Kaius took a deep breath, a rich, earthy fragrance of wet grass seeping into his bones. The faint thunderous roars of the majestic waterfall in the distance blended into the vibrant notes of the white frothing river beside him, soothing his mind.
He could picture the breathtaking green valley even with his eyes closed.
How could he not? It was his home.
His mana stirred, reaching out to a bluish-green haze around him. It steadily lost its sharp emerald-green color, blending with the softer, more comforting hues of the untainted natural mana around him.
A cool river breeze grazed against the tiny beads of sweat on his forehead. A haze lifted from his mind as a blurry scene slowly pieced itself together.
He could ‘see’ the entire valley, every nook and cranny he had ever visited. The painstaking years spent slowly mapping out the massive valley had been worth it.
As he lost himself in his mind, his body slowly turned hazy before fading into wisps of nothingness. Since he couldn’t protect himself in that state, he hid his body inside The Veil, his small, personal pocket dimension. It was a neat little perk of his trait, one of the rare few he truly appreciated.
Although he wasn’t physically present in the valley any longer, he could see everything clearly than ever before.
Behind him stood a cozy wooden cottage, the home he shared with his father. Despite being the only house in the valley, it didn't feel out of place. Its warm presence accentuated the picturesque valley.
The cottage was his father’s gift to his mother, a symbol of their love and the only thing Kaius had to remember her by.
If it were up to him, he would have torn it down long ago. He would rather live in a house untainted by her presence, but it meant too much to his father.
Besides, it wouldn’t change much since he couldn’t get rid of the emerald green eyes that stared back at him in the mirror every day.
He broke out of his reverie and shook all unnecessary thoughts out of his head. He focused all his attention on the picture in his head instead.
The valley was truly majestic.
Tall cliffs piercing the clouds stood unmoving. The grand waterfall, falling straight from the clouds, sprayed a thick mist that covered at least a quarter of the valley. Kaius suspected the massive waterfall was slowly pushing the valley deeper; he just couldn’t prove it.
A tiny gust of wind grazed the valley.
He could ‘see’ the tiny blades of grass dancing in the breeze but missed the cool sensation against his skin.
The bright sun still hung over his head, yet he couldn’t feel the summer heat.
He could see everything but only feel the natural mana invigorating his invisible, formless self. Temporarily losing his other senses was a reasonable sacrifice for his otherwise broken skill, Phasing.
The tradeoff was totally worth it, though. The entire valley was laid bare in front of Kaius. He wasn’t physically there, yet he was everywhere, all at once. It was an intoxicating feeling.
He had almost puked the first time he did this eleven years ago. The sudden dizzying disorientation was too much for his then nine-year-old body. Now, it was practically second nature.
He delved into the natural flow of mana around him, trying to replicate it.
He was trying to find a way to phase his body back into a different spot than where it had phased out, something that had eluded him thus far. He had no reason to believe it was even possible. It was just a feeling, which was reason enough for him.
He never had a training manual or a guide for any of his skills. The guild council had erased all records of his trait, so he improvised. Besides, for his trait, instincts were everything.
As he lost himself in the flow…
Crack! Something snapped.
Kaius lost all control over himself. His mind went blank, his instincts screaming danger.
He was getting thrown around without any control, like a stringless kite.
Given the abrupt panic, his concentration faltered.
The valley was gone. He was just floating around in nothingness.
He did the only thing he could: try to end the session.
He suddenly froze; his eyes widened.
The air around him thrummed like a beating heart, his heart.
He was back in his body, but it sure as hell wasn’t in the Veil.
He clenched his fists, looking around frantically.
It was still the same valley, the sun hanging in the middle of the clear noon sky, just as he had left it.
Everything was seemingly the same, except:
He was fucking floating.
He was looking at the cottage from high up in the sky.
‘What in the hell is happening?’ He cursed inside his head.
Just when he thought it was bad enough, the dancing blades of grass creepily stilled.
The wind was no longer brushing against his skin.
It was too quiet.
A chill ran down his spine.
