Airis' POV (minutes before Kael's breakdown)
When I lost my parents, I swore I'd never get attached to anyone again. I was scared… scared of seeing the people I loved murdered in front of my eyes once more—unable to do anything to stop it.
I still remember my father's final words as if they were etched into my soul. Back then, I was only three years old, and I witnessed how a masked man beheaded them in cold blood… just because he feared something he couldn't understand.
Start of flashback
"Airis, my little girl… don't let hatred consume you. You are light. You guide, not punish," his voice trembled, knowing these would be his last words. "I love you, daughter. Forgive them."
Unlike humans, we Acronas developed our minds differently—and much faster. It was our emotions that shaped our growth the most.
"Father, I don't want you to go! What am I supposed to do?" My voice cracked, unable to grasp the weight of what was happening. "You're all I have left…"
In his eyes, I saw everything I needed to understand. I knew I had to leave. Tears began streaming down my cheeks—for the first time. That feeling… I always hated it.
My hand moved instinctively to my chest, where I felt the pain breaking me apart inside. I couldn't hold it in anymore. I dropped to my knees, screaming in anguish.
"No, Dad! You promised you'd never leave me!" I yelled, clutching his cloak. "You're a liar! I hate you!"
My mind couldn't yet grasp the gravity of the moment. I just wanted to hold on to the only thing I loved. I never knew my mother, so to me, the man standing before me was my entire world.
"Armon!" shouted Luis, snapping him out of the moment. "They're getting closer!"
As soon as he spoke, I could feel shadows darting between the trees—closing in on the cabin where I had lived all my childhood, ready to destroy what little remained of my world.
"It's time, Luis. Don't turn back," were the last words I ever heard him say. "This is my choice… and if it's for my daughter's future, then so be it."
Before I could speak, I felt myself being lifted into the air—it was Luis. I struggled in his arms, throwing a tantrum, while the distance between me and my father grew… yet I still felt his emotions, as if they were my own.
"Dad!!" I screamed with everything I had. "Nooooo…!!"
The tidal wave of emotions tore through me, shredding my soul and heart with merciless force.
"Dad…" I whispered, my eyelids growing heavy. And then… I saw him, one last time: my father's head slowly falling from his body, his eyes still smiling at me before it hit the ground. Then, the rest of him collapsed.
End of flashback
I bit my lip, feeling the blood drip down into my mouth. The metallic taste made me wonder why I was still alive… when I had no one left.
Or at least, that's what I thought—until I looked toward the man who had become a father figure to me. He walked beside someone who had opened my eyes the moment I met him. Kael was my age, but for some reason… he had the eyes of someone who already knew what it meant to lose everything.
I let a faint smile escape and slowly walked toward them. I didn't want to be alone anymore with a pain I didn't need to carry—but rather, overcome.
"So… are you going to tell me why you woke up in Airis's bed?" Luis asked teasingly. "You're a bit too young to have a girlfriend."
"I told you, I heard her crying!" Kael replied, arms crossed. "Besides, I'd never like someone that aggressive, what kind of—?"
Before he could finish, I gave him a light nudge on the shoulder, letting out a soft giggle as I looked into his eyes with joy.
"You better watch your words, Kael," I said playfully. "You wouldn't want me to hit you again."
"That's exactly what I meant by aggressive…" he muttered, rubbing his shoulder.
I don't know why… but in Kael, I saw the same eyes my father had. Eyes full of life and justice… yet deep down, hiding a pain they couldn't share—for fear of hurting others.
I looked up at the sky, watching a few white birds soar above us.A pure sense of peace washed over me, and for a brief moment, I forgot about my past… and saw only the present right in front of me.
Massive trees adorned a vast forest, accompanied by magical creatures that shimmered with vibrant colors—offering us a morning spectacle straight out of a fairytale.
"These trees are enormous…" I whispered to myself. "Those runes… I know them."
From what Luis had told us when we left Elquairas, we were heading straight toward the ruins of… my former race—once again crossing the elven forest.
"Kids," Luis called out, turning his gaze elsewhere. "I want you to stay here, together, and under no circumstances separate. Understood?"
"There's something I don't like…" he muttered, summoning part of his armor.
We nodded, instinctively drawing closer to one another, finding warmth and safety in each other's presence. Fear began to creep in as I saw the aura of every living being around us. The problem was… I couldn't tell if they were human or magical.
I watched as Luis disappeared into the trees, his crystal armor blending into the surroundings, rendering him nearly invisible.
"Are you okay?" Kael whispered.
"Yes, idiot," I replied, confused. "Why are you asking?"
