Open your eyes. Let me see what you saw…
He suddenly woke up again on the bed.
"What are these voices in my head… what do they mean?" he whispered.
Then he got off the bed.
Outside the door, Eliane was waiting for him.
She looked at him and said,
"If something is disturbing you, talk to me."
Then she folded her arms.
"Training begins."
They were about to head to the forest when Jena suddenly handed them some packed food.
Joel smiled warmly.
"Thanks, Jena."
Then they left for the forest.
As they walked, Joel felt uneasy. He held onto Eliane's dress.
"Mom… these days, I've been having sinister dreams. There are voices echoing in my head… telling me to open my eyes…"
Joel looked terrified, scratching his hair.
"And… if I don't listen… I feel pain…"
Then he shouted,
"My eyes start burning… scratching… like they're melting!"
His eyes suddenly opened, glowing more intensely than ever.
"I feel the power inside me increasing…"
Suddenly, Eliane pulled him into her arms.
Joel broke down.
"I don't want to lose anyone else again…"
Eliane thought it was normal.
He's still a child…
"Don't cry. Everything will be fine one day," she whispered.
"When?" Joel asked.
Eliane paused.
"One day… maybe in months… or a year."
After that, she tried to find the source of his dreams.
She placed her hand on his head.
A soft light radiated between them.
Instantly, Eliane entered his subconscious.
She saw countless dead bodies scattered across the ground.
Everything was red.
The moment she stepped forward—
A voice whispered:
Who are you?
The voice echoed violently.
The connection broke.
She was thrown back several meters.
Eliane stared at her hand.
The source of his power… is stronger than me…
She frowned.
I can't suppress it completely…
Then an idea came to her.
She placed both hands on Joel's head.
Her eyes closed.
Suddenly, they opened—radiating intense light.
The surroundings darkened.
A mark appeared on Joel's head… then disappeared.
They both slowly descended back to the ground.
Eliane smiled gently.
"For now… your nightmares will stop."
Her expression then turned sharp.
"Now, training begins."
"Today, you will learn how to control magic."
"Magic and mana can only be used by those who have made a pact with a demon… or gained power through a curse… or blood."
She exhaled slowly.
Shining particles began to radiate from her body.
"The secret is to stay focused. Feel the source of your power… and control it."
Joel nodded.
He tried to imitate her—but nothing happened.
So she told him to attack her.
Joel smiled.
He strengthened his entire body.
"I'm coming."
He took a combat stance and rushed toward her.
He threw a punch.
She dodged easily.
Then she countered.
He blocked—but the impact pushed him back.
His eyes shone like stars.
I must win today.
Suddenly, a faint aura formed around him.
He attacked again with all his strength.
She blocked it with one hand.
A shockwave spread from the impact.
"Interesting…" she said. "Is that your power, Joel?"
Joel gritted his teeth.
Punch.
Punch.
Again.
And again.
I can't stop like this.
But Eliane stepped forward—
And completely overwhelmed him.
Her strikes landed one after another—
Face.
Stomach.
Shoulders.
Joel collapsed.
His body was completely broken.
"Now… do push-ups," she said coldly.
Joel obeyed.
Even in pain, he continued.
After that, he struck a rock repeatedly—
His palms tearing apart from the impact.
Cracks spread across the rock.
Joel lowered his head, breathing heavily.
Sweat covered his entire body.
Then he focused one last time.
Magic flowed into his sword.
He raised it—
And struck.
The rock split.
Joel exhaled slowly.
With a faint smile—
He collapsed to the ground like a lifeless body.