest back home. Almost comfortingly so. He walked for what felt like hours, moving cautiously, eyes scanning the brush for anything edible. Eventually, he came across clusters of strange berries dotting low bushes. Deep purple, round, and glossy. He hesitated. Sniffed one. Considered the risk. Hunger won. He popped one into his mouth. Sweet. Unexpectedly rich, like a fruit he couldn¡¯t name ¡ª better than anything from a convenience store back home. He picked a few more and slipped them into his pocket. Above him, the sun hung high. Probably afternoon by now. Sweat clung to his skin. Thirst crept in ¡ª slow, dry, and building. ¡°Come on,¡± he muttered, wiping his forehead. ¡°There¡¯s gotta be water somewhere¡­¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! He kept moving, deeper into the forest. Each step quieter, more cautious, ears tuned for the slightest sound ¡ª a trickle, a splash, anything. Then he heard it. Faint, steady. Water. He followed the sound, parting thick undergrowth until the trees opened into a clearing ¡ª and there it was. A wide river cut through the forest, its surface smooth and glassy, the current whispering against polished stones. The water was impossibly clear ¡ª no signs of pollution, no floating debris. Just pure, untouched flow. Lusei didn¡¯t hesitate. He rushed forward, dropped to his knees, and cupped his hands into the stream. The water was cool, clean, perfect. He drank. No aftertaste. No chemicals. Just pure, cold relief. With each swallow, his body seemed to loosen ¡ª as if the forest itself let him exhale. He sat back on his heels, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and let out a quiet breath. ¡°Okay,¡± he said softly, to no one but the trees, ¡°step one: don¡¯t die.¡± The cold water brought a moment of stillness. Lusei sat by the river, catching his breath, the sounds of the forest fading into a quiet hum ¡ª birdsong, rustling leaves, the soft flow of the stream. Like a dream on mute. Then the air changed. A low, guttural rumble rolled across the clearing ¡ª not the wind, not birds, not anything natural. Something heavy. Predatory. Lusei turned his head slowly, instinct overriding thought. Across the river, a massive creature stood, its head lowered to drink. It resembled a wolf, but something about it was... wrong. Too large ¡ª towering even on all fours. Its fur was pitch black, tangled and coarse like it had never known light. Bone-like ridges jutted along its spine, jagged and uneven like natural armor. Its snout twitched with each breath, long and narrow, and its mouth was lined with fangs that looked strong enough to crush stone. Its eyes weren¡¯t red, or yellow, or anything warm. They were icy blue, dimly glowing ¡ª and utterly void of emotion. The creature froze. Sniffed the air. Its head rose. And then it saw him. Their eyes locked. A deep growl rolled from its chest, vibrating the ground beneath Lusei¡¯s feet. He couldn¡¯t move. His legs locked. His lungs barely worked. A cold sweat slid down his cheek as the monster stepped forward ¡ª slow, measured, like it was stalking prey it had already claimed. The growl deepened, growing louder with each step. Move. Run. Run. His thoughts screamed at him, but his muscles refused to listen. The beast bared its teeth. And then it roared. The sound tore through the forest ¡ª raw, primal, deafening. Lusei¡¯s body finally obeyed. He turned and sprinted, heart slamming against his ribs. His breath came in ragged gasps. Branches whipped against his arms, leaves stung his face. He ducked low, leapt high, stumbled forward. Behind him: crashing, snapping, snarling. The creature didn¡¯t chase ¡ª it charged, crashing through trees and brush like a natural disaster with claws. His legs burned. His lungs were on fire. But adrenaline kept him moving, every instinct screaming survive. Then ¡ª ahead ¡ª a split in the stone. A crack at the base of a mountain. A cave. Narrow. Jagged. Just barely wide enough for him. He didn¡¯t hesitate. Lusei dove toward the gap ¡ª and got stuck. ¡°Shit¡ª!¡± His shoulders wedged into the stone. The space was tighter than it looked. Panic flared as he struggled, half-in, half-out. Behind him, the beast snarled louder. Closer. He screamed through his teeth and pushed with everything he had. Legs kicking. Elbows digging. Stone scraping his sides. The monster was nearly on him ¡ª he could feel it. One final shove. He slipped through. Just in time. Lusei hit the cave floor hard, his shoulder scraping against the rough stone. Behind him, a thunderous boom shook the narrow passage. The creature had slammed into the rock, still trying to force its way in. A low snarl of pain followed, then the grating sound of claws raking violently across the stone. Lusei scrambled back on instinct, crawling deeper into the cave. A massive paw slashed through the crack behind him, claws swiping at the air, barely missing his leg. The beast roared in frustration, its glowing eyes burning through the gap like twin embers in the dark. It paced outside, snarling, waiting. Lusei didn¡¯t stick around to see if it would try again. He pushed himself farther in until the walls curved and the monster was out of sight. Then, finally, he collapsed onto his back, chest heaving, sweat cooling on his skin. His body trembled. His lungs burned. His throat felt like sandpaper. After several long minutes, he sat up slowly. The cave wasn¡¯t entirely dark. Thin shafts of sunlight streamed in from above, piercing the shadows through cracks in the ceiling. The air was damp but breathable, heavy with the scent of moss and stone. His thoughts were still racing, but now fear began to give way to caution. What if there¡¯s something else in here¡­ something worse? He glanced back toward the entrance. The monster still lingered, just beyond the crack, its presence like a shadow he couldn¡¯t shake. No turning back now. Drawing in a shaky breath, Lusei stood. His legs protested, but he forced them to move. He crept deeper into the cave, staying close to the patches of light, one hand brushing the wall for guidance, the other slightly raised ¡ª ready to react to whatever came next. Then, a sound stopped him cold. A voice. Faint. Thin. Like wind whispering through stone. He froze, pulse spiking. Had he imagined it? Then it came again. A soft plea, barely audible: ¡°¡­Help¡­ me¡­¡± His eyes widened. He swallowed. ¡°Where are you?¡± he called out, voice low but steady. The voice answered, still distant, but clearer. ¡°This way¡­ please¡­ follow¡­¡± Lusei hesitated. Every survival instinct screamed don¡¯t. But curiosity ¡ª the need for answers ¡ª was louder. He kept walking. The tunnel widened gradually, the rough walls giving way to a broader, domed chamber. Beams of sunlight filtered down through jagged cracks in the rock above, scattering golden light across the space like a fractured spotlight. At the center of the cavern was a pool ¡ª small, shallow, and glowing softly from within. The light wasn¡¯t harsh or magical-looking. It felt¡­ natural. Like the water itself was alive. Beside it stood a tree, its bark silver and smooth, its leaves shimmering faintly like starlight in motion. Then the voice returned, now close and clear: ¡°Come closer¡­ you¡¯re almost there¡­¡± He stepped forward, cautiously, heart thudding. And then he saw her. A woman sat at the base of the tree, leaning against its trunk as if it were the only thing holding her up. She looked¡­ otherworldly. Her hair was long, cascading past her waist in waves of white streaked with gold. Her skin was pale, almost glowing, like carved moonstone. She wore a deep sapphire robe that shimmered subtly, stitched with arcane patterns that seemed to shift when not directly observed. Around her neck hung a pendant ¡ª a crystal entwined with delicate vines, pulsing faintly with light. But it was her eyes ¡ª silver, calm, impossibly sad ¡ª that locked onto his. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ nice to see you,¡± she said softly, her voice like a breath of wind. Lusei took a cautious step forward. ¡°Who are you?¡± She gave a faint smile ¡ª and then her body gave out. ¡°Hey¡ª!¡± He rushed forward and caught her before she could collapse completely, easing her to the ground. ¡°Are you okay?!¡± ¡°My name¡­ is Celeste Nighthill,¡± she whispered, her voice barely holding. ¡°I am¡­ an Enchantress¡­¡± Lusei blinked. ¡°Enchantress? What does that even mean?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time¡­¡± she winced, clutching her chest. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ fading. I won¡¯t last much longer¡­ not unless I form a bond.¡± Her breathing was shallow. Every word looked like it cost her more. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing¡­ you came¡­¡± she said, eyes searching his. Lusei¡¯s pulse quickened. ¡°Wait ¡ª what¡¯s happening? What bond?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± she asked, urgently. ¡°Lusei.¡± She gave a soft, relieved nod. ¡°Lusei¡­ Listen carefully. I used the last of my magic¡­ to summon you here. To bring you to this world.¡± His breath caught. ¡°You summoned me? You¡¯re the reason I¡¯m here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± she said, voice breaking. ¡°There isn¡¯t enough time to explain¡­¡± She gasped ¡ª a quiet, painful sound ¡ª and a trickle of blood ran from the corner of her lips. Lusei tightened his grip on her hand. ¡°Hey ¡ª stay with me! Please¡ª¡± ¡°We must perform the bond,¡± she whispered. His voice was frantic now. ¡°What bond? What does that mean?!¡± Celeste raised her trembling hand toward him. ¡°I will pass my essence¡­ my power¡­ to you. You must become the next vessel.¡± Lusei hesitated, every part of him screaming that this didn¡¯t make sense. But when he looked into her eyes ¡ª eyes full of urgency, but also trust ¡ª he knew what he had to do. He reached out and pressed his palm to hers. Her hand was ice-cold. Then, in a breath barely louder than silence, she said: ¡°Repeat after me.¡± ¡°By the light of stars and the root of magic, I accept your gift and carry your flame. From soul to soul, our bond is forged ¡ª I am your vessel, and you are my guide.¡± Lusei repeated the words, each syllable rolling from his lips with unexpected ease ¡ª like the language had been waiting in his mouth his entire life. ¡°By the light of stars and the root of magic, I accept your gift and carry your flame. From soul to soul, our bond is forged ¡ª I am your vessel, and you are my guide.