The book

"Ughh... Fuck," I groaned as I woke up to a world of pain.

The adrenaline that had carried me through the fight with Gorren was gone, leaving behind a body that felt like it had been run over by a cart. Every muscle screamed in protest as I tried to sit up, and my left arm—dislocated during the fight—hung uselessly at my side. I hissed through my teeth, biting back a groan.

Across the room, Jack was in a similar state, his broken arm wrapped in a makeshift sling. He was awake, his face pale and drawn, but he managed a weak grin when he saw me stirring.

"Morning," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "Feel like death yet?"

"Close enough," I replied, wincing as I shifted my weight. My throat was still sore from Gorren's grip, and my shoulder throbbed with every movement. "You?"

"My arm's killing me," he admitted, glancing down at the sling. "But I'll live. Probably."

Lyra was in the corner of the room, her face a mask of worry. She hadn't gone to work that day, something she rarely did unless one of us was seriously injured. Her eyes flicked between Jack and me, filled with questions she wasn't asking. She'd cleaned us up, bandaged our wounds, and made sure we were as comfortable as possible, but the tension in the room was palpable. She wanted answers. And we couldn't give them to her. Not yet.

"Are you two going to tell me what happened?" she finally asked, her voice quiet but firm. "You come back in the middle of the night, covered in blood and bruises, with blades and weapons on you no less, and you expect me to just sit here and not ask questions?"

I exchanged a glance with Jack. We'd talked about this last night, after we'd gotten back. We'd agreed not to tell her the full truth—not yet. It was too dangerous, and she'd only worry more. But lying to her felt wrong, too.

"Not now," I said, my voice gentle but firm. "We'll tell you everything, I promise. But not yet. It's… complicated."

Lyra's eyes narrowed, and she stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Complicated? You think I don't notice when you two sneak off like this? You're hiding something, and I'm not stupid, Zephyr. What are you doing?"

I hesitated, the weight of her stare pressing down on me. But before I could answer, Jack cut in, his tone weary but firm. "We're doing what we have to, Lyra. Just trust us, okay?"

She didn't look convinced, but she didn't push further.

Instead, she sighed, her shoulders slumping in resignation, her eyes reddening as if on the brink of crying."Just… be careful. I know its your life but whatever you're doing, it's not worth getting yourselves killed. I don't want to lose you."

I nodded, guilt gnawing at me as I watched her turn away. She was right to worry, but the book was our only chance, and we couldn't afford to let anything—or anyone—get in the way.

Lyra's lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't push. She knew us well enough to know when we were hiding something, but she also trusted us. For now, that was enough.

The rest of the day passed in a haze of pain and exhaustion. We didn't leave the house—couldn't, even if we'd wanted to. The slums were in chaos after Gorren's death. Without him to keep the gangs in check, the streets had become a battleground.

Fights broke out over territory, and the enforcers were too busy trying to maintain order to care about a couple of injured kids. It was dangerous out there, and we weren't in any condition to face it.

Instead, we turned our attention to the book.

It sat on the table between us, its leather cover worn and cracked, the title still faintly visible: Beginner Introduction to Innate Abilities. Jack and I had risked everything to get it, and now that we had it, we weren't going to waste any time.

Better be worth risking my life over, I thought as I flipped it open carefully, the pages brittle with age. The text was dense and filled with terms I didn't fully understand, but the gist of it was clear. Innate abilities were rare, but not impossible to awaken. It says the awakening happens at the age of 15.

According to the book, it had to do with two main factors: one's natural talent for perceiving Essence. However, except for rare geniuses, it was hard to awaken without help, which was the second practical method: exposure to environments, objects, or beings rich in Essence.

The book explained Essence as the fundamental energy that flowed through all living things and even inanimate objects. It is the cornerstone of all magical knowledge. It was the source of innate abilities, the spark that allowed some individuals to tap into powers beyond the ordinary.

The text described it as a feeling—a warmth, a pull, a vibration in the air. Some people were born with a natural sensitivity to it, while others had to train themselves to perceive it.

As I read, something clicked in my mind. That faint red glint I'd seen when I killed Gorren, the strange energy I felt in the air—it wasn't just my imagination. It was Essence. I'd felt it before, in vague, fleeting moments, but I'd never been able to put a name to it. Now, I was sure.

"Jack," I said, looking up from the book. "Do you feel anything… strange? Like a warmth, a pull, or some strange energy in the air, something you can't explain?"

He frowned, thinking for a moment, then shook his head. "No. Nothing like that. Why?"

I hesitated, not sure how to explain it. "I think… I think I can feel Essence. Just a little. It's like a faint warmth in my chest, or a vibration in the air. I've felt it before, but I didn't know what it was until now."

Jack's eyes widened. "Wait, then you might already be close to awakening?"

"Maybe," I said, though the idea felt both exciting and terrifying. "But I'm not sure. It's faint, and I don't know how to control it. And we can't be sure if everything in this book is right. It says exposure to Essence-rich things can help, and it is logical, as some things match what I feel, and it's our only lead."

Jack leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "So, what now? We need something rich in Essence."

"Yes," I said firmly. "We find a way. According to the book, everyone can awaken if the right conditions are set. We will search for it. Check this part." I pointed to a certain paragraph of the book.

It mentioned that certain places—ancient ruins, sacred sites, even some natural formations—were known to have high concentrations of Essence. But those were far from here, and we didn't have the resources to travel. Still, there had to be another way.

"Maybe we don't need to go far," I said slowly, thinking aloud. "If my guess is right, then based on everything we found in the book, the tower in the city is what deprives the slums of Essence. Most probably to fuel the city, but it also creates the most ideal awakening site."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Are you that eager to die? Once we set foot in the city, the guards will kill us. And I'm sure someone more dangerous than Gorren is inside Eldoria. Otherwise, he would have taken over the city, not some backwater slums."

"Indeed," I admitted. "But we won't target the city." A small smile on my face. Jack finally got what I meant.

Jack's eyes widened. "Right! It said natural environments are rich in Essence. Then if the city isn't working, we can venture into the forest. Even Gorren didn't dare venture too deep. We'll find something for sure, but it is equally as dangerous." His eyes narrowing as he said the last part.

"Exactly, that's where we will go, as for danger, are you expecting power to have no price. The greater the risks, the greater the rewards. But we'll have to convince Mother first, can't let her worry and leave," I whispered, my eyes drifting to see if Lyra had heard our conversation. "Let's recuperate for a few days, then we prepare."

The rest of the day was spent poring over the book, taking notes, and discussing what we'd learned. Lyra stayed close, her presence a quiet comfort even as she kept her distance.

She didn't ask any more questions, but I could see the worry in her eyes. She knew something big had happened, and she was waiting for us to tell her. And we would. Just… not yet. Once everything outside calms down.

By the time night fell, my body was exhausted, but my mind was racing. The book said nothing related to the faint red glint I'd seen when I killed Gorren—the warmth that had settled in my chest.

The flame is probably his innate ability, but I'm not sure yet.

I didn't know what it meant, and I could do nothing about it. Not yet.

As I lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, I steeled my resolve. We'd gotten the information we needed. And now, we were going to take the next step. Whatever it took, we were going to awaken our innate abilities.

Because if the years I'd spent in this world had taught me anything, it was that survival wasn't enough.

Memories from my past life flashed before my eyes. The boredom, the weakness, the anticipation of the new world, various emotions chaotically danced in my chest, but one thing was clear.

We needed power. And we were going to get it.