Rifi slowly began to regain his senses, his body still heavy with exhaustion. He had no idea how much time had passed, and every muscle in his body ached with a deep, persistent pain. His eyes fluttered open, struggling to adjust to the blurry darkness around him. It took a moment for his mind to catch up, to remember where he was—or more accurately, to wonder where he had ended up.The faint sound of running water reached his ears, soothing but unfamiliar. He turned his head toward the source of the noise, and the brightness of light filtering through a small opening blinded him. Squinting, he tried to make sense of his surroundings. He realized he must be inside a cave.The thought offered a small sense of relief. If the cave had an owner with ill intentions, he would already be dead. The fact that he was alive meant, for now at least, he was safe. His entire body felt like it had been run over by a boulder, but after everything he'd been through, the idea of resting, even in a strange cave, was a welcome change.He breathed deeply, savoring the cool, humid air of the cave. Each breath still burned in his lungs, but it felt incredible—like the first real breath of life he'd taken in ages. The soft murmur of the nearby river sang a gentle lullaby, its sound soothing the edges of his pain.Life and death… they just can't stop torturing me, can they? Those bastards love to watch me struggle, then spare me at the last moment, Rifi thought, a wry smile creeping onto his face. Well, I won't complain. I'll take this little peace while I can.But just as he began to relax, a voice broke the stillness."Oh, human… you can still smile?"The words sent a jolt of fear through him. His body stiffened immediately, every muscle on high alert, pushing even through the injuries. Rifi pushed himself back against the cave wall, his heart pounding. His eyes darted toward the darker depths of the cave where the voice had come from, but he could see nothing."Who's there? Show yourself!" His voice cracked as he called out. He pressed his back firmly against the cool stone, bracing himself for whatever was lurking in the shadows.A soft, rumbling laugh echoed through the cave, carrying an eerie, almost feline quality. "Oh, human… still full of spirit, even when you're barely clinging to life. How amusing."Rifi swallowed hard, forcing himself to speak again. "What do you want?""Is this how humans thank someone for saving them?" the voice teased, a playful edge dancing in its tone.Rifi frowned, confused. "You saved me? How? Why?""Let's just say I guided you here," the voice echoed, dripping with mockery. "Or maybe… I was hungry.""Who are you?" Rifi demanded, his voice rising despite his fear. "What do you want from me?"The voice sighed, as though tired of his questions. "Humans. Always so quick to demand answers, as if the world revolves around your understanding." There was a pause, followed by a faint ripple of energy through the cave. "If you must know, I am Nala. And you, little human, are alive only because I found your struggle amusing.""Amusing?" Rifi's confusion flared despite his exhaustion. He forced himself upright, his legs trembling with the effort. "You're telling me you saved my life on a whim? Just because you were bored?""More or less," Nala replied with a deeper chuckle. "And look at you now—still alive, still asking questions. But tell me, little human… why do you fight so desperately to survive?"Rifi hesitated, caught off guard by the question. His voice softened as he replied, "I promised someone I'd live. That's all you need to know.""Hmm, a promise." Nala's tone carried a flicker of genuine interest. "How quaint. But is that all? Surely there's more to you than an empty vow."Rifi gritted his teeth, irritation creeping into his voice. "It's not an empty vow! Besides, why do you even care? You don't even seem to like humans.""True," Nala replied, his voice brimming with disdain. "Your kind is… flawed. Weak. But occasionally, you surprise me. You, for instance—magic clings to you like a moth to a flame. Have you ever wondered why?"Rifi frowned, confusion knitting his brow. "I thought it was just because… I trained harder. Is that not it?""It is more than that. You're a natural conduit for the world's energy. That's another reason why I chose you, little human. Not out of kindness, but because you might—might—be the only one capable of standing against the devils when they come."Rifi's body froze at the mention of devils. "Devils?" he echoed. "What are you talking about?"The cave fell silent for a moment, the sound of water rushing faintly in the background. When Nala spoke again, his tone was heavier, more solemn. "The devils who destroyed my people. Beings of pure malice and destruction. They consumed my world, leaving nothing but ash and ruin. And soon, they will spread their destruction to your world as well."Rifi's stomach twisted. The words carried a weight he couldn't ignore, a grim certainty that sent a chill down his spine. "You're saying these… things, they're coming here? How do you know?""I fled here after my world fell, through one of their portals," Nala replied, his voice tinged with bitterness. "But I did not escape unscathed. My body was broken, my strength drained. The only reason I'm alive is this pond and the mana vein that feeds it. Some of them followed me here before the portal closed. But even in this desperate state, I can feel them—like a storm on the horizon. The devils will pierce the barrier between worlds soon. And when they do, your kind will face the same fate as mine, when the others join them."Rifi's mind raced, struggling to process the enormity of what Nala was saying. "Why me?" he asked quietly. "I'm no hero. I'm just… me. Why do you think I can do anything about this?"Nala let out a low hum, almost contemplative. "Because you have something few others do. Magic flows to you naturally, as if the world itself bends to your presence. It is rare—so rare that I doubted I'd find anyone like you at all. But here you are."Rifi shook his head. "Even if that's true, I'm not strong enough. I couldn't even protect my friends. What good am I against something that destroyed your entire world?""It's true that you are not strong enough now," Nala admitted. "But you can grow. With time and training, you can become the force this world needs to stand against the devils."Rifi hesitated, his gaze falling to the ground. The weight of Nala's words was overwhelming. "I made a promise to survive," he said softly. "But I didn't promise to save the world. I'm not sure I can."Nala's golden eyes gleamed faintly in the darkness. "Perhaps you cannot," he said simply. "But if you do nothing, you'll die along with everyone else. Is that a fate you're willing to accept?"The words struck a chord deep within Rifi, igniting a flicker of resolve. He looked up, meeting Nala's gaze. "No," he said firmly. "I won't accept that. If I can do something to stop this, I will. But I'm going to need help."Nala's whiskers twitched, and a low, rumbling laugh echoed through the cave. "Good," he said, his voice lighter now, as if a great burden had lifted. "Then come to me, little human. This pond and the mana vein within it will heal your wounds and strengthen your core. And I will share with you what little power I have left."As Rifi lowered himself into the pond, Nala's voice softened. "One last thing, human. I ask that you carry my family's name—Felis Silvestris—or at least keep it alive. Let it echo through your world, even when I am gone."Rifi nodded, the glow of the mana vein enveloping him. "I'll keep my promise, Nala. To survive—and to fight. And your family's name will not be forgotten, not as long as I draw breath."Nala's eyes gleamed with a mixture of sadness and pride. "Then perhaps, little human, there is hope for this world after all."