¡± As the final word echoed into the cavern, the air grew still ¡ª as if the cave itself was holding its breath. Celeste¡¯s body jerked faintly, like a puppet tugged by unseen strings. Her veins, once faint and pale beneath her moonlit skin, began to glow ¡ª a soft, silvery light that pulsed like a second heartbeat. The glow traveled down her arm in a slow, deliberate wave, drawn toward their joined hands. Lusei inhaled sharply as the light touched him. It entered through his palm like liquid fire ¡ª not burning, not painful, but warm and alive. The energy threaded into his veins, tracing them like roots under his skin. It spread quickly, coursing through his arm, surging into his chest, blooming outward. His body tensed, overwhelmed by the sensation. His breath caught in his throat. It wasn¡¯t just warmth ¡ª it was presence. Like something ancient and vast had just awakened inside him. He didn¡¯t know what it was. Not magic, not energy, not anything he had words for. It was power. Raw. Pure. Unfiltered. And it was choosing him. He looked at Celeste. Her face was pale, lips parted slightly, but her expression was peaceful. A soft smile curved across her mouth. ¡°Use this power well,¡± she whispered. Then their joined hands ignited. The light began as a gentle glow, but rapidly intensified, blooming outward in waves ¡ª silver and white and gold ¡ª engulfing the space around them. It poured over the cavern like a rising tide, erasing shadow, bathing the stone in radiant brilliance. The tree shimmered. The pool glowed brighter. And then everything vanished in white. Lusei¡¯s vision blurred. His thoughts scattered like dust in wind. For one brief moment, he felt everything ¡ª the heartbeat of the forest, the breath of the earth, the fading echo of Celeste¡¯s soul folding into his own. And then he felt nothing. Weightless. Floating. And finally¡ª Darkness. The light swallowed him whole. And the world went still. Chapter 2: Awakening Lusei woke to silence. His body ached ¡ª not with sharp pain, but with a deep, lingering fatigue, like he¡¯d just crossed an invisible threshold and left part of himself behind. His eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the softened glow of the cave. The world around him had changed. The once-blinding pool now shimmered faintly, its glow reduced to a dim, pulsing light beneath the surface. The silver tree beside it ¡ª once radiant ¡ª stood still, its luminous leaves dulled, its bark cracked in places like something ancient had exhaled its last breath. Cracks in the cave walls now glowed faintly, casting thin veins of silver light through the dark stone. But what caught his attention wasn¡¯t the cave. It was the warmth inside him. It pulsed softly beneath his skin ¡ª not hot, not painful. Just... present. Like a heartbeat that wasn¡¯t his. He sat up slowly, breath unsteady, his fingers brushing over his chest, then down his right arm. And that¡¯s when he saw it. From his elbow to his wrist, his forearm was marked ¡ª not with letters, but with a design. A tattoo. Not something human. A crescent moon, carved in flowing silver, cradled in a circle of woven thorns and stars. Around it spiraled arcane shapes: a delicate tree blooming upward from the curve of the moon, and coiling through the tree¡¯s roots, a sleeping figure ¡ª faint and ghostlike. The ink shimmered faintly, alive with magic, responding to his movement with subtle shifts of light. It was beautiful. And terrifying. And hers. He didn¡¯t know how he knew that ¡ª but he did. It was Celeste¡¯s mark. Not something she gave him. Something she left in him. He turned his arm slowly in the light. The tattoo looked ancient ¡ª like something carved onto temple walls or sealed inside forgotten books. But it felt alive. Like it was watching with him. Then came the pressure. A throb behind his eyes. Sharp. Sudden. His thoughts scattered as a wave of noise flooded his head ¡ª not words, not yet ¡ª more like a whisper heard underwater. Then, through the static, something cut through. ¡°¡­breathe¡­¡± ¡°¡­listen¡­¡± He froze. The voice ¡ª faint, feminine ¡ª flickered across his senses like a breeze passing over his skin. Familiar. Distant. But real. His chest rose and fell in silence. He lowered his arm, slowly. He remembered the ritual. The light. Her hand in his. ¡°Use this power well.¡± Now, the glow of the pool was fading. The tree was silent. But she was still here. Somewhere. And he was still here. Lusei closed his eyes for a moment. The questions pushed their way forward. Why him? Why this world? What did Celeste see in him¡­ that made her give everything? He opened his eyes. And knew he couldn''t stay in this cave much longer. The stillness didn¡¯t last. The cave trembled ¡ª a low, guttural sound that rumbled up from the earth itself. Lusei snapped to his feet. The walls began to groan. Dust trickled down from above. Then the ceiling cracked. A chunk of stone the size of a chair slammed into the ground a few feet from where he stood, shattering on impact. The cave was collapsing. He didn¡¯t hesitate. He scanned his surroundings, instincts sharp ¡ª and spotted it: a narrow tunnel branching off the main cavern, lit faintly by daylight flickering through the far end. He ran. More rocks fell, crashing behind him like thunder. The floor beneath him shook, unstable, breaking apart in chunks. He ducked under a falling beam of stone, twisted past another collapsing section, his heart pounding in his chest like a war drum. The tunnel shook violently. Ahead, the light at the end ¡ª his exit ¡ª started to flicker as more debris fell, clouding the air in dust. The ground behind him split. He pushed harder, legs burning. The path was crumbling, but he didn¡¯t slow. A massive chunk of rock fell in front of the exit ¡ª too late. Lusei leapt. His fingers grazed the edge of the collapsing stone as he threw himself forward with everything he had. For a breathless second, he was airborne. Then he hit the ground. A bed of grass cushioned the impact as he tumbled out into the open. Behind him, the roar of falling stone echoed like a closing door ¡ª final and loud. He turned just in time to see the last of the entrance vanish behind a wall of boulders and dust. Silence. He lay there, flat on his back, staring up at the sky ¡ª real sky ¡ª the blue clear and wide above him. His chest rose and fell in heavy, uneven breaths. He was alive. He glanced back at the now-sealed cave. No going back. ¡°Thanks,¡± he muttered under his breath ¡ª whether to the cave, fate, or Celeste, he wasn¡¯t sure. After a moment, he sat up, brushing grass off his uniform. The landscape around him was unfamiliar ¡ª distant trees, rolling hills, no signs of civilization. Just more wilderness. His mind caught up. This world wasn¡¯t safe. That wolf-like monster, the way the cave nearly killed him ¡ª whatever this place was, it wasn¡¯t going to cut him any breaks. He stood slowly, eyes scanning the horizon. Then, he remembered Celeste¡¯s words. ¡°I will pass my essence to you¡­ my power¡­¡± But what kind of power? He held out his right arm, studying the tattoo again ¡ª the crescent moon, the tree, the sleeping figure. It didn¡¯t glow now. Just ink. But he could still feel it. That warmth inside. Quiet, pulsing, waiting. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what you gave me¡­¡± he muttered. ¡°But I guess I¡¯m going to find out.¡± Lusei stared at his arm ¡ª the mark still there, unchanged, quiet. He tried everything. Focusing. Breathing. Repeating Celeste¡¯s name like a mantra. Nothing happened. No flash of light. No surge of power. Just silence. "Useless..." he muttered, dropping his arm with a tired sigh. Maybe the bond only worked once. Maybe it had died with her. Or maybe he just wasn¡¯t who she thought he was. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Still, he couldn¡¯t sit and wait for answers. If Celeste had lived in this world, there had to be others like her. A city. A village. People. Someone. He turned toward the forest and started walking. The forest stretched endlessly, but Lusei kept going, cutting through the undergrowth, pushing past branches, ignoring the ache in his legs. Then he saw it. Smoke. A single column curling into the sky above the treeline. His heart jumped. ¡°Fire¡­ someone has to be there.¡± Hope sparked in his chest ¡ª warm and sudden. He broke into a run, stumbling through the brush, branches clawing at his sleeves, hope chasing his steps. The trees thinned. He pushed the last branch aside. And everything stopped. The breath caught in his throat. His legs locked. He stepped back without realizing it. It wasn¡¯t a campfire. It wasn¡¯t a village greeting a traveler. It was a nightmare. The village was burning. Flames devoured rooftops and spread across wooden homes. The sky was black with smoke, the air filled with screaming. Bodies were everywhere ¡ª slumped against walls, sprawled in the streets, some unmoving, some still trying to crawl away. And the ones causing it¡ª Lusei¡¯s stomach turned. They looked human at first glance ¡ª but they weren¡¯t. Brutish, armored, massive. Skin like cracked stone, weapons made from jagged steel and bone. Their faces were a twisted mockery of human ¡ª flat, animalistic, with eyes that gleamed with hunger and cruelty. They weren¡¯t wild. They were methodical. Strategic. Controlled. He stumbled back a step, hand over his mouth, bile rising in his throat. What is this... what is this...? Then he saw it ¡ª a child, lying still in the dirt. Another ¡ª run through with a spear. Lusei¡¯s knees gave out and he dropped to the ground, hands gripping the earth, chest heaving. This isn¡¯t real... this can¡¯t be real... But the screams didn¡¯t stop. The fire didn¡¯t stop. The creatures didn¡¯t stop. He couldn¡¯t look away. Then he heard it ¡ª a voice. Soft. Trembling. ¡°P-please¡­¡± He turned, slowly, his eyes glassy. A little girl. Blood on her face. Tears on her cheeks. She clung to his sleeve like he was the last person in the world. ¡°Help¡­¡± Lusei stared at her, frozen. He couldn¡¯t breathe. Couldn¡¯t move. Behind her, the bodies. The smoke. The burning. Why? Why did she bring me here? He wasn¡¯t a fighter. He wasn¡¯t a soldier. He was just some kid who liked movies and video games and wanted to be left alone. But then¡ª Two of the creatures stepped forward, weapons raised. One pointed at him. ¡°You. Come with the others.¡± The other gestured to a group of humans, bound and kneeling. ¡°Now,¡± he growled. ¡°Or die with the girl.