innocence in her eyes—only a steadiness I’d seen in warriors right before a decisive battle.

  “So I can protect the ones close to me,” she said clearly. “You do the same. You protect the weak. I saw it in the village. I saw it in the city. You protect me.”

  For a moment I just… froze. A smile crept onto my face—not sarcastic, more like surprised. Too smart, for such a small head.

  “Protecting people close to you, huh?”

  I crouched so we were eye to eye.

  “Listen carefully, Riza. Big power isn’t a gift. It’s a burden. It takes endless training. Hellish effort. It steals your time, your joy—and sometimes… sometimes you lose something important. A piece of your soul. Or the people you were trying to get strong for. You can end up alone, because people fear someone who can wipe them to dust with a single look.”

  I expected her to flinch. Or at least hesitate.

  She didn’t even blink.

  “I’m ready,” she said.

  Look at that, Zenhald, the voice inside me sang, with something almost like respect in it. She’s not asking for candy. She’s asking for fangs. Maybe she’ll turn into something useful after all—not just dead weight. Although… you do realize her “readiness” is a one-way ticket, right?

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  I exhaled and stood.

  “Fine. If you’re ready, we start right now. First rule of power is control.”

  I picked up a small gray stone from the ground—dry, lifeless. Set it on my palm and held it out to her.

  “Magic isn’t something outside you. It’s inside. Try to feel the warmth in your chest and pass it into the stone. Don’t try to blow it up or turn it into an apple. Just warm it.”

  Riza hesitantly reached out and touched the stone with her fingertips. Her brow tightened. Her wings tensed. A minute passed. The wind whistled, throwing sand over us.

  Then the stone in my hand gave a faint, dull red glow—so weak it was barely there.

  But I felt it.

  That was her mana. Clean, untamed… and strangely warm.

  “…Whoa,” slipped out of me.

  The light vanished at once, and Riza swayed, breathing hard. Her face had gone pale.

  “I… I did it?” she whispered.

  “For a first try—not bad.” I pocketed the stone. “But that was a tiny step. There’ll be thousands like it. And if you don’t quit when your muscles are burning and your mana feels like it’s tearing you inside out… then maybe you’ll get strong.”

  I turned and walked east again.

  “Don’t fall behind, student,” I threw over my shoulder.

  Riza, wobbling, hurried after me. Her silence wasn’t sad anymore. Now it was full of purpose.

  And me… I realized I wasn’t carrying the fate of a kingdom.

  I was carrying one small life that chose to walk a cursed path.