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Scene: Kang Wo Hu's Apartment, Night
The soft hum of the city outside filled the silence as Mordryn sat across from Kang Wo Hu at her dining table. The lights were dim, casting long shadows across the room, and the mood had shifted to something more serious—more intense. Kang Wo Hu could sense it. She had known for a while that Mordryn wasn't like anyone else, but tonight, there was something different in his eyes, something ancient.
He pushed his plate aside and leaned back in his chair, his expression distant as if he were gazing through time itself.
Mordryn:
quietly
"I suppose you deserve the truth now."
Kang Wo Hu raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. She had known he was holding something back, but she had never pushed him to explain himself. Yet now, it seemed like he was ready to finally let her in.
Kang Wo Hu:
softly
"The truth? You mean about who you really are?"
Mordryn's eyes met hers, and for the first time since she had met him, there was a vulnerability in them—an openness she hadn't seen before. He took a deep breath, as though the weight of what he was about to say had been carried for far too long.
Mordryn:
"I am not from this time. I am not from this era. In fact, I am over ten thousand years old."
The words hung in the air, and Kang Wo Hu's breath caught in her throat. She stared at him, trying to process what he had just said. Ten thousand years? It was impossible, and yet, she could see in his eyes that he wasn't lying.
Kang Wo Hu:
in disbelief
"You're... you're serious?"
Mordryn nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving hers.
Mordryn:
"I was once known as the strongest sorcerer to ever walk the earth. In my time, people feared me. They didn't understand my power—they thought I was a monster. And in the end, they turned against me."
Kang Wo Hu's mind raced as she tried to comprehend the scale of what he was saying. He had mentioned pieces of his past before, but never in such detail. Now, it all started to make sense—the way he carried himself, his immense knowledge of magic and battle, the sadness that sometimes lingered in his eyes.
Kang Wo Hu:
"So... you were feared because people didn't understand you?"
Mordryn's expression darkened as he remembered the past, memories of betrayal and isolation flooding his mind.
Mordryn:
"Yes. I had power beyond anything they had ever seen. I fought to protect them, to stop the monsters that plagued our lands. But instead of gratitude, I received fear. They believed I was the cause of the destruction, that I was leading the monsters against them. Eventually, even those closest to me betrayed me."
He clenched his fists, the old anger stirring in his chest.
Mordryn:
"They sealed me away. For centuries, I slept in a tomb of darkness, until the world forgot my name. But now, here I am... in this strange new world, where I barely recognize anything. And my power... it's slipping away."
Kang Wo Hu's heart ached as she listened to him. She had never imagined the depth of his suffering—the loneliness of being misunderstood for so long. To live for thousands of years and be cast aside by those you swore to protect... it was unimaginable.
Kang Wo Hu:
softly
"Mordryn... I'm so sorry. No one should have to go through that."
Mordryn's gaze softened slightly, but he shook his head.
Mordryn:
"I don't need pity, Kang Wo Hu. What I need now is strength. Cyras is still out there, and the war isn't over. But without my power, I'm nothing. I need to regain what I've lost."
Kang Wo Hu sat up straighter, her determination mirroring his. She had been by his side through thick and thin, and she wasn't about to stop now.
Kang Wo Hu:
"Then we'll find a way to get your power back. Whatever it takes."
Mordryn looked at her, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. She didn't know the extent of the danger they were walking into, but her resolve never wavered.
Mordryn:
"There's no going back once we start this. The path ahead is dangerous."
Kang Wo Hu smiled, her confidence unshaken.
Kang Wo Hu:
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't ready for danger."
Mordryn allowed himself a small smile in return. He stood up, his body still feeling the strain of his weakened state, but his mind was set on one goal: regaining his strength.
Mordryn:
decisively
"Then it's time. I can't sit idly by any longer. I'm going to hunt, Kang Wo Hu. I need to reclaim my power, and I know just where to start."
Kang Wo Hu's eyes widened slightly at the sudden shift in his tone, but she didn't flinch.
Kang Wo Hu:
"A hunt? You mean... for monsters?"
Mordryn nodded, his expression growing serious once again.
Mordryn:
"The monsters of this world may be different from the ones I fought in the past, but they still carry power within them. If I can defeat them, I might be able to absorb their energy, to rekindle the magic that I've lost."
Kang Wo Hu stood up beside him, her heart pounding with anticipation. This was it—the beginning of something bigger than both of them. She didn't know what lay ahead, but she trusted Mordryn, and she wasn't going to let him face this alone.
Kang Wo Hu:
"Then let's do it. Let's get your power back."
Mordryn's eyes gleamed with determination as he turned toward the door, ready to face whatever lay ahead. But deep inside, a question still lingered—a question that haunted him ever since he woke up in this strange new world.
Mordryn (thinking):
"How did I survive the sealing? Why am I here... now, of all times?"
As they stepped out into the night, the city's lights shimmering in the distance, Mordryn couldn't shake the feeling that something larger was at play—something far beyond his understanding.
And as they disappeared into the shadows, the hunt had only just begun.
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End of Chapter 13