It was getting hotter. The sun was suddenly too close, trying to roast him alive.
He winced in pain. If he could move, he’d be flailing around.
He tried to scream, to let it all out, but no sound came out.
His voice got stuck in his chest, threatening to suffocate him.
He tried to claw himself out of the invisible prison, but his hands wouldn’t move.
It was a terrible nightmare. It had to be.
His mind, however, refused to accept the thought. It felt as real as his panicked breaths.
As he tried to ignore his thundering heart, he saw a familiar face: his father, Arnott.
‘What is he doing here?’ He thought.
He was supposed to be in Millwich getting supplies for their trip.
Yet, there he was, casually stepping out of the empty cottage to fill up a jug of water from the river as if it were routine.
A shadow followed him; it was dark, hollow, and very much alive.
Although he couldn’t see its face or any of its features, he could feel the happiness radiating from it, brighter than the sun that was only getting hotter.
His skin was no longer just stinging; it was on fire, but it surprisingly didn’t bother him as much. The shadow’s happiness was like a soothing balm, offsetting some of his searing pain.
It kept him sane.
His brain was working overtime, trying to make sense of everything while it still could.
Suddenly, a cold drop of water dripped on his back.
It felt nice.
Then came another, and then another, until it was suddenly raining cats and dogs.
The cold water droplets washed over him, soothing his burnt skin.
Kaius was enjoying the cold reprise too much to question the abrupt rain.
If he had paid attention, he would have realized that there was no single shadow of a cloud on the ground. Despite the rain, the sun was still shining brighter than ever.
Then, out of nowhere, a strong metallic scent assaulted Kaius.
He felt sick to his core, trying to suppress the bile rising to his throat.
His eyes teared up; his vision got hazy.
It took a painful minute for his nose to get used to the aberrant smell. He blinked the water away from his eyes as he regained his bearings.
What he saw made him wish he hadn’t.
It was a gruesome sight.
The raindrops had all turned into a disgusting, thick, dark red liquid.
Bright white sunlight passed through the unnatural raindrops, dying the valley deep red.
The roaring currents of the river were all red and sticky.
The river was no longer frothing; it was just flopping around unnaturally. The waterfall was no exception.
It didn't take a genius to figure out what the liquid was:
BLOOD!
Kaius could taste it in his mouth.
His brain went into overdrive; his vision sharpened. He could suddenly see the things he couldn't before.
He immediately knew what it was: his true sight.
He didn’t think his skills were still working. It was still somewhat accurate since his true sight had activated on its own. But he wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
He turned his gaze to Arnott and saw a familiar translucent emerald-green screen:
Name: Arnott
Race: Human
Trait: Trickster
Level: Sixth tier
Talent: 9/10
‘Finally, something familiar,’ he thought. He might have a chance after all. He turned his gaze towards the shadow.
Seeing how he could feel everything the shadow felt and how it interacted with Arnott, Kaius had a pretty good idea whose shadow it was.
It was still reassuring to confirm it with his own eyes:
Name: Kaius
Race: Human
Trait: Seer
Level: Fifth tier
Talent: 10/10
Stats:
Strength: Third Tier
Speed: Third Tier
Dexterity: Third Tier
Skills:
True Sight
Premonition
Danger Sense
Dream-Walking
Phasing
Before he could do anything else, his Danger Sense started going haywire. He had never felt a warning so dire.
Things were about to get much worse.
The raindrops suddenly froze, suspended in the air like disgusting Christmas ornaments hanging from the sky.
His danger sense had bought him a few extra moments. His mind was working faster than time itself, stretching that moment for as long as possible.
He pushed his true sight to its limit, trying to decipher the secrets of that strange phenomenon. It might be his last chance to break out.
‘Where is all the mana?’ he immediately realized.
Forget Arnott or his shadow; the entire valley was barren— not a single wisp of mana. That was impossible. Something was either wrong with his true sight or the valley.
Before he could investigate further, the suspended raindrops succumbed to gravity. His perception turned back to normal.
The break was too short. It wasn’t enough—he wasn’t enough.