"You're trembling," he said, holding my hand. "Don't worry. Nothing bad's going to happen. We're strong, right?"
I nodded and tightened my grip on his hand. Sometimes I hated being an Acrona…Having such a visceral connection to astral magic was horribly intense. But if Kael could endure it, then so could I.
Between the rustling leaves and the birdsong… I felt it.Someone was approaching.
But it wasn't Luis.
The aura radiating from that presence was too…
Corrupted.
It was an energy I had also sensed in Kael—but in him, it felt like an internal battle between two worlds, as if two souls were fighting to take over a body that belonged to neither.
"I've got a bad feeling about this…" I muttered, forming a wind dagger in my hand. "Ka—"
My reflexes weren't fast enough. I didn't even realize what had happened until Kael pushed me out of the way and, with his left hand, stopped a blade that pierced straight through his flesh.
Sitting on the grass, I watched the blood pour from his hand as his eyes shut tightly in pain. My mind couldn't react. All I could do was stare as an invisible thread yanked the blade back and returned it to its owner.
"Shit!" Kael yelled, now on his knees, clutching his hand. "Damn it, Airis! Run! Go find Luis! Agh…!"
His words were abruptly cut off. Another blade struck his chest, forcing him to cough up blood as he looked into my eyes… filled with pain and a silent plea for help.
Without thinking twice, I raised a wall of earth between us, scaring off the nearby animals who fled in terror. I took Kael's limp body into my arms, staring into his eyes…But they no longer glowed with that bright emerald green I knew so well.
They had turned into a dark brown…A color that told a story he had never shared with me.
His skin turned pale… like snow.
"Where are the little children?" the attacker called mockingly. "Hasn't anyone told them it's dangerous to play alone in the forest?"
His voice echoed through the trees, followed by a faint tremor. He was coming down from his hiding spot—ready to finish what he had started.
I didn't know what to do… but one thing was clear: I couldn't die. And more importantly, he couldn't die.
Without wasting another second, I grabbed the dagger from Kael's waist and drew it with urgency, infusing it with my electric magic.
The whistling sound of the attacker's presence echoed through the forest. The battle that awaited us was one of life and death.
"I wish I had more elements at my disposal…" I said, swallowing hard. "Too bad I'm not Kael."
I tightened my grip on the dagger, knowing someone important's life was on the line… and that the chance my father gave me was now in jeopardy.
"Hang in there, Kael… please, don't leave me," I whispered, brushing his cheek as a single tear fell for him—for someone who carried in his veins the blood of those who slaughtered my people… and my father… without mercy.
I took a deep breath, feeling the electricity surge through my body. I wasn't skilled at wielding this element—it was my weakest—but at least it was more reliable than fire.
I dug my feet into the earth, feeling it crack beneath me before I blasted forward in a surge of speed, launching myself into the treetops, circling the attacker with determination.
"What a cute little game," he sneered with confidence. "But do you really think that is going to beat me?"
From his clothes and the tattoos across his body, it was obvious—he was a damn bounty hunter.The real question was… who sent him? And which one of us was he here to capture?
Tiny sparks of electricity began forming at the tips of my fingers. With every step I took, they shaped into sharp electric spikes—ready to kill.
I launched straight at him.But he didn't hesitate for even a second. Using his hands as a counterforce, he manipulated the wind to redirect my spikes—sending them right back at me, only stronger.
"Damn it!" I shouted, watching as one of the spikes shattered a branch, forcing me to leap down from my safe perch—face-to-face with the maniac.
"Who sent you?" I asked, trying to buy time.
"What do you care?" he replied mockingly. "Didn't anyone ever teach you to keep your mouth shut?"
The moment he used wind magic, I knew I couldn't beat him at range. My only option was close combat.
From my arm, a whip of electricity unfurled, wrapping itself around my forearm. In the other hand, I held Kael's dagger, still charged with crackling energy that danced along the blackened steel.
I saw the twisted look in the enemy's eyes.I extended the whip to gain distance, while simultaneously charging my other arm with a heavy dose of astral fire magic.
The bounty hunter dodged every one of my attacks with savage agility, enjoying the fight as if it were nothing more than a game. But then… he let his guard down. And I didn't hesitate.
I raised my arm, aimed directly at his chest, and unleashed a burst of fire that tore through half the forest, setting it ablaze. For a second, I thought I had done it…
Until reality slapped me in the face.
"You're a pain in the ass, little girl," he said, emerging from the earth and brushing off his uniform. "You're lucky you're valuable. Otherwise, you'd already be dead."
