After the mysterious man saved them, Neral sat beside the injured Rin. Rin's wounds were deep, and time was slipping away quickly, but Neral felt something new stirring inside him. He knew he had to act fast, but something held him back. His eyes met the mysterious man, who remained silent for a moment, observing them.
"You need to treat your friend quickly," the mysterious man said in a calm but firm tone. "I have some magical herbs that will help him, but they won't be effective unless you know how to use them."
Neral knew nothing about magical herbs or how to use them, but he resolved not to stand idly by. He hesitantly agreed, and the mysterious man turned to the shadows, pulling out a small bag filled with herbs. "Take these, mix them with hot water, and let him drink. This will stop the bleeding and give him the strength to survive."
As Neral treated Rin with the help of the mysterious man, he pondered what had just happened. The man had been clear in his words about the aether, and Neral still didn't fully understand what it all meant. That mysterious power he had felt in a moment of crisis... was that the aether? How could he learn to control it? He knew he needed answers.
Once Rin regained some consciousness, he began to question the mysterious man. "Who are you? And why did you help us?"
The man smiled slightly. "My name isn't important right now. But you can call me Kyle. As for why I helped you, it's because I've been watching you, Neral. There's something special inside you, something that could change the course of this world."
Neral felt confused. "What are you talking about? I didn't even know how to use the aether!"
Kyle looked at him seriously. "And that's why you need to learn. The aether is not just a power; it's the spirit of the world. If you don't learn to control it, it will control you."
Neral didn't know how to respond. He felt the immense pressure, and his mind was racing. But despite everything, he knew Kyle was right. This was just the beginning, and there was so much he had to learn.
When Neral returned to his village, there was an air of worry and anticipation. News of the monsters had begun to spread, and everyone was wondering what had happened. His mother, Lyra, was waiting anxiously in front of the small home where he had grown up. When she saw him return with the injured Rin and Kyle, tears began to well up in her eyes.
"Neral!" she cried as she rushed toward him. "I was so worried!"
Neral hugged her tightly, but he knew the story was far from over. His mother knew little about the aether, but she was trying to protect her son from diving into this dangerous world.
"What happened?" she asked in a trembling voice as she looked at Rin's wounds.
"We faced a monster in the forest, and Kyle saved us." Neral was trying to sound strong, but he knew the situation was worse than it seemed.
Lyra looked at Kyle with suspicion. "Thank you for saving my son and his friend, but why are you here?"
Kyle turned to her calmly and said, "Your son possesses abilities he is not yet aware of. If he doesn't learn to control the aether, he may be in greater danger than he realizes."
Lyra looked at her son, feeling a wave of concern rise within her. "Neral, is this true?"
Neral felt lost, but he looked at Kyle and said with determination, "I need to learn the aether. If I don't, I may not be able to protect those I love."