KAIRO'S POV...
We walked deeper into the dungeon, our lanterns and faint magic lights casting long shadows along the damp walls. The air was thick with ancient mana, making it hard to breathe normally. Everyone was on edge, but trying their best to stay composed.
I was lazily trailing behind, kicking a loose pebble when—click.
The sound echoed like a death sentence.
I froze, eyes slowly dropping to my foot. "…Uh oh."
Before anyone could react, the ground began to tremble violently. Cracks spread like spiderwebs across the stone floor, and the walls rumbled as if the dungeon itself had awakened.
"TRAP!" Serena shouted.
The floor beneath us gave way with a deafening CRAAASH!
We plummeted down a dark shaft, wind whipping around us as everyone screamed—well, they screamed. I mostly yelled, "WHY IS THIS ALWAYS ME?!"
After what felt like an eternity, we landed on something surprisingly soft—a thick layer of glowing moss that cushioned our fall. Coughing, I pushed myself up, my hair sticking out in every direction.
"…I'm alive," I muttered in disbelief.
Around me, the others were groaning but thankfully uninjured. Serena immediately spun toward me, her eyes blazing.
"Kairo! What did you do this time?!"
I pointed at the now collapsed ceiling above. "Uh, maybe… stepped on something? Accidentally."
She threw her hands up. "Unbelievable! You've been here for less than an hour and you already triggered a trap that sent us falling to the bottom of the dungeon!"
I held up my hands defensively. "Hey, at least we're alive! That has to count for something, right?"
"Alive for now," she shot back.
Before her temper could explode further, Lauro stepped between us, calm as always. "Enough. Arguing won't help. Actually…" He looked around thoughtfully. "It seems this is where the dungeon intended to bring us. Look—"
Ahead, the cavern split into two long, dimly lit corridors. Ancient markings glowed faintly on both sides, but neither gave any obvious hint of which was safer.
Serena exhaled sharply. "Great. Now we don't even know which way to go."
Then her gaze slowly shifted toward me.
"…Kairo."
I blinked. "What?"
"You go to the left corridor. Alone."
I stared at her. "…Are you crazy?! You want me to die?"
She crossed her arms coldly. "Well, you did get us into this mess. Seems fair."
"Fair?! No way! I'm not walking into the dark alone just because my foot has bad aim!"
Lauro raised his hand before the argument escalated. "Enough. We'll split into two groups. There are six of us, so three on each side. Serena, you'll lead one group with me. Kairo, you'll take the other path with the remaining members."
My jaw dropped. "Wait—WHAT?! Why am I suddenly a team leader? I didn't sign up for this!"
Lauro gave me an encouraging smile. "You'll do fine. Just don't step on any more traps."
I slumped my shoulders and groaned. "This is the worst. I should've just stayed in my dorm and relaxed today…"
As the two groups prepared to head in opposite directions, I took a deep breath, clutching my lantern.
"Alright," I muttered under my breath. "Let's get this over with before something tries to eat me."
The left corridor was darker than I expected—pitch black, damp, and eerily quiet except for the distant drip of water echoing from somewhere deep ahead. I held out my hand and snapped my fingers. Sparks crackled between my fingertips before a faint electric glow expanded from my palm, lighting up the rough stone walls like a living lantern.
"There," I said proudly. "Who needs torches when you've got built-in lighting?"
Behind me, two footsteps shuffled nervously. I turned my head just enough to see the silhouettes of the two boys assigned to my group, but in this dim glow, it almost looked like I was staring at my reflection.
I blinked. Then blinked again.
"…Wait a second," I muttered.
The two figures stepped closer into the light, and that's when I realized—no, it wasn't a reflection. They were twins. Identical from head to toe. The same lean build, the same messy dark hair, the same sharp jawlines. The only difference was the way they stood: one slightly slouched like he'd rather be in bed, and the other upright but with sleepy eyes.
"Uh…" I squinted. "Am I hallucinating or did the dungeon split me into parallel worlds?"
The twins exchanged glances before the one on the left gave a lazy grin. "We get that a lot."
The other crossed his arms. "We're twins. Not illusions."
They stepped fully into the light now, and I couldn't help but notice how ridiculously handsome they were—even with visible eyebags under their eyes. They looked like they hadn't slept in days, but somehow still managed to pull off a princely vibe.
"I'm Lio," said the one on the right.
"And I'm Leo," added the one on the left with a small yawn.
"…You're kidding," I deadpanned. "Lio and Leo?"
They both nodded in perfect synchronization.