¡± Lusei looked at the girl again. Her eyes ¡ª wide, pleading. Something broke inside him. He slowly stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body. His hands trembled. His legs felt like lead. But his voice ¡ª somehow ¡ª came out steady. ¡°¡­And if I don¡¯t?¡± One of the warriors sneered. ¡°Then you die like the rest.¡± The warrior snarled, ¡°Then you die like the rest.¡± Without waiting for another word, both creatures surged forward. Lusei¡¯s heart jolted. He turned, scooped the girl into his arms, and ran. Branches slapped at his face. Roots clawed at his shoes. The girl clung to him, trembling, still crying softly. Her small hands gripped his shirt like she was afraid he¡¯d vanish if she let go. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he whispered breathlessly, lying through his teeth. ¡°Everything¡¯s going to be okay.¡± But inside, he didn¡¯t believe it. He was panicking. He could hear the warriors crashing through the undergrowth behind them ¡ª fast. Too fast. He wasn¡¯t built for this. Not with a child in his arms. Not against creatures that moved like trained killers. The voice in his mind screamed at him to run faster, but his legs were burning. His grip on the girl was slipping. Then¡ª A whooshing snap of air behind him. Instinct screamed. Lusei jumped sideways ¡ª just in time to avoid a massive blade cleaving the air where they¡¯d been seconds ago. The ground rushed up to meet them as he tumbled, shielding the girl with his arms. They hit hard ¡ª Lusei¡¯s side took the brunt of the fall. He winced, biting back a shout of pain. Laughter followed. ¡°Should¡¯ve taken the offer,¡± one of the warriors growled. Lusei rolled over, coughing, eyes darting to the girl. She was okay ¡ª shaken, but alive. ¡°Run!¡± he shouted to her, desperate. But she didn¡¯t. Her legs wouldn¡¯t move. She stood frozen, tears spilling down her cheeks, eyes locked on the brute stomping toward them. A hand seized Lusei by the neck ¡ª massive, rough, lifting him off the ground like he weighed nothing. The world blurred. His feet dangled. The air vanished from his lungs. The warrior held him up eye-to-eye, lips curled in amusement. In the other hand, the creature raised a jagged blade, the point aimed at Lusei¡¯s gut. ¡°You tried to play the hero,¡± the creature said, voice thick with venom. ¡°But heroes die like everyone else.¡± Lusei clawed at the warrior¡¯s wrist, struggling, desperate ¡ª but the grip was unbreakable. Is this it? After everything? After all she gave me? He¡¯d expected something. Strength. A spark. Anything. But now, at the edge of death, all he felt was the weight of failure. Then¡ª A whisper. ¡°¡­Feel it¡­¡± Lusei¡¯s eyes widened. The voice¡­ soft, clear. Celeste. ¡°¡­It¡¯s yours now¡­ use it¡­¡± Time slowed. Sound dulled. The forest faded. Lusei was standing in a void ¡ª a vast, silvery emptiness. Like a night sky with no stars. Just silence. Stillness. And her. Celeste stood before him, calm and glowing faintly, the light of the moon woven through her white hair. Her silver eyes met his with gentle urgency. ¡°I don¡¯t have long,¡± she said. ¡°This only happens because you''re close to death. I can¡¯t explain everything now.¡± Lusei opened his mouth ¡ª tried to speak ¡ª but no voice came. Just breath. Just questions caught in his throat. ¡°There will be time later,¡± she continued. ¡°But for now¡­ I¡¯ll show you what to do.¡± She stepped forward, raising her hand. A small silver orb pulsed at the tip of her finger ¡ª no bigger than a marble. It shimmered with energy that felt familiar, like something he¡¯d always carried but never noticed. She pressed it gently to his forehead. Warmth spread instantly. Then¡ª Light. Lusei¡¯s eyes flew open. He was back. The blade was coming down ¡ª inches away. But something had changed. His left hand shot up and caught the blade mid-air. The warrior''s eyes widened. The jagged weapon shuddered in Lusei¡¯s grip, held in place ¡ª not bending, not moving. The brute snarled and pushed harder, but it didn¡¯t budge. Lusei looked up at him. His expression was no longer panicked. It was cold. Focused. Unflinching. His right arm lifted slowly ¡ª the tattoo pulsing, glowing white-silver from within. The air around his fist began to shimmer. Moonlight condensed around his knuckles, bright and burning. Then, with a single motion, he struck. His fist crashed into the warrior¡¯s forearm ¡ª a sickening crack echoing through the trees as the brute¡¯s arm shattered beneath the force. The warrior screamed, stumbling backward, dropping Lusei to the ground. The girl screamed too ¡ª but not in fear. Lusei hit the ground on his feet ¡ª and this time, he didn¡¯t feel pain. No burning muscles. No aching ribs. Just¡­ strength. A stillness inside him, deep and unshakable. He drew in a breath and straightened up, his spine aligning like it was being guided by something else ¡ª something refined. He looked down at his hands. They weren¡¯t shaking anymore. That warmth from before? It wasn¡¯t just warmth now. It was power. Controlled. Calm. Waiting. His eyes drifted to the girl ¡ª still on the ground, crying softly, frozen in fear. Lusei raised a hand and gently gestured her toward him. ¡°Come on,¡± he said, his voice steadier than he expected. ¡°Behind me. I¡¯ll keep you safe.¡± She hesitated ¡ª then slowly crawled toward him and pressed herself behind his back. He didn¡¯t look back again. He didn¡¯t need to. He turned his gaze forward. One of the warriors was still on the ground, writhing and holding his shattered arm, growling in pain. The other stood frozen a few meters away ¡ª not charging, not speaking, just watching. Processing. Calculating. Lusei started walking toward them. His posture was loose. Relaxed. Almost casual. But his presence had changed. The air around him shimmered with silver aura, his steps heavy but fluid. His right arm still glowed faintly, pulsing in rhythm with his heart. And his eyes ¡ª cold, glowing silver ¡ª locked onto the warrior still standing. ¡°You know¡­¡± Lusei said calmly, his voice cutting through the stillness. ¡°Predators usually don¡¯t run into a fight they know they¡¯ve already lost.¡± He took another step. ¡°But sometimes, they don¡¯t even have to fight.¡± Another step. ¡°Because when a bigger predator steps in, the smart ones bow their heads¡ª¡± His eyes narrowed. ¡°¡ªand back the hell off.¡± The injured warrior groaned. The standing one tensed, knuckles whitening on his sword and shield. Lusei¡¯s arm dropped to his side, open, relaxed ¡ª but ready. He didn¡¯t know what he was doing. Not really. But his body moved like it remembered something his mind didn¡¯t. Like the magic inside him had been waiting for this moment. The warrior snapped forward ¡ª a blur of motion, shield up, sword raised. Lusei exhaled through his nose. As the sword came down in a wide arc, he sidestepped smoothly ¡ª not flinching, not panicking ¡ª just moving. The blade hit the ground with a heavy thunk. Too slow. Lusei¡¯s right hand glowed again ¡ª that same silver-white energy, forming a shimmer that wrapped around his knuckles like a gauntlet of light. The warrior saw it coming and reacted ¡ª shield up, bracing. Lusei smirked. Then punched straight through the shield. The impact rang like thunder ¡ª the force launching the brute backward, smashing through trees and brush like a missile. Silence followed. Lusei lowered his arm, the glow dimming slightly. He exhaled. The sound of whimpering pain drew his attention back to the one on the ground ¡ª the first warrior, still clutching his broken limb, dragging himself away in slow, desperate movements. Lusei approached. He stopped just a few steps away, towering over the creature. His fist clenched again. And hesitated. He¡¯s not a monster, right? Just a person. Just a scared kid¡­ But the heat in his chest surged again. Not rage ¡ª judgment. Finality. The power didn¡¯t ask questions. It decided. Lusei raised his arm one last time ¡ª and brought it down. The body hit the ground with a wet crack. Then, stillness. No more footsteps. No more screams. Only smoke in the distance ¡ª and the soft wind brushing through the trees. Lusei stood over the fallen warrior, chest rising and falling slowly. The silver glow around his arm faded, the tattoo dimming back into stillness. His heart was still pounding, but his expression stayed calm ¡ª not cold, just¡­ focused. Controlled. He turned. The little girl stared at him, her eyes wide and full of fear. She¡¯d seen everything. The glow. The violence. The end. Her tiny frame trembled. Lusei froze for a second ¡ª realizing what he must look like to her now. But then he softened. He offered her a small, quiet smile ¡ª not the kind you force, but the kind that says you¡¯re safe now. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he said gently. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± She didn¡¯t move at first. Then slowly, she nodded. Lusei glanced toward the smoke rising from the village. It was still burning. Still screaming for help. ¡°I need to go,¡± he told her. ¡°There might be others I can help.¡± He pointed toward the forest behind her. ¡°Find someplace safe. Hide if you have to. Don¡¯t come out unless you''re sure it¡¯s clear.¡± She looked up at him, eyes red from crying. Her lip trembled. ¡°W-what¡¯s your name¡­?¡± Lusei was already turning, already walking toward the chaos. He paused mid-step. Looked back over his shoulder. And smiled again ¡ª tired, warm, and real. ¡°¡­You can call me Lusei.