The morning sun hung low above the forest, bathing the training grounds in warm golden light.
A gentle breeze rolled across the grass, carrying the scent of pine trees from the distant hills.
Eyrx, Nick, Vaeryn, and Darven stood in silence.
For a moment, only the rustling leaves could be heard.
Then Nick blinked.
His eyes remained fixed on Vaeryn.
"How?"
Vaeryn met his gaze calmly.
"You said you can control your power."
Nick nodded.
"And Eyrx doesn't even know what kind of power he has."
She pointed toward Eyrx.
"But I know one thing."
"He has already awakened it once."
Eyrx frowned.
"And?"
Vaeryn crossed her arms.
"If I can force him to awaken it again, I can keep him conscious while it's active."
Nick listened carefully.
Vaeryn continued.
"I can create chain barriers."
"They won't stop his power."
"But they'll keep him in one place long enough to think."
Her blue eyes shifted toward Eyrx.
"After all, the power belongs to him."
"If he can't control it, then nobody can."
Eyrx immediately shook his head.
"No."
"No?"
Vaeryn raised an eyebrow.
Eyrx pointed at himself.
"You make it sound easy."
"When that thing appears, it feels like someone dropped a mountain on my shoulders."
His expression darkened slightly.
"I couldn't even breathe properly."
Vaeryn remained calm.
"That's why we're training."
Eyrx opened his mouth to argue.
Before he could speak, Nick interrupted.
"You need to do it."
Eyrx froze.
Slowly, he turned toward Nick.
"You already decided?"
"Hmm."
"You didn't even ask me."
Nick shrugged.
"You would've complained anyway."
Eyrx stared at him in disbelief.
Nick ignored him.
"If you can't control that power, it will become a problem later."
"So yes."
"I already decided."
Eyrx let out a long sigh.
Then he looked toward Vaeryn.
"I can't believe I'm saying this..."
Vaeryn smiled.
"But?"
"Fine."
"I'm willing to train."
Vaeryn grinned.
A victorious grin.
The kind that instantly made Eyrx regret his decision.
However, Nick suddenly spoke again.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"What if he can't awaken it in two days?"
The smile on Vaeryn's face didn't disappear.
Instead, it grew wider.
"I promised I'd teach him to control his power in three days."
"And I will."
Nick narrowed his eyes.
"What if he fails to awaken it?"
Vaeryn smirked.
"Then I have another plan."
The breeze seemed to pause.
Even Eyrx became curious.
"What plan?"
Vaeryn looked at him.
Then at Nick.
Then smiled mysteriously.
"That's tomorrow's problem."
Both boys stared at her.
"What?"
"Tomorrow."
Eyrx crossed his arms.
"You are starting to annoy me."
Nick nodded.
"Agreed."
Vaeryn gave them both a deadly glare.
Neither spoke again.
A wise decision.
Nearby, Darven picked up his wooden sword.
He tried to resume training.
One swing.
Two swings.
His movements slowed.
The sword slipped from his fingers.
Darven pressed a hand against his forehead.
The world around him spun slightly.
Eyrx immediately noticed.
"Darven?"
Nick turned.
The smile vanished from his face.
"What happened?"
Darven forced a smile.
"My head feels heavy."
"I don't think I can train today."
The cheerful atmosphere disappeared for a moment.
Nick stepped closer.
"Then don't."
"Go rest."
"If you need anything, tell us."
Darven blinked.
Then laughed quietly.
"Thanks."
His eyes lowered slightly.
"Honestly..."
"The last time someone worried about me this much was Grace."
Silence settled briefly.
Eyrx suddenly threw an arm around his shoulder.
"Of course."
"You have amazing friends now."
Nick rolled his eyes.
"Don't make it sound like a blessing."
"It is a blessing."
"No."
"It is."
"No."
Darven chuckled.
Vaeryn watched the scene for a moment before speaking.
"I'm new here..."
Everyone looked at her.
"But if you need anything, tell me too."
A genuine smile appeared on Darven's face.
"Thank you."
Then he studied her carefully.
"My name is Darven, by the way."
"I'm not that old."
Vaeryn frowned.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"How old are you?"
"Forty-five."
Vaeryn's eyes widened.
"Forty-five?!"
Darven nodded proudly.
Vaeryn immediately pointed at him.
"You're twenty-three years older than me!"
Eyrx suddenly stepped backward.
A dangerous grin appeared on his face.
Then he pointed dramatically.
"Grandpa."
The training ground fell silent.
Darven slowly turned toward him.
Eyrx's grin widened.
"Grandpa Darven."
A shoe flew through the air.
WHACK!
"Ouch!"
