The bed was soft.
The room warm.
But Kael did not sleep peacefully.
In the stillness of the night, his mind slipped from dreams into memories , and from memories into monsters.
He stood alone in a concrete room lit by a single, flickering bulb.
Chains clinked against his raw wrists.
The stink of mold and rust burned in his nostrils.
The air tasted like rot.
If one could call a cage that.
He could hear them outside the door.
His mother. Her boyfriend. The others.
They were laughing. Talking about him like he wasn't human.
«…he doesn't even cry when you hit him.»
«…tried to drown the dog again. Little freak.»
«…no emotion. He's not a person. Just a broken thing.»
Kael didn't move. Didn't feel.
Didn't blink.
Just listened.
As they debated which punishment would maybe make him normal.
He remembered the beatings. The starvation. The endless hours locked in dark places, forced to listen to the pain of others , to see if he would finally feel something.
He didn't.
Not even when they brought in a kitten.
Not even when,
No.
The dream twisted again.
A flash of red.
A man screaming.
Blood on his hands.
Not from rage. Not from hate.
He just… wanted to understand what pain looked like.
Then silence.
And the room faded.
Now he stood in a mirrorless bathroom, staring at a reflection that didn't exist.
His face, pale. Lifeless. Eyes like glass.
No empathy. No guilt. No sadness.
Only the echo of emptiness.
Kael jerked awake.
His breath caught in his throat, body drenched in cold sweat.
The sheets around him were twisted. The moon still hung above the city skyline. His hands trembled slightly.
He sat up in the darkness, rubbing his face.
It had been years of living through all that. And still…
The numbness.
The guilt.
The memories.
He lowered his hands to his lap and stared at them.
Strong. Capable of healing, and killing.
«Do I really deserve this second chance?» he whispered to the empty room.
No one answered.
Of course they didn't.
He stood and walked to the window, pushing it open to let the cool night air in. The city below was mostly quiet, though distant lights flickered and hummed in the streets.
Kael exhaled slowly.
Sleep wouldn't return tonight.
So instead…
He changed into simple clothing, cloaked himself in a faint masking spell to avoid attention, and stepped into the night.
The streets of Myrefall were a different world at night.
Shadows clung to alley corners. Mana lanterns flickered low, casting long beams across empty plazas. Street cleaners swept fallen leaves and bits of trash with enchanted brooms. A few shops stayed open for night workers and delivery drivers, but mostly, the city dozed.
Kael walked.
Nowhere in particular.
His mind drifted from thought to thought, never landing for long.
The dream clung to his bones, but he tried to distract himself with small things:
The way mana vines curled around the old fountain in the plaza.
The smell of baking bread from a midnight oven.
The subtle whir of a crystal tram rolling across the rail line.
A stray cat blinking lazily at him from a rooftop.
He didn't want to remember.
Didn't want to reflect.
He just… existed.
Until the sky began to lighten with hints of morning gold.
By the time Kael reached the restaurant, sunlight had just begun to wash across the city rooftops. A gentle haze clung to the plaza bricks, and the lamps outside the Hearth had just dimmed for the day.
He approached the door, paused, then took a steady breath and stepped inside.
The little bell chimed softly.
Liora was already behind the counter, tying her apron.
She looked up , and the moment her red eyes landed on him, she smiled.
«Kael! Good morning!»
His chest loosened slightly.
«Morning,» he replied, managing a small smile.
«You're here early,» she said, wiping her hands on a cloth. «I was about to open the doors officially.»
«I couldn't sleep.»
She tilted her head, concerned but not prying. «Rough night?»
Kael hesitated, then nodded.
«Well,» she said, cheerfully changing the subject, «I'll get your breakfast started. You want the usual?»
«I don't have a usual yet.»
«You do now.» She winked.
Kael watched her go, unable to stop the corner of his mouth from lifting.
The breakfast came quickly , a bowl of rice porridge laced with savory herbs, soft egg, and grilled fish on the side. A warm citrus drink accompanied it, steaming faintly.
Kael took a bite.
Again, warmth.
Again, peace.
They ate in companionable silence for a while.
Then Kael spoke. «You mentioned something yesterday… about training?»
She perked up. «Oh, right! I train at the West Spire Academy.»
«Magic?»
«Mostly. I'm working on becoming a certified healer. Maybe a combat support mage if I pass the next round.»
«That's a dangerous line of work.»
She shrugged, her white hair bouncing. «So is being alive these days.»
Kael gave a small chuckle. «True.»
«My mom doesn't love the idea,» she continued. «But she understands. I want to help people. Not just patch wounds , really help. You know?»
Kael nodded.
«I want to go with hunters on missions,» she said, more softly. «Make sure fewer people die. Make sure someone's there to hold their hand, if it comes to that.»
He looked at her , really looked.
Beneath the playful tone was a genuine strength. A warmth forged through loss, not ignorance.
«You'd make a good healer,» he said.
She smiled. «You think so?»
Kael hesitated.
«Yeah.»
She reached across the table and tapped his forehead gently.
«See? You're opening up.»
«I'm… trying.»
«You're doing good,» she said. «For a grumpy stew guy.»
Kael huffed. «I'm not grumpy.»
«Oh, please. You have 'brooding lone wolf' written all over you.»
He gave her a flat look, but she was already giggling.
He looked away, ears tinged faintly red.
«I'm just not good at talking.»
«Well, you're doing fine now.»
Kael stared into his cup, then softly said, «You're easy to talk to.»
That silenced her.
She blinked.
Then smiled again , quieter this time.
«Thank you.»
When breakfast was over, Kael reached into his coat and placed coins on the counter.
Liora waved him off. «You don't have to, »
«I want to.»
She sighed dramatically. «Fine, fine. But only because I like you.»
Kael blinked. «You… like me?»
Her grin widened. «As a customer, obviously.»
«…Right.»
«But maybe more if you keep blushing like that.»
He flushed harder.
She laughed again.
After a moment, Kael stepped back toward the door.
«I'll be back tonight,» he said.
«I'll save your seat.»
He paused.
Then added softly, «I'll protect this place. If anything ever happens.»
She looked at him, something unreadable flickering in her eyes.
«…I know.»
Kael gave a small nod.
Then stepped outside.
The mask returned.
The coat. The gloves. The A-rank badge.
The Ghost walked again.
He appeared just outside the guild's perimeter this time , not risking a dramatic mid-hall teleport again. The early-rising hunters still noticed his approach, though. Conversations hushed. Eyes followed him.
Kael ignored them.
His boots echoed softly as he crossed the polished floor, heading toward the main board and administrative wing.
Some stepped aside.
Others watched from the corners.
A few whispered.
But no one stopped him.
Not anymore.
Not after what he did to the Breeder. To the swarm. To the rift.
He was no longer a mystery.
He was a warning.
As Kael approached the reception area, a familiar staff member spotted him and bowed low.
«Welcome back, Ghost. The Guildmaster left word , you're to be sent to him directly.»
Kael nodded once.
And walked forward.