All of his skills were failing him.
He had never felt so helpless.
Then came the true horror.
The waterfall trembled, gushing down more blood than the river could handle.
The river flopped around unnaturally, rising higher and higher.
The mounting waves didn’t take long to break past the riverbank, inching dangerously close to Arnott.
Kaius’s eyes widened in horror. He screamed for Arnott to run away, but his voice never left his mouth.
He squirmed around desperately; his invisible prison was getting tighter. It was suffocating him.
He gritted his teeth, his nails digging into his palms. Tears flowed freely from his bloodshot eyes. He scuffled against his shackles unsuccessfully. His screams wreathing havoc inside him, refusing to go past his lips.
Then it happened.
An infinitely massive, bloody wave rose from the stormy river. Within moments, it towered over the entire valley, struggling to carry its weight.
Before Kaius could even blink, it came crashing down, swallowing Arnott whole.
His mind went still. He felt like someone had pulled his heart out of his chest and squeezed it in front of his eyes. His ears were ringing.
Blinding rage overtook his mind.
Then came sudden, bone-crushing pain. It felt like a mountain had dropped on his body. He writhed in agony, but no amount of pain could make him forget what happened to Arnott.
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He couldn’t fall yet. Not while that waterfall stood unapologetically, mocking him for his failure. He needed to push through. He tried to breathe through the pain, but the expected air never reached his lungs.
His chest tightened.
He took another breath, but it only got worse.
He couldn’t breathe. There was no air. The wave had swallowed it all.
The taste of blood filled his mouth.
His rage was too immense to care about the pain, but he couldn’t fight the lack of air. He struggled for a few moments, but it made no difference.
His body gave in; his eyes rolled back as he lost consciousness.
By then, the entire valley had submerged under a sea of blood, but Kaius was no longer awake to see it.
Minutes later, a pair of emerald green eyes shot open.
He was alive.
The pain receded like it never existed.
His body was still intact, and his skin was no longer burnt. However, the gross metallic taste still lingered in his mouth.
Kaius leaped onto his feet and looked around frantically. His heart was about to explode out of his chest. His loose-fitting tunic clung tightly to his wet back. His jaw was tense, his head throbbing even worse.
The river was as fresh and frothing as he remembered. The valley was dry as a bone, with no signs of rain.
“DAD!” he called as he ran towards the cottage.
He tore through the cottage with no signs of Arnott.
“DAD!!!” he yelled repeatedly. His voice echoed through the valley; his throat started to hurt.
He had sifted through the entire valley, but Arnott was nowhere to be found. He was probably still at Millwich, safe and sound like he was supposed to be. He wasn’t supposed to return until the evening, anyway.
A huge sense of relief washed over him, but it didn’t feel great. He still had all this rage inside him with nowhere to put it.
“AAAAGH!” he let it all out until his throat ran dry, panting.
His guttural scream shook the entire valley. It felt cathartic.
Everything was as it should have been. Yet, it felt so real.
Gears spun in his head as he tried to make sense of it. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.
His eyes widened.
“No!” he whispered to himself.
It was just a dream, and that scared him even more.
“I’m back,” Arnott announced as he entered the house.
He lifted a large sack off his shoulders, handling it as if it weighed nothing, but the loud thud indicated otherwise.
It wasn't unusual, though. While Arnott was almost fifty, he was also a sixth-tier Trickster. As someone who had honed his natural physical trait to the highest tier possible, his body was capable of feats far more impressive than making a heavy sack look light. Despite his tall, lean, muscular physique, the occasional grey strands peeking through his thick black hair gave his age away. His scruffy stubble wasn’t doing him any favors, either.
He looked at Kaius, reading the tension in the room.
“What happened?” he asked.
“I had another Dream today.”, Kaius said.
He was sitting at the long wooden dining table with a rough-looking notebook before him.
The orange sun edged closer to the horizon, peeking through the window behind him. The open door brought in a cold draft of air, ruffling his short, dark hair. He clamped down on the fluttering pages of the notebook, snuggling into his thin cotton tunic that didn’t do much to block out the unexpected wind chill.
