The chanting of the mages die down for a bit. Elira who was busy chanting some mantra took a quick glance at Kael. She walked closer to his body and felt the life drain from him. "It can't be." The mages all turned to look at her. " Is he going to live?" One of them asked feeling a bit paranoid. Elira raised her head up and sigh. " I am not sure I understand any of this. Okey minute he is displaying power that are beyond explanations and the next minute, he is at the point of death." Feeling a bit frustrated, Elira walked out of the room. The gentle breeze crashed against her face as she stared at the moonlight. " Is he going to live?" Elira turned slightly, her gaze showing a sign of worrisome look. She saw it was Rael walking towards her. "At this point, I don't know anymore." Elira let out. "You don't know what? You had the boy's power superseded when he was supposed to be out there training!" Rael lashed out in anger. His very voice was carried by the win

The silence in the chamber pressed on everyone like a suffocating blanket. Everyone was eager to hear what Kael was going to say. He had told the king more than three times now that he was not ready to fight for the kingdom, and now he was. It doesn't make sense to them. It was either he was fooled by the king or he was trying to get out of the kingdom. They all whispered at the same time. Each giving his or her opinion to the person standing beside them. King Almond raised his hand, silencing the room. His eyes studied Kael’s figure, lingering on the strange, glowing symbols etched into his skin. They were unlike anything he had ever seen before.“You shouldn’t even be standing,” the king said, voice deep and commanding. “By all rights, that demon should have torn you apart.”Kael lifted his chin. “But I’m here. I’m alive. That must mean something.”Rael smiled, resting a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Alive? You’re more than alive, Kael. You’re… different. Stronger.” He leaned i

The two forces collided like thunder meeting fire. Kael’s blades crossed upward, locking against Harond’s massive claws. The strength of the demon pressed down on him, knees bending, muscles straining, the earth cracking beneath his boots. But Kael did not yield. He pushed back with every ounce of strength he had, his teeth clenched, his eyes glowing brighter with the energy that surged through his veins. “Master Harond!” Kael shouted, his voice raw. “If you are still in there, forgive me!” The beast’s face twisted, half-snarl, half-shadow of the man Kael once knew. Its jaws snapped open, rows of jagged teeth dripping with thick black ichor. It roared in Kael’s face, a stench so foul it burned his lungs, but he did not turn away. With a sudden surge, Kael ducked beneath the crushing claws and drove his father’s blade upward. The glowing sword pierced deep into Harond’s arm, slicing through scales and bone with a hiss like metal searing water. The beast howled, staggering back, da

Kael was about to step foot into the kingdom, but then, the first called to him. It has always been, ever since the death of his father. The first had become his training ground and a sanctuary to him. "Where are you going?" Rael looked back the moment Kael turned his horse around. "The king can wait. I have got some place to visit." Kael replied. Rael furrowed his arch. "What do you mean the king can wait? He demands our presence now." Kael paused, dragging his horse to a stop. He turned. "I knew this was going to happen." "What? That I am trying to listen to a direct order from the king or what?" Rael said, looking at him. "You were not like this when you got here. You were here for me. You needed me, but then, I am already fighting your stupid demon wars. So, there is no reason to listen to me or defend me anymore." Kael barked, his Hakana shining underneath his eye. Rael bent his head slowly; he raised his eyes just in time to meet Kael's angry face. The tension was thicke

The thunder roared above as if the heavens themselves wanted to witness the fight. The wind whipped through the open market square, tossing sand and dust in all directions. The hooded man’s cloak fluttered wildly as he charged toward Kael with incredible speed, his blade shimmering a deep shade of red.Kael’s eyes narrowed. His body moved almost by instinct as he parried the first strike. The impact was strong—so strong that the ground beneath his boots cracked slightly. Sparks flew from the blades as both warriors pushed against each other.“You’re strong,” Kael muttered, pushing the hooded man back with a sudden burst of strength.The man laughed, a deep, harsh sound that echoed through the square. “Strong? You haven’t seen anything yet.”He raised his hand, and instantly, a wave of crimson Hakana exploded from his body, forming the shape of a giant wolf behind him. The beast roared, shaking the air. People screamed and backed away as the air turned hot from the energy the man was