Kalm's eyelids fluttered as a faint scent touched his nose.
It wasn't exactly mouthwatering, but it was… pleasant enough.
Pleasant enough to make his stomach let out a deep, needy growl.
Now that he thought about it…
The only thing he'd eaten was an old, stale loaf of bread and a bitter sip of coffee he'd later tossed into a rusty trash bin.
He was *starving*.
He opened his eyes slowly, exhaustion still drawn across his face.
Rubbing his eyes, he reached toward the side of his torso, feeling for the wound.
There was pain—dull and persistent—but aside from that, just a few scattered bruises.
That in itself was reason enough to feel thankful.
And then… the smell hit him again.
Kalm's eyes widened in surprise at the scene before him.
The Queen sat a few steps away, perched on a throne of shadow.
In front of her, a small campfire crackled softly, a circle of flame under which pieces of meat were roasting.
The image was… surreal.
And at the same time, mouthwatering.
Especially for someone like Kalm, who hadn't tasted meat in years.
The sight alone was divine—
Made even more surreal by the fact that the one cooking it was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen.
The Queen noticed him stirring and smiled gently.
**"You still need a little time to recover.
Come closer—let's talk a while."**
Kalm stood and walked toward her.
The small cub lay sleeping near her feet.
The wolf and raven were nowhere to be seen…
Likely scouting the way ahead.
From the shadows, a graceful chair rose beside her.
Kalm let out a small breath of awe at the effortless display of power—for what felt like the tenth time.
He sat down, eyes locked on the beautifully seared meat, wide and sparkling with hunger.
The orange flames flickered in the Queen's dark, ruby-like eyes as she asked calmly:
**"Tell me, Kalm—how is your world holding up against the Catastrophes?"**
His expression turned somber.
He paused, thinking about what little he knew.
**"I… don't really know much.
But if I had to guess, I'd say it's holding together fairly well… for now."**
He adjusted his position slightly, about to add more—
But the Queen spoke again before he could.
**"It seems the invention of the Lost One—*the Voice of the World*—has helped your people.
If what you said is true, then… there may be one or two beings of my level in your world."**
Kalm tilted his head slightly.
As an orphan raised in the slums, living most of his life in poverty—
He didn't know anything about Awakened or the actual state of the world.
But judging by the conditions in the outskirts,
And from what he'd heard in bits and pieces from patrolling officers—
The world was in the middle of a painful transition.
And on the other hand…
This woman's world had collapsed even with all its might and sixth-ranked warrior defending it.
That could only mean a storm was coming—
A terrifying one that might wipe out everything in its path.
The Queen sighed and nudged the fire with something that looked like a monster's limb, stoking the flames higher.
Then, after a moment, she said:
**"Well, whether it's you or someone else, it doesn't matter.
You already know what must be done to save your world.
But personally…
I hope it won't be *you*, Kalm."**
Kalm raised an eyebrow, surprised.
**"You hope it *won't* be me…?
Is there a reason for that, Your Majesty?"**
She raised a finger and pointed to her eye.
Kalm blinked, confused.
**"I… don't understand?"**
Her gaze dropped back to the fire as she carefully turned the meat.
**"Kalm, did you know… you can tell a lot about someone just from their eyes?
Eyes never lie—unlike words."**
The firelight danced in her dark gemstone eyes as she continued:
"The soldier who stabbed himself with my dagger… and all of my warriors—
They have sharp, focused, unwavering eyes.
When you look into them, you *know* you're staring at a real fighter.
Now, look at *my* eyes.
They lack that gleam, that clarity.
Instead, they hold something deeper… darker—
Like a bottomless abyss.
They're the eyes of a killer."
A chill crawled down Kalm's spine as he looked at the delicate woman before him.
Could anyone truly see her… and think "killer"?
Not literally, perhaps—
But now that he thought about it…
Her black, ruby-like eyes weren't those of a warrior.
Not truly.
The Queen smiled, stirred the flames again, and went on:
"You, Kalm…
You don't have a fighter's eyes.
Nor a killer's.
Your eyes are soft.
Gentle.
They don't shine with hunger or ambition.
They're clear…
Like a still pond bathed in sunlight.
You're not a destroyer like me, Kalm.
You're… a builder."
Kalm's eyelids fluttered in surprise.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
He didn't even bother hiding his astonishment.
Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, he said:
**"Seems eyes really *do* say a lot, Your Majesty…
But if I may ask—
Is that a bad thing?"**
The Queen's expression froze for a moment—
As if she hadn't expected that response.
Then it shifted into a low, amused chuckle.
"You really surprised me.
Most people would've denied it or gotten angry..
Clinging to stories of their battles and struggles,
Especially those who've lived through hardship.
Heh…
But yes, it *is* a problem.
Not in the past, maybe…
But now—
It's a real obstacle.
The world has gone mad, Kalm.
It's walking a razor's edge,
Where the lines between good and evil have grown faint…
Fading beneath layers of something else."
She lifted her gaze, eyes locking onto his with piercing focus.
"Everyone wants something—
Power, status, glory…
Things like that.
But you…
You're stuck between them all—
No ambition, no goal, no drive."
A faint darkness stirred in her beautiful eyes.
Her voice dropped into something deep—
So deep it made Kalm shiver.
"Many are willing to do insane things for their dreams.
Killing…
Deception…
Manipulation…
Incitement…
Conspiracy…
War...
Little Kalm…
You'll be crushed beneath their dreams—
Torn apart without mercy."
Kalm stared at her in silent awe for a moment, then lowered his gaze.
The firelight danced quietly in his eyes as he whispered to himself:
**"Crushed beneath their dreams…"**
Among people, there are those whose ambition burns like stars scattered across a night sky—
Their willpower fierce, blazing like a sun that scorches everything in its path to reach its goal.