¡± Then he turned and walked into the smoke. Chapter 3: Ash and Echoes Smoke. Thick and choking, curling through the air like ghostly hands. Lusei stepped into the village ¡ª or what was left of it ¡ª the smell of burning wood, blood, and something worse clinging to his lungs. The heat from the flames kissed his skin like an open warning, but he didn¡¯t stop. The world around him was a nightmare still unfolding. Homes lay in ruin, torn open by fire and blades. Smoke billowed from rooftops that had already collapsed. Bodies ¡ª some whole, some not ¡ª were scattered in the streets like discarded dolls. Blood soaked the dirt, and broken weapons clattered in the wind. Some houses were still untouched by fire ¡ª but not untouched by fear. He saw faces in windows. Survivors, hiding in their homes, peeking out with wide, tear-filled eyes. Others lay groaning in alleyways, burned or broken or too afraid to move. He took a step. Then another. And then the memory hit him. His fist. Coming down. The sound of bone breaking. The weight of the warrior¡¯s body beneath him. The way the creature had looked at him just before the end ¡ª not in rage. Not even fear. Surprise. Lusei stopped walking. His breath caught in his throat, and his hand instinctively curled into a fist. I killed him. He knew it had been in self-defense. He knew it had saved the girl. But that didn¡¯t make it easier. He swallowed hard and staggered into the side of a half-burned wall, one hand pressed to the splintered wood. His legs felt weak. His stomach churned. He wanted to throw up. Seventeen. He was just seventeen. And now he¡¯d killed someone. He sank slightly, leaning into the wall, the smoke stinging his eyes ¡ª or maybe that wasn¡¯t just the smoke. What the hell am I supposed to do now? He felt lost. Like he¡¯d stepped into someone else¡¯s story and didn¡¯t know the lines. Then¡ª He remembered her. The little girl. The look in her eyes. The way she clung to his sleeve like he was the only thing left in the world worth believing in. That moment, when he stood in front of her ¡ª scared out of his mind but refusing to move. That meant something. And if this happened here¡­ it could be happening somewhere else, too. Right now. Without anyone to stop it. Lusei exhaled and looked up at the burning sky. ¡°No one¡¯s coming to save them,¡± he said quietly. ¡°So I will.¡± He stood straighter, letting the fire warm his face but not burn him. His pulse was steady. His fists unclenched. This is life now. This was the path Celeste had opened. He didn¡¯t know where it would lead ¡ª but he knew what he had to do in the meantime. Protect the weak. Move forward. And carry the weight. Lusei stepped out of the alleyway, his eyes sharp and cold, the silver mark on his arm still faintly pulsing beneath his sleeve. Smoke curled past him as he moved ¡ª slow, steady, deliberate. He turned his head toward the right. Screams. That¡¯s where they were ¡ª the captives. He could hear the sobbing, the shouting, the cruel laughter of the warriors surrounding them. Lusei¡¯s feet carried him forward without hesitation. Around the corner, the scene opened up. Eight warriors stood in a loose formation ¡ª hulking brutes armored in bone and metal, barking in their guttural tongue, jabbing their weapons toward the frightened villagers huddled together on their knees. Some of the warriors laughed. One kicked over an old man too slow to obey. Another grabbed a crying woman by the hair and threatened her with a blade. They were monsters pretending to be men. Lusei walked into the center of the ruined street, smoke and ash rising around him like falling snow. The moment he stepped into view, one of the warriors looked up ¡ª then another. Then all of them turned. The villagers noticed too. Some looked at him with wide, hopeful eyes, like a prayer had just arrived wearing a school uniform. Others looked scared. A boy? What could a boy do? Lusei stopped, standing tall in the open, the wind tugging at the edges of his jacket. His voice cut through the chaos ¡ª low, calm, and sharp as steel. ¡°It¡¯s easy to feel powerful when you''re swinging your blade at the helpless¡­¡± ¡°¡­But I wonder¡ª¡± ¡°How do you feel when the helpless look back at you and don¡¯t run?¡± The warriors stilled. Their expressions shifted ¡ª some sneering, some narrowing their eyes. Then one stepped forward. Massive. Broad. Scarred across the face. His armor clinked as he moved, and his voice thundered like a drum. ¡°What¡¯s this? A foolish boy in strange cloth¡­ playing hero?¡± he growled. ¡°You come here alone, thinking you¡¯ll change something?¡± Lusei didn¡¯t flinch. He smiled ¡ª a quiet, dangerous smirk. Then he raised his hand. And pointed. Straight at the warrior in the back ¡ª the one furthest from him, half-distracted, only now reaching for his weapon. ¡°I¡¯m not here to play hero.¡± A flash. A pulse of blinding silver-white light exploded from Lusei¡¯s palm ¡ª fast as lightning, silent as breath. It tore through the air like a comet and struck the warrior at the back clean in the chest. The impact cracked like thunder. The brute didn¡¯t scream. He just collapsed ¡ª a smoking hole where his armor had been, his body falling backward like a toppled pillar. Silence. Everyone ¡ª warriors, villagers, even the flames ¡ª seemed to freeze. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Lusei let his hand fall back to his side. His voice came again ¡ª cold and measured. ¡°Now let¡¯s see how the self-proclaimed strong react... when the real predator steps into the room.¡± His silver eyes gleamed beneath the smoke. The warriors tensed, eyes flicking between their fallen comrade and the silver glow still pulsing in Lusei¡¯s hands. Then the massive one ¡ª the scarred brute who''d spoken earlier ¡ª stepped forward and barked a command. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there!¡± he roared. ¡°He¡¯s just a single young fool! We outnumber him!¡± The others hesitated, then slowly nodded, steeling their grip on their weapons. Their fear melted into forced bravado. ¡°He¡¯s a long-range type,¡± one of them muttered to the others. ¡°Close the distance ¡ª we hold the advantage!¡± Two warriors surged forward, weapons raised, snarling. Lusei tilted his head slightly. Then smiled. Not kindly. His hands flared with silver-white light, brighter this time ¡ª and without warning, his body surged forward in a blink, a blur of motion too fast for untrained eyes to track. By the time the two warriors realized he was gone from where he stood, Lusei was already there ¡ª right in front of them. His palms met their faces in the same instant. A sickening crack tore through the air as he drove them into the ground, skulls crushed beneath the force, stone cracking beneath their weight. Both bodies went still. Gasps rippled through the captives. Even the flames seemed to pull back. The huge warrior¡¯s face twisted. ¡°What¡­ what is this?!¡± he growled, his voice shaking with something between rage and disbelief. ¡°An enchanter?! How can there be an enchanter here?!¡± Lusei¡¯s expression twitched at the word. ¡°Enchanter?¡± he repeated, curiosity slipping into his tone. ¡°That¡¯s a new one.¡± He took a step forward, eyes locked on the last of the warriors. ¡°So that¡¯s what they call people who can use magic in this world¡­ Good to know.¡± He rolled his shoulder and cracked his neck. ¡°Not that it really matters. Just means I have something to ask about later.¡± He glanced at the remaining five warriors, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Is that all? I thought I was supposed to be fighting the ¡®strong.¡¯ This is just sad.¡± The captives were silent now, wide-eyed. The warriors glanced at each other ¡ª unsure. Then the brute stepped forward again, a twisted grin forming on his lips. His voice dropped into something smug, venomous. ¡°Enough games.¡± He snapped his fingers. The remaining warriors moved quickly, each grabbing a hostage, placing their blades against trembling throats. Lusei¡¯s smirk faded. His jaw tightened. Cowards. The brute sneered. ¡°I am Toghat. Leader of this warband. And I order you to stop, enchanter. Surrender.¡± He stepped forward, motioning to the captives. ¡°Unless you want these people¡¯s blood on your hands.¡± Lusei looked at the scene in silence. His silver eyes moved from blade to hostage. Face to face. Fear. Desperation. Hopelessness. Then he sighed. Casually, he raised both arms. Toghat grinned, turning to his men. ¡°Hah. The fool bends.¡± He whispered, ¡°Grab him.¡± Four warriors moved in quickly. That¡¯s when the glow returned. Fast. Sudden. Lusei¡¯s hands ignited with brilliant silver light ¡ª and in the same breath, crescent-shaped blades of moonlight manifested at his fingertips. Smooth. Silent. Lethal. He threw them. Four streaks of silver light tore through the air. Four heads hit the ground. The bodies followed. The blades vanished in glowing ash. For a moment, nothing moved. Toghat turned slowly, eyes wide, staring at the headless corpses of his warriors. And when he turned back¡ª Lusei was already in front of him. A silver glow wrapped around his right fist. His expression unreadable. ¡°Hi.¡± The punch landed clean into Toghat¡¯s jaw. The impact roared like an explosion. Toghat¡¯s massive body sailed backward through the air, crashing through a pile of broken carts and stone. He didn¡¯t move for a full ten seconds. Then¡ª A low growl. Smoke began rising from his body ¡ª not from fire, but from within. His hands clawed the ground as he forced himself up, spitting blood and bits of teeth. His eyes ¡ª once black ¡ª now burned crimson. A red aura pulsed from his back, thick and seething, like heat off molten metal. Lusei took a step back, startled for the first time. This was new. Toghat bared his jagged teeth, fury pouring off him in waves. ¡°I am Toghat, leader of this warband,¡± he growled. ¡°And I will not fall to a boy in rags!¡± He slammed his axe into the ground, and the earth cracked beneath him. Lusei smiled. ¡°Interesting,¡± he said. He shifted his stance. Power hummed beneath his skin again. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got.¡± Toghat let out a primal roar and charged. His boots thundered against the earth, each step fracturing the ground beneath him. His crimson aura surged like wildfire, rippling off his shoulders in waves of heat and pressure. Lusei tensed ¡ª then moved. He ducked under the first wild swing of Toghat¡¯s massive axe. The weapon carved through the air like a falling meteor, smashing into the ground with such force it split the stone path beneath their feet. BOOM. Dust exploded outward. Lusei rolled, flipped back onto his feet, and countered ¡ª a burst of silver light glowing around his fist as he launched a clean strike into Toghat¡¯s ribs. The hit landed hard ¡ª but Toghat barely flinched. The warlord grinned. "You think you''re the only one with power, Enchanter?" he spat, stepping back and gripping his axe tighter. Then, with both hands, he slammed the weapon¡¯s pommel into the ground. His aura ignited, red energy coiling up the length of the weapon, crawling through carved runes along its haft. His voice bellowed like a war drum: ¡°CRIMSON FANG: REAVER¡¯S DROP!