Chapter - 2 - Can't wait

Alex wanted to travel around this new world. With each day of his treatment sessions, his senses sharpened dramatically. He recalled that on Earth, his perception had been nothing compared to what he now experienced. In this new body, he could focus his hearing within a 200-meter radius.

"I've interconnected 90 percent of your neurons. Your body isn't like ours—you don't have a core," Aurora explained.

"What do you mean?" Alex asked.

"People here in Veridian are born with a core. Even animals develop one. Its strength depends on its lineage—if you have powerful parents, you'll likely be even stronger than them. If you're born with a high-quality core, you're destined for greatness."

"So… I don't have one?" Alex asked.

"No. Did someone rob your core? Do you remember anything?" Aurora questioned.

It's time I reveal my origin. Alex thought

"Actually, I'm not from here. I come from a world called Earth."

Aurora froze, stopping what she was doing. She turned toward him, her empty, blind eyes searching for something.

"How…" She started to ask but then lowered her gaze. "I don't even know much about my own world… How can I begin to imagine yours?"

Alex saw the regret in her expression.

"Can't you heal your eyes?" he asked.

"No. My core's power isn't strong enough for that." "I can compare the differences between our worlds," he said. "Your world has trees, water, and animals everywhere. But in my world, there was only sand. We created water and food artificially. There were no animals, and we never stepped outside. And then… in the last days of our world—"

"The last days…? You mean—"

"Yeah," Alex said with a hollow look. "Earth was destroyed."

"How did you survive, then?" Aurora asked.

"We didn't," Alex said bitterly. "Some powerful people left us there to die… But the thing is, I have no idea how I ended up in your world."

"So, you're saying my world is better than your Earth?"

"Yeah, definitely," Alex declared without hesitation.

Aurora gave a small smile. "Tomorrow, I'm going to the village to buy some supplies. Would you like to come with me?"

............…

Alex's heart raced as he stepped beyond the threshold of the small hut with his newfound senses. The air outside was different—crisp, alive with scents he had only imagined. Aurora, draped in a flowing grey cloth that concealed her entire form, stood beside him. She covered Her face with patterns etched by magic.

"Why you covered your face," he asked

"Some people hate to see my empty white eyes" she explained

Despite the difficulty of each step, Alex followed Aurora.

Aurora, blind yet surefooted, guided him. Her steps were graceful as if she danced with the unseen forces of the world. Alex wondered how she managed it. "how did you learn to heal?" he asked, curiosity tugging at him.

"From my mother," Aurora replied, her voice soft as a whisper carried by the wind. "I have never seen the face of my mother or the faces of those I heal."

As they walked, Alex glimpsed the village ahead—the thatched roofs, the bustling market square, and the people who gave way for Aurora...

"Why do you help others?" Alex asked, his admiration growing. everyone respecting aurora

Aurora paused, her sightless eyes seeking something beyond the visible world. "Because healing is my purpose," she said. "In darkness, I find light."

They reached the village, and Aurora's presence drew curious glances. She moved among the villagers, her hands emitting a gentle glow as she touched foreheads, whispered incantations, and eased suffering. Alex watched, humbled by her selflessness.

The village was named Silverdale, and approximately 200 families resided there. As Alex discovered, most of the villagers were ordinary people, while the village chief and their family members held considerable power. Many of the inhabitants lacked knowledge of the year, day, week, month, or time. However, according to Aurora, the village chiefs and a select few individuals were exceptions.

On one side of the village, the village chief and their family resided, while the remaining houses belonged to the common people. Cobblestone roads wound through the village and the houses were constructed from the same sturdy stone. Roofs were thatched with hardy grass, providing shelter against the elements. The villagers, mostly common folk, wore plain, faded clothing, devoid of any fashionable flair.

as Alex and Aurora stepped into the heart of the village. Alex's sharp senses had already picked up on the presence of someone following them, though Alex's gaze swept the crowd and found nothing unusual. That was, until a rough-edged figure stepped out of the shadows—a man with a jagged scar cutting across his cheek and a strange pendant hanging from his neck, catching the faint light.

"Lady Aurora," he addressed Aurora, his voice gruff yet respectful. "A royal decree has arrived, and the village chief requests your presence."

Aurora hesitated, The village chief rarely summoned anyone, let alone her.

"What does the decree entail?" Alex asked, his curiosity piqued.

The scarred man shifted uncomfortably. "I cannot say, sir. But the chief insists it concerns matters of great importance."

Aurora sighed, "Very well," she said. "Lead the way."

Alex hesitated, his feet rooted to the ground as the man's words hung heavily in the air. "It would be better if you hadn't come; the royal decree is not for outsiders," the man said, his voice cold and his eyes narrowing with disdain as they locked onto Alex. The weight of the man's disgust was palpable, and Alex felt it like a physical force, leaving him torn at the crossroads of defiance and retreat. She sensed the man's disgust, even if she couldn't see his twisted expression. "He's not an outsider to me," she asserted, her voice steady.

