Rachael sat on Mike's bed, her gaze fixed on the mysterious book lying on the floor. She couldn't help but wonder what secrets it held, and what Mike had encountered when he touched it. Her eyes wandered to the box on the closet, also a source of intrigue. What was it about these two mysterious artifacts that had left Mike so shaken?

Determined to uncover some answers, Rachael picked up the book and examined it carefully. She flipped through its pages, but there's nothing in the book – no writing, no symbols, nothing. Not even the hole where Mike had found the iron container the previous night was visible. It was as if the book had been erased.

Just as she was about to put the book down, a creaking sound from downstairs broke the silence. Rachael's heart skipped a beat as she cautiously approached the window and peeked downstairs to see what was making the noise. In the darkness, she saw a faint, humanoid shape moving away from the light spilling out of the doorstep.

Rachael's curiosity got the better of her, and she grabbed Mike's torch from the closet, deciding to investigate further.

As she made her way downstairs, the silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the creaking of the stairs beneath her feet. It's almost 10, and her parents had already hit the sack some minutes ago.

When she got outside, Rachael flashed the torch around, trying to locate the source of the movement she had seen. But there was no one there.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed into her ears, growing louder with each passing moment. Rachael's breath caught in her throat as she spun around, trying to locate the source of the sound.

And then, a familiar voice called out, "Calm down, it's me. It's Mike."

Rachael's heart still racing, she turned to the left, shining the torch in the direction of the voice. But as the light landed on Mike's face, he let out a pained scream, covering his eyes.

"Damn, what the hell is that thing?!" he exclaimed.

Rachael was taken aback. "It's a torch, your torch actually," she replied.

Mike grimaced, still averting his gaze from the light. "A torch? Are you kidding me? That thing almost blinded me!"

Rachael's confusion deepened as Mike maintained his distance from the torchlight, his eyes still covered.

What was going on? Why was Mike reacting so strangely to the light? she thought.

"Christ Jesus, Mike?! What's going on? This torch is almost out of power, and it blinded you? You're supposed to be at the hospital, how did you even get here?"

Mike's face lit up with a radiant smile. "I've gotten back my sight, Rachael! I can finally see again!"

Rachael's jaw dropped as she struggled to absorb the news. "Wait... Seriously?! How did it happen?"

"I still find it hard to understand too. All this is so mysterious to me." Mike's face turned puzzled.

As he moved toward the door, Rachael's gaze fell upon his torn top. "What happened to your clothes?" she asked.

Mike glanced back at his shirt, then to Rachael. "Sincerely, I don't know. I can't seem to wrap my head around everything that's happening to me."

Rachael's eyes narrowed, her heart pounding within her chest.

"I'm very hungry and tired, let's talk about this tomorrow," said Mike, breathing with exhaustion. "I need to see mom and dad as well, they must've been so worried about me."

Rachael nodded. "You'll see them tomorrow, they've gone to bed already." However, she's still seeking answers. "How did you even board a cab in that... state?"

"I didn't board a cab, surprise!" Mike chuckled.

"I mean, a bus or whatever brought you here,” said Rachael, raising an eyebrow.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Mike shook his head, a hint of a smile still on his lips. "I didn't get aboard anything. I jogged here."

"You're kidding me, right? You think I'm gonna believe that nonsense?"

Mike's expression turned serious. "I really jogged here, and surprisingly,” he replied, “I wasn't tired.”

“Are you serious? You expect me to believe you jogged two kilometers all the way here without sweating?" Rachael sneered.

“Let's go in first, I'll explain everything to you. I too haven't figured out what's actually wrong with me,” Mike replied, urging her to go in first. “I'm sure the book I read did something to me, made some changes which are hard to explain.”

Rachael stood frozen, tears streaming down her face as she gazed at Mike.

"You're not okay, Mike. Something is terribly wrong," she said, her voice trembling. "You couldn't see during the day, and now you're claiming your vision is back. And amidst all this, a common torchlight is blinding you. You jogged two kilometers here without a bead of sweat, and look at you now – heaven knows what you got yourself into to come home in a rag."

