âYes, Lord Kael!â
Valencia watched from below, heart thudding, Kael no larger than an ant as he struck the monster.
ROAR.
Kaelâs first strike barely scored a scratch. The monsterâs massive arms seized a thick tree, swinging it like a club. Kael twisted midair, aura flaring as he glided, sliding through the assault as though his feet never left the sky.
From the kingdomâs gate, ladies cheered for Kael, hoping that he would subdue the monster before the backup.
Valenciaâs eyes stayed fixed on the monster. Her ears rang as the world blurred and seemed to slip away with each passing second. She felt herself falling while she stood, hands trembling.
âValenciaâŚâ a faint voice called.
She frozeâher head wouldnât obey her command to turn. A dark hand reached for her wrist and pulled her toward the creature.
âBoomâŚâ
The word left her lipsâor perhaps it was the Void itselfâbut in her mind, she saw the explosion in perfect detail: the trees ripping apart, the ground shaking, the monster thrown backward. The vision snapped into reality.
BOOM.
A purple Void erupted between Kael and the beast. His eyes widened before he could react. The explosion echoed in the forest that surrounded the kingdom. Kael swiftly plummeted toward the kingdom gate, barely controlling his descent, aura flickering wildly.
Valencia wrenched free of the hand and spun around, gasping. There was no oneâonly tombstone. She fell to her knees at her motherâs stone.
âMother⌠who was that? What was that?â Her hands shook as she closed her eyes and counted to steady herself.
When she calmed, she stood and picked up her motherâs journal, then returned toward the kingdom gate, pretending nothing had happened.
A groan stopped her.
She froze and moved silently, then saw himâKael, wounded, blood trickling down his temple, slumped against the gate. Valencia raced to him, watching sweat fall and his heart hammer.
âOh⌠hello?â she managed. âAre you okay?â
The moment her hand touched his chestâ
GRAB.
He opened his eyes through the blur and pulled her closer without seeming to realize. He panted.
âWhoâŚ?â he muttered. The pounding in his skull eased. The wild light inside him quieted as if it had finally found something to hold onto. I feel⌠at ease. The thought hit harder than the pain. Why?
Valencia jerked her hand back.
âUh⌠the kingdom is that way,â she said, pointing awkwardly. This pervert just grabbed my hand. If he werenât injured, Iâd have tossed void-balls at him. She hid her frown.
Kaelâs vision cleared for a beat. He saw her purplish hair, the black gloves. He reached out, then sagged.
âLord Kael!â Williamâs voice rang through the trees.
Valencia flung her hands up and stumbled back, glancing at Kael before scrambling away. I must not get caughtâmust not be questioned. She pulled her hoodie over her head and hurried to hide, not realizing sheâd left her motherâs journal beside Kael.
William rushed from the tower and inhaled sharply at the sight of Kael.
âLord Kael! Are youââ
Kael had already slipped into unconsciousness. No⌠I must stop her. I need her! His vision⌠went black.
William tightened his jaw, scooped Kael up, and gathered the journal as he carried him away.
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