Kael's eyes fluttered open, the world around him still hazy. He groaned as he sat up, his muscles aching with every movement. The recovery process wasn't going as smoothly as he'd hoped. His body was exhausted, every fiber of his being screaming for rest, but that damn soul imprint wouldn't let him have a moment of peace.
"Couldn't you just shut up for a minute?" Kael muttered, rubbing his temples as the voice of the imprint echoed in his head, more persistent than ever.
"You must be stronger, Kael. The path ahead is dangerous. You'll need to prepare."
"Yeah, no kidding. I'm well aware of that." Kael leaned back against the stone wall, his sarcasm thick as usual. "But how about you let me rest for five minutes before we talk about saving the world, hmm?"
"Rest is for the weak, Kael." The soul imprint's voice was mocking in its own way, its ethereal presence always looming over him like a shadow. "Time is short. You cannot afford to waste it."
Kael let out a dramatic sigh, feeling the weight of both the imprint's words and his own exhaustion. "Maybe I don't need your advice, soul thing. I've been doing just fine without you talking in my head every second."
"You will need me soon."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm sure." Kael leaned his head back, closing his eyes again, hoping to get a few more moments of peace before the world came crashing down on him once more.
Just as he started to drift off, a sound broke through the quiet—the soft sound of footsteps approaching. Kael groaned, already sensing who it was. He opened one eye, watching as Saria appeared in the doorway, her expression unreadable.
"Saria, what is it?" Kael asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Come to make sure I'm still breathing? Or are you here to nag me about my recovery too?"
Saria didn't answer immediately. Instead, she crossed her arms, her gaze flickering over him as if assessing the situation. There was a slight tension in the air, something Kael couldn't quite place. He raised an eyebrow but didn't push it.
"How are you feeling?" Saria asked, her voice neutral.
"You know, I'm just peachy," Kael said with a grin, trying to make light of his exhaustion. "Couldn't be better, really. Except for the fact that I feel like I got run over by a herd of magical beasts. Other than that, I'm as good as new."
Saria gave him a small, tight-lipped smile. "You're as sarcastic as ever. I guess that means you're on the mend."
Kael shrugged, his usual chaotic energy returning as he leaned back against the wall. "If sarcasm is a sign of health, then I'm practically invincible."
Just then, a soft, melodic voice interrupted the moment.
"Well, isn't this cozy?"
Kael's head snapped to the door, where a new figure stood. A woman, tall with striking features and an air of confidence about her. Her eyes glimmered with mischief, and she had a knowing smile that was both teasing and unsettling.
Aeryn.
Kael blinked, his expression morphing into one of exaggerated annoyance. "Oh, great. Another one. Just what I needed."
Saria stiffened beside him, her gaze sharpening as she observed Aeryn with a hint of suspicion. Kael barely noticed. He was too busy rolling his eyes at Aeryn's presence.
"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes?"
Aeryn's smile widened as she stepped into the room, her gaze locking with Kael's. "I could say the same for you, Kael. Still alive, I see. It seems you've managed to avoid dying, for now."
Kael shot her a dry look. "What can I say? I'm hard to get rid of."
"I can see that," Aeryn replied, her tone teasing. "A little too hard to get rid of, maybe?" Her eyes flicked toward Saria before settling back on Kael. "But don't worry, I'm not here to interrupt your beauty sleep. I just thought I'd check in on the hero of the hour."
Kael leaned forward, grinning mischievously. "Well, I can't say I'm not flattered by the attention, but you're going to have to try harder to impress me."
Aeryn chuckled, a soft, melodic sound that made Saria's eyes narrow. She took a step forward, though her body language was tense, as if she were trying to assert herself more than necessary. Kael, of course, didn't notice—he was too busy smirking at Aeryn.
"I've been through worse," Kael continued. "If you've come here to try and kill me or give me some ridiculous quest, save it. I'm not in the mood for any of that nonsense today."
Aeryn raised an eyebrow. "Oh, trust me. I'm not here to kill you. But I do have something interesting to tell you." She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Something you might want to hear, considering your... current situation."
Kael's sarcastic grin faltered slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "And what, pray tell, is so interesting that it'll get my attention?"
Aeryn's smile grew, but she didn't answer right away. Instead, she stepped closer, making Saria tense up beside Kael. Kael, oblivious to the growing tension, remained focused on Aeryn.
"You know," Aeryn began, her voice low and teasing, "I don't usually talk to people like this, but I thought you'd be an exception." She gave Kael a pointed look before glancing back at Saria.
Saria, who had been silent until now, took a deep breath and stepped forward, her voice sharp. "I don't think this is the time for whatever game you're playing, Aeryn."
Aeryn looked at Saria, her smile fading slightly. "Oh? Is there a problem, Saria?"
Saria's jaw tightened. "No problem at all. Just a little... distracted by the fact that Kael's health is more important than some vague message you seem so eager to deliver."
Kael's head whipped between the two women, his expression one of mild confusion. "Is there something I should be aware of?"
Saria shot him a glare. "You're always oblivious, aren't you?" she muttered under her breath, but Kael caught the edge of jealousy in her voice.
Aeryn's lips curled into a playful smile as she glanced between them, sensing the tension. "Don't worry, Saria. I'm just here to share a little... warning with Kael. Nothing more, nothing less."
"A warning, huh?" Kael scoffed, his sarcasm returning full force. "If it's anything like the rest of the advice I've been getting, I'm sure I'll handle it just fine. A little warning never hurt anyone."
Aeryn's expression softened slightly, but there was an underlying seriousness in her tone as she leaned closer. "This isn't just some ordinary warning. It's about the imprint. There's more to it than you realize, Kael. Much more."
Kael blinked, his earlier sarcasm vanishing. He looked toward Aeryn, then back to Saria. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" he asked, his tone suddenly more serious.
Before Aeryn could respond, the soul imprint spoke in Kael's mind once again, its voice growing louder and more insistent.
"The path you walk is treacherous. You will need allies. But not all will be trustworthy."
Kael blinked again, his sarcasm vanishing entirely. He looked at Saria, then Aeryn, his usual easygoing demeanor slipping into something more focused. "Great. Just what I needed—another enigmatic warning from my own mind, followed by more vague advice from you two."
Aeryn's gaze softened for a moment, and she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Be careful, Kael. There are forces at play here that are far beyond what you think. You're not the only one who's been chosen."
Kael leaned back, flashing a grin. "Chosen? Ha. Guess I'll add that to my list of things to figure out."
Saria watched the exchange, her jealousy simmering just beneath the surface. Her feelings were hard to hide, but Kael didn't notice. Instead, he was lost in his thoughts, already dismissing the warnings as just another part of his increasingly complicated life.