"It will be painful," the old man warned, his voice grave. "You might think you'll die. But hold on. Keep your goal, your future in mind. Break free, and be reborn. Are you ready?"
Kael took a deep breath, his heart pounding, but his resolve was firm. He nodded, his voice steady. "Yes." He was ready. Ready to shed his old self, ready to embrace the chance to become something new, something stronger.
With a swift motion, the old man's hands moved toward Kael. The cube shot through the air at incredible speed, closing the distance in an instant. Just before it reached him, it vanished, and Kael felt it not with his eyes, but with his very soul. The cube was inside him already, pressing against his consciousness, trying to merge with his mind.
The sensation was overwhelming. It was as though a thousand tiny needles were piercing his mind all at once. The pain was indescribable. It wasn't just physical; it felt like something deeper, something primal, as if his very essence was being torn apart and reforged. Kael gasped, clutching his head, trying to hold onto his sanity, but the agony was too intense. His thoughts began to unravel, and it felt as though his mind itself was splitting in two.
Then, just as he felt himself slipping, his vision blurring and his consciousness fading, the old man's voice echoed softly in his mind.
"It's fine. Sleep now."
Those were the last words Kael heard before everything went dark, and he lost himself completely.
When Kael's consciousness slowly returned, the first thing he smelled was the delicate scent of flowers, soft and sweet. He blinked his eyes open, slowly adjusting to the light. His surroundings came into focus, and he realized he wasn't in the sacred hall anymore. Instead, he found himself in a room similar to Freya's, but smaller and simpler. He lay on a comfortable bed, covered by a warm quilt that felt cozy against his skin.
Next to the door, a young girl slept in a chair. Her long hair was slightly disheveled, and she appeared peaceful. Her delicate features gave her an innocent charm, and she looked almost childlike, with an unassuming grace that made her seem younger than her years. She was around 160 cm tall, slender, with a youthful appearance that seemed out of place in a sect. Kael wondered how such a girl found herself here.
As Kael shifted in the bed, the girl stirred and opened her eyes. Upon seeing him awake, her expression shifted to one of surprise.
"Ah, Holy Son. Let me get the Mistress," she said, her voice soft and gentle, though a bit clumsy. Her movements were awkward as she quickly stood up, almost stumbling as she rushed to the door.
Holy Son? Kael thought, confused. It must be because of the legacy. With the inheritance of their founder's power, he had likely gained a special status in the sect - one he didn't fully understand yet.
"No hurry," he said, trying to calm her down. She looked shocked, almost like something was terribly wrong, though he couldn't quite place why.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, immediately bowing low, her face flushed with embarrassment. She seemed stiff, almost as if she had seen a ghost.
"Are you okay?" Kael asked, still unsure of what was going on.
"Yeah... I'm gonna get the Mistress," she replied nervously, opening the door quickly and almost tripping in her haste.
That was strange. The girl's behavior felt off, and Kael couldn't shake the sense that something wasn't right, though he couldn't pinpoint what it was.
Not long after, the door opened again, and another girl entered, immediately drawing Kael's attention. She scanned him for a moment, her sharp yet curious gaze settling on him.
"Your name is Kael, right?" she asked. "I'm Tessa. My mother already told me about you."
So, this was Freya's daughter. If she hadn't mentioned it, Kael would have never guessed. Tessa looked very different from Freya—she must have taken after her father more. Her long black hair cascaded down her back, and her striking crystal-blue eyes were a stark contrast to her mother's elegant, mature look.
"I wouldn't have known this," Kael said, still surprised. "You look very different from Freya."
Tessa raised an eyebrow at his words. "It's Sect Master for you," she replied sharply.
Ah, Sect Master. Kael remembered that Freya held that title. He had grown used to calling her by her name, and her casual manner had made him forget the formalities. He quickly wanted to make sure he didn't irritate Tessa further.
"How should I address you?" Kael asked politely.
"You can just call me Tessa," she said with a shrug. "We hold the same position, so there's no need for formality."
Kael blinked, confused. "You're the successor of the Sect Master. How can there be two successors?"
Tessa nodded, her expression turning more serious. "I was, but now you've appeared. Times change, and so do the rules. Since the Holy Son has arrived, you're naturally the future Sect Master."
There was a subtle bitterness in her voice, a hint of jealousy and anger she didn't bother to hide.
Future Sect Master? Kael's mind raced with questions. What did she mean by that? Things were getting more complicated by the second. He really needed to speak with Freya and understand his situation more clearly.
Just as he was about to ask Tessa more questions, Freya entered the room, followed by the girl who had left earlier. As soon as she saw Kael awake and well, a smile appeared on her face.
Both girls walked in, and Freya gently closed the door behind them.
"I see, you succeeded well. I'm glad," Freya said softly, relief in her voice. "While your body seemed fine in the Sacred Hall, I wasn't sure if your soul had been damaged. Something prevented me from scanning your soul."
Kael suspected it was the cube. The old man had mentioned that it had additional functions.
"I'm glad as well to be alive," Kael admitted, feeling a little lighter now that he was in the company of familiar faces.
"I believe you," Freya said, nodding. "Can you tell me what happened in there?"
Kael nodded, opening his mouth to speak. But as soon as he did, all eyes were on him. Tessa, Laia, and Freya were all waiting patiently for him to explain.
Seeing the hesitation in Kael's eyes, Freya spoke again, her tone calm and reassuring. "Everyone here can hear it. Right next to me is Laia, my second daughter. And you've already met Tessa. Your future is bonded with them, so it's better for them to hear it now."
With that encouragement, Kael took a deep breath and began his story.
"I met that old man. He called himself the Wandering Sage. I don't think he was your Ancestor, but rather a friend of his."
The three women exchanged puzzled glances.
"I've never heard that name before," Freya said, her voice curious but confused.
"Are you sure?" she added, as if questioning the validity of Kael's words.
Freya's expression turned thoughtful. "Yes. This name doesn't sound familiar at all. He never appeared, at least not under this name."
Kael thought for a moment but decided to let it go. The old man was gone, and whatever had happened, it was in the past. There were more pressing matters now.
"Sect Master, I have a question," Kael said, his mind racing. "What does it mean, me being the Holy Son?"
"Sect Master?" Freya raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Tessa before looking back at Kael.
"In private, you can continue calling me by my name," Freya said calmly. "But in public, please consider our relationship."
"But mother..." Tessa started to speak up, but Freya silenced her with a stern glance.
"I allowed it," Freya said, her voice firm. Tessa immediately quieted.
"As for your position as the Holy Son, it means you're my successor. It also gives you some respect within the alliance," Freya explained.
"I thought your daughter was your successor?" Kael voiced his concern.
"She was. She is still the Holy Maiden, but the role of the Holy Maiden has changed with your appearance."
Freya's words hit Kael like a brick. "The plan of the Ancestor was that the current Holy Maiden of your time would become your wife. It means she is your closest ally, your other half."
Suddenly, everything made sense. Kael understood why Tessa had looked at him the way she had. She wasn't just being distant - she was being forced into this. If not by force, then at least by pressure from those around her.
"I object!" Kael said loudly and clearly, not wanting to force anyone into a situation that wasn't their choice. This wasn't his goal. He had no intention of repeating the mistakes of the Ancestor.
It wasn't about the marriage itself; he wanted time, and he wanted a choice. Only then could they truly get to know each other. Without that, they would be no different from the Ancestor's doomed path.
The room went quiet.