Kael's hands trembled as he stood over the small girl, sweat dripping down his forehead. His mind was flooded with guilt over what he had done, and now he was staring at the consequences: a child who could barely muster a sound. She sat slumped against the wall, her breaths coming out in short, soft whimpers. Kael hesitated before speaking, his voice cracking slightly. "What's your name?" he asked gently.

The girl didn't respond verbally. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small note, handing it over to Kael with shaky hands. Kael took it, his heart sinking as he read the name scribbled in delicate handwriting: Aelyna. He looked up, his eyes softening as he asked, "Can you speak?"

Aelyna shook her head slowly, her expression guarded yet vulnerable. Kael realized she was mute but clearly understood everything around her. He nodded, trying to offer a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I'll get you help," he said, reaching for his phone.

Kael quickly dialed Pruline's number, his fingers fumbling slightly as he explained the situation. "Bring a medic. Now," he urged, his voice filled with urgency. After what felt like an eternity, Pruline arrived with a Wind Class medic Lynquil. They both looked taken aback by the sight of the child, her injuries fresh and raw. The medic immediately went to work, tending to Aelyna's wounds with a practiced efficiency.

Pruline's eyes filled with a strange mix of fury and empathy as she glanced at the young girl. "Who in the hell did this to her?" she demanded, her tone icy and threatening. Kael, caught off guard by Pruline's sudden intensity, scratched his head nervously. "I didn't know…" he muttered, avoiding eye contact. Pruline's patience snapped, and she barraged him with scolding, her voice echoing through the corridor.

The medic, unfazed by the argument unfolding, continued to work silently, applying healing techniques with a focused precision. After a few minutes, she finally spoke up. "I'm done. She should be stable now," the medic said, wiping her hands. Pruline immediately rushed over to Aelyna, crouching down to meet her at eye level.

"What's your name, sweetheart?" Pruline asked gently. Aelyna glanced at Kael, who quickly interjected. "She can't speak, idiot," he blurted out, earning a sharp glare from Pruline. Embarrassed, Pruline apologized profusely to Aelyna, who simply nodded, her expression calm yet distant.

The group carefully guided Aelyna out of the hideout, making their way back to the surface. As they exited, Pruline's anger flared up again. "This place should be torn down. It's nothing but trouble," she declared, her fists clenched. But before she could act, Aelyna tugged on her jacket, shaking her head in protest. Pruline, taken aback, looked down at the girl in confusion. "Why don't you want it destroyed?" she asked.

Kael's mind flashed back to the earlier encounter when the cloaked men had pointed at Aelyna. "She's the one who designed this place," he explained. Pruline's mouth dropped open, stunned. "What? A child designed all of this?"

Aelyna hastily scribbled on her notepad and held it up for them to read: "Sir got it wrong! I only planned it!" Pruline glanced at Kael, exasperated. "You really are an idiot sometimes, you know that?"

Kael shrugged sheepishly, but the tension was cut short by the medic Lynquil, who was snapping pictures of them. "Hey, what are you doing?" Kael asked, bewildered. The medic smiled playfully. "Just capturing the family of three in front of my eyes," she teased. Kael and Pruline shot her a look of annoyance, causing the medic to chuckle quietly.

The rain had started to pour by the time they made it back to the Lynquil HQ. The gentle tapping of raindrops against the windows set a somber tone as the group gathered in a private room to talk. Kael and Pruline sat across from Aelyna, who was bundled in a thick blanket. Kael leaned forward, his voice soft. "Can you tell us your name?"

Aelyna nodded and pointed to her note. Pruline read it aloud, her voice gentle. "Aelyna… It's a beautiful name."

They asked her about her circumstances, and Aelyna began to communicate through her notepad, detailing her involvement with the Lynquilites. She explained that she was forcibly recruited due to the assumption that she had a Lynquility. When asked about her abilities, she hesitated before reaching into her pocket, pulling out a small, monochrome artifact piece. She held it up, her eyes downcast, and scribbled on her pad: "Does this count…?"

Kael and Pruline exchanged glances, unsure of what they were looking at. The artifact was unlike anything they'd seen, emanating a faint, eerie aura. Kael examined it closely, trying to determine its nature. "Is this a Lynquility-infused weapon?" he wondered aloud. Aelyna nodded slowly and wrote, "It's bound to my soul. I can't let it go, no matter what."

