Chapter 22: A Reason to Survive

Golden rays slipped through the cracks in the curtains, chasing away the lingering darkness. The soft chirping of birds echoed faintly from outside, their songs a cruel contrast to the heaviness in my limbs.

I stirred with a groan, my muscles aching as if I'd been run over by a charging beast.

A dull pain pulsed through my body, the aftermath of yesterday's madness. My eyes dragged toward the window.

The sun was already high.

My heart stopped.

"Shit—!" I shot up from the bed, panic slamming into my chest. The room spun for a moment as the blood rushed to my head.

I was still in full armor. Bloodstained. Dried. Obvious.

If Liana walked in now—if she saw me like this—

No. I didn't even want to imagine her expression.

I stumbled toward the wardrobe, fingers scrambling over the clasps of my armor. Time was slipping, and with it, my chance to hide the truth.

Just as I was fumbling with the straps of my armor, a soft knock came at the door.

"Kael, I'm coming in."

Liana's voice—gentle, familiar—pierced through the wooden frame like a dagger of dread.

My eyes widened in horror.

No. Not now.

"Wait—don't come in!" I shouted, panic lacing my voice.

But I was too late.

The door creaked open.

Liana stepped in, carrying a tray of breakfast, her gaze still lowered, focused on balancing the dishes. She hadn't noticed me yet—still cloaked in bloodstained armor, panic etched on my face.

Then she looked up.

Her eyes met mine.

She froze.

Her lips parted, but no words came. The tray in her hands began to tilt, her fingers slackening from the shock.

But I moved first.

I lunged forward, hands shooting out. The tray wobbled, a cup clinking against a plate—but I caught it just in time, steadying it in her hands before it could fall.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Only the sound of my heavy breathing filled the room.

I let out a slow breath, forcing my hands to steady.

Gently, I took the tray from Liana's trembling grip and walked back toward the table. The chair creaked as I pulled it back, placing the tray down with care—as if the quiet clatter of dishes could drown out the storm between us.

Then I turned to face her.

She hadn't moved.

Her eyes were still fixed on me—no, on the blood-streaked armor clinging to my body. Dried stains, torn edges, dents where mod rabbit had struck. Signs of a battle I should've never returned from.

Her expression was unreadable. Shock? Fear? Anger?

I couldn't tell.

"Do you have anything to ask?" I said calmly.

Or at least, I sounded calm.

My face was composed, voice even. Cold, if anything.

But inside?

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I was screaming.

My thoughts spun, scrambling to predict what she might say, what she might do. Would she try to stop me? Tell the Commander? She could be stubborn like that—righteous, even when it scared her. She always was.

But I couldn't let that happen.

I still hadn't found anything about the dungeon. There was no sign, no clue. And I couldn't afford to stop now.

The fighting… it was the first thing that made me feel alive since arriving in this damned place.

So I met her gaze, steady and prepared—bracing myself for the storm behind those wide eyes.

Whatever came next…

I had already decided.

"Kael…"

Her voice trembled—barely a whisper.

"What's going on?"

Her eyes locked onto mine, but quickly flicked back down to the armor I wore—splattered with dried blood, dented, scuffed. Her fingers clenched at her side.

"Why are you wearing that armor?" she asked, barely keeping her composure. "And… why is it bloody?"

There was no hesitation in her voice now. Only the questions that had been clawing at her from the second she stepped in.

I gave a light chuckle and tried to keep my tone casual, even throwing in a faint smile.

"Oh, this? Nothing serious. I was just sparring with Daren, Nicholas, and John. Things got a bit rough—accidents happen, you know?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"Kael," she said slowly, voice tightening, "you've never worn that armor during training. You have a standard training suit for that."

She took a step forward.

"And this is your personal armor. The one you brought from home. You never use it—not for drills."

The calm in her voice cracked as her gaze burned into mine.

"And don't even think about lying to me. I can ask them myself."

Tch. Of course she caught on.

She always sees through me.

'Yeah… she's not buying that crap,' I thought grimly.

My mind was already racing—calculating what to say next, how to twist it, soften it, or deflect it.

But deep down, I knew one thing:

I couldn't fool her. Not this time.

"Okay… I'll tell you," I said slowly, eyes locked on hers.

"But promise me—you won't tell anyone."

She didn't answer.

Her gaze sharpened. Silent. Demanding.

