Kael stood frozen, fear coursing through his veins like ice.
He knew.
He knew Taymel and Nisa were inside that pit.
But knowing wasn't enough. He couldn't just charge in blindly and throw away his life as well.
His fists clenched, his breath uneven.
"If the dream was true… then they're already dead," he whispered to himself, the words slicing through him.
But then another thought broke through, swift, sharp, undeniable:
"What if it wasn't a death sentence… but a warning?"
As soon as the idea formed in his mind, his body moved.
He couldn't stand still any longer.
He turned and ran, full speed, toward the tunnel of shadows, plunging into its darkness without hesitation.
His thoughts spun wildly as he sprinted down the corridor, calculating, preparing. He had no sword, no weapon to speak of. But ever since reaching the second stage, he had felt a strange deepening of connection to his inner essence, his soul. He hadn't tested it yet… but there was a chance.
