CHAPTER 2: THE HIDDEN LIGHT

The morning breeze gently brushed Luma's cheek, tousling her messy black hair that had been left uncombed since the previous night. She stood at the doorway of the wooden hut, watching the mist dance slowly between the tall trees that surrounded the valley. Her eyes—now belonging to Luma's body—felt heavy, not from lack of sleep, but from the weight of a soul still unanchored to its fate.

It had been twelve days since she was 'reborn' into the body of the blind girl. Yet her original soul, Selene, still whispered in the shadows of memory. At times, she felt as if she were floating between two worlds—one she once knew, and one that remained foreign and shrouded in fog.

Luma raised her hand, feeling along the outer wall of the hut. The wood was still wet with morning dew. Every speck of dust, every crack on the surface, became a map guiding her through a world she had never seen. Slowly, she stepped outside for the first time, armed only with a bamboo cane and sharp ears.

The world beyond spoke a different language. The wind didn't merely blow—it whispered. Leaves didn't just fall—they conveyed something. And the earth... the earth seemed to breathe. There was something alive beneath it, something unseen but incredibly near.

Her steps took her to a rocky area, not far from a stream. There, she heard the rush of flowing water and the sound of something moving rhythmically. Like someone was training.

"Your right step is heavy," a man's voice echoed—calm yet firm.

Luma turned, though her eyes saw only darkness. She listened to the movement of the wind, smelled the sweat mixed with dry leaves.

"I didn't mean to intrude," she replied softly.

The man stepped closer. His voice was unhurried. Each of his steps deliberate, like someone trained to always be prepared.

"Not many dare walk alone in this valley," he said.

"I'm... just trying to understand my new world."

There was a long pause before the man spoke again. "My name is Kael."

"Luma," she answered.

And that was their first meeting—two souls bearing the weight of secrets, brought together not by fate's design, but by something far greater than their own will.

That night, Luma couldn't sleep. Outside, the wind blew gently. The moon was hidden behind thick mist, casting strange shadows on the walls of the hut. Luma sat in silence, listening to her heartbeat. Suddenly, her body felt weightless... and in the blink of an eye, she was no longer in the hut.

She stood in a boundless space—no sky, no ground. Only light and shadow.

In front of her appeared a figure that looked just like her. The same face, the same voice—but with golden, glowing eyes and silver hair that flowed even without wind.

"Selene…" she whispered.

The figure nodded. "You must not forget who you truly are. They are still searching for you. And this body… is not yet fully yours."

An ancient symbol appeared in the air—half a setting sun, crossed by a sword and shadow. It shone brightly before slowly fading.

"Is this a sign?" Luma asked.

The figure merely replied, "Your true light is hidden… and so is your enemy. Only one will rise when shadow meets light."

And everything turned dark again.

The next morning, Kael appeared at her doorstep. He brought a bottle of herbal water and a piece of bread.

"I want you to come with me to the old city," he said without looking at her face.

"The old city?" Luma hesitated.

"A place where all beginnings are hidden. And maybe the answer to your dream last night."

Luma fell silent. She had never spoken of her dream. How did Kael know?

But before she could ask, a blue light flashed between them. A small creature, like a flame with glowing red eyes, appeared—circling them with a low, growling sound.

Kael drew his sword—a blade engraved with the same sun symbol from Luma's dream.

The creature attacked.

Luma screamed. In fear, she raised her hand. A blast of white light shot from her palm. The creature disintegrated instantly.

Kael turned to her, eyes wide. "You… you're not supposed to be able to use magic."

Luma trembled. "I don't even know what I just did…"

And from there, the secrets began to unravel.

To Be Continued...