¡± The axe pulsed ¡ª then cracked in a flash of molten light. It transformed mid-motion, reshaping into a jagged war-spear of condensed red force, its head gleaming like sharpened obsidian. Toghat roared and hurled it with both hands ¡ª a streak of death that tore through the air. Lusei barely had time to react. The Bloodfang Spear slammed into his chest with brutal impact. He was launched backwards, crashing through the charred remains of a merchant stall and tumbling across the dirt, coughing and winded. Smoke curled off his uniform. His chest burned. His shoulder screamed with pain. He groaned, pressing a hand to his ribs. Nothing was broken ¡ª but it was close. ¡°That... sucked,¡± he muttered, spitting blood onto the dirt. Toghat laughed, walking forward with heavy, confident steps. His axe reformed in his hands, whole and steaming. "You bleed. You fall. You¡¯re just another body waiting for the fire.¡± Lusei slowly pushed himself upright. Every part of him hurt ¡ª but his spirit didn¡¯t waver. He raised his head, eyes glowing with silver light again, calm and unreadable. ¡°I bleed,¡± he said quietly, ¡°but I don¡¯t fall.¡± The mark on his arm flared. He exhaled ¡ª focused ¡ª and charged. Their second clash was faster, tighter. Toghat swung ¡ª wide and heavy ¡ª but Lusei slid beneath it, countering with a blinding elbow to the chin, followed by a silver-lit crescent kick that cracked against Toghat¡¯s torso. The warlord stumbled, then responded with a savage punch of his own, slamming into Lusei¡¯s shoulder. The pain exploded again ¡ª but Lusei twisted, caught Toghat¡¯s wrist, and with a surge of instinctive strength, threw him across the street. Stone shattered where the warlord landed. Both stood again. Wounded. Burning. Refusing to yield. Dust swirled between them. Toghat¡¯s crimson aura cracked and hissed like embers caught in a storm. His muscles tensed, eyes blazing, axe humming with bloodlust. Lusei stood opposite ¡ª body bruised, uniform torn, silver glow pulsing from his right arm in rhythmic waves. He exhaled slowly, steadying his breath. Then he smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve got names for your attacks,¡± he said, wiping blood from his lip. ¡°I think I¡¯ll make one up too.¡± Toghat growled. ¡°Enough of your talk, boy!¡± He slammed his axe into the ground again, the red aura bursting like a shockwave around him. ¡°THIS ENDS NOW! I''LL KILL YOU WITH ALL MY MIGHT!¡± The earth cracked beneath him as he surged forward ¡ª faster, heavier, more lethal than before. The crimson aura spiraled up his axe, forming fiery glyphs in the air as he roared: ¡°RAGE BRAND: BLOODFANG JUDGMENT!¡± The axe expanded mid-swing, doubling in size with a burst of heat, becoming a massive arc of fire and steel, aimed to cleave Lusei in half. Lusei narrowed his eyes, grounded his feet, and whispered¡ª ¡°Let¡¯s try this¡­¡± His tattoo lit up like a silver flame, snaking around his forearm. He brought both palms together, pulling the light inward. Crescent shapes formed around his arms, rotating, aligning. ¡°MOONLIGHT STYLE¡ªPHASE STRIKE: SHATTERING ARC!¡± A glowing crescent blade burst forth from his hand ¡ª not thrown, but drawn through the air like he was slashing space itself. The silver arc and the red judgment collided in a blinding flash¡ª BOOOOOOM. Energy exploded outward in a dome of light and flame, wind tearing through the wreckage, throwing villagers and rubble to the ground. Smoke blanketed the street. For a moment¡ª Silence. Then¡ª A figure stepped through the smoke. Lusei. His sleeve was gone, his arm glowing faintly. He limped, but he was upright. Breathing. Focused. Behind him, Toghat¡¯s axe lay in pieces. And Toghat himself? Collapsed in the crater, blood dripping from his mouth, armor cracked, eyes wide in disbelief. ¡°You¡­¡± he rasped, coughing. ¡°You made up a skill¡­ and it beat me¡­¡± Lusei stopped a few feet away, staring down at him. ¡°I didn¡¯t make it up,¡± he said quietly. ¡°It was already inside me.¡± He raised his hand, silver light dimming now as his body swayed slightly, exhaustion catching up. Toghat slumped back, eyes dimming. The red aura evaporated. It was over. The air was still now. The smoke no longer screamed. The warriors who had ravaged the village were silent ¡ª broken or dead. Their weapons scattered. Their blood cooling in the dirt. Lusei stood there, just breathing, in front of Toghat¡¯s lifeless body, the last of the crimson aura fading into the air like mist at dawn. His body ached. His limbs were heavy. But he stood. Slowly, the villagers emerged from the rubble ¡ª men, women, children ¡ª all bruised, bloodied, frightened... but alive. They stepped forward with cautious reverence, unsure whether to fear or bow. One man stepped back instead of forward, eyes wide ¡ª like he wasn¡¯t sure whether to thank Lusei or run Then one ¡ª a woman with a wrapped arm ¡ª stepped forward and gently took Lusei¡¯s hand in hers. ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispered. Then another. And another. Rough hands. Small hands. Old hands. Each person who passed by him held his hand, even for just a second ¡ª as if touching him made the nightmare truly end. ¡°You saved us.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°We thought we were going to die.¡± They whispered, cried, nodded. Lusei¡¯s lips parted slightly ¡ª unsure how to respond at first. In his world, he had always drifted to the background. Faded into silence. People looked through him, not at him. But here? Here, they saw him. And then¡ª A blur of movement. The little girl ¡ª the one he had protected ¡ª broke through the crowd and ran straight into him, her arms wrapping tight around his waist, face buried in his jacket. She didn¡¯t say a word. She didn¡¯t have to. Lusei looked down, stunned at first. Then he smiled ¡ª tired, soft, real. He rested a hand gently on her head. For the first time in a long time¡­ he felt something new. Not alone. Not invisible. Not background. Here, in this strange world¡­ He mattered. Then the crowd parted, and an elder man stepped forward ¡ª bent with age but firm in posture, his face lined with wisdom and fire. He bowed deeply. ¡°On behalf of the survivors,¡± the man said, voice clear, ¡°and those who no longer breathe ¡ª thank you, brave one.¡± Lusei shook his head slightly. ¡°I just¡­ did what I could.¡± The elder nodded. ¡°And that¡¯s what heroes do.¡± Then he stepped closer, examining Lusei with sharp, knowing eyes. ¡°It has been generations since we¡¯ve seen your kind.¡± Lusei blinked. ¡°My kind?¡± The elder smiled faintly. ¡°It is an honor to be saved by a Moonborne.¡± Lusei¡¯s breath caught in his throat. His eyes flicked to his glowing arm. ¡°¡­Moonborne,¡± he echoed quietly. The word lingered in his mind, strange and familiar all at once ¡ª like it had always been waiting for him to hear it. Chapter 4: The Name of the World Darkness again. But this time, it wasn¡¯t sudden or violent. It was slow. Heavy. Like sinking. Lusei drifted in and out of sleep, floating in a sea of warmth and pain. He wasn¡¯t sure how long he was out. Minutes? Hours? Days? Then, gradually, sensation returned. The ache in his ribs. The dull throb in his shoulder. The tight pull of fabric against wrapped wounds. And warmth ¡ª not from battle, not from magic, but from a blanket. A bed. His eyes fluttered open. The ceiling above him was wooden, patched with signs of age. Light filtered in through a window with cracked panes. Outside, he could hear wind rustling through grass, and faint voices in the distance. No screaming. No fire. Just peace. Lusei blinked slowly, then shifted. Bad idea. Pain flared through his chest and side, sharp and unforgiving. He let out a quiet hiss and fell back against the pillow. ¡°Easy,¡± a voice said nearby. ¡°You¡¯re not built from iron.¡± Lusei turned his head. An older man sat nearby on a low stool ¡ª weathered hands, a tired but steady face, and eyes that had seen too many wounds. ¡°You¡¯ve been out for two days,¡± the man said, standing to pour water into a wooden cup. ¡°You¡¯re lucky your body didn¡¯t shut down completely.¡± Lusei accepted the cup with a weak nod, but as he brought it to his lips, something caught his attention. His clothes. They were different. The fabric was coarser, earth-toned, not the black school uniform he was used to. A loose linen tunic wrapped over a thick bandage at his chest. The pants were simple, functional ¡ª village-made. ¡°¡­Where¡¯s my uniform?¡± he asked, brow furrowing. The healer chuckled softly. ¡°Strangest thing. No one had ever seen clothes like that before ¡ª some thought it was ceremonial, maybe even magical.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just my school uniform,¡± Lusei muttered, then paused. ¡°Kind of.¡± ¡°It was torn to shreds,¡± the healer continued, ¡°but we didn¡¯t throw it away. A few villagers are trying to patch it up. They said if it¡¯s what you wore into battle, it must be your battle garb.¡± Lusei blinked. That wasn¡¯t what he¡¯d expected. ¡°They¡¯re repairing it?¡± ¡°Aye. With care, too. They think it carries meaning.¡± He didn¡¯t know what to say to that. In his world, that uniform meant routine, exhaustion, fading into the crowd. Here? They saw it as something worth honoring. He looked down at the clothes he wore now. They weren¡¯t flashy, but they were clean. They¡¯d been made for him ¡ª or at least adjusted for him. People he didn¡¯t know had carried his unconscious body and clothed him with care. Lusei looked back at the healer. ¡°What happened? After the fight?¡± The man leaned back with a faint smile. ¡°After you faced the warlord, they said you stayed standing for a while. Spoke to the elder like the battle hadn¡¯t even touched you. Then, the moment the words stopped, your body just¡­ dropped.¡± Lusei groaned. ¡°Please don¡¯t tell me it was dramatic.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t fall,¡± the healer said with a smirk. ¡°You collapsed like a tree getting cut from the base.¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± Lusei sighed. ¡°But no one laughed,¡± the man added, quieter now. ¡°They carried you here like a sacred object. No one¡¯s stopped guarding this door for two days.¡± The words stuck with him. ¡°¡­Why?¡± ¡°Because you didn¡¯t run,¡± the man said simply. ¡°And people remember that.¡± He adjusted Lusei¡¯s blanket and nodded toward the door. ¡°Rest a little longer. The elder wants to speak with you when you¡¯re able.