Mike sighed, his expression vacant, and collapsed on the doorstep. "Honestly, everything around me is mysterious," he said, his eyes fixed at the distance. "I couldn't even remember what I saw in the book or why I collapsed in the first place. Things would lead to more bafflement if we talk about how I fell from a three-story building without getting hurt."

Rachael's eyes never left Mike. She knew the person sitting on the doorstep was no longer the normal brother she once knew. Many thoughts ran through her mind as she wiped away her tears and sat next to him.

"So, you're sensitive to light now, isn't it?" she asked, trying to understand the extent of Mike's condition.

Mike nodded absently, his gaze still had a lifeless gaze. “I hate to admit it, but it's painful when I stare at it, and it's frustrating.”

“So, the only thing you should be aware of is light? Your sight really back?" Rachael asked, she needed to know if Mike's vision was truly restored, despite the strange circumstances.

Mike nodded again, taking deep breaths as if trying to process his situation. Rachael removed her anorak and wrapped it around his head, shielding his eyes from the light.

"What's that for?" Mike asked, his daze vanishing and his voice muffled by the fabric. He took off the anorak from his head and raised up his head toward Rachael who's now standing.

"It's bright inside; use that to cover your eyes," Rachael explained, opening the door and gesturing for Mike to enter first. "And beware of the doorstep's light."

She guided him into the house, navigating their ways upstairs while avoiding any direct light, which seemed to cause Mike discomfort.

*****

Miram stood at the entrance of the cave, her worries visible on her countenance. She had sensed an immense release of magic earlier, and her worry had only intensified with each passing moment.

Just then, Djuma arrived, his wings beating laboriously as he descended and collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. A sigh of relief escaped his lips, followed by a weak smile.

"What happened to you, father?" Miram demanded. "I felt an enormous surge of your gastra being used – even Dahra would have sensed it from afar! What were you thinking, using such immense power without caution? Aren't you scared for your life?"

Djuma's smile broadened, despite his obvious exhaustion. "I found him, Miram. I found the Jyuran," he announced, his voice filled with triumph.

Miram's expression turned incredulous. "You can't be serious! No one has known the whereabouts of the Krara for the past 500 years, and now you claim it has chosen a host out of nowhere?"

“You didn't believe me when I said it last night that he lives, did you?”

“Who would believe such ridiculous claim as that?”

Djuma nodded, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I found the Jyuran... I found him."

"And how does finding the Jyuran explain the enormous amount of Gastra you used? Did locating him drain your energy so severely?"

"He's not from this planet, Miram. He's from a distant world. I saved his life, and that's why I'm drained,” Djuma replied, his voice weak.

Miram's eyes widened in shock. "You saved someone from another planet, from here? How is that even possible?" she exclaimed. "But didn't you tell me that the Jyuran is indestructible? Why would you still need to save him?"

Djuma's eyes remained half-closed. "He's a new host for the Krara. I doubt he's even aware of the immense power he now embodies." His chest rose and fell with a slow breath. "I foresaw his fate and saved him in time. He wouldn't have survived the fall otherwise."

Miram's worry turned to scolding. "Regardless of the situation, what you did was reckless and dangerous! You might have really died!"

"Don't worry, my daughter. A little rest will revive me. I'll search for the Jyuran when I regain my strength,” said Djuma soothingly. “So stay close to me and protect my body while I'm unconscious.”

"Where is the planet where the Jyuran is? Is it near or far?" Miram asked, obviously curioused.

Djuma's smile was faint, almost mischievous. "You think I'd reveal that to you?"

“Of course not! You're so bent on keeping me confined here, like a prisoner!" Miram snorted in frustration.

“You know that's not true. Everything I do is to protect you, my only daughter... How would I face your mother if anything happens to you..." His voice trailed off as he lapsed into unconsciousness.