Chapter 2: The Path to Strength
Kael slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he noticed was warmth—not just from his body but from the water surrounding him. A gentle mist curled through the air, and the scent of minerals clung to his skin. He was in a hot spring.
His mind reeled. What… happened?
Fragments of memory surfaced. The monster. The attack. The pain. He remembered the sharp claws tearing into his body, the warmth of his own blood spilling down his chest. He had been bleeding out—dying.
Panic surged through him. He looked down, searching for the wound.
But it was gone.
His breath hitched. His skin was smooth, unscarred, as if he had never been injured at all.
How?
Then, a voice broke the silence.
"You're finally awake."
Kael's body tensed. He turned toward the source of the voice and saw a man standing nearby, dressed in silver robes. His posture was calm, his presence commanding.
Kael opened his mouth to speak—to ask who he was—but then it hit him.
He had seen this man before.
The last thing he remembered before losing consciousness… was this man standing between him and the monster. His savior.
Before Kael could say anything, the man spoke again, his gaze steady.
"I am Kazuki Hinamura," he said.
"And I… am a Sentinel."
Kael blinked. "A... Sentinel?"
The word meant nothing to him. Then again, nothing about his situation made sense. Just a few hours ago, he had been walking with Sistine—and now? He was in an unknown place, with a stranger, after nearly being killed by a monster.
Was this even real? Was he just dreaming?
His thoughts were interrupted when Kazuki spoke again.
"You're not from this world, are you?"
Kael's breath hitched. How does he know that?
His body tensed, but before he could respond, Kazuki continued.
"You look like a Sentinel, but your innergy is far too weak. Even an ordinary Sentinel would have more." His sharp gaze didn't waver.
"That means only two things—you're either a newborn or an otherworlder."
Kael swallowed hard. Otherworlder?
His mind was spinning, but Kazuki wasn't done.
"And that creature you encountered? That was an Invader."
Kael stiffened at the mention of the monster.
Kazuki's voice remained calm but firm.
"They are beings from other realms—creatures that devour humans without hesitation."
Kael gritted his teeth. Innergy? Sentinels? Invaders?
It was too much. Just a few hours ago, he was walking with Sistine. Now, he was trapped in a reality he couldn't understand.
And Sistine…
His chest tightened.
What the hell was happening to him?
Kael's mind was still spinning, but amidst the confusion, one thought pushed through—Sistine.
He turned to Kazuki, his voice tense.
"Did you… see a girl? Black hair, blue eyes. Her name is Sistine. She's my friend."
Kazuki's expression shifted—not with recognition, but with confusion.
"Sistine?" He frowned. "Why are you looking for her?"
Kael hesitated.
"She—she saved my life once. I owe her everything. And…" His hands clenched.
"I need to tell her something. Something I should have told her a long time ago."
Kazuki's gaze remained unreadable, but there was a flicker of something—hesitation.
After a moment, he exhaled.
"Sistine... Is being held as a prisoner."
Kael's breath caught in his throat.
"A… prisoner?" His voice came out barely above a whisper.
Kazuki gave a slow nod but said nothing more.
He didn't tell Kael why.
Maybe out of consideration. Maybe because Kael didn't need to know.
But the weight of those words settled in Kael's chest like a stone.
Sistine is being held captive.
And he had no idea why.
Kael's mind reeled.
How does he know about Sistine?
Why is he telling me this?
What the hell is going on?
The endless questions swirled in his head, but before he could sort them out, he forced himself to focus. He took a deep breath, steadying himself.
"…Thank you. For saving me," he said, his voice steady despite the storm in his mind.
"By the way—do you happen to know where the prison is?"
Kazuki's expression darkened. His silver robes swayed as he turned away slightly, his voice dropping to something cold and firm.
"If you're thinking of saving Sistine… forget it."
Kael stiffened. "What?"
Kazuki exhaled sharply, as if irritated that he even had to explain.
"The prison is inside the Holy Capital of Sentinels—one of the most heavily guarded locations in this Realm. It's protected by twenty Knife Sentinels, twenty Dagger Sentinels, and twenty Blade Sentinels—each one deadly on their own. And that's not even counting the thousands of normal guard Sentinels patrolling the capital at all times."
His sharp eyes locked onto Kael's.
"How can you, an otherworlder, who doesn't even know how to fight, barely have any innergy, no strategy, and no experience, expect to take on all of them for the sake of one prisoner" Kazuki's voice carried a weight like stone.
"More importantly… why would you?"
Kael clenched his fists.
... Why?
The answer should've been obvious. But this wasn't just about logic. It was about something far more personal.
"…Because I owe her my life" His voice was quiet, but firm.
Kazuki raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"She saved your life once. You think that's reason enough to throw yours away?"
Kael shook his head.
"No. That's not it." He exhaled, gripping his chest, right over his heart.
"I owe her more than just my life."
Memories flooded back—the day Sistine pulled him from death's path, the countless times she stood by his side, the way she smiled at him like he actually mattered in this world.
And now she was gone. Trapped. Alone.
He could've told her back then—what she meant to him, what he felt. But he hesitated. And now, this world had stolen her away.
Kael gritted his teeth.
"She was always there for me, no matter what. So how could I just abandon her?" He met Kazuki's gaze, his eyes burning with a fire that hadn't been there before.
"I'd rather die trying than live knowing I left her behind."
For the first time, Kazuki was silent.
Then, after a long pause, he sighed.
"…You've got guts, I'll give you that."
Kael thought he heard the slightest hint of approval in his voice.
"But guts alone won't win a war. You'll need more than just blind determination if you want to fight against the Sentinels." Kazuki turned, heading for the exit.
"Get dressed and follow me, kid."
Kael scowled. "I have a name, you know. It's Kael."
Kazuki smirked slightly. "Then hurry up, Kael."
Kael tightened his fists, a new determination settling deep in his chest.
No matter what it takes—I will save Sistine.