They followed the man into the village chief's home, a modest yet warm space that smelled faintly of aged wood and herbs. The chief, a middle-aged man with a bald head and kind eyes, greeted Aurora with a polite nod. "Lady Aurora, you came," he said, his tone respectful but tinged with a hint of surprise.

Aurora offered a gentle smile, her expression calm and composed. "May I ask you about the royal decree?" she inquired, her voice soft but steady.

The chief waved a hand dismissively, his demeanor relaxed. "Ah, nothing to be afraid of. It's just a gift from the prince," he explained, his tone almost casual. He reached for a small, ornate box and handed it to her. "For you."

Aurora tilted her head slightly, her curiosity piqued. "A gift for me?"

"Yes," the chief replied with a nod. "Inside the box are two crystals. They mentioned that you need to refine them by this morning." His words were matter-of-fact, but there was an underlying weight to them, as if the task carried more significance than he let on. Aurora's fingers brushed the box lightly, her mind already turning over the implications of the prince's so-called "gift."

The chief's gaze shifted to Alex, his brow furrowing slightly as he studied the unfamiliar face. "Boy, I don't remember your face. Whose son are you?" he asked, his tone curious but not unkind.

Alex straightened, answering with polite respect. "Sir, I'm new to this village," he explained, his voice steady.

The chief nodded slowly, his expression softening. "Ah, that's why I can't recognize you. So, where—" he began, but Aurora smoothly interrupted, her voice calm yet firm. "Chief, we'll get going now. We have to visit the market," she said, her tone leaving little room for further questions.

The chief hesitated, his eyes flickering to the box in Aurora's hands. "Lady Aurora, I'd advise you to refine the crystals first… then go to the market," he said, his voice carrying a note of caution.

Aurora nodded, her smile polite but resolute. "Yes, Chief, I'll do it," she replied, her words a quiet promise. With that, she turned, Alex, following closely behind

The chief watched Aurora and Alex as they walked away, his expression unreadable. The scarred man who had escorted them stepped forward, his voice low. "Chief…" he began, but the chief raised a hand, cutting him off mid-sentence. He waited until Aurora and Alex were out of earshot before turning to the man, his kind demeanor now replaced by a cold, calculating stare.

"Did you find anything…?" the chief asked, his voice sharp and devoid of its earlier warmth.

The scarred man nodded, his tone grim. "Yes, Chief. I spoke to those two boys who hang out with the healer. They found him by the river."

The chief's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as he processed the information. "Kill him," he said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. "He is an outsider." The words hung in the air, heavy and final. "He will come to the market," the chief added, his tone icy, as if the decision were already set in stone.

The scarred man nodded once, his expression hardening in understanding. Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving the chief standing alone, his face a mask of ruthless determination. 

.........…..

"Go slow," Aurora cautioned. "Your body will hurt if you push too hard." Her words echoed in his mind as he stepped onto the left road, following Aurora's instructions. Desolation flanked him, barren land stretching into the distance. No shops, no signs of life—just the whisper of wind through empty spaces.

The road narrowed, walls rising on either side. Alex's unease grew. Then, two figures emerged from the shadows, clad in black. Their faces were concealed by magic, they wielded swords. and Alex's heart raced.

"Boy, where are you going?" The taller of the two, wearing a red mask, demanded. His voice held a dangerous edge.

"I'm going to get some herbs," Alex blurted out, his voice quivering. Fear pulsed through his veins, and he wondered if Aurora had sensed the danger when she'd urged him to be cautious.

The black-masked figure beside the red-masked scoffed.

"Who gave you this direction, boy?" The words dripped with menace, and Alex's fear intensified. His heart raced; this was uncharted territory, a dance with danger.

Alex hesitated,

The red-masked figure leaned in, voice low. "Do you have any money?" 

The red-masked man asked, his tone mocking. Alex hesitated, then blurted out, "Yes, I've got 90 coppers." Alex stammered. His mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. Why were they interested in his meager coins?

"Seriously?" The red-masked person seemed baffled. "Are you even a man?" Doubt laced their tone, but there was no time for explanations.

The black-masked companion cut to the chase. "Don't waste time. Let's get this over with—kill him." The words hung like a blade poised to strike. Alex's legs trembled, and his breaths came in shallow gasps. He had no weapon, no defense. Panic surged as the red mask person lunged, stabbing his sword into Alex's abdomen. Pain exploded, The red mask person lunged, sword finding its mark—abdomen, The sword struck again, this time piercing his chest. Alex's vision blurred, and he felt himself falling. The final slash at his neck was swift, and darkness enveloped him.

but something was wrong—the blade didn't draw blood. It was as if Alex's body defied the natural order.

The two assailants picked up Alex's body and left to dump it outside the village border... But they missed one crucial detail: Alex's wounds bled nothing.