Pruline noticed Aelyna's subtle, guarded expressions—her face seemed almost devoid of emotions, except for the occasional flickers of shyness or embarrassment. Curiosity piqued, Pruline attempted to remove Aelyna's blindfold, but Aelyna stopped her instantly, clutching her arm with surprising strength. "Why won't you take it off?" Pruline asked gently.

Aelyna scribbled furiously on her notepad: "I was born with a condition called Perception. It makes my eyes see five times more than normal people."

Pruline furrowed her brow, piecing the information together. "So if you took off the blindfold, it'd overwhelm your senses?"

Aelyna nodded. Kael, suddenly remembering something he'd read, spoke up. "I think I've read about this… Perception isn't just any condition; it's considered a god-blessed ability. People with it don't just see better; their eyes are… different. Stunning colors, unique patterns in their pupils, eyelids, eyebrows—it's all distinct."

Pruline glanced at Aelyna's white eyebrows and felt a surge of curiosity. "I wonder what you'd look like without that blindfold, but I wouldn't want to hurt you by asking you to remove it." Aelyna's subtle nod was all the confirmation Pruline needed.

As the rain outside continued to fall, a quiet understanding settled among them. They were strangers drawn together by circumstances none of them fully understood, yet in this fleeting moment, there was a shared sense of protectiveness over the small, fragile girl with secrets written in every gesture. Kael and Pruline exchanged a silent promise; they would protect Aelyna, no matter what the future held.

The peaceful conversation between Kael, Pruline, and Aelyna was abruptly interrupted by a series of confident knocks at the door. Before anyone could respond, the door swung open, revealing a striking figure dressed in an imposing uniform with an air of authority. She stepped into the room with a commanding presence that immediately caught everyone's attention.

"My name is Veryl Donora," she introduced herself, her voice calm yet resonant. "Currently the highest rank in Lynquils HQ. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kael." She gave a polite nod in Kael's direction before continuing, "Don't worry; I've heard about your story and promise to keep it a secret within the HQ."

Kael's thoughts instantly spiraled into panic. They told the stories to the whole HQ?!?! he thought, visibly trying to keep his composure. After mentally shaking off the overwhelming realization, Kael put on a cool front, responding casually, "Pleasure to meet you too, Ms. Veryl. If I may, could I ask for a description of your power?"

Veryl chuckled lightly. "Well, you're quite the power geek, aren't you? My power allows me to produce cosmic energy and form various constructs, such as tiny black holes and quasars."

Kael's facade of calmness cracked ever so slightly. For the first time in ten years, he felt true fear as he realized that Veryl's powers could easily outmatch his own. He forced a smile and replied, "Is that so? Interesting."

Veryl smiled in return but quickly shifted to a more serious tone. "I need your help defending the HQ," she said, handing Kael a detailed map. "There's a battlefield—a designated area where this war is set to unfold. We need someone of your caliber to act as a secret ambush and scout for assassins."

Kael took the map and examined it, his mind racing with thoughts. There's a battlefield? Why hadn't anyone told me there was a battlefield specifically for the war? The map showed an abandoned district of a city, marked with positions for their forces and strategic points of interest. Veryl continued, "We'll have an army of physical Lynquils holding the main highway, with high-class Lynquils at the openings in the formation. Long-range and support Lynquils will be stationed on rooftops, and the highest classes, like me and Plovyton, will intervene wherever the line begins to falter. Your task is to scout for hidden enemies and neutralize any ambush threats."

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

After carefully reviewing the plan, Kael agreed, preparing himself for the operation the next day.

At dawn, before the sun rose and while the moon was still high in the sky, Kael was already out in the abandoned district, scouting the area. He moved quietly, meticulously scanning each corner, alley, and rooftop for any sign of hidden enemies. Kael's sharp eyes and innate sense of danger made him the perfect scout, and he memorized every potential hiding spot before reporting back to HQ.

The army was ready, and the formation was set. Half of the forces remained behind to guard the HQ, while the rest took their positions on the battlefield. The clock struck 6:00 AM, and chaos erupted as the war began. Warriors clashed in the main highway, their Lynquilities lighting up the battlefield in a dazzling yet deadly display of power. Support Lynquils cast their abilities, aiding their comrades, while long-range fighters launched devastating strikes from above. High-class Lynquils engaged in brutal combat, dismantling any lower-class fighters in their way.

