[Zenil's POV]
Yesterday, I went to visit Lana.
She was someone I held dear, akin to an older sister. But, one day she did the unthinkable, and ever since, the fear that once lingered within me has gone numb. Before her demise, it was subtle, but I could still sense traces of fear here and there. Now, nothing terrifies me.
Well, that's what I used to think before I met him. The middle aged man who helped me in the alley, and then in the playground as well. Ryong, that was his name. When I saw him, I felt fear, true fear for the first time in months.
Since the day he gave me his power, I have felt something linger within me. It was a sensation that I cannot describe in words. It feels as if there is something present, even though there is nothing tangible.
However, when I was standing in front of Lana's tomb yesterday, something happened within me. I somehow understood what was this feeling. It's as if something is incredibly close, I can grasp it, it is within my reach, and I am steadily drawing nearer. I just need a little jolt.
It's been two days since I met with Cyrille, and I haven't gone to school since. I am still a target after all, she told me it will take week until my name is in the clear, and that was two days ago, so, in about five days I'll be free.
I have been doing minor exercises, yoga and dieting for the past two days. After all I need to get fit, in order to fight. Well, at this point I don't know how I will deal with Mark, or his school's leader, but, what I know is that I need to get stronger. My instincts are telling me that if I grasp whatever is lingering within me, I will be able to get stronger.
Apart from that, I have also gotten a file with all the information regarding the seven ranked schools which are the top dogs of the organization. Aurelian Academy is ranked second, while Verid my previous school is unranked.
By saying previous, I mean that I am shifting to Aurelian, as then only I can become there representative.
For that, I will have to go to Verid tomorrow, as, I have to sign some papers. My guardian, Vincent Parker, will also be there.
Vincent Parker was a lawyer and, a close friend of my late parents, has been a pillar of support after their tragic demise in a terrorist bombing. He manages my financial affairs, providing a monthly allowance for my basic needs like clothing, food, and other essentials.
Additionally, he invests the remaining funds from my parents and plans to turn them over to me once I reach the age of eighteen. He also handles my health insurance, electricity and water bills, school fees, and other significant expenses.
After having a light supper, I slept early, after all tomorrow's gonna be a stormy day.
***
I found myself standing in a world of pure white, with nothingness stretching out as far as my eyes could see. The ceiling, floor, and vast expanse before me were all blanketed in white.
In an instant, I became aware of a wetness near my feet. Looking down, I discovered a pool of deep crimson blood surrounding my legs. Without thinking, I instinctively took a step back to distance myself from the blood.
"Hero!" A scream came from the front
As I turned my gaze towards the origin of the scream, the empty whiteness of the room dissolved before my eyes, replaced by a tumultuous scene of warfare, devastation, and bloodshed. Soldiers clashed in fierce combat, unleashing powerful spells of elemental magic upon one another, while anguished cries of agony and suffering filled the air. Amidst this chaos, a heavy weight suddenly settled upon my heart.
"Sir, Brigadier ##### needs your help, a high-ranking enemy has appeared," A soldier said looking at me. He wore a gray metallic armor set splattered with blood which covered his entire body along with his head.
With a perplexed expression on my face, I observed the bewildering scene unfolding before me, still trying to understand what on earth was happening. However, my attempts to understand were abruptly interrupted by a searing pain that felt like a hundred needles piercing my head.
I shut my eyes tightly and grasped my head with both hands, overcome by excruciating agony that surpassed any suffering I had ever endured.
After a moment or two, I opened my eyes, and the scene in front of me had metamorphosed yet again. All the soldiers and the elements of war had dissolved into nothingness, leaving behind that white blank space. In their place, a ghastly sight of a person remained.
In the center of a pool of blood, lay a girl who had sustained a grave injury from a blade. The slash had carved a deep wound that ran from the upper right of her chest down to the left side of her abdomen, causing the blood to spill out and create a gruesome scene.
The girl's body was covered in numerous scratches and scars, and she was clad in a dark enchanted armor that resembled ordinary textile clothing, rather than the metallic armor worn by the soldier I had previously encountered.
Discounting her current state, it was clear that she would have been a stunning woman, had it not been for her scars. She possessed long, black hair with blue highlights, fair skin, and piercing blue eyes that exuded strength and determination.
Looking at her, the weight in my heart intensified, and a plethora of emotions began to overwhelm my mind. I felt a mix of rage, despair, and above all, the sensation of being powerless to protect those closest to me, the feeling of being incompetent consumed me.
The girl looked at me, her eyes filled with not anger, hatred, or sadness, but with love and hope, even in such pain, she had a slight smile on her face.
Suddenly, a humanoid entity shrouded in swirling black clouds materialized beside her. The figure held a razor-sharp sword and seemed poised to impale the girl's heart with it.
Without knowing why, I sprinted towards the figure, who was mere meters away. My resolve to rescue the girl in front of me was unshakeable.
"######" I screamed the girl's name, which I didn't even know, but my voice vanished out of nowhere, just as the scene in front of me did.
I remained still, staring blankly at the white void before me.
All of a sudden, a sense of unease washed over me, as if there was something ominous and threatening lurking behind me, waiting to pounce. I instinctively turned around just to find the infinite expanse of white to have turned into a void of darkness, and an avalanche of black smoke rushing towards me
Within seconds, the billowing black smoke had arrived and blended with the white mist behind me. The obscurity combined with the white, giving rise to a shade of gray so dark that it appeared almost black.
Within this darkness, I spotted two glowing ethereal purple dots which were positioned in perfect horizontal alignment, they looked like the eyes of the threat that I had felt earlier. Despite the ominous presence, I didn't feel threatened, instead, I felt I needed to approach that figure, I needed to find out who or what it was.
I paused for a moment, feeling a dryness in my throat that compelled me to swallow hard before taking hesitant steps toward the figure.
***
Panting, Zenil finally woke up. His eyes were wide open even though he had just gotten up. Currently, he was sweating profusely and was looking around his room.
Zenil hastily picked up the water bottle kept on the table in his room and started drinking from it like a madman. He then checked the time on his phone. The sun wasn't out yet, there was still time till daybreak.
'Just a dream. It was just a dream.'
Zenil sighed in relief.
Though he didn't know, currently his eyes held a black glow. Unlike the subtle gleam during the meeting with Cyrill, this glow was vivid, easily noticeable to anyone looking at him.