¡± Later That Day... Lusei walked through the quiet village, still stiff but mobile. The fires had long been extinguished, though the damage remained ¡ª blackened homes, shattered fences, deep scars in the earth where magic and war had torn through the streets. But life was returning. Children played cautiously near the well. Adults hauled buckets and rebuilt fences. There was laughter in the distance ¡ª cautious, but real. And they looked at him now ¡ª not through him, but at him. A few offered nods. Others placed hands to their hearts in silent thanks. One old woman handed him a piece of bread with trembling hands. She didn¡¯t say a word. She didn¡¯t need to. Lusei made his way to the elder¡¯s house, where the wooden door stood open as if expecting him. Inside, the same elder from before sat by a long table, scrolls and maps laid out, a flickering lantern casting light on the pages. Later that day¡­ The elder¡¯s home was quiet. Lusei sat on a cushion across from the old man, the room dimly lit by a single lantern that flickered in the late afternoon light. Scrolls, old parchment, and worn tomes surrounded them, the smell of ink and dust thick in the air. The elder studied him for a long moment ¡ª not rudely, but like he was trying to read a book Lusei hadn¡¯t written yet. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re well enough to walk,¡± the elder said. ¡°You¡¯ve already done more than most warriors three times your age.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a warrior,¡± Lusei replied automatically, but even he wasn¡¯t sure he believed it anymore. The elder chuckled softly. ¡°Perhaps not. But power doesn¡¯t wait for permission to change a man.¡± The elder glanced at Lusei, as if weighing whether to say what came next. ¡°But before I go further, tell me¡­ where are you from, really?¡± Lusei stiffened slightly. ¡°Why?¡± The elder smiled faintly. ¡°Because no one here wears clothes like yours. Your boots, the stitching, even the thread ¡ª it¡¯s not from any known land or trade route in this realm. And then there¡¯s the magic¡­ silver, moon-aligned, primal. Not something that just ¡®shows up.¡¯¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Lusei lowered his gaze, then exhaled. ¡°I¡¯m not from this world,¡± he said quietly. ¡°I¡­ I went to sleep in mine, and I woke up here. I don¡¯t know why or how. But someone brought me here. Someone powerful, I think.¡± The elder leaned in slightly, eyes gleaming with interest. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°There was a woman. I don¡¯t know exactly who she was, but¡­ she saved me. Gave me something ¡ª power, maybe. And then she¡­ faded.¡± The elder¡¯s brows drew together. ¡°A woman?¡± Lusei nodded. ¡°Her name was¡­ Celeste. Celeste Nighthill.¡± Everything in the room seemed to still. The elder leaned back slowly, his breath caught in his throat. His expression shifted ¡ª not fear, but awe. ¡°Repeat that name,¡± he said, voice low. ¡°Celeste Nighthill,¡± Lusei said again. ¡°She called herself an Enchantress.¡± The elder stood up and stepped back, pacing once, then twice, before turning to one of the shelves. He reached high, brushing aside a thick layer of dust from a stack of untouched books. From the top, he pulled down a large, leather-bound volume ¡ª its dark cover embossed with a silver crescent moon. He set it on the table with care. ¡°This,¡± he said, voice reverent, ¡°has been in my family for generations. Passed down, protected. A record of those touched by moonlight. Of the Moonborne. And the Priestess who guided them.¡± Lusei looked down at the cover. The moon symbol was nearly identical to the one etched into his skin. The elder sat again, his voice quieter now. ¡°Celeste Nighthill was one of the Guardians. The Priestess of the Moon. She walked the skies when the stars still listened and brought balance to the tide of magic. But long ago¡­ she vanished. No one knew why. No one saw her again.¡± Lusei¡¯s mouth was dry. ¡°And you think¡­ she¡¯s the one who summoned me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think,¡± the elder said. ¡°You already told me she did.¡± ¡°But why?¡± ¡°That,¡± the elder admitted, ¡°I cannot say. I am no scholar of the divine. But I know this ¡ª if the Priestess returned, even in spirit, it means something is breaking again. Something deep. Something old.¡± He opened a book from one of the shelves carefully. Inside were hand-painted illustrations, celestial diagrams, and poems written in a language Lusei couldn¡¯t read. But on one of the pages, there was a full-page drawing ¡ª a woman with flowing white hair, wrapped in a robe of stars, standing beneath a silver moon. Even in paint, the image looked alive. ¡°That¡¯s her,¡± Lusei said softly. The elder nodded. ¡°Then I fear your journey is only beginning.¡± Lusei sat in silence, eyes fixed on the illustration of Celeste ¡ª her painted form serene beneath a silver moon, a quiet echo of the real figure who had touched his life so deeply in such little time. His thoughts spiraled, tangled in questions too big to grasp. After a long pause, he finally looked up. ¡°¡­I need to ask something.¡± The elder¡¯s gaze met his, steady and open. ¡°Ask.¡± ¡°I know you can¡¯t tell me everything ¡ª why I¡¯m here, what Celeste truly planned¡­ but if I¡¯m going to survive in this world¡­¡± He exhaled, the weight of it settling in his chest. ¡°I need to understand it. Where I am. What this place is.¡± The elder nodded slowly and closed the book with care, as if sealing away something sacred. ¡°Then let¡¯s begin where all understanding starts,¡± he said, rising and walking over to the large map spread across the table. ¡°The name of this world is Aetherra.¡± Lusei repeated it under his breath. ¡°Aetherra¡­¡± The elder¡¯s weathered finger traced the map¡¯s worn surface. ¡°And this continent ¡ª the land beneath your feet ¡ª is called Valemere. It¡¯s the largest of the known realms, a place of ancient bloodlines, long-forgotten magic, and kingdoms built atop kingdoms. Some say even the land itself remembers.¡± He gestured to a forested region framed by rivers and ridged with mountain lines. ¡°This village rests on the western edge of Elaris. Once a proud kingdom, now held together more by stubborn memory than true unity. We are what remains of a fractured rule.¡± His hand drifted eastward, beyond a jagged red border scorched onto the parchment. ¡°And here lies Draven. An empire forged in war, ruled by ambition. They expand without mercy ¡ª their sights set westward. On us.¡± Lusei¡¯s brow creased. ¡°That¡¯s why your village was attacked?¡± The elder¡¯s voice dropped. ¡°Elaris has few standing armies left. We defend ourselves. Or we fall. Towns like ours are unguarded ¡ª seen as pawns to pressure or conquer.¡± Lusei¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°So the warriors who came here¡­ they were Draven¡¯s?¡± ¡°No,¡± the elder said grimly. ¡°Worse. Hired blades. A mercenary band from the tribe of Korr¡¯dan ¡ª of the Varnak race. Nomadic, bred for violence. Not loyal to any kingdom. Just gold.¡± Lusei¡¯s fists clenched at his sides. ¡°So your home¡­ your people¡­ were just a warning shot.¡± ¡°A demonstration,¡± the elder agreed. ¡°To remind Elaris how easily it bleeds.¡± He turned back to the map, tracing faint outlines of distant symbols and names. ¡°But Valemere holds more than armies and borders. Magic breathes through this land ¡ª old, wild, and structured. There are factions who wield it like scholars, like warriors, like kings. Covens. Orders. Academies. Each with their own laws, their own reach.¡± Lusei tilted his head. ¡°Then¡­ when that warrior called me an Enchanter¡­¡± The elder nodded. ¡°He recognized the shape of your power. Enchanters are known here ¡ª spellcasters who draw from within. Their will shapes their magic. Your moonlight? It might be a form of it. Or it might be something rarer. Something forgotten.¡± Lusei leaned in. ¡°And those who fight without magic?¡± ¡°We call them Bladesworn,¡± the elder said. ¡°Masters of the physical form. Strength, speed, skill. They rely on nothing but steel, instinct, and tradition. Many are born into warrior clans. Others are made through pain.¡± Lusei¡¯s gaze dropped back to the map, eyes scanning the kingdoms, the borders, the blood-soaked history woven into every inch of parchment. ¡°So this world¡­¡± he murmured, ¡°it¡¯s filled with warriors, magic, war¡­ Guardians¡­¡± ¡°And now it holds you,¡± the elder said, turning to face him fully. ¡°A Moonborne ¡ª a name not spoken in generations. A sign of change, whether we are ready for it or not.¡± Lusei¡¯s hand drifted to the glowing mark on his forearm. It pulsed gently, quietly, like a voice waiting to be heard. ¡°Then I guess I need to learn fast,¡± he said. ¡°Because whatever brought me here¡­ it¡¯s only just begun.¡± Lusei¡¯s gaze lingered on the glowing mark along his arm, then lifted to meet the elder¡¯s. ¡°If the Moonborne were real¡­ and Celeste was one of the Guardians, there has to be more. Somewhere.¡± He paused. ¡°I need to learn everything I can about them ¡ª about her. About what she gave me. Where should I even start?¡± The elder exhaled and shook his head slowly. ¡°I wish I could tell you more. But the Moonborne are legends now, Lusei. Their names have faded into story, their deeds passed down like myth. In this age¡­ very few even believe they were real. Let alone know anything useful.¡± Lusei¡¯s shoulders lowered slightly. ¡°So no one here¡­ knows what I am?¡± ¡°Not in this village,¡± the elder said. ¡°But if there¡¯s knowledge still preserved ¡ª writings, histories, records of the old bloodlines ¡ª you¡¯ll find it in Elaren, the capital of Elaris.¡± Lusei repeated the name quietly. ¡°Elaren¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s the heart of the kingdom,¡± the elder continued. ¡°Where the high libraries sit. Where the magical factions gather, and where the kingdom¡¯s last great archives are kept. If anything remains about the Moonborne¡­ it would be there.¡± Lusei looked toward the window, the golden light of late afternoon spilling into the room. ¡°And how far is Elaren from here?¡± The elder pointed to the map. ¡°It¡¯s several days¡¯ journey east ¡ª through forest, over the southern ridge, and across the wide river known as the Silvermere. With no delays, maybe five days on foot. Longer if you¡¯re cautious. Bandits and beasts still wander those roads.¡± Lusei nodded slowly, processing it all. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, his voice quiet but clear. He stood up, slightly stiff but steady, and bowed politely. ¡°For your help¡­ and for trusting me.¡± The elder stood as well, offering a small but respectful bow of his own. ¡°No. It is I who should thank you. For saving this village ¡ª for giving hope when we had none.