My consciousness began to return slowly.
The darkness in my vision was replaced by a faint light. I could hear muffled voices — my parents, their friends... and Nari.
"Move aside," Nari said urgently, kneeling beside Rei. She placed her hands over him and began using her ability.
"What happened here?" — that was the question on everyone's face.
They turned toward the motionless figure of 1283, and their expressions froze.
"What is a Veldori soldier doing here?" Their eyes could barely comprehend what they were seeing.
"How did they manage to defeat him?" Siena asked, kneeling down to inspect his mana crystal. "I don't know how many orbs he possessed, but one thing's certain — he was a black-level mana user." Her words deepened the shock in everyone's eyes.
"He wasn't alone."
The words left my lips through heavy breaths as I weakly pointed toward the cave. "There were more of them… inside." My arm trembled; I could barely hold it up.
"Don't push yourself," Nari said softly, her voice trembling with worry. She began to heal me.
The moment felt painfully familiar — exactly like my dream. A bitter ache filled my heart, and a cold darkness crept into my chest.
"I need to talk to you later," I said quietly, avoiding her gaze. I didn't want to run from her… yet I was terrified to face the truth.
"All right," she said gently. "But first, let yourself heal."
I could feel my wounds closing — my body whole again, as if I'd never been hurt. "It's done," she told my parents, her expression calm but her hands still trembling slightly.
They carried us home on their backs. The exhaustion was unbearable; I fell asleep before I could even thank them.
When I opened my eyes again, I was in my bed. Rei was lying in the other one, still unconscious.
I stood up and walked toward the mirror.
My violet eyes had returned to their usual shade of gray, and my pupils looked perfectly normal — as though nothing had ever happened.
What was that power? Even in my previous life, I had never felt such strength. For a brief moment, I had felt invincible.
I stared at my hands, then back at my reflection — until a knock pulled me back to reality.
"Yes?" I called, and the door opened. My mother stood there.
"How are you feeling, my son?" she asked softly. I could see the sorrow in her eyes.
"I told you to be careful. You could have died — do you realize that?" Her voice wasn't angry, it was filled with guilt, as if she blamed herself for not being there.
"I'm fine, Mother. I know… but I had to do it. I'll explain everything." My voice was steady, I didn't want her to hurt any more than she already did.
I told them everything — my parents, Arthur, and Siena.
I told them how we found the cave, Zey's betrayal and sacrifice, and the Veldori soldiers that followed.
"How did you manage to defeat that monster?" Arthur asked, eyes filled with disbelief. The power gap had been too immense for victory to even seem possible.
"We didn't stand a chance," I said, struggling to recall the memory. "But when I saw him stabbing Rei's unconscious body… something inside me broke. And then… I changed."
My hands trembled. I didn't want to remember that feeling again. Ever.
"Can you show us?" Arthur's tone was calm but his eyes were sharp. He wanted to understand — what kind of power could cause such devastation?
"I'm not sure," I admitted. "I tried before, but it didn't work. But maybe… I can show you the Bloodweave."
I stood and went to fetch a knife.
"Blood… what?" my mother asked, concern flickering across her face. "And why are you holding that knife?"
"You'll see in a moment."
I cut my palm. Blood began to drip onto the floor, and I saw the fear in my mother's eyes.
Everyone watched in silence as the crimson drops pooled beneath me.
"Son, please stop this. I can't bear to see you hurt yourself," my mother said, standing up.
I focused on the blood.
The wind stirred violently around me. First, I sealed the wound — then shaped the blood into a sword.
The air froze. Time itself seemed to halt as the blade formed before their eyes.
I gripped the sword made from my own blood.
No one spoke. Not even a breath.
"I've never seen anything like this," Siena finally whispered. "Not even in the ancient records. You're… a strange one, Narihu."
Her eyes shone with both fascination and suspicion.
"How did you learn to do that?" my father asked. His gaze held no accusation — only genuine, paternal curiosity.
"When that unknown power took over, I could feel my blood calling to me — like it was alive. Since then, it obeys my will."
"I understand," my father said after a moment. He didn't judge me. He trusted me.
"But what do we tell the village? If they hear the truth, fear will consume them — and distrust will spread." His expression hardened.
"My suggestion," my mother said quietly, "is that we tell them it was an accident in the cave — and that Zey died protecting everyone. It's what's best for the village… and Zey deserves a proper farewell."
"We'll leave the decision to you," Arthur said, rising to his feet. "You know what's best for your people."
"We must be going," Siena added, then walked toward me. She placed a hand gently on my head.
"I look forward to seeing you again. Try to surprise me next time."
Her words were warm, but the suspicion in her eyes remained. She didn't intend to expose me — but she hadn't stopped wondering either.
As my parents walked them out, I returned to my room. Rei sat on the bed, pale as death, his eyes empty — like his soul had left his body.
"Rei!" I shouted, shaking him gently until he blinked and looked at me. "How do you feel?" I asked, voice full of worry.
He looked like half of him had died.
"My father was a hero… right? He saved the village." His voice was barely a whisper, head bowed.
"Yes," I said softly. "A great hero — one we can both learn from."
He slowly lifted his gaze to meet mine.
"Carry on your father's legacy."
"What legacy?" he asked. His grayish-brown eyes trembled, filled with raw grief.
"The Kaido name," I said. "Show the world that the Kaido family stands for strength and honor."
I placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a warm smile.
"…"
His lips quivered, but no words came out — only tears began to fall down his cheeks.
"You can trust me," I said. "I'll do everything I can… because I promised to make you happy, no matter what it takes."
We weren't friends. Not yet. And maybe that was for the best. I hadn't earned forgiveness — not from him, not from anyone.
Word of Zey's death spread quickly through the village. Everyone came to the funeral.
And in Rei's eyes, I saw something more than grief — a silent vow for vengeance.
"Narihu," my father said one morning, "from now on, Rei will be staying with us." I froze.
"What—? No way—" Before I could finish, a knock came at the door.
"Well, looks like he's already here," Father said cheerfully and went to open it. I stood there, speechless.
Rei stepped inside, holding two bags.
"So… do we have a spare room?" I asked, still processing everything.
"You do," my father replied, laughing. "He'll be sharing yours."
"What? Absolutely not." I protested immediately.
"Think of it as preparation," he said with a grin. "You'll be roommates at Asterin Academy anyway."
I froze again. So Rei's going to Asterin too…
Rei unpacked quietly, taking the empty bed.
I didn't say anything — not because I accepted it, but because… after everything he'd been through, I couldn't bring myself to complain.