k he had supposedly written. Beside him, the woman who had borrowed it, Elara ,watched

He clenched his jaw, pushing past the discomfort, determined to uncover what la

fter countless times of experiencing the sam

t might sound absurd to a normal person, but giving Kael's reaction,

He winced, gripping the table, but be

ary disa

-

r shimmered with power, thick like a storm about to break. In front of

rtia

know how, but the name c

eli

d in a w

, eyes burning like molten

ou? What's

ade the martial go

threat to the heavens even as a mortal, so t

re like talki

ll this!!

amed in d

tched as instincts long buried fought their way back to the surface,his body rem

sion, or perhaps a memory resurfa

d of golden grasses, it seemed to travel through time as he continued. "even so

d time to move before a force like a collapsing star sent him hurt

o

gns, and a barrier of searing blue light flared to life before him. The

clinging to power you do not understand?

is chest rising and falling r

was razor-sharp

r his mind did not recognize but his body wielded effortlessly. The sky cracked as their clash sent ripples through the very fabric

aught the movement a second too late. A hot pain seared through his ribs, and he was sent skidding a

lowering his stance. "But stren

lsed with energy, but something was missing somet

exchange. His strikes became sharper, more calculated. Memory and i

d

ion sha

e" Vaelen's voice drifted into

-

again, his hands gripping the book so tightly his knuckles had turned

happened?

ing against his ribs. He ran a hand

rowned.

ed. Then, after a pause

e knew now, this book was a key, unlocking fragments of himself that had been l

ens were

was V

-

nd, each motion, each strike. The power Vaelin wielded was immense f

awn back to the book. He flipped through t

wo cups of coffee. She slid on

on a page. A diagram, a symbol etched in black ink. The

his mind, ancient and comm

the book. "I need to

row. "What exactly a

n. A cold gust of wind swept through, unnatural for th

rned an

dark robes, eyes burning with ethereal ligh

. Another

e locked onto him

t a greeting. The

table. His memories were still f

thing wa

longer content

-

d her behind , but she remained silent. She couldn't help but stare at the

uiet refuge, now felt like the

aid, steadying his stance.

ed forward. "Then you

lanced at the book, t

itted. "But I'm a

nating the library's dark corners. The encounter w

is was

to fight for the