Only the soft crackle of the fire and the wailing wind outside broke the stillness.
Rion sat deep inside the cave, beside him — under a light blanket — Noa was barely breathing.
Slowly, Noa opened his eyes.
His eyelids fluttered as they tried to adjust to the darkness.
For a moment, he almost passed out again —
but this time, he stayed conscious.
Cold drops of water touching his lips brought him back to reality.
"Drink," a calm, short voice said, handing him a small flask.
By the fire stood a young man with short black hair and golden eyes.
Noa took the flask, drank a few sips, then closed his eyes to steady his breath.
His voice came out hoarse and faint:
"I didn't think you'd come... Why did you save me, Rion?"
Rion stayed silent.
His gaze fixed on the fire, hands resting on his knees.
Finally, he spoke — his tone heavy, but firm:
"Because you're my friend. That's the only reason."
Noa tried to smile, but his cracked, blood-dried lips wouldn't move.
He clenched his fist and whispered weakly:
"I'm... no one."
His voice trembled and faded away.
Rion turned his face aside.
He didn't want to watch this,
but the pain in Noa's eyes said more than any words ever could.
"Do you remember how it all started?" Rion asked carefully.
Noa slowly shook his head,
then said, his voice echoing through the cold cave:
"How could I forget... That day, we swore to be friends — to never abandon each other until death itself came."
Rion gently placed his hand on Noa's shoulder,
took a deep breath, and said firmly:
"Remember this, Noa — if I hadn't found you, I'd be the one dead right now."
Noa fell silent.
Tears welled up in his eyes and rolled down his cheeks.
This time, he didn't resist them.
He cried — not from fear, but from the weight of his past.
And the silent presence of his friend beside him
was the only thread keeping him tied to life.
A heavy, sincere silence filled the cave.
Only the fire crackled,
and outside, the wind rustled the leaves.
Suddenly, noises came from outside —
the marching of soldiers echoed through the night.
Rion's golden eyes flashed coldly.
He set the flask aside and reached for his sword.
"They're here," he said in a low, steady tone.
Noa lay still, staring at the ground,
thinking quietly:
"So... peace isn't meant for me."
The last sparks of fire danced across the cave walls,
their brief calm already breaking apart.
Rion crouched down, lifted the torch, and listened.
Footsteps drew closer —
not just dragons, but others too.
The sound of armor scraping filled the air.
"He's here," a strange, chilling voice said.
"The scent ends in this place."
Rion's chest tightened.
He quickly doused the torch and returned to Noa.
"Noa, hold on," he said quietly but firmly.
"If we stay here, we'll both be captured."
Noa half-opened his eyes.
He slowly raised his hand — every movement heavy —
but the determination in Rion's gaze gave him a spark of strength.
"I... can't walk," he whispered, his lips dry and trembling.
"Then I'll drag you if I must," Rion replied, lifting him onto his shoulders.
"But you have to try."
Outside, the torches grew nearer.
Heat filled the air,
and the noise grew louder.
Rion took a deep breath and moved forward through the narrow tunnel.
Darkness thickened,
the sounds of the outside world faded,
and only Noa's labored breathing remained.
Soon, the path split in two —
one leading deeper down,
the other rising steeply toward the cliffs.
"Which way?" Rion murmured to himself.
Noa slowly lifted his head.
Barely conscious, perhaps guided by instinct,
he pointed upward.
Rion hesitated.
"He's barely awake... but maybe he senses something."
He chose to go upward.
Behind them, voices shouted:
"They're inside! Hurry!"
Footsteps echoed through the cave.
Time was running out.
Clenching his teeth, Rion quickened his pace.
His body strained under the weight,
but he never thought of leaving Noa behind.
With every step, a voice echoed in his mind:
"I will protect him. Even if the whole world turns against me."
Finally, light appeared ahead.
Through a narrow crack, stars shimmered in the night —
their cold glow like the last spark of hope.
But before they could escape,
a soldier appeared behind them.
His torch lit up the narrow passage.
Rion made his decision instantly.
He laid Noa among the rocks outside
and turned back to block the path.
"I'll come after," he said firmly.
"You need to run, Noa. I'll hold them off."
Even in his fading consciousness, Noa heard him.
His heart trembled —
not from fear,
but from helplessness.
Rion hurled a heavy stone down the tunnel.
The crash echoed through the cave; the soldiers froze.
A heartbeat of silence —
then the battle began.
Steel clashed against stone,
shouts rang out,
blows echoed off the walls.
Outside, Noa lay beneath the stars.
His breath was heavy.
Only two sounds filled his ears —
his heartbeat,
and a whisper within.
"…this is not the end…"
Noa shivered.
He tried to cover his ears,
but the voice came from inside — from deep within his heart.
"Who are you…?" he whispered.
"…I am you…"
His vision blurred — blood, screams, and darkness mixing together.
No tears fell — only light.
Rion's voice roared from the cave:
"Noa! Run!"
But Noa couldn't move.
His body froze,
as if invisible chains held him to the ground.
He looked up at the sky.
The stars multiplied, shining brighter —
but one of them was different.
It burned red, like a drop of blood.
Noa stared, transfixed.
The longer he looked, the louder the voice grew.
"…wake up… if you don't, your friend will die…"
At that moment, three soldiers rushed Rion at once.
He parried with the last of his strength,
but hesitated for a second —
a blade slashed across his shoulder.
Blood spilled onto the stone.
Seeing it, Noa's heart broke.
Something snapped inside him.
"Stop!" he cried, but his voice barely rose.
"…just choose…"
Noa trembled, raising his hands.
Heat spread through his body,
a strange energy burning through his veins.
It wasn't fear — nor anger —
it was something else. Something unknown.
His eyes began to glow in the dark.
The cave trembled instantly.
Rocks cracked and fell.
The soldiers panicked.
"What's happening?!"
Rion turned, eyes wide with shock.
Noa —
who moments ago was on the verge of collapse —
now stood.
His eyes blazed like stars,
and the air around him quivered.
The voice spoke again,
this time through Noa's own lips:
"I'm not done yet…"
---
Hello, dear readers! 🌙
If you're enjoying the story, drop a Power Stone ⚡,
add it to your Library 📚,
and don't forget to Collection 💬!
I decided to awaken Noa's power a bit earlier than planned —
otherwise, the pacing would've dragged too long.