I jolted awake, gasping for breath, my heart pounding as though I'd just escaped a nightmare. "It was just a dream," I whispered, trying to shake off the lingering dread. But as I scanned my surroundings, the truth hit me—I wasn't in my bed. I was lying beneath a tree, the cool shade doing little to ease the unease clawing at my chest.
"It wasn't a dream," a sharp, calm voice interrupted.
I froze. That voice—it was him. My instincts kicked in as I leapt to my feet, assuming a defensive stance. My mind raced, expecting pain, injury, or worse. But as I glanced down at my arms and legs—once severed—I found them perfectly intact. No scars, no wounds, as if nothing had ever happened.
What was going on?
The rustling of leaves above shattered my thoughts. Before I could react, a figure dropped gracefully from the branches. It was him—the man who had nearly killed me. The memory sent a wave of fear crashing through me.
"P-please, spare my life!" I stammered, my voice trembling. "I still have dreams to fulfill!"
The man tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Who said I was going to kill you?"
"You almost did last time!" I shot back, still panicked.
He regarded me in silence for a moment before his posture softened. "My apologies for frightening you," he said, his tone unexpectedly gentle. The menacing aura I remembered was gone, replaced by something... human. Regret, perhaps.
"Why did you do it?" I asked, wary but no longer paralyzed by fear.
He sighed, brushing a hand through his hair. "I had my reasons," he said, his voice tinged with reluctance.
There was something about him—something I couldn't explain. Against all logic, I let the matter drop. "Fine. Apology accepted," I muttered, though my curiosity still burned.
"Now, who are you? What do you want with me? And—how am I even alive?" I demanded, glancing down at my body again. Perfectly healed, no signs of the battle I barely survived. My gaze drifted to the staff in his hand, its intricate design radiating a strange, otherworldly power.
"Stop staring," he snapped, a hint of irritation in his voice.
"Fine," I said, backing off, though my fascination only grew.
He exhaled deeply before speaking. "My name is Merlin. I am the guardian angel of humanity. From this day forth, I am under your command. My duty is to help you, the hero of humanity, succeed in your quest—by any means necessary."
I blinked, stunned. "Me? A hero? And… a guardian angel? I've never heard of such a thing."
Merlin gave a small nod. "Yes, I am a guardian angel of humanity. And you are its hero."
I stared at him, disbelief washing over me. His power—it wasn't ordinary. Nothing about him was. But the thought of me being a hero? That seemed impossible.
"What makes you think I'm the hero?" I asked, doubt lacing my voice. "Heroes are supposed to have supernatural abilities, right? I don't have any."
Merlin smirked, as though amused by my denial. "What you believe doesn't matter. The truth does. And the truth is, you will awaken.
"The fire mark—that's your destiny," Merlin said, his voice steady and certain. "Fire, the element of destruction and protection, is granted only to humanity's hero. It is both a weapon and a shield, meant to burn away the darkness and safeguard the light."
I stared at the mark, its fiery half flickering faintly as though alive. "But it's not just fire," I murmured, tracing the cool, flowing lines of the water half. "What about this?"
Merlin's gaze softened, a flicker of admiration crossing his face. "Water is just as significant. It represents life, renewal, and the strength to endure."
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding. "So i was the hero humanity have been waiting for.will i have the strength have the strength or the power to fight back."
Merlin stepped closer, his presence both grounding and commanding. "Heroes are not born with strength or power—they are shaped by the trials they face and the choices they make. You've already proven yourself capable by surviving what should have been certain death."
The memory of my near-death resurfaced, sharp and vivid. I clenched my fists, the faint glow of the mark catching my eye. "Even if I survived… I don't know how to wield this power. I wouldn't even know where to start."
Merlin smiled faintly. "That's why I'm here. To guide you. To teach you how to wield the fire and water within you—to balance their chaos and their harmony."
I glanced back at the mark, a storm of emotions raging within me: fear, doubt, and something I couldn't quite name—hope.
"Do you really believe I can do this?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't just believe it," Merlin said, his tone unwavering. "I know it. The mark chose you, and now, so do I."
His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. For the first time, I felt the weight of something greater than myself—a purpose I didn't think about but couldn't ignore.
"Alright," I said, exhaling shakily. "I'll try. I don't know if I can be the hero you think I am,i also promise my mom i will make her smile…I'll do it."
Merlin nodded, his expression resolute. "That's all I need. The rest, we'll accomplish together."
And as the mark glowed brighter, I felt a spark of resolve ignite within me. This was only the beginning.
"So what am I supposed to do now?" I asked, the uncertainty in my voice impossible to hide.
"You must awaken your power," Merlin replied, his tone calm but firm, as though the answer was obvious.
"And how exactly am I supposed to do that?" I pressed, frustration creeping into my voice.
Merlin shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know. That's something you'll have to figure out for yourself."
I blinked, dumbfounded. "You don't know? Aren't you supposed to be my guide? My guardian? How am I supposed to figure this out on my own?"
Merlin smirked, the corner of his mouth twitching with amusement. "Guidance doesn't mean handing you all the answers on a silver platter. Awakening your power isn't something I can do for you. It's a journey—a personal one. You have to uncover what ignites the fire within you."
I stared at him, unimpressed. "That's… incredibly vague."
He chuckled softly, leaning on his staff. "It's supposed to be. Awakening isn't a step-by-step process. It's about discovering who you are, what drives you, and what you're willing to fight for. Until you understand that, your power will remain dormant."
I crossed my arms, feeling more frustrated than ever. "So, you're telling me to go on some kind of soul-searching adventure?"
"Essentially, yes," Merlin replied, his expression unyielding. "And while you're at it, try not to die. That would be inconvenient."
I glared at him. "Very helpful, thank you."
Merlin grinned, tapping his staff against the ground. "You're welcome. Now, get moving. The world won't wait for you to catch up."
I sighed, the weight of his words pressing down on me. If awakening my power was something only I could do, then I had no choice but to figure it out. As vague and frustrating as Merlin's advice was, I couldn't deny the truth in it.
"Fine," I muttered, determination creeping into my voice. "I'll figure it out. But don't think I won't ask for help if I need it."
Merlin nodded, his grin fading into a look of approval. "Good. I'll be watching from the shadows, ready to step in if necessary. But remember, this journey is yours to take."
With that, he turned and began walking away, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the faint glow of the mark on my hand.
Awakening my power... How was I supposed to do that? The path ahead was unclear, but one thing was certain—I couldn't afford to fail.
END OF CHAPTER.