“I am guessing it wasn't anything good,” Arnott said as he sat beside Kaius.
“I was training by the river, meditating. You know—the usual floating around the valley, studying the mana, when I was suddenly back in my body”, Kaius said.
He grabbed his notebook and walked out the door. Arnott followed right behind.
“You were there,” Kaius pointed. “I was tied to the sky while you happily chatted with my shadow down here.”
He turned towards Arnott. “I couldn't move, couldn't yell, couldn't even look away. It forced me to watch, to feel everything,” he said. The memories came rushing back. His saliva got too dry to swallow. He had barely gotten the metallic taste out of his mouth.
Instead of reliving it, he flipped open his rough-looking notebook.
On the first page was a date: X407
It was the year Kaius awakened his mana.
On the next page was a beautiful picture drawn in charcoal:
It was a familiar valley.
The waterfall stood tall and unwavering, and the river emerging from it was busy yet graceful. The cottage had seen better days. It was gloomier and shabbier, but it still belonged.
An old man sat in the backyard, facing east. He looked much like Arnott but less muscular and much older. He was almost at the end of his life, yet the gleam in his eyes sparked through the page.
Faint streaks of light sneaked from beyond the mountains, announcing the sun’s arrival.
The old man’s eagerness was palpable—his emotions painting the picture.
His entire life had led to this moment. He had seen the sun rise countless times, but this one would be different. This was the sunrise he had waited for his entire life, his purpose.
He had nowhere to be and nothing left to do. He only belonged to that moment, truly alive.
It was the epitome of serenity. Although it was the same valley Kaius knew so well, it felt so different.
Unfortunately, Kaius knew better.
The sun he was waiting so eagerly for would never rise. The old man would be stuck on the page, trapped in that moment— waiting forever. That was his fate.
It was the first dream Kaius had at seven. It still made no sense to him, but he resented it, for it marked the end of his childhood.
It wasn’t just an ordinary dream. He could still feel it, as real as any other moment of his life.
Arnott had recognized the signs of mana awakening immediately. His panicked expression that night was something Kaius would remember forever.
Kaius went from living a ‘normal’ life in Millwitch, a small village near the valley, to getting trashed around every day under the guise of training just to earn back that same ‘normal’ life.
Kaius learned much later that he had awakened a dangerous trait that night.
He was a Seer, a trait he didn’t even know existed.
The world only knew of five traits: Warriors, Tricksters, Mentalists, Sensors, and Elementalists. But he had somehow awakened an unknown sixth trait, or as he called it, the cursed trait.
It was fitting since the most powerful organization in the world, the Guild Council, was, for some inexplicable reason, hell-bent on wiping the Seers out of existence. They had gone as far as deleting all history before The Fall just to erase even a mention of the Seer’s existence.
Kaius had no choice but to get stronger just to survive.
Yet, his nightmare earlier in the day made it clear that he still had a long way to go.
The following page was another date: X420, the current year.
On the next page was the scene that was still too fresh in his mind, drawn in vivid detail from a bird's-eye view.
He handed the notebook to Arnott.
The picture perfectly captured the horror of the dream.
Kaius and Arnott stood under a brutal rain shower, each drop made of pure malice. The valley personified the utter chaos Kaius remembered.
The ginormous wave that ended it all towered over them like their impending deaths. It looked just as gory in black as it did in red.
However, Kaius wasn’t as helpless when he drew it as when he lived it. The massive wave stopped right before it swallowed the unassuming Arnott.
It was a small act of rebellion, doing what he wished he could. He did to the dream precisely what it had done to him, freezing it in place and denying it what it wanted so desperately.
Yet, it didn’t change what he saw.
“It was blood,” Kaius said.
Arnott looked up and asked, “What?”
“The waves—every drop of water, it was all blood.”
Arnott furrowed his brows. Kaius could see the gears turning in his head.
“And unlike the first dream, this one didn't stop here,” Kaius continued. “The waves—they swallowed the entire valley. Everything—gone.”