"Hah… You're an idiot. You've already lost," I said, grinning as I looked behind him—at the pack of wolves. "This little pain just beat you."
In seconds, the wolves lunged at him like a natural defense of the forest. Other magical beasts joined the attack, drawn by the violation of their territory.
I fell to my knees, watching as the beasts ran past me, straight toward their prey.
"Looks like the hunter just became the hunted…" I whispered, relieved.
I thought I had won.I began to rise slowly from the ground… but then, I saw it.
The animals were being hurled through the air—tossed like rag dolls by a brutal current of wind.
"I'll admit… that was a clever move," the hunter shouted, gripping a wolf by the neck. "Using the forest's natural defense… only a genius would think of that. Now I understand why they want you."
When I turned my head, my eyes widened in shock.Not because the hunter was still alive… but because Kael, who now looked like a demon, was charging straight at him.
With each step he took, the world around him died.The environment darkened.The air reeked of death.
"What the hell…?" the hunter exclaimed, dodging the black claws that shot out from Kael. "I killed you! How are you still alive?!"
In mere seconds, Kael grabbed him by the throat and lifted him into the air.He was flying—carried by a hellish wind that devoured every flame in the forest. The fire swirled into the hand Kael used to hold the bounty hunter.
"People like you disgust me," Kael said in a voice that didn't belong to a boy his age. "You and your kind think that killing is a way of life… never realizing it's a curse."
As he finished speaking, the fire he'd gathered surged into the man's body.His form began to swell, and from his eyes, nose, and mouth, blazing blood started pouring out.
With what little strength he had left, I heard the man whisper—barely audible:
"You're… a damn monster… you're not human… h…help…"
"And who ever said… we weren't monsters?" Kael whispered in his ear.
His words made me step back—instinctively. But then…
The bounty hunter's body exploded into a thousand pieces, scattering across every corner of the forest.A rain of blood and entrails drenched me completely.
My hands, my legs… even my brain wouldn't respond.The only thing that seemed to work was my sight.And with it, I saw him.
Kael… walking toward me.
My legs gave out.I fell to my knees, unable to move. A white light pulsed from his hand.
I couldn't react.I couldn't run.
"K-Kael, it's me… Airis. Don't kill me," I stammered, seeing him stand in front of me—his gaze lowered… staring straight into my soul. "I don't want to die… I…"
Before I could finish, my strength left me.
I collapsed to the ground, barely breathing, eyes still locked on Kael… who, for some reason, was crying.
He clutched his chest, as if the pain inside were tearing him apart.
"Forgive them…" I whispered, just before my vision went completely black, slipping into the void of unconsciousness.
I didn't know if I was going to die…But one thing was clear:I tried.
Kael Lanpar's POV (Present Day)
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I felt was a sharp pain in my head.I tried to sit up, but my body barely responded.
I was confused… and afraid of something I might regret forever.
I braced myself against the ground, only to realize I was lying on top of Airis.She was still asleep—apparently, she'd been watching over me all night.
Her hand rested on my head… protectively.
I could feel her breathing… still heavy, as if haunted by nightmares.
"So… you're finally awake," said a voice I didn't recognize at first.
"I think so…" I muttered, sitting up. "How long was I out?"
"All in all, for you… two days," my grandfather said at last, revealing himself."For some reason, you were unconscious while absorbing mana from… something. Even now, it's visible."
I fell silent, trying to understand his words.I looked around, seeing nothing unusual—until I looked at my hands.
They were covered in a white aura.And not just me—Airis was surrounded by that same light.
"What… is this?" I asked, stunned.
"That's one of the many questions I'd like to answer," he said, now roasting a fish over the fire."This isn't just about your awakening anymore… it's about your mana."
"This doesn't make any sen—" I began, but a small movement cut me off.
Airis's head leaned gently against my shoulder.Still asleep… still hurting.
"When we get there, I promise I'll tell you everything," my grandfather said, handing me a piece of fish."In the meantime, eat… and try to rest."
"So far, that astral energy of yours doesn't seem dangerous…"
"…" I nodded, forcing a fake smile as I took the food. But the taste didn't bring me comfort.
It broke me inside.
I knew my past.I remembered my death.But… what if those memories weren't mine?What if they belonged to someone else?
I didn't know if I was Kael Lanpar or Matías Castleboard.Maybe… I wasn't either.
I felt the same things he did.But this was a different kind of pain:The pain of not knowing who I really am… or what I've become.
All I can remember is the worst of the story.In those dreams, I almost never see what came before.
Before everything shattered.Before…
I fell.