I rubbed my temples. "Great. As if navigating a creepy dungeon wasn't confusing enough, now I have a mirrored duo to keep track of. How am I supposed to tell you apart?"
Leo chuckled. "You can't."
Lio shrugged. "Most people give up trying."
I sighed dramatically and turned back to the path. "Fantastic. I'm stuck with Sleepy and Sleepier. Just don't wander off or start pulling twin tricks on me, okay? I already fell through one trap today—I'd rather not add 'twin-induced confusion' to the list."
They laughed softly behind me, their voices eerily in sync. As we walked deeper, the corridor seemed endless, the walls narrowing slightly. My electric glow cast their overlapping shadows onto the walls—two figures following mine, like twin ghosts in the dark.
For some reason, I had a feeling this dungeon crawl was about to get a lot more complicated.
The deeper we went, the colder the air became. My electric glow flickered faintly against the damp walls, illuminating the twisting path ahead. Every step echoed like a drumbeat in the silence.
Then—
Clang…
A faint metallic sound rang out from somewhere ahead.
I froze mid-step. "...Did you guys hear that?"
Leo, walking on my left, didn't even flinch. "Yeah. Probably just wind."
"Wind doesn't sound like someone dropping a frying pan in the shadows," I hissed, gripping my glowing hand tighter.
Lio, on my right, calmly glanced forward. "Relax. Panicking won't help."
Meanwhile, my heart was racing. Every dungeon story I'd ever heard started exactly like this: eerie sound, group ignores it, then—bam!—monsters everywhere. I wasn't about to be the guy who died first because he "ignored the sound."
I spun toward the twins. "Okay, okay—seriously, that sound wasn't normal! What if something's stalking us? What if it's some kind of mana beast waiting to chew on my limbs? What if—"
Leo rolled his eyes. "You're so dramatic."
Lio nodded casually. "Very."
"Excuse me!?" I pointed at them accusingly. "Instead of roasting me for panicking, maybe try helping me not to panic!"
The twins exchanged a look, then shrugged in perfect synchronization like it was no big deal.
"Fine," Leo sighed. "Deep breaths, hero."
Lio smirked. "In… and out. Imagine sunshine and flowers."
I stared at them flatly. "Wow. Truly life-saving advice. Should I lie down and meditate too?"
But despite my sarcasm, their calmness was weirdly contagious. I took a shaky breath, forcing my shoulders to relax. The sound didn't repeat—only the steady dripping water filled the corridor again.
"See?" Leo said. "No monster. Just your imagination."
"Or it's waiting," I muttered.
They laughed softly, side by side, completely unfazed, while I stayed on alert. For some reason, I couldn't tell if their calmness made me feel safer… or more nervous.
We'd been walking for what felt like forever. My legs were screaming, my stomach was grumbling, and I was starting to wonder if this dungeon was just one long hallway to nowhere.
Then—finally—we stumbled upon a massive, rusted gate carved with intricate runes. A faint blue glow pulsed along its surface, like it was still alive after centuries of silence.
Leo stepped closer and gave it a push. Clank. It didn't budge.
"It's locked," he muttered.
Lio pointed to the wall beside it. "Look."
There, half-covered in moss and dust, was an ancient puzzle panel—a complicated formation of rotating stone pieces, runes, and glowing lines that twisted like a maze.
My eyes lit up. "Finally! Something I can do. Leave it to me."
The twins exchanged a glance. That look. The one that says 'should we tell him?'
Leo folded his arms, smirking. "You? Solve a puzzle?"
"Yes, me!" I puffed out my chest. "I'm not just a handsome face, you know."
Lio snorted quietly. "Didn't you get zero on that quiz last time?"
I froze. "…How do you know that?"
Leo smirked wider. "Rumors spread fast. Everyone in the club was talking about it."
I blinked, then grinned shamelessly. "So what you're saying is… I'm popular now?"
The twins sighed in unison.
I stepped up to the puzzle panel anyway, cracking my knuckles like a pro. "Stand back, geniuses. Watch and learn."
The puzzle was a confusing mess of patterns, glowing tiles, and rotating rings that didn't seem to match any logic. My hand hovered over it, my brain already hurting.
Leo leaned against the wall. "This should be entertaining."
Lio nodded. "Very."
"Hey! At least give me some encouragement," I grumbled, squinting at the runes.
But even as I struggled to make sense of the puzzle, a spark of determination lit up inside me. I wasn't going to let some dumb ancient lock beat me… probably.