“What does it mean?” Arnott asked.
“I am not sure, but it can’t be anything good,” Kaius said.
After a brief pause, he said what he really wanted to say, “I don't think we should leave tomorrow.”
“Hmm,” Arnott nodded, “We can leave the day after.”
Kaius shook his head. “No, I meant maybe we should just cancel it altogether.”
“That… Are you sure? That would really complicate things,” Arnott asked.
“I don’t know. It's just the timing. It can’t be a coincidence. We have been living here for thirteen years— Nothing. But the day before we decided to leave, this happened. I am just going off my gut.”, Kaius said.
“Have you thought it through?” Arnott asked.
Kaius pondered for a moment, trying to find the right words. He had a feeling Arnott wouldn’t like the conclusion he had come to.
“I’ll still have to go. There’s just no way around it, but you should stay. It will be safer that way,” he said.
Arnott furrowed his brows. “We were both there, and we both died, so why am I the only one staying?” he asked.
“Because I can’t stay,” Kaius said with a hint of frustration creeping through. “I would like nothing more, but they’ll know. If they can track the mana disturbance at every awakening, as you said, they will know they are a student short, and I don’t think they will like that.”
“It doesn’t answer my question. If we are both in equal danger, why should I hide here like a coward while you walk into the lion’s den? How exactly does that help?” Arnott pushed.
Kaius was getting worked up. ‘Why did he have to be so stubborn?’ he thought.
He said, “If I don’t go, they will come looking for me. Unless I can find a way to hide you in the Veil with me, they will find us eventually. So, I don’t have a choice. You do. The hidden ones will survive without you. You don't have to go.”
“It's not that simple,” Arnott said. “I owe them.”
“No, you don’t. She owes them. You can just ignore it. What we can’t ignore is the dream. I am just trying to minimize the risk,” Kaius said.
All he cared about was Arnott’s safety. He couldn’t care less about some made-up debt, much less one he incurred helping that ungrateful woman.
“If she has any shame, she would repay them herself.”, he spat.
“She is your mother, Kaius,” Arnott admonished.
“Besides, I was the one who recruited their help, so I am the one who owes them.”
Arnott put a steady hand on Kaius’s shoulder. His tone softened a bit.
“They raised me, Kaius. I would have pathetically died on the streets if it weren’t for them. They gave me a chance to live— to have a beautiful family. I can’t ever repay that. I have to go.”
“But they won’t care if you break your promise. You are not abandoning them; you are just looking out for me.”, Kaius pleaded.
Arnott sighed. “The chick has to fly out of the nest someday. You don’t need anyone to look out for you. Give yourself more credit; even I wouldn't want to fight a monster like you,” he chuckled.
He looked right into Kaius’s misty eyes. “You are The Jester’s son. You’ll do just fine.”
Kaius put his head down, trying to hide his tears. “I can’t lose you,” he whispered.
Arnott pulled him into a tight embrace. “You won’t. Two years will be over in a blink. Besides, what have I taught you?”
Without waiting for an answer, he continued,
“A man is nothing but a husk of meat and bones without his principles.”
Kaius wished he could tell him to screw his principles but he admired him too much for that.
“Have some faith in your old man. I know I don’t look it, but I am pretty strong.” Arnott quipped.
They hugged each other tighter, unwilling to ever part. The father and son lost themselves in the moment, forgetting everything else.
After an uncertain amount of time, they finally parted.
The reality had started to settle in.
Without saying a word, Arnott grabbed a small pouch from the sack he had brought earlier and started sprinkling the odorless, monster-repellent powder around the cottage. It wasn’t much, but it was the best they could do.
Meanwhile, Kaius started the dinner preparations. It would be their last dinner together for a long time, and despite his heavy heart, he would cherish it.
A small bonfire cackled under the clear night sky, tiny embers floating away.
Kaius gently placed another log over the fire.
It was supposed to be a fun night, but the seer’s dream made it a somber affair.
