Kaiden stirred awake, the world sluggishly coming into focus. His body protested every motion, a dull throb resonating from his muscles to his bones. The room around him was still, bathed in soft morning light filtering through half-drawn curtains. The bed he was on felt foreign but mercifully comfortable, a stark contrast to the cold ground he was used to training on.
The faint creak of wood drew his attention to the figure seated beside him. Elira, the innkeeper, sat with her legs crossed, a small smile playing on her lips. Her auburn hair shimmered in the light, framing her face in a way that made her seem almost out of place in the grim reality Kaiden lived in.
"Oh, good. You're finally awake," she said, leaning forward slightly. Her tone was casual, but the concern in her eyes betrayed her facade. "Took you long enough. You looked like death when they dragged you in."
Kaiden groaned, shifting slightly, and immediately regretted it. Pain flared across his ribs and arms, sharp enough to make him hiss through his teeth.
"Don't move too much," Elira warned, resting her chin on her hand. "You're basically held together by sheer stubbornness at this point. Honestly, who the hell uses brass knuckles against a kid?"
Kaiden winced, trying to sit up despite her warning. "I'm not a kid."
Elira snorted. "Sure, you're not. Then again…" Her lips curved into a teasing smirk. "You don't really look like one. Hey, Kaiden, how old are you again?"
He shot her a glare, though the effect was ruined by his disheveled state. "Shut up. Not in the mood for your jokes."
Elira raised her hands in mock surrender, her smile unfaltering. "Alright, alright. No jokes. But seriously, what happened out there? You were half-dead when Garin brought you in."
Kaiden leaned back against the headboard, exhaling sharply as the pain ebbed slightly. "It was… rough." His mind replayed the fight, the ferocity of his opponent, the raw power of those glowing brass knuckles. "I barely made it."
Elira's expression softened, a rare moment of genuine concern breaking through. "Well, you're here now, so there's that. "Someone named Gay—no, Gary? Oh, wait, Garin! That's it. He brought you back here with a message.
Kaiden's brows furrowed. "What message?"
Elira mimicked Garin's gruff voice, a smirk tugging at her lips. "'Tell that brat to train harder if he ever wants to become immortal.' Or something like that."
Kaiden scoffed, his irritation evident. "Figures. He drops me off, says something cryptic, and vanishes."
Elira tilted her head, studying him for a moment before chuckling softly. "You really are ungrateful sometimes. Do you even realize what time he brought you in?"
Kaiden frowned, his tone laced with suspicion. "What time?"
"Midnight."
He blinked, taken aback. "And the fight ended at—"
"Five in the evening," she finished, leaning back in her chair with a knowing smile.
Kaiden stared at her, his mind processing the gap. "...He waited that long?"
"Apparently," Elira said, standing and smoothing out her apron. "You should thank him the next time you see him. Not that I expect you to, stubborn as you are."
Kaiden huffed, muttering under his breath. "Don't count on it."
Elira laughed lightly, heading for the door. "Well, rest up, champ. You'll need it if you're planning to go back to that madhouse anytime soon."
Kaiden watched her leave, her presence lingering in the room even after the door clicked shut. He stared at the ceiling, his thoughts a whirlwind of frustration and determination.
"I can't stay like this," he muttered to himself, his fist clenching weakly at his side. "I have to get stronger. Much stronger."
POV Switch: A Gathering of Shadows
The room was dim, the air thick with tension. A single candle burned at the center of the table, its flickering flame casting eerie shadows on the walls. The figures seated around the table were cloaked in darkness, their faces obscured by hoods and masks.
The largest of the figures leaned forward, his voice a low, menacing growl. "Kaiden is becoming a problem. That boy's potential is dangerous."
A smaller figure to his right chuckled, the sound sharp and mocking. "Dangerous? He's just a child playing at being a warrior."
The large figure slammed a fist onto the table, making the candle flicker. "Did you not see what he did in that arena? He's more than just a child. He's a weapon in the making. And weapons like him… need to be controlled."
Another figure, silent until now, spoke in a calm, measured tone. "Controlled? No. He's already slipped through that stage. If we wait any longer, he'll become something we can't stop."
The group fell silent, the weight of the words settling over them like a heavy shroud.
"Then it's decided," the large figure said finally, his tone decisive. "Kaiden must be eliminated. Quietly. No mistakes."
The others nodded in agreement, their murmurs blending into a sinister hum.
The candle's flame flickered again, casting a shadow that seemed to grin.
End of Chapter 29: Part 1
Kaiden's resolve hardens, but the forces moving against him grow ever more determined. As the shadows close in, the true weight of his journey begins to reveal itself.