Chapter 1: Crawl to the LightPiss and rain and the breath of died men full had made the alley. And Kael, who had been once a sniper, soldier, and nobody, was bleeding into that stink, as though it had been waiting on him. He did not merely suffer. He was crushed. Bones right through the flesh, legs deformed, nerves screaming without speaking. His lips parted in an eloquent howl, which had no sound. No sob. No scream. Nothing but gasping, and tightening of the mind with every beat of the heart. Not through suffering. No, Kael could bear pain. It was fate that he could not take, that paralyzed him more than the loss of blood. He had screwed up. Monumentally. This was not the first time. He had previously worked as an Arabian prince guard. Fat money, an easy paycheck. The work of ex-military mercs such as he prided himself of at half-decayed glory bars. The highest place, the finest chance, the eyeballs on all the dangers. Every danger... except the closest one. The aide.

Chapter 3: Recovery CenterThe voice of Elira was as sharp as a scalpel cutting through the silence. Tell Drennov about it. Every detail. Leave nothing.”Maren made no movement. Her face was marble, her soul more cold. “Yes, Elira.” She disappeared into the shadow like smoke into a well with the breath of a whisper and the ghost of a sound.Back in her chair, Elira flicked her fingers. Papers that had been scattered like a storm's aftermath levitated with elegant precision, each sheet snapping back into place as though obeying their goddess.She looked at nothing, and saw too much. Why now, Kael… Why now?”The orphanage stood like a castle of purity in a city of half-truths. The sole of its kind, large enough to accommodate hundreds of lost souls and yet have empty hallways.But the eyes that looked down upon it? They were not gods. They were not angels. They were vultures in velvet.It had been a cage, made by unseen hands, once in the mind of Elira herself. She had scratched her way

Chapter 5: Goddamn YearOne fucking year.Twelve moons, four seasons, a hundred and fifty-two tantrums from The System, and more sweat than a cursed gladiator's jockstrap. And yet, here he was: Kael, age nine, sitting behind a cracked desk in Emergency Room 3, staring into a mirror that knew him better than most priests knew sin.He whispered the familiar invocation.“Status.”The interface unfolded like a holy tapestry woven from glass and lightning.Name: Kael Age: 9 Race: Human Class: Healer [Common] Level: 9 [9000/9000 EXP] (+)Titles:- Born Anew [Unique] [Temporary] > Increases experience gain by 50% until level 10Stats:HP: 340/340 | Regen: 48 HP per hour MP: 520/545 | Regen: 89 MP per hourSTR: 40 END: 48 AGI: 37 INT: 89 CHA: 6Skills:Hand-to-Hand Combat [Lv.5 | 0/2500 EXP] [Common] [Passive] > +5% STR when unarmedDiscipline [Lv.7 | 250/3500 EXP] [Uncommon] [Passive] > 7% resistance to mental magicShooting Mastery [Lv.6 | 0/3000 EXP] [Uncommon] [Pas

Chapter 7: DisturbanceNobody flinched. No one. Every one in that tent was staring at Kael, and their features were a conglomeration of incredulity, mistrust, and, perhaps, even a faint element of fear. Then Eric broke into the quietness. You have our lives in your hands, kid. Are you up to that?" Kael made no flinch. He looked the man in the eye. I would not be here without it. Eric's gaze stiffened. "Got experience? Have you ever seen a monster?" Kael heaved a sigh. One answer will not be found that will not make him angry. "I don't. And no I have never seen a monster. Eric laughed dry, humorless. Aw, a spoiled brat bought his way into this hunt somewhere? I am an orphan. And choking silence, Justin. Eric lost his smirk. "I see. Sorry." The man was not entirely decadent. Not a lot, but sufficient. It is all right, all right, said Kael, shrugging his shoulders, which were heavy, as a kid his age. Then Joanna said, and the interest made the tension. "What ag

Chapter 9: Red-Eye BargainNobody was coming.Kael gazed into the blank horizon, the lifeless forms of his team mates scattered around him like discarded dolls in a sandbox of lies. He breathed, short and sharp, and took the burden of the moment against his ribs."I've been sitting in this spot for sixteen bloody hours," Kael muttered, grinding his molars. "You still want to call me impatient?"You are impatient. Wait a little longer, the System answered, voice too calm for the growing heat in Kael.Kael snorted, jerking himself to his feet with a dry laugh. "So that’s it. No apology? Just pretending you weren’t wrong?"You are not right. You are simply impatient.Sure, Kael grumbled, going over to his teammates. He squatted down by Joanna, then Zane, and lastly Eric. Nothing was different. They remained enclosed in themselves. Deadweight. He made another attempt to heal them. Greater Heal licked over their skin like the sunshine, yet it did not rouse a breath.MP wasted.Eric remaine