Kaius had never been away from Arnott for more than a few days at a time. Now, with shadows of danger looming over them, he wanted to stay beside him even more.
He wanted to say something but didn’t know where to start.
Arnott broke the heavy silence. “I am sorry, son,” he said.
Kaius stared at him quizzically.
“I… When Freya left, she wanted us to go with her. She begged me, but I was so sure of my decision.” He sighed. “If I hadn’t been so stubborn, maybe we could have been a family. You would have been a noble.” He stared into the fire.
“I just wanted to protect you from the ugliness of that world— to give you a normal life, a happy life.”
He sighed heavily. “Some days, I think I made the wrong choice. My choice separated you from your mother. Maybe she could have protected you better.”
Kaius stared at Arnott incredulously.
“It was her choice that separated us, not yours. You chose to leave the hidden ones behind for my sake, and she chose to drag you back for hers. That's all I need to know. Besides, we are a family, maybe even more so without her.”
“That's not fair to her, son. She is still your mother, and she loves you a lot. She didn’t have a choice back then.”
“Well, she has a funny way of showing her love,” Kaius scoffed.
“I don’t care, Dad. If not for her, you wouldn’t have to leave tomorrow. We could have gone to Magecraft together. We could look after each other— protect each other. She took that chance away from us. So, for all I care, you’ve done a hell of a lot better than she ever could,” he vented his heart out.
Kaius was getting worked up. He didn’t want to spend the night arguing with his Dad, especially since it was their last night together for a while.
After a few moments of silence, Arnott tactfully tried to change the topic.
“Don’t think too much about that dream. Nothing came of the first one you had. Why would this one be any different? Perhaps these dreams are just a side effect of your trait. It doesn’t even show up in your skills. You are almost at tier six. If it were anything important, you’d have figured it out by now.”
He looked at Kaius with shaky eyes. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. I just know.”
Kaius wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince. It was the first time he had seen Arnott so vulnerable, and it broke his heart.
“You will be fine," Arnott softly reiterated to himself.
Kaius took a deep breath to exhale the lump in his throat.
“We’ll be fine, Dad. You are one of the best assassins in the world. There isn’t a poison in the world you don’t know about. And then there’s your speed; I bet you could find me faster than any trouble could.” Kaius chuckled, trying to lighten the atmosphere.
Kaius made up his mind. “I will figure out what these dreams are. Whatever it is or isn’t, we will handle it together,” he said.
He was the seer. It didn’t matter if there were no records of his trait; he would figure it out. He would protect his family, even against the whole world.
The duo simmered in silence, the bonfire casting a yellow hue on their faces. The tiny blades of grass around them relished in the soft serenity of the full moon.
Kaius had so much to say but couldn’t find the words. Arnott didn’t fare any better.
Yet, the contemplative silence, keen glances, and pregnant pauses better said what words couldn’t.
The night passed in barely a blink. Sleep evaded them by a mile.
They reveled in each other’s company, reminiscing the good times and cracking the occasional jokes. They didn’t want the night to end.
Despite their reluctance, a new day dawned, marking the end of their quiet and uneventful life.
Kaius took a big whiff of the fresh morning air. The earthy fragrance of wet grass washed away his fatigue.
The father-son duo witnessed the glum sunrise with their bags packed beside them.
They bid his home goodbye with a heavy heart, starting their journey down the mountain.
Two years would pass in a blink. Kaius had already started the countdown. Every breath he took was one less breath he would have to take away from home.
By the time the duo got to Milllwich, the sharp summer sun had traveled halfway across the sky. The closest academy branch to Millwich was in Magecross, a small city just a few hours away. Kaius was hitching a ride on a merchant caravan leaving in less than an hour, just enough time to grab lunch.
The duo took a reprieve from the scorching heat under the tiny straw shade of a roadside stall and ordered Kaius’s favorite meat skewers.
The skewers arrived much quicker than they would have liked, so they stretched the time by nibbling at a snail’s pace.
Neither wanted to say goodbye.
