Breaking chains (1/3)

The world was still spinning in disconnected fragments, the throbbing pain in Joseph's head competing with the weakness that seemed to drain the strength from his bones.

He pulled at the chains again, the cold metal biting into his skin as the links clinked loudly in the confined space of the wagon. His breathing came in short, ragged gasps, panic beginning to mix with confusion.

"Damn it... I have to get out of this," he muttered, giving another, stronger tug, ignoring the pain shooting through his wrists.

The chains groaned but did not give way.

Suddenly, a small, delicate hand, also bound in chains, touched his shoulder.

Joseph turned, startled, and saw a girl—just as small as him, maybe even smaller. Her eyes were large and silver, glowing like moonlight even in the dimness of the cart, and her equally silver hair fell in strands past her frail shoulders.

But what caught his attention the most were her ears, slightly pointed, peeking through her hair. An elf.

She spoke quickly, in a hushed, urgent tone, grasping his hands with her trembling fingers as if trying to calm him and keep him still. "Siah raen! Siah raen!"

The problem was, Joseph didn't understand a single word. "What the hell are you saying?!"

The girl shook her head, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "Raen, siah tiriel!"

"I... I don't understand you—" Joseph started, but the girl clapped a hand over his mouth and shook her head frantically.

"Vethor!" A rough voice thundered from the front of the wagon, and a burly man shoved his head inside.

The elf let out a muffled squeak and scrambled to a corner, curling up like a frightened animal, her thin arms hugging her knees.

Joseph locked eyes with the man, who stared back with cold, assessing eyes. For a moment, the two measured each other in silence, until the stranger let out a loud laugh and withdrew.

'Was it him who chained me up?' Joseph wondered, shifting his gaze to the elf. She was trembling, her tiny hands covering her face as silent tears slid down her pale cheeks. 'Damn it, we have to get out of here—'

He tried to move toward her, but as he attempted to stand, his weakened body gave out, and he collapsed face-first onto the wooden floor. "Ugh!"

'Damn it! Of course my body is weak... Shit, I can't think straight.' Joseph cursed himself, shutting his eyes. His thoughts were sluggish and fragmented. The last thing he remembered was the intense pain when he had tried to manipulate his Ki... 'Wait! How am I still alive?'

That was when a warm, soothing sensation began to spread through his body. He opened his eyes slowly and saw the elf kneeling in front of him, cheeks flushed and eyes glistening, her trembling hands pointed toward him.

From her palms, a small golden light emanated. "Shaleth siah. Veshka tiriel, siora," she murmured, continuing whatever she was doing for three more seconds before her arms faltered and she collapsed unconscious in front of Joseph.

'Did she just... heal me a little?' That was his last thought before everything faded to black again.

***

Three days passed in that wagon, and Joseph had recovered enough for his mind to function properly again.

He hadn't left the cart. Not once. Not a single time…

If there was anything good about this, it was that Joseph had managed to focus on assessing the damage he had suffered.

And as expected, it was severe. The act of creating a focal point for Ki had worked—since he hadn't died instantly.

Even so, upon analyzing his body, Joseph identified extensive damage to his internal channels, where Ki was supposed to flow. These injuries had also affected his organs, meaning he shouldn't be alive…

If not for the elf and her mysterious healing.

She had continued to heal him over these past days, and each time, she collapsed from exhaustion. He still didn't understand what kind of energy she was using, but it was similar to Ki and yet fundamentally different.

It was something new. Completely new to him.

Aside from his fascination with this new form of power, Joseph was deeply grateful for her efforts in healing him.

For that reason, their captors—four men in total, already doomed to die for chaining him up—were going to suffer even more for also chaining up such a kind girl.

But before anything else, he had to recover. His shoulder, where the beast had bitten him, was still weak, and his internal channels and organs needed more time before he could create another focal point for Ki.

Yes, after weighing the pros and cons, Joseph had concluded that this was his only option if he wanted to escape.