After what felt like ten minutes of me turning random puzzle rings like a lost toddler trying to solve a Rubik's cube, I finally threw my hands up.
"Alright, I give up. Twins, do your thing."
Leo stepped forward with a sigh. "Finally. Move."
Lio cracked his fingers and started analyzing the pattern. Their eyes darted across the puzzle with scary synchronization. Within seconds, glowing lines shifted, runes clicked into place, and the heavy gate rumbled open.
I blinked. "...Show-offs."
We cautiously stepped inside. The moment we did, a deep, earth-shaking roar echoed through the chamber. My stomach dropped.
Out of the shadows emerged a giant bear, easily twice my size, fur bristling and eyes glowing red. My heart skipped.
Then I noticed something above the second gate ahead—
⏰ A glowing clock began ticking down.
Leo's voice tightened. "I think we have to survive until the timer runs out."
ROARRR!!!
I yanked out my trusty "weapon" — a small knife that looked like it came from the kitchen.
"Alright, time to shine."
Lio raised an eyebrow. "...Seriously?"
But before he could finish, two more bears stomped out of the shadows. Three in total.
Leo and Lio immediately stepped forward, electricity crackling in their palms. "We'll handle this. You can stand back," Leo said.
"Hey! I'm not just some background character!" I protested.
But as they started attacking, I noticed something—both twins were slowing down. Their magic output was strong, but not endless. They were reaching their limits. And so was I… if I actually had a limit to reach.
Then, in a sudden rush of bravery (or stupidity), I stepped between them, raising my tiny knife like a hero from a cheap play.
"Don't be afraid!" I shouted dramatically. "Take my hands. I have a plan!"
The twins looked at me like I'd grown a second head. But under the intensity of the roaring bears and the ticking clock, they grabbed my hands anyway.
Lio asked, "What's the plan?"
I grinned. "...Run."
There was a long pause.
Leo stared at me, deadpan. "I knew it."
Lio sighed. "Kairo will never be serious."
"HEY! Running is a plan!" I yelled as I bolted to the side, dragging the twins with me while the bears thundered after us. The chamber filled with chaos—roars, echoing footsteps, and my voice screaming,
"WHY ARE THEY SO FAST?!"
Okay… maybe saying "Let's run!" wasn't the best plan I've ever had.
The moment those three giant bears roared, I felt my soul leave my body. Leo and Lio dashed ahead like their lives depended on it—which, okay, they actually did—and of course, I followed, flailing my tiny knife around like some kind of discount hero.
"WHY ARE THEY SO FAST?!" I shouted as I dodged a claw that looked like it could slice a house in half.
"Because they're BEARS!" Leo yelled back.
Right. Fair point.
Lio was panting beside us, muttering something about cardio. Honestly, same. I'd rather be sleeping in my dorm than running from oversized furballs with murder issues.
We zigzagged between pillars, breathing heavily. I wasn't watching where I was going—classic me—and then…
CLICK.
Uh oh. That didn't sound good.
Leo narrowed his eyes. "What was that?"
I gave him my most innocent smile. "Uh… probably nothing?"
The ground suddenly shook, and the whole room started going crazy. From the ceiling, giant spikes swung down like some kind of ancient death trap, and the floor began to shift.
The bears looked as confused as I felt. One ran forward—
BONK!
—and got crushed by a falling block.
Another stepped on a panel and WHOOSH—trapdoor. Gone. Bye-bye bear.
The last one tried to retreat, but then a hidden cannon came out of nowhere, charged up like it was waiting for this moment, and blasted it out of the gate.
I just stood there. Knife in hand. Mouth open.
"…Did I just… save us?"
Leo turned to me slowly, like he couldn't believe his eyes. "You… accidentally triggered the defense system."
Lio crossed his arms. "I can't tell if you're incredibly lucky or a walking disaster."
I puffed out my chest, trying to look heroic. "See? I told you I had a plan."
They both facepalmed at the same time. Honestly, kind of impressive.
Up above the gate, the timer finally hit zero with a loud CLUNK and the second gate opened, revealing the deeper part of the dungeon.
I wiped the sweat off my forehead and grinned. "Welp… that wasn't so bad."
Leo gave me that deadpan look of his. "You screamed the entire time."
I waved my hand dismissively. "Details, details."
Inside, though, my heart was still racing like crazy. I may look confident, but seriously… I nearly died five times in the last minute.
The moment the heavy gate creaked open, the three of us stepped inside… and froze.
