Morning light filtered through Ryan's window at the Silver Crown Hotel… The light fell on his face—and on the burn scars that covered his skin.
He slowly opened his eyes.
He remained still for a few seconds…
Looking up at the ceiling, as if his mind was waking before his body.
Then he sat up.
He ran his hand over his neck, where the burn marks were…
In fact, his sister Lyara found a way to heal his burns; it was through the kingdom's most powerful user of the element of light.
He didn't know how his sister contacted him, but he initially refused treatment because it was expensive, as his family had spent a lot trying to wake him up over three years.
He slowly felt his burns, then became angry, because the real reason he left the burns was to remind him of his anger.
He clenched his fist so tightly that the veins beneath his skin became prominent.
"Just wait, you scoundrels, one day I will take my revenge ."
Then he breathed slowly to calm himself, lowered his hand that had been feeling for the burns, and stood up.
He walked towards the table where his clothes lay.
He slowly removed his old shirt, revealing the burn scars clearly on his chest and shoulders… but his body was young and strong.
He put on a clean, dark shirt, then a light coat, to hide his burns, and left his room.
He wasn't actually embarrassed by the burns on his body and didn't care what people thought of him; the only thing was that he didn't want to draw attention to himself because it was bothersome.
If people saw his burns, they would start wondering where he got them and what caused them, and he didn't want anyone interfering in his affairs.
Therefore, it's best to cover it up. As for the burns on his neck, most people don't notice them, and if someone asks him, he says it's a minor accident and ends the conversation.
Ryan sighed after stepping out into the hallway.
"What am I going to do in the summer?"
The summer was a major problem; he would either have to show the burns on his hands at the academy or use his ice to coold himself.
He scratched the back of his head.
"It doesn't matter, I'll think about it when the time is right."
Ryan walked down the hotel corridor toward the main door. He planned to go out and explore the city a bit today. He was actually quite interested in what he would find there, based on what he'd heard about it being the largest commercial city in the kingdom.
Therefore, he was curious about what objects he would find; was there anything different from his previous world?
Ryan exited the main door and headed towards the market. In fact, all of Thirac was a market; wherever he went, it was a place of commerce.
But the city center was the most vibrant place, more so than other areas.
The hotel wasn't far from the city center; Ryan walked a little and the atmosphere changed, so he knew he had arrived.
The voices of the vendors mingle: laughter, haggling, footsteps… and the air is thick with the aromas of spices, fresh bread, and a multitude of other products.
Ryan was walking through a crowd when he stopped at the first stall.
Colorful fruits were neatly arranged; some he recognized, others he had never seen before. Water droplets on them reflected the sunlight.
He looked at her for a few seconds… then moved.
Another booth—Soft fabrics move with the air, their colors dancing before him.
He reached out slightly and touched the fabric with the tips of his fingers… then he quietly withdrew his hand.
Then he continued walking.
Ryan walked past the blacksmith's stall.
"Tang! Tang!"
The sound of the hammer striking the iron grew louder; small sparks scattered in the air like fleeting stars.
He stopped and looked at the oven, inside which the red flames were dancing.
The light reflected in his eyes.
For a moment… all sounds around him ceased.
He took a step closer.
He stood before the table where swords were displayed for sale.
His image was reflected on one of the swords he was looking at.
The blacksmith spoke:
"Did you like the sword, boy?"
Ryan opened the door to answer, but was interrupted by the sound of people screaming. He turned towards the source of the screams to see people running away, and a thick cloud of smoke hung over the area.
"What's this?"