Kael, however, was far from the main action, patrolling the quieter, hidden parts of the battlefield with his hands casually tucked into his pockets. His path was unexpectedly disrupted when a sniper Lynquil took aim at him from a distant rooftop. Multiple bullets shot through the air, aimed precisely at Kael's head. Yet, to the sniper's shock, every bullet deflected off an invisible force before reaching Kael.

Kael stopped and gave a cold, menacing glare in the sniper's direction. Terrified by the realization that Kael had sensed him, the sniper immediately fled. Kael resumed his leisurely stroll, seemingly unfazed by the attempt on his life. Moments later, the building he was walking through suddenly collapsed, the debris crashing down around him.

Growing bored of the mundane ambushes, Kael sprinted towards the main highway, where the real battle was taking place. His arrival was sudden, like a shadow slipping into the heart of chaos. As he walked through the horde of clashing Lynquils, those around him began to fall rapidly, unable to withstand the sheer force of his presence.

The highest-ranking Lynquils noticed Kael's unnerving behavior and attempted to communicate with him through their comms. However, their efforts were in vain as Kael had crushed his communication device earlier, leaving him disconnected from the others. Realizing the situation was getting out of hand, Plovyton, another high-class Lynquil, descended to confront Kael directly. However, halfway down, Plovyton caught a glimpse of Kael's face—twisted with an unsettling expression, eyes wild with a madness he had seen before.

Fearing the worst, Plovyton retreated and urgently ordered all Lynquils from the HQ to withdraw immediately. He knew firsthand what Kael was capable of when he lost control.

Within moments, Kael's tenuous grip on his sanity snapped completely. His body tensed, his other eye lighting up with a brilliant blue glow. An intense blue aura enveloped his entire body, and the air around him crackled with an overwhelming energy that none had ever witnessed before. Massive chunks of debris and ground began to levitate, swirling around him in an otherworldly display of raw power encased in blue flames.

The battlefield fell into chaos as Kael's aura expanded, radiating an immense, uncontrollable force. His soul remained conscious, trapped within his own body, struggling desperately to regain control. Kael knew that his power was growing exponentially, far beyond anything he had ever experienced, and he feared the worst.

His consciousness flickered as he felt himself slipping deeper into the abyss, unable to wrestle his body back under his command. With every second that passed, the cosmic energy around him grew more volatile, threatening to tear the battlefield—and everyone on it—apart.

Kael's soul fought with every ounce of its strength, but it was no use. A sudden explosion erupted from within him, a surge of power so catastrophic that it threatened to obliterate everything in its path. The sky above fractured, and the earth below trembled as the shockwave expanded outward, consuming everything in its reach. The sheer magnitude of the explosion was enough to devastate a tenth of the planet.

Kael's life flashed before his eyes. In that fleeting moment, he realized there was something else inside him, something sinister sharing his body and driving him to lose control. As the explosion continued to grow, the Lynquils on the battlefield could do nothing but brace themselves for their inevitable end.

But just as hope seemed lost, an enormous sphere barrier materialized, containing the explosion within its bounds. It was a barrier of unmatched power, capable of suppressing the cataclysmic force that Kael had unleashed. The explosion began to diminish, and Kael finally regained control of his body, his glowing blue eyes fading back to normal.

The barrier dissipated, and Kael found himself standing at the epicenter of a hollowed-out crater, where nothing but darkness remained. The light had been erased from within the barrier's volume, and only when it disappeared did the light return, revealing the full extent of the devastation.

Kael looked around at the desolate scene, his heart heavy with the realization of what he had done—or rather, what the thing inside him had caused. The destruction was absolute, a stark reminder of the uncontrollable power he harbored within. As he stood in the center of the aftermath, Kael knew this was only the beginning of his battle with the force that lived inside him.

Kael glanced weakly toward the edges of the hollowed space. His eyes, heavy with exhaustion, caught sight of Pruline and Aelyna standing at the distant boundary of the devastation. They were watching him with expressions that wavered between fear and relief, their silhouettes bathed in the faint light that seeped back into the void his explosion had left behind. A hover-helicopter descended, a rope extending down and lifting Kael from the desolate ground. The machine pulled him up and swung him toward the two girls who awaited him.