The sight in front of us wasn't exactly comforting—Serena, Lauro, and another girl were lying on the ground, bruised, tired, and completely defeated. Their magic seals were glowing faintly, like they'd used almost all their mana just to stay alive.
"W-What the hell happened here?" I whispered.
Leo and Lio stayed behind me. Then I felt a tug on my shirt. "What now?" I hissed—
They both pointed upward.
Slowly… I tilted my head back.
"...Oh."
Towering above us was a giant crab. I'm not talking about your average seafood special. No, this thing was massive—its claws were the size of carriages, its shell gleamed like solid steel, and its eyes glowed with an unsettling intelligence.
And then—
It spoke.
"Foolish intruders… another set of prey for my collection," it rumbled, its deep voice echoing through the chamber.
I blinked. "...The crab just talked."
Lio deadpanned, "Congratulations on your observation skills."
Leo nudged me. "Focus, Kairo. Its shell looks tough… really tough."
I stared at the crab's armored body and gulped. Of course, it had to be something hard to defeat. Why couldn't it be, I don't know, a giant soft bunny monster? But no, fate gave us Crabzilla.
Serena groaned, sitting up. "Took you long enough, idiots…"
"Hey, excuse me, I just saved us from three bears and a bunch of traps," I protested.
She shot me a look that could kill. "And now you can fight this thing!"
The crab clacked its claws together, the sound like steel blades striking. "Enough chatter. I hunger for a challenge."
My knife suddenly felt very useless.
"Alright, team," Lauro said weakly, standing up with his staff. "We take this thing together."
"Uh-huh," I muttered under my breath, forcing a shaky grin. "Together… great. Totally not terrified right now."
The twins got into position beside me, their expressions serious. I tightened my grip on my knife and took a deep breath.
Okay, Kairo. Big crab. Big problem. Big chance not to die… hopefully.
"Alright!" I yelled, hyping myself up. "Let's turn this oversized seafood platter into dinner!"
Leo and Lio launched their spells first—two sharp bursts of wind magic collided against the crab's shell. CLANG!
It didn't even flinch.
Lauro followed up with a glowing arcane beam that should've at least left a crack… but the crab just stood there, unimpressed. Serena dashed forward, blades glowing, and struck one of its legs. The sound that came out was like metal scraping against metal.
"Is anyone else noticing the part where nothing is working?!" I shouted, holding up my tiny knife like it would actually matter.
I lunged forward anyway, slashing at its shell with all the heroic energy I could muster. CLINK!
Not even a scratch.
I stumbled back, panting. "Wow. Incredible. We're definitely winning," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
And then… the crab laughed.
A deep, rolling, mocking laugh that echoed through the dungeon walls. "Pathetic," it said. "And here I thought this would be entertaining."
My eyebrow twitched. "You think this is funny, Crabzilla?"
The creature lowered its enormous head toward me, its eyes narrowing like it had found something curious. "Is this the child… of the greatest unknown man?"
Everything went still for a second.
I blinked. "Wait—what?"
The crab chuckled again. "I do not know him… but I encountered him once. A man of terrifying power. Unlike you, little spark. You are… disappointing."
It laughed louder, its booming voice echoing off the walls.
Something in my chest tightened. I didn't even know who my father was. All I'd ever had were half-answers and my mother's fading smile. And now… a giant talking crab was out here knowing more than me?
"Wait, you met him? What was he like? Where—" I started, stepping forward.
But the crab raised a massive claw. "Little spark, you are not worthy of such stories. Now… entertain me or perish."
My grip on the knife tightened. I forced a grin, though my heart was racing. "Alright, you big tin can. You want a show? Fine. Let's make it unforgettable."
The air was heavy with tension, our attacks flying left and right—spells bursting, blades clashing, energy echoing through the chamber.
Lio and Leo moved in perfect sync, their wind magic slicing through the air like sharp blades, but every strike against the crab's shell just bounced off like pebbles against a wall. Lauro's powerful arcane blasts exploded on impact, smoke clouding the room… but when it cleared, the crab stood there, perfectly fine. Not even a dent.
Serena jumped from pillar to pillar, spinning midair as she struck down with both blades glowing—CLANG! Nothing.
Meanwhile, I was standing there, panting, my hands sparking with tiny bolts of electricity. "Okay, this thing is built like a walking fortress," I muttered. Then louder, "HEY! YOU! HARD-SHELL LOSER! METAL BUCKET! PINCHY MCSNAPPY!"
The crab's eye twitched.
I smirked. "What? Too sensitive about your shell, Crabby Patty?"
