Everything was on fire, a wild force devouring everything in its path. The wails and helpless shouts it consumed echoed, growing stronger with each devoured piece of flesh, bone, and memory.
Who was he? The question lingered unanswered. Why was he here? Another mystery.
Suddenly, pounding on the door shattered the eerie silence. His heart raced with each thud. More pounding followed. 'Move,' he thought, attempting to feel his flesh, his hands, and legs.
Like a ripple in water, sensation returned. Limbs—1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...
Wait. The math was wrong. There should only be four limbs, not six. Disregarding the anomaly, he pressed on, shaking his head, feeling the warmth. He could sense his head now.
Taking in the surroundings, he found himself on a bed in a wooden chamber. No paintings adorned the hard, red wood. As he raised his head, shock gripped him.
Arms. Not two. Four. Four arms protruded from his body, defying the logic of normalcy.
Then he woke up.
…
Voices, whispers, and wailings roused him from the depths of his unconsciousness.
In his dream, it was fire, but now, in reality, it was water.
"...Come on, boss, come on," he heard a strained voice urging.
Sensations flooded back, and he found himself being dragged across the deck. War cries and spells echoed around him. Something behind him lit up so brightly that he could see it even in front of him.
Suddenly, someone sprinted past him, and, in a stroke of unfortunate luck, the frightened woman collided with him.
He tumbled and was on the verge of rolling on the ground, but a hand snatched him, pulling him back onto his feet.
"Hey, man, you're alive. That's a relief," Rony exclaimed.
"What..." he coughed up blood, feeling a liquid sliding down his face. He chose to believe it was water, avoiding touching it.
"What happened?"
"It's a Kraken, El. It's attacking the ship," Rony quickly explained, his voice filled with apprehension and fear. It seemed to be his first encounter with something of this magnitude. While it was Morvain's first time witnessing such a monstrous creature, he didn't share Rony's fear.
Strength resided in him, especially in moments like these.
"I've witnessed it," Morvain replied, using Rony's shoulder as a support while he regained his composure.
'The girl?' he pondered. 'Can't let her perish. She knows something. But what if she's just insane?'
He shook his head.
"I've seen people being swept away, El. People being washed away, and...and the tentacle. It...uh...it crushed people as if they were mere rice balls. I'm scared, Eldric. Really scared. What should I do? What should I do, Eldric?"
Rony shook his body, expecting Morvain to have all the answers in the world. Morvain was already dizzy, and now the sensation only intensified.
"Look at me, Rony!" He suddenly slapped the boy's cheek. It was personal. Then, he clasped Rony's cheeks.
"Look at me, Rony. I don't care if you're scared or not. I don't care if you have to take a life. What I need is for you to man up. Do you understand?" He shook Rony's head with his hands.
"Y-yes."
"Do you understand?"
"Yes."
Morvain nodded.
"You are a reformer, Rony. The future of this kingdom and its people. Your anthem will be sung by the generations to come as the man who changed this world. You represent us. You represent our entire community. Now, do you want them to see you as a coward who ran away and huddled with children while the Highborns protected you? Is that the legacy you want for yourself—a coward?"
Rony shook his head. Fear lingered, waiting for the opportune moment to grip him again, as it did earlier. But Morvain was there, determined to prevent that from happening.
Clangs of swords and battle cries of Awakened reverberated through the piercing sounds of wailing and shouts for help. Then the whole ground shook, forcing them to grab onto the railings for support. After a moment, it calmed again.
The rain poured down as if reveling in the chaos. A lightning bolt suddenly illuminated the dark ship, revealing the glowing crimson of the boy.
"Light up, Rony," the boy said. "Use your ability now."
"But it's usele—"
"Shut up! Did I ask if it was useful?" The boy slapped him again.
Rony shook his head.
"Then light up. Use your crystals."
Rony closed his eyes, delving deep within himself for the seemingly useless power he possessed. The morning he first saw the status screen, he was elated to discover that he had Awakened. However, every time he attempted to use his powers, he wished he hadn't Awakened at all. Now, forced to use his ability in an emergency, it served as a constant reminder of his perceived failure.
In an instant, his entire body radiated a neon-milky green glow. Small cubes materialized above his shoulders, head, and hips, all emitting the same color. Opening his eyes, he looked at the man he believed would change the world, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Do you trust me?" He asked, and Rony nodded subconsciously. He trusted him, though he couldn't pinpoint why. However, he was determined to earn this man's respect. Just then, a few children ran towards him and hugged his legs—children who were scared of the darkness.
He was both astonished and surprised.
"You don't necessarily need to have a combat-based ability to save people. All you need is your heart and a little bit of courage." He touched Rony's chest. "There are people trapped under the lower floors. Water must be rising. I'm sure of it. They could use some help. There is no light there, and they need someone to guide them. Do you understand, Rony?"
Rony nodded, his face lighting up with determination.
"And I want you to be that person," he smiled.
Rony nodded, glancing at the children who were crying.
"Be the light in the darkness, brother. They will see you as a savior. And you will be," he said, gently pushing Rony towards the deck.
Rony looked back and saw the man disappearing into the smoke.
"Be safe."