Chapter 7: A Strange Feeling
The sun was already setting when Evan, Kaela, and Liora finally left the ancient temple.
The road back toward Asterfall was quiet.
Too quiet.
Evan walked behind Kaela, occasionally looking over his shoulder at the temple.
Its enormous stone doors had closed behind them.
Whatever secrets were hidden inside were sealed away once again.
Evan touched the blue mark on his hand.
The Fourfold…
He still didn’t understand what it meant.
He didn’t understand why the Guardian had recognized him.
And he certainly didn’t understand why Aurelion Veyr had been waiting for him.
Liora walked beside him.
“You’ve been quiet.”
Evan looked at her.
“Just thinking.”
“About Earth?”
Evan looked toward the darkening sky.
“Sometimes.”
Liora smiled.
“Do you miss it?”
Evan thought about the question.
“Yeah.”
He paused.
“But this world is amazing too.”
Liora nodded.
“You’re starting to like it.”
“Maybe.”
A voice came from ahead.
“Don’t get too comfortable.”
Kaela was several steps in front of them.
Evan frowned.
“Why?”
Kaela glanced back.
“Because we’re not safe yet.”
As if the forest itself wanted to prove her right—
CRACK.
A branch snapped somewhere nearby.
Everyone stopped.
Kaela immediately reached for her weapon.
“Stay close.”
Evan drew his daggers.
“I can fight.”
“I know.”
Kaela looked at him.
“But you’re still recovering.”
Evan lowered his weapons slightly.
“Fine.”
They continued through the forest.
After another hour, they reached a small clearing.
Kaela looked around.
“We’ll camp here.”
Evan glanced at the surrounding trees.
“Here?”
“It’s safer than traveling in complete darkness.”
Liora began gathering wood.
Evan helped her carry several branches toward the center of the clearing.
Kaela watched him for a moment.
“You’re doing that wrong.”
Evan frowned.
“It’s a branch.”
“You’re holding it backward.”
Evan looked at the branch.
He wasn’t entirely sure how a branch could be held backward.
“It’s still a branch.”
Kaela sighed.
“Give it to me.”
She reached for it.
Their hands briefly touched.
Evan froze.
Kaela looked at him.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Evan quickly pulled his hand away.
His face felt strangely warm.
“I’ll get another one.”
He turned and hurried toward the trees.
Kaela watched him leave.
Liora glanced at her.
“You noticed?”
Kaela raised an eyebrow.
“Noticed what?”
Liora smiled.
“Nothing.”
Kaela looked confused.
Later that night, the three sat around the campfire.
Above them, countless stars filled the dark sky.
Evan looked upward.
“It’s beautiful.”
Kaela sat across from him.
“You’re always looking at the sky.”
“Back home, I couldn’t see stars this clearly.”
“Too many lights?”
“Yeah.”
Evan smiled.
“I think I’ll miss this when I eventually return.”
Kaela looked at him.
“You still plan to return?”
Evan’s smile faded slightly.
“I don’t know.”
His thoughts returned to the World Gate.
He remembered seeing Earth through it.
His old home was still there.
His old life was still waiting.
But now there were people here too.
People he had met.
People who had helped him.
People he didn’t want to leave behind.
“I want to find out why I was summoned first,” Evan said.
Kaela nodded.
“That’s a good reason.”
Evan looked at her.
“You really believe I’ll find the answer?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Kaela stared into the fire.
“Because you’re stubborn.”
Evan laughed.
“That’s not exactly inspiring.”
Kaela looked at him.
“But you’re stronger than you think.”
Evan stopped laughing.
Kaela continued.
“You survived the forest.”
“You survived the Voidborn.”
“You survived using four elements when your body wasn’t ready.”
“And even after all that…”
She looked directly at him.
“You still want to keep going.”
Evan felt his face becoming warm.
“You’re…”
He looked away.
“You’re surprisingly nice sometimes.”