The monster let out an enraged roar, shaking the ground. "INSOLENT WHELP!"
Serena immediately spun toward me, eyes blazing. "KAIRO! STOP ANTAGONIZING IT!"
"Well, maybe if it had thinner armor, we wouldn't have this problem!" I yelled back.
The crab slammed its claw, barely missing us. Everyone scattered.
"Do you ever think before you speak?!" Serena screamed.
"Sometimes! Just not during life-or-death situations!"
"YOU'RE IMPOSSIBLE!"
The argument quickly escalated, our voices bouncing around like firecrackers while the crab was actively trying to kill us. Chaos. Pure chaos.
Then—
"ENOUGH!"
Leo and Lio appeared between us, their faces dark with frustration. The twins raised their hands in unison and before I could even react, a magical seal appeared around my mouth—POOF!—and my voice was gone. Serena's too.
My eyes widened. Did they just mute us?!
Leo glared at us. "Both of you are making this worse."
Lio crossed his arms. "We're not removing the seals until we get out of this mess alive."
I frantically waved my hands, trying to protest, but all that came out was muffled noises. Serena was fuming beside me, muffled growls escaping her sealed mouth.
Meanwhile, the crab roared again, stomping forward, and the twins turned back toward the fight with deadly focus.
And there I was—silent, slightly offended, and about to help fight a monster with no way to shout my brilliant, sarcastic commentary.
Great. Just great.
The battle raged on. Blasts echoed, claws slammed, and the twins' magic sliced through the air like windstorms—but nothing worked. That crab's shell was like a wall forged by gods. And me? I was standing there with my mouth sealed shut, my patience evaporating.
I clenched my fists, electricity crackling wildly around me. My mana surged like a storm with nowhere to go. I wanted to scream. I wanted to fight back.
I'm not just some joke who panics all the time.
My blood boiled. The seal on my mouth might've silenced my words, but it couldn't silence my will. Power burst inside me like a volcano ready to erupt.
"I've had… ENOUGH!" I thought, every nerve in my body screaming.
And then—it happened.
A sudden ripple surrounded me, like reality itself trembled. My electric sparks vanished, replaced by a swirling black aura that devoured the light around us. The air grew heavy. The ground beneath my feet cracked as a void opened from my hands, twisting the space like a whirlpool.
The crab froze mid-attack. Its beady eyes widened. "A… V-VOID?! That's… IMPOSSIBLE!"
The swirling darkness surged forward, touching the crab's supposedly indestructible shell. In seconds, the shell began to melt—not break, not crack—melt, as if reality was erasing it.
Everyone stood still, their faces a mix of awe and terror. Serena lowered her blades. Lauro's magic flickered. Leo and Lio stopped casting mid-formation.
"This… this can't be real," Leo whispered.
"No one has ever had nullify magic before," Lauro muttered, eyes fixed on me.
The void pulsed again, stronger, hungrier. My mana poured out of me like a dam bursting. I could feel my energy slipping away, but I couldn't stop it.
The crab stumbled back, panic in its voice. "T-That power… belongs to him! How… how does a child have—?!"
I didn't know what I was doing. It was as if something deep inside me had been waiting for this moment. The electric sparks I thought were my power… were just the surface.
And for the first time, everyone looked at me not like the class clown, not like the reckless one… but like something dangerous.
And honestly? That scared me too.
Darkness. That's all I remembered after the void. Just endless, empty darkness swallowing me whole.
When I finally opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was… a ceiling. A plain, boring, white ceiling. For a second, I thought I was dead.
But then my back ached, my arms ached, my everything ached.
"Ughhh… my body feels like I got hit by a flying carriage," I groaned, slowly sitting up on the clinic bed. My vision was blurry for a moment, but everything started to piece together—
The crab.
The fight.
The void.
…And me passing out like a dramatic actor.
I rubbed my throat and—
"...Wait. I can talk!" I blurted out, my voice echoing in the quiet room. I grinned ear to ear. "Finally! No more weird magic seal! Stupid crab, bet you didn't expect that, huh? Who's laughing now, shell face—ow, ow, ow!"
Pain shot through my body like lightning, reminding me that maybe sitting up too fast while monologuing wasn't the smartest idea.
That's when the door slid open, and in came Serena… holding a bowl of soup.
I blinked. "Oh no… this must be a fever dream. Serena… being nice?"
She shot me a glare sharp enough to cut steel. "Shut up, idiot. Don't get the wrong idea."
I couldn't resist. "Aww, you do care~ bringing me soup and everything. What's next? Fluffing my pillows? Reading me bedtime stories?"
