Kai stepped outside with Nahlia, eager to escape the stifling air in the house. Only after feeling the cool breeze on his clammy skin did he realize how much he was sweating.
"Ah, sorry," he mumbled, suddenly self-conscious. "I should probably go change."
"No, it's fine," Nahlia said gently. "I don't mind."
He wrinkled his nose at the dampness of his shirt and rubbed the stubble on his chin. "Might not be the best smell, though."
"You should really keep a clean face," she suddenly teased, nodding at his faint beard. "It suits you."
"Not a fan of stubble or beards, huh?" Kai asked, arching an eyebrow.
She shook her head with a smile. "Not really."
He chuckled. "Alright. I'll keep that in mind." Then his expression softened. "So… did you like the flowers?"
"They were beautiful." Her eyes shone. "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me. You're my fiancée—this is basically expected," he joked with a grin.
She responded with a small laugh, but Kai noticed a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Speaking of which, what brought you all the way here? Did something happen?"
"Does something need to happen?" she asked, tilting her head.
"No, no," Kai said hastily, waving his hands.
Nahlia giggled at his flustered response, prompting Kai's mind to wander again. She really was enchanting.
"Can I say something weird?" he asked, abruptly.
"Sure," she replied, amused.
He rubbed the back of his neck, face reddening. "You're just… really beautiful. Like, gosh."
She blushed, her smile widening. "Thank you."
They walked in a comfortable silence for a few moments, slowly circling the house until they found themselves near the village streets.
"I heard you might be leaving within the week," she said softly, a trace of sadness in her voice.
"That was the plan," Kai admitted. "But I'm not so sure now—Leon's not doing well, so I might stay longer or have to leave even earlier."
Her eyes widened. "Earlier?"
"Leon's condition is complicated," he explained. "He needs me around for a while."
"What happened?" she asked, concern coloring her voice.
"It's just some backlash from his training," Kai said.
Nahlia nodded thoughtfully. "He's trying to become a Rulin, right?"
"Yes, but that's on pause for now," Kai confirmed.
She grew pensive for a moment, then glanced up at him. "Do you want to be a Rulin?"
He shook his head. "Not really. It's too dangerous, and I'm the only one providing for my family. If something happened to me, they'd be in trouble."
"I see," she murmured, processing his words.
"What about you—ever thought of becoming a Rulin?" he asked with a small, playful smile.
She chuckled. "Never. I have no interest in risking my life like that."
He nodded and, feeling uncharacteristically bold, said, "Well, you won't ever need to. I'll be here to protect you." It sounded far smoother in his head, and he cringed internally, but she only giggled.
"Cute," she teased, and Kai scratched the back of his neck again, looking sheepish.
Suddenly, a gravelly voice interrupted them. "Hey, young man."
Startled, Kai realized they'd drifted toward the market district. He turned to see the same middle-aged man he'd encountered before, clad in ragged clothes and smoking a thin cigar. The man's red-rimmed eyes suggested he hadn't slept much.
Kai instinctively moved forward, placing himself between the stranger and Nahlia. "Yes? Something you need?"
"Got any spare change?" the man asked, extending a trembling hand.
Kai nodded and dug out a few silver coins, passing them over. "Here you go."
"Thank you," the man said, pocketing the coins. As Kai turned to leave, he felt a hand grip his shoulder.
"Wait," the stranger said, his voice dropping.
"Excuse me?" Nahlia frowned, bristling at the contact. Kai held out an arm to keep her back.
"Yes, sir?" Kai asked politely, gently removing the man's hand.
"You smell… odd today," the man muttered, squinting at him.
Kai flushed. "Ha, yeah—I've been sweating a bit," he said sheepishly, crying inside at how embarrassing this was in front of Nahlia.
"Not that," the man growled. "You smell like… Zhull." His gaze flicked to Kai's arm, and his eyes narrowed. "You should be careful, kid. That stench is strong."
Then, without further explanation, he turned and limped away, leaving Kai stunned.
"What a weirdo," Nahlia said, staring after him.
Kai was too distracted to respond properly. "Yeah," he mumbled, lost in thought. He gently steered them both back toward his house, still unsettled by the man's words.
When they arrived, Leon stood outside, looking pale and anxious.
