The sunlight filtered gently through the hotel window, illuminating the room with a warm and peaceful glow. Raizen was already awake, lying in silence as he stared at the ceiling. Beside him, Aeris slept deeply, curled up against him with her head resting on his chest, her calm breathing bringing a sense of tranquility.
Raizen lowered his gaze toward her, and for a moment… everything felt at peace. Carefully, he brushed a strand of her hair aside and couldn't help but smile. He leaned in slightly and placed a soft kiss on her head.
Raizen: Good morning…
Aeris shifted slightly, still half-asleep, holding onto him a little tighter.
Aeris: mm…
Raizen let out a quiet chuckle, but his expression changed slightly as he remembered the gem. Carefully, so as not to wake her, he reached into his pocket and took it out. He observed it for a few seconds, noticing a faint, strange glow.
Raizen: What are you… exactly…?
As he held it, a chill ran through his body. For a brief moment, it felt as if something was watching him from somewhere impossible to identify. His mind blurred, and a strange sensation pierced through him, as if a distant presence was trying to reach him.
???: …not yet…
Raizen's eyes snapped open.
Raizen: …what was that?
Aeris moved slightly and slowly opened her eyes.
Aeris: Raizen…?
Raizen quickly put the gem away.
Raizen: I-it's nothing… don't worry.
Aeris looked at him for a few seconds, still sleepy, then smiled softly. She sat up a little and gently rested her forehead against his.
Aeris: You're acting strange… but you're with me, so it's fine.
Then she gave him a small kiss on the cheek.
Aeris: Good morning…
Raizen smiled faintly.
Raizen: Good morning…
Later, as they returned to the guild, the atmosphere was still lively, though there was a noticeable tension in the air. Some adventurers glanced at them while whispering among themselves.
Adventurer 1: It's them…
Adventurer 2: The ones from the Velkar ruins…
Raizen sighed.
Raizen: Great… now we're famous.
Aeris smiled slightly.
Aeris: It's not that big of a deal.
At that moment, a man in dark armor with a strong presence approached them. His gaze was serious, examining them without hesitation.
Darius: So you're the ones who survived Velkar.
Raizen looked at him directly.
Raizen: And you are…?
Darius crossed his arms.
Darius: Rank B. Name's Darius.
His eyes locked onto Raizen.
Darius: And I want to see if you really deserve the reputation you're getting.
Aeris frowned.
Aeris: We're not here to prove anything.
Darius smirked slightly.
Darius: That's for me to decide.
Raizen stepped forward.
Raizen: If you want to test something, say it clearly.
The atmosphere tensed for a moment, but suddenly a pressure spread throughout the room. The noise of the guild almost completely faded.
Raizen turned his head slightly.
Kael was leaning against a column, watching.
Kael: Leave it.
Darius clicked his tongue.
Darius: Tch…
Kael: They're not on your level… and neither are you on theirs.
The comment left an awkward silence. Darius frowned, but eventually turned around and walked away without another word.
Aeris looked at Kael.
Aeris: You're watching over us, aren't you?
Kael shrugged.
Kael: Let's just say I don't like seeing you die so soon.
Raizen smiled faintly.
Raizen: How considerate.
Kael stared at him for a few seconds, as if analyzing something.
Kael: You…
Raizen: What is it?
Kael narrowed his eyes.
Kael: Nothing… forget it.
However, his gaze had briefly lingered on Raizen's pocket, as if he had noticed something unusual.
Kael slightly narrowed his eyes as he silently observed Raizen.
Kael: What are you hiding…? (thinking)
For a brief moment, Raizen felt something strange in his hands. A faint, different energy… as if something was awakening. But it disappeared almost instantly.
Kael didn't look away, clearly suspicious.
Aeris noticed.
Aeris: Love… what was that?
Raizen looked at his hands, confused.
Raizen: I don't know…
The atmosphere grew awkward for a few seconds, so Raizen decided not to think too much about it. He took Aeris' hand, and the two of them left the guild.
As they walked, Raizen tried to convince himself.
Raizen: (thinking) It was probably just a glitch in my magic…
Hours passed normally. They tried to distract themselves by walking through the town, but that strange feeling never fully disappeared.
That night, back at the hotel, the atmosphere became calm again.
They were lying together under the blankets, holding each other.
Raizen looked at her in silence.
Raizen: Love…
He leaned in slightly and kissed her softly.
Aeris responded with warmth, moving a little closer to him.
Aeris: Good night…
Raizen smiled.
Raizen: Good night…
And just like that, surrounded by peace, they fell asleep.
But the next morning…
Something had changed.
Raizen opened his eyes.
A purple glow completely filled them.
Aeris, still half-asleep, began to wake up.
Aeris: Mmh… love…?
Raizen slowly sat up, bringing a hand to his face.
Raizen: What… is happening to me…?
Suddenly, the purple gem slipped out of his pocket.
It began to float in front of him.
Slowly spinning.
Releasing a disturbing energy.
Raizen stared at it, feeling something different within himself.
Raizen: I feel… lighter…
Aeris quickly sat up, watching him with concern.
Aeris: I feel a terrifying power inside you, love… it's scaring me a little…
Raizen clenched his fists slightly.
Raizen: This is good… but it could also be bad. I don't know what side effects it might have… or what it'll do to me in the long run…
He paused.
Raizen: But I know one thing… with this power, I'm at least Rank B.
Aeris looked at him with slight disbelief.
Aeris: We're Rank C… don't exaggerate. Above C is B.
Raizen shook his head, serious.
Raizen: I'm telling you… I feel a huge power.
Aeris watched him for a few seconds… then sighed.
Aeris: Then let's go to the measurement tower. They can analyze your power there.
Raizen nodded.
Raizen: Yeah… let's go.
The gem stopped floating and gently fell, returning to normal.
But the feeling…
Didn't disappear.
And with that uncertainty, the two of them left the hotel, heading toward the tower where they would discover…
That Raizen was no longer the same.