Silence returned after the attack, broken only by the footsteps of the two girls on the barren ground. Kayla walked calmly, while Yuri, still visibly shaken, tried to keep up.

  "What you did earlier... it was incredible," Yuri said, breaking the silence.

  Kayla raised an eyebrow slightly. "It was nothing extraordinary. In this world, even a child can summon flames, if trained."

  "In my world, children worry about passing math, not summoning supernatural fireworks."

  Kayla gave a faint smile, as if that response amused her.

  "Everything here runs on mana energy. It’s the lifeblood of this world: magic, creatures, even the laws of nature. Your body is full of it, even if you don’t know how to use it yet."

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "And how do I learn? I don’t see any magic schools around."

  "Learning to control mana is like learning to breathe underwater. At first, it’s impossible. Then... it becomes natural. But it takes discipline, focus... and a guide."

  Yuri stared at her. "You mean... you?"

  "Only if you're willing to trust me," Kayla replied, without stopping.

  Yuri lowered her gaze. She still didn’t know if she could truly trust her. But the only alternative seemed to be getting torn apart or burned alive.

  "And this world... does it have a name?"

  "We call it the World of Shadows. It used to be a place of harmony, divided into kingdoms, each ruled by a king or queen tied to an element or power. But over the centuries, something corrupted the balance."

  Yuri paused for a moment. "The Demon King. That’s what you said earlier, right?"

  Kayla didn’t answer immediately. Her gaze drifted toward the distant black mountains on the horizon.

  "Yes. He broke what once held our world together. And now the shadows are spreading across every kingdom."

  "And you want me to... stop him?" Yuri asked, uncertain.

  Kayla finally turned to her. "It’s not what I want. It’s what destiny wants."

  Yuri huffed. "Classic. Always the ‘chosen one’ story. Have you guys ever considered solving your problems yourselves?"

  "We tried. And we failed. The world needs something new... someone from outside. And you’re here for a reason."

  The path finally opened onto a hilltop, where a ruined old tower stood alone among the mist.

  "This will be your first shelter. Here, you’ll begin to understand."

  "Understand what?"

  Kayla looked at her, serious

  .

  "That even shadows, sometimes, can shine."