The chamber didn't stay quiet for long.
Ren stood there, the fragment still in his hand, its faint warmth pulsing steadily into his palm. The glow around his fingers flickered again—softer now, smoother.
Controlled.
But not harmless.
"…Ren," Lira said carefully, watching him like he might explode at any second. "Talk to me. What are you feeling?"
He exhaled slowly.
"…Different."
"That's not reassuring."
A weak smirk tugged at his lips. "It's not supposed to be."
He closed his eyes.
Focused.
For the first time—
Mana didn't slip away immediately.
It lingered.
Hovered.
Listened.
Ren raised his hand.
A faint glow gathered above his palm.
Small.
Unstable.
But real.
Lira's eyes widened. "You're holding it longer…"
"…Yeah," he murmured.
The light flickered.
Held.
Then steadied.
A grin spread across his face.
"I can actually use this."
Then—
Pain struck.
"GHH—!"
Ren dropped to one knee as his chest burned violently, the glow in his hand shattering into scattered sparks.
"Ren!" Lira rushed to him. "What happened?!"
He clenched his teeth, gripping his chest.
"…It's fighting me."
The warmth from the fragment turned sharp.
Aggressive.
Like something inside it resisted being controlled.
His core pulsed wildly in response.
Not breaking—
But straining.
"…Too much at once," he rasped. "I pushed it."
Lira frowned. "So the power helps you… but also hurts you?"
"…Yeah," he said, forcing a breath. "It's like… holding a blade by the edge."
She shook her head. "That's not power. That's a problem."
Ren let out a quiet laugh.
"Same thing, sometimes."
He slowly stood again, steadier this time.
Careful.
Measured.
"Okay…" he muttered. "Let's try that again."
"Ren—"
"I'll control it this time."
He raised his hand again.
Slower.
More focused.
Mana gathered.
Not forced.
Not dragged.
Guided.
A faint glow formed once more—
Smaller than before.
But stable.
Ren held it.
One second.
Two.
Three.
No pain.
"…There," he whispered.
Lira stared in disbelief. "You did it…"
Ren's lips curved slightly.
"…I did."
Then—
The ground trembled.
Both of them froze.
"…Tell me that's not another one," Lira said quietly.
Ren turned toward the entrance of the chamber.
The sealed stone door.
A crack ran through it.
Then another.
"…That's not good," he muttered.
A loud boom echoed as something slammed against the other side.
Dust fell from above.
Lira stepped back. "That thing shouldn't even know we're here…"
Ren's expression darkened.
"…It's not the same one."
Another impact.
Stronger.
The door shattered.
Stone exploded inward as a figure stepped through the dust.
Not massive.
Not ancient.
Human.
Three of them.
Adventurers.
Their armor was worn but reinforced, their weapons stained with old battles. At their lead stood a tall man with a scar running across his face, his eyes sharp and calculating.
His gaze swept across the chamber—
Then landed on Ren.
On the glow still faintly lingering around his hand.
"…Well," the man said slowly, a smirk forming. "Looks like we weren't too late."
Lira's voice dropped. "Ren… I don't like this."
Ren didn't respond.
His grip tightened.
The man stepped forward, boots crunching over the remains of the guardian.
His eyes flicked to the shattered core—
Then back to Ren.
"You two," he said casually, "mind explaining how a pair of nobodies cleared a sealed chamber?"
Silence.
Ren met his gaze.
"…We got lucky."
The man chuckled.
"Yeah," he said. "I don't believe that."
The two behind him spread out slightly.
Not aggressive.
But not friendly either.
"We've been tracking this place for weeks," the man continued. "And somehow, you get here first… and kill the guardian?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Which means one thing."
He pointed at Ren.
"You've got something valuable."
Lira stepped slightly in front of Ren. "We don't want trouble."
The man smiled.
"Too late."
The air shifted.
Tension snapping tight.
Ren exhaled slowly.
His chest still hurt.
His body still weak.
His core still unstable.
But now—
He had something he didn't before.
Control.
Even if it was fragile.
"…Lira," he said quietly.
"Yeah?"
"…Stay behind me."
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
The man laughed softly. "Oh, I like this. The weak one wants to play hero."
Ren raised his hand.
A faint glow flickered.
Unsteady.
Dangerous.
But real.
"…I'm not playing," he said.
The man's smile faded slightly.
"Then let's see what you've got."
Steel rang as weapons were drawn.
And this time—
Ren didn't run.