Chapter 9 - "The Echoes of Power"

Luci found himself in a strange place—a vast expanse divided perfectly in half. One side was an overwhelming sea of deep crimson, like blood spilled endlessly across the horizon. The other half was blindingly white, so stark that it hurt his eyes just to glance at it. The two halves of the landscape were divided by a faint, almost invisible line, stretching out as far as the eye could see.

The air around him was still, eerily silent, and despite the vastness of the space, Luci felt a strange sense of confinement. It was like standing in a cage of limitless size—open, yet trapped.

Looking down, Luci saw that his wrists were bare. The heavy chains that had shackled him for so long were gone. His first instinct was to flex his hands and arms, marveling at how light they felt. It was a freedom he hadn't known in years, a freedom that seemed foreign to him now. But he quickly realized something else was amiss—something deeper than just the absence of his chains. He felt… hollow, like a part of him had been stripped away along with the shackles.

A chill crept down his spine as two figures materialized in front of him, standing on either side of the dividing line. The figure on the red side was shrouded in dark robes, its features obscured by shadows. Its presence radiated a dark energy, suffocating and cold. The figure on the white side, however, glowed with an otherworldly light, serene yet piercing.

As Luci took a hesitant step forward, the figure in red spoke first. Its voice was deep and resonant, vibrating through the air like a distant storm. "With the power of dark magic," it began, each word slow and deliberate, "we sealed your power and your true form... for good."

Luci blinked, confusion swirling in his mind. What was this place? Who were these figures? And more importantly, what did they mean by sealing his power?

Before he could speak, the figure in white raised a hand, its voice soft yet commanding. "And with the power of pure magic," it said, "we ensured that you would never regain your former self."

The words sent a jolt of panic through Luci. His former self? His true form? Memories of his power, of the destruction he had caused so long ago, flashed before his eyes. The feeling of raw energy coursing through him, the terror it had invoked in others—it had all been sealed away, locked behind those chains.

For a brief moment, Luci considered running toward them, demanding answers, but his body wouldn't move. He was frozen in place, helpless as the chains suddenly reappeared around his wrists, heavier than before. The weight was unbearable, dragging him down to his knees. He tried to resist, tried to fight against the pull, but it was no use. The power he had once felt, the power that had been right within his grasp, was ripped away from him once more.

"NO!" Luci screamed, but his voice was swallowed by the void around him. The world shattered, exploding into a blinding flash of white.

Luci awoke with a start, gasping for air. His heart pounded in his chest, and for a moment, he wasn't sure where he was. The dream—the nightmare—still clung to his mind, vivid and disorienting. Slowly, his surroundings came into focus. He was in a room, lying on a bed, the familiar weight of his chains once again pressing against his wrists.

He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself, but the feeling of helplessness from the dream lingered. The figures, the magic—what did it all mean? Was his power truly gone for good? The thought sent a shiver down his spine.

A soft knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. He turned his head toward the sound, still trying to shake off the remnants of the dream.

"Come in," Luci called out, his voice rough.

The door creaked open, revealing the old woman who had been tending to Brianna. She stepped inside with a polite smile, though her eyes showed the weariness of age. "I just came to inform you that Brianna is well enough to be discharged now," she said. "The payment is due."

Luci sighed, pushing the tangled thoughts of his dream to the back of his mind. "Ask the girl you were attending to before," he replied dismissively, waving a hand. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, standing up with a groan. His body still felt heavy, though not from the physical exertion of battle—it was the weight of his thoughts that burdened him now.

Together, Luci and the woman walked to Brianna's room. As they entered, they found Brianna already up, adjusting the sleeves of the simple white gown she wore. Her body was marked with bandages, remnants of the brutal encounter with the winged demon.

"Oh, you're here," she said, her voice as cold and distant as ever. There was no warmth in her greeting, just an acknowledgment of his presence.

Luci nodded in response, his eyes briefly scanning her injuries. Despite the bandages and the clear signs of battle, Brianna showed no sign of weakness. She stood tall, her expression stoic, as if the wounds were merely a minor inconvenience.

The old lady cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "The payment, if you please."

Brianna reached into a pouch at her side, pulling out fifty coins and handing them over without a word. The transaction was swift, and as soon as it was done, Brianna turned her attention back to Luci.

"Let's go," she said simply.

Luci followed her without question, though his mind was still a whirlwind of thoughts. The dream, the figures, the chains—it was all too much to process. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. They had other matters to attend to.

They mounted their horses and rode back to the warriors Keep, the stronghold where the knights gathered. The ride was silent, the tension between them palpable but unspoken.

When they arrived, they were greeted by Brian, Brianna's brother. His eyes immediately went to Brianna, a mixture of concern and frustration in his gaze.

"How did she get hurt?" Brian asked, his voice sharp.

"We encountered a winged demon," Brianna replied, her tone as cold as ever.

Brian's frown deepened. "I warned you about this. I told you this knight business was dangerous, especially for someone like you."

Brianna scoffed, brushing off his concern. "Relax. It's nothing. Just a few cuts."

Luci, growing tired of the family drama, cleared his throat. "Excuse me, but why are you standing here waiting for us?"

Brian turned to Luci, his expression softening slightly. "I've got a new mission for you," he said. "You're going to be assigned to work with someone else. He'll teach you in his own way."

Luci raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

Before Brian could respond, Brianna answered for him. "Daniel," she said, her tone flat.

"Daniel?" Luci repeated, frowning. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it.

Brianna nodded. "He's a gold-ranked knight. One of the best. He'll teach you more than just fighting."

As if on cue, a figure appeared from the shadows—a tall man with striking blue hair and piercing grey eyes. He wore a silver suit of armor, and on his chest was a golden badge with the number 1 written in Roman numerals. This was Daniel, the gold-ranked knight.

"Did someone call for me?" Daniel said with a smile, his eyes immediately locking onto Brianna.

Brian started to introduce him, but Daniel quickly moved past him, taking Brianna's hand in his own. "Brianna, how did you get hurt?" he asked, his voice full of concern. "I wish I had been there. I would've protected you."

Brianna pulled her hand away, her expression icy. "It's just a cut, Daniel. Focus on the mission."

Daniel's posture straightened, his attention shifting reluctantly to Luci. "Yes, of course. We need to move fast. Are you ready?" he asked, his eyes still darting back to Brianna.

Luci sighed inwardly, thinking more about food than the mission ahead. "Sure, let's get this over with."

They mounted their horses, and as they rode toward the forest, Luci's mind drifted, the exhaustion of constant fighting weighing on him. But his attention snapped back as Daniel spoke again, this time with a serious tone, dropping the lovesick act. "You know, we're likely to face dangerous creatures. Stay sharp."

Luci gave a curt nod, his thoughts far from the battle. "Yeah, yeah, I'm ready," he muttered, though in his mind, all he could think about was roasted chicken. As they neared the darkened woods, the tension between them grew.

Daniel glanced at him. "This isn't a joke, Luci."

Luci smirked. "I know. But I'm not in the mood to play hero today."