chapter 7: Discovering the new me

Zorro moved closer to speak with a forceful quiet tone. You must turn to the Eyes of the Future if you want to receive answers.

Seeking the Eyes of the Future is your only path to obtain answers about your situation.

Orin's expression hardened. "Who is he?"

Zorro hesitated, glancing between them. One could consider him a person who transcends the boundaries of time.

Seeking knowledge from this man comes at a price since he operates only through the exchange of valuable items.

People faced dangers while navigating through a dry territory where the ground seemed agitated underfoot.

The entrance of his stone-carved sanctuary brought about a sudden cold sensation.

The old man raised his head as soon as the visitors entered the space although their arrival seemed to surprise no one.

He peered at them with his silvered, empty eyes, followed by a narrowing of his breath.

A powerful omen. Something dark. Something dangerous.

But he said nothing.

Orin didn't waste time. "We need answers. The world is falling apart. You know why."

The seer exhaled slowly. "Then listen carefully. A feared child emerged many years past which led to the total destruction of the clan in a bid to eliminate his presence from history.

The Gojo Clan disappeared from history because the Shadow Chosen must remain absent from existence forever.

Kael stiffened. Gojo Clan.

These words cut into her thoughts and revealed everything she believed about herself.

She noticed Orin suddenly glance at her from the corner of his eye while his expression changed.

Kael rose from the floor to say softly "I need outside air."

The outsider exit forced her to struggle while her heartbeat raced and her hands shook uncontrollably.

The circumstances from her past started to match up with what the prophecy was foretelling.

Did she escape the wrong threat during all these years?

Kael's breath hitched. Something was wrong.

She lost focus on the world around her because time escaped her like grains of sand flowing through her fingers.

The noise in her ears became her heartbeat which overwhelmed all other sounds.

Then—the fire.

Blazing. Raging. Devouring.

She witnessed and felt the burning sensation that both scorched her flesh and fractured the night with screams.

The deep voice shouted while hands tried to drag her away from the danger as he yelled, "Run, Kael!" RUN!

She felt her skull pulsating while the storm of confusion hit her with sudden images.

A dark shape approached from the distance while its eyes gleamed like fiery embers in the stormy night.

The shadows created a twisting pattern as an ancient force whispered the name of the woman.

Her body trembled.

A burst of energy emerged from her body as it traveled through her bloodstream powerfully.

Her fingers turned to fire while the air pressed down on her body and the earth beneath her feet started shaking violently.

No. No!

She fought to suppress the power yet the energy inside her moved with life and breathed into her body.

Strong winds blew across her while dust and small pieces of debris hurled through the air.

The trees emitted loud groaning sounds and their underground roots twisted away from touching her. The earth beneath her cracked.

Then—Orin's voice.

"Kael!"

The illusion shattered. Reality returned with sudden force to her vision. Her breathing became heavy when she turned suddenly while panic danced through her eyes.

Orin watched her with a face full of worry. He carefully approached one step at a time while his eyes monitored the earth under her feet, which was visibly shaking.

"What just happened?" The tightness in his voice betrayed the emotions he tried to conceal.

Kael forced herself to breathe. Lie. Keep it together.

She spoke softly while burying her hands in her lap to conceal the faint pulsing light under her skin. "Just… needed air."

The power lingered within her system although she could sense it. The hum of something vast and terrifying awakening inside her.

The power she felt coursing through her body worried her since she was uncertain about her ability to manage it.

Orin didn't miss it.

The air had shifted—thick, charged. Kael's sudden breath created both ground vibrations and an unusual power that flowed between them during that brief instant. It wasn't normal.

She became rigid as her fists closed while her hands developed a noticeable tremble that she concealed.

She tilted her eyes away from his when she avoided his stare as though she wanted to keep something hidden.

But he said nothing.

Despite a relaxed pace, he advanced one step until they matched breaths. His voice was steady, careful.

The simple question came from Kael with a touch of uncertainty as he scanned her deep brown eyes.

She nodded too quickly. I kept telling you that I merely wanted fresh air.

Lies.

Orin scrutinized her appearance because his gut intuition warned him that something had transformed within her.

But he wouldn't push—not yet. He extended his hand to softly touch her shoulder.

"Listen to me." She detected unexpected warmth in his tone when he spoke. No matter what the truth shows you, Kael, you will never be on your own.

She managed to swallow despite her trepidation because he kept speaking.

The situation does not matter to me, Kael. We're in this together."

His fingers curled toward her for support. You will never stand against this burden by yourself.

Her chest tightened. She did not deserve such an honorable level of commitment from him.

Orin gave a quick nod at the path just as she was about to answer him. "Come on. Awaiting them is The Eye of the Future.

He turned his back to her before starting the journey.

Kael followed—but for the first

Dry wind created dust clouds on the ground beneath the wandering feet of Orin and Kael who traveled back toward the Eye of the Future.

Two unspoken truths weighed between their hearts but they chose to keep their peace.

Then—a sharp whistle cut through the air.

The five Tsaki soldiers ceased their advance when Orin reacted by drawing his sword from his belt and their smirking expressions revealed a dirty armor coating.

The lead soldier sneered while crossing his arms to create a barrier between his men and Orin and Kael.

"What do we have here? A pair of lost travelers?"

Another soldier chuckled. The soldiers appeared to treat the encounter like a simple robbery by robbers who had abandoned their criminal pursuits.

The leader of the five Tsaki soldiers approached Orin and Kael as he laughed at their appearance.

"What's the rush? Your kind would have been entertainment for us right before we saw you seeking useless scraps.

Laughter erupted around them. Mocking. Cruel.

The corners of Kael's mouth grew tense while Orin maintained a blank expression.

The soldier in front approached Kael while surveying her entire body. "She's a pretty one. Maybe we should keep her."

Orin's body tensed—a silent warning.

Then, another soldier's gaze froze. His smirk broke apart when he saw something hidden below Kael's collar.

The mark.