"I mean it, Liana," I said again, this time with a firmer edge in my voice. "If you don't promise, I'm not saying a word."

She let out a long, frustrated sigh—like she was already regretting this conversation.

"...Fine. I promise. Now talk."

"Good." I exhaled and leaned back. "For the past two weeks... I've been leaving the fortress at night."

Her brows knit instantly.

"I've been going into the Dark Forest… to hunt monsters."

Her reaction was immediate.

"You what?!" she shrieked.

I jumped and clamped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide in panic.

"Shhh! Keep your voice down! Do you want the whole fortress to hear?"

But she shoved my hand away with both of hers and stood up, furious.

"You've been going to the Dark Forest? Alone? At night?!"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Are you out of your mind, Kael?! What the hell is wrong with you?! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

"No, Liana. I'm not mad."

I gave a dry chuckle, trying to lighten the air.

"And trust me, I have no death wish. If I'm going to die, I want it to be when I'm wrinkled and old—not torn apart by some mutant beast."

"Then why, Kael?!" Her voice cracked as she pointed at my armor. "Why are you doing this?"

"You remember what happened the last time you went out alone?" Her voice trembled now. "You barely made it back alive! You were bedridden for a week!"

Yeah… I remember that night.

How could I forget?

How could I ever tell Liana the truth…

That her Kael didn't survive that battle.

He died.

He died helpless, broken, and forgotten —

like his existence never mattered.

And maybe it didn't.

Because in this world, strength is the only thing that counts.

It doesn't matter if you're poor or rich.

It doesn't matter if your father is the strongest man alive,

or if you have a hundred people swearing to protect you.

If you're weak, you die.

That's the only law this world respects.

No one cares about the nameless. No one mourns the powerless.

If ten thousand non-Awakened humans die? The ruling class doesn't even blink.

But if one person with worth gets scratched, they'll burn a city to the ground for vengeance.

Right now… I have no worth.

The original Kael had none either.

That's why they sent him here.

Not to exile him — but to kill him. Quietly. Conveniently.

And they succeeded.

But I'm not that Kael.

I won't die like him.

I want to live. I want to survive.

Even if I have to claw through blood and dirt, even if I have to shatter every rule, betray every oath —

I will survive.

If it means destroying the world itself,

so be it.

Because from now on…

If living makes me a monster—then I'll be the worst of them.

"Why?"

My voice cracked.

"Because I want to be stronger, Liana. I'm weak right now. And I don't want to be weak anymore."

She looked at me, worried. "Then keep training—just like you've been doing for the past month. You're getting stronger, Kael. I can see it."

I smiled a little at her words. It was soft, bitter.

"That's not enough, Liana," I said quietly. "I'm still far behind. People my age… they're miles ahead of me. I'm at the bottom. I don't want to stay there. That's why I go out and fight those monsters."

Her expression darkened. "But Kaeli… you'll get hurt. I don't want something to happen to you."

"Nothing will happen to me." I forced a grin. "See? I'm alive and well. I know my limits—I never fight anything I can't handle. Just yesterday, I killed an E+ ranked monster. I'm a little bruised, sure, but I'm still here."

She stayed silent for a long time.

Then, softly:

"But… but Kael… you don't have to do all this. You don't need to get stronger. Just live your life normally. You're not the heir anymore. You don't have that responsibility."

I looked at her. Eyes steady.

"I know," I said. "I'm not doing this for the Thorne name. I'm doing this for me."

"In this world, strength is everything, Liana. If you don't have it, you'll be trampled. Forgotten. I don't want to die without ever leaving a mark. I want to live freely in this world—and for that, I need strength."

I paused, then added gently, "And you don't need to worry. I won't do anything reckless, I promise."

I took a step closer.

"So Liana… I'll ask again—will you help me?"

She lowered her gaze. "How can I help you, Kael…? I can't fight. I can't train you. I can't do anything…"

"No, Liana." I shook my head. "You're already doing more than enough."

"You bring me food. You listen when no one else does. You spend time with me even when everyone's turned their backs. And most of all—you believe in me."

"You're the reason I'm still fighting. Still breathing. If not for you… I would've given up long ago."

I smiled—this time, truly.

"So please. Just keep being here. That support is already more than enough."

She was silent for a long moment. Then slowly, she looked up at me—her eyes no longer trembling, but steady, fierce. Filled with quiet resolve, she finally opened her mouth to speak.