Zack heard the voice again, now closer and with a tone of admiration that seemed to mix respect and curiosity:
— I'm impressed, kid. You remind me a lot of my friend... You can open your eyes now.
He hesitated for a moment. His body still felt heavy, as if the pain and exhaustion were dragging him away. However, the words sounded like an order that was impossible to ignore. Slowly, Zack opened his eyes, expecting to find the darkness of emptiness, but what he saw left him even more confused.
Before him stood a tall and slender man with an imposing appearance. His striking red hair fell in disheveled locks, framing a pale face marked by experience and pain. His strange, mesmerizing eyes were surrounded by concentric rings that seemed to spin in infinite spirals, as if they could see directly into Zack.
The man wore dark, simple clothing that resembled a cloak, and there was a strange energy around him, something that made the air feel heavy, as if the world around him was under the absolute control of that being. Despite the calm expression, there was a gravity to his presence, an invisible burden that seemed to accompany each movement.
— You've done something that few would do, kid. — His voice was deep and laden with a sorrowful wisdom. — Sacrificing your own life without hesitation for someone you love. That is something my friend would also do... and it makes me believe that you can be more than you think.
Zack blinked several times, confused, as he looked around. The pain he had felt seemed to have disappeared, but he still did not understand what was happening. He looked at his own chest, where the kunai should have been, but there was nothing but his torn clothing and a faint stain of blood that seemed to be drying.
— What... what happened? — Zack asked, his voice trembling. — I killed myself... for her.
The man took a step forward, his posture erect but non-threatening. He seemed to be evaluating Zack, as if searching for something hidden within his soul.
— You surrendered yourself, body and soul, to your promise, and that is something few understand. I simply wanted to test how far you were willing to go to protect your ideals. — The man tilted his head slightly. — And I must say, you surprised me.
Zack, still trying to process what he was hearing, took a step back. He felt that he was not just in the presence of a common human being. Something about that man emanated power and a deep sense of purpose.
— Who... who are you? — Zack asked, trying to regain his composure.
The man smiled slightly, but his gaze remained serious.
— Someone who understands the weight of the choices you made. Someone who once also vowed to protect his friends and paid the price for it. But that doesn't matter now. What matters is what you will do from today on.
Zack felt a wave of determination beginning to rise in his chest, even amidst the confusion. He knew that this encounter would change everything.
Zack, still dazed, took a step back and raised his voice, his mind spinning with questions.
— What do you want from me? And... what happened just now?
The man observed Zack for a moment, as if weighing his response before speaking.
— You died, kid. And I brought you back. — His voice was calm but charged with something Zack couldn't fully decipher. — I wanted to see how far you would go for your promise, and you showed me that you are capable of sacrificing everything. That intrigues me.
As the man continued speaking, explaining something about his reasons and his own motivations, Zack stopped listening momentarily. A single word echoed in his mind: revive.
He widened his eyes and, in an almost impulsive move, dropped to his knees before the man, his face filled with emotion.
— Please! — he pleaded, his voice heavy with desperation and hope. — Revive my parents! They died in my hometown, not far from here. I beg you, if you can bring people back to life, bring them back!
The man remained silent for a long moment, looking at Zack with an expression that mixed surprise and a strange type of empathy. He crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly.
— Your parents? — He seemed to ponder the situation. — What would you do if they were alive again? Do you think that would solve everything you've been through?
Zack clenched his fists, lowering his head as silent tears streamed down his face.
— I don't care what happens to me. I don't care about anything except seeing them alive again, even if it's just for a moment. I would do anything to have that chance.
The man sighed deeply, his expression showing a mix of understanding and regret. He stepped closer to Zack, who was still kneeling, and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
— Kid, I understand your pain, but bringing someone back has its limitations. — He paused, as if searching for the right words to soften the blow. — After a certain time of death, the body and soul begin to disintegrate from the cycle of life. At that stage, bringing them back is no longer possible.
Zack felt as if the ground had been pulled from beneath his feet. He lifted his face, his eyes full of tears, his voice broken.
— No... — He shook his head, refusing to believe. — There must be a way! You brought me back! There must be something you can do!
The man shook his head slowly, his gaze remaining fixed on the young man.
— When I brought you back, the bond between your soul and body had not been completely severed. But in the case of your parents... time has already passed. The cycle has followed its course. — He squeezed Zack's shoulder gently, trying to convey some comfort. — Even if I tried, there would be nothing to bring back.
Zack lowered his head, his breath quickening as tears streamed down his face. He felt a deep pain in his chest, an emptiness that seemed to grow with each passing second.
— I just wanted a chance... a chance to see them again... to say I'm sorry... — His voice was barely a whisper.
The man remained silent for a moment before speaking again, his voice soft yet firm.
— What you lost cannot be recovered. But what you do from here on out is in your hands. Don't waste the life you still have trying to change what cannot be changed. Honor those you lost by living with purpose.
Zack, although shattered inside, tried to muster the strength to accept those words. He slowly stood up, wiping the tears with the sleeve of his shirt.
— I... I don't know how to move on. — His voice was still weak, but there was a hint of determination.
