Mathew’s eyes fluttered open to the sight of a smooth white ceiling—far different from the old, dusty one he was used to.
For a brief moment, confusion clouded his mind.
Then the pain hit him.
He tried to sit up.
“Ow—”
A sharp ache tore through his body, forcing him back onto the bed.
It felt as though his insides had been twisted apart and stitched together again.
Before he could gather his thoughts, the door creaked open.
A woman in her late forties stepped into the room, her long black hair framing a stern but elegant face.
Beside her stood a petite silver-haired girl with striking emerald-green eyes.
Anika.
And the woman…
Miss Irene.
The moment Mathew saw Irene, a flicker of fear passed through his eyes.
But when he looked at Anika, relief quickly followed.
No matter what he had endured during the skirmish, knowing she was unharmed eased the weight on his chest.
“Anika,” Irene said softly, “leave us alone for a moment.”
“Yes, Miss Irene.”
Anika gave Mathew one last glance before quietly slipping out of the room.
Silence settled between them.
Irene slowly walked closer to the bed, her footsteps calm and measured.
Mathew’s throat tightened.
“I-I can explain,” he stammered, panic creeping into his voice.
“Please, just listen to me first—”
Before he could finish, Irene sat down beside him, gently lifted his head, and rested it on her lap.
“Shhh…” she whispered, stroking his hair.
“You’re still recovering, Mathew.
Rest.”
The warmth in her voice melted away the fear inside him.
“Okay… Miss Irene,” he murmured.
Smack!
“Ow!” Mathew snapped, clutching his head.
“I thought you said I should rest!”
“Yes,” Irene replied calmly, “that is exactly what I said.”
“Then why did you hit me?”
She narrowed her eyes and puffed out her cheeks slightly.
“Have you really forgotten, young man?”
Mathew blinked in confusion.
“Forgotten what?”
“When we’re alone,” she said with a pout, “you call me Mom.”
Realization struck him immediately.
“Oh… right.
Sorry, Mom.”
A satisfied smile appeared on Irene’s face.
“That’s much better.”
Her expression soon softened, though concern still lingered in her eyes.
“Now,” she said quietly, “tell me why you fought Kane.”
Mathew hesitated.
“He was causing trouble again,” he finally admitted.
“I tried to stop him peacefully, but… you know how he is.”
“Yes,” Irene sighed.
“Unfortunately, I do.”
She folded her arms.
“But while trying to stop him, you overexerted yourself and triggered a backlash.
You know how dangerous that is, don’t you?”
Mathew looked away guiltily.
“Yeah… I know.
I’m sorry.
It won’t happen again.”
“It better not.”
Her voice sharpened.
“You still haven’t formed your Soul Core, yet you continue using the ability granted to you by the Divine Flame as if your body can handle it.
And right before your appraisal, no less.”
“I know it was reckless,” Mathew admitted.
“But what was I supposed to do?
I had to save that old woman.
Besides…” He forced a weak smile.
“I’m alive, right?”
Smack!
The slap echoed through the room.
Mathew froze.
When he looked back at Irene, he saw tears streaming down her face.
“No,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“It’s not okay.”
Her hands clenched tightly in her lap.
“Did you even think about how I would feel if you died because of that backlash?” she asked, struggling to hold herself together.
“If I lost you… I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.”
Tears continued to fall despite her attempts to wipe them away.
Then, suddenly, she felt warmth wrap around her.
Mathew had leaned forward and embraced her.
“You’re too important to me, Mom,” he said softly.
“So believe me when I say this… I won’t do anything that dangerous again.”
Irene sniffled quietly before letting out a small, defeated sigh.
“Fine,” she murmured.
“I’ll trust you… for now.”
She gently pushed him back onto the bed and brushed a strand of hair from his forehead.
“But for now, you need proper rest.
Tomorrow is your appraisal at the Church in the capital.”
“Alright,” Mathew replied with a faint smile.
“I will.”
Irene stood, giving him one last lingering glance before leaving the room.
Once the door closed, silence returned.
Mathew stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought.
*Soul Essence.*
The mystical energy that allowed people to wield the abilities bestowed upon them by the Divine Flame.
Every living being possessed it—even monsters.
But the strength of one’s Soul Essence determined their rank and status within the world.
And tomorrow’s appraisal would reveal his.
Mathew let out a quiet breath.
“Honestly…” he muttered to himself, “I just want to reach the Awakened Rank and stay with Mom forever.”
A small smile formed on his lips.
“Yeah… that should be enough.”
But another thought crept into his mind.
His Soul Core.
He had heard countless stories about its formation process—stories filled with pain and agony.
Mathew grimaced.
“I heard it hurts like hell…”
He closed his eyes slowly.
“Well… nothing I can do about that now.”
And with that final thought, sleep claimed him once more.