2025-11-21 01:06:2510:00 PM.
The old laundry store far from Kael's apartment had the same problems, almost every day. Faulty washing machines, long lines, and unfortunately, nowhere to sit inside while waiting. So Kael opted waiting outside. Rather than join the chaos inside, he let the others fight it out. He'd learned it wasn't worth the stress. After seven hours of soul-crushing waiting, he finally got in, when everyone had gotten their items cleaned. "I could've slept through all that," Kael muttered, dumping his clothes into one washers. The fading sounds of the city, still buzzing at night, washed over him like soft white noise. He climbed onto the washer and pulled out his phone to scroll. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a boy—maybe nine years old—standing beside him. Kael glanced at the kid, then back at his screen. Wait a second. He turned sharply. "You?!" The boy unwrapped a lollipop, cool as ever. "Hey—" "What? When did you—? Why are you here?!" The boy tilted his head, eyes locked on Kael. Crimson red eyes with slit pupils gleaming softly. Kael froze. "Your eyes?," he pointed. "I've never seen anyone with—" "Yours is one of a kind," the boy said, pulling the candy from his mouth. He pointed it at Kael's face. "Golden. Like the sun." 'Eyes golden as the sun? Was that even something to be proud of?' Kael lowered his head. From the earliest memory he could recall, his mother would always say, 'No one in our family line has eyes like this. So, I don't think it's inherited. Maybe a recessive gene? Or a dominant one? From a long-lost ancestor... or your father's side.' And, it only got bittersweet when school started. His eyes became a source of admiration... and envy. But in all, he was always seen as the odd one. "What are you thinking?" the boy asked, slipping the lollipop back into his mouth. "You speak like it's a gift," Kael muttered. "But to me, it's always felt like a curse. Or maybe..." he paused, staring at the boy, "... For all records, Who even are you?" "Well," the boy said, grinning, "I'm you." Kael squinted. "What—" "Okay, not you... but... like you... Do you know anything about yourself?," The boy leaned in slightly. Kael shifted back, "Myself?" "Yes! Want me to help you remember?" the boy asked, voice clear with amusement. "Wanna know the truth about those golden eyes?" Kael jumped down from the washer, his patience wearing thin. "Well, I don't want to play a game with you. I have to dry, fold my clothes—" The boy's smile vanished, replaced by a stern expression. "You were more serious a century ago. Now, you're reluctant. I won't allow you to remain so vile of yourself." Kael blinked, confused. "What are you—" "One way or another, you must transform, Remember and Understand," The boy snapped his finger, and a small flame ignited. "So, you're a magician now?" Kael asked, his tone skeptical. "Okay, what element are you? Fire? Or is it an ancient language you use to ignite a burning flame?" The boy's expression became confused, "Have you heard of the Dragon language?" Kael nodded. "Yes." The boy's confusion deepened. "You remember? You remember everything—?" Kael smiled. "I also know about the Lizard language. So, don't worry, you can say anything—" The boy whispered something under his breath, "Civynya" "What did you just say?" Kael asked. "I summoned a corruption to where we stand," the boy replied, his sly smile returning. "You would have to defeat it, or else, you will die... Don't worry, you might be reborn again, your soul can't die, can it?.." As the boy walked out the door, Kael reached out to him. "Hey," but his attention was diverted by a loud crash. The window shattered, and the roof caved in. Kael slowly raised his head, his eyes widening in horror as he took in the creature standing before him. A monster of horror, a nightmare his mind would have a hard time construction. **** A step back, followed by another. Kael trembled in the face of a creature, similar to a giant bee, but with a head that twisted and shifted into countless forms, never settling on one shape. His legs gave way. He fell to the ground—well, safe to say, the fall saved him from a strike that would've claimed half his life. Scrambling to the door, he gripped the knob, pulled... However, it didn't budge. Locked. "No, no, no, no, no!," He slammed his fists against the wood, heart pounding in panic, as the creature slipped in behind him. He slowly turned. The Corruption was already in front of him. "Seriously?," he muttered, taking cautious steps away from the door. It didn't help. Another barrage of deadly strikes came flying at him. He dove behind a washing machine, the impact rattling the metal casing. The Corruption turned, smashing through the washing machines, forcing Kael to crawl along the narrow row of six machines, which were all knocked off balance now. And there he sat at the corner of the wall, trembling, helpless, Staring death in the face. "I don't want to die!," he yelled, feeling thatt same cold sensation spread across his chest, he same one he felt before the accident had occurred. 'I'm afraid. I don't want to die. I don't know what that boy meant... I don't know what to transform or unlock... I don't want to die!' A tear rolled down his cheek. 'I don't want to die—!' He shut his eyes. But instead of pain…. Warmth spread through his chest, slowly replacing the cold. He opened his eyes. His golden irises flared with a strange glow, and for a moment, the creature froze. Then, a second passed, before lunging again. The glow in Kael's eyes faded, replaced by fear. And just when the beast struck... A deep voice cut through the air. "100 Blessings of Death" Dozens of ethereal blades rained down from above, each one glowing brighter than the last as they sliced through the creature. With a final shriek, the Corruption burst into ash. Kael slowly looked up. Standing on the broken roof edge, hand extended, was the golden-silver-haired man he had seen earlier. The man spoke up, his voice was calm, but at the same time, commanding, "Get up Kael Von, We're going to Eclipsera, NOW!."
