Chapter 17: A Glimpse of Power
As Kor and Zira descended the mountain plateau, Kor's thoughts were consumed by his encounter with the mysterious Lord. Each word, every deft movement, and the Lord's effortless calm replayed in his mind like scenes he couldn't escape. His body bore the marks of their clash—aching muscles, bruises, and a sense of exhaustion deeper than any he'd known. But none of that compared to the overwhelming realization of just how outmatched he was.
Once they reached a clearing near a sparkling stream, Kor paused to splash water on his face, hoping it would ease his restless thoughts. The memory of the Lord's control, the precision of every strike, and the restrained power behind each movement lingered, etching a permanent reminder of how far he still had to go.
Seeing his troubled expression, Zira settled beside him, her gaze softening. "You look like you're still fighting that duel," she said, handing him a piece of dried meat from their supplies.
Kor accepted it with a faint smile, though his eyes stayed distant. "Zira… how powerful are the Lords, really?"
She held his gaze for a long moment, her expression unreadable. "Far beyond what you or I could ever imagine," she replied quietly. "The Lords have trained, learned, and cultivated strength for countless centuries. What you saw was only a fraction of what they're capable of."
Kor's brow furrowed, struggling to wrap his mind around it. "A fraction?"
Zira nodded, her voice lowering, as if she feared the weight of her words. "Less than one percent, Kor. The Lord you faced could have defeated you in an instant if he'd chosen to."
The words struck Kor like a cold wave, chilling him to the bone. Less than one percent? The ease of the Lord's movements, the uncanny precision, and the quiet confidence—all of it had been restrained to a fraction of his true power. Kor's mind raced, trying to comprehend the kind of force that lay beyond what he'd seen.
They walked in silence for a time, the only sound the crunch of their footsteps on the mountain trail. But Kor's curiosity continued to burn, unable to stay contained. He glanced at Zira, the question bubbling to the surface.
"Zira," he ventured, "have you heard any other stories about the Lords? Like, is there one among them who's stronger than the rest?"
Zira chuckled softly, though her expression betrayed a flicker of uncertainty. "There is a tale—a legend, really—that people whisper when they speak of the Lords. They say one among them was… different."
"Different?" Kor leaned in, his interest piqued.
"Most of the Lords had to hone their power over centuries, gradually becoming the protectors they are now," Zira explained, her tone softening with a note of reverence. "But this one Lord didn't need centuries. He was born with a strength that allowed him to stand on equal footing with the others almost from the beginning."
Kor's eyes widened, his heart quickening at the idea. "So… he's stronger than the others?"
Zira shook her head slightly, though her gaze remained intense. "Not stronger, but unique. He's a prodigy—a Lord who embodies raw potential, someone who defied the natural order by achieving what others needed eons to reach. People say his strength and skill were as if the power of a Lord had always been his, right from birth."
The idea lingered, settling heavily in Kor's mind. "Do the Lords have leaders?" he asked, almost to himself. "Is he… above them?"
"No, they don't have leaders," Zira said firmly, meeting Kor's eyes with a knowing look. "The Lords stand as equals, each watching over their own realms. They're bound by a shared purpose, not a hierarchy. But this one, the prodigy—they say his wisdom and strength make him an inspiration to the others. He's not their leader, but a figure of legend, someone they all respect."
Kor sat in silence, envisioning what such a Lord would be like—a being with the wisdom of ages and power that matched all the Lords combined. "And… what happened to him?"
Zira shrugged, her expression softening into a skeptical smile. "It's just a story, Kor, a legend passed down to make the Lords seem even grander. If such a Lord truly existed, wouldn't the world know about him?"
Kor nodded, though the story sparked something within him, igniting his sense of wonder. He couldn't help but imagine the prodigy Lord, a figure cloaked in mystery, embodying the strength he aspired to reach. If the Lords were already so powerful, what would it mean to stand before a Lord like that?
They continued down the path in thoughtful silence, the legend adding a new layer to Kor's journey. He knew he was far from understanding the true depths of the Lords' strength, but perhaps, if he learned enough, he could one day face them as an equal—or perhaps even unravel the truth behind this mysterious prodigy.