"Who are you?" the figure asked coldly.
As she spoke the second time, he was able to understand the meaning of her words. He wasn't sure what had just happened. But the sensation that spread over him following this wasn't just a coincidence.
This led him to believe that he might have a language translation ability. Which was, in fact, very useful.
But hopefully not the only thing he had.
Now that he could see her up close and hear her voice, Kael immediately realized—this was a woman. That alone surprised him. What was she doing in a place like this, completely alone?
"Didn't you hear what I said?" she repeated. The blade at his neck pressed deeper, drawing a thin line of blood that trickled down his skin.
"My name is Kael Aerous. That's the only thing I know," he replied, deciding to stick with his real name. "I just woke up here, with no memory of where this is. Or the life I've lived until now. "
It was only after speaking that much that he realized something else—his voice sounded different. Softer. Younger.
His suspicions grew. Judging from everything so far, he was in a completely different, much younger body.
Her glowing blue eyes were the only visible part of her face, fixed on his with an intensity that made him feel like she was peering straight into his soul.
After several seconds of silence, she finally lowered her blade and slid it back into its scabbard.
"So—you're saying you don't remember anything before waking up here?"
Kael nodded.
"What fraction do you belong to?" she asked.
"Fraction?" Kael repeated, confused. 'Is that a group or kingdom?' It seemed there was a lot he needed to learn.
'He doesn't even know that?' she thought, uncertain of what to make of him. 'Well, the decision isn't mine to make.'
She glanced behind her, eyes narrowing.
'They've caught up.'
Moments later, Kael heard them too—soft, rhythmic thuds in the distance, getting louder.
He instantly recognized the sound. As a former vice commander, there was no mistaking the synchronized march of trained soldiers.
And he was right.
A squad of armored soldiers came into view, advancing quickly.
One figure moved faster than the rest, breaking formation and heading straight toward them. Within a minute, he arrived.
He first glanced at the beast's corpse. "Night, why do you keep running off on your own? I've told you—this place is dangerous."
Though his tone held genuine concern, she said nothing in return. He was used to her silence and simply sighed before finally noticing Kael.
"Who's that?" he asked, eyes narrowing.
"I found him here, about to be eaten," she replied. "He claims he doesn't remember anything—only his name."
"He doesn't remember his fraction either?"
She gave a small nod.
By now, the rest of the soldiers had arrived, surrounding them.
"Interesting," a deep voice rumbled from behind them. It belonged to an older man—buff and towering, seated on the largest horse Kael had ever seen.
Despite his new, younger body, Kael had to look up—way up—to meet the man's gaze.
The horse was a beast in its own right. Nearly three meters tall, jet black with a thick, neatly arranged mane. Its glowing yellow eyes gave Kael an eerie flashback to a certain enemy race.
It almost triggered him.
Yet, the rider dwarfed even the monstrous steed. He looked like someone carved from granite—broad, towering, and powerful.
His face was weathered and marked with a single scar down his left cheek. A full beard, black streaked with grey, completed the image of a hardened war veteran.
Despite the intimidating exterior, his eyes held something else—depth, wisdom, and a strange warmth Kael didn't expect.
The man turned to Night. "Are you enjoying your hunt?"
"There hasn't been much to enjoy," she replied, stepping closer to the army but still maintaining a notable distance.
The younger soldier, Theron, dropped to one knee before the horse.
"Your Eminence. This young man—"
"I overheard the conversation," the man said, cutting Theron short.
His eyes fell on Kael, who remained still and silent. He had no idea how things worked here, and the wrong move could be fatal.
"Come, child."
Kael flinched slightly at the word child, but stepped forward nonetheless. He hated being treated like a child, yet now wasn't the time to complain.
When he stood just a meter away, he could better make out the man's features. His beard was a mix of black and white, further indicating his age. His eyes—sharp, yet strangely kind.
'This boy… he's not normal. I can feel the blessings of Nebula coursing through him. And something else I can't quite identify… Is he a spy? Or truly what he claims?'
The Second Supreme Inquisitor had always trusted his instincts. They had never failed him—not once. But now, standing before this boy, he felt… conflicted.
"What do we do with him, Your Eminence?" asked a soldier, who was one of the other few people who were on horses.
The Inquisitor didn't answer right away. Instead, he turned to Night. "You found him. You saved him. I'll leave the decision to you. Your judgment will be mine."
Everyone around was stunned. This was the first time anyone had seen the Second Supreme Inquisitor defer a decision to another—especially to Night.
She looked at Kael, then back at the towering man. After a pause, she replied:
"Let's take him home for interrogation. He may prove useful later."
The soldiers, hearing the decision, began chanting in unison. Their voices were deep and echoing:
"By the Inquisitor's Word. We bind. We serve. We judge. We endure."
Kael, without even having the chance to utter a word on the decision about him, stood in silence as the chant reverberated through the air.
Whatever world he had awoken in—he knew now, it was one that did not play by the rules of the old one.
And his journey had just begun.