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An old friend's ofger
The hallway was silent, lit only by the flickering blue pulse of the lamps mounted high on the stone walls. Kael waited, his heart thumping a frantic rhythm against his ribs, until he heard the soft, rhythmic squeak of the night nurse’s cart fading around the corner.Now.He slid out of the bed, his bare feet hitting the cold linoleum floor with a faint slap. A sharp jolt of pain shot through his shoulder—a reminder of the crushing weight of foolishly sliding down a downslope filled with rocks—but he gritted his teeth and pushed through it. He didn't grab his hospital robe; he just moved in his thin tunic, sticking to the shadows like a smudge of ink. He felt like a stranger in his own body, his movements heavy and uncoordinated.Why does the air feel so heavy? he wondered, his internal monologue racing. It’s like the oxygen is thick with dust. Or maybe it’s just me. Maybe the dragon inside is finally starting to suffocate in this cage.He reached the heavy glass doors leading to the
The Bitter Taste Of Recovery
The morning air in the recovery wing was cold, carrying the sharp scent of pine and floor wax. Kael lay on his back, staring at a small crack in the ceiling tiles. Every time he breathed deeply, he could feel the ghost of the fire that had erupted in the forest—a tight, searing pressure in the center of his chest that refused to fade.A tray of breakfast sat on the rolling table beside him. The oatmeal was cold and gummy, and the orange juice had a metallic tang that set his teeth on edge. He pushed the tray away with a frustrated sigh."Eat it," Ash’s voice drifted from the corner.The boy was sitting on the windowsill, kicking his legs back and forth. He had a fresh lollipop—green apple this time—tucked into the corner of his mouth. "You need the fuel, Kael. Dragons don't live on air and good intentions, even if you’ve forgotten how to be one.""I don't feel like a dragon," Kael muttered, sat up slowly. The room spun for a second before steadying. "I feel like a bruised peach. My sk
Calm Disturbances
Kael was still propped up against the hospital pillows, watching the sun dip lower through the window. The room was quiet until the shadows near the armchair stretched and warped. Ash stepped out, his small hand still pressed against his shoulder where the sweater was torn."Cedric’s moving," Ash said, skipping the greeting. He popped his lollipop back in his mouth. "Three months. He’s planning a raid on the Zenka River. He wants to kill the Water Dragon before she fully wakes up. He’s putting Kei in charge of the vanguard."Kael’s grip tightened on the bedsheets. "A raid? On a sanctuary?""He doesn't care about sanctuary," Ash grunted, sitting on the edge of the bed. "He cares about the power inside that Temple. He almost caught me eavesdropping, too. The old man’s got a mean throw."Before Kael could respond, the heavy door to the room creaked open. Both of them turned, their faces instantly brightening.Eleanor stepped inside.She was as striking as ever, her long blonde hair casca
The Zenka Mendate
The air inside Principal Cedric’s office was stagnant, smelling of old paper and the sharp tang of expensive tobacco. Cedric sat behind his mahogany desk, his eyes locked on the scorched gold cylinder recovered from the forest.When Kei stepped in, Cedric didn't look up immediately. He reached up with his middle finger and adjusted his glasses, a sharp glint reflecting off the lenses."Sit, Kei," Cedric said. His voice was low, devoid of its usual administrative edge. "You look less like a corpse than you did a week ago. That’s an improvement.""I'm ready for duty, sir," Kei replied. He took the chair across from the desk, his back straight, his eyes never leaving the Principal’s face.Cedric leaned back, the leather chair creaking under his weight. He adjusted his glasses again. "Your stunt in the forest—the 100th Blessing. It was a mess, Kei. A successful mess, but a mess nonetheless. You nearly wiped out your entire squad along with that spider.""We got what you asked for," Kei sa
The scars we heal from
The high-pitched hum of the Health Center's stabilizers had finally been replaced by the natural sounds of Eclipsera Academy—the distant chime of the clock tower, the rustle of wind through the ancient oaks, and the muffled chatter of students in the courtyard.It had taken weeks, not days, for the "Troga Survivors" to truly return to the world of the living.Dash was the first to be officially discharged, though he was far from who he used to be. The Academy’s engineers had fitted him with a temporary prosthetic—a sleek, matte-black arm made of reinforced polymers that responded to his neural impulses. It felt heavy and cold, a constant reminder of the Shadow Monster that had actually cut through his flesh. He spent his afternoons in the firing range, relearning the balance of his pistol with a hand that didn't feel like his own. Every "click" of the trigger was a step toward reclaiming his pride.... Or tossing it aside Cynthia followed shortly after. The fractures in bones had heal
Remember who you are
Kael shifted on the hospital bed, the crisp white sheets rustling under his weight. The room felt too quiet now that Ash had dropped his playful act. The late afternoon sun was beginning to dip, casting a long, orange glow across the floor that reminded Kael far too much of the fire that had leveled the Troga Forest."The scroll," Kael began, his voice barely a murmur. "Principal Cedric has it now. He thinks it’s a map to a monster."Ash moved the lollipop to the side of his cheek, his small face tightening. "It is a map. But not to a monster. It leads to the River of Zenka. You remember Zenka, don't you? Even with those holes in your head?"Kael shook his head slowly. "The name sounds like a bell ringing in a far-off room. I can’t grab it.""It’s an old island," Ash explained, pacing the small space between the bed and the window. "It sits right beside an old mountain that used to be my sanctuary. Back when my wings could actually block out the sun. But the river that flows beside it
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