And naturally…
In every equation like that, someone has to lose.
For one person to rise, many must be trampled—
Whether intentionally or not…
But a loss remains a loss.
To bake a cake, first you have to break some eggs.
The weak…
The unlucky…
They're always the ones who pay the price.
And Kalm—
He was one of them.
One of the eggs meant to be broken.
The Queen, watching his expression, smiled faintly.
She picked up the roasted meat, sliced it cleanly in two, and handed him half with a radiant smile.
Kalm tried to shake off the heavy moment.
He accepted the meat with his right hand and said gratefully:
**"Oh… thank you."**
He looked at the piece like it was a rare gem—
As if, for a fleeting second, one of his deepest dreams was coming true.
He blew on it gently to cool the steam rising from its juicy surface.
Then, slowly, he sank his teeth into the meat.
The juices spilled over his tongue—
Firm and tender, the meat crushed between his teeth, releasing a wave of flavor that danced over his taste buds.
Despite the lack of seasoning, despite the primitive way it had been cooked—
It was good. *Really* good.
One of the rare good things Kalm had ever tasted in his life.
His eyes trembled with joy—
He could almost see stars shining in them.
His lips curled into a smile of pure satisfaction as he devoured the rest hungrily,
Completely forgetting the manners of polite eating.
But honestly…
Who cared about etiquette, when something so wonderful was right in front of you?
Across from him, the Queen couldn't help but place a hand over her mouth, laughing softly.
A gentle, melodic sound—
She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the childlike way Kalm devoured the meat, utterly delighted.
When he finally finished, Kalm rubbed his stomach, now full and completely content.
His heart fluttered with a kind of quiet happiness.
He glanced toward the Queen, who had also finished her portion.
She lifted her gaze to the ceiling for a moment, as if sensing something unseen.
Kalm opened his mouth and asked:
**"Your Majesty… shall we continue our journey?"**
But she didn't answer right away.
After a few seconds, her eyes dropped back to him.
Her voice was calm, composed:
**"Oh, not just yet.
You're still injured—unable to fight or even walk quickly.
So I've sent some of my soldiers ahead to scout the path and identify any major dangers.
What happened earlier was merely a test… to see how you'd handle it.
I have no intention of exposing you—my heir—to danger again."**
Kalm instinctively touched his wound, then looked at her with a polite smile.
**"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.
I truly appreciate it."**
Her eyes widened slightly, as if something had just occurred to her.
**"Ah, there's really no need to keep calling me that, you know."**
Kalm asked with a respectful smile:
**"Then… what should I call you?"**
She seemed momentarily confused—
Her eyes flicked from side to side, as if searching her own thoughts for an answer.
Finally, she said:
**"You can call me Kalystra."**
Kalm looked at her for a moment, then lowered his gaze toward the fire.
Kalystra.
A strange name…
It felt like she had just made it up on the spot.
After a brief silence, he replied with a warm chuckle:
**"Then I'll be in your care, Kalystra.
Please look after me… I'm still weak, after all."**
She smiled.
**"Of course I will.
You are my heir, after all.
And besides… you've grown on me.
It would be such a shame to let you die here."**
Kalm froze for a second at her strange joke.
She *was* joking… right?
She *had* to be…
His teenage brain scrambled to change the subject—
But the woman before him smirked devilishly.
**"What's that look on your face, little Kalm?
Oh… don't tell me you're really that pure-hearted?"**
His cheeks flushed red, and he fumbled for words that wouldn't come.
The Queen leaned back in her chair, laughing sweetly, and then opened one eye to look at him again.
**"Oh, don't worry, Kalm—
That's not a bad thing, really.
Love… romance… desire… admiration…
Every human—*every* one—holds those feelings deep inside.
The only difference is in how we see them."**
Kalm's eyes opened wide, struck by the weight of her words.
He listened—genuinely captivated—by her quiet wisdom.
The gentle woman leaned forward with a soft smile and continued,
"Kalm, you must understand that ascending the path of Awakening is built upon one thing: emotion. Without it, without feelings… we humans are no different from beasts."
She sighed, a hint of sadness in her breath.
"But let's be honest… humans walk the path of loneliness. We build relationships, grow attached, fall in love, care for others—not because we're noble, but because we're afraid. Afraid of being alone."
She paused, her eyes drifting toward a flickering flame on the ground.
"Take me for example," she said. "I was born into royalty, raised in a supportive family. At twenty, I found a wonderful lover. Every moment with him is still etched in my memory…
But look at me now. Alone, sitting atop a throne in a world that's already fallen."
Kalm watched her expression but didn't know how to respond. He understood every word she said—yet no answer came to him.
So, he chose silence. Sometimes silence is the best response in matters like these. Life isn't shaped by a single perspective… every person—no matter who they are—sees the world through a different lens.
Someone who has lived at the top, and someone who's known only the bottom… will never look at a piece of bread with the same eyes, or value it the same.
And what the queen seemed to be saying… is that in the end, humans are destined to remain alone, no matter how many bonds surround them.
But… is that really true? Are all relationships truly doomed to vanish?
Kalm didn't know the answer. Maybe he never would—at least not until he reached a point of emotional and mental maturity that allowed him to see the world as this gentle woman did.
As he pondered, the queen spoke again, her tone deeper this time.
"Treasure your feelings, Kalm. They matter far more than most people realize. A human life is like a drifting cloud in the sky of time… It floats on the breeze of fate, touches other clouds in the name of love, care, admiration… or drifts apart in the name of hatred, bitterness, vengeance.
Nothing is eternal. Not even life itself. It ends one day, often before you even notice.
So, Kalm… cherish your feelings, your emotions… and above all, your humanity."