Lys walked aimlessly for hours, following a narrow trail through dense trees. The sun had tilted westward, its light piercing between branches and casting long shadows on the ground. The forest air was damp, filled with the scent of wet soil and the endless hum of insects. Each step grew heavier. His body was still weak after being swept away by the river the night before. His clothes had dried but were stiff with mud and torn in several places. He hadn't eaten since morning, only sipped a bit of water from his leather flask. In his mind, Aetherion's voice was calm but distant, as if the being itself was recovering.
When the sun began to set, Lys stopped near a large fallen tree. He dropped his bag, sat down, and took a long breath. Exhaustion consumed every muscle. His hands trembled as he unwrapped the last piece of dry bread. It was hard and tasteless, but he ate it slowly. In the quiet, Aetherion's voice returned, soft yet clear. You must keep moving, Lys. They haven't given up searching for you. Lys lifted his head, scanning the forest warily. "I know," he murmured. "But if I don't rest, I'll die of exhaustion." A human body has limits, Aetherion replied evenly. But those who hunt you will not stop just because night has fallen.
Lys gazed at the darkening sky. Through the tall leaves, the first star appeared faint but sharp. He closed his eyes briefly, trying to calm his thoughts. But peace didn't last. From afar came a sound the snap of a branch beneath a heavy step. He froze, his heartbeat quickened. Slowly, he stood and gripped the small knife at his belt. "Who's there?" His voice was barely a whisper, yet sharp enough to cut through the air. No answer. Only the faint rustle of wind moving through the brush. Then Aetherion spoke again, his voice lower this time. Three of them. Humans. Approaching from the south.
Lys stepped back. He knew he couldn't fight three people at once. He glanced right, saw a narrow path between the trees, and prepared to run. But before he could move, something flashed from the darkness a flying arrow struck the ground just inches from his foot. He turned and ran with everything he had. Shouts rose behind him. "Catch him alive!" Torchlight tore through the dark, flickering across trembling leaves. Lys ran without direction, driven by instinct. Branches lashed his face, his breath came ragged, his chest burned. He didn't know where he was going. Desperate, he screamed in his mind, Aetherion! Help me!
North, the voice answered swiftly. There's a ravine ahead. Jump—trust me."A ravine?!" Lys almost tripped on a rock but kept running. Ahead, the moonlight revealed the edge of a steep cliff. The rush of water echoed below. He stopped just long enough to glance down into the darkness. "If I jump, I'll die!"If you don't, they'll capture you. Choose, Lys.
There was no time to think. As the footsteps closed in, Lys shut his eyes and leapt. Wind tore against his face. His body plunged downward through cold air and thin mist. He was certain he would crash onto the rocks below until a brilliant blue light burst around him. Something warm and heavy unfurled from his back two great wings of light, incomplete and translucent like liquid glass. Lys gasped, his fall slowing as if caught by unseen hands. He hovered briefly before landing roughly on the muddy riverbank. The blue light flickered, then vanished, leaving searing pain throughout his body.
Lys lay on the ground, writhing. His breathing was ragged every muscle burned from within. "What… was that?" he croaked.It was me, Aetherion said, his tone weary. I protected you. But your body isn't ready to bear my full form.Lys clenched his teeth. His hands trembled violently, faint blue cracks glowing beneath his skin, like veins of light. He tried to sit up but barely managed. "It feels like I'm burning from the inside…"That energy doesn't belong to a human body. But you held it longer than I expected.
Before Lys could respond, heavy footsteps echoed above. Shadows appeared at the cliff's edge, torches and weapons glinting. "He's down there!" one shouted. Lys cursed under his breath, struggling to move, but his knees buckled. I can't protect you again so soon, Aetherion warned. You need to hide. Lys dragged himself behind a boulder, holding his breath as torchlight swept the riverbank. An arrow flew, missing him by a few feet. "Go down there! Make sure he's dead!" barked a harsh voice.
Two soldiers began descending the cliff by rope. Lys shut his eyes, mind racing. Inside his head, Aetherion spoke again this time deeper, like a distant echo. You can borrow more of my power, but the cost will be high. You might not wake up afterward. Lys gritted his teeth. "If I don't, I'll die anyway." He lowered his head, closed his eyes, and extended his hand. "Tell me what to do."
