Kael woke up to a ringing sound in his head, sharp and persistent, like the echo of a distant bell. He groaned, rubbing his temples as he sat up in bed. The sound didn't fade. Instead, it seemed to grow louder, mingling with other noises—voices, footsteps, the clatter of carts on cobblestone streets. He could hear people speaking from blocks away, their words clear as if they were standing right beside him.
"What's happening to me?" he muttered, his voice trembling.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, his body feeling strangely light, as if he were floating. His senses were sharper, more precise. He could see the faintest cracks in the walls, smell the lingering scent of fruit from the kiosk downstairs, and feel the vibrations of the floorboards beneath his feet. It was overwhelming, like the world had suddenly become too loud, too bright, too much.
But as the minutes passed, the sensations began to settle. The ringing in his head faded to a dull hum, and his heightened senses became more manageable. It was as if his body was adapting, learning to process the influx of information. Still, the experience left him shaken.
---
Kael made his way to the small bathroom attached to his room, his movements slow and deliberate. He splashed cold water on his face, trying to clear his head, and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. For a moment, he didn't recognize the boy staring back at him.
His skin had a healthier glow, the faint scars that had once marked his arms and chest were gone, and his eyes seemed brighter, more alive. He leaned closer, studying his reflection. The changes were subtle but undeniable. The Arcana Core had done something to him, something beyond just giving him energy. It had transformed him.
But Kael didn't have time to dwell on it. He had more pressing concerns—like the faint glow still emanating from the mark on his chest. It was a constant reminder of the cube, of the power now fused with his body. He needed to find a way to control it, to hide it. If anyone saw the glow, if anyone realized what he had become, he would be in danger.
---
Kael had always been a curious child, someone who aspired to become a knight. Even before the incident with the Arcana Core, he had spent countless hours reading about Arcana, studying its principles, and dreaming of the day he would awaken his own abilities. He had tried meditating before, hoping to access even the smallest trace of Arcana energy, but it had always been futile. His energy was too faint, too ordinary.
Now, with the Arcana Core inside him, he wondered if those hours of study and practice would finally pay off. He needed to suppress the glow, to hide the energy before it drew unwanted attention. And if anyone could figure out how to do it, it was him.
---
Kael sat cross-legged on the floor of his room, his back straight and his hands resting on his knees. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on the rhythm of his heartbeat. This was how he had always meditated, how he had tried to connect with his Acarna energy in the past. But this time, it was different.
As soon as he closed his eyes, he felt it—a surge of energy, fierce and unrelenting, coursing through his body. It was as if the Arcana Core was alive, pulsing with a will of its own. Kael gritted his teeth, his body trembling as he tried to wrestle the energy under control.
On the outside, sweat dripped down his forehead, his shirt clinging to his skin. But on the inside, he was in a different world—a world of swirling energy and blinding light. He saw the cube, or what was left of it, fading and dissolving into an ember of blue energy. It was beautiful and terrifying, a force of nature that defied comprehension.
Kael focused all his willpower on suppressing the energy, on keeping it contained. He imagined a barrier, a wall of light that surrounded the core, holding it in place. Slowly, painfully, the energy began to recede, the glow on his chest dimming until it was barely visible.
When he finally opened his eyes, he was drenched in sweat, his body trembling with exhaustion. But the mark on his chest was fading, the glow almost gone. He let out a shaky breath, a sense of relief washing over him.
"It worked," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
---
Kael stood up, his legs wobbling slightly, and quickly changed into a fresh set of clothes. He glanced at the mirror one last time, making sure the glow was no longer visible, before heading downstairs. His mother wasn't in the house, which meant she was already at the kiosk, preparing for the day.
Kael followed the familiar path to the marketplace, avoiding the main streets and sticking to the alleys to steer clear of his bullies. The last thing he needed was another confrontation, especially now that he had so much to hide.
When he reached the kiosk, his mother was already there, arranging baskets of fruit and setting up the tables. She looked up as he approached, her expression a mix of relief and concern.
"There you are," she said, her voice soft. "I was starting to worry. Are you feeling all right? You look… different."
Kael forced a smile, his heart aching at the worry in her eyes. "I'm fine, Mom. Just… had a rough night. But I'm here now."
Lira studied him for a moment, her gaze lingering on his face. "You were meditating this morning, weren't you?" she asked, her voice gentle.
Kael hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. I've been thinking… I want to take the cadet exam. This time will be different."
Lira's eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't argue. Instead, she reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch warm and reassuring. "If that's what you want, then I support you. Just make sure you get the registration done on time, okay?"
Kael nodded, a sense of determination settling over him. "I will."
---
After helping his mother set up the kiosk, Kael was sent to the warehouse to fetch more fruit using the carriage. As he walked through the bustling streets, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. The Arcana Core, the changes in his body, the cadet exam—it was all so much to process. But one thing was clear: he couldn't go back to the way things were. He had been given a chance, a power he had never dreamed of, and he wasn't going to waste it.
As he loaded the carriage with crates of fruit, he couldn't help but glance at his chest, where the mark still glowed faintly beneath his shirt. It was a reminder of the danger he was in, but also of the possibilities that lay ahead.
For the first time in his life, Kael felt like he had a real shot at becoming a knight. And he wasn't going to let anything—or anyone—stand in his way.