¡± He walked toward the doorway, then turned back, voice warm but firm. ¡°As a gesture of gratitude, allow us to help you prepare for your journey. Food, clothing, supplies. Whatever you might need. It may not be much, but we will give it freely.¡± Lusei blinked, surprised for a moment ¡ª then nodded with quiet humility. ¡°I¡¯d be honored. Thank you.¡± Another day passed. The village was quieter now ¡ª not because of fear, but healing. The fires had long gone out, the ruins had been cleared, and in place of grief, a new kind of silence had settled. Hope. Lusei stood near the village gates, tightening the straps on the new outfit the villagers had prepared for him. It was simple, but sharp ¡ª built for movement, stitched with care and made to last. A dark tunic of charcoal gray beneath a fitted leather vest, reinforced at the shoulders with light plating. Black trousers tucked into sturdy boots wrapped in faded cloth for grip. Around his waist, a double-strap belt with pouches and a place for a dagger or scroll. Over it all, a flowing black cloak with a deep hood ¡ª the inner lining embroidered faintly with silver thread, tracing moon-shaped patterns like a hidden blessing. When the wind caught it, it flared just enough to make him look like a shadow given form. Lusei glanced down at himself, tugging the cloak into place. ¡°It¡¯s perfect,¡± he said. ¡°Comfortable, too. Easy to move in.¡± The elder smiled beside him. ¡°I¡¯m glad. The villagers worked through the night to finish it. Said it felt right that you wear something made by the hands you protected.¡± He gestured toward the satchel hanging at Lusei¡¯s side. ¡°Your supplies ¡ª food, a waterskin, salve, flint, and a map. It¡¯s not much, but it¡¯ll carry you to Elaren.¡± Lusei bowed his head. ¡°Thank you. Really. I mean it.¡± The elder gave a small bow in return. ¡°It¡¯s the least we could do. You didn¡¯t just fight for us ¡ª you gave us back our lives.¡± Lusei paused. ¡°I just realized¡­ I never got your name.¡± The elder blinked, then chuckled. ¡°And I never asked for yours, did I? How strange. We¡¯ve spoken of the world, the stars, and magic¡­ and forgot the simplest thing.¡± He placed a hand to his chest. ¡°My name is Havel.¡± Lusei smiled, nodding. ¡°Lusei.¡± Havel¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Then go with the blessing of Elaris, Lusei. May the moon keep your path clear.¡± Just then, small footsteps hurried through the dirt. The little girl from before ran up to Lusei, a carved shape clutched tightly in her hands. She stopped in front of him, shy but smiling, and held it out. It was a small wooden token ¡ª shaped like a crescent moon, polished smooth, a thin leather string tied through it. ¡°I made this,¡± she said quietly. ¡°For you.¡± Lusei crouched, accepting it gently. ¡°Thank you,¡± he whispered. ¡°My name is Nira,¡± the girl added, voice a little stronger now. ¡°So you don¡¯t forget.¡± Lusei smiled softly and tied the moon token to his belt. ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll remember you. Always.¡± He stood tall again and turned toward the road ¡ª the forest stretching ahead, and far beyond it, a city filled with answers. Without another word, he raised the hood of his cloak, letting the shadow fall over his eyes, and stepped out of the village. And so, under a foreign sky, with a shadowed moon on his back, Lusei took his first step into the unknown. Chapter 5: New Moon The village disappeared behind him like a fading dream. Lusei walked in silence, the black cloak hugging his shoulders, the forest breathing around him. The sky above was painted in soft pastels ¡ª early morning light filtering through high clouds, birds calling to one another in lazy tones. The wind was gentle, brushing against his hood like a farewell. He didn¡¯t look back. Not out of pride, or coldness ¡ª but because he knew if he turned around, he might not leave. Each step forward was heavier than the last, not with fatigue, but with finality. This was no longer a retreat from danger. It was a step into something unknown ¡ª and he was walking it alone. A day passed. Then another. Seven days in total lay between him and Elaren, the capital city. He hadn¡¯t expected the journey to be easy ¡ª and it wasn¡¯t ¡ª but something about his body surprised him. No blisters. No exhaustion thick enough to stop him. His legs should¡¯ve given out. His back should¡¯ve ached. But it didn¡¯t. Maybe it was Celeste¡¯s power lingering beneath the surface ¡ª mending him quietly, pushing him forward. Or maybe he was changing. The forest grew denser the farther east he traveled. The trail narrowed, splitting into uneven branches where wagons had passed and strayed. Birds scattered overhead. Shadows danced between the trees. Then, as he rounded a bend near a shallow hill, he saw movement ahead. A caravan. Two wagons. Eight figures. All wearing dark, coordinated clothing ¡ª deep gray with maroon linings. Their armor was sleek and reinforced in the right places: forearms, chests, knees. Mercenary-style. Quick to move, but ready for a fight. They didn¡¯t carry banners, but they didn¡¯t look like travelers either. One of them stepped forward from the front wagon ¡ª a man with short white hair swept back, pale skin with a faint scar running from the side of his brow to his jaw. His eyes were striking ¡ª one golden, one an unnatural shade of violet. He wore a high-collared cloak beneath a slim cuirass, a blade at his hip and gloves on both hands, though he didn¡¯t look like he needed them. He smiled as Lusei approached. ¡°Greetings, traveler,¡± the man said warmly, voice calm but practiced. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to see anyone this deep in the path alone. You heading east?¡± Lusei slowed his pace, cautious. ¡°Yeah. Elaren.¡± The man nodded, still smiling. ¡°As fate would have it, so are we. Name¡¯s Veyren. These fine folks behind me are part of my crew ¡ª we¡¯re traders of sorts. Dangerous roads these days. You¡¯re welcome to ride with us if you¡¯d like.¡± Lusei glanced past him. Some of Veyren¡¯s ¡°crew¡± were smirking. Others whispered to each other without even trying to hide it. One leaned casually against the wagon with his hand hovering near his sword hilt, watching Lusei like a hawk. Something wasn¡¯t right. Lusei gave a polite smile. ¡°I appreciate the offer¡­ but I¡¯m used to traveling alone.¡± ¡°Nonsense,¡± Veyren said, stepping a little closer. ¡°It¡¯s a long, dull road. We could use the company. Safer, too.¡± ¡°Still,¡± Lusei replied, eyes steady, ¡°I¡¯m good on my own. Thank you.¡± He moved to step past them. Veyren¡¯s smile faded. ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen, friend.¡± Lusei froze. Veyren¡¯s hand slipped casually to his sword, drawing it just enough for the steel to gleam. ¡°We¡¯re short on quota,¡± he said smoothly. Lusei¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Quota?¡± Veyren tilted his head, as if surprised Lusei hadn¡¯t caught on. ¡°Slaves. Flesh trade¡¯s booming in Draven. We¡¯re just a collection crew ¡ª and lucky us, you make our eighth.¡± Lusei¡¯s face darkened. ¡°¡­Slavery. That¡¯s a thing here.¡± Veyren grinned. ¡°Where there¡¯s coin, there¡¯s business.¡± He waved lazily at one of his men. ¡°Bind him.¡± A stocky brute with thick arms and a crooked grin walked toward Lusei with shackles in hand ¡ª iron and rune-marked, clearly used often. Lusei didn¡¯t move. Just watched him approach. The man chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ll fetch a good price, boy.¡± He got close. Too close. Lusei met his gaze, cold and still. ¡°Big mistake.¡± His right arm lit up in a flash of silver-white light ¡ª the moonmark pulsing to life. Before the man could react, Lusei¡¯s fist slammed into his chest like a battering ram. CRACK. The man flew backwards, crashing into the front of the cart with a bone-snapping thud. Wood splintered. The cart rocked. Silence. Lusei lowered his glowing hand, eyes burning with calm fury. Then he looked at Veyren. ¡°Next?¡± Veyren¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at the crewman Lusei had just launched into the cart ¡ª the man wasn¡¯t moving. The smile vanished. His voice snapped like a whip. ¡°Don¡¯t hold back! The boy¡¯s an Enchanter ¡ª he¡¯ll fetch ten times the price if you bring him in breathing.¡± Then he raised his blade and shouted, ¡°Subdue him! Now!¡± The rest of his crew moved instantly ¡ª a pack of wolves pouncing all at once. Four Bladesworn rushed Lusei from different angles, their weapons drawn, footsteps synchronized. Lusei dropped into a defensive stance, breathing steady, eyes locked forward. Then he felt it. Heat. His head snapped toward the rear of the caravan ¡ª just in time to see a cloaked figure step out from behind a cart, hand raised. A ball of fire surged to life in the figure¡¯s palm, glowing bright red against the shadows of the trees. A spellcaster. Lusei¡¯s eyes lit up ¡ª not with fear, but fascination. Then the fireball was already in the air. He dove sideways, the blast narrowly missing him and slamming into the dirt trail with a fiery explosion. Smoke and debris kicked up, but he rolled through it, coming up to his feet with a skid. ¡°Interesting,¡± he muttered. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. But no time to think. Two Bladesworn came at him from the front ¡ª one swinging low with a curved blade, the other lunging for his side with a dagger meant for vital spots. Lusei twisted. The dagger missed his ribs by inches. He grabbed the attacker¡¯s wrist mid-motion, pivoted, and used the man¡¯s momentum to hurl him into the other oncoming attacker. Both crashed to the ground in a heap. A third crew member closed in from behind. Lusei spun, parrying a heavy strike with his forearm as silver-white light surged from his tattooed arm ¡ª the mark reacting on instinct. Sparks flew. The warrior pushed harder, muscles bulging as he tried to overpower him. But Lusei leaned in close and whispered, ¡°You¡¯re not fast enough.