Kaius didn’t think he could digest the food. His stomach was sinking, his throat lumpy. Not even the delicious fragrance of the sizzling meat skewers could arouse his appetite.
His tongue was dry; the juicy meat tasted like coarse sand. But he didn’t want to stop, hoping to stretch the moment forever.
Arnott finished first. Kaius noticed it but refused to acknowledge it.
He dug his chin into his chest and stubbornly held onto his skewer with barely any meat hanging off it.
“The city is a cesspool of big egos and worthless pride, son. Don’t act unless necessary. If you need to act, be prudent but decisive.” Arnott said.
Kaius recognized the conversation for what it was: a goodbye.
Arnott continued, “Stay on your toes at all times. Don’t trust anyone. Just keep your head down and blend in, but never at the cost of your principles. Forget all about your trait. From now on, you are just another talentless trickster; always remember that. The trick we used during the talent measuring ceremony has done half the job. They would have no reason to doubt your cover.”
Kaius’s tears blurred his vision. He held his breath, afraid to let his sobs out. He didn’t want to be caught crying in public.
Arnott’s voice cracked, “Don’t skip your meals. I have put about thirty mana stones in your bag. It’s enough to send over a hundred letters, so write even when there isn’t anything to say. There is also some spending money. If you ever run out, just send me a letter,” he said.
Arnott suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him into a hug.
Kaius held him tightly. The warmth of the hug loosened the lump in his throat.
“Promise me you will not risk your life for them. Promise me you will run away with all your might if you are ever in a situation you can’t handle; promise me you won’t try to be a hero,” Kaius said, trying to hide his sobs.
“You know I can’t put my life above my principles. But I promise you I won’t take any unnecessary risks.” Arnott said.
“No! Stop being so selfish. It's not about you. The organization will survive without you. You’re all I have. Promise me that you will put your life above any principles or morals. Promise me you’ll do that for me.”
Arnott squeezed him tighter. “Ok, I promise.”, he said.
Kaius knew him too well to believe him, but there was nothing he could do.
“Oi, Kaius, you ready?” a fat, burly man yelled. He was Theron, a village merchant, and Kaius’s ride to Magecross.
Kaius separated from Arnott and wiped his wet face with his sleeves. He took a deep breath to calm his thumping heart.
“You promised. Not breaking promises is one of your principles. I’ll hold you to it.” Kaius stubbornly held his arm, trying to drive his point home.
Arnott nodded.
“Visit me when you are in the city. It's just two years. We will be back home safe and sound before we know it. I will make sure of it, no matter what,” Kaius said.
“Take care of my son. He is the most precious thing in the world to me. If—” Arnott choked on his words. “If you ever get in trouble with some self-important pricks, tell them you are Freya Caddel’s son.”
Before Kaius could open his mouth to argue, he gestured for him to stop and said, “I know you resent her for the choice she made back then, but she is still your mother. She loves you very much. And more importantly, she is the Duchess of Voland. None of the nobles in this tiny kingdom would mess with her. It might even buy you some time against someone from the guild council’s branch here.”
Kaius nodded. “I will keep that in mind.”
“Alright, off you go. May Gaia look after you.”, Arnott said, pulling him in for one last hug.
“Take care, Dad,” Kaius said as he jumped onto the back of the wooden cart.
“You ready?” the merchant asked.
“Yeah, thanks for waiting,” Kaius said.
He waved Arnott goodbye with a heavy heart.
He watched as Arnott’s figure got smaller until it was just a dot in the distance. Kaius wiped away the last of his silent tears and steeled his mind. He was no longer at home.
Emotions are nothing more than weaknesses to exploit, and he wouldn’t expose any of his anymore.
A faint shadow of uncertainty still loomed inside his head, but he pushed it to the back of his mind. Worrying was pointless. Since he didn’t understand his dreams yet, he would focus on breaking through to the sixth tier instead. He was so close, and it might just help him better understand his trait. If nothing else, getting stronger couldn’t hurt his chances against what was to come.
He hoped the two years would go by quietly, but something in his gut told him it wouldn’t be so simple. He could only wait and find out.
