I got up and walked deeper into the darkness of the cave, still soaked from head to toe."Why does this place feel so cold… like I'm about to freeze?" I murmured to myself.
I wasn't even bothered anymore by the fact that Nara and the others didn't help me. Maybe I really need to start doing things on my own. Still… I wished I had all my memories. It would make understanding everything so much easier. The more I continue down this path, the more confused I get.
At first, I didn't believe it—that I was once the Dragon King. But after witnessing the fierce battle between the knights and Nara, something inside me shifted. I wish I had power like hers. Then maybe I wouldn't feel so ashamed that they had to protect me and escort me here while they fought.
But everything changed when I had that dream. I saw myself as a king. I saw her.Chrysantha.
I hope… I'll see her again.But before that, I have to awaken Teresina—my powerful sword. The one I desperately need if I'm going to face what's coming. Even they don't know how big the storm will be.
I grabbed a wooden branch lying by the cave wall."I doubt this will help much… but it's better than going in barehanded," I whispered to myself.
I stopped when I heard a familiar hiss echo through the silence. My eyes adjusted to the darkness… and there it was—the little white snake again.
"So you stopped here, huh?" I said softly, gently tapping its head. "Guess I should check this area out then."
I looked around, struggling to see anything in the pitch black. I didn't have a torch, but I kept going. As I moved forward, my fingers brushed against the cold stone wall—and suddenly, it began to glow.
The light pulsed along a pattern I recognized—the same one that had appeared on my left wrist a few days ago.
Now the wall was fully visible. Among the glowing lines, I saw a word etched into the stone.Greek letters. I couldn't read them at first, but the word stood out clearly:πάντα.(Pánta… "forever.")
I reached out and touched it.
Suddenly—Pain exploded in my head. I staggered back from the wall and collapsed. My vision blurred. My ears rang with thousands of voices screaming all at once, as if I was thrown into a chaotic, crowded market of echoes.
And then—everything went silent.
A single voice broke through.
A familiar one.
I saw a blurred vision—Chrysantha. Laughing in front of me. I was holding her, scolding her playfully. I wanted to see more, but my vision was too foggy. Still, I could hear everything.
"Don't you ever hide like that again! What if I can't find you next time?"
"I know you'll find me—anywhere," she giggled.
"What if… what if the Shadow Realm abducts you?"
"That's not going to happen, my flower. And even if they do… I know you'd tear apart that world just to get me."
My heart stopped.
Fck. Fck. F**CK.
The Shadow Realm.
She's in the Shadow Realm.
A tear slid down my cheek as I opened my eyes again.
"…So that's where she is… right now."
My blood begins to boil with rage.
I've never been this angry in my entire life.I was always the calm one—the quiet guy in school who avoided fights, ignored the bullies, walked away from nonsense. But this feeling… this storm tearing through my chest…It's like I'll burn the whole damn world just to get her back.
My eyes sting like they're on fire. My jaw clenches tight, and when I finally snap back to my senses, I feel a sharp pain in my hand.I look down—my fingers are gripped so tightly around the wooden branch that blood is dripping from my palm, pooling at my feet.
But I don't flinch.This pain? It's nothing.Not compared to the storm inside me.Not compared to the truth—Chrysantha is in the Shadow Realm.
I let the branch fall from my hand and stand up just as I hear Nara and the priest calling out.
"What happened to you? Why do you look so pale—and your han—"
"Nara!!"The priest cuts her off, his voice stern.She steps aside immediately, and I walk toward the pedestal in silence.
I'm in no condition to explain.I don't want to talk.My gaze stays locked on my injured hand—not because of the pain, but because of the rage.Because that hand… this body... it's useless right now.
"It hurts, doesn't it?"The priest kneels down before me, like a parent comforting a broken child.
I clench my fists, blood dripping again.
"Don't heal it," I say, my voice shaking."Just teach me how to fight. How to use my damn power. I'm useless! I'm nothing—"
Before I can finish, the priest wraps his arms around me.
"Cry all you want," he says softly."But when the tears stop… promise me—you'll rise stronger."
His chest is warm. Solid. Comforting in a way I didn't expect.I try to hold it in… but I can't.The tears come fast, and I hide my face in his robe like a child.
"She's in the Shadow Realm…"