Kael's heart raced, pounding in his ears as he stared at the status window hovering above Lia's head. The data was a revelation that he struggled to grasp, a truth so overwhelming that it shook the foundations of his world:
[Name: Lia]
[Job: None]
[Title: The Seed of Verdant Grace]
[Strength: 5]
[Agility: 8]
[Stamina: 10]
[Mana: 0]
[Illness: Dormant Divine Power (Nature)]
[Seed of Verdant Grace: A dormant seed of divine power, bestowed by the Verdant Grace, a divine being who governs the natural world. The seed holds immense potential for growth and power, but it requires a catalyst to awaken.]
The words "Dormant Divine Power" echoed in his mind. Lia wasn't sick, as they had always believed. The frailty that had haunted her for years was not the result of illness—it was the consequence of a dormant divine power slumbering within her, waiting for the right moment to awaken.
A divine power. A force so ancient and vast that it defied comprehension. And it wasn't just any power—it was the seed of Verdant Grace, one of the Twelve Divine Beings, the embodiment of nature itself.
Kael felt the weight of this revelation crushing him, fear gnawing at his heart. What would happen when this power awakened? Would it transform his sister into something unrecognizable, or would it destroy her entirely? He glanced at Lia, who sat at his bedside, worry etched on her face, utterly unaware of the storm brewing inside her.
His mind was spinning. All these years, they had fought to keep her alive, but it was never a sickness they were battling. It was something far more powerful, far more dangerous. Lia had always been special, but this—this changed everything.
"Lia," Kael whispered, trying to keep the fear out of his voice. "I'm okay now. I'm going to be alright."
Lia smiled at him, her expression soft and reassuring, as if she could sense his turmoil. "I knew you would be," she said. "You're stronger than you think."
Kael forced a smile, but the weight of what he had just learned hung over him like a dark cloud. He had to protect her—more than ever now. But how could he protect her from something that was inside her, something divine and unpredictable?
He couldn't let her know—not yet. She didn't need to bear that burden. It was his to carry, and he would carry it alone if he had to.
"Lia," Kael said, his voice thick with emotion, his grip tightening on her hand. "I'm going to protect you. No matter what."
Lia's brow furrowed, confusion flashing in her eyes. "Protect me? From what?"
Kael swallowed, his mind scrambling for a way to explain without revealing too much. "I just… I've been thinking a lot, and I feel like something big is coming. But don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you."
She looked at him for a long moment, as if trying to read his thoughts. Finally, she sighed, her expression softening. "You've always been so protective, Kael. But you don't have to carry everything by yourself. I'm not as fragile as you think."
Her words stung. If only she knew how fragile her situation really was. But Kael simply nodded, masking his internal conflict. He would carry the weight of this truth alone—for now.
--------
Later that night, after Lia had left and the hospital had quieted, Kael lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind was racing, replaying everything he had learned.
Verdant Grace. One of the Twelve Divine Beings, the architects of the world. Each of the Twelve governed a domain of creation—fire, water, light, darkness, and so on. Verdant Grace was the embodiment of nature itself, capable of nurturing life and shaping the world. But Kael knew that nature was not always kind. It could be volatile, destructive, capable of unleashing hurricanes and earthquakes with the same ease it could grow forests and flowers.
He felt a chill run down his spine. This divine power inside Lia—what if it awakened uncontrollably? What if it consumed her, or worse, destroyed everything around her?
He had to find answers. He had to understand the nature of this divine seed, how to control it, how to protect Lia from its dangers. But he couldn't do it alone.
Kael's mind turned to the system—the Architect's Legacy. It had shown him the status windows, revealed the truth hidden from his eyes. Perhaps it could guide him further, help him find a way to navigate this new reality. He focused, calling forth his own status window.
[Job: Jobless]
[Title: The One Who Overcame Adversity, The Chosen One]
[Strength: 15]
[Agility: 18]
[Stamina: 12]
[Mana: 25]
[Skills: Basic Combat, Energy Manipulation, Healing, Enhanced Agility]
It wasn't enough. He needed more power, more knowledge. The world of hunters and dungeons had given him a glimpse of something far greater. If he was to protect his sister, he had to dive deeper into that world. He had to understand the Architect's Legacy and its connection to the divine.
As the moonlight filtered through the window, casting soft shadows across the room, Kael made a silent vow. He would find out everything about Verdant Grace and the other divine beings. He would learn what it meant to wield power like theirs. And he would do whatever it took to keep Lia safe.
Because now, the burden of truth was his to bear.