Next Morning -
Zen sat quietly outside the house, staring at the faint glow of the stars above the village of Halewood. The cool night breeze brushed against his skin, but his thoughts burned hotter than fire. His mind wandered back to the guard who had used magic to stop a thief days ago. Zen remembered the way the magic had swirled through the air so powerful, so controlled.
"If I knew magic… could I have saved them?" he whispered. His heart ached as he thought of his mother and father. "Could I have saved Mira and Uncle Daren?"
As his thoughts circled endlessly, he heard the distant sound of villagers. He turned his head and saw a small group of people bowing respectfully to a tall man riding a horse through the street. Murmurs filled the air: "That's Lord Kather."
Zen's eyes widened. So this was the man responsible for threatening Mira's father. His heart thumped faster, anger slowly mixing into his fear. Without a second thought, Zen rushed toward him.
He approached cautiously, stepping through the shadows until he stood near the path. As the man passed, Zen stepped into view and called out, "Lord Kather!"
The nobleman pulled his horse to a halt, staring down at the boy with cold, narrowed eyes. "And who might you be?"
Zen clenched his fists. "Please… forgive Mira and Uncle Daren. They're good people. Don't punish them because of money."
Lord Kather's lips curled into a sneer. "A beggar child dares to beg favors?"
"I'm not begging!" Zen shouted. "I'm asking you to stop! They've done nothing wrong!"
With a flick of his wrist, Kather cast a spell. A sharp surge of magic flew from his fingers like a jagged bolt of red energy.
Zen flinched—
—but the Aegis Tear around his neck glowed bright blue and erupted into a protective barrier. The magic struck the shield and dissolved like mist.
Lord Kather gasped, stepping back. "That necklace… where did you get that?"
Zen said nothing, panting in shock.
At that moment, Daren ran up the path, grabbing Zen and shielding him. "Lord Kather! Please… please forgive him! He's just a kid.
Kather sneered. "Then give me that necklace. I'll erase your debt. Your home, your shop—yours to keep. But the jewel is mine."
He turned and rode away, leaving the air thick with tension.
Back home that night, Zen sat quietly at the dinner table. Daren and Mira tried to talk to him, but he only nodded and ate silently. He went to bed early, pretending to sleep.
In the quiet hours past midnight, Zen sat up and pulled out a piece of paper. By candlelight, he wrote:
Thank you… for showing me kindness.
Thank you… for treating me like someone worth saving.
But I've made a decision. I can't be protected forever. I want to become someone strong enough to protect the people who matter. Like you protected me. Like my parents did.. I'm sorry I couldn't say this in person. This necklace was my last memory of my parents, but I'm giving it to you so Lord Kather erases the debt. Please don't come looking for me. I'll return one day. I promise.
—Zen
He folded the letter and placed it near the small table. Then, with trembling hands, he removed the Aegis Tear from his neck and set it beside the letter.
He stood at the doorway one last time, staring at the small home that had given him warmth, food, and love. His eyes welled up, but he wiped the tears away.
"I have to do this."
And then he stepped into the cold night, disappearing into the unknown once more.