The wind had changed.
Not just the air…
But the feeling of the world itself.
Leon stood silently, gripping his sword tighter than ever.
"…My role is being rewritten…"
His voice was low.
Asad watched him carefully.
"…Yes."
A pause.
Then—
"…And it's not random."
Leon frowned.
"…What do you mean?"
Asad stepped closer.
"…Someone… or something… is interfering with your destiny."
Leon's eyes narrowed.
"…Why me?"
Asad didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He looked at Leon… deeply.
"…Because your bloodline isn't ordinary."
Silence.
Leon froze.
"…What…?"
Asad continued:
"…The Hero of Light… chosen by the world…"
"…that's only half of your story."
Leon's grip trembled slightly.
"…Half…?"
Asad nodded.
"…The other half…"
He paused.
"…is something the world tried to hide."
Leon's heart began to beat faster.
"…Tell me."
Asad slowly raised his hand.
"…Close your eyes."
Leon hesitated…
But then—
He closed them.
The moment he did—
A strange pressure filled the air.
Asad activated something—
And suddenly—
Leon's mind was pulled into a vision.
🔥 Vision
Darkness.
A burning battlefield.
A younger Leon… standing alone.
In front of him—
Two figures.
One… glowing with divine light.
The other…
Surrounded by darkness.
Both were watching him.
"…Choose."
A voice echoed.
Leon (in vision) was shaking.
"…Choose what?"
The two figures stepped closer.
The light one said:
"…Your destiny."
The dark one said:
"…Your truth."
The vision blurred—
And suddenly—
A memory shattered.
Leon gasped.
His eyes shot open.
"…What… was that…?"
He stepped back.
"…That… wasn't me…"
Asad watched him calmly.
"…No."
He said quietly.
"…That is you."
Silence.
Leon's breathing became heavy.
"…Impossible…"
Asad continued:
"…You were never meant to be just a Hero."
"…You were meant to balance both light and darkness."
Leon looked at his hands.
"…No…"
"…I only serve the light…"
Asad's eyes narrowed.
"…That's what they told you."
Leon froze.
"…What?"
Asad stepped closer.
"…Someone sealed your other half."
Leon's eyes widened.
"…Sealed…?"
Asad nodded.
"…Your true power…"
"…and your true identity."
Leon's body trembled slightly.
"…Why…?"
Asad looked at him.
"…Because if you awaken fully…"
"…this world will not remain the same."
A long silence followed.
Then—
Leon clenched his fists.
"…Then I will awaken it."
Asad raised an eyebrow.
"…Even if it changes everything?"
Leon looked straight at him.
"…Especially if it changes everything."
Asad smirked slightly.
"…Good."
Suddenly—
The ground beneath them shook.
BOOOOM!
Both turned around—
And far in the distance…
A massive light pillar shot into the sky.
Asad narrowed his eyes.
"…Something just woke up."
Leon felt it too.
His body reacted instinctively.
"…That… is coming from…"
Asad finished his sentence:
"…You."
Leon's eyes widened.
"…What?!"
Asad looked at him.
"…Your power… is responding."
"…Or…"
A pause.
"…someone forced it to respond."
Leon took a step forward.
"…Then we go."
Asad smiled slightly.
"…Now you're starting to think like a real protagonist."
Leon didn't smile.
"…I'm not a protagonist."
Asad turned toward the light pillar.
"…Then what are you?"
Leon's voice was firm.
"…Someone who decides his own fate."
Asad looked at him… for a moment.
Then—
"…Good answer."
The wind roared.
The light in the distance grew brighter.
And for the first time—
Leon's sword began to glow… on its own.
Asad watched quietly.
"…So it's beginning."
Leon looked at his sword in shock.
"…This power…"
Asad stepped forward.
"…Let's go, Leon."
"…Your story…"
"…just reached its first turning point."
And together—
They ran toward the light.
Toward the truth.
Toward the unknown.
[Chapter 8 End]