A NEW JOURNEY

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As Kayle jolted awake from his dream, his breathing ragged and his body trembling, Antony rushed to his side. "Kayle! What happened? You were mumbling something in your sleep—like you were talking to someone," Antony said, his voice laced with concern. He leaned over and placed a hand on Kayle's forehead, but quickly recoiled.

"You're burning up! You have a fever—wait here, I'll get something." Without wasting a second, Antony dashed down the creaky wooden stairs of the inn, rushing into the kitchen where Elena was preparing tea.

"Elena, I need cold water and a clean linen cloth—fast!" he urged.

Elena's eyes widened. "What happened?"

"Kayle's running a high fever—like nothing I've ever seen. Please hurry!"

She handed him a bowl of cold water and a clean strip of linen. "Be careful," she whispered.

Antony nodded and sprinted back to the room. "Lie down on the bed, Kayle," he instructed as gently as he could. Kayle, semi-conscious and drenched in sweat, obeyed weakly. Antony soaked the linen cloth and placed it on Kayle's burning forehead. But to his shock, the cloth dried within seconds, the water evaporating as if touching a furnace. He dipped it again and again, wiping Kayle's forehead until there was no water left.

Breathing heavily, Antony placed his hand on Kayle's skin again, his face contorting in worry. "My God... your temperature's rising even more. This is not normal. I'm going to call Ilham."

He ran from the room and stormed into Ilham's quarters. "Ilham, it's Kayle—something's wrong. His body is on fire!"

Without waiting for more explanation, Ilham followed him upstairs. As soon as he entered the room, his eyes widened. The air was dense with mana. He looked at Kayle, whose body glowed faintly with red and gold streaks.

"Everyone out," Ilham ordered. "Now."

Antony and Elena hesitated, but the authority in Ilham's voice made them comply. They stepped out, shutting the door behind them.

Ilham approached Kayle and examined him closely. "So it has begun…" he murmured to himself.

"What's happening to him?" Antony asked through the door.

"His Firebond… it has evolved," Ilham replied gravely.

He placed his hand on Kayle's chest and began to chant in an ancient tongue, one long forgotten by the common people. Suddenly, a surge of powerful mana burst from Kayle's body, shaking the walls of the inn. The wind howled outside, clouds swirled unnaturally, and lightning cracked across the sky.

A glowing image of a celestial dragon—massive, majestic, and terrifying—appeared in the sky above the village, its roar echoing across the mountains.

Villagers screamed. One elderly man fainted on the spot. Others ran indoors, locking their doors and windows.

"Canny, come inside, now!" a mother shouted to her child playing in the street.

As the phenomenon continued, Antony and Elena stared out the window in stunned silence. The heavens had come alive, and Kayle was at the center of it all.

"Who the hell is this guy?" Antony finally managed to whisper.

"More importantly... what is he?" Elena added, still clutching the window frame.

Meanwhile, inside the room, the celestial image slowly faded, and the storm settled into silence. Ilham collapsed beside Kayle, his mana fully drained. But Kayle's fever had broken. His breathing was steady. Peace had returned, if only for a moment.

— ✦✦✦ —

Far away, in the cold stone halls of Castle Parcilona, a courtier sprinted into the royal chamber, gasping for breath.

"Your Highness! We've located the Black Devil!"

The King, who had been resting, sat up with a sharp glare. "Then what are you doing here? Go! Bring him to me—dead or alive!"

The courtier bowed and rushed out. The King's eyes narrowed. "So the prophecy is unfolding…"

— ✦✦✦ —

Ilham awoke hours later, his muscles sore, his body weak. He sat up with a groan, looking around the now quiet room. Kayle was gone.

"Elena?" he called out.

She stepped into the room from the corner where she had been waiting, arms crossed and eyes blazing. "He left."

"What?"

"He said something like, 'They've found me. If I stay here, you all might be in danger.' Then he just... left," she said angrily. "Didn't even wait to explain."

Ilham's shoulders slumped. He closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.

"I have only one question," Elena snapped. "Who the HELL was that guy? And don't you dare play innocent!"

Ilham chuckled softly, ignoring her rage. "What a kid... running off like that." He turned to the window, looking at the sky. "I hope we meet again, Kayle."

"ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?!" Elena screamed.

Ilham smiled but didn't answer. His thoughts were far away now, somewhere on the path Kayle had taken. He knew this was only the beginning.

The world was about to change.

And the flame-bound boy—was its spark.

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