"Who sent you?"
The boy asked menacingly, his voice cold and threatening.
Kael tried to answer, but the force exerted by the boy was too much for his frail body. He gasped in pain, his lungs burning as he struggled to breathe. His words were caught in his throat, replaced by a low groan as the boy's hand pressed harder against him.
"I'll ask again... Who. Sent. You?"
The boy's hand hovered just above Kael's neck, fingers curved like a blade. Unbelievably, a shallow cut appeared on Kael's skin, as if the very air around the boy's fingers was sharp.
"I…not…sent…by…anyone…"
Kael croaked out, every word a struggle. His vision blurred, and a pounding in his head grew louder with each passing second.
The boy's expression darkened.
"Then you've left me with no choice."
He raised his hand, the movement deliberate, precise. A killing strike was imminent.
But before he could land the blow, Remy shot forward like a blur, his small form packed with immense force. His claws gleamed as he activated his skill, fueled by a surge of desperation and rage. Remy struck with far more power than Kael had ever seen from him before, maybe driven by adrenaline or sheer willpower to protect.
The boy, despite his weakened state, reacted with impressive reflexes. He dodged Remy's full assault but not without taking a glancing blow to his arm. Blood dripped from the shallow wound—a sign of a strong combatant.
Remy positioned himself between Kael and the boy, his fur bristling as he hissed, warning the boy to back off. His eyes glinted with a fierce protectiveness Kael hadn't seen before.
The boy stared at Remy, evaluating the rat.
"You're stronger than you look,"
He muttered, eyes narrowed in concentration. Both he and Remy braced themselves, preparing for another clash.
'This guy's no ordinary rat,'
The boy thought, sweat trickling down his temple.
'This is bad,
I'm currently in a bad shape, and a prolonged fight could cost me.
I need to finish this quickly.'
At the same time, Remy's mind raced.
'He's stronger than me
Kael's in danger. I have to stall him to let the human escape…'
The tension in the air was palpable, both combatants locked in a silent standoff, waiting for the next move.
Then, a voice broke through the silence, echoing in the cave.
"The both of you, stop!"
Kael shouted with every bit of strength he could muster.
Both Remy and the boy hesitated, but neither fully lowered their guard.
Kael, still gasping for breath, dragged himself up into his wheelchair, wincing from the pain in his neck. He wiped the blood trickling down from the shallow cut and looked at the boy.
"You… Is that any way to treat the one who just saved your life?"
Kael asked, his voice steady despite the situation.
"Saved?"
The boy's tone was skeptical, but something in Kael's words made him pause.
"Look around you,"
Kael gestured around the cave.
"Does it look like we're trying to harm you?"
The boy glanced around. The cave was dimly lit, but now that his adrenaline was fading, he noticed the details he had missed earlier—the makeshift bed he had woken up in, the crude furniture scattered around, the fire crackling warmly in the fireplace. It wasn't much, but it didn't scream threat either.
'This some sort of a hideout or something?'
The boy thought, his wariness still present but tempered by a new wave of confusion.
His gaze then fell to his own body. His arm was bandaged, his wounds had been cleaned, and the mud and blood that had coated him earlier were gone. Slowly, the realization dawned on him that he had been cared for, not attacked.
He locked eyes with Remy, the rat still growling protectively.
'That rat's strong, maybe a Low Rank Warrior. But the boy…'
He looked at Kael again, truly looking this time.
'I can't sense any origin power from him… It's almost like he has none at all.'
His sharp eyes caught sight of the wheelchair, and his suspicions grew.
The boy and Remy eased back a little, still cautious but no longer on the brink of attack.
Kael, now back in his wheelchair, met the boy's gaze.
"Judging by your strength, do you really think we'd have the ability to go against you if we meant harm?"
The boy studied Kael's face, comparing it to those who had attacked him earlier. Something about this felt different, more like a misunderstanding than a trap. But still, he didn't fully lower his guard.
'Could this all be a setup?'
The boy thought, suspicion still in his mind. But then Kael spoke again, words that froze him in place.
"You… You're Alden Cross, aren't you?"
Alden's eyes widened in shock, and he instinctively raised his hand, preparing for another strike. Remy immediately mirrored his movements, ready to defend Kael.
"How do you know that name?"
Alden demanded, his voice thick with hostility. His posture screamed aggression.
Kael didn't flinch.
"Havenlight orphanage... My name's Kael Virel... Do you remember me?"
Alden's eyes narrowed as he processed the name, something familiar tugging at his memory.
"Kael… Virel?"
He glanced at the wheelchair, then back to Kael's face. The pieces began to click together.
"You…
You're still alive?"