The man gave a slight smile, though his expression still carried a solemn gravity.
— Then start small. Protect what is still important to you. Rebuild little by little. And when you're ready, perhaps you will find a new purpose along the way.
Zack remained kneeling, looking at the man, his breathing still irregular. The words he had just heard echoed in his mind like an incessant drum.
— I'm offering you a chance to leave this world better, — said the man, his voice low and deep, filled with conviction. — A world where those you love are safe. A place where peace reigns above all, free from the chaos and destruction that you know.
Zack swallowed hard, his chest tight with confusion and the hope that was growing inside him.
— And this world... — he began, his voice hesitant. — This world is really possible?
The man crossed his arms, his expression becoming even more serious, as if revealing an absolute truth.
— For those who follow me, it's just a matter of time. — He tilted his head slightly, his intense gaze fixed on Zack. — The path to get there is difficult, but the results... those are guaranteed.
Zack lowered his head, his hands still clenched on his knees. He wanted to believe the man's words. He wanted a world where Airi could grow without fear, where no one would have to face the losses and suffering he had endured. But a lingering doubt hovered over him, like a shadow that refused to disappear.
— And what do you want from me? — Zack asked, his voice a little firmer, though still laden with uncertainty.
The man stepped forward, stopping so close that Zack could feel the weight of his presence.
— I want your strength. Your dedication. — He paused, letting his words sink into the boy's mind. — This world will not be shaped without sacrifice. You'll have to let go of some things, perhaps even part of yourself, to build something so grand.
Zack felt his stomach churn. He had already lost so much. Could he give up even more? His eyes drifted to the kunai that had fallen to the ground, the weapon that had almost taken his life moments earlier.
— I... don't know if I can do that. — The words came out almost as a whisper.
The man smiled slightly, but there was something unsettling about that smile.
— You've already shown that you're capable. — He bent down and picked up the kunai, handing it to Zack calmly. — Think carefully. True strength lies not only in fighting but in choosing what is worth protecting.
Zack took the kunai with trembling hands, his eyes fixed on the man. He wanted answers, but more than that, he wanted a path. Something that would show him what to do next.
— I will think about it. — He finally said, rising slowly.
The man nodded, satisfied.
— Think quickly, kid. The world doesn't wait. Be here tomorrow night if you've decided to follow this path.
And with that, he turned, disappearing into the forest like a shadow. Zack stood still for long minutes, staring at the kunai in his hand. He knew that from now on, every decision he made would carry a weight he had never imagined having to bear.
Zack returned to the cave with calculated steps, the weight of the encounter in the forest still pressing on his shoulders. Upon entering, he found Airi sitting by the campfire. Ever since she lost her sight, she had developed an impressive sensitivity to pick up on things that most would ignore, something Zack found both fascinating and unsettling.
He looked at the kunai in his hand, feeling the weight not just of the object but of everything it symbolized. "I can't let her know," he thought, quickly hiding it in a corner of the cave, under some stones and dry leaves. Even though Airi couldn't see, he didn't want to take any chances.
Turning around, Airi lifted her head, a slight smile lighting up her face.
— You took a long time today, Zack — she said, her voice gentle but tinged with concern.
— Yeah... got distracted training a bit further away — he replied, trying to keep a casual tone while approaching her.
She tilted her head slightly, as if she could sense something beyond his words. Her smile faded, replaced by a look of doubt.
— Zack... — she began, hesitantly. — Your voice... it's different.
He froze for a moment but quickly tried to compose himself, forcing a smile that she couldn't see.
— Different? How so? — he asked, feigning nonchalance.
Airi frowned, her cloudy eyes turned in his direction.
— Ever since I lost my sight, I've learned to notice things I didn't before. Your voice has always been strong, but now... it feels heavy. Like you're carrying something you don't want to share.
Zack felt the lump in his throat tighten. She didn't need to see to notice. It was true, since she had gone blind, Airi seemed to see deeper than anyone else when it came to feelings.
— It's nothing, Airi. — He tried to reassure her, his voice coming out softer than he intended. — Just tired. The training was tough today.
But she shook her head slowly, unconvinced.
— Zack, you know you don't have to carry everything alone. Whatever happened, I want to know. I don't like this feeling... that you're different.
He hesitated, looking at her. He wanted to tell her, wanted to trust her like he always had, but the words of the mysterious man still echoed in his mind.
— I know, Airi. — He sighed, trying to sound more relaxed. — But it's okay, I promise.
She remained silent for a moment, as if considering her words. Finally, she smiled slightly, but the glimmer of doubt still lingered.
— That's okay. But if something is really wrong, you promise to tell me?
— I promise. — He replied, feeling the weight of that promise grow even heavier on his shoulders.
As the day passed, they tried to follow their routine. They talked, laughed, planned their next moves. But deep down, Zack knew that Airi had already noticed. She might not see the world around her, but she could see through him in a way that no one else could.
And as she smiled, he stole a glance at the corner of the cave where he had hidden the kunai. It was as though it was waiting, silently reminding him that his life was now intertwined with choices he didn't yet know how to face.