He would create another orb because he needed a stable source. His young body, combined with his weakened channels, prevented him from accessing Ki fluidly.

If he couldn't rely on his natural Ki flow, then he would have to create something to compensate for this flaw. The orb would serve as a reservoir, a core of power always ready to be used.

It would be extremely dangerous, but maybe, just maybe… if Joseph created the orb with patience and precision, it wouldn't explode like the first time.

"Nathir vosh."

The soft voice of the elf interrupted his meditation. He opened his eyes and saw her sitting beside him, clutching the hem of his shirt with hesitant little fingers, her silver eyes filled with concern and innocence.

"I'm fine," he said, raising his hand in an 'OK' gesture, knowing she wouldn't understand a single word.

The elf nodded eagerly, her face lighting up with a timid smile, and pointed to her own stomach.

"You're hungry? Me too," he sighed, placing a hand on her head and running his fingers through her silver hair, soft as silk.

She closed her eyes, letting out a happy sound, almost like a purr.

"Kroth zan!" A rough voice echoed from outside, and a stale, moldy piece of bread was tossed through the back opening of the wagon.

The elf let go of him with a clumsy little jump and crawled toward the bread. Carefully, she broke it in half, her tiny hands ensuring the pieces were equal, and quickly returned to offer one to Joseph, her eyes shining with pride.

"Thanks," he murmured, taking a bite of the bread, which was so hard it nearly cracked his teeth. 'What garbage.'

As he chewed, Joseph watched the elf from the corner of his eye. Despite everything—the human captors, the hunger, the chains—she healed him without hesitation until she collapsed from exhaustion, and still shared the little food she had with him, a stranger, a human like those who had imprisoned her.

How could someone be cruel enough to enslave such a kind and innocent creature? He didn't understand, but he didn't need to. Joseph had already decided to save her.

***

Four days had passed, and Joseph finally felt ready to form the orb at the center of his chest.

Sitting cross-legged on the rough wooden floor, Joseph focused on his breathing, slowing it down until each inhale and exhale fully filled and emptied his lungs.

He needed absolute control—any mistake, any fluctuation in his Ki manipulation, and the orb could unravel in an explosion, just like the first time. Except now, he was certain he wouldn't survive another collapse.

He began to probe the internal channels of his body, the pathways where Ki flowed like rivers of vital energy. Despite the elf's healing, the channels were still fragile, with fissures like cracks in a wall ready to crumble.

With mental effort, Joseph started gathering Ki, visualizing it as a subtle flame flickering within him. He coaxed it gently, urging it to move. The energy responded, slow at first, rising in small warm pulses from the base of his spine to the center of his chest. That was where the orb would take shape.

'Calm... slow,' he told himself, clenching his teeth as he felt the Ki accumulating. The sensation was intense—a tingling that turned into warmth, then into a growing pressure that seemed to push his ribs outward from within.

He imagined the Ki as a sphere, spinning gently, contained by his will. He couldn't let it grow too fast, or he would lose control.

He directed more vital energy into the orb, drawing it from the deepest corners of his being. It was a risky process; draining too much could leave him vulnerable, but stopping now meant failure and severe damage.

The orb began to solidify in his mind—a golden, pulsating sphere, the size of a fist, spinning at the center of his chest. He could feel it physically now, a warm weight vibrating in harmony with his heartbeat.

The Ki swirled into it like a vortex, but his damaged channels protested, sending sharp pains shooting up to his head. Joseph gritted his teeth and adjusted the flow, slowing it down to ease the pressure. It was like holding a storm in his bare hands—every movement required absolute precision.

Then, after several minutes of delicate effort, the orb stabilized.

He opened his eyes, panting, and saw a faint golden glow escaping through the rips in his shirt, illuminating the dark interior of the wagon.

The elf, sleeping beside him, let out a quiet little grunt before turning over to the other side.

Joseph smiled at her movement and gave her head a gentle pat.

He had done it—the orb was formed, contained, and ready to be used.