As the helicopter lowered Kael beside them, he fell to his knees. His clothes were torn and singed, but strangely, there was no blood, no visible wounds. It was as if his body had been burnt out from the inside rather than broken from the outside. Kael's strength finally gave out. He stumbled forward, unintentionally collapsing into Aelyna's arms. She caught him, stunned at first by his sudden fall but then softened as she recognized the vulnerability in him. For a moment, she hesitated, feeling her cheeks warm with embarrassment as Kael leaned against her. But then, seeing the exhaustion in his eyes and knowing the torment he had endured alone, she wrapped her arms around him in a comforting embrace.

It was a gesture that Kael had not felt in years—true warmth and care from another human being. For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, Kael smiled, a small, weary smile of relief, before he finally succumbed to unconsciousness.

Pruline quickly called for the medics, her voice tinged with urgency. "Get him back to HQ. Now." As the medical team arrived and carefully lifted Kael onto a stretcher, Pruline and Aelyna watched with anxious eyes. Aelyna's expression was torn between worry and frustration. Kael's display of power had saved them, but it had also revealed a dangerous truth: there was something inside him, something uncontrollable.

The battlefield was left in eerie silence, a massive crater where the city district once stood. The Lynquil HQ's forces had regrouped, their lines bolstered by Kael's sudden assault. Across the ravaged field, the rival Lynquilites staggered, their forces reduced by nearly a thousand warriors and several high-class Lynquils in the span of moments. Even with such staggering losses, the enemy still stood their ground, determined not to surrender despite the catastrophic turn of events.

Pruline watched the remnants of the Lynquilites with a mix of anger and pity. They had lost almost everything, yet they continued to fight, clinging to pride and desperation. It was clear they were gambling on the hope that the Lynquils HQ had no more aces left to play. But Pruline had one more gambit in mind. She turned to Aelyna, her voice heavy with the weight of the decision. "Aelyna, do you think your artifact can still make one last wish?"

Aelyna looked down at the broken artifact hanging from her neck. The black and white shards were more damaged than ever before, cracks running through every fragment. It was barely holding together, the strain of each previous wish etched into its delicate surface. But despite its condition, there was still a faint glimmer of power within it—a final, desperate spark.

"It's…" Aelyna could not finish her sentence, her voice trembling with doubt. "Maybe... one."

Pruline placed a hand on Aelyna's shoulder, her grip firm but reassuring. "We need to end this, Aelyna. If we don't, more lives will be lost, and this war will never stop. This is our last chance."

Aelyna took a deep breath, her heart pounding as she lifted the artifact. Its faint, flickering light mirrored her own hesitation. She knew that each wish drained a piece of her soul, and this one would demand everything the artifact had left to give. Closing her eyes, Aelyna whispered the words that had been weighing on her mind. "Make the enemies retreat and never declare any more wars."

As the final wish left her lips, the artifact let out a soft, shattering sound. The shards broke into smaller pieces, each fragment scattering in the air before slowly dissolving into nothingness. A heavy silence fell over the battlefield, broken only by the faint sound of the wind as it swept through the desolate space.

Then, as if compelled by an unseen force, the leader of the Lynquilites raised his weapon high in the air, before dropping it to the ground in a clear gesture of surrender. His eyes were wide, and his expression was one of sudden realization—a mix of fear, regret, and a reluctant understanding of the futility of their cause. One by one, the Lynquilites began to lay down their weapons, their resolve shattered by an invisible command.

They retreated, not just from the battlefield but from the war itself, their retreat carrying the unspoken promise that they would never wage war against Lynquils HQ again. The battle was over, not through sheer force but through the quiet, unbreakable will of a young girl and her fragile, yet immeasurably powerful artifact.

Pruline and Aelyna watched as the enemies withdrew, the tension that had gripped the air finally easing. Aelyna looked down at her empty hands, where the artifact once was, feeling the heavy toll it had taken on her. There was relief in knowing the war was over, but also a profound sadness at the cost. Pruline pulled her into a reassuring embrace, grateful but also deeply aware of the sacrifices made today.

For now, the battle was won. But the scars it left behind—both visible and unseen—would linger long after the dust had settled.