Eyrx grabbed his head.
Darven picked up the other shoe.
"Say it again."
Eyrx immediately hid behind Nick.
"Protect me."
Nick stepped aside.
"You deserve this."
Another shoe flew.
The peaceful morning echoed with Eyrx's scream while Vaeryn laughed so hard she nearly fell into the grass
A cold breeze swept across the training ground.
The tall grass swayed gently beneath the morning sky while clouds drifted lazily overhead. The cheerful atmosphere from earlier had faded. Darven had already returned to the castle to rest, leaving only Eyrx, Nick, and Vaeryn on the field.
Vaeryn stretched her arms.
"Let's begin."
Eyrx let out a long sigh.
"I already have a bad feeling about this."
Nick sat on a wooden bench nearby, his eyes fixed on the training ground.
Vaeryn ignored Eyrx's complaint and pointed toward the grass.
"Sit."
Eyrx dropped onto the ground.
Vaeryn crouched in front of him.
"Close your eyes."
Eyrx obeyed.
"Now forget everything."
"Forget the castle."
"Forget me."
"Forget Nick."
"Forget your worries."
Her voice became softer.
"Focus only on yourself."
"Somewhere inside your body, your power is sleeping."
"Feel it."
"Don't force it."
"Don't chase it."
"Just feel it."
Eyrx slowly took a deep breath.
The sounds around him faded.
The wind.
The birds.
Even Vaeryn's voice.
Everything became distant.
Minutes passed.
Then more.
Half an hour slipped by.
Nothing happened.
Eyrx remained still.
Then suddenly—
A heavy pressure settled on his body.
It felt as if invisible weights had been placed on his shoulders.
His breathing became harder.
His muscles tightened.
His eyes snapped open.
"I feel something!"
Vaeryn blinked.
Nick immediately stood.
"What?"
"A pressure."
"Like something heavy is pushing on me."
Before he could continue, Vaeryn smacked the back of his head.
"Ouch!
"You idiot."
Eyrx rubbed his head.
"What was that for?"
"You lost your concentration."
"If something happens, don't open your eyes."
"Observe it."
"Understand it."
"Then tell us later."
Eyrx muttered under his breath.
"I think you're enjoying this."
"I am."
Eyrx frowned.
Vaeryn pointed at the grass again.
"Start over."
With an annoyed sigh, Eyrx closed his eyes once more.
This time he remained silent.
While Eyrx focused, Nick walked over and sat beside Vaeryn.
For a few moments, they simply watched the clouds moving across the sky.
Then Nick spoke.
"You're from the Second Realm."
Vaeryn nodded.
"I am."
Nick folded his arms.
"What does your world look like?"
A small smile appeared on Vaeryn's face.
"My world?"
She looked toward the sky.
"It's beautiful."
"But it doesn't look like Earth."
"There are twelve realms."
"Twelve different worlds."
Nick listened carefully.
"Different how?"
Vaeryn thought for a moment.
"Some realms float among the clouds."
"Some are surrounded by endless oceans."
"One was built inside a giant crystal cavern."
"Another exists inside massive energy spheres."
Nick's eyes narrowed slightly.
"So every realm is different?"
"Very."
She picked up a blade of grass and twirled it between her fingers.
"Only a few resemble Earth."
"The Fourth Realm."
"The Sixth Realm."
"The Eighth Realm."
"The rest are completely different."
Nick remained silent for a moment.
"Then why are some realms empty?"
Vaeryn's expression darkened.
The smile disappeared.
"Because they're dead."
The wind grew colder.
Long ago, twelve great warriors stood against Robert.
One from each realm.
They fought to protect their worlds.
Some died.
Some survived.
Those who survived managed to separate the world into twelve realms and protect their people.
But not every realm endured.
Some clans became weak.
Some lost their protectors.
And when Robert discovered them...
He destroyed them.
Vaeryn lowered her gaze.
"That's why some realms still thrive."
"And some are nothing but ruins."
Silence followed.
Even Nick had no response.
Then suddenly—
A pulse of energy exploded from the training ground.
Both of them immediately turned.
Eyrx was still sitting in the grass.
But something had changed.
A faint green glow covered his body.
Like a thin layer of light.
The grass around him trembled.
The air itself seemed heavier.
Vaeryn jumped to her feet.
Her eyes widened.
"He found it."
Nick stood as well.
"Eyrx."
The green light grew brighter.
For the first time, Eyrx could truly feel it.
The power sleeping inside him.
Waiting.
Watching.
Awakening.
Then everything went black.
His body fell forward.
THUD.
The glow vanished.
The training ground became silent once again.
Vaeryn and Nick rushed toward him.