Her face twitched. "Hah?!"
In a flash, she was beside my bed, choking me with one hand—gently, but enough to make her point. "Don't. Get. Used. To. It. You're still the reason why we almost died in there!"
I wheezed dramatically, laughing between gasps. "I-I knew it… you were worried~"
She let go with a huff, thrusting the bowl of soup toward me. "Just eat it before I change my mind."
I took the soup, smirking. "Y'know, for a strict, mean girl, you make a decent nurse."
"Say that again and I'll dump it on your head," she snapped, crossing her arms.
I chuckled, sipping the soup. It was warm… surprisingly comforting. For a moment, the chaos of the dungeon felt far away.
But deep inside, a question lingered.
What exactly was that power I used… and why did that crab recognize it?
The door creaked open again just as I finished the last sip of Serena's soup. For a second, I thought she was back to scold me for slurping too loud, but this time… it was Eryndor.
The air shifted immediately. Serena glanced at him, then at me, and without saying a word, she gave a small, respectful bow and quietly walked out, closing the door behind her. That was rare—she usually left with at least one insult.
Eryndor stepped closer, his usual princely calm all over his face, but his eyes scanned me carefully, like he was checking for any scratch or missing limb.
I raised a hand and waved lazily. "Oi. Stop staring like I'm some broken statue. I'm fine."
His eyes narrowed. "You used everything you had, Kairo. That wasn't just some flashy trick."
I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. "Yeah… about that. That whole melting giant crab with void magic thing? What was that? Nullify magic? Do you know anything about it?"
He sat down on the chair beside my bed, fingers resting under his chin like he was recalling something from memory.
"I don't know much," he admitted. "But if I remember correctly from one of the royal archives, 'Nullify' isn't an ordinary element. It's said to be a rare type of magic that disrupts or erases mana itself. It's not lightning. It's something deeper… more dangerous. Only a few vague records exist, and none of them are recent."
I stared at him blankly. "Sooo… basically, I've got some overpowered mystery magic that no one understands?"
He actually gave a small laugh. "Pretty much."
I flopped back on the pillow dramatically. "Great. Just great. I was hoping it was some cool legendary electric power. Instead, I get void. Sounds like something an edgy villain would have."
Eryndor's lips twitched in amusement, but his tone grew serious. "Kairo, what you did back there… no one has seen that kind of magic for centuries. This isn't something to take lightly. People might start to notice."
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, staring at the ceiling again. "First a giant crab, now mysterious powers. What's next? Secret father plot twist?"
Eryndor didn't answer, but the way he looked at me… it felt like he was thinking something he wasn't ready to say.
I sat upright on the bed, my body still aching from mana exhaustion, but my mind was restless. Eryndor's explanation earlier only made me more curious. I stared at my hands, remembering the dark, void-like energy that melted the crab's shell like it was nothing.
"…Hey, Eryndor," I started, breaking the silence. "What's the real meaning of nullify? Like, in actual words. Not the dramatic, mysterious version."
He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Hmm… Based on what I've read in the royal archives, Nullify is a rare, ancient magic that doesn't create or enhance — it erases. It interferes with other magic, breaks mana structures, and destabilizes spells. In short, it's the power to cancel out or devour other magical energies."
I blinked at him. "…So basically, I'm a walking magic eraser?"
He gave a small, amused smile. "That's one way to put it. But it's not that simple. From what the books say, Nullify users are extremely rare. Most people can't even control it. It's unstable and dangerous if used carelessly. That's probably why you blacked out after using it — your body isn't used to channeling that kind of force."
I stared at my palm again, flexing my fingers slowly. The idea of having some legendary magic sounded cool at first, but now that I heard this explanation, it sounded more like a disaster waiting to happen.
"Great…" I muttered under my breath. "I can't even score well in class, and now I have to deal with some ancient, unstable, world-breaking magic. What's next? A prophecy saying I'll save or destroy the world?"
Eryndor chuckled softly. "You never know."
I gave him a deadpan stare. "Not funny."
He leaned forward slightly, his expression more serious now. "Still, this power… it connects to something bigger, Kairo. Nullify isn't random. It's tied to ancient history and forgotten battles. You might want to start taking things seriously."
I sighed heavily, flopping back down again. "Yeah, yeah… seriously. Got it. But for now…" I pulled the blanket over my face. "…I'm going to sleep before another giant crab appears."
Eryndor just shook his head, that faint smile still on his lips, as if he expected nothing less from me.
T.B.C.