Auren stepped out of the cabin slowly, pausing for a moment as he leaned against the wooden doorframe. The outside air was cool and refreshing, yet it carried a faint scent of ash that still lingered in the forest.

  The traces of what had happened were everywhere.

  The land beyond the village looked as though celestial fire had swept across it blackened patches of earth, half-burned trees, and an eerie silence that made the world feel wider than before.

  He took a deep breath.

  His body had mostly recovered, but exhaustion still clung to him somewhere deep inside.

  He stopped for a moment.

  Memories of the battle flashed through his mind screams, flames, blood… and then emptiness.

  He exhaled quietly.

  "Looks like I overdid it a little…"

  "A little?"

  The voice came from beside him.

  He turned to find Kaelyn standing near the wooden fence, her arms crossed and her gaze fixed on him. Her hair swayed gently with the wind, her eyes studying him as if evaluating his condition without needing to ask.

  She stepped closer.

  "You turned half the forest into an unstable mana zone."

  Auren blinked.

  "…Is that bad?"

  She sighed.

  "It means monsters won't come near… but it also means other things might."

  He raised an eyebrow.

  "Other things?"

  A faint smile touched her lips, though it never reached her eyes.

  "People who understand the value of power."

  A brief silence followed.

  Before he could respond, a loud shout echoed from afar.

  "Aureeeen !! You finally woke up!"

  Elina ran toward him at terrifying speed, her hair flowing behind her and her face glowing with genuine happiness. Auren tried to mentally prepare himself but failed.

  She crashed straight into him.

  He staggered back half a step, wincing.

  "I'm… still injured."

  She lifted her head instantly.

  "Ah! Sorry! Sorry! I forgot!"

  But she didn't step away.

  Instead, she began inspecting him with exaggerated concern.

  "Does it hurt here? Or here? Or here?"

  "Elina… I didn't turn into an injury map."

  Kaelyn let out a quiet laugh.

  At that moment, rhythmic sounds echoed from the village square.

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  Wood striking wood.

  Once… twice… then a third time, stronger.

  Auren turned toward the sound.

  In the center of the training ground, Rael was practicing alone.

  A wooden sword moved repeatedly in his hands. His footing was sometimes unstable, his strikes lacking technique, yet every motion carried unmistakable determination.

  He had clearly been training for a long time. Sweat soaked his clothes, his breathing was uneven, yet he refused to stop.

  Another heavy swing.

  The wooden blade trembled in his grip.

  Auren approached slowly.

  He noticed it immediately.

  Rael's hands were covered in scratches, some reopened from relentless training.

  "If you keep going like that," Auren said, "you'll injure yourself before you become stronger."

  Rael froze.

  He turned, and when he saw Auren, his eyes widened slightly.

  "You… woke up."

  Auren nodded.

  A short silence followed before Rael spoke in a low voice.

  "When the orcs attacked… we could only wait here."

  He tightened his grip on the wooden sword.

  "Waiting for you to come back… or not."

  His gaze fell to the ground.

  "I couldn't do anything."

  There were no tears in his voice only weight.

  "Everyone was afraid… me too. But I hated that feeling."

  He raised his head, determination burning in his eyes.

  "So I started training."

  He inhaled slowly.

  "I won't stay someone who always needs protection."

  Auren watched him for a long moment.

  These weren't the words of childish impulsiveness.

  They were the decision of someone who had changed.

  "Strength doesn't come quickly," Oren said calmly.

  "That's fine," Rael replied immediately.

  His grip tightened.

  "I'll endure the time… and the pain."

  A faint smile appeared on Oren's face.

  From afar, Elina watched them excitedly.

  "He's been training every day since sunrise!"

  Rael sighed.

  "I didn't ask you to announce that…"

  Auren laughed softly, easing the atmosphere.

  Later that afternoon, the villagers gathered near the square. The chief stepped forward slowly, his staff tapping the ground with steady rhythm.

  He bowed slightly.

  "Your presence has brought us peace for the first time in years."

  Auren felt uncomfortable.

  "I only fought."

  The chief smiled gently.

  "Power that protects others… is what creates leaders."

  Villagers approached one after another, offering food, tools, and shy smiles.

  Whispers spread.

  "The savior…"

  "Lord of Flames…"

  Auren sighed internally.

  "This is getting embarrassing."

  Kaelyn murmured beside him,

  "You should get used to it."

  Meanwhile, Elina enthusiastically retold the battle adding details that absolutely never happened.

  "And then auren jumped through the sky like a blazing meteor!"

  "That did not happen,"auren said immediately.

  "It did in my imagination!"

  Laughter spread through the crowd.

  Even Rael couldn't hold back a smile.

  Auren felt something strange.

  Comfort.

  But suddenly

  Kaelyn stopped laughing.

  She lifted her head toward the forest.

  Her gaze changed.

  Calm… sharp.

  A faint presence was watching from afar.

  She said nothing for a moment before speaking casually.

  "I'll be back soon."

  Auren met her eyes, understanding immediately.

  "Don't take too long."

  She disappeared into the trees.

  The scene returned to Oren.

  The fire before him flickered slowly.

  Yet the peace he felt moments ago had vanished.

  His instincts told him something clearly.

  The calm… was over.

  A faint smile crossed his face.

  "Trouble really likes me."

  He looked toward the village.

  Children laughing.

  Elina arguing with Rael.

  And for the first time…

  He wasn't thinking only about survival.

  But protection.

  He spoke quietly, barely audible.

  "If the world is coming for us…"

  A small flame sparked above his palm.

  "…then it better be ready."

  The flame faded.

  On a hill overlooking the village, a man in a dark cloak observed the devastation below.

  Ash.

  Scorched earth.

  Unnatural silence.

  He whispered with admiration,

  "One person did all this… fascinating."

  He wasn't afraid.

  Only curious.

  A voice spoke behind him.

  "Watching without permission is a bad habit."

  He didn't move immediately,a faint smile appeared before he turned,kaelyn stood behind him,he studied her with an experienced gaze.

  "So… the guardian appears."

  She answered coldly,

  "Who sent you?"

  He replied calmly,

  "An explorer. I observe abnormal phenomena."

  Her expression made it clear she wasn't convinced,before he could continue,the air trembled behind him,a calm voice spoke.

  "If I were you… I'd choose my next words carefully."

  He turned slowly ,Auren standing without visible aura yet the pressure alone told the scout everything.

  These two… were not ordinary.

  Auren continued quietly,

  "I wouldn't recommend angering her."

  The scout's eyes moved rapidly, calculating escape routes.

  Mistake.

  Kaelyn vanished,she appeared directly before him.

  A flash.

  A cracking sound.

  His arm shattered before he understood what happened.

  A second strike.

  His leg collapsed beneath him.he fell, gasping.she stood over him calmly and leaned closer.

  "I'll ask again."

  Her voice turned colder.

  "Who sent you… and for what purpose?"

  He smiled despite the pain.

  "…Seems I found the right target."

  Auren stood silently behind her, his gaze fixed on the man.

  The forest fell completely still.

  As if the world itself waited for the answer.