Inside a modest room of the Slayer Guild, Eryx lay on a wooden bed, bandages wrapped tightly around his battered body. The white blanket and soft wool padding did little to ease his pain. As his eyes slowly opened, a gentle voice broke the silence.
"You're finally awake."
As Eryx turned his head to the left, he saw a girl standing nearby—blonde hair cascading like a wave, violet eyes gleaming with quiet strength, her cropped top and hooded jacket accented by a flowing magenta cape and strapped gear that gave her an air of graceful readiness.
"You're finally awake," she said, her voice calm. "How are you feeling? Does it hurt anywhere?"
Eryx tried to sit up, struggling to push the blanket aside, but as he attempted to stand, he faltered and collapsed back onto the bed. In an instant, the girl was by his side, catching him before he could fall.
"You're still in pain," she said urgently, her voice soft but firm. "You shouldn't move, or it'll get worse."
Eryx winced, his voice strained with pain. "Where's... where's my family? Where's Sara? Is she... is she alive?" His words broke through between labored breaths.
"I'm sorry… They're all gone. We buried the ones we found, but…" She hesitated, her voice lowering, "There was no young girl's body among them."
Eryx's breath caught in his throat. "What…? N-no… My sister—Sara—she died… in my arms. I held her. I saw the light leave her eyes…" His voice cracked, each word drenched in disbelief and anguish. "Then how—how could her body just vanish?"
A heavy silence followed, only broken by the trembling in his voice. "Who are you…?" he asked, his gaze locking onto hers. "And why am I covered in bandages? I… I don't remember getting wounded…"
"I'm Navia, the healer of the Nightslayers," she said in a calm, composed voice. "You didn't suffer any visible wounds, that's true… But your bones were fractured internally. When I examined you with my powers, I found your body was severely traumatized. The bandages I applied—they're not ordinary. They'll heal you from the inside out."
Eryx's brows furrowed. "But… how? I don't remember taking a single hit," he muttered, his voice low and strained with pain.
"That's because it wasn't an external force," Navia replied, a faint pride in her tone. "Your power awakened, born from the trauma of loss. When your loved ones died, your rage broke the chains inside you. You awakened a dark, hidden force… one strong enough to stand against a Celestia—and make her feel something no one ever has before."
Suddenly, the door creaked open. A young man stepped inside, his presence calm yet commanding, his aura faintly glowing with a soft but powerful light.
Navia turned slightly, her expression relaxing. "Oh, Captain. You're here. As you can see, he's awake now. You can speak to him, but his body's still under the weight of that trauma. That power... it shattered him from the inside. He won't be able to move for several days."
"Thank you, Miss Navia. Continue monitoring him closely," Atlas replied, his voice deep and composed, yet laced with concern.
Eryx's gaze sharpened, pain flickering in his eyes. "Why did you save me? Why didn't you come sooner?" he asked, his voice cracking with a mix of anger and sorrow. "If you had… maybe my family—my people—they wouldn't have died."
Atlas stepped closer, his calm demeanor unwavering. "We only found you because of the eruption of your power. Until then, that entire area was sealed beneath a veil—something was blocking all energy and emotion from passing through. Your awakening shattered that barrier. That's what led us there. And when we arrived… You were already on the brink of destroying a Celestia."
He stared into Eryx's eyes, his voice steady yet heavy with meaning. "You would've killed her."
Eryx looked up, pain tightening his voice. "Navia said… You didn't find my sister's body at the scene. How? Where is she?!"
Atlas's brows furrowed, his tone suddenly tense. "What? We searched the entire area around the incident. There wasn't a single trace of a young girl's body. It's possible Celestia did something… something we couldn't detect."
Eryx's rage flared. His fists clenched, trembling. "Then why did you stop me from killing that wretched Celestia?! I could've ended her. I could've had my revenge!"
Power surged from his hands, dark and violent, crackling like restrained lightning. Navia stepped forward quickly, casting a glowing crystal sigil in the air that absorbed the unstable energy.
"Yes!" she said, eyes gleaming with excitement. "I finally managed to capture a sample of your power. With your permission, Captain Atlas… I'd like to begin my research. I need to understand what this ability truly is."
Atlas nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving Eryx. "Do it. But keep him safe. That power… It's unstable. Dangerous—even to him."
Navia gave a slight bow. "Understood, Captain." Then she turned to Eryx, her voice gentler. "I won't do anything without your approval. But if we understand this power… maybe we'll find answers. Maybe even about your sister."
Eryx stayed silent for a moment, breathing heavily. His fists relaxed slightly. "Fine," he muttered. "But if it helps me get stronger… if it helps me kill that Celestia—do whatever it takes."
Navia nodded, already forming another crystal sigil between her hands, the glow reflecting in her sharp violet eyes. "Then let's begin."
As Atlas locked eyes with Eryx, his voice was calm but firm—commanding. "Boy, I want you to join the Nightslayers. I'll train you personally and help you control your mana core. I might not be able to unlock the truth of your hidden power, but I can help you master the power you were born with—lightning."
Eryx's eyes narrowed, his voice sharp, heavy with rage. "If it makes me stronger… if it lets me take revenge on that wretched Celestia—then I'm more than ready. I'll join."
Atlas gave a single nod. "Good. For now, you need to rest. Once your body fully recovers, your training will begin. With your natural affinity for ice and your mana core of lightning, you're a rare type of mage—someone who can blend advanced healing magic with powerful offensive techniques. You'll also choose your weapon—one that truly fits you."
He leaned in slightly, his gaze unwavering. "Rest well, Eryx. This isn't a request. It's an order."
"…Yes, Captain."
Navia chuckled softly and stepped closer. "Let's see if you can rise to Ascendant rank as fast as I did… or if you'll crawl your way up, bleeding and broken. Either way, I'm hyped to see you fighting by my side." She smiled with mischief and warmth. "Now sleep. I'll be checking on you, so don't stress."
With that, Atlas and Navia left the room, the door closing quietly behind them.
Eryx lay back, his body heavy with exhaustion, his mind spiraling in grief. As the silence settled around him, a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"…Sara… Where did your body go…?" He whispered, his voice cracking. "Why does it feel like you're still alive…?"
Meanwhile, near the ruins of the incident—the place where Eryx's family and traveling group had fallen...
A gentle wind rustled through the shattered trees and bloodstained ground, now silent under the dim sky. Suddenly, a faint glow shimmered in the air, and a ghostly voice echoed softly, yet with chilling certainty:
"You've finally arrived... I've been waiting for you, Sara."
—Chapter 1 Ends—