The air turned icy. A low hum filled his ears, as though many voices whispered as one. From his hand, pale blue light began to swirl, forming a small vortex that grew stronger. When the first soldier neared the ground, Lys opened his eyes. The light exploded outward like a surge of lightning, striking rock and soil. A blast erupted, throwing both soldiers violently against the cliff. One plunged into the river the other screamed, his back scorched by the energy. Lys was hurled backward, pain ripping through his chest. Warm blood trickled from his nose and ears.
I told you—your body isn't ready, Aetherion said, now sounding worried."I don't care," Lys gasped. "If I die, it won't be by their hands."
He half stood, clutching his side. The fading blue glow lingered around him. From his back, remnants of those wings flickered faintly fractured, like shards of shattered glass. Above, the soldiers shouted again. "He's using forbidden magic!" "Call the suppression unit!" Their voices filled Lys with dread. If reinforcements came, he wouldn't survive. He glanced at the river, then made his choice. He threw himself into the current, letting it take him. The cold water bit at his wounds, stiffening his body, but at least it carried him away.
The current wasn't as strong as before, but enough to drag his weakened body downstream for several hundred meters. When he finally reached a shallow bank, he crawled beneath a broad tree and collapsed. The light in his veins slowly faded, replaced by overwhelming fatigue. Sleep for a while, Aetherion murmured gently. I'll keep your mind safe. Lys wanted to answer, but his voice was gone. The world slipped into darkness.
When he awoke, the sky had changed color. Dawn light crept through the forest, pale and cool. His body felt heavy but calmer. The wings of light were gone, leaving long marks across his back scars that shimmered faintly like burnt silver. Lys groaned and forced himself upright. He didn't know how long he'd been unconscious, but the birdsong told him danger had passed, at least for now. Touching his back carefully, he whispered, "Will this happen every time I use it?"
Each time you draw on my power without balance, your body will bear the weight, Aetherion replied evenly. We are bound, but not in harmony. You're still half open to my light.Lys took a deep breath. "How do I balance it?"You must learn to control the border between your soul and your body. But you can't do it alone.
Lys fell silent, staring at the shimmering river. In the reflection, his eyes glowed faintly blue. He lowered his gaze, caught between fear and awe at what he had become. The world around him felt quieter than ever. Birds sang, but their voices seemed distant. Aetherion, he murmured, you said they're still hunting me. Does the Order really know who I am?Not yet. But they sense my light within you. That's enough for them to mark you as a threat."I don't even know what I am."You are the beginning of something they want to destroy before it grows.
Lys said nothing. The morning wind brushed through his tangled hair. Slowly, he stood, wincing at the pain in his shoulders. He decided to keep moving before the soldiers found his trail again. All day he walked through the forest, crossing rocky paths until he reached a wide grassland to the north. The wind was stronger there, carrying the scent of dust and wildflowers. In the distance, a crumbling stone tower rose from the earth, half swallowed by time. Lys paused to study it. "What is that?"An old place. A watch post abandoned for centuries. We can rest there.
He approached carefully. The ruins were silent. Moss covered the stones parts of the wall had collapsed. In the center lay an open space with an old firepit. Lys sat there and decided to spend the night. He gathered dry twigs and lit a small fire. The glow warmed his face, and for the first time in two days, he felt a sliver of safety however fragile.
But as the fire dimmed, Aetherion spoke again. You should know, Lys. The wings are not just protection. They're part of you—connected to my world."The world above?" Lys looked up at the stars glimmering through the broken tower roof.Yes. Every time you summon them, you open a rift between this world and the source of my light. The larger the rift, the greater the danger to your body. If you force it again too soon, it may be your soul that breaks, not your flesh.Lys bowed his head, deep in thought. "So I have to control something that doesn't even belong to me."It belongs to you now. You just haven't accepted it yet.
Silence settled over the night. The wind carried faint traces of ash from the south perhaps remnants of his burning village. Lys stared into the dying fire and whispered, "If I can master this power… maybe one day I can stop them."Aetherion didn't answer immediately. After a moment, his voice came, quiet and heavy. Maybe. But every light has a price. The question is—are you ready to pay it?
Lys didn't respond. He gazed into the embers, his eyes reflecting alternating hues of red and blue, as if two worlds clashed within him. In that silence, he understood one thing there was no going back. Whatever lay ahead light or darkness it was already part of him. And on his back, where the wings had burned, the scars pulsed faintly not just as wounds, but as a promise of something greater yet to be born.