After the dream, Hitory walked through a vast, endless field. The sky stretched out before him, a canvas painted with vibrant colors and clouds that seemed to move slowly, almost as if they were watching him. He was alone, yet he didn't feel the weight of solitude. It felt as though he were inside a distant memory — or perhaps a dream — something hard to define.

  Then, the figure of édros appeared before him. He stood tall, like a giant made of pure energy, with eyes that seemed to pierce straight through the deepest thoughts. His presence was overwhelming, and even knowing it was a dream, Hitory couldn't help but feel an involuntary sense of reverence.

  — "See, Hitory? I'm not the best person to say this, but take care of those you love. I'm the one who gave you the vision so you could understand Tekime's pain."

  Hitory remained silent, absorbing édros' words as images of Tekime, his struggles, and his hardships flashed before his eyes — like an endless film. The pain and the fight for survival, all blending into one moment.

  — "I once had someone I loved, but besides failing to cherish our time together... I couldn't protect her. Now I see that you're walking a similar path. It's a pain you'll understand in your own time."

  Hitory felt a knot tightening in his chest, unsure of what to say. édros' presence was overwhelming, yet he felt an urge to understand more.

  — "But there's one more thing. I want to duel you. I know for sure you never wanted to bear this burden, but... something happened one day — something you don't remember. If you defeat me, I'll show you what happened. The choice is yours."

  Hitory stood in silence for a moment. He knew that challenge was beyond his current strength, but the fire of determination burning inside him wouldn't let him back down.

  — "I accept the duel."

  As soon as he spoke the words, the environment around him began to shift. The ground trembled, cracks forming beneath his feet, releasing a golden light. The scenery morphed, and he found himself standing in a vast circular arena. The empty stands surrounded him, yet the air was thick with a suffocating pressure.

  A sword appeared beside Hitory, floating in the air. Its blade gleamed with an intense golden light, radiating warmth and power. He gripped the hilt tightly, feeling not just the weight of the weapon, but the responsibility it carried.

  édros, holding a silver spear that pulsed with divine energy, stared at Hitory with a serious gaze.

  — "I want to see how far your determination can take you."

  Hitory moved first, charging forward with a shout of determination. His steps were quick as he slashed toward édros, aiming for his torso. However, édros dodged with a simple motion — smooth as flowing water — and struck Hitory with the spear's shaft, sending him flying back.

  The impact was brutal. Hitory hit the ground, pain flaring through his body.

  édros, with a calm tone, said:

  — "Strength alone won't be enough. Try again."

  Rising quickly, Hitory refocused, adjusting his stance. He decided to change his approach, aiming for a more strategic attack. He unleashed a flurry of quick, precise strikes — diagonal cuts followed by horizontal slashes.

  But édros was like a storm under absolute control. Each of Hitory's strikes was met with flawless precision. With a swift movement, édros spun his spear and disarmed Hitory, sending the golden sword flying across the arena.

  Hitory rolled to retrieve his weapon, but before he could react, édros had the spear's tip pointed directly at him.

  — "You fight like someone carrying more than just their own strength. Show me that burden!"

  Hitory rose again, gasping for breath, gripping his sword with both hands. Sweat trickled down his face, mixing with the blood from small cuts he'd suffered. He closed his eyes for a moment, remembering édros' words and the reason he had accepted this duel.

  — "I can't give up... No matter how impossible it seems... I have to keep going."

  He opened his eyes — now burning with renewed intensity. He charged once more, but this time his movements were different. He began watching édros' patterns, searching for an opening.

  Hitory managed to close the distance just enough to strike. He swung his sword in a descending arc, aiming for édros' shoulder. For a brief moment, it seemed like the blow would land. But in a blink, édros blocked the attack with his spear, creating a shockwave that shook the entire arena.

  The force of the impact knocked Hitory to his knees, his sword slipping from his grasp. Looking up, he saw édros raising his spear.

  édros, in a solemn tone, said:

  — "Enough. You've proven your strength... More than that, you've proven your will."

  With a subtle motion, édros made the spear vanish and extended his hand toward Hitory.

  — "You may not have defeated me, but you proved yourself worthy. Even before a god, you didn't back down. That... is something few can do."

  Hitory grasped édros' hand, pulling himself up as every muscle in his body screamed in agony. The bitter taste of defeat still lingered, yet something unexpected stirred within him — a sense of purpose, like a forgotten flame reigniting inside.

  édros gazed at him, his expression carrying something beyond pride... there was respect.

  — "You fell, but you weren't broken. That... deserves recognition."

  Suddenly, an orange light began to envelop Hitory. The heat didn't burn — it wrapped around him, comforting, like the embrace of a powerful presence. The air shifted, and édros' voice echoed like distant thunder:

  — "From this day forth, you carry the 'Blessing of édros' Flame'... The soul of a lost warrior... reborn through you."

  The light swirled, forming a spiraling blaze that danced around Hitory. For a moment, he felt as if he stood before something far greater than himself — a force that could devour worlds or shape them anew.

  — "Don't waste it," édros' voice rang out once more, firm as a verdict. — "Use it well, Hitory."

