Kael threw himself on the bed, his body aching and tired. The metallic smell of the base was impregnated in his clothes, but he could barely feel the discomfort. His mind was clouded, the feeling of defeat still hanging in the air, like a shadow that didn't want to disappear.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He knew he needed to rest, but the images of the mission, the screams of the children and the memory of the boy in the capsule, were still fresh in his mind. His breathing became heavier as agitation took over his chest.
"Am I ready for this?"
He knew the answer was not in the now, but somewhere inside him, where his solar energy was waiting to be mastered. He felt the heat pulsing in his chest, a reminder that he still had much to learn.
Close your eyes. Just breathe.
The voice echoed in his mind, but it wasn't his own. It was an ancient voice, deep, like distant thunder. Something bigger than him.
The sounds of the base faded. The cold of the bed vanished. Kael was transported to a bright, immense place, where the sky seemed to stretch on forever.
He was standing on a vast golden plain, under a radiant sun, hot and blinding. In the distance, a towering figure appeared. A shadow, but with the brightness of the sun emanating from it. It was impossible to make out its details, but its presence was overwhelming.
You carry the flame of the Sun, Kael Yun.
The voice was firm, but not threatening. He felt a mix of familiarity and reverence.
"Who... who are you?" Kael asked, his voice almost muffled by the strength of the light.
I am the reflection of what you have yet to become. I am the ancient Sun, the source of the power that resides within you. The figure began to walk toward him, leaving a trail of light around him. What you possess is no ordinary gift. It is not just energy. It is the essence of creation. Kael took a step forward, trying to understand the words, what they meant to him. "But… how? How can I control this? I don't even know where to begin." It is not a question of knowing. It is a question of feeling. The true strength of the Sun is not achieved through mental effort, but through surrender. You must merge body, soul, and light. Only when your limits are surpassed, when your being is in harmony with the solar energy, will you be able to access infinite power. The figure gestured with his hand, and the sun shone even brighter. Kael felt his body being bathed in light, a sensation of deep warmth, as if he were being purified from the inside out. His breathing quickened. It will take years, Kael. Years of training, of discipline. But remember, even the greatest of gods are not born with their powers. They are forged in fire. Only when you transcend your mortal body, when the energy of the sun becomes part of your very essence, will you be able to access the power you seek.
Kael felt a growing pressure in his chest. The pain, the energy flowing like a torrent he could not control.
Remember, Kael. The sun never goes out. And you will be its beacon.
The light grew, engulfing everything around him. Kael felt his body being enveloped by the energy of the sun, as if he were being burned and recreated at the same time. He screamed, but his voice was lost in the vast field of light.
Suddenly, he woke up.
The room in the base was dark. The silence was heavy. He sat up in bed, sweat dripping from his forehead. His breathing was labored.
The heat in his chest was still there. He could feel it. Stronger now. But what had he learned? The feeling of being on the right path, even without knowing where to start.
Kael closed his eyes again. The sun was still calling him. The journey was just beginning.