"Leon?" Kai quickened his pace, Nahlia trailing just behind. "What's wrong?"
Leon locked eyes on Kai, ignoring Nahlia's presence. "Where were you?" he demanded, breath coming in short bursts. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead, and fresh scratch marks lined his neck.
"Easy," Kai said, scanning Leon's disheveled appearance. "I was just out for a walk. What happened—what are these scratches?"
Leon's eyes shimmered with barely contained fear. "I-I can't close my eyes, Kai," he stammered. "Every time I do, I see… it. What do I do?"
Kai's heart clenched in concern. He gave Leon's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry, I'll fix it." He guided Leon into the house, with Nahlia trailing behind, her face a mix of confusion and worry.
If only it were that simple, Kai thought grimly. He cast a quick glance at Nahlia, hoping she wouldn't pry into all the details he'd rather keep hidden. One crisis at a time.
As Kai stepped into the house, he noticed his parents pacing restlessly. Maribel sat on the sofa, looking just as worried. The moment they spotted Kai, they rushed over.
"Kai," his father barked, "what is going on with Leon?"
"I'll explain soon," Kai said, exhaling. "First, let me help him relax."
He led Leon upstairs, Nahlia following uncertainly behind, not wanting to remain with Kai's visibly agitated parents.
"Leon, from now on, you'll sleep in my room, alright?" Kai said as they entered.
Leon gave a curt nod and peeled off his shirt, collapsing onto the bed with a weary sigh.
Kai placed a palm on Leon's forehead, channeling his Nafs. Nahlia watched in stunned silence as a subtle purple glow enveloped Kai's hand. A noise like crumpling paper rippled through the air, and Kai winced intermittently, but soon the light dissipated. Leon appeared to have drifted off to sleep.
Kai took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders to relieve tension. Turning to Nahlia, he offered a tired smile. "Could you stay with him for a few minutes while I grab a quick shower?"
She nodded, still processing what she'd just witnessed. She sank into Kai's desk chair, watching Leon's peaceful but exhausted slumber. What's really going on here? she wondered.
Nahlia paced around the room for a while until Kai returned. He wore only a pair of shorts, his hair damp from the shower. Ordinarily, she might have blushed, but her eyes immediately locked onto his right arm—and her face paled.
"K-Kai," she breathed, taking a step closer. "What… what happened to your arm?" It was riddled with injuries—burn-like wounds, small lacerations, and veins tinged with black. The entire limb looked painfully abnormal.
Kai sighed, shutting the door behind him. "Nahlia… since we're engaged, and we plan to marry, there are things about me you should know."
From a drawer, he pulled out some white bandages. Tearing them open with his teeth, he began clumsily wrapping his arm.
"Let me help—" Nahlia offered, already standing.
He shook his head gently. "I've got it."
She watched him finish the bandaging, the result uneven but serviceable. He let out a faint laugh under his breath.
"What's so funny?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You."
"Me? Why?"
He exhaled, managing a small, genuine grin. "You remember saying I'd eventually fall for you? You were right. I think I'm already there."
Her cheeks flushed, though she smiled back. "Why are you telling me that now?"
Kai's grin turned sheepish. "I say what's on my mind. And lately, my mind's on you… a lot."
Her blush deepened, but she seemed pleased. Kai took a seat on the edge of the bed while she settled back in the chair.
"Anyway," he began, voice more serious, "as my future wife, I feel I owe you honesty more than anyone else. Because in the end, it'll be you and me facing the world together, right?"
She nodded, her expression softening at his words.
Kai lifted his left hand, letting a gentle purple haze swirl around it.
"What is that?" Nahlia asked, curiosity and lingering concern mingling in her voice. "I saw it when you were helping Leon."
"This is my Nafs," Kai explained.
"Nafs?" she repeated, eyes widening. "But you said you aren't trying to be a Rulin."
"I'm not," he said with a wry smile. "But I did train to be one in the past, and I kept up occasional practice. I've reached a certain level."
Nahlia took in a slow breath. "That's… amazing. I've never seen anyone use Nafs before."
Kai offered a short laugh. "Once you move in with me, you'll see plenty of odd things. My research involves the Zhull, so I work with a lot of high-level Rulin. Some are even higher-ranked than me."
"Wow," she breathed, genuinely impressed.