¡± He ducked low, slipped inside the warrior¡¯s stance, and drove a glowing elbow into the man¡¯s abdomen. The impact cracked ribs ¡ª the man dropped instantly. Another fireball whizzed past his shoulder ¡ª too close this time. He looked back. The hooded caster had moved closer, both hands now channeling heat. Lusei narrowed his eyes. You¡¯re next. But the fourth Bladesworn was already leaping from above ¡ª having used the cart as a springboard, sword raised high for a two-handed crushing strike. Lusei reacted on instinct. His hand flew up ¡ª moonlight gathered into a disc-shaped shield just in time to absorb the blow. The force still sent him sliding back across the dirt, boots dragging trenches, but the barrier held. He dispelled it with a flick, then countered. His fist glowed, tracing a silver arc as he stepped in and launched a straight punch into the airborn attacker¡¯s chest ¡ª the warrior¡¯s breath caught mid-shout as he was launched backward into a tree. Crash. Branches shattered. He didn¡¯t get back up. Lusei exhaled, a line of blood trailing from his lip where a stray blade had grazed him earlier. Three down. One staggered. One with a shattered chest. Two more readying weapons again. And a mage. The air shimmered with tension. Then Lusei cracked his neck and looked at the cloaked spellcaster. ¡°Your turn.¡± Lusei surged forward, boots hammering the dirt as he closed the distance between him and the cloaked spellcaster. But before he could reach him¡ª A faint smirk slipped from beneath the hood. Not good. The ground beneath Lusei shimmered ¡ª glowing red veins like cracks on molten glass. Heat surged upward. BOOM. An explosion tore through the trail. Fire and ash erupted in a burst of smoke and burning debris. Lusei barely leapt back in time, arms raised as a burst of silver energy shielded his torso. He hit the ground, rolled, and coughed violently through the haze of smoke, embers swirling around him. ¡°Damn,¡± he muttered, wiping soot from his cheek. ¡°That caught me off guard.¡± The cloaked figure¡¯s voice slithered through the clearing, calm and confident. ¡°You didn¡¯t really think I only had one spell, did you?¡± Lusei pushed himself up, his eyes narrowing. ¡°That¡¯s on me. But don¡¯t worry¡­¡± He cracked his knuckles, the silver aura returning around his arms. ¡°¡­I learn fast.¡± This time, he didn¡¯t charge head-on. Instead, he raised both arms and whispered under his breath. The moon tattoo across his forearm pulsed ¡ª not bright, but focused. The silver aura thinned, then expanded ¡ª and vanished. To the spellcaster, it looked like Lusei had disappeared into the smoke. ¡°Where¡ª?¡± A faint breeze swept past the caster¡¯s ear. Then another. A blur darted just at the edge of his vision. He spun to fire another blast¡ª But nothing. Then¡ªa whisper behind him. ¡°Moonlight Style: Echo Step.¡± The caster turned sharply ¡ª too late. Lusei was already there. Not in front. Above. Descending like a silver comet, fist first. The spellcaster raised a fiery ward¡ª But Lusei¡¯s fist, wrapped in a thin crescent of glowing magic, broke through like glass. CRACK. The caster¡¯s barrier shattered with a shriek of magic ¡ª the follow-up strike slammed into his chest, launching him into the dirt with enough force to carve a small crater. He didn¡¯t get up. Lusei landed lightly, brushing ash off his shoulder. ¡°Thanks for the warm-up.¡± The remaining crew members stared in horror. Then came a voice ¡ª rough, sharp, and boiling with fury. ¡°Enough.¡± Veyren stepped forward, slow and deliberate. He sheathed the sword in his left hand ¡ª then pulled it back out in one fluid motion, letting the light catch on the dark steel. His right arm, now ungloved, pulsed with a shadowy aura ¡ª black veins crawling up to his shoulder like smoke under skin. Lusei¡¯s expression shifted. That arm¡­ that aura. That¡¯s not normal magic. A battle mage? The elder¡¯s voice echoed in his mind: ¡°Some wield both ¡ª spell and sword. Dangerous. Rare. Battle mages blend force with fury. They don¡¯t just cast. They destroy.¡± Veyren pointed his sword at Lusei, the blade humming with dark energy. ¡°You¡¯ve cost me money,¡± he said, voice low. ¡°Men. Patience.¡± He smirked. ¡°Time to even the debt.¡± Lusei cracked his neck, silver light curling from his arm. ¡°Always ready.¡± They moved at once. Veyren¡¯s blade came in with terrifying speed ¡ª faster than a normal strike. Augmented. Lusei ducked under it, twisted, and lashed out with a moonlit strike aimed for the ribs. Veyren blocked it with his shadow-arm, absorbing the blow ¡ª then countered with a backhand slash that Lusei barely dodged, the edge grazing his cloak. Lusei kicked off a rock, flipped backward, and raised both hands ¡ª crescent projectiles formed instantly and launched like bolts of light. Veyren raised his arm ¡ª dark aura surged outward in a shield-like burst that deflected the strikes, scattering them like sparks. Then he retaliated. ¡°Nightbrand: Void Lash.¡± The air tore open as a whip of shadow lashed toward Lusei. Lusei sidestepped the first ¡ª but the second lash wrapped around his leg. ¡°Gotcha.¡± He was yanked forward ¡ª Veyren spun and drove a knee into his gut, then slammed his sword down for a killing blow. CLANG. Lusei blocked it just in time ¡ª silver light flaring across his arm like a flash of moonlight. Breath ragged, Lusei jumped back, skidding across the dirt. He was strong. And fast. And that magic¡­ it wasn¡¯t just dark ¡ª it was unstable. Lusei smirked through the pain. ¡°Alright,¡± he said. "You got me there." The two clashed again. Lusei struck first ¡ª a sweeping roundhouse laced with silver light. Veyren parried with the flat of his blade, stepped in, and slammed his shoulder into Lusei¡¯s chest. Lusei stumbled back, barely keeping his footing. Veyren didn¡¯t let up. He moved like a man who had fought real battles ¡ª not duels, not training drills. Real wars. Each swing of his blade came with punishing weight, every move paired with footwork that kept him on the offensive. Lusei ducked a wide arc and retaliated with a palm strike aimed at Veyren¡¯s side ¡ª but the battle mage twisted, caught Lusei¡¯s wrist, and drove an elbow into his ribs. Crack. Lusei¡¯s breath hitched. Pain bloomed through his side. ¡°You''re fast, I¡¯ll give you that,¡± Veyren said with a sneer, pressing forward. ¡°But speed alone doesn''t win fights.¡± He slashed. Lusei blocked with both forearms, silver sparks flying. ¡°But you¡¯re new,¡± Veyren continued, circling like a wolf. ¡°You¡¯ve got power, but no idea how to wield it. You¡¯re just swinging moonlight around and praying it lands.¡± Lusei gritted his teeth and charged again ¡ª low, fast, feinting left before lunging with a punch to the gut. Veyren dropped his stance and twisted ¡ª letting the blow graze him ¡ª then pivoted into a brutal kick that caught Lusei in the thigh and knocked him off-balance. Before Lusei could recover¡ª Veyren¡¯s right hand glowed with sick, shadowy energy. ¡°Nightbrand: Spite Spiral.¡± The aura whipped around him like a black cyclone ¡ª and then burst outward in a spiral of jagged, shadow-forged blades. Lusei''s eyes widened. Too close. Too fast. One of the dark blades slashed across his side ¡ª deep. The burn of it was different than fire or steel. It was cold. Like something had been taken from him with the cut. He hit the ground hard, dirt in his teeth, blood in his mouth. Veyren walked slowly toward him, his blade dragging in the dirt behind him. ¡°See?¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s the problem with new blood. You think power makes you untouchable.¡± Lusei tried to rise, but his legs shook beneath him. ¡°You¡¯re not untouchable. You¡¯re just young.¡± Veyren stood over him now, blade hovering inches from Lusei¡¯s chest. His voice turned sharp, mocking. ¡°You¡¯re just another lost brat in a world that eats the weak.¡± Lusei¡¯s head hung low, blood dripping from his lip. But his hand was still clenched. And the mark on his arm¡­ was still glowing. Faintly. Lusei¡¯s bloodied hand dug into the dirt. His fingers trembled. His breath was shallow. Everything hurt. Veyren¡¯s blade hovered above him like a final judgment. And then¡ª Time slowed again. Not just slowed ¡ª halted. The battlefield, the smoke, the shouts ¡ª all vanished into silence. He was floating once more in that endless silver void. The same place he¡¯d seen before. But this time, Celeste was already standing there. She didn¡¯t smile. She watched him ¡ª expression calm, but not soft. Her silver eyes bore into him like moonlight cutting through fog. ¡°You did it again,¡± she said, her voice echoing like wind through stone. ¡°You reached me.¡± Lusei opened his mouth to speak ¡ª but as before, no sound came. Just breath. Just urgency. Celeste stepped forward, each footfall causing ripples through the silver mist below. ¡°But this time¡­ it¡¯s not answers you seek. It¡¯s power.¡± She didn¡¯t raise her voice, but her tone sharpened like a blade. ¡°You want strength because you''re afraid. Because you''re bleeding. Because you''re about to lose.¡± She stopped inches from him, her gaze locked to his. ¡°You''re not ready for the truth yet, Lusei. But you¡¯re still mine.¡± He swallowed, chest tight. Celeste raised her hand ¡ª and from the tip of her index finger, another orb of silver-white light emerged, glowing brighter than the last. ¡°This,¡± she said softly, ¡°is another fragment. Of me. Of what I was.¡± She brought the marble to his forehead ¡ª just like before. ¡°This gift is not for vengeance,¡± she whispered. ¡°Not for pride. Use it well.¡± Her voice dropped to a breath. ¡°And only in good.¡± Then her eyes narrowed, and her voice grew firm ¡ª not cruel, but commanding. ¡°Now stand, my Moonborne.¡± The light surged. ¡ª Back in reality¡ª Veyren blinked as silver wind whipped past him. ¡°What the hell¡ª¡± Lusei¡¯s body lit up in a sudden, blinding pulse. BOOM. An aura shockwave erupted from his chest ¡ª white and silver energy blasting outward like a moonburst at midnight. Veyren was thrown backward, crashing into the dirt and tumbling across the ground. His sword skittered from his hand. He growled, looking up¡ª And froze. Lusei stood tall. His body was no longer trembling. It was glowing. From head to toe, silver light pulsed along his skin in slow, rhythmic waves ¡ª like breath, like a heartbeat. His schoolboy face was shadowed beneath his hood, but his eyes burned through ¡ª twin orbs of silver fire, cold and focused. The crescent tattoo on his right arm wasn¡¯t just glowing ¡ª it was alive, arcs of magic dancing up to his shoulder like flowing ink, swirling with constellations and thorns. His cloak fluttered behind him in the breeze, pushed by his own energy. He didn¡¯t speak for a moment. Then he raised his head. His voice was low, even ¡ª but laced with weight, as if the world itself paused to hear it. ¡°First Phase: New Moon.¡± Lusei¡¯s entire presence shifted. No warmth. No hesitation. Just silence and power. And Veyren, for the first time, felt something tighten in his chest. Fear.