  As the light finally faded, Hitory stood there, breathing heavily. His body still ached, but his heart... felt lighter. He looked at édros with deep respect, knowing that this battle had only been the beginning of something far greater.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Hitory, exhausted but still standing, stared at édros, trying to understand what he meant with those words. He felt the sting of his failures... but also something deeper — a connection he couldn't quite explain.

  — "Do you remember Nyliryka, your childhood friend?"

  A familiar pain gripped Hitory's chest, like an old scar being reopened. He closed his eyes, trying to recall — and then the memories began to surface. Flashbacks of a young girl with red hair and a gentle smile. He remembered the promise he'd made to her — to be her Guardian. A vision of a scar appeared in his mind, the same one that marked his chest. But what disturbed him most... was the emptiness surrounding that memory.

  — "Yeah... the youngest daughter of the King of Valonia." — Hitory replied.

  — "You're pretty good at remembering things, even if they've been erased. Continuing on... you forgot many details, but her image remained, just like the promise you made to be her guardian. The day you appeared with that scar was the same day she came from the capital to see you. The King allowed his daughter to visit your home because Zelia, your mother, was his friend and the strongest mage. You two met, and she thought it would be a date, while you... well... (laughs) you were 12."

  Hitory remained silent. The pain of the past weighed on him, but he wanted to understand more.

  — "That day, you were hunted. Not by bandits, but by demons in disguise. They wanted to kidnap Nyliryka because she was the strongest of the royal family, despite being the youngest. They took her, but before you could protect her, you and she were ambushed. Afterward, the demons cast a curse on you — one that was supposed to kill you after some time. But you didn’t die. Something unexpected happened. Since the curse was a part of my soul, you ended up absorbing me into yourself."

  édros' words cut through Hitory like sharp blades. He didn't know what else to say. The pain of failing to protect Nyliryka, of not remembering her completely, of everything that had been lost — it all weighed down on his heart like an unbearable burden.

  — "No one knows her whereabouts... but I can give you a clue."

  At that moment, an image appeared before Hitory. It was a deserted island, surrounded by mist, and shortly after, the image of Nyliryka appeared — chained, her eyes filled with suffering. Hitory felt a tightness in his chest, a silent scream echoing in his mind.

  — "My time’s up. See you around."

  Before Hitory could wake up, he managed to steady himself a little.

  — "I don’t know why you’re helping me... but thank you."

  édros nodded, like a final farewell, before disappearing. Hitory remained there for a moment, feeling édros’ absence, but also sensing a new strength within him. He knew his path wasn’t any clearer, but he was more determined to follow it.

  When he woke up, he was back in the real world, but something had changed. He was no longer the same. The weight of his memories and the flame that now burned within him were what would drive him forward.

  Hitory slowly woke up, the soft morning light filtering through the room’s windows. He was alone, with the echoes of édros’ dream still reverberating in his mind. The feeling of the battle, the heavy words, and the vision of Nyliryka were still fresh in his memory. Yet, something inside him had changed. He felt an internal fire — a renewed determination that pushed him to move forward despite the uncertainties.

  He rose from the bed with a deep sigh, still trying to process everything he had learned. His muscles were tense, as if the fight with édros had left marks not only on his body but also on his soul. He dressed quickly, his movements automatic while his mind still wandered. The promise he had made, the memory of Nyliryka, and the pain of what had happened in his past haunted him, but he knew he had something to do. The mission he had started was far from over.

  With firm steps, he left the room and walked toward the kitchen. The aroma of fresh coffee and baked bread filled the air — a comforting scent that made his stomach growl with hunger. As he entered, he found Tekime and Elyndra quietly talking, seated at the table. Tekime was sipping her coffee while Elyndra handled some herbs and spices on the table.

  However, upon seeing Tekime, something inside Hitory broke. He felt an overwhelming need to approach her — to feel a connection, to find some sort of comfort for himself and for her. Without a second thought, he rushed toward Tekime and hugged her tightly, closing his eyes for a moment, feeling the warmth of her body against his. The gesture was impulsive, maybe even desperate, but he felt he needed it more than anything else.

  Tekime, surprised, stood frozen for a moment, unsure of the reason behind the sudden embrace. She was about to ask what was happening, but upon seeing Hitory's expression — a deep gaze filled with emotions she couldn’t quite decipher — she simply returned the hug. Her arms gently wrapped around Hitory, still unsure what was going on, but knowing that somehow... he needed this.

  They stayed like that, embraced, in a comforting silence, while Elyndra watched quietly, her sharp eyes observing but not interrupting the moment. She knew Hitory was going through something much bigger than he was willing to show, and perhaps that gesture was the only way for him to start coping with the pain he carried. She said nothing, simply continuing her work, giving them space.

  The moment seemed frozen in time — the silent connection between them stronger than any words could express.

  After that brief moment of silence, Tekime looked at Hitory with a worried expression and asked softly:

  — "What happened, Hitory?"

  Hitory averted his gaze for a moment, feeling the words still heavy on his chest. He knew he needed time to process everything he had experienced in the dream with édros, but he wasn’t ready to share it yet.