Kaela blinked.
“Sometimes?”
“Don’t ruin the moment.”
A small smile appeared on Kaela’s face.
Evan immediately looked toward the fire.
Liora quietly watched the two of them.
She smiled to herself but said nothing.
That night, Evan couldn’t sleep.
He stared at the ceiling of his tent.
Why is my heart beating so fast?
He turned onto his side.
Maybe he was still exhausted.
That had to be it.
He closed his eyes.
Then Kaela’s words returned to him.
You’re stronger than you think.
Evan pulled the blanket higher.
“Why am I embarrassed?”
He had no answer.
Outside the tent, Kaela sat beside the dying campfire.
She noticed Evan moving around.
“Can’t sleep?”
Evan immediately sat up.
“I’m fine!”
Kaela glanced toward the tent.
“You sound nervous.”
“I’m not nervous!”
Kaela smiled.
“Okay.”
Evan buried his face in his pillow.
“This is terrible.”
The next morning, Evan woke early.
Kaela was already training.
Her silver weapon moved smoothly through the air.
Every movement was precise.
Evan watched from a distance.
Kaela suddenly stopped.
“You’ve been watching for five minutes.”
Evan jumped.
“I wasn’t watching!”
“You were.”
“I was… observing.”
Kaela smiled.
Evan’s face warmed.
“Can you stop smiling?”
“Why?”
“Because…”
He couldn’t explain it.
Kaela walked closer.
“Are you embarrassed?”
“No.”
Kaela stopped a short distance away.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Kaela smiled again.
“You really are easy to embarrass.”
Evan covered his face.
“I hate you.”
Kaela turned away.
“No, you don’t.”
Evan froze.
He slowly lowered his hands.
Kaela continued walking.
Evan stared after her.
“What was that supposed to mean?”
His heart was beating faster again.
Before they could continue their journey, the sound of approaching hooves came from the road.
A messenger from Asterfall rode into the clearing on a large brown horse.
“Kaela!”
Kaela turned.
“What happened?”
The messenger quickly dismounted and handed her a sealed letter.
“From the captain.”
Kaela opened it.
Her expression immediately became serious.
“The eastern road has been attacked.”
Evan stood.
“By the Voidborn?”
“Yes.”
Liora looked worried.
“Are they following Evan?”
Kaela folded the letter.
“Most likely.”
Evan looked at his hand.
The blue mark had begun glowing again.
Then the World System appeared.
WORLD SYSTEM
New Quest Available
Title: The Road of Shadows
Objective: Travel to the Kingdom of Arclight.
Secondary Objective: Discover the identity of the mysterious World Traveler.
Warning: Aurelion Veyr has become aware of your location.
Evan stared at the final message.
“He knows where I am.”
Kaela looked at him.
“Then we move now.”
Evan nodded.
He secured his daggers.
The three began walking toward the eastern road.
None of them noticed the figure standing on a distant hill.
Far away, Aurelion Veyr watched them through a magical crystal.
A masked soldier stood beside him.
“Should we capture the boy?”
Aurelion shook his head.
“No.”
“Then why are we watching him?”
Aurelion’s gaze remained fixed on Evan.
“Because he hasn’t discovered his true power yet.”
The masked soldier remained silent.
Aurelion looked toward the dark sky.
“When he does…”
His expression became cold.
“…even the Fourfold may not be enough to save him.”
Evan continued walking.
Kaela was ahead of him.
Liora walked beside him.
Evan glanced at Kaela.
The moment Kaela turned around, he quickly looked away.
His face became warm again.
Why does she keep doing that?
He didn’t know the answer.
But somewhere along the road, beneath the strange stars of the World of Unknown, something inside Evan had begun to change.
It wasn’t magic.
It wasn’t the System.
It wasn’t another hidden power.
It was something more complicated.
Something Evan wasn’t ready to name.
And perhaps… neither was Kaela.