Kai raced through the city's streets like a madman, driven by a single thought: "Arkan must have stolen the lantern again." He couldn't shake off the idea; he knew all too well that Arkan, with his constant tricks and hatred for his absolute dependency, wouldn't miss an opportunity like this to gain even a moment of freedom.
Kai ran fast, his face etched with worry, his heart pounding so hard he could almost hear it. He knew Arkan couldn't be far, that he would stay close; beings with great powers don't like to stray far from their sources. Yet, he wasn't reassured, fearing that Arkan might find himself in even deeper trouble.
When Kai reached the grand square, he paused for a moment to catch his breath. He stood in the middle of the square, scanning every corner with sharp eyes, searching for any sign of Arkan's presence. The shadows were heavy on the ground, and people had started to gather around the mysterious shop, as if drawn to something they couldn't see.
Kai slowly advanced toward the shop, his eyes catching every corner, every possible hiding spot where Arkan might be. He climbed to the rooftop where he had been sitting earlier, watching the events unfold from above. But he found nothing—no sign of Arkan, no sign of the lantern. Despair began to creep in, but he didn't stop searching.
As he got closer to the shop's entrance, he heard a strange noise coming from that direction. It was the sound of laughter, applause, and Arkan's unmistakable voice, speaking excitedly.
Kai paused, looking at the scene from a distance. There, near the shop's entrance, stood Arkan, the lantern in his hand, but this time the lantern was open, allowing some of its energy to escape freely. Arkan was entertaining the visitors, using a series of magical tricks that astonished the growing crowd around him. He waved his hand in the air, creating small lights that swirled around him before fading away, making strange objects appear in his hands only to make them vanish as if they had never existed.
The people in the square were mesmerized, their eyes wide with wonder and admiration. To them, Arkan appeared to be a magician from another world, his abilities far beyond anything they had known before. For them, Arkan wasn't just a sign of the mystery surrounding the shop; he was also a symbol that this place held powers beyond explanation.
As Kai watched the scene, he was now certain that Arkan hadn't just taken the lantern but had chosen to reveal himself to everyone. He knew that this wasn't without reason, but rather part of a plan that Arkan had yet to fully reveal.
But instead of feeling anger as he had expected, Kai felt a strange mix of relief and amusement. He knew Arkan well, and he knew that this ancient being could never be fully tamed. And maybe, just maybe, Arkan had realized the importance of the shop and wanted to contribute to its success in his own way.
In that moment, Kai decided not to interfere. He stood there, watching as Arkan captivated the crowd, drawing more people toward the shop. He knew this would only increase the shop's fame and perhaps help him achieve his goal faster.
But deep down, Kai was sure of one thing: Arkan hadn't changed, nor had he forgotten who he was. He was still just an ancient being pursuing his own interests, which made him dangerous... and fascinating at the same time.
After observing the scene for a while, Kai began to approach Arkan, his steps slow but heavy with intertwined thoughts. He stopped a few steps away from him, glanced at the crowd gathered around Arkan, and then spoke in a calm yet deep voice:
"Arkan, I'm moving forward. I'm heading back to Ohara to open a shop there. If you want to come too, then come."
Kai didn't expect much of a response from Arkan, perhaps just a nonchalant nod. But he was surprised when Arkan turned and looked directly at him, as if he had been waiting for this very moment. Arkan's eyes, glowing with a mysterious light, gleamed sharply as he replied in a calm yet determined voice:
"We can't hide anymore. If we want to do something that changes the game, we need to do it properly. Even if this world doesn't accept us, we must carve out a place for ourselves here. And we must make a name for ourselves among the vast seas of this world."
Those words struck Kai like an arrow to the heart. He hadn't expected this kind of talk from Arkan, who had always leaned toward secrecy and staying hidden. This was something entirely different, as if there was another side to Arkan that he hadn't seen before. Perhaps Kai had always known that Arkan was always striving for his own identity, but hearing it from him sparked mixed emotions within Kai—both worry and challenge.
At that moment, the crowd's eyes turned toward Kai and Arkan, as if they were waiting for what would happen next. Kai didn't want to reveal himself to everyone in this way; he preferred to remain in the shadows, to control things from a distance until the right moment. But Arkan, who had grown tired of staying in the shadows and hiding from sight, decided it was time to step into the light.
"Arkan," Kai said calmly but firmly, "our plan was to move cautiously. To stay out of sight until the time is right. I don't want to lose everything because of a rash move."
"Our plan?" Arkan interrupted sharply. "Our plan was to hide, to fear this world. But now, it's time to take a step toward the light. If we don't carve out a place for ourselves here, we won't have a place anywhere else."
The crowd, who had been listening silently, began to murmur among themselves. They were wondering who these two people were and what the conversation was about. Some saw Arkan as a leader, while others didn't fully understand what was happening.
At that moment, Kai realized that the convictions between him and Arkan had clearly diverged. Kai didn't want to stifle Arkan's freedom, but he also wasn't ready to take on the significant risks that this new path might bring. He had made up his mind.
"Arkan," Kai finally said in a calm but decisive tone, "if this is what you want, then stay here. I'll go to Ohara alone. This is my journey, and I won't force it on you."
There was a brief moment of silence before Kai turned and began walking away from the crowd, leaving Arkan behind. He didn't look back, nor did he try to convince Arkan to change his mind. He knew this moment was pivotal, and that if they had to walk different paths, he wouldn't stand in Arkan's way.
As he left the square and headed toward his cabin to gather his belongings, Kai felt a mix of sadness and relief. He had made his decision, and he knew that this decision would affect everything in the future.
When he reached the outskirts of the city, Kai stopped behind the hill where he had sat before. He took a moment to gaze at the city now behind him. He knew this place would remain in his memory as part of his long journey in this new world.
He closed his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and then opened them again. In that moment, his red wings, tinged with black, slowly emerged from his back. Those wings were a symbol of his power, but he only revealed them when the situation truly called for it.
In one swift motion, Kai launched into the air at an incredible speed, leaving behind a whirlwind of wind that stirred up sand and dust everywhere. His power was immense, and the place he had been standing in had turned into chaos as if a storm had struck it.
And in that moment, there was an old sailor sneaking through the shadows, who witnessed everything with his own eyes. The man was simple, only knowing the sea and fishing. And when he saw Kai soaring into the sky with his wings, he felt terror. He didn't know if what he had seen was an angel or some kind of demon. That moment was a nightmare he would never forget, something he would remember for the rest of his life.
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