Kai started to say more, but a knock on the door cut him off. He opened it to find his mother glaring at him, her gaze flicking to Leon, who was thankfully asleep. Then she turned that stern look back to Kai. "Come downstairs," she said, her tone brooking no argument.
Kai sighed, nodding. He glanced at Nahlia, managing a small, reassuring smile. "Would you mind staying here a bit longer?"
She nodded, watching them leave. Once alone, she glanced at Leon—still slumbering, though his rest looked far from peaceful—and then at the closed door. Her heart pounded with questions, but she resolved to trust Kai, at least for now.
Kai followed his mother downstairs, where his father paced anxiously. At the sight of Kai, his father's eyes flashed with anger and worry.
"What happened to Leon?" he demanded, voice trembling with rage. "He isn't sleeping—he's panicking, hurting himself! What the hell is going on?"
"Please, sit," Kai said quietly. "I'll explain everything."
"Sit? Tell me now!" his father roared, clamping his large hands on Kai's bare shoulders. Kai felt nails digging into his skin.
"Honey, let him go!" Kai's mother intervened, pulling her husband back.
Kai took a small breath, trying to stay calm. His gaze flickered to Maribel, who stood off to the side, looking just as worried.
Once his mother managed to guide his father to the sofa, she handed him a glass of water. She settled next to him, her face drawn with concern.
Kai pulled on a buttoned shirt, then took a seat across from his parents. Maribel sat beside him, fidgeting anxiously.
"Mom, you might not know all of this," he began. "Dad does, but I've mastered my Nafs and reached Lawamma months ago. There's no pride in saying it—it's just the truth."
"Get to the point," his father snarled.
Kai tried to remain steady, directing most of his explanation toward his mother. "When someone steps into the Lawamma realm, they gain access to their introspective world—the Sahalim."
His father shot to his feet, pointing an accusing finger. "Stop wasting time! Leon's losing his mind, all because of your crazy Rulin plans! Did you see the scratches on his neck? If I hadn't stopped him, who knows what he'd have done!"
Outside their line of sight, Nahlia hovered on the stairs, unable to fight her curiosity. She peered in, her heart pounding.
"I understand, Dad," Kai murmured.
"The hell you do!" his father roared again.
Kai felt his own anger surge. He stood, meeting his father's glare. "Will you let me finish? Don't demand an explanation and then refuse to hear it!"
His father's fury peaked; he stepped forward and slapped Kai hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed.
Nahlia clapped a hand over her mouth in shock; Maribel and her mother flinched as well.
"Feel better now?" Kai asked icily, one hand pressed to his stinging cheek.
"Watch your tone," his father growled. "Don't forget who you're speaking to."
Kai scoffed but sank back into his seat, his voice turning cold. "Fine. Sit down, Dad."
With a shaky exhale, his mother tugged Kai's father back to the sofa.
"I'll keep this brief," Kai said, words clipped. "Leon's Nafs is somehow linked to the Zhull. He can literally create them—and I have no idea why or how. I tried to help him gain more control, but it backfired. Now his own Nafs is trying to kill him."
His mother's eyes went wide with panic. "W-what does that mean for Leon?" she asked, voice shaking.
Kai's gaze softened. He shook his head. "I don't know, Mom. I'm as stunned as you."
"Then get someone to help him!" his father cried, desperation cracking his voice. "You're being stupid! He'll die otherwise!"
Kai's frustration flared. "I can't! If I tell any scholar or Rulin about Leon, they'll see him as a threat and kill him—and probably all of us!"
A tense silence fell over the room, as thick as the dread in everyone's hearts.
Kai looked around, eyes still cold. He rose, walking toward the staircase. His parents sat weeping, fear etched into every line on their faces.
"I told you before," he said quietly, turning back. "I'll find a way, somehow." Then he climbed the steps.
Halfway up, he caught sight of Nahlia standing on the landing, eyes wide.
He managed a bitter smile. He gently patted her head. "You heard all of that, didn't you?"
She nodded mutely.
He sighed, feeling a weariness settle in his bones. "It was only a matter of time before you found out. Listen… if you want to call off our engagement, I won't hold it against you. I'll take all the blame."
With that, he ascended the rest of the way and slipped into his room, leaving her behind, stunned and torn between compassion and fear.