As Karlous fell deeper into slumber, dreams began to take shape.
Or… were they memories?
He stood—older, more powerful, his frame matured. A brilliant sword in his hand glowed with a radiant purple light. He faced a battlefield alone, standing in front of an army of over a thousand enemies. Blood dripped from his wounds. He was exhausted, but his grip never faltered.
Beside him, a girl—beautiful, trembling, and severely wounded—struggled to stay conscious. His breaths were ragged, but he continued to fight, shielding her with his entire being.
Wave after wave of enemies clashed with him. Still, he pushed forward, carving a path. At last, he managed to create a gap and turned to run, carrying the girl in his arms.
But just before escape…
A dark spear—black as midnight and jagged like obsidian—pierced through his heart and hers.
Both fell.
And just as Karlous turned to see the one who had thrown the spear—
He woke up.
His chest rose in sharp gasps, his body drenched in sweat.
His heart pounded violently, like a war drum.
"What… what was that?" he muttered, clutching his chest.
A migraine erupted behind his eyes. His vision blurred. Pain coursed through his body like lightning. His breath caught as he began to tremble, body seizing under invisible pressure.
And then—
A gentle light shimmered from his neck.
A pendant. One he hadn't noticed before.
Soft green energy seeped into his skin, flowing into him like the breath of the world itself. His body began to relax. His breathing slowed. The pain faded.
"Where… did this come from?" he whispered.
The light from the pendant pulsed once more, and he felt the warmth of the tree beneath him—as if nature itself was holding him.
Unseen by Karlous, the ancient tree rustled with magic.
The spirit that had once wept for him—an ageless guardian of nature—had made a decision. Drawn to his sorrow, his fire, and the dormant potential within him, she had merged her essence into a form he could carry with him.
She had become the pendant.
And Frey Del Ahoya… had seen it all.
From his place beneath the neighboring tree, Frey's golden eyes observed quietly as the spirit's energy flowed into the boy. He watched as the pendant formed, wrapping around Karlous's neck like a gift from the earth itself.
Frey didn't speak.
Not yet.
Still confused, frightened by the dream, Karlous sat up.
Then—
Splash!
A stream of water hit him straight in the face, washing the sweat clean off.
Coughing and stunned, he looked up.
A golden-haired young man stood nearby, arms crossed, a smirk on his face.
"You were having a nightmare after pouring your heart out like that, little Phoenix," the stranger said calmly.
Karlous blinked. "W-What… who are you?"
The young man shrugged. "Relax. You don't smell like panic anymore."
His smirk deepened. "Now that you're awake and no longer smelling like burnt sugar… maybe we should talk."
Karlous stared, still too shocked to reply.
The man chuckled. "Name's Frey. Frey Del Ahoya."
There was a brief silence before Karlous found his voice again. "You… you saw all of it?"
"Every word you whispered to the tree. Every tear that spirit shed. Every flicker of power that pendant used to calm you."
Karlous instinctively touched the pendant. "What… is she?"
Frey's gaze softened slightly, his voice more serious. "She is nature's will. You were seen, Karlous. And in seeing you, she chose you. That pendant isn't just decoration—it's protection. It's connection. Maybe even something more."
Karlous was quiet. His fingers lingered on the pendant. Somehow, he felt like he wasn't alone anymore.
Frey glanced toward the horizon. "You're not the only one with ghosts. But the way you carry yours… that fire in your heart—that's rare."
A small smile played on Karlous's lips, weary but grateful. "Thanks... I guess."
Frey's grin returned. "Don't thank me yet. You're just getting started. And by the looks of it, you're going to need a teacher."
Karlous raised an eyebrow. "You?"
Frey smirked wider. "Me. The prince with no kingdom. The ghost of a lost war. And starting today… your worst nightmare."
And that… was how Karlous met the prince from a fallen kingdom—and the man who would become his first true mentor.